The handsome face beneath the mask immediately contorted in pain, grimacing.
Having grown accustomed to the comforts of small boats, this was Qiji's first time soaking in the sea.
It's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality!
As the strange little boat beneath Qiji disappeared, Kamishiro Qianyun assumed that Qiji was taking the initiative to show his sincerity.
She nodded in satisfaction.
"A wise choice. The Kamishiro Family never mistreats its friends. Alright, hand over the Myth Fragment."
Qiji glanced at the progress bar for the boat upgrade and could only grit his teeth and stall for time.
"No, I'm giving you the Myth Fragment now. What if you turn your back on me?"
"You take me to the evacuation point first. I'll naturally..."
"I advise you not to push your luck! You are insulting the reputation of our Kamishiro Family!"
Kamishiro Qianyun's expression turned cold, and he gave a wink to the sword servants.
Several sword attendants immediately drew their swords and approached Qiji.
The area was teeming with people swimming; the scene resembled a swimming competition.
"Don't come any closer!"
Upon seeing this, Qiji immediately took out the Myth Fragment.
In an instant, the entire sea surface was bathed in a crimson glow.
"If you dare come any closer, I'll release it!"
Myth Fragment and Legend Fragment are different from ordinary fragments; they possess a certain spirituality.
As long as the Echoer injects a certain amount of Heart Essence into them, they will be startled and flee, sinking into the depths of the Sea of Consciousness, and becoming difficult to find again.
This is also the source of Qiji's confidence in stalling for time amidst the encirclement.
Qiji was so decisive that Kamishiro Qianyun's expression immediately changed.
The fifth-tier Echoer from the Kamishiro Family is already on his way; we must hold the line at this critical juncture!
Her tone softened, and she spoke gently to comfort her.
While speaking, he didn't forget to secretly activate the Mind Echo for Qiji.
However, the mental suggestion that usually worked wonders on lower-level Echoer had no effect on Qiji.
Kamishiro Qianyun frowned, momentarily unsure of the young man's background.
The guy who managed to get his hands on Myth Fragment from the Sea of Consciousness is definitely no ordinary person!
Just as Kamishiro Qianyun's mind was racing, she suddenly sensed something, and her expression changed drastically!
A terrifying aura could be seen riding the wind and waves from afar, drawing ever closer.
It was a shark! Its tail cleaved through the waves, and its fins sliced through the sea like blades!
As is well known, no Remnant will appear in the shallow surface of the Sea of Consciousness.
Therefore, this shark is not Remnant, but Echoer.
This is the three-stage Armament of the Echoer—
[True Release Form]!
Because it takes the form of a marine creature, it has a unique advantage in the Sea of Consciousness!
With this advantage, he became the first Tier 5 Echoer to arrive from the core area.
"So you're the one who stole Young Master Charles's Myth Fragment? Die!"
The newcomer was Echoer under the Isolde Family—
[Young Shark], Adeline!
The voice still Echo in the distance, but in the next instant, Qiji was horrified to find that the shark with the face of a little girl was already in front of him.
Holy crap?!
For Setsuna, Qiji even thought he was going to die.
My subconscious urge was to release the Myth Fragment and Legend Fragment in my hands.
A lose-lose situation is better than a win-win situation!
Just as Qiji was cursing the Isolde Family in his heart and secretly vowing to beat Charles to a pulp every time he saw him in the Sea of Consciousness, a figure leaped out and blocked his way in the next instant.
[Mermaid], Cheng Jing!
"Teacher Jing?!"
Who can understand the sense of redemption that Qiji felt when he saw Teacher Jing appear before him like a god descending to earth at that moment?
Miracle that occurred in despair!
So this is what it feels like to be rescued?
With a flick of her tail, Teacher Jing slapped the surface of the sea, creating a sudden surge of waves that stopped Adeline.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Cheng Jing grabbed Qiji's collar and retreated quickly, distancing herself from the Thousand Faces Family and Adeline.
"Teacher Jing, what brings you here?"
At this moment, Qiji still felt somewhat incredulous, as if it were a dream.
In order to play the role of an omnipotent genius, Qiji was used to saving the day, but this was the first time he had been saved by someone else!
"When students are in trouble, of course I, as their teacher, have to come."
Cheng Jing turned around and glanced at him.
"Not only me, but almost all the Echoer in the City of Kindling who can log into the Sea of Consciousness are on their way."
Suyo, you've really done something amazing!
To the Suyo? Me?
Qiji was stunned for a moment, then suddenly remembered that he was still wearing the [Thousand Faces] fox mask on his face!
My heart skipped a beat—
If you stir up trouble in the Sea of Consciousness, won't you end up making Suyo take the blame?
Although Qiji didn't want to trap Suyo, but...
My dear sister, I will make it up to you, I swear!
Qiji coughed lightly, somewhat embarrassed.
Wearing the mask of the Thousand Faces Family, and perhaps due to the mask's passive effect, his voice did indeed sound quite similar to when Suyo disguised himself as a "male voice."
In short, to avoid awkwardness, Qiji changed the subject:
"Are they all on their way? That's Teacher Kijika?"
He can't come.
"???"
Good grief, he can't come whenever something happens, huh!
This guy's identity isn't going well with Qiji again!
Qiji was inwardly grumbling, but Cheng Jing's next sentence provided an explanation:
"That guy is, after all, a teacher in the top-tier class; his level has long surpassed the superficial login restrictions."
"... ah?"
Qiji never expected that the Kijika, who was instantly defeated by Lao Yue, was actually a powerhouse of at least the sixth rank.
That's such a disgrace to the sixth tier!
With Adeline and Cheng Jing making their appearances one after another, a three-way standoff was subtly forming in this sea area.
With the Isolde Family as her backer, Adeline was naturally the most assertive one there.
"Hand over that brat, Isolde will forgive your offense."
Upon hearing this, Teacher Jing shielded Qiji behind her, asking, "Why should I?"
"Is the name ' Isolde ' enough?"
"Never heard of it." Teacher Jing was a master at feigning ignorance.
Adeline was furious!
How dare you!
Do you want to suffer the wrath of the Isolde Family in real life?!
Just a heads-up, Isolde has the power to erase any family, except for the Crown Families, from the world's record!
As soon as she finished speaking, Kamishiro Qianyun trembled.
She knew that there was no exaggeration in what the other person said.
Kamishiro Qianyun and the others in the family exchanged glances, could only nod reluctantly, and retreated together.
This time, the Myth Fragment were ultimately out of their reach.
The Isolde Family is not one that the Kamishiro Family can afford to offend!
The Thousand Faces Zhengheng uncle of Suyo, who had been hiding in the crowd, was startled upon hearing this and immediately swam forward with trepidation, saying:
"My lord, please calm down! Please calm down!"
He had been hiding in the back, hoping to see if Cheng Jing could save Suyo—
If they can preserve it, the Thousand Faces Family will get a Myth Fragment for free, which would be the best outcome!
But if things are beyond our control, then we absolutely must not antagonize the Isolde Family!
Now, the course of events has clearly shifted in the latter direction.
"My lord, my lord!
It was a junior member of the family who was ignorant and accidentally took the Myth Fragment of your noble family, but our Thousand Faces Family has absolutely no intention of coveting it!
What are you waiting for? You've already Suyo!
Why aren't you returning those Myth Fragment to them right now?!
Looking at Thousand Faces Zhengheng's obsequious expression...
Qiji seriously suspects that if they weren't in the sea and it wasn't inconvenient, this guy would kneel down in front of Adeline right now and polish her shoes.
When I read Suyo's memories before, Qiji had no liking for the Thousand Faces Family. Now, that disgust has only deepened.
His stepsister has had a tough time too, growing up in such a family.
Qiji looked at Cheng Jing in front of her. "Teacher Jing..."
"It's okay, your teacher will back you up."
Upon hearing this, Qiji felt a surge of warmth in his heart.
I never expected that Teacher Jing, who didn't have much screen time in the original story, would be so reliable!
"Teacher, five minutes! I have a way to escape in five minutes."
"Leave it to the teacher!"
Seeing Cheng Jing's fighting spirit rising, Thousand Faces Zhengheng was stunned, and hurriedly shouted:
"Cheng Jing, what are you doing?!"
What are you doing? Doing what a teacher should do!
I am a teacher, not a slave!
Do you expect me to teach my students to bow down to robbers?
The future of the City of Kindling should not be like this!
"You're crazy! That's Isolde, that's Isolde!"