Following Xingqiu, the next to obtain a flying sword was Chongyun. His blade was named Snow-Drift, a longsword of crystalline ice-blue. It possessed a serene, chilling aura that perfectly suppressed Chongyun's "Pure Yang" constitution.
The sensation was one of pure relief. "Finally... I don't have to be plagued by the heat of my own blood anymore," Chongyun murmured, a relaxed smile spreading across his face. While he could have gained such power through his uncle-in-law, there was a profound sense of achievement in seizing it with his own hands.
Wanting to test his new weapon, Chongyun channeled his energy. In an instant, ice and snow coalesced into a frost-laden sword qi that erupted outward. Unlike the elegant, swirling strikes of Kamisato Ayaka, Chongyun's moves were defined by explosive impact and a hidden "Sealing Power" within the steel. It was the perfect weapon to complement his future potential.
As Chongyun descended the mountain, Inuyasha finally broke through the Heart-Mirror Test.
It was the first step toward his maturity. Whether he had truly severed his lingering feelings for the past or simply accepted that Kikyo no longer belonged to him, his gaze lost its youthful confusion. The half-demon looked up at the massive stone tablet, seeing the names already etched there: Sesshomaru, Xingqiu, Chongyun.
"All familiar faces," Inuyasha grunted, his eyes hardening with the resolve of a true dog demon. "I'm not letting them have all the fun."
He charged into the arrays. With the Haki training he had endured under Katakuri, the remaining traps were mere child's play. Ultimately, Inuyasha claimed his own prize: Wind-Shard, a blade with a jagged, "broken" edge that could unleash violent, slicing squalls.
Back at the base camp, Sesshomaru looked at his younger brother. "Go and defeat Ryugotsusei yourself. I'm not going back."
"What? You don't want the Tessaiga?" Inuyasha asked, stunned.
"That thing would only hinder my progress. If you want it, take it. My path has changed." Sesshomaru turned and vanished into the mist. He had already glimpsed the potential of his own innate sword, Bakusaiga, through the enlightenment of the flying sword. He no longer cared for his father's leftovers.
The Shadows of the Mountain
The tests continued. For ordinary people, the trials were grueling, and many left in disappointment.
Deep in the woods at the foot of the mountain, Arlecchino watched the mist-covered peaks with a thirst for power. She desperately wanted a flying sword to bolster her strength, but the Stone Tablet acted as a truth-seeker—it would expose her secrets to the world. Even if she obtained a blade, she wouldn't be able to leave with it.
"A troublesome situation," she sighed, deciding to observe from the shadows. Perhaps a nighttime attempt or waiting until the roster was nearly full would offer an opening.
As the sun began to set, more victors emerged. The "unlucky" Bennett somehow stumbled his way into a fire-attribute sword, proving that the extremity of bad luck can sometimes loop back into fortune. Ellin, the aspiring knight from Mondstadt, also gained recognition with a beautiful Anemo-based blade.
The Princess in the Rain
Su Han turned to the group. "I'm heading out. Keep an eye on things here; if nothing major happens, go back to the Jade Chamber and rest."
"Go on," Lisa smiled. "Poor Little Amy is probably crying her eyes out somewhere."
"Bring her back, Su Han! We're rooting for you!" Mona cheered.
Su Han vanished, tearing through a spatial tunnel to Mondstadt. He expanded his perception, but Fischl (Amy) was nowhere in the city or Springvale. He took out a long-forgotten treasure: The Compass That Doesn't Point North.
"Find Fischl."
The needle spun wildly before locking onto a direction: Stormterror's Lair.
Creating the Night
Atop a crumbling tower in the ruins of the old city, a purple-haired girl sat curled up, her eyes vacant. She had been there for six hours. She had even chased Oz away. The torrential rain soaked her to the bone, but she welcomed the chill; it matched the isolation in her heart.
Suddenly, an umbrella shielded her from the downpour. A wave of warmth washed over her, instantly drying her sodden clothes.
"Do you... do you think the Imternachtreich truly exists?" she whispered, not looking up.
"Of course it does," Su Han replied softly.
"Heh... you're mocking me too. The Nightrealm is just a fantasy I made up. It's not real..." Without her chuunibyou persona, Amy sounded heartbreakingly fragile.
Su Han sat beside her. "What does it matter if no one else recognizes it? When I was a child, I imagined I was a great general, a sovereign commanding legions. Dreams don't have to die. If the world doesn't have a Nightrealm, then we shall simply create one."
Fischl looked at him, her eyes wide. "Did... did no one laugh at you?"
"Of course they did," Su Han smiled. "But I told them: by denying your dreams, you deny your own courage. Does a thing not exist just because it isn't here yet? No. If there is no Imternachtreich, then we will build it with our own hands. Beautiful Prinzessin, are you willing to build a real Nightrealm?"
"I am the Sovereign of Darkness. I am willing to assist you in becoming the true Empress of the Night—not a princess of old, but a ruler of the new. When the darkness swallows all, who will dare question the truth?"
The words, though draped in a bit of drama, ignited a spark in Amy's eyes. To create it herself... it was an intoxicating thought.
"Can I... can I really?"
"With my help, you can create a world. My Empress... the world of night awaits your descent."
Amy couldn't hold back anymore. She threw herself into his arms and sobbed. All the years of being misunderstood, of being called "delusional" by her parents, and of being lonely finally poured out. When she finally looked up, her face was flushed.
Recalling Su Han's words of "Empress" and "Sovereign," she gathered her courage and pressed her lips to his in a sudden, fierce kiss.
"This is the blessing of the Prinzessin der Verurteilung! O charming Sovereign... you have granted me recognition this day, and I shall repay your love with my soul for all eternity. This is the Covenant of the Empress... never to be forgotten!"
"Of course, my lovely Empress," Su Han laughed, picking her up in his arms. "Now, let us dine. The servants have been waiting."
He kissed her deeply, and as her gaze grew misty, he stepped through space, bringing her directly into the Fountainhead Palace within the Jade Chamber.
Standing high above the clouds, looking at the glowing Sacred Sakura and the celestial waterfalls, Fischl gasped. "Is this... is this your domain? Sovereign of Darkness..."
"This is the world I have built, my dear Empress," Su Han answered with a wink. "And yours is next."
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