Half an hour later.
On the open grounds of the space station's side wing.
Fu Hua held the Xuanyuan Sword in her hand as the two faced each other.
Though in their previous sparring Setsuna had overwhelmed Fu Hua's Taixuan Eminence with the bug-like abilities of the Eternal Snowfall, he still found the technique extremely fascinating.
Who wouldn't want to master a peerless sword art?
In the archives of the imperial library, breathing techniques were clearly outdated, and he had already studied Heroic Spirit sword styles for a time.
But since their Noble Phantasms were tied to legends of their past lives, they weren't suitable for him.
By contrast, Taixuan Eminence was just right.
If he took the time to learn it, he could strengthen his combat power in human form—rather than always having to swat mosquitoes with a planet-buster cannon.
"Edge of Taixuan has five essences: heart, form, will, soul, and spirit. Though it is called 'sword qi,' to truly transform sword into spirit, one must comprehend the fifth essence, the Spirit."
Fu Hua paced slowly as she explained to Setsuna.
"Only upon grasping the Spirit essence can you unleash the Taixuan Eminence."
"The Honkai energy within you is unparalleled, the strongest adaptability I have ever seen—far beyond even those of Fire Moth."
"I am curious. With your power, just how strong would the Taixuan Eminence be?"
"…"
Setsuna smiled faintly. His compatibility with multiple world systems of power had been useless back when he started with nothing but bare hands.
But as he explored more and more worlds, snowballing along the way, it was finally beginning to show its worth.
"Let's begin."
Fu Hua gestured for Setsuna to sit down cross-legged opposite her.
"We'll start with the Heart essence."
"This is the entry point, but also—apart from the Spirit essence—the most difficult one. Its purpose is to temper your sword heart."
"The Heart essence has four realms: Still Water, Dustless, Bright Mirror, and Taixu. For ordinary men, reaching Dustless is their limit. You, however, need not be bound by this."
"Now, I will recite the Blade Mantra. You must memorize it, chant it at all times, and refine your heart through it."
A string of strange syllables flowed from Fu Hua's lips.
They had no written form, no intrinsic meaning, and belonged to no earthly language.
Yet their mystery lay in this: whether recited, whispered, or heard, they calmed the heart like still water, inducing a meditative state.
"…"
Setsuna closed his eyes and began chanting the mantra as Fu Hua instructed.
He felt his thoughts completely relax, his awareness finely attuned to every subtle change within his body.
In the end, he knew and sensed nothing beyond the flow of power within—outside distractions could no longer touch his mind.
"Hm? You've grasped it so quickly. Not bad."
Fu Hua noticed that within half an hour, Setsuna had already entered the state, and was slightly surprised.
"I thought with your temperament, quieting your heart would take a long time."
"And it is usually in youth that one's sword heart is best tempered—the earlier, the purer. For an adult to refine the sword heart is no easy task…"
"I trained swordsmanship before with the Ahoge King, so I have some foundation. Besides, a man is a boy until the day he dies."
Setsuna replied casually.
"…"
Fu Hua was briefly speechless, then continued her teaching.
"For the Heart essence, just keep tempering your sword heart in daily practice. Next, let's move on to the Form and Will essences."
"Form is literally swordsmanship itself. Since you say you've trained with the sword, let me see your level of skill."
She cleared space for him.
Not far away stood a few alloy-made training dummies.
"Use your swordsmanship against them. Don't rely on ship cannons or other powers."
"Alright."
Setsuna raised the Sword in the Stone with both hands, vast magic surging into its blade.
Boom!!!
He swung downward, the magical blade extending dozens of meters in an instant, crashing into the ground and shattering the dummies to pieces.
Rumble—
Magic rippled through the training field, stirring up a violent gale.
"…"
Fu Hua froze for a moment.
"What kind of swordsmanship is that? So… brutish?"
"Uh, I learned that from Artoria. Her move is called Excalibur, and I tweaked it a little… as for the name…"
Setsuna thought for a moment.
"Let's call it 'Glory of Kariya.'"
"???"
Fu Hua had no idea where that strange name came from.
She shook her head.
"Unacceptable."
"I know your power is immense, and you may scoff at ordinary swordsmanship, but if you wish to master the Taixuan Eminence, you must first lay a solid foundation and thoroughly grasp the earlier essences…"
Swish—
She drew the Xuanyuan Sword and demonstrated each move for Setsuna.
"The Form essence of Edge of Taixuan has four lines—Guard, Transform, Inspire, and Open—for a total of twenty-one techniques. Watch carefully."
At that moment, Fu Hua was at the peak of her prime. Her swordplay flowed like a dance—graceful as a startled swan, supple as a dragon in flight.
The gleaming sword light, combined with her classical robes, wove a striking contrast of fierce sword winds and elegant beauty. Setsuna found himself momentarily dazed.
"The Inspire line has three forms: Crescent Moon, Sea Severing, and Sky Rending… the Transform line has six…"
"The Open line also has six: Stonebreaker, Chaos Thunder, Thunderclap, Landslide, Dustfall, and Galequake… this is the sixth."
After completing the demonstration, Fu Hua handed the sword to Setsuna.
"Now you try."
Setsuna accepted the sword.
He began to mimic her movements.
The ship's AI granted him extraordinary learning and analytical abilities.
Every detail of Fu Hua's demonstration was stored vividly in his mind.
Thus, without needing further examples, he could slowly correct his own mistakes through repeated practice—
Turning Fu Hua's swordsmanship into his own.
"You really are remarkable…"
"To memorize an entire sword style at a glance—in the martial world, you would already be considered a once-in-a-million prodigy."
Fu Hua marveled.
She found that after only a few corrections, Setsuna could steadily perform the full twenty-one forms of the four lines.
Though his movements were not yet fluid, for someone who just half a day earlier had only known how to smash the floor with raw magic, it was shockingly fast progress.
"This is the power of technology."
Setsuna smiled.
The two trained from afternoon until evening.
By the time the lolis on the space station finished work and headed off in groups for meals or rest, Setsuna reluctantly sheathed the sword.
"Interesting. After blasting people with starship cannons so many times, practicing the sword as a change of pace isn't bad."
"It's elegant. No wonder the Kocho sisters like to practice swordplay in the capital."
"You've improved quickly, but Edge of Taixuan isn't something that can be mastered overnight."
Fu Hua regarded him seriously.
"Once you have thoroughly practiced the Form essence, I will teach you the Will and Soul essences. When you grasp the Soul, you will understand the essence of swordsmanship itself."
"At that level, you can wield any weapon as if it were a sword, unbound by sword form. Only upon reaching such a state can one be said to have achieved true mastery."
Ordinary people needed a medium—whether the Sword in the Stone or the Xuanyuan Sword.
But upon comprehending the fourth essence, one could begin to transcend reliance on external objects, treating all weapons as swords.
And when one learned to wield sword through spirit, sword qi by heart—that was the fifth essence, the Taixuan Eminence.
"How long do you think I'll need to train?"
Setsuna asked.
"Hmm… your comprehension and memory are excellent, and your adaptability to Honkai energy is extraordinary. With diligent practice, you should be able to fully master the Soul essence in about three to six months."
"As for the Spirit essence… given your adaptability, it shouldn't be difficult for you."
Fu Hua rested her chin in her hand, pondering for several minutes.
"Among those who practice Edge of Taixuan, your speed is already frighteningly fast."
"Three to six months? Tsk, that's a bit slow…"
Setsuna clicked his tongue. "I'm fairly free at the moment, but I won't always have this much time for sword practice…"
"If only I could finish it in a day or two."
Once the affairs in the Broken Sword Record world of Shenzhou were settled, he still had to manage the capital's administration and plan expeditions into other worlds.
Every day ahead promised to be busy.
"???"
"A day or two?!"
Fu Hua couldn't help but laugh in exasperation. She tapped his shoulder with the hilt of her sword.
"Cultivating Edge of Taixuan requires decades of daily practice. There are no shortcuts."
"The fact that you can grasp so much in such a short time is already remarkable. How can you still not be satisfied?"
"…"
"Decades of daily practice…"
"Wait!"
Setsuna pondered briefly, then his eyes lit up.
With a wave, he projected a shuttle, whisking Fu Hua toward the Eternal Snowfall.
"Hua, come party with me—oh no, come guide me in my swordsmanship."
"?"
Fu Hua, completely bewildered, followed Setsuna onto the ship.
"What are you doing? Practicing swordsmanship on a battleship?"
"Isn't this the same as training on the space station…?"
She glanced around. The Juggernaut was positioned some distance from the station, maintaining relative alignment with Earth.
Thanks to advanced optical camouflage and anti-gravity systems, the natives of Earth had noticed nothing unusual.
"Self-time acceleration, one-hundred-eighty times."
Buzz—
Space trembled violently.
The distant station and ship suddenly slowed down, and even Earth's slow rotation seemed frozen.
"I twisted the flow of time here."
Setsuna stood at the command console, smiling at Fu Hua.
"Now, one hour outside equals 180 hours aboard the Eternal Snowfall. Spending sixty days here will only be one night outside. Perfect for training, don't you think?"
"!!!"
Fu Hua's eyes widened. She stared out the window for a long moment.
Time distortion.
Yet again, she heard something utterly absurd from Setsuna's mouth.
"You… can control the flow of time?"
"On a ship larger than the moon itself?!"
"Don't get the wrong idea. This is just a trick. The Eternal Snowfall is me, so I'm only accelerating and decelerating my own time."
Setsuna laughed it off.
"…"
"Still unbelievable…"
Fu Hua looked around. The station and nearby ships outside were indeed frozen to a standstill under the time distortion.
"Then if you always distorted time like this, wouldn't you be able to…"
"Stop! Don't get any unrealistic ideas."
Setsuna cut her off.
"Time distortion is a massive drain. Even I can't maintain it constantly. Doing it once in a while is enough."
"Besides, its original purpose was for… well, let's just say it wasn't for training. Rare that I'm using it properly this time."
"?"
Fu Hua frowned in puzzlement.
"What did you usually use time distortion for? Physical training? Learning knowledge?"
"Physical training… well, not wrong."
Setsuna patted her shoulder.
"You'll find out in time, Hua."
...
Aboard the Eternal Snowfall.
Under Fu Hua's guidance, Setsuna began long sessions of training.
Here there were no interruptions, only Angeloids maintaining and monitoring the starship.
He could focus entirely on what he wanted to do.
First week.
He practiced swordsmanship move by move under Fu Hua's guidance.
They sometimes sparred, relying on sword skills alone, without power. Fu Hua overwhelmingly defeated him.
Third week.
Setsuna had fully mastered the twenty-one forms of Edge of Taixuan's four lines.
It was also the first true sword style his system had ever truly ingrained.
Each strike was fierce and precise, leaving even Fu Hua with no fault to point out.
Fourth week.
Setsuna began to learn the Will and Soul essences under Fu Hua's instruction.
"The Will essence of Edge of Taixuan requires the Xuanyuan Sword. One must become attuned to it, forging one's own sword intent."
"Hmm… since you lack the Xuanyuan Sword, I'll gift you one."
Fu Hua produced a golden longsword and handed it to Setsuna.
At its core, Edge of Taixuan was a method of channeling Honkai energy. Practicing with the Sword in the Stone was somewhat incompatible.
Setsuna accepted the sword and paused to think.
"By the way, once the Will and Soul essences are mastered, there's no longer any need to cling to weapon forms, right?"
"Correct."
Fu Hua nodded.
"But for beginners, a sword is still necessary to control the power…"
Before she could finish, Setsuna raised his hand.
Black Honkai energy gathered, condensing into a long spear.
Swish—
With a thrust, the weapon shifted seamlessly. Spear became saber, blade became halberd, polearm became axe. Eighteen martial weapons, each form at his command.
Any weapon he could imagine, he could conjure.
With Herrscher-level control over Honkai energy, he could forge weapons for himself at will.
Swish swish swish—
He swung them fiercely, his movements like a raging tiger, leaving Fu Hua staring in astonishment.
"All weapons and arms… by my will!!"
A line suddenly popped into Setsuna's head.
"Wait, am I being influenced by Senti?!"
"…"
Fu Hua pressed her forehead, frowning.
"Forging weapons out of Honkai energy? …Fine, I suppose you are a Herrscher. Whatever makes you happy."
Other than short periods for meals and rest, Setsuna poured all of his time into learning the Taixuan Eminence.
His physique was formidable, and as a MANTIS, Fu Hua too needed only two or three hours of sleep per day.
As a teacher in cultivation, she was undoubtedly excellent.
Eight weeks later.
On the bridge of the Eternal Snowfall.
Fu Hua stood before Setsuna, guiding him hand in hand through the final essence of Edge of Taixuan—the Spirit essence.
"The Spirit essence is essentially shaping and extending Honkai energy. Master it, and you can unleash the Taixuan Eminence."
"You already possess enough Honkai energy. In theory, practicing the Spirit essence should present no bottleneck for you."
"As long as you temper your heart, reaching the realm of wielding sword through spirit, sword qi through heart, you'll succeed."
She raised her sword and demonstrated the Taixuan Eminence once more.
A torrent of Honkai energy twisted above, reshaping the sky into a burning sea of clouds.
Then, a massive sword unsheathed itself in midair, condensed entirely from Honkai energy.
With a sharp cry, Fu Hua sent the golden blade crashing down, light shimmering across the Eternal Snowfall's hull.
The Taixuan Eminence struck both spirit and flesh simultaneously.
Had Setsuna not possessed near-unbreakable shipborne supercomputing defenses, any ordinary person would have been annihilated body and soul.
Even Celine wouldn't dare take Fu Hua's full-powered Taixuan Eminence head-on.
"Hmm… shaping Honkai energy… wielding sword through spirit…"
Setsuna closed his eyes, following Fu Hua's words, entering meditation to forge his sword intent.
Casting something that resembled a Taixuan Eminence cannon wasn't difficult—Senti could do that too.
But only in a state of perfect serenity could this technique show its full power.
Thus, even though Senti had the same body as Fu Hua, her Taixuan Eminence could never overpower Fu Hua's.
He cast aside all distractions, until nothing remained but himself and the flow of power within.
His being merged with the starry sky.
Then—
He swept his hand, gathering all Honkai energy within himself.
Swish—
The sky above his head was instantly overlaid with a blazing orange-red hue.
A colossal mass of Honkai energy condensed and took form.
Beyond his Herrscher power, Setsuna realized he could also infuse the Wisdom Cube or Allspark's energy into it.
After all, they were part of him.
A golden longsword, radiant and vast, grew larger and larger above him.
Until it became a gargantuan blade nearly one-fifth the size of the Eternal Snowfall.
Even the energy leaking from it was enough to make one's blood run cold.
"???"
"What are you doing?!"
Fu Hua nearly leapt back in shock.
"I figured I could mix my other energies into this move as well."
Setsuna answered calmly.
"???"
"Don't point it at Earth!!"
The Taixuan Eminence was originally the ultimate anti-personnel technique, annihilating both body and spirit of its target—unavoidable, inescapable.
But Fu Hua felt that whatever Setsuna had unleashed… wasn't quite right.
What was this? Did this man have to go overboard with everything—not only his ship, but even Taixuan Eminence had to be made ridiculous?!
This was supposed to be swordsmanship, not a doomsday weapon!!
Fu Hua suspected that if Setsuna struck Earth with this, at least 90% the planet's population would either be reduced to ash or suffer total mental collapse.
Boom—
Setsuna swung his hand.
The golden giant sword, brimming with Honkai energy, shot into the distant void.
On Earth below, the natives who saw the golden streak crossing the heavens thought it a miracle.
Meanwhile, aboard the station, the shipgirls, Cangxuan, Dan Zhu, and others looked on with mild surprise.
"That looked like Fu Hua's Taixuan Eminence…"
"No, wait, was it ever this outrageous when she used it? And why did you fire it from the Eternal Snowfall?!"
Rumble—
The Honkai energy blast struck a distant asteroid, shattering it into pieces.
"Hmm, seems this move specializes in anti-personnel. Its physical destructive power isn't that strong—less than the Light Spear."
"But the mental attack… excellent. From now on, no need to use full power against small fry."
Setsuna nodded to himself.
"If you can't control your strength, unleashing the Taixuan Eminence at full power on Earth would cause secondary disasters."
Fu Hua pressed her forehead and sighed.
"From now on, practice focusing that massive energy onto a single target."
Setsuna's progress was nothing short of astonishing.
He had learned it—yet it also felt as though he hadn't.
At least to Fu Hua, the planet-buster version of the Taixuan Eminence was nothing like the technique she had created.
"Mm, perfect."
"All that's left is practicing control."
Setsuna was completely satisfied.
More is better, bigger is stronger—he was a faithful devotee of the aesthetics of violence.
...
When the time distortion ended, the two returned to the space station.
For the others, only a single night had passed.
Fu Hua recounted to Cangxuan and Dan Zhu, astonished, what she had experienced aboard the Eternal Snowfall.
"So he achieved spatial and temporal distortion by merging with the ship itself?"
"Incredible, simply incredible…"
The two nodded repeatedly as they listened.
Especially when they heard that Fu Hua had spent two months alone with Setsuna aboard the Eternal Snowfall, Cangxuan's eyes lit up like stars.
She immediately leaned close to Fu Hua, looking up curiously:
"And then? And then? You two were alone for so long—besides practicing swordsmanship, didn't you do anything else?"
"No."
Fu Hua shook her head blankly.
"I was teaching him the Taixuan Eminence. What else would we do?"
"…"
Dan Zhu and Cangxuan exchanged glances, fell silent, and then carefully looked Fu Hua over.
"That can't be right… is it because your figure is too plain? Or because you're such a block of wood?"
"Jingwei, why don't you go ask the Life Sciences Division if they have some way to, well… make you bigger—oh no, I mean, more enticing?"
"???"
—
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