Chapter 268: Can I Improve Even Further?
"Teacher Fu Hua, Little Xuan, you're here! Looks like breakfast is already gone. Should I ask Mei and Seele to make some more for you?"
"No need. I don't actually need to eat. As for this blockhead, she brings her own rations—pickled vegetables and plain steamed buns. It's a bit pitiful and lacks nutrition, but she loves it, so whatever. And one more thing—stop calling me 'Little Xuan'! It's completely disrespectful! Even your dear Sigurd calls me by my full title, Book of Fuxi!"
The Book of Fuxi sighed and shook its head.
Fu Hua's so-called "immortal spring vegetable jar" sounded fancy, but at the end of the day, it was just salted and pickled vegetables. After eating that for hundreds of years, no wonder this wooden-headed woman hadn't gained any weight—in fact, she might've even shrunk a little!
"But you're so small and cute! I think calling you 'Little Xuan' suits you perfectly. It sounds nice and makes us feel close!"
With an innocent smile, Kiana tapped her finger against Book of Fuxi's head.
Book of Fuxi swatted her hand away with a tiny palm and shot her a sidelong glance.
"Don't be fooled by appearances. I've existed for who knows how many times your age."
"Meh, doesn't matter! As long as you're cute, that's all that counts!"
"Tch! You're so unserious! Completely different from that blockhead! But I suppose that's a good thing. If you were like her, that'd be a nightmare—one stubborn blockhead is enough for me to deal with!"
"Actually, Teacher Fu Hua isn't that bad. She's easy to get along with, reliable, and insanely strong."
"That's only because you haven't seen her at her most stubborn."
"Oh? You mean there's a story behind this?"
The two huddled together, chatting away enthusiastically.
Then, a shadow loomed behind them.
"Ahem! Now, while gossiping behind someone's back is already unethical, don't you think talking about them right to their face is just a little bit rude?"
Fu Hua leaned in slightly, giving the two gossiping troublemakers a warm and gentle smile—though the slight twitch in her brow betrayed some hidden emotions.
"Uh? Ahaha~ Teacher Fu Hua, my bad! I won't say anything else!"
Kiana rubbed her head and laughed sheepishly.
Meanwhile, Book of Fuxi simply rolled its eyes, floated onto Fu Hua's head, and calmly sat down—completely unbothered by her so-called 'master's' displeasure.
What a joke. As the real head honcho of Mount Taixuan, why would Book of Fuxi be afraid of Fu Hua? That'd be like a parent fearing their lazy, unemployed daughter. Ridiculous.
"Sigh…"
Fu Hua rolled her eyes upward, only to see two tiny white feet kicking at her forehead.
She let out a helpless sigh.
"So, Teacher Fu Hua, did Kiana actually master it?"
At this moment, Bronya tugged on Fu Hua's sleeve and looked up at her expectantly.
Fu Hua raised her hands, carefully lifting Book of Fuxi off her head while answering,
"She's definitely made progress. Today, she was able to withstand the pressure of the Edge of Taixuan within the consciousness realm and even managed a slight counterattack. However, whether she's truly mastered it… without practical combat, no one can say for sure. From my perspective, she still has a long way to go."
In simpler terms—she hasn't mastered it yet.
Everyone turned to look at Kiana, especially Raiden Mei, who had believed in her completely just moments ago. Her eyes carried a hint of betrayal.
Kiana stuck out her tongue and lightly tapped her head.
"I was just praising Mei for being smart! I never actually said I mastered it, right? Ehehe~ (˘ω˘)!"
"'Ehehe' my foot."
Bronya stood on her tiptoes and lightly smacked Kiana on the head.
Bronya sighed and said,
"Everyone else is just about ready. Now it all depends on whether you, Kiana, can fully master your skills. For the past month, the Herrscher of the Void hasn't made a move, but that won't last much longer. You have to understand, as the Grand Plan unfolds, the situation outside is becoming more and more complex. Leader Welt and the main forces at HQ might be deployed elsewhere at any moment... If my guess is correct, the Herrscher of the Void is waiting for that exact opportunity."
Kiana's expression turned serious as she nodded.
"I understand. She and I share the same origin, so I can more or less guess what she's thinking. First, she'll take the Gem of Plague, then Mei's Herrscher powers, and finally, she'll defeat Uncle Welt. Once she gathers all eight Herrscher abilities, she'll be able to carry out her revenge without any obstacles—that's probably her plan. So, the moment HQ is left vulnerable, that'll be her best chance to strike. No doubt about it."
"Sigh! A strong enemy isn't scary. A strong enemy who is also calm, cautious, and well-prepared—that's the real nightmare," Wendy muttered, crossing her arms with a helpless shake of her head.
After going over their analysis again, Wendy couldn't help but feel this was the harsh reality they faced.
The Herrscher of the Void had likely come into contact with the Puppets during their first battle with the Herrscher of Thousands, but she had probably chosen to stay hidden until she fully grasped the situation.
Then, once she revealed herself, she ruthlessly seized the Herrscher of Thousands' abilities, instantly obtaining the invincible power of immortality. Her decisiveness was outstanding.
Even though she had become undying, she still made the smart choice to retreat when Fu Hua and Durandal appeared, prioritizing stability over reckless battle. Instead, she targeted Wendy and Seele, two Herrscher powers that were isolated in the Theater of Domination—a guaranteed success.
And then, for a whole month, even after securing five Herrscher abilities, she remained silent, waiting patiently for the inevitable moment when HQ would be defenseless.
As Wendy said, they weren't dealing with the reckless, impulsive Sirin from the Battle of Siberia. This was a Herrscher with the same raw potential but now with a rational and strategic mind.
This kind of enemy was truly terrifying.
Everyone's faces turned grim as they each went back to their training, preparing themselves for the inevitable battle.
<+>
After breakfast, Kiana resumed her training, once again facing the Edge of Taixuan's attacks head-on.
That day, she took five direct hits before crawling away like a defeated caterpillar.
"Pfft! This girl… She looks like a total goof, but she's actually pretty tough, huh?"
Sitting on the table across from Fu Hua, the Book of Fuxi chuckled.
Fu Hua nodded slightly, the corners of her lips lifting just a little—before she drifted into thought.
The Book of Fuxi tilted its tiny head.
"You've seemed a bit… distracted these past few days. What's on your mind?"
Fu Hua remained silent for a moment before finally speaking.
"Using the Edge of Taixuan repeatedly—even if it's only the opening stance—has been… tiring. But more than that, I've been wondering… Have I truly reached my limit?"
The Book of Fuxi froze.
Wait, what?
Mei's 'Divine Melody' technique was already pushed to nearly supernatural levels under Fu Hua's mastery. The technique had evolved to the point where it could instantly annihilate a Herrscher.
And that still wasn't enough?
As if reading its thoughts, Fu Hua shook her head.
"The Edge of Taixuan is indeed powerful. But against Finality… What answer can I provide? I still don't know. And even if my techniques are strong, I can only use them two, maybe three times at most before I completely lose consciousness. Everyone else is improving—so what about me? Can I still push myself further? Can I climb to another level? That's what I've been thinking about."
"Hmm… I don't really understand that stuff. But maybe you should ask that mysterious Sigurd boy?"
"He can't help with this. My martial arts and cultivation are beyond his domain. He can heal my body and spirit if I'm severely wounded, but when it comes to improving my skills, he can't do anything. Same goes for Otto. Even if Mei were to be resurrected, it would be the same. This… I must do alone. No one else can help me."
"...So, do you have a plan?"
"Perhaps… the answer lies with Kiana."
"???"
The Book of Fuxi blinked, utterly confused.
<+>
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