The Envoy of Abundance from Onphalus

“I must admit, you have given me a surprise.” His voice regained some of its elegance, but it could not hide the weakness within. “But as long as you cannot destroy the root of this world, you will never be able to truly eradicate me, who depends on the root for survival.”

He gave the two of them a deep look before his figure gradually faded and disappeared into the void.

"Looking forward to the next time...you'll show me even more...more spectacular changes. Try your best to please me, until you...find a way to truly kill me..."

His voice and his figure eventually vanished completely, leaving behind only a frozen world and the bewildered Bai'er and Cecily.

The time constraint was lifted, and the clamor returned. The frozen crowd continued their unfinished cheers, as if the thrilling duel had never happened.

Bai'e looked at Sersis, the light of the longsword in his hand gradually fading.

"Is it over?" he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Serhis stared at the spot where Lycus had disappeared and slowly shook his head.

“No,” she said softly, a sharper light flashing in the eyes of the rational Titan than ever before. “This is just the beginning of another attempt. But he’s right, we’ve found a new direction.”

At that very moment, the entire world seemed to be destroyed. Apart from Bai Er and Cexis, every person, every inch of land, and every drop of water was abstracted into conceptual data.

Then these scattered data points were reassembled and restarted. Time was rapidly rewinding.

Bai'er and Cexis returned to the year 2400 of the Light Calendar, and everything seemed to have been rearranged as before...

……

Chapter 1 today

The Golden Branches: Chapter 122 The Telegram of Gold Sand

As night deepened, only the faint glow of the star-shaped LED strips remained in the observation carriages of the Starry Sky Train.

Russell stood quietly by the window, gazing at the gradually shrinking, frozen planet outside—Yaliluo-VI, whose surface was faintly dotted with new greenery amidst the white snow.

But the more he looked at the planet, the more he was reminded of the re-creation that had bewitched Cocolia, which seemed somewhat similar to what he had always believed in.

"Sir, the meeting ended a long time ago. Train conductor Pam said we'll arrive at the Luofu Immortal Ship early tomorrow morning. Aren't you going to rest?" Guard Jin's voice came from behind him, filled with concern.

Russell didn't turn around, but asked softly, "Ah Jin, there's a question that's been bothering me ever since I left Yalilo-VI."

"What are you thinking about?"

“That Great Guardian Cocolia… she believed in the lie of ‘recreation,’ nearly leading Beloberg to the brink of destruction.” Russell sighed, his voice low. “If the goal I’ve dedicated myself to is ultimately proven to be another false lie… how am I supposed to face that?”

Jin stepped forward and stood beside Russell, gazing at the starry sky: "Sir, why do you take her burden upon yourself? She is herself, and you are yourself. The paths you have chosen are fundamentally different."

Russell paused for a moment, then chuckled, "You're right. Maybe I'm overthinking it." He patted Jin on the shoulder, "Go and rest first, I'll look at the stars for a while longer and then go to sleep."

Jin nodded and left. Russell turned his gaze back to the frozen planet, silently thinking: Even if the old world cannot be completely rebooted, I will personally create a new world—a world full of laughter and happiness.

Even if it costs him his own life, as long as it can be achieved, there is nothing he cannot give up.

...

The next morning, the sightseeing carriage was filled with the aroma of breakfast.

"Good morning... Mr. Russell..." March 7th shuffled along, his eyes slightly dark, and yawned widely as he spoke.

Last night, she, Xing, and Danheng had a pillow fight in the room, which was very intense and ended with March 7 winning a narrow victory.

The direct consequence of this is severe sleep deprivation.

"Good morning, Little March. I heard you had a great night?" Russell smiled and handed her a hot drink.

"Of course!" March 7th immediately perked up, taking the cup to warm her hands. "I'm the final winner! It was that guy Xing..."

She glanced at Xing, who was quietly creeping closer, and said, "I slapped her in the face with a pillow, and guess what she said? She actually said, 'Please hit harder!' What kind of nonsense is that!"

Xing gently tugged at March 7's sleeve, her face slightly flushed, and muttered softly, "...I was just having fun. It was just something I felt like saying."

On March 7th, he deliberately put on a stern face, responded to her with a look that seemed to say, "You'll figure it out yourself," and then turned and walked towards the dining table.

Xing immediately turned to Russell, blinking her eyes, stretching out her little hand, her face full of expectation: "Candy, please—"

Russell smiled helplessly, took out an exquisite metal box from his pocket, and placed a few oddly colored candies in Xing's palm: "That's all. You've almost doubled your quota for this week."

"Besides, you've been using this place as your daily check-in spot, always asking for candy. This is all you have for the week, so use it sparingly."

Xing quickly stuffed the candy into her pocket, her gloom vanishing instantly. She skipped and hopped over to March 7th, proudly pulling out two candies: "These are delicious candies I got from Mr. Russell. Here you go, don't be mad at me, okay?"

Looking at the delicious candy from Joy, and then at Xing's pitiful raccoon-like expression, March 7th finally couldn't help but laugh: "Alright, alright! I'm not that stingy! We're the best partners, right?"

Upon hearing this, Xing's expression instantly changed, and she reached out to snatch the candy back: "If you're not angry, then give it back to me!"

"Hey! There's no reason to take back a gift that's already been given!" March 7th nimbly turned around and protected his pocket.

"You're not really angry..."

"I don't care! It's mine!"

Watching them laugh and joke, Russell couldn't help but smile. Xing's thinking could indeed be unconventional at times; she loved rummaging through trash cans and would occasionally utter some surprising remarks, but deep down she retained a rare purity.

...

Russell's phone vibrated slightly halfway through breakfast. He glanced at the screen; it was a message from Sandgold.

[Gold Sand: Mr. Russell, I heard you've joined the Star Train? Is that true?]

[Russell: Of course. The train can take me home, and I have no reason to refuse. I've already told you about my hometown, so you should understand why I got on.]

[Russell: How is your sister doing lately?]

[Gold Sand: Thanks to you and Boss Jade, my sister is doing well and has been promoted to P40 at the company, mainly responsible for document processing and contract procedures in the strategic investment department. Her workday is quite easy.]

[Russell: Very good. How about you?]

[Gold Sand: I'm ashamed to say I was only recently promoted to P45, and I'm currently a department head in the Strategic Investment Department.]

[Russell: You're quite impressive to be a department head at such a young age. However, you contacted me specifically for more than just to inform me of your promotion, didn't you?]

[Gold Sand: I knew I couldn't hide it from you. I just learned that you stayed at Arillow-VI, and it reminded me of some old matters, so I felt it necessary to inform you.]

[Gold Sand: Before the planet Yalilo-VI was sealed off by the cold wave, the Interstellar Peace Corporation provided it with a substantial loan for environmental terraforming projects. Later, the planet lost contact with the outside world, and this debt was long classified as bad debt.]

[Gold Sand: The company originally had no intention of pursuing this debt, but recently, the company detected that Yalilo-VI has resumed external communications. After preliminary assessment, headquarters intends to recover this debt with interest.]

[Russell: What does this news have to do with me? I'm not the one in debt.]

[Gold Sand: I know your character well, sir. You cannot bear to see suffering, just as you helped my sister and me back then. You have the right to know this information that could affect the future of that planet.]

[Gold Sand: And if it's someone from the market development department who goes there, it's hard to imagine what would happen on that planet.]

[Russell: ...Thank you for informing me, Kakawasha. Hopefully, their new leader can handle it well. If they can't even manage the company's debts, perhaps they really can't control their own destiny. It's better for them to submit to the company sooner rather than later and join its economic system.]

[Sajin: You're right. If I weren't tied up with official business, I would definitely visit you. I'll certainly come to visit you when I have the chance in the future. Have a pleasant journey.]

[Russell: There will be opportunities. Go ahead and get busy. Kakawasha.]

After ending the communication, Russell looked out the viewing window again, where the icy blue planet was faintly visible in the depths of the starry sky.

He sighed softly, "We've barely escaped the crisis at the Star Core, and the company's 'debt collectors' are probably on their way again. Bronya Rand, I hope you're prepared. Don't let me down, my student..."

……

This is the second one I owe today. My diarrhea still hasn't gone away; I've already taken medicine. Let's see how it goes tomorrow. I feel terrible all over, it's a strange feeling, I suspect it's due to the change in environment. Goodnight everyone.

Golden Branches Endure Through the Ages: Chapter 123 The Twisted Immortal Boat Alliance

Russell's thoughts were drifting aimlessly with the sea of ​​stars when his trouser leg was gently tugged a few times. He looked down and saw the train conductor, Pam, looking up at him with her round eyes.

"What's wrong, conductor?"

“I’m sorry to bother you, Russell.” Pam’s voice carried its distinctive intonation. “There was an email from the Fairy Ship Luofu addressed to you, and Pam has already printed it out using train technology.”

As it spoke, it solemnly pulled a letter from its little pocket. The letter was exquisitely crafted; even the sealing wax stamp, symbolizing General Luofu's authority, was clearly visible on the seal, making it seem like the original.

"Because it is marked that you are the one who should open it, as the train conductor, Pam certainly cannot open it without permission. That's why I came to find you, Pam."

"A letter specifically sent to me from the Immortal Ship?" Russell was somewhat surprised as he took the letter, which still retained some warmth from the printing process. "It's really kind of you to deliver it personally, Train Conductor."

"No need to be so polite, Pam! I'm going to clean the carriage now, see you later!" The little train conductor waved and walked away.

Russell took the letter and walked to a relatively quiet corner next to the observation car.

His gaze swept over the title of the printed letter—[General Jingyuan’s own handwriting, respectfully requesting His Excellency Huaixiu to open it].

The address made his fingertips pause slightly.

How could this man, known as the Envoy of Abundance, receive a personal letter from Jing Yuan, the ruler of the Luofu Immortal Ship of the Immortal Ship Alliance?

This is like a boulder thrown into a silent sea.

Before boarding the train, he had traveled to many star systems and was well aware of the behemoth that was the Immortal Ship Alliance.

Initially, he was quite displeased when he heard that they rebelled against abundance, hated abundance, and even denounced the gods they had prayed to as "the ancestor of plague and misfortune."

At that time he thought that the cause of disasters was often the so-called bountiful people who were greedy and twisted their blessings. Why should this sin be attributed to the star god who was just responding to prayers and spreading life?

If mercy is wrong, why did the ancient inhabitants of the Immortal Ship yearn for this blessing? Having enjoyed a lifespan far exceeding that of ordinary people, why did they resent the blessing itself when their fate as demonic beings descended?

In his view, this was somewhat of a contradiction: he both benefited from it and feared the consequences.

Later, as he learned more about the Immortal Ship and the thousands of years of war they had waged, the heavy price they had paid, and their perseverance, his displeasure lessened somewhat. However, he still could not agree with their goal of killing the Pharmacist.

People with different paths cannot make plans together. For a long time, he maintained a tacit distance from the Immortal Boat Alliance: they knew each other, but did not interact.

As for the Celestial Ship, they would probably be even less willing to have anything to do with this Envoy of Abundance. Their last encounter with a powerful Envoy of Abundance left them with a painful memory almost etched into their genes, a trauma that has yet to fully heal.

Even though Russell's reputation was completely different from Shuhu's, and even considered good, the vigilance and precautions of the Immortal Ship would not be reduced in the slightest because of this—they had been hurt too deeply.

Moreover, Russell was no ordinary messenger of abundance. Few could rival him in the path of abundance. Although he performed acts of abundance, he did not bestow favors indiscriminately.

The compassionate healers he has gathered under his command have become a force to be reckoned with in the universe. Their expansion is accompanied by a peculiar selection mechanism: those who pray sincerely receive the mark of remembrance, those with good intentions are blessed, while those with wicked intentions are transformed into plants to nourish the earth.

This almost divinely ordained method is simple yet effective, and has even attracted entire civilizations to choose to devote themselves to it.

This has inadvertently affected the interests of some forces, such as the Interstellar Peace Corporation. Many weak civilizations that originally relied on the company's high-interest loans have turned to the path of compassion and are now willing to repay only the principal, rather than the huge debts that accrue interest.

In the logic of compassionate healers, equal assistance should not become a tool for exploitation. Repaying the principal is an obligation, but paying interest is exploitation.

This makes it even more difficult for companies to include them in their economic system.

After the Tzigania scandal broke, the company adopted a more gentle approach to conquering these planets. They would provide impoverished planets with high-interest loans for emergencies, ostensibly as the most benevolent humanitarian aid.

After that, through compound interest, the impoverished planet will be unable to repay its debts. In that case, the only option will be to sell the planet and its people to the Interstellar Peace Corporation, thus erasing the debt.

However, more and more impoverished and vulnerable civilizations are now choosing compassionate doctors, which makes this gentle integration less successful than it used to be.

Without the added benefit of interest, the principal will eventually be repaid. In that case, the debt would be meaningless to the company.

There are hardliners within the company who have considered using force, but they are often stopped by upper management in the end.

The risk of a large-scale conflict with the compassionate physicians is too high, not to mention that they are backed by the vengeful spirit.

Unless absolutely necessary, no one wants to easily provoke a powerful envoy and his vast organization.

Russell's fingertips traced the printed wax mark on the letter, as if he could feel the sender's unusual determination through it.

General Jing Yuan of Luofu Immortal Ship... He had heard of this name before, a general known for his wisdom and languid appearance.

It is said that under his rule, Luofu has experienced a lot of turmoil in recent years. Although it has tried its best to maintain itself, it is inevitably worried about a lack of successors.

At this moment, Russell didn't need to guess his intention to suddenly send a private letter to a sensitive envoy of abundance...

Russell frowned slightly, feeling more of a subtle irony of history. The Immortal Boat Alliance regarded Abundance as its mortal enemy, while he held fast to the other side of Abundance.

Now, the commander of one of the Immortal Ships might take the initiative to reach out to him.

What will this letter discuss? Is it a test, a warning, or... something else? An alliance? The thought flashed through his mind, and even he found it somewhat unbelievable.

But the benefits of befriending a powerful envoy are also obvious: a wide network of connections, highly effective medical care from compassionate physicians almost free of charge, and powerful assistance that can be provided when necessary...

With this complex and indescribable curiosity and speculation, Russell finally opened the letter, took out the letter inside, and slowly unfolded it.

His gaze fell upon the vigorous yet somewhat casual handwriting, and he began to read what General Luofu wanted to say to him:

Respectfully addressed to His Excellency Huaixiu:

I have long heard of Your Excellency's extensive travels across the stars, spreading compassion and grace throughout all realms. Although we have never met, we have long admired each other through our shared spirit.

I have long admired Your Excellency for possessing abundant and great power, yet you follow the path of discipline, distinguishing between good and evil, right and wrong, and not being bound by the common sense of fate.

The past between the Immortal Boat and the Abundant Land is fraught with entanglements and grudges, difficult to unravel. Yet the General firmly believes that things in this world are not simply black and white, but rather depend on one's own heart. Having weathered many storms, Luofu is willing to embrace goodwill from all directions with an open attitude.

We cordially invite you to visit our Luofu Immortal Boat at your convenience. Not for any alliance, nor to set aside past grievances, but simply to meet, brew tea, discuss philosophy, and contemplate the fleeting nature of life. We eagerly await your reply.