Herta stood on her tiptoes, straining with all her might to grab Fu Zhu's collar with both hands, glaring at him fiercely.
"I'm only eighteen! Got it!"
Originally, Fu Zhu thought it was just rumors, but seeing Herta's reaction now, he understood.
After warning Fu Zhu, Herta huffily let go of his collar.
Fu Zhu stared at Herta for a moment, an incorrigible, mischievous idea bubbling up in his mind that he just couldn't suppress. He leaned in and whispered into her ear.
"From now on, when I address you, should I add 'Miss Herta, eighteen years old plus a few thousand months' before your name?"
Herta's cheeks instantly puffed out, and she summoned her hammer, looking like an enraged pufferfish.
Fu Zhu chuckled, immediately exiting the Simulated Universe. Before leaving, he didn't forget to add one last sentence.
"It's settled then! When I get back from the Xianzhou, I'll help you research the Simulated Universe. But you have to let me see your real body, Miss Herta, eighteen years old plus a few thousand months."
"You scoundrel, don't you dare leave!"
Herta wanted to catch Fu Zhu and teach him a lesson, but Fu Zhu wouldn't give her the chance, logging off directly to make his escape.
By the time Herta also exited the Simulated Universe, Fu Zhu had already slipped out of the office, leaving her alone, fuming, standing in the office, biting her nails and staring resentfully at the open office door.
"Just you wait! When the time comes for you to see my true form, I'll definitely make you bow before my skirt!"
"Fu Xuan! Kafka!"
Xing burst into the Divination Commission, practically on fire, followed closely by an equally anxious March 7th.
Fu Xuan, who had just finished interrogating Kafka, heard Xing's shout and turned her head in confusion, only to see the two of them standing before her, panting.
"Weren't you two going to support Fu Zhu? Why have you come back looking for me?"
Xing anxiously asked Fu Xuan, "Can I speak to Kafka alone for a few words?"
Fu Xuan didn't hesitate much. She was only slightly worried about Xing's safety, but then she remembered this was the Divination Commission, and she could watch over them from the side. So, she nodded in agreement.
"Alright, I shall wait aside."
Fu Xuan walked to the side and noticed March 7th had followed her. She asked curiously, "March 7th, aren't you going with Xing?"
March 7th shook her head. "I don't trust that woman. I'm here to find you, Great Diviner Fu Xuan."
"Oh? Seeking me? Is there something you need?"
"Yes! Great Diviner, aren't you capable of divining everything? Can you help me divine if Fu Zhu is still alive? He charged into another world with Phantylia! We can't get in!"
Little pearls of tears were already welling up in the corners of March 7th's eyes from distress.
Hearing this, Fu Xuan was momentarily stunned. Without wasting time on further questions, she immediately invoked the Matrix of Prescience and began to divine Fu Zhu's fate.
A moment later, her tightly furrowed brow relaxed slightly.
"The augury shows that his life star dimmed, but then regained its light... and then it vanished completely... This is the first time I've encountered such an augury. Fu Zhu's life star is constantly flickering. I... I can't quite understand it..."
"Huh?"
March 7th had initially brightened up when Fu Xuan said Fu Zhu's life star had regained its light, but Fu Xuan's next words, about his life star completely vanishing, sent her emotions on a rollercoaster.
"Great Diviner, this... what exactly does this mean?"
"I... I'm not sure either..."
Fu Xuan was also at a loss. Looking at the augury alone, it didn't seem like a death omen, yet it didn't look like he was alive either, especially the last part where the augury suddenly cut off. This was the first time she had encountered such a situation, and she was completely baffled.
March 7th's heart sank to the bottom of a pit. She had hoped Fu Xuan could give a definitive answer, but now Fu Xuan was saying she couldn't understand it either. Didn't that mean Fu Zhu was likely in dire straits?
Meanwhile, Xing walked up to Kafka, frowning.
"Kafka, I want to know about the script Elio saw. My old bro, Fu Zhu, what's his story in it?"
Kafka raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. She had expected Xing to come and ask her something else, as per the script. She hadn't expected her to inquire about Fu Zhu. Could something have happened to Fu Zhu?
Otherwise, why would Xing have such an expression on her face?
Kafka remained silent for a moment, then softly asked Xing, "Did something happen to Fu Zhu? Otherwise, I can't imagine why you'd be so anxious right now."
Xing hesitated for a long while, but finally told Kafka everything that had happened to Fu Zhu.
Her intuition told her that Kafka definitely knew something about Fu Zhu. When it came to her old bro's safety, she couldn't afford to consider anything else!
When Kafka heard Xing say that Fu Zhu had actually taken a Lord Ravager with him into another world, she too raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Was this something outside of Elio's script, or had Elio foreseen this long ago, but it was unrelated to his plan, so he hadn't informed them?
It was highly possible. Elio never spoke of scripts that were outside his plans.
Seeing Kafka fall into contemplation after hearing about Fu Zhu's situation, Xing could only wait anxiously by the side. After a long moment, Kafka finally spoke.
"I can tell you. However, I need you to agree to one condition."
Xing nodded without hesitation and agreed, "Tell me!"
Seeing Xing agree so readily, Kafka's expression softened considerably.
"It seems the bond between you two... is very deep."
"That's none of your business! Hurry up and tell me, what's your condition!"
"Come closer."
....
While Fu Xuan was still meticulously studying the augury, her peripheral vision caught Xing actually releasing Kafka from her restraints. Shocked, she whirled around and shouted at Xing.
"Xing, what are you doing!"
Xing's expression was somewhat cold, her eyes devoid of spirit as she turned around, brandishing her baseball bat at Fu Xuan and March 7th.
March 7th stood beside Fu Xuan, her expression also one of disbelief.
"Xing?"
Kafka rubbed her wrists, a faint smile playing on her lips as she addressed the two, "My, my, Great Diviner Fu Xuan, you should have gagged me when I was being escorted into the Divination Commission. This child is now under the control of my Spirit Whisper. And thanks to her current worry for a certain someone, her mental defenses were easily breached by me. Right now, she's just a puppet who only obeys my commands."
Fu Xuan's face was cold as she glared fiercely at Kafka.
"I'm warning you, release your control over Xing right now! Otherwise, don't even think about leaving the Divination Commission alive!"
Kafka chuckled softly, her slender fingers tracing Xing's neck, her eyes slightly narrowed as she looked at Fu Xuan and March 7th.
"Trading the life of a Nameless for the life of a Stellaron Hunter. Hmm~ quite a fated feeling, isn't it? After all, we are mortal enemies."
"You!"
This time, Fu Xuan was thoroughly unable to act rashly. Fu Zhu's fate was unknown, and if Xing was lost too, it would be a devastating blow to the Astral Express crew. They might even collapse because of it.
She absolutely could not allow such a situation to occur!
Seeing Fu Xuan and March 7th frozen, Kafka used Xing as a shield and backed away step by step, not forgetting to warn Fu Xuan.
"Don't send anyone after us, or I can't guarantee her safety. Once I've escaped, I'll naturally let her go."
Fu Xuan and March 7th could only grit their teeth and watch as Kafka, using Xing as a shield, walked out of the Divination Commission step by step, until she completely disappeared from their sight.
After Kafka left, Fu Xuan and March 7th, almost simultaneously, took out their phones and called the people they wanted to contact.
"Uncle Yang... please pick up the phone..."
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Dan Heng, who had quietly infiltrated the Luofu, bid farewell to Sushang, a Cloud Knight girl he had chanced upon, and Luocha, a merchant from an alien world.
He hadn't intended to travel with these two, but unfortunately, upon logging into the Luofu, he had encountered Mara-Struck attacking various areas. He had been unluckily drawn into the battle, and it was then that he had chanced upon them.
However, thanks to this chance encounter, he had successfully learned from Sushang that Fu Zhu and the others were operating in the Scalegorge Waterscape.
Although the Scalegorge Waterscape was the place he least wanted to touch, the thought that Fu Zhu and the others would be facing the Lord Ravager Phantylia made Dan Heng grit his teeth and head towards the Scalegorge Waterscape.
When he infiltrated the depths of the Scalegorge Waterscape, he discovered that the waters surrounding a deserted island were actually encircled by Cloud Knights. It was clear that something very serious must have happened on that deserted island.
Otherwise, these Cloud Knights wouldn't be stationed in this sea area instead of dealing with the Mara-Struck injuring people on the streets.
Dan Heng hesitated for a moment, then silently suppressed his aura and approached the deserted island from underwater.
It didn't take long for him to successfully evade the stationed Cloud Knights and land on the deserted island. This deserted island wasn't large; one could see its entirety at a glance.
And on the deserted island, he saw two acquaintances. One was Welt, and the other was the Luofu's General, Jing Yuan.
Although Jing Yuan was present, Dan Heng, not seeing his other companions, anxiously ran towards Welt.
"Mr. Welt, where are Fu Zhu, Xing, and March?"
Welt and Jing Yuan, hearing the sudden voice, turned their heads, their faces showing expressions of surprise.
Jing Yuan, in particular, frowned deeply, his gaze complex as he stared intently at Dan Heng.
Dan Heng ignored Jing Yuan's gaze and repeated his earlier question to Welt.
"Fu Zhu, Xing, and March, why aren't they by your side, Mr. Welt?"
Welt remained silent. It was only when Dan Heng's expression grew increasingly anxious that he slowly recounted everything that had happened.
"What? You're saying Fu Zhu, in order to seal Phantylia, entered a world called the Nether himself?"
Dan Heng was stunned, feeling a chill in his limbs. Before he could say anything more, Welt's and Jing Yuan's phones rang at almost the exact same time.
The two merely glanced at the caller ID, then answered the call with furrowed brows. A moment later, both exclaimed in unison with astonished expressions.
"What? Kafka abducted Xing?"
Upon hearing this, Dan Heng, already in low spirits, widened his eyes in disbelief. A pair of dragon horns faintly materialized on his forehead.
"How is this possible..."
"Hmm? Why is the Domain Anchor placed here in Huidu Starport..."
Fu Zhu, having teleported from the Herta Space Station using the Domain Anchor, took one look and realized that whoever had placed the Domain Anchor had put it in Huidu Starport.
Fu Zhu had initially thought the Domain Anchor would be placed somewhere closer to the guesthouse. That way, he could conveniently set his spawn point on a bed in the guesthouse.
If he died, it would save him the trouble of running across the map again.
But since he could only teleport to Huidu Starport now, Fu Zhu had no choice but to start his journey from here. Unfortunately, although he had Elytra, he didn't have any fireworks, so he couldn't take off directly. Otherwise, the journey would be much faster.
Since it had come to this, Fu Zhu took out his phone, opting to inform March 7th and the others first. However, when he tried calling, whether it was March 7th, Welt, or Xing, their lines were either busy, or no one answered.
This made Fu Zhu frown. Could something else have happened on the Luofu during the time he was in the Nether?
Since the calls weren't going through, Fu Zhu simply sent a message in the "Loving Family" group chat, making sure to @everyone.
[Fu Zhu: Hey? Anyone there? @everyone]
[Himeko: What's wrong? Aren't the others with you?]
[Fu Zhu: We got separated due to some matters earlier. I was trying to find them, but none of them are answering their phones.]
[Himeko: Perhaps they're busy. How did it go? Was your Trailblaze journey this time smooth, Fu Zhu?]
[Fu Zhu: Smooth, and very exciting! When we get back, I'll tell you all about it, Himeko!]
Fu Zhu waited on the group chat interface for a while longer, but seeing no replies from anyone else, he had no choice but to put away his phone, preparing to use the minimap to find them directly.
However, just as he put away his phone, a series of shouts and battle cries erupted from within Huidu Starport. He frowned and opened his minimap to take a look.
He then discovered that Huidu Starport, where he was currently located, was surprisingly bustling with activity!
Hundreds of green markers, representing Cloud Knights, were mixed with another group of green markers, representing the Disciples of the Medicine King. It was clear that a fierce battle was taking place not far away.
"Huh? The Disciples of the Medicine King are still marked green? Dan Shu hasn't discovered I'm actually a fake yet?"
Seeing this, Fu Zhu's mind instantly became active. He prepared to do something interesting. He casually took out the black and white mask Aha had given him from his inventory and put it on his face.
"Hmph, hmph, hmph, from now on, I am the Lord Ravager Phantylia!"
After completing his disguise, Fu Zhu swaggered directly towards the most intense area of the fighting.
In a short while, he saw a group of Cloud Knights and Disciples of the Medicine King engaged in a chaotic battle. And very conveniently, Dan Shu was actually among them.
Although he didn't understand why she, as the leader, would personally be on the front lines, her presence here was perfect!
Fu Zhu glanced left and right, spotted a stack of containers that reached the highest point, and pulled out some blocks to pillar himself up.
As a major BOSS, one must always stand taller than everyone else when making an entrance. This was common sense!
Once Fu Zhu was atop the containers, he crossed his arms and addressed the battling crowd below with a sinister laugh.
"Jie jie jie, Dan Shu, I didn't expect your Disciples of the Medicine King to be so incompetent. Without my intervention, you can't even defeat the Cloud Knights?"
Suddenly hearing someone call her name, Dan Shu's ears twitched. Although she was congenitally blind, she still subconsciously turned her head towards the sound of the voice.
"That voice... Phantylia?"
"Hmph, naturally it is I. I was merely passing by, but I didn't expect to witness such a... dull spectacle."
Seeing that it was Phantylia, Dan Shu hurriedly called out a warning, "Lord Phantylia, disaster has struck! Jing Yuan has had someone destroy the Ambrosial Arbor!"
Fu Zhu merely gave a faint "Oh."
Dan Shu was instantly speechless This was Phantylia's reaction? The Ambrosial Arbor was gone, so what about their plan?
Dan Shu, fearing that "Phantylia" hadn't heard her clearly, especially since the battlefield was so chaotic with noise everywhere, thought it was possible that a Lord Ravager like Phantylia might not have heard her properly.
So, she repeated what she had just said.
"Lord Phantylia, the Ambrosial Arbor is gone!"
"Hmph, such a fuss over nothing."
Fu Zhu snorted coldly, then waved his hand dismissively.
"The Ambrosial Arbor is merely a tree. If they want to chop it down, let them. At worst, I'll just make the Ambrosial Arbor grow anew! As for all of you, stop tangling with these Cloud Knights and follow me to attend to important business!"
"Lord Phantylia, please instruct us!"
"Follow me, and we shall take the head of the Luofu's General!"