[HSRGSS] Chapter 108: Yingxing

Several days later, Lucian led the delegation of the Xianzhou Cangcheng to the Xianzhou Luofu.

It was not his first visit to the Luofu, but it was his first time attending the Luofu's Luminary Wardance Ceremony.

As soon as they arrived at the Luofu's Starskiff Haven, the Helm Master of the Luofu's Sky-Faring Commission came to welcome them.

At this time, the Luofu was packed with people, as civilizations tied to it had all sent representatives to join this grand event.

"Everyone, this year's Luminary Wardance Ceremony will be held on the battleship right above us, known as the 'Skysplitter,' a survivor starskiff from the Second Abundance War."

Glancing above, the Helm Master, a beautiful foxian woman, explained some background stories to the Cangcheng delegation.

As Lucian led the Cangcheng delegation through the crowd, his striking appearance drew many curious glances.

Lucian himself was exceedingly handsome—his graceful and poised demeanor alone caught the eyes of countless women from other civilizations. And then, there were the two women beside him—Jingliu and Baiheng—both stunning in looks and figure.

Needless to say, the combination of a handsome man and two beautiful women was eye-catching enough.

Of course, the most captivating part was that they were the Heavenly Ascendant.

"Is that the Cangcheng delegation? I heard the acting general himself came. Is that incredibly handsome man him?"

"Man, you're really behind on the news. Look closer—do you see who the women beside him are?"

As the onlookers whispered among themselves, their words quickly drew the attention of others nearby, who turned their eyes toward one of the beauties among the Cangcheng delegation.

White hair, light-red eyes, breathtakingly beautiful, radiating an aloof and noble air—wasn't she a member of the legendary organization that had been spoken of across the Xianzhou Alliance for centuries?

"It's the Moonlight Sword Immortal—Jingliu! One of the Heavenly Ascendant!"

"So that man must be the leader of the Heavenly Ascendant, the Azure Sword Immortal?"

"Finally, someone who recognizes them. Back when my hometown was invaded by the wingweavers, it was the Azure Sword Immortal who stepped in and annihilated the abomination army!"

"And that foxian woman, I think I've heard of her too, but she seems to be a recent addition to the Heavenly Ascendant. Never heard of her before."

"You really don't know? She's Baiheng, a starskiff pilot from our Yaoqing. Because of her outstanding ability, she was personally invited by the two sword immortals to join the Heavenly Ascendant."

One of the onlookers explained with great pride.

It was understandable.

After all, the Heavenly Ascendant had been established for a thousand years and had always consisted of only two people.

However, it wasn't because of a lack of candidates, but because no matter who it was, no matter how powerful or talented, Lucian and Jingliu never allowed outsiders to join the Heavenly Ascendant.

Only a few decades ago did they accept one member, Baiheng, which alone showed the Heavenly Ascendant's incredible prestige.

No wonder some of the Yaoqing locals boasted with such pride.

"Azure Sword Immortal is so handsome~! If he stabbed me, I'd die happy!"

"Alright, missy, let's team up—you kidnap Azure Sword Immortal, I'll kidnap Moonlight Sword Immortal, hehe."

"You two are love-struck idiots. One swing of their swords and you'll be skewered like birds."

Onlookers by the roadside were full of chatter.

Among them, a tall, red-haired man overheard the conversation and turned toward the direction they were pointing.

'They look incredibly strong... Heavenly Ascendant... I hope they are willing to help me, to aid Jarilo...'

Even though he thought this, he knew there was no way to speak to them directly now, so he would have to use the fame of the Luminary Wardance Ceremony to make his voice heard by everyone.

Meanwhile, as Lucian walked, he soon came upon the Zhuming delegation.

At the front was a tall middle-aged man, around fifty, with a head of white hair.

As soon as the man saw Lucian and the others, he came forward to greet them.

"Brother Lucian, Sister Jingliu, Sister Baiheng—it's been a long time."

He was none other than the beloved disciple of Arbiter-General Huaiyan, the craftsman known as the Furnace Master of the Xianzhou Zhuming, Yingxing.

Yes, Yingxing was the very same man who would later become the Stellaron Hunter known as Blade.

After his homeland had been destroyed by the borisin fleet and turned into a weapon pasture, he barely escaped with his life and reached the Xianzhou Alliance. Later on, he devoted himself to weapon forging and vowed to eradicate the Abominations of Abundance.

At a young age, he earned recognition as a craftsman and later obtained the title of 'Furnace Master.'

"Yingxing, huh..." Lucian smiled and patted Yingxing on the shoulder. "A few years apart, and you've aged quite a bit."

It was truly a strange sight—a man who looked around twenty patting a man in his fifties as if greeting a junior.

Such was the sorrow of the short-lived species—a life barely lasting a hundred years.

For Lucian, decades passed like a single slumber.

For Yingxing, half his life had already gone by.

"In the blink of an eye, you've got wrinkles already..." Baiheng sighed softly.

"Indeed, I have aged." Yingxing smiled gently.

Jingliu cast Yingxing a glance and gave a slight nod.

How could they know each other?

It all started decades ago, during the craftsman tournament in the Xianzhou Zhuming.

Back then, countless craftsmen competed for the title of Furnace Master, and in the end, it was claimed by an eighteen-year-old short-lived youth.

Lucian could not help but recall his first meeting with Yingxing.

At that time, General Huaiyan personally invited Lucian to watch the craftsman tournament in the Zhuming.

Lucian readily accepted and brought Jingliu and Baiheng along as guests.

Before the tournament began, they encountered the eighteen-year-old Yingxing standing alone in a corner, mumbling nervously.

"Child, you will be the champion. You will become the greatest craftsman of the Xianzhou Zhuming."

Amid Yingxing's bewilderment, Lucian said this to him out of nowhere.

Yingxing was too nervous to speak, so he could only stare silently at Lucian's departing figure.

Thankfully, the tournament proceeded smoothly.

Using random materials provided on the spot, contestants had to craft ingenious works, after which the judges gave their scores, followed by Huaiyan's final decision.

When Yingxing's turn came, a group of old veterans, unable to accept the talent of a short-lived youth, schemed against him by switching all his materials with trash and scrap.

"Huaiyan, you invited me to watch this foolish theatrics? Is this how your old craftsmen treat geniuses?"

Lucian, who knew about the dirty scheme, stepped forward immediately, unable to tolerate such injustice.

In the end, he publicly stood by Yingxing.

"How about this? Yingxing will use this pile of junk. If he crafts something good, the Zhuming will provide the Cangcheng with free military supplies for three years." Lucian declared with a slight smile. "If he fails, we of the Heavenly Ascendant will work for the Zhuming free for three years."

Lucian's wager instantly pushed the tournament to its peak.

It was only natural.

He was, after all, the Acting Arbiter-General of the Cangcheng, as well as a sword immortal and the leader of the Heavenly Ascendant.

As a result, the Zhuming's Six Charioteers had no choice but to agree.

In the end, Yingxing used that pile of trash and scrap to forge a lifelike mechanical beast, winning the tournament.

Since that day, Yingxing always remembered Lucian—the only one besides his master who firmly stood by him.

"I will become the greatest craftsman… I will join the Heavenly Ascendant!"

At eighteen, Yingxing found a new goal.

However, decades later, still feeling unworthy, Yingxing no longer dared to mention it.

"General Lucian, please hurry. General Teng Xiao is waiting for you."

As Lucian was lost in thought, reminiscing about the past, the voice of the Helm Master snapped him out of his mind.

"Yes, let's go."