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The city of Xianzhou Luofu had weathered many storms, both natural and supernatural, over the centuries. But none had cast as long a shadow as the dark legacy of the Ambrosial Arbor—a cursed artifact that had plagued the land for generations. The Arbor, a creation of the dreaded Abundance, wielded the power to manipulate life and death, offering immortality to those who dared to consume its forbidden fruits.

Yet, the gift of immortality had proven to be a curse, as those who partook in its bounty were afflicted by Mara, descending into madness and emerging as monstrous abominations. It was a twisted fate that befell the ancestors of the Luofu people, turning their cherished immortality into a harrowing nightmare.

The Ambrosial Arbor stood as a testament to the malevolence of the Abundance and the suffering it had wrought upon the world. For centuries, it loomed like a dark cloud, a constant reminder of the horrors that had unfolded under its shadow.

But the winds of fate had begun to shift, driven by the relentless fury of one being—the Reignbow Arbiter, known to mortals as Lan. This enigmatic figure, an Aeon like no other, harbored an intense and unrelenting hatred for Yaoshi, the Abundance, and the horrors they had unleashed upon Lan's homeworld.

Lan's origins were shrouded in mystery, and their existence was defined by a singular purpose: to hunt down the agents of Yaoshi and put an end to their malevolent reign of terror. Their pursuit was relentless, fueled by the devastation they had witnessed and the unquenchable thirst for vengeance that burned within them.

Unlike their fellow Aeons, Lan possessed a profound interest in the affairs of mortals. They moved with a swiftness that defied mortal perception, leaving behind only the faint vestiges of Lux Arrows in the sky as a testament to their fleeting presence. It was a reminder that the Reignbow Arbiter, despite their divine nature, was not aloof to the struggles and destinies of those who inhabited the mortal realm.

Long time ago, Lan's existence intersected with the fate of Xianzhou Luofu in a cataclysmic manner. With their Sky-Shattering Lux Arrow, they severed the cursed Ambrosial Arbor—a symbol of the Abundance's dominion—leaving it as a mere stump, a relic of its former malevolence.

The Luofu people, once ensnared by the Arbor's curse, were freed from its nightmarish grip. It was a momentous turning point in the city's history, marking the beginning of a new chapter. But for Lan, it was just one battle in a war against an insidious foe that threatened not only Xianzhou Luofu but countless worlds beyond.

As the city's inhabitants went about their lives, oblivious to the presence of the Reignbow Arbiter and the dark forces they hunted, Lan's vigil continued. Their eyes, filled with an unwavering determination, remained fixed on the horizon, ever watchful for the next vestige of darkness that would demand their intervention.

And yet, amid their preparations for the impending war against the Denizens of Abundance, Lan felt a disturbance in the very fabric of reality. It was a sensation that transcended the physical senses, a spiritual tremor that sent ripples through their divine consciousness.

The arrival of Gogma, the ancient dragon, in the lands of Xianzhou was no mere coincidence. Lan knew that such a creature, bound by the mysteries of the universe, must have sensed something amiss in the world. It was a presence that defied comprehension, a force that existed beyond the boundaries of mortal understanding.

In the silence of their contemplation, Lan whispered words of concern to the cosmic forces that governed their existence. "The Aeon of Nothingness is here," they murmured, their voice carrying the weight of ancient knowledge. "O' my friend, Long, Aeon of Permanence, it is here. The darkness is coming."

In their plea, Lan clung to a desperate hope—that the God of Concepts, representing nothing and everything, would not be drawn into the impending war. For in the face of the encroaching darkness, the presence of an Aeon of Nothingness was an unsettling and unpredictable variable, one that Lan wished to keep at bay.

—

As the days passed, the looming war against the Denizens of Abundance drew closer, and the city of Xianzhou Luofu found itself on high alert. Alliances among the council members were at an all-time high, yet suspicions and tensions simmered just beneath the surface. In the hallowed halls of decision-making, opinions clashed, and decisions were anything but unanimous. The fate of the city hung in the balance, and every council meeting was a battleground of conflicting beliefs and strategies.

Amid this atmosphere of uncertainty, the High Cloud Quintet, led by Jingliu, had never been busier. They were tasked with preparing the city's defenses and devising strategies to counter the impending threat. But their preparations were complicated by a warning they had received from an unexpected source—the Elemental Guardians.

"General Jingliu, we come as messengers of Lan, the Aeon of Hunt," spoke the Elemental Guardian of Earth. "There is a matter of great import that you must be made aware of."

Jingliu, her expression serious, responded, "Speak, Elemental Guardians. We are prepared to listen."

The Elemental Guardian of Water continued gravely, "Another faction has emerged on the horizon, one whose intentions remain shrouded in mystery. They bear neither the mark of friend nor foe, and their timing is disconcerting."

Elder Dan Feng, inquiring, asked, "Are they allies, or do they pose a threat to our city?"

The Elemental Guardian of Fire replied mystically, "The answer eludes us, General Dan Feng. They are an enigma, and their true nature remains concealed in the shadows."

Observing Dan Feng's hesitation, Ying Xing questioned, "Dan Feng, you seem perturbed by this revelation. Do you know something we don't?"

Dan Feng, his tone guarded, responded, "There are matters that I have not disclosed, but they pertain to a separate concern. I assure you, my loyalty lies with Xianzhou Luofu."

With the Elemental Guardians' message delivered, they faded away, leaving the High Cloud Quintet with more questions than answers. The impending war weighed heavily on their hearts, and the mystery of this new faction only added to their burden.

—

As the High Cloud Quintet faced the impending war, General Jingliu, though a stalwart figure in the face of adversity, bore the hidden weight of a personal vendetta. Her encounter with the formidable Yexian had left her with emotional scars that ran deep. Yet, Jingliu chose to keep the full extent of her personal vendetta concealed from the higher-ups, fearing that they might misinterpret her motives or further tarnish the name of her dear friend, Y/N.

With each passing day, Jingliu's stoic demeanor became even more pronounced. The emotions that had once flowed more freely were now fleeting moments, glimpses of a time when her heart had not been burdened by grief. The cruel trick of muscle memory would sometimes lead her to tilt her head, seeking the comfort of Y/N's presence on her shoulder, only to be met with the painful reality of his absence.

Jingliu had been coping, albeit reluctantly acknowledging the possibility of Y/N's demise, even though she was not yet ready to fully accept it.

Concerned for her well-being, Jingliu's student, Jing Yuan, broached a difficult subject. "Jingliu, perhaps you should consider seeking therapy to help you deal with the pain and loss you're experiencing."

The sword woman's immediate reaction was one of vehement rejection. "Therapy is not needed, and it won't change anything."

But Baiheng, the ever-supportive Foxian and a trusted member of their team, interjected with gentle but unwavering determination. "Jingliu, it may be necessary. We all mourn Y/N's absence, and your pain is not yours alone."

This unexpected declaration caused Jingliu to momentarily snap. "Do you, too, have romantic feelings for Y/N?" she questioned, her voice tinged with frustration and misunderstanding.

In response, Baiheng delivered a playful but firm punch to Jingliu's head, a gesture that conveyed both affection and reproach. "Y/N and I are comrades, travel buddies, and a dear friend. I view him as a brother. There is no romantic involvement, I assure you."

Chastened by her misunderstanding, Jingliu realized that her comrades in the High Cloud Quintet were not only there to fight alongside her but also to provide the emotional support she needed during these trying times. The bonds that tied them together ran deeper than she had initially realized, offering a glimmer of solace amidst the looming shadows of war.

—

After months of meticulous preparations, Shuhu, the leader of the Denizens of Abundance, made a pivotal decision. He chose to launch their assault on a location of utmost significance—the Xianzhou Yuque, one of the flagship vessels of the Hexafleet owned by the Xianzhou Alliance.

With unwavering resolve, Shuhu declared his intent to his assembled forces. "It is time!" He bellowed, "Our goal is to revive the Ambrosial Arbor and harness its boundless power!" His words were met with a thunderous cheer from the warriors of Mara, their voices ringing out in barbaric exultation.

What the Alliance had not anticipated was the Denizens of Abundance's strategic focus on this particular area. The Xianzhou Yuque was a place of great importance, where stargazers and diviners congregated to observe the celestial bodies and chart the course of destiny for the entire Alliance.

Within the hallowed halls of the Yuque, powerful devices such as the Deca-Light Reflection Barrier Matrix were employed to draw insights from the past and predict the future through the interpretation of hexagrams. The Cloudpeer Telescope, the pinnacle of astronomical observation technology in the Alliance, also stood as a sentinel. Its capabilities extended far beyond mere astronomical observations; it could detect the telltale traces and signals of the Reignbow Arbiter's Lux Arrow, as well as manifestations of their presence within the Alliance.

The Cloudpeer Telescope was a tool of immense significance, not only for its ability to peer into distant realms but also for its capacity to transmit information across vast distances. It was a conduit of knowledge and foresight, a resource the Alliance had come to rely upon in their efforts to safeguard their world.

As the Denizens of Abundance initiated their assault on the Xianzhou Yuque, it became evident that their meticulous planning and strategic focus had caught the Alliance off guard. The flagship vessel, a repository of knowledge and foresight, stood as a symbol of the Alliance's strength and aspirations. Yet, in the face of the overwhelming onslaught orchestrated by Shuhu and his forces, it seemed vulnerable and ill-prepared.

The battle raged on, and the Denizens of Abundance moved swiftly to seize control of the ship. Their goal was clear—to revive the dreaded Ambrosial Arbor and tap into its formidable power. The cheers of the Mara-struck warriors echoed throughout the vessel, their fervor fueled by the promise of newfound might.

Unbeknownst to the Alliance, their most critical asset, the Cloudpeer Telescope, was now in the hands of their adversaries. The device that had allowed them to peer into the cosmos and detect the Lux Arrows of the Reignbow Arbiter was being turned against them.

Amid the chaos of battle, messages and signals that might have alerted Lan, the Aeon of Hunt, went unnoticed. The Alliance's communication lines were severed, and their response was delayed, leaving the Xianzhou Yuque to fend for itself.

For the Denizens of Abundance, this was a triumphant beginning to a war that had been meticulously planned. With the Cloudpeer Telescope in their possession, they held a key to the Alliance's secrets and vulnerabilities, setting the stage for a conflict that would test the very foundations of Xianzhou Luofu's defenses. The war had begun, and the fate of the city hung in the balance.