Within the Taixu Sword Intent,
the Heart Aggregate was the true entry point.
It was also—
aside from becoming a Sword Deity—
the most difficult Aggregate to master.
The Heart Aggregate was divided into four realms:
Still Water
Dustless
Clear Mirror
Taixu
As for the Sword Heart Mantra—
It wasn't text.
Not scripture.
Just a bizarre, meaningless sequence of sounds.
A total of four hundred and sixty-two syllables.
No written record existed.
Its essence lay in recitation, memorization, and listening—
using sound itself to temper the heart.
When the heart-lake became calm—Still Water.
When the lake froze without impurity—Dustless.
When the ice turned transparent—Clear Mirror.
When heart-qi lost all form—Taixu.
For someone Yanqing's age—
This was the golden period to refine a sword heart.
And Yanqing's sword heart was not a Taixu Sword Heart.
They were entirely different concepts.
"Then… Teacher Evan,"
Yanqing asked curiously,
"how do I train the Taixu Sword Heart?"
"Oh, that?" Evan replied casually.
"Nothing complicated."
"Just shatter your current sword heart again and again
under Emanator-level pressure."
"Do it three hundred and sixty-five times."
"And your sword heart will take shape."
"..."
Yanqing suddenly felt that the moon tonight looked rather nice.
Big.
Round.
Very much like the white jade lion's head in the Divine Foresight Pavilion.
"Teacher Evan… I understand."
"Then let's begin!"
"I can take it—come on!"
"I'm ready!"
"???"
Before Evan could react, Yanqing had already snatched the Xuanyuan Sword from his hand and gripped it tightly.
Instead, Evan stared blankly at the kid.
…What?
This brat—
Does he have some kind of masochistic tendency?!
Thump—!
Good sound.
Which meant a good head.
Yanqing collapsed instantly.
"Jing Yuan," Evan said flatly,
"this kid's got issues."
"Hahahahaha—!"
Jing Yuan laughed loudly as he stepped out from behind Yanqing.
"Now you understand, don't you?"
"But Mr. Evan… this sword art of yours clearly isn't from Jarilo-VI."
Jing Yuan had been observing from the Divine Foresight Pavilion for a while.
After that, he came directly to the Cloud Knight training grounds.
Evan had noticed long ago.
Yanqing hadn't.
Which was why—
when Yanqing tried to stand up for another round—
He was promptly slapped flat by Jing Yuan.
"Accident. Pure accident," Evan said lightly.
"I learned this sword art in a cave on Jarilo-VI. You believe that?"
"Haha. Of course I do."
"Then, if there's a chance—would Mr. Evan be willing to serve as a Cloud Knight instructor?"
"Just teaching Taixu · Form would be enough."
"..."
"Maybe in the future," Evan replied.
[Ding ding ding!]
[Ding ding ding!]
[Congratulations, Host! You have obtained a Gold Exclusive Treasure Chest!]
[Open chest?]
So his guess was right.
Treasure chests were categorized as:
Wooden — resources
Silver — fragments or fusion items
Gold — skills, techniques, equipment
Diamond (Hidden) — Authorities, energy-level powers
Some silver chests were Exclusive.
For example—
the Cloud-Chant Secret Art.
Fuse Bailu + Dan Heng, and it upgraded to gold-tier.
Open chest.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host!]
[You have obtained Yanqing's physique: Sword-Womb Martial Bones]
[Sword-Womb Martial Bones]
[A legendary Xianzhou physique passed down by word of mouth]
[Greatly enhances comprehension and learning speed in martial arts]
[Stored in inventory. Can be fused at any time]
Sword-Womb Martial Bones…
According to the Cloud Knight martial codex—
Controlling six flying swords simultaneously within a single breath, freely retracting them—
A natural sword embryo.
A youth born for the blade.
It suited Yanqing's talent perfectly.
Evan stored it away for now.
He'd fuse it later.
"It's getting late," Evan said.
"Miss March and Miss Stelle should be back already."
"Fu Qing asked me to pass along her thanks for their help."
"Mm. No problem."
"But…" Evan added,
"I really have to complain about your internal traitor problem."
"Be more careful. I'm heading back."
He waved and left the Cloud Knight training grounds.
"…So he already knows who the traitor is,"
Jing Yuan murmured.
"As expected of the All-Knowing Lord's envoy."
He shook his head helplessly, picked up Yanqing, and left as well.
Before long—
The news spread.
Cloud Knight Lieutenant Yanqing was defeated in Changletian
by an outworlder.
All thanks to Jing Yuan's deliberate meddling.
Sword heart, you see—
Break it more often.
You get used to it.
...
At the same time—
A Foxian girl, fan in hand, passed through the area.
Her gaze lingered on the man leaving the training grounds.
"Heehee~"
"What a sturdy Nameless traveler."
"I really should thank you."
"Why not…"
"Become mine?"
Just as she was about to act—
Another figure emerged.
"…Jing Yuan?"
"The Divine Foresight General?"
"Tch—damn it!"
"That Hunt Emanator is everywhere!"
Tingyun felt exhausted.
She had finally slipped in—
Only to hear that the Dan-Ding Commission's mole had been exposed.
Fortunately, it was just a minor pawn.
The real traitor remained hidden.
And from Yukong, Tingyun learned something worse—
Her plan had almost failed.
The advance squad had been wiped out
by the Nameless of the Astral Express.
No wonder she'd received no intel.
And nearly exposed herself.
So it was them.
Tingyun—
No.
Phantylia.
Yes.
The Tingyun before us was none other than
Phantylia the Undying, one of Nanook's Annihilation Lords.
The real Tingyun—
Had already been "picked up" by Ruan Mei
during the period Evan joined the Genius Society.
"Followers of Akivili… how annoying~"
"Still… everything is under my control."
"As long as the Ambrosial Arbor fully revives—"
"I'll obtain a complete body."
"No more relying on these inferior Foxian Abundance husks."
"Foolish Xianzhou natives…"
"How could they ever understand the divine grace of Abundance?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Then—
She followed.
Yichen Inn
Evan returned with skewers from Aurum Alley,
some beef offal from Xuanye Avenue,
and a basket of buns.
Barely enough to fill his stomach.
March 7th and Stelle weren't back yet.
They'd messaged him—
Playing Fight the Landlord with Qingque.
Even dragged Old Yang along.
Playing cards with a former Herrscher proxy?
Qingque was about to lose her pants.
But the moment Evan entered his room—
The uninvited guest arrived.
Too sudden.
A brown-haired Foxian girl with a fluffy tail stood at his door.
"…Wait," Evan said flatly.
"Who are you?"
The girl froze briefly, then smiled.
"This humble one is named Tingyun,
chief representative of the Minghuo Commerce Guild~"
"Oh," Evan cut in coldly.
"So what do you want?"
As if I don't know you.
The real Tingyun's getting remodeled by Space-Rail Orochimaru right now.
Standing near you gives me chills.
Not human.
Phantylia.
An Annihilation Lord under Nanook.
True form—Suiyang.
An energy lifeform.
A ghost of Star Rail.
Just like the Wubbaboos on the Space Station.
And worse—
Among all Annihilation Lords,
she was the most despicable.
Specialty?
Inciting internal collapse.
Splitting civilizations from within.
Which was exactly the fish Jing Yuan wanted to hook.
He'd even warned Yukong.
Wait—
The Sky-Faring Commission…
Also had a mole, didn't it?
...
"Aiya~ such a fierce benefactor~"
"This humble one merely came to thank you
for retrieving our guild's star skiff."
"Were it not for Lady Yukong,
I would still be mourning our fallen members…"
"But I never expected…"
"That my benefactor would treat me so harshly~"
Evan stared at her, expression blank.
Disgusting.
Why does an eighty-thousand-year-old granny insist on acting like an eighteen-year-old?
"Well then~" Tingyun continued sweetly.
"I came only to express my gratitude."
"I even wished to treat you all to a proper meal—"
"Ah—no, no, my mistake."
"To thank you for informing Lady Yukong of the incident."
"But if my benefactor is so wary…"
"Then I shall take my leave."
She turned to go—
Upper body leaning forward.
Feet unmoving.
Rock-solid stance.
Honestly impressive.
Evan didn't stop her.
He watched with interest.
After a long pause—
Tingyun snapped back around, cheeks puffed.
"Hmph! Benefactor!"
"You're truly unromantic."
"If you won't accept my gratitude…"
"How is this humble one supposed to repay your kindness?"
"Perhaps…"
"I could accompany you to rest?"
Evan narrowed his eyes.
Watching Tingyun step toward him—
He suddenly smiled.
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