The next morning, Karl stared at the ceiling. Tingyun, who should have been lying beside him, was gone. The warmth she always left behind had already faded, leaving him alone.
"The day has come. Tingyun—no, Phantylia—will never return to this home. This house, once warm, will soon be nothing but an empty shell." His hand clenched tightly as the Longinuslanze Testament materialized in his palm. "Tingyun… I promised you. This spear—my spear—will strike her core. Nothing shall remain."
"This is my oath, my vengeance, and my yearning for you."
Karl rose from the bed. With a sharp motion he twirled the spear, tearing open space itself as if it were paper. A moment later, the rift stitched itself shut, leaving the room as if nothing had happened.
"This time… Dan Heng should already be on the Loufu. Tingyun and the others will be busy chasing Kafka." His voice was calm, but his steps carried heavy purpose as he left the room.
When he reached the door, his hand froze over the lock. His fingers trembled. No matter how he forced them, his body refused to obey.
"Karl… calm down. Tingyun will return. Stop this fear!" he shouted to himself. His whole body shook before he finally pushed the lock into place with a heavy click. His breath came ragged, though his face remained still.
He walked to the Starskiff parking lot, stealing one while its owner remained oblivious. Soon he was gliding toward Cloudford. Perching on a stack of containers, Karl spotted Dan Heng already there.
Not far away, two others stood ready.
One was a young woman in a short white dress with black and gold armor at the chest and waist. Yellow sleeves hung from a purple cloak draped across her shoulders, and a golden band circled her thigh above her black-and-gold boots. She gripped her sword tightly—Sushang.
Beside her stood a tall man with flowing blond hair. He wore a long white coat trimmed in teal and gold, its sharp shoulders marked with black gloves and golden ornaments. White trousers tucked neatly into black boots gleaming with gold patterns—Luocha.
And in front of them loomed mechanical beasts— a fish, toad, and an ape. Ugly beyond words.
The battle alarm echoed, drawing Dan Heng closer. Without hesitation, he charged forward. A black spear—Cloud Piercer—formed in his hand as he skewered the monster, black energy exploding from the strike. Without pause he struck again, another beast collapsing in his wake.
Sushang slashed one cleanly in half, but left her back exposed. The monstrous ape-like creature lunged, its head swinging down toward her.
"Ouch!" she cried, twisting around—only for Luocha's rapier to pierce the beast before it could reach her.
"How could I 'stand back' when you were struggling?" Luocha said calmly, withdrawing his blade as another enemy dissolved into dust.
After minutes of fighting, silence fell. Sushang wiped imaginary sweat from her brow and shot Luocha an annoyed look.
"Didn't I tell you to stay back? What if you got hurt?"
Luocha replied evenly, "You were the one in danger. How could I watch idly?"
"Ugh…! W-well, you'd still get hurt if you didn't listen!" she fumbled, only to turn quickly to Dan Heng. "Uh, hey—thanks for the help! Your spear skills were amazing. Are you one of the Cloud Knights?"
Dan Heng shook his head. "I'm not."
Above them, Karl quietly slipped away, unseen. In the next moment, he was gone.
---
At another location, Karl spotted her. A white-haired woman wearing a black blindfold. Her outfit was a dark, form-fitting bodysuit laced with silver and blue patterns, armor woven into fabric. Flowing strips of light-blue cloth hung from her waist and arms, and her sleek gloves and boots gleamed with silver edges. The moonlike ornament on her chest glowed faintly.
Jingliu. She was supposed to meet Yanqing here.
Karl studied her silently until her head turned—directly toward him.
"How sharp…" he muttered.
"Come out. I know you're there," Jingliu said plainly.
Karl sighed and leapt down, landing behind her. She turned fully to face him.
"How did you know I was there?" he asked, resting a hand on his hip.
"Obvious. You're far too noticeable."
Karl tilted his head. "Sharp and deadly. But tell me—how do you see, if you're wearing a blindfold?"
Jingliu was silent for a moment before replying, "...And how can you assume I'm blind just because I wear one?"
Karl paused. "Wouldn't anyone assume you're blind if you wear it?"
The silence stretched. Finally, Jingliu said, "Why are you turning my own words against me?"
"Because you used mine against me first. If you use my words to attack, I'll use yours to return the favor." Karl smirked slightly.
Jingliu stood still for a long moment, then resumed walking.
"What? I thought you'd rebuke me," Karl said, following behind.
"Why waste time on someone with no purpose?" she replied coolly. Karl followed her quietly until,
"Hey, you're strong," Karl blurted out.
Jingliu didn't break stride. "How so?"
"Your walk," Karl answered quickly. "It makes no sound."
She paused, turning slightly toward him. "Not bad. Your eyes notice what ordinary people overlook."
"Thanks." Karl gave a small nod and stepped past her, no intention of lingering.
"Where are you going?" Jingliu asked, her face as unreadable as ever.
"To find her." His reply was brief, and in the next instant, his figure vanished.
Jingliu stood silent for a moment before murmuring, "How… cunning." Then she resumed her walk.
——
Arriving at Cloudford, Karl once again slipped out of a container and landed. His eyes quickly caught sight of the scene before him.
"Kafka, Tingyun, Caelus, March, and Welt Yang… looks like the battle's about to start."
Kafka lunged, her crimson katana cutting down toward March—but Caelus swung his bat, blocking the strike. A spike of black energy shot toward him, forcing Kafka to twist her body midair. Her blade dissolved into molten fireflies, reforming into a sleek gun.
"UZ."
She pulled the trigger. Bullets streamed out like rain—but froze midair, hovering as if time itself had stopped.
"Thanks, Mr. Yang!" March shouted, drawing her bow. An ice arrow took shape, flying straight at Kafka. The woman twisted again, dodging easily.
"Caelus, now!" March yelled.
Already behind her, Caelus swung down with his bat—
BAM!
Kafka blocked with her gun, but the sheer force sent her crashing into the ground. She rose unharmed, not even dust marring her clothes. With a whisper, four Mara-Struck Cloud Knights materialized at her side.
"Tch, using monsters to stall us? How typical." March loosed another arrow at the summoned foes.
"What's wrong, sweetie? Getting tired?" Kafka mocked, a sly smile tugging her lips. March grit her teeth, but couldn't answer.
"Miss Tingyun, look out!" March cried as the Mara-Struck knights lunged.
Before she could fire, a golden spear suddenly skewered one. No revival. No resistance. It was simply gone.
Then, without motion or sound, the spear appeared again—impaling the rest of the Mara-Struck knights all at once.
"Oh my… this wasn't part of the script." Kafka's eyes narrowed as she watched the spear hang in the aftermath. A sigh slipped out, helpless and weary.
Meanwhile, (?)Tingyun's gaze was fixed on the weapon. Slowly, almost entranced, she stepped closer, trailing her fingers along the shaft.
"What a beautiful spear… It's radiating with something." Her voice trembled as she grasped the Longinuslanze Testament, shivering at the touch.
Hidden in the distance, Karl clenched his fists. He couldn't recall the spear—not with (?)Tingyun's bright, eager eyes locked onto it. Despite knowing that Phantylia wore her body like a mask.
"How beautiful you are, Tingyun… If only that wretched abomination hadn't stolen you away from me…"
With that, he turned around and left, recalling the golden spear, much to (?) Tingyun and the others surprises.
"What the heck was that?!" March's eyes widened, still staring at the golden spear lodged into the Mara-Struck's core.
"That was… cool. Way cooler than my bat…" Caelus muttered, lowering his weapon with a pout, as if genuinely mourning its lack of flair.
"Kafka, surrender now. You're surrounded." Welt's voice was steady, his grip firm on his cane.
But Kafka only tilted her head and raised a hand mid-air, feigning surrender. "Such a shame. That lance wasn't part of the script. Still, everything proceeds just as Elio foresaw."
Before anyone could react, she pulled the trigger. A storm of bullets erupted—yet in an instant, time slowed to a crawl. The air shimmered pink, and a figure emerged within the frozen hail of lead, walking gracefully across suspended bullets as if they were stepping stones.
"Rudimentary. Every move you make has already been foreseen by Omniscia." With calm precision, the figure deflected the storm, redirecting the barrage until time snapped back to normal. The bullets clashed harmlessly in mid-air, bursting into sparks as the woman landed.
"Divination Master, Fu Xuan. I'll be taking custody of the prisoner." Her tone left no room for argument.
Kafka only smirked, holstering her gun before letting it dissolve into motes of light. She raised her hands in mock surrender. "Well then… I suppose the stage ends here."
---
Exalting Sanctum –
At the same time, Karl appeared within the Exalting Sanctum, leaning on the railing as the golden lance shimmered faintly at his side. He watched the city unfold around him, citizens unaware of the storm brewing.
"Seriously… what happened to me?" he muttered, caressing the spear. "Acting like some mastermind who doesn't even know what he's doing."
His gaze snapped upward as the sky dimmed. Four Cloud Knights, writhing in agony, were carried into the plaza, their cries tearing through the air as they clutched their heads. In seconds, one convulsed and transformed into a Mara-Struck, sparking chaos among the citizens.
Perfect timing—the next group arrived: Tingyun, Welt, Caelus, and March.
Before they could move, a small figure darted ahead. A child with pale blue hair, a single horn on her forehead, and a dragon tail trailing behind. She spun in midair, tail whipping across the Mara-Struck with surprising force before shouting:
"Quick! Hand him the medicine! And restrain him—"
She froze as a towering Mara-Struck rose before her, shadow falling over her tiny frame.
"Uh… I mean, make THEM restrain…" she corrected hastily, ducking as a massive blade swung down where she stood.
Another knight lunged, its sword whistling toward her head—but the strike was deflected by the crack of a bat.
"Bang!" Caelus barked as the blow ricocheted away, March following up with a perfectly loosed ice arrow to hold the other knight back.
"Wait, don't kill them!" the dragon girl shouted. "Restrain them!"
March and Caelus exchanged looks, then nodded. Working together, they forced the Mara-Struck into a vulnerable position as the child sprinkled a glowing medicine over them.
"There. That should restrain them for now." She exhaled in relief, brushing her forehead dramatically before turning to her rescuers. "Thanks, Big Brother, Big Sis. You're real lifesavers."
"Miss Bailu, are you hurt?!" a girl from the crowd cried, rushing toward her.
"I'm fine," Bailu grinned, tail swishing. "Thanks to Big Bro and Big Sis here." She looked up at Caelus and March, eyes sparkling.
"Benefactors, are you okay?" Tingyun's familiar voice chimed as she appeared behind them, Welt in tow, his calm eyes fixed on the restrained Mara-Struck.
—---------
Looking down from above, Karl studied them for a moment. He let go of the railing and stepped back into the shadows, disappearing without a sound.
The plot continued to unfold below, yet Karl merely observed, letting the story play out at its own pace without interfering.
Before long, he arrived at another part of Cloudford. There, Jingliu stood still, facing the horizon beyond the city. Though blindfolded, her presence was unwavering.
"You've come again," Jingliu said flatly, not even turning her head.
"How do you always know that? Do you have another eye in the back of your head or something?" Karl retorted, leaning against the railing to share her view of the horizon.
"Like I said before—you're simply too noticeable." Her gloved fingers brushed along the cold railing as the breeze passed, their hair stirring with it.
"Vague as ever. 'Too noticeable,' yet you never explain how." Karl grumbled, shifting his gaze from the horizon back to her.
A pause lingered between them, until Karl suddenly spoke.
"...Hey. Let's fight."
The abrupt change made Jingliu turn sharply toward him.
"Fight? And what makes you think you're capable of challenging me?"
Before Karl could respond, a chill crept across his neck. Something sharp pressed against his skin. He glanced back and saw them—dozens of ice swords suspended in the air, all aimed at his throat.
"If you cannot even sense this attack," Jingliu said without emotion, "then what makes you believe you could withstand me in battle?"
Karl exhaled softly, a wry smile on his lips. "You truly are dangerous… as expected of the Sword Champion of Xianzhou."
She didn't confirm, nor deny—merely stood in silence.
"What now?" Karl asked. "Will you just wait for them to arrive and deal with the Stellaron crisis before you step into the light?"
The swords dissolved into mist, fading into the breeze. Jingliu gave no answer.
Seeing her silence, Karl took a slow step back. Without another word, he turned and walked deeper into Cloudford, vanishing into the shadows once more.
As Karl's steps carried him deeper into the maze of Cloudford, the air grew heavy with unease. Shadows moved between the crates and steel, not like common smugglers or mara-struck soldiers—but organized, cloaked figures. Their whispers carried the cadence of a chant, steady and purposeful.
"The Sanctus Disciples…" Karl muttered, his voice low as his hand brushed the air. In an instant, the Longinuslanze Testament materialized, its golden edge gleaming faintly against the dim light.
The Disciples were gathered around a docked Starskiff, hands pressed against its hull, glyphs glowing faint green as they attempted to weave Abundance's blessing into its frame. Their intention was clear: turn the ship into another vessel of corruption.
One of them noticed Karl.
"Another stray in our path. Leave, mortal, and perhaps Yaoshi's grace will spare you."
Karl's steps echoed against the steel flooring, steady, unshaken.
"Grace? You call that abomination's curse grace?" His spear shifted into position, its golden aura cracking the silence around them. "Tell me… do you even remember the people you once were?"
The Disciples hissed, their bodies warping as veins glowed like sickly roots beneath their skin. Weapons made of flesh and marrow sprouted from their arms as they charged.
Karl didn't flinch. His grip tightened, and with a single swing, the Longinuslanze Testament split the air. Space itself shuddered, and in the blink of an eye, one of the Disciples was gone—erased, not slain.
The others froze in disbelief.
"What—what kind of weapon is that?!"
Karl's eyes hardened.
"The kind that leaves nothing behind for Yaoshi to reclaim."
He spun the spear once, the sound like steel grinding against thunder. "Come, disciples of false eternity. If you wish to spread your corruption here, you'll have to go through me."
Karl danced between their movements, the Longinuslanze Testament cutting through the air without effort. One disciple lunged—gone. Another raised a wall of glyphs, runes flaring into a hardened barrier—yet the spear slid through as though nothing was there.
No screams. No tearing of flesh. No echo of steel clashing against steel.
Each strike was simple, final, absolute. The spear stabbed, and existence itself refused to acknowledge what had been struck.
By the time Karl lowered the weapon, nothing remained. Not ash. Not blood. Not even dust.
"The deaths you've caused to others…" Karl muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing as the spear dissolved into golden particles, "have now finally bitten you back."
Before he could turn, a calm voice drifted behind him.
"Not bad. Your spear truly knows no bounds. Tell me—what kind of power does it hold?" Jingliu stood there, her blindfold catching the faint light.
Karl didn't look back. "This spear… try guessing it." The Testament vanished, leaving only silence.
Jingliu tilted her head slightly. "How intriguing." She stepped past him without another word, the air chilling in her wake.
Karl exhaled once, then followed, the two slipping back into their chosen shadows as if the encounter had never happened.
—-----
A/n: Anyway, the reason I introduced Jingliu this early was… secret~, just kidding. I just want to cover up this chapter since I was only narrating the events of Xianzhou Loufu and a little dialogue, but worry not, I'll do a full dive dialogue in the next chapters which is March, Caelus, and Welt Yang. And that's all, peace-peace! (◕∆◕✿)