While The Herta was feeling depressed, the Fourth Mirror was frantically recording through surveillance the scene of The Herta and little Herta hugging and snuggling. To it, such data was worth preserving—truly worth preserving...
A treasure.
Exquisitely delicious.
In the past, as a mirror, it could only reflect Madam Herta's beauty within its surface.
But now, it could witness the sight of The Herta and little Herta embracing. This was progress.
Thus, the Fourth Mirror could partially understand why the memokeepers of the Garden of Recollection were so obsessed with seeking out precious memories worth recording.
And now, it too had found memories worthy of preservation.
The birth of little Herta!
The embrace of The Herta and little Herta!
If this were forged into a Light Cone, its name would probably be "My Birth!"
Moreover, most of the data used to create little Herta had been provided by the Fourth Mirror itself. The illustration on the Light Cone would likely depict Herta Puppet 05 being born while embracing a mirror...
After thinking this far, the Fourth Mirror glanced at the time and quickly realized that the appointed hour was approaching.
More importantly, according to its real-time monitoring, the Blue Federation's network had already exploded with activity. Everyone was discussing a major event:
A starship larger than a planet had descended outside The Blue.
It was one of the Xianzhou Alliance's ships—the Xianzhou Yuque.
One of the super first-tier cosmic powers had arrived!
At this very moment, countless people across The Blue's network were speculating about the purpose of the Xianzhou's arrival.
"The Blue is merely one of countless worlds in the cosmos. We're completely insignificant!"
"Not exactly. According to recent headlines, The Blue produced a genius—Miss Herta, the 83rd Seat of the Genius Society!"
"A peerless lady who solved the Solitary Waves Theory—the fourth great Cosmic Conundrum of the universe—at such a young age!"
"Could it be that the Xianzhou Alliance came to The Blue for Miss Herta?!"
"Is this the influence of a genius?"
"Wait, I have new information! It's not just the Xianzhou Alliance. Even the headquarters fleet of the Interastral Peace Corporation has arrived—the exclusive warship of P46 from the Strategic Investment Department, one of the Ten Stonehearts!"
"And that's not all! The Family is here too—their fleet covered in speakers, blasting harmonious music!"
"Three super first-tier cosmic powers, each capable of annihilating an entire galaxy, gathered together... landing on a small world like The Blue. What have we done to deserve this?"
...
After consolidating the information from the network, the Fourth Mirror quickly reported to Miss Herta, who was still snuggling with little Herta.
"Based on satellite surveillance and network analysis, it has now been confirmed that the Xianzhou Alliance, the Interastral Peace Corporation, and the Family have all dispatched envoys to The Blue.3
"Important note: for this cooperation, the Xianzhou Alliance has sent the Xianzhou Yuque's main body."
Herman blinked after hearing this and quickly took out his phone. Sure enough, Jade and Yao Guang had both sent him messages. In particular, Yao Guang stated that the envoy was none other than herself—the infallible Seer Strategist, one of the Seven Arbiter-Generals of the Reignbow Arbiter.
"Whether it's the Xianzhou or the IPC, it seems they value me greatly," Herman sighed inwardly. "The envoys they've sent are all Emanator-level."
The Herta said, "Explain in detail. I've always been busy researching the mysteries that interest me. I don't know much about these three major cosmic forces."
Herman replied, "First, General Yao Guang. Since she is a general of the Xianzhou, she must have undergone the Rainbow Ordainment, faced The Hunt's gaze, and received divine authority."
Herta was astonished. "She faced Lan of The Hunt directly?"
"Yes. She was shot nine times by The Hunt's Lux Arrows," Herman said. "Only by accomplishing that can one become a Xianzhou general."
Herta exclaimed, "In the legends of Lan hunting Yaoshi, a single Lux Arrow from The Hunt can reduce an entire starfield to nothingness—not even ashes remain!
"Even if what Yao Guang faced were merely the Nine-Arrow Trial—test arrows—being able to evade nine shots still proves her ability."
Herman said, "Actually, as far as I know, Yao Guang did not evade the ninth arrow."
???
A string of question marks seemed to pop up above The Herta's head. She asked in confusion, "What you're saying contradicts what you just said. Didn't you say only those who withstand nine arrows of The Hunt can become generals?"
"Because that ninth arrow is not in the present—it lies in the next Amber Era, or perhaps in a far more distant future," Herman said seriously.
"Lan, the Aeon of The Hunt, is not a simple existence. Their arrows can transcend time and causality. They can travel forward along the timeline into the future or move backward against time into the past, forming a retrocausal strike."
Herta said, "You mean the future Yao Guang evaded that arrow, which allowed the present her to become a general?"
"Yes. Causality-level intervention. Of course, this ability is not unique to the Aeon of The Hunt," Herman said. "After all, it is well known that the Aeon of Finality—Terminus—was born at the future endpoint of the universe.
"Yet They can walk backward through spacetime. To Them, the future of all living beings is Their past.
"Moreover, in this era there are already traces of Terminus' interference. For example, the Stellaron Hunters. Elio, the Destiny's Slave, is but a wisp of Their divine body. Kafka is Their emissary."
"One, two... both capable of interfering with time and causality. That's truly outrageous," The Herta muttered inwardly. Then she cast Herman a strange look.
"But you are quite peculiar yourself—to know so many cosmic secrets related to the Aeons."
"Heh." Herman laughed inwardly. "But don't worry. With my help, one day in the future you will also make tremendous progress. It's not impossible that you could become an Aeon."
"Become an Aeon..." Herta murmured inwardly. "Compared to becoming an Aeon, I would rather research a more practical method—a path that allows those with intelligence and talent to ascend to Aeonhood. Right now, the ways Aeons come into being in the cosmos are far too inexplicable."
"A method for humans to become Aeons. Your idea is bold, but with my assistance, it's not impossible," Herman said.
As he spoke, an image surfaced in his mind.
Magic potions. Beyonders. The Sequence.
If Herta were to invent potions and develop the Sequence system... if she were to extract a unique rule from the universe, embody a philosophical concept, pluck a branch from the Tree of Existence, and contain a concept from the Sea of Quanta... perhaps she truly could create a miracle.
Forge a new Path.
And become...