Li Xingkong briefly recounted what had just happened to the group. Not only Albert, but the others also looked rather grim after hearing his account.
It's not just because of Bingyou's prestigious background, but also because of that omnipresent great sage.
Fortunately, Li Xingkong was strong enough to keep her outside the spaceship, and thankfully, this sage lived up to his name, treating talented people with great kindness, which allowed them to sit here and negotiate smoothly.
Although things seem to have ended perfectly, only those involved can truly understand the feeling of being manipulated at will.
"So, we have to return to the Kingdom of Fixed Light tomorrow to participate in the Time Reset Project?"
After listening to Li Xingkong's brief explanation, Albert grasped the key points.
This clearly conflicted with their previously formulated plans.
Leaving aside whether Albert and the others can return before the start of the Period of Change, Li Xingkong and Guapilong's journey will also have to be suspended for a while.
Fortunately, the great sage was referring to three to five years, not longer.
"There's probably no room for negotiation on this. I was somewhat caught off guard by the methods of this great sage, and I still don't know how he plans to send us back tomorrow."
"However, we still need to be prepared first."
"Now that I'm also a candidate, we should be able to get our ship back. I plan to go with Shutra to bring it back first, and if I get taken away, then it'll be up to Old Yu to take command."
Albert quickly reached a conclusion: if they were leaving in such a hurry, it would be inappropriate for the rest of their team to remain on Li Xingkong's ship.
There was only one Guapilong present, and they had only just met. Moreover, they were currently in an unfamiliar area, so it was more appropriate for them to stay on their own ship.
"Indeed, and we also need to get an explanation from Xingci."
Old Yu reached out and touched his chin; clearly, acquiring the boats was one of their tasks.
They had been outmaneuvered by her from beginning to end, and if they were to leave now, they would never be able to let go of their anger.
"Alright. I'll take you back first."
Li Xingkong raised one hand, and a spatial portal opened in the center of the ship, opposite which was the spaceship where the group was docked.
For Li Xingkong now, opening a simple one-way teleportation portal is no different from eating or drinking.
"Alright, then let's hurry and get going."
Without further ado, the group walked through the portal.
It was clearly a bit rushed to resolve the grievances and arrange the follow-up plans in just one day.
After the group from Dawn left, Guapilong approached.
"So, buddy, is this the end of our journey?"
Li Xingkong looked at Guapilong and felt that the little guy was a little sad.
"How could that be? It's just a temporary suspension. Three to five years is just the time it takes for you to go into seclusion and cultivate for the rest of your life. So, are you going to wait? Or are you planning to go back?"
"Wait! Of course I'll wait. I'll wait for you right here, I'm not going anywhere else."
Guapilong clearly wouldn't choose to go back. He knew all too well what kind of life he was living now and what kind of life he had lived before.
Making it give up its current traveling life and return to its original place is worse than killing it.
"How can that be? I left something on the ship. As long as you're on the ship, I can find you. Just have fun."
Clearly, keeping a creature with a personality like the Guapilong waiting in one place would be torture for it.
"Oh, right."
The three to five years mentioned now is just an estimate. Li Xingkong felt that if preparations were to be made, it would be best to be as thorough as possible.
"Here, take these talismans. They contain the cultivation methods for later stages. Take them with you in case of emergency."
"Why are you acting like you're going to be gone for ages..."
The Guapilong accepted the cultivation method, clearly feeling that Li Xingkong's preparations were a bit too thorough.
"Better safe than sorry. Going out and about is quite common, isn't it? Besides, if they really want to see me, I can always be in two places at once."
"That's good. Hopefully, we won't need any of these things."
"Not needed? There's only one possibility."
"What?"
"That means you haven't been cultivating properly! What, you stop cultivating just because you're out of my sight?"
"How could that be? I need to cultivate! The next time you see me, I want to become Golden Core cultivator!"
Guapilong pondered for a while, counting on his fingers. Clearly, the Golden Core was the highest realm he knew.
"Hahahaha, I hope so, future Golden Core cultivator."
A day is really short. Li Xingkong felt like he had done a lot, but also like he hadn't done anything at all.
He set up more arrays and protective measures on the spaceship, aiming to make the spaceship a safe house, and also stuffed a lot of props into the body of the Guapilong.
Just as the agreed time was approaching, Li Xingkong sensed with his Divine Sense that Albert and his group's ship had also arrived.
After adjusting the ship's direction and docking the two spaceships, Li Xingkong saw the Dawn crew again.
The expressions on the faces of the returning group were clearly not quite right.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?"
This expression clearly couldn't escape the notice of Li Xingkong and Guapilong.
The group exchanged glances, and finally Albert spoke.
"It was Xingci... After confronting us, that girl chose to commit suicide... Although her actions were indeed hard to understand, she didn't deserve to end up like this."
"I think you're just too kind. If you didn't have that kind of ability, she would never have regretted it."
Shutra was clearly not that heartbroken; she just felt that it was too easy for her to just abandon her like that.
"And there's another troublesome guy."
Old Yu stepped aside slightly, and behind him, Tataru held Xingxi's hand, the little girl looking bewildered and at a loss.
"What do you mean by 'troublesome guy'? How can you impose adult grudges on a child?"
Tataru clearly disagreed with his point of view.
"It's not about any personal grudges, I'm just asking you, does anyone in Dawn even know how to take care of children?"
"How... how could I not? I can bring it!"
Tataru a little unsure of herself.
Old Yu didn't speak, but glanced at Xingxi, who was a head taller than her, and everything was understood without words.
To be honest, this development is indeed a bit troublesome. Who knows what the little girl will think when she grows up and learns the truth?