Alchemy Commission.
At this moment, under Tingyun's guidance, the Astral Express crew had arrived at the area.
Looking at the Cloud Knights everywhere—already twisted into mara-struck forms—Fu Xuan clenched her teeth in fury.
"Disciples of the Sanctus Medicus… just you wait."
Thick mist filled the Alchemy Commission, so dense that she couldn't even take a step forward.
She could only turn her gaze toward the Astral Express crew.
"This fog induces mara. I cannot approach it. I'll have to trouble you all to go inside and shut it down."
She was already upset about losing the game earlier, and now the Sanctus Medicus had stirred up this mess on top of that.
Fu Xuan was seriously starting to wonder if her luck had just been abysmal lately—why did all the bad things seem to pile onto her at once?
"Madam Diviner, you're too polite. Leave it to us."
Since they were all players anyway, and might very well be clearing games together in the future, Welt naturally stepped forward.
"Eh~~~ This door… could it be Lord Valerius?"
Suddenly, sharp-eyed Tingyun spotted a red door, standing out conspicuously in the area.
Almost instantly, she guessed who had arrived.
But inwardly, she was screaming.
Why now?!
I already decided not to attack the Xianzhou! I just wanted a body and then leave! Why did you show up at this exact moment?!
"It really is."
Fu Xuan's eyes lit up.
If Valerius was here, then this incident would probably be resolved very quickly.
Stepping out of the Anywhere Door, Valerius immediately noticed countless gazes locking onto him.
"Hey."
He greeted casually and walked forward.
The moment he got close, Tingyun moved faster than anyone else, immediately stepping up beside him.
"Oh my~ With Lord Valerius present, the mere Disciples of the Sanctus Medicus are nothing to fear. Even if an Emanator of Destruction were to appear in person, they'd probably tuck their tails and flee!"
Her tone was sincere—so sincere it sounded like nothing in the world couldn't be solved as long as Valerius was here.
"Uh… I'm just here to take a look."
Valerius waved his hands repeatedly.
"Don't expect me to help. You handle your own mess."
He wanted to get along with the players, sure—but that didn't mean everything should be dumped on him.
"Oh my, Lord Valerius, why say such things~ We're not strangers. Can't you help just a little?"
"Nope. Just watching."
Hearing this, Tingyun finally relaxed a little—but she still pressed on.
"Then… what if an Emanator of Destruction shows up?"
"Heh."
Valerius glanced at her with a half-smile and spoke slowly, word by word.
"As long as things don't get too out of hand, I don't care whether it's an Emanator of Destruction or an Emanator of Abundance."
He made his position clear.
As long as you don't cause too much chaos or delay people from participating in the game, do whatever you want.
But if someone's missing when it's time to start a game—
Then you'll see how I deal with you.
"…In that case… never mind."
That pointed remark made Tingyun's heart skip a beat.
She had already suspected that Valerius could see through her.
Now, it seemed her true identity had been exposed long ago.
"Hmph. This is an internal affair of the Xianzhou. We cannot involve outsiders."
Fu Xuan coldly cut in.
"Why are you still standing around? Lead them in immediately. Once the device is shut down, I'll follow."
She had never liked Tingyun's demeanor to begin with.
"Yes, yes. Then this humble one shall guide our benefactors ahead."
Tingyun's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
Keep acting, will you? If Valerius weren't here, I'd make you understand why flowers are red today.
Once the group departed, Valerius finally turned to Fu Xuan.
"So—are you scared?"
"Hmph. Why would this seat fear mere mara-struck soldiers?"
"I'm asking whether you're afraid of becoming mara-struck yourself."
"…Not afraid."
"Really not afraid?"
"I said I'm not afraid!"
Fu Xuan almost cracked.
She wanted to shout that she was afraid—she was still young! She didn't want to fall to mara so soon!
"Heh."
Valerius found it amusing.
Not afraid, my ass.
If she took one more step forward, her legs would probably start shaking.
They didn't have to wait long.
The fog within the Alchemy Commission slowly began to dissipate.
"It worked!"
Fu Xuan clenched her fist in excitement.
Finally, that damned mist was gone.
It seemed the Astral Express crew might've been eliminated early in the game—but in reality, they were still extremely reliable.
Without hesitation, she led the Cloud Knights straight inside.
Inside the Alchemy Commission.
Dan Shu, leader of the Sanctus Medicus, was surrounded by Cloud Knights—yet she showed no fear.
"Phantylia, the Sanctus Medicus has fulfilled its part. It's time for you to honor your promise."
Her words sent a chill through many.
Phantylia—an Emanator of Destruction.
If such a being were truly inside the Luofu, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Yet to Dan Shu's horror—
No matter how she called out, there was no trace of Phantylia at all.
"Oh my~ An Emanator of Destruction? How terrifying."
Tingyun patted her chest, looking thoroughly frightened.
"Phantylia?"
"Phantylia… you lied to me!"
At that moment, Dan Shu realized something was terribly wrong.
Had she been… sold out?
Hadn't everything been agreed upon beforehand?
Why was Phantylia suddenly breaking her word?!
Meanwhile, Fu Xuan stood calmly to the side, arms crossed, quietly watching Dan Shu's breakdown.
"Phantylia! Come out!"
"Phantylia—!"
She cracked.
Dan Shu never imagined she'd be abandoned like this.
Surrounded by Cloud Knights with no Emanator in sight—she knew she was finished.
Watching her scream herself hoarse, Valerius covered his face.
Phantylia really doesn't play fair.
Still, in a strange way, Dan Shu was actually lucky.
If Phantylia had shown up, she'd probably be the first to die.
Now, at worst, she'd just be arrested.
At least she'd live.
"Seize her. Transfer her to the Ten-Lords Commission."
Having had enough of the spectacle, Fu Xuan waved her hand.
The Cloud Knights surged forward and captured Dan Shu with ease.
"Oh my~ So the mastermind has been caught."
Tingyun smiled gently, fan in hand.
"The mastermind?"
Fu Xuan's gaze was calm as she glanced sideways at her.
"Isn't that you?"
"Ehhh~~~ Madam Diviner, whatever do you mean~ How could this humble girl be the mastermind?"
"Heh. Phantylia, how long do you plan on keeping up the act?"
Fu Xuan's sharp stare locked onto her.
At that moment, Phantylia froze.
Exposed?
How?
That shouldn't be possible.
"You know how you were exposed?"
"…How?"
Since her identity had already been revealed, Phantylia stopped pretending.
Her form dissolved into a green ball of flame, floating in midair.
"You shouldn't have impersonated Tingyun."
"What do you mean?"
Phantylia didn't understand.
She had inherited all of Tingyun's memories.
Her actions were perfectly logical.
So where had she gone wrong?
"The real Tingyun isn't dead."
Fu Xuan answered calmly.
"She's currently being treated by Madam Ruan Mei."
Now that everyone was a player, Luocha had informed Jing Yuan about Tingyun's situation immediately.
The truth wasn't hard to uncover.
Their cooperation earlier had only been to see who this impostor truly was.
That single sentence stunned Phantylia into silence.
Tingyun… wasn't dead?
That was something she hadn't anticipated.
"No matter. A minor miscalculation."
The green flame drifted higher and higher.
"I am also a player. Lord Valerius will not act against me. And as for you all—"
"I don't even place you in my eyes."
With those words, she vanished completely from sight.
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