"Stelle... why did you come here?"
Looking at the gray-haired girl bounding over happily, Kafka wore a gentle smile on her face. She raised her hand to stroke Stelle's lazy gray hair, yet her willow-leaf brows knitted slightly.
This scene didn't seem to be written in the script, was it?
"We are here to find partners~!"
Stelle put her hands on her hips.
Previously.
At the first moment unexpected energy reactions were detected, Fu Xuan had ordered the combat Starskiff to change direction and head toward the location of that abnormal energy.
A distance of over three hundred kilometers required only a few minutes of travel time for a special combat Starskiff.
Unfortunately, when the Starskiff arrived at the target location, they did not find the culprit who caused that energy explosion.
It was an unremarkable area of the sea within the Scalegorge Waterscape, sparsely dotted with the dilapidated architectural ruins of the ancient Vidyadhara race, as well as the tangled branches and roots of the Ambrosial Arbor after its resurgence.
At the scene, the Cloud Knight troops discovered traces of destruction and movement by a giant biological entity. It was an unknown creature not listed in the Luofu's local biological catalog.
"Could it be a root-guarding Spirit Beast newly created by the Ambrosial Arbor?"
The Artisanship Commission possessed only a section of the Ambrosial Arbor's root, yet it was able to create the Abundance Ebon Deer to guard itself.
What was sealed within the Scalegorge Waterscape was the main root of the Ambrosial Arbor. Was it logical for it to create an even more powerful Abundance Spirit Beast to guard itself?
This was too logical, okay!
Fu Xuan's speculation made Caelus nod repeatedly. The logic chain fit perfectly, without a single flaw!
If a Ten-Tails Larva were placed on the Xianzhou, it couldn't escape the label of an Abundance Spirit Beast no matter how you looked at it. It is a Divine Tree, capable of absorbing energy and vitality to bear Abundance Immortal Fruit!
Isn't this undeniably a proper, root-and-branch Abundance creation!
It completely saved Caelus the trouble of explaining.
"But why would causality be generated out of thin air?"
Fu Xuan was puzzled. If it were a root-guarding spirit created by the Ambrosial Arbor, it shouldn't possess the ability to disturb hexagrams or influence massive causal variables without warning.
Fu Xuan immediately performed a wave of divination calculations. The chaotic hexagrams began to blur, which represented the Ten-Tails intervening in the world's causal chain.
After all, it was an object from outside the Imaginary Tree; simply appearing would influence certain matters.
"The hexagram fluctuates between Gen and Kan. Nine in the second place signifies imminent danger. Worries arrive suddenly. Six in the third place is mixed... Lake water floods the boat, leading to easy encounters with danger..."
This was a sign of great misfortune, a narrow escape from death, yet there was a faint sign of change.
While Fu Xuan was casting the hexagrams, the Starskiff had already left the initial energy detection point and was heading toward the location Dan Heng had previously sent to March 7th.
To continue the pursuit of Phantylia, they needed to wait for the General to find someone to resolve the problems of the Ancient Sea and the Ambrosial Arbor seal.
Fu Xuan intended to find a place to deploy the Cloud Knights first. She cast a hexagram and found only one suitable location for arranging troops near Dan Heng's position.
After landing, the Express crew split into two groups.
Welt and Bronya followed Fu Xuan's operations, while Team Star Rail and March 7th went to find Dan Heng.
Disliking that walking was too slow, they used Wind cards and the flaming Lance to assemble a magic flying lance as a transportation tool. The flaming Lance wasn't as comfortable to sit on as the bat, but the bat was too short; it was a bit crowded for two people to sit together.
After the initial exchange of pleasantries, the empty grounds suddenly became quiet.
"So you're actually this amazing, Yanqing!"
Hearing the ins and outs that Sushang had slightly embellished, March 7th looked at the golden-haired, blue-clothed young man beside her with a face full of surprise.
She and Stelle could be considered relatively familiar with Yanqing. If asked how they became acquainted, one would have to bring up the tragic old stories of Stelle opening people's suitcases all over the streets and destroying public architectural vases, resulting in being invited for tea by the Cloud Knights.
Many people had endless praise for Yanqing: the youngest Lieutenant in the history of the Cloud Knights, a sword genius in his childhood years...
Various titles and street gossip converged on one person. Only today did March 7th realize the gold content of Yanqing's genius.
One fighting three!
Although he was beaten a bit miserably, two of them were a Stellaron Hunter and the former Sword Champion!
The third one...
"Wait, why did you have to fight Dan Heng too?"
March 7th reacted belatedly, scratching her head in confusion.
"He, this person is..."
Yanqing, who had been beaten black and blue by Blade and Jingliu, wiped away his nosebleed. He was about to inform March 7th of Dan Heng's identity as the great sinner of the Xianzhou, Imbibitor Lunae.
Hearty laughter coming from afar interrupted Yanqing's words.
"Hahaha, everyone has returned to the Xianzhou after a long separation, yet it is always in unexpected situations. If you were thinking of old friendships, you should have notified me earlier."
The gentle and refined voice made people feel a sense of intimacy, yet it caused the already complex scene to fall silent. Everyone turned their heads to look at the newcomer, their expressions varying.
After Phantylia fled into the Ancient Sea and used the racial ability of the Heliobus to enter the interior of the Ambrosial Arbor seal, Jing Yuan had no way to continue the pursuit, so he simply stayed in the Scalegorge Waterscape.
Jing Yuan knew that Dan Heng had already arrived on the Xianzhou and had rushed toward the Scalegorge Waterscape when the Ambrosial Arbor resurged. He decided he might as well just wait on the inevitable path.
Calculating the time for Dan Heng's journey, when the time came but he didn't see his old friend's figure, Jing Yuan wondered if something had delayed him.
Thus, he searched from the depths of the Scalegorge Waterscape toward the periphery.
Hah~!
This search was no small matter!
Surprises came one after another!
Jing Yuan looked around the circle.
It was truly too lively here!
"General! You've come!"
Only Yanqing was full of excitement, his morale greatly boosted.
In his view, since the General had arrived, then not a single criminal present today would be able to run!
Able to sense the meaning contained in his apprentice's burning gaze, Jing Yuan smiled. The smile hanging on the corners of his mouth was somewhat strange, and held a tiny bit of inexplicable admiration.
Previously, Yanqing insisted on proving to him that he had grown up and was sufficient to relieve his worries.
But now Jing Yuan just wanted to say: You relieved them very well; don't relieve them next time!
To vainly attempt to fight against three of the former High-Cloud Quintet with one's own strength... 'Newborn calves do not fear tigers' was not enough to describe it.
Fortunately, whether it was Jingliu or Blade, although they had rebelled against the Xianzhou and their stances were different, they still treated Yanqing as a junior and only made a move to teach him a slight lesson.
Otherwise, Yanqing would have been in danger.
"Mhm."
Jing Yuan nodded with a smile amidst Yanqing's hopeful gaze. "After returning, sword training will be doubled for the next ten years."
"...Ah?"
Hearing this, Yanqing, who was preparing to watch the General display divine might and capture the wanted criminals, was dumbfounded.
"By the standards of long-life species, isn't ten years a bit little?"
Moonscar's muttering made Yanqing step back in horror. He turned his head to look—are you a devil?
"Then let's add another ten years."
Hearing Moonscar's words, Jing Yuan nodded, feeling it made sense.
Subsequently, he no longer paid attention to Yanqing, who was sluggishly rooted to the spot. With hands clasped behind his back, he strolled forward.
His gaze swept over Blade and met Jingliu's eyes for two seconds. Jing Yuan's eyes were filled with complexity. He looked smilingly at the white-dressed, brown-haired girl and asked her first.
"Sushang, can you explain to me what happened with the battle deep in the Artisanship Commission delve?"
As a strategic general adept at using schemes, Jing Yuan knew well that the more critical and chaotic the moment, the more important it was to transmit intelligence in a timely manner.
Although he was inside the Scalegorge Waterscape delve, the impact caused by the battle between Moonscar and Jingliu inside the Artisanship Commission was truly too great. Even the troops stationed at the main entrance could sense the sharp, freezing Sword Intent.
Anyone could hear the earth-shaking, heaven-shattering sound when Taixu Sword God and Illuminate the myriad rivers collided.
"Present~!"
Moonscar earnestly performed a goofy Cloud Knight salute and said with a beaming smile:
"Wasn't it the mission you gave me, General? You asked me to keep an eye on Jingliu's whereabouts and not let her have the opportunity to do bad things that harm the Xianzhou?"
"Mhm." Jing Yuan nodded with a smile. "And then?"
"Then, then I went to find her to compete in swordsmanship. That way, she wouldn't have time to do bad things!"
Moonscar's tone suggested this was a matter of course.
"..."
The smile on Jing Yuan's face froze, and the corners of his mouth twitched faintly.
What kind of thought logic is this?
Why does it feel a bit like the style of those two Gray-hairs?
Wait, Jing Yuan remembered Sushang mentioning that she and Caelus were friends... Then it's fine.
As everyone knows, one takes on the color of one's company; it is very normal for Team Star Rail's friends to have peculiar brain circuits.
Aside from being speechless, Jing Yuan felt more shock in his heart.
Based on the on-site photos sent from the Artisanship Commission and the collected eyewitness testimonies, and comparing them with the memories of his master's final battle, Jing Yuan could make a judgment.
In that battle, although Jingliu hadn't reached the point of fighting for her life, she hadn't held back either. Yet the white-dressed girl before him didn't seem to have suffered any serious injuries.
That meant she had caught that sword strike!
Jing Yuan had a new recognition of Sushang's strength, and at the same time, he birthed a few degrees of suspicion.
To possess such attainment in swordsmanship at such an age?
Was she really as simple as a second Qingque?
"Oh, right, there is one more small matter to report to the General." Moonscar raised her hand.
Deep in thought, Jing Yuan nodded, signaling her to continue.
"I took a disciple."
Jing Yuan's brows raised slightly. For the current overall situation of the Xianzhou, Sushang personally taking a disciple was indeed a trivial matter like sesame seeds and garlic skin.
So, why report this insignificant matter to him?
"Here, General, let me introduce you. Peerless Freedom Sect disciple—Jingliu."
Amidst Jing Yuan's confused gaze, Moonscar trotted over, dragged Jingliu over, and introduced her seriously.
"Pfft—cough, cough!"
The thoughts in his mind came to an abrupt halt, as if his thinking had been blasted apart by an explosive shell. Jing Yuan choked.
Ever since Jing Yuan arrived, Jingliu had fallen into silence.
She hadn't expected that after being separated for hundreds of years, the High-Cloud Quintet could gather again, nor did she expect the reunion would happen under these circumstances.
The Mara emotions had been severed by the Sword God, and the old events churning in Jingliu's mind were exceptionally clear. She had fallen into a certain state of nostalgia.
It wasn't until she was pulled in front of Jing Yuan by Moonscar for introductions that she woke up as if from a dream.
She saw Jing Yuan's eyes change.
From confusion, to dumbfoundedness, to woodenness; shock and astonishment intertwined, so absurd he dared not believe it. It was extremely spectacular.
What?
Jing Yuan only felt his brain buzzing with the sound of golden question marks.
I asked you to monitor Master, to not let her cause trouble. It was one thing for you to go find her for a sword duel, but you even took her as a disciple!?
This, this, this... He couldn't use words to describe his current feelings.
Even with Jing Yuan's mental fortitude, he couldn't withstand such a magical development!
There wasn't a shred of logic in this!
Jing Yuan opened his mouth but couldn't spit out half a word; he just stared at Jingliu.
"Learning has no hierarchy of age; the one who achieves mastery is the teacher."
Jingliu was silent for a long while before her sandalwood lips parted slightly.
She also hadn't expected Moonscar to suddenly pull such a move. Embarrassment she couldn't stop welled up in her heart, so she offered a sentence of explanation.
"Taixu Sword Art" was not only useful to her personally; if one could gain inspiration from the Taixu Sword God severing the Mara, the entire Xianzhou Alliance would benefit shallowly.
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