"You—where did you learn your Edge of Taixuan?"
After watching Sushang finish demonstrating a clumsy set of sword techniques, Fu Hua looked somewhat astonished.
"My mother taught me!!"
Sushang replied immediately.
"Hm? Let me see your sword."
Fu Hua took Sushang's greatsword with one hand, gently stroking the blade as she examined it carefully.
"The Xuanyuan Sword... So it really is this one."
"How did it end up drifting into that world...?"
She gave Sushang a thorough look.
As the creator of the Edge of Taixuan, Fu Hua naturally knew her own disciples like the back of her hand.
Back in the day, when she founded her sect on Mount Taixuan, she had only accepted a small number of disciples. After arriving in the Starsea Empire, she merely taught Kanae, Akame, Kurome, and other ordinary people some basic swordsmanship.
There were also little lolis who came out of curiosity to practice swordplay and exercise. She never turned anyone away.
In her eyes, Sushang was basically a wild disciple who had grown straight out of the soil. Unfortunately, her level was a bit lacking.
"You recognize this sword? It's a family heirloom in my household. It should have quite a history. My mother can wield it effortlessly with one hand, but I can barely hold it steady even with both hands. Sigh..."
Seeing Fu Hua continue to observe the Xuanyuan Sword, Sushang leaned closer and added.
"You've only learned two of the Five Aggregates of Taixuan. You haven't even mastered the Form Aggregate properly. Of course it feels heavy in your hands."
Fu Hua casually swung the Xuanyuan Sword a few times. The feel was exactly the same as when she used it in the past.
"To fully command this sword, you must grasp the Intent Aggregate."
"Eh? You even know that?"
Sushang grew even more curious about Fu Hua.
"My mother said something similar too... that the Heart Aggregate is the foundation of martial arts... Only when one refines the mind and breath into the formless can one understand, can understand... understand what was it again...?"
She began reciting haltingly, unable to remember clearly, scratching her head anxiously.
"A sword is merely an external reliance. Grass, wood, stone, bamboo—all can serve as a sword. When you strike, you need not cling to the shape of a blade. Only upon reaching such a realm can one be said to have achieved mastery in swordsmanship."
Fu Hua sighed and completed the thought.
"Oh! Right! That's it!!"
Sushang clapped her hands.
"Miss Tingyun said the Starsea Empire is full of hidden talents. I followed her around and saw all those huge buildings and giant ships, but I couldn't make sense of any of it... I didn't expect to meet a true expert here instead?!"
She had toured several worlds with Tingyun, visiting the Starsea Empire's advanced technologies and listening in confusion the entire time.
Upon arriving at Mount Taixuan and seeing familiar sword techniques again, she felt an unexpected sense of closeness.
"Big sister, why do you know so much about the Edge of Taixuan? It's like you've mastered everything. Which master did you learn from? You're amazing..."
Sushang leaned in to ask.
"Ah? ..."
Pfft—
The girls practicing nearby were momentarily stunned before nearly laughing themselves to death.
Fu Hua held it in for quite a while, momentarily at a loss for words.
"This set of martial arts was created by me. What do you mean, why do I know so much about it??!"
"Eh??!"
...
Half an hour later.
"Ehhhhhh??!"
"So the Edge of Taixuan was actually created by Fu Hua?!"
Sushang looked as if she had just heard earth-shattering news.
The sword art passed down in her family had actually been created by another immortal of Shenzhou.
"Th-That can't be right. You look so young. How could that be?"
She carefully examined Fu Hua again. Clad in Yunmo Danxin attire, she truly did carry the bearing of a transcendent master.
"Fu Hua is fifty thousand years old this year, thank you very much."
"Eh eh eh?!"
Sushang was even more shocked.
Seeing that no one around seemed to be joking, she began counting on her fingers.
Unfortunately, a span of fifty thousand years was far too long. She wasn't particularly knowledgeable about history either, and soon grew dizzy.
"If Fu Hua is from fifty thousand years ago, then what should I call her? Master? Grandmaster—no, that's not right. What do you call your grandmaster's master again...?"
Everyone looked at the academically challenged girl in silence.
"But why would Shenzhou's sword art spread to the Xianzhou?"
Sushang voiced a soul-deep question.
"..."
Fu Hua rubbed her forehead.
She didn't quite know how to answer that either.
However, according to what Setsuna had mentioned, it wasn't unusual for counterparts to exist across different worlds. There was no need to dwell too much on it.
After a bit of commotion, Mount Taixuan finally quieted down.
"This junior Sushang pays respects to Grandmaster!!!"
After confirming Fu Hua's identity, Sushang immediately bowed.
Thump thump thump she was about to kowtow repeatedly.
"Rise. There is no need for such formalities."
Fu Hua found Sushang somewhat rash, though her talent and foundation were not bad.
As for that sword technique where she summoned a hen, who knew where she had learned it from. It was probably some strange move she had comprehended on her own.
"If you have time, you may stay on Mount Taixuan for a few days. I can give you some guidance."
"Mm... Learning the Heart, Form, Intent, and Soul Aggregates should not be difficult for you. As for whether you can grasp the Spirit Aggregate, that will depend on your own fortune."
Fu Hua felt that letting such a wild disciple wander outside was somewhat damaging to the reputation of the Taixuan Sword Sect.
It would be better to keep her on Mount Taixuan and train her properly first.
"Thank you, Grandmaster!!!"
Sushang was overjoyed.
The move Fu Hua had demonstrated earlier—Taixuan Eminence—had been nothing short of divine.
If she could learn even a fraction of that from an immortal, she might become a legendary figure in the history of the Cloud Knights, bringing her one step closer to her dream.
Besides, she couldn't understand the Starsea Empire's high technology anyway. She might as well learn something practical.
Without much effort, Sushang joined the group training under Fu Hua.
"Your foundation is too poor. First go and master the Form Aggregate thoroughly before considering anything further."
"Mm... Go train with them for now."
Fu Hua pointed toward a group of little lolis.
Akame, Kanae, and the others had studied under her for a long time. Quite a few of them had already grasped the Spirit Aggregate.
In her eyes, Sushang's level was about that of the amateur group.
"Eh? Alright... Isn't this bullying children...?"
Sushang hugged her greatsword and shuffled over to join the lolis who were there mainly for physical training.
"Forget it, forget it. Mother taught me to seek instruction humbly and never grow arrogant..."
She quickly discovered that even among this so-called amateur group of lolis, she was still the weakest on the entire mountain.
Every day before dawn, Fu Hua would drag her out of bed to practice swordsmanship, and she would be thoroughly beaten by her senior sisters.
On the first day, Sushang was brimming with energy. "One day, I'll become an expert like the Immortal!"
Smack!!
On the training ground, Fu Hua couldn't even be bothered to pick up a sword. With a casual wave, she slammed Sushang against the wall using sword energy.
"To practice the Edge of Taixuan, one's heart must be as still as water. Remember—never be impetuous, and never rush for quick results."
On the second day: "Reaching Akame's level would be good enough!"
Bang, smack—
After two moves, Akame knelt beside the unconscious Sushang. "Sushang, wake up! Sushang? Did I hit too hard? I'm sorryyyyy—"
On the third day, Sushang developed a clear understanding of herself:
"If I can beat the amateur lolis, that's a success!"
The tiny bit of swordsmanship she had mastered was nothing compared to the senior sisters who had personally inherited Fu Hua's teachings in the Starsea Empire and undergone super transformation surgery and genetic ascension.
Though the training was grueling, being able to learn genuine skills from her grandmaster felt like a blessing to the girl.
However, Taixuan Eminence was ever-changing and profound beyond measure. To master it completely—who knew how many years that would take?
"Um... may this disciple ask—how far must one train in the Edge of Taixuan to be considered graduated?"
Taking advantage of a brief pause, Sushang cautiously sought guidance from Fu Hua.
"..."
"Train until you can use sword energy to manifest a true phoenix!!!"
"And that move of yours—'Phoenix, manifest'—do not use it again until your swordsmanship reaches true mastery! Lest you tarnish the reputation of the Taixuan lineage."