50. Thousand Stars

The moon and stars are sparse.

Inside the training room of the St. Freya Academy, the vast space was completely empty.

Only the two of them were training quietly here.

Su Qing'an was practicing boxing with Fu Hua in a way that was completely different from before.

They are practicing.

The last encounter was merely a trial run at the request of Changguang Changchuan, so this can be considered Su Qing'an's first real sparring session with Fu Hua.

Even after more than two months, the boy still couldn't figure out the difference in martial arts skill between himself and the person in front of him.

His own Taixuan Style is no longer at the same level as before. Although it is a bit unfair to say that, in just two months, Su Qing'an is now on par with his teacher Chen Junxuan in martial arts.

Aside from the aid of her Soul Essence and the State of Still Water, Fu Hua's teachings were even more important.

Her martial arts skills reached a level that Su Qing'an could neither comprehend nor surpass.

Whether martial arts are complex or simple, they seem to have no other meaning to her. Every move she makes, every punch she throws, is as natural and harmonious as that of a celestial being.

His fist couldn't touch her.

Five minutes passed, and the girl's figure was like a phantom of light and shadow, seemingly beyond the reach of human martial arts to even touch the hem of her clothes.

Su Qing'an felt as if he were standing in a sea of clouds, throwing a punch. The clouds and mist were everywhere, yet he could only swing at empty air.

During this time, his joints were easily twisted and dislocated after the girl's palm gently touched them. The boy could understand that the force of that palm was really very small, but the mysterious and skillful force had inexplicably twisted his limbs directly.

But as Su Qing'an channeled his strength into his arm, a sickeningly painful sound of bones grinding together accompanied the pain, and his elbow and wrist joints returned to their original state.

The boy continued to throw punches.

Tireless and unwavering.

Even though her physical abilities had improved significantly, Su Qing'an could understand one thing: even if her opponent used the strength of a normal 17-year-old girl, she wouldn't be a match for her.

This was something Su Qing'an had never understood so clearly and directly: the enormous chasm between herself and this girl.

Experience, martial arts, life experience.

And everything else too numerous to mention.

You must not feel frustrated, nor should you feel discouraged because of it.

Su Qing'an said to himself.

To think he could catch up with Fu Hua with less than a year of experience is an act of utter arrogance; he never even imagined he could achieve that.

What I need to do is get closer, and then even closer.

At least, close enough to be able to stand on the clouds where she is.

Then, I got to know her a little better.

To understand what that girl named Hua experienced, gained, and lost over those 50,000 years, which led her to become the Fu Hua we know today.

That's why you're covered in wounds, that's why you stubbornly keep moving forward despite countless hardships, that's why...

Lonely.

That might sound like a funny phrase, and some people might just think it's pointless whining.

But this was not the case with the young girl; that was not a conclusion Su Qing'an drew from knowing only her past experiences.

It is Martial Intent.

Fu Hua had once told Su Qing'an about the existence of Martial Intent, and he himself had indeed come to realize that it was another subtle way of interfering with reality from the Soul Essence.

Fu Hua herself can certainly do that, and she can do it even better.

During his fight with her, he gradually realized that the girl wasn't deliberately using Martial Intent; it was an emotion that was unconsciously expressed in every punch and kick.

If it weren't for the strength of his Soul Essence, he would have felt dazed. That emotion was only a tiny bit of the girl's Martial Intent that was leaked out, but even so, he felt as if he were in a desolate and lonely place.

It was dark and cold there.

There was no sound, no life, and no wind.

Occasionally, a shooting star flashes across the sky like a guiding lighthouse.

Then the girl would grasp the fleeting brilliance of the shooting star and rely on it to walk for a very, very long time.

Su Qing'an came to understand a fact.

Fu Hua has become weaker.

For martial artists, whether in terms of physical or mental well-being, the inability to precisely control everything about themselves is a major taboo.

Just like the force of a punch, one must be able to be as light as a feather while also possessing great power to be considered to have entered the realm of martial arts.

But Fu Hua's current situation is like the force of her punch going wrong, which is simply unbelievable for a martial artist like her who has reached the realm of immortals.

Her uncontrollable Martial Intent was enough to prove that Fu Hua had weakened to a certain extent.

She was getting weaker every second, but because her power had always been so immense, the loss of that power seemed insignificant.

At this moment, the extent to which the sea had dried up finally became noticeable.

A fist was placed against the boy's forehead, the strong wind ruffling his hair and interrupting his thoughts.

Inch-force.

The immense power that burst forth from the boy's body erupted behind him, and the wind swept up the small pieces of equipment scattered across the training ground, making a complete mess of everything.

The equipment hitting the ground one after another created a series of sounds.

The girl frowned slightly, seemingly lost in thought, and opened and closed her hands several times.

The force of the punch has dissipated.

That should have been a punch with all its force concentrated in one place, leaving a fist imprint on the training ground wall.

Was it a mistake?

But Fu Hua immediately stopped thinking and said to Su Qing'an:

"Your mind is in turmoil. Are you worried about how to become stronger?"

Su Qing'an nodded silently. What he was worried about at the moment was definitely not that, but the physical condition of the girl in front of him.

However, given his position, he could not voice this at this moment.

He also knew that even if he asked Hua about her health, she would only smile faintly and say that she was fine.

"I told you this morning, didn't I? The use of Honkai Energy isn't something that's so simple."

"Hmm." Su Qing'an nodded to indicate that she understood.

Fu Hua continued:

"The Void Sword Qi is divided into five elements, among which the Heart Essence is the most difficult to master. However, since you have already reached the State of Dustless, I don't need to say much more about the Heart Essence for now."

"Soul essence has nothing to do with the control of Honkai Energy; it refers to the level of swordsmanship. Your current level is acceptable, but you are still quite a distance away from mastering soul essence."

"The cultivation of profound meaning requires special conditions, which will be omitted here. Furthermore, the cultivation of divine essence is not closely related to the manipulation of Honkai Energy and has stringent requirements."

"Regarding the final form, there are four elements: Guard, Transform, Activate, and Open, totaling twenty-one forms. It is the only method in the Void Sword Qi that controls and applies Honkai Energy."

"Yes, I've mastered all of that. If it weren't for the help of the Sword Defense Style when I encountered Ganesha in Changkong City, I wouldn't be alive today."

Su Qing'an had to admit that if the Void Sword Qi hadn't been used to control and apply Honkai Energy, he would be much weaker than he is now, and might not even be alive now, just as he said.

In this world filled with Honkai Energy is the sharpest weapon; fighting without relying on Honkai Energy is tantamount to fighting with only your limbs.

Humans have always relied on weapons to stand at the top of the food chain. Chen Junxuan, who could fight off a pride of lions using only his hands, feet, and martial arts skills, was already at the limit of normal human beings.

In order to continue becoming stronger, Su Qing'an admitted something to Fu Hua.

That means that without utilizing Honkai Energy, one can only remain at this level for a very long time.

Fu Hua nodded slightly as if she had confirmed something, and said:

"Well, although I'm not going to teach you anything about the Void Sword Qi, your ability to use those moves is fundamental."

"If you don't even have that kind of control, you won't be able to learn it."

Su Qing'an understood the direction Fu Hua wanted to guide him, and he said:

"Hua, are you going to teach me techniques for controlling Honkai Energy?"

"But if it's a technique beyond the Void Sword Qi, I shouldn't be able to do it with my Honkai Energy adaptability."

Su Qing'an wasn't belittling himself; he simply compressed and condensed the Honkai Energy into fine sword energy, poured it into the scabbard, and then shaped and swung it out as he drew the sword.

Even with such a simple operation, he would inevitably harm himself.

Su Qing'an wasn't confident he could achieve a level of application beyond that.

That's like forcing a lion to breathe through its mouth and nose underwater to survive—it's illogical.

What can't be done, simply can't be done.

Some things, no matter how hard you try, are destined to be in vain.

Fu Hua fell silent. She couldn't possibly be unaware of this; given her personality, it would be normal for her not to let the boy make such a hopeless attempt.

For some reason, she understood that if Su Qing'an had the choice, he would rather make futile efforts towards something illusory than remain stagnant.

Because such agonizing pain may itself be the greatest despair.

"... Su Qing'an, I can't guarantee you'll learn it; I'll just teach you." That was her simple and clear answer.

Su Qing'an found it somewhat amusing; he thought this answer was truly in Hua's style.

But such harsh words are themselves the greatest tenderness that hua can offer.

"That's enough," he said, a slight smile on his face.

For a fleeting moment, the girl displayed a complex expression, a mixture of helplessness and excitement.

Why can't I learn to give up?

That would be an extremely simple matter for an ordinary person.

And you yourself said you shouldn't be able to do it.

But for this young man who had overcome several life-or-death situations with only a little luck and whose days were numbered, giving up was more unacceptable than death itself.

"... Even if I had guessed you would react this way, Su Qing'an, I'm not joking, the chances of you learning this are very slim."

"The Void Sword Qi and the Artificial Stigmata have indeed unlocked the limits of what a normal man can achieve, but that doesn't mean your path will be smooth sailing from now on. In this world, the price you pay and the rewards you reap are not always proportional."

Su Qing'an could understand the meaning behind the other person's words.

Even if she burned up most of her remaining years as fuel, she was still far inferior to Raiden Mei, who possessed innate Stigmata, and Kiana, who had the blood of the Kaslana family.

Rather, they are simply incomparable.

"I know." He accepted it all so calmly, and continued:

"Huh, there are always some people in this world who will remain ungrateful even if they're battered and bruised. I'm one of those people. I believe that as long as I'm alive, all my struggles are not meaningless."

He understood long ago that what he couldn't do was simply impossible.

This is a principle that only children cannot understand.

But if you are truly at your wit's end and have nothing left, then even if you know that moving forward will lead to death, and you know that there is no hope ahead, you will understand that so-called hope is nothing but a mirage.

And then what? Will you just give up?

Maybe.

But at least Su Qing'an wouldn't; he's more stubborn than anyone else.

"I understand." Fu Hua didn't say anything more. Humans are not absolutely rational beings. Just like how she knew that Su Qing'an had almost no chance of learning, she still chose to teach him.

Having made that choice myself, I no longer have the right to advise him on this matter.

If he wants to do something reckless, I'll just have to stay with him.

Having secretly resolved to take responsibility, the girl continued:

"Simply put, the Honkai Energy technique I'm going to teach you can greatly increase your physical abilities for a short period of time. I currently maintain it for eight seconds."

"You must have used Honkai Energy to enhance your physical abilities before, right? Essentially, this technique is similar to this method, only more precise, difficult, and efficient."

"Hua... Can I ask the name of this move?" Su Qing'an couldn't help but show a strange expression.

The girl answered seriously:

"A name? I'll name it [Thousand Stars]."