Dragon Race—

"Honestly, I also feel that the sacrifice of Yukong and the others was meaningless."

Caesar gently shook the champagne in his hand. "The power of a star god is similar to a nuclear bomb; it's extremely efficient for killing. Relying on this power, when danger comes, wouldn't it be better to let the Aeon of the Hunt strike first, and then harvest the battlefield?"

"That's not good." Johann Chu slowly shook his head. "...It seems like an efficient reliance on gods, but in reality, it's the slow suicide of the Immortal Boat civilization's immune system."

"Can you use fewer overly academic terms?"

"Okay," Johann Chu said calmly. "Simply put, if the Xianzhou People rely too much on the manifestation of the Aeon of the Hunt, then extinction will be a matter of time. Such a civilization that overly relies on gods will be annihilated the first time it loses its protection."

"Before the Cangcheng Immortal Boat was devoured by the living planet, I don't believe there weren't believers who prayed for the help of the star god Lan, but judging from the result of Cangcheng's destruction... the star god clearly didn't respond to the calls of believers every time."

"Your statement reminds me of what the Principal said—" Caesar suddenly switched to the Principal's unique British accent. "'Why do half-bloods slay dragons? Because even gods have moments of slumber.' So, you think Yukong and their sacrifices were meaningful?"

"Yes, only through generations of struggle and sacrifice can resistance genes be cultivated... That is a civilization's true immune system."

Johann Chu said indifferently, "Those mortals who died in battle before the star god descended, their stories are more enduring than divine power—because what future generations need to remember is not 'we were saved by the star god', but 'we are worthy of being saved by the star god'."

—

"But..." Yukong's tone shifted. "I shouldn't make decisions for others because of my own fear... even if that person is my daughter. I rudely interfered with your life choices, I'm sorry, this is my dereliction of duty as a mother."

Qingni's tears streamed down. She understood that Yukong had finally figured it out and was willing to let her become a fighter pilot.

"Mom... you don't need to apologize, you really don't need to apologize..."

Yukong looked at her gently. Having understood everything, she was finally willing to make up her mind to support Qingni's dream.

"I worry about you following my path, and I worry even more about you following Caiyi's path. But since this is your choice... I am willing to fully support you, until you regret it."

Qingni wiped away her emotional tears: "Mom... I have one last small request..."

Yukong: "Tell me about it?"

"I want... to fly with you once." Qingni looked at her expectantly.

"Hmm..." Yukong slowly turned her head: "Let's not. I won't fly anymore."

"This... why?"

Looking at the Star-skiff speeding back and forth outside the Jade Gate in the distance, those streaks of light fleeting in an instant... Yukong calmly shook her head.

"Because I've already touched Celestial Screen."

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?—

At night.

Hestia, who had just watched the mother and daughter reconcile, was lying on the bed, her feet kicking the back of the sofa with a slapping sound, her depressed voice echoing in the narrow underground room.

"Ahhh Bell-kun—! I can't sleep! The moment I close my eyes, my mind is full of Yukong ahhh wuwuwu..."

Bell skillfully covered the blanket that had been kicked off onto the girl's legs, and smiled slightly: "Goddess-sama, please rest well. We can talk about Yukong's story tomorrow."

"Hmm... but..." Hestia turned sideways and looked at Bell sleeping on the sofa, "Hey hey, Bell-kun, if I were like Yukong and kept you at home and didn't let you go on adventures, what would you do?"

"Uh... this question..." Bell scratched his head, "I'd probably be like Qingni, right? Like sneaking out or something... but would Goddess-sama really do that?"

"It's a hypothetical! It's just a hypothetical!"

Hestia's fingers unconsciously twisted her hair: "I would never trap an important person in a cage, e-even if I... to Bell-kun..."

The perfectly timed pause immediately made the boy's ear tips turn red. Bell lowered his head a little shyly: "G-Goddess-sama..."

Silence immediately spread through the underground room until the clock tower's chiming came from outside the door.

Bell suddenly stood up: "I-I'll make a new pot of black tea! With double the sugar cubes!"

Hestia chuckled: "Idiot Bell-kun, it's too obvious you're changing the subject! But I want triple sugar cubes, and stay up with me watching Celestial Screen screen until dawn!"

—

Seeing Yukong and Qingni, the mother and daughter, reconcile, Star also finally felt relieved.

Just as she was about to return to the hotel with Mr. Welt, her phone vibrated again, and someone sent her another message.

Dan Heng, who had been recuperating since the big battle, was recovering well and wanted to take advantage of his time on the Immortal Boat to meet the current Vidyadhara High Elder. He wanted to invite Star to go with him on this trip.

Arriving at the Ruomu Pavilion where they had agreed to meet via text message, Star saw Dan Heng chatting with a Vidyadhara woman from a distance.

The woman's name was Huanxi, a maidservant beside the current Dragon Lord Bai Lu. After explaining the matters of the audience, she herself had a small request for Dan Heng.

However, before explaining...

Huanxi glanced at Star, who was slowly walking beside Dan Heng: "Excuse me, who is this?"

"Just think of me as a streetlamp!" Star spoke nonsense with a serious face.

"Sorry, there are no streetlamps on the Immortal Boat listening in on secrets. I am talking with Master Dan Heng, please, unrelated personnel should step aside."

Fortunately, Dan Heng explained Star's identity in time. After dispelling Huanxi's doubts, she also frankly stated her request: "Then, I hope you will not meet with Miss Bailu."

"The Dragon Lord's maidservant is unilaterally blocking guests for her master?" Star frowned, feeling that things were not simple.

Huanxi sighed and slowly explained: "Perhaps you should know. The process by which Miss Bailu became the Dragon Lord was neither in accordance with the rules nor her own wish—it was the result of the previous Dragon Lord Dan Feng's willfulness and arrogance, his pride and despotism caused the 'Dragon Lord Succession' on the Xianzhou Loufu to be severed."

"The Preceptors heard the news of Master Dan Heng's return and were momentarily unsure of the outcome. But everyone is speculating that the Xianzhou Loufu's Dragon Lord succession might be regained, returning to unity, which is cause for celebration."

"Whether it is to select a worthy person according to the clan rules, or... or for you to resume your position, there is still room for maneuver."

"However, if Master Dan Heng hands everything over to Miss Bailu to inherit, it will likely cause huge turmoil and will be of no benefit to her."