Outer Yujing Terrace.

The sky suddenly darkened.

The current temperature was even lower than when the little zombie had used her talismans earlier.

The ordinary onlookers had no idea what was happening.

"Has the fight already started? Why isn't there any sound of clashing blades?"

"This temperature gives me a strange feeling, like walking alone on a snowy night, with the snow gradually rising past my ankles…"

"Damn, that's poetic. I feel the same, but I can't put it into words."

"Ugh, we can't even see anything! This is killing me!"

Some tried to crane their necks for a better look, but they were too far away, and the Millelith were guarding the area, leaving no chance to peek.

The Millelith had their orders.

Lady Ningguang had decreed that for this final battle of the Adepti, no spectators were allowed except for the challengers who had passed the trials.

Compared to the ordinary crowd, those with Visions or mastery of the sword could better appreciate the power of this strike.

"The sophistication of this sword technique far surpasses the Raincutter. It pushes the power of a Vision to its absolute limit."

Xingqiu closed Battle Through the Heavens. "No… to limit it to just Visions would be too narrow-minded…"

Keqing also sighed in admiration. "His strength has reached yet another level. Just how fast is he improving?"

"Sigh… I'm a little jealous of Lumine. If I could also meditate on this sword technique, I might make significant progress…"

"Jealous?! Am I the only one worried about Lumine?!" Paimon fretted nearby.

"Based on what you're saying, Keqing, this strike is even stronger than the one he used against Osial! How is Lumine supposed to handle it?!"

Keqing explained to Paimon, "Don't worry. The purpose of this event hosted by the Adeptus isn't a duel."

"He merely wishes to share his insights with others who are also devoted to the sword path."

This was what Ningguang had written in the documents—Mu Yang's exact words.

It was just a bit hard to imagine that Ningguang would personally oversee such an event.

A grand spectacle like this, with no profit to be made and even Mora handed out to the top eight contestants, was hardly her usual style.

Of course, Keqing didn't know about the behind-the-scenes dealings.

Aside from repaying a debt to Mu Yang, Ningguang had also wagered on Liyue Millennial.

The first round had been lighthearted, but the next two were Ningguang raising the stakes.

Naturally, she lost to Mu Yang—utterly and completely…

Paimon: "So you're saying this strike isn't aimed at Lumine? It's just for her to observe and learn?"

Keqing nodded.

Paimon patted her chest in relief. "That's good. Then I can rest easy."

——————

Back to Lumine—what happened after she faced Mu Yang's strike?

When Lumine saw Mu Yang's opening stance, she immediately prepared to defend.

Because this was the same strike that had felled the Vortex God, Osial.

But after Mu Yang swung his sword, the scenario she had anticipated didn't unfold.

There was no raging Sword Intent—in fact, there was no force at all.

Not even a sound. Complete silence.

Recalling Mu Yang's earlier words, Lumine closed her eyes to meditate.

After a few deep breaths…

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself at the docks of Liyue Harbor.

The harbor was now buried in heavy snowfall, and ships were moored at the piers.

No one would set sail in this weather—who would even go outside, let alone out to sea?

[What's this scene? Did Lumine achieve enlightenment?]

[Is this what Osial saw back then?]

[Louis XVI: Completely baffled.]

[Reminds me of a poem: 'A thousand mountains, no birds in flight; ten thousand paths, no footprints in sight. A lone boat, an old man in raincoat, fishing alone in the cold river snow.']

Lumine walked up the stone steps but saw no one around.

She followed the path of the sword challenge toward Yujing Terrace.

The closer she got to the final platform where Mu Yang stood, the fiercer the snowstorm became.

Pressing forward through the blizzard, the snow now rose past her knees.

Passing through a stone archway, she finally saw Mu Yang.

Mu Yang sat cross-legged in the snow, his sword cradled in his arms.

His expression didn't seem like peaceful meditation—it looked more like he was trapped in a nightmare.

Lumine wanted to approach and wake him, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't reach him.

In Liyue's terms, it was like being stuck in a "ghost wall."

"Mu Yang—!"

She called out to him, only to realize she couldn't make a sound.

This place was too strange. What in the world was going on?

[Spooky. What's happening?]

[What's with Mu Yang's expression? Is he suffering through something painful?]

[Ah, here we go. That signature miHoYo flavor. I recognize it now.]

[Wait, you guys don't get it. Even if this is a dream, it's the Traveler's dream.]

[I get it now. Lumine's experiencing Qi Deviation.]

Just as Lumine was racking her brain to break free from this bizarre space…

"Lumine, wake up."

The voice was like a spring breeze, like warm sunlight.

The ice and snow melted away, and spring returned to the land…

When Lumine opened her eyes again, the figure she couldn't reach earlier was now right in front of her.

Instinctively, she hugged him.

[???]

[Did I win again? Straight to hugging without hesitation, huh?]

[Streamer, I'm logging off. Gotta boot up my Aether account now.]

[Oh? You too?!]

Mu Yang had no idea why Lumine was so emotional.

He had been holding back, delivering a strike with zero damage.

How did it end up causing another bizarre reaction when it reached Lumine?

Truly a protagonist—her constitution was something else.

Could she have actually achieved enlightenment? Was she expressing homesickness through this?

"What's wrong?" Mu Yang asked.

Hearing this, Lumine let go, slightly embarrassed.

She'd acted impulsively in the heat of the moment. Now, how could she smoothly change the subject?

"I… comprehended something strange."

"Strange?"

Lumine recounted what she had seen—how she couldn't reach Mu Yang no matter what.

Thinking she had finally broken through the "ghost wall," she had hugged him.

Mu Yang analyzed it for her: "The 'me' in that scene was likely a manifestation of the sword technique's essence."

"You hadn't fully grasped it yet, so you couldn't make contact…"

"My apologies. I should've woken you sooner. If you had accidentally suffered Qi Deviation…"

If she'd suffered Qi Deviation, that would've been a disaster.

Sweating bullets over here, buddy.

Lumine smiled. "Don't worry. I feel like I gained some insight too, though I haven't mastered Cryo yet."

"If I could infuse Cryo into my sword, I bet it'd create some powerful variations."

The thought excited her, and she couldn't help but share.

"You know what? If I channel Anemo into my weapon like this…"

She pulled out the Harbinger of Dawn and demonstrated, making the sword vanish without a trace.

"Pretty cool, right?" she boasted.

"Actually, I already knew."

"Huh?"

"Because I've been here since the tournament started—just hiding my presence."

[Oh my little sparrow! Yang'er, don't be too obvious with your affection.]

[Openly spectating, huh?]

[He's got her in his heart—HE'S GOT HER IN HIS HEART! AHAHAHAHA!]