I, Fu Yuan, Will Dominate the Holy Grail War

Fu Yuan's back bore three conspicuous, scarlet, strange markings.

These scarlet markings would appear on Fu Yuan's back after he equipped Stigmata, with each Stigmata possessing its own unique imprint pattern.

The three scarlet markings that now appeared on Fu Yuan's back corresponded to the three Stigmata he had equipped.

Looking at the three scarlet markings in the mirror, Fu Yuan nodded. "So, when I equip Stigmata, these patterns appear."

After checking his back post-Stigmata setup, Fu Yuan's next step was to examine the power and amplification these Stigmata provided.

Zzzt~

As Fu Yuan clenched his fist and then opened it, dazzling orange lightning materialized in his palm.

The temperature of this lightning was two to three times hotter than the surface of the sun. Ordinary lightning typically ranged from 17,000℃ to 28,000℃.

However, the artificial lightning created by Fu Yuan's Great Void Sword Qi True Qi could reach terrifying temperatures if he increased its output.

Fu Yuan gazed at the lightning he was using and maintaining in his palm. He began to loosely close his open hand, and the lightning in his palm changed accordingly.

Under Fu Yuan's control, the orange lightning was being compressed. The first thing to change was its volume; it shrank due to compression, and its color shifted from orange towards purple.

Through his own control and compression, Fu Yuan could roughly estimate the power and amplification brought by the 'Monet' Stigmata.

"Putting aside the power it grants, after equipping this set of Stigmata, my control over lightning has become utterly effortless..." Fu Yuan muttered to himself, loosely holding the purple lightning.

If Fu Yuan were to obtain the Shadow Knight: Moon Halo, capable of wielding lightning, would he become like the thunder gods of myth?

After all, the Shadow Knight: Moon Halo character template was even more adept at using lightning than the Valkyrie: Vermilion Knight [Amplifier Core].

Fu Yuan would soon discover who was stronger in lightning control between Shadow Knight: Moon Halo and Valkyrie: Vermilion Knight. He could unlock the Shadow Knight: Moon Halo character template as soon as he completed today's Daily Quests.

With a gentle clench of his hand, the purple lightning, possessing terrifying heat and power, dissipated.

After roughly understanding the power and amplification provided by the Monet Stigmata set, Fu Yuan left the bathroom and went to the cooling platform in the courtyard.

Fu Yuan sat cross-legged on the courtyard platform, intending to cultivate his Great Void Sword Qi and bring his condition to its peak.

This was because Fu Yuan planned to complete his Daily Quests shortly and meet the Queen of the Land of Shadows.

Chapter 20: Queen of the Land of Shadows, Scáthach [2]

Today's Daily Quest was to gain the approval and acknowledgment of Queen Scáthach of the Land of Shadows. Therefore, the enemy he would face next might be that Queen of the Land of Shadows, capable of slaying gods.

Thus, Fu Yuan wanted to bring his condition to its absolute best to face the god-slaying Queen of the Land of Shadows.

Fu Yuan, seated cross-legged, closed his eyes and slowed his breathing. He then silently recited the 'Sword Heart Incantation' that Valkyrie: Vermilion Knight had taught him, thereby adjusting his state.

Sword Heart Incantation.

It was the incantation required for cultivating the first essence of Great Void Sword Qi: 'Sword Heart.'

It was a series of strange and inexplicable syllables.

The incantation itself held no inherent meaning; its profundity lay in how reciting, murmuring, and listening to it could refine the heart.

It could make the reciter's state of mind like a still, mirrored lake, their heart-lake freezing into a dustless, transparent mirror, and their spirit formless like the Great Void.

In layman's terms...

It meant to cut off distracting thoughts and regulate breathing while reciting the incantation.

Empty the mind and relax the body.

Then, while reciting, sense every subtle change within the body.

Ultimately, one would be aware of nothing but the True Qi flowing within, becoming one with heaven and earth.

A beginner without talent might never cultivate the 'Sword Heart' True Qi of Great Void Sword Qi in their lifetime. However, Fu Yuan was fortunate; he possessed the Honkai System, and after unlocking the Valkyrie: Vermilion Knight character template, he had stepped into the first essence, 'Sword Heart.'

Fu Yuan murmured the Sword Heart Incantation, clearly feeling the True Qi within him becoming active, flowing freely like living water in a stream, circulating at will.

As the True Qi within Fu Yuan began to circulate, the calm space around him immediately changed, rippling like waves on a tranquil lake.

The ambient energy of heaven and earth (Great Source Mana) surrounding Fu Yuan began to drift towards him.

Upon contact with Fu Yuan's skin, which glowed with a crystalline light, this ambient energy was absorbed into his body.

The absorbed ambient energy would then circulate through his True Qi channels, and after several rounds of circulation, it would completely transform into Fu Yuan's True Qi.

However, Fu Yuan's current cross-legged posture was not for cultivation but for adjusting his state through cultivation.

Once his condition reached its optimal point, Fu Yuan stopped reciting the Sword Heart Incantation and opened his clear, luminous eyes.

Fu Yuan silently felt the changes within his body after the brief cultivation period and said with slight joy, "Equipping Stigmata not only enhanced my power but also significantly boosted my cultivation speed. What a pleasant surprise."

"However, the energy I can absorb here is too little. It seems I'll have to move soon, or I'll have to figure out how to create a formation at home that can condense ambient energy," Fu Yuan said, surveying his surroundings.

Ambient energy existed in every world.

In the world Fu Yuan currently inhabited, the ambient energy dispersed in the air was called 'Great Source Mana' by mages. As the world's mystery gradually receded, the Great Source Mana floating in the air became increasingly scarce.

Therefore, if Fu Yuan wanted to progress further, he needed to move to a place filled with ambient energy (Great Source Mana).

Alternatively, he could set up some magical formation at home to draw Great Source Mana from ley lines.

The former involved moving, which was somewhat troublesome.

The latter... Fu Yuan neither understood nor knew how to do.

The Great Void Sword Qi granted Fu Yuan power, but he didn't understand formations or magic circles.

"Forget it, I won't think about these problems for now. I'll complete the Daily Quests first." Fu Yuan set aside his thoughts and then spoke, "System, begin the Daily Quests."

[Understood.]

The System's unfluctuating voice echoed in Fu Yuan's mind.

Afterward, Fu Yuan remained in his own home, not teleported to the Land of Shadows by the System.

However, Fu Yuan felt a deep and long-lasting aura suddenly appear behind him. Someone... had suddenly appeared behind him.

Sensing this aura, Fu Yuan turned around and looked at the alluring figure that had suddenly appeared behind him.

Upon seeing the figure behind him, a flash of stunning beauty crossed Fu Yuan's clear black and white eyes.

The one who had suddenly appeared behind Fu Yuan was none other than Queen Scáthach of the Land of Shadows, pulled over by the System from the Land of Shadows.