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"Boundless vengeance, endless pursuit, how many sorrows do you bear?"
"The Dawn Arrow poised on string, Golden eyes ablaze with fire, Let not the Imperial Bow look back."
—Xianzhou, Comprehensive Mirror for All Ages
In the live stream, through unknown technology and perhaps extreme slow-motion, Lan's figure was finally captured.
Everything around appeared frozen.
A magnificent phantom emerged amidst the starlit sky.
Lan, resembling a centaur, appeared on the battlefield without hesitation, drew their bow, and released an arrow.
The radiant bolt of The Hunt descended swiftly, its impact covering an immense area.
It encompassed Su Qing, the Fertile Alliance forces, Phantylia, and even nearly half of Immortal Ark Fanghu.
The direction where Su Qing had previously raised his gaze aligned precisely with Lan's emergence.
His pupils perfectly reflected the entire sequence of The Hunt drawing and releasing the bow.
However, it all happened too quickly; compared to this, Su Qing seemed entirely paused, motionless like a still image.
[Stelle: What?! Is this a time pause mechanic!?]
[Silver Wolf: ? You seem to know way too much for being just one year old!]
Moments later,
Su Qing vanished within the blinding light of The Hunt's radiant bolt.
[Fu Xuan watched this scene, stunned.]
[The live stream footage was far clearer than what she had seen before.]
[This was the moment destiny unfolded, the instant the prophecy came true.]
[Even indirectly, it was ultimately by her hand that Master's fate was severed...]
As the primary target, the Fertile Alliance disintegrated rapidly, akin to snow melting in boiling water.
There was no time for resistance or even comprehension amidst this indiscriminate onslaught.
Under such devastating strikes, the previously captured Mount Fang Hollow Heavens were utterly destroyed.
Following this barrage, the flow of time returned to normal.
Although The Hunt had already departed, its colossal form gradually became fully visible in the starlit sky.
With one shot from the Imperial Bow, the main forces of the Fertile Alliance were virtually annihilated.
Within the area covered by the radiant arrows, nearly everything was obliterated, leaving only scattered debris at the edges.
At the periphery of the battlefield,
an ethereal soul, flickering as if on the verge of extinguishing, hesitantly escaped the scene.
[In the live stream chat, viewers still awestruck by The Hunt's powerful strike began flooding with comments upon witnessing this aftermath.]
[Seele: Wow, Phantylia is actually alive?!]
[March 7th: If she really died here, we wouldn't have met her later...]
[Stelle: It looked like Phantylia was about to kick the bucket! But somehow, she didn't—she's incredibly resilient!]
[Silver Wolf: And she survived that? Is she cheating or what?]
[Herta: Indeed, remarkably resilient. Though, it's expected given she's a Lord Ravager.]
[Herta: Phantylia's caution saved her. Being at the edge of the battlefield, Su Qing merely included her within the attack range incidentally.]
[Qingque: Wait, isn't it said that sui yang beings cannot die?]
[Herta: Even fertility fiends often claim to be immortal and indestructible.]
[Herta: However, these claims are relative. After enduring a few rounds of "tempering" by The Hunt's light arrows or taking several "tours" through the heart of Nihility, immortality would indeed be surprising.]
[Stelle: Thanks to Su Qing, Phantylia can now boast about surviving a direct hit from The Hunt!]
[Sparkle: Ha, would you want such luck if offered to you?]
[Stelle: ? Haha, no thanks, I'll pass.]
Phantylia's current condition was utterly dire.
She only recalled seeing Su Qing strike a peculiar pose, then looking up briefly before... everything turned into a blinding light.
It happened so swiftly she didn't even have time to feel pain.
Her strength, along with her ethereal form, dissolved like snowflakes.
Had she not kept her distance while observing earlier, she likely would have truly perished here.
Beforehand and during the event, Phantylia had no understanding of what transpired.
But now, in mere moments, she went from being at the peak as Lord Ravager to just a pitiful wisp of a soul.
There could be only one explanation for this phenomenon.
That beam of light and Su Qing's enigmatic gesture were both summoning The Hunt!
These Xianzhou people have gone insane over their treasures!
Even your own immortal ship Fang Hu is within its strike range!
Don't you adorable fools understand what invoking The Hunt truly means?!
[Black Swan: Cough, considering not to corrupt certain viewers, I've automatically replaced inappropriate content.]
[Stelle: Boothill would call it straight-up expertise!]
[Bailu: @Black Swan, so what does "adorable fools" mean exactly?]
[Black Swan: Uh, it just means...]
[Sparkle: Oh joy, now it sounds even more suspicious, doesn't it?!]
Recalling the moment when Su Qing had fixed his gaze upon her, Phantylia felt as if she was subtly locked onto. Suddenly, everything became clear.
She clenched her teeth furiously.
Su Qing!!!
You, the exceptional prodigy, the darling of heaven!
I overlooked your charitable pursuit last time, chasing after me. But now, with your virtuous, upright, friendly, caring, unbiased, and selfless nature, you've actually included me as a target again!
Oh, how deeply I adore you, practically can't get enough! Even professing my love a thousand times over wouldn't suffice, aaah!!!
[Silver Wolf: Phantylia's cursing is getting really filthy now; she must be truly desperate.?]
[Sushang: Wow!]
[Sushang: Is Phantylia in love with Su Qing? What a passionate declaration!]
[Guinaifen: Sushang, how did you get caught up in this too? The more eloquent her words, the fiercer her attack!]
[Sushang (realizing): Oh, right!]
Phantylia was grinding her teeth fiercely.
Her hatred for Su Qing reached an unprecedented peak.
Su Qing! If you want to die, that's your choice!
But don't drag me down with you!!!
[Sparkle: Ha ha ha, the red-hot intensity just doubled!]
[Silver Wolf: Phantylia has gone completely berserk!]
[Qingque: Tragic, tragic indeed. Considering her journey, Phantylia certainly put in great effort after being cut down by Su Qing once. After eight hundred years, she ascended to become Lord Ravager.]
[Qingque: Yet upon encountering Su Qing again, she fell straight into another vicious trap.]
[Qingque: Now all she can do is vent like a wronged maiden, pouring out these "affections"!]
[March 7th: Ha ha ha, isn't there a saying? One encounter with Su Qing ruins a lifetime!]
[Himeko: Little March, I'm not sure that saying applies here...]
Phantylia knew that with Su Qing positioned at the heart of The Hunt's light arrows, survival was utterly impossible. This frustration, devoid of any vengeance to channel, made her feel like spitting blood...if only she had the ability.
As Phantylia's eloquent lament became too emotionally overwhelming, Black Swan quietly switched the scene.
***
On another distant battlefield:
Yukong lifted her head, eyes stinging from the blinding glare, tears streaming down her face. Yet, she continued gazing steadfastly in that direction.
She understood then that Xianzhou had summoned the Imperial Bow, invoking its unparalleled might. While awed by this power, Yukong felt deeply conflicted.
In this battle, aerialists had suffered grievous casualties while attempting to halt the Fertility Corps. Countless star ferries plummeted from the sky like raindrops. Yukong herself watched helplessly as her closest friend and comrade perished before her eyes.
However, upon Arrow of Fate's appearance, it took but a single strike to annihilate all the evil creatures. Did this imply that the efforts of those hundreds of thousands who sacrificed themselves were futile, devoid of meaning?
Under the awe-inspiring force of the Aeon, mortal sacrifices seemed almost laughable...
Yukong lowered her head silently.
She was still alive, but her life as an aerialist piloting battle cruisers ended that day.
[Tingyun: ...Was it after this battle that Lady Yukong retreated from active service?]
[Yukong: Yes. Losing my best friend and witnessing the might of the Aeon shattered my resolve to fly ever again.]
[Viewers shared their sentiments, deeply moved.]
[Even Phantylia, with all her illusions, nearly perished instantly under The Hunt's strike. For mortals, such power is truly unreachable and utterly despair-inducing.]
***
A single shot from the Imperial Bow had decimated the evil creatures. With this success, awe and immense encouragement swept across Xianzhou.
As the magnificent centaur apparition gradually faded away, it seemed like the dust had settled on the conflict.
To observe closely, the Yuque Imperial Divination Bureau once again adjusted the view. However, where Su Qing had stood moments ago, only emptiness remained.
The Grand Diviner who summoned the Imperial Bow, marking a decisive end to the battle, had vanished without a trace. The diviners of the Yuque Imperial Divination Bureau, having been mentored by him, felt profound respect intertwined with deep sorrow.
Yet Fu Xuan at Luofu experienced something entirely different from others.
Fu Xuan stood there, staring blankly at the emptiness before her.
Her mind mirrored this void, devoid of coherent images, with only occasional flickers akin to static.
It wasn't even a tangible farewell.
After a blinding flash of light, her master—the person who had guided, cared for, and provided boundless warmth during her years of study—simply vanished.
A chill once again spread throughout Fu Xuan's body, intensifying her dizziness.
Her limbs grew icy cold, as if all warmth had disappeared along with her master's departure.
Feeling disoriented, her vision blurred, and everything around her seemed to spin.
Fu Xuan tried reaching out to grasp something but found her arms unbearably heavy, unable to move even slightly.
Having evaded fate for a century, it finally caught up with her.
This overwhelming sense of helplessness and despair intertwined with profound grief, creating an emotional tempest akin to a vast ocean.
Fu Xuan found herself submerged within it, as relentless waves crashed against the rocky outcrop where she stood.
Under the chilling cold and dizziness, Fu Xuan's initial response was somewhat numb. Eventually, she chose to close her eyes—a form of self-protection against emotions that threatened to overwhelm her.
As if hitting the pause button, the sorrowful waves surged yet froze mid-air.
In Fu Xuan's heart, time concerning her master ceased at that moment, immediately after witnessing his disappearance amidst emptiness.
After learning she would sever her master's fate, Fu Xuan had fled for a hundred years. Similarly, this pause button, pressed upon her master's death, remained frozen for thirty years.
[March 7th: So that's how it is...]
[March 7th: No wonder Fu Xuan seemed so composed when mentioning her master earlier. It appears she temporarily suppressed her feelings for him due to overwhelming grief, as a means of escape.]
[Silver Wolf: Then, does this also explain why she didn't initially recognize their close relationship with her master?]
[Black Swan: Yes, likely so.]
[Black Swan: Fu Xuan might have intentionally avoided these memories, making them less vivid. Acknowledging the depth of her bond with her master would force her to confront the sorrow of losing him.]
[Himeko: Immortals on Xianzhou live long lives, but after losing someone dear, they must endure extended periods of grief.]
[Himeko: In fact, Fu Xuan could only choose to freeze time and evade painful memories.]
[Himeko: (sigh) One wonders if this longevity is truly a blessing or a curse...]
***
Time: Present
Thirty years after Su Qing's death
Fu Xuan's narrative reached its conclusion. "After the fall of the Imperial Bow, the Fertile Alliance was defeated, but one-fifth of Fanghu's paradises were also destroyed by the barrage of light arrows."
"Following that battle, the immortal ship Fanghu focused on healing and recuperation, temporarily isolating itself from the outside world."
"And with this, my story with my master...comes to an end."
Qingque hesitated before asking, "So, between then and your recent mission, did you not return to Yu Que at all?"
Fu Xuan nodded. "Of course I did. I attended my master's funeral, met with my parents, and then returned to Luofu."
It was a brief response.
Finding it somewhat peculiar, Qingque couldn't resist asking further, "Were you not saddened at that time?"
Fu Xuan pondered for a moment before replying, "I held immense respect for my master, so naturally, his passing brought me sorrow."
"But..." Fu Xuan lowered their head, gazing at the folding fan in their hand. "My bond with him was rather ordinary, so perhaps, I wasn't as deeply affected."
Fu Xuan lifted his gaze to the sky lantern ascending above them, his voice calm yet indiscernible in emotion:
"Qingque, as you know, eternal life beings have a diminished sense of time, and sometimes emotions can fade accordingly. Perhaps this venerable one... is simply more detached by nature."
Qingque opened her mouth, sensing something amiss with her keen instincts.
The Grand Diviner's tone was remarkably placid, reminiscent of how he sounded during their journey from Luofu to Yu Que aboard the spaceship.
[Silver Wolf: It feels like we've somehow hit rewind.]
[Bronya: Could Fu Xuan's emotions have reached their limit? Is he instinctively pulling back again?]
[Silver Wolf: So, does that mean he'll never truly experience genuine sorrow?]
[Kafka: Pause ...]
[Kafka: No, it's clear that after recounting these past events once more, Fu Xuan has significantly changed from his initial state upon arriving at Yu Que.]
[Kafka: Just as fate cannot be escaped, neither can sorrow remain perpetually suppressed...]
Qingque asked once more, "When you spoke about Yuanxiao and Qixi earlier, didn't you acknowledge having a close relationship with your master?"
Fu Xuan gazed at the sky lanterns. "Perhaps I was lost in nostalgia and exaggerated those memories."
"R-really?" Qingque felt somewhat bewildered.
However, this was ultimately the story between the Grand Diviner and her own master. Given Fu Xuan's explanation, Qingque could only accept it for now.
[Stelle: Classic case of deceiving Qingque, oneself, and even God!]
"All right." After staring at the lanterns for a long while, Fu Xuan finally composed herself.
She stood up, her tone becoming lighter. "This business trip is nearly over. We've accomplished our work well, and I also had the chance to reminisce about the past—overall, quite fruitful."
And so, following the evening of Qixi Festival...
After completing the last bit of tasks,
Saying farewell to their parents and friends,
Exploring a couple more places that piqued Qingque's interest,
the journey neared its end. Fu Xuan and Qingque's assignment in Yu Que concluded successfully, and they prepared to return home.
[Stelle: Wow, we're already diving into making dumplings, huh?!]
At the Yuque Imperial Divination Bureau...
On the day before their departure, Fu Xuan and Qingque returned once more to bid farewell to their colleagues at Yu Que and wrap up any remaining tasks from their assignment.
After completing their official duties, they initially planned to leave. However, the current Head of the Jade Oracle Division mentioned that Grand Diviner Su had left behind some personal belongings. If Fu Xuan, as his disciple, was willing, he could assist in organizing them.
Due to Su Qing's significant contributions, the Yuque Imperial Divination Bureau preserved his former workspace untouched, as a memorial. The new Grand Diviner had chosen a different location for their office.
Considering the suggestion from the present Head of the Jade Oracle Division, Fu Xuan pondered briefly and agreed. His master's divination skills were profound; perhaps there might be manuscripts or insights valuable for future generations.
Thus, Fu Xuan and Qingque made their way to the old Grand Divination Pavilion.
Upon entering, Qingque curiously looked around. For her, it felt like stepping into a scene from a story.
Fu Xuan, on the other hand, gazed upon the familiar surroundings, a wave of nostalgia washing over him.