At this moment, Danshu still didn't know that a certain terrifying creature was riding over on horseback.
Because the Stellaron Hunters had been arrested and the hidden danger removed, the Alchemy Commission reopened.
Standing in the room and looking toward the withered Ambrosial Arbor in the distance, Danshu's eyes flickered.
Without Phantylia around, she didn't dare use the Stellaron so easily to revive the Ambrosial Arbor.
Doing that would mean declaring war on the Luofu and the Xianzhou Alliance.
As merely the leader of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, she didn't have the courage to stand against a giant like the Xianzhou Alliance.
Looking at the opened box on the table, Danshu's expression was conflicted.
She didn't know whether the Ambrosial Arbor, this miracle bestowed by the Plagues Author, could really bring that person back to life.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Hurried footsteps came from outside, followed by the door being pushed open.
A member of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus rushed in.
Seeing the panic on the other's face, Danshu remained calm.
"What happened?"
"W-We... among the people we sent to Scalegorge Waterscape, there's a traitor!"
"What?!"
The calm on Danshu's face shattered. She staggered back two steps and leaned against the window.
Turning to look at the motionless Ambrosial Arbor, her expression darkened.
Last night, under cover of darkness, several suicide squads from the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus had taken the Stellaron to Scalegorge Waterscape, waiting for the order to revive the Ambrosial Arbor.
But no one had expected that there would be a traitor among them.
"I didn't expect there to be Cloud Knights hiding among us..."
She had thought only the Cloud Knights had her people among them. She never expected her people to have Cloud Knights among them as well.
'What do you mean by you have my people and I have yours!'
———
"Hm?"
Levi, who had been peeking at Qingque's private messages, put down the jade abacus terminal and looked toward the Alchemy Commission as if sensing something.
After blinking twice, his expression instantly became serious.
He found Fu Xuan's contact information in Qingque's terminal.
Then he called her.
She picked up very quickly.
"Hello, Qingque. What do you want? Don't tell me you're asking for leave again?"
Fu Xuan's voice came from the other side. Levi opened his mouth and spoke rapidly.
"This is bad, Master Fu Xuan! Something happened at the Alchemy Commission!"
'The Alchemy Commission?'
Hadn't it just been reopened?
At the moment, Jing Yuan still hadn't arranged for the residents who originally lived there to return.
There shouldn't be many people there right now.
Even if something happened, it probably wouldn't have much impact.
Still, no matter how big or small the matter was, as the Master Diviner of the Divination Commission, she had to take it seriously.
Frowning, she asked, "Calm down. What happened?"
"Levi is over at the Alchemy Commission right now. It looks like the place is full of Disciples of Sanctus Medicus members. They've occupied the Supreme Elixir Chamber too.
"And the Stellaron is in their hands. They're taking it to Scalegorge Waterscape right now!"
Taking the Stellaron to Scalegorge Waterscape?
What could they do there?
There was only one answer...
"The Ambrosial Arbor!"
Fu Xuan's expression changed drastically.
If the long-silent Ambrosial Arbor revived once again, it would definitely not be good news for the Luofu!
"Tell Levi to leave the Alchemy Commission immediately!"
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Looking at the disconnected call, Levi lowered the jade abacus terminal and stared toward the Alchemy Commission, not knowing what he was thinking.
At this moment, Qingque spoke, 'You... were telling the truth?'
Even though she knew about her unbeatable divination ability, she still found it hard to believe what Levi had said.
The Ambrosial Arbor had looked like this ever since she was born.
With the long lifespan of the Xianzhou people, no one alive today had seen it in full bloom.
Such an enormous tree, and one of the Plagues Author's creations.
If it revived...
It might be beautiful, but it wouldn't be a good sight.
"Do you know what it means if the Ambrosial Arbor revives?", Levi suddenly asked.
Qingque froze, 'What does it mean?'
Levi suddenly grinned.
"It means there'll be fruit to eat!"
The Ambrosial Arbor... fruit...
'Hey, hey, it's fine if you tell me, but don't go telling other people that!'
Qingque became anxious. She was afraid this fool would actually tell others.
The ancestors of the Xianzhou people gained immortality by eating the fruit of the Ambrosial Arbor.
If Levi could eat its fruit, he would naturally gain immortality as well.
But...
On the Luofu... no, not just the Luofu, on any Xianzhou ship... seeking immortality was the greatest sin of all, a crime listed among the Ten Unforgivable Evils.
Qingque grew anxious.
'I advise you to calm down!'
If the Ambrosial Arbor really revived, everyone's attention on the Luofu would be focused on it.
Levi wouldn't have any chance to steal from it.
If he really wanted it... the best time would be after chaos broke out, taking advantage of the confusion.
With Levi's strength, if he wanted to do it, no one would notice.
Levi withdrew his gaze and smiled.
"Seeking fallen immortality, the first of the Ten Unforgivable Evils. Qingque, you're much more evil than I am."
'You're quite good at making plans.'
'I didn't say anything.'
Qingque turned her head away.
Wasn't she allowed to think about it in her own head?
The Xianzhou couldn't convict people based on their thoughts.
If people were really judged by their thoughts, more than half the Xianzhou would end up locked away.
She might even run into Fu Xuan in there.
'So you absolutely, absolutely must not take advantage of the chaos and go to the Alchemy Commission, follow the route where the Vidyadhara transform into dragons, get close to the Ambrosial Arbor, secretly take some fruit, and then return to Exalting Sanctum by drifting downstream from the opposite direction.'
"..."
Levi was silent for a moment.
Listening to the route Qingque had already planned out, he silently gave her a thumbs-up.
"Tomorrow I'm reporting you to Fu Xuan."
'Hey!' Qingque shouted. 'Do you have any evidence? I'm a perfectly law-abiding citizen. If you accuse an innocent citizen without evidence, you'll get your head chopped off!'
'Huh? I'd get my head chopped off just for reporting someone?'
'What kind of rule is that?'
'Hey, I just thought of another idea.'
King of Ideas Qingque spoke again.
Levi put on a listening expression.
'Let's see what other brilliant ideas you, future repeat offender of Shackling Prison, have.'
'You can reveal your strength and use that giant sword of yours to chop down the Ambrosial Arbor.'
Throughout the process, you have to act like you're eliminating a threat for the Xianzhou.
'Then release Phantylia and let her slap you. By complete accident, you crash into the Ambrosial Arbor and very coincidentally take a bite out of one of the fruits.'
Although she didn't know if one bite would be enough...
'Oh well!'
'If one bite isn't enough, do it a few more times. You looked half-dead from exhaustion when you dealt with Phantylia last time anyway. A few extra slaps won't hurt.'
That way, Levi could legally obtain the ability to turn into a mara-struck monster.
Well, not exactly legally.
But at least the Xianzhou Alliance wouldn't put out a warrant for him afterward.
After listening, the corner of Levi's mouth twitched.
"Have you considered whether Phantylia would cooperate?"
'If she won't cooperate, slap her twice and see if she still dares not cooperate.'
Hearing Qingque's domineering tone, Levi gave another thumbs-up.
Then he turned and walked outside.
Qingque sensed something was wrong and quickly asked, 'What are you going to do?'
What else could he do?
Levi flashed a row of white teeth.
"I'm going to turn myself in to Jing Yuan."
At first Qingque didn't care.
After all, she had only been thinking these things. Even if someone came looking for her, she wasn't afraid.
Who heard her say any of it?
'Who heard it, tell me!'
But then Qingque suddenly realized that in other people's eyes, Levi was probably, maybe... her.
If he turned himself in... Wouldn't that be the same as her turning herself in.
If someone else reported it, she could still argue her case, but if she turned herself in herself, she'd be finished.
'Don't turn yourself in! Don't turn yourself in!!'
'Don't turn yourself in!!!'
"..."
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