Chapter 30: What Happened to Kiana?

Fu Hua was somewhat surprised. Had Chase already reached the first realm of the Sword Heart with just one session of heart refinement?

The first realm of the Sword Heart, 'Still Water.'

Is this child a martial arts prodigy? Fu Hua wondered, but couldn't help sighing.

She was no longer the former Phoenix Immortal. She was just an A-rank Valkyrie of [Schicksal], a comrade of the kidnapper, Otto's, who had come to investigate Chase's true nature under Otto's orders.

Otto was a suspicious person. Despite modifying the other's memories with the Mimetic Feathers of the Divination Bird, he still harbored doubts about the authenticity of the hypnosis. (Basically, Fenghuang Down)

So, Otto sought her out and asked her to inspect Chase's situation while training him. Because she was an expert in the field of consciousness, with the divine key—Mimetic Feathers—core-forged by the Eighth Herrscher of the previous civilization, rather than a counterfeit created by the Void Storage.

Fu Hua's expression became serious as she sat quietly on the side, monitoring Chase's state of consciousness with the Mimetic Feathers.

Of course, she did not intrude into Chase's mind without permission. Aside from the potential effects on him during the heart refinement stage, Fu Hua, based on her principles alone, would not do such a thing.

She could choose to become a Valkyrie for [Schicksal] for the sake of Shenzhou, and she could argue with the Grand Archbishop of [Schicksal] over an unjust kidnapping.

But now, she had to be an accomplice for Otto, doing things she didn't want to do.

Chase was the elder brother of the Second Herrscher. Although she had only briefly interacted with the Second Herrscher, Fu Hua could clearly see that the Second Herrscher was not a puppet of [Honkai], but a true Herrscher with human characteristics.

She would be happy to meet her brother, and she would be angry if her brother were injured.

Yes, she killed the researchers in the Babylon Lab, but it was because they had harmed her and her friends, so she destroyed them. She also saved the children inside [Tower], as she was once one of them, understanding their pain and struggles, so she saved them.

As for Chase, Fu Hua still didn't understand why Otto had to kidnap the brother of such a Herrscher...

For blackmail? For negotiation? Or something else... Fu Hua didn't know.

And the Second Herrscher, if everything went as expected, had already gone to [Entropy], facing [Schicksal] with the First Herrscher...

The coveting of the two Herrschers, even Fu Hua felt that it was a big trouble. Even though the First Herrscher was not a native Herrscher but an inheritor, it didn't affect the conclusion.

When [Entropy] and [Schicksal] go to war, she'll have to support Otto.

Thinking about this, Fu Hua felt a headache.

She had lost many memories and was no longer the omnipotent Phoenix Immortal...

Everything was for Shenzhou.

While Fu Hua was contemplating these various issues, on the side, Chase...

Chase stood on the calm lake, seeing another 'him.'

Although Chase couldn't see the face of the 'him,' there was a voice in his heart saying, "This is you."

At this moment, the 'him' was sitting cross-legged on the clear and traceless lake surface, the same posture as when Chase was meditating during heart refinement in reality.

At this moment, the 'him' seemed to sense Chase's arrival, opened his eyes, and gave Chase a slight smile.

Chase still couldn't see the 'him's' face clearly, but he could sense the 'him's' current state.

The 'him' was indeed smiling. Although smiling, there was no trace of any emotion mixed in, as if it was just an ordinary smile.

Afterward, the figure of the 'him' began to blur, and mist rose around him. The white mist gathered around 'him' without spreading, becoming thicker and thicker.

The figure of the 'him' was hidden in the mist, starting to appear and disappear.

Chase instinctively walked forward, feeling attracted to something in the mist, or rather, something in the mist attracted him.

Chase took a step in, suddenly stopped, and stared at the changes in the mist in a daze.

In the hazy mist, two children appeared— one was the 'him,' and the other was a girl whose features were unclear.

It's strange to say that even though they were both indistinct figures, Chase could clearly sense their emotions. Was it because this was his inner world?

The emotions of the 'him' were helplessness and indulgence, while the girl next to him was cheerful, excited, and full of admiration.

At this moment, the girl was pulling the 'him's' hand, and in 'his' hand was a book, seemingly telling a story...

Soon, the mist began to change rapidly, and the scene within changed accordingly.

There was a dining table with a rich spread of food. The girl was still there, and the 'him' was sitting at the table, enjoying the food with the girl.

The 'him's' emotions were complex, relaxed yet vigilant; the girl, on the other hand, was much simpler, filled with trust and satisfaction.

Afterward, the mist changed again, returning to the appearance of the 'him.' The 'him' once again smiled at Chase, then closed his eyes, returning to the previous state.

Chase looked at the 'him' in confusion, not fully understanding everything that had happened.

Why did the 'him' show scenes of himself playing with Kiana?

Not to mention telling stories to Kiana, even eating with Kiana...

How strange.

Chase walked up to the 'him,' sat down in the same posture, and looked at the 'him' with profound eyes.

"What do you want to convey to me?" Chase asked. "Is there something wrong with Kiana?"

The 'him' didn't speak, but Chase seemed to feel a slight twitch at the corner of the 'him's' mouth.

??? Did I say something wrong?

Before Chase could figure it out, the scenery in front of him suddenly spun. After he realized what was happening, he had already woken up.

Fu Hua was sitting next to him, asking with some concern, "How do you feel?"

Fu Hua naturally felt the change in his spirit and saw him sweating profusely, thinking that Chase had failed to break through the 'Dustless' realm.

"Not very good," Chase recalled what had happened in his inner world, his expression a bit complicated.

The 'him,' or rather, myself, wanted to convey something to me?

Does Kiana hold a secret about me?

Chase was puzzled.

"To reach the 'Still Water' realm in the first attempt at heart refinement is already impressive," Fu Hua comforted. "You don't need to be discouraged; entering the 'Dustless' realm is not so easy."

"As the nine-story tower rises from the accumulated soil, as long as you refine well, you will succeed, Chase."

Fu Hua spoke a bunch of profound principles, leaving Chase stunned, nodding hastily, and echoing along.

What 'Dustless' realm?