The Astral Express continued its journey, with the next stop being a frozen planet named Jarilo-VI. A Stellaron needed to be dealt with there before they could proceed.
Originally, this trailblazing mission was planned for you, Stelle, and March 7th to undertake together. However, you frowned and casually made an excuse: "I don't like the cold." Dan Heng took your place and boarded the ice planet with Stelle and March 7th.
While they were handling the planet's affairs, you stayed alone on the Astral Express, secretly manipulating long-buried chess pieces. You mobilized a force from the Annihilation Gang and silently launched an attack on a merchant fleet of the Xianzhou Luofu. That merchant fleet was precisely the one the Foxian girl, Tingyun, was with.
Almost at the same time, you fabricated a puppet body identical in appearance to Tingyun. This body was lifelike, even mimicking her expressions perfectly. Then, you stripped a part of your powerful Heliobus essence from your main body. This process was not easy. Your type of powerful Heliobus was formed by the aggregation of countless Heliobus, and splitting off such a pure part destabilized your mental core and weakened your power. But your spirit was strong enough, and your self-awareness unbreakable. Although the portion of Heliobus that was split off also had an independent consciousness and a similar way of thinking to you, it remained under the control of your main body's will. You injected this portion of Heliobus into the fake Tingyun's body.
In an instant, the puppet "came to life." It disguised itself as Tingyun, who had survived the attack, and cleverly infiltrated the Xianzhou Luofu. To exact revenge on the Xianzhou Alliance, every step you took had to be foolproof.
[Successful infiltration of the Xianzhou Luofu, Villain Value +200!]
After the trailblazing mission on Jarilo-VI was successfully completed, the Astral Express was preparing to head to its next stop. Just then, a communication request sounded in the Astral Express's main control room. You received a message from the Stellaron Hunter Kafka. She wasted no words, directly threatening the lives of countless ordinary people, demanding the Astral Express change its predetermined course.
Faced with such blatant coercion, the Astral Express crew had no choice. They compromised. The new destination lit up on the star map. It was the place that stirred your millennium of hatred, a place buried with countless pains and humiliations—Xianzhou.
You stood by the Astral Express's large observation window, looking at the light dot representing the Xianzhou Luofu on the star map. In the depths of your black eyes, there was no warmth, only endless killing intent, like solidified millennium-old ice.
Xianzhou, just wait.
[6400 years old, Star Calendar 8100.]
The Astral Express arrived at the Xianzhou Luofu. This time, Stelle, March 7th, and you entered the Luofu. Welt Yang originally intended to go along, but considering that you, as a newcomer, needed experience, and that your relationship with Stelle had been somewhat delicate recently, this joint action might resolve some emotional knots, so he gave his spot to you. Dan Heng, Himeko, and Welt remained on the Astral Express, ready to provide support at any time.
Under the identity of "Orion," you stepped onto this giant ship with the two of them. Golden Threads surged out like a silent tide, instantly covering every corner of the Luofu. This giant ship held no more secrets in your eyes. You sensed the Abominations of Abundance in the shadows, the surging anomalies within the Alchemy Commission, and the intricate power struggles among the Xianzhou high-ranking officials. Everything was under your control and within your expectations.
Your objective this time was clear: there was a Stellaron on the Luofu that needed to be found and sealed to resolve this crisis. The Luofu was currently fraught with danger. You soon encountered a group of Mara-Struck, who were besieging a Foxian. You intervened at the right time, joining Stelle and March 7th to rescue the Foxian. She claimed to be Tingyun of the Sky-Faring Commission.
You exchanged glances with her; that was the puppet clone you had injected with a portion of your Heliobus essence, the fake Tingyun. She then returned to normal, expressing her gratitude to you, calling you "benefactors" repeatedly.
Under the guidance of the fake Tingyun, you successfully met the General of the Luofu, Jing Yuan. You acted appropriately, calm and reliable. And Jing Yuan also showed initial trust in you. He attributed the Luofu's crisis to the infiltrating Stellaron Hunters and entrusted you with assisting in the investigation.
You sneered inwardly. This was precisely the misdirection you wanted to see. By making Xianzhou focus its attention on the Stellaron Hunters, your true objective could be better hidden.
Afterward, you followed the Astral Express crew's actions on the Luofu, playing the role of a reliable teammate. In several battles against the Abominations of Abundance, you deliberately restrained your power, appearing to barely cope. Once, you were even hit by an Abomination of Abundance, feigning a near-injury. These actions, seemingly trying your best to protect your teammates, further deepened the Astral Express crew's trust in you. They felt that although your abilities were strong, you also needed their protection.
However, Stelle's attitude towards you remained complex. In battle, she would subconsciously stand in front of you, blocking attacks for you, even though you didn't need her protection at all. In private, you occasionally caught her secretly looking at you, with an indescribable emotion in her eyes. When you occasionally tested her by calling her "wife," she would blush instantly as if shocked, then frantically turn away.
You enjoyed the pleasure brought by this emotional manipulation. This Stellaron-infused girl was more easily affected by emotions than you imagined. You were like an experienced angler, watching the fish slowly bite the bait you cast.
[Villain Value +50!]
During your actions on the Luofu, you encountered Kafka again. She was captured by Fu Xuan's "Omniscient Eye Array," and after an interrogation, Fu Xuan seemed to understand the truth, knowing that the Stellaron Hunters were not the direct cause of this crisis.
Then, Stelle had a brief private conversation with Kafka. At this point, Kafka seemed to see the confusion in Stelle's eyes.
"What's wrong? Did you encounter any problems?" Kafka asked her, looking at her.
Stelle hesitated for a moment, and finally asked, "Do you know what it feels like to like someone…?"
Kafka chuckled upon hearing this: "Oh? You have someone you like?"
Stelle remained silent for a long time, not answering. Kafka didn't press, only smiling and saying, "If you like them, go bravely pursue them. Don't leave any regrets."
After that, Kafka successfully escaped with the assistance of the suddenly appearing Blade. Stelle looked in the direction Kafka left, muttering to herself, "Do I have to be brave if I like them…?" Her gaze unconsciously turned towards you, who were standing not far away, looking at the surrounding scenery as if nothing had happened.
Stelle seemed to have made some kind of decision in her heart.