Chapter 38

Heimu didn't pursue it, just said lightly: "That's it, the meeting is over."

She waved her hand, posture languid yet carrying undeniable authority.

Bai Hang hesitated a moment, then mustered courage and asked the question that had been circling in her mind: "Master... why, why must I fight Teacher Ke Xia?"

Heimu looked at her, eyes deep: "If you want to save him, you must first defeat him. This rule applies to all imprisoned Golden Descendants."

A Xing

Bai Hang first froze, then realized something, her face paling slightly: "Could it be... could it be that even Xi Lian..."

Thinking of having to meet in battle the pink-haired girl with whom she had just forged a fragile friendship, her heart clenched tightly.

Heimu seemed to see through her momentary low spirits, and unusually added a sentence: "In that fight just now, what did you make of his condition?"

Bai Hang answered carefully: "He... seems a bit... mad?"

"That's right." Heimu nodded, "Since normal communication is impossible, the only way to 'persuade' him is one method. Do you understand what I mean?"

Bai Hang hastily nodded vigorously, regardless of whether she understood, she would agree first and speak later; the dignity of Black Curtain Lady allowed her no slack.

"Any other questions?" Heimu asked.

Past World Paradise

This is a carriage furnished comfortably, even cozily, with the window opening onto the boundless Star Sea.

"Where... is this?" she thought, remembering the battle had just ended, her vision blurred, and she arrived here.

Bubble Noodles

"A train?" Bai Hang didn't react.

Golden Descendant

Persuasion

Bai Hang's voice suddenly rose, filled with incredulous shock, her azure eyes wide: "Is... is that the legendary astral express ridden by the Nameless, the train that explores the Star Sea?! How could we be on it?!"

Star Sea

In her era, the legend of the astral express and the Nameless had long echoed across the Star Sea, a symbol of exploration, courage, and hope.

She, a Xianzhou pilot who had supposedly "sacrificed" herself centuries ago, not only returned from death but now finds herself aboard this legendary train, which is even more fantastical than her own resurrection!

"Hn." Heimu wasn't surprised by her reaction, casually waving a hand: "You can walk around on your own, get familiar with the surroundings. Don't go too far."

Having received permission, Bai Hang instantly cast aside the fatigue and turmoil from the recent battle, like a child entering an amusement park for the first time, curiosity taking over.

She was like a little fox venturing into new territory for the first time, cautiously rising to her feet, she began to pace the carriage, feeling the soft-looking sofa, then moved to the Observation Window, gazing at the nebula just outside, letting out a soft exclamation, her snowy tail unconsciously swaying gently.

Having seen Bai Hang off, Heimu turned her gaze to the other side of the table.

A Xing continued toiling away, focused on her third bucket of bubble noodles, her expression intent yet vacant, as if nothing existed but her and the food before her.

A barely perceptible twitch crossed Heimu's mouth.

(Inner thought: In this Past World Paradise's memory data pack, could it be that Kaiwen's strange obsession with bubble noodles has also been bundled and inherited?)

The system attendant standing nearby, its inverted-cross eyes flickering with data streams, spoke up at the right moment, as if reading Heimu's assessment of A Xing's strength: "Ma'am, the creation 'A Xing' has potential for further optimization."

"Oh?" Heimu raised an eyebrow.

"Core missing," the system's electronic tone flat and unchanging, "She lacks a genuine Star Core as an energy source. The authenticity of the 'Star' derives precisely from this."

Heimu furrowed her brow slightly.

She understood the system's meaning: the A Xing she created is merely a copy with combat skills and a data shell, lacking the core "engine."

But can a Star Core be picked up so casually?

(Inner thought: Using Emperor III's Authority to scan the galaxy for a Star Core just for a test subject? That's overkill and risks exposure…)

"Based on current Plot information," the system continued, "both Yaliluo-VI and the Xianzhou Luofu each possess a Star Core awaiting processing."

Heimu closed her eyes, and relevant information flashed through her consciousness.

Indeed, compared to the Xianzhou with its tangled powers and myriad strong warriors, the ice-locked Yaliluo-VI is undoubtedly the easier target.

But…… taking a Star Core?

That notion made her feel a bit thorny.

This is far from simply stealing a doll or stirring up chaos.

The Star Core is the root of planetary calamity and the key to driving the Plot forward.

If she were to take Yaliluo-VI's Star Core ahead of time, when the future Pioneer arrives, what they'd face would be a world without a core crisis?

How would the trial that ought to have occurred—uniting everyone, witnessing growth, perhaps even allowing someone to unlock the Preservation Path—now play out?

She couldn't help but recall her origin—that very tragedy born in a "what-if" line that led to a disastrous ending.

A single thought's difference could send the future trajectory sliding into an entirely different abyss.

Her gaze fell once more on A Xing, the creature she herself created, bearing heavy memories yet only knowing how to silently eat Bubble Noodles.

Is it worth her investing a Star Core capable of stirring the gears of the galaxy's fate?

Does this pawn's potential suffice for her to take the risk, to personally pluck the string originally held by "Fate"?

Her elegant fingers lightly tapped the obsidian table, producing a regular soft sound.

In her violet-black eyes, deep starlight and rational weighing intertwined and flickered.

The pros and cons of obtaining a Star Core, as well as its possible chain reactions on the known Plot, need careful consideration.

After all, she certainly doesn't want to accidentally turn this world into another Weng Fa Luo Si that she would have to destroy.

"Ah..." she let out a barely perceptible sigh.

At that moment, Bai Hang returned like a pleased little fox, trotting back with light steps, her face still flushed with undiminished excitement.

Her azure eyes sparkled, and her snowy Fox Ears twitched slightly from excitement.

She cautiously edged up to the Black Curtain Lady, her voice brimming with restrained joy and a hint of disbelief: "Mas—master! I just took a look…… Is this, this really the interior of the Astral Express? And…… could you be a…… nameless passenger?"

Heimu lifted her violet-black eyes, gave her a flat glance, her tone without ripple: "No, how could I be?"

She gracefully lifted the teacup, took a sip, and said, "The Nameless Guest follows the will of 'Exploration,' walking upon the path of fate. And I..."

She paused, didn't continue, but the meaning was obvious—her path was far from 'Exploration'.

Bai Hang awkwardly scratched their head, and the snow-white hair strands were messed up by her rubbing.

(Inner thought: Also right…… Master's aura, no matter how you look at it, doesn't look like someone following the 'Exploration' path…… more like…… uh, the behind-the-scenes big shot?)

But she looked at the surroundings' genuine train environment, curiosity even stronger: "Then…… why are we on this legendary train?"

This time, without waiting for Heimu to speak, the system doll standing beside used that flat electronic voice to explain: "This car is a temporary residence obtained by the lady through special channels. We are in a …… 'neighbor' relationship with the main train group."