The weather was lovely that day: clear skies, with clouds scattered across the vast expanse.
Annie's fully automatic celestial artifact, requiring neither a pilot nor a license to operate—the exquisite "automatic" cloud-skimming airship—was cruising steadily and swiftly through the skies, skimming past the floating islands on the edge of the Divine Capital and heading out toward the vast mountains and plains beyond.
The intricate runes carved into its sleek hull glowed faintly, drawing in the thin spiritual energy from the sea of clouds to supplement its power. The cabin was fairly spacious and comfortably furnished, with a shield that blocked most of the wind. Through the portholes, the passengers could look down at the cities, mountains, rivers, and other scenery rushing past below like pieces on a miniature landscape.
Naturally, besides Annie herself, the others aboard were Daiyu, Tanchun, and Daiyu's maids, Zijuan and Xueyan.
Annie had brought them out again today, of course, because of that silly Lin Daiyu!
It had been over a month since Lin Daiyu had taken first place in the Immortal Selection Examination and made a name for herself in the Divine Capital. The commotion and praise had gradually died down, but Annie had still keenly noticed that her sensitive, tender-hearted apprentice didn't seem truly happy about it. Instead, after being suddenly thrust into the spotlight, she seemed to have developed even more inexplicable worries and uncertainty.
She often sat alone, staring blankly out the window, with an even deeper melancholy between her brows.
In other words, she'd grown even more sentimental!
Annie had no patience for that inexplicable "forcing sorrow into a poem" sort of mood. Besides, in her view, people tended to overthink when they had too much free time. The best solution was to find them something "proper" to do—and something exciting