The Queen of the Void retreated into hibernation—a decision surprising everyone except herself, including Welt amidst his grand plans.
"That impulsive and reckless Herrscher of the Void, brimming with hatred, actually managed to restrain herself? Well, she'll resurface eventually. I have plenty more on my plate right now, so good luck to you both. Come find me if you need anything."
During their brief encounter before breakfast, Welt smiled warmly at Kiana and Bronya as usual before swiftly departing, seemingly too busy even for a moment's pause.
Kiana and Bronya exchanged glances, wordless.
In truth, this wasn't the original Sirin anymore; that person had truly passed away. The current Herrscher of the Void was merely a brand-new soul born from Sirin's lingering resentment and power—similar to how Kiana came to be. She wanted to share this insight but couldn't catch up to Welt in time.
The two girls entered the dining hall together.
All members of Team Anti-Sirin were already present.
Seele and Mei were distributing breakfast to everyone.
With great enthusiasm, Sin guided Bronya to her seat—naturally, having strategically placed it next to Bronya's beforehand.
On the other side near Bronya's seat, Seele's small hat was already placed to mark her claim.
Bronya glanced at Sin, whose eyes were sparkling with admiration, then looked over at Seele, who seemed slightly distracted. With ease, she took her own seat.
After enjoying being fed by both Sin and Seele, Bronya, seemingly accustomed to such treatment, calmly asked Seele,
"Hasn't the other Seele woken up yet?"
"No... I can sense that she's still here, but she's very weak, deep in slumber." Seele pressed her hands against her chest, her slightly furrowed brows expressing her concern.
Bronya gently patted Seele's head. "Don't worry too much. Your situation is similar to Wendy's—just a temporary power vacuum after having your abilities taken away. You'll recover gradually."
Wendy, pondering thoughtfully nearby, nodded in agreement with Bronya's assessment.
"Mm-hmm, Seele understands. Thank you, Big Sister Bronya," Seele replied with a gentle smile.
Breakfast concluded amidst each person's unique emotions.
Following Bronya's instructions, everyone got to work: Durandal went to familiarize herself with her Herrscher abilities, others retrieved new equipment or discussed tactics—all proceeding smoothly and methodically.
After more than ten days, the Herrscher of the Void's silence was somewhat surprising, but it made sense to Bronya—just as even Kiana could occasionally display intelligence, it wasn't entirely implausible for the once reckless and audacious Herrscher of the Void to learn caution.
Since they couldn't simply lie in wait for their opponent in the real world, they focused on enhancing their own combat capabilities, refining their strategies, and preparing every aspect possible.
The Herrscher of the Void may have been waiting, but the girls needed time to prepare and improve themselves too.
While everyone else busied themselves, only Kiana ventured alone to the deserted training facility that spanned an entire floor.
In the center of the vast training area stood a small square table with several green cushions arranged around it.
When Kiana entered, Fu Hua was already seated at the table, her legs crossed as usual. With a smile playing on her lips, she gently stroked the Book of Fuxi while two cups of clear tea rested nearby.
"Mm... Right there, just like that—apply a bit more pressure! Ahh, so relaxing~"
The Book of Fuxi sat atop Fu Hua's palm, chin lifted and basking in the soothing touch of delicate fingers, looking utterly contented.
Following the book's instructions, Fu Hua let her sleeves and garment trail casually on the floor. The gentle curve of her lips seemed to radiate warmth throughout her being—as if, for this moment, she wasn't the resolute immortal warrior of Shenzhou but rather a serene and elegant neighborly elder sister.
"Ah, you're here? Please take a seat, Kiana."
"You seem to be in quite a good mood, Fu Hua-sensei!"
"The beauty of ages fades not; Miss Graceling delights the eyes... Perhaps your striking appearance indeed lifts my spirits."
"Huh? Fu Hua-sensei making jokes now? You've really changed since we first met!"
Blushing at this earnest compliment from the old stickler, Kiana took her seat. Compared to Fu Hua's poised demeanor, steadfast as a mountain, Kiana's relaxed and casual attitude was evident—she grinned playfully in response.
Fu Hua tilted her head slightly, her serene, ethereal eyes blinking before asking with a hint of delay, "Have I...changed that much?"
"Absolutely! When we first met on Taixuan Mountain, I thought Fu Hua-sensei might be some kind of wooden statue, looking so lost and lifeless. Your eyes seemed devoid of spirit. Later, you were like a rigid scholar, always emphasizing rules and discipline. But now, it's different—Fu Hua-sensei smiles more often, almost as if reborn!" Kiana animatedly gestured while describing her transformation. Then, she picked up her teacup, swished the liquid around audibly as if rinsing her mouth, before gulping it down.
Watching this scene unfold, Fu Hua shook her head with amusement. "You haven't changed a bit, still full of reckless exuberance. Zeke would surely get another headache seeing you like this."
"Heh heh! He's not here, so who cares?" Kiana puffed out her chest proudly, wearing an expression of self-assured defiance.
Unbeknownst to her, several hidden worker bees nearby adjusted their miniature cameras, silently capturing this scene with unwavering fidelity.
Fu Hua glanced at what appeared to be empty space behind her, amusement flickering in her eyes.
She had watched these two bickering rivals grow up together since they were young, and their interactions always struck Fu Hua as particularly entertaining.
At the same time, she felt incredibly fortunate that Kiana, wielding such perilous power, had Zeke as her safe haven, while the proud and formidable Zeke found his vulnerability in Kiana. Without this balance, either member of this duo could likely have posed unimaginable threats, right?
"Ah..." Fu Hua sighed, gently tapping Book of Fuxi's small head to stop her cat-like behavior.
"The Inch Heart Fist Technique harmonizes body, will, and Honkai energy. With your aptitude, diligent practice over the years has yielded significant progress. However, Taixuan Sword Qi is different; each of the five aggregates relies on its own foundation, making one's success highly contingent on individual circumstances and opportunities. As for mastering its Divine Essence... frankly, I lack confidence in teaching it, as it transcends verbal explanation. Kiana, are you certain you want to invest precious preparation time on this uncertain endeavor?"
"Fu Hua-sensei, I think my Heart Accumulation has reached the Void realm."
"What?!"
Fu Hua's serene expression shifted slightly, revealing hints of surprise.
Kiana straightened up, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. As she opened them again, those blue irises glowed faintly, all restlessness and impulsiveness vanishing, leaving only a mirror-like tranquility undisturbed by ripples.
Fu Hua's mouth parted slightly, momentarily stunned.
"How...did you do it?"
"It's hard to explain precisely. After she left me, things that were once unclear suddenly made sense; many troubling thoughts no longer bothered me... One day, upon waking, I realized I had transcended the four realms of Heart Accumulation: Still Water, Dustless, Clear Mirror, and Void."
Fu Hua pondered for a moment before nodding.
"Heart Accumulation is challenging both in comprehension and self-liberation. Those burdened with excessive attachments may never attain entry throughout their lives. Yet, achieving sudden enlightenment in a single moment isn't entirely implausible... In any case, congratulations, Kiana. Do you feel anything different now?"
"Different feelings, you say? Well, at that moment, I suddenly felt as if the entire world was open to me—does that count?"
"This is about breaking free from the shackles of your heart. You've succeeded, and now the world lies open before you. Advancing your Heart Accumulation means you can effortlessly absorb and release Honkai Energy around you, minimizing its corrosive effects on both body and mind... In a sense, it's true that there's nowhere you cannot go."
Fu Hua looked at Kiana with a genuinely pleased smile.
Over these years, Anti-Entropy and Schicksal had placed numerous children under Fu Hua for training. Yet factors like talent, temperament, comprehension, and opportunity barred countless students from grasping the essence of martial arts.
Most only managed to learn basic techniques for controlling Honkai Energy and rudimentary combat skills. While not insignificant, compared to Fu Hua's true mastery, they were trifling accomplishments.
The most promising students were primarily among the girls by Zeke's side. Wendy and Mei each achieved their own insights with the Inch Heart Fist Technique; Bronya reached the second level of Still Water in her Heart Accumulation; Seele smoothly advanced to the third level of Clear Mirror, though unfortunately lacking courage and fighting spirit; and previously, Kiana integrated the Inch Heart Fist Technique into her physical combat style...
All commendable achievements, yet they remained just that—commendable, nothing more.
Now, Fu Hua seemed to have found someone truly worth nurturing further.