"We can still slow down to say goodbye…"

Gong Yi told Min Hong as he gazed at Min Qing's sad figure in the distance;

​​

"No need… Perhaps, this would be for the best…"

Min Hong replied as he turned around and walked into the room assigned to him within the deck of the flying ship…

Everyone had their own private room with windows where they could enjoy the outside view…

Gong Yi took the captain's room which was at the front of the ship, signifying that he would be the one driving all through this mission, and then there were two rows of four rooms on each side…

To Gong Yi's left was Ki Ting's room, and opposite her room was Xiao Gui's room…

The second room on the right which neighbored Xiao Gui's room was occupied by Rin Chen [The fourth strongest core court disciple]…

The room opposite Rin Chen's was taken by a girl [The sixth strongest core court disciple]

Then neighboring to Rin Chen's room was a room occupied by Bai Yi [The fifth strongest core court disciple and the one who Min Hong took over his apartment…]

Opposite Bai Yi's room was another room occupied by another girl [The seventh strongest core court disciple],

Then, neighboring to this girl's room was another room occupied by Princess Cui, who had Tong Tian living in the room opposite hers, and then finally Min Hong's room which closed ended the corridor and was located at the end of the flying ship, making His room and Gong Yi's the largest on the flying ship…

But all this was located at the lower level of the two level flying ship…

There was a deck above these rooms which was a massive place they could all just hand out, get to know each other and have discussions about the missions…

Gong Yi allowed everyone to go into their rooms to take a nap as they were within the boundaries of the Desert Sun Sect where the Sect Leader and Fifth could still watch after them, but once they get to a certain distance [Like a few clicks far away from the Sunfire City and into the Desert Lands], then they were on their own…

So after doing some last minute checks, Gong Yi entered the lower deck and went into his rooms…

All these rooms were private due to the presence of a High grade complex formation placed at the ceiling of each room, which could block and reflect the Spirit Sense of any expert below the Nirvana/Samsara stage level…

Each of these formations could be switched off by a special key which was given to each occupants of the individual rooms, but who would want to do that…

The flying ship sailed at the pace of Gong Yi's Eagle Spirit Beast, but gave a cruising feel to everyone that was inside…

On this mission, they were not given any kind of resource except a few Spirit Stones, and the passes they would to enter the several regions where their missions came from, so that they can identify themselves as disciples from the Desert Sun Sect who have been sent to come and attend to their complaints…

They were to get food by themselves, and every other preparations were made by themselves, but still they were advised to travel light, and pick only cultivation and battle resources, since this missions were also supposed to serve as learning experience for them…

Min Hong laid on his bed within his room and gave a sigh, but just a few minutes later, he heard a knock on his door; "Who is it?" Min Hong asked;

"It's me, Cui… Can I come in for a bit?"

A sweet voice sang into Min Hong's ears from behind the door;

"Sure!"

Min Hong replied as the door opened and Princess Cui walked inside;

"Why did you pick me to go on such missions?"

She asked seemingly uninterested by the journey, but Min Hong understood that she was just finding it very awkward to be living so close to so many people, after all, as a princess of the strongest Super Clan in the entire empire, she was bound to be used to living with no neighbors;

"So that we could get to know each other better since we seem to have gotten off on a wrong foot…" Min Hong replied with a flat tone…

"We could have easily done that back at your place, why do we have to go on such lengthy journeys just to do that?"

She wasn't willing to back down as she was feeling uncomfortable being forced into such situations, and being the person who she was; someone who had never done something she hadn't planned to, and always had her way whenever she wanted something done, this was proving to be more than she could bear on such short notice…

"I thought you would prefer it if you were far away from your competition…"

Min Hong added without sparing her a single glance since she had entered;

"Who do you think you are!?"

"Do you think, I will demean myself and lick your feet just because you are needed by my clan!?" Princess Cui flared up;

"Actually, yes…"

Min Hong responded without giving her any face at all…

"You-!"

The princess was speechless at first before blurting;

"It is my clan that wants you, and not me…"

"I thought you would become more reasonable as time goes by, but it seems I was wrong…"

"My clan will help you, and you can hold up your end of the bargain by sleeping with any other girl in the clan, period!" She said as she turned to leave;

"Keep dreaming…"

Min Hong added as she snorted coldly and left, then she entered her room and slammed the door before blurting;

"Hateful fellow… So stupid…"

"He doesn't even know how to delicately handle a girl…"

"Hmph!"

She snorted before laying on her bed with her back facing the door…

The moment she left, Tong Tian came into the room, since Min Hong's door was still opened and asked;

"Is everything alright?"

"I'm fine, it's just a little misunderstanding…"

Min Hong looked to Tong Tian and replied with a wave of his hand, signifying that he should not worry too much about it…

Tong Tian looked like he had something more to say, but decided to hold it back for the moment and left…

Min Hong shut his door with a single thought, as he rested his head on both of his hands, and looked up at the ceiling absentmindedly…

He had purposely reacted to the Princess in that manner and brought her on this trip, with the intention that this trip would probably strip off that attitude and belief that is within her blood that every men must serve her…

Min Hong hated people of high class who acted high and mighty at every chance they get, or those who look to intimidate anyone they saw with their influence and position…

That was why he had never truly warmed up to the princess and he wasn't sure if their deal would go through if she kept behaving that way…

He definitely would not allow his child to be born or raised amongst people with such mundane mind-sets and beliefs…

But if she could drop all those attitudes and then get to know one another, then perhaps everything might work out well, because no matter how much he hated to think about it, he would still need their support, if he was to achieve his grand plan…

He also knew it would take a lot of hard work, persistence and time before he could rip off that attitude and belief off her, and he wasn't ready to rush it either, so he had planned to take everything gradually and slowly and allow each other their response to different circumstances do its job…

He shut his eye for a quick nap, as the 'Savvy Domain' ability of the 'Eye of Infinite Daos' came alive and went full throttle…

The cabin was silent for the next three hours which was the time it took them to travel to a region where the Sunfire City was no longer in sight, and then Gong Yi called for an assembly on the deck…

It was time for their first meeting…

After all, this adventurous journey was all about improving themselves, building a strong teamwork and preparing for the upcoming Imperial Seeding Tournaments…

About ten minutes later, all ten representatives/ disciples of the Desert Sun Sect were all on the upper deck, seated around a round table, with the same arrangement as their rooms which already signifies the hierarchy of the command chain on this journey…

"Firstly, I would like to give a toast, by saying thank you to everyone here for sacrificing their time and effort to not only take part in the upcoming tournament, but also risk your safeties to ensure that our preparation are sound and strong enough for the tournament…"

Gong Yi rose up his cup form the table which was filled with all kind of grilled beast meats, spirit fruits and jars of wines and spirit fruit juice…

The rest of the group also picked up their cup, raised it to honor his toasts before they all downed it in one gulp…

"Since that is out of the way, I guess it is time for some proper introductions…"

"I am Gong Yi and it is a pleasure to go on this adventurous journey with brave ones like you all…"

Gong Yi introduced himself, and then Xiao Gui followed, and then Ki Ting, and Rin Chen, then, Bai Yi, the two core court girls who were Su San and Pi Xi…

Tong Tian also introduced himself whilst Princess Cui also did the same by calling herself 'Princess Cui'; an action which spurred some sort of repulsion from the two core court disciples; Pi Xi and Su San…

The rest of the group also felt differently about the situation, but it was obvious that all of them were negative except for Bai Yi who was staring at the princess with starry eyes, and bashful blush…

Then finally, Min Hong introduced himself;

"I am Fei Hong, and it is very nice to meet you all."

Min Hong then sat leisurely as Gong Yi nodded and continued;

"Up Next, the chain of command…"