Having rescued Tingyun, the delegate from the Sky-Faring Commission, the Express crew prepared to meet Yukong, the head of the commission, under Tingyun's introduction.
Traveling together, the trailblazing team and the Cloud Knights fought side-by-side, carving a path through the Mara-struck infested Cloudford to find a ship to leave the port.
However, their path was blocked by a bizarre-looking enemy shaped like the gnarled branches of an ancient tree.
With the starskiff so close, how could they let themselves be stopped here?
A sharp glint flashed in Caelus's eyes. His figure moved like lightning, wielding an otherworldly treasure: the Clow Card [The Windy], which elementalized into a divine wind trident.
Caelus swung it forcefully, and a green gust of wind rose with the motion, swirling into several currents that wrapped around the Mara-struck soldier, binding it like chains.
The tip of the trident carved a vicious arc, letting out a piercing whistle as it penetrated the Mara-struck soldier's head like a rivet.
Caelus swept the shaft horizontally, twisting the trident inside the soldier's head—like trying to turn a medium-rare steak with a steel fork—before severing its limbs with sharp wind blades.
Even with the inhuman regenerative abilities of the Mara-struck, this level of damage could only result in a GG.
His tall and heroic posture, as straight as a pine, earned the silent praise of many Cloud Knights. What a valiant hero!
"My benefactors, you are all truly so agile and extraordinarily brave!"
Tingyun praised them, her enchanting foxian voice sending a pleasant tingle through everyone.
It wasn't just Caelus; all the Nameless were exceptionally skilled.
The navy-blue-haired girl wielded a pitch-black knight's lance in the shape of a sword, unleashing a power that withered all things, causing the branches and leaves on the Mara-struck soldiers to decay.
That was the power to counter life... the power of Abundance!
Neither Tingyun nor the Cloud Knights had ever seen such a peculiar energy before.
After seeing Caelus's impressive display, Stelle immediately figured that despicable lil' Caelus must be using this method to attract Tingyun's attention and get closer to the treasure chest.
She promptly drew another weapon, wielding a Flame Lance in her left hand and her baseball bat in her right, and put on a spectacular show of force for Tingyun.
March 7th watched, a little dumbfounded. Even she could practically hear the gears turning in Stelle's head.
But she had to admit, this foxian lady... was truly sharp-tongued and knew exactly how to test a cadre's mettle.
"Oh, it's nothing, really. Not worth mentioning."
Stelle acted nonchalant, fully embodying the flair of the Galactic Baseballer, while her eyes remained vigilantly fixed on Tingyun's triangular area.
"This whole journey has been quite rough. I've lost quite a bit of fur from my tail. Sigh, my beautiful tail..."
After clearing out the last wave of Mara-struck gathered in front of the Cloudsea Starskiff dock, Tingyun's brow furrowed slightly.
She turned her head, looking down at her tail, and sighed with pity:
"Miss Tingyun, allow me to assist you!"
The trident slammed into the ground. Caelus pointed with his right hand, his presence imposing and majestic, his voice booming like thunder.
The expressions on Tingyun and the others froze.
Assist... assist me?
Assist me with what?
In the next second, Caelus leaped down from the top of a building. The trident dissolved into a swirling green wind, allowing him to land steadily beside Tingyun.
Under the astonished gazes of everyone around, Caelus grabbed Tingyun's tail and began to fluff it vigorously.
"Ehehe, let me just straighten out this fur for you."
His transformation from a heroic warrior into someone making Jashin-chan's classic meme face from 'Dropkick on My Devil!!' instantly changed the entire atmosphere around him.
The bizarre shift in tone left Tingyun and the Cloud Knights speechless.
"I'll help too!"
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Stelle belatedly snapped to her senses. She put away her bat and lance and rushed over, huffing and puffing as she also gave the tail a thorough fluffing.
Feeling her meticulously cared-for tail being kneaded so forcefully, stroked from base to tip, made the smile on Tingyun's face twitch.
Her fox ears perked up involuntarily as she forcefully pulled her tail out of their hands.
"I'm already so deeply indebted to you both. How could I possibly trouble my benefactors with such a trivial matter? I can groom it myself later."
"It's fine, it's fine! We Nameless are a warm-hearted bunch!"
Caelus enthusiastically patted Stelle on the chest.
"Mhm, that's right! It's no trouble at all!" Stelle nodded her little head.
"Stop it! You're ruining the reputation of the Nameless!"
March 7th hurried over to pull the two deranged gray-haired individuals back. Is this what you call being warm-hearted?
This is just being a pervert!
Welt was silent for a moment. He was beginning to realize he had underestimated the stress Caelus and Stelle brought. The journey through Jarilo-VI must have been utterly exhausting for Dan Heng.
Seele returned control of the body to White Seele.
Honestly, she felt like she, the body's original owner, had become White Seele's substitute AI. But it wasn't a big deal; taking over for daily tasks was still taking over!
Instead of staying quietly in the background of her body, Seele's consciousness inverted itself into White Seele's true body in the Sea of Quanta. Barring any special circumstances, she would leave the upcoming battles to White Seele as well.
Previously, when Caelus went to Herta Space Station to retrieve his mask, he had also helped Seele request a copy of Herta's research on the Sea of Quanta (a layman's version), conducted using Seele's quantum powers.
Seele was going to the Sea of Quanta to test Herta's theories and research findings. Perhaps she could help Seele return to the physical world without having to wait for Gray Serpent to rescue Kevin.
"Fortunately, with all of your help, the journey has been thrilling but safe. See, this is the ship I mentioned."
Tingyun chuckled lightly, pointing her folding fan at a starskiff with a flame motif docked at the edge of the sea of clouds.
"Can I fly this thing?"
Stelle's eyes lit up as she sized up the cool-looking vehicle.
"Do you have a starskiff license, benefactor? If not... I'm afraid that won't be possible."
Tingyun made a gesture of invitation. "Please, have a seat on board, everyone. We shall depart at once."
Stelle was about to say more but was grabbed by March 7th. "Don't you dare. There's no way I'm riding in a vehicle you're driving."
"Why not? I'm a Star-rank player in KartRider!"
Stelle protested, unconvinced. "And I'm a top-tier pilot in the Ace Combat series!"
"I have experience with the Raiden series of games. I'm also a top-tier pilot," Bronya chimed in.
"...Let's go," Welt sighed, shaking his head.
Naturally, Tingyun wouldn't let this group of unlicensed and unreliable people touch the starskiff, but they were still a handful.
"Please be careful, benefactor. It's not advisable to move around recklessly while the ship is in motion."
The smile on her face was starting to crack. Tingyun was beginning to believe what March 7th had said about this gray-haired girl having some mental issues.
The starskiff soared through the sky, with clouds and mist swirling below.
Its appearance was very similar to a wooden boat. To prevent passengers from falling off the side, the starskiff was equipped with invisible safety measures. Stelle was curious how high the safety line went.
Also, were the safety measures truly safe?
To test it, she climbed right up onto the railing, with March 7th grabbing her leg, trying to pull her down.
"It's fine. She has a thick skull; she won't die from a fall."
Caelus waved a hand dismissively. With The Windy card, he could catch Stelle even if she fell.
Tingyun: ?
Never mind what the relationship between these two gray-haired people was, was this really a matter of whether she'd die from a fall or not?
Jumping out of a vehicle mid-journey would get points deducted from one's license. If it caused another accident, your starskiff license would be revoked outright!
White Seele and March 7th together managed to pull Stelle down. The Stellaron-kin was a little disappointed that she couldn't test the starskiff's safety features.
However, gazing down at the Luofu from the starskiff, the beautiful scenery of blue skies, white clouds, and magnificent jade palaces was truly breathtaking. For a moment, Stelle was overcome with emotion:
"Holy shit!"
"Pretty girls aren't supposed to curse!"
March 7th made a karate-chop gesture with her hand and brought it down on Stelle's forehead, lecturing her.
"That's not a curse! I'm just expressing my feelings about the scenery before me!"
Stelle retorted in a small voice, defending herself.
"Can't you find another way to express it?" March 7th asked, crossing her arms and looking at Stelle with a cute pout.
Stelle looked up at the sky, her eyes thoughtful, and recited in a magnetic voice: "Ah, this blue so sky, white so cloud!"
"A fine poem," Bronya praised, and mentioned she should pay the copyright fee.
"Pfft~" March 7th burst out laughing.
Caelus flicked Stelle on the forehead. "It's called: 'The high pavilions reach the heavens, to ascend is to be near the sun. In fair weather, ten thousand trees unfold, a joy to watch the Luofu's mists.'"
The more cultured Cloud Knights aboard the starskiff paused upon hearing this. Tingyun also looked at Caelus in surprise, a hint of shock in her eyes.
The Synesthesia Beacon allowed races who didn't speak the same language to communicate normally, but it didn't have a function to directly help one understand another's culture. The words and phrases of the poem were characteristic of Xianzhou culture.
"I never imagined that you would be so knowledgeable about Xianzhou poetry, benefactor. To compose such a verse on the spot... your profound skill leaves me feeling inadequate. It is truly admirable."
The Cloud Knights began to look at Stelle and Caelus strangely. To an outsider, the two clearly looked like twins, either brother and sister or sisters, yet one was a hyperactive fool, and the other was brilliantly talented.
Stelle and March 7th also stared at Caelus in shock. What's with you, little bro?
"Keep it low-key, low-key," Caelus said with a casual smile.
He was like a transmigrator majoring in ancient poetry who had returned to ancient times to show off.
If Raven could be a plagiarist, so could Caelus. By copying classic poems from Earth to the Xianzhou, he would become the new god of the Xianzhou literary scene!
Tingyun's driving skills were excellent, and the group soon reached their destination.
"Then, please allow me to represent the Sky-Faring Commission in welcoming our benefactors to the Starskiff Sea."
Sunlight bathed the prosperous grotto-heaven, splashing warm gold into every corner of the streets and alleys.
The commotion at the port had clearly not spread here. Perhaps the news was still under lockdown?
"Miss Tingyun, we will go report back to our posts now and deliver our comrade who nearly turned Mara-struck to the Alchemy Commission. Also, thank you all for your help along the way."
"Thank you all. I will never forget today's kindness!"
The squad leader and the soldier saved by Seele came to express their gratitude before taking their leave.
Led by Tingyun, the group proceeded toward the Sky-Faring Commission headquarters. Along the way, Tingyun shared some information about the commission.
"As expected of a... what was it, a delegate? She really has a commanding presence when she speaks," March 7th remarked, listening to Tingyun's eloquent speech.
"You jest, benefactor. Unfortunately, I am of humble station and have no authority to discuss important matters with you. All I can do are small things like guiding you. I hope you don't mind."
"Alright, alright. Benefactors, please look."
Tingyun turned to the side and extended her hand toward the magnificent palace ahead. The bracelet on her jade-like wrist glinted brightly in the sunlight.
"We are currently on the Kangu Terrace. Before us is the Palace of Astrum, the headquarters of the Sky-Faring Commission. Lady Yukong conducts her business here..."
The palace was symmetrical along its central axis. On the left and right sides of the exterior sat male and female stone lion statues. Just inside the main gate, two Cloud Knights armed with halberds stood guard in front of stone pillars. Blue banners embroidered with the emblem of the Sky-Faring Commission hung by the door.
"I have already reported your situation and what I witnessed to Lady Yukong. Please, follow me inside."
"Thank you for your trouble," Welt nodded.
"Hey, Stelle, Caelus, we're not exactly smooth talkers. Let's leave it to Mr. Yang in a bit and try not to say anything stupid."
Following Tingyun, little March nudged the two gray-haired individuals.
"?"
"?"
"March, I think you have some serious misconceptions about me," Stelle said with a solemn expression.
"You're quite self-aware, March. But while I get you saying that about Stelle, why did you include me?" Caelus gestured at himself.
Upon entering the palace, they saw a jade-green carpet on the floor. In the center were many complex instruments, with staff members sitting before them, hard at work.
Seated at the main position was a mature foxian woman, her arms crossed as she spoke on a call.
"Report the damage data to General Jing Yuan, and then get the people from the Divination Commission over here. How can they stay out of a mess this big?"
Upon seeing the Express crew, Yukong's brow twitched slightly. She ended the communication and walked down the steps toward them.
"Guests from the Astral Express, welcome."
"It is not normally my duty to receive travelers. However, since you know about the Stellaron, claim you wish to help the Luofu, and even saved a fully Mara-struck Cloud Knight, then I suppose I must meet with you."
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