Chapter 52: The Battle of Such a Strong One

System Space - Lower Platform

Xi Lian sat cross‑legged on the soft carpet, a book titled "Star Sea Travel Guide — From Star God to Curious Items" spread on her knees.

The pages depicted the "Patrol Hunt" Star Storm Light Arrow, the mechanical grandeur of the Erudite Master, and terrifying descriptions of the Antimatter Legion and Mian Mie Bang, all of which made the little village girl from AiLi Mi Xie feel dizzy and entranced, filling her with an indescribable curiosity and a hint of fear toward the vast and perilous Star Sea beyond.

Just as she was slightly daydreaming while reading the entry on "Memory" Floating Dawn, the space before her suddenly rippled, and a clear light screen projection unfolded silently, instantly capturing all her attention.

"Eh?"

The scene displayed on the light screen left her stunned.

It was a peculiar circular arena, surrounded by luminous trees, with a dazzling starry sky above.

And what was happening on the arena was, unmistakably, an intense battle!

At a glance she saw the Black Curtain Lady seated high on the audience platform, still exuding her mysterious and elegant demeanor.

In the arena, the one deftly weaving with a light bow was none other than Bai Hang!

The other girl with gray hair and golden eyes, swinging a bat to clash head‑on with the enemy, was unknown to her.

Their opponent was…

"Na… Na Ke Xia?!" Xi Lian's azure eyes widened instantly, and she covered her mouth with a small hand.

In the image, the rational green‑haired scholar from her memory was now displaying a terrifying might that left one speechless!

His movements were as swift as a phantom, his blows accompanied by a ripping howl through the air, his expressionless yet deadly posture starkly contrasting with the image Xi Lian had known.

(What Miss Bai Hang said before… turned out to be true! Na Ke Xia… really that strong?!)

She recalled being half‑skeptical when Bai Hang described the Rising Dragon Fist, and now, seeing it with her own eyes, she felt only profound shock.

(And Miss Bai Hang, so impressive! Every arrow was spot‑on! That gray‑haired lady was also strong, able to block Professor Na Ke Xia's punch head‑on!)

Her spirit was wholly drawn into the fight, her emotions rising and falling with the shifting tide of the battle.

When she saw A Xing land a heavy blow that sent Na Ke Xia flying and caused his Health Bar to plunge, Xi Lian, though aware it was a "Persuasion" to rescue the opponent, couldn't help feeling a pang of unease deep down.

Professor Na Ke Xia looked… so painful.

Then the screen showed an even more heartbreaking scene — Na Ke Xia, his Health Bar at zero, staggered to his feet and, step by step, silently and stubbornly walked toward Heimu.

Xi Lian unconsciously clenched her garment's edge, her breathing softened, (What does he intend to do?)

Then… came the earth‑shattering moment.

"Magic technique!"

Accompanied by that vague yet exhilarated shout, Professor Na Ke Xia's shirt… exploded!

In an instant it turned into a swarm of blue‑white butterflies fluttering across the sky!

And beneath the torn shirt was a set of enormously swollen, full muscles that would make any bodybuilder feel ashamed (Occa~ Philosophical~ Yeah~)!

Xi Lian: "!!!"

Her azure eyes widened to perfect circles, her little mouth formed an "O", and she seemed struck by a bolt of thunder, petrified on the spot.

(Is this… is this… what he should be like?!)

The massive influx of information clashed violently with her innocent cognition, nearly crashing her brain.

Especially when a burst piece of cloth, as if alive, slapped onto the projection screen with a "pop" and then drifted down slowly in a mocking manner, Xi Lian's expression could no longer be called "odd"; it was a comical, philosophical contemplation of "what on earth is happening to this world."

(Why… is it like this?)

This scene, worthy of Spiritual Pollution, became the sole shout echoing in Xi Lian's heart at that moment.

Huán Mù Trial Ground - Audience Seat

The Black Curtain Lady furrowed her brows, her violet‑black eyes fixed on the battlefield below, locked in a fierce struggle.

A Xing and Bai Hang had given their all, their fusion with Beloberg granting them great resilience and coordination, yet before Na Ke Xia's pure "Muscle Magic" that turned brute force into a twisted mastery of offense and defense, they could only hold on, unable to secure a decisive victory.

A stalemate, for her who needed to "Persuasion" the opponent, meant failure.

She could sense that Na Ke Xia's current condition was highly unusual; a zeroed Health Bar was not the end, and the chaotic obsession driving his actions was the key.

At that moment, a line of cheerful, multicolored Black Light text bounced into the corner of her view:

"Hehe, muscle burst outfit! Philosophical Transformation! The passionate clash of chaos and order! To witness such a battle of the strong, this time truly worth dying for! — Aha Liu"

The Black Curtain Lady's mouth twitched uncontrollably.

This merrymaker always sent "cheers" at moments that left others speechless.

She gently shook her head, no longer hesitating.

Continuing would only drain A Xing and Bai Hang's strength and give Aha more amusement, serving no purpose.

Na Ke Xia's "Lock" required a different key to open.

"Fine." Her cold voice rang through the arena, bearing an unmistakable resolve.

Then she elegantly lifted her hand and snapped her fingers crisply.

No earth‑shaking fanfare, just in an instant the entire Huán Mù Trial Ground, along with the three locked in fierce combat, vanished like a pencil sketch erased.

Star Dome Train - Secret Cabin

Light and shadow flowed, the space remained stable.

In the next instant, the Black Curtain Lady was already seated on her familiar sofa, as if she had never left.

The system doll stood quietly beside her.

In the carriage's center, a flash of light revealed A Xing and Bai Hang stumbling slightly into view.

Bai Hang gasped heavily, her Fox Ears drooping, clearly exhausted, her face still bearing lingering panic.

A Xing's expression remained calm, but the hand gripping the bat trembled slightly, showing she too had expended great effort.

Outside the window, Yaliluo‑VI's frozen planetary silhouette persisted, the train moored on a steady track, as if the heart‑pounding, stylistically shifting battle moments before were merely a collective hallucination.

The Black Curtain Lady lifted a mysteriously appearing steaming drink, took a gentle sip, and her violet‑black eyes gazed toward the boundless Star Sea beyond the window, deep and inscrutable.

This "Persuasion" failed, but it was not without any gain.

At the very least, she saw Na Ke Xia's deeper state and became aware of certain "Consent," perhaps requiring a more roundabout approach.

As for how to deal with a bursting‑clothes muscle scholar, she may need to reassess the tactics in the database.

This is really… far too ungraceful.