"The Luminary Wardance Ceremony?"
In the room, the Astral Express crew all looked at the invitation in Dan Heng's hand and asked in unison, "What's that?"
Dan Heng: "...It's an invitation for various forces across the galaxy to compete in an arena. On the Luofu, this is called 'making friends through martial arts,' where you befriend others while also honing your own skills."
"Of course, the main thing is that this kind of large-scale event can increase the Luofu's fiscal revenue and such."
Stelle touched her chin: "Anyway, since we have nothing better to do, it's not a big deal to go there... but why didn't Jing Yuan deliver it himself and instead have you do it for him?"
Dan Heng: "Oh, he said time is money, so he wants to finish work within two system hours and then enjoy the money."
Stelle: ...
"I don't have any objections to this matter," Welt stated his position first. "However, Himeko and I have some things to attend to recently, so I'm afraid we can't participate and win the championship."
"It's like this," Himeko nodded. "But looking at the date on the invitation, there's still nearly a month until the Wardance Ceremony begins. Welt and I will finish up as quickly as possible and hurry back to join in. In the meantime, treat it as revisiting old haunts and relax for a while."
"We originally came to Penacony for a vacation, but so many things happened in the past few days... Anyway, I hope you all have fun."
Bang bang bang—
At that moment, the door was suddenly knocked on. When they opened the door, they saw Sunday standing at the entrance, a gentlemanly smile on his face: "Everyone from the Astral Express, do you have some time? I have something I'd like to discuss with you."
The group exchanged glances, and in the end, it was Himeko who responded as the representative: "If there's something, come in and talk first."
Sunday smiled and nodded, then after sitting down across from everyone, he pulled out an invitation from his pocket: "To get straight to the point, I assume you've all received the invitation from the Xianzhou Luofu as well? Regarding the 'Luminary Wardance Ceremony.'"
Everyone nodded.
Sunday rubbed his hands together, looking a bit embarrassed: "As you can see, I've received one too. Since everyone's destination is the same, could we... all take a spaceship together? Don't worry, I'll cover all the travel expenses!"
As he said this, his gaze kept drifting intentionally or otherwise toward Stelle.
Himeko and Welt exchanged a glance, a bit unsure of the situation: Wasn't this Sunday their enemy just a few days ago? How did he change so much?
Out of politeness, Himeko still replied: "But Mr. Sunday, the power of [Trailblaze] can directly send the Express's members to the Luofu, so there's no need to take a spaceship. Your proposal probably won't work."
Sunday: "That's no problem then. How about letting me join your Express as a hitchhiker?"
Everyone: ???
Sunday's words were shocking. Even for people like Himeko and Welt, who were used to big winds and waves, they couldn't help but fall silent for a moment. Wasn't this a bit too frivolous?
Even if Sunday was no longer the CEO, he was still a cosmic tycoon with countless riches! Joining the Express and wandering the galaxy with them? Anyone would find it hard to believe.
Himeko steadied herself and explained: "Mr. Sunday, although the Astral Express welcomes every passenger, this is absolutely not some tourist trip. The hardships involved are far more than you might imagine."
Hearing this, Sunday smiled. "Miss Himeko, I'm not joking. As you can see, I'm no longer the CEO now. My plans for the future are not yet clear. I've long heard that the Express tours the galaxy, and I'd like to take this opportunity to see the world beyond Penacony."
"As for hardships? I grew up in Penacony, so I believe my ability to endure suffering far surpasses the average person. You don't need to worry about that."
"Really?"
March 7th suddenly spoke up, scrutinizing Sunday and saying flatly: "Then let me ask you, we once arrived at an extremely cold world where the survival conditions were horribly harsh. Could someone as pampered and rich as you endure that?"
Sunday calmly replied: "Of course. My former office was kept at a constant temperature below minus fifty degrees all year round, second only to Chairman Mikhail."
March 7th was momentarily speechless; she couldn't refute that.
Dan Heng: "Extreme climates are just one of the most common things on the Trailblaze path. On the Xianzhou Luofu, we once faced enemies at the Emanator level and fell into illusions comparable to Ena's dream. Are you sure your current strength is enough to protect yourself?"
Sunday was full of confidence: "I'm nothing special, but just a short while ago, I had a fight with Blade and Kafka from the Stellaron Hunters and barely managed a draw."
Dan Heng was momentarily speechless; he couldn't refute that either.
"Alright then, in that case, welcome aboard, Mr. Sunday," Himeko said. "However, since you're on the Astral Express, whether as a formal passenger or a hitchhiker, you must follow the Nameless's rules. Understand?"
Sunday: "I understand. When relying on others' hospitality, one naturally must follow the rules. Ah, of course, being new here, I definitely won't know everything. It would be great if some senior could guide me through it. I think Miss Stelle would be quite suitable, and besides, we both have the surname 'Star,' so we can just..."
Ding!
March 7th pulled out her Strike of Cloud and walked up to Sunday with an expressionless face. "No need for Stelle to do it. I'll teach you what 'rules' are."
...
A few days later, on the Luofu.
Whoosh—
As the domain anchor nailed into Starskiff Haven emitted a beam of light, the Express trio plus Sunday appeared here. Stelle looked at the Starskiff Haven, which was clearly much livelier than last time, and sighed: "I didn't expect that after just over a month away, there've been so many changes here."
"There are more roadside vendors, the street decorations have more character, the pedestrians along the ways are all sorts of varieties, and even Borisin are around..."
?!
Stelle watched a Borisin walk right past her and immediately widened her eyes: "B-Borisin? How can there be Borisin here? Has the plot progressed this fast? Where are the Cloud Knights? The Cloud Knights?!"
As everyone knew, the Borisin were the Xianzhou's most ferocious enemies, possessing terrifying self-healing abilities like the Denizens of Abundance, as well as the power and claws of wild beasts, feeding on the Foxians, and utterly brutal.
How could such creatures openly mingle on the Xianzhou?! Had the Luofu turned into the Country of Light or something?
"Roar!"
That Borisin saw Stelle pulling out her bat at it and snorted discontentedly, retreating several steps.
"Hey hey hey, what are you yelling about for no reason!"
A Foxian poked their head out from behind that Borisin, frowning: "What? Never seen a Borisin before? Making such a fuss, you've scared it. I've got it leashed when I take it out—why are you shouting for the Cloud Knights? Are you deliberately picking a fight or something?"
Stelle: ???
Dan Heng stepped forward, blocking Stelle behind him, and said: "Sorry, our companion here has only seen Borisin on her phone before, so she was a bit nervous at first sight. Please forgive her."
"Hmph, only seen them on a phone? No wonder the fuss—country bumpkin."
The Foxian snorted coldly and muttered as they walked away.
Once that Foxian was far away, Stelle finally asked in a daze: "Dan Heng, what was that all about just now? Aren't Borisin the most brutal enemies of the Xianzhou? Don't they eat Foxians? How can they openly appear in Starskiff Haven with no one doing anything about it?"
Dan Heng sighed helplessly and said: "Prejudices in people's hearts are a great mountain... The Borisin you're talking about are from settings from who-knows-how-many years ago. The Borisin now are nothing like what you imagine."
"Ever since the Sky-Faring Commission General of the Yaoqing Xianzhou punched through the Borisin homeworld, the entire Borisin race has become prisoners of the Xianzhou. In recent years, they've even entered the Xianzhou pet market, becoming perfectly legal domestic pets."
Stelle blinked, her gaze dazed: "Domestic pets? You're saying... Borisin?"