After hearing Xun yu's explanation, Jing Yuan let out a sigh.
He wasn't surprised that Yanqing had gone to seek Xun yu's guidance to become stronger.
Jing Yuan had long known that Yanqing would suffer a heavy blow during his pursuit of Blade.
The kid really had rotten luck—across the entire Xianzhou, there were only a handful of people he couldn't beat, yet he somehow managed to pick exactly those few…
"Yanqing, failure isn't frightening. What's frightening is letting it crush you."
"Rest and recover properly. You're still young—your potential is limitless."
After offering a few words of comfort, Jing Yuan left.
From Yanqing's eyes, it was clear he was now riding a surge of adrenaline.
If not for his injuries, he probably would've started practicing swordsmanship on the spot.
Night fell.
Xun yu sat cross-legged, with Aha floating beside him.
"My dear, do you think he'll come? He's injured that badly~"
"Hm? If he wasn't coming, why would I be putting on this whole act? And besides, hadn't you already sensed it?"
Xun yu shot Aha a glance and said nothing more.
After a while, a figure wrapped up like a mummy appeared outside Xun yu's door.
Seeing the door half-open, the visitor felt a surge of joy.
Stepping inside, he saw Xun yu's smiling gently at him.
"Mm. A teachable child."
"xun tu—Teacher! Please, teach me!"
"Very well. Today, I shall pass on to you a peerless sword technique."
With a light gesture through the air, Yanqing suddenly felt himself transported into another world.
"Three feet of water—enough to sever clouds!"
A cold, clear female voice rang out as a massive sword descended toward him.
He only had time to catch a fleeting glimpse of the female sword immortal in the sky before losing consciousness.
And at the same moment, he learned the name of that strike.
'Taixu Sword Deity'!
Yanqing's gaze grew unfocused, while Xun yu merely smiled calmly.
"Go. No need for further words. In the future, if you get into trouble, just don't mention your master."
Xun yu imitated how Patriarch Bodhi once taught Sun Wukong and gave Yanqing a lesson of his own.
Yanqing staggered away in a daze, Xun yu's words echoing endlessly in his mind.
His unsteady steps made March 7th—who had gotten up in the middle of the night—think she'd run into a ghost.
She messaged Dan Heng and Welt, but they seemed fast asleep, with no response.
March 7th didn't dare make a fuss—what if the ghost was just passing by?
And so, she spent the entire night trembling in fear.
The next day, everyone saw March 7th with dark circles under her eyes.
After hearing what had happened, Xun yu's scratched his head awkwardly.
He'd gone off to find other fun after pulling that stunt and really hadn't noticed March 7th…
"Uh… I think I know what ghost March 7th saw…"
Xun yu explained that Yanqing had come to see him the night before.
"…Yanqing? Then why was he wrapped up like a mummy?"
"That's something you'll have to ask Little Xun yu."
Xun yu glanced toward his room.
Faintly, they could see Little Xun yu sleeping soundly.
A strange look flickered through Xun yu's eyes.
Originally, he'd only intended to create a troublemaking combat doll—but through his and Aha's meddling, something like a chemical reaction had occurred.
What should've been a simple automaton had turned into a special little lifeform.
That was why Xun yu had said she might count as his and Aha's daughter…
March 7th's face drooped, but it was obvious her complexion had improved considerably.
After all, once the "ghost" was gone, a lot of the tension in her heart disappeared.
With the physical constitution of a Pathstrider, skipping a night's sleep wasn't a big deal.
Today, the Astral Express crew was to attend a Memorial Rite.
To short-lived species, a "Memorial Rite" was simply called a funeral.
For the long-lived people of the Xianzhou, death rites had always felt distant and abstract.
Before signs of mara-struck appeared, the Ten-Lords Commission would guide a Xianzhou native to the Hall of Karma, record their life, and then usher them into annihilation. People had grown accustomed to brief "farewells" instead of elaborate burials.
But Foxians had limited lifespans, and they valued funerary rites.
This crisis on the Luofu had claimed too many lives…
Yukong wanted to give the departed a place of rest—using the Sky-Faring Commission's way, and the Foxians' rites.
The belongings of the deceased would be sent beyond the Xianzhou, sailing into a star, to shine alongside it.
She invited the Astral Express crew to bear witness.
Star Skiff Haven — Kunyu Platform
Countless star skiffs streaked across the sky, carrying the belongings of the dead toward a star.
Among them were Tingyun's.
Here's a grim joke—Tingyun's assets hadn't been completely cleared out, but a fair amount was gone.
Though xun yu said she was still alive, even the Divination Commission couldn't divine her exact condition.
Until she was formally seen again in person… sigh…
The old friend is gone. I gaze upon a flourishing age, yet something is always missing—perhaps it is you.
This catastrophe had taken too many people away without a chance to say goodbye.
On the scale of the universe, long-lived and short-lived species didn't seem all that different.
The longevity pursued by the Xianzhou wasn't even as long as a single flicker of a star's breath.
Their grief was no different from that of short-lived beings.
After the memorial rite concluded, Jing Yuan invited the Astral Express crew to the Divine Foresight Pavilion, saying he had something to give them.
"Thousands of years ago, when the Alliance was founded, all Xianzhou ships swore an oath together, engraved upon jade as testimony. Though heaven and earth may perish, this vow shall not waver."
"This Alliance Jade Token is the same—it records the Luofu Cloud Knights' promise to the Astral Express, and also serves as a beacon. Grip it tightly, and a message will be sent to the paired token in my possession."
"No matter how vast the galaxy, no matter how arduous your journey, the Luofu Cloud Knights will come to rendezvous with the Express and fulfill your request."
Jing Yuan's words made everyone look at the jade token anew.
"Wow! This is really a no-expense-spared gift."
March 7th exclaimed.
At that moment, she noticed Xun yu staring at the token, his eyes darting about.
Sensing he was about to cause trouble, March 7th rushed to cover his mouth—
But Xun yu predicted her prediction and dodged.
"Then can I use this to have the Luofu Cloud Knights go beat up the Yaoguang Cloud Knights?"
Smack!
Everyone on the Express smacked their foreheads.
March 7th and Stelle rushed forward to physically silence Xun yu and drag him back.
Jing Yuan's vision darkened, his lips twitching.
"Er… such an important item should not be used lightly for trivial matters, or in ways that violate alliance goodwill."
"Mmm~"
Xun yu was physically muted, so he gave Little Xun yu a look.
Surprised? I've got a mouthpiece.
"So… can we make Yaoguang and the Luofu fight each other?"
"…I'm afraid not."
Jing Yuan shook his head after glancing at Xun yu and Little Xun yu.
"Oh~ okay~"
The soft, sweet voice and innocent expression bore no trace of her earlier troublemaker grin.
That little one—cut her open and she'd definitely be pitch black inside.
There was one final matter—related to Dan Heng.
"By decree of the Ten-Lords Commission, I hereby revoke your exile. From this day forth, you may come and go freely upon the Luofu."