Eldritch Horror Theatre

”This... did he just see three swords?”

The Laboratory fell unusually quiet. Professor Fu’s hint was far too advanced, leaving his listeners at a total loss.

”You saw three swords pointing at all three spots simultaneously?”

Amidst their bewildered glances, Classmate Liushuang finally tried to visualize the scene.

Ultimately, her attack had merely been a sleight of hand. A single strike carrying multiple potential variations was a far cry from three literal swords.

Did the target directly witness different futures?

”Hmm... you could put it that way.”

To their utter astonishment, Professor Fu pondered for a moment before actually nodding.

”Then how did you know to grab the one aiming at your brow? You don’t have three hands.”

As a sword practitioner, Classmate Liushuang had taken a much heavier mental blow from this revelation. For the moment, Eldest Miss Wen took over the conversation, pursuing the thought with avid curiosity.This was the so-called curse of knowledge. Compared to Classmate Liushuang, she adapted to the concept much faster.

Sighing inwardly, Fu Qian slowly drew his hand back, letting the tip of the Sword in the Stone slide out of his flesh inch by inch.

”Three hands reaching for three swords, collapsing into a single reality the moment they touch—that’s certainly a classic trope. Fortunately, ours wasn’t nearly that boring.”

Casually describing the scenario Wen Li had mentioned, Fu Qian turned his palm toward the two girls so they could clearly see the wound.

Now that he was no longer deliberately suppressing his regeneration, the newly forming flesh displayed astonishing vitality, writhing vividly as it healed.

”First, all three swords were real. Second, I just knew that in that exact moment, I could reach out and grab that specific one.”

...

This challenged their imaginations even further.

All three were real swords, but the moment he reached out for one, the other two vanished?

Eldest Miss Wen was clearly trying her hardest to comprehend it, but ultimately, she turned and cast a pleading look at Classmate Liushuang, the resident expert.

”I think I understand a little...”

To their pleasant surprise, the latter actually lived up to expectations.

”There’s no logical reason for it. You just know you can do it, without a single doubt about the outcome.”

Faced with Professor Fu’s abstract explanation, Classmate Liushuang’s eyes suddenly lit up with comprehension as she cautiously empathized.

”Exactly. Sound familiar?”

Fu Qian looked increasingly satisfied as he pressed the question.

”Familiar... my sword intent feels exactly like this.”

Ji Liushuang took a deep breath.

”Lucent Sword Heart?”

Having been a guest student for a while now, Eldest Miss Wen had broadened her horizons considerably, especially regarding the Laboratory assistant she hung around with every day. She couldn’t help crying out in surprise.

What Professor Fu had just described was actually akin to sword intent?

So he really hadn’t been bragging. Aside from being an Apocalypse giant, was this man also a genius of the sword path?

During their idle chats, she had heard Ji Liushuang recount some of the professor’s glorious deeds—such as visiting the Sword Comprehension Institute for guidance and subduing the crowd without drawing a single sword.

While the sheer bearing in those tales inspired awe, she had never expected him to be an actual professional in the field.

”It really does sound like it... As expected, does one have to blindfold themselves to become a true Sword Saint?”

Meanwhile, his lack of modesty remained as consistent as ever. Deep in thought, Professor Fu actually agreed with her, casually arriving at an incomprehensible conclusion.

”Have the instructors at your Academy ever helped you analyze the origins of your sword intent?”

...

”Unfortunately, no. Sword intent is even more ethereal than cultivation talent. It’s generally considered something you can only stumble upon by chance, not actively seek.”

Past her initial shock, the ever-sensible Classmate Liushuang quickly recovered her wits and organized her thoughts.

She realized that Professor Fu wasn’t just holding a serious discussion; the topic was directly tied to her. This was a rare opportunity.

”Ethereal, huh... That’s not wrong. It really is hard to grasp.”

Giving a slight nod, Fu Qian didn’t refute the claim. In his mind, however, he was thinking of something else entirely: Bloodline Power. Describing it as ethereal seemed equally fitting.

Indeed, he hadn’t forgotten the original purpose of his test: to see if the future family head of the Ji Clan truly carried some sort of predestined fate.

Unlike the other young talents of the Ji Clan, Classmate Liushuang possessed absolutely no Ash Descent Talent.

It had already been confirmed that her power was closely linked to the Power of the Deep from the Unseen Hill. This could easily be interpreted as a blessing left behind by Old Man Ji Feng.

So was Ji Liushuang’s cultivation talent—including her recently awakened Lucent Sword Heart—truly just a compensatory stroke of providence, completely unrelated to her bloodline?

Judging by Classmate Liushuang’s words, the instructors and seniors at the Sword Comprehension Institute certainly thought so.

Even he lacked the evidence to disprove it at the moment.

Yet, this slightly peculiar coincidence couldn’t help but let his imagination run wild.

After putting on the Eldest Son’s Vision, he had actually experienced a faint déjà vu reminiscent of the Lucent Sword Heart.

There was no artistic embellishment in his earlier description; the two truly did seem similar.

In fact, to Fu Qian’s senses, the Lucent Sword Heart felt like a simplified version of it.

...

Did that mean one aspect of the True Intent of the Sword Dao was hidden within the truth of the world—a truth seen only after gouging out one’s corneas and abandoning one’s brain?

It wasn’t entirely illogical. After all, sword path cultivation had abstract sayings like ”no sword in hand, no sword in heart.”

Though Fu Qian suspected it wasn’t quite that simple.

Perhaps the exact reason couldn’t be unraveled immediately, but this realization alone was an unexpected harvest.

He could only conclude that activating the Burial Scroll hadn’t been a waste. These youths had proven their worth, delivering a pleasant surprise.

If Old Man Ji ended up tied to this later on, things would become even more interesting.

”Ah—!”

Amidst his beautiful hopes for the future, Fu Qian suddenly let out a shrill, bloodcurdling scream while stroking his fully healed palm.

It shouldn’t hurt that much, right? And wasn’t this reflex arc a bit too long?

The night wasn’t late, but it was dead quiet. This sudden outburst thoroughly startled Wen Li and Liushuang. They simply couldn’t fathom how an expert like Professor Fu could have such a reaction.

”What’s wrong?”

As the one who had inflicted the wound, Classmate Liushuang spoke up first, carefully checking Professor Fu’s condition.

At the same time, she felt a vague familiarity with that scream, as if she had heard it somewhere before...

”It’s nothing. I’m perfectly fine.”

Showing absolutely no signs of discomfort on his face, Fu Qian waved his hand, gesturing for them not to worry.

Crash—

A moment later, while they were still exchanging bewildered glances, the Laboratory door was violently shoved open from the outside.

Looking up, they saw none other than the Academy’s young instructor, Professor Lisa, storming in with furious steps.