Chapter 343: Vidyadhara Cleanup Service

Bailu quickly caught on to Pei Guang's logic. Meanwhile, Dan Heng, who had been silently listening, grew increasingly concerned. Knowing Pei Guang's personality and Bailu's rapid learning curve, if the two of them really stormed the Vidyadhara's domain, half of the clan could end up being sent into reincarnation.

Though he had been exiled and was now just a regular Trailblazer, he had inherited a part of the High Elder's power. As a Vidyadhara, he felt a responsibility to think of a solution that could prevent Pei Guang from going too far.

Stop him directly? Impossible. 

Dan Heng knew Pei Guang too well: once he decided to do something, it was almost impossible to change his mind. However, while Pei Guang couldn't be stopped, he could be given a better path to take—like completing a quest.

Dan Heng turned to Pei Guang. "Ah Guang, my suggestion is this: if you encounter those Vidyadhara, don't send them all into reincarnation. Attempted assassination of the current High Elder is a crime even the Preceptors can't ignore, and it would draw the attention of the other High Elders as well. If you leave them alive, they'll face even harsher punishment. Also, if you capture those who orchestrated the assassination, hand them over to the Luofu authorities. The Luofu will offer you generous rewards for completing such a mission. You'll complete Bailu's task and earn rewards—wouldn't that be perfect?"

When Dan Heng said this, Pei Guang looked at him with a newfound respect. "Good brother, you've reminded me. I was being too self-centered. Whatever I get as a reward for this mission, I'll split it with you—half and half."

Bailu chimed in immediately. "What about me?"

Pei Guang replied, "I'll split it again! Half for you too!"

Bailu tilted her head. "Half for me and half for Dan Heng? Doesn't that leave you with nothing?"

Pei Guang grinned. "Not a problem. You and Dan Heng are mine, so it all works out!"

Bailu couldn't help but smile before asking, "But Ah Guang, how are you planning to figure out who's pulling the strings behind this?"

Pei Guang waved his hand dismissively. "Easy. Based on my many years of experience, these guys definitely have clues on them. I'll just follow the trail step by step and catch whoever's at the top."

Dan Heng, however, shook his head. "I'd better stay out of this one. My presence here would only complicate things for you two. I'll go report to Fu Xuan about what's happening and then return to the train to wait for you. Will the two of you be fine on your own?"

Pei Guang gave him a confident thumbs up. "No problem at all. Let me show you what player efficiency looks like!"

After all, if a player could take down a Lord Ravager in a single day, wiping out some rogue Vidyadhara in half a day wasn't out of the question.

Bailu, glancing at the pile of trash-covered "remains" in the distance, wrinkled her nose. "Ah Guang, you handle that. I can't stand the sight of it."

Pei Guang, who had been strategizing his next steps, turned to look at the remains of the transformed Vidyadhara assassins, now covered in garbage. His expression grew serious. Still, he steeled himself. As a player, he had done worse for quest items—like rummaging through toilets in survival games. A bit of trash was nothing compared to that.

Half a day later.

In the Alchemy Commission, Jing Yuan, who had finally awakened, was listening to the medical practitioners giving him instructions. Despite the internal betrayal within the commission, it remained the most reliable medical institution on the Xianzhou, capable of treating conditions no other place could handle.

Furthermore, although there were traitors in the commission, not every medical practitioner was untrustworthy. Those treating Jing Yuan had been thoroughly vetted with divination formations, ensuring there would be no risks.

"Your body is in excellent condition, even better than some of the younger ones around 200 or 300 years old," the practitioner assured. "However, after such a significant battle, while your body might seem unaffected, I still recommend that you rest for a few days if possible."

Jing Yuan's recent coma wasn't due to injuries or the Path's influence—it was simply that the Lighting Lord had overcharged after interacting with Pei Guang, pushing Jing Yuan, as its wielder, into overexertion.

After a couple of days adjusting to the Lighting Lord's enhanced power, Jing Yuan had regained consciousness.

Once the practitioner finished giving instructions, they left, but Jing Yuan rose to his feet. He was curious to see how Fu Xuan had managed things in his absence. While she was still relatively inexperienced, letting her handle the responsibilities of a general for now would be excellent training for her future role.

With a faint smile, he stepped outside, where Yanqing was standing guard. Hearing the door open, Yanqing immediately turned and saluted. "General, shouldn't you rest a little longer?"

Jing Yuan shook his head. "No need. My body is perfectly fine. This recent bout of unconsciousness was just an unexpected situation. How have things been these past few days?"

Yanqing straightened. "Fu Xuan has been managing everything very efficiently, sir."

Yanqing, despite not getting along with Fu Xuan, was objective and direct in his report. Over the past two days during Jing Yuan's coma, she had efficiently led the Cloud Knights in capturing a large number of Disciples of Sanctus Medicus. During this critical period, the various sanctuaries across the Xianzhou had rapidly returned to order, and the Xianzhou as a whole was steadily recovering to its pre-Stellaron disaster state.

Listening to Yanqing's report, Jing Yuan nodded in satisfaction. "It seems I can take some time to rest after all."

But just as he finished his sentence, a projection of Fu Xuan appeared before him.

"General! Bad news! Something major has happened."

Jing Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"

Jing Yuan knew Fu Xuan all too well. As the Diviner of the Divination Commission, she had probably already foreseen when he would awaken and had been waiting for this exact moment.

"Fu Xuan, no need to panic. Speak slowly," Jing Yuan said, calming her.

Hearing this, she took a deep breath, realizing she might have been too hasty. She steadied herself and began again, more composed this time. 

"General, there's been a major incident on the Luofu. One-fifth of the Vidyadhara population on the Luofu has been beaten up and detained."

Jing Yuan blinked. "I thought it was something serious—wait, how many? One-fifth?!"

At first, he assumed Fu Xuan was exaggerating, maybe talking about a few individuals. But then the reality hit him: one-fifth of the Vidyadhara population? That was catastrophic! Had the Luofu suffered an invasion by some powerful enemy? But that didn't make sense. Even if the Antimatter Legion launched an all-out assault, it wouldn't explain such a number.

Besides, Pei Guang was still on the Luofu. The man who had been granted a unique revelation by the Hunt and personally demonstrated his power wouldn't let something like this happen. Furthermore, both generations of the Vidyadhara's High Elders had close ties with the Trailblazers. There was no way this could have happened under their watch.

Fu Xuan, nodding with surprising calmness, continued, "That's correct. One-fifth. And on top of that, some have already been forcibly reincarnated."