"What functions does this eye have?"
Keqing peered curiously at Bai Xiao's eyes. "This is the 'Bloodline Power' Ningguang mentioned? How does it compare to Bai Shi's Devil Fruit ability?"
"Bai Xiao's Byakugan grants her a 360-degree field of vision with a range of one kilometer," Ningguang explained calmly before Bai Xiao could speak. "Its other primary effect is x-ray vision. She can easily see through the human body—limbs, bones, meridian points, and even the flow of elemental energy."
"X-ray vision..."
Keqing took a sharp breath.
No wonder Ningguang had ordered her to cloak herself in Electro energy. It was to block that gaze.
"Furthermore, Bai Xiao possesses a new form of energy within her, distinct from the seven elements," Ningguang continued. "This energy is created by fusing physical stamina with mental focus. It requires slow accumulation. The more she has, the stronger the effects."
"However," Ningguang paused thoughtfully, "compared to Bai Shi's Devil Fruit, it is somewhat inferior in raw combat potential."
Bai Shi's Slip-Slip Fruit could make attacks slide off her, manipulate her weight, and even physically alter her appearance—all without needing to refine any "chakra." It was a passive, always-active superpower.
In a direct comparison, the Devil Fruit seemed more immediately powerful.
But the Byakugan had immense strategic value. For reconnaissance, exploration, and investigation, it was unparalleled.
Each had its own strengths.
"I see." Keqing nodded, absorbing the information.
A new energy system?
Although surprising, the current power level seemed low, and Bai Xiao's ability leaned heavily towards support and utility.
"It's incredible that such things can come from a jar," Keqing murmured, her expression grave. "I can't even imagine what might be inside the 'Exquisite Jars' if the 'Normal Jars' contain this level of power."
If common jars dropped Kekkei Genkai and Devil Fruits, the higher-tier jars must hold world-shattering items.
"Didn't you pull a training scroll yourself?" Ningguang raised an eyebrow, recalling Keqing's previous haul. "How is your training progressing?"
"I've grasped the basics," Keqing replied softly, her eyes flashing. "It's a formidable sword technique. The scroll... it's not just about manifesting a sword. It's about transforming into the sword."
Thinking about the Thunder God Sword scroll (or implied technique), Keqing felt a stir of excitement. The depth of the technique went far beyond the surface text.
"I look forward to seeing it," Ningguang smiled. "Once you've mastered it, we should spar. It's been a while, and my skills have grown rusty."
"Agreed." Keqing nodded.
While the two leaders chatted inside...
Outside on the Jade Chamber's terrace.
Bai Wen and Bai Shi were squatting on the ground, huddled over a strange machine. It was the item Bai Wen had pulled from the Jar Shop.
"Bai Wen, what is this thing? Is it fun?" Bai Shi looked at the device with confusion.
Bai Wen had dragged her out here to play with it, but she had no idea what it did.
"It's a cloud-making machine. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm going to show you now," Bai Wen said, fiddling with the controls. "The instructions say we can sculpt clouds into any shape we want. And since we're up here, the clouds around the Jade Chamber are our clay!"
She reached into the machine's holographic interface and "grabbed" a cloud.
The screen displayed a real-time view of the sky around the Jade Chamber. Below lay the sprawling harbor of Liyue; above drifted fluffy white clouds.
As Bai Wen pinched the virtual cloud on the screen, a massive cloud outside the Jade Chamber began to warp.
"Whoa! That's amazing!"
Bai Shi's eyes widened.
Bai Wen was just manipulating a projection, but the physical reality outside was shifting instantly.
"Yeah, it's really fun!" Bai Wen giggled. "You can mold them into anything. Look, I can even use scissors to trim them."
She grabbed several large clouds on the screen and mashed them together.
Her hands worked quickly, kneading the virtual dough. Slowly, a shape began to form. A giant, humanoid figure—a girl doll made of vapor.
Bai Shi watched with fascination.
However...
While the two secretaries played, down in Liyue Harbor, chaos was erupting.
Countless people stopped in the streets, staring up at the sky with dropped jaws.
"Holy crap! What is that?!"
"What the hell?! Why are the clouds gathering like that? They're... they're forming a giant!"
"It looks like a girl? My Archons, what is happening? Why are the clouds turning into a titan? Is it going to fall on us?"
"Are you stupid? Clouds don't fall like rocks."
"It just automatically assembled itself into a giant human! At this point, anything is possible!"
"Is this Liyue for you? Even the sky isn't normal anymore!"
"Honey! Come out and look at the clouds!"
Panic spread like wildfire. One by one, people pointed and screamed.
The sight was terrifyingly surreal. A colossal figure made of white fluff dominated the skyline, looming over the harbor.
"It... it won't crash down, right?" someone asked, voice trembling.
"I... I don't think so?"
"Even if it falls, it's just fog, right? Just normal clouds blown by the wind... that happen to look like a person..."
"Do you believe that yourself?"
Fear gripped the populace. Was this an Adeptus? A monster? An omen?
"Everyone, please remain calm! This is just a natural phenomenon! Do not panic!"
"Please disperse! Do not block the streets!"
The Millelith patrolled frantically, trying to maintain order, though they looked just as confused as the civilians.
Hu Tao, having just left Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and Beidou, walking the streets, both stopped to stare.
They looked up at the expanding Cloud Giant with utter bewilderment.
Especially Beidou. She felt like she had stepped into a different dimension. I was only gone for a little while... since when did Liyue's sky do this?
Xiangling and the crew stood beside her, dumbfounded.
At the Jar Shop.
Felix stood at the door, leaning against the frame. He looked up at the colossal cloud figure and listened to the distant screams of panic.
His mouth twitched.
That thing... isn't that the gadget Bai Wen pulled?
Did those girls not look outside while they were playing with it?
Meanwhile, high above.
A paper crane flew frantically from the ground, zipping up to the Jade Chamber's terrace and landing in front of Bai Wen.
Since Bai Wen's hands were occupied with the clouds, Bai Shi opened the message.
"Bai Wen! Stop playing!"
Bai Shi read the note and swallowed hard. "The cloud you're making... everyone in Liyue can see it. You've caused a city-wide panic."
Bai Wen: "???"
She froze.
Slowly, her eyes widened. She turned her head and looked over the railing of the terrace.
There, floating in the distance, was a cloud giant so massive its head scraped the upper atmosphere.
She looked down at the palm-sized cloud model in her hand.
She looked back at the titan outside.
She was stunned.
She knew she was manipulating the clouds, but she hadn't realized the scale. The little doll in her hand was a kaiju in reality.
And she had terrified the entire city?
I'm dead. I'm so dead.
She grabbed the paper crane and read the message herself. Her face went pale.
Without hesitation, she crushed the cloud doll in the machine.
Poof.
In the sky above Liyue, the massive Cloud Giant instantly disintegrated, scattering into harmless wisps of vapor.
"Look! It's gone!"
"It just... vanished? What on earth was that?"
"I don't know, but today has been too much. First the soul magic, now cloud giants..."
"Phew. It's gone. I was really scared it would stomp on us."
"Good thing I took a picture with my Kamera. No one would believe me otherwise."
"Bro, sell me a copy! I forgot to take one!"
The tension in the streets evaporated along with the cloud. People sighed in relief, though the murmurs of confusion continued.
It seemed to be over. Just a freak weather event.
Phew.
On the Jade Chamber terrace, Bai Wen slumped against the railing.
It was gone. The panic should subside now.
She didn't waste a second. She grabbed the machine and sprinted inside. She had to confess to Lady Ningguang immediately.
Bai Shi followed close behind.
"What's wrong?"
Inside the chamber, Ningguang paused her conversation with Keqing. Seeing Bai Wen rush in, flushed and panting, she frowned.
Her personal secretary was rarely this flustered. Had something happened in the city?
Her eyes landed on the machine in Bai Wen's hands. She recognized it instantly—the item from the Jar Shop.
"Lady Ningguang... I... I messed up."
Bai Wen ran up to her and bowed her head low, clutching the machine like a guilty child.
"I... I accidentally caused a panic across the entire city."
Ningguang: "???"
Keqing: "???"
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