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"Grand Void Sword Heart - Dustless..."
Training Ground No. 76 functioned as a virtual secondary dimension facility, currently transformed into a vast Colosseum-like world. Within this arena, Cheng Lixue stood with her sword held vertically before her chest. As she breathed evenly, a hazy white mist enveloped the blade.
Before her death, plagued by the inner demon of "Why did my master leave me," Cheng Lixue's sword heart had stagnated at the first realm, the Still Water stage. However, due to the original Water Sword being imbued with the "Key of Domination," which allowed control over water flow, she became the strongest A-rank Valkyrie within Schicksal.
Having been resurrected and transcended her inner demons, Cheng Lixue rapidly advanced to the second level of the Grand Void Sword Heart, reaching the Dustless realm within mere months. Combined with her Water Sword, specially enhanced as Key of Domination +10, theoretically, she was now more than ten times stronger than during the Siberian campaign.
Yet, Cheng Lixue dared not feel even slightly complacent. Gripping her sword, she began walking towards Zeke, gradually quickening her pace while maintaining utmost focus and vigilance, seeking any vulnerabilities in his stance.
"Forgive me, Sir Zeke!" Cheng Lixue took a deep breath, holding her sword firmly with both hands, and suddenly vanished from sight.
'She appears completely unguarded, riddled with potential openings, but this instinctive sense of dread... I mustn't delay; the gap between us is too vast. All I can do is strike with all my might.'
As this decisive thought flashed through her mind, Cheng Lixue materialized beside Zeke, her sword thrusting like lightning, carrying the frigid chill of freezing air.
"Clang!"
Zeke placed one hand behind his back, extending only his index finger with precision to press against the blade near the hilt of the Water Sword, producing a clear metallic resonance.
"What?!" Despite being prepared, Cheng Lixue was still taken aback by this unexpected move.
She had never imagined anyone could intercept her sword in such a manner, almost as if...they were akin to another master.
Quickly suppressing her shock, Cheng Lixue shifted her footing and instantly appeared behind Zeke, unleashing another full-force strike with her sword.
"Clang!"
Once again, Zeke countered in the same way without even turning, merely moving his finger to the back.
By restraining the hilt area, the force exerted on the blade dissipated instantly. Zeke had pinpointed the weakest point where the energy of the Water Sword converged.
This time, Cheng Lixue remained unfazed, her expression and gaze unyielding, reflecting her inner calm. She swiftly changed direction and continued swinging her sword at Zeke.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
In the blink of an eye, Cheng Lixue's figure and her longsword seemed to vanish from view, leaving only blurred afterimages as she rapidly struck, struck, and struck again.
With countless swings from myriad angles, Cheng Lixue poured out nearly all her lifetime's worth of swordsmanship cultivation and combat experience. Yet each attack was effortlessly neutralized by a simple tap from Zeke.
The disparity between them was utterly multidimensional.
"Ha!"
After ten seconds of relentless attacks, Cheng Lixue reached her peak ki output state. She leaped above Zeke, her long sword, infused with swirling ice crystals and snowflakes, descended forcefully.
"Ding—"
This time, Zeke flicked away the tip of the Water Sword with a bent finger.
Subsequently, those familiar slender fingers appeared at Cheng Lixue's forehead.
"What..."
"Bam!"
An explosive force erupted, sending Cheng Lixue hurtling through the air.
The graceful and curvaceous girl crashed heavily onto the ground, creating a shallow crater upon impact.
As Cheng Lixue lay on the ground, she touched her forehead with one hand while holding her sword with the other. Her gaze fixed on the hand wielding the blade, deep in thought.
She felt little pain, quickly realizing that Zeke's strike wasn't meant to repel her but rather to dissipate the accumulated backlash from repeatedly interrupted sword moves—the residual sword energy within her body. Considering what she had heard about Zeke's character, this gesture seemed incredibly gentle and unexpected.
"What are you contemplating?"
Zeke remained stationary throughout their encounter, his voice calm as he inquired.
Cheng Lixue stood up and bowed to Zeke.
"Many thanks for your guidance, Sir Zeke. I've identified numerous flaws in my sword technique and found directions for improvement. I am truly grateful."
Initially, this confrontation had merely served as an excuse to meet him, but now Cheng Lixue suddenly understood Fu Hua's casual assessment—Zeke was indeed a one-of-a-kind genius in martial arts.
"Let's continue then. This time, I'll take the initiative; be prepared to defend."
"Yes, sir!" Cheng Lixue nodded firmly, and in that instant, those familiar yet intimidating fingers rapidly loomed large before her eyes.
"Boom!!!"
Cheng Lixue took quite a beating, her body riddled with bruises and face swollen from impacts.
Most girls would feel upset or even blame Zeke for not being more gentle under such treatment. But Cheng Lixue didn't.
Once the training ground reverted to an empty room, Cheng Lixue deeply bowed, expressing her heartfelt gratitude to Zeke:
"Thank you for your guidance. I've learned immensely today; these experiences will undoubtedly prove invaluable on future battlefields."
"As long as it's beneficial, at least we didn't waste our time," Zeke responded nonchalantly. He walked over to Cheng Lixue, placed his hand on her shoulder, and gently infused her body with Honkai Energy.
"Ahh—"
Cheng Lixue couldn't suppress a soft moan.
As a true practitioner of Taixuan Sword Qi, Cheng Lixue had cultivated her body akin to a conduit. During combat, she connected and channeled surrounding Honkai Energy through herself. In non-combat situations, she typically stored very little Honkai Energy within her body.
The energy Zeke infused felt like clearing blockages within her body's channels—a sensation so intense that Cheng Lixue went limp and collapsed onto the ground.
"Phew...phew... In the past, only my master could heal my internal injuries this way, restoring my body."
"I know," Zeke replied without surprise.
Taming Honkai Energy to such a harmless degree was akin to climbing Mount Everest. Indeed, Fu Hua may have been the only one capable of it until now. Even currently, there might be just one additional person—Zeke—who can achieve this level of mastery.
Sitting weakly on the floor, Cheng Lixue's cheeks flushed slightly from the surge of blood circulation. With mixed emotions, she murmured softly:
"Yes, you're just like Master now..."
Fu Hua had always been lonely; she needed someone akin to herself, someone who stood at her height, understood her, and could accompany her. Cheng Lixue knew she might never reach that level with Fu Hua, but Zeke already had.
"Oh no! Zeke, you again! Must you be so rough with girls? Senior Sister, are you okay? Can you stand up?" Kiana suddenly appeared out of nowhere, chattering incessantly as she playfully punched Zeke a few times in annoyance. Then she approached Cheng Lixue and extended her hand, wearing a bright, genuinely friendly smile.
Cheng Lixue snapped back to reality, gazing at the silver-haired girl who had materialized before her—Kiana, Fu Hua's newest disciple, her little junior sister, and...Zeke's number one sweetheart.
"...Thank you, I'm fine."
Sighing inwardly, Cheng Lixue could only grasp Kiana's hand to rise, managing a forced yet amiable smile.
"That's good, that's good. Senior Sister Lixue, don't seek out Zeke anymore in the future. He has absolutely no clue how to cherish adorable girls; he lacks any sense of romance! Next time you want some practice, just find me! Fu Hua-sensei says although I've learned the Sword Goddess technique, there's still much room for improvement in my foundational martial skills. As partners, we can definitely progress together!"
"Alright, understood. Thank you, Junior Sister."
"No need to be so formal with me, Senior Sister!" Kiana scratched her head, grinning playfully.
Watching as Kiana openly ridiculed Zeke, even daring to kick his shin twice with her white shoe before flashing Cheng Lixue an innocent and charming smile... Cheng Lixue couldn't help but lower her guard, instantly dismissing her earlier suspicions.
Unconsciously, she reached out and gently patted Kiana's head, softly saying:
"It has nothing to do with Master Zeke; I voluntarily sought guidance from him. In fact, he has truly helped me immensely."
"Don't defend him anymore. Come on, let's go grab some snacks!"
"Um..."
"What is it?"
"I still have...have some matters I'd like to discuss with Master Zeke, if he has the time?"
Cheng Lixue remained unfazed by the offer of snacks, keeping her true purpose firmly in mind.
Regardless of the circumstances, she needed to understand Zeke's stance and intentions: Was he genuinely serious about her master's feelings? How did he plan to handle the relationships between several little junior sisters and their master? Most importantly, could he bring happiness to her master?
These questions had been weighing heavily on Cheng Lixue for days, and now that she had taken this step, she resolved to confront them head-on.
"There won't be any snacks since it's already dinnertime. Why don't you both stay for dinner? I've already informed Fu Hua. However, first, Kiana, take your senior sister to freshen up and change clothes."
Zeke casually dismissed a notification window and addressed both girls.
"This..."
"Yay! Come on, Senior Sister, let's go to my room!"
Before Cheng Lixue could react, Kiana swiftly pulled her through a space tunnel, leaving the training ground.