A few hours later

A silver-white spaceship cut through the starry sky, descending like a savior upon this desolate cosmos.

When the guiding beams showered down with soft white light, everyone closed their eyes, letting that warm power envelop them.

"Ding—"

The slight vibration from the metal floor startled everyone back to reality; some stumbled while others fell to their knees, but each greedily savored the solid sensation beneath their feet.

"Safe at last."

"It feels so good to be alive."

Relief and smiles spread across their faces as they realized they had survived.

At this moment, a man in a blue uniform approached with a respectful demeanor:

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am the captain of this ship, Yu Juntao. It is an honor to have the top geniuses of the Azure Wood Star Realm aboard our Zelda."

Wu Ziyan stepped forward and said:

"Captain Yu, we also must thank you for your timely rescue. Thank you."

"No, no, it's my duty."

Yu Juntao hurriedly waved his hand, then stepped aside with a welcoming gesture: "Everyone, we have prepared a lounge for you. Please move there for now. Additionally, if you have any requests, feel free to ask me."

The group followed Yu Juntao into the lounge, and as they sat on the sofas, fatigue washed over them like a tide.

In less than half a day, they experienced the most perilous battle of their lives, and almost perished in the spatial turbulences and the vast cosmos's panic and fear.

The entire lounge was eerily silent, as if everyone had been drained of energy; some stared at the ceiling in a daze, others curled into themselves, and some already leaned on their companions and fell into a deep sleep—even the faintest snores seemed like a celebration of life at this moment.

Witnessing this scene, Yu Juntao quietly exited the room.

...

A few hours later

The spaceship had prepared a sumptuous dinner

About a dozen people sat around two round tables, which were laden with dishes full of color, aroma, and flavor.

Before dining, everyone simultaneously turned their heads, their gaze fixed on one person.

"Black Crow, dinner is ready. Aren't you going to take off that mask?"

Wu Ziyan's lips curled up. She really wanted to see what face lay beneath the mask.

"Yeah, now that the genius tournament is over, we aren't competitors, and you're not an examiner. You can take it off now, right?"

"Take off the mask!"

"Take off the mask!"

"Take off the mask!"

The crowd began to cheer, their eyes filled with anticipation and mirth.

Amidst the urging, Qin Tian spoke:

"Alright, let's take it off then."

To be honest, if not for that incident, he would never have let these geniuses see his face.

After all, among these geniuses, several had been tricked by him severely, and one even threatened to grind his bones to ashes in anger.

However, after saving their lives, those concerns disappeared.

Everyone's a decent person; surely, they wouldn't return kindness with enmity.

Under the gaze of all, Qin Tian slowly removed his mask.

Revealing a stern face—chiselled and sharp as if carved by a knife, with eyebrows like swords, a high-bridged nose, and thin lips pressed into a line. His skin was slightly pale, yet exuded a steadfastness forged in countless battles, and those deep eyes were like calm, icy ponds, yet faintly glinted with an intimidating edge.

Everyone held their breath.

They had speculated about the possible appearance of "Black Crow" in private.

Some, based on his sly and treacherous combat style, imagined a face with a pointed chin and monkey-like features beneath the mask—triangular eyes, thin lips, and a sinister grin that seemed to show three parts cunning and seven parts craftiness, like a predatory rat lurking in the alleys, ready to strike at one's Achilles' heel.

Others, from his decisive and swift actions on the battlefield, deduced that he must have a rugged face, sharp eyes, and a perpetual bloodthirsty smirk that alone sent chills down one's spine.

Yet, in this moment, all speculations crumbled as the mask fell.

Black Crow actually looked their age, and this guy, he was genuinely handsome~

A cool, handsome guy.

"It's you!"

Zhuge Yu raised an eyebrow, his usually squinted eyes surprisingly opening a slit.

No wonder he calculated that Black Crow had interacted with him before.

Sure enough, as soon as the mask came off, he instantly remembered where he had seen Black Crow.

More than half a year ago, he and the young lord went to Alpha 1 Star, and ran into a young man in a quaint little shop. At that time, the young lord immediately judged that this person was talented and tried enthusiastically to pull closer, but ended up with a cold shoulder instead.

Since the young lord was going to enter the Imperial Capital for schooling in a few days, he instructed him to investigate that person and try to recruit him.

Afterwards, he did follow through, yet apart from finding a name "Qin Tian," no other useful information was uncovered.

From this, it was clear that Qin Tian had an extraordinary background, making it too difficult to recruit such a person. After explaining the situation to the young lord, the matter was dropped.

But who would have thought, more than half a year later, they would meet again in this way.

He was the competitor.

Qin Tian was the examiner.

At the same time, Qin Tian also saved his life.

Young lord, your foresight was indeed right; he is an incredibly remarkable person.

"You two know each other?"

The group looked at Zhuge Yu in astonishment.

Zhuge Yu: "We've met once, haven't we, Qin Tian."

Qin Tian

So that was his name.

Qin Tian nodded: "That's right, and I have a vivid memory of your squinty eyes. By the way, when can you open your eyes while speaking to me."

Whoosh!

Hearing this, several couldn't help but chuckle, and someone like Wu Ziyan even burst into a honk of laughter.

"Hehe, Black Crow, no, Qin Tian, you're hilarious."

"Haha, Zhuge Yu, Qin Tian is right, your habit of squinting at people every day—is it because you look down on us?"

"Yeah, if you really can't open them, I can find someone to perform a canthoplasty for you, definitely instant results."

"Hahaha!"

The room was filled with cheerful laughter; seeing the Zhuge family descendant, known for his cunning strategies, being teased was truly amusing.

Zhuge Yu's forehead had a row of black lines, thinking how this Qin Tian just wouldn't quit.

To say such things in front of the camera, and again here, in front of everyone.

He could already imagine how this detail would be used to tease him in the future circles.

The "open eyes" gag is something he couldn't escape.

This celebratory meal was extraordinarily warm; amidst the clinking of glasses, former rivals now toasted each other like old friends.

Having gone through life-and-death battles together, all those overt and covert contests had long vanished—they faced a formidable enemy together, supported each other to escape spatial chaos, and the camaraderie forged with life was stronger than any alliance of interest.

"Qin Tian, remember to contact me next time you come to the Sagittarius Star Zone," Wu Ziyan left Qin Tian her contact information, with a tipsy blush at her eyes.

Others also left their contact details, agreeing to meet again in the future.

Qin Tian raised his glass, looking at the starry reflections swaying in the wine, a rare smile appeared at the corner of his mouth—this crisis, which nearly took his life, indeed, turned into an opportunity for him.

In the Azure Wood Star Realm, he finally had his network of connections.

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