Xingtie, started with a guitar, and made a living by singing

Here, they transformed all the people of the Immortal Boat into immortals... and here, they developed all kinds of incredible technologies through "Jianmu."

Talking about this past event, Fu Xuan frowned slightly and sighed.

"But in the end, the alchemists were still not satisfied and began to take pleasure in manipulating life. The research on "Jianmu" was like drinking poison to quench thirst... the deeper they went, the more they desired.

If it weren't for Emperor Gong Siming's arrow that cut through the Jianmu tree and put everything back on track, I'm afraid the sins Xianzhou would have to pay for today would be even greater."

When she said this, she also looked from afar at the followers of Medicine King's secret teachings who were detained by the Cloud Cavalry Army, with a hint of anger in her eyes.

"The 'Secret of the King of Medicine' that is now committing crimes in the Xianzhou Alliance is a criminal organization that has been established for less than 30 years and uses an ancient name.

At that time, the Third War of Plenty broke out. Some with ulterior motives blamed the Longevity Plague Ancestor's disaster on the ruthlessness of Emperor Bow Siming and the Immortal Boat Alliance, and thus began to think about overturning the Immortal Boat.

They hope to revive Jianmu and bring back the era of the gods. In doing so, they can complete their research and pursuit of immortality—"

"So, the so-called slogan, 'The Medicine King is compassionate, the Jian tree is full of life, and those who cultivate it are united in mind, and together they ascend to the path to immortality,' is based on this concept?"

On the way here on March 7th, I did hear their slogans, but as soon as they came out, they were cursed by the believers who heard it.

"Hey—you short-lived girl over there, what nonsense are you talking about! What Huaici? It's Cihuai! If our leader hears this, anyone who is so disrespectful to you will be killed without mercy!"

"Uh?! I can see that these people are all very sick, and they're forcing others to get sick with them!"

March 7 was startled by his sudden barking and felt disgusted with these crazy guys.

"So, let's ask him to calm down first."

Wendy gently hooked her finger, causing the rude guy to quickly cover his throat, his face flushed red, and he gasped for air like a fish washed up on the beach, but he couldn't get oxygen and soon fainted from lack of oxygen.

Of course, judging from the fact that his chest was rising and falling again, the man was still alive.

In response, Fu Xuan just looked at him thoughtfully, without blaming him, and continued speaking.

"You could say that. But the leader these guys trust isn't actually reviving the old faith, but rather a resurrection of a new one. These unwitting fools, being exploited without realizing it, are probably intoxicated by the dream they've created, where everyone can achieve immortality, and they refuse to wake up."

At this point, Fu Xuan also led a few people to the designated location.

"Alright everyone, we're here! Do you see that alchemy furnace over there?"

The place she pointed to stood a giant alchemy furnace building, the size of which was even smaller than Taibusi's Taiyan Qiongguan Formation.

"There's an ancient poem about Xianzhou that goes, 'The morning bell wakes me from a dream within a dream, mist and clouds gather and disperse, and I am outside my body.' It describes this scene perfectly—"

"There's really a lot of smoke coming out..."

Xing was even a little curious about the effects of the pills refined by this group of alchemists.

This is where ancient alchemists expounded on the way to immortality. They built alchemy furnaces here, drawing on the power of "Jianmu" to turn their fantasies into reality.

Because the furnace is constantly billowing with smoke, it's named "Cloud and Mist Purple Palace." However, while the name is elegant, it's a deadly place in military strategy. As long as the furnace lingers and the clouds linger, we can't even approach.

"Is that why Wendy is needed to blow away the fog?"

San Yueqi suddenly understood. But soon, she scratched her head again.

"But those alchemy furnaces should also be shut down, right? Otherwise, as long as they keep running all the time, unless the Cloud Cavalry can hold their breath and move forward, someone will definitely inhale it by accident, right?"

"That's right. All you need to do is shut down the alchemy furnace when you sneak in, and then have Wendy blow away the smoke. I will immediately lead the army to your arrival and will never let you fight alone in danger."

If possible, Fu Xuan also hoped that Xian Zhou could solve this matter alone. Unfortunately, facing this fog that could induce the demonic body, she was really helpless.

In other words, on this immortal boat, no matter if they were generals, fortune tellers, or ordinary Cloud Knights, as long as they were immortals, they would inevitably be affected by it.

Even fox-men and vidyadharas are no exception to this. Although they are immortal, fox-men are not easily transformed into demonic bodies because their lifespan is limited. Vidyadharas, on the other hand, use "shedding scales" to abandon their old world.

Most of the time, both of them will not live to the point where their emotional thresholds are worn down to the point of being reduced to dregs, so it is just that they are not likely to fall into the realm of demons, but it is not impossible for them to do so.

With this as their trump card, it is no wonder that the army was blocked at the periphery and unable to apprehend the main culprit.

"We are fortunate to have you all here this time. The Immortal Boat Alliance has always been independent. Jianmu is a taboo in Luofu. Even the Medicine King Secret Transmission couldn't have anticipated that the general would dare to ask for external assistance. They certainly didn't expect that the Jianmu they were trying to revive would be nearly severed by an arrow, and their plan to ambush the Immortal Boat was ruined."

At this point, Fu Xuan had to admit defeat.

"From this point of view alone, the Star Core Hunter's predictions are indeed more accurate than mine. The future Kafka prayed for is also coming true one by one."

"But after all the twists and turns, I always feel like I'm following the Star Core Hunter's prophecy again."

Xing said somewhat dejectedly.

"Although I'm not unwilling to help Xianzhou, it's hard to be happy in a situation where it seems like there's a choice but there's actually only one path to take."

"I have a different perspective on this. In the future foreseen by the Star Core Hunters, they believe that only by doing this can they reach the best future.

And since this is the case, they will artificially create heroes, select people who attract everyone's attention, and perform acts of salvation."

Walter pushed his glasses and said in a deep voice.

"Although we don't know where the future they foresee will lead, at least in some things, our goals are the same.

Sharing the same fate as the Star Core Hunters doesn't mean we're puppets, quite the opposite. The fact that we have the power to choose whether to act or not, yet are still willing to help others, further proves that this destiny isn't a play in the hands of others, but a story we write ourselves.

"Well, to put it simply, we do have the right to quit at any time. It's just that - good people should be pointed at guns?"

San Yue Qi said, trying his best to understand.

"That's right. While it's natural to feel resentful when being exploited like this, there's no need to take them too seriously. Slaves who believe they can see their fate are tightening the collar around their necks with every choice, deciding whether to truly be granted a glimmer of hope or to perish in the darkness before dawn.

We just have to do what we have to do and then wait and see.”

After setting the tone for action, the pioneers officially began to act.

First, a few people entered the alchemy garden to extinguish the alchemy furnace. When Wendy confirmed that the fog showed signs of weakening, he stirred up a strong wind to dilute and disperse the fog as much as possible to ensure that it would not induce the demonic body.

In this way, Fu Xuan officially led his troops into the battle, while Wendy declined his request to join him and paused on the observation deck until he heard the sound of crisp footsteps behind him.

The poet turned around and looked at the familiar figure without any surprise.

"You finally came."

"Hee. Are you waiting for me, benefactor?"

Tingyun laughed out loud, as if a woman who had just returned from a long journey was extremely happy to see her lover.

"I miss you so much, especially since you and the others were mistakenly captured by Lord Yukong. I was so worried."

"In that case, would you like to go back with me to see her?"

Wendy asked in the same soft voice.

"I think she must be very curious about what happened to you."

"Hmm... I don't want to reject your kindness, benefactor. But I really have a hard time explaining what I'm doing. Why don't you come closer, benefactor? I'll tell you alone~"

Tingyun smiled sweetly, and her breath carried a bewildering sweet fragrance.

The atmosphere suddenly became charming and ambiguous.

And in that charm, Wendy really seemed to have fallen into a beauty trap and moved closer step by step.

"That's right, just like that... walking slowly towards me. From the first time I saw you, my benefactor, I felt that the rest of my life would be entangled with you."

Like obsession, like coquettishness. Her eyes, full of temptation, fell on the boy's fair and delicate skin. There was no doubt that what she desired was this God-given body.

I hadn't been able to see clearly before, but I only noticed that the poet didn't seem like a stable factor. If I continued to stay by his side, I would definitely attract unnecessary attention.

By then, not to mention staying here to observe for a while, her identity would probably be exposed first, and her plan to cause chaos in the Immortal Boat would be defeated.

To do this, she had to fake her own death to escape, using the Star Core Hunter as bait to attract everyone's attention. However, she never expected that the other party could bring her such a big surprise.

Originally, she wanted to rob the root of Jianmu, use it to shape her physical body, and then destroy the immortal boat in one fell swoop, but now a better choice has appeared!

If she could occupy this body, not to mention General Xianzhou, even "Fenfeng" and "Xingxiao" would not be her match.

The combined power of the two envoys is not something that a mere general or a single annihilation lord can withstand.

By then, she could calmly complete her planned tasks. She could even use the poet's face to backstab someone he valued, and then slowly utilize the remaining power of Jianmu to optimize her body and create a unique body that belonged to Huanlong.

Just thinking of such a scene, she couldn't help but clamp her legs together, and her beautiful fluffy tail behind her kept swinging.

When the distance between them was so close that they were only one step away, Tingyun stretched out his hand to hug Wendy, but instead of a warm embrace, the boy's white jade-like hand blade first broke through her hot chest, causing blood to splatter on her face.

"...Mm...gong?"

The fox woman's expression was frozen in this happiest moment, as if she had never expected Wendy to suddenly attack. Even his most familiar friends would probably feel that the young poet who killed people in the midst of laughter and conversation was extremely unfamiliar.

——However, this body was never the poor Tianbosi ferryman, but a product of some kind of illusion that was close to reality.

When touched, it can give people real physical feedback, and the face also shows human emotions. If you put it against its chest, you can even hear the vibrant heartbeat.

However, no matter how much the non-human creatures pretend to be real, they are destined to be unable to deceive the omnipresent breeze.

If the original body still had enough authenticity to deceive the world, then the one in front of him was just an illusion that could be shattered with a single poke.

As expected, the moment after Wendy pierced her heart, the fox woman who was supposed to be dead showed a creepy smile.

"My benefactor, you're so impatient... If you want my heart so badly, you could just tell me directly. I'll give you everything I have. Why bother coming here in person to take it?"

She gripped Wendy's arm tightly with both hands, preventing him from withdrawing. Her smile stretched from ear to ear, and the morbid possessiveness in her eyes grew rapidly. She even moved her head closer and gently licked the blood from the boy's cheek.

As Wendy's face almost darkened, a faint line of blood appeared on Tingyun's neck.

Then, in a straight line, the head seemed like it would fall off at any moment.

But the hazy sound belonging to Tingyun became even more resentful.

"My benefactor, if you continue to do such evil things... I will be unable to resist and swallow you into my stomach, and we will be one forever——!"

As soon as the words fell, the body constructed by the illusion dissipated like sparks, and was replaced by an existence that was almost the same as Sui Yang seen in Taibusi before.

However, compared with the illusion, the nameless flame is as small as the most inconspicuous flame in the sea of ​​fire.

And the moment its true appearance was revealed, the flame was passed through the impenetrable net constructed by the ideal fluid, and the stone brick wall that was scratched by the corners was instantly cut open.

However, Huanlong still floated in the air and even crashed into Wendy's arms in the next moment.

At that moment, it was as if a second star had taken up residence in the body, and the will from the illusion began to fight for the ownership of the body.

Wendy, half-kneeling on the ground with her hands covering her chest, asked in a low voice while suppressing the nausea of ​​the foreign object invading her.

"Is this your so-called method of destroying the Immortal Boat? Are you planning to use my body to drink up all the wine on the Immortal Boat and make them die of greed?"

"Haha. My benefactor, please don't be impatient. We are such precious and noble beings, why do we need to do it ourselves? This goes against the aesthetics of destruction and is not very interesting at all—"

A phantom voice continued to come from Wendy's body, and as she dived deeper and deeper, she discovered the marks left by the pharmacist in the past.

Although the effect of the enlightenment itself has disappeared, the memory of being watched by the Star God remains, and she also glimpsed his extremely ideal side from it.

"I never thought my benefactor once enjoyed disguising himself and teasing others with a mask. It seems our compatibility is so strong it could be described as 'destined'."

As she finished speaking, the poet's shadow began to wriggle, and then wrapped around her entire body.

When the shadow faded, the original short black hair was replaced by waist-length white hair, with only a touch of emerald green remaining at the end of the hair. The neutral face gradually tilted towards the softness of femininity, and even the ears became as pointed as an elf.

The dress underneath was reshaped into a close-fitting long skirt. The size of her heart and her slender waist further illustrated what it meant to bear great fruit from small branches.

At the moment the transformation was complete, a hazy voice temporarily replaced Wendy's clear boyish voice. She stroked her cheek and praised.

"Hmm...you are indeed worthy of being my chosen benefactor. With such a delicate and lovely face, I am truly far inferior to him——"

She stood up and looked into the distance at the Yunqi Army that had already suppressed the Danding Division, a gentle smile blooming on her cheeks.

"However, no matter how beautiful the makeup is, it still deserves to be appreciated. Next, it's our turn to perform on stage."

Chapter 22: Illusion

"The cauldron...went out."

The leader of the Medicine King's secret sect seemed to sense something and turned his head to face the huge alchemy furnace where no smoke was emitting anymore. His face, with his eyes sealed, showed no emotion, only indifference.

"But it doesn't matter. What's coming will eventually come."

She murmured to herself, and the inner alchemist guarding her also reminded her anxiously.

"Master Kuishou, the Cloud Cavalry has invaded this far. What should we do?"

As soon as the believer finished speaking, a cold and pretty female voice came from the other side.

"It's you, Dan Shu... At this point, with just a few of you remaining defeated soldiers, do you still think you can escape from my grasp?"