Xia Qingyue stood frozen—quite literally.
Her chest rose and fell in shallow gasps, each breath forming faint mist in the cold air. Her legs trembled beneath her bloodless skin, barely holding her upright. The colossal water dragon Retsu had summoned had left her powerless—her ribbon the only thing still holding her posture with some measure of dignity. The arena was blanketed in the fading haze of spiritual frost and mist, a haunting echo of the devastation that had just passed.
And yet…
"I concede."
The words, so calm and unshakable, echoed through the deathly still air.
The silence that followed lasted only a heartbeat—
Then erupted into chaos.
"S-she… she conceded?!"
"But she was winning!"
"Why would she stop now?!"
Gasps, shouts, and confusion broke across the Sword Discourse Arena like rolling thunder. Sect disciples stood dumbfounded, their mouths hanging open. Even hardened elders turned to each other with narrowed eyes and shaking heads, unable to grasp what they had just witnessed.
"Did she take pity on her?"
"No, that doesn't fit her style…"
"Is she injured? Ill?"
"Did she throw the match?!"
Cang Yue blinked, trying to comprehend it. She had believed that Retsu would emerge victorious—how could she not, after such an overwhelming display? But to just… concede?
Even so, she didn't feel anger. No jealousy. Only awe.
Her gaze drifted toward Yun Che.
Yun Che, arms crossed, exhaled a long breath. He'd expected many things from Retsu—but this? No. And yet, somehow, it made perfect sense.
"She was never fighting for victory… She was only testing Qingyue after all. She would've to the finals if her opponent wasn't Qingyue."
He could already guess what she was thinking. Even if she'd won today, she would have simply bowed out tomorrow due to her refusal to fight him. That was who Retsu was—she had no reason to win other than for Cang Yue. Moreover, she only fought Qingyue because she was her main target all along.
Ling Wugou, still blinking in disbelief himself, finally raised his hand and made the call:
"Blue Wind Imperial Family—Unohana Retsu has conceded.
Frozen Cloud Asgard's Xia Qingyue wins the round and will proceed to the Grand Finals!"
"Unohana Retsu will move to the third-place bracket."
"You… concede?"
Xia Qingyue's voice was barely a whisper, hoarse from fatigue, disbelief evident in every syllable. Her hands trembled at her sides, not from fear, but from the sheer incomprehensibility of what had just occurred.
Retsu did not turn.
The wind swept gently through the arena, tugging at the folds of her elegant battle kimono, her veiled kasa hat casting a long shadow over her face. Only her voice responded, soft yet impossibly clear:
"Yes. I have no reason to fight you anymore."
"Why…" Qingyue managed, almost breathlessly.
There was a pause.
Then, Retsu's voice, as calm and clear as moonlight on water, echoed in her mind—not spoken aloud, but a direct transmission, laced with spirit energy:
"I overestimated you, Miss Qingyue. So I have no reason to continue. I am amazed… and disappointed at the same time."
Xia Qingyue's heart clenched.
"Let me tell you something absolutely clear between us. When you married Yun Che… you had no feelings for him. Am I correct?"
Her eyes widened—but she said nothing.
Silence is its own confession.
"Right now, I'm only here to test you. To see your worthiness as his wife. To see whether you have a speck of love for him."
Xia Qingyue stiffened. Her breath caught in her throat.
"To be perfectly honest, I never understood why someone as cold and emotionally distant as you… became his wife. If I wanted to win, a few seconds was all I needed. If I wanted you dead, you would've perished before the word 'begin' was spoken."
The chill in Retsu's voice wasn't threatening. It was simply truth—like the final toll of a bell.
"Test…? What test…?" Qingyue asked, forcing herself to her feet despite the searing pain in her legs. Her ribbon coiled protectively around her as her energy barely kept her upright.
Retsu let out a gentle, amused sigh—half laugh, half pity.
"Ufufu… You're beautiful, talented, but weak in the ways that matter."
"You rely too heavily on your techniques, on your ribbon, on distance. In close combat, you crumble. Without your artifact, you would've lasted mere seconds against a true swordswoman."
Her voice dipped slightly lower, more serious.
"You're a genius. Yes, even your strength… once I matched it, your advantage disappeared."
"And you brought ice to a battle against water laws."
Xia Qingyue gritted her teeth under her veil.
"You think you were fighting a waterbender. But that's only a fraction of what I am. If I wanted, I could've defeated you without using a single drop of water."
That statement struck like thunder.
Retsu took one step forward—still not turning—and left her final words suspended in the mist.
"Yun Che… is precious to me. And I won't allow anyone near him who doesn't understand what he's worth."
Xia Qingyue's breath caught in her chest. Her legs barely held her upright, trembling beneath her snow-white robes, and her ribbon wrapped protectively around her waist like a lifeline. She had thrown everything she had into that battle — her full cultivation, her mastery over the Frozen Cloud Arts, techniques passed down by her Asgard.
And yet… it wasn't enough.
Not even close.
She was about to unleash the forbidden arts that she secretly cultivates but Retsu ended the match before she could do so.
Retsu conceded and she won. However....
She hadn't won — she had simply been spared.
That dragon, that monstrous embodiment of water and ice — she had felt it. Truly felt it. The sheer pressure of that beast had nearly shattered her Frozen Cloud Barrier. It had come within moments of breaking through.
But then, just as the crushing weight was about to fall — the force behind it vanished. She didn't survive because of her defense. She survived because Retsu let her.
"She wasn't even serious…"
Her hands trembled.
Everything Retsu had done… had been toying. No, testing.
She clenched her fists as the words echoed in her mind — cold, deliberate, and final:
"Your loss isn't meant to be in my hands. And I know you still have one more trick or tricks knowing you. Save it. You'll need it to fight him. Not that it'll matter."
Her voice was soft, but every word cut like a blade.
"You didn't even go all out," Xia Qingyue muttered aloud, her voice laced with bitterness. It wasn't a question. It was a truth she had to accept.
Retsu finally turned slightly, her face still hidden beneath the kasa hat.
"You're Yun Che's wife."
"The only reason you're still alive… is because I'm testing you."
A faint, melodic chuckle followed — sweet and terrifying at once.
"A word of advice, Miss Xia."
"I am a woman of absolute devotion. My love for him is not born from duty, but from salvation."
"He rescued me from Hell. I would tear heaven and earth asunder for him."
Her tone sharpened, the silk now lined with steel.
"If you ever cause him to shed a single tear—"
"If you bring him grief, if he hates you enough to cast you aside—"
"I will find you."
"I will kill you with my own hands. And if the entire realm rises to shield you, I will wipe them out to reach you."
Xia Qingyue's blood ran cold.
There was no exaggeration. No posturing. Just a simple, terrifying promise.
"Even if you hide behind sects, empires, realms… I will drive my blade through your heart."
The silence that followed was absolute.
Even the spectators, far from the two women, were struck dumb, sensing the shift in energy — as though death itself had whispered through the arena.
A single bead of cold sweat trickled down Xia Qingyue's temple. Her heart pounded, but not from fear of loss.
From the fear that she had underestimated the depth of this woman's love.
"Well," Retsu said suddenly, lightness returning to her voice.
"Nice to meet you. Let's get along… for now. Unless, of course, you decide otherwise…."
And with that, she turned, her footsteps as soft as falling snow. Her loss meant nothing to her. Because victory had never been her goal.
As she walked away, leaving a stunned Xia Qingyue behind, the message was clear:
Retsu's participation wasn't about the tournament. She didn't care about losing or winning.
It was about him.
And for that, Retsu would burn the world if she had to.
=====================
Unohana Retsu descended slowly on the Blue Wind Imperial Family seating zone, her pink battle kimono fluttering with elegance and quiet finality. Each of her steps seemed to carry the weight of an entire realm's gaze. As her feet touched the stone floor of the seating area reserved for Blue Wind Imperial Family affiliates, the atmosphere around her shifted. It wasn't just awe.
It was reverence… and fear.
There was no more need for veils for her powers, nor restraint.
Her current strength was now public knowledge.
No longer the gentle, mysterious woman in the shadows of Yun Che's entourage — she was now a celestial force. The image of that colossal water and ice dragon loomed within everyone's mind, a memory branded into their spiritual cores.
And not a single person in the entire Heavenly Sword Villa — not even the sect masters, elders, or princes — dared meet her gaze.
The entire empire trembled as her strength and powers displayed throughout the whole empire.
The once incomparable shock of Nezuko, a five-year-old already in the Grand Perfection Sky Profound Realm, was still fresh in people's minds. An unprecedented phenomenon in history. A child with limitless potential. Her adorable demeanor did nothing to hide the terrifying prodigy she was.
Then came Xue Ling, the demonic prodigy with crimson eyes and unrivaled talent — a Fourth Level Emperor Profound Realm at only twenty-seven. Crowned as the youngest member of the Thrones in Blue Wind history when rumors of her jumped from mid Sky Profound Realm to Mid Emperor Profound Realm in a span of two weeks. Her mere presence had once set the empire on edge.
And now…
Two more monsters.
One, an icy fairy cloaked in divine elegance — Xia Qingyue of the Frozen Cloud Asgard, a seventeen-year-old girl already at the Grand Perfection of the Sky Profound Realm.
The other, a divine reaper in silk — Unohana Retsu, nineteen years old, wielding monstrous, refined spiritual power that commanded not only water but death itself.
"Two Grand Perfection Sky Profound Realm cultivators under twenty... What kind of age is this?"
"Four monsters… No, four living legends already. Is this a new era of geniuses?"
"What kind of cultivation methods…? No, what kind of freakish talent is this?"
Those who had bet heavily on Retsu, confident in her supremacy, were initially stunned by her decision to concede. There were a few who, had this been any other situation, might have cursed aloud, demanding answers or denouncing her decision.
But none did.
Not a single one dared.
They had all witnessed it.
A dragon made of water and ice so vast and overwhelming it seemed to come from a divine realm.
An aura so dense that it brought elite cultivators to their knees just from proximity.
A smile beneath a veil that promised not victory… but devastation.
Even the elders of the major sects… kept their thoughts to themselves. Some even considered recruiting her but knowing her powers and tendencies, it was a fool's attempt.
Cang Yue watched from her seat, the white silk of her robes slightly creased beneath her clenched hands. But her smile… it remained, soft and steady. Amongst the turmoil, the thunderous crowd, and the gasps that still lingered like echoes in the wind, she alone seemed unfazed.
She had always believed in Yun Che — in his strength, his maddening charisma, and the destiny that pulled monstrous figures like stars into his orbit.
Unohana Retsu's concession was not a loss.
It was strategy.
If Retsu had decided not to fight Xia Qingyue at all, she would've strolled straight into the finals unchallenged. But she didn't.
She fought, she dominated, and then… she chose to walk away.
To Cang Yue, that was more powerful than any victory. And for the Blue Wind Imperial Family, having Unohana Retsu standing in the top three had already etched their name in legend.
She leaned back and exhaled, her eyes softening as she watched the woman in white return to her seat with unshaken elegance.
In the Frozen Cloud Asgard seating zone, the icy elegance was momentarily broken by a small voice filled with unfiltered joy.
Nezuko giggled, legs swinging cheerfully as she sat on Murong Qianxue's lap, holding a half-eaten red bean bun with both hands. Despite the overwhelming tension that had gripped the entire sect's senior fairies, Nezuko acted as though this was all just a grand storybook tale.
Her two doppelgangers sat beside her, mimicking her every action like well-trained spirits of chaos. They too had red bean buns, and matching excitement painted across their small faces.
"Onee-chan's so cool, huh~"
"Cool desu!" "Desu!"
The words were innocent, sweet — like petals in a storm.
But the five top fairies sitting around Nezuko shivered slightly.
Murong Qianxue, Jun Lianqie, Mu Lanyi, Feng Hanyue, and Feng Hanxue — all of them could feel it: the reverberation of divine power, still lingering in the air like a coiled beast that refused to fully dissipate.
Little Fairy sighed quietly, brushing Nezuko's hair with a motherly tenderness. "Cool… and terrifying," she whispered under her breath. Remembering the true power of Retsu when she travelled with her rascal and her back then.
Retsu was right about one part.
This is a mercy win.
Meanwhile, Xia Qingyue stood alone in the center of the arena.
Her body trembled — not just from the cold that clung to her limbs, nor from the fatigue threatening to drop her to her knees — but from realization.
The cold mist of her Frozen Cloud Barrier still drifted like a veil around her. Her last defense. Her final defense card. It had protected her… barely.
She had survived.
But it didn't feel like victory.
It felt like being allowed to exist.
A chill slid down her spine — not from the lingering ice — but from Retsu's voice echoing in her memory.
"Should you make him shed a single tear... I will kill you myself."
Xia Qingyue now understood something she had never wanted to confront.
She wasn't the only divine beauty Yun Che had drawn to him. And more importantly—
Unohana Retsu had never come to compete.
She had come to protect.
"I will tolerate you for now."
That wasn't kindness.
It was a warning.
Xia Qingyue lowered her eyes. For the first time in a long while, she felt like her power meant little. She had always stood tall as the cold goddess of Frozen Cloud Asgard. A genius in the Sky Profound Realm but to Unohana Retsu, the level meant a minimum requirement just to fight her.
But now…
She had glimpsed what it meant to stand in the shadow of a woman willing to destroy an entire realm for love.
And she would never forget that gaze — nor the veiled smile of the fairy in white, walking away as though the battle had never mattered.
Chu Yueli landed softly beside her disciple, her robes fluttering in the fading mist of the battlefield. She had watched every second — every devastating strike, every counter, every flicker of power Unohana Retsu displayed like an effortless dance. And even though Retsu had conceded, the result was clear.
Xia Qingyue never stood a chance.
Yes, she will now have the chance to fight him, but this was not the victory she hoped for.
Chu Yueli reached down, helping her battered disciple to her feet.
"Are you well?" she asked gently, brushing frost from Qingyue's shoulder.
The younger woman nodded, her breath unsteady.
"Yes… Master…" she paused, eyes cast downward. "If I had used those arts… the ones I held back… would it have been enough to win?"
Chu Yueli sighed. Not in exasperation, but in quiet understanding — the kind only a master could offer when the truth was hard to say aloud.
"I don't know. That girl… her power is beyond what we've ever faced. She's not just strong. She's fast. Fluid. Versatile. Even with equal cultivation, she's in another league."
Qingyue's gaze trembled. Her heart was cold — but not from her ice arts.
"I already lost… the moment the match began," she murmured. "She beat me in every area. In hand-to-hand… in weapon mastery… she rendered my ice arts meaningless. She even replaced my domain with her own. And that water dragon… I felt its power. It would've shattered my barrier if she hadn't pulled it back."
Her fists clenched.
"She let me live. And then… she conceded. This doesn't feel like a win."
Chu Yueli didn't argue.
"It may not feel like it… but a win is a win. Even if she gave it to you."
She wrapped an arm around her disciple's shoulders, gently guiding her back toward the seating zone. The arena behind them still whispered with frost.
"Take this for what it is, Qingyue. A lesson — not in weakness, but in what's possible. You fought someone who moves like a myth."
Xia Qingyue's jaw tightened as her eyes flickered across the audience. She found him — Yun Che — watching from above. She didn't know if he pitied her or respected her efforts, but this wasn't enough. Not yet.
"Tomorrow… there will be no holding back," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else. "No restraint. No fear. I'll use everything I have… every forbidden art, every shred of spirit… to show him how far I've come."
Her grip on her master's arm trembled slightly as one final thought crossed her mind.
If this is what Unohana Retsu can do… then what about him?
Yun Che's gaze lingered on Xia Qingyue, his eyes unreadable. Then he exhaled, quietly, almost imperceptibly.
She's grown strong… but this isn't her limit, is it?
He turned and walked away, slipping into the seating zone where the others awaited.
The flap rustled.
Unohana Retsu entered, kasa hat in hand, a grin playing on her lips. Her long, braided, silky hair spilled behind her like a river of night as she casually rubbed the back of her head. The beauty that shocked the entire arena was only a common occurrence in the seating zone.
"Teehee~ I lost," she sang, sticking out her tongue with playful innocence.
"More like conceded," Mio said, puffing her cheeks and hugging her tightly. "Great job, Ret-chan~!"
"Good work, Nee-sama." Nemu offered her a soft smile as Retsu pulled her into a warm embrace.
Cang Yue smiled fondly, rising from her seat as Retsu turned toward her. She lowered her head in a small, apologetic bow.
"I am sorry, Little Yue… I guess even I have battles I must walk away from."
But Cang Yue only shook her head, gently placing her hand over Retsu's.
"Making it into the top three is already more than I could've hoped for. You've honored our name more than enough."
She smiled with quiet confidence, and then her gaze shifted — toward Yun Che.
"Besides, we still have one last contender."
Retsu grinned, her violet eyes gleaming.
"Ufufu~ It's your turn, Yuu-kun. Her lost isn't meant to be in my hands, it will be yours."
Yun Che chuckled lightly, folding his arms.
"You sure love to make an entrance, don't you?"
In the corner, Jin Mulan remained quiet, her gaze locked onto Retsu. She had fought many powerful people in her life. She had seen enough to know — what Retsu displayed today was not the limit of her power.
No... this wasn't even close.
She remembered that night — a fleeting glimpse of something far beyond human. Fox ears. Tails. A white mask with an eerie calm. A pressure that made the Wu Clan tremble — something primal. Ancient. Divine.
She didn't show any of that today.
What I saw today was a master of water… of ice… but the woman that night was something else entirely. Was that even real? Or… just a fragment of what she truly is?
Jin Mulan's heart beat a little faster.
Unohana Retsu… just how terrifying are you really?
"You've shown a lot of waterbending mastery," Yun Che said, eyes soft as he looked at his beloved. "I didn't expect you to progress this much… That display just now—those weren't just spells. Those were test results, weren't they?"
He gently reached out and patted Retsu on the head.
"I'm glad you didn't go overboard."
It was the truth. Xia Qingyue had been a sparring ground — a guinea pig for Retsu's rapidly evolving techniques. He had seen her use those arts in the training realm… but seeing them applied in real combat was another thing entirely.
Water lasers redirected by crystalline ice. Exploding water sharks conjured midair. An icy domain laced with hundreds—of Icy Crystal swords. And then the halberd… a fusion of spear, axe, and sword — constructed not only with elegance, but brutal purpose.
All in two weeks.
Retsu had always been a versatile fighter even in her previous life… but this? This was monstrous progress.
She smiled sweetly and tilted her head, violet eyes shining. Reverted back from its icy blue.
"I knew you wouldn't want me to go all out, Yuu-kun. You told me not to… so I didn't. I won't do anything you ask me not to. Not ever."
He smiled, warmth flickering in his gaze.
"You did well. I'm proud of you."
Another soft head-pat, this time with a bit more affection behind it.
"So… how is she?"
Retsu's expression turned thoughtful.
"A work in progress," she said with a hint of mischief. "If she learns proper waterbending — and Haki — she might become the most powerful mortal below us."
She folded her arms beneath her chest and leaned against the side of the tent, eyes half-lidded.
"She's still crude. Weak in hand-to-hand combat. Weapon and energy control? That's her strong suit. Being able to control thousands — maybe millions — of ant-sized lotus petals… now that is impressive. But… I'm sure she's still hiding something."
Yun Che nodded.
"She is. We'll see it tomorrow."
Retsu blinked.
"She won't use the Frozen Cloud Arts?"
"No," Yun Che replied with a smirk. "She'll bring out those arts. After your fight with her today, I am sure no more holding back in her case."
Cang Yue's brows furrowed, clearly intrigued.
"Those… arts? What do you mean?"
Yun Che turned toward her with a mysterious gleam in his eye.
"You'll see tomorrow. Little Yue. In her entire Asgard, she's the only one who can successfully cultivate them. The Frozen Cloud Arts you've seen so far? They're just a partial set derived from it."
The room fell silent for a moment. Retsu's smile widened.
"Oho… now I am curious."
At the same time, Xia Yuanba was starting to sweat bullets.
The pressure of the arena, the weight of eyes bearing down on him, and—more than anything—the realization that his next opponent was none other than his own brother-in-law, Yun Che.
"Why did it have to be him? Aneki is a Peak Sky Profound Realm warrior that big sister wasn't able to get even. What about brother-in-law? What is his true power? If I lose, I will fight Aneki. She'll beat me all over again and again!"
His legs felt like jelly, and his muscular frame twitched nervously.
Beside him, Mai noticed his growing panic and offered a comforting pat on the back.
"Relax, big guy. He's not gonna break you... probably," she said with a teasing smirk, trying to ease the tension.
Yuanba let out a shaky chuckle. "Y-yeah… probably… Knowing brother-in-law, he'll probably end the match after going easy on me."
Meanwhile, across the arena, Mei was far less concerned about mortal combat and more invested in her current mission: catch the purple flaming ball.
She ran around the seating large seating zone with eyes locked on the elusive orb, giggling all the while. Nezuko, now fully returned, zipped beside her in perfect sync, chasing it like two fox kits after a butterfly.
Back at the Frozen Cloud Asgard seating zone, Nezuko's doppelgängers remained seated in perfect harmony, eating sweets and sipping tea with the Asgard fairies—no one any wiser to the real Nezuko's escape.
It was chaotic… but peaceful in its own chaotic way.
==================
"You actually didn't care about the prizes?" Xue Ling raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious.
"None of us are," Yun Che replied casually, arms folded behind his head. "We just wanted to win the tournament. Little Yue secured fifth place. Retsu will take third. As for the finals—whether it's me, Yuanba, or Qingyue."
He glanced at Retsu and Cang Yue, both nodding in agreement.
"Maybe the Heaven Basin Secret Realm spot is worth looking forward to. But that's about it."
Xue Ling sighed, half-impressed, half-bewildered. "I don't even know how to respond to that."
Lin Yuery sighs. "Most sects would kill just to win."
Even Jin Mulan allowed herself a small smile. For people this strong, prizes were just trinkets. The XP pill Yun Che made was more valuable than anything the tournament could offer—and if it had been part of the prize pool, chaos would've broken out.
"Well," Yun Che said, smirking a little, "since the official prizes don't interest you, I suppose I could give you something of my own. You've already finished your fight after all."
"Ufuuu… I've been waiting for my beloved sister's prize~" Retsu chimed in, suddenly wrapping Nemu in a big, warm bear hug.
Nemu squeaked, face reddening. "I-I'm still making it, Nee-sama. Please be patient."
"Muu…" Retsu pouted, tightening the hug.
Jin Mulan watched the exchange with quiet amusement. A demon on the battlefield… and yet, around her sister, she turned into the embodiment of doting affection.
"You two really do share a resemblance," she remarked softly.
"Ehee~ She's my beloved sister." Retsu beamed sweetly, clinging to Nemu with affection that was pure and fierce all at once. Nemu might not have been her sister in their past lives, but now… now she was someone Retsu vowed to protect with everything, just like she did with Yun Che.
Yun Che exhaled with a small shake of his head. Retsu could be terrifying in battle, but when it came to her family… she was just as dangerously overprotective. "So, what kind of prize did you prepare for me this time?" he asked. "Don't tell me it's one of those 'ask anything you want' coupons?"
"By all means!" Retsu's eyes sparkled mischievously.
"Muu! Ret-chan, not fair desu!" Mio pouted dramatically, arms crossed.
"Nee-sama… that's not fair," Nemu muttered with a sigh. Even Cang Yue raised a brow at the audacity of it all.
"An 'ask anything you want' coupon? Isn't that… a little too generous?"
It wasn't the first time Yun Che had handed those out. During their Haki training, he'd offered the same kind of coupon as a motivational reward.
Big mistake.
The moment training ended, the first thing Retsu and Mio asked for…
Was his Primordial Yang.
Yun Che had to immediately revoke the coupon before things spiraled completely out of control.
"Why do I feel like you're going to ask for something odd…again. Remember last time?" Yun Che muttered, a bead of sweat rolling down the side of his face.
"Teehee~" Retsu stuck out her tongue and rubbed the back of her head. "Busted."
"She gave me an iron claw just for asking one last time," Mio deadpanned.
"Yeah, well… no, not that kind of prize." Yun Che waved his hands quickly, as if deflecting an incoming threat.
Retsu visibly deflated, puffing her cheeks with a small huff. "Aww…"
As the tournament officials began repairing the arena from the devastation left by Retsu and Xia Qingyue's clash, Yun Che sat beside Retsu and Nemu in the seating zone. Quietly, he reached into his inventory and pulled out a slender, sheathed blade.
"Ahem… I meant to give you this," he said, casually handing it over.
Retsu blinked at it, then her eyes widened in disbelief. Nemu, sitting beside her, gasped softly.
It wasn't just any weapon.
It was an Asauchi—a blank Zanpakutō.
"Yes," Yun Che spoke directly through their spiritual link. "I'm giving you a second Zanpakutō."
Retsu stared at him, stunned. "A second… I can wield a second one?"
"Yeah. I took the liberty of registering it to the system. Turns out, once a summoned Shinigami follower reaches Level 70 and has fully mastered both Shikai and Bankai, they qualify to receive a second Zanpakutō. It's something I only recently discovered—probably because the three of us are evolved Shinigami."
He turned slightly to Nemu. "You'll be next, once you awaken and master your Bankai."
"Hai! I'll train even harder!" Nemu nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with resolve. She had focused heavily on Kido until now—but this was motivation like no other.
Retsu's gaze softened as she gripped the Asauchi in her hands, the weight familiar yet new. "Yuu-kun… why now? Why give this to me?"
Yun Che smiled warmly. "I know Minazuki is your reclaimed power—something you rediscovered after embracing the truth about Yachiru. It's a part of you. But I thought… maybe you'd want something new. Something to make your own from the ground up. A power that's completely yours to master—not from your past, but from your future."
He glanced at the blade. "This one won't replace Minazuki. I chose something that can complement it—something that can coexist."
Retsu held the blade to her chest, her eyes glistening. "To create something new… with you by my side…"
"Always." Yun Che gently patted her head, just as he always did.
"What if," Yun Che said with a sly grin, "you could heal… but every time you did, it made you stronger? Strong enough to destroy your enemies with that very power?"
Retsu's eyes widened, a slow realization dawning in them. "A Zanpakutō that… turns healing into destruction?"
"Exactly. The more you restore, the more devastation you can unleash. That's the nature of the Asauchi I chose. It's waiting to be shaped by you—your will, your instinct, your path."
Retsu stared at the blade in her hand, the sheath whispering with faint spiritual pressure, like something sleeping but aware. Her heart skipped a beat.
"If its Shikai is already that powerful…" she whispered. "Then what of its Bankai…?"
"That," Yun Che said softly, "is for you to find out. I won't name it. That's something it has to tell you. All I can do… is entrust it to you."
He held out the blade.
"The system chose you. I chose you."
Retsu took the Tanto in both hands, reverently. Her voice was soft but steady. "Yuu-kun… I'll take good care of it. I promise."
There was a moment of stillness between them. Then Yun Che asked with a smirk, "So? Want to meet it now?"
Retsu smiled, her fingers brushing over the hilt. Then, with a playful twirl, she stored the blade away into her spiritual inventory. "Ufuu… I'll save that for later. It's your turn after all, Yuu-kun. Don't keep the crowd waiting~"
Retsu sat quietly, the weight of the Tanto heavy in her hand—not from its size, but from what it represented. A second Zanpakutō. A second soul. A second destiny.
Her gaze lingered on its elegant black sheath, the faint spiritual hum resonating just beneath the surface. There was something inside it. Dormant. Waiting.
"The more I heal, the stronger I become…?"
She imagined it—standing amidst a wounded army, her presence alone restoring flesh and spirit. But with every soul she healed, a hidden reservoir would swell inside her. And when it overflowed…
The result would be annihilation.
Minazuki was powerful, yes. A being of carnage wrapped in calm. But this… this was potential incarnate. A healing force meant not only to mend—but to punish. As if the very act of mercy carried a price for those who dared to threaten it.
She chuckled to herself, a hand brushing the sheath.
"Ah… the wonders I can explore with you."
Under her will, this new Zanpakutō would bloom—refined, perfected, and terrifying.
Minazuki was her soul.
This blade… might be her will.
=============================
Ling Kun narrowed his eyes, observing the aftermath of the stunning duel.
Two women—Unohana Retsu and Xia Qingyue—both barely adults, and yet already standing atop the pinnacle of the Sky Profound Realm. It was a level of talent that defied common sense… even for the Four Sacred Grounds.
"These two... their potential is absurd," he muttered under his breath.
But then, something else gnawed at his mind.
He glanced across the arena, his spiritual senses probing discreetly.
Where is… Nezuko?
The girl who had once shaken the empire with her prodigious strength was conspicuously absent. At least, that's what his memories told him.
Unknown to him, those very memories had been tampered with.
The night before, Yun Che had personally overwritten Ling Kun's recollection — making him believe that Nezuko had fled, slipped away unnoticed, and that Ye Xinghan had been dispatched to chase her into a wild goose chase across the realm.
Even now, if Nezuko were to wave at him directly, he wouldn't bat an eye. In his mind, she was far, far away. Nowhere near this tournament.
It was the perfect illusion. The perfect deception.
And it worked flawlessly.
Meanwhile, the air buzzed with rumors and speculation as spectators poured out of the arena.
"Did you see her power? She didn't even use all of it!" "The dragon—she summoned a dragon out of water and ice!" "Why would someone that strong concede the match?" "Unohana Retsu… is she even from this continent? Or is she a hidden powerhouse from one of the Sacred Grounds?"
Speculations ran wild.
No one questioned her strength—only her decision.
The Blue Wind Imperial Family's name soared in prestige, while Yun Che's camp gained a level of attention none of the elders had anticipated.
--------------------------
"We will now commence with the second match of the Semi Finals! Blue Wind Imperial Family – Yun Che versus Blue Wind Profound Palace – Xia Yuanba!" Ling Wugou announced.
Qin Wushuang, seated beside the emperor, tensed as the arena stirred once more. His eyes narrowed, locked onto the two figures stepping onto the stage. His disciple… and the enigma that is Yun Che.
If that woman—Unohana Retsu—was merely his companion and already stood at the Grand Perfection of the Sky Profound Realm, then what kind of monster was him?
He dared not imagine. He could only hope that Yuanba could put up a fight. A miracle win? Unlikely. But even a loss… if it was honorable, if it showed strength and resolve… it would be enough.
After all, just by standing here, Xia Yuanba had already carved his name into the history of the Blue Wind Profound Palace. Fourth place if he loses tomorrow against her. It was a dream no one had ever dared to dream.
Beside the Blue Wind Imperial Palace seating zone, Xia Qingyue watched quietly. Her strength was mostly restored, but her heart was not calm. Her husband… fighting her brother. That thought alone twisted at something deep inside her.
Yuanba had always been different—gentle, kind, unshaped by the martial world. It was Yun Che who changed that. Who tampered with his body, gifted him the ability to cultivate, and turned that gentle muscular fit into a warrior.
She wasn't sure whether to worry for her brother… or Yun Che.
But she didn't need to worry. Someone else had already taken that role.
Her eyes drifted to Mai, who was currently pacing and scolding Yuanba like a wife berating her reckless husband before war.
"Don't go overboard like before! And don't let him toss you around like a sack of potatoes again!"
Yuanba was trying his best to nod seriously, though the nervous sweat on his brow betrayed him. Still, her presence calmed him far more than any battle meditation could.
Xia Qingyue smiled faintly. It seemed Yuanba had found someone who would worry about him far more than she ever could.
Now all that remained… was Yun Che.
Little Fairy gave Yun Che a discreet glance, quietly sending a message through their shared bond — a silent reminder not to reveal too much, to hold back anything unnecessary.
Yun Che casually lifted a hand and flashed an "okay" gesture in response — a sign that meant everything… and absolutely nothing to the people of this world.
Most spectators blinked in confusion, unfamiliar with the gesture. But Little Fairy merely sighed, understanding that was probably the best she'd get from him.
Below, Xia Yuanba was already descending into the arena, looking visibly nervous. Yun Che gave a long stretch, arms overhead, cracking his knuckles lazily — until Mai stepped in front of him and grabbed his sleeve.
"Just… go easy on him, okay?" she said softly, her eyes anxious.
Yun Che gave her a grin.
"Don't worry. Besides—" he winked, "we have a very big surprise coming."
He turned, briefly petting Nezuko and Mei's heads as he passed them by.
"Ehh? What surprise?" Mio perked up, her curiosity lighting up her face.
The others leaned in slightly, clearly intrigued.
"You'll see," Yun Che chuckled cryptically, already walking away.
Meanwhile, the crowd buzzed.
Whispers swept across the stands like wildfire. Yun Che was supposedly one of the three True Profound Realm contestants, yet his companions—Unohana Retsu and Cang Yue—had already stunned the world with power that far exceeded what was expected.
Their ranks were clear now—monsters in human form.
But Yun Che? Still Peak True Profound Realm?
That couldn't be right.
Surely he was hiding something.
Now, the last of the semi-final matches had begun. People were on edge, waiting for the final mask to fall.
Yun Che stepped into the arena and looked across at Xia Yuanba, who seemed to shrink slightly under his gaze.
"You good, my boy?" Yun Che asked with a calm tone and a reassuring smile.
Yuanba scratched the back of his head, clearly nervous.
"Uhh… I don't think I can fight you properly… not with everything I know you're capable of."
He wasn't even trying to hide it. He feared Yun Che more than he feared losing.
Yun Che stepped forward, placed a solid hand on his back, and gave him a comforting pat.
"Like I said," he grinned, "I'm only using my fists today. No flaming legs. No firebending. No swords. No giant snake. Just good old-fashioned brawling."
Xia Yuanba blinked.
"…No giant snake?"
Yun Che just smirked.
"Not unless you really ask for it."
"Urrgghhh… Even if I use the sword you gave me, you'd just flick it away like a twig," Xia Yuanba sighed, rubbing the back of his head.
The crowd was still roaring from the last battle. Unohana Retsu and Xia Qingyue had put on a show that would be remembered for years. Their powers shook the arena — their grace, their strength, their deadly arts.
Now, all eyes turned toward the next fight.
Xia Yuanba, previously radiating a golden aura who won against Ling Jie.
And Yun Che, the mystery they were all dying to see unfold who won against Ling Yun.
They were fire and thunder. Brawn and brilliance.
Even Ling Wugou, standing atop the referee's platform, was eager.
"Are both contestants ready?" he called out, voice echoing across the stadium.
Just then—
"Wait," Yun Che raised a hand.
The crowd fell into confusion. What now?
To everyone's surprise, Yun Che walked right up to Yuanba in the middle of the arena. No fighting stance, no tension—just casual swagger.
"So," he asked, "how's your hand-to-hand combat?"
"Urrgh… not that strong, to be honest. Can I even match you?" Yuanba muttered, his self-doubt obvious.
Yun Che smiled.
"Throw a weak punch."
"Huh?"
"Just trust me. Weak punch."
Yuanba hesitated… then threw a slow jab.
Smack.
Yun Che effortlessly blocked it with his forearm, then demonstrated a counter.
"See? Either block or avoid. Use your arms, your elbows, your knees. Trust your instinct. Again—faster."
The arena watched in stunned silence as Yun Che began training his opponent right there in front of everyone.
Again and again, Yuanba threw punches. Again and again, Yun Che corrected, guided, encouraged.
Even Ling Wugou was dumbfounded.
"Is… is this part of the match?"
Yuanba's eyes slowly widened.
"I… I can see your moves now. I can block them?"
"Exactly. You're stronger than you think, Yuanba," Yun Che said, patting his shoulder. "Alright, that's enough. Let's turn it up a notch."
Yun Che leapt back with a grin.
Yuanba nodded, fists raised.
"I'll try my best."
Yun Che returned the nod and turned to Ling Wugou.
"Now we're ready."
Ling Wugou composed himself, raising his hand.
"The second semifinal match—Yun Che versus Xia Yuanba!"
A hush fell over the crowd.
"Begin!"