Chapter 202: An Ling's Memorial Offering, the Clear Sky and the Distant Road (III)

Yukong hopes that the members of the Train Corps may select some items that Tingyun owned in life and place them into the star ferry.

There are not many items Tingyun owned before death; besides some everyday belongings, there are also some gifts that hadn't been sent out yet, such as some tea seeds, a kitchen knife, and a bow, among others…

Following Tingyun's wishes, Xing gave the tea seeds to the Lord of the Nightless's boss, gave the kitchen knife to Yan Cui of Shang Ziwei, and as for that final bow… Walter also got a clue.

Arriving at Star Loop Port, the group met Yukong, the overseer of the star ferry; after explaining their purpose, March Seven handed the bow to Yukong.

Looking at the bow, Yukong was suddenly dazed; after a long silence, she gently shook her head: "She understands my suffering, yet I can no longer do anything for her…"

"The Abundance Civil War thirty years ago left Guangyuan dead, Caiyi gone, and only me left alone. After the war ended, it was like fearing to touch the scars it left behind. The Luofu Celestial Boat has since been resting along its route, practicing breath‑absorption trade…"

"Although I was promoted to Chief Helmsman, I come from a military background and am not good at such delicate management. Tingyun, however, is a born merchant; officially she is my subordinate, yet she always loves to discuss business and give me advice."

"I once thought the times had changed, and the Celestial Boat had changed. Talent like Tingyun is the future of the new generation of the Sky Vessel Office; she can bring prosperity to Luofu. Unlike me, who only excels at running for blood and fire."

Yukong's gaze suddenly hardened, and her tone shifted: "I was wrong. Before the antimatter legion is eliminated one by one, the Celestial Boat still needs me… needs someone like me who runs for blood and fire across the sky."

——

Death God.

The setting sun turned the wooden corridor outside the squad's barracks into amber; Jing Yue Chunshui leaned against the vermilion railing, lazily swaying a wine bottle. In the sky dome, Yukong's resentful eyes reflected in the sake, breaking into rippling ripples.

"Since destruction is so detestable, why not gather the forces that oppose Him? Even if we can't destroy the Star God, eliminating His apocalyptic lord would be good enough." Seeing the reflected eyes in the wine, Jing Yue sighed softly.

"Absurd idea." Xiumu Bai Zhai stood silently in the distance, his silver‑white wind‑flower veil fluttering gently in the evening breeze.

Among the forces currently emerging, besides the mysterious Genius Club, the biggest are probably the Celestial Boat Alliance and the Interstellar Peace Corporation, right? The Celestial Boat Alliance seeks to campaign for Abundance, while the corporation pursues neutrality in the cosmic struggle… Even though both are powerful, they could never stand together.

"As for the Star Core Hunters…" Bai Zhai's fingertips unconsciously brushed the sakura‑blade guard, "they may have some tactics, but before the power of the Imperial Envoys, they are still far too insignificant."

"And these various forces in the universe… remind me of the aristocratic council of the Jingling Court."

"Oh?" Jing Yue approached with interest, "Captain Xiumu actually uses such a sharp metaphor."

Xiumu Bai Zhai tilted slightly, avoiding the booze‑reeking commander: "Just a fact. In reality, even when facing a common enemy, these powers calculate each other's gains and losses, preferring to maintain a dangerous balance rather than cede authority."

"Can you imagine that while jointly opposing Nanu Ke, the Celestial Boat Alliance would hand over full command of troop deployment to the corporation or other factions? If the factions are scattered… in a situation of loose sand, the odds of victory are slim."

"To unite against Nanu Ke, we'll probably need the Imperial Envoys to knock on several doors first."

——

"Tingyun, the Sky Vessel Office will not forget you…"

Yukong stood at the end of the pier in Star Loop Port, the long wind lifting her hem like a feather that refuses to fall. She stared at the star ferry loaded with Tingyun's belongings, her gaze as cold and hard as iron, as if a never‑extinguishing flame burned there, "I will uncover the truth; if you perish, I will avenge you."

As she spoke, the time for the memorial ceremony had arrived.

Accompanied by the roar of the star ferry engines, ten thousand star ferries streaked like meteors, heading toward the Jade Realm Gate at the horizon; each ferry carried a name that could not return home.

Yukong stood on the Kunyu Platform, looking up at the heavens; the long wind lifted her hem like a feather that refuses to fall.

Watching the star ferries disappear, the ceremony concluded. Jing Yuan, whose wounds had not fully healed, stepped before the group; disregarding Yan Qing's admonition, he insisted on saying a few words to the members of the Train Corps.

"Before you all leave Luofu, I have two things I wish to give to the Star Dome Train."

March Seven's eyes lit up: "A gift? Has he finally had a conscience and decided to compensate us for the hardships along the way?"

The group arrived at the Divine Strategy Office; after Jing Yuan reiterated his thanks to everyone, he felt that Luofu could never repay what they had done. Therefore, representing the Luofu Cloud Cavalry, Jing Yuan presented each of them with a jade token symbolizing the 【Alliance Friendship】.

"Thousands of years ago, when the alliance was founded, the Celestial Boat Confederation swore an oath and engraved a jade token as proof. Though heaven and earth may decay, the oath remains unchanged."

"This jade token is the same; it records the Luofu Cloud Cavalry's promise to the Train Corps, and it also serves as a beacon—grasp it, and it will send a message to the paired jade token in my hand."

Jing Yuan looked solemnly at the few members of the Train Corps: "No matter how vast the galaxy, how arduous the journey, the Luofu Cloud Cavalry will come to rendezvous with the train and fulfill whatever you entrust."

——

Overlord.

In the throne hall of the underground necropolis of Nasalik, Anzi sat upon the jet‑black throne, his crimson pupils flickering faintly, his finger bones rhythmically tapping the armrest.

(A contract artifact for cross‑dimensional communication? If we possessed this item… the Train Group could literally traverse the cosmic galaxy, couldn't it?)

(How enviable… I wish I could have such an artifact myself.)

Sigh. Anzi let out a deep breath in his mind; ever since witnessing that group of guys battling on the light screen, unease and chaos have made his inexplicable stomach ache continuously. And the thought of sharing a universe with those who can crush stars with a flick only worsens the pain.

In fact, the guild does have coordinate‑type artifacts, but those can only summon monsters of level 80 or higher; while such power suffices in today's world, once you aim them at the cosmic galaxy… they'd likely be snuffed out by the Imperial Envoys in a snap.

"Lord Anzi, there's news from Saibas," Dimiu Ge Si bowed respectfully beside him.

"Oh… what did he say?"

"The ritual in the Lobur Holy Kingdom praying to the 【Abundance】 Alchemist has concluded, and the result is… nothing happened."

"Praying to… 【Abundance】?" Anzi's voice faltered.

(Do these humans want to become the offspring of Abundance?? A secret doctrine of the native Alchemist of the Holy Kingdom? No, they intend to lure the Luofu Celestial Boat's forces here, then attack them?)

In an instant, countless thoughts surged, crowding the empty space inside Anzi's skull.