Cultivating in Honkai!

Schicksal treats its valkyries well. The ones below B Rank work city-related honkai cases and logistics. B Rank valkyries and above have their own battlesuits and honkai weapons.

The Immortal Blades squad is Schicksal's cream of the crop. Most of them are equipped with third-generation battlesuits. They are capable of short-burst flights and parachuting from a thousand meter altitude.

The prototype of fourth-generation battlesuits worn by Durandal and Rita are fully capable of flight.

Durandal left the five unknown aircrafts to her squad, choosing to heed Otto's mission to take in the trade.

The scene when she arrived at the meeting point stunned her.

There are two forces, one invoking flames and the other frost. Their individual output surpasses a typical Herrscher's. The damage sustained by the Arctic continent was noticeable, though it could not touch a single bit of the huge locomotive train spanning nearly a kilometer long.

Coincidentally, she arrived when the fight reached its peak.

Beep-!

'The temperature dropped? No, not just that…'

She saw the extreme concentration of honkai energy within this place. Everywhere she looked, there was only an icy fog. The prototype fourth-generation battlesuit is working its best to regulate temperature, but even that wasn't enough to stop the piercing cold.

In the center of the battlefield, the temperature is absolute zero!

'Twenty thousand…'

Durandal wasn't given much time to think.

A carefully sculpted dragon (jiao) condensed out of thin air. Its length reached five hundred meters. Countless ice spears appeared midair. They are dense enough to fill in the surrounding airspace.

With the absolute zero temperature, Kevin's output could no longer suppress Shi Tian's Herrscher Authority.

It turned into a one-sided beating by the latter!

Sou-!

Sou-!

Crash-!

…

It took less than half a minute for their clash to end.

The ice dragon didn't pose much trouble. It was the absolute zero gnawing upon the ELF's defenses that broke it down.

With its power worn down, it was encased in a palm-sized ice cube.

Shi Tian caught it using [Cloud Seeking Steps]. Then, he dealt with the high honkai energy emission using [Two Phase Art]. The temperature began to rise as a result.

A minute later, the harmful honkai energy turned into invisible spiritual qi. A middle fourth-grade spirit vein was created instantly. More than half of Antarctica was engulfed by a thin blue mist. Light blue raindrops fell to the ground as dozens of different colors flashed from within the mist.

Durandal oversaw all the changes. She did not know how to react. Although, she can feel that each of her breathing was accompanied by a slight surge of strength.

It did not take long to get immersed in it.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

The footsteps woke her up.

Tap-!

Another footstep resounded, clearing forth the spiritual qi mist around them. It created an empty space where there is no mist.

The figure revealed himself. It is none other than Shi Tian.

The changes of the Five Elements Yin Spirit Root's upgrade extended to his appearance. His hair grew longer again. His already ethereal appearance became even more perfect. The atmosphere he emitted gave a comforting sense of peace.

Shi Tian's presence itself set himself apart from the rest of the world.

"Sorry for the trouble. It's settled now."

"No problem…"

Durandal blinked several times. He looked quite familiar in her eyes. She is currently fifteen years old. Only a year had passed since their coincidental meeting in Glastonbury. Shi Tian grew up to eighteen years old due to his cultivation progress.

She could not associate him with the young boy from before.

"I will bring you inside the Divine Key. Don't be surprised."

"I understand…"

Durandal was bewildered until she experienced Shi Tian's [Cloud Seeking Steps]. He held out his hand to her.

"..?"

"I need physical contact to use it."

Durandal complied. She held his hand out. The next moment, her surroundings changed.

'Isn't this like…'

"Sea of Quanta?"

She was startled by his accurate guess.

"..!"

"No. I can't read your mind."

She relaxed when she heard it.

"Most people will associate teleportation with the Sea of Quanta. Mine works differently."

"Are you…"

"Herrscher? Yes, I am one." He paused as he looked at her ocean blue eyes. "There are Herrschers who fight for humanity. Anti-Entropy's Sovereign is one. I am also."

Inwardly, Shi Tian thought of something else.

'It's the same…'

The resemblance of Bianka to Kiana shows itself during their talks.

"Your Overseer must have left out a lot of details."

"...I cannot deny that."

He nodded to her reply.

"Here is the control room. The train can traverse space. You can wait until Schicksal sends out more personnel to operate it."

Durandal followed through with the negotiations. She handed over the huge luggage-sized case she brought.

"The Gem of Desire is contained in a special case. It is quite tough, but it will become active once it is broken. The Divine Key is also inside." She then added, "The Overseer told me to pass this message."

Shi Tian's eyes saw through the Gem of Desire and the Seventh Divine Key in the form of a burning feather. The sight limited to Previous Era Divine Keys presented itself.

'Just like Raven's… It's okay.'

He swiped his hand on the luggage, storing it inside his storage ring.

The two fell to an awkward silence. Shi Tian is aware of his stranger status in Durandal's eyes.

He chose to end their meeting early.

"One last thing. That symbol is a gift to you."

"A gift..?"

She wanted to ask something when he disappeared. He left behind a perfectly frozen ice cube containing a chibi Kevin.

Just then, a buzzing sound rang in her ears.

The Durandal (sword) tried its best to transmit something to Durandal, but to no avail. It sounded more like a fangirl's cries to her ears.

'Wait.'

She had a feeling it was exactly like that!

*****

"Sister Bronya…"

It was 8 o'clock in the morning. A lot of things happened in the last fifteen minutes.

First, Shi Tian left for something.

Second, Kiana left to help her father.

Third, a wave of huge honkai beasts appeared near the town.

Bronya was forced to take care of these honkai beasts. Seele was left to defend the orphanage from Cocolia's ex-collaborators.

Having zero experience in fighting—even scared of it—Seele does not know what to do if an enemy truly comes.

{"You are really helpless…"}

A hint of joy could be heard from Seele's other self. Being relied upon is enough for her.

{"Someone's here."}

Seele did not need her other self's reminder. Her spiritual consciousness spanned a dozen miles. She noticed the intruder's arrival earlier than her other self.

This is the discovery they found—only Seele could utilize her mental and qi cultivation.

Taking the initiative lies on Seele. This won't change.

"Other me…"

{"You don't want to try? Your power will be wasted."}

"Um…"

Her words touched Seele. Her hesitation allowed the intruder to close the distance. She remains unaware of Seele's observation, dashing swiftly from the parked van across the road to the orphanage.

"...No!"

The thought of everyone being in danger filled her mind. Seele could no longer sit still.

There isn't anyone else who could help her now.

The orphanage's safety now lies on her.

'I won't let anyone get hurt..!'