"Just an Inner Alchemist. Problem solved."
After blasting the Disciple of Sanctus Medicus into oblivion, Su Heng ran a quick scan.
No treasure chest.
Not even a wooden one.
The Dan Shu Division was poor.
Suspiciously poor.
Which made him wonder—
Were the real chests tied to people instead?
For example… Bailu?
That made sense.
As Baiheng's reincarnation, Bailu had broken the old reincarnation cycle of the Imbibitor Lunae lineage. She had been personally designated by Dan Feng as the next Dragon Sovereign of the Xianzhou.
And, if memory served—
She was a very cute little dragon girl.
"Jing Yuan, he's still breathing. Want to interrogate him?" Su Heng asked.
"No need," Jing Yuan replied flatly.
"We won't get anything out of him. End it."
His gaze was ice-cold.
Toward Abundance abominations.
Toward the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus.
There was no mercy left in him.
At least this incident did one thing—
It significantly lowered suspicion toward one group.
The Stellaron Hunters.
Yes—them.
At this moment, Kafka had already slipped into the Luofu before the Jade Gate sealed shut. Blade had been captured, after all—
as a teammate, breaking him out was practically mandatory.
And with Silver Wolf around, the Xianzhou's defenses were… manageable.
Of course, the Hunters weren't cleared completely.
After something like this, everyone was suspicious.
Who revived the Disciples?
Who contacted Xianzhou's upper ranks?
Who coordinated the Borisin beastship attack on Tingyun's convoy?
Someone was pulling the strings.
"Damn it… I was so close…"
The alchemist laughed weakly, blood bubbling at his lips.
"But do you really think this is over, General Jing Yuan?"
"Merciful Medicus—Arbor, arise!"
Crack.
Su Heng's mimetic Star of Eden settled neatly against the man's neck.
A small, controlled mimetic black hole followed.
Not big.
Just enough.
"Antimatter black holes, casually generated…" Jing Yuan sighed.
"You really are worthy of Nous's favor."
To Jing Yuan, Su Heng was simply an Emanator of Erudition, so black holes were… unusual, but not shocking.
Emanators of Nous were all lunatics anyway.
"The Dan Shu Division really took a hit," Jing Yuan muttered.
"Half of it gone."
"Hey, at least I didn't blow up the whole thing," Su Heng shrugged.
"Let's hope the alchemists forgive us."
Outside the Dan Shu Division, chaos reigned.
Alchemists.
Xianzhou citizens.
Foreigners who loved spectating disasters.
Everyone was talking at once.
"Did you feel that just now?!"
"Was that the General's Divine Avatar?!"
"No way—that didn't look like his technique!"
"You think you recognize all of the General's moves? How old are you?"
Su Heng felt a little disappointed.
No chest.
Not even after destroying half the Division.
But there was good news.
Jing Yuan didn't ask him to pay for repairs.
If he did…
Su Heng would've had to go arrest Kafka and Blade.
One was worth 108 billion credits.
The other, 80 billion.
The IPC really was rich.
Jing Yuan, meanwhile, seemed oddly satisfied.
"Let's go," he said.
"I gained quite a bit today."
"Though I did mean to give you a tour… instead of this."
Su Heng snorted.
Jing Yuan's intentions were obvious.
Once the Stellaron crisis ended, the Alliance's higher-ups would investigate everything.
And Su Heng's identity?
Nameless of the Astral Express
Native of Jarilo-VI
Emanator of Erudition
Genius Society Seat #85
With credentials like that backing Jing Yuan's judgment, even Huaiyan would have to tread carefully.
"Don't worry," Su Heng said lazily.
"Just cover our expenses while we're here."
"Done," Jing Yuan smiled.
"All costs on me."
"Except for a few restricted domains, you may roam freely."
"The Divine Foresight is open to you as well."
"How about that?"
Su Heng raised an eyebrow.
"General Jing Yuan, you really know how to bargain."
"You want us to act as bait, don't you?"
"Draw out the Disciples. Force the mastermind to move."
Jing Yuan didn't deny it.
"Manpower is short," he said calmly.
"And besides—you're an old friend's descendant."
"And Trailblazers do enjoy excitement."
"So?" he asked lightly.
"Care to be my hidden piece?"
"When this is over, the Luofu won't refuse you anything."
"…Alright," Su Heng nodded.
"But my companions might disagree."
March 7th and Stelle?
They'd be thrilled.
Welt?
After escaping Tesla's grasp and no longer raising Joyce?
At ninety-plus years old, he was eager for adventure.
"Though," Su Heng added, smiling,
"you're really not worried we brought the Stellaron ourselves?"
"I'm an Emanator, you know."
Jing Yuan met his gaze steadily.
"Trust, once given, is not withdrawn."
"I've always been confident in my judgment of people."
"Fair enough."
Su Heng waved and turned to leave.
"With this many eyes on us, people might start thinking we've got… connections."
Jing Yuan laughed softly.
Back near Changletian, Su Heng's phone connected to the Luofu network.
Notifications exploded.
BREAKING! Jade Gate sealed—what are they hiding?!
SHOCKING! Luofu trembles—Disciples' plot or Diviner coup?!
INSIDER LEAK! Fu Xuan ambushed the General and failed—now detained?!
EXCLUSIVE! Qingque solo-kills Fu Xuan—truth behind the Mahjong conspiracy!!
THE TRUTH REVEALED! Everything was Qingque's plan!!
Ancient Sea disturbance detected—Arbor revival suspected!
Vidyadhara Elders respond: "The Arbor is stable. Do not spread rumors."
Dan Shu Division & Artisanship Commission sealed!
Galaxy-wide manhunt issued for Kafka!
Su Heng stared at the screen.
"…Honestly," he muttered,
"these people put certain southern tabloids to shame."
Fu Xuan assassinating Jing Yuan.
Qingque becoming the new Grand Diviner.
Absolute nonsense.
The only reliable headline?
Kafka wanted.
Posters were already plastered along the streets of Xuanye Avenue.
As for the portrait—
"…Did Pela draw this?"
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
patreon.com/nani_kaito