Bengtie: My death fueled their madness.

After 30 system hours.

Inside the Xianlong Dayu Hall, three figures stood silently.

Below the steps outside the hall, the Cloud Riders, exuding a solemn aura, stood in neat rows, awaiting any orders that might be given at any moment.

Before heading to Jianmu Cave to confront Huanlong, the underwater scenery of Danheng remains unchanged.

Rakshasa turned his head to look at the magnificent scenery in the distance, and felt a surge of emotion.

"If the sea does not conceal pearls, and the dragon spits out the bright moon, the scenery of Lin Yuan Realm is indeed as beautiful and magnificent as described in the poem..."

"As a suspect, I should be in shackles and restraints, and being tried in a prison. Is it really appropriate for the general to bring me here?"

Upon hearing this, Jingyuan remained noncommittal.

"There are too many problems with those imprisoned in the dungeon; it would be better to add another one. For your safety, please stand trial here."

"For safety's sake... it doesn't seem to be for my safety." Rakshasa narrowed his eyes meaningfully.

Jing Yuan looked directly into his eyes: "The star core descended, the Jianmu tree was reborn, and the ferryman of the Tianbo Bureau was replaced by someone else. The real one is the messenger of destruction."

"According to the investigation by the Tianbo Company, you stayed in Luofu with the caravan for several days, but did not have any trade dealings with anyone."

"On the day you were supposed to leave, a calamity broke out. You took advantage of the chaos to sneak into the Prison of Darkness, but did nothing. Now you claim to be responsible for the Star Core Cataclysm and confess your crimes."

"Strange, strange, your behavior is truly unpredictable."

Faced with Jing Yuan's questioning, Luo Sha remained calm and smiled slightly as he replied:

"As a merchant, I was entrusted with transporting tokens and was unaware of the hidden story behind it."

"I did enter the Prison of Darkness with a purpose, but now it seems that Luofu does not have what I seek."

"Confessing my guilt and submitting to the law is out of fear of punishment. The galaxy may be vast, but I am but a mere merchant, and I am sure I cannot escape the pursuit of the entire alliance."

"Just a mere traveling merchant?"

Jing Yuan couldn't help but laugh, his voice slightly nasal and inexplicable.

"Mr. Rakshasa, you jest. Do I need to recount in detail what you did at Ai Rong Fortress and the various past events you left behind in the Veiled Starfield?"

"Or do you need me to say that tongue-twisting name?"

"Oh?" Luo Sha's eyes narrowed, a hint of surprise flashing across his face: "...General Shence truly lives up to his reputation."

"Likewise, I did some research beforehand, otherwise this conversation would have been awkward."

"Since the general suspects something is amiss, are you going to defend me and clear my name as the suspected star core culprit?"

"This matter is not up to me. It concerns a grave crime that could overthrow the alliance. According to the law, you should be imprisoned on the Void Tomb Immortal Ship to undergo a joint trial by the Ten Kings and the Seven Heavenly Generals, and be punished with eternal imprisonment. However..."

Jing Yuan didn't take the bait and turned his gaze to Gu Hai.

"For this brief moment, you still have the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of Lin Yuan Realm. This will be the last time you see the Luofu scenery."

Luo Sha followed Jing Yuan's gaze, and a true history flashed through his mind that even the locals might not know.

"Hundreds of years ago, the Five Heroes of the Clouds gathered here for a feast."

"The peerless swordsmanship of Master Jingliu, the wondrous cloud chanting technique of Lord Yinyue Danfeng, the skillful piloting of the star raft by the flying warrior Bai Heng, coupled with the divine weapons forged by the Zhu Ming craftsman Ying Xing, and the strategic planning of the strategist Jing Yuan..."

"The five pursuers of demons and cleansed away filth left behind many fascinating legends, but unfortunately, their deeds did not last long."

"Since Shunxue Jinhong and Shuhu perished together, the Five Heroes of the Clouds quickly became history."

"If I'm not mistaken, this hero of the Immortal Ship should have some connection with the general or the other four heroes."

"…Um?"

This time it was Jing Yuan's turn to be surprised, seemingly not expecting that Luo Sha had even guessed this correctly.

Grandmaster Qi Zhimu retired from the military and settled in Luofu. Only a very few people knew about his relationship with the Five Heroes of the Clouds.

Behind Jing Yuan, the boy who had been acting as an invisible follower for a long time showed intense curiosity on his face.

Just as I was getting into it, why didn't Rakshasa continue?

He had been curious about his great-grandmaster, whom he had only heard of but never seen.

I'm also curious why the general has always been so reluctant to talk about these past events.

Luo Sha didn't notice the subtle change in Jing Yuan's expression; his tone was intriguing.

"The general brought me here from the prison for questioning, clearly not for the sake of safety there, but to discuss some private matters in private."

"Regarding the person you've been asking about until now, but who you've consistently avoided mentioning... your master, Jingliu."

Jing Yuan's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes flickered for a moment.

"My master has never trusted outsiders. I'm very curious about what you've placed in this coffin that would make her willing to do something for your plan."

"Why doesn't the general ask his commander directly?"

"Heh... If Master wanted to say something, I wouldn't need to. Since you know why I brought you out of the Dark Prison, why bother with this pretense, Mr. Rakshasa?"

Jing Yuan's lips curled into a mocking smile, but it wasn't directed at Luo Sha.

"There are quite a few old guys in the alliance who have a lot of prejudice against their master. As a disciple, I would never do something like betraying my master by giving those old guys leverage over me."

"Master has her own plans for what she wants to do. Before we can see the specifics, acting rashly could ruin her plans, even if it's just a small accident."

"Although I do not know what is in your coffin, it does not mean I have no related guesses. If one wishes to shake the Star God, only something related to the Star God can do so. Am I right?"

"...As expected of General Shence."

Rakshasa's words were sincere; most people wouldn't even dare to guess them, but he couldn't say them outright.

Just as Jing Yuan could not reveal to the Alliance's higher-ups that his successful infiltration of Luofu was due to the secret assistance of his master.

I can't reveal that right now, at least not at the moment.

Once the target is found and the contents of the coffin are revealed, Jingliu's violation of the rules will no longer matter, and Jingyuan will understand everything at that time.

It must be said that he must have had his own unique qualities to have been able to serve as General of Luofu for hundreds of years.

Is it because his master taught him well, or because he was born with exceptional intelligence?

Not important at the moment...

With that in mind, Rakshasa changed the subject.

"As a follower of the Emperor's Bow, the general must have witnessed the devastation caused by the plague that ravaged the world."

"Those living beings will either transform into immortal monsters or become sacrificial lambs for a bountiful harvest. General, how do you believe this catastrophe can be quelled?"

"The Alliance, acting on the Emperor's decree, continues its relentless extermination of demons, all for the sake of one day eradicating the Pharmacist and restoring life and death to their proper order," Jing Yuan replied in a formal, official manner.

Rakshasa understood the meaning behind his words.

"The Emperor's archers patrol the hunt, and the Cloud Cavalry follows closely behind. They risk their lives to fight demons and uphold justice, which is truly admirable. Unfortunately... their narrow-mindedness is undeniable."

"Just as my power comes from abundance, but my stance is aligned with the Alliance, the Hunting faction is not the only force in the universe that wants to kill the Apothecaries."

"Suffering from the stubborn disease of short life, and yearning for the elixir of immortality, is the common nature of intelligent beings."

"To sever these thoughts is like trying to kill a star god—absurd, almost laughable."

"Therefore, to completely sever the pharmacist's curse and untie this knot, we must find another way from the root of the problem."

"The general is unwilling to explain his position, which Luo Sha understands, so the next move will be made at Xuling."

"Just as I expected."

Jing Yuan was not surprised at all:

"Confessing your crimes and accepting punishment is merely a means to an end. Your true purpose is to use the Ten Kings' edict to go to Xuling and confront the Six Generals and even the Marshal directly."

"General, as you just said, this matter is not up to you or me. The laws of the alliance are as they are and cannot be changed."

As soon as Luo Sha finished speaking with a faint smile, he noticed a figure returning from the depths of the ancient sea.

Jingyuan also sensed it, and the two of them turned their gazes in that direction at the same time.

In just a few breaths, Dan Heng's figure quickly became clear.