Numb... Completely numb now.
Jing Yuan watched Caelus break through the surrounding Cloud Knights and disappear towards the Scalegorge Waterscape they had just left, feeling like he had lost the ability to speak.
He could guess what would happen next.
Reviving the Ambrosial Arbor twice during one term as General... He should count as the first in Xianzhou history, right?
Although Jing Yuan had no particular demands regarding his reputation, he felt his name would definitely leave a thick, dark stroke in Xianzhou history textbooks from now on, becoming a negative example every Xianzhou elementary student remembered...
Even the current Xianzhou Marshal might not achieve such lasting infamy, yet he himself had easily accomplished it without doing anything.
"What is he doing running off with Twilight's corpse? That direction is the Scalegorge Waterscape... What does he intend to do? Jing Yuan, why are you spacing out? Say something!"
Fu Xuan beside him kept chattering, while Jing Yuan could only sigh—Say? What else could he say?
The Express crew had just helped the Xianzhou seal the Stellaron, only to find their companion dead on the Xianzhou immediately after, the reason being she was protecting the Xianzhou... Now they wanted to use the Ambrosial Arbor's power to revive their companion. What could he do?
Stop them? Considering Xianzhou law, it wasn't impossible, but it would be inhumane to the point of madness, even bordering on ingratitude. Besides, the Express crew wasn't a pushover. If a real fight broke out, the Luofu might win, but the cost would be too devastating.
Moreover, Caelus now seemed able to communicate with the Ambrosial Arbor's power. If he just obediently used that power to revive Twilight, perhaps the situation could still be controlled. If they really pushed him too far, and he directly caused the Ambrosial Arbor to fully regenerate...
Thinking it over, Jing Yuan could only pretend he didn't see.
Turning a blind eye to outsiders tampering with the Ambrosial Arbor, coveting longevity, was normally a capital crime. But as the saying goes, when you have too many lice, you stop itching. He already had enough crimes on his head; adding a few more messes didn't matter...
Anyway, he only had so many years left before Mara-struck. Even if they really threw him into the Shackling Prison to be tortured daily, it wouldn't last long.
Right now, better focus on calming the rest of the Express crew, prevent them from exploding at the Luofu... Speaking of which, this Astral Express, wherever they go, trouble really follows!
Shouldn't have invited them...
Jing Yuan now sincerely prayed Caelus could successfully revive Twilight and put an end to this matter. Otherwise, he felt his old heart really couldn't take much more...
---||---
Not long ago, Caelus had emerged from the Ambrosial Arbor jubilantly. Now, barely over an hour later, he rushed back in panic.
The current Ambrosial Arbor lacked the heaven-piercing grandeur from before, but Caelus could still feel the surging vitality contained within its withered branches—the power of Abundance. And through the link with the Stellaron within him and the guidance left by Welt, he could feel he could utilize this power to achieve anything he desired!
True, doing this would make him commit the Xianzhou's most unforgivable sin—but so what?
He only knew that compared to this world, the people beside him were more important!
Merciful Medicus or Plague Author... Right now, lend me your remaining power!!
Caelus's eyes narrowed, his aura flaring without reservation. In an instant, he connected with the power buried within the Stellaron and the Ambrosial Arbor! With this mighty force, he could easily grant form to all things in this world, bestow eternal life upon anyone he wished—yet now, he disregarded all these temptations, channeling all that terrifying power into Twilight's body as an endless stream of life.
The entire Scalegorge Waterscape trembled. Even the desolate beaches and ruins instantly became lush with water and grass due to the mere leakage of this aura. This was the power of Abundance; just a wisp of it was enough to cause earth-shattering changes in the surroundings.
Under Caelus's current reckless, consequence-disregarding drive, Twilight's pale skin, nourished by such immense power, visibly regained color. Her previously withered white hair gradually regained its luster. Seeing this, joy filled Caelus's heart, and he channeled the energy even more fiercely until he was completely drained and couldn't maintain it, stumbling to his knees.
But even so, looking at Twilight appearing as healthy as before, only excitement filled his heart. He scrambled over to Twilight's side, grasping her hand. "Twilight, how do you feel?! Is your body bett—"
The moment he grasped Twilight's wrist, the smile on Caelus's face froze.
Ice cold.
Colder than when he touched her moments ago. Like a...
A corpse, completely dead.
But how could this be? He used the power of the Ambrosial Arbor! This Arbor that could even save planets, how could it fail to save Twilight—
"Because Twilight... is already dead."
A light, flippant voice sounded beside Caelus's ear, tinged with amusement. "No matter how fast the power of healing, it cannot outrun death."
"Who?!"
Easily dodging Caelus's reflexive attack, Phantylia stood her ground, covering her mouth with a light chuckle. "Oh my, esteemed guest, why the rush? I came to help you~"
"Tingyun? No... Who exactly are you?!"
Caelus gasped for breath. Overexerting his power just now left him in poor condition, but even so, he couldn't possibly move away from Twilight, exposing her to this unknown person.
"Who I am isn't important. What's important is that our goals are currently aligned. We both want to revive Twilight, don't we?"
Phantylia grinned. "What you're doing now is useless. Although this power from Abundance can regenerate flesh from white bones, it cannot bring the dead back to life... If you want to revive her, you should seek methods that can truly recall the deceased. For example, have you ever heard of a secret art on the Xianzhou called the Transmutation Arcanum? This secret art references the mystery of Vidyadhara reincarnation, combined with the powers of the Paths of Abundance and Permanence. It is a genuine means of resurrecting the dead."
"Perhaps you've heard of a Dragon Lady on the Luofu named Bailu? Actually, she is the reincarnated form of Baiheng, one of the renowned High-Cloud Quintet from back then. The reason she could transform from a dead Foxian into a living Vidyadhara was precisely due to this Transmutation Arcanum. Unfortunately, besides the two who committed grave sins back then, no one else knows the secrets of this Arcanum..."
"If no one knows, why are you telling me this!" Caelus raged. Coming here spouting cryptic nonsense was bad enough, but ending with this?!
"Don't be hasty. Although I don't know, I believe someone who does know will find you soon~"
Smiling, Phantylia took out a box from her sleeve and placed it before Caelus. "However, if you still use Twilight's original body after resurrection, how can you be sure her illness won't relapse? In my opinion, better to take this opportunity to craft a superior reincarnated body for her... This box contains the Crimson Moon Heart of the Borisin Warleader. If paired with the power of the Ambrosial Arbor, even if the illness strikes again, the synergistic power of Abundance should be sufficient to heal it, achieving true longevity, even immortality."
Phantylia was a frugal person. When Twilight slapped Hoolay down earlier, she hadn't collected the spoils. So Phantylia conveniently looted the body—after all, leaving such things for the Xianzhou would be far too wasteful.
"...What is your objective?"
Caelus stared hard at Phantylia. He knew there was no such thing as a free lunch, and Phantylia before him made no effort to hide her intentions. Seeing this, Phantylia calmly stated, "An ordinary person's body cannot bear the power of the Ambrosial Arbor and the Crimson Moon Heart, and Twilight's body has innate defects... However, the Shackling Prison on the Luofu holds the flesh of Shuhu, the Emanator of Abundance. If that is used as material, bearing this power should not be a problem."
"You want to use this opportunity to rescue Shuhu?"
Caelus felt he had guessed this person's goal. Shuhu, the Emanator of Abundance, had once waged a war that nearly destroyed the Xianzhou. If the person before him wanted to rescue Shuhu under the pretext of helping him revive Twilight... seemed plausible?
Not afraid of demands, only afraid of no demands. This way, it felt like a transaction: Shuhu's life in exchange for Twilight's...
"...I will consider it."
Seeing Caelus nod slowly after deep thought, Phantylia sneered inwardly.
Shuhu?
Not even a colleague. Who cares about that idiot? It would be best if it was already dead, leaving only flesh. Otherwise, Phantylia wouldn't mind sending it on its way herself.
Mentioning Shuhu was merely to put Caelus at ease.
After all, she was waiting for the Express crew to do all the work for her, then swoop in and claim the fruits of victory~