Herta summoned a fourth mirror for Lin Yi to inspect himself.
"My dear master, how may I serve you?" the mirror said in an exaggerated tone.
Herta looked faintly disgusted.
"Don't move. Just act like a normal mirror."
Lin Yi examined his reflection.
Then he swung the branch in his hand a few times.
Yes... it did look a little awkward.
It didn't quite match the overall style.
After studying it for a moment, Lin Yi suddenly snapped his fingers.
"Got it."
Two thorned vines extended from the crown on his head down to his wrists.
Then they separated from the crown.
Starting at his wrists, the vines curved outward in wide arcs, spiraling around the branch in his hand.
Like a double helix of DNA.
"Spiral Sword."
"Now the style matches."
"Even if the function is still the same—hitting people with it through durability and flexibility."
"But now it looks good."
After all—
Appearance was justice.
Power mattered only for a moment.
Beauty lasted forever.
Herta stared at him in confusion.
"So why are you so stubbornly attached to that ridiculous branch?"
"You have plenty of equipment that suits you."
"Even if your Phase Walker broke, don't you still have other weapons?"
Lin Yi had been waiting for exactly this question.
Just as Herta said—
This was his carefully prepared moment to show off.
He answered casually.
"Oh, this?"
"This branch was also a gift from Yaoshi."
"I only took it out because it matched the theme."
Meanwhile, Herta had secretly collected a blood sample while examining him earlier.
If something could be taken for free, why not?
She knew Lin Yi well.
If she didn't get a sample now, she would have to trade curios for one later.
That shameless man always demanded outrageous prices whenever she wanted something.
Sometimes Herta suspected her entire collection of curios existed solely to become Lin Yi's bargaining currency.
Yet annoyingly enough—
He often discovered bizarre artifacts she found irresistibly interesting.
Because her thoughts were focused on research, she answered absentmindedly when she heard him.
"Oh, I see."
Then she suddenly looked up.
"...Wait."
"You said this branch was also a gift from Yaoshi?"
"It looks like an ordinary branch."
"Let me see it."
Herta snorted.
"Tch. Treating a broken twig like treasure."
She was obviously trying to provoke him into revealing its secret.
Lin Yi happily obliged.
"How did you know it was Yaoshi's token?"
"If you break it, you can summon Yaoshi and make one wish."
"Who asked you?!"
Herta exploded immediately.
"Can I study both you and that branch?"
"You can name any condition!"
"Anything!"
"I'll give you everything I own if I have to!"
Lin Yi refused at once.
"No interest."
"No."
"Not lending it."
"Not giving it."
"I haven't even studied it myself."
"And besides... even if the chance is small..."
"What if you break it?"
"I'd be heartbroken."
Herta clenched her teeth.
"Fine."
"I'll assist with the research."
"But when you study it, I must participate."
Lin Yi pretended to consider it for a moment.
"Since you came all this way to check whether I was safe..."
"I suppose I can reluctantly agree."
Herta raised an eyebrow.
"I already told you checking whether you were dead was only incidental."
"Unfortunately, you're still alive."
"And if Polka Kakamu shows up again, I'm not coming next time."
"Abundance Emanators are basically immortal turtles anyway."
"Using such broad insults is rather impolite, Miss Herta."
A soft voice suddenly echoed through the room.
A figure in flowing Xianzhou robes slowly appeared.
Herta frowned.
"Hm? Liuli, what are you doing here?"
"I came to say goodbye."
"The door wasn't locked, so I let myself in."
"But it seems quite a lot has happened here."
The visitor was Yue Liuli.
A native of the Xianzhou.
Her real age had long since become impossible to verify.
In Xianzhou legend, she was known as the Moonlight Bodhisattva.
"Moonlight Samadhi illuminates all beings."
Unfortunately, even as an Emanator of Abundance, she could not escape the physical limitations of Xianzhou natives.
She would never grow taller.
And she absolutely hated anyone mentioning her age.
Too young or too old—both were forbidden subjects.
Yue Liuli.
An Emanator of Abundance.
That the Xianzhou—a stronghold of the Hunt—would produce an Emanator of Abundance was surprising.
Yet somehow, it also made perfect sense.
The Xianzhou hunted Abundance monstrosities.
But at the same time, they practiced many of Abundance's virtues: healing, selflessness, and compassion.
Anyone who came seeking medicine—as long as they did not seek immortality—would be treated.
The Xianzhou frequently sent medical envoys to aid other civilizations.
According to historical records, since the founding of the Xianzhou Alliance, they had cured thousands of once-incurable diseases.
The Xianzhou themselves were immune to illness.
They had no practical need to devote resources to medicine.
Yet they had continued doing so for centuries.
Because of that, Yue Liuli's existence occupied an awkward place within the Alliance.
The Xianzhou constantly emphasized opposition to Abundance monsters.
Yet Yue Liuli stood as a living contradiction.
Even though they understood Abundance itself was not inherently evil, openly acknowledging her would create severe political complications.
So her existence remained hidden.
In addition, a prophecy calculated by generations of Xianzhou diviners foretold a coming War of the Aeons.
Recent calculations by Yaoguang, master strategist of the Jade Abacus Commission, and Fu Xuan of the Xianzhou Luofu—blessed with Nous's divine eye—had reached the same conclusion.
Because of that prophecy, the Xianzhou erased all public records of Yue Liuli.
Only the highest levels of leadership knew she existed.
She remained hidden in the shadows, preparing for the coming War of the Aeons.
If such a war truly erupted, every faction in the universe would be dragged into it.
The Path of the Hunt was not especially broad among the Aeons.
If one day Lan, the Reignbow Arbiter who protected the Xianzhou, were to fall—
What would become of the Alliance?
The Xianzhou had relied on Lan for too long.
They could barely imagine a future without his protection.
So they prepared.
Even if those preparations might ultimately prove useless.
If they could not influence the struggle between Aeons, they would at least secure enough power to crush the factions beneath them.
Only then could the Xianzhou survive.
Yue Liuli spoke calmly.
"First—"
"The Panacea Project has concluded."
"I am finally free again."
"I have remained in one place for far too long."
"Second—"
"The Marshal has issued a summons."
"The Xianzhou may soon face turmoil."
"I must return."
"Third..."
She glanced at Lin Yi and smiled.
"Third, you no longer need my help."
"You have become an Emanator of Abundance."
Lin Yi felt a trace of nostalgia.
Time had passed quickly.
Once again, it was time to part with an old friend.
"I understand."
"If you've made your decision, I won't stop you."
"We all live long lives."
"We'll surely meet again someday."
"When that day comes, we'll share a drink together."
Yue Liuli nodded.
"Of course."
"And thank you for helping with the research of the Panacea."
"Without your assistance, it would never have been created so smoothly."