A Thousand-Person Ruler's Personal Opinion

"Yeah, Mom, that person, we never imagined she'd fall in love before. How could we not worry? From now on, we'll be your secret spies. If you and Cocolia-mama run into any problems, don't give up. Find us, and we'll definitely sort everything out cleanly for you!"

"Shouldn't you be telling your mother this kind of concern first?"

"Let's forget about Mom. If she doesn't tell us, it's probably because she can't bring herself to. Just understand. In short, you two need to get along well. We'll also wait patiently for the day Mom is willing to tell us."

Rosaliya grinned, patting her chest like a miniature adult, as if she were the elder worrying about her daughter's romantic troubles.

Liliya also puffed out her chest, wearing the same proud expression.

Kuerla couldn't hold back any longer and laughed heartily, feeling greatly relieved.

Rosaliya, however, thought Kuerla wasn't taking it seriously, so she quickly tugged on Kuerla's sleeve and said:

"We're serious! Mom has been working hard for everyone in the orphanage. She's so tired and never thinks about herself. She hasn't changed her clothes or bought any new jewelry in years... Mom has done so much for us, and we also want Mom to be happy."

Rosaliya and Liliya's moods immediately turned somber. Those warm yet hardship-filled years weren't that far in the past, and they couldn't possibly forget them.

The Arin sisters had always been the notorious troublemakers at the orphanage. They had also received the most care. Perhaps because of this, they were best able to understand the love and concern their older sisters and Cocolia had for them.

Therefore, they always wanted to do something in return for the love they received, but often their actions ended in failure, adding another mark to their troublemaking record.

Unlike the more rational An and Bronya, they used their naive understanding to conclude that Cocolia and Kuerla were in a relationship, and thus they had been trying to get closer to Kuerla. In a way, they had indeed stumbled upon truths that others wouldn't have considered.

Whether it was astonishing intuition or a lucky accident, it no longer mattered.

Through Kuerla's eyes, the Anqi looked at the simple and clumsy sisters, feeling that beneath their adorable exteriors, their two crystal-clear hearts were equally endearing.

The construction of the East Sea Base was primarily to serve the goal of finding and conquering Chi You, and incidentally to expand Cocolia's influence.

However, this was not a task that could be accomplished in a day. Even though Anti-Entropy's technology was a generation ahead of the secular world, building a stable high-tech base on the sea, similar to St. Freya, would take half a year to a year.

During this time, Cocolia, Kuerla, Ninti, and Titan Anqi could only stay at the gradually expanding East Sea Base, temporarily away from people.

However, surveying the surrounding waters to find the Nine Nether Ruins also required time. Coupled with the fact that Cocolia and Ninti's affairs were already quite conspicuous, a period of quiet was indeed needed to allow all relevant parties to calm their emotions and reason, so they could better accept these two new figures.

Therefore, on the St. Freya side, Bronya gathered reassuring information, and those who knew the situation there breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Only Anqi, who was "unaware" of everything, continued to enthusiastically learn Taixu Sword Qi from Fu Hua, and the term "Master" became more and more natural.

"The Form Manifestation of Taixu's Five Elements is divided into four styles: Guard, Transform, Initiate, and Open, totaling twenty-one forms. People at the time called it 'all-encompassing martial arts,' referring to the Form Manifestation's comprehensive nature in its moves. Anqi, since you have already achieved the Still Water state of the Mind Manifestation, the next step is to master the Form Manifestation and convert Honkai Energy into the power of the sword."

In the pre-dawn morning, just before the sun rose, Fu Hua looked at the graceful young girl before her, and a genuine smile appeared on her usually calm and rigid face.

She was fortunate that someone could still learn Taixu Sword Qi, and even more fortunate that Anqi could use it to mitigate the damage from Honkai Energy, preventing her from withering away in the prime of her life.

Anqi raised her hand then and said in a voice as clear as a bell, "Master, I have a question!"

"Yes, tell me."

"I've also been reading martial arts materials from Shenzhou recently and noticed the frequent appearance of the concept 'going berserk.' Master, you said that going berserk means being controlled by Honkai Energy. So, will our 'Sword Heart Art' carry this risk? After all, I've found that after cultivating the Sword Heart, the control over Honkai Energy and the usage limit have both increased significantly."

Anqi blinked, asking with a look of innocence. In reality, she was indirectly trying to gather information about the after-effects of "Divine Sound."

So far in her training, the Anqi had not encountered any problems. Instead, they had benefited far beyond their imagination in terms of output power and control. However, the thought of a mental imprint was truly bothersome. If possible, she wanted to clarify it.

Fu Hua pondered for a moment and replied, "Your concern is valid. The path of cultivation is long and endless, and various problems can accumulate into inner demons, causing flaws in the mind, which malevolent thoughts within Honkai Energy can exploit. However, the 'Sword Heart Art' has been refined by generations of Taixu successors and is already close to perfection. Theoretically, as long as you diligently cultivate the Sword Heart daily and ensure your state of mind is stable and clear, you will not be corrupted by Honkai Energy."

"Master, your explanation is so vague!"

"Anqi, profound martial arts are like this. Many things can only be subjectively felt and overcome by you. Knowing is knowing, and not knowing is not knowing; it cannot be clearly described in words. Instead of dwelling on such issues, it's better to focus on your training and reach a higher level as soon as possible. Judging from past history, the higher the realm, the lower the possibility of being influenced by Honkai Energy."

"So, is going berserk only caused by being controlled by Honkai Energy? Are there other possibilities? For example, I feel that as the Sword Heart is practiced further, the state of mind becomes more and more distant from ordinary people. Is it possible that in the end, I'll become a robot that doesn't understand emotions?"

Anqi pressed on, appearing naive and curious.

Fu Hua opened her mouth, and after a moment, she couldn't speak.

Other forms of going berserk, emotionless robots—these descriptions touched upon some historical events. Although Fu Hua couldn't recall them completely, how could she not have thoroughly investigated the human tragedy from five hundred years ago afterward?

Finally, Fu Hua sighed and replied, "Don't worry, there won't be such a problem."

"Really, Master?"

"Really. The problem you mentioned does exist. In the past, some predecessors did fall into the inner demon of 'those who go berserk must be executed.' But this problem has been resolved, and you will not encounter such danger. I guarantee it."

Fu Hua subconsciously stroked the top of Anqi's head, looking at her gently as an elder, trying to dispel Anqi's "unease" in this way.

So, Master has likely cracked the hidden danger of "Divine Sound" and modified the "Sword Heart Art" accordingly?

At least she should be confident that we won't be troubled by "those who go berserk must be executed."

Come to think of it, besides Kiana, isn't there also Li Sushang? She also achieved Sword God, and she still chats and laughs with the Herrschers! Cheng Lingshuang is also said to have gone further than Master in Taixu Sword Qi, and she doesn't seem to have any issues either.

So, this problem might truly have a solution and isn't as perilous as we imagine. Perhaps we can be a bit more relaxed and increase the intensity with Taixu Sword Qi?

The Anqi didn't receive a completely definitive answer, but they did have some conjectures, and at least their worries were somewhat alleviated.

However, Anqi soon had no time to think further. Fu Hua began to teach the forms of the Form Manifestation, and she could only busy herself with memorizing and understanding. In focused cultivation, Anqi gradually lost track of time.

Chapter Sixty-Three: Wendy, Let's Build a Box

Time in cultivation passed without notice. At St. Freya, An had no other worries and only needed to focus on cultivating her state of mind and swordsmanship.

When people become engrossed in their endeavors, they tend to overlook other matters.

"I'm back~~"

On a night with a bright moon and sparse stars, An pushed open the door, changed her shoes at the entrance, and after a quick wash of her hands and face, she sat directly at the dining table.

At that moment, Raiden Mei had just finished serving dinner. She greeted An with a smile.

Then, An felt two gazes filled with immense resentment.

Kiana: "(?o 3o?) Stare~~"

Himeko: "( 'o︵o` ) Stare~~"

An tilted her head and blinked her eyes innocently.

"Himeko, Kiana, is something wrong with your eyes?"

Kiana and Himeko then embraced each other, making motions as if wiping away tears.

Kiana: "Himeko, Himeko, are we women of the past now?"

Himeko: "Yes, Kiana. Someone has completely stopped caring about us. She's forgotten her old love now that she has a new flame!"

An, with chopsticks in her mouth, looked blankly at Bronya and Raiden Mei. They both shrugged, indicating they didn't know what was going on.

At this point, Kiana and Himeko's voices became increasingly self-pitying.

Himeko: "Sigh, back then, you used to say you liked Himeko the most and would make delicious food for Himeko every day!"

Kiana: "Yeah, yeah! You even put up a notice at the door to stop me from entering the kitchen!"

Himeko: "But now you don't even spare me a glance in class, only staring at your master!"

Kiana: "Yeah, yeah! You don't even make bentos for me anymore!"

Himeko & Kiana: "We're so pathetic, sob sob sob~~"

An: "(￣□￣;)! "

An's chopsticks fell onto the table. Her small mouth opened, but she was stunned, unsure how to react.

"Is... is it really that exaggerated?"

"Yes!"

"Do you know how much the quality of our meals has dropped during this time!?"

Himeko and Kiana slammed the table simultaneously and loudly accused her.

Of course, Kiana's focus remained solely on the food.

For a simple-minded creature who loved good food and hated effort, experiencing the golden combination meal of An and Raiden Mei, only to have it drop back to the usual high-quality meals prepared by Raiden Mei alone, was an unbearable difference.

"Slap!"

At this moment, Raiden Mei smiled, replaced her broken chopsticks with a new pair, and then gently gazed at Kiana.

Kiana froze for a moment, then cold sweat broke out.

"Kiana, are you saying my cooking is no longer satisfying you?"

"No! Absolutely not! My loyalty to Mei is as clear as the sun and moon! There is no second sun in the sky; Mei is my only sun!" Kiana declared sternly and resolutely, crossing her arms.

"Oh, is that the truth?"

"It's the absolute truth! It's just that, with An's help, Mei's cooking does become a little bit better, just a tiny bit, really just... Ow!"

Kiana gestured with her index finger and thumb, trying her best to express her unparalleled loyalty, and then had her ear "gently" held by a smiling Raiden Mei.

The "Anti-An's Cultivation Obsession and Neglect of Home" alliance lost a major general in Kiana. She was now too busy flattering and appeasing the great chef of the household to attend to the alliance's grand cause.

The alliance leader, Murata Himeko, pouted, cursed "useless" under her breath, and then glared fiercely at An.

"I am not that weak and incompetent waste! An, your crime of only being intimate with Fu Hua and neglecting us..."

"Himeko, if I pick up my sword, I cannot cook for you, but if I put down my sword, I cannot protect you!"

An cupped Himeko's soft, delicate little hand, her crystal-clear purple eyes filled with deep affection.

Himeko's emotions were instantly interrupted, and she stammered, "Well, it doesn't have to be to that extent..."

"Don't worry, Master is just Master. Himeko, you are the one I love the most. Please bear with it a little longer. This temporary separation is for our eternal togetherness, Himeko!"

"You don't have to go that far. I just wanted to ask if you could come home to cook occasionally. Meals are still very important." Himeko said awkwardly, trying to pull her hand away, but she couldn't free herself from An's grasp.

I'm finished. Does this child really have those kinds of thoughts? I don't do loli... Bah, I mean, I like guys!

Under An's sparkling, affectionate gaze, it was now the alliance leader's turn to break out in a cold sweat.

" ξ+(? ? ?)+ξ hic"

Bronya ate her dinner alone, chopsticks untouched by anyone else. She hadn't even eaten a few bites when, for some reason, she let out a natural burp.

"Rumble～～"

At the Schicksal Oceania Branch, by the coast, the crimson sunset slowly sank in the distance, the waves crashing.

Beneath such a beautiful scene, two wheelchairs were quietly placed on the shore. Two adorable little lolis with blissful expressions lay in them, each holding a thermos.

"Ah, this is the life～～" ×2

Wendy and Delta squinted, basking in the seaside sunset.

Suddenly, Wendy sat up a little straighter, opened her thermos, and poured hot water with goji berries. She said with a sigh, "Sigh, why didn't I realize sooner how beautiful the sunset here is? I feel like I've wasted so many opportunities!"

"Calm down, you were just too driven in the past! Look, you're already an A-rank Valkyrie at this age. Where would you find the time to enjoy yourself? You should learn from me, just go with the flow. A comfortable life is the way to live."

Delta remained motionless, except for the sideways glance she cast at Wendy. The rest of her was like a salted, aged fish that only tasted salty no matter how you flipped it.

Meanwhile, in places unknown to Wendy, there were still a dozen or twenty Anqis working tirelessly day and night on their respective cultivation and training.

As the saying goes, there are two ways to defeat your competitors: one is to work yourself to death, and the other is to persuade others not to work so hard, and then work yourself to death. Clearly, the latter is more effective.

Wendy drowsily drank her goji berry tea, gazing at the beautiful scenery and feeling the comfort of the warm sea breeze on her skin. Then she frowned, "It's enjoyable, yes, but Delta, we're Valkyries after all! I feel guilty being so decadent."

"Then why don't you go and do a set of Valkyrie daily training exercises right now?"

"...My legs are paralyzed!"

"Exactly, mine are too! We're just consumables for this experiment now. We might be moved into that small, square box in a couple of days, the whole thing weighing about 1.5 jin. If you don't enjoy yourself now, do you plan to enjoy yourself in the box?"

Delta slowly gestured the shape of a square urn while saying this with her dead fish eyes.