"So much talk. If I told you to come over, then just come over."
Nero spoke firmly, insisting that Yanqing go stand together with the Cloud Knights who had been knocked down.
Seeing this, Yanqing couldn't really say anything more and quietly walked over.
Mainly because, based on what he knew about Nero, if he didn't go over right now, Nero would definitely just grab him and drag him there himself.
Yanqing knew very well that he was no match for Nero. As a dignified Cloud Knight Lieutenant, if he got dragged over like that in front of everyone, it would be too embarrassing.
So Yanqing quickly went along with it.
———
"Yanqing, Yanqing, pull yourself together. You just went over like that? You're really not going to argue back at all?"
Seeing Yanqing obediently standing together with those beaten Cloud Knights, Siberian Duck couldn't help but laugh.
Earlier, Nero had bluntly told Yanqing to stay back, saying he would just be going to his death if he went up.
And now he was righteously telling Yanqing to come stand over and get scolded too. The key point was that Yanqing didn't resist at all and just honestly walked over.
[Round Genius: Damn, I can't hold it in anymore. Yanqing, why are you so obedient?]
[Spicy Rabbit: Confirmed. Yanqing will definitely be henpecked in the future.]
[Dan-heart Eternal: Henpecked? Try switching the person. I think this kid Yanqing has a lot of pride. If it wasn't Nero, he wouldn't be this obedient. He'd probably even argue with Jing Yuan a couple of times just out of stubbornness.]
[I Use Pantene: That's true. After all, Nero is the kind of kid who can swing a heavy sword like Black Cutter with one hand as if it weighs nothing. His main trait is overwhelming strength. Most importantly, he's the straightforward type, so pure that if he says he'll make a move, he really will.]
[I Use Pantene: If it were Jing Yuan instead, Yanqing might not be this scared.]
[I Use Pantene: In short, if you want a future partner like Nero, then lucky you. If you don't become henpecked, who will?]
[Bald Captain: I don't think so. Nero is a good kid, how could he casually hit people? Besides, if that situation really happens, let me do it. I'd spoil him instead.]
[My Pee Is Yellow: There's even such a good thing?]
[Glue Man: The livestream is still the same livestream, the brilliant comment section is still Brother Yellow's paradise. No matter how eloquent everyone is, in the end they can't beat the Heavenly Emperor Chong's "eternal fame."]
Seeing Yanqing also standing among the Cloud Knights, Nero nodded in satisfaction.
Now it looked much more pleasing to the eye. Then he said, "You want to contribute to the Xianzhou, fearless of death, charging forward without hesitation."
"That's a good thing! But rushing to your deaths without achieving anything is meaningless. So leave facing the Lord Ravager and the Mirror Holder to us."
"And you, have more important things to do. Battles between Emanators will inevitably affect a wide area, with all kinds of strange phenomena appearing."
"Moreover, the enemies this time infiltrated the Xianzhou in secret. It's possible they've made other arrangements elsewhere, even among the civilians."
"So apart from fighting the Emanators, there are even more important tasks waiting for you!"
"Since the duty of the Cloud Knights is to protect the Xianzhou, then whether it's high officials or common folk, whether it's tall buildings or small houses, whether it's animals and plants, or living beings and silent objects, all of it is what you must protect!"
"You must guard the entrances leading to the battlefield and not let additional troublemakers enter. You must protect the people so they are not harassed by abominations."
"Follow Jing Yuan's command with peace of mind. As soldiers, obeying orders is also your duty! The General definitely has other arrangements for you!"
Nero stood with his hands on his hips, head raised, speaking a long string of words with great momentum.
The Cloud Knights all straightened their backs, fully focused, listening with serious expressions.
At the back, March blinked as she watched this scene and said to her companions, "Nero suddenly looks so imposing. Even though he's a little cute, it really feels inspiring. I feel like I'm getting fired up too."
Dan Heng nodded but didn't speak, his gaze resting on Nero as a faint smile appeared.
Nero really is reliable.
"Mm." Stelle also nodded, then said with a laugh, "And I noticed, when Nero takes the initiative to do something, he doesn't get shy like usual when facing a group of people."
While the Astral Express group chatted here, Nero had already finished speaking over there.
Finally, Nero turned back to Jing Yuan and said, "What I said makes sense, right? You've got other arrangements for them, don't you?"
Jing Yuan smiled and nodded.
While Nero was giving his "lecture" just now, he had been standing to the side watching with a smile, not interrupting.
Now that Nero called him, he stepped forward and began calmly assigning tasks to the Cloud Knights.
Some were assigned to guard the entrance of the Scalegorge Waterscape, some to hunt down abominations, some to escort civilians in evacuation, some to handle communications, and others to maintain morale.
In the end, Jing Yuan also specifically mentioned Yanqing, telling him to lead a team to take the clones Nero had previously sensed and captured to the Ten-Lords Commission.
In case those things were pieces left behind by the Mirror Holder, he wanted to combine the strength of the Cloud Knights and the judges so that if anything unexpected happened, they could suppress them in time.
Beside them, Fu Xuan kept glancing back and forth, looking at Nero and then at Jing Yuan.
She felt that the two of them, one young and one older, seemed a bit too in sync.
Could it be that Jing Yuan had already started planning to train the next-next generation General?
Fu Xuan's suspicious gaze moved between the two, but in the end, all she had were her own guesses.
Better not to calculate recklessly. This was a critical time. If she accidentally strained her eyes again, she would become a sinner for the ages.
But speaking of it, in Fu Xuan's personal opinion, Nero wasn't suited to be a General.
This child's personality was too lively and free-spirited, his actions too relaxed and carefree. Compared to sitting in command as a Xianzhou General, he seemed more like a wandering swordsman, unrestrained and at ease.
If he stayed on the Luofu to become the next-next General, Fu Xuan thought it was more likely he would become the roaming ranger Jing Yuan had always hoped for.
Moreover, Nero was already a Nameless. From the descriptions in those storybooks, the Astral Express, the Knights of Beauty, and the roaming rangers were all righteous wanderers traveling the universe, swordsmen drifting through the sea of stars.
In the end, Fu Xuan shook her head again. 'What is the point of thinking about all this?'
At this moment, Jing Yuan was issuing his final command, "Cloud Knights, hear my order!
"After I enter the Arbor, if the seawater returns to normal, withdraw immediately and reseal the domain. All matters are to follow the Diviner's arrangements."
The Cloud Knights responded in unison, "Yes!", accepting the orders.
Then Jing Yuan looked at Fu Xuan again. "Lady Fu, if I fail to return, the responsibility of reporting the full sequence of events to the other Xianzhou ships will be entrusted to you."
Fu Xuan took a deep breath, then slowly said, "…I won't say things like asking you to return personally to report. What you've entrusted, I will carry out without fail."
"Haha, you're starting to look like a General," Jing Yuan said with a smile.
Nero sat atop Black Cutter, turned his head toward the depths of the Scalegorge Waterscape, and said with a grin, "Why make the atmosphere so heavy?
"The Xianzhou soars, the Cloud Knights prevail! Guided by celestial arrows, the enemy is destroyed!"
As Nero's voice fell, the Cloud Knights seemed stirred by something. One by one, they raised their weapons and shouted loudly, "The Xianzhou soars, the Cloud Knights prevail! The Xianzhou soars, the Cloud Knights prevail! The Xianzhou soars, the Cloud Knights prevail…!"
Seeing their morale so high, Jing Yuan showed a heartfelt smile, then turned and headed deeper into the Scalegorge Waterscape with the others.
At the same time, the Luofu Xianzhou, which had been lingering in the sea of stars, seemed to undergo some kind of change.
A certain chaotic and ancient dull noise let out a call at a pitch beyond human hearing. Levers and gears burst back to life, furnaces roared into intense flames, and a long-dormant, high-pitched echo erupted outward, shattering rock and shaking ancient beasts.
The machine spirit rejoiced.
And the call from the Luofu Xianzhou did not stop. This inaudible roar spread outward like a shockwave, traveling who knew how far, before crashing violently into the starry sky and causing intense tremors in the surrounding star regions.
As the starry sky shook and roared, changes began to slowly appear. Ripples like water started to form where the Luofu's howl had ceased.
As these ripples spread, the endless black void began to reveal points of light, as if the edge of the universe was expanding.
Then, the space that had stretched into the distance lit up, reflecting star after star.
The same star region was reflected upon something that completely covered that portion of space, and so the same stars appeared countless times in every direction.
Likewise… the Luofu Xianzhou also appeared countless times here. In every "mirror" existing in space, a sea of stars was reflected, and within each of those seas, a colossal ancient vessel named Luofu, belonging to the Xianzhou Alliance, was docked.
In the depths of those countless star seas, it seemed as if pairs of eyes slowly opened, watching everything happening here…
What was happening on the Luofu Xianzhou and in the starry sky where it was docked was still unknown to anyone.
Jing Yuan and the Trailblazer team were also continuing deeper into the Scalegorge Waterscape.
Gigantic underwater plants displayed strange and brilliant colors. Following the thick, winding trunks downward, passing along steps formed by these massive plants, the group arrived at a stone platform within the Scalegorge Waterscape.
Standing on the platform and looking out, they saw that the once magnificent palace walls were gone, the pillars supporting the sea had collapsed, and time had left countless traces here.
Through those traces, they could glimpse the glorious and splendid past of the Scalegorge Waterscape.
Suddenly, Dan Heng, who was leading the way, stopped, and the others stopped as well.
Ahead, two floating Vidyadhara mirages could be seen. These remnants from the past were conversing.
They heard an aged voice say, "Using the Scalegorge Waterscape to seal the Arbor? Betrayal! This is a grave disrespect!"
Hearing this, March's expression changed, clearly startled.
The girl quickly looked around and saw that everyone else remained fairly calm, especially Nero, who was floating nearby with bright eyes, watching with great interest.
So her mood settled a bit.
At the same time, March sighed inwardly.
She knew Nero's personality. If this thing didn't look like it couldn't do any work, this kid would have probably already suggested to Jing Yuan and Dan Heng to take these Vidyadhara projections to "the Company" to do the same kind of work as those Fragmentum echoes.
At this moment, the conversation of the Vidyadhara projections hadn't stopped. The old man continued roaring, scolding, and shouting, "You're mad! Do you think this will earn the trust of the Xianzhou people? Those not of our kind can never truly stand united!"
But no matter how furious the old man's words were, the younger voice, the High Elder, remained calm.
"I understand the elder's meaning, but my decision is made and will not change."
At this, the elder could only grit his teeth and breathe heavily, saying "Good" three times in a row before angrily declaring, "I will report this to the Dragon Masters and strip you of your title and power as High Elder!"
Hearing this, Dan Heng murmured, "This is… the first High Elder who accepted the mission to suppress the Arbor…"
"According to tradition, from then on, every High Elder must return to the Dragon Prayer Hall, draw upon the tides of the ancient sea, and guard and reinforce the Arbor's seal."
Jing Yuan tilted his head slightly. "You remember now?"
Dan Heng nodded. "Yes. 'Kneel and pray to the three claws, pay homage to the scale wood'… the path to the depths of the root will open."
Hearing this, March blinked and made a thinking expression. "Is that some kind of riddle? 'Kneel and pray to the three claws'… what does that mean?"
Dan Heng only said calmly, "No need to worry. Just follow me."
So the group no longer hesitated and simply followed Dan Heng, searching for the path within this sacred dragon palace.
Dan Heng led them to three locations, where ancient arrangements like some kind of formation were placed.
Drawing on the power of the High Elder, he activated the lamps one by one, lighting them to open the formation.
Each time a formation was unlocked, green ghostly flames would ignite atop the paired towering pillars that rose like sky-supporting columns, flanking the ancient dragon palace path amid waves that stretched hundreds of meters.
Along the way, the group also dealt with some Abundance abominations and Legion phantoms set up here.
A considerable number of them were reflections created by the Mirror Holder. It seemed that due to Jing Yuan's prior planning, Phantylia was severely short-handed in setting up obstacles.
If it had only been Phantylia alone, this would have been a battle with no suspense. But with the addition of the mysterious and unpredictable Amdor, everyone felt the pressure on their shoulders grow heavier.
Aside from those monsters, the group also encountered other Vidyadhara mirages.
The first to sound was a middle-aged voice tinged with age. "If you bring me here, and your people find out, it'll be troublesome."
Hearing this, Jing Yuan and Nero slightly widened their eyes and exchanged a glance.
The others didn't react much and simply continued listening.
"They won't know," the High Elder's mirage said.
"Be quiet, Yingxing. Now we're even. You have one hour. Do as much research as you can. Remember, only one hour."
Hearing this, the man named Yingxing said with disdainful arrogance, "I'm a short-life species. Do you think one hour is little? For me, that's more than enough."
The High Elder snorted coldly and said no more.
Hearing this, Dan Heng frowned. "It's Dan Feng… that's his voice. Who is the other person? It's familiar, very familiar…"
[T/N: For me the best part of bringing you chapters everyday is reading your comments. Be it anything witty or a simple "Tftc", they all keep me motivated to keep posting chapters. So, do comment and please give a REVIEW.]