"Fu Hua-sensei, Little Fuxi, you're here too! Looks like there's no breakfast left—should we ask Mei and Seele to whip something up for you?"
"No need; I don't require food anyway. The stubborn mule brought her own rations—a humble steamed bun with pickled vegetables. It may lack nutrition, but she enjoys them, so that's fine. And...please don't call me just 'Little Fuxi,' it lacks respect! Even young Zeke from your family addresses me by my full name, the Book of Fuxi!" The Book of Fuxi sighed, shaking its head.
Fu Hua had indeed brought her personal jar of preserved winter cabbage, which sounded fancy but was simply pickles at the end of the day. Considering she'd eaten these daily during her absence spanning millennia, it wasn't surprising that the stubborn mule hadn't gained any weight over the years and even seemed thinner now!
"But you're so tiny and adorable, calling you Little Fuxi feels just right—it sounds nice and highlights our close relationship." Kiana tapped gently on the Book of Fuxi's head with her flawless, porcelain-like fingers, expressing her sentiment innocently.
With its tiny hand, the Book of Fuxi swatted away Kiana's fingers and glanced sidelong at her.
"Don't judge by appearances alone. My age is many times greater than yours, Little Miss Fuxi."
"Meh, who cares?! As long as you're cute!"
"Tsk! Always goofing around—you'd never guess you were taught by that stubborn blockhead. Though I suppose it's for the best; if you turned out like her, things would truly be dire. One insufferable hardhead is more than enough for me to handle."
"Actually, Fu Hua-sensei isn't so bad. She's easy to get along with, dependable, and incredibly strong."
"That's only because you haven't witnessed her being unbendingly obstinate yet."
"Oh? Is there some story behind that?"
The pair drew closer together, their conversation in full swing.
Suddenly, a shadow appeared behind them.
"Ahem! Discussing others behind their backs may be considered immoral, but doing it right in front of them...isn't that still somewhat impolite?" Fu Hua leaned slightly forward, flashing a gentle smile toward the duo openly gossiping about her—though the slight twitch at the corner of her brow betrayed a hint of irritation.
"Eh? Heh heh, sorry, Fu Hua-sensei, won't do it again." Kiana rubbed her head, grinning sheepishly.
Meanwhile, the Book of Fuxi rolled its eyes, floated up to perch calmly atop Fu Hua's head, utterly unfazed by the immortal's—or rather, "stubborn blockhead's"—dissatisfaction.
Ridiculous! As the de facto overseer and leader of Taixuan Mountain, would the Book of Fuxi fear Fu Hua? That's like suggesting parents could be intimidated by their own lazy, freeloading daughter—utter nonsense.
"Ahh..."
Fu Hua rolled her eyes upward, catching sight of two tiny, white feet kicking against her forehead. Helplessly, she sighed.
"So, has Kiana truly mastered it, Fu Hua-sensei?" Bronya tugged at Fu Hua's sleeve, looking up as she asked.
With both hands, Fu Hua gently lifted the unstable Book of Fuxi from atop her head while responding:
"She certainly made progress today. Within the consciousness domain, she faced the Void Sword Divinity with composure and even managed slight resistance. However, without practical application, no one can definitively say if she's fully learned it. From my perspective, there is still much ground for her to cover."
In summary: not yet mastered.
All eyes turned towards Kiana, especially Raiden Mei, who had just been completely convinced moments ago; her gaze now held a hint of feeling betrayed.
Kiana stuck out her tongue and lightly tapped her head.
"I only complimented Mei on her cleverness—I never said she'd mastered it yet, eh heh ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)!"
"Oh yeah?" Bronya stood on tiptoe and smacked Kiana's head.
Then, with a sigh, she continued: "Everyone else has done all they can to prepare. Now it comes down to whether you'll achieve enlightenment, Kiana. The Herrscher of the Void hasn't made any moves over these past few weeks, but that won't last much longer. As our grand plan unfolds, the situation outside grows increasingly complex. Welt and the main forces at Headquarters could be deployed at any moment... If my guess is correct, the Herrscher of the Void is likely waiting for precisely this opportunity."
Kiana's expression turned serious as she nodded.
"I understand. Since we share the same origin, I have some idea of what she might be thinking. First, she would acquire the Gem of Grief; then, Raiden Mei's ability; finally, take out the strongest target—Uncle Welt—to collect all eight abilities. With them, she can calmly execute her revenge—that's probably her plan. So, when Headquarters is most vulnerable, that will likely be her chance to strike. I'm certain of it."
"Ah! A formidable enemy isn't so scary; it's a powerful, lucid, cautious, and strategic foe that truly poses a challenge." Wendy crossed her arms, shaking her head helplessly.
After reanalyzing the situation once more, this was Wendy's honest assessment.
It was highly likely that during their initial encounter with the Herrscher of a Thousand People, the Herrscher of the Void had already made contact with those dolls but chose to bide her time until she understood the circumstances better.
Once revealed, she swiftly seized the abilities of the Herrscher of a Thousand People, obtaining the invincible power of immortality—an exceptionally decisive move.
Despite becoming undefeated and immortal, upon Fu Hua and Durandal's arrival, she promptly retreated, prioritizing the guaranteed acquisition of Wendy's and Seele's powers isolated within the Theater of Domination.
For the following month, having secured five abilities, the Herrscher of the Void remained unseen. Instead, she quietly waited for an inevitable moment of vulnerability at Headquarters, demonstrating remarkable patience.
As Wendy pointed out, the Herrscher of the Void they faced now was not the impulsive and reckless Sirin from the Siberian campaign, but rather an equally potent yet composed and rational adversary.
Such an opponent is genuinely terrifying.
With solemn expressions, each team member quickly resumed honing their skills.
After breakfast, Kiana continued her grueling training against the Void Sword Divinity. Today, she endured five strikes before once again slithering away like a worm.
"Heh! This girl may seem all scatterbrained on the surface, but she's actually quite impressive!" The Book of Fuxi, seated across from Fu Hua at the table, chuckled and remarked with a broad smile.
Fu Hua nodded slightly, the corners of her lips curving upward, then fell deep in thought.
Noticing her lack of response, the Book of Fuxi tilted its head and asked, "What's on your mind? I've noticed you've been somewhat preoccupied these past few days."
"Well, repeatedly using the Void Sword Divinity—even just the introductory form—is starting to tire me out. And...I'm wondering if my Void Sword Divinity has truly reached its limit?"
"Huh?" The Book of Fuxi was taken aback.
No, Mei and the doctor discovered Divine Sound technology, which you have developed almost to mystical heights, granting it enough power to effortlessly annihilate Herrschers. Is that not sufficient?
As if reading the Book of Fuxi's thoughts, Fu Hua shook her head.
"The Void Sword Divinity is indeed powerful, but against Finality... I'm still uncertain about what kind of response it can deliver. Moreover, regardless of its strength, with my current capabilities, I could only unleash it two or three times at most before completely losing consciousness. They're all striving and growing stronger; as for me, can I push further and ascend to the next level? I've been contemplating this possibility."
"Hmm... I don't fully understand these matters either, but perhaps you could ask the enigmatic young Zeke?"
"He wouldn't be able to help. My martial arts and realms surpass his expertise. While he can heal my severely damaged body and spirit, advancing my cultivation is beyond his assistance. The same applies to Otto, even if Mei Doctor were resurrected. This journey, I must undertake alone; outsiders cannot aid me."
"Then have you found a way?"
"Perhaps... the answer lies within Kiana herself."
"???"
The Book of Fuxi once again felt puzzled, shrouded in confusion.