Pillar of Yita

”Ambassador,” the staff member walked over and handed him the communication device, ”There’s a reply from Fanric.”

”Thank you.” Liao Tianhua nodded lightly. The sunlight was streaming in from the direction of the zero-gravity corridor, falling on his face, making it appear purely white, though a hint of fatigue lingered in his expression. He silently gazed in the direction of Stargate Port for a while; the silver buildings were shrouded under a vast shadow, void and silent—a gigantic pupil observing the blue expanse forty thousand kilometers below. He submerged deep in the reflections of history, pondering how humanity left their blue home more than a century ago? When they looked at their homeland under this dark backdrop, did they feel the same as people today? Some ancient spacecraft from the past era still operate in orbit today, and perhaps from those mottled metals, one can catch a glimpse of the era’s musings on courage.

The pioneers and explorers, always the bravest, personally pushed open the door to ignorance and the unknown, not knowing whether the path ahead was strewn with thorns; they even paid the price of life, with heroic souls resting eternally, their stories poignant and inspiring, yet humanity’s yearning for the distance and exploration of the universe’s truths has never ceased for a single day. But can the spirit of yesteryears still inspire future successors to press forward? What choices would the pioneers make when facing the same dilemma? Ah, perhaps even the dilemmas themselves are entirely different! Liao Tianhua couldn’t help but sigh lightly. In his eyes, the universe reflected only profound darkness and coldness.

He gently touched the communication device’s panel and asked, ”Old Su, how are the circumstances?”

”I was just about to ask you,” Su Changfeng appeared on the display and replied, ”I heard there’s some trouble at Stargate Port, how is it now?”

Liao Tianhua’s eyes grew darker, making his expression somewhat daunting, but he nodded slightly. ”It’s temporarily stabilized.”

Su Changfeng looked at his old friend and, hesitating, said, ”Don’t worry too much...”

”What I’m worried about isn’t that,” Liao Tianhua shook his head, ”but that the progress of the C District project is falling behind, and the delay of many Invokers at Stargate has raised some suspicion.”

”So what are they saying?”

Liao Tianhua shook his head and said, ”...I only know that this year’s meeting will be moved up by two months.”

After a moment of silence, Su Changfeng took the initiative to break it, ”Let me first update you on this side, I won’t elaborate on the situation in the Southern Region, in short, it’s a mess, which you should know better than I do. As for that ’plan,’ it’s also entering its advanced stage...”

Liao Tianhua couldn’t help but recall his former superior; since the upheaval thirteen years ago, the latter had unwaveringly taken the opposing stance. Back then, few shared this perspective, yet it deeply affected the two of them, and now more like-minded individuals have emerged, finally bringing some fruition to their initial perseverance.

Su Changfeng responded, ”As for that small matter with Fenris, there have been some findings, interested in hearing about it?”

”Stop keeping me in suspense,” Liao Tianhua couldn’t help complaining, ”Of course I’m interested; if that matter is true, we currently need a batch of talent reserves, and we’re already falling behind.” He sighed, otherwise, they wouldn’t be pulling people from all around now.

”Found the people?”

”Seventy to eighty percent,” Su Changfeng nodded, ”though there are some interesting things here.”

Liao Tianhua couldn’t help but ask, ”What do you mean by interesting?”

”Do you remember what happened at the start of the year?” Su Changfeng laughed, ”Let me give you a hint: Tarun, Elf Ruins—”

Liao Tianhua’s eyes glittered, then turned suspicious, ”Of course I remember, but you certainly have some underlying themes.”

Su Changfeng mouthed something silently.

The ambassador’s eyes immediately lit up with radiant brilliance upon hearing this.

”What do you think?” Su Changfeng smiled mysteriously.

Liao Tianhua glanced at him, only responding, ”You’re right, let the Stargate Special Reserve Team go over first—”

...

Ai Xiaoxiao stood in the plaza filled with a festive atmosphere, her gaze passing over the adventurers coming and going, holding up a Light Page, aiming up at the sky behind the backdrop of the Elfendo Spire, snapping photos of balloons and airships floating by, looking extremely excited.

She nudged her friend beside her, screaming, ”Look over there.”

Tang Xin watched coolly as the giant shadow of the Floating Ship covered the sky overhead, rumbling as it slowly entered the Airport District, surrounded by countless flying creatures large and small. ”Don’t be so jumpy, my Little Princess,” she sighed, ”It’s not like you haven’t seen it before.”

”But I feel awed every time.”

Ai Xiaoxiao muttered, turning her head around, ”I never expected the Otherworld to have such advanced technology too! Did you ever consider it, Tangtang?”

”That’s magic.” Tang Xin replied.

”Same thing,” Ai Xiaoxiao complained, ”Tangtang, you’re really no fun.”

”Oh,” Tang Xin’s gaze roamed through the crowd, responding absentmindedly, while reminding, ”You should watch where you’re going, don’t get lost again.”

”Then Tangtang, you must protect me.”

Tang Xin glanced at her, just nodding slightly.

Ai Xiaoxiao was so touched momentarily that she couldn’t help grabbing the latter’s hand, stars shining in her eyes, ”Tangtang, you’re so warm, can I marry you?”

Tang Xin smacked the head of the flirty little girl and pushed her away. She asked, ”The competition is about to start, which match do you intend to watch?”

”Huh, are there many matches starting simultaneously?” Ai Xiaoxiao was very surprised, ”Isn’t it one at a time?”