Chapter 560: with translation of chapter title

Well, this is great—Bai Lu was clearly sitting in front of the guest room's makeup mirror one second, and the next second she was thrown onto the undead wasteland in the northern part of the dungeon.

What? Uh...

Looking at the surrounding horde of demons and monsters, the one who had just come to their senses didn't scream but instead smoothed their clothes and calmly stood up.

Who are you?

Unfortunately, all they got in return was a sound without source or origin, as if coming from the void.

And who are you?

Heh.

Following the usual routine, Bai Lu had also guessed that this would be such a meaningless answer.

So she simply drew her wand, and, in a posture like wielding a sword, she drew a circle on the ground, creating a temporary micro magic circle to encircle herself before speaking in a low voice.

I think you're not from the dense forest.

Who would have thought that the void voice would also mess with people's minds, and it immediately replied.

I think you're not from the dense forest either.

Not knowing the situation, not knowing the opponent, and unable to extract any intelligence, she is now in an absolute disadvantage.

But in the critical moment, Bai Lu displayed a composure completely unbefitting her youthful face.

You're definitely not from the dense forest, nor are you from the Holy Light; you have no smell of copper, and you have nothing to do with the god of wealth.

Even after being deceived by the opponent, she could still maintain a clear train of thought.

After eliminating all the wrong answers, she arrived at a conclusion that might be somewhat crazy.

I think you... are people from the Soul Spirit Holy See!?

Ji Ming: Damn, really? You actually guessed that?

However, even after his identity was exposed, the thick-skinned Ji Ming didn't lose his composure.

Instead, he kept an ambiguous tone and continued speaking in riddles.

Whether it is or not, what does it matter? You're just a lamb awaiting slaughter; knowing too much is pointless.

As soon as his words fell, Ji Ming felt a disturbance behind him.

Sorry sorry, I'm late!

Just like the archangel Sylvia, who's been busy patrolling the wasteland lately, and Grisen, who went to reclaim land in Betamos.

The Production Team's operation has grown large, so not everyone can be summoned at any time and place.

So that's 'Apel', who's been busy recently renovating the Spirit Trial Tower, swamped with work, and should have just squeezed out time to come over for team building.

And while apologizing to the company boss, a side of its cheek quietly split open, revealing an eye that likes to keep watch.

But after curiously glancing at the team-building target, 'Apel's' originally fawning expression changed like a Sichuan opera face‑flip into terror.

!!!

Ji Ming immediately turned his head and saw that Bai Lu was still the same Bai Lu, not transformed into some indescribable iron‑plate squid or a swollen, ugly lump of meat.

He furrowed his brows and asked doubtfully.

What's wrong?

As a conglomerate of countless useless offspring of the Dark Flame family, the resentful 'Apel' was now trembling with fear.

After a long while, among the many personalities, a pitiful little one was finally pushed out to reply.

Report, sir! That... that... is Hetelucia!

The onlooking crowd: 'Ah?'

The crowd farther away: 'Ah?'

Little boss: 【Ah?】

Ji Ming: 'Who?'

Um, this, please listen as I explain slowly.

As everyone knows, according to the general theorem of the fantasy world, the longer the name, the stronger the power; the stranger the title, the faster the pretentiousness.

Therefore, this lady who has a full five phonetic sounds as her name also possesses a resounding epithet in history—the Iron‑Wristed Saintess.

What, she's the Iron‑Wristed Saintess?

In Ji Ming's impression, this person can be said to have changed the history of Yangyue Star, a genuine hardcore badass, a heaven‑sent fierce woman.

Even just considering that she single‑handedly held up a collapsing mansion, united the formerly fragmented anti‑Dark Flame forces into an army, and crushed the Dark Flame Empire's betrayal plot.

In terms of merit, ability, and historical value, she already surpasses the Little Lion, who is called the 'emperor of all ages,' by a few points.

... After all, the civilization history of Yangyue Star spans tens of thousands of years, so over such a timespan the value of 'eternal' is really low.

So this hero, crowned with the name 'Iron‑Wrist,' even if he can't have people stand on his shoulder or horses run on his arm...

At least he must be big and thick, of extremely high purity, able to single‑handedly press the disobedient Ke Li Si Ting, who is huffing, to the ground and love her fiercely.

Ke Li Si Ting:???

But this Bai Lu looks extremely weak... weak... uh, in short, she's weak everywhere, extremely weak!

Moreover.

But wasn't she supposed to have died shortly after the final battle in the underground fortress, having exhausted everything, naturally withered, turned to ash and died?

But faced with Ji Ming's question, 'Apel' just kept shaking its head.

Sorry, sir, I don't know; I can recognize her as the saintess only because my second sister once saw her without a mask.

After being reminded by the Dark Flame family's little one, Ji Ming suddenly recalled.

Exactly, even though I have three survivors from ten thousand years ago under my command, they all died in that battle, so they have no idea what happened afterward.

Even if Demon Lord Patricia, that old fogey, was willing to share her wisdom with him, back then she couldn't even get away, let alone have the energy to investigate how the saintess really died.

—Of course, after hearing the saintess's death news, I still have the energy to open a bottle of champagne.

"No way, little boss, think carefully—she really is the Iron‑fisted Saintess?"

The little boss is still capable, immediately posting a fake "Please wait" progress bar to verify.

After having disappeared for a long time.

Huh, sorry for the long wait; I just scanned the world laws and made an astonishing discovery!

"Speak."

Iron‑fisted Saintess He Te Lu Xi Ya—most traces of her existence on this planet have been erased!

Although later historians, when studying the millennium‑scale war ten thousand years ago that decided the fate of Yangyue World, attribute the scarcity of sources—especially those concerning the Iron‑fisted Saintess—to the subsequent centuries‑long chaotic wars that destroyed countless civilizational records.

But Yangyue World is vast and full of extraordinary people; no matter how fierce they fight, they cannot erase every historical document, especially the precious records about a figure as prominent as the Iron‑fisted Saintess.

—Unless someone did it on purpose.

Then who is this powerful being that can even reach into the layer of world laws?

Although Ji Ming still cannot discern the mystery behind it, at least now he has the confidence to continue the riddle.

So after using cold‑shoulder tactics to leave He Te Lu Xi Ya hanging for a while, the mysterious voice spoke again.

"Madam, you seem to think you're an excellent detective."

"Hehe, do you think you can, by yourself alone, pierce the darkness that has shrouded Yangyue World's sky for tens of thousands of years?"

"You…"

Even though she was just forcibly pulled into the dungeon by Ji Ming with no change, for the first time He Te Lu Xi Ya's face showed a different expression.

But she quickly composed herself and followed the voice.

"The wind and rain sway, turmoil approaches; I wonder whether you anticipate a reshuffle or a revolution?"

Whoa, seems I've riled you up enough to ask me directly about my stance.

However, as the force behind the Pioneers, Ji Ming felt the question required no answer, so he simply reiterated his stance aloud.

"I think my position is clear."

He Te Lu Xi Ya immediately replied.

"Then I think my position is also clear!"

Ji Ming pondered for a moment.

"God of the Deep Forest, not trustworthy."

And He Te Lu Xi Ya's answer was.

"The entire Deep Forest is untrustworthy!"

With that said, both sides had made their attitudes and positions clear, leaving no riddles left.

Thus, as the host, Ji Ming directly declared the battle over.

"Since that's the case, let's end this silent riddle and speak openly."

Having said that, he activated a teleportation spell, moving himself and He Te Lu Xi Ya to an empty room in the high‑tower castle.

But to maintain his aura, Ji Ming still did not reveal his true form, showing only a vague shadow.

"Allow me to introduce myself: I am the Sovereign of Living Beings, a deity from the Infinite Upper Realm, summoned by the will of Yangyue World."

This should be Ji Ming's first completely proper and thorough self‑introduction since his crossing, at least as genuine as possible.

But the Iron‑fisted Saintess's reply was even more astonishing; after a brief hesitation, He Te Lu Xi Ya cut straight to the chase and asked.

"So which incarnation of the Savior are you?"

Ji Ming:???

"Isn't that a little secret between our past Saviors and you? How could she possibly know?"

【I don't know!】

"My god, I waited so long only to finally meet a historical figure weighty enough to say that line and brag—completely ruined!"

Nevertheless, though Ji Ming found it hard to keep his composure inside, his face managed to hold together.

Unflustered, he simply uttered a number.

"By your counting method, I am the one‑hundred‑and‑forty‑seventh."

"One hundred forty‑seven…"

He Te Lu Xi Ya muttered it, then burst into laughter.

"Ha, it seems the events from ten thousand years ago really bother it! After that, it called in so many outsiders in one go."

Ji Ming naturally sensed her unabashed displeasure and asked, puzzled.

"You seem quite upset by that behavior?"

He Te Lu Xi Ya ignored him, looked around, and found a chair for herself.

She glanced at her skirt and finally restrained the urge to place her foot on the table.

She only slightly lifted her head, proudly saying.

"Ten thousand years ago, the one who shattered their plot wasn't any kind of Savior!"

That's actually a truthful statement; after all, the Savior the little boss summoned back then was earnest and diligent, truly wholehearted.

But his strength was truly lacking, and his strategic planning was terrible, so he died in battle early on to protect his subordinates.

Although this is indeed a heroic act worthy of praise, compared with other heroes who held out until the final second…

Sorry, it's truly impossible to engrave the name at the front.

Thinking of this, Ji Ming could probably guess why He Te Lu Xi Ya's attitude grew more awkward after hearing he came from another universe.

—You all keep calling yourselves saviors, but does the round‑score even reach the level of my foot‑washing water?

There's nothing to be done; who asked those things, worse than foot-washing water, to be his old seniors? Ji Ming could only reluctantly acknowledge them for now.

"Very good, I like your arrogance; let me guess, your attitude toward the Pioneers is……"

Perhaps a sharp tongue is a common trait among all the old ladies of Yang Moon; naturally, there is only one merciless sentence.

"Uncontrollable, indisciplined; if it weren't for the existence of that whatever River Crab System, they'd be hardly different from the Dark Flame Dregs!"

This is also true, after all, for game NPCs, if "players" were really something good, they wouldn't have the reputation of the Fourth Calamity.

But!

"Controllability does indeed exist, right? Moreover, although they inevitably have some faults toward Yang Moon, their achievements are ultimately greater."

"Slaying walking corpses, fighting nobles, suppressing beast tides, quelling wolf disasters, resisting Deep Forest invasions, aiding Yang Moon's benevolence—these are indisputable objective facts."

Having said that, Ji Ming deliberately paused; fortunately, Heteluxiya drew a slight breath, preparing to speak and refute, when he unleashed a perfect see-through.

"I……"

"Are you worried that if one day our current problems are solved, losing the enemy, the Pioneers will become a new problem?"

What followed was a closely successive, incredibly smooth heavy blow to the head.

"Don't worry, it won't happen; leaving aside that the River Crab System won't disappear, it will always control their behavior, at least preventing them from becoming Yang Moon's next calamity."

"The Pioneers also have their own lives in another world; Yang Moon is ultimately just a fleeting illusion used as a balancing factor, at least not as important as you see it."

"……"

Although Ji Ming's speech remained as steady as ever, Heteluxiya, whose skill had been forcibly interrupted, was clearly disgusted by him.

Not to mention his speech speed, even his body, which had been slightly leaning back, straightened up again.

He let out a cold snort.

"Heh, your words sound nice, but I wish it were true!"

After speaking, she mimicked him by closing her mouth, also hoping to ambush with a see-through.

Unfortunately, Ji Ming had no intention of speaking at all, and moreover, he was still just a vague black shadow.

Pitch black, the model was as broken as a blown graphics card—where could she see any wind-up?

She pressed her lips tightly, and in the end could only sigh weakly.

"Besides, what about the agreed-upon frank talk? I've already come to terms with it, so why are you still hiding behind this ridiculous veil?"

Seeing that the opponent's psychological defense was just a hair's breadth away, Ji Ming unleashed his final move.

"Frankness? Yeah, just frankness—so since you only showed your face, I'll only reveal my identity; isn't that fair?"

"You!"

Sure enough, Heteluxiya's anger flared up instantly.

She slammed the table and stood up, glaring fiercely as she spoke angrily.

"You already know who I am, don't you? Why are you still deceiving me like this!"