"Thanks for the kindness, miss. Yanqing truly appreciates it."
Encouraged by Freesna, Yanqing's confidence soared. He was going to boldly go for it!
"Yeah! Go!"
"The church lacks talent like him…" Watching Yanqing leave, Freesna actually entertained the idea of kidnapping him.
"Hmm…" Seeing Freesna fret, Adrian proactively offered a solution: "Why not have the church and the Xianzhou do an exchange program? Pick a martial-enthusiast church knight, send him to the Luofu for an internship… let him experience Cloud Knight life."
"As expected of my Lord! Such a brilliant plan… Ah, but you'd have to talk to Blake about that. I don't handle it." Freesna was ever honest—truthfulness, an enduring Eternity virtue.
She looked up at the precarious flame chandelier. Who was the genius that turned a Lord Ravager into a chandelier?
Rule out Blake first. He'd have locked Phantylia in the church's little dark room, the same fate as Cocolia. But… Blake's personality wouldn't allow a Lord Ravager in the church, even as a captive. Imprisoning one there was as absurd as fictional historians dumping space trash in a Genius Society robot's head—unthinkable.
"Relax. This Lord Ravager's consciousness is trapped in the second before Eternity. Now it's just a junky decoration."
Adrian eyed the ceiling's Phantylia chandelier—their group masterpiece.
Flashback: A New Purpose for a Ravager
Days ago, Yichen Inn. Everyone sat silently around the bed, the atmosphere eerily quiet.
"So… Miss Tingyun, how do you plan to handle a Lord Ravager?" March 7th cautiously tapped the iron cage, fearing Phantylia might exploit a flaw and escape.
"As Blake said, this began with you—it ends with you deciding her fate." Adrian sat at the bed's other end. HE could rub a black hole and toss her in, no problem.
"Miss Tingyun, forgive my words," Welt said gravely. "Killing Phantylia means the Xianzhou Alliance prepares for early war with the Antimatter Legion." Without full preparation, Welt advised against immediate execution.
"Use Phantylia as bait—lure a second Lord Ravager, net them all," Dan Heng agreed.
"Hey! If killing's out, how about sealing?" March 7th pulled out chilling six-phase ice.
"This can hold a Destruction Emanator?"
"Hey~ How do we know without trying? It's my best idea." March 7th pouted. It wasn't fair that only she'd been iced.
"Per Miss March, sealing Lord Phantylia works… and poses no crisis for the Luofu." Tingyun considered seriously, but then saw Stelle and Adrian staring intently at the cage.
"Hiss… I didn't notice, but Phantylia's flames are bright, not glaring. Stare for a long time, and your eyes don't hurt."
"Yeah, perfect for a night light."
It was originally planned for the train car (specifically, Stelle and Adrian's room), but Himeko vetoed the idea. Considering Adrian's dim, gloomy milk tea shop, the unanimous decision led to the current Lord Ravager chandelier.
"Such wondrous ideas—the Astral Express is truly Eternity's fated ally!" Freesna was awed by their thinking. No wonder Eternity and Trailblaze got along.
Of course, no such chandelier would be found in the sanctum—territorial instincts were unspoken.Better swap the material for Elation masks—a perfect nighttime horror vibe.
An Important Announcement
At the Divination Commission, Fu Xuan summoned everyone for an important announcement.
"It's great to see you all here…" Fu Xuan, with dark circles under her eyes and a hoarse voice, looked at Stelle's group like saviors. "Now I temporarily hold general duties, easing Jing Yuan's load… I didn't expect my first test as General to be this tough."
"Casualty stats, hunting Medicine King remnants, reporting to the Six Emperors… No wonder Jing Yuan said sitting in this chair is like a mountain of knives."
Seeing the Master Diviner listless, Stelle felt a surge of sympathy and a desire to help.
"Master Diviner, you always wanted the General spot—tired or not, are you enjoying it?" March 7th asked.
"The General position is grave—enjoy? I'm just adapting, hmph…" Fu Xuan knew this was groundwork for her future smooth ascension—her current fatigue was nothing.
"She's totally enjoying it…" March 7th whispered.
Welt cut to the chase: "Master Diviner didn't call us here just to lament, right?"
"Of course not! As temporary General, I officially thank you for aiding the Luofu. Matters are settled—it's time for open rewards."
"Wow!" March 7th perked up. "The General's promised perks are coming?"
"Coming? Coming?" Stelle mimicked March's glee, earning a sharp retort.
"Wow… parroting now? Don't you know what to say?"
Fu Xuan offered no riddles: "Yes, the Astral Express risked life for the Luofu—your loyalty is proven."
"By the Six Emperors' Council, from today, you are the Luofu's oath allies. Within Luofu territory, you'll be treated as Alliance envoys—receiving the highest honors."
"On behalf of the Astral Express, thank you, Master Diviner," Welt replied.
"Wow, nothing tangible, but it sounds cool…" March 7th's eyes were still expectant.
"The thanks are done—but there is one more matter to discuss. Follow me."
Fu Xuan led them to an office, where she was sorting the Ambrosial Arbor calamity's details.
"No way, Master Diviner? You just thanked us, and now there are tasks…" March 7th sensed trouble. Was this a sweet date followed by a slap?
"No task. The Stellaron descent, Medicine King chaos, Arbor rebirth, Antimatter infiltration… I must report the full details to the Alliance for investigation."
"But as I am involved, I'm biased by external pulls. I need you to help sort through the threads and clarify the details."
"So, where should we start?"