Cultivating the sword... cultivating this kind of extreme is fatal.
Appropriate youthful spirit is a benefit; excessive youthful spirit is a harm. High aspirations are, of course, necessary. But Yanqing's current attitude of "I can easily achieve high aspirations" is absolutely unacceptable.
If he is allowed to continue down this path with such an attitude, over time, it could directly destroy his attainments in the way of the sword. The reason is simple: he has talent. But his talent is not enough—not enough for him to cultivate this sword.
One must know that in this vast universe, the thing most abundant is geniuses in every field. He is invincible among his peers now, but that does not mean he can remain invincible forever. Yanqing urgently needs a setback to correct his state of mind.
The later this setback comes, the greater the harm to him. If it is delayed until much later, it won't be called a setback anymore. Because only what one can overcome is a setback; what one cannot overcome should be called the shattering of one's Dao Heart.
So it cannot be delayed. The difficulty of overcoming it in the future versus overcoming it now is worlds apart. If it is snuffed out just as it sprouts, Yanqing can easily stand up again. And his comprehension of the sword will go a step further.
Jingliu's sword has suffered setbacks more than once. These setbacks also transformed the sword in her hand from a tangible object into nothingness. Previously, she used a weapon to kill enemies; now, she uses the purest sword to kill enemies.
And since Yunli obviously cannot make him feel that setback, Jingliu decided to take action personally. Consider it some care for her grand-disciple.
"Uh, Big Sister, if you have eye problems, shouldn't you go see a doctor instead of joining the fun to watch swordplay?" Yanqing scratched his head, not thinking she could understand it.
"I think she isn't blind at all."
Yunli frowned tightly, her words already carrying vigilance toward her. Her talent as a craftsman since childhood was the ability to communicate with weapons. This woman before her gave her a very strange feeling. She was clearly a human, yet she gave Yunli the illusion of a sword.
Like, do you understand that feeling where the person in front of you is alive, but she is actually dead? Yunli had never seen such an existence. Resembling a sword yet not a sword, it was simply as if she had chosen to give up being human and become a sword with her body.
Jingliu was just about to clarify that she covered her eyes with black gauze only to avoid seeing things that reminded her of people—
"She really isn't blind."
Someone answered for her a step ahead.
"After all, having spent so much time together, I wasn't aware that my Master was a 'Deficient One'."
The sound of three people's footsteps approaching rang out from the side.
"General?"
Seeing the arrival, Yanqing shouted with both surprise and joy. "Why are you here? Could it be you came to witness my victory?"
He was quite surprised, not understanding why Jing Yuan would suddenly appear.
"No, because of some other small matters." Jing Yuan smiled upon hearing this, his gaze not leaving Jingliu for a second.
"Long time no see, Master."
He looked at her, calling out that address—strange yet familiar—that no one had answered to for many years.
"Master...?"
Yanqing's head buzzed when he heard this title. He turned his head again, his gaze toward Jingliu now filled with more shock and surprise. Master? Jing Yuan's master? Who on earth is she?
"Your disciple is very good."
Jingliu did not answer to this 'Master', but neither did she deny it.
"That is of course. He is the future Sword Champion of the Luofu." Jing Yuan chuckled softly, complex emotions rising in the depths of his eyes because of her.
He thought he had prepared himself mentally, that there would be no waves when they met again. But when he truly saw Jingliu's living figure, Jing Yuan couldn't help but feel some melancholy. Time passes so fast; for long-life species, several hundred years pass unknowingly. It turns out that even his last meeting with her was already a matter of Star Calendar Year 7380.
"The one with the tarnished name is me, not this title." Jingliu knew. "A dead person shouldn't become an obstacle for young people."
Because of her, the Luofu Sword Champion became a taboo that couldn't be mentioned for a long time. Consequently, there hasn't even been a successor since her.
"Imbibitor Lunae, you came too. What, are you also worried about her?" Jingliu looked at Dan Heng standing at the very back and spoke calmly.
"The Dragon Lady is my friend. I cannot watch indifferently as trouble finds its way to her door." Dan Heng met her gaze directly. "I have no intention of participating in your past events, but I will not evade any of Dan Feng's sins."
"Trouble? For a sinner like me to approach her... it should indeed count as trouble for her." Jingliu looked at Bailu not far away, murmuring to herself. "But I just wanted to see her. Just to see how she is living now."
Her voice became much smaller, carrying a unique kind of persistence.
"The Dragon Lady is living very well." Jing Yuan stepped forward, answering this question for her. "Before this, I wouldn't have dared to say she was living very well."
Imprisoned by the Preceptors, treated as a political tool. Such a life, in Jing Yuan's view, certainly couldn't be described with the word 'well' for Bailu.
"But now, General Leon has resolved everything. No one will force her anymore. Whether it is the Preceptors preaching tradition or anything else, no one will force her again. She can be herself. Her true self."
Jing Yuan thanked Leon from the bottom of his heart. Because for the entire High Elder issue, only he had the ability to eradicate it completely. And he wouldn't leave any problems regarding the aftermath.
With Dan Heng's return now, the High Elders were already much better off than what was heard before.
"Jingliu thanks the Dragon Lady on her behalf." Hearing Jing Yuan's words, Jingliu's pupils, covered by black gauze, turned toward Leon. "What meaning?"
It was Leon himself who couldn't stand those damned High Elders, so he saved Bailu in passing. She wasn't the person herself; why did he need her thanks?
"This should be our first formal meeting." Jingliu sized up this living legend through the black gauze. "Leon, the Emanator suddenly born during the recent Third Abundance War, the Eighth General of the Xianzhou, and at the same time a Galaxy Ranger. I wonder if there are any omissions in what I said?"
Jingliu helped throw out his self-introduction, then looked at him and asked.
"There isn't enough room here for that many people." Hearing her recite his list of titles, Leon replied subconsciously. "However, the omissions are actually quite significant; your intelligence capabilities still need improvement."
He expressed that he had more 'vests' (identities) than she could imagine. When out and about, identities are always given by oneself.
"My name is Jingliu, currently a sinner of the Xianzhou." Jingliu didn't say anything to that, looking at him and introducing herself. "First time meeting, General Leon."
In her plan, Leon was also an indispensable link.
"First time meeting, Prisoner Jing." Leon recognized her; this one's intensity was also quite good in the past. She had also dominated the Memory of Chaos for a long time.
Playing Seele in 1.0, playing Imbibitor Lunae in 1.3, playing Jingliu in 1.4, playing Acheron in 2.0—this is the most successful 'Star Rail life' for a 'wheelchair' player. You say the character is strong? You are right. Once is an accident, but what about multiple times? The one who is strong has always been himself!
"State your intention for coming this time, Master." After the two exchanged greetings, Jing Yuan interjected with a deep voice. "Otherwise, I might have to invite you to take a trip to the Shackling Prison."
"My objective, our objectives, are consistent." Jingliu looked as if she had nothing to fear, remaining calm. "I came back this time to lend the Alliance a hand, to complete the lifelong cherished wish of every Xianzhou native."
Jingliu spoke word by word, neither rushed nor impatient. "The Reignbow Arbiter, the Progenitor of Ruin, the Progenitor of Plagues."
"The War of the Aeons has long since begun. This is a chess match where gods confront each other; if you do not stand on the winning side, you are the loser."
Accompanied by Jingliu's spoken words, Jing Yuan's expression gradually became grave.
"How should one kill 'The Abundance'? Since receiving a divine revelation and breaking free from the Mara-Struck state, I have traveled through all worlds and finally obtained the answer."
Jingliu kept them in suspense, not stating this answer directly. "I already have the method to contend with a god in my hands. Jing Yuan, this time, the Alliance must put 'The Abundance' to death."
Jingliu looked at him, quietly waiting for his answer.
Jing Yuan remained silent. "...Put 'The Abundance' to death?"
It took a good while to fully digest the information before he spoke. "Words without proof. The Alliance currently does not have this ability."
While saying this sentence, Jing Yuan observed Jingliu's expression. She didn't have any obvious reaction; it seemed she was also clearly aware of the fact that the Alliance lacked this ability.
"Are you trying to pull the Alliance into the game, making them all your capital?" As a General of Wisdom, Jing Yuan was naturally no fool upon hearing this.
She wanted the Xianzhou Alliance to place a bet, to invest in the method of contending with gods she spoke of.
"Regarding the matter of 'The Abundance', when has the Alliance ever stayed out of it?" Jingliu said indifferently.
Enter the game? What game? For people who have long been in the center of the board, how can one speak of entering the game?
"...Speak. What does the Alliance need to pay?" Jing Yuan had a thousand thoughts, but ultimately decided to ask. Listening wouldn't cause any loss anyway, and perhaps he could fish out some things. For example, regarding her receiving a divine revelation—whose revelation did she receive that allowed her to recover from the Mara-Struck state to normalcy?
"I need a drop of 'Golden Blood of Destruction'."
Jingliu went straight to the main topic, her gaze landing on Leon.
Golden Blood of Destruction was not easy to obtain. But no matter what, slaying a Lord Ravager would surely yield some from their body. And as an existence who had consecutively killed three Lord Ravagers, if one were to say who in the current universe was most likely to possess Golden Blood, it would only be Leon.
If he was willing to help, then Jingliu's plan could completely be described as getting twice the result with half the effort. Therefore, she needed not only the Alliance's attitude but, more importantly, Leon's attitude. Or rather, Leon's attitude represented the Alliance's attitude. Even if the latter agreed temporarily, as long as the former said a word, the stance would shift immediately.
"You want the Alliance to help you hunt a Lord Ravager?" Hearing 'Golden Blood of Destruction', Jing Yuan frowned tightly. "You want to join hands with 'The Destruction'? The one who let you break free from the Mara was actually Nanook?"
This was something he absolutely hadn't expected. No wonder she mentioned the Progenitor of Ruin earlier. In Jing Yuan's expectation, regarding the Paths that could resist the Mara-Struck... 'The Equilibrium' had the highest possibility, 'The Permanence' wasn't impossible, 'The Preservation'—though likely rare—still had hope, and 'The Enigmata' also had some reasoning.
No, what do you mean by 'The Destruction'?
No one could have imagined that the ally Jingliu chose would be Destruction.
"As long as it can be used by the Alliance, does it matter whose power it is?" Jingliu had no reaction to Jing Yuan's surprise. "Even regarding the most boycotted 'The Abundance', aren't we ourselves using His power?"
In a certain sense, the Xianzhou Alliance were the largest Denizens of Abundance in the entire galaxy.
"Is your plan to let yourself ascend to become a Lord Ravager?" Golden Blood of Destruction, an extraordinary item; ordinary people die upon touching it. However, judging from the four words 'received divine revelation', Jingliu had already obtained Nanook's approval.
Then, her purpose for wanting this drop of Golden Blood was already imaginable.
"'Nanook's weapon for burning the Path'." Jing Yuan spoke the commentary on Lord Ravagers, like a pyramid scheme pitch. He felt Jingliu had been tricked onto the pirate ship of 'The Destruction' by this one sentence.
"However, pardon my bluntness. One Lord Ravager is not quite enough against 'The Abundance'."
If it was just adding one 'Emanator' and claiming to put The Abundance to death, then Jing Yuan could only say: if she had Leon's intensity, he would believe it. If not, then Jing Yuan could only say that even when the Alliance gained a great general like Leon, they didn't dare say they would put The Abundance to death. Just adding one Lord Ravager gives you the confidence to say it?
"'The Destruction' is used to temper the sharp arrows of 'The Hunt'. And this is only the beginning of the plan; I have prepared more than one great gift for 'The Abundance'."
To this, Jingliu remained calm, not changing in any way because of his words.
Jing Yuan fell silent again, and at the same time, was somewhat confused. Judging from her performance, saying she had a well-thought-out plan was no problem. But this was exactly the point of his confusion. What exactly was this plan that made her so confident? Or was it simply the fearlessness of a desperate struggle?
This wasn't child's play, but killing 'The Abundance'. Killing an 'Aeon', extinguishing a 'Path'. He didn't understand, really didn't understand—what exactly gave Jingliu such confidence?
"I have to report to the Marshal for instructions." Jing Yuan pondered again and again, finding that this matter really couldn't go without asking the Marshal. Anyway, he couldn't make the decision.
"Report to the Marshal? Is there really a need to report?" Jingliu heard this and spoke coldly. "In the current scene, isn't there an existence who can directly decide what the subsequent direction will be?"
She looked at Leon, her meaning self-evident.
Jing Yuan moved with her gaze, also letting his line of sight fall upon him. He understood what she meant. If it were him, he could indeed decide directly, and nail down exactly what the hell the subsequent direction would be. Because the decisions the Xianzhou Alliance made regarding Leon were literally 'one implies one, two implies two' (absolute obedience). If he said no investment, then absolutely no investment; if he said increase the stake, then say no more and directly increase the stake.
Asking for Leon's opinion was indeed more effective than asking the Marshal.
"...General Leon, do you have any views on this?" Jing Yuan asked for his views on Jingliu's plan.
"Views? What views?" Leon listened to the end and only remembered Jingliu wanting to ascend to a Lord Ravager; everything else went in the left ear and out the right.
"What views are needed for this? Do you expect me to say: 'If the Xianzhou can tolerate this one continuing to act recklessly, then surely you can tolerate me retiring to my hometown'?"
Saying so, he spread open his palm, and the aura of Destruction surged violently!
—The Golden Blood of Destruction appeared out of thin air!
_____
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