Chapter 142

「「Grand Diviner, you've returned. 」」

Just after finishing the interrogation, Xing saw the Grand Diviner returning with a unit of Cloud Rider troops.

「「Sorry for the wait, everyone. I've uncovered the mystery of the Medicine King's secret transmission." Fu Xuan explained with a slight apology, "Sorry, to prevent the secret from leaking, only I and the commander know about the Medicine King's secret transmission. 」」

「"This is a secret organization plotting to overthrow the alliance. They have long lurked in the shadows; this time the Stellaron's mischief finally forced them to reveal their tracks. Moreover, this disaster is unusually tied to them."」

「"The war is going badly, yet the Grand Diviner leads from the front, personally scouting enemy conditions—truly admirable." Walter praised. 」

「"Well… then it's not a big deal! 」」

Fu Xuan, flattered by this praise, felt a bit embarrassed, showing humility on her face, yet she couldn't suppress the smile at the corner of her mouth: "In divination, the diviner must personally engage; only with firsthand information can one approach the correct result…"

But she suddenly realized, her amber eyes widening: "Huh… wait! Who said the war was going badly? The Medicine King's secret transmission has been plotting for a long time with formidable means, yet our forces show no disadvantage—how can we say the war is going badly?"

「"You're waiting for us; you must want something again, right?" Xing said self-consciously. 」

Fu Xuan smiled faintly and nodded: "Looks like you're already prepared."

「"Ah, the first time I met your Lord Yusong, she had a nice saying…」」

Xiao San Yue was hamming it up, ignoring the faint displeasure on Ting Yun's face behind her, she pinched her voice to mimic Lord Yusong's tone: "This is internal affairs of the Astral Express; no need for you all to worry."

「"How in the blink of an eye have all these nasty tasks been dumped on us? Even the company wouldn't assign people like this!" Xiao San Yue complained, "And you're not planning to send us onto the battlefield to charge with the Cloud Riders, are you? 」」

「"Heh, how could that be? General Jingyuan said you all are extraordinary troops who arrived by fate, truly embodying the 'wonderful' character. The Cloud Riders' fierce assault just now was a show of force; now is the time to use the wonderful tactic—please, follow me. 」」

Fu Xuan led the group to the seaside, along the way she told them the history of the Luofu Dan Ding Si.

「"After receiving the Jianmu, the Dan Ding Si was once the most important bureau of the Luofu Astral Express; after all, they transformed all Astral Express personnel into immortal beings, and they also researched countless wondrous techniques from the Jianmu itself. 」」

「"But in the end, the alchemists were still unsatisfied, finding pleasure in manipulating life. Their research on the Jianmu was like drinking poison to quench thirst—the deeper they went, the more they craved. 」」

When Fu Xuan finished speaking on the light screen, inside a palace of Snezhnaya, Aleiqinuo gave Duotuolei a cold, sidelong glance.

Duotuolei also noticed the contempt in his colleague's eyes and said unhurriedly, "If the facts are truly as Miss Fu Xuan says, then the Astral Express folks are indeed hopelessly foolish."

「"Hah… I actually think they did the right thing. 」」

Aleiqinuo's sharp nails scraped across the ice‑lined tabletop, leaving a thin, long mark: "For those who toy with life, they truly deserve the harshest death."

The smile on Duotuolei's face faded slowly; although he knew his servant bore a grudge, he hadn't expected it to reach this point—it seems his former servant was more compatible with him.

「"I understand the thoughts of the Astral Express alchemists; for that wondrous tree, I too would continue researching it. However, I need to correct Fu Xuan's saying—'manipulating life'… is not an accurate description of the alchemists. 」」

「"On the contrary—I believe they are the ones who respect life the most on the Astral Express. 」」

「"Oh?" Aleiqinuo seemed to have heard some huge joke, her dark chuckle echoing in the vast hall: "You've become humorous, Duotuolei. 」」

Duotuolei didn't respond to her sarcasm, he said leisurely, "After all, if we grasp the mystery of life and discern the truth behind immortality, many problems of the Astral Express could be readily solved—perhaps the Abomination will one day be eradicated."

「"If we could fully study the power of the Abundance deity… what's sacrificing a few people? After all, the Astral Express is still too timid; to grasp truth, one must pay a great price. 」」

「"Study the power of a deity?" Aleiqinuo narrowed her eyes: "Don't you think anyone who harbors such an idea is utterly arrogant? 」」

「"A deity is merely a somewhat higher form of life." Duotuolei chuckled, "And what of a deity's power? As a scholar, one must respect all possibilities; if I had enough resources and time, I could create a deity myself. 」」

——

「"【The dawn bell awakens the dream within a dream, mist and rosy clouds gather and scatter beyond the self】…Everyone, do you see that over there? 」」

Fu Xuan led the group to the seaside, pointing to a nearby cauldron still puffing smoke; the swirling vapors drifted like rosy clouds, and for a moment it resembled a fairyland of jade chambers and heavenly palaces.

「"This is where ancient alchemists expounded the Dao of immortality. They erected cauldrons here, drawing power from the Jianmu to turn fantasies into reality. Because the vapor within the cauldron never ceases, it earned the name 【Misty Violet Pavilion】. 」」

Fu Xuan's face showed a hint of difficulty as she looked at the few: "Though the name is elegant, it's a dead ground in military tactics. As long as the cauldron stays lit and the misty vapors entwine, we cannot advance an inch."

「"Is this the reason the Cloud Rider troops lost control and fell into demonry?" Walter asked. 」

Fu Xuan nodded: "Exactly. The Medicine King's secret transmission has mixed into the mist spreading throughout the grotto‑heaven, blending with drugs that induce the Abomination. Unless we can march while holding our breath, the Cloud Rider troops will collapse without fighting."

Runeterra, Zaun.

「"Strange." Jin Kes withdrew her gaze from the light screen, deeply puzzled: "The Astral Express Alliance clearly has the tech to fly into the cosmic bank, yet they don't even prepare gas masks for the soldiers? 」」

「"You're telling me they can't even make this thing?" Jin Kes shook the flimsy mask in her hand; in Zaun, filled with various neurotoxins, such a device is practically a household necessity. 」

Although Zaun's tech level falls short of Piiertewofu, let alone the Astral Express, the basic know‑how of wearing a mask against toxic gas still exists.

「"If the Astral Express truly can't make gas masks, I'm genuinely curious how they've survived millennia across the galaxy. 」」

Xilke explained from the side: "Perhaps they were caught off guard? Before the march, Fu Xuan didn't tell the Cloud Rider troops who their enemy was—the Medicine King's secret transmission—so being ambushed is quite normal."

「"If this army were all equipped with masks… supplies would need another few days to prepare. But the Astral Express can't wait any longer; leaving the Medicine King's secret transmission unchecked for even more days, who knows what it will become? 」」