Chapter 396: Guarding the Shackling Prison! Yanqing Cries Out: "I Finally Won Once!"
The Shackling Prison gate.
To be precise, this was merely the most conspicuous entrance to the Shackling Prison.
Because the Shackling Prison existed across multiple delves simultaneously, its gates were naturally scattered in various locations.
Previously, the three Generals had plunged deep into the Shackling Prison from this very spot.
Quite a few players had followed close behind, thinking they would get to see a sensational, explosive showdown between the seven Arbiter-General of the Reignbow and Hoolay, the Wolfpack's Warhead…
However.
Ever since the three Generals entered.
The place had instead become as quiet as a pool of stagnant water!
During the wait, some players had already departed.
For instance, Little Gui.
She had already gone back to continue livestreaming the story.
But there were still many players who figured that since they were already here, they might as well wait a bit longer!
Who knew…
Maybe there would be some kind of surprise!
However.
What no one expected was that.
A surprise did come!
And it was an earth-shattering one!
"Feathered Spirit… is actually inside the Shackling Prison?!"
"The three Generals just went in, and this news leaks online? I feel like there's some kind of conspiracy going on here…"
"Has the original poster not been found yet?"
"The authorities acted long ago. That account is virtual. The poster probably feared bringing trouble upon themselves."
"If it's true, I don't even dare to imagine it. Feathered Spirit has the power to grant wishes!"
"Why don't we just charge in and see for ourselves!"
"Didn't you see that two groups of Cloud Knights have already arrived at the prison gate? They're clearly on guard against us."
"As long as someone leads the charge, I promise to follow immediately!"
"Charge! What is there to talk about! For Feathered Spirit!"
Just as the crowd's restlessness reached its peak.
A squad of Cloud Knights appeared on the scene like soldiers descending from heaven.
The woman leading them was no stranger either.
It was none other than the Helm Master of the Sky-Faring Commission—Yukong.
Seeing so many agitated players.
Yukong had a solemn expression.
She was even prepared to use force to suppress them if necessary.
"Everyone, my apologies."
"I am acting under the orders of the General. Please move along. The area near the prison gate has been cordoned off."
Everyone froze for a moment.
And then…
"Ahhhhh…"
"It's Lady Yukong!!"
"SISTER YUKONG!!!"
"Really? Miss Yukong, I'll believe anything you say!"
"Can you give me an autograph!"
"You were my only Harmony support back in the day!"
Yukong let out a sigh.
"Everyone, please step this way."
***
The Scalegorge Waterscape delve.
By the ancient sea.
Acheron took off her bamboo hat.
She glanced at the scene ahead.
The ancient sea was parted in two, the seawater rushing ceaselessly, within which a massive draconic shadow faintly flashed by.
And further in the distance.
The roots of the Ambrosial Arbor emitted an unusual glow.
It possessed a soul-snatching power.
However,
Today.
Acheron had not come for it.
She felt around in the air before her.
As if sensing something.
"This is just about the place."
With a light tap of her fingertip in the air.
A vortex opened up.
"The entrance to the Shackling Prison…"
"Whether the news is true or false, I must verify it for myself."
Immediately after.
She stepped inside, her entire being vanishing from this delve.
A mere five minutes passed.
Two more figures likewise appeared here.
To be precise.
It was three.
Because.
Beside Kafka and Firefly, there was also a holographic projection of Silver Wolf.
"It's right here, Kafka. With your methods, opening that entrance shouldn't be a problem."
Silver Wolf finished speaking.
Then she froze.
Because up ahead.
The vortex-like entrance had already been opened.
Clearly.
Someone had beaten them to it!
"It seems the Shackling Prison will be very lively today," Kafka said with a slight smile.
"In that case, we might as well take advantage of the convenience," Firefly spoke up.
Actually.
Firefly felt that the rumor of "Feathered Spirit being in the Shackling Prison" was highly likely to be fake.
But.
Since they had come to the Luofu.
And since information related to Feathered Spirit had appeared.
Regardless of whether it was true or false.
They should go and verify it!
Even if they couldn't find the person themselves, if there were some clues, or if they could draw Feathered Spirit's attention, it would all be worth it!
Thinking of this.
Firefly directly pulled out her transformation device.
SAM, initiate!
A firestorm swirled around her body.
Once it dissipated.
SAM, clad in metallic luster, was in position.
"Let's go."
***
At a certain gate of the Shackling Prison.
Yanqing was currently stationed here under the orders of General Jing Yuan.
This place was originally guarded by people from the Ten-Lords Commission, but because of the sudden turn of events, Yanqing had come to reinforce them as an immediate combat asset.
Of course.
It was mainly because Yanqing was one of the playable characters in Honkai: Star Rail.
If players wanted to force their way into the Shackling Prison from here, Yanqing could at least reason with them.
However.
This particular entrance seemed rather remote. So far, only two groups of players had found their way here, and both had been persuaded to turn back by Yanqing's appeals to reason and emotion.
Closing his phone-like Jade Abacus.
Yanqing showed a helpless expression.
He lamented to the Cloud Knight guard beside him, "It's really a bit too quiet on our end. I saw the messages in the group chat. Over on Yunli and Moze's sides, there are quite a few aggressive players, and the two sides have already come to blows."
The guard laughed. "With Brother Yanqing here, nothing will go wrong!"
Another guard chimed in, "Brother Yanqing, don't look at how you're currently considered the weakest in Honkai: Star Rail, but many players' very first main DPS was you!"
"It can be said that as long as they are a player of Honkai: Star Rail, they have some level of affection for you."
"Out of respect for you, they certainly won't force their way in."
Yanqing: "…"
At the mention of this matter, Yanqing immediately sighed in his heart.
Yes.
Back then, when Honkai: Star Rail had just exploded in popularity across the galaxy, he was a five-star character in the Standard Warp.
Seeing his own flashy skills, smooth animations, and being the rarest five-star main DPS!
At that time, he was so excited he couldn't sleep for nights on end…
But as times changed and versions updated.
In the current Version 2.0.
He was truly becoming less and less viable…
He was already a benchwarmer in many players' rosters!
And,
It wasn't just him.
Even the General was…
"By the way… where is the current story at?"
The guard's inquiry interrupted Yanqing's thoughts.
"We'll know if we take a look."
At this entrance.
There was a floating Jade Abacus.
Normally, it was used for calculations, displaying shift schedules, and the like.
Now that the Shackling Prison was under lockdown, it was naturally temporarily out of use.
The guard had already straightforwardly switched it to the livestream channel.
"Brother Yanqing, we're not slacking off here. We're keeping an eye on the latest developments!"
Yanqing nodded.
He approved.
The livestream screen turned on.
The story had already reached the Alchemy Commission.
On the large screen.
What caught their eyes were the figures of Yunli and Yanqing.
And!
Right from the start, the atmosphere was thick with tension!
In the story, Yanqing said calmly, "You'd better return the sword to me, apologize respectfully, and go back crying to complain to your grandfather."
"Meeting me is your luck. I have no interest in that big, heavy, rusty iron sword of yours. Nor do I have the habit of taking other people's weapons or pocketing things."
Yanqing froze!
Huh?
What was going on?
How did he suddenly become so aggressive in the story?
The guard was also somewhat baffled.
He adjusted the livestream timeline back a bit.
Only then did everyone show expressions of realization!
It turned out that in the previous plot.
Yanqing and Yunli had agreed on a competition.
With a time limit of fifteen minutes, they would see who could slay the most Abominations within the limit to determine the victor!
And the result was.
Yanqing won!
Yanqing let out a long sigh of relief.
He had finally won.
In the previous stories, he was either getting beaten up or on his way to get beaten up…
In the story where the Heliobi escaped, he was even almost bewitched by a Heliobus, nearly shattering his state of mind.
Now!
Finally!
He won!
No wonder he would say such confident and aggressive words!
It made sense.
The guard beside him was also on Yanqing's side.
He immediately chimed in excitedly, sending a real-time bullet comment.
"Our Brother Yanqing was specially trained by Sword Master Jingliu. This kind of monster-slaying competition is a piece of cake for him!"
"This little girl named Yunli is indeed a bit too arrogant. Good job, Brother Yanqing!"
"This is the strength of our Xianzhou Cloud Knights!"
Listening to the praise around him, Yanqing scratched the back of his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
This story segment really allowed him to hold his head high.
Feathered Spirit had finally treated him well for once!
However, at times like this, he still had to keep a low profile!
Learn from General Jing Yuan!
No matter how excited and thrilled he was, he had to remain neither humble nor arrogant!
Yanqing calmed his mind.
He spoke up, "You flatter me, everyone. Ever since Yanqing was taught a lesson by the story of Honkai: Star Rail, I have trained hard daily and dared not slack off."
"If not for that, I'm afraid I wouldn't have won against Yunli so easily."
The guards immediately expressed, "Brother Yanqing, you are too modest," and "Feathered Spirit should release a new limited five-star form for the current you!"
Just then.
The story suddenly took a turn!
Yunli, who had lost, not only refused to accept the result.
The two sides seemed to have a tendency to transition from an indirect competition to a direct confrontation!
Yunli said defiantly, "You're just getting ahead of yourself after slaying a few monsters."
"Hmph, if you want to take this sword from my hand, why don't you try?"
As Yunli's words fell.
The two actually leaped up.
Each jumped onto the rooftops!
And drew their respective weapons!
The heart that had just calmed down was once again suspended in mid-air!
Yanqing's hands clenched slightly!
"This time, it's truly a battle between peers…"
"Me in the story, hang in there!"
"You absolutely cannot lose!"