" Yanqing, oh Yanqing, you're so young but already so old... Speaking of which, how old are you this year?" Jiaoqiu Curiosity.
"This has nothing to do with my age. Anyone who practices swordsmanship will naturally understand how I feel."
"Sigh... I understand, the children of Luofu have suffered so much."
Jiaoqiu sighed softly, then looked at Yunli beside her. "So, what do you want to say, Miss Yunli?"
"It's impolite to ask a girl's age, no matter which Xianzhou you're on."
Upon hearing this, Jiaoqiu's lips twitched slightly. "I'm not asking about age! I'm asking... do you have a dream like Brother Yanqing's?"
"You don't seem like a chef, you're more like a TV presenter." Yunli crossed her arms.
"... Remember this well, I am a physician."
Jiaoqiu responded with a smile, but a slight tremor could be heard in his voice.
"I... don't have the same dream as Brother Yanqing. The reason I'm challenging the Championship Challenge is simply because I promised my grandfather I'd win the precious sword from the Wardance he gifted me."
"You're all you think about is swords," Yanqing commented.
"Isn't your head just as empty?" Yunli retorted, then lowered her head. "My... father was the craftsman of the Zhuming Xianzhou. Because of his foolishness, many people died under the demonic sword he created."
"I've understood since I was a child that many people don't deserve to hold any weapons. Allowing them to wield swords is cruelty to innocent people."
"Whenever I encounter someone whose virtue is unworthy of a sword, I can't help but feel an itch to snatch the weapon from their hand. But... Brother Yanqing is going to defend the arena for this Wardance, so I kindly stepped in to prevent the precious sword from being entrusted to the wrong person."
"What do you mean by 'entrusting the wrong person'? Explain yourself!" Yanqing said, dissatisfied.
"Sigh~" Jiaoqiu sighed again, "I understand, Zhuming's children have suffered too."
"Having a reason to wield a sword is always better than being lost and helpless. In my life, I have healed many Cloud Knights, including two such outstanding warriors as you..."
"Why did you stop talking halfway through, Mr. Jiaoqiu?"
"... I was just thinking of a few old friends and some past events. From my professional perspective as a physician, both of them have abundant and vigorous vitality, their breath flowing like a raging fire and a fierce wind."
"This fight... is sure to be very exciting."
Jiaoqiu smiled. "Alright, we've taken a trip back to Starskiff Haven and seen the [ Skysplitter ]. It's time to say goodbye for now."
"Huh?"
March 7th was stunned. She had already prepared her answer in her mind! Why had she been skipped over?
She wanted to try one more time. "What, are you leaving? You haven't even asked me if I have a dream! I've been training really hard too!"
"It's getting late, Miss March 7th. Unlike you all, I'm just an adult bound by duty. The tasks my general assigns me won't be completed automatically."
"By the way, Brother Yanqing, do areas like [ Starskiff Haven ], which operate automatically, usually have this many people strolling around?"
"... Actually, this is not a place where you are allowed to trespass. But since you are all guests, I brought you here to have a look."
"I understand." Jiaoqiu nodded slightly. "Then I shall take my leave. I wish you both the best of luck in tomorrow's arena."
Jiaoqiu waved and then left.
"Seriously... I thought about what my dream is for ages, and he didn't even ask!"
On March 7th, he was so angry that he could only stomp his feet in place, rarely taking a moment to think things through seriously.
"Now that we've seen the Skysplitter, shouldn't we go back to training?"
"How about we take a day off today?" Yanqing suggested.
"What, you want to hide away and practice your sword alone? Dream on."
"Hmph, last-minute cramming is utterly useless. Strangely enough, seeing the outline of the Skysplitter suddenly gave me confidence. So I plan to conserve my energy and wait for tomorrow."
Just as Jiaoqiu left and everyone was preparing to return to their sword-training area, March 7th spotted a familiar figure in Stargazer Navalia — Saileni.
"Is Pastor Sister here for sightseeing too?" March 7th asked as she stepped forward.
"No, I came here to comprehend [ Eternity ]."
Saileni closed the Book of Eternal Virtues that she carried with her, yawned, glanced at Yanqing and Yunli, and smiled knowingly.
"These are all good children under [ Eternity ] protection... Would you consider working in the Church?"
"Excellent! The [ Church of Eternity ]'s classic combo is impossible to defend against!"
March 7th felt ashamed; the position of Prayer Priest was too narrow for Saileni. She should have been sent to the MLM department by Chair Blake.
Uh... although the Church doesn't seem to have such a department, after all, they are all top-tier [ Eternity ] Aeon supporters.
Just as March 7th was overwhelmed with inner turmoil, she suddenly realized that Saileni had quietly slipped behind a pile of messy crates and was eavesdropping on the private conversation of the three people not far away.
"... Shut Up, Red Fang. This ship isn't a beast ship, after all. I need some time to deal with him." A figure with fox ears and dressed in artisan's clothing lowered his voice, his tone slightly irritated.
"You willingly donned the skin of a lowly beast, joined this operation, and dedicated yourself to this glorious cause. Now you're telling me you can't handle it?"
Another burly man, dressed in Cloud Knights armor, questioned impatiently in a stern voice.
"I'm trying my best, I'm researching, but all of this takes time."
"Once the cannons fire tomorrow, everyone's attention will be drawn; there won't be a second chance—"
A colleague of theirs, dressed in the uniform of the Sky-Faring Commission, appeared particularly agitated, pacing back and forth.
Before he could finish speaking, the Cloud Knights suddenly sniffed, his beast-like eyes scanning his surroundings warily. "Harr zaa xi? Who, who's there?!"
"Ah, we've been discovered."
Saileni emerged gracefully from the shadows, showing no embarrassment, and even glanced back at March 7th who had followed her.
"See? Eavesdropping on other people's conversations is very impolite. Kids, don't do it!"
"You're the one who wanted to hear it!"
March 7th's lips twitched involuntarily, but at that moment her attention was completely drawn to the three suspicious-looking people.
Yanqing was the first to ask, "Who are you?"
The Sky-Faring Commission member, trying to remain calm, stepped forward and attempted to explain, "Young men, didn't your parents tell you that although Starskiff Haven is an automated facility, that doesn't mean you can just barge in like that?"
However, Saileni was clearly unmoved. She elegantly crossed her arms, tilted her head, and the languid smile on her face had not yet faded.
Whispering in broad daylight—something's definitely up to something!
On March 7th, Yanqing and Yunli also instantly became alert, and they silently tightened their grip on the hilts of their swords at their waists.
The three had initially considered whether they should retreat and observe for the time being, but Saileni's pointed question pushed them directly to the forefront of the confrontation.
" The Cloud Knights, the people from the Sky-Faring Commission, and craftsmen... the variety is quite complete, and the reason for the repair is plausible, but just now he uttered a strange phrase."
Yanqing calmly analyzed the situation, her gaze as sharp as a hawk's as she fixed on the irritable Cloud Knights soldier.
"What this 'fellow Cloud Knights ' uttered wasn't some slang or habit from the Xianzhou."
"Wait! We can explain..." The members of the Sky-Faring Commission and the fox-eared craftsman's expressions changed slightly as they tried to salvage the situation.
The Borisin, disguised as a Cloud Knights, was clearly an impatient man. Seeing that the situation was exposed, a ferocious beastly nature instantly overwhelmed his reason.
His eyes flashed red, and he let out a deafening roar. His body suddenly expanded, tearing through his clothes and revealing his true form as a wolf soldier covered in rough fur, with sharp claws like hooks, as he pounced straight at the group!
" Borisin?!"
"Prepare to die, you vile beast!"
Once revealed, Borisin roared, and a foul stench filled the air.
"Careful!"
Yunli reacted with lightning speed, accurately parrying the attack launched from the flank Borisin the other two wolf soldiers. She used the momentum to gracefully retreat, her brows furrowed.
"These guys aren't Foxian at all! They've just revealed their true forms. These guys are genuine Borisin, the same kind of scoundrels I defeated on that ship at the company."
" Borisin... what kind of illusion have these guys used? They look exactly like ordinary Foxian from the Xianzhou..."
Suddenly, a thought Emanator March 7th. If she remembered correctly, the last person who disguised themselves as a Foxian and acted flawlessly was Huanlong, the [ Destruction ] Phantylia...
She had heard Dan Heng say that the Borisin were the oldest and greatest enemy of the Xianzhou Alliance, and the main branch of the " Denizens of Abundance ".
March 7th rolled her eyes, her clever little brain immediately connecting Borisin [ The Lord Ravager ], [ Abundance ], and [ Eternity ], and said to Saileni, who was still watching the show:
"Pastor, I'm reporting this! These Borisin possess the same blessing as [ Eternity ], yet they've turned their backs and joined the Lord Ravager!"
The moment the words left her lips, time seemed to freeze for a second, and the languid and playful smile on Saileni's face vanished instantly.