"You'll win, so believe in big brother, okay, Seele?" Though saying this did feel a bit like raising a death flag, for Seele it was exactly what could put her mind at ease.
"Seele believes in big brother. Big brother, have a safe journey." After successfully comforting Seele, Shun turned back to find Fu Hua. From the look of it, she had that "a mother worries when her child travels a thousand miles" expression.
She was probably going to give him one last power-up session in this final time aka the "handing out cheats" segment.
"You're back?" Fu Hua, who had been sitting cross-legged on a meditation mat in seated meditation, opened her eyes and stood up upon sensing Shun's return.
"I'm back." Shun nodded.
"Did you explain everything properly to Seele?"
"Of course."
"Then let's begin." As her words fell, a red feather drifted down. Fu Hua once again used Fenghuang Down, which took a heavy toll on her.
Seeing Fu Hua's somewhat strained expression, Shun said worriedly, "Master, maybe we shouldn't do this. Fenghuang Down can't just be used carelessly!" Shun felt Fu Hua really didn't need to force herself to use Fenghuang Down for his sake. Each use of Fenghuang Down burned her own memories, and Fu Hua didn't have many left to burn anymore.
"You really do know some things. The version of him in my memory wouldn't casually spill such important information online, but... never mind. Shun, you are the disciple I acknowledge. I won't pry into your secrets." Though they hadn't spent much time together, it was enough for Fu Hua to see what kind of person Shun was. For now, he was a disciple who satisfied her greatly.
What Fu Hua didn't know was that her unintentional remark had actually shattered Shun's disguise. Was this a case of an unintentional planting yielding shade?
"The secrets of heaven must not be revealed, Master. I had no choice but to deceive you." The butterfly effect was truly terrifying, so Shun genuinely didn't dare casually alter some of the more important parts of the plot.
However, the Manila Great Honkai arriving several years early could that also have been caused by him? Shun didn't know yet, but this severely deviated plot had already sounded an alarm for him: stop changing the plot, or the originally set future would become utter chaos.
"Enough of that. Are you ready?"
"I'm ready." As Shun nodded, the Fenghuang Down that Fu Hua had prepared long ago fell as well, dragging Shun into the depths of his consciousness.
Shun felt his consciousness continuously sinking, plunging deeper. His thoughts grew increasingly blurred, and his perception of the surrounding environment gradually faded. It was as though he were in an endless dark abyss, finding not a shred of light or hope.
As time passed, Shun had completely lost himself. He even forgot his own name, his origins, and his destination. He was like a ship without direction, drifting aimlessly on the vast sea.
At this moment, he seemed to have returned to that initial void space. Time and space held no meaning for him anymore. He no longer paid attention to external changes but immersed himself in his inner world, trying to find that last remnant of memory and self-awareness. Yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't recover his former self and could only continue sinking in this darkness.
Finally, in this illusion, Shun almost ceased thinking altogether. But at that very moment, a voice entered his ears. The voice was nearly meaningless babble, but for the current Shun, it was the only thing with meaning. So he kept silently reciting it, repeating it this was the only thing Shun could do.
And this voice was none other than the incantation Fu Hua had set for the Heart aggregate of Taixu Sword Qi. Adults, having been exposed to too many messy and distracting things in this world, couldn't focus single-mindedly on practicing the incantation. They couldn't achieve a mind like still water and thus couldn't enter the gateway.
But Fu Hua's method created the conditions without prerequisites she directly forced a state of single-minded focus for Shun. With this move, even someone with zero talent could achieve rapid sword heart mastery. For Shun, the hardest part of Taixu Sword Qi was the entry threshold. Once the Still Water realm of sword heart was quickly achieved, the subsequent realms could be grinded through with persistence.
Moreover, the sword heart state provided enormous help in combat. A person couldn't fully concentrate on one thing, but Still Water sword heart could and it also allowed Shun to completely master control over his own body.
It could be said that once Shun's Taixu Sword Qi reached the Still Water realm, his "hardware" stats wouldn't increase much, but the "pilot's" skill would advance by leaps and bounds.
Fu Hua estimated the time was about right. If it went on any longer, what if her disciple really stopped thinking entirely?
She stopped maintaining the illusion that held Shun and called out to him a few times, but he didn't wake. She then shook his body heavily.
Finally, heaven rewards the persevering Shun finally opened his eyes. The moment he did, the first thing out of his mouth was:
"~`!@#$%^&*..."
He was still reciting the sword heart incantation. For a moment, Fu Hua wondered if the effect had been a bit too strong, but the Still Water sword heart had indeed been rapidly achieved no surprise there.
Some time later, Shun finally came to his senses and stopped the eldritch-like muttering.
He suddenly raised his head to look at Fu Hua. "Master, Master, what's up? Has it started?" He clearly hadn't caught up yet.
"It's already over. Feel your sword heart." Fu Hua said with a smile.
"My sword heart?" Shun then began sensing his own body. He felt something indescribable had been added, but it was very vague he still couldn't actively use it.
"From your reaction, you should have felt it. But your master must remind you: since your sword heart was cultivated through a shortcut method, it's completely blank right now. You have only the shell of a sword heart, but none of the inner core."
Fu Hua looked at Shun's puzzled expression and explained gently.
"So, I hope that in the days to come, while you cultivate your sword heart, you also find your true heart along the way. Otherwise, you will never be able to comprehend Sword God."
"I understand!" Shun nodded heavily. Though ever since coming to Taixu Mountain the tone had veered wildly toward cultivation-novel territory, it didn't hinder Shun's comprehension just find your own path, right?
Could it be... he really was a genius?
Shun thought to himself.
While Shun was lost in thought, the illusion space formed by Fenghuang Down began to shatter like glass.
"Alright. Once this illusion breaks, it's time for you to set out. Go save your friend and the people suffering under Honkai's calamity."
Fu Hua looked at Shun with motherly affection and urged him. Clearly the one who had initially disagreed with Shun leaving was her, yet now she was the one urging him to go.
"Master, the illusion hasn't fully ended yet I can't leave. Let me stay with you a bit longer."
Shun, who had originally lifted his foot to leave, seemed to think of something and shrank back.
"That would be excellent."
"By the way, Master." Shun suddenly spoke.
"What is it?"
"Earlier Seele even wished me a smooth journey. Master isn't going to say anything?"
"Then what else do you want me to say?... Fine."
"Then I wish you: may your martial fortunes ever prosper."