Chapter 212

When he was still a child, he already swore vengeance against the aberrant creatures, crossing the Star Sea to come to the Astral Express in search of art. When I first saw him, his head didn't even reach the height of my sword, yet he boasted that with a hundred‑year lifespan he would master all the crafts of the Gong Zao Si.

Check: "Astral Express" we translated as "Astral Express". Good. "Gong Zao Si" is Gong Zao Si. Keep as is.

We need to keep the outer quotes? The line starts with 「「... 」」 (double quotes). We'll output English double quotes for the whole quoted speech. So we start with a double quote, then the content, then closing double quote. Inside we have no further quotes. So output: 【1】 "When he was still a child, he already swore vengeance against the aberrant creatures, crossing the Star Sea to come to the Astral Express in search of art. When I first saw him, his head didn't even reach the height of my sword, yet he boasted that with a hundred‑year lifespan he would master all the crafts of the Gong Zao Si."

But we need to keep the original punctuation: there is a period inside. We'll keep.

Speaking of this, Jingliu couldn't help but let out a soft hum: "A mere little dog, yet arrogant enough to be on par with a Dragon Sovereign."

But we need to keep the quotes around the spoken part. So we output: Speaking of this, Jingliu couldn't help but let out a soft hum: "A mere little dog, yet arrogant enough to be on par with a Dragon Sovereign."

Speaking of this, Jingliu also couldn't help but let out a light hum: "A mere little dog, actually arrogant to the point of being on par with the Dragon Sovereign."

I originally disliked his headstrong nature, but when we met again, the weapons he crafted left even the master artisan in the dust. Even the title of 【Hundred Smelts】—the highest honor bestowed by the Gong Zao Si—was snatched by him.

I originally disliked his headstrong nature, but when we met again, the weapons he crafted left even the master artisan in the dust. Even the title of 【Hundred Smelts】—the highest honor bestowed by the Gong Zao Si—was snatched by him.

As they talked, Yinqing had already stepped ahead to reach the Fortune Forge, looking down from the stairs at her: "Big sis, you wouldn't be holding back just to let me get there first, would you?"

As they talked, Yinqing had already stepped ahead to reach the Fortune Forge, looking down from the stairs at her: "Big sis, you wouldn't be holding back just to let me get there first, would you?"

"How could it be? Your swordsmanship has improved leaps and bounds—I can't keep up." Jingliu pursed her lips and smiled.

Yinqing thought the purpose of coming to the Gong Zao Si was to pay respects to the short‑lived predecessors they spoke of, but Jingliu calmly countered: "When did I ever say he was no longer among the living?"

Output: 【6】 Yinqing thought the purpose of coming to the Gong Zao Si was to pay respects to the short‑lived predecessors they spoke of, but Jingliu calmly countered: "When did I ever say he was no longer among the living?"

Danheng's eyes widened in shock: "Has he become a long‑lived species?"

Output: 【7】 Danheng's eyes widened in shock: "Has he become a long‑lived species?"

"You guessed right—fate just loves to play jokes." Jingliu's voice grew low and gloomy: "Even those blessed with heavenly wisdom and brilliant intellect often make the most foolish choices when fate takes a turn."

Output: 【8】 "You guessed right—fate just loves to play jokes." Jingliu's voice grew low and gloomy: "Even those blessed with heavenly wisdom and brilliant intellect often make the most foolish choices when fate takes a turn."

"As smart as he is, he actually dreamed of using the flesh of the Abundance Envoy Shuhu to help the Moonchaser bring back their fallen comrade from the dead."

"As smart as he is, he actually dreamed of using the flesh of the Abundance Envoy Shuhu to help the Moonchaser bring back their fallen comrade from the dead."

Jingliu gazed up at the Fusang roots entwining the Fortune Forge, drew a deep breath, and said: "His folly ultimately turned him into an undead monster—his soul and spirit shattered, sinking into the very abomination he once despised—truly, fate plays tricks."

We need to keep the em dash? We'll use —. Output: 【10】 Jingliu gazed up at the Fusang roots entwining the Fortune Forge, drew a deep breath, and said: "His folly ultimately turned him into an undead monster—his soul and spirit shattered, sinking into the very abomination he once despised—truly, fate plays tricks."

"Given his deeds, he ought to be locked away forever in the Deep Prison. Yet I gave him another kind of freedom." Jingliu gave a cold smile: "I took his empty shell, granted him a hundred deaths, taught him swordsmanship, and impressed upon him never to forget his past karmic debt. Word has it that after his rebirth he even took a new name…"

"Given his deeds, he ought to be locked away forever in the Deep Prison. Yet I gave him another kind of freedom." Jingliu gave a cold smile: "I took his empty shell, granted him a hundred deaths, taught him swordsmanship, and impressed upon him never to forget his past karmic debt. Word has it that after his rebirth he even took a new name…"

: —— (just dash). Output: 【12】 ——

Ren Ya.

"A hundred deaths……"

Inside the Tokugawa residence, Huashan Xun sucked in a sharp breath. Although regarding Ren's attitude toward Jingliu, it's not hard to guess what happened between them—but killing the opponent over a hundred times… still exceeded Huashan Xun's imagination.

We need to keep the ellipsis. Output: 【15】 Inside the Tokugawa residence, Huashan Xun sucked in a sharp breath. Although regarding Ren's attitude toward Jingliu, it's not hard to guess what happened between them—but killing the opponent over a hundred times… still exceeded Huashan Xun's imagination.

But unlike his cold sweat pouring forth, Lie Haiwang beside him couldn't help but start trembling all over, his muscles tensed like a bowstring pulled taut, his breathing becoming rapid and heavy.

Output: 【16】 But unlike his cold sweat pouring forth, Lie Haiwang beside him couldn't help but start trembling all over, his muscles tensed like a bowstring pulled taut, his breathing becoming rapid and heavy.

"Lie, what's this..." Tokugawa wondered about Lie Haiwang's state—could he be afraid?

……Impossible, right?

As a martial artist bearing the title 'Sea King', Lie Haiwang is someone who would never shrink from fear, even in the face of death.

Output: 【19】 As a martial artist bearing the title 'Sea King', Lie Haiwang is someone who would never shrink from fear, even in the face of death.

Lie Haiwang finally spoke, his voice mingling with longing and envy, and a hint of uncontainable excitement: "With an immortal body that can revive endlessly… wouldn't that mean I could continually challenge Lady Jingliu? Constantly receive her swordsmanship firsthand?!"

Output: 【20】 Lie Haiwang finally spoke, his voice mingling with longing and envy, and a hint of uncontainable excitement: "With an immortal body that can revive endlessly… wouldn't that mean I could continually challenge Lady Jingliu? Constantly receive her swordsmanship firsthand?!"

His mind flashed with the image of himself being easily slain by Jingliu over and over, yet rising again each time…… Lie Haiwang felt no chill; instead, he felt his blood almost boiling and burning.

Output: 【21】 His mind flashed with the image of himself being easily slain by Jingliu over and over, yet rising again each time…… Lie Haiwang felt no chill; instead, he felt his blood almost boiling and burning.

"The harvest is huge…… and it can be endlessly utilized for the next round!"

: —— Output: 【23】 ——

"Meanwhile, inside the Scaled Abyss Realm."

"Luosha asked the general how to quell the disaster brought by Abundance, and Jingyuan's response was quite standard: 'The Alliance obeys the Emperor's edict to exterminate demons without cease, precisely so that one day we can eradicate the Healer, returning life and death to their proper course.'"

Output: 【25】 "Luosha asked the general how to quell the disaster brought by Abundance, and Jingyuan's response was quite standard: 'The Alliance obeys the Emperor's edict to exterminate demons without cease, precisely so that one day we can eradicate the Healer, returning life and death to their proper course.'"

"Luosha was not surprised by this answer, though while admirable, it is somewhat narrow‑minded. Though many forces in the universe wish to see the Healer dead, truly wanting to eliminate Abundance is utterly absurd, bordering on a joke."

Output: 【26】 "Luosha was not surprised by this answer, though while admirable, it is somewhat narrow‑minded. Though many forces in the universe wish to see the Healer dead, truly wanting to eliminate Abundance is utterly absurd, bordering on a joke."

"To completely sever the Healer's curse, we must also seek another method from the root."

Output: 【27】 "To completely sever the Healer's curse, we must also seek another method from the root."

"His master received heavenly inspiration, returned from the demonic gloom, and after journeying through all realms, has found the method to solve this deadlock……"

Output: 【28】 "His master received heavenly inspiration, returned from the demonic gloom, and after journeying through all realms, has found the method to solve this deadlock……"

"I'm listening." Jingyuan coldly fixed his gaze on him.

Output: 【29】 "I'm listening." Jingyuan coldly fixed his gaze on him.

"Luosha gave a faint smile, timely cutting off the conversation: 'Sorry, General. It looks like the next move… will be made in Xu Ling.'"

Output: 【30】 "Luosha gave a faint smile, timely cutting off the conversation: 'Sorry, General. It looks like the next move… will be made in Xu Ling.'"

"As I expected, confessing and submitting to punishment is merely a means." Jingyuan was not surprised by this, "Using the Ten Kings' edict to go to Xu Ling, to directly confront the Six Generals and even the Marshal… that is your true purpose."

Output: 【31】 "As I expected, confessing and submitting to punishment is merely a means." Jingyuan was not surprised by this: "Using the Ten Kings' edict to go to Xu Ling, to directly confront the Six Generals and even the Marshal… that is your true purpose."

"——and that thing in the coffin is indeed prepared for this, right?"

Output: 【32】 "——and that thing in the coffin is indeed prepared for this, right?"

"Even if Jingyuan saw through it in a single word, Luosha still smiled calmly: 'General, you also said just now that this is not up to us. Alliance law is thus, unalterable.'"

Output: 【33】 "Even if Jingyuan saw through it in a single word, Luosha still smiled calmly: 'General, you also said just now that this is not up to us. Alliance law is thus, unalterable.'"

"This time, even Jingyuan couldn't help but acclaim Luosha's plan as meticulous and thorough, having already deployed it in advance within the Alliance."

Output: 【34】 "This time, even Jingyuan couldn't help but acclaim Luosha's plan as meticulous and thorough, having already deployed it in advance within the Alliance."

"You've really changed, Jingyuan."

Output: 【35】 "You've really changed, Jingyuan."

"In the midst of speaking, a low voice suddenly came from outside the Scaled Abyss Realm."

Output: 【36】 In the midst of speaking, a low voice suddenly came from outside the Scaled Abyss Realm.

Blade walked slowly out from outside the Manifest Dragon Great Sacrifice Hall, his gaze glancing at the blond-haired man beside him before steadily settling on Jing Yuan: "Now you, you actually admit that you are one move behind."

——

Honkai 3.

The laboratory lights remained bright even at midnight; Tesla looked up at Rakshasa's confident expression, their fingers nervously tapping the chair's armrest.

"Killing Abundance at its root…… Can something like that really be done?"

Velt fell silent for a moment, then said in a low voice: "Star Gods often represent some concept in the universe…… Perhaps, he doesn't even need to truly kill Abundance."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"The death of a Star God, what impact it has on the 【Abundance】 Path, and even on those who walk that path, remains unknown." Velt pushed up his glasses: "My guess is that what Rakshasa wants is not the death of Abundance, but some…… more far-reaching change."

"For example…… replacement."

Tesla froze for a moment upon hearing that, then narrowed their eyes.

"You mean this guy might be using the Xianzhou Alliance's 'God-slaying' act itself? And then replace the Healer to become the new Abundance Star God?" Tesla shook their head in disbelief: "Your guess is way off base……"

"But the Black Tower has already explained that some Star Gods have human origins, right?"

Velt changed the question: "What do you think is the origin of the Healer then? In the 'Thousand-Hand Compassionate Medicine King's Salvation', there are records of a dialogue between the Healer and the Envoy that happened in an instant; that is a kind of personified speech…… Although we cannot rule out the possibility that it's a forgery of the Medicine King's secret transmission, you also cannot prove that its origin is not human."

"Hmm……"

Tesla lowered her head to think for a moment, but couldn't come up with an answer. However, she raised a new question: "Why would he do all this?"

"Considering that he is Otto's isotope, we cannot rule out the possibility that his world contains Karen. If his obsession is to resurrect Karen, then he probably intends to use the power of the Star Gods to achieve that."