[The group arrived at Dragonprayer Terrace and found the place already surrounded by flying swords filling the sky.]
[Guinaifen guessed this must be the Suiyang's illusion and urged Huohuo to shake her bell to see if she could get through to Yanqing. But not far away, Yanqing—with his back turned—gave a cold laugh and slowly turned around: "Illusion? Since you all can see it too, doesn't that mean you've also fallen into the illusion?"]
["No need to panic. In my view, this sword array is a very real arsenal treasure. Just by looking up at any one sword in it, a thousand moves unfold and demonstrate before my eyes—endless, far surpassing what Yanqing ever knew or learned before."]
["Moreover, it seems open to all comers, welcoming anyone who seeks a higher realm to come and take a look."]
[The sword array was transformed from the Suiyang Molten Torch. It promised to reveal the flaws in Yanqing's swordsmanship and help him ascend further. And the reason Yanqing brought it here was because this was the place where he had suffered repeated defeats.]
[At that moment, a smug voice suddenly rang out from within the sword array: "Young man, with me here, everything will be different. Whether it's Imbibitor Lunae, the Stellaron Hunters, or that woman who once taught you sword moves—your achievements will far surpass them all, limitless."]
——
Zenless Zone Zero.
"Looks like this place left a pretty heavy psychological shadow on Yanqing."
"Bro, if you were a heaven-blessed genius in swordsmanship and then got beaten round after round by some former sword champion, Stellaron Hunters, Dragon Venerable, and whatnot—you'd have a psychological shadow too." Belle sat cross-legged on the sofa, casually grabbing a bag of chips that Eous handed over. "I believe Yanqing can definitely become the sword champion of the Xianzhou—it's just this mindset… probably still needs more tempering."
Fairy's voice suddenly came from the ceiling: "Master, based on data analysis from 2365 wuxia novels, the failure rate for protagonists training in places of psychological shadow is 87.3%, with a 62.1% probability of failure due to possession/deviation. However, once they successfully break through, the probability of becoming the number one in the world is 97.6%. Conclusion: don't court death and you won't die, but courting death might make you a god."
"This time I actually kinda agree with Fairy." Wise smiled faintly. "But Yanqing being possessed looks a lot like deviation/possession. Can Stelle and Huohuo and the others really wake him up? I'm pretty doubtful."
"Second assistant, no need to doubt. Based on the emotional data I've captured, this little brother Yanqing is currently in an extremely excited state, fitting the basic characteristics of deviation/possession. Recommended treatment plans include: find a girlfriend, cultivate hobbies outside of sword practice, cease all contact with Dan Heng, Blade, and others."
"Fairy, shut up." Wise frowned and asked, "Why is 'find a girlfriend' one of your suggestions?"
"Easy to understand—girls' minds are more complex, harder to grasp, and more changeable than Xianzhou swordsmanship. And based on analysis of Yanqing's personality and emotional data, he doesn't seem like someone who can figure out a girl's thoughts."
"So it's a way to attract attention?" Belle propped her chin and thought for a moment. "But Yanqing looks like a total 'sword-sexual' type, right? Does someone like that really need a girlfriend?"
——
["You all came just in time. I've just gained some insights from the sword array—why not use you all as whetstones to test its edge?"]
[Without waiting for agreement, Yanqing immediately drew his sword and attacked, paying no mind to whether others were willing. With the Suiyang possessing him, his strength had indeed surged greatly—even Stelle was nearly injured by his sword qi and staggered back several steps.]
[Sushang was even less of a match. She could only barely protect little Guinaifen and Huohuo, and in a moment of carelessness, she was cut several times by his sword intent and was bleeding.]
[Seeing this, Yanqing lost all interest and sheathed his sword: "Your skills are truly crude. Continuing to fight would be meaningless…"]
[But the Suiyang's voice rang out in midair, tempting: "If so, why not just strike them down?"]
["Strike them… down? I thought this was just a spar." Yanqing's expression immediately turned panicked. He was naturally happy to spar, but he didn't want to create killing karma in a spar—especially since Sushang was his fellow Cloud Knight comrade.]
[Yet the Suiyang continued tempting him, claiming swordsmanship was the art of victory—victors live, losers die, a law of the universe—and only the victor's sword could be passed down.]
["But…" Yanqing was still unwilling and shook his head in difficulty.]
["You're resisting me?!" The Suiyang's voice suddenly rose several degrees. "Pointless mercy—if you can't let go of these distractions, how can you advance further! Raise your sword!"]
[While Yanqing hesitated, Sushang stepped forward and scolded the Suiyang: "Hmph hmph, victors live and losers die—putting on the airs of a lofty senior, but you're really just a bad thing that satisfies its own killing desire by manipulating others."]
["The Xuanyuan Sword in my hand is a family heirloom. When my mom entrusted it to me, she said: 'A swordsman must not fold paper too much.' I used to wonder what that really meant."]
["Today at this moment, I think I've figured it out—she probably meant 'the sword may bend, but the will must not be taken,' right?" Sushang looked seriously at Yanqing. "Yanqing the Valiant Guard, our fight just now hasn't decided a winner yet. Don't go deciding for yourself with lines like 'continuing would be meaningless'!"]
——
Honkai Impact 3rd.
"She's still so cultured." Rita covered her mouth and laughed softly.
"Uh… haha." Li Sushang laughed awkwardly twice, but looking up at Sushang's resolute eyes, she couldn't help feeling her blood surge. "But she said it so well! I feel like I'm about to burst into flames! As expected of my counterpart!"
"Indeed—just this courage alone does not disgrace her family heritage." Rita took a gentle sip of tea. "But her swordsmanship is truly far from Yanqing's level. Continuing the fight still holds no chance of victory—and with blades having no eyes… I'm worried Miss Sushang might meet with some accident."
Li Sushang was sweating profusely with anxiety: "I'm worried about that too—watching this is driving me crazy… sigh, I really wish I could go in and fight in her place. Sushang's swordsmanship hasn't reached full maturity yet; many of its exquisite points she still can't use—otherwise how could she be suppressed by Yanqing?"
"Oh? Does Sushang think that with her own swordsmanship, she could definitely beat Yanqing?" Rita's smile was like a spring breeze.
"Of course—besides our family swordsmanship, my Taixu Sword Qi was first cultivated in sword heart, then sword form. It's not inferior to Yanqing's at all." With that, Li Sushang proudly puffed out her chest. "I admit he's very talented, but on the path of swordsmanship—who wasn't a genius when they were young?"