Then, Fu Xuan snapped awake. She looked at Pei Guang, who was still floating midair. While she hadn't seen Pei Guang in many of the visions, she felt an inexplicable certainty that he was involved in some way.
More importantly, Pei Guang's actions seemed to have drawn the attention of the Erudition Aeon, Knowledge Himself. The idea that Knowledge would focus on a mere human was unthinkable.
As Fu Xuan pondered this, the Matrix of Prescience came to a halt. What felt like decades to her had only been a few breaths in reality.
March 7th eagerly approached. "So? Did you find Ah Guang's home?" she asked.
Fu Xuan sighed. "I'm sorry. You're very special, and I couldn't determine where you're from…"
She hadn't intended to say more, but an eerie thought surfaced in her mind: Do not provoke the Fourth Calamity.
This wasn't her own thought. Rather, it was the Matrix of Prescience's terrifying conclusion based on what it had observed.
But provoke them? Why would she? The Trailblazers were heroes of the Xianzhou, rescuing countless people and gifting the Cloud Knights abilities to bolster their strength. She had no reason to provoke them. In fact, she felt nothing but gratitude.
At that moment, Pei Guang approached. Seeing him, Fu Xuan's expression turned complicated. "I'm sorry. Even with the Matrix of Prescience, I couldn't locate your home. My apologies."
Pei Guang waved it off. "No big deal. Maybe I'll get back once I finish everything or, well… when I kick the bucket. You're pretty polite, though."
Fu Xuan replied, "A promise unfulfilled deserves an apology. However, I'm afraid I can't meet any further demands."
Her mind was still a mess from all she had witnessed. The overwhelming flood of visions left her thoughts scattered. Still, one thing was certain: Xianzhou was safe, at least for now.
Provoke Pei Guang? Why would she? From the beginning, she had been on the receiving end of all their antics. Remembering that only fueled her irritation. The thought of regaining her dignity made her want to take action.
But as that thought crossed her mind, something unexpected occurred. In the distance, the withered Ambrosial Arbor suddenly began to grow and bloom at an astonishing speed.
The changes in the Ambrosial Arbor triggered intense tremors throughout the entire Xianzhou, prompting every resident to instinctively turn their gaze toward its location.
March 7th, watching the Arbor's transformation, teased Fu Xuan. "See that? Ah Guang was right again! I told you—your Matrix of Prescience can't beat Ah Guang's "I reckon" skills."
March 7th was a staunch supporter of her teammates, prioritizing loyalty over reason. If a companion said something, she believed it wholeheartedly.
Fu Xuan sighed as she looked toward the Arbor. "Fine, fine, you're right. I've already admitted defeat, haven't I? Speaking of which, do you want to try? The Matrix of Prescience couldn't determine his home, but maybe you can?"
March 7th gave her a suspicious look. "You? Forget it! Ah Guang's "I reckon" is way better. Ah Guang! Quick, reckon for us—what do we do next?"
Pei Guang smirked. "Do I even need to reckon? Big trouble just hit, so it's our turn to step in and handle it! Target: the Arbor. Who'd have thought I'd come to this world and get to chop down trees?"
Fu Xuan, however, began to calculate. "If I'm not mistaken, the Arbor's dimension is near the Alchemy Commission. Looks like… they've made their move."
Pei Guang nodded. "Of course they did. But you've got the "General of Divine Foresight". If my guess is right, he's already laid his plans and is waiting for action. Now, though, it's our turn. What we do next will probably influence our final rewards!"
Just then, Stelle returned from her conversation with Kafka, pulling out her bat with excitement. "Rewards? Where? What rewards?"
Pei Guang pointed toward the distant Ambrosial Arbor. "If we complete the mission well, we'll definitely get rewards. Think back—what did Jing Yuan promise us as a reward?"
Stelle pondered for a moment before replying. "He said he'd gather all the treasures and vases he could find on the Xianzhou and get us over three hundred. Yeah, three hundred!"
Pei Guang nodded again. "Exactly. And based on my experience, those three hundred draws might increase depending on how well we perform. Jing Yuan mentioned he'd scavenge as much as possible while maintaining order. Right now, his manpower is stretched thin. If we help free up some of his resources…"
March 7th clapped her hands in realization. "That means we'll get even more rewards? Let's go, then! Let's cut down that tree! I have a feeling taking it down will lead to even better rewards. Or, what if we just head straight to the Alchemy Commission and take them out?"
Pei Guang grinned. "I'm game. Hey, Lady Master Diviner, any directions to the Alchemy Commission?"
Fu Xuan replied, "The Alchemy Commission? That dimension is sealed. You can't get there via starskiffs, but I can open a path for you to reach the Artisanship Commission first, and from there, you can make your way to the Alchemy Commission. However, this is a matter of great importance. Before you act, I'll need to consult with the General."