It wasn't that Jiang Yan truly wanted to witness Raiden Ei's swordsmanship.
Rather—
since they were already fighting,
He intended to end it in one go and completely convince them.
If Ei lost just like this, she would definitely be unwilling to accept it.
But if she used Musou no Hitachi and still lost to him—
then that defeat would be absolute.
And afterward, negotiations would become far easier.
After all—
"Your strongest warrior, Raiden Ei, has already lost to me."
"What exactly does Inazuma have that can resist Liyue?"
Keh! Keh! Keh!!
Raiden Ei rose to her feet.
With a crack of thunder, her figure shot into the sky.
"This place isn't suitable for battle. Follow me to the sea!"
Her voice echoed from high above.
If she unleashed Musou no Hitachi directly over Narukami Island, the citizens would panic, and the island itself would suffer irreparable damage.
Thus, Ei intended to move the battlefield to open waters.
Jiang Yan had no objections.
With a soft tap of his foot, he lifted into the air and pursued her.
Kitsune Saiguu and Raiden Makoto exchanged helpless looks, then followed as well.
Out at sea, Jiang Yan descended lightly onto the surface of the water.
Facing Ei, who stood atop the waves with a solemn expression, he smiled faintly.
"Here, then?"
Ei nodded, her face stern.
"This technique is powerful.
It contains the pinnacle of my martial arts."
"Are you certain you want me to attack first?"
Jiang Yan nodded casually.
"Mhm, mhm. Go ahead."
His airy, unconcerned attitude instantly stirred irritation within Ei.
Daring to underestimate her?
Unforgivable!
The sky churned as storm clouds gathered.
Her pupils glowed bright violet, and behind her, the Musou Isshin manifested.
She soared higher, raising her naginata above her head.
And then—
The sky fractured.
A colossal skeletal arm emerged from the heavens, gripping a massive blade mid-swing.
"Oho… this looks like something my normal state can't tank…"
Jiang Yan sighed helplessly and shut his eyes.
At that moment, Raiden Makoto and Kitsune Saiguu finally reached the scene.
"Well then, Raiden Ei—
let me show you what a real gap looks like."
His calm voice reached not only Makoto and Saiguu—
but Ei as well.
"No thoughts—
Nothingness!"
Ei roared.
Her naginata came crashing down.
From above, the giant blade swung with apocalyptic force toward Jiang Yan.
At the same moment, radiant seven-colored light began rising from Jiang Yan's body.
His eyes snapped open—
In an instant, it was as though countless stars condensed within his gaze, their brilliance bursting forth.
The seven-colored radiance surged around him, then flowed back into his body.
Space itself trembled in his presence.
"How… how is this possible?!"
Makoto and Saiguu trembled.
They had never imagined Jiang Yan, when fully releasing his power, would be this terrifying.
Ei stared down from above, her pupils shaking violently.
With Jiang Yan entering the Binary Star State, she could clearly feel—
That unfathomable power.
For the first time, Raiden Makoto was truly frightened.
If earlier, she had believed Ei might win using Musou no Hitachi—
Then the Jiang Yan before her now—
shrouded in seven-colored brilliance—
carried a pressure she had only ever felt from one being:
The Sustainer of Heavenly Principles.
No—
Even more terrifying than that.
If the battle continued, Ei would absolutely lose.
And perhaps—
She would die.
"No! Stop! Don't fight anymore!!"
Makoto shouted desperately—
But the two fighters on the battlefield could no longer hear her.
Ei's strike had already descended.
Jiang Yan exhaled softly.
His right hand closed—
forming a fist.
"Starbreaker."
He threw a single punch—
blinding light exploding from it—
colliding head-on with the massive descending blade.
BOOM!!!
The impact rippled across the sea.
Waves surged violently, winds howled, and the air itself shook.
In an instant, the giant blade shattered.
The fist's radiance swallowed Raiden Ei.
"Ei!!"
Makoto cried out, about to rush forward—
"Relax. I didn't use full strength."
Jiang Yan withdrew his fist.
"I only taught her a lesson."
Makoto froze.
As the light dissipated, Ei—charred and smoking—fell from the sky.
Kitsune Saiguu hurriedly caught her midair.
"Ai… I told you, I really didn't want to fight."
Jiang Yan sighed helplessly.
The seven-colored glow faded from his body as he returned to normal.
"Thank you, Lord Heavenly Authority, for sparing her life."
Makoto bowed deeply in gratitude.
Had Jiang Yan not held back, Ei would already be dead.
Jiang Yan waved his hand.
"Take your sister back for treatment.
This time… I believe she'll remember it well."
Makoto nodded firmly.
Together with Saiguu, she carried Ei back toward Narukami Island.
Jiang Yan lingered a moment, then glanced up at the sky with a faint smile.
Interesting.
Someone up there… seemed startled.
Sky Island
"Abnormal perception detected!!"
"This individual… is not simple!!"
"Cannot be purged!!"
"He is powerful!"
The four Sustainers watched the violently trembling wall of the world below, staring in silence at the sea where Jiang Yan stood.
The central figure did not open their eyes.
After a long time, they finally spoke:
"He bears no hostility toward us."
"Observe quietly."
"Perhaps… he may be better suited than we are… to approach that thing…"
The others fell silent.
The central figure said no more.
Sky Island sank once again into absolute stillness.
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