A rare Pathstrider who had embarked upon the Memory Destiny on the Xianzhou, and a Pathstrider who could attract the attention of the Aeon of Equilibrium.
The value of the two was worlds apart.
At that moment, Jing Yuan wore an expression as if he had discovered a treasure. His right hand even began rubbing his chin as he considered how to test Dan Lei's potential and make arrangements for him.
The sight made Dan Lei's chrysanthemums clench at once. What exactly was Jing Yuan's expression supposed to mean? He didn't remember the game's lore saying that Jing Yuan had any special interest in men. Why could he sense a hint of wanting to strip him naked in that expression?
Cold sweat was about to break out across Dan Lei's back. In a place like the Imprisonment Court, if Jing Yuan wanted to force himself on him, Dan Lei wouldn't even have room to resist.
After all, the other man was a Path of Pursuit Emissary. Controlling him would be like a cat catching a mouse.
Thus, Dan Lei stopped worrying about why he couldn't sense the Equilibrium Destiny and hurriedly followed up on Jing Yuan's earlier words.
"Yes, the Imprisonment Court would be fine for retirement once you could no longer run around outside, but I'm still young. This is the time for me to venture out. How can I stay locked up here forever?
"Besides, as a [question] judge, I'd have to examine the memories of all sorts of people deeply afflicted by mara-struck madness every day. I've heard about the incubation period from my last time around. Going through a reincarnation isn't easy. I don't want to die young at over four hundred years old, before I've even reached the age of my egg."
When Jing Yuan heard Dan Lei's words, his train of thought was interrupted. He inwardly thought, He really is still young. What the hell does he mean, dying young before reaching the age of his egg?
Still, Jing Yuan caught the key phrase in Dan Lei's words: "venture out."
Combined with Dan Lei's initiative to turn himself in this time, Jing Yuan understood instantly.
Thus, he deliberately asked with a smile,
"Venture out? Dan Lei, why don't you first tell me where you plan to venture?"
The moment Dan Lei heard that, he knew Jing Yuan had seen through his intentions. It seemed that even after adding up his three lives, his roughly two hundred years still made him young. Compared with Jing Yuan, that eight-hundred-year-old fox, his little schemes truly weren't enough to fool him. The moment he showed the slightest flaw, Jing Yuan could guess everything.
Since his thoughts had been seen through, Dan Lei simply stopped pretending, lest he only make himself a laughingstock.
Dan Lei's expression instantly turned solemn, and he said seriously,
"I haven't decided yet, but I am indeed planning to apply for a Trial Entry Permit and visit some other planets.
"I can salvage memories on other planets instead.
"After all, by then I'll be who knows how many warp jumps away from Luofu. If I can still salvage Luofu's secrets, then all I can say is that it was fate. Wherever I salvage memories, I won't be able to escape it."
Seeing Dan Lei suddenly confess his intentions, Jing Yuan smiled and nodded. He thought to himself, He's quick on the uptake. He probably won't be deceived the moment he leaves Luofu.
Jing Yuan had actually already approved of Dan Lei's plan.
After all, let alone a single Xianzhou, even the entire Xianzhou Alliance might not be enough to affect the balance of the universe in the eyes of the Aeon of Equilibrium. At most, they would count as a chess piece.
Yet Dan Lei alone had attracted [Xa]'s attention. He must have some fortuitous encounter waiting for him.
That fortuitous encounter might not exist yet. Perhaps he would encounter something in the future, or perhaps there was something he was destined to experience in this life.
But from Jing Yuan's perspective, whether Dan Lei's fortuitous encounter would be a blessing or a disaster for Luofu remained unknown.
After all, anything capable of affecting the balance of the universe would be enough to make Luofu suffer even from its aftershocks.
In fact, Jing Yuan's concern here wasn't misplaced. During the Great Cosmic Plague and the first Mechanical Emperor War, [Xa] had taken action in both.
From a local's perspective, at the very least, only a key figure in an event of that magnitude would be qualified to attract [Xa]'s attention.
Of course, Jing Yuan didn't know these secrets. Instinctively, he felt that Dan Lei's being noticed by the Equilibrium Destiny meant that Luofu would face both fortune and disaster.
That was why Dan Lei could leave Luofu. Jing Yuan knew that even if he could stop him for a time, he couldn't stop him forever. Moreover, ruining what could have been a friendly relationship and turning it into mutual dislike would be pointless.
However, Jing Yuan felt that before allowing Dan Lei to leave, he still had to prove that he possessed the means to operate in the universe, rather than being captured by space pirates and sold as merchandise the moment he left, or swallowed in one bite by some Great Beast roaming the cosmos.
Thus, Jing Yuan also answered solemnly,
"A Trial Entry Permit? Luofu hasn't issued one of those in many years. Although you meet the requirements to apply, the tests involved won't be easy. They're not something you can pass casually."
Hearing Jing Yuan say this, Dan Lei naturally guessed that he had actually agreed to the plan. He said,
"That's only natural. I'll pass every assessment before I leave. However, regarding the paperwork, this junior has a presumptuous request. Could I trouble the general to take care of it?"
Dan Lei's meaning here was simple: he wanted Jing Yuan not to obstruct his paperwork and to have the clerks process it more efficiently.
After all, for something that wasn't urgent at all, it was perfectly normal in a place like Luofu for one stage of the process to hold you up for several months.
Seeing this man, who had never had any interaction with him before today, shamelessly ask him to handle something on their first meeting, Jing Yuan thought that with skin this thick, Dan Lei probably wouldn't suffer a setback over some trivial matter after going outside.
Jing Yuan had never intended to obstruct Dan Lei's application in the first place. He also wanted to use the assessments to see what level Dan Lei was currently at, so he agreed directly.
"That won't be a problem. I can urge them along with the paperwork, but as for the actual assessments, you'll still need genuine ability.
"Oh, right. You can't use this Light Cone. Its effects will breed Abundance Monstrosities, so the Ten Lords' Commission will seal it away afterward."
The Light Cone Jing Yuan was referring to was [Ghost King's Malice], but Dan Lei wasn't surprised.
Dan Lei had been a ghost soldier for over a century, after all. It had been obvious for a long time that [Ghost King's Malice] would be sealed away once it was taken out.
In any case, Dan Lei hadn't wanted to use this Light Cone in the first place. He might as well sacrifice it.
However, Dan Lei wasn't about to throw away a Light Cone for nothing. He immediately revealed a merchant-like smile and said,
"General, sealing the Light Cone is no problem. However, the Light Cone itself can't cause any harm. It's merely an item that may be dangerous after use.
"According to regulations, when a high-value, non-universal dangerous item is confiscated from a Luofu resident, compensation must be provided. You know the value of a Light Cone, so..."
As Dan Lei spoke, his hand began making the gesture for counting Xun Di, the currency circulated within the Xianzhou Alliance.
Seeing this, Jing Yuan couldn't help finding it amusing. Did the dignified Luofu General really look like someone who would cheat him out of the price of a Light Cone? Thus, he said,
"Don't worry. We'll follow the rules. The Celestial Ship Commission will provide an appraisal. Yours will be valued at least as a High-grade Light Cone."
Dan Lei shook his head and explained,
"General, you misunderstand. If I only wanted to exchange it for some Xun Di, I definitely wouldn't have brought it up with you.
"I want to exchange this Light Cone for a weapon. You know that for a commoner like me, the weapons I can buy on Luofu are all third-rate.
"So I want to use this Light Cone to commission a flying sword—a High-grade Flying Sword exclusively crafted by the Crafting Department."
The reason Dan Lei wanted to exchange the Light Cone for a flying sword was that although Luofu didn't prohibit carrying weapons, locals who wanted powerful weapons had only two options: join a law-enforcement force, such as the Cloud Knights or the Martial Armaments Unit, or have someone vouch for them.
Otherwise, if weapons such as flying swords, Stone Refining Arrows, and Blazing Fire Crossbows were allowed to circulate among the public, Luofu would have descended into chaos long ago.
There were many martial Xianzhou natives, and it was perfectly normal for fights to break out over the slightest disagreement.
Flying swords were extremely difficult to control. One careless overexertion could stab someone and leave them seriously injured, creating no end of trouble.
After all, Xianzhou natives had strong regenerative abilities. They could even reattach a severed head. The other three races had no such ability.
In any case, if Dan Lei lost his head right now, setting aside the possibility of someone using life-support equipment to maintain its vitality, his only option would be to shed his scales and be reborn on the spot.
As for Foxians and the outsiders, there was no need to discuss them. Barring special circumstances, losing their heads meant certain death.
Of course, that particular Preservation Fox was an exception.
Before you continue