Honkai Star Rail: I Can Hear Their Secrets

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"Auntie Cold Legs?" March 7th questioned skeptically. "But that guy Sampo is called 'Uncle Han Tui'."

"Wait, what's your connection with that Sampo fellow?"

And there lies the question—just who the hell is this Sampo?

Su Jinyan had no choice but to improvise, "Sampo, ah? Of course I know him; he's my nephew."

"Huh?" March 7th exclaimed.

Excitedly, Stelle grabbed Su Jinyan by the shoulders and vigorously shook her back and forth.

"I knew it! You were indeed the one at the inn that day."

"How did you manage to evade Herta's detection?"

For Stelle, losing those Cosmic Fragments wasn't significant; she could easily earn them back after battling a couple of rounds. While the Simulated Universe was initially intriguing, playing it as a single-player game under Herta's control eventually grew tiresome.

If not for the promised rewards from Herta, she wouldn't have bothered with it anymore. However, having a teammate to play the Simulated Universe together would change everything entirely.

Soon, the monotonous Simulated Universe would become interesting again.

Additionally, due to losing her Cosmic Fragments to Auntie Cold Legs' robbery, she had been mocked by Herta.

Herta even asked if she was on some strange medication! How could she tolerate that?

The next time she encountered Herta, Su Jinyan vowed to ridicule them right back.

With a serious expression, Su Jinyan stated, "What do you mean by 'Herta,' 'White Tower,' or 'inn'? I have no idea what you're talking about."

"As for my real name, you can call me 'Su Jinyan.'"

March 7th couldn't resist teasing, "Wow, your name and speaking style really don't match at all!"

Su Jinyan sighed, "It's like this, pink-haired miss, I didn't always go by this name."

"I changed it to 'Su Jinyan' as a constant reminder to be cautious with my words."

"To avoid offending people like Gray-haired Miss and Glasses Uncle, causing discomfort."

Welt remained silent, taken aback.

Stelle also fell speechless.

March 7th glared indignantly, "Excuse me, but you've already offended this young lady."

"This young lady has a name—it's 'March 7th', not some 'pink-haired miss' nonsense!"

"Offending three people with just one sentence—truly a genius move."

Confused, Stelle asked, "So what was your previous name?"

Su Jinyan looked smugly satisfied. "Hecarim."

Stelle couldn't help but laugh at his audacity. "Oh, you're quite the comedian, aren't you?!"

March 7th glared at him. "How many times will you repeat this joke, seriously? Anyway, I'll keep calling you 'Su Jinyan' from now on."

"But such an unconventional entrance is truly something new for me," she added.

Stelle wholeheartedly agreed; if not for Su Jinyan's quick reflexes, she would have instinctively whacked him with her bat.

Su Jinyan bluntly responded, "Well, it seems you haven't seen enough then."

March 7th blinked her bright eyes, puzzled. "Hmm, why do you say that?"

Taking the lead to guide March 7th and Stelle, Su Jinyan began explaining, "Here's the thing."

"At Luofu, we don't tolerate idleness. You can be poor here, but you must always have work to do."

"You might not believe me now, but once you become familiar with Luofu, my words will resonate more deeply."

Shortly after this exchange, as they descended the long staircase, Su Jinyan spotted a familiar-looking girl near some shipping containers nearby.

She had her brown hair tied back in a ponytail, with striking features and determined eyes, lips slightly pursed. Dressed in a white blouse, yellow arm cuffs, and snug abdominal armor, it accentuated her magnificent snow-white curves impressively.

With just one glance, Su Jinyan instantly assessed her measurements: 36D!

As the saying goes: Men may get dizzy from 3D, but never from 36D; in fact, such sights only invigorate them further.

The young woman's surname was Li, given name Sushang, and she was a newly appointed Cloud Knight of Luofu. Su Jinyan had seen her profile on the Intranet forum.

Moreover, during that live stream, it was Sushang who had partnered with another maiden to sell goods.

How should one describe her? A fine young woman, appearing astute and endearingly captivating.

"Quick, retreat! I'll cover you!" Sushang clutched a heavy sword tightly, shielding two injured cloud knights behind her.

The blade measured over two feet long, unusually massive, with edges as thin as cicada wings—sharp enough to sever hair with a mere breath. At first glance, it was clearly no ordinary weapon.

Facing off against Sushang were three frenzied Mara-Struck Soldiers. They wore armor adorned with abundant golden foliage, wielding blades with sleek black-golden lines.

As Cloud Knights guarding the Xianzhou, once their comrades succumbed to Mara-Strike, they were compelled to confront their former allies in battle—a psychological hurdle difficult for them to overcome.

Sushang took half a step back, visibly torn by the situation.

Seeing the Mara-Struck Soldiers about to attack Sushang, March 7th gasped instinctively, nearly casting a shield around her.

Just then, a brilliant aura flared from behind Su Jinyan. Its radiant glow illuminated the three Mara-Struck Soldiers, instantly calming them down. One after another, they fell into slumber, reverting to their original human appearances.

March 7th gasped, covering her mouth in shock. "The monsters turned back into humans?"

Before the two injured cloud knights could even express their gratitude, they indignantly shouted upon hearing this:

"They're not monsters at all!"

Feeling somewhat awkward, March 7th asked, "Did I say something wrong again?"

Su Jinyan waved his hand dismissively. "It's alright; ignorance is forgivable. You likely already know who I am, so there's no need for introductions."

The cloud knights bowed respectfully, expressing their gratitude, "Thank you, Sir Su Jinyan, for your assistance."

Su Jinyan instructed them, "I've temporarily suppressed their Mara-Struck state, but it won't last long. Once I leave, they will once again succumb to Mara-Strike. Hurry and take them to the infirmary; perhaps there's still hope for recovery."

Following these orders, additional cloud knights were swiftly summoned. They carefully transported the three sleeping Mara-Struck soldiers on stretchers.

Sushang's lips parted slightly, filled with disbelief. "Wow, you can actually restore someone who has fallen into Mara-Strike back to normal? This is my first time witnessing such..."

Su Jinyan explained, "Mara-Strike manifests through five symptoms: Wounding, Defilement, Wrath, Transformation, and Apathy."

"'Amnesia' refers to being overtaken by an inexplicable sense of emptiness, leading to a state of confusion and disorientation."

"'Wrath' signifies harboring resentment and intent to harm others, with emotions fluctuating intensely between sorrow, joy, anger, and discontent."

"Whenever these symptoms are present, simply restoring emotional calm can revert them back to their original state."

"As it happens, being a male instructor well-versed in human nature, I possess the ability to soothe emotions and bring about tranquility in others."

Blessed by the Benevolent Medicine King, as the Colored Glaze Venerable, Su Jinyan had acquired a unique professional skill called Luminary Radiance of Treasured Light.

This skill allowed him to simultaneously pacify the emotions of up to three targets, inducing a state of serenity. During this period, they would not suffer any negative effects, and all damage taken would be reduced by 50%.

In essence, for those who became Mara-Struck due to emotional disturbances, Su Jinyan could effortlessly reverse the affliction.

However, if the transformation was caused by physical mutations or other bodily factors, there was no solution.

Strictly speaking, Mara-Struck wasn't considered a debuff but rather a life-level evolution bestowed by the Benevolent Medicine King himself.

Sushang scratched her head, looking puzzled. "Injury, defilement, wrath...what was the last one again?"

"Oh well, never mind that! Anyway, you're really amazing."

"I know who you are - you're Su Jinyan, the one who defeated Cloud Knight Lieutenant Yanqing, right?"

March 7th and others exchanged subtle glances, wondering why this girl seemed so insightful.

[Sushang, from Yaoqing, a pure-hearted and enthusiastic new recruit of the Cloud Knights, wields a heavy sword named "Xuan Yuan". Comes from a prominent family background.]

[She idolizes the legends in Cloud Knights' history, aspiring to become a renowned figure herself.]

[Quickly win over Sushang's affection within these few days, or you will surely regret it.]

Su Jinyan gently nodded. "I recognize you too; your name is 'Sushang', isn't it?"

Sushang looked astonished. "But I haven't even introduced myself yet. How did you know my name?"

With a matter-of-fact tone, Su Jinyan replied, "I'm a diviner, after all. Having foreknowledge is quite normal."

Instead of suspecting anything, Sushang became even more impressed. "Diviners are truly incredible!"

"Can you divine anything else?"

Su Jinyan pretended to calculate by pinching his fingers together. "Your surname is Li, making your full name: Li Sushang."

"You also have a close friend currently streaming; her name is 'Guinaifen,' am I correct?"

Sushang softly gasped, her eyes filled with innocent admiration. "Wow, incredible! You've divined all that!"

March 7th whispered, "Uncle Yang, can diviners really predict such detailed information?"

Welt replied quietly, "Little March, do you have some misunderstanding about diviners?"

"I did my research before coming here. The predictors of the Divination Commission typically handle navigation calculations and strategic planning..."

"If he were truly as omniscient as he pretends to be, would we have managed to catch him off-guard just now?"

Indignation swelled within March 7th's heart. "Isn't he misleading this young lady then?"

"This maiden won't stand for it. Hey, Miss Sushang, he's deceiving you."

"He might have already gathered your information beforehand; it's not necessarily a prediction," she added.

Sushang looked momentarily bewildered but then firmly responded, "Deceiving me? Impossible."

"Do you know who he is?" asked March 7th, shrugging.

"Of course, a predictor from the Divination Commission," she declared confidently.

Sushang began counting on her fingers, as if listing treasured facts, "You only know he's a predictor from the Divination Commission."

"But did you know he recently defeated Cloud Knight Lieutenant Yanqing from the Seat of Divine Foresight? He's hailed as a genius with a sword embryo martial bone!"

"And also the youngest brave guard in the history of the Cloud Knights."

"Furthermore, there's the notorious criminal organization, Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, that had terrorized Xianzhou Luofu for years."

"He risked his life to infiltrate them, gather evidence, and ultimately dismantle the group."

"With such remarkable achievements, why would he bother deceiving me? What could he possibly gain?"

March 7th was left speechless by Sushang's revelations, her face filled with astonishment.

"Uncle Yang, I never realized this guy was so impressive?"

"So, he's been just playing along with us all this time?" she asked incredulously.

Su Jinyan sighed deeply. "I intended to interact with you as an ordinary person, but it only resulted in distance between us. No more pretenses; I lay my cards on the table. I am Su Jinyan, the chief disciple of Master Fu Xuan from the Divination Commission and a trusted figure at the Seat of Divine Foresight."

Welt spoke gravely, "I didn't expect such hidden depths, sir. My apologies for any disrespect shown earlier."

"And given your foresight, I assume you anticipated our arrival at the port and were waiting for us accordingly?"

Su Jinyan shook his head slightly. "Originally, I was dispatched on Shizun's orders to specially welcome the esteemed guests from the Astral Express."

"However, it seems we've witnessed the treachery lurking within human hearts..."

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Welt remained silent, while March 7th proactively shifted the blame.

"Hey, hey, hey! The guilty party should bear responsibility; I've been defending you all along," she exclaimed.

"If anyone is to be blamed, blame Xingyu and Uncle Yang—it was all their doing."

Xingyu and Welt both looked taken aback.

Smiling, Su Jinyan said, "I'm just joking. As esteemed guests newly arrived in Luofu, feeling unfamiliar and tense is understandable."

"After some thought, there couldn't have been a better way to alleviate that tension than this encounter."

March 7th pouted, "Hmph, not nervous anymore, indeed."

"But my heart nearly jumped out of my chest thanks to you!"

Su Jinyan asked, "Speaking of which, Sushang, are you patrolling Cloudford?"

Sushang nodded. "Yes, after the Stellaron explosion, many areas in Luofu were affected."

"There's a shortage of personnel at Cloudford, so I volunteered to maintain order here."

"These individuals with you seem unfamiliar," Sushang observed. "Are they outlaws?"

Welt replied gravely, "Miss Sushang, we are Trailblazers of the Astral Express.

"We've come to Luofu with the intent to help resolve the crisis caused by the Stellaron explosion."

Sushang looked puzzled. "Astral Express? I've never heard of it."

"But isn't the Jade Portal closed? How did you enter?"

Welt answered, "We hailed for port access initially without response, until someone unexpectedly opened the Jade Portal for us."

"Since Mr. Yang knew we were coming, he must have been the one who opened it, right?"

Confused, Sushang responded, "But as far as I know, only members of the Sky-Faring Commission have authority to open the Jade Portal."

Su Jinyan secretly chuckled inwardly. Despite Sushang's apparent lack of scholarly knowledge, she seemed well-informed about the duties of the six divisions and was quite diligent in her responsibilities.

"Sushang appears to be knowledgeable about the roles of the six divisions. However, I didn't open the Jade Portal myself."

"It was the branch director of the Aerial Division who opened the Jade Portal for the Astral Express."

"And speaking of which, I still need to escort them to meet Lady Yukong."

As they spoke, Su Jinyan introduced the three members of the Astral Express to Sushang.

Sushang's drawn-out response betrayed her confusion: "Oh, I see—"

"As the saying goes: 'Respond promptly, fulfill requests without fail; practice daily kindness, and self-reflect thrice.' If you need any assistance, just let me know—I won't hesitate or be overly polite!"

March 7th looked puzzled, "Uh, not hesitate or be overly polite? Did you mean the opposite?"

"It should be: if you need help, feel free to ask, no need for politeness."

Sushang scratched her head. "Is that right? You outlaws seem to understand these things better than me, a native of Xianzhou."

Stelle whispered quietly, "March, don't you think Sushang is quite gullible?"

March 7th's expression turned serious. "Mm-hmm, I can sense it too. She does appear very susceptible to persuasion."

Embarrassedly rubbing his hands together, Stelle asked, "Miss Sushang, I've been a bit strapped for cash lately. Could you lend me some Credit?"

"Hey! Stop your scamming right now!" March 7th exclaimed.

Sushang hastily waved her hands. "Ah, I'm sorry, truly sorry. Except for borrowing money—I don't have much either!"

Su Jinyan's expression turned solemn. "Sushang, actually, I suffer from 'Kissless Sudden Death Syndrome.'"

"I must kiss someone at least once every day to alleviate this condition; otherwise, I will perish."

"Considering we're all friends here, could you help me out?"

March 7th interjected urgently, "Can both of you please stop deceiving this young lady?!"

Blushing with embarrassment, Sushang fidgeted her delicate fingers. "Well, isn't that... not quite appropriate?"

"I've never kissed anyone of the opposite sex before."

"Don't agree to it, Sushang!" March 7th quickly advised.

Su Jinyan looked innocently at her. "But doesn't Sushang always fulfill requests?"

"You wouldn't want to see Luofu's future genius perish so prematurely, would you?"

Sushang clenched her teeth, seemingly making up her mind. "Fine, I'll be good through and through!"

"But you mustn't tell anyone else, okay? It'd embarrass me if word got out!" Sushang warned.

March 7th stepped in front of Su Jinyan, glaring at him fiercely. "Hey, Su Jinyan."

"You wouldn't want us spreading this around, right?"

"Because then everyone would see your true colors - knowing that you deliberately tricked an innocent girl into giving away her first kiss."

Su Jinyan raised his hands in surrender. "I was just joking, don't take it too seriously."

Still unconvinced, Sushang asked, "Are you truly only joking?"

Su Jinyan sincerely apologized, "Sorry, Sushang, I deceived you."

"In the future, if I really get a 'no-kiss-death' disease, I'll come to you for help immediately."

"All right," Sushang responded earnestly. "If you ever genuinely contract such a disease, feel free to seek my assistance."

March 7th frowned, casting a distrustful gaze at Su Jinyan. "Hmph, appearances can be deceiving."

"I shouldn't have helped you up earlier. Uncle Yang, Stelle, let's go!" she declared.

Su Jinyan smiled apologetically. "I still need to attend to esteemed guests; we'll talk another time."

After exchanging contact information with Sushang, Su Jinyan hastily caught up with them.

Watching Su Jinyan's retreating figure, Sushang lightly bit her thumb, lost in thought.

Welt adjusted his glasses. "Little March, have you forgotten why we came to Luofu?"

March 7th sulked unhappily. "I know, to prevent the Stellaron disaster."

In a serious tone, Welt said, "Rashly turning against him is not a wise move."

March 7th disagreed. "But isn't helping others joyous? Standing up against injustice when witnessing it aligns with the spirit of Trailblazing, doesn't it?

"Uncle Yang, can you bear watching that innocent little girl be deceived by Su Jinyan?" she asked, nudging Stelle gently as she continued, "Right, Stelle?"

Stelle pondered for a moment. "March, I think..."

March 7th's lips curved upwards. "See, even you feel something's off, right?"

Somewhat puzzled, Stelle replied, "Someone like him couldn't possibly be foolish, could he?"

"If he wanted to deceive unsuspecting girls, he could easily do so behind our backs."

"Why would he insist on doing it right in front of us?"

March 7th speculated, "Could it be that he has such peculiar preferences?"

"You're right, March," echoed a familiar voice, accompanied by a warm hand gently resting on her snowy shoulder. "I also believe there's something off about Su Jinyan.

"He seems to have nothing going for him except good looks!"

Unaware of any strangeness, March 7th turned her charming face towards Stelle, responding eagerly, "Right, right?"

As she spoke, March 7th suddenly realized a grave issue.

Stelle was walking shoulder to shoulder with her, her left hand free while holding the bat in her right—she hadn't placed her hand on March 7th's shoulder at all.

Meanwhile, Uncle Yang walked ahead of them.

The question then arose: Who did that hand belong to?

With a foreboding suspicion, March 7th gripped the hand tightly and slowly turned her head back.

To her shock, there was no one behind her.

The hand caught in her grasp went limp, losing its warmth.

March 7th's eyes widened dramatically as she screamed, "It's a ghost!"

Caught off guard, Stelle, who had been deep in thought, jumped in fright, causing the baseball bat in her hand to fly out uncontrollably.

In perfect timing, it struck Welt squarely on the back of his head.

Coincidentally, Welt was also engrossed in his thoughts. By the time he heard the rushing wind from behind, it was too late.

Thud!

Taken completely by surprise, Welt was instantly knocked out by Stelle's bat, collapsing onto the ground.

"Uncle Yang!" cried March 7th.

Stelle looked terrified, exclaiming, "Uncle Yang! I didn't mean to do it!"

Welt lay silent, momentarily stunned.

Su Jinyan promptly dispelled his illusion and casually jogged over.

"What's going on here? I could hear you shouting from afar."

Tears welled up in March 7th's beautiful eyes. "We think we encountered a ghost! Why would there be ghosts at Luofu?"

Seeing Su Jinyan rush to their side, March 7th felt reassured as if finding her anchor. She hastily recounted their eerie experience to him.

Su Jinyan spoke gravely, "March, it seems like you might have indeed attracted a ghost."

"Look at you, wandering around unfamiliar territory without caution. What if you stumble upon 'Ghostly Wall,' trapping your path?"

"It's best to stick close to me; I know Luofu well."

March 7th grew even more frightened. "Shouldn't you comfort me by saying something like, 'It's all superstition, there are no such things as ghosts'?"

Su Jinyan slightly shook his head. "Who can truly explain whether ghosts exist or not?"

"In any case, I've personally encountered two ghosts here at Luofu, both utterly terrifying experiences."

March 7th shivered involuntarily. "Eek, what kind of ghosts were they that scary?"

Still shaken, Su Jinyan replied, "The Overtime Ghost and the Slack-off Ghost—aren't those horrifying enough?"

March 7th clenched her fists, unable to resist retorting, "And should we include lecherous ghosts like yourself?"

Welt, holding his throbbing head, struggled to get back on his feet, looking thoroughly dismayed.

Stelle obediently apologized, "Uncle Yang, I'm sorry."

Welt looked weary. "It's alright; you didn't mean to."

"Little March, could you please not startle us like that in the future? You gave me quite a scare too," he added.

March 7th obediently apologized, "Sorry, Uncle Yang. I must have had poor rest last night and experienced some hallucinations."

Su Jinyan suggested, "Mr. Walter, let me continue guiding you from here on out."

Welt did not refuse. "That would be good, thank you for your assistance, Mr. Su."

"In fact, there is a question on my mind, hoping you could enlighten me," Welt continued. "What exactly is this Mara-Struck condition you mentioned? Is it a disease?"

Su Jinyan replied slowly, "Precisely speaking, Mara-Strike is the fate of eternal life beings, an enduring enigma unsolved by the Xianzhou Alliance for six millennia."

"To trace the origins of Mara-Strike, allow me to share a story with you all."

"As you may know, the early immortal cultivators sought blessings from the Prosperity Alchemist, leading to the manifestation of the World Tree. From then on, they were granted boundless longevity."

"However, their golden age was short-lived, ending abruptly with the collapse during the 'Era of Divine Descent'."

"After transforming into eternal life beings, the nine great Xianzhous continued to thrive and multiply, eventually reaching a critical population threshold."

Stelle found it unimaginable. "Reached a critical population threshold? Wouldn't the Xianzhou risk collapsing?"

Su Jinyan's expression turned grave. "Let me finish my explanation."

"Indeed, at that time, social classes were distinctly stratified.

"The 'venerable elders,' enjoying lifespans spanning millennia, held most of the power and wealth while idling away their days."

"On the other hand, nearly three trillion lower-class 'commoners' existed as mere masses of flesh, their purpose seemingly unknown. No matter how hard they strived, hope remained perpetually out of reach."

"Even more despairing than striving without hope was the immortals' virtually limitless lifespan."

"This meant that from birth, those born to the lower class would remain there for eternity; generations upon generations of 'commoners' stayed trapped in their status. Conversely, those born as 'venerable elders' remained so indefinitely."

"In terms relatable to our short-lived race, it was akin to farmers' descendants always being farmers, and ministers' heirs forever remaining ministers—a permanent societal hierarchy."

Just hearing this sent chills down March 7th's spine. "Isn't that truly terrifying?"

Su Jinyan's expression grew somber. "Ultimately, what later became known as the 'Civil War' erupted.

"Within the nine great Immortal Arks, siblings turned against each other, and commoners rose in rebellion. Following this turmoil, the Yuanjiao Immortal Ark met its tragic demise, crashing into a red giant star."

"According to the records in the 'Three Calamities Chronicle' volume of 'Comprehensive Mirror of Xianzhou,'"

"Even as the populace stormed the paradise, he remained undeterred, organizing his grand millennium feast and inviting numerous guests," Su Jinyan continued.

"At the banquet, however, the nobles wore expressions of distress, setting down their cups and chopsticks."

"Only the lifeless-eyed host consumed food many times his own weight."

"But these exquisite dishes seemed to vanish into an abyss, failing entirely to satiate his hunger."

"As the defending forces crumbled and palace gates were breached, the invading crowd found no trace of human presence within."

"In corners of the halls, masses of writhing flesh tendrils accumulated, filled with countless eyes, ears, tongues, teeth, limbs, hair, fat..."

"Crazily proliferating and shedding, making it impossible to fathom that all this flesh originated from a single human body."

March 7th's delicate frame involuntarily shuddered, her skin prickling with goosebumps.

"Ew, stop! We can already picture the scene."

Su Jinyan spoke gravely, "This was the first manifestation of 'Mara-Strike'."

"However, people soon realized it wasn't an isolated case."

"Faced with surging unrest and rebellion, those venerable elders who claimed to be 'immortals' either ignored it like lifeless corpses or brutally suppressed dissent using bizarre techniques, akin to demons."

"Zhu Ming's 'Scarlet Fury Burning King,' Xueling's 'White Bone Summer Palace,' and Yu Que's 'Jade Blood Mountain Tomb'—the tragedies multiplied."

"At the end of their prolonged lifespans, some individuals lost their human empathy, succumbing to madness. This, as far as I know, is the initial source of Mara-Strike," Su Jinyan continued.

Walter adjusted his glasses. "I broadly understand now. After enduring such lengthy lives, the eternal beings on Xianzhou..."

"...would undergo psychological and physiological transformations at certain points, often without realizing it, leading to Mara-Strike?"

Su Jinyan smiled. "Your description, Mr. Walter, is quite accurate."

"The Alchemy Commission of the Ethereal Immortal Ferry once had a Head Pill Master who conducted research on Mara-Strike. The immortality of Xianzhou's inhabitants stems from the blessing of the Plagues Author, whose divine power of abundance induces unknown changes in their bodies."

"At a critical juncture within their lifespan, they suddenly enter a new phase, breaking past original norms. Their physical forms exhibit explosive growth with immense destructive potential."

"As a result, these once civilized 'humans' transform into mindless 'evil creatures'. Now you should comprehend why Xianzhou regards outlanders' pursuit of longevity as taboo, right?"

Welt reassured him, "Sir, you can be completely at ease.

"Our visit to Luofu is by no means driven by the pursuit of immortality."

"In fact, we specifically came upon hearing about the Stellaron explosion on Xianzhou, intending to assist them in sealing the stellaron."

March 7th and Stelle proudly puffed out their small chests.

Su Jinyan expressed his sincere admiration, "Then I must truly extend our general's gratitude to all of you."

"Let me be candid," he continued, "the Stellaron explosion itself is secondary; Xianzhou can handle it with ease."

"The real challenge lies in its aftermath—the rifts, monstrous creatures, and unrest among the people. These are what concern us most."

"As honored guests from afar, I ought to provide proper hospitality on behalf of our general."

"However, given the extraordinary circumstances, regulations dictate that any newcomers must first register at the Sky-Faring Commission."

"Therefore, I must trouble each of you to accompany me to the Palace of Astrum for an audience with Lady Yukong, who oversees the commission."

Welt nodded, "In truth, before arriving here, I did my research."

"In accordance with protocol, we should have been received by the Shuttle Envoy of the Sky-Faring Commission."

"Why did your Shizun send you instead?"

With a hint of jest, Su Jinyan replied, "The Shuttle Envoy from the Ming Huo Trading Company's delegation is named Tingyun."

"She happens to be my fiancée, currently on maternity leave at home."

"That's why I've taken over Tingyun's duties temporarily."

March 7th looked astounded, her face draining of color. "Ah? You're already married at such a young age?"

Su Jinyan, with utmost seriousness despite the absurdity, addressed her, "Miss March."

"Don't judge someone's age by appearance once you're on Xianzhou," Su Jinyan continued. "I may look to be in my twenties, but in truth, I'm already two thousand years old."

March 7th's lips parted slightly, her expression filled with shock. "Two thousand years old? Really?"

"But just now, didn't you say 'we short-lived beings'?" Stelle questioned skeptically.

Su Jinyan smiled. "Of course not true; how could I possibly be only two thousand years old?"

Relieved, March 7th glared at him with her beautiful eyes, "Do you know how much you scared me?"

"Hey, did you just emphasize 'only' there?"

Su Jinyan's expression remained calm and composed. "Nothing significant, just giving you all a heads-up beforehand."

"To avoid showing surprise when encountering teenagers who are thousands of years old," he explained. "It might make our Astral Express passengers seem quite disrespectful."

March 7th, ever self-absorbed, retorted, "Well, this young lady is naturally lively and adorable—what's wrong with being curious about new things?"

Smiling, Su Jinyan responded, "Miss March, curiosity is indeed commendable.

"But please, remember my words carefully:

"On Xianzhou, do not seek immortality, nor show interest in topics related to longevity."

"Otherwise, if my little wife, who happens to be an Imperial Judge at the Ten-Lords Commission, catches wind of this, you'll all find yourselves in trouble."

March 7th's lovely eyes widened with surprise. "You have another wife?"

Realizing his slip, Su Jinyan blushed slightly. "Apologies for any amusement caused, fellow Pure Love Warriors."

Welt and Stelle exchanged puzzled glances.

March 7th looked at him scornfully. "A 'Pure Love Warrior' with two wives? Really?"

In her leisure time, March 7th greatly enjoyed following dramas and reading novels. As a staunch advocate of pure love, she held extreme views on the subject.

To her, true purity required unwavering devotion from both partners, allowing no room for any other affections—a wholly undiluted love.

However, from Su Jinyan's perspective, pure love meant solely loving Zhuo—so why couldn't he still be considered a Pure Love Warrior? No one's affection could match his purity; it was a title rightfully deserved.

Su Jinyan asserted confidently, "Who told you I have two wives?"

Taken aback by his self-assured expression, March 7th began counting on her fingers, "Didn't you just mention it yourself? See, there's one Shuttle Envoy from the Sky-Faring Commission and one Imperial Judge from the Ten-Lords Commission—that makes two, right?"

Looking smug, Su Jinyan replied, "That's barely scratching the surface—I've actually found at least six."

"Six?" echoed March 7th, astonished.

After transferring through several star ferries, Su Jinyan and his companions finally arrived at the Central Starskiff Haven.

The sudden lockdown had left many residents of the Ethereal Immortal Ferry without their livelihoods. During this period, the Realm-Keeping Commission conducted daily free distribution of essential supplies and credits.

The Ten-Lords Commission discreetly oversaw these distributions; anyone caught embezzling would be promptly arrested by an Imperial Judge and imprisoned for centuries in The Shackling Prison.

Fortunately, Su Jinyan's collaboration with Blade last night was remarkably seamless. Within a single day, they brought the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus to the brink of annihilation and captured Dan Shu, who conveniently delivered herself right into their hands.

As a result, only a handful of fugitive cultivators remained, posing little threat.

However, it must be acknowledged that as the leader of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, Dan Shu possessed considerable skills. Her creation, the Dragon-Coiled Soaring Pill, when ground into powder and dispersed in the air, could silently afflict individuals with Demonic Yin.

Dan Shu's one oversight likely stemmed from her inability to fathom falling victim to her own concoction. Had Su Jinyan not intervened in time, Blade alone could have slaughtered every cloud-mounted elite, leaving Yanqing no chance of survival. At that point, the enmity between the Luofu Xianzhou and Stellaron Hunters would have been irreconcilable.

Lord Ravager, Phantylia, could further exploit this chaos to reap even greater benefits.

Buzz...

Su Jinyan received a text message from Sushang:

[Shangshang's Sole Account: There were outsiders around earlier; couldn't discuss it openly.]

[I heard you received the blessing of the Plagues Author last night?]

[How do you feel now? Hopefully, there are no serious issues?]

[Lady Fu Xuan's Dog: How did you find out about this?]

[Shangshang's Sole Account: It's already widely talked about among the Cloud Knights.]

[Word is your grand aspiration is to eliminate all Abundant Evil Creatures, and everyone greatly admires you for it.]

[Lady Fu Xuan's Dog: Sushang, let me share a secret with you, just between us—don't tell anyone else.]

[After receiving the Plagues Author's blessing, my body seems to have undergone a profound transformation.]

[Even if I sustain severe injuries, I can now heal remarkably quickly.]

[Shangshang's Sole Account: That's incredible! Anything else?]

[Lady Fu Xuan's Dog: My bodily fluids appear to contain the divine power of the abundance fate path, effortlessly healing any wounds or pain.]

[As for other aspects, I haven't explored them yet; more research awaits.]

Sushang licked her lips, her innocent eyes gradually taking on a mischievous gleam. "Hmph..."