Chapter 126: Chen Xing's 'Intuition,' an Unexpected Encounter

【Steam Capital, Gear Tower, 50th Floor】

【Stellar Envoy Association · Steam Capital Branch, Front Desk Registration Desk】

"Name."

"Shuimo."

"Stellar Envoy Rank."

"Second-Class Mid-tier."

"Stellar Source."

"Shuimo Manipulation."

The front desk attendant entered Tian Dao’s provided information into the terminal before her. After completing the basic registration, she lifted her head, her mechanical optic eye scanning both individuals carefully—as if cross-referencing something.

The young man wore a classical moon-white robe, its sleeves embroidered with subtle ink-bamboo patterns. Paired with his black-rimmed glasses and calm, composed demeanor, he appeared utterly unremarkable—gentle, unassuming, and devoid of any typical youth’s sharp edge.

Beside him stood a pink-haired girl, clutching her tiny bear backpack tightly, her entire face nearly buried in the man’s trouser leg. Her eyes darted nervously around the unfamiliar Stellar Envoy Association, wide with timid curiosity.

Noticing Dannika’s unease, Tian Dao smiled and gently ruffled her hair, reassuring her. In moments, her tension melted away.

Meanwhile, the attendant, having recorded the scan data, removed the data cable from behind her ear and precisely inserted the plug into a port on the workstation—connecting the entire building to the quantum database of the Deep Blue Branch.

After confirming that “Shuimo” existed in the records and that Dannika posed no threat, the woman spoke politely:

"Mr. Shuimo, sorry for the wait. Please present your association badge."

Tian Dao handed over the badge he had prepared. The attendant took it, slid it into a specialized verification device at the front desk. A soft, rhythmic clicking sound followed as gears engaged. At the device’s peak, a crystal flared with a gentle white light.

Seeing this, the attendant nodded. Tian Dao’s identity was almost certainly legitimate—his records matched, and the badge was authentic.

But to gain access to the core area of the Steam Branch, one final checkpoint remained.

"Mr. Shuimo, if you’d please come this way."

"Of course."

Tian Dao retrieved his badge and followed the attendant toward a specially designed Stellar Energy Scanning Room.

To avoid misunderstanding, the attendant added:

"Mr. Shuimo, it’s not that we distrust you. Every incoming Stellar Envoy must undergo this procedure. We hope you understand."

Tian Dao smiled. "No problem. I went through the same process at the Deep Blue Branch."

As he spoke, he turned slightly toward the scanning room directly across from his own.

There, an elderly silver-haired man stood motionless just outside another scanning chamber, waiting patiently for someone inside to finish.

Though he stood still, Tian Dao instantly recognized the scent—faint, but unmistakable.

A scent… of Catastrophe.

Noticing Tian Dao’s gaze, the old man seemed to sense it. Instinctively, he turned his head.

Their eyes met.

In an instant, Tian Dao gave a slight nod.

The man returned it with a quiet, polite dip of his head—then turned back, resuming his watch.

"Mr. Shuimo, the scanning room is ready. Please come in."

"Alright."

"Miss, you’ll need to wait here. Please stay outside."

"Ah? But—"

Dannika stammered, her voice small and hesitant.

Tian Dao smiled warmly. "Wait here for a bit, Dannika. It’ll be over soon."

"O-Okay..."

With a sigh, the girl climbed onto the waiting bench beside the scanning room, slinging her backpack over her shoulder and sitting down obediently.

At that very moment, Tian Dao stepped into the scanning chamber.

And just as he did, the door across the hall opened.

A woman with long brown hair emerged, expression blank. As she stepped out, she happened to glance across—and caught sight of Tian Dao’s back as he disappeared through the door.

Her pupils snapped wide.

Even from a distance. Even just a glimpse.

That strange, overwhelming sense of familiarity struck her like a shock to the heart.

"Miss?"

Foxes, standing beside her, immediately noticed her dazed expression and asked with concern.

Chen Xing didn’t answer right away. Instead, she turned sharply to Foxes, voice trembling slightly:

"Uncle Fox, did you see the man who just went into the opposite scanning room? What did he look like?"

Foxes paused, then replied:

"A regular-looking young man—black hair, black eyes. Polite, friendly. What’s wrong?"

"Black…?"

"Miss—"

Chen Xing finally snapped back to reality. She rubbed her temples, shaking her head.

"Nothing. I must’ve been mistaken. Probably just a trick of the light. Let’s go—don’t keep them waiting."

"Right."

From within the scanning room, Tian Dao watched Chen Xing and Foxes through the glass door. His expression remained calm.

Outside, Chen Xing instinctively glanced inside.

Seeing only a plain, black-haired young man—just as Foxes had described—her eyes flickered with clear disappointment.

Logically, she knew this man wasn’t the one she sought.

But her intuition—her gut—insisted otherwise.

Something was wrong. Something was off.

Yet she couldn’t pinpoint it.

And so, as she walked away, her steps were slow. Her mind heavy.

For the first time in years, Foxes saw her look… lost.

Meanwhile, inside the scanning room, Tian Dao observed Chen Xing’s reaction through the Dimensional Screen. A flicker of surprise crossed his face.

This was unexpected.

He had meticulously disguised every detail—his appearance, his aura, even his Stellar Energy fluctuations.

He’d perfected the illusion to the point where even he couldn’t detect a flaw.

And yet, Chen Xing—just in that fleeting glance—had sensed something.

Was this the terrifying, almost supernatural intuition of the Stellar Prodigy, ranked No. 2?

Chen Xing… you really are sharp, aren’t you?

After a moment of quiet reflection, Tian Dao dismissed the thought. He turned his focus back to the scanner before him.

Just as every person has a unique fingerprint, a Stellar Source possesses a distinct, near-unique Stellar Energy signature.

The purpose of the Stellar Energy Scan was to detect that signature—confirming the true nature of one’s Stellar Source and verifying whether their claims were truthful.

For most, evading this test was nearly impossible.

But Tian Dao was different.

Though his Vector Control hadn’t yet reached the level of altering the fundamental nature of Stellar Energy, he could easily manipulate its pattern—shaping it into a specific, pre-defined waveform.

So, with just these basic checks, the current Stellar Envoy Association…

Would not stop him.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end