Head to the Artisanship Commission and find Chengjie

📍 The Xianzhou Luofu Artisanship Commission

🏃‍♂️

Move

Chengjie

What are you doing here?

Options

Why? Am I an eyesore to you?

I'm here to see how you are faring.

Chengjie

That's not what I mean... I'm sorry for lying. In fact, I was trying to avoid you two.

Chengjie

I was all motivated to do my best last time, but in the end, I still lost my fighting spirit.

Chengjie

It isn't going well, so I'm too embarrassed to show the design to you.

Qingque

I think it looks good to me. What's wrong?

Chengjie

Since I built the starskiff according to my master's design, the starskiff has malfunctioned a lot of times, and its quality isn't up to par... I'll give you a demonstration if you guys are interested.

Options

Let me try.

How bad can it be?

Chengjie

You'll see what I mean after trying it out.

Chengjie

It's not a normal experience whatsoever.

Chengjie

This is the remote control used to test the starskiff. Just treat it as a shoddy driving simulator.

Chengjie

...Don't ask me why you can't hop straight on the starskiff to test it. I wouldn't recommend it if you want to stay safe.

Options

(Move forward)

(Move backward)

(Take off and land vertically)

(Bell maneuver)

System

The starskiff isn't moving.

Options

(Move forward)

(Move backward)

(Take off and land vertically)

(Bell maneuver)

System

This starskiff seems quite disobedient.

Options

Is this remote control broken?

Feels like the starskiff is moving with high stability.

Is it out of energy?

Is the starskiff broken?

Chengjie

There's nothing wrong with the remote control. Thanks for being so considerate of my feelings. In fact, you should ask whether the starskiff is broken.

Chengjie

It's because it isn't moving at all. Thanks for being so considerate of my feelings. In fact, you should ask whether the starskiff is broken.

Chengjie

The starskiff has enough energy... Thanks for being so considerate of my feelings. In fact, you should ask whether the starskiff is broken.

Qingque

The term "broken" implies that it used to be working fine. What if it wasn't fine from the beginning?

Chengjie

Try pressing "Stop."

Options

(Stop)

Qingque

Oh, no. The starskiff is going out of control...

Options

(Bell maneuver)

(Stop)

System

That's a brilliant move! After you made the starskiff do a bell maneuver, the anti-gravity function provided by the jade wheel was disrupted. The starskiff glided out of the port and fell off out of inertia...

System

You quickly pressed "Stop," but it unexpectedly provided power to the jade wheel. The starskiff charged at its full speed out of the port and vanished out of your sight. It's been set free!

System

Goodbye, starskiff!

Qingque

Chengjie, aren't you going to get your starskiff back?

Chengjie

Just let it be. After all, it's a failure.

Chengjie

I finished up the design according to my master's manuscript and produced a pile of incombustible junk...

Chengjie

I really should have worked at a factory or set up a food stall for a living. I really have zero talent for craftsmanship.

Options

I guess those were all minor issues...

Honestly speaking, I think you can do better than that.

Qingque

You're right. They are just glitches in the artifex design. Just fix what's wrong, and everything will be fine!

Chengjie

...If only that were true.

Chengjie

...Unfortunately, I already did my best.

Chengjie

This lightweight starskiff designed by my master has a small turning radius, high speed, and can travel far. Of course, the more advanced a design, the higher the precision required to control it.

Chengjie

Most craftsmen who made similar attempts in the past ended up failing. Starskiff experts at that time opined that the advantages of lightweight starskiffs did not contribute much in the face of real dangers.

Chengjie

Therefore, my master came up with a set-and-forget support system that complemented the starskiff. This system will respond to the pilot's action differently according to different conditions, making it easy for every pilot to maneuver the starskiff.

Chengjie

What you guys witnessed earlier was how the so-called set-and-forget system worked.

Options

Well, I must say it isn't very impressive...

Shall we pitch this to the Cloud Knights as a weapon?

Chengjie

Exactly. I think I might as well "forget" about the whole thing.

Chengjie

{NICKNAME}, I'm not in the mood for jokes now...

Chengjie

I have no idea what I messed up. I'm very sure I've done every step according to the manuscript...

Options

Have you consulted other craftsmen of the Artisanship Commission?

It's just one failure, why not give it another shot?

Do you think your master might have made a mistake?

Chengjie

There are undisclosed techniques in the manuscript...

Options

...You're worried that someone might steal the design.

Don't you trust Master Gongshu?

Chengjie

After all, this is the last design of Master Ryan. I'm very cautious about it.

Chengjie

Actually, I plan to build it secretly to impress Master Gongshu.

Chengjie

As a matter of fact, this is just one of my many failures...

Chengjie

I should probably be more worried about the funding gap now.

Chengjie

No way! That's impossible! If there's a problem, it must be my fault.

Qingque

Sometimes, masters make mistakes too. Like master diviner, she... she... I think she's never blundered.

Chengjie

Right?

Chengjie

While Master Ryan was a genius, I am just an incompetent apprentice. It's easy to see who's more likely to mess up.

Chengjie

Even if I wanted to ask for the opinions of other craftsmen, it is no longer possible now that the starskiff has been ruined.

Qingque

I have an idea! Let's install the set-and-forget system on an aurumaton and bring it to Master Gongshu so that he can take a look. How does that sound?

Qingque

In that way, you can consult him without disclosing your master's core techniques.

Options

Doesn't that sound ridiculous?

I think it can work.

Chengjie

...I think it's worth a try!

Chengjie

I'll go and borrow an aurumaton now. To link the system to the aurumaton, I need some parts that can be connected to the jade abacus. I'm counting on you guys for this.

Qingque

Sure! {NICKNAME} will be in charge of getting the parts, and I'll visit Master Gongshu. Let's go!

Head to Machinery District and look for standard aurumaton parts

Investigate

System

This is a standard part that can be used on an aurumaton. It can link the master control system of an aurumaton to an external jade abacus, thus enabling the customization of the aurumaton's action model for craftsmen to perform testing.

+ Artisanship Commission Standard Parts Set x 1

Hand over the parts to Chengjie

Chengjie

Frankly speaking, I'm not sure whether I can turn the set-and-forget driving system into a set-and-forget pilot system... Anyway, let's give it a go. Have you found the aurumaton part?

Options

Deliver item

- Artisanship Commission Standard Parts Set x 1

Repair the jade abacus module of the aurumaton

🏃‍♂️

Move

Chengjie

If Master Gongshu can figure out the concept behind the system, will he be suspicious...

Chengjie

...Forget it. Being a worrywart now isn't going to help.

System

Soon after, Qingque brings Master Gongshu here.

Chengjie

Master Gongshu, there's something I need to trouble you with today.

Master Gongshu

This girl from the Divination Commission has told me about the set-and-forget pilot system you are working on. She said you needed my help to check what went wrong.

Master Gongshu

Since Ryan passed away, I haven't seen you working on something new for ages. I'm so upset that you've never approached me but chose to do it alone before this!

Master Gongshu

Now, you're finally seeking my help. I can't wait to look at your masterpiece! Drumroll, please!

Options

Master Gongshu is so dramatic!

Please help us, Master Gongshu!

See what you've missed, Chengjie.

Qingque

Master Gongshu just whispered to me that he had been worrying about Chengjie for a long time, but his pride got in the way of approaching Chengjie...

Master Gongshu

Ahem...

Qingque

Fine, I'll keep my mouth shut now.

Master Gongshu

I'll check it to spare you guys from taking unnecessary steps.

Chengjie

I thought you would look down on me, Master Gongshu...

Master Gongshu

Your incompetence is known to all apprentices at the Artisanship Commission, and I indeed consider you an unskillful craftsman.

Master Gongshu

But all apprentices have to go through the same thing. If you refuse to ask questions and learn, you won't ever be respected.

Chengjie

Master Ryan told me the same thing before. M—Master Gongshu, I really need your help!

Master Gongshu

You have a set-and-forget pilot system... and a driving support aurumaton... Why don't you fix the system onto the starskiffs? How youngsters nowadays think is beyond me...

System

Master Gongshu examines the design of the aurumaton pilot and completes a test on the aurumaton's abilities. Furrowing his eyebrows, he notices something is amiss.

Master Gongshu

The first thing I'd like to point out is the incompatibility of the system with the aurumaton. The system belongs to the starskiff, doesn't it?

Chengjie

...

Qingque

(You really can't hide anything from an experienced craftsman...)

Master Gongshu

...It's very dangerous to modify the aurumaton sloppily like this.

Master Gongshu

Secondly, the system won't work even if it's used on a starskiff. It's riddled with errors!

Chengjie

...!

Options

Why do you think so, Master Gongshu?

That's why we need your help...

Qingque

Both of us know next to nothing about artifex or artificium, but I believe you must have a valid reason behind your opinion, Master Gongshu.

Master Gongshu

I can show you by performing a test. Please hold the weapon first.

Master Gongshu

To say the system is riddled with errors is an understatement.

Master Gongshu

If this were my apprentice's work, I would have asked him to get out of my sight and redo the system.

Qingque

Is it really that bad?

Master Gongshu

I can show you by performing a test. Please get the weapon ready first.

Master Gongshu

Now, let's enter some random starskiff traffic flow data of several starskiff ports, and the system will make a timely judgment based on the number and distance of other nearby starskiffs... One, two... Divination Commission girl, please increase the number...

Qingque

Three, four...

Qingque

Argh, the system is locked.

Prototype Aurumaton

Security mode is activated. Threats on the route are to be eliminated immediately!

Prototype Aurumaton

Security mode is activated. Threats on the route are to be eliminated immediately!

Master Gongshu

Use that iron rod to protect us, kid!

⚔️

Combat

Head to Divination Commission and ask Fu Xuan for help

📍 The Xianzhou Luofu Divination Commission

🏃‍♂️

Move

Fu Xuan

If the Ten-Lords Commission wants a more precise divination from the Divination Commission, they will need to provide enough information.

Xueyi

I've provided more than enough. Not only have I made the dossier available to you, but I also captured the criminals myself...

Fu Xuan

Those from the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus have all died in your hands. What sort of divination can I do for dead people?

Xueyi

Hmph, if I didn't kill them, I would have been harmed by them. I can collect evidence from them even though they are dead.

Fu Xuan

As far as I know, a judge has four duties: Detention, interrogation, incarceration, and punishment. You aren't in charge of the punishment, are you?

Fu Xuan

I'd appreciate it if you could turn a blind eye and leave the merciful duty to my people here for them to complete their mission.

Xueyi

Your people?

Fu Xuan

{NICKNAME}, Qingque, and the young man from the Artisanship Commission, please come over here!

Fu Xuan

I've been waiting for you here for a long time.

Options

Did you foresee our visit?

Your divination was wrong! I'm just here to check out the place.

Oh, no. We've been tricked into running errands...

Qingque

Eh? Did you also predict that I would flip through the documents?

Fu Xuan

Oh? We don't welcome visitors here.

Qingque

Alas, it seems like she's predicted everything we've done so far.

Fu Xuan

You're an honored guest of the general and a great helper — ahem, friend — of Xianzhou. I have no problem entrusting you with the work of the judge.

Fu Xuan

Now, please tell me what you need and the ins and outs of the matter.

System

Chengjie explains the matter, hoping to get help.

Chengjie

I'd like to meet my master, Master Ryan, who has passed away. Please help me.

Xueyi

According to the law of the Ten-Lords Commission, souls that have entered the Hall of Karma can never return to the world of the living.

Xueyi

However... Things should be done in order of priority, and I can make decisions at my discretion as the judge of the Ten-Lords Commission. If you can bring back the living people the master diviner is looking for, I don't mind helping you guys.

Xueyi

The fugitives are on this list...

Xueyi

You can find many of them roaming around at Stargazer Navalia. Bring them back alive, then we'll talk about your master.

🏃‍♂️

Move

Xueyi

That is, if his soul essence is still intact for extraction...

Xueyi

The Ten-Lords Commission will be able to trace his roots.

Fu Xuan

What a pity...

📍 The Xianzhou Luofu Stargazer Navalia

System

After some twists and turns, you have finally completed the mission.

📍 The Xianzhou Luofu Divination Commission

Fu Xuan

That's it. The Matrix of Prescience will use these people as clues to hunt down the others. None of these traitors can escape.

Fu Xuan

Now, is it time for you to realize your promise, Judge Xueyi?

Xueyi

Bringing someone back to the world of living is a complicated matter.

Options

What else do you want from us?

Are you going back on your word?

Xueyi

Your master has been dead for more than a century. Therefore, the master diviner will need to locate your master using the Matrix of Prescience to bring him out from the depth of the Hall of Karma.

Fu Xuan

Leave it to me.

Xueyi

Besides, the deceased don't have a physical body. To allow your master to speak, he'll need to possess an ingenium body like me. Please get it ready as soon as possible.

Options

Chengjie, please prepare an aurumaton.

Can't his master's soul be attached to your body, Madam Xueyi?

Chengjie

Yes, I happen to have one now. Let me bring it over!

Xueyi

Given that my body belongs to the Ten-Lords Commission, I will never use it for personal purposes.

Chengjie

Do you mean an aurumaton? Yes, I happen to have one now. Let me bring it over!

Fu Xuan

I'm only willing to lend the Matrix of Prescience because {NICKNAME} is our honored guest. And, if I need {NICKNAME}'s help in the future...

Options

I'll help you out.

This is a bad bargain for me.

Fu Xuan

Great. If the general is right with his judgment, I shall do more favors for you.

Fu Xuan

You shouldn't think about personal gains or losses when you're helping others. In my view, this is a win-win situation for us.

Fu Xuan

Like the previous time, I'll stay in the middle of this Matrix of Prescience to control it. What you need to do now is reactivate the three base terminals. Go on now. Don't make the judge wait too long.

Return to the Matrix core and wait for Xueyi to guide the spirit

🏃‍♂️

Move

Fu Xuan

Next, we'll wait for judge Xueyi to summon the deceased out.

Xueyi

Please prepare the body needed for Master Ryan to inhabit.

Chengjie

S—Sure... I've brought the aurumaton over here.

Options

Are they really human souls in the Hall of Karma?

Why do you have the power to do these things?

Let's get started.

Fu Xuan

If you perceive your continued existence as the same one, then what is inside the Hall of Karma is the souls.

Fu Xuan

But for travelers, this is just something that carries information and a mark left behind by an artificial body.

Xueyi

As a judge, my body is connected to the Hall of Karma. I wouldn't be a proper judge if I was unable to collect souls and decide on karmic consequences.

Xueyi

The wandering soul in a deep slumber, please wake up and possess the body!

Xueyi

By the order of the Ten Lords, wake up now, Ryan Masteronzo!

System

Chengjie's aurumaton puppet slowly stands up.

Ryan

*A muffled mechanical roar*

Ryan

...

Chengjie

M—Master Ryan?

Ryan

I had a very long dream... Before that, I was sitting at my desk at the Artisanship Commission...

Ryan

Chengjie? Am I looking down at you from a distance? Where am I...

Qingque

Master Ryan, Chengjie is having difficulty mastering craftsmanship and needs your guidance. So, we've disturbed your eternal rest. Please don't hold it against us.

Ryan

Oh, I'm dead...

System

The enormous aurumaton moves its bulky body slowly and scans its surroundings. Then, it moved as if waking up from a long and bleak dream.

Ryan

Chengjie, I never thought I could come back and teach you again.

Xueyi

The deceased's lucidity only lasts for a brief moment. Please hurry up and skip the chitchatting.

Chengjie

I...

Ryan

Chengjie, let's cut to the chase. You have important questions for me, right?

Chengjie

Master Ryan, I found your last manuscript in the Sapientia Academe stashed together with the IPC Designer Invite. At the back of the first page, it wrote, "This is the dream of my life"...

Ryan

I remember putting it deep in the drawer.

Chengjie

I'd been avoiding the manuscript since you passed away... It was only until recently did I muster up the courage to treat the manuscript as the last test from you. I decided to have the starskiff drawn on the manuscript.

Chengjie

Yet, I failed to build both the lightweight framework and the auxiliary driving system... I followed the instructions in your manuscript, but the things I built could not function at all. I have tried and failed for numerous times.

Ryan

The manuscript is flawed.

Chengjie

...How could it be?

Ryan

Do you have the manuscript with you? I'll show you the errors.

System

Chengjie hands the manuscript over to the enormous aurumaton, waiting to be enlightened. The two are reliving their good old times at the Artisanship Commission.

System

To everyone's surprise, the enormous aurumaton takes the manuscript and tears it into pieces. Before Chengjie can react, the pieces of paper have gone with the wind like flying flower petals.

Chengjie

Master! The manuscript...

Ryan

Don't pick them up.

Chengjie

It's your last manuscript and my last chance at mastering craftsmanship...

Ryan

That's nothing but a dumb and incomplete design. Even though you're a long-life species, you shouldn't waste your time on it. That's a poor design I made when I was still a novice.

Chengjie

But isn't it the dream of your life?

Ryan

Yes, it used to be my dream. I'm very touched that you're willing to fulfill it for me.

Ryan

You focus too much on that concept that you overlook the weaknesses and inferiority of the manuscript... Chengjie, I'm very sorry to say that you aren't cut out for being a starskiff craftsman.

Options

(Isn't that a bit too harsh?)

(I think so too.)

Ryan

When I first met you, you were full of passion. You reminded me of myself when I first came to Xianzhou to learn.

Ryan

Unlike other masters who emphasized talent, I valued passion for learning. That was why I took you in as my disciple. Do you remember how we used to exchange ideas and encourage each other? That was my happiest moment at the Artisanship Commission.

Ryan

Now, look at yourself. Your enthusiasm is fettered by my poor design and is about to be depleted... I never thought that things would pan out this way.

Chengjie

...

Ryan

There's nothing I can do to help you. I can neither guide you nor say pleasant things to trick you into wasting more of your time.

Ryan

So, destroying the manuscript is the last thing I can do for you.

Chengjie

But, wh—what should I do in the future?

Ryan

You're so much older than I was when I passed away. Hence, you should follow your heart.

Ryan

Why don't you try another career? Unlike me, you're a Xianzhou citizen with plenty of time ahead of you...

Ryan

*Whirring noise of a machine that stops working*

System

The enormous aurumaton stops moving and falls silent like how it was at the beginning.

Xueyi

He isn't here. He's returned to the Hall of Karma.

Speak with Chengjie

Chengjie

...

Chengjie

Are you asking me to take the aurumaton away? Sorry, my mind is a mess now.

Chengjie

...I just need some time to get hold of myself.

Head to Starskiff Haven and find Chengjie

📍 The Xianzhou Luofu Central Starskiff Haven

🏃‍♂️

Move

Chengjie

Hi there. I was discussing with Miss Qingque what I could do besides being a craftsman.

Qingque

We touched on occupations like the pilot, professional celestial jade player, chef, and even scriptwriter. Yet, Chengjie was not sure if any of those is suitable for him.

Options

Are you sure you want to change your career?

The Divination Commission custodian seems to be an easy gig.

Chengjie

I've always considered myself born to be a craftsman. Although the job is tough, the idea of finding another job never crosses my mind.

Chengjie

Now, I'd like to give other careers a shot.

Qingque

Well, it actually requires a lot of skills to be a custodian. Please stop eyeing my job, you two.

Qingque

What motivated you to become a craftsman back then? Did your parents urge you to find a stable job like mine?

Chengjie

At first, I thought it was cool to be able to come up with a well-drawn design, so I was inspired to do the same... In the end, I only became better at drawing without creating my own design.

Qingque

If that's the case, should you give painting a try?

Chengjie

Painting? I've only drawn design manuscripts before. Will I be good enough to be a painter?

Options

No one is born a master.

Painting isn't a good idea. You should find a factory job instead.

Machines are capable of drawing now. You won't find a job as a painter.

Chengjie

I understand what you mean. I should start from being an apprentice, right?

Chengjie

You've got a point. It's more important to do something that can earn me a living. But how can life be without passion?

Chengjie

...Alas, it seems like there are no easy jobs in the world. If I keep hesitating, I won't be able to achieve anything.

Chengjie

Well, I'll heed your advice and start exploring my passion — painting.

Chengjie

...I don't think I've lost anything after dropping my master's dream.

Chengjie

Without the guilt and the obligation to do my best, it's like a weight off my shoulders. My body feels light and airy.

Qingque

You have such a strong sense of responsibility.

Chengjie

I remember saying this when I was in Stargazer Navalia...

Chengjie

"One day, I'll build my master's dream starskiff, push it out gently, and set it sailing in the busiest lane of Starskiff Haven!"

System

Chengjie holds a paper boat amid the blowing wind by the Starskiff Haven. Then, he gives the paper boat a push and sets it sailing in the busiest lane of the sea.

System

Together you stare at the paper boat as it flies until it vanishes from sight...

Chengjie

Master, thank you. I've graduated today!