Ji Lin and the Xuanyuan Sword

After everyone began making their own preparations, the hurriedly traveling Kiana and the others failed to notice that an additional Honkai Energy reading had quietly appeared on Bronya's detector.

It was within the tallest palace at the center of the ancient city.

A horse whose entire body bore traces of being pieced together from Honkai Beast bones was stamping its feet on the ground, its iron hooves striking the palace floor with crisp clacks.

The bone horse seemed somewhat restless.

The shockwave that had erupted outside earlier had driven the bone horse into a frenzy, as though it wanted to charge out.

Now, it seemed to want to awaken its master and have her lead it into battle.

Before the horse stood a young woman in black battle robes, quietly leaning against the throne at the very center of the palace.

Although she wore battle robes, her long hair had been meticulously arranged, held in place by a hairpin adorned with red feathers.

It gave her a slightly unusual appearance.

In her hand, she tightly gripped a black longsword covered in patterns.

She was Ji Lin, and the sword in her hand was the Xuanyuan Sword.

The Xuanyuan Sword, once golden, now looked as though it had been dyed pitch-black with ink.

It seemed to symbolize Ji Lin's heart as well.

Over the course of these thousands of years, that darkness and pain, that overflowing despair, had stained not only Ji Lin's heart but also the Xuanyuan Sword, once a symbol of the sacred way, black.

Hearing the bone horse's hoofbeats, Ji Lin slowly opened her eyes.

"Quiet!"

Ji Lin spoke with authority. The bone horse, which had been making a racket moments ago, retreated several steps under her rebuke.

Supporting herself with one hand, Ji Lin slowly rose from