Above The Sky
Chapter 1171: 175: The Grand Stage of Terra World (9,200, thanks to Xiao Si Baga for the alliance leader's reward!)

Chapter 1171: Chapter 175: The Grand Stage of Terra World (9,200, thanks to Xiao Si Baga for the alliance leader’s reward!)

The massive skyship disappeared into the sea of clouds, as if tangible cloud vapors were striking the upper deck of the skyship, bringing with them not only moist mist but also some unexpected visitors.

A curious Cloud Geese approached the skyship. This large bird, with gray-white outer feathers and a wingspan of over five meters, feeds on Floating Algae and some large insects within the cloud sea. Its wings glistened with dim light, enabling it to control some wind attribute Origin Quality, which was the reason it could keep up with the speed of the skyship.

Suddenly, the invisible moisture surrounding the large bird seemed to come alive, transforming into imaginary ropes that gently pulled the Skylark over.

As the bird panicked, trying to struggle, a hand reached out, curiously patting its head, touching it all over, stroking the feathers, discerning the Origin Structure in its wing bones, and then feeding it some bread.

Throughout this process, the Skylark, almost on the brink of becoming a ‘Magical Beast’, appeared extremely docile, cooperating obediently with all the actions of the hand. Even when fed bread, it pecked lightly, refraining from its usual forceful and swift hunting technique, fearing accidentally pecking the other.

“Thanks for cooperating in the observation experiment. Don’t say I mistreated you, I even fed you bread.”

Ian released his hand, letting the Skylark return to the sea of clouds, smiling as he watched it flap its wings in a panic to leave.

It is now the year 874 of Teyvat, June 10.

The Ashlight Family’s skyship was navigating the ‘cloud sea’, an aerial ecological circle inaccessible to ordinary people, above the Thirteen Rivers Basin.

The cloud sea is not a peculiar spectacle unique to any location; it is a commonly existing ecological circle within long-term cloud layers across Terra. Much like a water pool accumulating over time without evaporating under the sun, little could insects, aquatic plants, and even fish fry or tadpoles emerge. Given Terra’s robust vitality, accumulated cloud layers breed numerous aerial ephemeral creatures and Floating Algae.

Skylarks feed on these creatures, forming their own complete ecological structure that ordinary people find hard to contact.

Ian raised his head, standing at the edge of the skyship’s deck. He wasn’t afraid of being blown away by sudden strong winds, nor did he fear potential incoming aerial Magical Beasts like the previous Skylark.

If one must ask why, it’s likely because, since the departure the day before yesterday, the human proxy of the Fourth Energy Level True Dragon, King of the Mountain Amoknosedir, arrived in World Tree City and joined everyone heading to the destination ‘Half Moon Lake’.

To avoid suspicion from the Great Prince Huai, and as previously agreed upon, Yisen Gard, along with Ian and others, acted together, while Master Gossay returned to report to the Imperial Exploration Team.

As a master, his workload is significant and cannot be shrugged off easily. Yisen was supposed to return once, but he needed some time to manage the sudden mutation brought by the ‘Sunbird’ Bloodline within himself, thus staying with the Ashlight Family.

However, this was not much of a problem as Crown Prince Carlos was probably still pondering who planned to secretly harm him, leaving him little energy to think otherwise.

Meanwhile, Anfa brought along a full team of elite knights from the Ashlight Family and also carried two spare proxies.

On the Canaan Moore Dragon Worship Cult side, besides her, there were other teams, but each side was unlikely to ally, opting instead to team up with familiar and trustworthy individuals like Anfa and Ian.

The leader of the Canaan Moore Dragon Worship Cult was an elf named Mafa Wotu, a powerful Fourth Energy Level figure unfamiliar to Ian, known as ‘Golden Cage’.

Indeed, this was also a key member of the Ten Royal Blood Families.

Even within the Dragon Worship Cult in Canaan Moore, it served as a tool in the internal strife of the Ten Royal Blood.

Anfa chose to team up with Ian and Sio because of the competitive failure among Ashlight Family’s powerful individuals. Although the Fertile Soil Tribe was an ally of Ashlight Sect, in relic exploration, trusting elves without a binding contract was less reliable than trusting the morality of the True Dragon.

As for the King of the Mountain, the leader of the Southern Ridge Worship Dragon Sect, his true form had already arrived at Half Moon Lake, and the proxy was merely here to welcome the group.

Thanks to this lady, apart from Cloud Geese, foolish birds, no aerial Magical Beasts dared to approach within a radius of five hundred miles.

Sio, originally free and joyful, cheerfully hopping along, restrained her nature upon encountering her mother, appearing almost like a well-behaved lady on the surface.

In front of her mother, the True Dragon maiden communicated gracefully and courteously, all actions were gentle and composed, and when she smiled, it wasn’t an open laugh showing teeth but rather a subtle smile at the corners of her mouth. Ian was amazed, exclaiming, “I didn’t know you could do that!” and receiving a glare from Sio along with a suppressed laugh from Anfa.

Aside from this, Master Gravie didn’t partake in this operation.

“I need to take advantage of the major event to lower my presence.”

At that time, the red-haired elder, already settled in World Tree City, candidly said, “Although I’m interested in the Exotic Species Research Institute… no, extremely interested, I understand having one’s life is necessary to continue researching.”

“Besides that…”

After a pause, Master Gravie requested Ian to activate the Silent Voice Ring before whispered, “Beware of Yafada.”