Check out my new translation!
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"That's because the concept is incomplete."
Sylvester said calmly, "I told you when you first obtained those Curios—the conceptual power inside them is extremely limited. Against ordinary weapons, of course it works. But if you face another Curio that also contains conceptual power, its effect will be easily suppressed."
He gestured toward Yanqing and Yunli. "Take you two for example. You probably think the reason the Massacre Ruler and Old Mettle can't activate their conceptual powers against each other is that their concepts happen to cancel out. But in truth, it's because the incomplete conceptual fragments negate one another."
"This only happens when conceptual power is incomplete. If you possessed complete conceptual power, both 'Severing All Things' and 'Absolute Defense' would activate without fail. And the collision of concepts on that level would shake the cosmos—it would never simply cancel out."
Here, he paused and cleared his throat. "Ahem, I digressed. In short, incomplete conceptual power isn't like cutting a continuous piece from a complete version. It's more like picking a few scattered phrases out of a few ten-thousand words long thesis."
"Though fragmented, the power's grade is still high. Ordinary weapons naturally can't compare. But because it's so fragmented, how could you possibly understand it clearly enough to put into words?"
"The combination of the [Hand of Deconstruction] and the Synesthesia Beacon only made you accidentally learn how to use these conceptual fragments."
"So that's how it is!"
The group exclaimed in unison.
Wasn't this like the saying "the eyes understand but the hands don't"—except in reverse?
Yanqing looked at the crystal hand-bone Stelle was holding. Instead of lamenting that it couldn't help him improve further, he sincerely praised it. "Good thing we have the [Hand of Deconstruction]. Otherwise, even if the fragments were turned into the written language of the Aeons and placed in front of us, we probably wouldn't understand a single bit—let alone use it."
Yunli said, "Little March, you really did succeed. The failure to understand is our own problem."
Although the others had already accepted it, March 7th still felt burdened. "I'm sorry I couldn't help my two teachers comprehend conceptual power."
A hand rested on her shoulder. March 7th turned to see that it was Stelle.
Shaking her head, Stelle said, "March, no one could do it in this situation. Besides, leaking the secrets of conceptual power might not be a good thing. You don't need to blame yourself."
"That's right. The Trailblazer is correct. If the Xianzhou could master conceptual power, I'd be delighted—but Miss March, that responsibility has nothing to do with you," Yanqing echoed Stelle's words, comforting her.
Yunli walked to her disciple. "Little March, what you should be worrying about now is whether you can still project the Massacre Ruler and Old Mettle."
"Oh right!"
March 7th snapped to attention.
That was the entire reason she analyzed the Curios!
"Master Yanqing, I'll make a twin brother for the Massacre Ruler right now."
Old Mettle was fine too, but the mishap during analysis made her realize she simply couldn't handle a sword that heavy.
Compared to that, the Massacre Ruler was also a heavy blade—but far easier to wield.
Yanqing smiled faintly after hearing her. Stroking the edge of the blade, he said, "What do you think? Happy?"
The sword vibrated with a faint hum. Yanqing sensed its will and shook his head.
The Massacre Ruler didn't understand what Yanqing meant. Brothers? Was that something like a master-servant relationship?
While the two communicated, March 7th had already begun working in a flurry.
She closed her eyes, drawing upon the information of her projection ability.
Suddenly, she opened them. Her hands swept outward, then clasped before her.
"Come forth, sword!"
She called softly. Path energy gathered in her hands—and was immediately transformed by some strange force into tangible particles.
Countless micro-particles leapt between her palms, first forming small pieces, then larger ones, and finally a complete sword hilt.
Beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
The projection continued. The outline of the blade slowly manifested. The particles flickered more intensely—the sword grew clearer, the edge more sharply defined.
March 7th felt her Path energy nearly drained, but she forced herself to continue.
The blade finally took shape—but she didn't stop. The projection continued.
Because the sword-soul projection wasn't complete yet. Without it, this would be nothing but a strong sword—nowhere near conceptual power.
But in the next moment, she felt her life force begin to weaken.
Not good!
March 7th was unwilling, but she knew what this meant—Sylvester had warned them. The extraction of life force had begun!
"Ugh!" She groaned softly and forcibly terminated the projection.
The half-finished Massacre Ruler slipped from her hands and clattered loudly to the floor. Her body, losing support, collapsed backward.
"March!"
They had been watching her closely. The group rushed forward and caught her in time.
"It still doesn't work…"
March 7th couldn't help feeling crushed.
If she couldn't even replicate purple-grade Curios, and had to use blue-grade weapons instead, then her combat improvement would be extremely limited.
But even worse—the final sword-soul projection consumed more power than the entire sword body combined!
Which meant her gold-grade skill: [Unlimited Blade Works] wouldn't function fully until her total Path energy reached at least three times her current capacity.
And when would that be? The year of the monkey?
Having such a powerful skill yet being unable to use it—just thinking about it made her chest tighten.
Even worse… didn't this mean she now had to train every day until her Path energy tripled before she could stop?
Before, she only had to keep going until the end of the combat drill festival. Now she was basically doomed to spend a lifetime clinging to that exoskeleton, helping each other forever?
Noooo!!!
Thinking of this, March 7th felt she might as well not have opened this crate.
I just wanted to slack off a little—how did my schedule get even more packed?
Is there no justice left in this world?!
Seeing her disciple so devastated, and remembering her misfortunes throughout the day, Yunli couldn't bear it anymore.
She said, "Forget it. There's still one last trash can. Open it, then go home and rest for a day."
"Waaah, Master Yunli is the best!" March 7th cheered for her small vacation—then immediately mourned because it was only one day long.
Starting tomorrow, an endless life of training awaited her.
To avoid this fate, she had only one last option.
"One more trash can…"