Regarding a certain fairy young lady's naughty behavior, though feeling helpless, Jiang Qiao still gave up resisting.
Anyway, there was no one else around. Although the operational frequency, comparable to a high-frequency vibrational blade, was a bit too stimulating, as long as he focused slightly, the impact wouldn't be significant.
However...
"I need to mobilize some special powers... If you maintain this state and stay so close to me, you could easily get caught in the crossfire," Jiang Qiao tried this approach to detach the restless pink fatty. But the latter merely scoffed 'contemptuously.'
Hmph, don't think you can escape my, Elysia's, punishment with such sweet talk! Energy waves? This body of mine, Elysia's, is a specially customized large-capacity model! No matter how much you leak, I can take it all! Worry about getting sucked dry yourself first! Punk!
"...Fine. If you don't mind, then let's proceed." Sensing the situation on the other end and unwilling to delay further, Jiang Qiao shook his head, slowly closed his eyes, focused... and connected with the preparations he had made during this period.
---||---
In the Hall of Progeny, Ms. Firefly, diligently buried in administrative work, felt her body heat up... Simultaneously, the citizens of the Glamoth Empire seemed to sense something, pausing their activities.
The power of the Propagation Path...
Though mobilizing it with his original body felt somewhat awkward and strenuous, by using the trace he left in [Firefly], he could leverage the already established vessel of the Glamoth Empire to manifest it.
"Perhaps, this can further aid you." The demonic, yet heavenly sound, like countless voices overlapping, echoed in his heart.
Following this, it felt as if something was added to his original power... No, rather, something he originally possessed had returned.
...Xipe?
Jiang Qiao was surprised. He certainly knew who this was and sensed the substance of this added element. It was... the 'Concept' belonging to the Path of Propagation.
Back then, during the Aeon War caused by the Cosmic Swarm Disaster, Tayzzyronth, the Aeon of Propagation, was besieged by the gods and ultimately torn asunder.
The outcome of that battle wasn't merely the death of an Aeon, but also the fragmentation of a Path. They knew that even if the Aeon of Propagation died, as long as the Path remained open, the ultimate outcome wouldn't change much.
Therefore, the gods chose to sever the overly dangerous 'Concepts' within Propagation. This ensured that subsequent Cosmic Swarms, while still powerful, were not entirely invincible.
And now, Xipe, a participant in that Aeon War, chose to return the portion of Propagation's 'Concept' THEY had taken... No, perhaps simply returned it to the Path itself.
"...And Qlipoth too?" Simultaneously sensing another portion being restored, Jiang Qiao instantly understood its origin.
"This is something We held in custodianship. Now, let it return to its rightful place."
"May you and the one you chose not turn this power into disaster."
"Additionally... you might also require the aid of 'Our' power. Although you are not one of Us, at this moment, 'We' permit you to use this power of 'Harmony.'"
Understanding, tolerance, support, cooperation. The Aeon walking the path of Harmony, the Great Mother of the Cluster Stars—this wasn't merely praise from believers, but a truth: when 'THEY' were needed, THEY would inevitably extend a helping hand in an appropriate manner.
"...The power of Harmony?" Sensing that power, [Qingque], hidden beneath the mask, felt something, and the corners of her lips curled into a faint arc.
"And the arrow in her hand is already poised."
"The arrow of the Hunt is not bound by time."
"The wheels of Trailblaze clear the path before you."
"The will of Preservation shall engrave this moment."
"O Great Mother of the Cluster Stars, strike the chords, connect everything."
Faint, minuscule—from the scale of the universe, it could only be described this way.
But in the eyes of the special few who could perceive time, THEY, whose existences had already converged, were all watching this scene.
Yaoshi lowered THEIR gaze for her, Lan galloped forth for her, Fuli silently stared at this moment, as if time itself had frozen.
In the world named Honkai: Star Rail... no, perhaps within the entire system dominated by this Tree of Existence, time itself wasn't such a definite thing. It was merely a 'scale' used to measure the state of the Imaginary.
Even the high-and-mighty Aeons found it difficult to move this pointer.
Until this day, which should have become the past.
Converging everything.
Entrusting it all to this moment.
---||---
The chaotic memetic Gray Tide formed after Tunyu Yinghuo's disappearance vanished without a trace, as clean as if it had never existed.
With their great enemy gone, the Xianzhou quickly recovered their combat strength. Without the threat of the living planet, the scattered Denizens of Abundance stood no chance against the Cloud Knight fleets.
This hasty and brief battle concluded with a 'great victory.' At least, judging by the results.
Although the process was somewhat bumpy, even involving the 'Great Victory General' Feixiao herself getting instantly knocked out, setting those aside, simply eliminating a living planet and thwarting the Denizens of Abundance's attack could be considered an outstanding achievement.
The only issue might be the chaos on the Xianzhou Yaoqing, but compared to the short timeframe, the losses for the Yaoqing, already accustomed to constant warfare, weren't considered major.
In fact, from the Luofu's perspective, it was practically a net gain. After all... the long-dormant Disciples of Sanctus Medicus were wiped out in one go by the Ten-Lords Commission. So thoroughly wiped out that even the General of the Divine Foresight himself had no idea how it happened.
Of course... now he probably knew who did it.
Watching the combined investigation by the Artisanship Commission, Divination Commission, and Ten-Lords Commission ultimately point towards the 'Divination Commission,' Jing Yuan's gaze fell squarely on Qingque.
Within the Divination Commission, who else had such capability? Only this unexpectedly prominent 'little diviner,' right?
Naturally, Qingque herself felt her scalp tingling. She... completely didn't understand what was going on.
It felt like she had just taken a nap, but upon waking up, she found the renowned General of the Divine Foresight and the Master Diviner seeking her out.
"Master Diviner, General... Is there... something you need from me?"
In response, Fu Xuan glared 'fiercely' at her, her expression screaming, 'What did you do? Don't you know yourself?'
Qingque, of course, couldn't figure it out even if she wracked her brain. She just assumed she'd been caught slacking off at work and stammered慌张地, "Master Diviner... General... I-I-I... I just slacked off a tiny bit... I'll definitely work hard from now on!"
"Lady Qing Joking. This crisis was averted thanks to Lady Qing's utmost assistance, resolving the siege of the Yaoqing," Jing Yuan replied, his expression somewhat strange, offering a teasing smile.
Qingque was completely baffled. What the? You're confusing me.
Little Qingque just took a nap! What crisis? What utmost assistance? Qingque recalled having a similar situation in her dream, which she found ridiculous even then.
But... it was just a dream; being bizarre didn't seem like a big deal.
But this situation now...
"Strange, could I still be dreaming?" she scratched her head, puzzled. Thinking this, Qingque approached Fu Xuan and, under the latter's baffled gaze, reached out her hand. "Heh, the Master Diviner in my dream feels quite real."
From baffled to blushing furiously, Fu Xuan's gaze towards Qingque shifted from peculiar to faintly 'murderous.'
"Qingque!"
"Ah! So it wasn't a dream! Master Diviner, I was wrong!" Following a wail, Qingque, sporting a bright red cheek and a bump on her head, stood beside the fuming Fu Xuan, creating a strangely harmonious yet bizarre picture. Fu Xuan pinched the former's ear.
"Alright, you Qingque! Deceiving this Seat is one thing, but how dare you lay hands on this Seat... And in front of the General! Aren't you good at hiding? Now, before this Seat and the General, won't you confess truthfully!"
"Owowow... Hurts, hurts, hurts! Master Diviner, what do you want me to confess? I-I really didn't do anything!"
"Ahem..."
"Ahem... Apologies for the disturbance, General. This Seat prides herself on insight piercing the myriad changes of the world, yet unexpectedly was fooled by such a little sparrow under my command."
Watching the two, Jing Yuan's expression was peculiar, yet tinged with amusement. "Not at all, not at all. The bond between Lady Fu and Lady Qing is truly enviable to Jing Yuan."
"However, while I hesitate to interrupt, this matter ultimately requires an explanation to the Alliance." His words held a hint of helplessness, but his gaze remained fixed on Qingque. His feelings towards her were undoubtedly complex.
After all... as the Xianzhou General, he needed to write a report to the Alliance detailing the situation. But regarding Qingque's involvement, Jing Yuan himself didn't know how to write it.
What? Write truthfully? Ever-Joyful Heaven Lord descended, holding the Reignbow Arbiter's Primal Arrow?
Jing Yuan could already imagine the Alliance members' expressions upon reading the letter: What kind of fabricated history is this?
Those unaware might think the Luofu's General was a History Fictionologist.
"But, I really don't know anything..." Qingque looked utterly innocent. Was she supposed to say she had a dream? That answer would only make Jing Yuan's report even more fictional.
Fortunately, the only comforting thing for Jing Yuan was that Qingque did actually give him the mask.
With the mask as evidence, and perhaps a subsequent lie detector test... cough cough, a truth verification report from the Ten-Lords Commission, this fictional report might become slightly more believable.
At the same time, contrasting Qingque's and '[Qingque]'s previous behaviors, certain speculations formed in Jing Yuan's mind. He didn't entirely disbelieve Qingque.
After all, the Ever-Joyful Heaven Lord had personally descended.
Therefore, two possibilities regarding Qingque arose in Jing Yuan's mind. One: Qingque truly knew nothing. She simply put on the mask. Jing Yuan had heard that masks of Elation possessed wondrous powers, capable of unlocking potential and revealing extraordinary facets of a person.
The Super Sparrow he witnessed was simply Qingque's super form manifested after wearing the mask. And the mask must have been given by the Ever-Joyful Heaven Lord... As for why? Ask the Ever-Joyful Heaven Lord?
The second possibility: Qingque was a Masked Fool, and her acting skills were god-tier! Masked Fools were like that.
However, regardless of the outcome, Jing Yuan could reach one conclusion: Qingque possessed extraordinary potential.
And judging from her motives during this incident, based on her actions, he deduced: love for the Xianzhou. ...If all this wasn't a facade, then... At this moment, recalling the side shown by the Super Sparrow, Jing Yuan felt inexplicably moved.
In terms of strategy, she was clearly not lacking. In terms of martial prowess... when that mask was worn by Qingque, the power of an Elation Emanator was definitely not fake.
And that wasn't the second-hand Emanator authority distributed by Marshal Hua like his own; it was genuine, first-hand power.
Such a Qingque, if her loyalty to the Alliance could be proven... then, imagine such a young new Luofu General, simultaneously possessing the power of an Elation Emanator and the Lightning Lord... This could guarantee the Xianzhou's peace for centuries!
However... Lady Fu... Remembering something, the brightening light in Jing Yuan's eyes flickered as he looked towards Fu Xuan.
The latter sensed something and smiled. The General is looking at me... Mm, he must feel overwhelmed by this great battle and wants to pass the General's position to me...
Yay! Finally reaching the end of the grind~ Fu Xuan, with a small figure celebrating wildly inside her mind, laughed inwardly. Her gaze towards Qingque also softened.
Although I'm annoyed this Qingque girl deceived me so thoroughly, with such strength, after this Seat ascends to the General's throne, with just a little training, she will surely become a fine seedling for the Master Diviner position~
This interpretation, registering in Jing Yuan's mind, made him, who felt slightly guilty for constantly using the General position to string Fu Xuan along while now considering another candidate, instantly smile.
Jing Yuan, oh Jing Yuan, this is where you are wrong. Lady Fu and Lady Qing share such a good relationship, why would they care about such trivial matters? Besides, Lady Fu isn't the type to pursue fame and fortune.
Qingque, being stared at by both, felt a chill run down her spine. It's over, it's over... Why are both the Master Diviner and the General staring at me like that... I already confessed honestly... Sob, don't tell me I have to report to the Shackling Prison later...
Why did things turn out like this just from taking a nap...
Young Ms. Qingque felt her career path was exceptionally bumpy.