"I truly didn't expect you to actually possess some healing methods—and apparently unrelated to the Plagues Author..."
The Sword Champion of the Cangcheng hopped twice on the spot after being healed by Sora.
Right now, his body felt so light, if not for the blood still staining his clothes, he'd doubt he'd ever been wounded at all.
Such potent healing was on par with practitioners walking the Path of ABUNDANCE.
Yet, Sora's power wasn't of the ABUNDANCE at all. This mystery intrigued him deeply.
"A swordsman possessing such incredible healing skills—no wonder your swordsmanship reached such heights at your age."
Sora offered no explanations.
Some things just can't be explained by words alone!
Besides, his healing powers wouldn't last much longer.
Next time, who knew what he'd get?
"Enough, I didn't talk to you just to hear you praise me. Let's get to the main point..."
Sora brought the conversation back to business.
He had many questions only this man could answer.
"Ask away. Everything I know, I'll share without reservation."
The Sword Champion understood clearly, offering no resistance.
Besides, he'd learned much from crossing blades just now.
Some truths couldn't be articulated, but each strike of the sword carried its wielder's conviction.
Their earlier battle hadn't merely tested Sora's strength—it was also to make direct contact.
And the results satisfied him greatly.
That intent to save everything faintly reminded him of a certain someone.
His old friend, the one who had secretly promised him hundreds of years ago.
Unfortunately, compared to this pure-hearted youth before him, his friend's desires were far murkier.
Thinking this far, the Sword Champion sighed softly and began to answer Sora's questions.
And indeed, as someone who'd lived hundreds of years, the Sword Champion possessed far more knowledge than Sora had imagined.
Yet equally, his knowledge carried traces of hidden schemes…
The Xianzhou Alliance had passed through four distinct eras since its founding:
Long ago, countless Seekers aboard several massive Xianzhou ships departed their ancient homeland in search of immortal elixirs—the era known as the Lone Voyage Era.
After sailing thousands of years, the Xianzhou succeeded in obtaining divine blessings, wielding the immense power of gods—the Theophany Era.
But countless years later, these divine blessings revealed their true costs.
Those who'd gained immortality began suffering under eternal life's burdens.
Thus came the "overpopulation, starvation everywhere," "social collapse, towering structures about to crumble," "golden men rebelling, external enemies pressing close"—known collectively as the Three Sufferings Era.
In this dark age, a hero emerged, destroying the blessings and laying the foundation for the Xianzhou's path forward.
Return to mortality and cleanse immortality from the cosmos.
Thus, the Xianzhou Alliance forged ahead toward this goal.
Furthermore, remnants of these ruined blessings continued to attract others bearing similar curses.
Thus began endless battles throughout the cosmos—the Era of Bloodshed.
In this era, the Xianzhou hunted the stars, cleansing the scourge of immortality wherever found.
Foxians regained freedom and the skies; Vidyadhara sealed away pollution and calamities; three races formed their alliance, and the Xianzhou Alliance was fully established.
Yet just as the Alliance gradually stabilized, steadily progressing, the Denizens of the Abundance united and launched an attack upon the Xianzhou.
Threatened by constant purges, they banded together in opposition.
And amidst an endless battlefield, they finally chose to awaken a planet itself.
This was the cosmic entity known universally as 'Rahu, Devourer of Worlds.'
In this universe, Rahu was infamous beyond measure.
Because it had been crafted from a behemoth qualified to become an Emanator of VORACITY.
Through continuous corruption by the ABUNDANCE, it evolved into an apex being of boundless hunger and fecundity.
Directly confronting Rahu was none other than the Xianzhou Alliance's most prosperous flagship of the time—the Xianzhou Cangcheng.
The Cangcheng stood alone against Rahu. The outcome was predictable.
Empowered by both VORACITY and ABUNDANCE, and possessing top-tier innate qualities, Rahu stood virtually unrivaled beneath the Aeons themselves.
Even ordinary Emanators would hesitate before facing Rahu.
Consequently, General Futian, commander of the Xianzhou Cangcheng, suffered a crushing defeat.
His defeat led directly to the entire Xianzhou Cangcheng being devoured by Rahu.
By the time Futian recovered enough to stand, everything was already too late.
Countless lives had already perished within Rahu's belly.
"Facing that desperate scene, Futian realized that even unleashing all his power would accomplish nothing. Thus, he made a choice that defied ancestral prohibitions..."
At this point, the Sword Champion's gaze shifted onto Feng Liqi.
"That is, he formed a contract with the child of the Sui Emperor—the one treated as mere fuel for the Xianzhou—'Xi'..."
Feng Liqi softly spoke the words he had intended to say.
The Sword Champion nodded, continuing gently, "Using his own body and the blessings of the Arbiter-General as the price, Futian obtained Xi's aid in rallying every surviving Heliobus to protect the remaining lives..."
What followed was the history everyone living here knew well.
Xi saved those people, dividing them strictly into four realms, irrespective of morality or character.
She called herself an Upper God, ruling the Central Prefecture and periodically performing repairs on this fragmented realm.
Only recently, with Xi's sealing by Sora, had this centuries-long history finally drawn to a close.
"Didn't General Futian consider what would happen if she enslaved all living beings using her power?"
Yu Qi angrily interrupted, "Jiulan, trapped in the mountains, couldn't even produce food, surviving mostly through relief alone."
"Yet even those rations were rarely sufficient. Many remained hungry constantly."
That was precisely why Jiulan chose to resist Xi.
How could they be peaceful if they couldn't even fill their stomachs?
Hearing this, Xi immediately bounced wildly up and down, clearly agitated.
Seeing this, Feng Liqi quickly brought the ball over to Sora, saying carefully, "Sora, maybe you should loosen the seal just a little and see what she wants to say…"
Sora nodded, thinking if she immediately started cursing, he'd just seal her again.
He gently lifted a small corner of the seal of light and darkness, allowing Xi to speak again.
And immediately upon regaining her voice, she began roaring at Yu Qi:
"Have I ever denied your Jiulan's requests for increased supplies? It's clearly your own people who are impossible to feed!"
"I told you I have a contract with Futian—it was you who forced me to neglect your needs!"
Yu Qi immediately countered:
"Bullshit! Jiulan's population has remained constant for years! If you'd truly increased our supplies, how could we be starving?"
Sora found this voice unexpectedly high-pitched. It almost sounds like a woman…
Enemies meeting naturally had red eyes; each side instantly started listing the other's faults.
Jiulan accused Xi of deliberate mismanagement, retaliating for personal grudges.
Xi countered sharply: "Every other realm has plenty of resources! Why is it only your Jiulan constantly whining?"
Both sides had their logic.
Only when Sora spoke again did the two sides finally quiet down completely.
"This isn't the place for your arguments."
"Hmph. Fine, I'll show you some respect."
Xi snorted. She had finally regained her voice; she wouldn't risk being silenced again.
Feng Liqi quickly soothed her gently.
"Mr. Sora…" Yu Qi reluctantly swallowed his unfinished words.
Sora's authority couldn't be ignored, but anger still boiled inside her heart.
"This matter is for you to handle later. Right now, my priority is repairing this sky."
Sora reiterated his current goal.
Resource disputes could wait—right now, the skies above must be fixed first.
All other matters were secondary.
His words carried weight, stabilizing the situation quickly.
Once both sides had settled completely, Sora's gaze returned to the Sword Champion.
"Speak, how do we fix the sky's problem?"
"There are two solutions," the Sword Champion answered, looking toward Xi-ball.
"The first is her."
"The second is the Vidyadhara."
He then explained further:
"To resist Rahu's digestion, a Path's power is essential—the Flame Lord empowered by the Arbiter-General's blessing used exactly this principle."
"Vidyadhara inherently possess partial immortality. Coupled with the curse-remnant sealed by Fangyuan, they could similarly withstand Rahu's influence."
The second method matched precisely with the vision Sora had glimpsed previously.
Yu Qi could no longer hold back: "If that's true, why choose a contract with Heliobi in the first place?"
Even Vidyadhara were clearly preferable.
"You idiot! Because it'd only be temporary," Xi seized any chance to mock:
"Why do you think the Vidyadhara leader shed scales again so quickly after the battle?"
Yu Qi's eyes slowly widened.
"Could it be..."
"Exactly. By recklessly contacting what the Plagues Author left behind, their lifespan was halved. If they didn't molt again, they'd turn into Denizens of the Abundance."
Xi had fought the previous Vidyadhara leader, naturally sensing his condition clearly.
Yu Qi froze, stunned by Xi's words.
Yet soon, his expression twisted with indignation. "How could they even consider using the Plagues Author's power? They—"
"Cough. Yu Qi, shut it!" Sword Champion interrupted sharply with a cough.
Yu Qi was bewildered, but the Sword Champion quickly turned to Sora.
"I've already provided you the solutions available. You may visit the Vidyadhara's domain in a few days and check things yourself."
Sora nodded. Now that he knew the path forward, he certainly intended to visit.
"As for here..."
"Leave this worthless disciple to me. There's no need to trouble Mr. Sora."
Although the Sword Champion said that, Sora felt far from reassured. He immediately motioned Feng Liqi to leave with Xi.
He certainly didn't want to witness a touching scene of masterly affection and filial piety.
"The boy's at a critical juncture," the Sword Champion sighed inwardly, standing motionlessly.
Precisely because it was critical, he had to be harsh.
Otherwise, considering his limited days, this disciple would soon be left to fend for himself.
"Master, why wouldn't you let me speak?" After a prolonged silence, Yu Qi couldn't help but ask.
"The Plagues Author's legacy is explicitly forbidden by law. The Vidyadhara acted recklessly, surely—"
Before Yu Qi could finish, his master let out a long sigh.
"You still don't understand. Many here among the Xianzhou still don't understand. Even I took centuries to finally grasp this."
Yu Qi was left dumbstruck.
"How so?"
"What dignity are you still clinging to? What pride do you think you can afford?" The Sword Champion turned abruptly, glaring directly at Yu Qi.
"Sora just saved your lives from death's jaws, yet you dare place conditions? Even now you dare question the Vidyadhara's actions?"
"You didn't reflect for even a moment when I told you to apologize to Sora!"
His voice trembled with anger and disappointment. Yu Qi's words had revealed that he still hadn't grasped a crucial truth.
"Am I... wrong?" Yu Qi glanced hesitantly toward Sora beside him.
Though much older than Sora, he genuinely couldn't comprehend what was happening.
"You're wrong! You've been wrong from the very beginning! The Xianzhou Alliance? It's nothing but garbage now!"
His master's sharp words nearly made Yu Qi leap up in shock. Even Sora was startled.
Damn, this old guy really dares to speak his mind.
"Master, you—"
"Cough, cough." Sora quickly interrupted, "I can still heal injuries. As long as you're not outright dead, I can patch you up anytime."
It sounded like he was reassuring the Sword Champion, but his real intention was directed at Yu Qi.
If Yu Qi continued, the Sword Champion might really draw his sword again.
I'm saving you here, kid!
Realizing Sora's implication, Yu Qi immediately shut his mouth.
"You still don't get it. You're still standing up on your pedestal looking down on others..." The Sword Champion's voice shook with anger. "Let me ask you—right now, what do you think matters most?"
Yu Qi glanced uncertainly at him, then toward Sora.
Seeing Sora's encouraging nod, he cautiously answered:
"Feeding our people… then restoring the Xianzhou's former glory?"
"The first half is right, but the second is completely wrong—utterly and ridiculously wrong!"
Yu Qi fell silent, pondering his mistake.
Watching him struggle, the Sword Champion glanced toward Sora.
"Even young Sora here understands it better than you. Your age has been wasted on a dog!"
With those words, the Sword Champion vanished on the spot, leaving only Yu Qi and Sora behind.
Yu Qi pondered deeply, yet still couldn't reach a definite answer.
In the end, he looked helplessly at Sora beside him.
"Mr. Sora… could you please tell me the answer?"
Yu Qi had risen quickly to command the Xianzhou at such a young age; his intelligence was unquestionable.
Yet smarter people often overthink things, sometimes speeding straight toward success, but other times plunging headfirst into an abyss if they chose the wrong road.
Yu Qi realized he was hopelessly stuck in a trap of his own making. Only Sora could free him now.
"It's really quite simple..." Sora sighed, somewhat helplessly. "Aren't the actions of General Futian, the Vidyadhara who touched the Ambrosial Arbor of the Abundance, even your own actions, all for the same ultimate purpose?"
Yu Qi's brows furrowed thoughtfully.
Hearing it put this way, he started to grasp something.
"Could it be..."
"Yes. It's simply 'survival'."
Whether Futian, the Vidyadhara, or even the Xianzhou themselves, every action revolved around this single concept—'survival.'
Futian sacrificed his dignity as a HUNT-aligned Emanator, signing a contract with the Heliobi just to let these people live.
The Vidyadhara leader abandoned his own life's dignity, contacting relics of the ABUNDANCE just so his people could endure Rahu's digestion a few moments longer.
And yet, the Xianzhou still clung stubbornly to their pride… No wonder the Sword Champion felt disappointed.
"You Xianzhou people still think that here, trapped inside Rahu's belly, your status remains noble? That you're still a power capable of rivaling even the IPC?"
"Wrong!"
"You're nothing. Just a bunch of survivors kept alive only by Futian discarding his dignity," Xi hopped mockingly around Yu Qi, who stood silently lost in thought.
Yu Qi looked down at himself, falling into absolute silence.
Sora stepped forward, patting him on the shoulder gently. "Tomorrow, I'll need you to take me to the Vidyadhara's Fangyuan Realm. Get some rest early."
After that, Sora walked away quietly.
Yu Qi stood alone, the voices still echoing around him.
"Tsk, tsk. Never thought you'd be so nice to this self-important piece of trash."
"Aren't you talking a bit too much?"
"S-sorry! I really can't control Xi..."
"This coward wants to control me? Dream on!"
"Can't control her, huh? Maybe she needs another round of silence?"
The voices faded, leaving Yu Qi alone.
After a long while, he finally released the frustration trapped in his chest.
"This place being called the 'Rooftop' is really fitting..."
Right now, he felt as though he'd stepped out of a cramped room onto an open rooftop.
Having shed his pride and seen the truth, suddenly the heavens felt vast.
From the Rooftop, the sky he could see was broad, yet also incredibly cold.
Yet at the same time, he felt strangely curious.
Sora, who had led him here, letting him witness this expansive, chilling sky—
What exactly drove him forward?
---
T/N: IS YU QI ACTUALLY YU YI??? REVERSE TRAP?