Zhou Minhao didn't enter the vault with him—he claimed he lacked the clearance—so he waited outside while Emiya Shirou explored the storage chambers.
As Shirou saw it, the Zhou family's vault wasn't exactly a gleaming treasure trove. It felt quiet, even a little sparse. Some shelves were empty, suggesting that not all artifacts were deemed worthy of being sealed and preserved.
Which worked perfectly fine for him. Today, Shirou wasn't here for fragile antiques with appreciating value—he was here for legendary swords.
"Are they sorted by dynasty?"
He noticed the shelves had ancient text labels corresponding to different historical periods. Each item had a yellowed booklet detailing its background. The one Shirou picked up recounted how a master swordsmith of the Spring and Autumn period, Ou Yezi, once split Mount Ci, channeled water to a forge, and aligned seven pools in the shape of the Big Dipper constellation. Using that water as a medium, he forged a weapon according to celestial patterns—a masterwork artifact formation.
Upon completion, the sword emitted an aura like standing on a mountaintop gazing into a deep abyss. It seemed like a dragon coiled within the blade. Hence, the sword was named Longyuan (Dragon Abyss)—and due to its seven-star pattern on the blade, it was also known as Seven Star Longyuan. In later dynasties, during the Tang era, Emperor Li Yuan wielded it, and for taboos' sake, it was renamed Longquan.
Because the Zhou family had inherited artifacts from the Tang dynasty, this sword eventually became part of their collection.
"It's really a blade by Master Ou Yezi…"
He was one of the most legendary smiths in Chinese history. Shirou immediately turned his focus to the sword beside him. It was of balanced length and weight. At the hilt was a circular ornament; the blade tapered gradually to a razor-sharp tip.
After witnessing divine constructs like the Dragon Severing Platform, Shirou's standards had risen. Still, this Longyuan sword, while not as mystic, was undeniably sharper than any ordinary iron-forged weapon he had strengthened. The seven-star pattern on it shimmered with a dim magical glow—clearly imbued with mystery and function.
He turned his head and saw other shelves nearby—more famous swords from Master Ou Yezi: Tai'e, Chunjun, Chengying...
Amazing. For him, this place was a training paradise.
"Seven Star Longyuan…"
He calmed himself and began with the first blade. He placed his hand on the weapon, muttering his familiar activation phrase:
"Synchronize—Start."
This incantation wasn't just for reinforcement; it served as a trigger for structural analysis. In magecraft, chanting was merely a form of self-suggestion—a personal password to activate processes, like flipping a switch or launching an app.
Immediately, invisible flows of elemental energy began to swirl around the sword. Every detail, every star-marked rune was laid bare before Shirou's "sight." The blade, from a projection-magecraft perspective, fragmented into its conceptual elements, symbols, and components.
It was the same feeling he had when gripping the Dragon Severing Platform: with just a bit of mana, he could seemingly unleash the sword's true power—the force of the Seven Stars.
Shirou was tempted… but no, not here. He focused on training. He completed the analysis of this sword and moved on, studying all the works attributed to Master Ou Yezi before reluctantly leaving the vault.
He resolved to return daily. After all, the more reference material he had, the stronger his projection would become.
In the following days, Emiya Shirou devoted most of his time to projection training.
Since he often visited the Zhou vault, he gradually grew close with Zhou Minhao. Occasionally, the two sparred, and Shirou was surprised—Minhao was well-versed in Bagua Palm and Xingyi Fist, and even knew Tongbei Fist.
Shirou once asked if he practiced Bajiquan.
Minhao admitted honestly: he did not.
Shirou had actually considered martial arts as a viable upgrade path. After all, Kuzuki Souichirou, buffed by Medea, could suppress Artoria, and in the Lostbelt of Qin, Li Shuwen's Bajiquan could threaten even a Beast-type like Koyanskaya.
Clearly, martial arts in the Nasuverse had massive potential—if only he knew how they trained.
While Shirou honed his skills, Wa-zhu was leading a drastically different life—a whirlwind of nonstop work (not that she had feet to begin with...).
With the family's industrial restructuring underway, countless personnel and project decisions awaited her approval. The internal teams, bound by archaic systems, created all kinds of inefficiencies, so she ordered a complete modernization overhaul—from digital records to simplifying official speech. At first, she had to oversee every detail herself, but things had started improving.
Ironically, despite her earlier plans to shop for new clothes or buy a sports car, she hadn't even had time to arrange them. Meanwhile, her staff were now wearing company uniforms and riding in Zhou-family cars.
"…Ugh, I told them a hundred times: stop using archaic phrases! We're going global. Foreigners don't get that ancient lingo—and frankly, most of our own people don't either. How many times do I have to say: in formal settings, you shake hands, you don't bow. If the other party offers a hand and you don't take it, it's just awkward."
Wa-zhu finally dropped by, instantly complaining about her clan.
Shirou chuckled silently. You like talking fancy when you're showing off, too, you know. Out loud, he said, "It'll take time. Just focus on getting the etiquette right for public events. Let them speak however they want privately."
"Hmph! Like I care what they do in private!" Wa-zhu was curled around Shirou's back again, smacking him lightly with her tail to show displeasure.
"…So why am I carrying you again?"
"What, would you prefer someone else carry me?" she asked, voice turning cold.
Shirou coughed. "That's not what I meant. Where are we headed this time? Is it another magic circuit guidance session?"
As usual, they were heading for the great hall. Every time they went there, it meant serious business. While Shirou had been practicing projection, he'd also been assigned as the Zhou family's technical advisor for magecraft cultivation—finally starting his official role as chief technical officer.
But he had warned them: don't expect miracles. Magic circuits vary by individual. Especially for first-generation magi, talent made all the difference.
Shirou himself, being first-gen, was already freakishly gifted. Sure, Tohsaka Rin's magic circuits were even more absurd (100 circuits, all five elements!), but she wasn't first-gen.
Those selected for cultivation were now part of a project team under Shirou. Even Old Tang, who had nothing better to do after quitting StarCraft, joined as his assistant.
As for results? None of them produced magical energy levels that could rival Shirou.
Except Old Tang.
To everyone's shock, his circuits produced absurdly high magic output—borderline monstrous.
(End of Chapter)
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