Fifty-One. You are right, but that is precisely the Deputy Astrologer of the Celestial Observatory.

Lo Xiaoning clung to the window bars of the Divine Machine Battalion, peering outside and murmuring to herself:
“Watch as he builds the vermilion tower, watch as he entertains his guests, watch as the tower collapses... So that's what Teacher meant?”
Smoke and dust billowed in all directions, various colored fluids spilling from the ruins of the collapsed pavilion. In the next instant, those remnants ignited, flames surging forth and consuming the entire expanse of rubble in the blink of an eye.
Pei Xiunian gazed at the fallen high-rise, his thoughts tangled into chaos.
Though this area lay at the outskirts of the capital, these were no ordinary market buildings; they were alchemical workshops, the property of noble families.
Such establishments could not possibly have been dangerous structures. If the Divine Machine Battalion could easily withstand the explosion of damaged machines, then the noble family workshops surely would as well.
Moreover, how could it be such coincidence that all these automatons were destroyed at the same moment?
Clearly, someone was manipulating events behind the scenes, seeking to eradicate the noble family workshops and shift the blame onto the Divine Machine Battalion.
And the Divine Machine Battalion... Everyone knew it was an imperial institution, established by the emperor himself...
The noble families’ power passed from generation to generation, their interests intertwined... So the perpetrator sought to shatter the delicate balance between the emperor and the noble families?
“What? The token is missing? How could the token simply disappear?”
Pei Xiunian heard the heated argument at the doorway behind him and turned to see Du Zimo nearly jumping out of his skin. It was understandable—
The consequences of such a disastrous incident were already unimaginable, and now even their few countermeasures were gone...
This was a grievous dereliction of duty; the entire Divine Machine Battalion could be dissolved over it.
“Well, go look for it then! Have everyone up and down the building drop what they're doing and search for the token!”
The disciples dared not protest, filing out immediately.
Pei Xiunian glanced outside; the broken automatons were already repairing themselves with their cracked fragments.
Now, they lifted their blades and inspected the debris, their search purposeful, as if looking for something.
The scene evoked a sense of absurdity, as though artificial intelligence had gained self-awareness and decided to overthrow humanity.
But Pei Xiunian knew this was all the work of someone manipulating them. He turned once more to Du Zimo, who was wiping sweat from his brow:
“What’s going on with these automatons? What level of cultivation do they possess, to bring down such a grand pavilion in an instant?”
Du Zimo's face was pale. He knew the noble family workshops predated the current dynasty by far, and the consequences of today were unthinkable. After a moment’s daze, he answered:
“The automatons lack true intelligence; these actions couldn’t be their own. Someone must have prepared a trigger mechanism or is controlling them from the shadows...”

“This batch of automatons is uneven in cultivation; the strongest won’t exceed the fifth realm. But the main mechanical units can’t be deployed for now, and those wandering outside can be recognized and allowed entry by the Divine Machine Battalion…”
He needn’t say any more. The Divine Machine Battalion’s main power came from giant mechanical warriors; apart from those, the disciples’ cultivation was negligible.
At best, they possessed only first or second realm abilities, and their sleepless nights meant they were barely stronger than ordinary people.
If these automatons were being manipulated, once they entered the Divine Machine Battalion, it would be a massacre…
The area around the Battalion was a marginal zone overseen by the capital’s scattered watchtowers.
Ordinarily, with the emperor’s own Battalion stationed here, it was one of the most heavily guarded places in the capital, receiving little direct attention from the Embroidered Guard or the Six Gates.
Not that they were unconcerned, but even if they sent reinforcements now, it would take time—far too late.
Pei Xiunian felt a headache not just physical but spiritual. Was this the work of that court official rumored to commune with demons?
Whoever was behind it was uncertain; what mattered now was how to endure…
He regretted not bringing Xiao Qin along, though she would likely have been timid in such circumstances.
Pei Xiunian finally understood why she hadn't shown many techniques earlier—she probably feared others would discover her unique cultivation.
As he pondered, he remembered Lo Xiaoning’s muttering about the fallen tower. Had the Grand Fatekeeper predicted this?
He quickly walked over to the young Fatekeeper from the Celestial Observatory, who was perched on the window ledge, and tapped her shoulder, asking with deliberate seriousness:
“Senior Sister Lo, did the Grand Fatekeeper mention any contingencies for today?”
Lo Xiaoning turned around, puzzled: “What contingency?”
The automatons not far away had finished dealing with the aftermath of the noble family workshops. They were now marching in neat formation toward the Divine Machine Battalion. Pei Xiunian straightened and said:
“With so many automatons downstairs, didn’t the Grand Fatekeeper leave any secret techniques or talismans?”
“To deal with those automatons?” Lo Xiaoning’s cool eyes flickered, her tone uncertain as she repeated the question.
Pei Xiunian spread his hands: “What else?”
Lo Xiaoning pointed her thumb at herself. “I can handle it. I’m fifth realm!”
Pei Xiunian was visibly shocked.
...How to put it? Perhaps Lo Xiaoning had always seemed so lackadaisical, so fond of idling, that Pei Xiunian had only now remembered that this young Fatekeeper wasn’t without martial talent—in fact, even the Grand Fatekeeper found her remarkable.
“What? You don’t believe me?”

Lo Xiaoning sensed she was being looked down upon. Still sitting cross-legged, she said indignantly:
“Or do you doubt me?”
She suspected her status was being underestimated.
Staring at Pei Xiunian, she rolled up the wide sleeve of her training robe, revealing a small stretch of smooth, pale arm. She clenched her fist and waved it, proving she could fight.
She pressed one hand to the ground, intending to rise with grace, but forgot she was sitting on a window ledge.
As she stood, her head struck the window frame hard. The frame, sturdy enough to withstand gunfire, now bore the imprint of her head.
She clutched her head in pain, her legs numb from sitting too long, and slipped, crying out as she tumbled down from the building.
It was all so seamless.
The fluidity of her mishap nearly made Pei Xiunian stand and applaud; the young Fatekeeper truly had her own style, her whole demeanor screaming “unreliable.”
Pei Xiunian leaned over the window to look down, only to see Lo Xiaoning perfectly fine. She was rubbing her head as she stood from the lawn, her pride clearly wounded, pretending to do stretching exercises with hands on her hips.
The automatons had silently approached, their movements still uniform, their standard long blades sparking against the ground.
Lo Xiaoning finished her warm-up, reached behind her back, and groped for something with her small hand, but found nothing.
She turned in mild confusion to see her small backpack dangling from a tree branch.
Frowning, she pushed off the ground; her petite figure soared effortlessly, landing on the tree trunk and retrieving the little satchel from the branch.
Poised atop the tree, she pulled out three cane-like segments from her bag.
She assembled them unhurriedly, screwing the tip tight, the iron locks connecting each segment, until she had a strange, articulated long spear.
The spear tip scraped the ground, producing a metallic clang. With a step, she bent the shaft and leapt, the spear spinning through the air before returning to her grasp.
Lo Xiaoning struck mid-air, her spear descending with tremendous force.
The spear smashed onto the ground before the Divine Machine Battalion, causing a deafening boom. Waves of energy surged from the impact, instantly shattering several front-line automatons.
Such was the power of martial arts.
On the distant rooftop of a watchtower, a girl blindfolded in black quietly released her grip from her sword’s hilt, expressionless as she heaved a sigh.
Stepping across the green tiles, her figure dropped from the roof.