Kafka had truly been captured!
This fact left everyone in a state of disbelief. In Fu Xuan's original predictions, capturing Kafka should have required a significant and arduous struggle. None of them expected the reality to be so much easier than imagined.
With Kafka now in custody, preparations were being made to escort her to the Divination Commission for interrogation.
"To make this prisoner 'speak,' the Divination Commission must employ special measures. As these matters involve sensitive secrets, they cannot be made public. I ask for your understanding," Fu Xuan addressed the Astral Express crew. "However, I swear that even once everything is prepared, the interrogation will not begin until you all arrive."
She continued, "I have already dispatched a subordinate to wait at the plaza in the Exalting Sanctum. Once our internal affairs are settled, I will send word for the guide to bring you into the Divination Commission. Until then, I ask for your patience."
As the scene played out in the game, Fu Xuan no longer intended to hide anything from those around her.
She explained directly, "I am going to prepare for the activation of the Matrix of Prescience. Only by using this formation to peer into the past and calculate the truth can we truly make that suspect, Kafka, 'open her mouth.'"
"Oh," March 7th replied, nodding as she tried to wrap her head around it.
Seeing that the current task had reached a temporary stopping point, Dan Heng could no longer sit still. He stood up and spoke to the crew, "I need to go to the Shackling Prison."
"Huh?" March 7th paused, putting down her snacks as she stared at him. "Dan Heng, are you okay? The next part of the story is the famous scene where they interrogate Kafka! Shouldn't we finish watching this first to see what kind of scheme she's actually cooking up?"
Dan Heng shook his head. "Kafka... she was caught on purpose. I suspect the true danger facing the Xianzhou isn't on her side."
He turned his gaze toward Fu Xuan. "Is there still no response from Jing Yuan?"
Fu Xuan checked her Jade Abacus and replied, "None."
"However, if you are truly so unsettled, I shall perform a divination for you," Fu Xuan said, raising her hand.
Her fingers moved rapidly as she began her calculations. A few seconds later, a look of suspicion crossed her face, which quickly turned into confusion, and finally, sheer shock!
March 7th let out a long sigh. "Great. Even if you don't tell me the result, I can tell something went wrong."
"I performed three divinations," Fu Xuan said solemnly. "Both the Shackling Prison and the Stellaron Hunters are being obscured by unknown factors; ordinary divination cannot see through them. But General Jing Yuan... his path shows a dire omen of great disaster!"
Welt turned to Dan Heng. "You were right. We can't stay here any longer. Dan Heng, March, Stellefollow me immediately. We're heading to the Shackling Prison."
He looked at the two girls. "March, Stelle, keep an eye on the livestream on your phones. As soon as the plot reveals Kafka's purpose, let us know."
"No problem!" they answered.
Welt made the call instantly, leading the three of them out of the Palace of Astrum.
From behind them, Yukong's voice called out, "Wait, everyone. You are unfamiliar with the layout here. I have already notified Tingyun to wait by the starskiffs. She will guide you to the Shackling Prison."
"Understood. Thank you, Helmsman Yukong."
On the bustling streets of the Exalting Sanctum.
Phantylia, disguised as Tingyun, looked up from time to time toward a distant tree.
"I estimate that in half an hour, we will be able to see the grand spectacle of its resurgence as it pierces through the vault of heaven, wouldn't you agree?"
Nearby, a storyteller was holding court. His assistant, possessing sharp eyes, immediately spotted the solitary "Tingyun."
"Miss Tingyun! It really is you! What brings you to the Exalting Sanctum today? Why not let the master tell you a story for a bit of amusement?"
"Sure," Phantylia replied with a faint smile.
She was in a good mood. Soon, she would witness the chaos that would engulf the Luofu when the Ambrosial Arbor burst forth.
The storyteller and his assistant immediately got ready, even lighting paper-cut lanterns to enhance the atmosphere. The old storyteller cleared his throat and began his tale with flair.
"I must apologize, for there are few legends on this Xianzhou. After all, with long life comes little room for myth. However, when speaking of the Cloud Knight Generals, one must begin from a very distant 'legend'..."
"This history began eight thousand years ago. An emperor of an ancient kingdom craved immortality and eternal glory. Thus, the ancestors of the Xianzhou set sail across the sea of stars on an arduous journey. It was truly a time where 'The galaxy stretches ten thousand miles wide; a lonely ship has no neighbors.'"
The same old tired legend, Phantylia thought with disdain. Using this to fool people? No wonder no one stays to listen even in a crowded place like this.
Soon, the storyteller began introducing the Seven Arbiter-Generals.
"Look there! At the side of the Marshal stand the six Xianzhou Generals"
"Soaring through the heavens with an aura that chills the firmament: General Feixiao, the Merlin's Claw!"
"Boundless light and calamity-cleansing flames: General Huaiyan of the Flaming Catastrophe!"
Phantylia was naturally well-acquainted with the names of the Seven Arbiter-Generals and the Marshal. Such storytelling might appeal to outworlders newly arrived on the Xianzhou, but to her...
Heh. Hearing these flowery praises made her want to flip over his stall.
"Transcending the jade realms, commanding the heavenly halberd: General Jing Yuan, the Divine Strategist!"
"These seven generals each possess extraordinary talents, but when it comes to our Luofu's own General Jing Yuan, none can help but praise his superhuman intellect and profound foresight!"
"As the saying goesdeftly weaving schemes to trap the Borisin, deceiving the heavens to seize the flag. Winning battles from a thousand miles away, a strategist with no failed plans!"
"Good~" the fake Tingyun cheered at just the right moment, tossing a few Strales onto the table. "Your words are quite interesting, Master."
She turned and left without looking back. Passing a crossroad, she arrived at an open-air plaza. A large crowd had gathered there, surrounding a massive screen.
"Hmph, that 'Star Rail' thing again," she muttered. "Humans can only rely on such low-level entertainment to satisfy themselves in their limited lifespans."
Suddenly, a commotion broke out among the onlookers, followed by shouts of excitement.
The fox ears of the fake Tingyun twitched. She heard a few terms that piqued her interest.
"Oh my god! Look at this!"
"Jing Yuan Character PV[A World as a Chessboard]? Is it really General Jing Yuan? I'm not dreaming, am I?!"
"It's real! Look at the thumbnail, that's the General's heroic posture!"
"General!! The General is too handsome, I'm crying!"
"Boss Yu Ling actually made the General a playable character!"
"What am I even doing? I need to go home and sell my house to pull for Jing Yuan!"
"Open it! Hurry up! I can't wait to see the General's Ultimate!"
Phantylia stopped in her tracks. From the frenzied comments, she extracted a key piece of information.
This video... seems it will showcase Jing Yuan's abilities?
"Well then, let's take a look."
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