【After experiencing these things, March 7th found her reason for learning swordsmanship and asked Xing for advice.】

【"Traveling relies on friends, there will always be unexpected encounters."】

【"Unexpected encounters like in swordplay novels? But what could I possibly encounter..."】

— —

Honkai Impact 3rd.

"Oh, oh, I know this one!"

Qiyana raised her hand, looking excited: "Just like in martial arts novels! March 7th meets an immortal living in seclusion in the deep mountains of the Xianzhou! The immortal sees that she has extraordinary bones, is a one-in-a-million sword genius, and then 'whoosh,' passes on peerless sword techniques to her!"

"Pfft—! *Cough, cough, cough*...!"

Fu Hua, who was drinking water nearby, seemed to have choked and began coughing violently.

"Huh? Class Monitor, are you okay?" Qiyana quickly leaned over and patted Fu Hua's back worriedly.

"I-I'm fine." Fu Hua managed to steady her breathing and pushed up her glasses. "Qiyana, the Xianzhou is a giant Star-skiff. Although it has ancient seas, there are no mountains. Even an immortal has to be registered in the population registry of the Realm-Keeping Commission. Moreover, the person closest to being a'Sword Immortal' on the Xianzhou... is still suffering from the Mara-Struck from time to time."

"Indeed, rather than pinning hopes on ethereal 'immortals,' it's better to be grounded and consolidate the foundations of sword techniques," Mei added in agreement.

"Eh—! Why are you all so serious!"

Qiyana puffed out her cheeks and sat back down on the sofa: "Just imagine it a little! It's not necessarily in the mountains; it could be in some ancient grotto-heaven. Class Monitor, didn't Shenzhou also have many legends of immortals in the past? The architectural styles of the Xianzhou and Shenzhou are quite similar; maybe there's some connection between the two."

— —

【March 7th trained with her two little masters for a few days but felt her progress in swordsmanship was a bit slow. Just as she was worrying, Xing suggested taking her for a stroll in the streets of the Starcruiser Sea to relax.】

【Unexpectedly, they ran into an acquaintance rarely seen during the day on the street—Huohuo.】

【"Huohuo, quickly save the possessed March 7th!"】

【Huohuo was startled the moment she saw them and began to panic: "Ah, ahhh! Miss March 7th, hold on, I'll get the spirit charm out right now...!"】

【"Don't worry, Huohuo, I'm not possessed. She's teasing you," March 7th said with a slight smile. "Long time no see! What are you doing here?"】

【"I... I'm resting in the Starcruiser Sea. Watching the Star-skiffs come and go here is very stress-relieving."】

【March 7th sighed softly: "It seems the judges of the Ten-Lords Commission are under a lot of pressure too."】

【"Under a lot of pressure...?" Huohuo looked at her, confused. "Has Miss March 7th encountered something very stressful recently?"】

【"I've started learning Xianzhou sword techniques recently, and I have some academic pressure, as well as... social pressure."】

【Xing detailed the situation of March 7th's duel with the troublemakers from the IPC.】

【"I-I think I understand the situation. It's not easy to master a sword technique in a short time, so it's not strange for Miss March 7th to feel pressured. I-I know some exorcism sword techniques; if you need them..."】

【tail interjected with a cold taunt: "Forget it. You can't even hold a sword steady; you want to help others with that level of skill?"】

【Huohuo didn't want to lose and quickly retorted: "... I-I can't hold it steady, but you can't even hold it at all, right?"】

【"Ouch... the little coward dares to talk back now. If I were possessing you, you'd step onto the ring of the Wardance and definitely wouldn't lose to that yellow-haired kid in the Seat of Divine Foresight!"】

【March 7th was a bit skeptical: "Master Yan Qing is really strong. Mr. Tail isn't just bragging, are you?"】

【"Hmph, as long as I possess someone with superb sword skills and absorb their memories and emotions, I can master the same sword techniques! If you want to learn that yellow-haired kid's sword techniques, isn't this the fastest way?"】

— —

Scissor Seven.

"Isn't that simple? Let tail possess Yanqing, then possess March 7th. Wouldn't that be a guaranteed win?"

"Ah-Qi... are you an idiot? How could you let Yanqing know about this kind of thing?" Ji Dabao adjusted the sunglasses on his face. "It's like cheating. Would you go find the exam proctor to copy the answers? They'd scold you to death!"

"Then who else has superb sword skills... besides Yanqing and Yunli? You can't possibly possess Jing Yuan, right?" Wu Liuqi scratched his head and said.

"Your thinking is both wrong." Lan Minghua glanced at the two of them helplessly and sighed softly. "The point isn't about possessing someone with superb sword skills. Even if it's cheating, one shouldn't make an issue out of these Xianzhou people like Yanqing."

"Ah? Then who should be possessed?"

Lan Minghua waved his hand: "It's very simple... To possess, of course, you should possess Dan Heng or Xing. Everyone is from the Astral Express; they definitely wouldn't want March 7th to lose face outside, right? Even if they don't know swordsmanship, it doesn't matter. As long as Dan Heng's martial arts are copied correctly, that's fine."

"..."

Seeing the two of them looking completely unconvinced, Lan Minghua narrowed his eyes: "What? Do you think it's impossible? If you don't possess Dan Heng or Xing, then who do you think can be possessed? You can't possibly possess Scott, right?"

— —

【Huohuo refused repeatedly: "No, no, I won't break the seal!"】

【"Tsk, tsk, tsk, it seems your intention to help friends is nothing more than this."】

【March 7th cupped her hands in thanks: "I appreciate the intentions of you two. Xing, I want to hear your thoughts on 【taking a shortcut】?"】

【"Time is tight; borrowing a save file is not bad."】

【March 7th suddenly realized: "A... a save file? Now that you mention it, it really feels like borrowing a save file from some high-end player. However, once Mr. Tail leaves, I'll still be left with nothing, right?"】

【"Miss March 7th feels that this is not good either, right?"】

【Mr. Tail was quite displeased: "Pfft, pfft, pfft. My good intentions were treated as donkey lungs. If you want it, I don't even want to help!"】

【Not long after, Huohuo got a job and said she had received some "zombie case," so she left in a hurry.】

【Time passed quickly, and two more days passed. This time, they met Huohuo again in the Starcruiser Sea. Seeing the other person looking listless, they went up to ask.】

【Huohuo stated that they had recently discovered two "zombies" near the Fyxestroll Garden. Though called zombies, the victims were actually still alive. They had no wounds and no Heliobus on them, but they would repeat some strange behaviors.】

【Since these people were all contestants in the Wardance, Huohuo and tail speculated that it might be related to the escaped Heliobus. Considering that March 7th was also participating in the ceremony, they urged them to be careful.】

【After saying this, Huohuo left in a hurry.】

【"If that Heliobus specifically targets contestants of the Wardance... Xing, why don't we go to the Fyxestroll Garden to try our luck when we have time? Maybe we can help Huohuo."】

【Xing agreed and came to the Fyxestroll Garden late that night. Since the Heliobus's target was clear, unsurprisingly, they quickly found March 7th.】

【I saw a ball of blue-green flame floating above March 7th's head, seemingly sizing her up from top to bottom.】

【"Wow, incredible, incredible. You have a ray of light spraying out from your crown. You are so young and yet have such a tempered physique; you are simply a once-in-a-century martial arts genius!"】