Chat Group: Starting by Swapping Bodies with Elysia?

Lots of memories flooded Fu Xuan's mind, making her look really upset. Even though she's young compared to other people from Xianzhou, she's had a pretty rough life.

Her early years were smooth sailing. Born into a prominent divination family on the Yuque Xianzhou, she quickly rose to prominence. Her remarkable prophetic abilities even earned her the mentorship of Jingtian, the Grand Diviner of the Yuque Divination Commission.

Then came the Heliobus Tragedy.

In a desperate bid to save the imperiled Xianzhou Fanghu, Fu Xuan proposed using the Cloudpeer Telescope to call upon the Hunt Aeon for aid. The decision turned the tide of the battle, but it came at a heavy cost.

Unwittingly, her actions fulfilled a prophecy she had fought hard to deny. The prediction that her master, Jingtian, would die by her hand became a grim reality. Though Jingtian made the choice herself, her death was an unavoidable consequence of Fu Xuan's suggestion.

Victory was secured, and Fu Xuan rose to become the youngest Grand Diviner in the Xianzhou Alliance. Yet, it was a hollow triumph. The memory of her master's voice and smile lingered in her heart, a wound time seemed unwilling to heal.

She clung to the hope that the long lifespan of a long-life species might one day dull the ache.

But Mirage's Six Dust Smoke had other plans. This insidious force preyed on the fears and insecurities of those who inhaled it, unearthing buried pain and twisting it into nightmares.

For the Xianzhou natives, it was a cruel reminder of the past they could never escape.

Beyond the grief of Jingtian's passing, another torment plagued Fu Xuan—the constant, unrelenting pain of the Third Eye etched upon her forehead.

A "gift" from the Aeon of Erudition, the Third Eye granted Fu Xuan immense power. It allowed her to rival the capabilities of a full-scale Grand Prognostication Array, all on her own. It was the source of her unparalleled divination skills.

But such power came at a cost.

As Dan Shu once pointed out, the Third Eye—an object imbued with the Erudition's power—was foreign to the flesh of a Xianzhou native. Its presence brought unimaginable agony, a pain capable of driving even the strongest into a Mara-Struck state.

Fu Xuan endured it daily. What others could not fathom, she bore in silence, her resilience forged by grim necessity. Yet now, under the influence of the Six Dust Smoke, the pain grew unbearable, its intensity magnified tenfold. It echoed endlessly through her body and mind, leaving no room for anything but raw, unrelenting agony.

And with the pain came fear.

Though outwardly composed and authoritative, Fu Xuan was, by Xianzhou standards, still just a young woman. The mask of strength she wore as Grand Diviner hid the truth—she was terrified. Terrified of death. Terrified of succumbing to Mara.

She fought desperately against the anguish and sorrow the heart demons (Mara) conjured.

Fu Xuan knew that if she faltered for even a moment, she would become a "living corpse," no different from the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus that Dan Shu had once unleashed.

The thought horrified her.

But… it hurts so much.

The waves of pain, the encroaching enemies, overwhelmed Fu Xuan, fear giving way to despair.

Master, I suppose I'll be joining you soon.

As for the Divination Commission… Qingque has finally seen the light. She should be able to become an even better Grand Diviner than I ever was.

With these thoughts, Fu Xuan's resistance faltered. Her strength faded, and she could only watch helplessly as the enemy advanced.

Until the next moment…

...Jade Tokens?

Countless Imperial Jade Tokens materialized around her, shielding the afflicted Cloud Knights from harm. Her vision blurred, her body numb. She barely registered the sensation of falling into a warm embrace, her mind dimly aware of a strange mask looming above her.

A voice followed—a lazy, almost exasperated sigh.

"Grand Diviner, oh Grand Diviner… how did you end up in such a sorry state?"

The tone was casual, yet strangely familiar. Fu Xuan strained to focus on the figure's face, but exhaustion overcame her. Her mind slipped into darkness, reluctantly surrendering to unconsciousness.

Before the void claimed her entirely, she caught one last murmur:

"Hmm~ A bit troublesome, but it seems I made it just in time."

The green-robed girl gently placed the unconscious Fu Xuan onto a platform of Imperial Jade Tokens. Straightening herself, she glanced around at the prisoners and the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, her expression an odd mix of amusement and nonchalance.

"Hey there~ Long time no see… or, well, not really. We just met. Whatever, doesn't matter." She grinned lazily, her tone carefree yet cutting through the silence with unsettling precision. "I'm guessing you wouldn't mind, would you, Alchemy Grand Dan Shu?"

Dan Shu, now fully revealed in her Sky-Bearer form, froze. The voice, the presence—it was unmistakable. Though a mask obscured her face, the casual energy and lazy tone betrayed her identity.

"It's you… Qingque!"

Dan Shu's voice was sharp with recognition and fury. Even through the cloth bandage covering her eyes, her rage seemed to burn. The figure standing before her, clad in a familiar green short robe, made no effort to hide their identity.

[Qingque], still relaxed, tilted her head with a teasing smile. "What's with that look? You're not happy to see me?"

"Don't get so worked up~" [Qingque] drawled, her voice light and teasing. "Otherwise, if you knew I was also responsible for the one under the Alchemy Commission, wouldn't you just explode? Getting angry is bad for your health, bad for your health~ If something happened to you, Alchemy Grand, I wouldn't know how to explain it to General Jing Yuan."

"It was you!"

Dan Shu's fury ignited, her voice trembling with rage.

—Qingque! The name now burned in her mind. She hadn't been entirely sure before, even though the perpetrator had been brazen enough to leave behind a trail so obvious it might as well have been an address.

But this casual confession erased every doubt.

Years of meticulous planning… ruined. By a so-called Diviner!

Dan Shu's entire body tensed as Mara's influence fueled her seething anger. This girl—this insignificant 'Diviner'—had singlehandedly unraveled everything she had built.

Her mind raced back to the beginning, to the risks she had taken. Colluding with the Legion, striking the Shackling Prison… all of it, an effort to secure the revival of the Ambrosial Arbor.

If her plans had succeeded, the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus would have ushered in a new era, ascending to immortality through the Apothecary's grace.

But now?

Now, they were nothing but desperate mercenaries, forced to work under [Irontomb], scrabbling for survival. The thought made Dan Shu's blood boil.

[Qingque]'s lazy Smile only added fuel to the fire.

"You still want to stop us?!"

Dan Shu's voice dripped with disbelief and anger. How could a mere Diviner—a Xianzhou native, no less—become such a significant obstacle?

But she had no time for a prolonged fight.

Bringing Irontomb into the fray wasn't just an act of desperation or simple mercenary work. It was part of a greater plan, one that still revolved around the revival of the Ambrosial Arbor and vengeance against The Hunt.

This was her chance. Amidst the chaos, she could free the imprisoned Abundance Follower war criminals. Once unleashed, they wouldn't just cause havoc on the Xianzhou; they would also set the stage for something far greater.

Chief among them was the former Borisin warlord, Hoolay. His escape would be the spark to end the Borisin civil war, as his influence over his people remained unmatched.

And Hoolay—who had endured centuries of torment under the Everlasting Tree of Swords—would undoubtedly seek vengeance against the Xianzhou Alliance. His wrath alone could ignite the Fourth Abundance Follower War.

Dan Shu could already envision it: the Legion's might and the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus working in tandem to revive the miracle of the Ambrosial Arbor. Ascension to immortality would be within their grasp.

Everything had been falling into place.

Jing Yuan, distracted by Irontomb, teetered on the brink of defeat. The meddling Cloud Knights and that wretched Grand Diviner were trapped, helpless against the Mirage's Six Dust Smoke. The Xianzhou Alliance was in disarray.

Victory was within reach.

But then, she appeared.

This insignificant 'Diviner.'

Dan Shu's hands clenched as fury threatened to consume her. How could someone so minor—so seemingly unimportant—upend everything?

"Something like that~" [Qingque] replied with a playful lilt. "After all, it'd be quite troublesome if I let you all escape."

"You…!"

Dan Shu almost laughed, the sheer audacity rendering her speechless.

So many Cloud Knights had fallen, even the elite Cloud Knight Guards. At her side stood numerous Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, unwavering in their loyalty. And yet, this lone Diviner dared to stand against them?

Such arrogance!

"Get rid of her!"

Unwilling to linger on how a mere Diviner—a Xianzhou native—could remain unaffected by Mirage's Six Dust Smoke, Dan Shu barked the command to her followers. Her focus was clear: rescuing the imprisoned Abundance Follower war criminals. She had no time for distractions.

Without hesitation, she turned to leave, prepared to press forward with her plan.

But then it happened.

A strange wave of shimmering color swept across the area, distorting the air like ripples on a pond.

Thud… Thud…

One by one, the Mara-Struck minions of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus collapsed. They didn't even get close.

"What…? This… You… Could you be—!"

Dan Shu's voice trembled, her confidence wavering. Something was wrong.

A sudden wave of fatigue crashed over her, followed by dizziness that left her reeling. Her gaze locked onto the masked figure standing calmly before her. The realization hit her like a thunderbolt.

The mask. The aura. The overwhelming power.

Disbelief flickered in her eyes, soon replaced by mounting dread.

Before she could utter another word, her legs gave out.

Darkness claimed her, and she crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Slowly, the girl lifted a hand and removed the mask, revealing a strikingly beautiful face. Her gaze swept across the fallen Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, and she muttered to herself:

"Pretty handy, this thing."

Without the mask's power, handling the current situation would have been an uphill battle for Jiang Qiao.

After all, this body—merely a Xianzhou native—had no natural resistance to Mirage's Six Dust Smoke.

And without it, she wouldn't have had the energy to stabilize the Cloud Knights' condition, let alone turn the tide of the battle.

Her eyes flicked upward, narrowing at the trembling Mirage. A hint of exasperation tinged her otherwise relaxed tone.

"Hmm… and as for you?"

She raised a hand lazily, tossing an Imperial Jade Token into the air. "Go back to your cell and stay put."

The token pulsed with power, becoming the anchor for an invisible force. The shattered Shackling Prison began to repair itself. Broken stones returned to their places, while gaps too damaged to mend were sealed by a shimmering, fish-shaped barrier.

The escaping prisoners were drawn back to their cells, powerless against the surge of restoration.

Jiang Qiao tilted her head slightly, her lips curling into a faint smile.

"Good. The most troublesome one didn't get out."

Deep within the Shackling Prison, she could sense it—the source of a chilling, oppressive aura. A powerful seal held something unspeakable at bay, though even the strongest barriers couldn't entirely suppress its life force.

The Abundance Emanator—Shuhu.

While still dormant, the entity's presence alone radiated danger. If that thing were to awaken, it would spell catastrophe.

Even with the gift bestowed upon her by the Aeon of Elation, Jiang Qiao doubted the battle would end in her favor if it came to that.

Fortunately, the General had seemed to understand this. Damaging the Shackling Prison to move the battlefield had been a calculated risk.

For now, at least, it was enough.

"Things outside are pretty much wrapped up," the girl murmured, sensing the shift in the battlefield's energy.

With a graceful wave of her hand, an invisible force gently lifted the unconscious Cloud Knights, including Fu Xuan, carrying them upward through the hole created by Divine Foresight and out into the open air.

As the last of the knights ascended, the power of the Vidyadhara Dragon Lord surged. A shimmering seal wove itself over the hole in the Shackling Prison, preventing further flooding from the ancient sea below.

Having accomplished this, Bailu, who had been floating in the air, suddenly shrank back to her original, diminutive size.

"I'm… so tired…"

Her childish voice, tinged with exhaustion and complaint, barely escaped her lips before she collapsed into Guinaifen's waiting arms, fast asleep.

The girl barely glanced over. She understood all too well.

Manipulating the ancient seawater on such a massive scale, weaving seals, and using the Cloud-Hymn repeatedly—all while channeling half the power of the Dragon Lord—had pushed the young Bailu far beyond her limits.

That fully grown form had been nothing more than a temporary maturation, fueled entirely by the Dragon Lord's power.

"…Thank you for your assistance."

The booming voice snapped her attention upward.

Jing Yuan stood tall, though his posture betrayed his weariness. Supported by Little Sushang, his usually imposing aura seemed like a fragile façade. Even Jiang Qiao, with her sharp eyes, could tell the General was at his absolute limit.

"General, you don't have to keep up appearances," she teased, her tone slightly exasperated. "It's not like you don't recognize these clothes."

Jing Yuan paused, his composure momentarily faltering at her gentle ribbing.

She wasn't wrong—he had recognized the Xianzhou attire, unmistakably similar to what [Qingque] often wore. Yet, faced with an unfamiliar Emanator, instinct demanded he maintain his strength, upholding the image of The Hunt's unshakable authority.

But her teasing tone wasn't hostile.

Jing Yuan's shoulders relaxed slightly as realization dawned: this enigmatic Emanator was no foe. She was aligned with the Xianzhou—a friend, one of their own.

As Jiang Qiao adjusted the mask back over her face, a subtle aura of power emanated from her once more. The mask allowed her to better channel the gift of the Aeon of Elation, and she wasn't about to let her guard down just yet.

Jing Yuan's sharp eyes lingered for a moment, curiosity flickering within them, but he didn't pry.

"How are Fu Xuan and Yanqing?"

Jing Yuan's gaze shifted toward the unconscious Cloud Knights, his eyes lingering on his disciple Yanqing and Fu Xuan, both lying among them.

"They're fine," Jiang Qiao replied evenly. "They didn't inhale the Six Dust Smoke for too long, and the Cloud-Hymn helped soothe their conditions. A few doses of medicine and some rest, and they'll be as good as new."

"Little Gui, did you retrieve Zhige's core?"

At Jing Yuan's question, Jiang Qiao turned to Guinaifen.

Thanks to Little Sushang, the Sword God she had unleashed had severed [Irontomb]'s connection, leaving the colossal machine with the digital equivalent of losing its internet connection. It had been a calculated move to preserve the integrity of Zhige's core.

Though there might have been some minor damage, it wasn't anything irreversible.

Guinaifen let out an exaggerated sigh, clearly worn out. "Retrieved it. You have no idea how heavy that thing was."

"It is an ancient war machine," Jiang Qiao remarked with a faint smile. "Completely different specs from the current models."

Jing Yuan watched them quietly, his sharp eyes catching every nuance of their exchange.

…Not only a Xianzhou native, but someone deeply familiar with Xianzhou history.

The thought lingered in his mind, even as he felt his body growing heavier with every passing moment.

"If everything's settled," Jiang Qiao said abruptly, turning toward Guinaifen, "you and Sushang should debrief with the General. I'll be going now."

"?"

Jing Yuan's eyebrows shot up at her unexpected declaration. He opened his mouth, intending to persuade her to stay—not out of suspicion but sheer curiosity.

Who was this mysterious girl who had come to their aid? What could he learn from her?

But before he could speak, exhaustion crashed over him like a tidal wave, dragging him into unconsciousness.

The last thing he heard was Little Sushang's panicked cry:

"General! General!"

...

—All of this was observed by two figures in the distance.

"Tch, isn't it all over now?" An energetic voice, laced with the faint scent of milk powder, cut through the sounds of the ancient sea crashing against the floating island. Wearing goggles as a fashion accessory and dressed in revealing attire that left little to the imagination, her ivory-white thighs on full display, was the galaxy-renowned Stellaron Hunter—Silver Wolf.

"This detour wasn't part of Elio's plan. Or perhaps, it wasn't time yet."

A gentle, yet hollow voice tinged with resignation spoke. There was a certain emptiness in the tone, as if something vital was missing. Standing opposite Silver Wolf, her entire body shrouded in concealing garments yet radiating an undeniable allure, was a mature, purple-haired woman. She shook her head.

"Whoa, that's rare. Something Elio didn't foresee." Silver Wolf was surprised. Based on her understanding of him, everything should have been within his grasp. "Did he mention what we're supposed to do next?"

"No."

The purple-haired woman—Stellaron Hunter Kafka—shook her head again, her peach-colored eyes calm and unreadable.

Anyone else might have felt a flicker of unease. After all, the Stellaron Hunters were united by their individual desires, all hinging on the accuracy of Elio's prophecies. This unexpected turn of events undoubtedly shook Elio's authority among them.

But Kafka was unfazed. Born different, as a devil hunter, she was inherently devoid of fear.

"So, what do we do now?"

"Let's head back."

"Head back? I worked so hard to get in here… Oh well." Silver Wolf grumbled. Though the Xianzhou's defenses weren't as strong as the IPC's, and they were in the midst of chaos, it was still a bit of a wasted effort. But she wasn't one to dwell on such minor inconveniences. After a few complaints, she complied.

"Though I bet things are gonna be interesting when Elio finds out about all this," she said, a mischievous glint in her eye.

…

Qingque had never felt life was so good.

Not only did she have someone to play Mahjong with, but after tiring themselves out with games, they could happily head to a dessert shop for a delicious afternoon tea.

The fragrant red tea was delightful, the smooth, rich cream melting in her mouth, bringing a blissful expression to her face. Her cheeks flushed with pleasure.

No work, and delicious desserts to enjoy… life was simply fantastic!

While the Xianzhou wasn't exactly lacking in desserts and immortal teas, working in the ever-busy Divination Commission meant every moment of slacking off had to be carefully timed and cherished. This carefree life was a world of difference.

Hmm~ I wonder what 'this body's owner' is doing right now?

[Bronya] leisurely swinging her white-silk-clad legs, took a satisfied bite of the strawberry parfait Seele had recommended and wondered.

DieForCards: Whatcha doin'?

Jiang Qiao: Working.

Seeing those three words, [Bronya] burst out laughing.

Oho~ I knew it, Qingque! With Grand Diviner Fu Xuan's personality, she'd definitely 'change her mind' about the leave not long after.

The thought of Jiang Qiao diligently working while she got to enjoy a delicious parfait in his body… a pang of guilt hit her.

But… this is so awesome!

Truly, everything is relative.

The good life needs a bit of 'contrast' to truly shine.

Between blissful bites of parfait and casual chatter, she learned from Jiang Qiao that he had even managed a bit of 'heroism' during her break.

But Qingque didn't care.

What was so special about being heroic?

It was just helping those in need, at most getting a commendation from the Ten-Lords Commission… Wait a minute—she might be able to use this act of heroism to get another day off from Grand Diviner Fu Xuan!

The thought made the parfait even sweeter, even more delicious.

…

Meanwhile, in Elysian Realms, Bronya was also enjoying life.

Two hours of daily Taixu Sword Qi practice honed her control over Honkai Energy. The rest of her time was dedicated to learning game development—fueled by her longing for Seele, she was developing a visual novel game starring chibi versions of herself and Seele.

The game consisted of heartwarming gal-game style conversations in different scenarios.

So far, she had completed two scenes—

[Camping at the Beach] [Dessert Shop]

"Finished, Bronya Onee-chan." Within Elysia's realm, Griseo, who had become quite close to Bronya, presented her with the newly completed artwork. At Vill-V's suggestion, Griseo had become the illustrator for Bronya's game.

Bronya couldn't be more satisfied with this skilled little artist who called her "Onee-chan." Cute, capable, and respectful—the perfect substitute! (Seele: ?!?!)

Ahem, of course, Bronya was still completely devoted to Seele.

She continued to diligently hone her skills, working tirelessly towards Seele's rescue.

"Uh… why is it green?"

Bronya, quite pleased with the artwork, looked at the green hardhat on the chibi Bronya's head and tilted her head in confusion.

Was it a mistake?

"Because… green suits better, it looks nice," the little artist explained softly.

"…"

Bronya didn't think too much about it, carefully examining the artwork and nodding in approval.

Hmm, it does suit quite well.

Griseo is truly a professional!

The more she looked, the more satisfied she became.

It was a glimpse into her future with Seele, once she was rescued.

She remembered their promise to visit the beach.

She knew Seele loved sweets, hence the dessert shop scene.

Looking at these scenes from her dreams, Bronya felt a surge of motivation.

Just you wait, Seele. I'll come for you soon!

---

Thank you, Phuoc, for your incredibly generous gift. Your support means so much to me and helps drive me to create even better content. I am truly grateful for your kindness!