『 [ So, the only one dispatched by the Alliance this time to investigate the aftermath of the Ambrosial Arbor crisis is General Feixiao of the Yaoqing? ]
Hearing Huaiyan say this, Dan Heng chimed in to ask.
[ How could that be? Of course, there's also me. ]
Huaiyan chuckled and squinted his eyes once more.
[ This old gentleman's words are truly… unpredictable. ]
March 7th shook her head, not knowing what to say.
[ The Marshal issued an order for me to head to the Luofu. ]
[ But the official document had only a few brief words: "Attend the Luminary Wardance, and observe Feixiao's questioning." ]
Huaiyan explained in greater detail.
[ The Marshal's orders? ]
[ Should we excuse ourselves? ]
Hearing the word 'Marshal,' Stelle asked with some hesitation.
[ You are all witnesses, so there is no harm. ]
[ In my view, the Marshal is well aware of Jing Yuan's intentions in hosting the ceremony, and she also knows the situation he faces. ]
[ By putting it this way, she clearly believes both matters are of equal importance. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "So the Marshal sent General Huaiyan here to back up General Jing Yuan?"
March 7th: "It seems that way, right?"
Furina de Fontaine: "I think General Feixiao is actually here to support the Luofu's Luminary Wardance as well."
Furina de Fontaine: "But that will have to wait until she finishes her questioning and ensures there are no lingering doubts."
Hu Tao: "So all of this was already anticipated by that Alliance Marshal, right?"
Paimon: "I'm really curious about this Alliance Marshal."
Paimon: "The Arbiter-Generals are already Emanators of the Reignbow Arbiter and are so incredibly powerful."
Paimon: "Then wouldn't the Marshal be even more amazing?"
Lumine: "That's for sure."
Lumine: "I really want to see what such a legendary figure looks like…"
....
『 [ Elder Huaiyan has a magnanimous heart, and this junior is deeply grateful. ]
[ However, is it… appropriate to openly discuss the Marshal's orders in public? ]
Jing Yuan looked toward Huaiyan.
[ You introduced the Express's witnesses to me in private precisely because you wanted to gauge my and Feixiao's respective intentions, and to see if there is any friction between us. ]
[ This old man treats others with sincerity, so you young people shouldn't hide things either. ]
[ Regarding the Ambrosial Arbor crisis, from beginning to end, all I intend to do is observe. ]
[ The one who truly needs to ask questions is General Feixiao. ]
[ And what I care about more is whether the Luminary Wardance can be held safely and on schedule. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Venti: "Suddenly, I have a realization."
Venti: "Is this Luminary Wardance being held as bait on purpose?"
Welt Yang: "Indeed, I have the same feeling."
Welt Yang: "General Jing Yuan intends to use this Luminary Wardance to draw out those who are secretly coveting the Luofu, right?"
Welt Yang: "If that's the case, I'm afraid this Luminary Wardance will stir up quite a storm…"
March 7th: "No wonder the Marshal sent two whole generals at this critical juncture!"
March 7th: "I bet the so-called questioning is just a cover!"
March 7th: "Helping to guard the Luofu is the real purpose, right?"
Stelle: "So after all is said and done, we're just going there to do manual labor."
Stelle: "We might even have to fight to the death against some heavyweight figures."
Stelle: "Sigh, if I had known, I would have gone with the archaeologists!"
Stelle: "Even if it's boring, at least there's no risk of getting beaten to a pulp!"
March 7th: "Uh… that's true…"
March 7th: "Mainly because Emanator-level opponents are just too hard to fight."
Furina de Fontaine: "So what kind of heavyweight figures will show up this time?"
Mualani: "With three Alliance generals present, if only a few enemies show up, it won't be enough to do anything, right?"
Lumine: "The problem is, if too many show up, I'm afraid the aftershocks of the battle will wipe out the entire Luofu…"
Jing Yuan: "Haha, there is no need to worry needlessly."
Jing Yuan: "I indeed have the intention of fishing."
Jing Yuan: "But whether any fish will bite remains to be seen."
Jing Yuan: "If not, then this Luminary Wardance will naturally proceed smoothly!"
Silver Wolf: "Haven't the fish already bitten?"
Silver Wolf: "We just don't know if they are small fish or big fish."
....
『 [ Speaking of which, this old man brought a gift for the Luminary Wardance upon arriving at the Luofu. ]
As Huaiyan spoke, he led everyone to an ancient, exquisite, and beautiful casket.
[ Yes, this casket. ]
[ During the Luminary Wardance, there will be countless matches and celebrations, both big and small. ]
[ The most important among them is defending the arena. ]
[ The host must send highly skilled warriors to defend the stage and meet challenges from all sides, showcasing the martial prowess of the Xianzhou. ]
[ When you mentioned that the Astral Express would attend, I thought the one defending the arena this time would be the Luofu's High Elder… ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "Ah? Letting the High Elder defend the arena? She'd definitely be beaten to tears, right?"
Stelle: "Don't underestimate Bailu!"
Stelle: "Even though Bailu doesn't have much combat power!"
Stelle: "She is a top-tier healer. Slipping some poison secretly would be a piece of cake for her, wouldn't it?"
Bailu: "Go away! This lady is not a poisoner; how could I use such underhanded means?"
Jiaoqiu: "The High Elder is mistaken. On the battlefield, there is only victory or defeat, not the nobility of the methods used."
Jiaoqiu: "As long as you can win, any means can be deployed."
Yunli: "Hey, squinty-eyed uncle, are you really a healer?"
Yunli: "Don't healers usually have a benevolent heart?"
Yunli: "But why do you look like you're full of bad ideas?"
Jiaoqiu: "Haha, I am actually a chef."
Jiaoqiu: "Being a healer and advisor is just a side gig."
Hu Tao: "Miss Bailu is the current High Elder of the Luofu?!"
Hu Tao: "Is she that amazing?"
Hu Tao: "Then shouldn't she be even more powerful than Mr. Dan Heng, the former High Elder?"
Qingque: "Normally, that should be the case."
Qingque: "But unfortunately, the High Elder is still just a child."
Qingque: "Aside from her miraculous medical skills, her combat power… uh…"
Qingque: "Might not even match mine."
Bailu: "Hmph, I hate fighting the most."
Hotaru: "When General Huaiyan said that, he was looking at Mr. Dan Heng."
Hotaru: "His intention might be… to let Mr. Dan Heng defend the arena?"
Dan Heng: "But I am actually an outsider now. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to represent the Luofu in defending the arena."
Stelle: "The thing is, letting the Luofu's High Elder defend the arena sounds a bit much, doesn't it?"
Stelle: "In terms of status, the High Elder is not much different from a general."
Stelle: "Going to defend the arena at the Luminary Wardance is like a father beating his son—just bullying."
Stelle: "It's just that the Luofu is special, and the current High Elder hasn't grown up yet…"
Stelle: "But no matter what, she is still the esteemed High Elder!"
Fu Xuan: "Indeed… an event like the Luminary Wardance shouldn't require the generals or High Elders to step onto the stage personally…"
Fu Xuan: "After all, this is supposed to be an exchange event for the younger generation…"
March 7th: "To be fair, if Dan Heng really took his High Elder form, he probably wouldn't even need to lift a finger. Summoning a water dragon would sweep away everything, right?"
Yunli: "Then what's the point of fighting?"
Yunli: "I might as well not have come! (speechless.jpg)"
....
『 [ Elder Huaiyan must be joking. ]
[ The Dragon-Curing Lady is still young and not well-versed in martial affairs. How could we let her defend the arena? ]
Jing Yuan smiled and said.
[ Ha, when it comes to joking, I still can't match you. ]
Jing Yuan playing dumb made Huaiyan find it amusing.
[ What is this casket for? Why doesn't General Huaiyan open it? ]
March 7th circled the exquisite casket, looking at it repeatedly, unable to resist asking.
[ This is the sword casket I prepared for the Wardance prize. ]
[ It is currently empty, but in a few days, a precious sword will arrive here to be stored inside. ]
[ Not to boast, but this sword is the pinnacle of the Zhuming Xianzhou's craftsmanship. It once drifted to foreign lands and achieved various heroic deeds. ]
[ The bizarre details are truly hard to explain in a single sentence. ]
[ However, since the delegation delivering the sword has not yet arrived, I will place the sword casket here first. ]
[ I have been thinking… what kind of person is worthy of this sword? ]
[ After much thought, why not use this arena defense challenge to present it as a prize? ]
[ The winner of the challenge will surely be an extraordinary hero, a perfect match for this precious sword. ]
[ And I heard that young Yanqing has exceptional swordsmanship. If he represents the Luofu to defend the arena, I think this gift is most appropriate. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Yanqing: "What?!"
Yanqing: "To have the chance to receive a sword personally gifted by General Huaiyan!"
Yanqing: "Hahaha, then I will certainly go all out!!"
Stelle: "Wow, this sword sounds incredibly powerful!"
Stelle: "It actually makes me a bit tempted…"
Stelle: "Would I go up and compete for it?"
March 7th: "Isn't your bat the most comfortable weapon for you?"
March 7th: "Would you still be as comfortable with a sword?"
Stelle: "True…"
Stelle: "Never mind then, swords aren't for me."
Stelle: "If there's a chance, I'll ask General Huaiyan to upgrade my bat instead!"
Asta: "But your bat is already a Curio…"
Asta: "How would you even upgrade it?"
Silver Wolf: "Curios aren't necessarily impossible to upgrade. As long as the craftsmanship is skilled enough, there's always a way."
Yunli: "Yanqing, don't celebrate too early."
Yunli: "This sword sounds like it was prepared for me!"
Yanqing: "Haha, then we shall see who is superior on the stage!"
....
『 [ Since Elder Huaiyan has such kind intentions, Jing Yuan expresses his gratitude here. ]
Hearing Huaiyan say this, Jing Yuan quickly thanked him.
At this moment, Yunli, who had been wandering around nearby, walked over.
[ Grandpa, if you want to give me the sword, just say so. Why go through all these loops? ]
Yunli stared at Huaiyan, looking as if she already considered the sword hers.
[ Girl, you certainly are confident. ]
[ But I don't think you can necessarily beat Yanqing. ]
Huaiyan shook his head and smiled.
[ Yanqing knows that Miss Yunli has a deep love for swords. ]
[ Unfortunately, a sword always chooses a master worthy of it. ]
Seeing Yunli step forward again, Yanqing couldn't help but retort.
[ Some people, even if they obtain a precious sword, will inevitably see it fall into the hands of others. ]
Yunli refused to back down and shot back.
[ The match at the Alchemy Commission today hasn't been settled yet. Since Miss Yunli is interested, why not represent the Zhuming Xianzhou and fight on stage? ]
Yanqing didn't want to say more and directly issued a challenge.
[ That is exactly my intention! ]
[ Who knows whose hands the prize will fall into? It might be me, it might be someone else, or it might still be me, but in any case… it won't necessarily be him! ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "Uh… once these two meet, they really can't stay quiet…"
Stelle: "This is the result of not having a clear winner."
Stelle: "But since they are currently evenly matched, it's hard to determine a victor."
Qingque: "Why don't you compromise?"
Qingque: "Yanqing admits he is inferior to Yunli in sword forging."
Qingque: "Yunli admits she is inferior to Yanqing in swordsmanship."
Qingque: "Wouldn't that be a win-win?"
Li Sushang: "???"
Li Sushang: "Is that… a compromise??"
Silver Wolf: "Hahaha… you really know how to compromise."
Yunli: "How is this a win-win?"
Yunli: "Strength is strength, weakness is weakness!"
Yunli: "As long as he hasn't defeated me fair and square, I will never admit his swordsmanship is better than mine!"
Yanqing: "Indeed, that is correct!"
....
『 [ It seems Feixiao was right. ]
[ When they clash, someone is bound to get hurt… ]
Watching this scene, Stelle couldn't help but shake her head.
[ I don't want to sound rude… but after watching this drama for so long, I really want to see who wins between them. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "As expected, March is the most curious one."
Stelle: "March is the one who loves watching drama the most!"
March 7th: "Nonsense!"
March 7th: "Even though I love watching fun things, I wouldn't deliberately fan the flames, would I?"
March 7th: "Besides, aren't you guys curious about the final result if they actually fight?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Curious!"
Hu Tao: "I'm curious too!"
Lumine: "Curious + 1"
Paimon: "+ 2"
Mualani: "+ 3"
March 7th: "See? Isn't that it?"
March 7th: "I'm not the only curious one, everyone is!"
....
『 [ Both of you, quiet down in front of the guests! ]
[ This old man is giving this sword to add to the glory of the ceremony, not to hear you argue and damage our alliance's friendship. ]
[ Although both of you have the confidence not to lose to the other. ]
[ An arena match always ends in victory or defeat, which might harm your relationship. ]
[ I have an idea— ]
[ Although the winner has not been decided, and it might not be either of you, if you want to claim this prize, I want you to join forces to teach an apprentice. Let them enter the Luminary Wardance and win at least one victory. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Yanqing: "Ah? What kind of rule is this?"
Yunli: "Grandpa, what are you playing at now?"
Stelle: "Teaching an apprentice together?"
Stelle: "This is actually quite interesting!"
Stelle: "I think it works!"
March 7th: "Oh my~ things have taken an even more interesting turn!"
March 7th: "Two sword geniuses teaching an apprentice together. If they don't teach well, I'm afraid both masters will lose face, right?"
Lumine: "Not just lose face, they'll be completely humiliated."
Jing Yuan: "Tsk, it has to be Elder Huaiyan. He easily came up with a brilliant idea that this junior couldn't think of."
Huaiyan: "Haha, Jing Yuan, you flatter me."
Paimon: "So where are we going to find an apprentice?"
Hu Tao: "Just find a random Cloud Knight?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Cloud Knights already have a foundation, right?"
Furina de Fontaine: "That doesn't seem appropriate."
Furina de Fontaine: "They should find a complete novice who doesn't know swordsmanship."
....
『 [ Ah? How is that fair? ]
Yunli and Yanqing spoke in unison!
[ In my humble opinion, it is indeed joyful for a Cloud Knight to stand at the peak of victory; but being able to pass down one's skills, letting them spread and benefit others, is of even greater value. ]
[ If this person can represent the Express in the Luminary Wardance using Cloud Knight swordsmanship and display their skills, this old man would be deeply gratified! ]
After saying this, Huaiyan's gaze began to scan the Express crew.
[ Elder Huaiyan's idea is indeed interesting. ]
[ Passing down skills shows the spirit of cooperation. ]
[ This way, the winner gains something, and the loser won't leave empty-handed. ]
[ But who should the two of them take as an apprentice? ]
After Jing Yuan spoke, everyone's gaze simultaneously turned toward March 7th!
[ Huh? Who?? Me? Me?! ] 』
『 ....』