Chapter 40: Lady Fu Xuan's Test

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In the original history, the Third War against the Abundant Lands was extraordinarily brutal.

Just as the Xianzhou Alliance neared defeat, the Imperial Bow unleashed its celestial arrows, sweeping across the battlefield and causing the Abundant Lands Allied Forces to flee in disarray.

However, nearly one-fifth of Fang Huo's paradises were destroyed by these devastating light arrows.

Within this Simulated Universe, have I truly rewritten history? Su Jinyan pondered. He believed that not only an A+ rating but even an S rating would be justified for his performance.

With that thought, he casually added the 15,000 professional experience points to his Priest class.

[Your Main Class: Priest has been upgraded to LV15.]

[Your Main Class: Priest has met the requirements for advanced progression.]

[From now on, you can advance your career by absorbing corresponding fate path energies, leading to three distinct paths while retaining the foundational skills of the Priest class.]

Destruction - Berserk Hierophant: A hierophant devoted to the Aeon of Destruction, Nanook.

You believe the birth of the universe was a fundamental error and seek to follow His footsteps, bringing about its destruction.

Abundance - Evangelist Priest: An evangelist priest dedicated to the Aeon of Abundance, Yaoshi.

[He is the Aeon who never rejects prayers, unable to bear the sight of decay and suffering. As His devout fanatic follower, your sole wish is to heal all pain.]

[3. Elation - Trickster: As a Fool favored by Aha, you invariably approach worldly matters with a playful, jesting demeanor.]

[You derive pleasure from manipulating enemies with cunning tricks, causing chaos wherever you go.]

["Why be so serious? Let's have some fun." - Trickster]

[Current SP Points: 35, sufficient to learn new skills.]

[Pain Suppression: Removes negative effects currently affecting friendly targets, reducing all incoming damage by 40% for one minute. (Requires 8 SP to learn)]

[Mental Blast: Harnesses your current spiritual energy to inflict massive psychic damage on enemy consciousness. When overextending spiritually, the damage can reach up to 300%, temporarily rendering them mindless fools. (Requires 10 SP to learn)]

[Blink: Utilizing shadow energy, instantly teleport a short distance at speeds imperceptible to most. (Requires 10 SP to learn)]

[Mind's Vision: The caster can perceive the world through the target's eyes, with a range of 50 yards and duration of 3 minutes. (Learning requires 7 SP)]

After a moment's consideration, Su Jinyan chose to learn all three abilities, perfectly exhausting his available SP points.

As for Mass Diarrhea Technique, he planned to acquire it for free later using the medical book.

[Would you like to view the epilogue?]

An epilogue? Curious, Su Jinyan clicked to read it.

[Star Calendar Year 8072, the Third Abundant Land War erupted.]

[The Planetarium Ji Dou Sea Serpent reactivated, threatening Xianzhou's Mount Fang Celestial Grotto.]

[Xianzhou's Luofu Skyride dispatched reinforcements: the Chuihong Guard, Chunteng Guard, Bi Fang Guard, and Chang Qiang Guard. Yu Que and Luofu jointly sent over 130,000 warships and more than 120,000 aerialists.]

[The battle became intensely deadlock, nearing defeat.]

[In this critical moment, Vice Commander Zuo Chao of the Chuihong Guard and elite cloud rider Su Jinyan stepped forward successively, alongside Sword Leader Jingliu of Luofu, crushing the enemy forces and forcing their hasty retreat.]

[To honor the two heroes who sacrificed in this battle, Mount Fang Celestial Grotto erected memorials, venerating them as the "First Saints".]

"?"

"Hold on, could you explain what 'First Saints' means?"

[Indeed, Fool.]

[As a mere mortal, achieving such feats, you would be hailed as a hero among the living, revered by thousands.]

[But since you sacrificed yourself, your accomplishments warrant sainthood, deserving the worship and adoration of multitudes.]

[Your fearless spirit, embodying bravery and selflessness, illuminates all citizens of Xianzhou.]

[Like the radiant sun rising from the east, casting its first morning rays, warming the hearts of every Xianzhou citizen.]

[Thus, bestowing upon you the title "First Saint" is entirely fitting.]

Su Jinyan rolled his eyes. "Enough with this nonsense! You're only digging deeper!"

[Honored First Saint, the Simulated Universe is undergoing updates. Please return in one week to experience the new version, which will offer even richer rewards.]

[At that time, you'll encounter new enemies, meet new companions, and embark on an entirely fresh adventure journey.]

"All right, fine," Su Jinyan conceded. "If you keep recycling these stale jokes, I won't come back next time."

[No, please don't leave—come for the test. —Herta]

Su Jinyan couldn't help but laugh in exasperation at this annoying narrator impersonating Herta. As a member of the Genius Society, would she really speak like this?

Upon exiting the simulated universe, he opened his eyes—it was already dawn.

Fu Xuan lay asleep, slumped over his desk.

Su Jinyan found himself curled up on the sofa in Fu Xuan's office, covered with a blanket.

It seemed likely that Fu Xuan had covered him with the blanket, quite thoughtful indeed.

[Ding~]

[Did you know? Just last night, while you were playing the Simulated Universe...]

[Fu Xuan did something profoundly disgraceful to you.]

Su Jinyan blinked, puzzled. Oh no, could Lady Fu Xuan have harvested my kidneys while I was asleep?

His immediate reaction was to hastily sit up and check if any parts of his body were missing.

After confirming he was intact, Su Jinyan let out a sigh of relief.

What exactly did Fu Xuan do to me last night? The question lingered persistently in his mind.

[Ah~]

[Lonely nights.]

[A lone man and woman sharing the same room.]

[Subtle feelings of ambiguity quietly blossoming within Fu Xuan's heart.]

[Do you want to know what Fu Xuan did to you last night?]

[Purchase for 5 million Credit Points to unlock the subsequent paid content.]

Su Jinyan pursed his lips, thinking, "Do you really think my Credit Points grow on trees?"

[Watching ads is also an option; viewing five minutes of ads can unlock the paid content.]

Having been tricked once, Su Jinyan was determined not to fall for it again. He would never forget that day when the narrator duped him into watching five minutes of advertisements.

Finally, the paid content that played was "Never Gonna Give You Up."

Bad news: He fell for a prank.

Good news: The song wasn't bad at all.

If Su Jinyan had chosen to view the paid content this time, perhaps the narrator would have shown him "Fu Xuan Sneaking KFC."

Noticing the slight movements within the room, Fu Xuan's beautiful eyes subtly shifted, barely perceptible.

Hmph, let's see if this brat dares to do anything while this venerable one is asleep.

As expected, upon waking up, Su Jinyan didn't rush to leave but instead slowly approached her.

Fu Xuan felt a hint of unease. If Su Jinyan were audacious enough to overstep boundaries,

regardless of how much she valued his talent, she would have no choice but to expel him from the Divination Commission.

I hope you won't disappoint this venerable one.

Gazing at the peacefully sleeping Fu Xuan, Su Jinyan couldn't resist murmuring:

"Sleeping quite soundly, huh? From this angle, Lady Fu Xuan actually looks pretty cute."

"Even though Lady Fu Xuan is somewhat short, being petite does have its advantages."

Fu Xuan remained silent, internally sighing.

Ahh, this impudent fellow truly gives this venerable one a headache.

After a moment, Su Jinyan returned with a still-warm blanket and gently draped it over Fu Xuan.

Involuntarily, Fu Xuan's lips curved slightly upward.

Perhaps it would be best to delete that video from last night after all.

On a typical day, Fu Xuan maintained her lofty position as the Grand Diviner of the Divination Commission. To uphold her authority before subordinates, she strove to remain stern and unsmiling, adhering strictly to discipline.

This demeanor instilled great reverence in the diviners of the commission, deterring them from any actions that might anger her. Despite Qingque's usual carefree and jovial attitude, occasionally even bribing Fu Xuan with sweet rice balls or bubble tea, deep down, she too harbored considerable fear towards her superior.

Individuals like Su Jinyan, possessing exceptional talent, unconstrained approachability, and attentiveness to life's small details, were indeed rare.

Su Jinyan glanced at Fu Xuan, ensuring she remained deeply asleep, then whispered softly:

"Hey, Qingque, do you have Dragon Girl's contact information?

"Could you ask her to urgently prepare two medicinal teas and deliver them to the Divination Commission via mechanical birds? Just say it's requested by the Grand Diviner herself."

"One should have sugar, more sugar, and extra sugar; the other must be chilled, unsweetened, and utterly bitter."

"Huh? Strale? I don't have money for it—just charge it to my Shizun's account. She's quite well-off anyway."

Fu Xuan fell silent.

Must you always take advantage of this venerable one in such petty ways?

Inside the pitch-black coffin, Jingliu opened her eyes, her breath slightly labored.

She had experienced a long dream—a time before she succumbed to Mara-Stricken transformation.

Back then, she was still known as one of the legendary "High-Cloud Quintet," revered by many with the title "Flawless Flying Light" Jingliu.

One battle, in particular, remained a deep regret for Jingliu: the Battle of Fang Huo.

In that conflict alone, the Rising Immortal Ferry suffered the loss of over sixty-three thousand warships and more than one hundred twenty thousand aerialists.

Although the Arrow of Fate had turned the tide for the immortal ship Fang Huo, nearly one-fifth of its paradises were destroyed by the onslaught of light arrows.

Many individuals did not perish in direct combat but fell victim to the Arrow of Fate's barrage instead.

Had the High-Cloud Quintet not been delayed by other battles and reached Fang Huo earlier, the intervention of the Arrow of Fate might not have been necessary.

In her dream, Jingliu accomplished what she once deemed impossible—single-handedly, with just one sword, she cut down stars from the sky.

Alas, it was merely an ephemeral illusion.

Wait—

A sudden unease gripped Jingliu as she realized with shock that the protective talisman gifted by her teacher was missing.

That talisman was the only memento left by her teacher, providing solace during her moments of icy solitude.

"Your emotions seem quite turbulent."

Outside the coffin, a young man's voice echoed.

Jingliu remained silent, but thorny vines sprouted from the casket, swiftly lashing towards the elegant golden-haired youth.

"No need for anguish or distress," he said calmly. "We both have promises we must fulfill. Until then, let us make use of each other."

The young man smiled serenely, effortlessly evading the attack.

Jingliu's eyes turned icy, her aura of solitude intensifying even further.

Su Jinyan...

If she recalled correctly, that should be his name.

No matter where he might hide, chasing him to the ends of earth and sky, she would find this person.

In her dream, she had personally bestowed upon him the only keepsake left by her teacher.

When they next met, she would reclaim that relic, regardless of any cost.

What transpired in her dream had become reality—an idea that seemed utterly absurd. Yet within this vast universe, nothing was truly impossible.

However, why does the name Su Jinyan sound so familiar? As if I've encountered it somewhere before.

The young man tapped on the coffin, speaking to himself, "I believe entering this deal with you, I underestimated you."

Jingliu remained silent.

With a sharp shh, this time, the young man failed to dodge swiftly enough, and thorns pierced through his palm. Despite the pain, he grinned and grasped onto the thorny vine.

"Exactly, we both sought to use each other, yet we both underestimated one another."