Chat Group: Starting by Swapping Bodies with Elysia?

The Shackling Prison—a place unlike any other on the Xianzhou.

Unlike ordinary prisons governed by the Ten-Lords Commission that housed petty thieves, this prison was reserved for the most heinous criminals.

Those confined here had committed unforgivable sins. Some, due to their unique identities or the sheer difficulty in eliminating them, were condemned to eternal confinement in the prison's deepest levels.

Such as—

[Heliobus]—the mastermind behind the Heliobus Possession Tragedy, now imprisoned in the Shackling Prison of the Zhuming Xianzhou.

[Mingxiao]—the Abundance Follower known as 'Wingweaver,' a war criminal and legion commander during the Abundance Follower War.

[Hoolay]—the former war chief of the Borisin, who enslaved the Foxian race and led countless wars. His punishment formed the foundation of the alliance between the Foxian and the Xianzhou. Any attempt to defend or rescue him would be branded as 'undermining the alliance pact.'

Because of his unique significance, Hoolay was regularly transferred between different Shackling Prisons. And now—he happened to be undergoing punishment in the Luofu's Shackling Prison.

For years, the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus had sought to rescue Abundance Follower war criminals imprisoned here. To them, anyone touched by the Apothecary's grace was a comrade, bound to resist Bow Disaster (Lan) and its hounds.

However, the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus had no interest in the other major criminals confined within the Shackling Prison. To them, the enemy of an enemy was not always a friend. Their mission had always been clear: to resist The Bow Disaster  and its followers.

As for the Xianzhou people, the Disciples believed they were poisoned by Lan's influence. They were convinced that when the Apothecary's miracles finally manifested, the Xianzhou would see the truth and choose the right side.

Still, not all criminals in the Shackling Prison were allies to the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus. Some were their unyielding enemies.

But—

That was all in the past.

For Dan Shu, hatred for the Hunt Aeon had burned in her heart ever since her closest friend, Yufei, sacrificed herself during the previous Abundance Follower War. Yufei had fallen to the divine arrow of the Hunt Aeon—a loss that left Dan Shu with nothing but vengeance.

Upon her return to the Xianzhou, Dan Shu founded the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus in secret. Over decades, she painstakingly plotted her retaliation against the Hunt Aeon. Her resolve was unwavering, yet she adhered to a principle she could not compromise:

This was a Xianzhou matter.

No matter how much she despised the Hunt, she refused to seek excessive external aid. Dragging innocent Xianzhou people into her cause would be cruel—no better than the Hunt Aeon itself.

However—

Her decades of effort were reduced to ashes in an instant, without reason or explanation.

For Dan Shu, who had mastered the medicinal powers of the Mara-Struck and had the lifespan of a Xianzhou native, time itself was not precious. She could lie low, waiting for decades, centuries, or even millennia if necessary. Time was her ally.

But—

This time, Dan Shu sensed something different. The hounds of The Blemished One would not grant her the luxury of waiting. Now that their plans had been exposed to the Divine Strategists' Office, they would stop at nothing to uproot the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, ensuring they could never set foot on Xianzhou Luofu again.

Leaving Luofu and starting over on a remote planet was an option. She could rebuild, find a quiet corner of the universe, and carry out her plans once more.

But—

Dan Shu was unwilling.

She could not leave, not when a once-in-a-millennium opportunity was so close—so tantalizingly within reach. For a long-life species like hers, the wait was insignificant, almost fleeting.

The person she had contacted was already searching for the 'seed.'

Once the seed was found and brought into the Xianzhou, the Apothecary's miracle could bloom again.

All of this, however, was now—

Falling apart at the last hurdle.

Yet, Dan Shu's unwillingness burned brighter than ever, driving her to make a final counterattack.

She lifted her gaze to the small box in front of her, determination hardening her features. Behind her, a sharp and commanding voice rang out:

"Dan Shu! You dare collude with external enemies!"

Dan Shu turned her head, meeting the furious eyes of Fu Xuan. The Grand Diviner had arrived, flanked by the Cloud Knights and Jing Yuan himself. Fu Xuan's delicate face was cold as frost, her anger palpable. Despite their haste, the two had pieced together the truth just in time—the mastermind behind the chaos was none other than Dan Shu, the Alchemy Grand in charge of the Alchemy Commission.

"Grand Diviner, General," Dan Shu greeted, her tone calm, tinged with regret. "I didn't expect you to arrive so quickly."

There was no denial, no attempt to feign innocence. She had accepted her role in this confrontation.

Her plan had been simple yet audacious: to release the most dangerous criminals confined in the Shackling Prison and subvert the Xianzhou from within. Unfortunately, Jing Yuan's forces had moved with alarming speed. Barely moments after Dan Shu and her followers breached the prison, the General intercepted them.

"But you're still one step too late," Dan Shu said with a faint smile.

Releasing the prisoners had been only part of her plan. Her eyes shifted to the object beside her—a metal canister crafted from celestial jade.

The [Zhige] Prototype.

This was no ordinary prisoner. It was the earliest creation of the Xianzhou's Aurumaton—Primeval Imperium, the originator of the Aurumaton Rebellion. In the name of "Using War to End War," it had plunged the Xianzhou into catastrophe during the Three Calamities Era, leaving a trail of unimaginable destruction.

The Zhige Prototype was not just a relic of history but a war criminal, imprisoned in the Shackling Prison for countless years. And now—Dan Shu stood poised to unleash it once again.

Its body had long been dismantled, its parts scattered across the Xianzhou. Only its core remained—sealed within a celestial jade canister, submerged and preserved in inert liquid.

"Your goal is this, isn't it?"

Jing Yuan's voice was calm, his piercing gaze fixed on Dan Shu and the celestial jade canister beside her. Though fury burned within him, his expression betrayed nothing.

The answer was self-evident.

A soft hum filled the air, growing louder until a blinding glow engulfed the canister. With a deafening crack, the celestial jade shattered, its fragments scattering across the chamber.

The inert liquid spilled out in streams, revealing the massive Aurumaton core encased within—a remnant of the war machine once known as Zhige.

This was no ordinary Aurumaton. Zhige, designed by an ancient civilization, was far larger than the standard two-meter constructs that roamed the Xianzhou. Fully assembled, it would rival even The Father in size.

As the room quaked, a mechanical bird with crimson eyes descended from above, landing on the core.

In that instant, a chilling energy surged into Zhige's heart.

Flesh—unnatural and grotesque—began to grow from the core, coiling around it like living tendrils. Nearby metal objects rattled violently before hurtling toward the core, merging with the mass of flesh. Piece by piece, the monstrous construct took shape, forming a terrifying hybrid of flesh and machine.

The ground trembled as a blast wave erupted, hurling Fu Xuan and the Cloud Knights backward. They staggered, struggling to maintain their footing. Only Jing Yuan stood unmoved, stepping forward calmly as an invisible force nullified the shockwave around him.

His eyes, like shards of ice, narrowed as he murmured:

" [Irontomb]."

There was no doubt now. What stood before them was a Destruction Emanator under Nanook's command.

The Lord Ravagers, [Irontomb].

Though this was not its main body, it bore the unmistakable essence of an Emanator. The form was a twisted amalgamation—a clone, born from the fusion of Zhige's core and Abundance power.

Even so, its sheer presence was undeniable. It radiated power on par with Jing Yuan himself.

"As I expected," Irontomb said, its tone laced with satisfaction as it adjusted to its new form. "There really is some of Emperor Rubert's 'scrap material' within Zhige."

Unlike the later Phantylia, Irontomb had always advocated for technologically advanced civilizations to isolate themselves and face the consequences of their creations. Attacking the Xianzhou Luofu had never been part of its immediate plans—after all, it was still focused on obliterating Balanza Furnace. Provoking the Xianzhou, a notoriously formidable foe, seemed unnecessary at this stage.

But circumstances had changed.

The Luofu possessed something just as irresistible to Irontomb as the Ambrosial Arbor fruit was to Phantylia.

The Zhige Prototype core.

As the culprit that triggered the Aurumaton Rebellion, a derivative of the [Emperor] War, the Zhige Aurumaton was actually a derivative of [Emperor] Rubert.

Although this statement was not entirely accurate, Irontomb believed that, influenced by Emperor Rubert, there must be some of the 'Anti-Life Equation' within Zhige's progenitor that Emperor Rubert relied on to fight against the entire universe.

The Xianzhou, it seemed, had understood this all along.

Destroying the Zhige Progenitor would have been the safer choice, but they had hesitated. Whether it was scientific curiosity or a desire to harness its forbidden power, they had instead chosen to confine it within the Shackling Prison.

And now, the fruit of their caution lay before Irontomb.

Destruction was second nature to the Lord Ravager—fearless, unpredictable, and relentless. Their choices were dictated not by morality but by opportunity.

Not provoking The Hunt had been a matter of pragmatism; the Lord Ravagers found them troublesome and planned to deal with them later. But now, Irontomb had stumbled upon something far more intriguing.

And as luck would have it, someone within the Xianzhou had gone to great lengths to facilitate this moment.

Dan Shu's treachery had saved Irontomb a considerable amount of effort.

Speaking of Phantylia, that insufferable fellow also had her sights set on the Xianzhou Luofu. Within the Lord Ravager, she had openly declared her intention to personally lead an assault on the Xianzhou in the near future.

Because of this, Irontomb's original plan was simple—wait. Let Phantylia do the heavy lifting, subjugating the Xianzhou, while it focused on dismantling Balanza Furnace. Once that was done, it would swoop in, unbothered, to claim the Zhige Progenitor for itself.

But now…

"Hmph, no matter."

The Lord Ravager was not like other factions. It thrived on chaos and operated without unity.

Each Gang Leader followed Master Nanook's decrees but largely acted on their own whims. Cooperation among them was nonexistent—each had their own agenda, and none cared for the other's ambitions.

"Who cares about Phantylia anyway?" Irontomb muttered under its breath.

Turning its crimson gaze toward Jing Yuan, Irontomb frowned.

Like Phantylia, Irontomb held a deep disdain for beings unlike itself. Yet, unlike her, it could maintain some degree of objectivity.

And truthfully—facing off against an Emanator of the same level wasn't its first choice. Even if Jing Yuan was weaker, the fight would still be troublesome.

Unlike Phantylia, a Heliobus, Irontomb could not leave its physical body and retreat as pure consciousness. Its existence was bound by material constraints.

To extract the Anti-Life Equation from the Zhige core, it needed to physically remove the Zhige body—or, at the very least, break free of the Xianzhou's internal blockade and establish a connection with the approaching War Chariot [warship of the Anti-Matter Legion].

This body, its host, could not afford to be destroyed.

But…

Admitting defeat was not an option.

Ironscarred pride surged through Irontomb's circuits. To show weakness, to lower itself before the Xianzhou General, would mean humiliation. The other Lord Ravagers—Phantylia in particular—would never let it live this down.

No. Retreat was one thing. Losing face was another.

Hmm… This was the Shackling Prison.

Recalling the information it had gleaned from the woman, Dan Shu, Irontomb formulated a plan almost instantly.

First, it would destroy this place, forcing the Xianzhou General to redirect his efforts toward containing the dangerous criminals Inside.

Then, it would break through the blockade, establish a connection with the War Chariot, and transmit the Anti-Life Equation.

And afterward?

Naturally—obliterate this Xianzhou entirely.

While Irontomb was plotting, Jing Yuan, with his experienced gaze, had already sensed its intentions.

But knowing what the enemy planned and being able to stop it were two very different matters.

Jing Yuan furrowed his brows. He couldn't allow this creature to escape. As the Xianzhou General, letting an enemy infiltrate, steal a high-profile prisoner, and leave unscathed was unthinkable.

Yet, if the Shackling Prison were destroyed…

His thoughts turned to the myriad of dangerous criminals locked behind the prison walls. Even the idea of them escaping made his head throb.

He was already old, almost at retirement age, how could he still be saddled with such a thing?!

He let out a heavy sigh. "This is too much for someone my age," he thought. Retirement was so close, yet here he was, facing calamities meant for a younger man.

"Fu Xuan, this is not a suitable battlefield!" Jing Yuan's voice rang out, calm but resolute. "I will draw it away from here. You and Yanqing must guard the Shackling Prison. Do everything in your power to ensure that no key criminals escape!"

His voice left no room for doubt—it was an order. Even if the prison fell, those criminals could not be allowed to roam free.

With that, Jing Yuan steadied his blade and surged forward, aiming directly for Irontomb.

As a symbol of the Hunt Emanator's power, Lightning Lord was not incapable of unfolding from below. However, if he did so, Lightning Lord might not even be able to unleash five layers of his full power.

Coupled with the fact that Jing Yuan was old and not the type who excelled in head-on confrontations, this time, he could only do his best.

Accompanied by a loud BOOM—

The Shackling Prison, located in the southeast direction at the bottom of the Xianzhou, was pierced through and collapsed. Ancient seawater poured into the structure, flooding its depths.

A huge golden figure, wielding a sharp blade, burst forth. It stabbed the massive flesh-and-machine golem that had been trapped inside the Shackling Prison.

Jing Yuan winced at the sight of the damaged prison. The Destruction gave him a headache, but he had no time to dwell on it. His focus was fixed on the Lord Ravager Leader standing before him.

Yet, suddenly, a strange smell wafted into his nostrils, and his expression changed drastically.

"Six Dust Smoke!"

He quickly looked down and saw a peculiar humanoid figure. Around it, Fu Xuan, Yanqing, and the Cloud Knights they led were collapsed on the ground, writhing in pain.

Jing Yuan's heart sank.

Ten-Lords Commission major criminal—Mirage.

This was a Borisin who had undergone special modifications by the Abundance Followers. Mirage could emit Six Dust Smoke, a toxin capable of inducing heart demons in the Xianzhou people and causing them to fall into Mara. At its peak, Mirage had once driven tens of thousands of Xianzhou people into the Mara-Struck state.

On normal days, Mirage was confined to a specially made cell, trapped in a restraining suit, and imprisoned within a dreamscape.

Now, Jing Yuan realized what had happened. That massive attack just moments ago must have shattered the seal, awakening Mirage from its dreamscape prison.

His scalp tingled with fear as he processed this.

The criminals in the Shackling Prison were among the most dangerous and sinful. When Jing Yuan decided to destroy the prison, he had counted on most of the prisoners being "weak types." With Yanqing and Fu Xuan's strength, they could handle them as long as it wasn't one of the most troublesome few.

But Mirage was no weakling.

Though not the absolute worst of the prisoners, Mirage's ability to release Six Dust Smoke was devastating. For the Xianzhou people, it was a nightmare they could hardly bear.

"Fu Xian, Yanqing!"

Jing Yuan's voice cracked with urgency.

"Hmph, you yourself are almost unable to protect yourself!" [Irontomb] sneered, seeing through the ruse.

Jing Yuan was left speechless.

He was an old man, his time quickly running out. His experiences had been harsh, and the only reason he hadn't fallen into Mara was sheer willpower and years of self-cultivation.

But even with that, if he encountered a trace of Six Dust Smoke in his weakened state, he might have already succumbed.

If not for the protection bestowed upon him by the Hunt Aeon, he would've already been done for.

For a moment, Jing Yuan felt the temptation to give up—to let this man go.

But there was something more important.

Fu Xuan and Yanqing had inhaled Six Dust Smoke. While they were still young and could hold on a little longer, without help, they wouldn't last much longer.

They were the future of the Luofu. Jing Yuan could not afford to lose them.

Compared to that, some honor and disgrace didn't matter. Jing Yuan had always been the type to abandon his pride if it meant minimizing losses. He would follow the rules, but only when it made sense.

However—

Now, Jing Yuan realized, even if he begged Irontomb to leave, it was unlikely that this merciless foe would oblige.

Who could resist the temptation of beating a drowning dog? [to strike when the opponent is at their lowest, to take advantage of someone's misfortune]

Irontomb saw the desperation in Jing Yuan's eyes, the fading light in his spirit. With a wicked grin, it reveled in the moment.

This was the chance to eliminate a Xianzhou General.

If it succeeded here, the other Xianzhou forces would be too late to intervene.

Irontomb's main body was already on a nearby navigation route, and in less than half a day, its legion could flatten the Xianzhou Luofu.

Without an Emanator in charge, and facing a force led by another—

It would be nothing but a massacre.

"I won't miss the opportunity to easily flatten a Xianzhou like this."

The massive flesh-and-machine golem grinned, its terrifying smile sending chills through the air. Its mechanical voice crackled with excitement.

Although the Xianzhou wasn't the original target, it was close enough.

Flattening one now would be a great achievement for the Lord Ravagers (Irontomb), and perhaps even earn it further favor from Master Nanook.

Jing Yuan was silent, his face a mask of coldness. Inside, however, anxiety gnawed at him.

His fingers moved quickly, manipulating Lightning Lord in an attempt to resolve this Destruction minion before him.

But Irontomb knew this was a war of attrition. It had no interest in head-on combat—it only needed to wear the Xianzhou General down.

Though the flesh-and-machine golem couldn't win in a direct fight with an Emanator, it didn't need to. All it had to do was stall.

Jing Yuan could feel the weight of his own weakness.

Watching helplessly as his subordinates fell into the Mara-Struck state, with no way to help them—it was a blow that could drive anyone into despair.

His heart twisted with the sight of Fu Xuan and Yanqing, clutching their heads in pain, the signs of Mara beginning to creep over them.

A sharp, painful reminder pierced his thoughts.

The helplessness... it was all too familiar.

It was like the tragic scene from that battle long ago.

Scenes from the past flashed through Jing Yuan's mind: Baiheng, Jingliu, Dan Feng, Yingxing...

If the High-Cloud Quintet of the past were still here—if only.

Even if it was just Dan Feng or Master, he wouldn't be in this predicament now.

Jing Yuan's blade-wielding movements slowed with each passing moment, his heart weighed down by the memories that slowly resurfaced.

Finally, in a moment of weakness, Irontomb seized the opportunity and struck him into the ancient sea.

The cold, ancient seawater—infused with the power of the Imperishable Dragon Ancestor—sobered him slightly. He could feel the icy chill of the sea around him.

Looking up at [Irontomb], towering high above, Jing Yuan felt a deep sense of unwillingness. But in the end, he knew there was little he could do but accept his fate.

My fellow officers, forgive Jing Yuan's incompetence. I have failed in my duty...

Suddenly, a voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Huh? What are you thinking about, Jing Yuan?"

Jing Yuan's eyes snapped open. A beautiful Foxian girl stood before him, her energy and curiosity unmistakable. She wore pure white, and she bent over, resting her hands behind her back, peering at him with a gentle smile.

In her hands, she held a glass of wine. Around her stood familiar figures: the white-haired, aged Yingxing, Master smiling gently, and a dragon-horned figure sitting on a stone tablet, playing an ancient Vidyadhara melody on a flute.

Ah… so this is what it's like when people fall into the Mara-Struck state?

Jing Yuan had often heard Judge Xueyi describe the experience as incredibly painful—recalling everything from one's life. But he never expected it to be so nostalgic.

If only they were still here.

Jing Yuan slowly closed his eyes, overwhelmed by a deep sense of longing.

A soft, melodious cloud-song began to play in his ears, as if he were floating on the clouds. His painful body and mind seemed to be soothed by the gentle music.

…This is Dan Feng's cloud-song?!

Jing Yuan felt his body being lifted by waves, the sensation both surprising and disorienting.

Looking up, his gaze fell on the Prayer Platform. A girl stood there, playing a flute horizontally.

The moment he saw her, his eyes widened in shock.

"—Baiheng!"

But then, he noticed something—dragon horns on the girl's head and a dragon tail behind her.

No, this wasn't Baiheng...

It was Bailu!

She… she's grown up?!

How was this possible?!

The Vidyadhara race were long-lived beings, with lifespans that spanned centuries. Their time from childhood to adulthood also took far longer than humans could imagine. The last time Jing Yuan had seen her, she was just a child—yet now, she was an adult in the blink of an eye.

Confusion twisted in his mind, but Jing Yuan raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

This power…

Suddenly, a cold, clear voice rang out, carrying across the heavens and earth:

"Use the heart as the sheath, to nurture the sharp blade!"

A terrifying golden giant sword formed from the clouds, stretching toward [Irontomb], who loomed high in the air.

The sight of the sword left [Irontomb] unfazed.

"Such a slow attack, hmph…"

Though puzzled by the appearance of these figures, [Irontomb] could sense the terrifying power within the giant sword, enough to destroy it.

But it didn't worry—it was too slow.

Laughing to itself, Irontomb thought, Even my grandma could dodge that!

…?

"Huh?"

[Irontomb], initially planning to dodge, froze as it watched the 'giant sword' that hadn't deviated from its path. For a moment, it was utterly dumbfounded.

It glanced back at its original position. It was right there—it should have already dodged out of the sword's range.

But as the sword drew nearer, [Irontomb] tried to dodge again. The result was the same.

It felt as though it hadn't moved at all. The sword seemed to follow it—like it was glued to its body, tracking its every move, unwavering.

In that moment, as an Lord Ravager, [Irontomb] finally realized what was happening.

BYD, are you freaking aimbotting?!

Shit!