Sylvia couldn't hold it in any longer.
So, it was actually the Vidyadhara who had stuffed the Stellaron in there?
But that didn't make sense. The Ambrosial Arbor was beneath the Scalegorge Waterscape, sealed away by an ancient barrier—something only the Vidyadhara's High Elder could unlock.
In the original storyline, Dan Heng had undone the seal, and then the Vidyadhara couldn't even close it back up, needing Dan Heng to come back and fix it again.
Sylvia had even seen it with her own eyes—the Imbibitor Lunae, Yubie, casting the very spell that suppressed the Arbor's roots.
"If I'm not mistaken," she began, "the roots of the Ambrosial Arbor in the Scalegorge Waterscape are sealed by the Imbibitor Lunae. Under normal circumstances, getting close should be impossible, right?"
"Correct, that is the theory," Dan Shu replied. "But what you may not know, young friend, is that among the Vidyadhara Elders, there are those of exceptional ability."
She then proceeded to share everything she had learned with Sylvia.
"Only recently did I discover that one of the Elders managed to exploit a flaw in that very seal, creating a gap just large enough for a single person carrying a Stellaron to pass through."
"The Vidyadhara kept a trump card up their sleeve?"
Sylvia's first reaction was disbelief, but on second thought, it made perfect sense.
It came back to the same old story: the Vidyadhara were attached to the Xianzhou, their relationship one of subordination and alliance.
They hadn't integrated completely like the Foxians had, becoming inseparable from the Luofu itself.
Moreover, back when the Imbibitor Lunae, Yubie, proposed sealing the Ambrosial Arbor using their own ancestral lands to secure the Xianzhou's friendship, it was a decision made against considerable opposition.
It was only human nature—or, well, Vidyadhara nature—for those elders of the time to quietly prepare a contingency plan.
Hearing Sylvia's conclusion, Dan Shu nodded in agreement.
"Precisely. However, I do not know exactly how many Elders are involved. Recently, they have bypassed me entirely and established direct cooperation with Phantylia."
"...Well, that certainly opens my eyes."
Truth be told, Sylvia hadn't really considered the Vidyadhara's role in all this from the start.
The question of who exactly planted the Stellaron into the Arbor was never concretely answered in the game.
All that was clear was that the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus had handled the Stellaron, and in the end, Luocha stepped up to take the blame.
But the specifics of who did the deed? That was always left unsaid.
When Sylvia was playing, she hadn't been bothered to dig deeper. Even now, standing on the Xianzhou itself, she wasn't burning with curiosity.
Just keep a close eye on Phantylia, and that should cover it.
But who would've thought Dan Shu would drop such a bombshell?
It was actually the Vidyadhara, stealing from under their own noses?
Sylvia did vaguely recall that in the original game's storyline, Dan Shu seemed to have some connections with the Vidyadhara. The Vidyadhara Elders were clearly keen on her research.
After all, the Vidyadhara had agonized for countless years over their inability to produce offspring. Now, with new births finally becoming a reality, Sylvia could understand the Elders' sheer, delirious joy at the outcome.
But them arranging for the Stellaron to be stuffed into the Arbor? That was a path Sylvia had never even imagined.
"Perfectly understandable," Dan Shu said, her thoughts aligning with Sylvia's.
"The Vidyadhara's inability to bear descendants has always been a deep-seated worry for the continuation of their race. Having finally seen a glimmer of hope, how could they not be moved to action?"
Both of them could well imagine what a species might do to ensure its survival.
Only...
"But here's the problem," Sylvia pointed out. "If the Elders can open a door into the Scalegorge Waterscape, we can't. How do you plan on getting in?"
The cause and effect were clear to Sylvia now.
But how did Dan Shu, a native of the Xianzhou, intend to infiltrate the seal?
She couldn't possibly have foreseen that Sylvia had the ability to open it.
Curious, Sylvia looked at Dan Shu, wondering what her plan was.
"No need to worry. We don't need to open any doors."
Dan Shu, however, appeared confident.
"Planting the Stellaron into the Ambrosial Arbor to trigger its revival isn't as simple as just placing it inside. According to Phantylia's instructions, it requires time and a specific method to guide the process."
"Right now, the person responsible for this task beneath the seal in the Scalegorge Waterscape should be about to emerge. If we head over now, we'll likely arrive just in time to intercept them."
Sylvia was curious how Dan Shu could know such details despite being cut out of the plan. If Phantylia already suspected her, would she really leave Dan Shu any room to interfere?
"Young friend must be wondering how I know all this in such detail."
Dan Shu seemed to guess Sylvia's thoughts. She smiled and explained, "Firstly, the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus still have their uses. Information about the plan inevitably leaks through the assistance work Phantylia arranged for them."
"Secondly, I had already placed informants among the Vidyadhara Elders long ago. While they couldn't provide exhaustive intelligence, it was enough for me to take action."
Sylvia listened, nodded, and fell silent.
By now, the starskiff was drawing very close to the Ambrosial Arbor, heading toward its roots and the direction of the Scalegorge Waterscape.
Gazing out the window at the colossal tree, Sylvia wondered if there was any real chance of taking it away. And if she did, what impact would it have on the Xianzhou?
--+--
Soon, the starskiff glided into the desolate, wave-tossed expanse of the Scalegorge Waterscape.
Stretching before them was an endless sea, dotted only by scattered islands that offered the barest footholds.
The starskiff descended gently onto a sandy beach. Not far off stood the statue of the Imbibitor Lunae.
"Young friend, we've arrived."
Dan Shu felt her way off the starskiff, with Sylvia following close behind.
Because she was still carrying the High Elder's Light Cone, the moment Sylvia's feet touched the sand, she could feel the intricate seal woven beneath it.
And within that seal was a tiny, almost imperceptible node—a slight, anomalous 'flaw.'
It was somewhere in the sea behind them.
That was probably the passage the Elders had opened.
And over there, Sylvia could sense something moving, worming its way out through that very flaw.
It wasn't long before...
A whirlpool suddenly churned on the calm water's surface. A figure was spat out from its center, soaring through the air before crashing heavily onto the sand right in front of Sylvia.
Thud—
"Pah! Pah! What kind of lousy passage is this? Nearly broke my back... Who are you?!"
The figure, a Vidyadhara with distinct draconic features, scrambled out of the sand and immediately noticed Sylvia and Dan Shu not far away. Instantly, he was on guard.
Dan Shu took a step forward, a smile on her face.
"I am Dan Shu, leader of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus. I have come to receive our ally."
Sylvia remained silent, studying the Vidyadhara instead.
He had dragon horns and a tail—a Vidyadhara who had cultivated his draconic heritage to a significant degree. His strength was likely not to be underestimated.
With a flip of his hand, the man produced a long spear. Glimmering streams of water coiled around him as he adopted a stance of clear distrust.
"Pah! There was no mention of a reception in the plan! And the teacher would have to be mad to send you into the Scalegorge Waterscape for a handoff!"
"I think your Disciples of Sanctus Medicus are up to no good with the Vidyadhara eggs! Today, I'll capture you and hand you over to the Seat of Divine Foresight!"
The agent sent to execute the plan wasn't foolish. He didn't believe Dan Shu for a second.
In fact, he intended to seize her outright, planning to pin all the blame on the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus afterwards.
Swoosh—
The water-wreathed spear shot forth like a dragon bursting from its den, its menacing force accompanied by a vicious sneer as it lunged for Dan Shu!
Clang—
A crimson longsword left its sheath. Sylvia flipped her wrist, intercepting the spear.
The surging water around it instantly erupted with the terrifying force of a collapsing mountain and a tidal wave, crashing down toward Sylvia and Dan Shu!
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.