Added to the Gacha as Rukkhadevata (Honkai Star Rail)

"What... what's happening here?"

The three Cloud Knights stared in disbelief at their former comrades, now withered into lifeless old men before their eyes.

As members of the Xianzhou Alliance, a Long-Life Species, death by old age was thought impossible. Yet the scene unfolding before them perfectly matched historical accounts of "death by senescence."

To witness such a legendary phenomenon manifesting in reality left the Cloud Knights utterly astonished.

Recalling the green light that had erupted from Lumina's staff moments earlier, all three turned to her, their eyes burning with confusion, disbelief, and a desperate need for answers.

Even Qingque, a Diviner from the Divination Commission, was visibly shaken by the spectacle. She turned to her "Sister Lumina," her gaze filled with bewilderment.

Sensing Qingque's gaze, Lumina smiled, stowed her staff, and began to explain:

"Mara-Struck is the fate of the Long-Life Species."

"So, if you're not a Long-Life Species, you can't be Mara-Struck?"

The crowd fell silent.

After a tense pause, one of the Cloud Knights finally broke the silence.

"S-so, you... you stripped them of the Blessing they possessed?" The Cloud Knight's voice trembled as he voiced the seemingly impossible.

The Blessing had been bestowed by the Plagues Author himself. If Lumina could strip it away, wouldn't that mean...?

As the implications of his words hung in the air, those who had been lost in thought lowered their heads and turned their gazes back to Lumina.

Without hesitation, Lumina explained: "The Xianzhou people's longevity stems from the Blessing of Yaoshi—or rather, the Blessing of the Plagues Author."

"And naturally, the Mara-Struck condition also originates from this same Blessing."

"So, the best, fastest, and most effective way to eliminate the Mara-Struck state is naturally to dispel the Blessing bestowed by the Plagues Author."

Fearing the Xianzhou people might not recognize Yaoshi, Lumina thoughtfully used the Xianzhou term.

When she uttered the words "Plagues Author," Lumina felt no hesitation whatsoever. As the Plagues Author's Emanator, what could be more natural than cursing Him to His face?

Hearing Lumina's explanation, the three Cloud Knights exchanged glances, their eyes silently deliberating something. Lumina observed their undisguised exchange, understanding exactly what they were discussing.

Unfazed, she maintained her cheerful smile and said, "Compared to becoming Mara-Struck and being killed by your former comrades... wouldn't it be better to have the Blessing removed, become ordinary mortals, and have your bodies buried in the soil of Xianzhou?"

Lumina could resolve the Mara-Struck condition, but she only knew one method. Otherwise, she would have already paid a visit to Jingliu.

Since the Mara-Struck condition originated from Yaoshi's Blessing, it could naturally be dispelled through the same Blessing.

The idea of eliminating the Mara-Struck condition without relinquishing the Blessing of Immortality was beyond Lumina's capabilities.

Yaoshi's Blessing directly enhanced the physical body, leaving the spirit untouched.

For the first few centuries, there might be no noticeable effects. But as time passed, the disparity between physical and spiritual strength would become increasingly glaring.

When the physical body's resilience far surpassed the spirit's capacity—to an extreme degree—the spirit would eventually perish first, leaving the immortal body a soulless husk, devoid of its Three Souls and Seven Spirits.

In Xianzhou terminology, this condition was also referred to as Mara-Struck.

Of course, Lumina had another way to resolve the Mara-Struck condition: cultivate the spirit until it matched the physical body's strength. This would achieve true "immortality," naturally preventing the Mara-Struck condition from ever manifesting.

However, even this wasn't true immortality. It merely stretched time to such an extent that it created the illusion of it.

It seemed that the only way to achieve this was by seeking help from the Aeon of Remembrance.

During her wanderings through the cosmos, Lumina had encountered numerous Physical Cultivation Manuals, but she had never seen a single text dedicated to cultivating the Spirit. Given that the Xianzhou had searched for millennia without success, it was safe to assume that such a thing simply didn't exist in the universe.

"Thank you..."

After a moment of silence, the three Cloud Knights once again clasped their fists in apology. The ability to casually strip Blessings from the bodies of Xianzhou people was far too dangerous for the Cloud Knights, for Luofu, and indeed for the entire Xianzhou Alliance. If Lumina intended harm, they likely couldn't stop her.

Yet what she had just done was undeniably a good deed.

"Rest assured," Lumina said gently, sensing their concerns. "I can only remove a Blessing if the person is dead or offers absolutely no resistance." She understood their worries and explained her limitations in a soft voice.

Lumina knew that if these Xianzhou people had resisted, things would have become quite complicated for her.

Well... slightly complicated, at least.

"..."

Seeing the three Cloud Knights' silence, Lumina continued, "Don't worry about the details. Just report the truth."

"Haa..." The three Cloud Knights, unable to argue, took a deep breath. "Thank you for saving us, Milady," one of them said.

"Mm." Lumina gave a slight nod, then turned to Qingque. "Qingque, it's time to go."

"Oh, right." Qingque glanced one last time at the fallen, gray-haired figures on the ground before hurrying after Lumina.

"Let's get them back to the camp quickly." Watching the pair's retreating figures, one of the Cloud Knights lifted two of his "comrades" and gestured to the others.

Forgetting Lumina for the moment, they approached the lifeless bodies of their aged comrades and carried them back to the Cloud Knight Camp...

"Hmm... Qingque, what's wrong? Did I do something wrong earlier?"

Throughout their journey, Lumina noticed Qingque maintaining a consistent distance from her. Puzzled, she finally asked, "Why do I sense so much reverence from you now?"

Why does Qingque seem so much more reverent towards me...?

Hearing Lumina's words, Qingque's body trembled involuntarily. Her voice, trembling with awe and respect, stammered, "U-um... Sister Lumina, you... you wouldn't happen to be... Yaoshi, would you?"

The Xianzhou people received their Blessings from Yaoshi, yet Lumina had the power to dispel them.

Could that mean... Lumina = Yaoshi...? It doesn't seem impossible.

Lumina: ?

Lumina chuckled. She walked over to Qingque, crouched slightly, and gently placed her palm on Qingque's head, softly stroking it.

"If I were truly the Aeon of Abundance and saw such an adorable little Qingque," she said with a smile, "I'd shower you with even more blessings until you were completely overflowing."

Lumina's touch was gentle and warm, causing Qingque to involuntarily close her eyes and bask in the moment. All the reverence she had felt towards Lumina melted away completely.

"I knew it... Sister Lumina really is the Aeon of Abundance," Qingque murmured. "A Yaoshi overflowing with kindness, warmth, and every beautiful emotion imaginable..."