"It's because I haven't yet met the conditions to use the Wangquan Sword Intent freely that it draws on my vitality or lifespan as its source of energy."
Although the system had noted on the Three Thousand Burning Flame template that it "cannot restore years of life consumed through the use of secret techniques." Ye Xuan didn't believe that note was referring to the Wangquan Sword Intent.
Simply put, Sword Intent was a derivative of the sword itself. It was the manifestation of a sword path and mental strength, a power that belonged entirely to the wielder. How could something like that consume lifespan by nature?
Before comprehending the Wangquan Sword Intent, Ye Xuan's understanding of it had been limited, and he had assumed it must differ fundamentally from the sword intents he knew. But after comprehending it, he realised the Wangquan Sword Intent was no different from any other.
The root of the problem was simply that his body hadn't yet met the conditions for bearing the full weight of using it. If his body were strong enough to absorb everything it demanded, then what was called the "cost" would cease to be relevant at all.
While Ye Xuan was turning this over in his mind, something suddenly caught his attention. His gaze sharpened like a drawn blade toward a spot not far from him.
Above the wall, a head was peeking over the top, watching the courtyard with unconcealed curiosity. It belonged to a girl with a ponytail who appeared to be in her early twenties, her face carrying a youthfulness that hadn't quite left her but with a sly intelligence lurking behind it. Her eyes were enormous. Ye Xuan thought he had only ever seen eyes that large in anime.
She seemed to register his gaze and instinctively turned her head. The moment she realised he was staring straight at her, she ducked down. But almost immediately she felt that made her look like a thief, so she lifted her head back up and waved with a hand that was doing its best to appear casual.
"That, uh... hi."
Her voice was clear, carrying an awkward, tentative quality. Ye Xuan didn't answer. He simply looked at her in silence. Growing uncomfortable under the stare, she quickly launched into an explanation.
"Don't misunderstand. I only came over because the commotion from your place was so loud. I was worried something dangerous was happening, so I came to check. That's all there is to it."
She moved her hands as she spoke, as though the gestures would make her words more convincing.
"And I didn't trespass either. I'm just leaning against the outside of the wall. I'm not actually inside." She pointed to where she was standing. The longer she talked, possibly because she genuinely felt she had done nothing wrong, the more confident her tone became.
"Finished looking?" Ye Xuan said flatly.
"Couldn't really see anything." She replied with a disappointed expression, then perked up again and fixed her eyes on him. "Was that golden light coming from you just now? Since you live here, are you also an ability user cooperating with the Celestial Pivot Bureau? Your ability is incredibly strong. I've never seen anything like it."
"..."
Ye Xuan still didn't answer. He kept looking at her.
"Alright, alright, I won't ask anymore." She quickly raised her right hand, making a surrendering gesture like someone waving a white flag. Her other hand had to stay on the wall, so she couldn't raise both. "If you're fine, I'll head off."
"Oh, right, my name is Lin Miao. I live in Block 15, about four or five houses from here. I've been here a few days already, so I know this place pretty well. If there's anything you want to know, just come and ask me. I'll tell you, my ability is related to cooking, you know. Have you ever watched Food Wars? I—"
"Don't tell strangers about your ability." Ye Xuan cut in. "Also, I'd say my current state isn't quite suitable for a conversation like this. Don't you think?"
Lin Miao blinked, caught off guard by the interruption. She knew you weren't supposed to talk about your ability with strangers, but weren't they both cooperating with the Bureau? Surely that was fine?
But what did he mean by "current state not suitable"? He looked perfectly fine to her.
She tilted her head, and then something seemed to dawn on her. Her eyes went wide.
Only then did she notice that the young man's clothing was in shreds, barely covering him at all.
Perhaps because the Three Thousand Burning Flame had restructured his body, Ye Xuan's physique was immaculate. His muscles weren't excessive, but they carried an unmistakable sense of coiled power. Beneath his broad shoulders, his core was sharply defined, every part of him radiating the impression of explosive force.
Lin Miao's face went red in an instant. Both her hands lost their grip on the wall and she slid down the other side. There was a thud as she hit the ground, followed immediately by a loud "Sorry!" and the rapid sound of footsteps retreating at considerable speed.
"She's in her twenties and that innocent?"
A flicker of bemusement crossed Ye Xuan's eyes. He had said it deliberately to make her feel embarrassed enough to leave, but he hadn't expected quite that level of reaction. Wasn't it usually said that girls caught on faster than boys in situations like this?
Not that he particularly cared. He simply assumed she had probably grown up in a more conservative household.
Still, an ability tied to Food Wars. Was it the God's Tongue? The Cutting Board Cross? Whatever it was, it was almost certainly culinary in nature. And the Celestial Pivot Bureau had brought someone with an ability like that into the fold?
Ye Xuan shook his head without thinking too hard about it. He surveyed the surrounding area, which now looked as though it had been on the receiving end of a missile strike, and felt mildly inconvenienced. The temperature of a Heavenly Flame was simply too extreme. The decorative lawn hadn't stood a chance.
(For the next pull, I need to pick somewhere open and deserted outside. I'd hate to fish up something extraordinary and have the merging process tear this villa down around me.)
"Well, it's already ruined. Might as well keep training."
Ye Xuan picked up his sword and continued. Having merged the Three Thousand Burning Flame and gained the Three Thousand Star Constitution, it would be a waste not to push his training harder and make full use of the regenerative ability.
To become the strongest, using a cheat code was one thing, but personal growth had to keep pace with it. The system helped him fish treasures from across the multiverse, but whether he could actually control those treasures and make them genuinely his own depended entirely on himself.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
While Ye Xuan was absorbed in training, the commotion he had caused was sending the entire Celestial Pivot Bureau into a stir.
"Warning, warning, abnormal Spiritual Energy fluctuation detected."
"Warning, warning, abnormal Spiritual Energy fluctuation detected."
"Warning, warning, abnormal Spiritual Energy fluctuation detected."
The shrill alert repeated three times in succession through the headquarters of the Celestial Pivot Bureau, putting every member of staff on edge.
"What's happening?" A man in uniform strode quickly toward the monitoring screens, brow furrowed.
"Reporting, an abnormal Spiritual Energy fluctuation has been detected with intensity far exceeding normal parameters. Suspected emergence of a special-type cross-dimensional treasure." A technician said in a taut voice, reading out the data immediately.
What was meant by a special-type cross-dimensional treasure was a living creature. Things like the Sea Kings from the world of One Piece, Danger Beasts from Akame ga Kill, or summon animals from the world of Naruto. Because of their considerable power, their appearance always triggered enormous surges in Spiritual Energy fluctuation.