"What do you mean by 'trapped within Luofu's The Shackling Prison'? Isn't that just saying they've imprisoned him?"
"You're asking us to help stage a jailbreak?" March 7th puffed up indignantly, taken aback by Kafka's audacious request.
Himeko and Old Yang exchanged glances, both subtly shaking their heads. Clearly, this proposal exceeded the Astral Express Crew's boundaries.
Only Stelle, ever pragmatic, asked, "What reward are you referring to?"
Kafka held up three fingers, signaling her answer.
"Three questions."
"After completing this task, I will truthfully answer any three questions from the Astral Express Crew, providing all the information I possess without reservation."
Stelle's gaze flickered slightly, but he still shook his head.
"I'm sorry, we cannot agree to your terms."
Himeko stood up, making her decision firm. "Kafka, although your proposed reward is enticing, the request itself goes too far. We cannot become adversaries with Xianzhou, let alone aid the Stellaron Hunters against them."
As she spoke, Himeko opened the computer screen, preparing to forcefully cut off communication with Kafka.
Realizing the situation, Kafka showed self-awareness and logged out before Himeko could act.
Inside the train carriage, calm was restored.
Only Little Gui's live stream continued unabated.
Kafka's matter was quickly set aside.
Unanimously, everyone shifted their focus back to the unfolding narrative.
The Astral Express Crew was deciding through democratic voting whether to proceed towards Xianzhou.
In the end, neither Stelle nor Dan Heng raised their hands.
However, Himeko, Welt, and March 7th did vote in favor.
Facing Stelle's questioning gaze, March 7th smiled sheepishly and explained, "Uh, after calming down and giving it more thought, what if that woman wasn't lying? If we don't go to Xianzhou, many innocent lives could be at risk... This isn't the time to act on whims... Hee hee."
Witnessing this scene, March 7th covered her mouth in surprise.
Her first reaction was, Wow, how absurd of me! But upon further reflection:
"Huh? It seems I really am like that!"
In Little Gui's Live Streaming Room...
As the train arrived at Luofu through its jump, she picked up the Immortal Delight Tea from the table and took several hearty gulps.
"Hey fam! Who would've thought our turn for adventure has finally come at Luofu!"
"Earlier, when events were happening elsewhere, it didn't feel quite real. But now, every move by the Astral Express Crew—no! Every second of this unfolding storyline grips my heart tightly!"
"And who knows...we might even see familiar friends getting involved in the plot!"
"Oh right! Since Shangshang is an actual playable character, do you think there's a chance she'll make an appearance?"
This Trailblazing expedition was led by Old Yang, accompanied by March 7th and Stelle.
Upon passing through the Jade World Gateway into Luofu's territory, they were immediately met with an eerie atmosphere.
Surprisingly, not a single person awaited their arrival at the vast port!
As they continued forward, their eyes fell upon the scattered casualties of the Cloud Knights.
"Wow, it's just as expected from this game—trouble always strikes wherever the plot goes! Even Xianzhou Luofu isn't exempt."
"Didn't Kafka mention earlier that a Stellaron exploded on Luofu?"
"When did this happen? How come I didn't know about it?"
"It probably hasn't occurred yet..."
"Hurry and notify General Jing Yuan! Are there any official representatives in this group?"
"My home is near Cloudford, but even then, I'm not panicking! Although, I did see many Cloud Knights passing by downstairs just now."
The players of Xianzhou Luofu were now deeply immersed.
With their own safety at stake, they couldn't wait to learn what unfolds next in the storyline!
In the Live Streaming Room, many viewers even started flooding with gifts, urging Little Gui to accelerate the plot progression!
Guinaifen continuously expressed her gratitude while keeping up with the narrative without missing a beat.
As she moved forward,
they soon encountered the first battle on Luofu.
"Be cautious; these are unfamiliar creatures," Welt warned.
"Just waiting for Uncle Yang's command."
While the humanoid monsters, covered in grotesque mutations, might have been alien to the Astral Express Crew, they were well-known to the Xianzhou people—Mara-Struck Soldiers!
"These enemies can resurrect once after being defeated, truly fitting the characteristics of Mara-Struck Soldiers," Guinaifen remarked.
At that moment,
a cry for help echoed from ahead.
"Hey, you guys, come quick and lend a hand!"
Instantly upon seeing this person, the chat erupted.
"Ha! So the first person they encountered at Luofu is Miss Tingyun!"
"Who doesn't know about Miss Tingyun from the Sky-Faring Commission?"
"She's still as beautiful as ever!"
"Just earlier, March 7th claimed the first person they'd meet must be the mastermind behind everything. Looks like that theory fell flat."
"That just shows how she spooks herself easily. Did you really believe her?"
Soon enough, the battle neared its end.
With Himeko's Heavenfall Flame, Guinaifen swiftly dispatched three Mara-Struck Soldiers that had already resurrected once before.
In a meaningful tone, she declared, "As you've all witnessed!"
"Luofu's monsters can respawn; Seele's Remanifestation won't trigger anymore! Miss Himeko's area-of-effect attacks truly shine here!"
"I knew I made the right call not drawing Seele from the start—it was sheer foresight!"
"Was that your grand foresight? I'm almost embarrassed to point it out!"
"Little Gui spent $90 on gacha for Seele and ended up with just one extra life of Ji Zi—spread the word!"
"I didn't roll for Seele either. Although I like her character, as someone who prioritizes strength, I believe there'll be even more powerful characters coming."
"You guys should save your rolls for General Jing Yuan—or better yet, wait for Emperor's Bow Siming. But hey, whoever gets lucky first enjoys the rewards sooner!"