He changed Tiwat

“Flies weeping blood laugh at the heavens, a lone sail casting shadows on a white chain.”

"The waning moon rises, a sudden fierce wind arises, blowing everything away...blowing everything away..."

It's like a poem, like a song, and even more like the autobiography of Heureia, the goddess of salt.

The voice told him again and again that Heaven was cruel, that humans were born like insects, destined to suffer much pain, and that in the end they would only become a wisp of wronged souls blown away by the wind.

Why persist? Living only adds to the resentment.

His consciousness was hazy, as if his body had turned into grains of salt and dust, about to be blown away by a gale.

Han Fulai bit his tongue hard, the taste of blood instantly filling his mouth. He barely managed to hold onto his last bit of clarity, fighting with all his might against the erosion of the remnant soul of the Salt God.

Without a commander, the two ice golems stopped moving and stood motionless in front of him like wooden puppets or clay sculptures.

Rouran didn't bother dealing with the ice puppets; instead, he focused all his energy on urging the remnant soul of the Salt God to absorb the ice faster. He was now only one step away from victory, and everything would be over soon.

Just then, a light appeared above their heads in the space shrouded in darkness.

Purple lightning.

Chapter 401 I Am My Own Light

Keqing faces two paths: return to Liyuan for help, or seek assistance from Mount Okuzō.

What choice should be made?

To be honest, Ke Qing didn't want to choose either one, because choosing either one would only prove one thing—she couldn't help Han Fulai.

"I'll go with you. You've already taken on enough for me; you should at least show me some appreciation, right?"

This was a declaration she made just two hours earlier in front of Ningguang.

In fact, when Keqing said those words, she didn't think about anything else; she just subconsciously wanted to nip Ningguang's in the bud.

During the Lantern Festival, she had reserved a "Crystal Crescent Moon" to give to him, but Ningguang snatched it away; when he returned from his business trip to Qingxupu, she had rushed to finish all her work and was preparing to invite him to spend the holiday together, but Ningguang again took the opportunity...

There's an old saying in Liyue: things don't happen more than three times. This time, the flood relief efforts at Guili Plains are her home turf. Ningguang, do you really want to steal the spot a third time?

She couldn't stand it!

The words were still ringing in my ears, yet now I had to admit my powerlessness once again, and even... even possibly have to bow down to Ningguang.

But she had to admit that all she could do now was stand on the shore and watch him risk his life alone, powerless to do anything about it.

But everyone around him seemed to be better than her.

Gan Yu is a half-immortal with extensive knowledge spanning three thousand years; Shen He is a disciple of the immortals with immortal secrets cultivated from childhood; even Ning Guang is a master of formations... The grand formation of the Jade Pavilion and the "Seven Star Formation" of the Layered Rock Abyss were all Ning Guang's creations. The construction of the Jade Pavilion also used many immortal treasures, making one wonder if Ning Guang had secretly received immortal inheritance.

They might be able to break through this secret realm, but she can't.

Yes, whether it's him and Gan Yu, Shen He, or Ning Guang... there's always a tacit understanding between them that they can't quite explain. They can always understand each other's thoughts with just a word or a glance, but she can't.

Ke Qing sometimes feels like she's always been an outsider.

Even though I'm standing closest to him, it feels like I'm also the furthest away from him...

Ke Qing knew that now was not the time for her to hesitate. Every minute she delayed making a decision would increase the danger to Han Fulai.

But she was really unwilling to accept it, really unwilling to accept it.

Why do I always feel so useless in front of him?

She was clearly the youngest Seven Star of Liyue. She was exceptionally talented, with impeccable character, a privileged background, and outstanding intelligence and martial arts skills—a true prodigy in the eyes of others. Yet, compared to him and those around him, she seemed inferior in every way…

She was actually quite dissatisfied with Han Fulai often doing the most difficult things first, then handing over the relatively easy tasks to her and giving her the credit. However, she couldn't complain because she knew that there were many things she couldn't actually do herself.

Her political skills are inferior to Gan Yu's, her martial arts and magic are inferior to Shen He's, and her economic abilities are inferior to Ning Guang's... So there are many things they can do with him, but she can't.

It's like everyone goes to climb Longji Snow Mountain together, but she's left behind in a safe house at the foot of the mountain to while away the time, watching him and another girl walk through the wind and snow.

She doesn't want that.

Keqing removed the Eye of God that was hanging behind her neck.

The Eye of God in her hand was once a nightmare she wanted to escape, a burden she wanted to discard, and a cruel mockery from heaven.

In Liyue, girls reach adulthood at fifteen, an age when they are ready to marry. In Liyue's ancient tradition, fifteen is also called "Ji Ji," meaning "tying one's hair and using a hairpin to secure it." The "hairpin" is a hair ornament. Girls tying their hair with a hairpin is like boys wearing a crown; it's a symbol of adulthood.

The Liyue people of today don't care much about this ancient tradition. Due to thriving trade and frequent contact with other cultures, traditions like the "coming-of-age ceremony" and "hairpinning ceremony" have long been lost. Clothing and hairstyles have also become incredibly diverse, and Keqing herself doesn't particularly appreciate these old-fashioned things. However, as a thousand-year-old family in Liyue, maintaining appearances is still important.

Keqing's hairpin was a gift from her family for her fifteenth birthday.

So on her fifteenth birthday, Keqing styled her hair in a unique double ponytail. She did tie her hair up, but she tied more than one ponytail.

One hairpin cannot hold two ponytails in place.

This is Keqing declaring to her family that she will not be bound by tradition and will personally change it.

On that very day, Keqing made a birthday wish in front of all the elders in her family. She said, "I want to leave a mark of humanity on the Emperor's land."

In order to realize her ideal of rule by man, she decided to go out and hone her skills. She did not want to be like those young masters and ladies from noble families who held high positions but did nothing, but rather to become a pioneer of rule by man in Liyue worthy of the name of the Seven Stars.

However, fate seemed determined to work against her. Just as she was setting her sights on great things, fate bestowed upon her the most ironic gift—the Eye of God.

It seemed as if God was mocking her: "Without divine power, you can't do anything."

Keqing gripped the Eye of God tightly in her hand.

"More important than the source of power is the driver of power."

Keqing said those words to herself once again.

Her heart was absolutely firm at that moment.

She already possesses the power to realize her ideals.

She is Ke Qing of Yuheng Star, who can do anything she wants, and she will do it better than others.

Yes, she doesn't understand magic, secret realms, or formations, but she does understand swordsmanship.

She couldn't pull Han Fulai out of the vanished secret realm—so she'd go in herself!

She wasn't the kind of woman content to wait silently in a safe house, nor was she an outsider. If anyone tried to keep her out, she'd just cleave the safe house door open with her sword!

The purple Eye of God emitted a blinding flash of lightning.

Keqing summoned the Dragon's Roar from the Box with her other hand and placed the Eye of God on the hilt of her sword.

She held her sword in one hand, pointing it straight at the sky.

Forbidden Moves of the Cloud-Come Sword Technique

"Heavenly Punishment... Thunder!"

A bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, striking directly at the tip of Keqing's sword.

Lightning connects the ground and the sky into one, as if in the beginning of chaos, the gods used thunder to separate heaven and earth.

The lightning gradually enveloped her entire body, merging with her.

Thunder is the power of heaven and earth, and the power of heaven and earth is gathered in Keqing.

Lightning was also reflected in Keqing's crimson pupils; no trace of the smallest lightning element could escape her gaze.

She finally saw what she wanted to see: a faint trace of lightning element flickered in the center of the lake—it was lightning element from within her body.

She infused the lightning element into her handmade miner's lamp and gave it to the person she loved.

Keqing's family's "Cloud-Driving Sword Technique" evolved from the "Ancient Cloud-Driving Sword Technique" of the Liyue Familia. It is said that by mastering it to its highest level, one can attain enlightenment through swordsmanship. There have always been legends in Liyue about immortals flying on their swords. For example, Chongyun's sword, "Flying Great Sword," is named after the immortals who wield their swords.

Although Keqing cannot fly on a sword, she did indeed take flight at this moment.

"The light of the sword is like mine, cutting off everything!"

Now, she is the thunderous might that walks the world, the Liyue Thunder Goddess who roams the heavenly streets!

Her sword could now shatter the barriers of space.

"Humans are like moths, always drawn to the light of the gods. But I lit my own light."

Keqing transformed into lightning and hurtled straight into the heart of the lake.

The dragon roared from within the box, and purple lightning ripped through the outer wall of the hidden space.

Chapter 402 Mirror Return Secret Realm, Martial Arts Arena

Han Fulai looked up and saw the blue sky that flashed by like a fleeting ephemera, and the purple lightning bolt.

It was like lightning that split the heavens and the earth.

—And that beautiful figure amidst the lightning.

His mind was swirling with countless chaotic thoughts, as if many people were conversing with him at the same time. Memories surfaced like sediment, and all sorts of past events surged in his mind, some belonging to him, some to the Salt God's malice, and even some strange thoughts that he didn't know where they came from.

When thoughts are not clear, they turn into obsessions, and obsessions become demons. This is what Buddhism calls "one thought can make you a Buddha, one thought can make you a demon." If we were to give a precise definition to his current state, it would be what is called "inner demons."

The Salt Sorrow Spear was constantly absorbing the blood and energy from his body.

As his body weakened, his will became more fragile, and the Salt God's evil intentions grew stronger, making him increasingly difficult to resist.

But upon seeing Ke Qing, a thought suddenly popped into Han Fulai's mind, quickly overshadowing everything else and occupying his entire attention.

All other distractions were cut down by Keqing's sword light.

“So beautiful…” he murmured the two words.

If the love of beauty is a kind of demon, then he has already fallen into demonic possession.

Rouran also saw the purple lightning.

Unlike Han Fulai, he saw not beauty, but danger, extreme danger.

It was like being in a lightning storm, in danger of being torn to pieces at any moment.

Almost without thinking, Rouran immediately abandoned the idea of ​​continuing to urge the remaining souls in the Salt Sorrow Spear, and instead decisively retreated into the darkness.

The next second, the Dragon's Roar from the Box struck the spot where he had just stood with unparalleled force, and a bloody mark appeared on Rou Ran's handsome face.

That was merely the vacuum aftershock created when Keqing's longsword sliced ​​through space, but it was enough to kill.

If it weren't for his mastery of the "protective technique," which gave him a sixth sense for danger, Rouran might already be dead.

Keqing's target was not Rouran; in fact, she hadn't even figured out the situation yet.

She cleaved through space and rushed into the secret realm. The first thing she saw was Han Fulai confronting someone, so she instinctively slashed at the person he was fighting.

Her attack missed, and the enemy vanished into the darkness. Keqing didn't pursue; she had only wanted to force the enemy back. After all, her goal wasn't to kill, but to save lives.

Ke Qing turned and rushed toward Han Fulai almost as soon as she landed. She saw the frozen ice puppet, the blood on the ground, and the spear stuck in his chest.

She rushed up to Han Fulai and grabbed his waist and back.

"How are you? How are you?"

Ke Qing's voice completely changed, even sounding like she was about to cry. She hadn't expected that in just a few minutes, Han Fulai in the secret realm would almost be separated from her by death.

Han Fulai felt a slight sense of relief as Ke Qing held him in her arms. He was now nearly exhausted, having used all his strength to fight the remnant soul of the demon god in the Salt Sorrow Spear. With this relaxation, the Jade Shield he had been holding up could no longer be maintained, and the two ice puppets also lost their connection with immortal power and dissipated.

However, this actually works out in a way. He couldn't fight on two fronts anyway, so by withdrawing his external forces, he could focus on maintaining his own will to resist the erosion of the Salt God's evil intentions. His consciousness also became clearer as a result, at least enough to respond to Keqing's questions.

Speaking was still difficult for him; he shook his head with effort and pointed a finger at the top of his head.

Seeing that he was still conscious, Ke Qing smiled with delight: "Hold on a little longer, I'll take you out now."

There's hope if we get out!

Ke Qing held Han Fulai tightly with one arm and swung her sword at the sky again with the other.

Purple lightning once again hurtled toward the top of the secret realm with the power to cleave the heavens and the earth.

This time, however, the lightning disappeared without a trace, swallowed by the inky sky.

Just then, a gentle voice rang out: "Miss Keqing, there's no need to waste your energy. This is the 'Mirror Return Secret Realm,' created by the Martial Arts Academy. It only allows entry and not exit. Its spatial barrier can absorb all the power emanating from within, preventing anything imprisoned inside from leaving—unless you can defeat the master of this secret realm."

His voice echoed in the dark space, as if several Rouran were speaking at the same time from all directions, making it impossible to discern their location.

"Hmph." Ke Qing snorted coldly, her sword flashing.

The "Sky Street Parade" was launched again, with Keqing at the center, and countless sword lights attacked from all directions, determined to shatter the entire space.

However, as the Rouran said, all of this was in vain.

What Rouran just said was indeed the truth.

This "Mirror Space" was the earliest Yin-Yang institution in Inazuma, the prototype of the "Yin-Yang Bureau of the Book of Records".

The "Yin-Yang Bureau of the Secret Code" was created by Harunosuke Korekami to protect Inazuma, and the "Mirror Return Secret Realm" is the most important component in achieving this goal. This independent space, composed of Yin-Yang techniques and Tengu supernatural powers, should actually be considered a "dojo".