Aetherium Wars: The Luofu's Arrival

"Welcome to the Luofu."

Jing Yuan extended his hand, smiling at Bai Sheng. As Bai Sheng's attention was drawn elsewhere, Jing Yuan swiftly snatched one of his chess pieces from the board.

"Uh, Master, is it really appropriate to just take my piece when you're right in front of me?"

Bai Sheng looked at Jing Yuan with disdain, but Jing Yuan continued to smile back.

"Ah, how can you call that 'taking'? Since ancient times, when armies go to war, there are always a few risky moves, and some of them are so complex even gods and ghosts can't decipher them. The piece I took perfectly represents the unpredictable situation on this board. Your next move is the key to winning or losing this game."

Jing Yuan spouted a lot of nonsense, but what kind of person was Bai Sheng? How many years had that dog emperor dangled vague promises in front of him? He hadn't fallen for it even once.

"Cut the crap. Give me back my piece. You wouldn't want people to know that the General of the Xianzhou Luofu is a sore loser who cheats at chess, right?"

Bai Sheng threatened, already opening his phone, ready to record at any moment.

Jing Yuan shrugged indifferently, swept the chessboard away, and said:

"Alright, there are many lessons to be learned from this game. You're still young, so ponder them slowly. We're almost at the Luofu, and I need to check the course. We'll disembark at the Star Rail Central Hub later."

Watching Jing Yuan's retreating back, Bai Sheng muttered:

"What a load of crap. He just couldn't handle losing, so he flipped the board. What a convenient excuse."

Without further thought, Bai Sheng returned to his room and flopped onto the bed, playing on his phone.

(PS: This Star Rail is an original creation by the author, larger than a typical Star Rail, and can be considered a small spaceship.)

Bai Sheng opened the mobile version of "Aetherium Wars." As soon as he logged in, he received a team invitation.

BigLoveWolfLord: Quick, I've spotted a Overlord-class Aetherium Spirit, help me tank the damage, I want to capture it!

Po: Silver Wolf?

BigLoveWolfLord: What's up?

Po: Nothing, come on, I'm ready.

In the team, Bai Sheng equipped an Abyss Keeper (Ice Fatty), a White Demon (Puff), an Automaton Beetle (Traffic Light), and an Automaton Hound (One-Eyed Four-Wheel Drive).

This lineup was built around high HP and durability. He accepted Silver Wolf's team invitation and saw the Aetherium Spirit she wanted to capture.

It was a Golden Automaton.

Bai Sheng turned on voice chat:

"Are you going for a summoner build?"

Silver Wolf also turned on her mic:

"Summoner builds are meta this version. The number of units allowed on the field has been updated to five. Deploy two summoner-type Aetherium Spirits. I have a feeling this lineup will be viable for at least two major versions!"

"Then I wish you good luck. Let's start. I'll be in front to tank, and you have your Trampler deal the damage."

Silver Wolf's build revolved around a one-shot combo with the Trampler. Her other three Aetherium Spirits were meant to buff the Trampler's damage, allowing it to unleash its ultimate. The Trampler was as fragile as a Stingbug larva's shell, which was why she needed Bai Sheng to help tank.

Under the Golden Automaton's repeated elbow strikes in its mode-switching attacks, Bai Sheng's front line of Ice Fatty, Hound, and Puff all fell. Only the Traffic Light was desperately holding on.

"Silver Wolf, are you crafting your Trampler's arrows on the fly? I've only got one left."

Since they were in a team, Bai Sheng would also get a similar Aetherium Spirit after defeating this BOSS. Defeated Aetherium Spirits needed to be treated at a specialized medical facility, and treatment took time. Bai Sheng didn't want to be without playable characters.

"Almost there, almost there! Just one more bar of energy for the ultimate. I have a Sacrifice Chip equipped, sacrifice your Traffic Light, and I'll cut in to finish it off."

Hearing Silver Wolf, Bai Sheng abandoned the Traffic Light's one-time invincibility shield skill and instead fired a normal attack.

The Golden Automaton also finished charging and sent Bai Sheng's last Aetherium Spirit flying with an elbow strike.

"Was that enough?"

"Enough, watch this! Trampler Imaginary Arrow, fire!"

The imaginary-attribute arrow successfully blew up the Golden Automaton. As it fell, two golden loot drops appeared on the ground – two Overlord-class Aetherium Spirit containment cards representing the Golden Automaton. Silver Wolf and Bai Sheng each took one.

"Alright, that's done. Oh, right, when we get to the Luofu, remember to check if the Golden Automatons can really summon Dragon Fish for me."

With that, Silver Wolf left the team room, and her friend icon gradually dimmed.

After sending his Aetherium Spirits to the treatment center, Bai Sheng also logged off.

Looking out the window, a massive, yellowish-green Xianzhou came into view. It was surrounded by two ribbon-like objects and a huge ring, which Bai Sheng guessed was used for navigation control.

Xianzhou, Xianzhou. From its appearance, it truly resembled a small boat, except it sailed the vast galaxy.

As the Star Rail slowly entered the interior, Bai Sheng saw it pass through a round object. This was an ecosystem developed by the Xianzhou itself, and inside it lay the true Xianzhou Luofu.

Not long after, the Star Rail slowly docked at the port. The cabin door opened, and Bai Sheng and Jing Yuan walked out.

This was Bai Sheng's first time here, and he looked around with curiosity, finding everything novel. The architectural style here had a retro beauty that Bai Sheng really liked.

He put Pandora into his Path space, then looked down and saw a pink-haired girl staring resentfully at Jing Yuan.

A scene from an 800-episode cosmic drama flashed through Bai Sheng's mind. He then crouched down and said to the pink-haired girl:

"Little sister, why are you looking for him?"

To his surprise, the girl visibly froze upon hearing this. Her lips twitched, her hands clenched into fists, and she glared at Jing Yuan, who was watching the scene unfold, and gritted out:

"Jing Yuan, aren't you going to explain yourself to me?"

Jing Yuan maintained his smile, saying to Bai Sheng:

"Bai Sheng, this isn't some little sister. This is the Diviner of the Divination Department, Fu Xuan."

Bai Sheng had heard of the Divination Department, one of the Six Directors. They were responsible for predicting the fortunes and misfortunes of the Xianzhou's voyages, foretelling major future events and disasters, and doing their best to alter them through divination.

Simply put, it was cyber fortune-telling.

What Bai Sheng hadn't expected was that the Diviner of the Divination Department, a position second only to the highest authority, was... so petite.

"Ah, hahaha... So it's the esteemed Diviner. I've heard much about you, and meeting you today, you truly are a person of great talent. One look and it's clear you're a dragon among men destined for the General's position."

Bai Sheng recalled some ministers from Kasantiya mentioning before that the Diviner of the Divination Department was determined to secure the General's post.

Seeing Fu Xuan's relaxed brow, Bai Sheng let out a silent sigh of relief.

As expected, some rumors and gossip did have an effect.

"Very well, I am not one to dwell on such matters. Is this the new disciple you mentioned?"

Fu Xuan asked Jing Yuan.

Jing Yuan nodded noncommittally. Fu Xuan's ambition to become General was something even a random passerby on the street would know, and Jing Yuan wouldn't blame Bai Sheng for his words because of it.

It wasn't easy for ordinary people to become as close to Jing Yuan as brothers.

Fu Xuan formed a hand seal with her left hand, and a star chart appeared before her. After a few gestures, she shook her head, then nodded, and finally sighed, saying:

"The celestial stars are dim, while the terrestrial stars shine brightly. Your disciple will not achieve much on the path of officialdom. Who knows, they might even become a Sea Ranger."

Jing Yuan was silent. In truth, it didn't matter much to him. When it came to taking disciples, he mostly went with the flow.