Cultivating in Honkai!

Theresa has a lot of questions in her mind. She did not have the time to organize her thoughts. Right after saving dozens and carrying them outside the toxic fog's range, the rather huge disturbance on the streets took her attention. The loud roar of a dragon, in particular, shattered hundreds of windows.

When she arrived, she happened upon Siegfried and Kiana.

The latter looked at her father. He passed on the gaze back to Theresa.

"It's a long story. Let's save it for later."

Theresa knew it wouldn't be appropriate to press on it. The most important thing to do now is to save the civilians.

Ring-!

Siegfried's ordinary watch lit up. Its glass texture changed to pure white.

"What happened downstairs? We cordoned off the entire district…"

Raiden Ryoma was present inside the ME Corp building when the attack happened. He immediately dispatched the available Titan units and cordoned off the entire city district.

Such a large-scale movement was hard to implement. Fortunately, he established a lot of connections within the Far East.

A simple incident report stating "terrorist attacks occurring nearby ME Corp" is enough to convince the government officials. ME Corp brought huge benefits to the Far East's economic growth. It is a bonafide top ten enterprise across the entire world.

"It's a terror attack involving a honkai beast. I haven't seen it before…"

Siegfried was busy talking with Ryoma. This left Kiana and Theresa alone.

"Hello, aunt."

Kiana greeted her first.

"How are you these years? I tried to find you and Siegfried but…" She cut off her depressing words. "You grew up well…"

Kiana's 165cm height contrasted her real age. Qi Refining and Purple Mansion Realm breakthroughs induced growth. She looks like her eighteen-year-old self despite being only fifteen. The lively yet refined air looked a lot like Cecilia.

"It's good you haven't inherited your dad's recklessness."

"..."

Kiana could not speak. She knew very well how reckless she was. Her cultivator demeanor hides her childish side.

Theresa continued speaking like a true aunt. She pointed out Kiana's similarities to Cecilia, to which Kiana took great interest. The two of them got along easily. This continued until the purple gas dissipated completely.

Nagazora City no longer posed any honkai-related threats…

…or not.

Siegfried hung up the call. His serious expression told everything to the two.

"I need to go. My friend's daughter went missing."

"Ah?"

They watched as his figure disappeared from the streets.

Just as Kiana was about to contact him mentally, someone else arrived.

Shi Tian's figure solidified from his previous misty state. [Cloud Seeking Steps] is dependent on spiritual qi. With both distance and time as scales, he can conveniently traverse kilometers in a single step.

His cultivator outfit dissolved. He is back to wearing his casual outfit: an oversized shirt and a pair of jogging pants. He looked more like a handsome guy who went out for a walk.

"You're already back?! It's only been fifteen minutes."

"The enemy's strength is not as strong as expected." He paused and looked at her. "Even you can beat him."

"Why does it sound wrong…"

Kiana realized what he implied.

"I'm not that weak!"

"The Tuna really grew up. To think you will understand it now…"

Kiana with college-level knowledge is a far cry from her former self. The main reason why she fell behind studies in St. Freya is due to her lacking lower-level education. She could not study well as she went from one place to another.

With a Purple Mansion Realm's mental power, it is a trifle to study.

Shi Tian shifted his gaze to the short loli. He saw the confusion and curiosity in her eyes.

He did not shy away from her gaze and took out a blank paper.

Theresa's small eyes widened.

"So it's you?!"

"We have a lot of things to talk about, Principal."

Her gaze shifted from him to Kiana. She noticed the guilt on her face.

"You know him, Kiana?"

Kiana nodded. Her double braids followed her movements.

"He is my… best friend."

Theresa saw her acting closely with Shi Tian. Just the way she held his pinky finger is blatant to her emotional quotient.

'A lot of things happened…'

Her eagerness to catch up grew stronger.

"I overheard your father's problem. He's looking for his friend's daughter, right?"

"Did you see something?"

"Yes." He nodded. "She's being held by…"

Shi Tian's look changed.

"Not good. I'll be right back!"

He did not have the time to explain everything to her.

Tap.

Tap.

Two short distances were crossed with the [Cloud Seeking Steps]. His figure flickered as he arrived at a dark alley. There are two people, a woman and a girl. Traces of the girl being dragged to this place could be seen on the ground.

Tap.

His figure reappeared behind the woman. A flash of white light emerged from Shi Tian's sight.

Hum-!

[Blade Mantra]'s mental attack succeeded. It momentarily immobilized the woman.

'A Herrscher Core!'

His spiritual consciousness caught a small orange fragment inside the woman's chest.

Before Shi Tian could make another move, the woman fell to the ground.

Thud-!

'She died.'

The woman committed suicide. He noticed the Herrscher Core flicker as she did so.

He did not have the time to mull over it.

"You…"

The peaceful surroundings changed. The girl's eyes opened. Her red pupils stared at his golden eyes. Her voice carried a hint of majesty. Some of the objects on the ground rose up.

The girl, Raiden Mei, looked at Shi Tian warily.

"...belong to the same kind."

"Not really." He shook his head. "You can't sustain yourself for long. Even if you can…"

Sword Light Refraction.

Purple Mansion cultivation.

Blade Mantra's [True Form].

Three different sources of strength emerged from him. The majestic aura was easily overwhelmed. What remained is the vast sharpness Shi Tian held. It was both intimidating and fascinating; cold and amicable.

Since she looked at his eyes, she saw these opposing yet harmonious concepts existing within him.

Raiden Mei's body trembled. The difference between their levels is too high. Shi Tian made her feel he could kill her in one move!

She put away her hostility.

Although she is a Natural Stigma nourished by Raiden Mei's dark thoughts, she can still recognize reality.

"You are lucky she did nothing."

"Luck." She coldly dismissed his words. "Her head would have been blown away."

"Never underestimate your enemies."

Shi Tian did not explain further. His spiritual consciousness penetrated the dead woman's body.

'Herrscher of Domination…'

Had the Herrscher of Domination stashed Raiden Mei inside the Domination Theater, even Kiana would be troubled to track her down. Who knows what she would do once she realizes it wasn't a Herrscher Core, but the combination of a Natural Stigma and a Gem.

'We haven't considered this…'

*****

A/N: I am changing the PS requirements for this week. 800 PS equates to 2 Bonus Chapters.