With her newly built Jing Yuan, Guinaifen happily resumed her missions!
In previous story segments, she had been terrified of running into the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus Shape Shifter. Its piercing damage was incredibly high! Every time it attacked, it would summon two Mara-struck lackeys. If those lackeys weren't killed, that piercing attack would keep draining her health!
Even with Himeko's area attacks, she could only shave off a portion of their health. In the end, she always had to rely on Dan Heng to take them down one by one.
But now! Guinaifen's hands were itching for a fight!
Summoning lackeys? The more, the merrier! All of Jing Yuan's skills hit multiple targets! The moment the Lightning-Lord slammed down, the screen was filled with damage numbers!
And the special effects! The sheer pressure! It was so satisfying she could hardly breathe!!!
By now, the mission regarding the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus had reached its second stage. The mission was titled Blindness Is Light, Heavenly Punishment.
Dan Shu's research on the Drakon Prayer had yielded results. She truly lived up to her title as a genius Chief Alchemist; her vast knowledge was breathtaking. During the process, the Trailblazer had even accompanied Dan Shu to help a blind little girl.
Afterward, Dan Shu said she wanted to give the Trailblazer a gift.
Guinaifen complained, "This mission hasn't given me a single monster to hit from start to finish! I'm ridiculously strong now! I'd give a passing dog a slap just to test my damage!"
The gift Dan Shu mentioned was a medicine for longevity and health called the Cloud-Hymn Dew-Drop Pill.
Two options appeared.
[Swallow it whole]
[Set it aside]
Normally, Guinaifen would have hesitated. Why was the story suddenly making her take medicine? Because of this quest line, she had become a bit sensitive to the word "medicine."
But now, she had Jing Yuan! She felt invincible, as if she could punch a tiger and kick a dragon! Her confidence was at an all-time high!
Without a second thought, she chose [Swallow it whole].
"(My head suddenly hurts... what's going on...)"
"(No... something's wrong. My body feels so hot, it's unbearable... I can't breathe...)"
On the screen, numerous branches suddenly appeared! They crawled in from all sides, looking as if they were going to wrap around the entire display.
Guinaifen was stunned. "What's happening!?"
...
"I heard there's a drug called Spring Breeze Powder in the underworld; the symptoms feel a bit like what the Trailblazer is going through."
"Could Dan Shu be after our body?"
"What kind of thoughts are those? Can't you see those branches look exactly like the color of the Mara-struck?"
"Huh?"
"Dan Shu is attacking us? That makes no sense. She just helped that little girl! She's clearly a good citizen!"
...
"(Something is wrong. I should go to the Seat of Divine Foresight and talk to Qingzu.)"
Guinaifen had calmed down significantly. If the protagonist were triggered into becoming Mara-struck, it would be game over!
She rushed toward the Seat of Divine Foresight. By then, the branches on the screen were multiplying, and yellow leaves were beginning to grow from the tips.
"(Ugh... my head is hurting again... could there really be something wrong with the Cloud-Hymn Dew-Drop Pill Dan Shu gave me?)"
"(What's going on? Isn't this the Seat of Divine Foresight? Why are there so many Mara-struck here...)"
"(No... I can't let them... get close...)"
The battle Guinaifen had been longing for finally arrived, but it was an encounter with the Mara-struck right inside the Seat of Divine Foresight. Combined with the protagonist's current state, everything about this situation felt wrong!
However, the battle had already begun; there was no turning back.
"Radiant spirit, heed my command! Show no mercy!"
She had already given Jing Yuan her best Relics. A single Skill followed by his Ultimate was enough to clear the Mara-struck's first life. The following strike from the Lightning-Lord perfectly finished off their second life.
"Jing Yuan's damage is insane!"
"It only takes two turns to kill these monsters now!"
"Combat! So satisfying!"
"Wait, wait! The names above these monsters are human names!"
"These aren't Mara-struck! These are Cloud Knights!"
Guinaifen finally noticed the critical problem. However, she had no control over the Lightning-Lord's follow-up attacks. Even if she wanted to stop, she couldn't.
[Battle Ended]
Qingzu's voice came through: "Stelle! What's wrong with you! Everyone, be careful, don't hurt her..."
"Trailblazer! Trailblazer! Wake up, are you okay!"
The branches suddenly receded as if swallowed by some invisible force.
"Thank goodness, you're finally awake. I thought something terrible was about to happen. I was breaking out in a cold sweat."
"You walked into the Seat of Divine Foresight just now and suddenly started swinging your weapon."
"The way you lost control was exactly the same as our fellow citizens who have fallen into Mara."
At the Divination Commission, the moment the Trailblazer swallowed the Cloud-Hymn Dew-Drop Pill and began showing symptoms, Fu Xuan issued an order.
"Proceed to the Exalting Sanctum immediately and arrest Chief Alchemist Dan Shu!"
However, when the Cloud Knights arrived, they found nothing. Dan Shu had already left the Exalting Sanctum, taking all her records and medicinal ingredients with her!
Upon receiving this report, Fu Xuan's gaze darkened.
"That woman... she really is the traitor of the Luofu!"
"Issue my command: put Dan Shu on the wanted list across the entire Xianzhou!"
"And one more thing!"
"Send an envoy to the Alchemy Commission to investigate!"
"Dan Shu has been lurking on the Luofu for a long time. Now that her identity is exposed, she will surely burn her bridges and do something even more terrifying."
As she issued her orders, Fu Xuan's fingers continued to calculate. Suddenly, a look of horror flashed in her eyes.
"...The Stellaron... the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus..."
"Could their goal be... the Ambrosial Arbor!?"
...
In The Shackles of Doom.
Jingliu and Luocha stood before Yanqing. Jingliu's face was covered by black gauze, making it impossible to read her expression. Luocha, on the other hand, wore a look of mercy. He held out a golden ornament, and a flash of cyan light pulsed from it.
On the ground, Yanqing's body trembled slightly. He flipped over and stood up instantly, his eyes scanning his surroundings with alertness. Realizing he had been saved by the people in front of him, he relaxed his guard slightly.
"Thank you, big brother... and you too, big sister."
Yanqing's eyes narrowed slightly. He sensed a dangerous aura emanating from the woman behind the black gauze. Looking at the nearby wall of ice that completely separated this place from the Cloud Knights outside, his mouth hung open slightly.
This situation was completely beyond his expectations! These two who had saved him didn't seem like friendly characters either!
Nonetheless, Yanqing gritted his teeth and said, "You two, help me capture these three wanted criminals, and the Luofu will surely remember your kindness!"
On the other side, Bladeone of the three Stellaron Hunters presentlaughed as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world.
"Hehehehe... hahaha..."
"Boy, do you even know who that person next to you is!!!"
The corners of his mouth curled into a sickle-like arc, revealing a very "healthy" smile! Holding an ancient sword, he lunged toward Jingliu!
Yanqing's gaze intensified. He instinctively summoned his sword to block for Jingliu.
However, the crazed Blade swung his sword down, creating a blood-red streak in the air!
Yanqing's pupils shrank. His sword was knocked flying from the impact! A wave of immense pain washed over his entire body!
Meanwhile, Blade leaped high into the air like a predatory beast. A brilliant, dark red light pulsed from his hand as he prepared for a final execution!
Just then, a golden light pierced through the frozen dome. A massive blade descended from above.
Yanqing was both surprised and moved. He blurted out, "General!!!"
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