The sword qi dispersed.
What remained of the Divine Foresight's training grounds…
Was a disaster.
The stone tiles were split open. Decorative pavilions had collapsed. Even the ornamental rock formations Jing Yuan liked so much were reduced to rubble.
Yet Jing Yuan did not complain.
Because the sword just now—
Was something even he could not fully grasp.
Of course, the garden being destroyed?
That was entirely Yanqing's fault.
After everyone left, restoring it would naturally fall on him.
As for how much of what Evan just displayed that boy could truly digest…
That would depend on Yanqing himself.
Evan slowly withdrew his hand.
He hadn't even drawn a sword.
What he used just now was merely Taixu Sword Qi.
"Yanqing. Did you understand?"
"I've already shown you the complete outline of Taixu Sword Qi."
"But remember."
"Taixu Sword Art is not just about sword moves."
The false pinnacle of Taixu Sword Qi: Taixu Sword God.
The true pinnacle?
Taixu Deception.
In truth, Taixu Sword God's real power lay in the damage it inflicted on the mind.
Though Evan lowered his hand—
Yanqing could still feel a dense, overwhelming sword intent pressing down on him.
That sword just now…
Hadn't struck the ground.
It struck his mind.
"The Five Aggregates of Taixu Sword have been taught to you."
"That last move…"
"Was your final lesson."
"If you still can't claim the title of Sword Champion one day…"
"Then you've failed the blade in your hand."
Evan smiled faintly.
Thinking of the time Yanqing would later have his sword snatched away during the Martial Ceremony—
The image was almost amusing.
Still—
He found both Yanqing and Yunli rather interesting.
Yanqing's sword was a flying sword.
A light sword.
His true strength lay in sword control.
Some even joked that what he used were psychic floating cannons shaped like swords.
As for Yunli—
Her heavy blade relied on overwhelming force.
Once you understood her rhythm, defeating her wasn't impossible.
"Understood, Sir!"
"This time, my sword heart won't break so easily!"
Evan chuckled and ruffled the boy's hair.
Yanqing stepped forward, reluctant.
"Alright, Yanqing," Jing Yuan laughed. "It's not like you won't see them again."
"Speaking of which—where are you heading next?"
"Probably Penacony," Evan shrugged. "That's my guess. Ultimately it's up to the Conductor."
"Penacony…"
Jing Yuan's gaze flickered slightly.
"The next Xianzhou Martial Ceremony will be held on the Luofu."
"If you have time, do attend."
"This boy will represent us."
The Martial Ceremony.
A tradition commemorating the Cloud Knights and the Reignbow Arbiter's stand against the Abundance abominations.
This time—
The Luofu would host.
After the Phantylia crisis, the Luofu needed to prove its strength.
And its stability.
Hidden threats still lingered in the shadows.
Yanqing, however, looked confused.
"General… what Martial Ceremony?"
"You'll know when the time comes," Jing Yuan waved it off with a laugh.
"For now, digest what you've learned."
"And don't embarrass your teacher."
On the Xianzhou, strength determined seniority.
Evan might be young.
But Yanqing had already acknowledged him.
Jarilo-VI
A starship bearing the emblem of the Interastral Peace Corporation slowly descended toward the frozen planet.
The IPC logo gleamed clearly across its hull.
Soon, it landed on the snow-covered surface.
Two employees stepped out—
And instantly shivered.
"Gods, it's freezing!"
"I told you not to take this assignment! You insisted Director Topaz's job was a fast track promotion!"
"My friend in Market Division said this planet should've vanished seven hundred years ago!"
"But it didn't!"
"Look at those statues—aren't those Antimatter Legion soldiers?!"
As they spoke—
A small pink Warp Trotter bounced down the ramp.
Behind it walked a silver-haired girl.
A gemstone at her waist shimmered faintly.
Topaz.
"Director Topaz!"
She stepped onto the frozen ground.
Brows furrowing slightly.
"So this is Jarilo-VI…"
"The hometown of that genius?"
In her hand was a contract.
A seven-hundred-year-old debt agreement.
By all logic, this planet should not even exist anymore.
The Antimatter Legion.
The Stellaron.
Both should have erased it.
Yet recently—
Market Division had reestablished contact.
The IPC's Market Division and Strategic Investment Division had never gotten along particularly well.
Market Division answered to Oswaldo Schneider.
Their task was expansion.
Spreading Qlipoth's influence.
Bringing new worlds into the corporate system.
Strategic Investment, on the other hand—
Had to decide whether those worlds were worth keeping.
Jarilo-VI?
On paper—
A loss.
But it reminded Topaz of her own homeworld.
A poor, declining planet once saved by the IPC.
At a cost.
Her earpiece buzzed.
Aventurine's voice came through.
"You really had to take this job?"
"There's no value here. One genius doesn't change that."
"If you fail, you might even get demoted."
Topaz smiled faintly.
Aventurine calculated everything in terms of value.
Profit.
Return.
"Relax."
"I know what I'm doing."
"You're borrowing my Topaz Stone? Penacony plan?"
"Something like that."
"We'll talk after I finish here."
She ended the call.
And stepped forward.
Jarilo-VI.
Xianzhou Luofu — Starskiff Haven
"Alright, that's enough."
"It's not goodbye forever," March grinned. "Right, Bailu?"
Several familiar faces had come to see them off.
Jing Yuan.
Yanqing.
Yukong.
Bailu.
Bailu looked especially reluctant.
Her freedom had just begun.
But she was still too young to leave.
"Go on, go on," Jing Yuan waved them off. "My training ground isn't even repaired yet."
"The next time we meet—will be at the Martial Ceremony."
"Next time," Evan nodded.
They boarded the skiff to Cloudford.
Cloudford had fully recovered.
Ships and star vessels constantly docked at the Jade Gate.
Security, however, was noticeably tighter.
More Cloud Knights patrolled the area.
After this crisis—
The Luofu would not lower its guard so easily.
Penacony awaited.
And elsewhere—
Topaz had already set foot on Jarilo-VI.
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