"The Herrscher of Finality possesses the authorities of all Herrschers and is even more powerful. She also commands a power beyond the grasp of ordinary Herrschers, such as stopping time."
"Stopping time?"
"That's right, stopping time."
"Yet you are only in your twenties—how could you possibly have seen the Herrscher of Finality?"
"Doctor Einstein, pay no mind to that. I have my own ways of knowing."
"I understand. I won't press further, but can you prove that everything you've said is true?"
"Doctor, please trust me just a little. I would never fabricate such things out of nowhere, especially at a time like this. The Herrscher of Finality has not yet been born, so I cannot prove her abilities to you right now."
Einstein hesitated, nearly voicing her doubts, but meeting Yeye's resolute gaze, she swallowed the words back.
"......I understand."
"Doctor, get ready. I'm going to show you something."
Yeye snapped his fingers, and they found themselves in another space. In the distance, Einstein saw a colossal tree with roots and branches extending infinitely into the void—the Tree of Imaginary.
"Doctor Einstein, welcome to the Tree of Imaginary."
"This is the Tree of Imaginary?"
"Indeed. That giant tree in the distance is the Tree of Imaginary, and our world is merely a leaf upon it."
Yeye decided to stop arguing with Einstein; without presenting something representative and moving beyond mere fabrication, she would likely never believe him.
"I have journeyed into many worlds identical to yours, yet in the end, their stories did not have happy endings. I came to this world having resolved to make it a better place, which is why I entered your realm to assist you."
"So you know the authority of Finality because you observed a world where Finality manifested, and because you existed outside of that world and remained unaffected, you came to know its true power."
"Yes, exactly. We should return now; I cannot linger in the Tree of Imaginary for too long, especially while carrying someone. The Tree of Imaginary will take issue with us."
With that, the two returned to the laboratory.
"My body has been branded by this world. Originally, I was born among those belonging to the Tree of Imaginary, but because I came here and received this mark, I have incurred the hatred of the Tree itself."
"So that is why you cannot stay here for long?"
"Yes, exactly that."
"Is there any other intelligence regarding the Herrscher of Finality you wish to share?"
"No, there is nothing more to tell. Saying any more would be entirely meaningless."
"I see. I have recorded everything. Please go and fetch those two; their rooms are already prepared."
Einstein took two keys from her pocket—the keys to their rooms.
"Your artificial intelligence will guide you to their rooms; I trust I don't need to tell you the way."
"Yes, Qingxue will show me."
Yeye entered the training hall and found it utterly devastated, battered into ruins where the only things remaining intact were the two people and the single blade.
"Your rooms are ready, follow me."
Yeye tossed the keys to them. The Blade of True Self instantly dissolved into fading light as Yeye turned and walked out of the training hall, with Ana and Chen Tianwu following close behind.
They came to a row of doors, each marked with a different number.
"Your rooms are among these; the room numbers are written on the keys. Your rooms are adjacent to each other. If you wish to live together... well, frankly, I don't care, and neither does the base."
With that, Yeye teleported away.
Meanwhile, Sister Mei and Raven had already returned to World Serpent. Jackal was waiting for them at the entrance.
"Back? Tell me the details regarding the Herrscher."
"All right, all right, I'll tell you everything. But let us go inside and rest first, and I'll fill you in slowly."
The three of them entered the headquarters of World Serpent and found a place to sit, whereupon Raven recounted the events of the expedition.
"First, on the passage leading from Coral Island to the outside world, we ran into Schicksal Valkyries Durandal and Rita. After negotiating with them, we entered the tunnel leading into Coral Island. We rendezvoused with Owl, and acting on his intelligence, we located the Herrscher, only to find she had imprisoned herself within a pillar of ice. Sister Mei took charge of clearing out the Honkai Beasts drawn to the site, while I shattered the ice pillar holding the Herrscher captive. Owl had readied the Staff of the Abyss, preparing to strike the Herrscher, when suddenly the Herrscher erupted, encasing all of us in ice and allowing her to escape. On her way out, the Herrscher created a wall of ice to block our path. Owl suggested we needed a more thorough plan to deal with her, and shortly after, we received intelligence regarding the Herrscher's identity from the Schicksal Valkyries. Sister Mei explained that the consciousness of the person turned into the Herrscher was currently fighting against the Herrscher's own will. We set up a brazier and discussed our strategy right there on the spot, after which Sister Mei and I set out to find a vantage point to locate the Herrscher."
Another day of hearing tales of heroes.
Some time later, an outbreak of the Honkai erupted at Schicksal headquarters.
Theresa was in remote contact with Bronya aboard the Hyperion, sharing the intelligence she had gathered.
"—That is everything I know."
"···Unbelievable."
"Yes, Durandal has taken command of Schicksal, and it's said that even the third S-rank Valkyrie has been deployed····· Not even during the War of Schicksal was there a mobilization of this scale. ·····Ten days ago, something terribly grave must have happened."
"Bronya has a feeling this is all a conspiracy."
"····After all, he wouldn't go down so easily, would he? Compared to the Overseer of Schicksal, an Otto hiding behind the scenes is far more terrifying."
"Could it be the work of World Serpent?"
"Hard to say, but there is a piece of intelligence of questionable reliability: almost simultaneously, World Serpent was also attacked, and it is rumored that the assailant crossed paths with their Lord and retreated completely unscathed."
"·····"
"The situation is growing increasingly complex. You must exercise extreme caution while out on your own····· How is Kiana? Is she sleeping?"
"She's probably practicing what the Class Monitor taught her; she has been meditating these past few days. That idiot has changed a bit····· Bronya cannot say whether it's for better or worse. But Principal, rest assured, Bronya will look after her."
"Mm, the doctors and I will give you our full support. Be sure to share this latest news with Kiana as well··· And give her my regards."
"·····"
Suddenly, Kiana approached Bronya.
"I heard the Principal's voice."
"Yes, she shared the latest intelligence regarding Schicksal and World Serpent····· It has nothing to do with Sister Mei."
"I see··· Hmph, you don't need to tell me. Whatever happens between Schicksal and World Serpent has nothing to do with us."
"Kiana···"
"···Right now, I have no spare energy to dwell on other things; I only want to focus on what I am capable of doing. Bronya, how much further is it to Mount Taixu?"
"At our current speed, we should arrive at our destination by tomorrow morning. ·····Does that mountain truly hold what the Class Monitor left behind?"
"It certainly does. The Class Monitor once told me she lived on Mount Taixu for a very, very long time····· Her home, her martial arts school, and her hidden treasures are all there. ·····The 'Taixu Sword Qi' that will allow you and me to control the Herrscher's energy must be there as well."
Suddenly, a communication signal came through. Upon answering, the voice on the other end belonged to none other than Yeye.
"Kiana, Bronya—once I have fully unlocked the power of these two, I will hurry over to join you. If any unusual situation arises, inform me immediately; do not try to resolve it on your own."
"Understood, Teacher, Bronya knows."
"We will notify you if anything out of the ordinary occurs."
Yeye glanced at Chen Tianwu and Ana walking ahead, then cut the connection.
"Your mastery over the power of the Herrscher is utterly inadequate. You can't even don the Herrscher attire. In short, you haven't truly mastered the Herrscher's power at all. Today, I am going to force that power out of you."
"I'll leave it to you."
"How are we supposed to bring it out?"
"Don't cry in a moment."
"What do you mean, don't cry?"
In a flash, Yeye appeared right in front of Chen Tianwu and unleashed a punch that sent him flying backward. Chen Tianwu crashed against the wall and coughed up a mouthful of blood. With a faint smile, Yeye turned his gaze toward Ana.
He delivered a swift kick to Ana, sending her flying just like Chen Tianwu, coughing up blood mid-air.
"My self-created 'sandbag awakening method.' You two are going to be my sandbags. Don't worry, with me here, you won't die."
Every single blow from Yeye was infused with Reversed Technique and Qi, instantly healing all injuries the moment the attack landed, leaving no need to worry about permanent injury or death.
Yet, every strike pushed them to the brink of death before pulling them back—oscillating endlessly between life and death. Chen Tianwu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at Ana.
"Ana, are you all right?"
Ana shook her head.
"The problem isn't major. My body seemed to heal the exact moment it was injured, as if I were being hauled right back from the gates of death."
"I told you not to worry, you won't die. Right now, all you need to do is awaken your own power. Under my hands, you won't suffer actual harm—only pain. The faster you master your authority, the sooner you can escape this torment. I assume neither of you wants to learn the Taixu Sword Qi; that one is rather difficult to pick up, whereas my method is simple, quick, and a shortcut of sorts."
Yeye reappeared before them in an instant, delivering a punch to each of them. They felt a momentary lapse in consciousness before snapping back to their senses.
"One more thing: don't worry about passing out, and don't worry about me holding back. Your minds will be continuously stimulated by me, so you won't faint. Unleash your authority upon me—otherwise, how am I supposed to know how much you've grown?"
Ana quickly generated a dense fog of ice, hoping to obscure Yeye's vision, but beneath the Six Eyes, the ice fog proved entirely useless in blocking his perception of Ana and Chen Tianwu.
"It seems pushing you to the brink of death with a single punch isn't enough. We'll need a prolonged state of near-death to force you to grasp more of your authority!"
The Blade of True Self materialized in Yeye's hand. Slinging the great blade across his back, Yeye charged straight toward Chen Tianwu. Seeing this, Ana, standing beside Chen Tianwu, condensed a wall of ice in an attempt to halt Yeye's advance.
Yet the moment the ice wall formed fully, it was cleaved cleanly in half by a single slash from the Blade of True Self. Chen Tianwu raised both hands in a desperate struggle to parry the blade.
It was all in futile; Chen Tianwu's arm was severed straight through by the Blade of True Self, blood spurting from the stump.
"We can't block him at all!"
"If you can't block him, why don't you manufacture an ice shield to intercept him? It would be enough to buy a little time. You are the Herrscher of Ice and Rocks—no, the Herrscher of Meteor Ice, not just Earth or Ice alone; you should be able to utilize each other's authorities."
With Yeye's reminder, their minds suddenly opened up. Chen Tianwu channeled his authority at his severed stump, condensing an ice arm in its place while forming an ice claw on his other hand.
"Ana, let's go! Since we can't dodge, we have no choice but to attack head-on."
Chen Tianwu lashed out with the ice claw on one hand toward Yeye, while his other hand clamped firmly onto the Blade of True Self. Meanwhile, Ana continuously piled immense gravitational pressure upon Yeye.
With his free hand, Yeye grabbed Chen Tianwu's claw, shattering it instantly. But the shattered claw abruptly extended, striking Yeye's neck and leaving a bloody gash.
Yet the wounded area healed instantaneously, as though it had never been injured at all. Although Ultra Instinct was on the verge of automatically dodging the blow, Yeye forcefully suppressed it.
After all, unless they believed they were capable of hurting him, they would lack all motivation.
"Too weak. This is still not enough to cause me any damage. Your power is simply lacking!"
Having just witnessed the ice carve a wound into Yeye's neck, Chen Tianwu concluded that Yeye must simply be putting on a brave face.
Chen Tianwu and Ana exchanged a glance.
The two of them clasped hands, and the authority of the Herrscher of Ice erupted. A vast quantity of tiny, razor-sharp ice crystals condensed throughout the air.
Immediately following, the authority of the Herrscher of Earth flared, causing a multitude of quasi-black holes to manifest around Yeye, exerting a powerful gravitational pull on the ice crystals.
"That alone isn't enough to pique my interest!"
Yeye burst forth with Qi, currents swirling around his body to form a protective barrier. The ice crystals were completely unable to approach him.
Even the gravitational pull of the quasi-black holes failed to budge Yeye so much as half a step.
"Your control over your power lacks precision. Such attacks only accelerate your energy consumption, making it impossible to sustain yourselves for long."
Yeye struck a pose for the Feather-Heaven All Things Silent technique.
"Domain Expansion: Feather-Heaven All Things Silent!"
A pristine white domain expanded outward, enveloping the entire training room as countless feathers drifted through the space.
"Are you ready? The real training begins now. From here on out, I will only evade; I will no longer launch any attacks against you."
"Only evading without attacking?"
Chen Tianwu's senses were screaming that something was deeply wrong here.
Ana rapidly generated a barrage of ice pillars, hurling them toward Yeye. But the moment the ice pillars were about to touch him, they suddenly reappeared directly behind Yeye. In the next instant, the feathers surrounding Chen Tianwu and Ana flashed, launching ice pillars directly at the pair.
Both Ana and Chen Tianwu could feel that the ice pillars contained the exact same power they possessed—the power of the Herrscher of Ice, yet twice as strong as the attack Ana had just unleashed.
However, the ice pillars did not travel fast. Utilizing gravity manipulation, Chen Tianwu and Ana dodged aside simultaneously, and the pillars dissipated once they missed.
Yet immediately after, more ice pillars shot out from the feathers beside them. The power contained within these pillars was greater than the previous ones, and their speed was far faster—leaving no time to evade.
The ice pillars slammed into them, carving numerous bloody gashes across their bodies. Blood began to flow freely, though the two immediately applied a layer of ice over the wounds to staunch the bleeding.
"Didn't you say you wouldn't attack?"
"I haven't launched any attacks. From start to finish, I have only been evading; I have not once taken the initiative to strike at you."
The umpteenth day of growing drowsy.
"No active attacks... meaning the attacks of this place are happening automatically?"
Ana and Chen Tianwu ceased their offensive stance.
"You two are making this very difficult for me. If you don't make a move, I will. Three, two, one, zero."
Wielding the Blade of True Self, Yeye closed the distance to the pair in an instant and slashed outward. Chen Tianwu hurriedly erected a shield of ice before grabbing Ana and executing a rapid evasion.
"Hollow Purple... no, Red."
Two small red orbs pierced straight through their bodies. Chen Tianwu and Ana attempted to stem the bleeding with ice as they had before, but the Honkai energy condensed at their wounds was instantly annihilated by the residual energy lingering within the injuries.
Suddenly, the two coughed up blood. The ice sealing their wounds shattered completely, and blood surged forth in a torrent.
"Let's give you the final blow. Technique Lapse: Blue, Technique Reversal: Red."
Blue Blue and red Red appeared on either side of Yeye's hands, steadily drawing closer together. Chen Tianwu and Ana immediately realized they could not allow Blue and Red to merge.
Chen Tianwu conjured a quasi-black hole right in front of Yeye, but it failed to affect the convergence of Blue and Red.
"Imaginary Technique—"
Suddenly, Ana materialized behind Yeye, thrusting a long blade directly toward him. Yet before the blade could even touch him, it was firmly gripped in his hand.
The blade shattered instantly. Red and Blue collided, fusing into a vibrant purple Hollow Purple.
"Don't worry, I dialed down the power. Taking this hit will at most leave you on the brink of death, which is all the better for stimulating your power. Purple."
Hollow Purple detonated in place, though its radius was tightly contained. Right before the blast, Chen Tianwu lunged over Ana, shielding her beneath his own body.
The purple light faded. Yeye stood at the epicenter of the explosion completely unscathed, looking down at Chen Tianwu—whose back was covered in severe lacerations—with a soft sigh.
"Is that all? I expected you to put up a bit more of an outburst. This alone is still not enough. Perhaps I need to try a different way to stimulate you?"
Suddenly, Chen Tianwu rolled over. Ana, sheltered in his arms, lunged forward with a blade to slash at Yeye. At the same time, Chen Tianwu grabbed onto Yeye and applied a crushing gravitational force.
"Got... you... Ana, now's your chance—"
"Understood."
A barrage of ice spikes shot toward Yeye from behind. But just as the spikes came within a hair's breadth of his back, they seemed to freeze in place.
Yet Ana could clearly perceive that the ice spikes hadn't stopped; they were merely advancing toward Yeye at an infinitesimally slow pace, growing slower and slower still, forever incapable of reaching him.
Even the blade in her own hand crept forward at a snail's pace, unable to draw any closer to Yeye.
"Did you really think you could have harmed me if I hadn't been holding back? If we were fighting for real, you wouldn't even be able to touch me, let alone speak of hurting me."
"So... you... were... just playing along this whole time."
"If I hadn't acted a little, you'd have developed a sense of defeat. The distance between us isn't like the gap between mountains; it's the distance between stars, or even further."
The full magnitude of Yeye's aura burst forth. Ana and Chen Tianwu were overwhelmed by the boundless, immense power radiating from him—a power they could never hope to reach.
"Well... based on my research, there is one distinct possibility: it may be that you two can never awaken the Herrscher form on your own."
Yeye channeled Reversed Technique, completely healing all the injuries on their bodies.
"Never able to awaken the Herrscher form? Why is that?"
"Because a Herrscher core is typically meant to be wielded by a single individual. Your Herrscher cores have fused into one, which is why the two of you cannot simultaneously awaken the Herrscher form. Of course, it's also possible you simply haven't found the right feeling for the Herrscher state; right now, you're merely using your authority rather than treating it as an extension of your own body. Hand the Herrscher cores over to me."
Chen Tianwu and Ana extended their hands simultaneously. Two flashes of light flew from their palms, coalescing into a single core.
"Executing Plan B. Since you cannot awaken the Herrscher form voluntarily, I'll just have to force you to."
Yeye took the Herrscher core, channeling a continuous stream of Honkai energy into it while wrapping it in Qi to prevent any leakage.
Then, he instantly thrust the core back into their bodies. The two felt the core return within them, immediately surging with an unceasing torrent of Honkai energy.
A massive wave of Honkai energy erupted from their bodies, transforming into a giant cocoon that enveloped them both.
When the cocoon finally dissipated, their attire had transformed. Ana's outfit was similar to her previous Herrscher of Ice form, save for the addition of amber-colored accents. Chen Tianwu was clad primarily in an amber-toned armor—though calling it clothing was an understatement, as it resembled a full set of heavy plate, with armor at the fists glowing blue. The color of their pupils had also shifted slightly: Ana's eyes were blue tinged with a faint amber, while Chen Tianwu's were amber tinged with blue.
"How does it feel?"
"......It feels as though Honkai energy is constantly leaking from our bodies. Before long, this state will likely dissipate on its own."
School is about to start; the author's days of updating twice a day are coming to an end. Updates will only happen on Saturdays from now on.
"Go wander around wherever you like. Just don't drag me into it if you cause any trouble later."
[Unable to comprehend meaning.]
"Just wander around the base as you please. The network has already been hooked up for you—look up whatever information you need yourself."
[Command received.]
——The next morning——
The Hyperion arrived at Mount Taixu. Kiana and Bronya disembarked.
"·····We're here."
"Is this····where the Class Monitor used to live?"
"To be precise, it's where she lived a very, very long time ago, when the people of Shenzhou still called her the 'Chiyuan Immortal.' The Class Monitor once let me see this place in a dream···· It seems that was what it looked like long ago, though much has changed·····"
The two began walking deeper into the embrace of the surrounding mountains.
"The place where the Class Monitor used to train should be higher up the mountain···"
"Is what you're looking for really here? Searching for martial arts manuals deep in the mountains sounds like something out of a video game. Besides, the Class Monitor hasn't lived here for ages. Even if she left some treasure behind, it's entirely possible someone else already picked it clean."
"Perhaps, as you say··· But the treasures left behind by the Class Monitor are things ordinary people cannot see."
Kiana's eyes flickered with a luminous glow.
"Ah··· That's right."
"Fenghuang Down." ×2
Venturing further inward, the two encountered Honkai Beasts.
"There are Honkai Beasts here too."
"Indeed. I didn't expect the Honkai energy concentration on Mount Taixu to be this high."
"Perhaps the 'Taixu Sword Qi' the Class Monitor practiced requires Honkai energy?"
"Who knows? What she taught me didn't seem quite like that."
The two made short work of the Honkai Beasts.
"It seems this mountain is even more dangerous than we anticipated."
"They're just Honkai Beasts; no matter how many there are, it's not a problem."
Despite saying this, Kiana remained vigilant, her eyes scanning her surroundings. Something had caught her attention.
"·····Found it."
"What is it?"
"Though faint, there is a familiar aura nearby···· An aura very similar to the Class Monitor's 'feather'."
"Fenghuang Down?···· Are you certain?"
"Mm, there's no mistake. Follow me."
Bronya followed Kiana until they stopped before a single crimson feather.
"Found it!"
"Really··· There was nothing here at all until we approached. Kiana, do you know how to use it?"
"Mm, let me try···"
Kiana closed her eyes and, following the mental incantation Fu Hua had taught her, allowed her thoughts within the feather to flow into the sea of her own consciousness···
"·····Huh?"
"How is it?"
"No··· It failed."
"·····"
"It must have some sort of seal placed upon it. The moment the feather made contact with my consciousness, it rebounded····· Could it be··· only the Class Monitor can open it?"
"Let's not dwell on that just yet, Kiana. That burst of energy just now has attracted more Honkai Beasts···"
"Let's clear them out first."
Several Honkai Beasts closed in around Kiana and Bronya, but to the two of them, these creatures posed no threat whatsoever.
Just as Kiana and Bronya prepared to engage the Honkai Beasts, several streaks of sword qi materialized, obliterating the beasts instantly.
A woman stood not far away, still gripping a blade in her hand. It was obvious that the sword qi just now had been unleashed by her.
"Are you two alright?"
"Ah... No..."
Kiana was momentarily at a loss for words. The mysterious woman's technique had left her astonished. Although it was just an ordinary sword strike, the grace and bearing of that stroke overlapped almost seamlessly with her class monitor from her memories.
"May I ask who you are...?"
"I am Lin Zhaoyu, the caretaker of Mount Taixu, so to speak. This place overflows with true qi, and feral beasts often run amok. That is why the Immortal set up a barrier here to prevent outsiders from accidentally wandering in. ...Why have the two of you come here?"
"Um..."
"We know the Immortal."
"Oh?"
"The Immortal you speak of refers to Chiyuan, right? We know her. We are her friends."
Lin Zhaoyu was slightly stunned, unable to hide her surprise.
"...Friends."
She softly chewed on those two words, a hint of a smile touching the corner of her mouth.
"Since that is the case, please follow me, you two."
Lin Zhaoyu led Bronya and Kiana toward a certain spot.
"Your swordsmanship is very similar to the class monitor's... to the moves of the Immortal Chiyuan."
"That is her swordsmanship. It is the initiating stance of the *Taixu Sword Forms* she created: 'Severing the Sea'. Since you are friends with the Immortal, how could you not know that Chiyuan is the founding ancestor of the Taixu Sword Sect?"
"Uh, the class monitor did mention it. But I thought that was something from hundreds of years ago."
"The Taixu Sword Sect has endured for five hundred years, passing down its legacy unbroken to this day. It is simply that traditional martial arts have waned, and the Taixu Sect could not go against the currents of the times, inevitably keeping a much lower profile.
Coupled with the fact that the disciples of Taixu regard slaying demons and eliminating evils as their bounden duty, chasing neither fame nor fortune, they have become even more obscure nowadays."
"Sister Lin... are you also from the Taixu Sect?"
"Yes. My ties to Taixu... run quite long."
"Then, can you teach me?"
"...Teach you?"
"Chiyuan once taught me *Taixu Sword Qi*, but she left very soon after, and what she taught was fragmented. This time, I came to Mount Taixu wanting to learn the complete version so I can control the power within my body."
"........"
Lin Zhaoyu pondered.
"How about this: if you trust me, first tell me your story."
Together, Kiana and Bronya recounted their experiences with Fu Hua to Lin Zhaoyu.
"......I see. I never imagined Master Chiyuan had such experiences. And you... you are actually a Herrscher."
"......"
"I can teach you, but I'm afraid it won't achieve your goal. Master Chiyuan should have told you that the *Taixu Sword Qi* has five realms: Heart, Form, Intent, Soul, and Spirit.
She taught you the Sword God because your constitution happened to perfectly meet the conditions for the Sword God; Sword Intent and Sword Soul are of no use to you at present. I can teach you the Sword Form......
Or the Taixu True Formula of the Taixu Sect, but that will barely elevate your actual combat proficiency; it is not the fundamental remedy you are seeking. What you truly need is the 'Sword Heart'."
"Have you learned this Sword Heart?"
Lin Zhaoyu fell silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh.
"I have learned it. But... we would never leave the Sword Heart behind for future generations. I am sorry, I cannot break my blood oath."
"......Then, is there any other way?"
"......If it's you two, perhaps there is. The moment I laid eyes on you just now, I noticed it... You are hiding a 'feather' in your hands. Is it yours?"
"No, we found it on Mount Taixu."
"We once possessed feathers, but we lost all of them..."
"Sigh."
Lin Zhaoyu extended her hand. Kiana hesitated for a moment, then took out the feather and placed it in Lin Zhaoyu's palm.
"Can you walk into its 'state of mind'?"
Kiana and Bronya exchanged glances and shook their heads.
"After touching the consciousness within the 'feather', it thrust me right back out."
"I see. This feather... is still very well preserved. Master Chiyuan placed a spell on it, which cannot be broken without wielding the Sword Heart. ...May I..."
Lin Zhaoyu muttered to herself, closing her eyes. Just as Kiana was feeling puzzled, she saw the feather emit a dazzling radiance.
"Come."
Without further ado, she pushed the feather straight into Kiana's embrace. The light flared brilliantly, dazzling Kiana. Lin Zhaoyu's voice drifted from afar, but before Kiana could catch what she said, she was swallowed by the light......
Kiana saw Fu Hua's memories from the Previous Era.
"This is... the class monitor's memory?"
"Bronya finds it very unfamiliar..."
"Confusion... Stepping into this memory, I felt a suffocating confusion, along with fear. Just like... like a butterfly caught in a storm, having no idea what its next second will bring... Is this really our class monitor?
Class monitor... she is always firm, unshakably so—she always brings peace of mind to those around her. But that girl just now..."
"Perhaps this is what she was like before she came to St. Freya?"
"No, the class monitor had already lived for a very long time before entering St. Freya, but... why don't the timelines match up? I don't know, I just don't know... Even though she looks the exact same, I have never seen a class monitor like this."
"That is Chiyuan."
"......Eh?"
"What you just saw was the 'Heart Print' left behind by the only true Immortal."
"Heart Print?"
"Master Chiyuan is ageless, so her memories flooded like rising tides, eroding the continent known as consciousness. To curb the growth of her memories and preserve the clarity of her consciousness, the Immortal had no choice but to screen her memories...
The portion split off in this way is precisely the 'Heart Print' you just witnessed. Well? Did you find what you were looking for?"
"......No."
"Ah, there is no need to be discouraged. The Immortal has resided on Mount Taixu for a long time; the Heart Prints left behind on this mountain number in the thousands. The answers you seek are among them—that much is certain."