Xin's words made the usually cold Zhuqing feel warm. Her teacher had helped her too much.
A quiet warmth spread through Zhu Zhuqing's chest, softening the edges of her usually composed demeanor. She had never been someone who expressed emotion easily, yet at this moment, the depth of her teacher's care was undeniable. From guidance in cultivation to unwavering support in her personal struggles, everything Xin had done for her accumulated into something she could not easily repay.
"Zhuqing, your advantage this time returning will be to take them by surprise, strive for a quick victory, use one powerful blow to overcome many, and overwhelm the Star Luo Royal Family with your momentum."
Xin spoke with calm authority, each word carefully measured. His strategy was simple in structure yet difficult in execution—strike fast, strike decisively, and leave no room for retaliation. Against a force as formidable as the Star Luo Royal Family, hesitation would be fatal.
"However, even though your strength has advanced by leaps and bounds now, it might not be easy to achieve this. Fortunately, you have already mastered your movement technique. Unless it's an agility-attack system Titled Douluo, they won't be able to catch up to you now. If you can't win, you can still return safely."
His gaze rested on her for a moment, carrying both expectation and caution. He was not simply sending her into battle—he was preparing her to survive it.
"No matter if I can achieve it or not, I will do my best this time and absolutely not run away!"
Upon hearing this, Zhuqing's eyes were filled with determination.
There was no wavering in her voice. For her, this journey was not just about strength or victory—it was about ending the chains of her past. Retreat was not something she wished to consider, even if it remained an option.
But the next moment, Zhuqing's small face darkened. She bit her lip and said with some embarrassment:
"If I can't win, I will likely leave my life in Star Luo. For my family and my third sister, I will have no regrets."
Her voice lowered, tinged with a rare vulnerability. Beneath her resolve lay a quiet acceptance of the risks ahead.
"It's just that I won't be able to repay Teacher's kindness. How should Zhuqing repay you? Perhaps... perhaps!"
She hesitated, her thoughts tangling together. Gratitude and desperation pushed her toward an extreme idea, one she struggled to even voice aloud.
Zhuqing deliberated for a long while before she was about to blurt out the words "offer myself."
"No problem!"
Unexpectedly, Xin cut her off before the words could leave her lips.
Without further comment, he turned and retrieved a weapon from a dark shelf nearby, placing it firmly in front of her.
The object was entirely black, stretching roughly one and a half meters in length. It exuded a heavy, oppressive aura, as if it carried weight far beyond its physical form. Its surface resembled iron forged under extreme conditions, cold and dense, with a faint chill that seemed to seep into the air around it.
What truly set it apart, however, were the carvings along its body.
Rather than ornamental designs, they depicted a violent and vivid scene—mountains splitting apart from their core, jagged fragments scattering outward like a storm of destruction. Within the fractured lines, faint dark streaks resembled molten currents, as though something powerful and volatile was trapped beneath the surface, waiting to erupt.
The craftsmanship was so sharp and lifelike that it felt as if the scene might break free at any moment.
Zhu Zhuqing and Meng Yiran stared at it, momentarily stunned. Though unfamiliar, the weapon reminded them instinctively of the Hell Revolver used by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Yet this was clearly something far beyond that.
Larger.
Heavier.
More imposing.
It inspired not just curiosity—but awe.
"Teacher... this... what is this thing?"
Zhuqing and Meng Yiran both asked in a daze.
"I call it: Soul Bursting Sky Piercer."
"Soul Bursting Sky Piercer?!"
The name alone sent a faint chill through them. It was direct, unembellished, and carried an unmistakable implication of overwhelming destructive power.
"You should know that the basic principle of Hidden Weapons is very primitive; they merely utilize simple force relationships to achieve instantaneous bursts. Therefore, Hidden Weapons can often only be used by surprise, in secret, and are not suitable for public use."