Chapter 56: Phantylia – Do You Think Such Petty Illusions Can Foreshadow My Moves?
During Little Gui's livestream…
After saving Tingyun, the group followed her lead and boarded a star ferry to the Central Starskiff Haven in the Star Ferry Sea. On their way to the Palace of Astrum:
Little Gui was buzzing with excitement, interacting with everything around him like never before. This thrill even surpassed his usual enthusiasm for exploring new in-game maps—after all, actually being in the setting made everything far more immersive.
"Look at this bridge—it's the exact same one I saw heading to the Star Ferry Sea!"
"And this starskiff? Just like the one docked downstairs!"
"Those Cloud Knights? Identical to the others… Well, of course, most of them share the same NPC model."
"Amazing work, Feathered Spirit devs! It's not just similar—it's a perfect match!"
"Friendly reminder: These are in-game graphics, not a real livestream."
"I spotted the Astral Express crew at the Jade Gate earlier! Feathered Spirit never misses!"
"Got there too late—the area was already locked down by the Cloud Knights…"
"Speed up, Little Gui! I need to rush ahead and set up an ambush—time for a solo takedown of the Astral Express crew!"
After touring the Star Ferry Sea, Guinaifen reluctantly headed toward the Palace of Astrum.
There, the Sky-Faring Commissioner Yukong greeted them with cold disdain.
"Tingyun has already informed me of your purpose. Normally, receiving outsiders is not part of my duties."
"However, since you are aware of the Stellaron and claim to want to assist the Luofu, both logic and courtesy compel me to meet you in person… if only to formally reject your help."
Her words left everyone speechless—not just the Astral Express crew, but even Little Gui himself was stunned.
Yukong continued coolly, "A mere Stellaron is hardly a concern. The Alliance has long known of its existence and has the means to deal with it. Xianzhou has endured for eight thousand years, surviving countless existential threats. Though this crisis may seem dire, we have more than enough strength to handle it ourselves. We do not require outside aid to suppress this disaster."
"As honored guests, you need not involve yourselves further—do you understand?"
"Commissioner Yukong is so domineering!"
"Am I a masochist? Because I love this energy!"
"Did you hear that? To Jarilo-VI, a Stellaron is a civilization-ending catastrophe, but to Xianzhou? Just a minor nuisance. Are they really that powerful?"
"Off the top of my head: the Chaos of Suigang, the Treachery of the Golden Ones, the Remnants of Abundance… Compared to those, a Stellaron is nothing."
"Xianzhou has fought its way through eight millennia. A single Stellaron isn't worth panicking over."
"No wonder everyone on the Luofu is so calm…"
Guinaifen nodded emphatically.
As an outsider herself, she had never felt safer or more at home than she did on Xianzhou.
Just then, a sharp knocking interrupted the moment.
"Little Gui, open up! Quick!"
"You'll never guess what mission I got!"
"Orders from the Cloud Knights—I'm here to ensure your safety!"
Guinaifen's face brightened with surprise.
"Shangshang! This game is unbelievable—it looks exactly like you!"
"Hold on, everyone! I'll be right back after opening the door!"
---
Meanwhile, at Cloudford on the Luofu:
Tingyun had just finished entertaining a group of business partners collaborating with the Xianzhou Alliance. Even for her, the exhaustion was visible.
With a long sigh, she finally returned to her residence and shut the door behind her.
Alone in the spacious room, her usual gentle, delicate demeanor vanished in an instant.
"Finally… No more need to play the fragile little fox." Her eyes burned with an eerie blue glow, like spectral flames.
Staring at her reflection, she muttered, "This role really isn't for me…"
"Those greasy, middle-aged men flirting with me? Disgusting."
"Such lowly, vulgar creatures deserve to die."
Then—
*
The blue fire in her right eye flickered, shifting to gold.
Her reflection morphed into the image of a cold, regal woman.
The woman spoke. "Phantylia, we're in serious trouble."
"The Cloud Knights have locked down key areas and are systematically searching for the Stellaron."
Tingyun—no, Phantylia—narrowed her eyes.
"How did Xianzhou act so quickly this time? Were you exposed?"
The woman shook her head slightly.
The mirror's surface rippled, revealing a new scene—a livestream of Honkai: Star Rail.
"Because of this game, our plans have been leaked prematurely."
"A game? A mere illusion?"
Phantylia had been too busy playing the role of Tingyun to pay attention to such trivial human amusements. Her mind was consumed by visions of Xianzhou's ruin, the glorious chaos of its collapse.
"Even you, champion of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, have fallen for such mortal distractions?" She scoffed. "How pathetic."
Dan Shu's expression darkened. "Phantylia, I'm not lying. This game follows the Trailblazer's perspective—"
"Enough!" Phantylia cut her off. "How could illusions predict my actions? It's nothing but coincidence. Watching Xianzhou panic over a disaster that hasn't even happened is amusing, though."
Dan Shu exhaled in frustration.
There was no reasoning with this Lord Ravager.
"Then I must accelerate my plans," she said. "The Stellaron must be planted in the World Tree's cavern to catalyze its rebirth and reignite the miracles of Abundance."
"But with this rushed timeline, the explosion's impact will be minimal. You won't get to witness the full devastation—the rifts corroding, the land festering…"
With that, Dan Shu severed the connection.
Phantylia stared at her reflection, her gaze flickering with dark anticipation.
"I, too, look forward to the World Tree's revival."
"Perhaps… this undying body is what I've been searching for all along."