March 7th: "Oh right, I almost forgot about that."
Jing Yuan: "@Jingliu, this matter is indeed no small thing. How about we first gather at Linyuan Border? After we've subdued the Lord of Destruction Phantylia, we can investigate further in detail."
Feixiao: "That's a good point. I've been waiting for this. Although Phantylia isn't making any moves right now, there's no telling what evil she might be brewing... @Jing Yuan, let's kill her as soon as possible."
Phantylia: "Heh heh, big words. I won't make the same mistake again this time!"
Jingliu: "Hm, I've arrived."
Linyuan Border
"It seems everyone has arrived. In that case, it's time to officially subdue Phantylia." Jing Yuan smiled, but his eyes held a complex gaze as he looked at the familiar and unfamiliar faces before him... "No need for many words. Let Jing Yuan command the operation." Blade said calmly. The result was obvious: a unanimous vote, no one opposed.
"Thank you all for your high regard. I shall now deploy the battle plan." Jing Yuan cupped his fists, then continued:
"Phantylia's current strength is extraordinary. Although we received a hint from the video, Phantylia will certainly not expose the same weaknesses as shown in the video again.
Therefore, in this battle, I and the Heaven-Shattering General will lead the main assault." Saying this, Jing Yuan looked at Feixiao... "I have no objections." Feixiao expressed his agreement.
"Then, I'll entrust the Astral Express Crew to provide support from the rear, doing your best to disrupt Phantylia's attack rhythm."
"We're fine with that too." The three members of the Astral Express Crew exchanged glances. Seeing that no one refused, Welt spoke up to express their agreement.
"Finally, and most crucially, Dan Heng, the two Stellaron Hunters, and... hmm... it will be up to you to seize the opportune moment. Once Phantylia reveals a weakness, deliver a fatal blow to her.
If possible, try to sever her connection with the Ambrosial Arbor, just like in the video." As Jing Yuan assigned tasks to these last few individuals, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly... This might be the last time the Cloud Knights' Five Elders fight side-by-side, right?
Recalling his thoughts, and after carefully reviewing the entire battle plan in his mind, he was about to give the order... "General!" A Cloud Knights captain stepped forward.
"Although we Cloud Knights are of humble ability, protecting the Xianzhou is our shared responsibility. Please, General, do not abandon us." His words were strong and clear, and his demeanor showed unwavering resolve and determination.
"Please, General, do not abandon us!"
"Please, General, do not abandon us!!!"
After the Cloud Knights captain finished speaking, the many Cloud Knights soldiers behind him shouted in unison... "Everyone..." Jing Yuan, both helpless and relieved, raised a hand to signal for silence.
"I understand your intentions clearly, but what lies ahead is not some marauding Abundance abominations, but a Lord of Destruction of the Antimatter Legion..." Jing Yuan's tone gradually became serious.
"After that, it will be the confrontation between Star-Hunter Lan and the Aeon of Annihilation. I have a more important task for you.
Cloud Knights, listen to my command! After we delve into the Ambrosial Arbor, assist the Head of the Divination Commission. You must not let this battle affect the safety of the common people!"
"Yes." With nothing more to be said, the Cloud Knights also said no more.
With that, Jing Yuan looked down at Fu Xuan,
"This time, the Xianzhou Loufu's performance report will be left to Fu Qing."
"Understood." Fu Xuan didn't say much.
Although she prided herself on her abilities, a battle of this magnitude wouldn't change its outcome just by adding her. She had some self-awareness.
After all arrangements were made, Jing Yuan took a deep breath... "Depart!"
——
Returning to the protagonist Jiang Lin's perspective... According to his calculations, Phantylia would most likely be half-dead this time, but she definitely wouldn't be killed... After all, an Emissary-level Sundered Star isn't that easy to eliminate... However, what he was currently hesitating about was whether to take advantage of Phantylia's severe injuries to give her some 'strong medicine' to lay the groundwork for hunting her later... Among the many Destruction Emissaries, Phantylia was the one he understood the most. The more he understood, the easier it would be to hunt her... That's right, in his original plan, he wanted to collect as many 'miracles,' 'relics,' 'blessings,' and other items representing Aeon-level power from various Aeons as possible... Those of the Abundance were the easiest to find; every Xianzhou had them... And they were quite easy to find in the universe if one looked.
But some Aeons... like Destruction, for example, Jiang Lin had never heard of the Aeon of Destruction bestowing any 'miracles' or leaving behind any relics, neither in his previous life nor now... So he found another way: the Aeons' Emissaries... It was impossible for them not to carry the Aeons' blessings... So this opportunity was indeed very rare for Jiang Lin... After all, his current frontal combat power was inferior to an Emissary... Below Emissaries, he had a special attack against Pathstriders... So he was a bit troubled now; if he went, there was a real possibility of dying there.
But if he didn't go, such an opportunity would indeed be fleeting.
After much deliberation, he decided... But!
Just then, his body began to tremble uncontrollably... A strange aura enveloped him, as if everything around him, including himself, including every cell that made him up, was... laughing out loud!!!
It was Aha!
"Hahahaha, look what Aha has found?
He's not even an Emissary himself, yet he's thinking of hunting other Emissaries?"
"Hehe, what an interesting idea! Aha has decided to give you enough power to hunt them."
"Hehe, as long as you admit Aha is the greatest." Everything around seemed to freeze. In front of Jiang Lin, Aha's figure occupied his entire vision.
Just as Jiang Lin was about to say something,
"No, no, no, Aha has changed his mind. Aha has thought of something more fun..."
"Aha wants to report your idea to Mo Wang, and let the whole universe know about your idea, hehe, that's where the fun is."
"Do you know why? Because Aha wants to turn you into fun... Hahahahaha..."
Accompanied by bursts of laughter, Aha left... And Jiang Lin, after his initial dazed, instantly reacted... "I must leave the Xianzhou Loufu immediately!"
After all, in his mind, the Emissaries of the hunt were also within his hunting range... He couldn't guarantee that Aha wouldn't expose this matter as well. He couldn't gamble, and he didn't dare to gamble.
(The author went to run errands today, and time is a bit rushed. I'll update one chapter first. The author will see if he can churn out another chapter. If not, he'll have to make it up tomorrow. Thank you for your support, dear readers!)