Xianzhou Loufu
The train continued onward. Its next stop was a frozen planet known as Jarilo-VI.
There was a Stellaron there. It had to be dealt with before they could continue onward.
Originally, the Trailblazing mission had been planned for you, Stelle, and March 7th.
However, you frowned and casually found an excuse. "I don't like the cold."
Dan Heng took your place and boarded that iceball with Stelle and March 7th.
While they dealt with the planet's affairs, you remained alone on the train, quietly moving pieces that had long been buried.
You mobilized a force from the Destruction Legion and silently launched an attack on a merchant convoy from the Xianzhou Loufu.
That convoy was the one Foxian girl Tingyun belonged to.
Almost at the same time, you created a puppet body identical in appearance to Tingyun.
The body was lifelike, even its expressions imitated hers flawlessly.
Then, you separated a portion of your powerful Suyang Essence Core from your main body.
The process was not easy.
Powerful Suyangs like you were formed from the aggregation of countless Suyangs. Splitting off such a pure portion destabilized your mental core and weakened your strength as well.
But your mind was strong enough, and your self-awareness was unshakable.
Although this separated portion of Suyang possessed independent consciousness and thought patterns similar to yours, it remained under the control of your main body's will.
You injected that portion of Suyang into the fake Tingyun's body.
In an instant, the puppet "came to life."
She disguised herself as Tingyun, a survivor of the attack, and skillfully infiltrated the Xianzhou Loufu.
For your revenge against the Xianzhou Alliance, every step had to be foolproof.
Successfully infiltrated the Xianzhou Loufu. Villain Points +200!
After the Trailblazing mission on Jarilo-VI was completed smoothly, the train prepared to head toward its next destination.
Just then, a communication request rang out in the train's control room.
A message had been received from Kafka of the Stellaron Hunters.
She did not waste words. She directly threatened the lives of countless ordinary people and demanded that the Astral Express alter its planned route.
Faced with such naked coercion, the Astral Express Crew had no other choice.
They compromised.
A new destination lit up on the star map.
It was the very place that carried your thousand years of hatred, where countless pains and humiliations had been buried—
The Xianzhou.
You stood beside the train's broad observation window and looked at the point of light representing the Xianzhou Loufu on the star map.
There was not the slightest warmth in the depths of your black eyes, only endless killing intent, like frozen ice that had endured for a thousand years.
Xianzhou, just wait.
At the age of 6,400, in Star Calendar 8100.
The Astral Express arrived at the Xianzhou Loufu.
This time, Stelle, March 7th, and you entered the Loufu.
Welt Yang had originally intended to go with you, but he considered that, as a newcomer, you needed experience. Also, your relationship with Stelle had been somewhat delicate lately, so acting together might resolve some of that awkwardness. Thus, he gave his spot to you. Dan Heng, Himeko, and Welt remained on the train, ready to provide support at any time.
Under the identity of "Jiang Mo," you boarded the massive vessel alongside the two girls.
Golden threads poured out like a silent tide, instantly covering every corner of the Loufu.
This massive vessel no longer held any secrets in your eyes.
You sensed the Abundance Sprites lurking in the shadows, the surging abnormalities within the Alchemy Commission, and the tangled power struggles among the Xianzhou's upper ranks.
Everything was within your control and expectations.
Your objective this time was clear: there was a Stellaron on the Loufu, and it had to be found and sealed to resolve this crisis.
The Loufu was fraught with danger at the moment.
Before long, you encountered a group of Mara-Struck Soldiers surrounding a Foxian.
You intervened at the right moment and saved the Foxian together with Stelle and March 7th.
She introduced herself as Tingyun of the Sky-Faring Commission.
You exchanged a glance with her. She was the puppet clone you had infused with a portion of your Suyang Essence Core, the fake Tingyun.
She immediately returned to normal and thanked you profusely, calling each of you "benefactor."
Under the fake Tingyun's guidance, you successfully met the Loufu's general, Jing Yuan.
You performed your role perfectly, appearing steady and dependable. Jing Yuan also showed you preliminary trust.
He blamed the Loufu's crisis on the infiltrating Stellaron Hunters and entrusted you with assisting in the investigation.
You sneered inwardly.
This was precisely the misdirection you wanted to see.
As long as the Xianzhou focused its attention on the Stellaron Hunters, your true objective would remain better hidden.
Afterward, you traveled through the Loufu with the Astral Express Crew, playing the role of a dependable teammate.
During several battles against Abundance Sprites, you deliberately restrained your strength and acted as though you were barely coping.
On one occasion, you were even struck by an Abundance Sprite and pretended that you had nearly been injured.
These actions, which made it seem as though you were doing everything possible to protect your teammates, further deepened the Astral Express Crew's trust in you.
They believed that although you were capable, you still needed their protection.
However, Stelle's attitude toward you remained complicated.
During battle, she would instinctively stand in front of you and block attacks for you, even though you had no need for her protection at all.
In private, you occasionally caught her secretly looking at you, her gaze carrying an indescribable emotion.
Whenever you occasionally tested her by calling her "wife," her face would instantly turn red as if she had been electrocuted, and then she would hurriedly avoid you.
You enjoyed the thrill brought by this emotional manipulation.
This Stellar Nucleus Essence was more susceptible to emotional influence than you had imagined.
You were like an experienced angler, watching the fish slowly bite the bait you had cast.
Villain Points +50
During your operations on the Loufu, you encountered Kafka again.
She was captured by Fu Xuan's Matrix of Prescience. After an interrogation, Fu Xuan seemed to understand the truth and realized that the Stellaron Hunters were not the direct creators of this crisis.
Afterward, Stelle had a brief conversation with Kafka alone.
At that moment, Kafka seemed to notice the confusion in Stelle's eyes.
"What's wrong? Did you run into some problem?" Kafka asked as she looked at her.
Stelle hesitated for a moment before finally asking, "Do you know what it feels like... to like someone?"
Kafka let out a soft laugh. "Oh? You have someone you like?"
Stelle remained silent for a long time and did not answer.
Kafka did not press her. She merely smiled and said, "If you like someone, pursue them bravely. Don't leave yourself with regrets."
After that, Kafka successfully escaped with the help of Blade, who suddenly appeared.
Stelle looked in the direction Kafka had left and murmured, "If you like someone, you have to be brave..."
Her gaze unconsciously turned toward you, standing not far away and casually taking in the scenery around you.
It seemed that Stelle had made some kind of decision.
Stelle's Confession
The Loufu's crisis continued. Although the Xianzhou had been sealed off, some areas still remained peaceful under the protection of the Cloud Knights.
The Astral Express Crew was given a brief period of rest.
For once, you decided to stroll through the Loufu's streets.
There were fewer stalls than usual, but some people continued to do business as normal.
After all, for these long-lived species, what sort of crisis had they not seen over the course of thousands of years? There were plenty who simply did not care anymore and only minded their own lives.
The three of you walked through the streets, waiting for news from Fu Xuan and General Jing Yuan.
However, Stelle seemed preoccupied and was not as curious about everything as usual.
Thinking of something, she suddenly tugged at March 7th, who was walking beside her, and quietly slowed down a few steps, allowing you to walk ahead.
"March," Stelle asked in a lowered voice, "have you... ever been in a relationship?"
March 7th was startled by the abrupt question. "Huh? Why are you suddenly asking that?"
Stelle did not answer. She merely looked at your back ahead of them, then looked at March 7th and curled her lips. "Never mind. You don't look like you have any experience either."
However, March 7th's gossip radar was exceptionally sharp at that moment.
She looked at Stelle, then at you walking ahead, and recalled Stelle's strange attitude and reactions toward you over the past few days.
A mischievous smile appeared on March 7th's face.
"Stelle, are you finally facing your feelings and planning to take the initiative to chase him?"
Stelle's face instantly turned bright red. She waved her hands in panic. "What are you thinking? I never said that!"
March 7th chuckled, wearing an expression that said she understood perfectly. "Hehe, don't worry, you came to the right person! When it comes to relationship advice, you can't go wrong listening to me!"
Stelle looked doubtful. "You?"
March 7th puffed out her chest. "Don't underestimate me! I may never have dated anyone, but I've read plenty of romance novels and comics! My theoretical knowledge is extensive! Leave it to me!"
March 7th began earnestly teaching Stelle her secrets for confessing in love.
Stelle listened skeptically, but by the end, her eyes had lit up.
"Good idea!"
After a while, Stelle seemed to have prepared herself mentally.
She took a deep breath, straightened her clothes, and began her offensive.
You walked ahead, sensing everything around you and paying no attention to the whispers behind you.
Suddenly, you heard a burst of hurried footsteps from behind.
Stelle jogged over to your side. Her face held an unnatural flush, and she was holding a candied hawthorn skewer she had just bought from a nearby stall.
She offered it to you, her voice trembling slightly. "J-Jiang Mo, this... this is really good. Try it!"
You stopped and turned to look at her.
Stelle did not dare meet your eyes. Her gaze darted around restlessly.
You looked at her face, written all over with nervousness, then at the large candied hawthorn skewer in her hand, and found it somewhat amusing.
What kind of terrible advice did March 7th give her? Giving food?
You did not take it immediately. You merely looked at her calmly.
Stelle became even more nervous under your gaze, her cheeks burning fiercely.
Before you continue