Chapter 841

"I don't know whether the Astral Express Alliance will provide free room and board for the athletes and their companions; if not, I feel Lu Ka and his group won't be able to stay long in the Astral Express." Cheng Long said worriedly.

"What's there to be afraid of?" The old man beside him slowly put down the mortar, wiped his hands, and said, "How could they not provide room and board? If the Astral Express Alliance were that stingy, would anyone from the universe still come to compete? Instead of worrying about that, worry about how far Lu Ka will go in this competition—all the elite of the universe have gathered here; this kid from a backwater might not even make it past the first round."

——

"Lu Ka's disappointment was plain to see: 'So we weren't invited after all? Great, we made this trip for nothing. How am I supposed to explain this to Miss Bronya and Mr. Gepard? They had high hopes for me…'"

"Swaro said: 'According to the calculations, the first thing we need to consider is not emotion, but—if we are not invited guests, then we must bear all the expenses incurred by staying here. The result—we can't afford it.'"

Upon hearing that, Lu Ka broke into an even heavier sweat.

Xikui smiled and explained: "You've misunderstood! The Astral Express of Luofu is indeed holding a martial arts celebration called the Performance Martial Rite. Whether or not you received an invitation, anyone who wants to sign up can participate in the Performance Martial Rite matches. The only difference is that invited guests, after passing the test, can take part in the most grand 'Contest of the Sharp Edge Guarding the Altar,' challenging the Luofu Astral Express's guard swordsmen."

Ordinary participants, however, must take part in the Gate‑Crushing Tournament, continually passing stages and defeating opponents, before they can reach the platform of the Contest of the Sharp Edge Guarding the Altar.

So the guard swordsmen of Luofu are the ultimate target that the competitors must challenge?

Xikui nodded: "That's right. Even without an invitation, you can still join the Performance Martial Rite and have a chance to win victory and honor. Besides, money can't buy true friendship! Those four‑hundred‑year‑late invitation letters you hold must be a remarkable twist of fate. Since you're destined to be here in Luofu, we won't neglect courtesy. I will report it and arrange room and board for the Belobog delegation at the standard of invited guests—please rest assured."

——

"One person under."

Junior Uncle, if Lu Ka really topples Yan Qing at that time, what will happen?

Inside the staff dormitory of Nadutong, Zhang Chulan ripped open a can of beer with a 'screech', drinking as he asked Zhang Lingyu, who was tidying the room beside him.

"Impossible." Zhang Lingyu almost instinctively denied it, saying, "The gap in cultivation between the two is huge; if they were to truly compete… unless Lu Ka could, in a short time, raise himself to Yunli's level—but cultivation isn't something that can be achieved overnight, so I think it's impossible."

I'm just saying, what if, what if. Zhang Chulan emphasized, "Back before the Heavenly Grand Rite when I faced you, weren't there a lot of people who didn't think highly of me? What if General Jingyuan, like the Heavenly Master, secretly gave his disciple a pill, causing Yan Qing to have diarrhea mid‑fight, or feel unwell… cough, cough, of course I don't mean to complain about the Heavenly Master, Junior Uncle, don't misunderstand."

Recalling the Heavenly Grand Rite incident, Zhang Lingyu had already felt at ease after learning it was his master who had tripped him up; he folded the blanket in his hands neatly and continued asking, "What's the purpose then?"

Afraid the disciple would become arrogant. Zhang Chulan tossed the empty soda can into the bin, saying, "Yan Qing is well‑behaved and obedient, and has even been straightened out by Jingliu. But what kind of person is Jingliu? Although Yan Qing can't beat a general‑level opponent, he's unbeatable among his peers. As they say, 'There are always people stronger than you, and heavens beyond heavens.' If he truly realized he was the 'heaven beyond heaven' in the eyes of his peers, it wouldn't be impossible for him to grow proud, right?"

No, Yan Qing couldn't think like that; Zhang Chulan, you're underestimating him. Though we're both cultivators, he's different—he's a Yunqi cavalryman who constantly fights fiends—soldier and cultivator; perhaps we both pursue skill, but our mindsets are utterly different.

As for what you said—if Lu Ka really beat Yan Qing, what would happen…? Zhang Lingyu lowered his head, thought briefly, then slowly shook his head, "…I don't think anything will happen here on the Astral Express; there are countless talented people in the universe, losing to an outsider isn't surprising. On the other hand, if Lu Ka successfully carries out Bronya's orders and returns to Belobog, he'll probably be treated like a hero."

——

Just like that, thanks to Miss Xikui's kindness, I finally avoided dying before even completing my training—this Astral Express proverb I only learned these past few days—and successfully registered as a participant in the Performance Martial Rite.

Back in the present, Ka Mei Li clasped her hands, showing full curiosity about Lu Ka's past.

"Athlete Lu Ka, you're truly full of news value. I've decided to keep tracking and reporting on your competition progress."

Lu Ka, however, sighed with a darkened face: "If everything could go as smoothly as it did at the start…"

"How many matches have you participated in?"

Lu Ka shook his head: "If I had taken part in a match these past few days, I wouldn't be so anxious… I've been registered for the competition for many days now and still haven't fought a single bout—today is my first match day. But let alone fighting a match, I feel I can't even manage everyday life! I've already half‑stepped into the realm of being unable to take care of myself."

"Why doesn't anyone accept the Winter City Shield? Just slap a gem pendant on it and you've paid the fee."

"Why does everyone look ageless? I asked a little girl with pointed ears for directions, called her 'little sister,' and she got angry, saying she's over three hundred forty years old… now I'm too scared to talk to anyone."

"Oh right, and eating… the food on the Astral Express is really hard to stomach. Yesterday's dinner was a bowl of spicy beef offal, and today I've been holed up in the toilet 'sitting on a rocket'…"

Lu Ka finally lifted his head, his expression forlorn and helpless.

"I understand you, Athlete Lu Ka—I also can't stomach the Astral Express's food." Ka Mei Li hurriedly came over to comfort him.

"That's not it—I'm a mechanus."

"Um…"

Seeing the awkward atmosphere on site, Ka Mei Li kept apologizing: "…Sorry, please continue."

Lu Ka lowered his brows, and as the match date drew near, burdened with his mission, he felt ever more anxious, beginning to fall into intense self‑doubt.

"In short, I've never felt this useless before—I can't even manage something as simple as asking for directions when going out…"