Tai Xuan Sword Qi

Mist lingered in the air, and the sky was filled with rosy clouds. The rolling hills were draped in lush forests and shrubs, painting a picture of an earthly paradise. But despite the vibrant greenery, there were no birds in sight, nor did the sounds of any beasts fill the air. It made the mountains and forests feel strangely silent.

No dust. No impurities. No chaos. No worries.

Isolated from the world, only a dilapidated thatched cottage sat on the mountain peak.

In the simple courtyard, the Taijitu symbol lay on the ground, with the Eight Trigrams embedded around it.

A gray-haired girl sat at the center of the Taijitu formation. Her mind was clear, as though she were meditating to uncover the world's truth, reflecting on the past to understand the rules of existence.

Yet, despite her calm demeanor, her brow furrowed occasionally. Confusion flickered in her eyes.

After some time, Fu Hua, who had been meditating in silence, finally opened her eyes and gazed into the distance.

This mindscape was created by the Eighth Divine Key, the Fenghuang Down. A Key of Sentience, the Fenghuang Down could preserve souls and divide consciousness. It was because of this Divine Key that Fu Hua was able to split her consciousness into multiple parts when she died, allowing her to protect her friends.

The part of Fu Hua that retained her original consciousness now resided within Kiana.

Since the defeat of the Herrscher of the Void, Kiana had been running nonstop. Though Fu Hua struggled to see the outside world through her mindscape due to constant rejection, she could still sense Kiana's condition.

Kiana's body was in grave danger. The Herrscher of the Void's constant erosion, combined with the strain from forcefully using Honkai energy, had pushed Kiana to the brink. If she wasn't careful, her consciousness could be fully taken over, and she would become the Herrscher of the Void once again. This would spell disaster for both the city and the world.

It was for this reason that Fu Hua continually urged Kiana not to push herself too hard.

Though their relationship had improved over time, Fu Hua's caution had caused Kiana to question, and even reject, her decisions. It was then that Fu Hua began to wonder if the choices she had made were truly the right ones.

Before she could reach an answer, however, something drastic happened. Kiana's heart changed in an instant. Not only had the Herrscher of the Void's consciousness awakened, but Kiana herself had also been consumed by the darkness within her.

In that moment, Fu Hua had released the full power of the Fenghuang Down, hoping to awaken Kiana's consciousness once more.

But…

Fu Hua sighed. Her body remained still in the Eight Trigrams formation, yet her gaze shifted toward an unfamiliar figure.

"Who are you?" Her voice was calm, but there was a trace of helplessness in her tone.

It was true. When Fu Hua had released the power of the Key of Sentience, her mindscape had been invaded. Not only had most of the Feather of the Past's power been lost, but Fu Hua herself had been trapped in this space.

"Hm?" White hair cascaded down as the girl spoke with playful energy. "What are you saying, Class Monitor? I'm Kiana."

Despite the light blue of her eyes, Fu Hua could see a shadow of gray within them—something that couldn't be erased. The outward appearance was identical to Kiana's, but Fu Hua knew for sure: the one who had trapped her in this mindscape was not the Kiana she knew.

"Your outward appearance is the same as hers. Even the mindscape of the Key of Sentience can't reflect your true form. But your temperament is completely different." Calmly, Fu Hua revealed the girl's disguise.

Slowly, she stood up, her eyes locking with the girl leaning against the doorframe.

"Temperament? You mean like this?" A soft chuckle echoed. Slowly, in Fu Hua's eyes, the fake Kiana began to change. The lively girl she had seen earlier became subdued, her energy fading. A deep exhaustion filled her body.

With subtle changes in her gaze and posture, the girl morphed into a world-weary fugitive.

"Class Monitor, why did you betray me?" The girl's voice was full of bitterness. "You knew about Otto's plan, and you still pushed me off the cliff. Those thousands of victims—they didn't die because of the Herrscher of the Void. It was you who killed them all!"

Her eyes burned with madness, her words spilling out in anger. Then, in a strange, low voice, she continued. "Phoenix, do you still remember what it felt like to be betrayed by your disciples?"

[Kiana]'s words pierced through Fu Hua's calm heart, finally stirring a ripple of emotion. Just as Fu Hua opened her mouth to respond, the girl, who had been overcome with pain moments before, suddenly switched back to her carefree demeanor.

"So, are you satisfied with my performance?" A mischievous smile danced across the girl's face. The stark contrast in her behavior made Fu Hua frown.

She could sense that her mindscape was weakening.

50,000 years of experience allowed Fu Hua to quickly assess the situation. As soon as she felt emotionally affected by the person in front of her, she realized that part of the Feather of the Past's power had been stolen once again.

It was clear now that the other party's performance had been part of a planned strategy.

"There's no need for more words. Explain your purpose. I don't think someone who can steal the power of a Divine Key would simply trap me here," Fu Hua said, her voice steady.

As she spoke, her hair shifted from gray to snow-white, with the slight redness at the ends giving the impression that she was bathed in flames. A burning aura began to emanate from her body, ultimately shaping into a red and white cheongsam. This was Fu Hua's Phoenix form—the form of the former immortal.

With a slight lift of her wrists, her palms aimed at the girl. She lowered her stance, ready to release boundless power in an instant.

Seeing Fu Hua take a combat stance, Ren chose not to provoke her further. Unlike the mobs in the original story, he wasn't foolish enough to try angering her. Giving his opponent an anger buff would only hasten his own demise.

"Don't be so nervous," Ren said with a calm tone. "I have great respect for the Phoenix, who has protected Shenzhou for thousands of years. I've only come to ask for something."

Fu Hua's eyes narrowed. "Heh, I'm just a remnant of a consciousness. I don't think there's anything about me that would catch your attention. As for the Feather of the Past, I'm afraid it will eventually be taken by you anyway."

Ren smiled slightly. "It's just a single feather. How can it compare to an immortal? After 5,000 years, has the Phoenix ever considered taking on another disciple?"

Ren lowered his posture, as if a student humbly seeking knowledge.

Fu Hua's mind sharpened. "You've come for the Tai Xuan Sword Qi?" In an instant, she understood his intent. If he knew about what happened 5,000 years ago, it was only natural that he had set his sights on her Tai Xuan Sword Qi.

"Yes and no," Ren replied cryptically. "I have come for the Tai Xuan Sword Qi, but I'm not the student."

Fu Hua raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "Then who is it?"

"…"

"Kiana."