While Jing Yuan and Yanqing were speaking, Herta #3156 had already arrived at the Divine Foresight.
"General Jing Yuan, Lieutenant Yanqing. I come on behalf of the new Lord of Lingruan City."
Yanqing shot her a cold glare. "What is Madam Herta thinking?! Is she bullying the Xianzhou, acting so presumptuously?!"
Herta #3156 shook her head calmly. "We Herta puppets have found a wise ruler. She sent me to discuss the Lightning Lord with General Jing Yuan."
Yanqing clenched his fists and summoned several spirit swords, refusing to yield an inch. "A genius of the Genius Society—and Madam Herta covets the Lightning Lord?!"
Herta #3156 shook her head again. "As I said, we millions of Herta puppets have found a wise ruler. She is gentle, courteous, humble, and dignified—nothing like that ill-tempered, empathy-lacking Madam Herta. We are here to negotiate."
Yanqing was momentarily at a loss for words. Not Madam Herta? Then who summoned all these puppets?
Ridiculous. Unheard of. No matter how hard he thought, he could not guess who this "Lord of Lingruan City" might be.
Herta #3156 produced a letter in the Xianzhou style. "This is from the Lord of Lingruan City. She entrusted me to deliver it personally."
She stepped forward and handed the letter to Jing Yuan. Yanqing read over his shoulder.\
---
To General Jing Yuan:
I am Lingsha, Lord of Lingruan City. I trust this letter finds you well.
Thinking back to those years, my master and I were alone, helpless, framed by others, and forced to wander far from home.
Though justice has since been served—the Dragonfang Taoran and Alchemical Elder Danshu have been eliminated by outsiders—it is still cause for celebration.
You, General Jing Yuan, were once among the High-Cloud Quintet—young, famous, and renowned for destroying Abundance remnants.
After the Shuhu disaster, Tengxiao fell, the evil dragon emerged, and the Swordmaster fell to mara... You inherited the Lightning Lord, governed the Luofu, and revived a land in ruins. Nine hundred years have passed.
Now you have reached retirement age. Sipping tea, playing chess, listening to storytellers, watching the sea—why not enjoy your leisure?
Yet the Lightning Lord remains unpassed. You spend your days evaluating others, quietly selecting the next General.
Fu Xuan—intelligent and strategic, often offering plans. Yet she is arrogant and proud, lacking humility. If she became General, she would have the intelligence for the position, but not the virtue.
Yanqing—like you, a young prodigy. Upright, impartial, hating evil with a passion, and devoted to destroying Abundance remnants. Yet he does not understand human relations. Too rigid, too easily broken. He would make a valiant warrior, but not a General.
Helmsmaster Yukong—talented, virtuous, and wise. Yet she is advanced in years, and her heart belongs to General Feixiao.
Lingsha—gentle, courteous, humble, and frugal. She understands human relations and knows propriety. Now, with millions of Herta puppets at her command, she is ready to join the Cloud Knights in destroying Abundance remnants across the cosmos.
After much deliberation, I believe that entrusting the great responsibility to Lingsha—allowing her to inherit the General's position and the Lightning Lord's power—will bring prosperity back to the Luofu. Yes, the Luofu can thrive again.
By the end, Yanqing's eyes were wide with disbelief. First Fu Xuan, now Lingsha of the Alchemy Commission. And according to this letter, all these Herta puppets are here on Lingsha's orders?!
Wait—Lingruan City. Lingsha and Ruan Mei. What about Madam Herta?!
He scratched his head, utterly confused. The past few months have been absurd. Phantylia, Blade the Stellaron Hunter, Dan Heng who looks like the Vidyadhara High Elder, that terrifying white-haired woman... None compare to Ruan Mei and Madam Herta showing up for the Luminary Wardance.
---
Jing Yuan, after reading the letter, showed a calm, composed smile. Then he closed his eyes and dozed off.
Herta #3156 bowed and pressed further. "General Jing Yuan, are you willing to retire? To spend your remaining years in peace?"
No answer. She even heard faint breathing.
She looked up. Jing Yuan was already fast asleep.
"What?! The great General Jing Yuan—asleep at a time like this? Is that not improper?!"
Yanqing smiled faintly. As expected of the General—using the same tactic on this puppet that he uses on Fu Xuan.
He raised his spirit sword, radiating a terrifying Path power. "Herta #3156, the General is resting. Do not disturb him with noise. Please leave."
Herta #3156 froze. She had come to secure the Lightning Lord for Lingsha—to make her the next Luofu General. To put her on equal footing with Herta herself. Otherwise, given Herta's personality, neither she nor the millions of puppets would escape unscathed.
"Yanqing, Cauldron Chief Lingsha is a native Vidyadhara of the Luofu. If she inherits the Lightning Lord and stabilizes Herta City, with millions of Herta puppets at her side, the Luofu's future will surpass even Cangcheng—the legendary first ship of the Xianzhou."
Yanqing's spirit swords remained drawn, radiating cold, sharp energy. Everyone schemes for the Lightning Lord. I'm not like them. Even if the General someday passes it to me, my only desire is to destroy Abundance remnants. Nothing more.
"Herta #3156, General Jing Yuan has his own plans. I warn you one last time: do not disturb his rest. Leave."
Twice now, she had been denied—dismissed to her face.
Herta #3156 clenched her fists. Her brow darkened. Helplessness flickered in her eyes.
If Lord Lingsha cannot win Ruan Mei's support—cannot hold back Madam Herta—then all of this will be nothing but a dream. And Herta Ninety-Nine, with her loyalty and favor, will only rise further, eventually becoming governor of the blue planet.
And me? I will spend eternity on that desolate platform, counting stars for centuries, millennia.
*I, Herta #3156, finally reached Herta Ninety-Nine's position. I have the merit of helping Lord Lingsha rise. How can I accept failure now?*
Return to serving that moody, arrogant, empathy-lacking Madam Herta? Living every day in fear?
She contacted all the Herta puppets.
"Everyone, let the Xianzhou Luofu know—cheer for Lingsha as the new General of the Luofu!"
In an instant, millions of Herta puppets across the Xianzhou announced the result in unison.
"General Lingsha! Let the Luofu and Lingruan City shine again!"
"General Lingsha! We millions of Herta puppets believe in you!"
"Lord Lingsha, unmatched in the universe! Lord Lingsha, dignified, generous, and understanding!"