Chapter 974

Collapse Three

=> "Honkai 3."

「Wait…！Ailixiya? ！」

=> Wait, need to keep quotes. Chinese uses 「」. We'll keep English quotes? Usually we keep same punctuation? We'll translate content but keep quotation marks as English double quotes? The instruction: render naturally. We'll use English double quotes. So: "Wait…! Ailixiya?!"

Mebius was utterly stunned, her brain instantly crashing—how could this be? Welkin even showed up with her own isotope!!

=> "Meibiwusi was completely stunned in an instant, her mind crashing, how—how could this be……Wengfa Luosi even showed up with her isotope!!"

But need to keep punctuation: Chinese uses 、 for list, we can translate as "how—how". Use ellipsis. We'll output: "Meibiwusi was completely stunned in an instant, her mind crashing, how—how could this be……Wengfa Luosi even showed up with her isotope!!"

Check: "isotope" = isotope. Good.

「This… this…」

=> "This… this……"

Her pupils shook, but before she could recover from the shock, Aili's cry already rang in her ears.

=> "Her pupils shook, but before she could recover from the shock, Aili's cry rang in her ears."

Note: "Aili" is a nickname? It's a name, should be pinyin: "Aili". Actually "Aili" -> Ài lì. So "Aili". We'll use that.

「Ahhhhh——!! 」

=> "Ahhhh——!!"

「Is this my child form? It's adorable! Tiny and soft—Kevin, I told you, on the road of chasing fire there will surely be a girl as cute as me to be your companion♪」

=> "Is this my childlike form? It's too cute! Tiny and soft~ Kevin, I told you before, on the road of chasing fire there will surely be a cute girl like me to be your companion♪"

Note: "on the road of chasing fire" = "on the road of chasing fire". We'll translate as "on the road of chasing fire". Keep the music note.

Upon seeing her own isotope appear for the first time, Ailiya went wild, grabbing the intoxicated Eden beside her and shaking her vigorously.

=> "Seeing her own isotope appear for the first time, Ailixiya went wild, grabbing the drunken Yidian beside her and shaking her hard."

Note: "Yidian"

「Eden, hurry up and take a look—are the people of Welkin really that cute? 」

=> "Yidian, hurry up and look—aren't the people of Wengfa Luosi incredibly cute?"

「Aili… stop shaking, you're always cute…」

=> "Aili… stop shaking, you're always cute……"

After one drink after another, Eden was completely dazed, her eyes becoming unfocused. In her vision, Ailiya split into three, with even one running up into the sky.

=> "After one drink after another, Yidian was completely dazed, her eyes growing unfocused. In her vision, Ailixiya split into three, with one even running up into the sky."

「Huh, Aili… you've gotten even smaller…」

=> "Huh, Aili……you got even smaller……"

「No, Eden, take a closer look. 」 Ailiya stepped up to her, 「That cute 'Aili' up in the sky is my isotope♪」

=> "Nope, Yidian, take a closer look." Ailixiya leaned in, "That cute 'Aili' up in the sky is my isotope♪"

「Isotope… iso… huh?! Isotope!! 」 Eden instantly sobered up, the Aili before her also began to merge into one, and that…… on the heavens……

=> "Isotope… iso……huh?! Isotope!!" Yidian snapped awake instantly, the Aili before her beginning to merge back into one, that sky……"

We need to keep the ellipsis. We'll output: "Isotope… iso……huh?! Isotope!!" Yidian snapped awake instantly, the Aili before her beginning to merge back into one, that sky……"

But maybe better: "Isotope… iso……huh?! Isotope!!" Yidian snapped awake instantly, the Aili before her began to merge back into one, that sky……"

We'll keep.

「This is definitely a different kind of romantic story—you think so too, right♪」

=> "This must be a completely different kind of romance—you think so too, right♪"

Ailiya still stood before her, imitating that pink‑haired girl's pose—hands behind her back, eyes crescent‑shaped. She mimicked it perfectly, even the rising tone of her voice exactly the same.

=> "Ailixiya still stood before her, imitating that pink-haired girl's pose—hands behind her back, eyes curved like crescent moons. She mimicked it perfectly, even the rising tone identical."

It's me…… it's really me!

=> "It's me……it's really me!"

「Aili, even your isotope has shown up—this 'Savior' is undoubtedly Kevin's isotope. 」 Eden lowered her gaze to the cup in her hand, amber liquid reflecting her face, she frowned slightly, 「…Huh, but why don't I have one? 」

=> "Aili, even your isotope showed up, so the one bearing the name 'Savior' without a doubt is Kevin's isotope." Yidian lowered her gaze to the cup in her hand, amber liquid reflecting her face, she frowned slightly, "... Huh, but why isn't there one of me?"

Note: "Savior" = Savior. We'll keep quotes.

「Maybe not having it is a good thing. 」 Mebius snorted, 「'Savior', 'Chasing Fire'… the fate of Welkin's Golden Heirs is probably similar to our Chase Fire Thirteen Heroes. 」 If your isotope isn't among them, Eden, maybe you're living a happy, fulfilling life in some other world.

=> "Not having it might be a good thing." Meibiwusi snorted, "'Savior,' 'Chase Fire'……the fate of Wengfa Luosi's Golden Lineage is probably similar to our Chase Fire Thirteen Heroes. If your isotope isn't among them, Yidian, maybe you're living a happy, fulfilling life in some other world."

Note: "Chase Fire Thirteen Heroes"

——

=> "——"

「Aglaea brought the two to the spring spirit to learn Welkin's past and present, but having only gotten halfway through, Star couldn't help but yawn. 」

=> "Aglaea brought the two to the Spring Sprite to learn about Wengfa Luosi's past and present, but having only gotten halfway through, Xing couldn't help but yawn."

「「What's wrong? The spirit's tale isn't over yet, but I sense… anxiety and unease from you. 」 Aglaea stepped forward to ask. 」

=> ""How is it? The sprite's tale isn't over yet, but I sense… anxiety and unease from you." Aglaea stepped forward and asked."

Note: there are double quotes inside. We'll keep as English double quotes.

「「This history is just too complicated…」」

=> ""This history is just too complicated…""

「「I see; maybe its narration is too stiff to remember. No matter, let's try another way—don't underestimate the bath spirits, they know best how to cater to preferences. 」」

=> ""I see, perhaps its narration is too stiff to remember. No matter, let's change the approach—don't underestimate the Bathhouse Sprite; they know best how to cater to preferences.""

「As expected, the bath spirit's art style shifted, its voice changing directly from an old man to Tiba's cute, childlike tone. 」

=> "As expected, the Bathhouse Sprite's style shifted abruptly, its voice changing directly from an old man's to the cute, childish tone of Tiba."

Note: "Tiba" is a name; its pinyin is Tībǎo. We'll use "Tiba".

「「All right! Sit tight, sit tight—Welkin's history lesson continues! 」」

=> ""All right! Sit down, sit down, the lesson on Wengfa Luosi's history continues!""

「Star felt like she'd instantly switched from an educational channel to a kids' channel—maybe a bit childish for mature folks, but just right for someone who's just turned two. 」

=> "Xing felt she'd instantly switched from an educational channel to a children's one—perhaps a bit childish for a mature, steady person, but just right for someone who's just turned two."

「「Is this what you mean by catering to preferences? 」」

=> ""Is this catering to preferences?""

「「Hey——don't interrupt! We're in the middle of class, cough cough—where were we—oh right! 」」

=> ""Ah——don't interrupt! We're in class right now, ahem, where did we leave off last time——oh right!""

「「At first, Welkin was a chaotic mass! Then the three Fate Titans wove the world's laws! The three Support Titans created land, sea, and sky; the three Creation Titans shaped life, you, and me—finally, the three Evil Titans descended upon the world, unleashing a terrible disaster! 」」

=> ""At first, Wengfa Luosi was a mass of chaos! Then the three Fate Titans wove the world's laws! The three Support Titans created the earth, sea, and sky; the three Creation Titans shaped life, you, and me——finally, the three Villain Titans descended upon the world, triggering a terrible disaster!""

「「The Titans grew furious, none yielding to the other; their peoples began to hate and fight each other. This divine war dragged on for ages, bringing misery to all beings above and below—until one day—something huge happened! 」」

=> ""The Titans were furious, none yielding to the other, their peoples began to despise and fight each other. This divine war dragged on for ages, bringing misery to all beings above and below, until one day——something huge happened!""

「「A divine proclamation appeared! It suddenly descended upon Welkin—the three‑fold decree said there was only one way to end this war——」」

=> ""A divine edict appeared! It suddenly descended upon Wengfa Luosi——that triune edict said there was only one way to end this war——""

「「That is, to summon a band of mighty heroes strong enough to challenge the twelve Titans and rekindle their flames. Then the gods' anger would subside and the world could return to peace. 」」

=> ""That is to summon a band of mighty heroes, strong enough to challenge the twelve Titans and rekindle their sparks. Thus the gods' wrath would subside and the world could return to peace.""

「「These heroes share a common name—do you remember what they're called? That's right—the Golden Heirs! 」」

=> ""These heroes share a common name—do you remember what they're called? That's right——the Golden Lineage!""

——

=> "——"

Tales of the Mortal Cultivator.

=> "Mortal Cultivation Story."

「「A divine proclamation… interesting. 」 Han Li curled his lip in a cold smirk, 「Could it be that these Golden Heirs have never doubted the authenticity of this decree? 」」

=> ""Divine edict……interesting." Han Li curled the corner of his mouth in a cold smile, "Could it be that these Golden Lineage have never doubted the authenticity of this edict?""

Silver Moon straightened her expression and sat upright: "Master, are you saying someone behind the scenes might be pulling the strings?"

=> "Yinyue's expression turned serious as she sat upright: "Master, are you saying someone might be pulling strings behind the scenes?""

「「This decree is riddled with doubts—not to mention we don't know who delivered it or which god issued it. How can the Golden Heirs verify that the issuer is a true deity and not a malevolent force secretly manipulating Welkin? 」」

=> "This divine edict is full of doubts—not to mention who delivered it or which deity issued it—how can the Golden Lineage verify that the issuer is a god and not a malevolent force deliberately meddling with Wengfa Luosi?"

On the path of cultivation, Han Li has faced life‑and‑death trials many times, and he harbors an almost instinctive wariness toward information presented as absolute certainty. He never believes anyone would simply hand you the correct path for free; if the issuer of the decree were truly a god who wanted to save Welkin, why wouldn't they appear in person, lead the Golden Heirs to slay the Titans and ignite their flames? Why go through all this roundabout maneuvering?

=> "On the path of cultivation, having faced life and death many times, Han Li harbors an almost intuitive wariness toward information presented as too certain. He never believes anyone would simply hand you the correct path for no reason; if the issuer of the edict were truly a deity who genuinely wanted to save Wengfa Luosi, why not appear in person, lead the Golden Lineage to slay the Titans and ignite their sparks? Why go through all this roundabout maneuvering?"

Silver Moon felt a chill run through her

=> "Hearing this, Yinyue felt a chill—she was naturally sharp and quick to grasp: "Master, are you saying the edict itself might be a trap? The so‑called Golden Lineage could merely be pawns of whoever is pulling the strings behind the scenes.""

Hmm. Han Li shook his head and sighed, "If someone truly is pulling the strings behind Weng Fuluo, they are probably the hidden hand using the star core to spread the black tide. Their aim may even be to slay the Titan, making it easier to dominate Weng Fuluo. Should the Golden Heir succeed and rekindle the Titan's spark, the one who issued the oracle would achieve their goal without effort; should they fail, they'd merely lose a few mortals—what loss is that to them?"

=> ""Hm." Han Li shook his head and let out a soft sigh, "If someone really is manipulating Wengfa Luosi from behind, they're likely the hidden hand using the Star Core to spread the Black Tide. Their goal might also be to kill the Titans, making it easier to control Wengfa Luosi. If the Golden Lineage succeeds and the Titans' sparks are reignited, the one who issued the edict achieves their aim without lifting a finger; if they fail, it's merely a few mortals dead—what loss to them?"

Over the course of his travels, how many secret realm instances has he run, and how many fellow cultivators have died? Which of them didn't think they'd found some opportunity or heavenly mandate? In the end, they were just pawns in someone else's game.

=> "All along this road, how many secret realm dungeons has he cleared, how many fellow cultivators have perished? Which of them didn't think they'd stumbled upon some opportunity or destiny? In the end, though, they're just a pawn in someone else's game."

That prophecy... it might very well be Weng Fuluo's doom.

=> ""That divine edict……might very well be Wengfa Luosi's calamity.""

——

=> "——"

Having learned the history of Weng Fuluo, Xing turned to Agriela and asked, "Do you really know nothing about the outside world?"

=> "After learning Wengfa Luosi's history, Xing turned and asked Aglaea, "Do you really know nothing about the world beyond?""

"You are mixing pity into your question. Deep down, you may have already judged us as weak and helpless." Facing Xing's confusion, Aglaea was not angry, she just said lightly: "Since you two already have a basic understanding of the history of Ufros, let's move on to the main topic. Please follow me."