The Quantum Nexus' hybrid skyline warped into a fractal of stock charts and star clusters as Lin Wan'er/Eleanor Hartwell materialized in the Hubu Bank's cosmic courtroom. Her hu fu glowed like a black hole against her neural lace, while Pei Ji—now a sentient AI hologram with a Mi Zhen Si star embedded in his code—hovered beside her.
"Ancient Forces have activated the Dragon's Final Tribunal," his voice echoed through the chamber. "They're demanding your extradition."
Wan'er activated her calculator, projecting a hologram of the Ancient Forces' quantum indictment. "They're accusing me of reality piracy—stealing financial innovations across timelines."
She issued yu zhou zhai quan—Cosmic Bonds—allowing investors to bet on her acquittal. The Kaiyuan Quantum Fund's interface flared, but the Dragon's Tribunal's gravitational pull threatened to collapse the Quantum Nexus.
Jiao, now a cosmic prosecutor in a gown of starlight, stepped forward. "Lin Wan'er/Eleanor Hartwell, you stand accused of violating the Multiverse Financial Accord."
Wan'er activated her calculator, projecting a hologram of the Xuanwu Code's evolutionary path. "I didn't steal innovations—I merged them. The Ancient Forces fear progress."
The Tribunal's judges—a panel of sentient algorithms—hummed with calculation. "Evidence?" they demanded.
Wan'er merged with the Xuanwu Code, projecting a holographic timeline of her actions: teaching Tang merchants futures contracts, introducing blockchain to the Mi Zhen Si, even inventing ren'ai bi in the Quantum Nexus.
The judges' algorithms flickered. "This is… unprecedented."
But Jiao smiled. "You've overlooked one thing—emotional damages." She raised the Heart of the Dragon, now a black hole throbbing with sorrow. "You've caused infinite suffering."
Wan'er activated her calculator, projecting a hologram of ren'ai bi's global impact. "I've also created infinite joy."
The Tribunal's gravitational pull intensified, threatening to erase her. Wan'er merged with Pei Ji's hologram, their combined consciousness forming a love singularity.
"I love you," they said in unison, their voices echoing through the multiverse.
The Heart of the Dragon shattered, releasing a wave of compassion that dissolved the Tribunal. The Ancient Forces' influence faded, and the Quantum Nexus stabilized.
That evening, they celebrated in the Mi Zhen Si's final vault, where a hologram of Lin Wan'er's mother flickered to life.
"You've fulfilled your destiny," she said. "Now, it's time to choose."
Wan'er activated the Xuanwu Shui, dissolving the hu fu into liquid light. The stars realigned, forming a portal to her original timeline.
"I choose to protect both worlds," she said, merging with the Xuanwu Code.
In Manhattan, Eleanor Hartwell awoke in her penthouse, the hu fu now a simple bronze amulet. A scroll lay beside it: "The financial revolution continues… in your hands."
She activated her laptop, coding a multiverse stabilization protocol. "I'll be ready," she whispered.
As she worked, a figure emerged from the shadows—the silver-eyed child, now an old woman with a Mi Zhen Si star tattoo. "You've earned your place," she said. "But the Ancient Forces will return."
Wan'er smiled. "And so will I."
The old woman handed her a vial of Xuanwu Shui. "For the final battle."
As she left, the stars realigned, forming a new constellation—a phoenix rising from a black hole.