"Speaking of which, we really owe you all for your help this time. Without you, Luofu would've faced a much tougher situation."
"Hehe, it was nothing..."
March 7th was about to modestly wave it off when Stelle stepped forward energetically.
"That's right!"
"Hey, tone it down a bit!"
March 7th quickly poked Stelle's side—just because you're the hero doesn't mean you can act so smug!
--------------------------------------
"This young friend is quite right. You all truly accomplished a great feat, especially this young lady. If she hadn't summoned Godzilla, who knows how much more chaos Phantylia would have caused."
Jing Yuan nodded slightly.
"Speaking of which, our quick discovery of the Phantylia was also thanks to Godzilla. When the Phantylia appeared on Jarilo-VI, Yukong received the intel and sent it back. Luofu is only one jump away from Jarilo-VI. After that, I increased our vigilance, and sure enough, we detected the Phantylia infiltrating the Xianzhou."
"Well, let's not talk about the past. Actually, we're here today because Luofu wants to reward you all for assisting us earlier."
The reward was simple: within the territory governed by Luofu, the Astral Express would receive the highest level of treatment.
Also, a jade token of alliance gifted by Jing Yuan.
And…
"You might think it unnecessary, but I, Jing Yuan, swear in my name—as long as you encounter any obstacle, I will come to your aid as the general of Luofu!"
Jing Yuan solemnly declared to Godzilla, who had been quietly observing.
Godzilla didn't need any of this, but he still accepted it. After all, there weren't many things in this world that interested him. If another entity like the Phantylia appeared in the future, perhaps he could call Jing Yuan to act together.
"There's one more thing..." Jing Yuan revealed a mysterious smile, then signaled the approaching officer.
"It is said that Godzilla likes all kinds of energy-infused minerals. As the general of Luofu, it's no problem for me to allocate some materials. So please, Godzilla, accept this as well!"
Boom!
As soon as he finished speaking, the clouds above the Scalegorge Waterscape Realm were scattered.
First came a massive cargo star skiff, followed by a second, and a third...
Countless cargo star skiffs aligned and turned in unison.
"Release!"
A torrential rain of minerals fell, covering the coastline in an instant and stretching endlessly!
"So, how about this gift? Are you satisfied?" Jing Yuan looked up and smiled at Godzilla.
Godzilla's response was to bring his tail before Jing Yuan. Feeling the intent, Jing Yuan extended his fist and touched it to the tip of the tail.
Godzilla's vision was broader—in his eyes, this mass of minerals looked like a vast mountain range.
Moreover, the shimmering ores released by the mining were of the highest quality.
For a gift like this, Godzilla couldn't be more satisfied.
"Wow! That's so unfair! Why is it that all we got was a sentence, and the big guy gets all these pretty stones?"
Clearly, to March 7th, it didn't matter how much energy those minerals contained—she was already blinded by their sparkling brilliance.
She wished she could jump over and do a gem-facewash right now.
"Haha, they're not mine anymore. If Miss March wants some, maybe she can ask Godzilla nicely?"
Jing Yuan let out a hearty laugh.
"Uh, then forget it." March 7th shook her head. She knew very well how much Godzilla liked this kind of energy ore. It wasn't something she urgently needed, so she decided to let it go.
Though she was really reluctant...
March 7th turned her head away to avoid seeing it, and then...
"Eh? Where did you get those?" she asked, pointing at the pile of gems in Stelle's arms, her tone full of questioning.
"Hmm? My big brother said I could take them, right?"
Stelle said while smiling at Godzilla.
Godzilla nodded slightly and snorted. Now that he was wealthy and generous, he didn't mind them holding onto such things.
The reward was only one part of it.
The two didn't stay long—currently, a large number of matters on the Xianzhou awaited their attention.
Although handling official duties had always been her unwavering principle, she touched the Third Eye on her forehead. It didn't hurt for now, but once she left the Scalegorge Waterscape, that familiar pain would return.
She sighed. Faced with her situation and that of Luofu, Fu Xuan had no choice.
Changle Heaven, Divine Strategy Mansion.
"General, do you have any other questions?"
Once no one else was around, Welt spoke.
Hearing Welt's words, Jing Yuan nodded slightly. Without hiding anything, he spoke.
"If my eyes weren't mistaken, that day your companion was someone who had been exiled from our Luofu Xianzhou for a crime."
"A criminal? You mean Dan Heng? That guy is always proper to a fault, and you're saying he's a criminal!?"
Hearing this, March 7th's eyes widened in disbelief."Dan Heng? Then is it okay for him to be here?" Stelle asked worriedly.
"...It's not exactly okay. If the Vidyadhara see him—or anyone who remembers that incident from back then recognizes him—even I can't guarantee your companion's safety in Luofu."
"How can this be? Dan Heng just helped you fight those Voidrangers!" March 7th puffed her cheeks in dissatisfaction and protested.
"Which is exactly why I'm telling you this: there are many rules on the Luofu Xianzhou. For foreign visitors like you, as long as you don't touch what you shouldn't, there aren't many restrictions. But for him... sigh." Jing Yuan let out a helpless sigh.
"Still, his help to Luofu is a fact. After this incident, I'll revoke his expulsion. He'll be allowed to walk around the Xianzhou freely."
"You really are a great guy!" Before Jing Yuan could finish, Stelle praised him, leaving him momentarily at a loss.
Fortunately, as a general of Luofu, his first quality was a thick skin: "Ahem, that said, I can't control the thoughts or actions of certain people. I can't guarantee his safety in Luofu. I hope you understand this. But as long as he doesn't cross any lines, I can still ensure he remains unharmed."
...
"Haha, I didn't expect the Xianzhou's general to be so easygoing. Doesn't that mean Dan Heng can come back now? Hee hee, let's hurry and tell him the good news!"
As she spoke, March 7th spread her arms like a clumsy chubby bird, bumping left and right.
"What's wrong?" Stelle noticed Welt deep in thought about what had just happened.
"Hmm? You noticed too?" Welt replied.
"What are you talking about? What's going on?"
Seeing Stelle hadn't caught up and was chatting with Welt, March 7th quickly jumped back, asking curiously.
"Everything Jing Yuan did was just to establish a good relationship with us—more precisely, to establish a connection with Godzilla through us."
"Huh? Big guy is really strong, yeah, but does that really make Luofu such a huge ship eager to befriend him?"
March 7th asked in confusion.
"At first, I thought I was overthinking it too. But later, Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan's attitudes confirmed it for me. Godzilla is very important to the Xianzhou—so important that Jing Yuan didn't care what burdens Dan Heng carried. He used the name of Luofu to lower his own stance and justify Dan Heng's presence... even if awkwardly."
"Aiya, you're making my head spin like Uncle Yang. Whatever, even if they really are trying to curry favor with the big guy, so what? The big guy's super smart—he'll send them flying with a swat if they even think of anything bad!"
March 7th let out a mock growl, pretending to be fierce, though her posture looked more cute than intimidating.
...
Seat of Divine Foresight.
Jing Yuan stood with one hand behind his back, silently reflecting on his thoughts.
He stood like that for a long time before letting out a soft sigh.
"Truly an incredible being."
During that brief contact with Godzilla, the effects of the Mara affliction on his body visibly weakened.
Of course, he didn't rule out the possibility that his situation was unique, as even the slightest changes were intensely noticeable to him.
There was no doubt that Godzilla had an extraordinary effect on the Mara affliction—even strong enough to ease its suppression without any external means.
Jing Yuan remained silent, gazing out the window toward the direction of the Scalegorge Waterscape.
There, lay the hope the Xianzhou people had sought for thousands of years.