Star Rail Impostor! - 321 - 330

Star Rail Impostor! - 321

--+--

Asta's family didn't even recognize Bai Ming at first, standing right there beside Divine Herta.

To your average person, a genius is something you look up to, like the sun or the moon in the sky.

But an Aeon? An Aeon is like a black hole in the boundless reaches of deep space—unknowable, invisible.

That changed quickly.

As the fellow who first ran out to receive them collapsed on the spot, paralyzed by sheer terror, the others began to realize something was very wrong.

Unfortunately, Divine Herta wasn't about to give them a chance to react. 

She stormed straight into the family council chambers, threw open the grand doors, and locked eyes with a young girl who had just finished a heated shouting match with her family elders. 

After all, in a room full of tedious adults, a pink-haired girl with a spark in her eyes stood out like a sore thumb.

"Oi~ Asta, right? Pack your things. You’re coming with me."

"Wait, Madam Divine Herta..."

"Wait for what? I haven't the slightest interest in your nonsensical academic reports. Only this girl seems to have any modicum of potential."

Even though Divine Herta talked a big game about dragging Bai Ming along just to help haul someone away, the truth was that since the moment she’d burst through the doors, she hadn't spared a thought as to whether anyone noticed Bai Ming or not. 

The rest of the room followed the genius’s lead; their attention was so fixated on Asta that they failed to identify the woman standing beside her.

Asta, however, suddenly finding herself the center of a genius’s attention, happened to glance at the white-haired woman accompanying her.

And that one look left Asta completely stunned.

Asta might not have fully grasped the concept of an Aeon, but she knew that the romantic Star of Light and the Land of Light were both the handiwork of this Madam Bai Ming. 

While many in her family held deep prejudices against the Land of Light, in Asta’s eyes, it was the physical incarnation of everything beautiful in the universe. 

She had heard countless stories; to her, it was a literal utopia.

So, while the rest of the world was reeling from the shock of Bai Ming ascending as an Aeon, Asta was simply struck by the fact that she finally knew what the woman looked like.

In that moment, Asta’s gaze was glued to her. 

Joy and shock instantly swept away every trace of her previous bad mood.

"Are you... Madam Bai Ming?!"

The question hit the room like a thunderclap.

"What—?!"

"Huh?!"

As the others squinted at Bai Ming and finally recognized her features, a good number of them followed the first man’s lead, fainting dead away from the sheer sensory overload. 

Those who stayed upright weren't faring much better, their eyes flickering with a chaotic mix of emotions.

Bai Ming arched an eyebrow.

Asta’s gaze was remarkably clear; such pure, unadulterated admiration was a rare find. But why did it feel like this girl was also a member of her little fan club?

Beside her, Divine Herta shot Bai Ming a side-eye.

"Tsk. Even Asta likes you? Fine, whatever. You handle this. Help me kidnap her back to the Land of Light."

"..."

Bai Ming gave Divine Herta a wordless, exasperated look—the woman couldn't even be bothered to say two sentences to recruit someone properly—before turning her attention to Asta, who had already hurried closer.

Compared to the Space Station Lead Researcher in the white lab coat she remembered from the game, this girl was barely in her teens, dressed in an exquisite gown that made her look both adorable and elegant.

"This person here needs someone to help out in her laboratory back in the Land of Light. She specifically asked for you. Interested?"

"The Land of Light?!"

Asta felt as if a miracle had just dropped into her lap.

What had she done to deserve being hand-picked by a genius—and with Madam Bai Ming herself coming along to fetch her? 

That was the Land of Light! Word was they were currently building a massive experimental base and recruiting world-renowned scholars from across the cosmos.

Could it be that base?

If she joined, wouldn't that mean she might run into Madam Bai Ming every day?

Asta was so lost in her own fantasy that she forgot to ask if Bai Ming actually did any research in that lab herself.

"I’ll go! I’ll go!"

Seeing Asta nodding her head off, Divine Herta let out a satisfied smirk.

"Then go pack. We’re leaving now. Bring that little sidekick of yours, too."

"Ah... oh."

Asta had been about to ask for exactly that, but Divine Herta seemed to have read her mind. 

It all felt a bit rushed, but Asta had been planning to run away from home anyway. This was the perfect, legitimate excuse to slip away.

Half a day later.

Asta, along with Arlan—who was currently pushing a mountain of luggage—and a certain long-eared puppy, boarded the ship. Together with Bai Ming and Herta, they left her family behind.

Divine Herta watched the somewhat stiff Asta sitting beside them, her tone noticeably cheerier.

"I imagine the IPC is in a total tizzy by now. An Aeon drops into a private residence, scares half the population into a coma, and makes off with a young girl."

"The IPC should be used to it by now. Besides, you were the one who kidnapped her, not me," Bai Ming countered. 

She felt her dealings with the Corporation weren't that frequent, though they existed. Theoretically, they shouldn't be that easily rattled.

The two of them chatted away, while Asta finally began to come down from her high.

Then, a realization hit her like a ton of bricks.

The Madam Bai Ming who was taking her away... she was an Aeon, wasn't she?

She had just been invited by a literal god?

The weight of what had just happened—and the absolute storm it would cause back home—finally crashed down on her. 

The stars in Asta’s eyes dimmed slightly, replaced by a rigid, nervous tension. Even Arlan looked like he didn't know where to put his hands.

Peppy, however, blissfully unaware of the cosmic gravity of the situation, crawled over to Bai Ming with his tongue lolling out. He sniffed curiously at Bai Ming’s shin, seemingly catching a scent he really liked.

So this is Peppy?

Bai Ming reached down, scooped Peppy up, and set him on her lap. 

It wasn't surprising the dog took to her; the vitality of Permanence and the affinity of Hope tended to act as a natural magnet for living things.

"What’s his name?" Bai Ming asked, scratching the pup under the chin. She wondered if this little creature was the same Peppy from the space station in the game.

"He... his name is Peppy. He’s my pet."

Asta felt a bit self-conscious. She’d brought a person and a dog; even though Divine Herta had agreed, she worried she was being a bit greedy.

Bai Ming nodded slightly. So it really was him. For a little dog, that’s one heck of a lifespan. She wondered if he was born that way or modified later.

"He’s a good boy."

Hearing this, Peppy sat up on her lap, tilted his head back to look at Bai Ming, and wagged his tail so hard it looked like a propeller.

"Thank you! Peppy has always been very well-behaved."

Having found a safe topic, Asta’s nerves finally began to steady. She started telling Bai Ming all about Peppy.

Sitting across from them, Divine Herta watched the two people and the dog who had once worked at her space station. 

For a moment, she felt a pang of nostalgia. Although she knew she came from a "world of possibilities" that hadn't happened here, the memories were real to her. 

Finding a trusted subordinate in this new world brought her a deep sense of satisfaction.

She remembered how the old Asta used to ask why she didn't visit Herta Space Station more often.

Now that Asta was working in the Land of Light lab, Herta doubted she’d go long stretches without visiting.

Asta should be quite happy, Herta mused.

The ship flew directly to the Land of Light.

The Land was vast, designed to accommodate a massive population of light-based lifeforms and their families. The research institute was located in a peripheral but expansive district.

As soon as Asta stepped off the ship, she saw... a world that looked remarkably normal.

Because this ringed sector gathered the majority of the ordinary humans in the Land of Light, the light-beings who could transform generally defaulted to their human forms here.

Noticing the faint flicker of disappointment in Asta’s eyes, Bai Ming smiled.

"What? Think it looks a bit ordinary?"

"Ah? No, no! I just... I thought I’d see a lot of Giants of Light..."

"If you want to see that, you have to fly closer to the star. That’s where most of the giants live in their true forms."

Asta nodded, enlightened.

"Alright then. You go with Divine Herta to report to the lab. I should probably head out."

"Eh?"

Asta froze, looking at Bai Ming in shock. "You aren't staying here?"

"No. I’m usually either wandering the cosmos or staying at the Simulated Universe Space Station. I don't come to the Land of Light all that often."

"Ehhh—"

Asta let out a very strange, strangled sound. She looked at Bai Ming with total confusion, unable to fathom why the creator would stay away from her own creation.

"What, did you think I lived here full-time?"

"Yes... I thought after coming here, I might be able to see you often, Madam Bai Ming." Asta let out a heavy sigh.

Beside them, Divine Herta couldn't help but glare at Bai Ming.

What is this?! Did Asta only come here because of this woman? Was that even allowed? 

With her memories of the old space station, Divine Herta felt like her perfect "tool" was about to be stolen away by Bai Ming!

"..."

Bai Ming shot Herta a helpless look. It wasn't like she’d done it on purpose.

But seeing Asta looking so pitiful, Bai Ming relented. "Well... I’ll make an effort to drop by more often when I’m free."

"Really?!"

"Of course. I’ll have to see how you’re getting on, after all."

Bai Ming ignored Divine Herta’s twitching eyelid. Things had already come to this; she couldn't exactly break the heart of a young girl who had just run away from home.

This little pink-haired girl wasn't the "Station Lead" just yet, after all.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 322

--+--

In short, after Asta secured Bai Ming's promise, she happily began her tenure at the Land of Light Research Institute.

The scale of this institute was massive; calling it a mere laboratory was an understatement—it was practically a sprawling metropolis of science. 

It had been built by Divine Herta, who had treated the Land of Light's treasury like her own personal piggy bank, spending money like water. 

It was expensive, certainly, but it was also one of the absolute top-tier holy sites for research in the entire universe. 

Essentially, the most cutting-edge talent and equipment in the Land of Light were concentrated right here.

Given Divine Herta's personality, Bai Ming guessed she’d treat Asta just like she did at the Herta Space Station: she would be appointed as a proxy, the acting Director of this giant city. 

One couldn't help but wonder if a girl only in her teens could handle that kind of pressure.

Fortunately, the local customs in the Land of Light were genuinely wholesome. 

Whether their research prowess was number one in the universe was up for debate, but the academic atmosphere was definitely the best in the galaxy. 

For Asta, the biggest hurdle would likely be grasping the specific inner workings of such a gargantuan research conglomerate. But that was an academic issue; Bai Ming figured she’d let Divine Herta handle that and didn't plan to meddle further.

So, after bidding farewell to Asta and Divine Herta, Bai Ming headed straight for Ruan Mei's laboratory. 

She still had to follow through on what she’d promised Ruan Mei earlier.

Upon arriving, she didn't see Ruan Mei immediately.

Instead, a waft of pastry fragrance drifted in from the entrance.

Following the scent, she found Ruan Mei enjoying a plate of snacks. Seeing Bai Ming appear, Ruan Mei offered a small smile and pushed the plate toward her.

Bai Ming didn't stand on ceremony. She sat down beside Ruan Mei, popped a pastry into her mouth, and said, "In a bit, I’ll extract the portion of the equations you need and leave them for you."

"Thank you."

"Oh, it's a small thing. I should really thank Screwllum for developing that new storage device, otherwise, I would've had a hard time managing it."

Ruan Mei smiled and took a sip of tea. 

Previously, she had actually wanted to suggest studying the Scions of Permanence together with Bai Ming. But now that Bai Ming had reached such heights, Ruan Mei found herself hesitating. 

She didn't mind asking for advice, but if she had to drag Bai Ming into the entire experimental process, she felt it would be a bit... awkward.

"Do you have time later? I’d like to consult you on some matters regarding Permanence and Propagation."

"Sure, but just 'consulting'? Didn't we say we’d run an experiment together earlier?" Bai Ming ate another pastry, her cheeks puffing out as she looked over curiously.

Ruan Mei just shook her head with a smile.

"This subject likely holds no more difficulty for you, does it? If I insisted on doing it with you, it would be a waste of your time."

Though she rarely showed it, Ruan Mei had her own competitive streak.

"Fair enough. But if you run into trouble, hit me up anytime."

"Of course I will."

Herta was stubborn and hated asking Bai Ming for help, but Ruan Mei wasn't quite so rigid. When it came to pivotal questions, Ruan Mei was perfectly capable of speaking up.

Bai Ming nodded with a grin. Then, she asked about Rappa's whereabouts. 

However, Ruan Mei didn't seem to know where Rappa had run off to either. She could only confirm that her vitals were fine, but as for where she was or what she was doing, that was a mystery.

Bai Ming didn't stay with Ruan Mei for long. Having gained new knowledge, Ruan Mei looked like she was itching to get to work and start something big. Bai Ming didn't want to disturb her further.

As for where to go next, Bai Ming’s plan was to head to the Xianzhou Luofu. 

But before that, she decided to pull some cards and see what she got.

After traveling with Divine Herta, Bai Ming had started to realize there might be a bit of an issue with her reputation out there. 

While things on the Luofu would probably be fine, she had to consider the possibility of news spreading from there. Since she was going to change her face and identity anyway, she figured she might as well see what the gacha had in store.

Bai Ming glanced at her status panel:

--+--

[Roleplay System]

[Name: Bai Ming]

[Lifespan: ∞]

[Transformable Characters: Big Herta, Acheron, Celenova, Jingliu, Ruan Mei, Sparkle, Hertatomb, Lord Ravager - Jingliu, Young Herta, Robin, Artoria, Cipher, Georios, Cyrene - Fuli (Charge: 23.2%)]

[Available Pulls: 9 (65.1%)]

--+--

After so much time, her collection of Emotion Points had grown significantly. 

Two months had passed, and the Earth Titan character card was fully charged. Even her pull count had reached nine and a half. 

Most of the points came from her clash with the Aeon of Equilibrium, followed by the business with the Vidyadhara.

As for the earlier Originium modification project, while it had sparked some discussion, it hadn't generated much heat since there was nothing to see but a display panel.

She was one pull away from a guaranteed targeted drop, but Bai Ming wasn't in a hurry. 

For one thing, she already had the Paths of Permanence and Propagation as a safety net. 

Furthermore, she hadn't yet fully mastered the portion of the Abundance within the Permanence equations.

Although she had agreed with Equilibrium not to touch the Paths of living Aeons, that didn't stop her from studying them. She just wouldn't use the knowledge once she learned it.

And of course, there was another factor: her gacha addiction was acting up.

She just wanted to pull some cards and expand her warehouse. 

All things considered, Bai Ming wasn't hurting for a pull or two. If she could snag an interesting character card, she could go out and have some fun with it.

With that thought, Bai Ming chose a single pull!

The familiar train sped past her eyes, and then a golden light spilled out from the cabin door. 

But this time, when the door opened, the first thing to pop out was a Celestial Jade tile. Immediately following it, Qingque's figure appeared before her.

"?"

Bai Ming’s first reaction was confusion. 

This was just Qingque—the problem was, isn't Qingque a four-star? Why was she glowing gold? 

But soon, once Bai Ming saw the name on the character card, she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"General of the Yuque, Qingque... Good grief, which timeline's Qingque is this? She actually became the General of the Yuque?"

Bai Ming was truly laughing now. 

Especially when she thought about how Qingque found even being a Diviner a fate worse than death. The idea of her sitting in a high-ranking position like General of the Yuque in the future was hilarious.

"I wonder... in this kind of world-line, did Fu Xuan ever become the General of the Luofu? If her successor at the Divination Commission, Qingque, got snatched away by the Yuque, Fu Xuan would be livid."

Though she’d never said it, based on Fu Xuan’s mindset, she likely planned to become General herself and then leave the Divination Commission to Qingque. 

But in this timeline, Qingque had been abducted to the Yuque instead. 

Wouldn't that be a massive loss for the Luofu Divination Commission? Fu Xuan would have lost her successor.

"...Wait, in this world-line, could it be that Qingque became a General while Fu Xuan is still a Diviner? That would be such a snub to Fu Xuan." Bai Ming twitched her lips, feeling like it wasn't entirely impossible. 

After all, Fu Xuan’s personality was a bit... lacking in certain areas. 

Not that she was bad, but as a General, she lacked a bit of tact and was a bit too strict. 

The pressure on a General is immense; if you don't know how to slack off or be flexible, someone as hardworking and self-critical as Fu Xuan would probably work herself into mara-struck status within a few centuries.

Of course, that was the Fu Xuan of the original timeline. 

In this current timeline, her teacher Jingtian hadn't died, and her fate had been shattered by Bai Ming. Fu Xuan’s psychological burden shouldn't be that heavy.

But Fu Xuan’s business could wait. Bai Ming had already slated Fu Xuan to be her Emanator; the whole "General" thing could take a backseat.

Bai Ming looked at this General of the Yuque Qingque card. If she used this card to go to the Xianzhou, would the real Qingque be scared to death?

Heh heh heh.

A wicked smile played on Bai Ming’s face. 

She really wanted to see the expression on the face of that Qingque—who planned to slack off for a lifetime—when she found out there was a chance she’d become a Xianzhou General in the future. 

If Bai Ming went to the Luofu as Qingque and started some grand career, acting like a "Big Boss Qing," the real Qingque would probably let out a shrill scream.

But then again, had Qingque even graduated yet? 

She knew Qingque wasn't that old, but exactly how many years she’d been in the Divination Commission was unclear. She’d have to ask Fu Xuan later.

For now... Bai Ming looked at the newly pulled character card and chose to use it.

Quickly, Qingque’s appearance replaced her current form, and even her height dropped significantly. 

She wore a green dress, her hair tied in twin tails—utterly adorable. She looked just like her appearance in the game.

Except...

The Spiritus of the Yuque General, representing the Eye of the Hunt, the "Kālacakra Skyplume," remained dormant but ready in Bai Ming’s hand.

The Eye of Īśvara, capable of detecting fortune and calamity.

Of course, given Bai Ming’s understanding of the Hunt, this detection was essentially the same logic as Nous: collecting information to perform deductions. 

However, compared to Nous, this Eye of the Hunt was clearly far inferior.

But if 'Qingque' wanted to... if she applied the power of Elation to this "Eye of Īśvara," she could probably manage about fifty percent of Nous's level. 

Well, assuming this body could withstand that level of information flow.

Right at that moment.

Far beyond the world, the Hunt also noticed that THEY had somehow gained an extra "eye."

?

A question mark slowly formed in Lan’s consciousness. 

THEY didn't recall approving a new General lately, and the current General of the Yuque hadn't abdicated. 

The Spiritus on her was still there.

Lan glanced at the General of the Yuque, Yao Guang, and watched her startled expression for a moment.

After confirming the Kālacakra Skyplume was indeed still in Yao Guang’s possession, Lan did nothing and said nothing, withdrawing THEIR gaze.

This sudden glance truly left Yao Guang feeling baffled.

Hadn't she just been calculating her recent luck with the tiles? 

Why did the Reignbow Arbiter cast THEIR gaze upon her? Yao Guang looked at the tiles in her hand, feeling that the whims of the Aeons were truly beyond her.

But Lan didn't care about Yao Guang’s confusion. 

Since nothing was wrong with THEIR own people, that damning sense of déjà vu made Lan think of another possibility.

THEIR gaze pierced through endless space and distance, casting itself toward Bai Ming, who had just transformed into Qingque.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 323

--+--

Noticing Lan’s gaze shifting toward her, the ‘Qingque’ smiled and gave a casual wave.

"Just borrowing the image of a certain future General of the Yuque, don't mind me."

"..."

Lan was momentarily speechless.

Could a dignified Aeon not find something productive to do? Had she been infected by Aha’s nonsense?

To think that despite being an Aeon, she’d still mess around with these mortal playthings.

Whatever.

Lan withdrew THEIR gaze.

Bai Ming wasn’t a bad person, and besides, this wasn’t the first time. Since it would likely pass in a while anyway, Lan didn't pay it much mind.

Compared to that previous incident where a Lightning Lord had been blackened by the Propagation, simply copying a Kālacakra Skyplume this time was practically nothing.

Seeing Lan look away, Bai Ming waved goodbye once more.

She glanced at her panel:

--+--

[Roleplay System]

[Name: Bai Ming (Qingque)]

[Lifespan: ∞]

[Transformable Characters: Big Herta, Acheron, Celenova, Jingliu, Ruan Mei, Sparkle, Hertatomb, Lord Ravager - Jingliu, Young Herta, Robin, Artoria, Cipher, Georios, Cyrene - Fuli (Charging: 23.2%), General of the Yuque · Qingque (Active)]

[Available Pulls: 8 (65.2%)]

--+--

At the thought of what was to come, ‘Qingque’ couldn't suppress a snicker.

She wondered if little Qingque would still be able to slack off peacefully at the Divination Commission once the name of "Boss Que" resounded throughout the Luofu.

Amused by her own mischievous thoughts, ‘Qingque’ ignited the Phase Flame with a smile and set off for the Xianzhou Luofu.

This time, however, she didn't notify Jing Yuan. Instead, she chose to keep Qingque’s face and simply wander the Luofu.

While she was at it, she figured she’d head to the Divination Commission and try to kidnap Fu Xuan.

The moment she landed, ‘Qingque’ looked around. Above the heads of everyone in her sight, omens of fortune and calamity flickered.

Lately, the Luofu had been quite peaceful; for the most part, the signs were auspicious. Even the occasional unlucky soul didn't seem to be in any real danger.

After all... not only had Dan Shu’s best friend survived, but her congenital defects had been cured. With the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus losing their leader, there was practically zero chance of them resurfacing in the world.

Dressed in Luofu-style attire and wearing a local face, ‘Qingque’ walked through the crowds completely unnoticed.

She drifted all the way to where the parlor stood in the game, only to find that the game being played on the Luofu wasn't Celestial Jade yet.

Was it not promoted yet, or had Qingque not managed to recreate it?

‘Qingque’ stood on the sidelines for a while. The gambling itself was dull, but the onlookers were discussing some rather interesting topics.

"Hey, did you hear? A few days ago, the Arbiter of Myriad Distinctions manifested at the Alchemy Commission and cured someone of congenital blindness and deafness. Word on the street is that some alchemist begged for it in person for their friend."

"That sounds fake as hell. That's a literal Aeon we're talking about. Clearly, the Arbiter simply couldn't bear to see human suffering and stepped in to help."

"What do you know! My neighbor is an alchemist at the Commission; he told me himself!"

"Psh, so what if he's an alchemist? Tons of people were at the Alchemy Commission that day. How many actually saw the Arbiter with their own eyes? I bet your neighbor is just blowing smoke!"

Even though several days had passed, many people on the Luofu were still buzzing about the Originium curing blindness and deafness.

Initially, ‘Qingque’ had only intended to treat the blindness, but since it all boiled down to inputting information into the brain, she had fixed the deafness along with it.

According to the chatter, Dan Shu and her friend had reported directly to Jing Yuan. Using the General's name, the news of the Originium had been spread among those with physical disabilities.

Naturally, the name of the Arbiter of Myriad Distinctions was promoted alongside it. As a result, nearly every hot topic on the Luofu lately revolved around this.

‘Qingque’ didn't care much for the titles. She was busy thinking about what else she could add to the Originium, which was currently just an empty shell.

Leaderboards and rewards were a possibility, but researching the Elation Equation was just too difficult. She needed to add other forms of entertainment to keep the momentum going.

Celestial Jade was a solid choice. Or perhaps she could introduce card games or pet battle games, using the Originium to construct lifelike holograms.

As for the rewards, that was easy enough.

Blindness and deafness weren't the only ailments in the world. There was a mess of various conditions out there; while the universe had sophisticated solutions for most, not everyone could afford the medical bills.

So, she could offer something like "Wish Points." They could be used to cure illnesses, gain wealth, and so on—all of which could be achieved through the power of Elation.

As long as the rewards weren't too outrageous, it wouldn't be a problem.

She had plenty of ideas, but the workload was too much for ‘Qingque’ to handle alone. She needed to start a company and experience the life of "Boss Que" for real.

Step one: Kidnap Fu Xuan. 

Step two: Find the real Qingque and drag her into the business.

With that, ‘Qingque’ turned and left the parlor, hailing a starskiff to head toward the Divination Commission.

Meanwhile, Fu Xuan, who was buried in work at her desk, suddenly paused.

Her Third Eye had caught a glimpse of some very strange imagery.

For reasons unknown, a rookie diviner from the Commission named Qingque had come to her door, asking if she wanted to become her Emanator.

Then, things got even weirder.

The Third Eye, which should have been flawlessly accurate, could only show fragmented images this time. She couldn't even make out the specifics of the conversation.

"...Has my Third Eye malfunctioned?"

Fu Xuan touched the eye on her forehead. The endless, throbbing ache above her brow was the same as ever.

The moment she looked away from anything involving Qingque, the visions returned to their usual clarity. 

This led Fu Xuan to a certain conclusion: Qingque herself was definitely the problem!

But what was so special about this girl?

Fu Xuan’s impression of Qingque was merely that of a newcomer at the Divination Commission. 

She had decent potential, but as a fresh face in the workplace, she was clearly suffering under the weight of her duties.

While Fu Xuan’s meticulous nature had allowed her to spot the anomalies in Qingque’s past transcripts, it only proved the girl was clever. It didn't yet prove she could handle the Commission’s workload.

In Fu Xuan’s eyes, if the girl could adapt, she’d be a fine talent. If she couldn't take the pressure, Fu Xuan would simply have to advise her to find work elsewhere.

"It’s a pity that everything regarding Qingque has become a blur. I suppose I can only wait for her to arrive in person to find out what’s going on."

Fu Xuan chose to stay put. Since the Third Eye hadn't shown any signs of danger, she would wait right here and see what unfolded.

As for the bit about becoming an "Emanator" mentioned in the visions... Fu Xuan didn't take it to heart.

Such a thing was far too ethereal. There was no way a lowly diviner could have anything to do with that.

Pushing the anomaly aside for the moment, she returned to processing the day’s mountain of divinatory results.

About one system hour passed.

Fu Xuan, deep in her work, suddenly felt a surge of intuition. The moment she had seen in her vision had arrived.

She instinctively looked up toward the door of her office. 

There, she saw a girl clad in green—Qingque—walking toward her with a beaming smile.

Though many diviners were coming and going, everyone recognized her as one of their own. They assumed Qingque was just looking for Master Diviner Fu for some errand, so no one paid her much mind.

As she drew closer, the images in Fu Xuan’s mind became increasingly fluid. Soon, a new vision surfaced: the scene of the girl introducing herself.

"Hi there. Recognize me? It's Bai Ming. You know I like changing faces to get around; it's more convenient."

Madam Bai Ming?!

Fu Xuan, usually the picture of composure, couldn't help the excitement that flared across her face.

She had actually come to the Divination Commission to find her in person. Just the realization made Fu Xuan’s breathing turn heavy. It was the thrill of being favored by a being she deeply admired.

Soon, ‘Qingque’ stood before Fu Xuan.

Seeing the complex gaze in Fu Xuan’s eyes, she gave a cheerful wave and spoke the exact words Fu Xuan had foreseen.

Hearing them in reality sent a jolt through Fu Xuan.

"I... I understand. You... Please follow me, this isn't the right place to talk!"

Excited as she was, Fu Xuan knew there were too many eyes and ears here. If word got out that the Arbiter of Myriad Distinctions had personally visited the Divination Commission, who knew what kind of chaos would erupt?

Ignoring any sense of personal space, she grabbed ‘Qingque’ by the hand and hurried toward the chamber housing the Matrix of Prescience. It was relatively quiet there, and no one would be lingering near the core.

Once they reached the Matrix, Fu Xuan finally let go and looked at ‘Qingque’ with cautious anticipation.

She understood the meaning of the vision now. Was she really going to be invited to be her Emanator?!

The thought made Fu Xuan’s heart hammer against her ribs.

She wanted to say yes. Even though she was the Master Diviner of the Xianzhou Alliance, she found herself wanting to accept the invitation from the person she admired so much.

"So, um... what brings you to the Divination Commission?"

Fu Xuan’s voice was a bit shaky.

‘Qingque’ found it a little precious. The formidable Master Diviner from the game was acting surprisingly docile in her presence.

"I wanted to clear my head on the Luofu, so I figured I'd stop by for a chat. Are you busy? If you are, we can talk after you clock out."

"..."

Fu Xuan desperately wanted to say she wasn't busy at all, but the reality was that her work was piled high as a mountain. While she could squeeze out some free time, she didn't want to let her work stagnate for the sake of personal desire.

"Looks like you're swamped. I guess our chat will have to wait until tonight. However, there is one more thing we can do right now."

‘Qingque’ looked at Fu Xuan, whose heart rate spiked.

Is it coming?!

As Fu Xuan waited with bated breath, ‘Qingque’ pointed a finger at herself and asked:

"Fu Xuan, do you know where the diviner Qingque is right now? I have something to discuss with her as well."

"...Eh?"

Fu Xuan’s mouth hung open slightly as her cheeks turned a deep, rapid crimson.

She realized she had just been completely full of herself, and her entire being began to steam from the sheer embarrassment.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 324

--+--

'Qingque' scratched her head, wondering why Fu Xuan had suddenly gone "red-alert" on her.

While she knew Fu Xuan possessed the Third Eye and could catch glimpses of future events, she had no way of knowing exactly what had triggered such a heated reaction.

After all, she wasn't the type to go rummaging through someone else's skull just to pry into their memories for no reason.

"What's wrong with you?"

"...No, it’s nothing. Qingque is on duty at the library."

"The library?"

'Qingque' arched an eyebrow. Had she already scurried off to the library?

"Yes. Qingque is a diviner who recently joined the Divination Commission. She’s currently on rotation, but is there something special about that girl?"

For the time being, Fu Xuan couldn't see anything particularly remarkable about her.

Seeing Fu Xuan’s curious expression, 'Qingque' let a mischievous smirk tug at the corners of her mouth. Then, she raised a finger and pointed at herself.

"Do you know the identity of the person I’m currently portraying?"

"...What identity? The Master Diviner of the Divination Commission?"

Fu Xuan’s first instinct was that Qingque had risen to the rank of Master Diviner, taking her place. 

Just as she was about to marvel at the thought, a fan-like array resembling peacock feathers suddenly unfurled behind ‘Qingque’.

A talisman flickered at her fingertips, and a sudden, heart-pounding sensation—as if every move she could make had already been calculated by her opponent—washed over Fu Xuan’s entire body.

Fu Xuan’s pupils shook violently. She recognized what those feathers represented. She had even observed the workings of the Kālacakra Skyplume from a close distance. 

Thus, she recognized them at a glance: those were clearly the manifestations of the inherited Spiritus of the General of the Yuque, the Kālacakra Skyplume!

Even the aura being released was an exact match.

"You... you don't mean to say that in the future, that Qingque will become the General of the Yuque, inheriting the Kālacakra Skyplume from Yao Guang?!"

Fu Xuan’s heart was far from calm. She never would have guessed that one of the Xianzhou’s top diviners would actually emerge from under her own wing.

However, 'Qingque' shook her head.

"It’s just a possibility. It doesn’t represent a fact, nor does it mean the probability is high. Just think of Qingque as a very talented diviner."

"..."

Was "very talented" really enough to describe it?

Fu Xuan’s heart was set on the position of General of the Luofu, and given that her senior sister was General Yao Guang of the Yuque, she understood the process and difficulties of becoming a Xianzhou General better than most. 

A General isn't just someone recognized by the Alliance; they must also pass the trials and receive the acknowledgment of the Reignbow Arbiter before they can take the seat.

If the scene before her wasn't a fabrication, but a genuine possibility... didn't that mean Qingque’s potential was staggeringly high?

A smile curved Fu Xuan’s lips. Although she yearned for the position of General, her master hadn't passed away and the prophecy had been broken, so her mindset was relatively peaceful. 

She wasn't in a rush to force Jing Yuan into early retirement.

So, upon hearing that Qingque possessed such latent brilliance, Fu Xuan felt that this new diviner deserved some serious cultivation!

Well, once this is all over, I’ll start by increasing Qingque’s workload to test the waters.

Since the girl had the talent to become the General of the Yuque, surely a bit of extra work wouldn't trouble her! 

Fu Xuan was already efficiently mapping out a series of self-improvement plans for the future Qingque in her head.

'Qingque' didn't know exactly what Fu Xuan was thinking, but she could guess what the Master Diviner was plotting. 

With a grin of "mission accomplished," she bid Fu Xuan farewell and headed toward the Divination Commission's library.

--+--

Meanwhile.

Qingque, who had just finished a stint of library work and managed to squeeze out a rare moment of rest, saw a colleague approaching.

Before she could even say hello, she heard the other woman say in shock:

"Qingque? How did you get back so fast? Did you fly?"

"...Huh?"

Qingque wore a look of utter confusion. 

She scratched her head and asked, "What do you mean 'back'? I’ve been working right here this whole time. Don’t go slandering me now; I was working very hard just a second ago!"

"What?"

The approaching diviner looked equally puzzled. Qingque wasn't the type to hide that sort of thing, and her expression didn't look fake.

"But I clearly just saw you go look for the Master Diviner. I even waved to you when I went to get my papers signed."

"Me? Actively seeking out the Master Diviner? Do you honestly think that’s possible??"

Qingque pointed at her own face with a look of pure exasperation. 

Her expression seemed to say: Take a good look. Does the Qingque of the Divination Commission look like someone who would actively seek out the big boss?

She’d sooner hide than go looking for Lady Fu Xuan. It wasn't like she was starved for more work.

Qingque’s attitude left the other diviner completely stumped. She scratched her head, bewildered. "Sss... don't tell me I saw a ghost in broad daylight?"

"Pah, pah, pah! We’re inside the Divination Commission, stop talking about ghosts and spirits."

"But I really saw it with my own eyes! We can't have two Qingques in the Commission, can we?"

The diviner seemed spooked by her own guess. She shivered and rubbed her arms, looking terrified as if she expected a double of herself to pop out from around the corner at any moment.

Qingque rubbed her chin, a sudden flash of inspiration hitting her. "I’d say you probably ran into a Heliobus. Maybe one snuck in from somewhere."

"A Heliobus? What’s that?"

The diviner looked lost, so Qingque turned around and rummaged through the bookshelves for a while until she pulled out an old record.

"Here. I saw this in an ancient text while organizing the library. They say Heliobi aren't common these days, but maybe one managed to slip into our Commission."

Qingque watched with a grin as the diviner’s face shifted from fear to calm, and finally to curiosity. She then slumped lazily back into her workstation, leisurely enjoying her downtime and a few small snacks.

As for the potential Heliobus infiltration, Qingque wasn't worried at all. 

Please—whoever that person was, they had gone to see the Master Diviner. Even if the Master Diviner was small in stature, her capabilities were sky-high.

A measly Heliobus trying to ambush Lady Fu Xuan? That was just asking for trouble.

The curious diviner tried to invite Qingque to join her in seeing the Master Diviner. "Qingque, let’s go find her! We might get to see a good show!"

"You go ahead, I’ll pass. It’s a rare break; I need to recharge my energy."

"But that person is using your face! Aren't you afraid of being targeted?"

Faced with such a question, Qingque was remarkably nonchalant. 

"I’m just a lowly diviner. My biggest strength is being unremarkable. I’m sure that’s exactly why they chose my look. So, the best move for me is to stay right here and wait for that imposter to finish their business."

"..."

The other diviner had nothing to say to Qingque’s crooked logic. 

When it came to being quick-witted and silver-tongued, she was no match for her. Without another word, she turned and hurried back the way she came.

As for Qingque...

She really wasn't worried. Before she had carved out this time to slack off, she had performed a divination for herself.

Although the reading was a bit strange, there was no doubt that staying here to loaf around was the best course of action. 

Naturally, she followed the signs and committed to her slacking. Otherwise, it would be an insult to the "Great Good Fortune" she had pulled.

She brewed herself a cup of tea, laid out some easy-to-eat snacks, and pulled out an ancient text she had found while cleaning—one that recorded the game of Celestial Jade.

Shifting into a comfortable position in her chair, she buried herself in the book.

While Qingque didn't like working, and library duty was dull at first, she occasionally found interesting things. Like this "Celestial Jade" mentioned only in ancient records. She thought it seemed fun. 

If she could figure it out, wouldn't she have something to do while slacking off at work in the future?

Lately, she had been quite keen on developing Celestial Jade.

She didn't know how long she’d been tinkering with the blueprints when she heard a steady set of footsteps approaching through the corridor.

Still immersed in the world of the book, Qingque assumed it was her colleague returning after failing to see any excitement. Without looking up, she said:

"Back so soon? I guess the Master Diviner already took care of that fake 'me,' huh?"

'Qingque,' who had followed the signs of the Divination Commission all the way here, paused and arched an eyebrow in surprise before she even got close.

Along the way, she hadn't seen a single person heading the same way. 

The diviners she had passed showed no special reaction; in fact, few people even seemed to know who Qingque was.

Yet, the real Qingque knew someone had been impersonating her to see Fu Xuan?

Were there other people coming to this godforsaken place? And more importantly, how could she be so calm knowing someone was posing as her?

'Qingque' thought for a moment, then spoke with a smile:

"Your Master Diviner has already sold you to me. I'm here to pack you up and take you away."

"???"

Qingque looked up, her face a mask of confusion, only to see a person who looked exactly like her standing there, smiling and waving.

She was so startled she practically launched herself out of her chair. She jumped so high that the chair, her snacks, and her brush and ink all went flying.

Qingque herself let out a strange yelp:

"Wha—?! Eek!!"

After a mid-air scramble, she stumbled to a landing and immediately dove behind her chair.

"You, you, you! What do you want with me? I'm just a tiny little diviner. Please, in your great mercy, just pretend you never saw me!"

'Qingque' reached out and caught the snacks and the brush before they could hit the floor. She walked over to the desk and looked at the blueprints.

"Oh? You’re actually developing Celestial Jade? It seems I’ve come at just the right time."

"You know about Celestial Jade?! Are you... are you some legendary senior Heliobus from the Primeval Imperium Era?!"

In an instant, Qingque understood the origin of her strange divination from earlier. It turned out she had to go through this ordeal today to reach the "Great Good Fortune" of Celestial Jade that awaited her.

And just like that, the way Qingque looked at her double completely changed.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 325

--+--

Upon hearing this, 'Qingque' raised an eyebrow.

Was she being mistaken for a Heliobus?

Well...

The 'Qingque' who had intended to explain reconsidered. 

This was the first time she and the real Qingque had actually met.

While a citizen of the Luofu likely wouldn't pass out from sheer terror like Asta's family might, it was hard to say whether Qingque would have some other bizarre reaction.

Besides, trying to explain exactly who she was and why she was looking for her in just a few sentences seemed like a tall order.

So, she figured she might as well play along as a Heliobus for now.

A smile tugged at the corners of 'Qingque’s' mouth as she nodded toward the girl.

"Strictly speaking, every Heliobus on the Xianzhou has lived for a very, very long time. However, finding one who knows about Celestial Jade is indeed a bit of a stretch."

She paused for a beat before adding, "Are you curious about this ancient street toy?"

At those words, Qingque's eyes lit up. She nodded vigorously.

"Yes, yes, yes! Do you actually know it?! Can you teach me? I've been studying the rules, but I just can't wrap my head around them."

'Qingque' crossed her arms and tilted her head back slightly, looking down at the original Qingque.

"Of course! Not only can I teach you, but I'm going to grant you a grand destiny! I've already spoken with Fu Xuan. For the time being, you'll be working under me, and in exchange, I'll teach you the ways of Celestial Jade."

"Uh... I think I'll pass on the 'grand destiny' part."

Though Qingque couldn't sense any actual malice, she could smell a trap a mile away.

Good grief.

This person couldn't possibly be planning some world-shaking endeavor to make a name for themselves, could they?

She was just a poor, weak, and helpless little diviner; she had no interest in the limelight.

"Oh, I couldn't have that. After all, I’m borrowing your appearance. Celestial Jade alone isn't nearly enough to settle that debt," 'Qingque' insisted.

Before Qingque could protest, she cut her off.

"Anyway, we can discuss that later. Come, let me show you how Celestial Jade is truly played!"

"..."

Qingque, who had been ready to argue, found herself rooted to the spot the moment she saw her double wave a hand and summon a gaming table along with a complete set of Celestial Jade tiles.

"Is... is this really it?"

For some reason, the moment Qingque saw those square, jade-like tiles, she felt a wave of familiarity. It was as if she had been born to play this game.

"Naturally. Now, watch closely..."

'Qingque' spread the tiles across the table and began explaining the rules. She even threw in some regional variations of Mahjong from her previous life for good measure.

Before long, Qingque was scratching her head in excitement, itching to jump into a game and experience it for herself.

Unfortunately, you can't play Celestial Jade with just two people; it takes at least three to get a game going.

'Qingque' raised a hand to calm her double down. "I know you're eager, but take it easy. This game is best played with four. Right now, only you and I know the rules, so a match is out of the question."

"Then what do we do?"

"Promote it, obviously. If you want to be able to play whenever you want, you need a large enough player base. Word of mouth works, but it’s far too slow."

Watching the real Qingque look so restless she was practically climbing the walls, 'Qingque's' voice took on a more persuasive, almost tempting lilt.

"Besides, you're busy with work at the Divination Commission. If you try to spread it on your own, it'll take years to reach the whole Luofu. The best way is to start a company and use its influence to launch a massive promotional campaign!"

"Oh—! That makes sense! But I’m just a lowly diviner. I have no Credits, no Strale, no time... how am I supposed to start a company?"

Qingque scratched her head.

She didn't actually want to do anything big, but because of her love for Celestial Jade, she truly did want the game to spread. If it did, wouldn't the streets be filled with potential players?

"That's not a problem. I'll handle the logistics. However, since my identity is a bit... inconvenient, I'll need to use your name to establish the entertainment company."

"Wait—what?! You're going to use my face to run a company?!"

"Are you afraid of losing money? Don't worry, Fu Xuan will back you. Even if it fails, the debt won't fall on your head."

"Who's worried about the money! I'm saying, if you use my face to run a major company and promote it across the Luofu, doesn't that mean everyone is going to recognize me??"

Qingque was getting worked up—and not in a good way.

Setting aside her parents' constant nagging about "iron rice bowls" and "career planning," if they found out she was neglecting her duties for entertainment projects, she’d never hear the end of it. 

The mere thought of walking down the street and being recognized by everyone made her shiver.

Seeing the original Qingque’s face go pale with a "my future is ruined" expression, 'Qingque' had to bite back a laugh.

"That's impossible," she said, suppressing a grin. 

"You'll be the big boss behind the scenes. Have you ever seen a CEO who stands in the spotlight every single day? Let me ask you, do you even know the face of the person who manufactures your jade abacus?"

"Hmm... I guess you have a point."

Qingque rubbed her chin, frowning. She had overreacted a bit. Come to think of it, most entertainment moguls didn't spend their days parading in public.

"Then... shall we give it a shot?"

"Might as well. You have nothing to lose. You head over to the Artisanship Commission to handle the production of the tables and tiles. I'll get the company structure ready."

'Qingque' quickly delegated the tasks, leaving the game-specific details to Qingque. She planned to ask Fu Xuan and Jing Yuan for help with the rest later.

As for the entertainment company, it wasn't just a whim.

'Qingque' had already decided that since the Originium interface was already built, she might as well use it to create a platform for the masses.

She'd build a company to develop various entertainment projects—games, illusory plays, and the like. 

These projects would be launched through the Originium system, using the devices as mobile terminals.

That way, the Originium system would provide a long-term, sustainable, and stable source of emotion points.

To draw in users, 'Qingque' had even integrated the fan-site she'd created during her Aha-simulated antics into the system. 

Once Celestial Jade was ready, she’d promote it on the Luofu and the Originium network simultaneously.

Of course, games alone wouldn't be enough. Eventually, she’d need the power of Elation to really hook the players.

But that was a bridge to cross later. For now, it was time to get those tiles made and start building some serious hype for 'CEO Qingque'!

By evening, Qingque had already taken the blueprints and samples to the Artisanship Commission to find an acquaintance for the job.

True to her word, 'Qingque' went to find Fu Xuan.

To have a proper chat with 'Qingque,' Fu Xuan had—unprecedentedly—skipped out on her usual overtime. She led her to her private residence early.

Though the courtyard was spacious, the decor was relatively simple. It was clear the Master Diviner didn't care for flashy ornamentation. On the way back, 'Qingque' filled her in on her meeting with her double.

"So, you want to open an entertainment company in Qingque’s name?"

"Mhm. Create some games or interesting things and put them on the Originium system. I have plenty of Credits, and if I run short, I can always ask the IPC for more."

"...Money isn't an issue. The Luofu has plenty of its own."

As Fu Xuan spoke, she couldn't help but marvel inwardly. An entertainment company personally backed by the Arbiter of Myriad Distinctions? There was almost no way it could fail.

Qingque certainly had incredible luck, being shielded by an Aeon like that.

Fu Xuan huffed softly to herself, feeling a twinge of envy toward her subordinate. 

At the same time, she felt the urge to train Qingque even harder to ensure she felt a sense of belonging to the Divination Commission—otherwise, if the girl got too absorbed in running a company, she might just quit her post and run off.

Hearing Fu Xuan's response, 'Qingque' turned with a smile toward the Master Diviner, who was now roughly the same height as her.

"Will you help me, Fu Xuan?"

Fu Xuan’s face flushed slightly, but she quickly let out a dry cough.

"Whether for public interest or personal reasons, the Luofu will not ignore a request from the Arbiter of Myriad Distinctions. Besides, it’s just an entertainment company; it’s no great trouble. However, for certain matters, you might still need to talk to Jing Yuan."

High as the Divination Commission's status was, they didn't handle basic civil infrastructure. There were things even Fu Xuan couldn't settle with a single word.

"I’ll worry about Jing Yuan later. For now, thank you for being willing to help, Fu Xuan."

'Qingque' looked at the bashful Fu Xuan with a grin. She intentionally took the Master Diviner's hand and stared directly into her eyes.

The result was a Master Diviner who didn't know where to look, her cheeks turning a bright, blushing red.

Say what you will, but seeing the usually dignified Master Diviner get so flustered was genuinely adorable. However, 'Qingque' knew not to push too hard, lest Fu Xuan grow desensitized to it too quickly.

She knew when to quit while she was ahead, transitioning to the next phase of her plan to "recruit" Fu Xuan.

"Fu Xuan, I actually have one more favor to ask. Would you be willing?"

"Feel free to speak. As long as it is within my power."

Fu Xuan’s face was still red. She blurted out the promise before her brain had fully processed the situation.

'Qingque’s' lips curved upward as she went straight for the heart of the matter.

"Then... would you become my Emanator?"

"Of course, a mere Emanat—wait, a what?!"

The words had nearly slipped out of Fu Xuan's mouth before she jolted, her grip on 'Qingque’s' hands tightening involuntarily.

She looked over with an expression caught somewhere between shock and delighted surprise.

It was impossible to tell if she was willing or not. 'Qingque' didn't rush her; she simply waited in silence.

The room grew quiet, so still that the frantic thumping of Fu Xuan’s heart became audible.

She looked at 'Qingque,' her mind still seemingly in a state of chaos.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 326

--+--

Fu Xuan very much wanted to agree immediately, but her reason reminded her that before she gave her answer, she was still the Master Diviner of the Divination Commission of the Xianzhou Luofu.

She had to be responsible for her position.

“Am I allowed to? And if I agree… will I have to leave the Xianzhou Luofu?”

Perhaps most Emanators in this universe were not directly governed by their Aeon, but the Arbiter of Myriad Distinctions was a special case.

She was standing right in front of you. Asking whether she might ever need something from you almost sounded absurd, but ‘Qingque’ clearly wasn’t the sort of Aeon who bossed people around.

Besides, even if she really needed someone to do something, there were people from the Land of Light and Amphoreus she could call upon. Honestly, it would hardly ever trouble Fu Xuan.

The main reason she came to ask was simply because she found it interesting. And because Acheron and Herta had both rejected her invitation.

As for actually making Fu Xuan do work for her—or even leave the Divination Commission—that was unnecessary.

“Of course you don’t need to leave the Xianzhou. I’m not here on the Luofu to kidnap anyone.”

As ‘Qingque’ spoke, she raised a hand and patted Fu Xuan on the shoulder, smiling.

“Then it’s settled. From now on, you’re one of my people!”

As she spoke, the hand resting on Fu Xuan’s shoulder slowly lifted. Her index and middle fingers pressed together as she reached forward and tapped Fu Xuan between the brows.

Her fingertips touched the Third Eye embedded in Fu Xuan’s forehead.

The Third Eye wasn’t large, but it had been fitted precisely into the bone of her brow.

For ordinary people, it might not have been a problem—but unfortunately, Fu Xuan was one of the Xianzhou’s long-life species.

The innate healing ability she had been born with clashed with the Third Eye forcibly embedded in her forehead, creating endless pain.

And now—

A power belonging to the Path of Permanence flowed into Fu Xuan’s body. At the same time, the naturally rooted power of Abundance within her was drawn forth by ‘Qingque’.

Although she had made an agreement with Equilibrium not to explore the complete Path of Permanence, simply combining the two like this—blending them to a reasonable and controllable degree—was basically slipping through a loophole.

The two forces slowly settled within Fu Xuan’s body.

Faint pink scales began to grow around the Third Eye. They were subtle enough that one might miss them without looking closely.

This was a sign of power awakening. The strength of Permanence automatically suppressed the uncontrollable regenerative process around her brow.

Under ‘Qingque’s’ guidance, the Third Eye—once a foreign object—was completely accepted by Fu Xuan’s body as part of herself.

The pain that had plagued her for years vanished in an instant.

Freed so suddenly from endless suffering, Fu Xuan simply stood there in a daze.

It had been a very, very long time since she felt a body free of pain.

For years, Fu Xuan had forced herself to coexist with the agony, learning to live with it.

Otherwise, she would never have lasted until today. But under ‘Qingque’s’ hand, the torment that had followed her all this time disappeared in an instant.

She could even feel the power of Abundance within her body as if it had been fitted with reins.

A force she had never been able to control was now easily within her grasp.

But this was only the beginning.

Although Fu Xuan already felt she had received far more than enough, in ‘Qingque’s’ eyes this was barely anything.

What she had just done was simply cure Fu Xuan’s suffering. The real process of granting power came next.

Normally, when an Aeon granted power, there would be some kind of vessel.

For example, the generals of the Xianzhou had their Spiritus, Nanook granted golden blood, and the Masked Fools possessed their masks.

But the Path of Permanence was a bit different, because it directly reshaped the body itself. Its power rested within the flesh.

The problem was that ‘Qingque’ didn’t command a single Path, nor did she intend to turn Fu Xuan into some kind of dragon girl.

Logically speaking, the Masked Fools’ masks would have been a good option, but ‘Qingque’ wasn’t interested in sharing a system with Aha.

Someone as serious as Fu Xuan being mistaken for a Masked Fool would be rather awkward.

So after thinking for a moment—

‘Qingque’ set her sights on the Third Eye in Fu Xuan’s forehead.

The thing came from Nous. In essence, it was a sophisticated computational device.

As a creation of the Path of Erudition, it could withstand the infusion of Path power, and it could also endure amplification from the Path of Elation.

And if she accidentally broke it…

Well, she could always go visit Nous personally and ask THEM to make Fu Xuan another one.

With that thought, ‘Qingque’ slowly poured the powers of Elation and Permanence into the Third Eye, mixing in a small amount of Equilibrium to balance them.

Just as she had expected, although the Third Eye wasn’t extraordinarily powerful, it was still a divine construct. Holding Emanator-level power was more than manageable.

Meanwhile, the power of Equilibrium helped coordinate everything, allowing the Third Eye to bear and circulate those forces smoothly.

It also made it far easier for Fu Xuan to wield powers that originated from different Paths.

Soon, the blessing was complete.

The power of Elation within the Third Eye concealed the noticeable scales, returning her appearance to normal.

Only a faint white pattern—belonging to ‘Qingque’—remained upon the Third Eye.

Withdrawing her fingers, ‘Qingque’ looked at Fu Xuan, who still had her eyes closed as she felt the new power within her.

The stern tension that usually sat between Fu Xuan’s brows had completely disappeared.

It seemed… perhaps Fu Xuan hadn’t been born so serious and strict after all.

Most likely, the endless pain she had endured year after year had simply never allowed her to show a relaxed expression.

Thinking of that, ‘Qingque’ gently massaged the space between Fu Xuan’s brows with her thumb.

This Master Diviner was truly ruthless—especially toward herself.

Pain itself wasn’t the worst thing, but unending, constant pain with no end in sight was unquestionably a form of torture.

The fact that Fu Xuan had endured it for so long while remaining functional was almost frightening.

Perhaps sensing the touch on her forehead, Fu Xuan slowly opened her eyes.

She looked slightly dazed, as if she believed she was dreaming.

After all, it had been so long since she’d felt her body this light.

So long that the present moment felt more like a dream than reality.

Compared to the power she had gained, the disappearance of pain moved Fu Xuan far more deeply.

She looked at ‘Qingque’, who stood before her smiling while gently massaging her brow.

Her lips parted, but for a moment she didn’t know what to say, because Fu Xuan had never imagined the problem within her body could be resolved so easily.

And it wasn’t like the power of Elation simply suppressing her pain by force. Instead, the power of Permanence had tamed the Abundance at its root, even strengthening her control over it.

Though called the Arbiter of Myriad Distinctions, most people—including Fu Xuan—believed ‘Qingque’s’ power leaned primarily toward Elation.

Yet the moment she acted, she displayed immense power from both Permanence and Abundance.

Fu Xuan could clearly sense that the strength ‘Qingque’ had granted her contained four different Paths.

Elation and Permanence made up the majority, while Abundance and Equilibrium formed the smaller portion.

Permanence and Abundance strengthened the body itself. Elation greatly amplified the Third Eye’s abilities, while Equilibrium acted as the mediator.

Together, the four Paths circulated harmoniously between the Third Eye and her body.

Fu Xuan had the feeling that if she fully activated the Third Eye now, it might rival a minor Nous on the Xianzhou Luofu.

And if she unleashed her physical strength completely, she might even transform into a dragon outright.

But Fu Xuan didn’t test either power.

The pain she had endured for so many years had vanished all at once, and the taut string she had kept drawn for so long suddenly slackened.

The exhaustion buried deep inside her surged up like a tide.

Fu Xuan only felt terribly tired now. She just wanted to lie down immediately and have a proper, normal, unburdened sleep, but ‘Qingque’ was still standing before her.

Whether as the Arbiter of Myriad Distinctions or simply as a guest, Fu Xuan felt she had to arrange things properly before resting.

Yet ‘Qingque’ clearly saw through her intentions.

So at her fingertips, the power of Remembrance quietly emerged, guiding Fu Xuan gently into sleep.

She reached out and caught Fu Xuan as her strength gave out and her body went limp.

Holding the sleeping Fu Xuan in her arms, ‘Qingque’ looked at the peaceful expression on her face—the faint smile even curling at the corners of her lips.

She couldn’t help smiling too.

“Have a good dream.”

After sending those words into Fu Xuan’s dreams, ‘Qingque’ lifted her in a princess carry and walked into Fu Xuan’s bedroom.

The room was very tidy. The bed looked so neatly arranged it was as if no one had ever slept in it.

The desk in the room, however, bore heavy signs of use.

‘Qingque’ couldn’t help but wonder whether Fu Xuan had actually rested properly at all over the years.

Or perhaps, with the Third Eye tormenting her constantly, she hadn’t truly slept—only found ways to knock herself unconscious and call it sleep.

Shaking her head with a quiet sigh, ‘Qingque’ placed Fu Xuan gently onto the bed.

She held Fu Xuan’s slender ankle and removed her shoes, revealing equally small and delicate feet.

The white stockings produced by the Xianzhou were seamless—even between the toes—and the fabric felt absurdly soft.

Of course, ‘Qingque’ wasn’t some kind of pervert. She simply admired the craftsmanship for a moment before setting Fu Xuan’s feet down.

But removing her shoes alone wasn’t enough.

Fu Xuan’s hair ornaments, the decorations on her body, and even the top connected by cords were all beautiful—but clearly unsuitable for sleeping.

So even though it felt slightly intimate—

For the sake of Fu Xuan’s first peaceful sleep in years, ‘Qingque’ reached out and removed the accessories and dress from her.

She didn’t touch the inner garments, though.

Even if Fu Xuan was technically now one of her people, they had only met a few times. There still needed to be a sense of boundaries.

After folding the removed clothing and ornaments neatly to the side, ‘Qingque’ checked once more to make sure nothing she wore would interfere with her sleep.

Only then did she tuck Fu Xuan under the covers.

As for ‘Qingque’ herself—

Since she was already here, it would be strange to go out and find another place to stay.

Fortunately, Fu Xuan’s residence was spacious enough.

So ‘Qingque’ simply found a guest room and went to rest there herself.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 327

--+--

‘Qingque’ rested for the night as the Luofu’s diurnal system cycled back to day.

However, Fu Xuan showed no signs of waking up.

Judging that the Master Diviner still had quite a bit of sleep left in her, ‘Qingque’ decided to head straight out to the Seat of Divine Foresight.

When Jing Yuan saw this person suddenly materialize in his headquarters, even he lost his composure for a moment. 

Though he didn't recognize the face, nor could he discern anything particularly extraordinary about the girl before him, he was still one of the Seven Arbiter-Generals.

The Lightning-Lord reacted to the manifestation of the Kālacakra Skyplume within ‘Qingque’—or rather, it sensed its presence.

But herein lay the problem.

Jing Yuan remembered clearly that none of the current Seven Arbiter-Generals had been replaced recently. General Yao Guang of the Yuque had even been in contact with him just a short while ago.

Considering that the "Propagation Lightning-Lord"—that ridiculous anomaly—had appeared in the past, Jing Yuan made a reasonable guess: this was likely another "future possibility" that the Arbiter of Myriad Distinctions had plucked from who-knows-where.

"It has been a while, Madam Bai Ming. If you intended to visit, why not inform me in advance? I could have sent someone to receive you properly," Jing Yuan said with a helpless smile as he walked over to the petite young girl.

How did she turn into such a young lady this time? And she’s even dressed in our Luofu style.

‘Qingque,’ however, rubbed her chin inquisitively.

After Fu Xuan met her yesterday, she didn't contact Jing Yuan? Was it because she forgot, or did she assume Jing Yuan already knew?

"Well, that’s why I’m here now. Oh, and by the way, Fu Xuan might need a few days off. Do me a favor and let the Divination Commission know."

"Lady Fu? Did something happen to her?"

Jing Yuan wasn't worried about her safety.

Please—this was the Arbiter of Myriad Distinctions standing in front of him. Who could possibly harm Fu Xuan while she was around?

"Nothing serious. It’s just that she’s my Emanator now. I cured the chronic pain caused by the Third Eye on her forehead. She finally got a peaceful night's sleep yesterday, so she’ll probably be out for a while longer."

"..."

Jing Yuan’s pupils shrank, and his expression became quite nuanced.

Wait... is the Luofu really so short-staffed that you have to poach our people?

We finally get a Master Diviner with top-tier talent, and you’re just going to spirit her away??

"About that... Madam Bai Ming, the Luofu is currently in dire need of personnel. You see..."

Jing Yuan put on a pitiful front, looking very much like he might cling to her leg and wail if ‘Qingque’ actually intended to kidnap Fu Xuan.

"What are you doing, acting like that? I never said I was taking her away. Besides, with Fu Xuan's sense of duty, even if I wanted to, she wouldn't have agreed to be my Emanator if it meant leaving," ‘Qingque’ said, rolling her eyes.

She didn't know what he was thinking, but it certainly wasn't anything good.

"Cough, I know Lady Fu holds the Xianzhou dear to her heart, but I just wanted to confirm, haha..." Jing Yuan laughed awkwardly before quickly changing the subject. 

"Speaking of which, what is Madam Bai Ming’s identity this time? Among the historical generals of the Alliance, there doesn't seem to be one quite like you."

"Oh, this time it’s a future possibility of the General of the Yuque: Qingque. Right now, she’s still just a lowly diviner in the Luofu’s Divination Commission."

Hiss...

Jing Yuan sucked in a breath of cold air.

There’s such a diamond in the rough hiding right here on our Luofu?

Regardless of whether she actually became a general, any "possibility" of it meant this person was undeniably gifted and an exceptional talent.

Cultivate her. We must cultivate her aggressively!

"You can save the shock for later. I’m here because I need a favor. Help me start an entertainment company on the Luofu."

"What scale are we talking about? What is the specific business, and under whose name should it be registered?"

"Under Qingque’s name, of course. As for what we’ll do... you know I set up that interface using Originium a while back, right? I plan to add some entertainment projects to it. Just provide whatever staff you see fit."

Jing Yuan nodded.

He didn't know what ‘Qingque’s’ ultimate goal was, but it was a rare request from her.

He would fulfill it even if it meant losing money. The favor earned from this was worth far more than a few measly Credit Points.

"Very well. I shall have the results for you by this afternoon."

"That fast?"

"When the Arbiter of Myriad Distinctions makes a request, how could I dare be slow?" Jing Yuan gave a confident smile.

Other things might be complicated, but within the Luofu, he still had some sway.

--+--

Half a day later.

‘Qingque’ fished the real Qingque—who was currently obsessed with calculating tile combinations—out of the Divination Commission.

She took her to the company Jing Yuan had set up in the Exalted Sanctum. An entire building had been registered under Qingque’s name, belonging to "Celestial Sparrow Entertainment."

Qingque nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard the entire building was her personal property.

Space on the Xianzhou was vast, so typical real estate wasn't worth much, but a prime location in the bustling Exalted Sanctum was a different story. This building was worth more than centuries of her salary.

However, once she heard the name of the new company, she turned red with embarrassment, practically steaming.

"...'Celestial Sparrow Entertainment' is way too cringe. Can't we change the name?"

"Oh? Really? How about 'Celestial Qingque Entertainment' then?"

"..."

Qingque felt her vision go dark. That was even worse. 

At least "Celestial Sparrow" didn't immediately link back to her personally.

If they used her actual name, she didn't even want to imagine what would happen when she had to introduce herself to people.

Watching her reaction, ‘Qingque’ grinned mischievously.

Still, she offered some comfort, patting Qingque on the shoulder. "Don't overthink it. In ancient times, 'Celestial Sparrow' was a title used for the absolute masters of Celestial Jade."

"...Really? You're not lying to me, are you?"

"Hah, would I need to lie to you? That 'Salted Fish' tile you designed? In ancient times, it was actually the image of a bird."

"Huh? But the one you showed me yesterday was also a salted fish."

"Well, I thought your design was pretty interesting, so I just went with it. It’s just the style of a tile, after all."

Hearing this explanation, Qingque scratched her head and laughed.

So the original pattern wasn't actually a salted fish.

"In any case!"

‘Qingque’ patted the real Qingque’s shoulder with mock solemnity. 

"From now on, you are the nominal President of Celestial Sparrow Entertainment. In the future, when you walk out those doors, even Jing Yuan will have to call you 'CEO Qingque'!"

"...Please don't!"

To Qingque, these titles sounded like they were made up specifically to tease her. She even began to doubt if that whole "ancient title" story was actually true.

Then again, it was just a company for Celestial Jade tiles. It wasn't like the game was hard to replicate. 

At most, they’d make a killing during the initial trend, but competitors would eventually split the market. If the name was cringe, so be it; no one would remember it in a few years anyway.

In that case...

CEO Qing it is. She’d just treat it like a bit of roleplay. Might actually be fun.

"Hey, Boss, what are we doing next?"

"The Artisanship Commission has already finished the tiles and the tables. Come on, I’m taking you to play tiles with Jing Yuan! We’ll get him to help us with some promotion."

"???"

Qingque’s head filled with question marks.

Play with who? General Jing Yuan?

"Me? Playing tiles with the Divine Foresight himself? Are you for real?"

Look, friend, what's our level, and what's the General's level? You just open your mouth and demand a meeting?

Qingque still believed ‘Qingque’ was just a particularly powerful Heliobus. 

As for the building, she assumed it was an old asset the Heliobus had acquired years ago. After all, the building did look like it had some history.

"What's wrong with a game of tiles? It's fine, Jing Yuan and I are tight. After that, we’ll head to the Synwood Pavilion to find a few merchant guilds for a couple of rounds. We won't have to worry about offline promotion channels then."

"We have an online plan too??"

Qingque realized she had still underestimated this Heliobus. This girl was planning a full-scale offensive on both the digital and physical fronts.

"Yep, we have it all. You think the 'CEO Qingque' title was a joke?"

"..."

Qingque went silent.

She watched her double drag her toward the Seat of Divine Foresight. 

A bad premonition bubbled up in her chest. Had she just boarded a sinking ship? Was this person... actually planning to build a massive corporation?

But that didn't make sense. No matter how many connections one had, Celestial Jade had no "technical barriers." How could it possibly become that big?

Qingque shook her head. She figured the Heliobus had just been cooped up for too long and wanted to play a big game of pretend. No big deal!

Of course, if Qingque had known that the "online platform" for Celestial Jade wasn't some company app but the Originium System itself, she probably wouldn't have been so optimistic. 

Once something became linked to an Aeon, profitability ceased to be a concern; people would show up in droves to throw money into the fire just to keep the flames going.

Regardless!

Qingque temporarily convinced herself and threw her heart into the noble cause of tile-playing.

Her first serious game of Celestial Jade...

Even though her opponents were a Heliobus imitating her, the General of the Luofu, and the General’s secretary, Qingque didn't falter in the slightest. 

Relying on her deep study of ancient Celestial Jade texts, she showcased the true spirit and prestige of the Divination Commission.

At the table, Jing Yuan was exceptionally pleased with Qingque’s performance. 

Despite the massive disparity in status, she wasn't timid at all. She was composed, polite, and knew exactly when to push or yield.

Even though Qingque was trying her best to project the image of a lazy "salted fish" who only cared about slacking off and playing tiles—someone who did the bare minimum in everything else—this behavior only served to raise her stock in Jing Yuan’s eyes.

A game of tiles could reveal a person’s true capabilities. In this regard, Jing Yuan felt that while Qingque was still a bit green, she was undeniably a talent worth nurturing.

Poor Qingque was just a fresh graduate with "clear, innocent eyes" who hadn't been in the Divination Commission workforce for long. How could she possibly know about these layers of observation?

She genuinely thought her "slacker" attitude would keep her from catching the General's eye, while also ensuring he wouldn't get angry enough to fire her. 

She hadn't been employed long enough to get a decent severance package; being fired now would be a total loss.

If Qingque had a few more years of experience under her belt, she would have known exactly how to "perform" to get the result she wanted.

And so, looking at the smug Qingque, the satisfied nodding of Jing Yuan, and Qingzu—who also thought highly of the girl—‘Qingque’ had to press her lips together as hard as she could to keep from laughing out loud.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 328

--+--

Thanks to 'Qingque' dragging Jing Yuan into a game, things moved fast.

The dedicated tables and Celestial Jade tiles hadn't even been mass-produced by the Artisanship Commission yet, but the game—already a potential sensation—spread across the Xianzhou Luofu like wildfire. 

Qingque happened to have a few prototype tables and sets from the Commission on hand, so she high-tailed it to some local parlors she knew, deciding to launch a pilot run in Exalting Sanctum.

As for the other 'Qingque'?

Naturally, she began porting Celestial Jade into the Originium System, allowing any logged-in player to enjoy the game online. 

However, she didn't just do a straight copy-paste; she kept the offline experience in mind. 

By using Originium to enter a gaming state, players could choose between a purely digital, touch-free match or sit at a physical table linked to the system, using real tiles to compete with others remotely.

If you’re wondering about the technical hurdles or long-distance latency—don't. 

The answer is simply the power of Elation.

By tapping into the Path of Elation itself, she constructed a connection spanning the entire cosmos—a stable online environment with virtually zero lag or interference. 

For an Aeon, such a feat is as simple as breathing, yet no Aeon had ever bothered to tinker with such a thing just to distribute a gaming network to the universe.

Beyond Celestial Jade, 'Qingque' integrated a leaderboard system she’d been preparing.

The primary ranking was based on the decryption progress of the Equation of Elation.

So far, however, the name Bai Ming sat lonely at the very top, with only a few geniuses like Herta managing to even crawl onto the list. 

The rest were just standard leaderboards for Celestial Jade and an achievement system.

As for rewards, they ranged from basic Credit points to "small wishes"—certainly enough to tempt the average person.

On the flip side, 'Qingque' had designed this with a hidden intent.

Every time someone used Originium to play Celestial Jade or any other game, the backend logic was powered by the internal mechanics of the Equation of Elation.

In other words, to a commoner, this was just a game launched by an Aeon. But to a researcher, every single match was a live demonstration of the Equation.

It provided a tangible, visible glimmer of hope for those who refused to give up on the secrets of Originium. 

It was a carrot dangled out front, luring people forward to provide 'Qingque' with a steady stream of emotional value.

Even if these researchers couldn't figure out a thing, they still had a shot: play the game, grind the achievements, and trade the rewards for a Wish. 

Every player could wish to learn the secrets of the Equation of Elation, and 'Qingque' would grant them a small introductory tutorial on its decryption. 

If they could learn it, they would naturally master a tiny fragment of the Equation's power.

It was a perfectly viable path.

The only question was whether people, once they realized a Wish could grant anything, would still choose something as tedious as an Equation over a direct Blessing from the Path of Elation.

A direct Blessing was an option, of course. But the Path of Elation has always been a bit... erratic. 

If one ventured too far down that road, they would eventually sink into a hollow, nihilistic joy, inviting their own self-destruction. But well, that wasn't her problem.

Aside from Celestial Jade, the fan-fiction site previously cooked up by Simulated Aha was also given its own achievement system. 

Unlike the new card game, the site had been running for a while. The moment the update went live, several users hit their milestones instantly and earned their first Wish.

Though, for the moment, it seemed no one had actually made a request yet.

Originium had received another major update.

Naturally, it drew massive attention. Between the new leaderboards, the achievement system, and the sudden appearance of Celestial Jade, the discussions were deafening. 

Initially, everyone assumed it was just a gaming platform built by an Aeon for a laugh—until a creator started a livestream.

The content? He was going to use his earned Wish.

The power of Elation easily projected what the creator saw directly into the receiving devices of his audience, allowing him to share the experience with the entire universe. 

Millions flocked to the stream to witness the moment a mortal made a request to a god.

This creator happened to have a thing for "mecha-girls." 

When he shamelessly wished for a shuttle that was "sleek, flashy, and cool enough to transform into a beautiful mechanical girl," the chat exploded with ridicule.

Everyone thought the Wish was just a gimmick.

But then, a booming laugh echoed through the stream.

The Originium in front of the creator began to vibrate, hovering in mid-air. The mask belonging to 'Qingque' squeezed out from the stone.

It materialized out of thin air, then took a sharp breath and blew toward the window.

A torrent of Imaginary Energy surged from all directions, and right there in the sky, it constructed a shuttle that was sleek, flashy, and capable of transforming into a mecha-girl.

The ship was over three hundred meters long. When it transformed in front of the wisher, the resulting mecha-girl stood a staggering four hundred meters tall!

The design philosophy was simple: big is good, and bigger is better.

The guy who made the wish was shell-shocked.

He wanted a life-sized mecha-girl to hang out with, not a four-hundred-meter super-titan! How was he supposed to get close to her when she was that huge?

He dared to question the appearing Aeon.

But the Aeon’s laughter rang across the galaxy through the livestream:

"Hahaha! Your wish didn't specify the scale! But I look forward to your next one."

With that, the mask dissolved into particles of light and flowed back into the Originium.

The stone fell to the floor, leaving the four-hundred-meter mecha-girl and her tiny master staring at each other in stunned silence.

The scene on-site was dead quiet, but the livestream chat went absolutely nuclear.

Wishes actually come true!

As the realization hit the denizens of the universe, the emotional value bar on ‘Qingque's’ panel returned to its state of frenzied growth. 

As the footage of the stream began to spread, she was in for another massive harvest.

--+--

In Herta Space Station...

Madam Herta finished watching the clip of the livestream. A look of confusion crossed her face.

"What is she playing at now? This is a bit much, even for her..."

Herta glanced at the panel in front of her. She also had a Wish available, but she’d assumed 'Qingque' was just joking. 

It turned out the wishes were real. But what was the goal? Just to be an attention seeker?

Thinking this, Herta decided to use her Wish to satisfy her curiosity.

When the program 'Qingque' had set up responded and appeared before Herta, the real 'Qingque' manually took control of the avatar. 

She looked at Madam Herta, who was sitting there sipping tea, with an exasperated expression.

"...What?"

"Making a wish. What else would I be doing?" Herta looked up, giving the mask formed by the Originium a half-smile. "So, come on. Satisfy my curiosity. Tell me, what’s the point of all this?"

"Are you serious? You went through all this trouble for that? You couldn't just call me?!"

'Qingque' couldn't believe it. If this woman wanted to ask, she could have used her phone. Why go through this whole song and dance? She’s losing it...

"On a phone, I wouldn't know if you were lying. Besides, I wanted to see what this 'wishing' actually felt like."

Herta had dabbled in the Equation of Elation. She was sharp enough to notice that everything related to Originium relied on the Equation to function. 

While it wasn't as clear as the time the power had directly descended upon her, it was still infinitely easier than trying to research it from scratch.

'Qingque' saw the look in Herta’s eyes and knew the secret was out. She let out a mischievous chuckle.

"You noticed? The entry barrier before was too high, so I lowered it. Now, even if you aren't a genius, you can wish for the power of Elation or a tutorial on the Equation."

"...And why? Just because it's 'fun'?" Herta studied the mask curiously. She’d wondered about this for a long time but hadn't asked. Today seemed like the right time.

"To spark Elation in the hearts of all living beings in the cosmos, obviously. Why else? From now on, this is my exclusive gaming platform."

Since her goal was to collect emotional value, saying she was "sparking Elation" wasn't technically a lie. 

Herta, however, still couldn't wrap her head around it. Did this have any meaning?

"Does something like this have any meaning for an Aeon? I don't recall Aha ever doing something like this."

"As long as it has meaning to me, that's enough."

"...Fine." Herta opened her mouth to argue but decided not to push. She wasn't one to nag once she had the gist of things.

"Any other questions? If not, I'm heading back."

"Actually, yes. Stay and play a few rounds of cards with me. I’ve already called Screwllum and Divine Herta. Ruan Mei said she’s busy today."

"???"

Two physical question marks popped out of the mask—a very human-like expression of confusion. Herta set her teacup down with a click and said nonchalantly:

"What? This is the game you designed, isn't it? Is it so strange that I want to try it out? I've already had the table prepared."

"...Fair enough."

What could 'Qingque' say to that? It was just a game of cards. Might as well.

With that, the mask on the Originium dissipated, and ‘Qingque's’ consciousness returned to the Luofu.

While she was playing cards online with Herta, the real Qingque finally started to realize something was off. She patted the Originium in her pocket, her expression becoming very grave.

"Isn't she supposed to be a Heliobus? Fine, she knows the General, but how did she manage to market Celestial Jade into this thing? And under the name 'Celestial Sparrow Entertainment' no less?"

"Something is wrong. Something is very wrong."

Qingque was now seriously beginning to suspect that she was being set up.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 329

--+--

Qingque had spent a long time cycling through a dozen different theories about how the online launch would look.

But she never imagined it would turn out like this.

At first, Qingque was blissfully unaware.

She had been merrily pitching Celestial Jade to her usual local parlors, and things were actually going quite well.

At the very least, she’d managed to unload every portable table and set of tiles she had on her; it only took a few rounds for a whole crowd of people to become hopelessly addicted.

Just as Qingque’s own hands started to itch—tempting her to jump into a game personally—the parlor owner suddenly let out a strange yelp.

He burst through the crowd and lunged toward her, his eyes a swirling cocktail of three parts disbelief, three parts joy, three parts awe, and one part sheer curiosity.

"Qing... no, Boss Que! This Celestial Jade project of yours... turns out it isn’t just the General you’ve won over, but even an Aeon? I truly had eyes but couldn't see Mount Tai! From this day forward, you are my personal God of Fortune!"

The owner’s eyes practically turned into the shape of Credit symbols.

Good heavens.

Inside the Originium System, an identical version of Celestial Jade had appeared, complete with a "Celestial Sparrow Entertainment" signature. 

Even wilder, if you played enough and hit certain milestones, you earned a wishing chance—a chance to make a request directly to an Aeon.

This was absolutely terrifying.

Actually, it would be more accurate to say that Boss Que’s influence was simply god-tier! 

And here she was, letting a small-timer like him in on the ground floor of such a goldmine. If there were more floor space in the shop, he would have prostrated himself right there and then.

"Boss Que, look... my shop still has plenty of room. I can fit at least another hundred tables. Do you think the Sky-Faring Commission can ship them out today? Just give me a price, I’ll pay the full amount upfront to reserve them!"

"Huh...?"

Qingque was left blinking, completely lost in the wake of the owner’s frantic rambling.

"Oh, Boss Que, my dear ancestor, please don't 'huh' me right now! The entire universe knows about Celestial Jade and Celestial Sparrow Entertainment. I know you're so powerful that this is probably nothing to you, but a small fry like me is about to faint from the excitement!"

Seeing Qingque’s breezy, nonchalant attitude, the owner’s admiration for her reached a state of total worship. 

He never would have guessed that the unassuming, tile-flicking Qingque he saw every day was actually a hidden titan of the industry.

"Wait a second. What exactly happened? Walk me through it."

Qingque was genuinely clueless. She stared at him with a face full of confusion, unable to grasp the situation. 

Just moments ago, this man was saying his shop was small and that he’d need to "test the waters" before giving Celestial Jade any more floor space.

How did he do a complete 180 and start wailing like she was his savior?

And he kept shouting "Boss Que," causing players from every corner of the parlor to turn and stare. Qingque felt like she could curl her toes tight enough to dig a hole through the floor.

"You really don't know, Boss Que?"

"I really don't. I’ve been busy since the moment I got here. You saw me! How would I know what’s going on... and stop calling me 'Boss Que.' It’s incredibly awkward."

"Then... take a look at this clip first."

The owner wasn't sure if she was playing dumb or not, but he handed her a recorded snippet of the livestream.

At first, Qingque didn't see the problem. But when her eyes landed on the shimmering, bold letters for "Celestial Jade" within the Originium system, she felt the first chill of realization.

She knew about Originium. It was a cosmic riddle posed to the entire universe by the Arbiter of Myriad Distinctions. 

It had even helped resolve some of the structural flaws inherent to the Xianzhou’s long-life species. 

Because of that, Qingque had picked up a piece of Originium as a souvenir during her time off and had even tried logging into the interface.

But that raised a massive question.

She had only ever played Celestial Jade with General Jing Yuan. How did it end up in there? And with that massive "Celestial Sparrow Entertainment" logo to boot?

Surely even General Jing Yuan didn't have that much clout?

The moment the thought hit her—that her name might soon echo across the cosmos and that Celestial Sparrow Entertainment was poised to become an interstellar conglomerate—Qingque broke into a cold sweat.

Just her job as a lowly diviner at the Divination Commission gave her a headache. If she actually became the head of a galactic corporation, how much work would she have to do?

At the thought of such a bleak, work-filled future, the world started to go dark before her eyes.

Then, the footage showed something that nearly made her pass out for real.

First, there was an achievement system directly tied to Celestial Jade, along with all the associated rewards. 

Then, right there in front of the entire universe, the streamer used a wishing chance to actually receive a four-hundred-meter-tall, ginormous mecha-maiden from the hands of the Arbiter of Myriad Distinctions.

A mind as sharp as Qingque’s couldn't fail to see the implications.

In the future, even people who had zero interest in tiles would spend their lives studying Celestial Jade just for that wish.

And that "Celestial Sparrow Entertainment" logo in the game interface would act like a beacon for the entire universe.

As the "boss" behind the scenes, there was no way she could stay hidden once the entire universe turned its gaze toward her.

In fact, that Heliobus who was currently parading around with her face was much more likely to be the "hidden player" that no one would notice!

Thinking about how her name and face would sweep through the cosmos like a hurricane, Qingque felt her heart turn to ash at the prospect of being drowned in a sea of work and Credits.

However...

As the crisp clack-clack of tiles and the familiar thrum of the tables filled the air around her, her gaze was drawn back to the game.

She realized something. If she really was destined to become the "Boss Que" of everyone’s rumors, her days of lounging around tile parlors and playing to her heart’s content were numbered.

Her gaze suddenly turned incredibly determined.

To commemorate her soon-to-be-dead future... she had to play tiles right now!

She had to play like there was no tomorrow, until the sun and moon lost their luster! As for that wicked Heliobus impersonating her? That could wait until she’d had her fill of the game.

"Owner, go ask the Sky-Faring Commission yourself. Just give them my name. Take as many tables as you can carry. I’m going to play—don't bother me unless it's an emergency!"

After barking out those instructions at lightning speed, Qingque let out a sharp cry and dove headfirst into the growing chaos of the parlor. She began a fierce, relentless slaughter against her fellow players.

The owner stood there, blinking in a daze. He couldn't wrap his head around it.

Usually, if someone managed to get a connection with an Aeon, they’d be over the moon. Who on earth would ignore that just to play tiles?

But he didn't dwell on it for long. After all, Boss Que had god-like reach; if she could rub shoulders with the Arbiter of Myriad Distinctions, a little thing like this probably was beneath her notice.

It might be a "little thing" to her, but to him, it was a golden opportunity to strike it rich. 

Without wasting another second, the owner bolted out of the parlor and sprinted toward the Sky-Faring Commission.

Of course, compared to Qingque’s sheer bewilderment, Jing Yuan wasn't surprised by the development at all.

Considering who was behind it, it wouldn't fit her "Elation" persona if she didn't cause a massive stir.

Jing Yuan himself was currently sitting at the table Qingque had gifted him, playing Celestial Jade online through the Originium. 

The digital table had its own chat room where one could send voice or text messages.

After a few rounds, he realized this thing allowed real-time communication with people on the other side of the universe.

That technology was, frankly, terrifying.

Even the Interastral Peace Corporation, with its signal stations peppering the Star Rail across the galaxy, couldn't achieve zero latency over such vast distances. 

On a cosmic scale, no matter how much you optimized transmission efficiency, there would always be a delay. To have none at all was a pipe dream.

And yet, this tiny piece of Originium had done it.

Even more staggering was that Jing Yuan had actually matched with a survivor from a world choked by a Stellaron.

This connection had effectively bypassed the Stellaron’s interference entirely.

The galaxy was about to get very loud.

Worlds locked away by Stellarons now had a way to talk to the rest of the universe again, not to mention the tempting rewards within the Originium.

Even Jing Yuan couldn't help but wonder what he would ask for if he ever earned a wish.

Though, having looked closely at the achievement system, he saw that earning a wish was incredibly difficult.

Most people would likely never get the chance. But the mere possibility was enough to set the world on fire.

Just like Jing Yuan, the other Generals of the Xianzhou had naturally given Celestial Jade a try.

Among them, General Yao Guang—skilled in the art of divination—sensed something much more subtle.

"The patterns suggest... the key lies in the way the Originium operates. But with my current abilities, I simply cannot decipher it."

Through the eyes of the Hunt, she had spotted the existence of a secret. But while those eyes could find a secret, they couldn't analyze it. 

No matter how she observed it, she couldn't grasp the logic. She eventually chalked it up to the fact that she simply wasn't built for research.

So, Yao Guang chose the most practical path available.

"Sigh. I’ll just have to win a wishing chance and go ask Madam Bai Ming in person."

She wasn't alone. Many people hadn't been blinded by the immediate rewards and were instead aiming for a wish just to seek answers from an Aeon.

As for the greatest power in the universe, the various departments of the Interastral Peace Corporation had already established research task forces.

They hoped to secure enough wishes from the two existing Originium projects to bolster the IPC's foundations.

As far as the IPC was concerned, they didn't need to make wishes to any Aeon other than the Amber Lord. But as merchants, they weren't about to pass up an opportunity for such massive profit.

However, considering that particular Aeon was... unconventional, and prone to wandering the mortal coil, the Board of Directors had a different plan.

They instructed Diamond to try and get in touch with 'Qingque.'

They didn't expect a miracle; they just wanted to figure out where her "bottom line" was to make their own operations easier. It would be a net loss if they accidentally stepped on her toes one day.

With the Amber Lord at their back, the IPC wasn't at risk of being physically wiped out, but even the destruction of a single branch office would be a massive headache.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 330

--+--

Regarding the Celestial Jade tiles that had suddenly spread across the entire cosmos, the Astral Express naturally hadn't ignored them.

Since Originium was falling all over the universe anyway, they could just pick a spot to dock—any planet or asteroid would do—and find some after a quick search.

Counting Hysilens and Cerydra, who hadn't disembarked yet, the Express crew currently consisted of exactly four people. 

Thus, in their spare time, they had tried a few rounds of Celestial Jade.

Himeko, hailing from Planarcadia, had dabbled in all sorts of cultural styles and adapted to the game well enough. 

Dan Heng, of course, went without saying; as a native of the Xianzhou, it came naturally to him. 

Cerydra was doing alright too, but Hysilens seemed to lose more than she won. 

On one hand, she simply wasn't suited for this kind of entertainment; on the other, she was always preoccupied with trying to hand the victory over to Cerydra.

However, such leisure time did not last long. Because...

"According to the information gathered by the IPC so far, the number of worlds officially calling for help—worlds that have suffered from Stellaron disasters and remained silent for years—has exceeded ten thousand, and that number is still climbing.” 

“The Corporation has formally extended an invitation to the Express, asking the Astral Express to once again blaze the Star Rail for the galaxy."

Himeko reported the current intel to everyone on the train.

Cerydra sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, taking a sip of wine as she let out a scoff. 

"The Corporation certainly has a lovely imagination, treating us like free labor. We clean up the Stellarons, and they get to haul all the profits home?"

In this universe, the Astral Express was indeed the faction best suited to clearing the Star Rail and sealing Stellarons. But that didn't mean other major powers lacked the capability to contain them. 

If a faction couldn't even handle a Stellaron, they wouldn't be fit to stand as a major power in the cosmos in the first place.

"Besides, even if those worlds couldn't speak up in the past, it’s not like the Corporation didn't know exactly who was hit and who wasn't. Why the sudden surge of initiative? What kind of scheme are they cooking up now?" Cerydra looked at Himeko with curiosity.

If the IPC had suddenly made this decision, there had to be some profit involved. 

If she couldn't get a clear answer on that, Cerydra was going to cast a dissenting vote when it came time to decide. 

After all, back when the Corporation's people came to Amphoreus, they were like hungry wolves catching a scent. 

If it hadn't been for those few individuals, they probably would have stripped Amphoreus bone-dry. Cerydra didn't have much of a good impression of the Interastral Peace Corporation.

Nearby, while Dan Heng didn't voice an opinion, he also looked toward Himeko, wanting more information.

Himeko smiled at their reactions. She understood her companions' concerns; in fact, when she first heard the news, she had been wondering about the IPC’s motives herself. 

However, the Corporation soon released the news themselves, explaining the reason behind their actions.

"Regarding this matter, it’s said that a deal was struck between the IPC and Madam Bai Ming. As the price, the Corporation needs to resolve these Stellaron disasters."

"Madam Bai Ming?"

Cerydra and Hysilens traded a glance. 

So the Savior of Amphoreus had made a move? Then it wasn't surprising at all. 

Although the world often felt that the Aeon of Elation she had become meant she wasn't exactly a 'proper' deity, in Cerydra’s eyes, the Savior of Amphoreus was undoubtedly a benevolent god. 

If it was the Savior, then such an action was perfectly understandable.

"It should be spreading across the net by now and hitting the trending tabs. You can look it up," Himeko added. 

She knew these few had been busy studying how to play tiles and likely hadn't paid attention to today's breaking news.

After a quick confirmation, the group temporarily lowered their guard. 

Since the announcement was made in Madam Bai Ming’s name, the Corporation wouldn't be foolish enough to fake such a thing. 

Still, even with the motive clarified, whether or not to accept the invitation was another matter.

"The Astral Express will not stand by and watch anyone in need of help. But beyond that, whether we accept the IPC's invitation to form an alliance is something we should discuss together."

Himeko didn't mind trailblazing the Star Rail again; after all, the fuel for the Express’s journey through the cosmos was earned through repeated acts of Trailblazing. 

Taking a slight detour on the path of Akivili wasn't a difficult choice. But helping is one thing; cooperating with the Corporation or forming an alliance was an entirely different topic.

Even if they accepted some funding from various factions, it didn't mean the Astral Express had to change its neutral stance. 

The Express had only just set sail again, with only four people on board plus Pom-Pom, who couldn't leave the train. Entering a deep partnership with the Corporation at this stage wasn't exactly a wise move.

Then again, with the operations against the Stellaron disasters becoming such a grand spectacle, it might just draw the attention of Lord Ravager Celenova. 

That was a risk they had to guard against. They needed to think carefully before taking action.

'Qingque' had no idea what had gotten into Diamond's head, but he had specifically gone through Jade to contact her. He wanted to ask about the rules and boundaries of making wishes.

Although Diamond hadn't said it outright, 'Qingque' could guess: the Corporation likely wanted to accumulate enough wishes—whether to trade them or keep them for themselves—as a convenient way to borrow the power of an Aeon. 

But the fact that they had to specifically reach out to her for such a small thing felt... subtle. 

It made 'Qingque' feel more and more that her status truly wasn't what it used to be.

However, 'Qingque' didn't really care about these factions collecting wishing opportunities or trading them. 

After all, the upper limit of these wishes was always decided by her alone. 

Whether to grant the wish, or to twist it, was also her call. She didn't mind the trading of wishes. 

But if someone wanted to use such an opportunity to have her grant power for something like war profiteering, she’d turn around and give them a twisted wish instead, letting the wisher get exactly what they deserved.

Since the IPC had come knocking on her door, 'Qingque' figured she might as well make use of them. 

She threw out some ambiguous statements, making the Corporation contribute some effort toward galactic peace—such as rescuing worlds sealed off by Stellaron disasters that had reconnected via Originium. 

She even had the Corporation act under her banner. With her reputation spreading like that, her emotional value earnings would naturally reach a new level.

As for how exactly the IPC planned to execute it, 'Qingque' didn't care much. If they botched it, she’d just apply a heavy discount when it came time to fulfill the IPC’s wish.

While the IPC was busy, 'Qingque,' who currently had nothing serious to do, was facing a silent, accusatory glare from the real Qingque.

"Oh? Is the 'Boss' back?"

"..."

Qingque stared at 'Qingque' with a resentful gaze, not saying a word.

When it came to an Aeon—especially the Arbiter of Myriad Distinctions, who held a rather unique significance for the Xianzhou—news of being able to actually make a wish spread through the Alliance incredibly fast.

On top of that, throughout the entire Luofu, only that one parlor was running the offline pilot for Celestial Jade.

As a result, Qingque hadn't enjoyed her peace for long before she was recognized.

As more and more people gathered at the parlor, they even had to deploy the Cloud Knights to maintain order.

At that point, how could Qingque, the center of attention as the 'Boss,' have the heart to relax and play tiles under those countless gazes? She had no choice but to leave the table and make a run for it.

Yet, even after leaving the parlor, there was no peace.

Just in that short span of time, her photo and name had already spread across the Luofu forums. Along the way, she felt passersby glancing at her from time to time, whispering things like "Look, it's the Boss."

It was a massive headache for someone like Qingque, who loved to blend in as a mediocre nobody.

She had initially thought about hiding out at the Divination Commission, since unauthorized personnel weren't allowed there. But unfortunately, Master Diviner Fu Xuan had taken the day off. 

Without the pressure from Fu Xuan, and with Qingque becoming a sensation, the diviners all turned their gossip toward her. 

The work groups and private messages were flooded with curious inquiries from her colleagues.

Now, she couldn't even go to the Divination Commission. If she did, she’d be caught and interrogated by the whole department. 

And since Qingque didn't yet have the courage to face her parents directly, she had thought it over and came to the headquarters of Celestial Sparrow Entertainment.

And there, at the headquarters, she caught 'Qingque' playing tiles with someone else.

Qingque didn't speak. She just walked up to 'Qingque' and stared her straight in the eye, attempting to use her gaze to fiercely denounce this 'Heliobus' who had utterly pranked her!

Now, Qingque suspected that the "Heliobus" identity was a fake, too. 

She had never heard of a Heliobus on the Xianzhou who was on good terms with the Arbiter of Myriad Distinctions. 

Furthermore, the Arbiter of Myriad Distinctions herself had the ability to transform into others. 

Add to that the fact that the first platform this person logged into wasn't a normal gaming site but such a special place, and it led Qingque to reasonably suspect that the person standing in front of her, wearing her own face... was that very same Arbiter of Myriad Distinctions who loved to wander around using other people’s identities!

Being stared at like that—especially with the other girl wearing an expression that screamed, "I misjudged you!" and "How could you bully poor little Qingque!"—was honestly quite adorable.

So, 'Qingque' grinned. 

While laughing, she reached out both hands and pinched Qingque’s cheeks. 

The round face was very soft and springy. 'Qingque' giggled as she rubbed the cute little round face, saying as she did:

"Are you sure you want to keep staring at me like that~? From today on, you’ve got an Aeon as your backer. You can spend the rest of your life lying flat, and people will be falling over themselves to give you money and take care of you."

"Mwoo-mwoo—"

With her cheeks being pinched and rubbed by 'Qingque’s' hands, Qingque’s attempt to speak turned into adorable muffled noises. 

She tried to struggle, but unfortunately, she couldn't break free from those wicked hands.

--+--