Journey to Star Luo Continent

Soon after, a ferry bound for the Star Luo Continent slowly departed from the port of Heavensea City, cutting through the azure waves and heading towards the distant horizon.

With its snow-white hull, massive size, and deep draft, it is clearly a large passenger and cargo ship designed specifically for ocean voyages.

The words "Dazzling World Tang Sect Co., Ltd.." are written in huge blue letters on the side of the ship, which are particularly eye-catching in the sunlight.

This was a ship belonging to the Tang Sect, and Qi Ji was hitching a ride on the Tang Sect's ship to the Star Luo Continent.

The Tang Sect's shipping network spans three continents. Taking their ships is much more convenient and safer than hiring your own, since no one dares to easily provoke the Tang Sect's fleet at sea.

Qi Ji's only companion Xie Xie; the others did not come.

Although Xu Xiaoyan was close to Qi Ji, Qi Ji felt that she had no direct connection with the Dragon Clan and would not gain any substantial benefits from going to the Dragon Tomb, so he simply decided not to go.

Gu Yuena and Tang Wuling are essentially members of the Spirit Pagoda, and given their status, they cannot openly board the Tang Sect's ship. Therefore, they can only stay in Mingdu and wait for them this time.

Therefore, in the end, only Xie Xie stayed by Qi Ji's side.

"Boss... Boss, is it just the two of us this time?"

Xie Xie stood on the deck, his hair slightly disheveled by the sea breeze, his voice carrying a hint of barely concealed nervousness.

He thought to himself that Qi Ji had acted alone with others before, but it was always Tang Wuling, Gu Yuena, or Xu Xiaoyan. He had never actually gone on a long trip with a man.

This realization made him unconsciously start to have wild thoughts, and he even involuntarily covered his buttocks.

"Boss, are you planning to take advantage of being on the ship...?"

Xie Xie became increasingly absurd, his expression changing repeatedly until it finally settled into one of utter despair.

He could run on land, but on this ferry in the vast ocean, he had nowhere to escape.

"Xie Xie... what the hell are you thinking?!"

Qi Ji gave Xie Xie a solid tap on the head, the force of which made Xie Xie squat down in pain.

"It hurts!"

Xie Xie covered his head, tears streaming down his face, his head buzzing.

"Pain is normal; pain means you're building muscle."

Qi Ji said irritably, shaking his fingers which were a little numb from tapping.

"If you don't want to come with me, I'll have the ship's crew give you a lifeboat to row back right away. The ship hasn't been sailing for very long anyway; you should be able to get back to port in three days and three nights."

Qi Ji's tone carried a serious tone, as if to say, "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll really throw you off."

"This... Boss, I was just joking around, trying to ease the tension! Hehe!"

Xie Xie quickly stood up, scratched the back of his head, and forced a harmless smile onto his face.

"Are you Lu Mingfei? You start spouting nonsense when you're nervous?"

Qi Ji couldn't help but shake his head, then suddenly seemed to remember something and looked Xie Xie up and down.

Hey, you know what, Xie Xie's image really does resemble Lu Mingfei from the comics—tall and thin, with messy hair, a timid expression on his face, and that habit of spouting nonsense when he's nervous. They're practically identical.

"What Lu Mingfei?"

Xie Xie blinked, looking completely bewildered.

In the Douluo Continent universe, there is no Jiang Nan who said to Tang Jia San Shao, "Let's be brothers in this life and husband and wife in the next." There is only Jiang Nannan, who was created as a parody.

Therefore, the "Dragon Clan" series is naturally nonexistent, and the name that Qi Ji uttered was completely unfamiliar to him.

Suddenly realizing that only he could use certain tired memes, Qi Ji couldn't help but feel a little lonely.

Is this what they call the sorrow of blood? It seems loneliness is indeed a fundamental part of the Dragon Clan's DNA.

He gazed silently at the sea, where several seagulls circled in the distance, their wings shimmering silver in the sunlight.

"Sigh... Xie Xie, if you ever go to the Extreme North and defeat the Arctic and Bear King Extreme North, I'll tell you everything."

Qi Ji suddenly spoke, his tone carrying an indescribable sense of vicissitude.

"What? The Arctic and the King of Bears? The Extreme North is still a no-go zone for humans, boss."

Xie Xie couldn't understand Qi Ji's words at all, his face filled with confusion as if to say, "Boss, have you been blown silly by the sea breeze?"

"It's okay... You don't need to understand, after all, I haven't told you anything yet."

Qi Ji waved his hand, not continuing to explain.

"That's really true..."

Xie Xie scratched his head, having grown accustomed to Qi Ji's habit of occasionally spouting words he couldn't understand.

"Anyway... Xie Xie, you should know that if I choose to take a grown man like you with me instead of a pretty girl when I go out, it must be something important."

Qi Ji turned around and looked earnestly into Xie Xie's eyes. "Perhaps we'll see this kind of thing often in the future. You'll get used to it."

As long as Xie Xie's Martial Soul completes its Second Awakening and evolves into the Space-Time Sacred Dragon, his future will naturally be to become Qi Ji's shadow guard.

At that time, their relationship would probably be like light and shadow—one standing in the spotlight, shining brightly, while the other remained hidden behind the scenes, silently protecting.

Xie Xie needs to get used to this role in advance, and also needs to get used to spending time alone with Qi Ji and fighting side by side.

"Anyway... I'm sticking with you, boss."

Xie Xie thought for a moment, then spoke earnestly, his tone carrying a stubbornness and trust unique to young people.

He might not yet understand the deeper meaning behind Qi Ji's words, but he knew that following Qi Ji was the right thing to do.

To be honest, in the story of the Legend of the Dragon King, the relationship between the original Class Zero trio and the other characters is completely incomparable.

Qi Ji couldn't help but recall the tragic end of Tang Wulin and Gu Yuena— "Space-Time Sacred Dragon Xie Xie, your mentor sacrificed his life, your two best friends died for love before your eyes. At that time, did you ever think back to those days at the Eastsea Academy when you felt invincible with your companions and mentor?"

Is such emptiness really so easily filled?

"Xie Xie... I am very strong."

Qi Ji suddenly spoke, his voice somewhat muffled by the sea breeze.

"Of course I know you're really strong, boss!"

Xie Xie was momentarily confused as to why Qi Ji would suddenly say such a thing, his tone tinged with bewilderment.

"It's alright... maybe you'll understand someday in the future."

Qi Ji didn't explain further, but simply turned his gaze to the boundless sea in the distance.

The ferry cut through the waves, its engine humming softly and steadily heading towards the Star Luo Continent.