105. White
Under Cheng Lingshuang's watchful gaze, Yun Ling suffered from insomnia once again. Cheng Lingshuang held Yun Ling in her arms all night.
This time, she held him even tighter, afraid Yun Ling would run away.
Fortunately, today was the agreed-upon time for sword practice. As soon as dawn broke, Yun Ling began practicing the 'Taixu Sword Qi'.
The way of the sword seemed to be a hidden romance in the hearts of every person of Shenzhou, and Yun Ling was no exception.
During their chuunibyou (adolescent delusions of grandeur) phase, many probably dreamed of the unparalleled splendor of "A hall full of flowers intoxicates three thousand guests, a sword's frost chills fourteen continents."
Unfortunately, Honkai energy isn't something everyone can use.
After demonstrating the initial sword form once, a hint of satisfaction flashed in Cheng Lingshuang's eyes.
While not quite reaching the level of the renowned 'Sword God Yun Ling' throughout Shenzhou, he was still considered exceptionally talented.
Today's lesson was still on sword techniques. With the "Swordmanship training experience (Complete)" in Yun Ling's mind and Cheng Lingshuang's personal guidance, Yun Ling continued to improve rapidly.
In fact, sometimes he didn't even need Cheng Lingshuang's reminders; his internal experience would tell his body where things were wrong, where things were awkward, and provide the best adjustment methods.
However, seeing how focused Cheng Lingshuang was, Yun Ling didn't want to disturb her.
For him, all the mental insights and experiences needed to cultivate the "Taixu Sword Qi" were imprinted in his mind along with the "Swordmanship training experience (Complete)."
All he had to do was pick it up and dust it off.
This was originally his; now it was just a re-enactment.
"Yun Ling, are you up so early?" Mei looked at Yun Ling, sweating profusely in the training ground, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, and handed him the towel she had brought.
This was the first time she had seen Yun Ling so focused on something.
Even when he was studying for her date, he hadn't been that diligent (not really).
"Well, strictly speaking, I only have about a month to cultivate 'Taixu Sword Qi.' If I don't learn it completely, there will be three of us coming here, but only two going back."
Yun Ling took the towel Mei handed to him, wiped his sweat, and...hmm, smelled nice.
Just then, Kiana walked over, looking surprisingly energetic.
"Kiana, you can actually get up so early and not be sleepy? That's amazing."
Yun Ling and Mei looked at the spirited Kiana, their voices filled with barely concealed surprise.
"I...I didn't stay up all night!" Kiana said, hands on her hips.
She had promised Yun Ling she would diligently cultivate Taixu Sword Qi, and of course, she had to keep her word!
"You've already fallen far behind. I've already started learning how to transform into sword forms," Yun Ling teased Kiana slightly.
"What?! So fast?! Damn it... I absolutely can't lose to you!" Kiana quickly grabbed her wooden sword and started practicing.
While Kiana wasn't as hardworking as Mei, her talent in swordsmanship was truly remarkable, allowing her to maintain the same training speed as Mei.
Talent is incredibly important, especially for the extremely high-skill-barrier 'Taixu Sword Qi'. Without talent, practicing it is pure torture.
Lin Chaoyu is the best example; after over twenty years of training, she was surpassed by Su Mei, who was more than ten years younger than her...
According to Yun Ling's deduction, Mei would likely find it difficult to reach the 'Divine Essence' realm, meaning the 'Taixu Gui Yi Zhen Jue' ('Void Unity True Technique') wasn't suitable for her.
Of course, this doesn't mean that 'Taixu Sword Qi' and the 'Void Unity True Technique' are the best; only what suits one best is truly the best.
Mei clearly thought the same way, constantly fusing 'Taixu Sword Qi' with her learned 'Hokushin Itto-ryu', advancing along the path she had chosen.
The feeling of his strength rapidly increasing captivated Yun Ling. Although he was still weak, he had plenty of time.
Time always flies when mental focus is concentrated.
And so, the three of them practiced from the first light of dawn until dusk.
Aside from meals and rest, they spent all their time practicing swordsmanship.
"Incredible! Incredible! Kiana didn't even complain of being tired!" Yun Ling exclaimed, as if he had discovered something new.
"Don't underestimate me!" Kiana scoffed.
"By the way, what exactly is that audio recording? I can't understand it at all... but it's definitely quite helpful for sleep." Kiana asked curiously.
Last night, she had slept soundly until morning, something that was rare for her.
"It's hypnosis. Have you ever seen hypnosis? It's about constantly giving you psychological suggestions, and then gradually turning you into..."
Yun Ling narrowed his eyes, his tone subtly malicious, looking at Kiana with a lewd expression.
Mei, her face flushed, suddenly slapped Yun Ling on the head.
"Don't make dirty jokes!"
Kiana looked completely bewildered. What had suddenly turned into a dirty joke?
"That's slander! I meant to say, gradually turning Kiana into a paramecium!" Yun Ling glared at Mei, venting his frustration.
"Is...is that so?" Mei realized she had misunderstood Yun Ling.
"Speaking of which, Mei...you know quite a lot." Yun Ling looked at her teasingly.
Sometimes girls are indeed dirtier than boys.
Mei's face flushed even redder, looking completely flustered.
However, Yun Ling was unaware of the impending doom.
"You...are...the...paramecium!"
Kiana, deeply moved, generously offered him her jade-like foot.
But she clearly lacked Mei's wariness.
In Yun Ling's fleeting glance, he saw something he shouldn't have.
Just then, Yun Ling suddenly made a decision.
Even in death, nailed to a coffin, he would shout from his grave with his decaying vocal cords:
"White...color..."
Kiana belatedly covered her skirt, her face flushed with shame and indignation.
"You should just die already!"
Kiana added another kick.
Ignoring the now-dead Yun Ling, Mei told Kiana that the audio was of the 'Sword Heart Technique'.
『Has everything's trajectory overlapped again?』
『To make you stronger, to make you a more suitable vessel for me.』
『He really went to great lengths.』
The Herrscher of the Void whispered in Kiana's mind.
Kiana ignored her, and the Herrscher of the Void remained unmoved.
She knew Kiana would listen, and she didn't need Kiana to believe her.
All she had to do was plant a seed of doubt and quietly wait for it to grow.
Because once doubt arose, the guilt was already established!
However, she also sensed something amiss, because that 'Sword Heart Technique' was definitely not just a simple improvement in swordsmanship.
It could continuously enhance Kiana's control over Honkai energy.
If that was the case, when Kiana's Sword Heart reached its peak, she might truly lose control of this body!
...