What was Mu Yang thinking?

Truthfully, he knew that Lumine was stronger than Xingqiu and Keqing.

As for Qiqi, her upper limits were unknown.

Her story appearances were few, and even fewer showcased her combat prowess.

The only instance Mu Yang knew of was when Osial's wife emerged.

Ningguang had assigned Qiqi to guard the harbor, so she definitely wasn't weak.

Mu Yang instructed Qiqi not to go all out.

His purpose in bringing Qiqi here wasn't to make Lumine suffer.

Rather, it was to make players suffer in future challenge difficulties.

For the story mode, as long as it was enjoyable, that was enough.

——————

Back to Lumine's side. After defeating Xingqiu, she continued forward.

Passing through a circular archway,

the next opponent was already waiting on the narrow bridge over the lotus pond.

Seeing the familiar purple cat-eared hairstyle, Paimon gasped.

"It's actually Keqing?!"

"To defeat Xingqiu so quickly… as expected of you."

Keqing spoke, then drew her family's treasured sword.

[Is this my waifu's signature weapon?]

[Keqing's signature weapon isn't thigh-high stockings? The ones that boost attack speed?]

[Leg garters are what boost attack speed.]

[Steamed shrimp heads.]

[Know the fruit, ___]

Seeing Keqing as her opponent, Lumine actually felt less nervous.

It wasn't that Keqing's swordsmanship wasn't formidable.

Rather, fear stems from the unknown.

And Lumine was already familiar with Keqing's combat techniques.

The two had fought side by side atop the Jade Chamber before.

Against a familiar opponent, Lumine had no intention of sitting idle.

With the wind at her feet, she closed the distance to Keqing, and the two immediately clashed.

Keqing wielded the Liuyun Sword Art, her movements light and precise.

But against Lumine's Untraceable sword, she could only defend passively.

However, the battlefield was a narrow bridge.

Retreating endlessly was impossible.

After dozens of exchanges,

Keqing used Stellar Restoration to teleport behind Lumine.

Lumine had anticipated this and blocked her line of sight with a Starfell Sword.

The "Beef Slayer" immediately unleashed her ultimate, Starward Sword.

"The light of my sword shall purge all impurities!"

After slicing through the meteorite, she found herself facing a 40-meter-long Geo greatsword.

Lumine was charging her attack.

In such a confined space, Keqing had nowhere left to retreat.

Defeated, she conceded regretfully.

[EXCALIBUR!!!]

[Noelle: How is yours thicker and longer than mine?!]

[Bro, why does that sound kinda sus…]

——————

After defeating Keqing, Lumine ascended the steps to Yujing Terrace.

Two intense battles in a row hadn't exhausted her—instead, she felt invigorated.

Fighting! So satisfying!

Arriving at Yujing Terrace, she passed by the small wooden table where Granny Ping brewed tea.

Their third challenger was—

"Qiqi?!"

Hearing the voice, Qiqi snapped out of her daze.

She had been staring at the clouds in the sky.

Though she probably didn't know why she was doing it.

"It's you. Hello."

Qiqi tilted her head, then checked her notebook.

She gave herself a command.

"No, not 'hello.' It's 'Bubu Pharmacy's Qiqi.'"

Before Lumine could respond, Qiqi had already launched her attack.

Drawing talismans with her icy blood, she summoned the Herald of Frost.

The surrounding spectators instantly felt the temperature plummet.

"Hiss—why did it suddenly get so cold?"

"That little zombie herb gatherer is this strong?"

"For an Adeptus to place her third… the meaning is obvious!"

Qiqi's assault didn't stop. Activating the talismans around her, she unleashed adeptal energy.

A burst of freezing ice exploded at the center of the arena.

Paimon was shocked. "Wah—! Is that really Qiqi?!"

Lumine used a Starfell Sword as a stepping stone, leaping into the air to avoid the ground attack.

But the Herald of Frost had been waiting.

They locked onto Lumine mid-air.

Lumine gathered Anemo energy in her palm and struck out, shattering the Herald of Frost with a gust of wind.

She also used the recoil to neutralize the assault.

However, the Herald of Frost was visibly reforming.

Lumine didn't want to waste this opportunity. If Qiqi relied so much on talismans and summons,

then her main body must be weak.

But she was wrong.

If this was a Sword Challenge, how could Qiqi not know how to wield a sword?

Qiqi's Ancient Liuyun Sword Art was even more refined than Keqing's Liuyun Sword Art.

Her strikes were more unpredictable.

The two fought fiercely, neither gaining the upper hand.

Amid the battle, Lumine realized Qiqi couldn't multitask.

As a small zombie, she could only operate on a single thread.

When using her sword, her control over the talismans weakened.

This was the toughest fight Lumine had faced in the past two days.

After several rounds of attrition, Lumine finally disrupted Qiqi's rhythm.

She deliberately used flashy, intricate attacks to overload Qiqi's memory.

In the end, she forced Qiqi into a reboot, flipping through her notebook on the spot.

Inside, she saw Mu Yang's instructions.

She then read aloud from the notes:

"You pass. Qiqi… loses."

[Sweating bullets rn, Qiqi's actually this strong?]

[Traveler's still got that battle experience.]

[Bullying a single-threaded zombie, huh?]

[Forced reboot—Qiqi forgot what she was doing.]

Paimon flew to Lumine's side. "You okay? I didn't expect Qiqi to be this strong."

"She really is powerful. If she weren't a zombie, the fight would've lasted much longer…"

Paimon glanced worriedly at the gate ahead. "That must be the final challenge… Can you keep going?"

Lumine steadied her breathing. "Yeah."

——————

Lumine passed through the final archway.

She didn't see a person—only a sword.

Confused, she wondered: What did this mean?

Was this the Adeptus' test? Did she have to pull the sword out?

——————

In the livestream, players recognized this sword immediately.

Guinaifen was stunned. "Isn't that the sword from Mu Yang's official art?!"

[Damn, that's a gorgeous sword.]

[What's this about? Did she already clear it?]

[Wow, is this sword the quest reward?!]

[You're dreaming. First half gave us Festering Desire, second half gives a free character, and now a weapon too?]

[No way stingy miHoYo is this generous.]

——————

Lumine stepped onto the platform.

A phantom emerged from the sword, growing more and more tangible.

The figure spoke.

"You've come."

His back was turned, but Lumine recognized him instantly.

"It really is you. But… what's with this entrance?"

Between the sword trials and Adepti, plus such extravagant rewards,

she had long guessed it was Mu Yang.

And from his tone, it seemed he had been waiting for her.

Mu Yang turned around.

"Are you ready to receive this strike of mine?"

"Huh?"

Lumine froze.

Was he referring to the sword strike that had slain Osial?

Mu Yang explained that this strike was his latest insight.

The reason he had organized this event wasn't to compete with others.

But to find someone equally devoted to the sword path to share it with.

That was why there were no spectators here now.

Even Paimon wasn't allowed in.

Only Lumine, who had passed the trials, was qualified to witness this strike.

From many people, Lumine had heard of Mu Yang's obsession and dedication to swordsmanship.

Now was not the time for jokes.

Lumine steadied her stance.

"Bring it on."

"Watch closely…"

Mu Yang focused his spirit.

With a single sword strike, heaven and earth trembled.