Honkai Star Rail: I Started as the Great Iron Tomb

Chapter 278: Chapter 278: Qingque’s Divine Might

Qingque, with a slightly disheveled bun from sleep, yawned continuously as she walked towards the Divination Commission.

She had originally planned to sleep until noon today, then spend half the day slacking off at the card parlor — after all, for Divination Commission work, procrastinate whenever possible, coast along whenever possible; that was her life motto.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned. Early in the morning, her Jade Abacus rang like a death knell, with the four large characters "Grand Diviner Fu Xuan" prominently displayed on the screen.

Qingque shivered, almost dropping her Jade Abacus.

Trembling, she answered, and Fu Xuan’s cold, stern voice came from the other side: "Qingque, come to the Divination Commission immediately. There’s an urgent matter."

Then she hung up.

Swift and decisive, not even leaving Qingque a question.

"...Sigh."

Qingque let out a long sigh, feeling her life was utterly bleak.

She tried to comfort herself with nonsense like, "Maybe Grand Diviner Fu Xuan is in a good mood today and wants to invite me for tea," but her rationality told her it was more likely a mountain of official duties or some new trouble.

Resigned, she crawled out of her warm bed, quickly washed up, changed into the Divination Commission’s uniform, and with a body full of "don’t want to go to work" resentment, Qingque stepped onto the morning street.

As she walked, her mind still replayed that long and bizarre "dream" — sitting in an endless bamboo forest, meditating opposite the Marshal, being forced to sense some "jade plaque resonance"... it was even scarier than working overtime for thirty consecutive days!

She subconsciously raised her hand and looked at her palm.

Fair and tender, without even a callus.

"So that really was just a nightmare, right?"

Qingque muttered, "What Taixu Sword Qi... just hearing the name makes me tired. I still think playing cards suits me better."

To dispel the lingering discomfort of the nightmare, she reached into her sleeve pocket and pulled out the warm, pale green jade tiles with a fish carved on it.

This jade plaque was of excellent quality, intricately carved, with the green fish appearing lifelike. It felt slightly cool to the touch, possessing a calming texture.

Qingque liked it very much and always carried it with her to fiddle with.

As she walked, she unconsciously rubbed her fingertips over the scales of the green fish on the jade plaque, her mind calculating whether she could find an excuse to sneak off to the card parlor early today.

Just as she passed a relatively secluded street corner, her peripheral vision caught sight of several people standing in the shadows ahead.

Those individuals wore ordinary Xianzhou civilian clothes, but their postures were somewhat rigid, heads bowed, their faces unclear.

At this time of day, in this kind of place, several people gathered like this was inherently a bit strange.

Qingque’s heart skipped a beat, and her steps involuntarily slowed.

She wasn’t one to meddle, but she was a bit more sensitive than the average person.

(Something’s not right...)

Just as she was about to quietly bypass them, the figures seemed to sense her gaze and simultaneously looked up!

Qingque instantly gasped!

On those faces, their eyes were blood red, and their skin was visibly turning gray and withered at a rapid pace, developing wood-like textures!

Their mouths stretched open, revealing grotesque smiles!

Mara-Struck!

And it was a multiple outbreak, simultaneously, right on the street!

Qingque’s mind went blank with a ’buzz’!

She was just a Minor Diviner from the Divination Commission who wanted to slack off!

Her practical combat experience was almost zero!

She might be able to handle one or two Void Rangers, but these were several Mara-Struck rapidly mutating!

Run! That was her first thought.

But her body was frozen in place from extreme fright, watching helplessly as those figures roared, their limbs beginning to unnaturally twist and swell, skin rupturing and growing branch-like thorns, lunging towards her!

Too close!

In that moment of life and death, Qingque, purely by instinct, threw the pale green jade tiles with a fish carving in her hand — with all her might — at the Mara-Struck leading the charge!

"Take that—!"

She didn’t even know what she shouted.

The small jade plaque flew from her hand, tracing an unremarkable arc in the air.

Then—

Buzz!!!

The jade plaque, just an instant before touching the Mara-Struck, suddenly erupted with dazzling green light!

Within the light, the carved green fish seemed to come alive, its form rapidly expanding against the wind, instantly transforming into a translucent giant fish phantom several zhang long, entirely composed of condensed green light and water vapor!

Its scales were clear as jewels, its long whiskers floated like ribbons, and its eyes were like two luminous green lamps, exuding an awe-inspiring pressure!

This sudden change happened in a flash, let alone Qingque, even the lunging Mara-Struck seemed to pause for an instant.

"Roar—?!"

The green giant fish phantom did not hesitate in the slightest. It let out a silent yet soul-stirring clear, long cry, its massive body, carrying irresistible force, like a green mountain torrent, or a river come alive, crashing head-on into those Mara-Struck!

No fancy techniques, just the most direct — crushing!

Boom—!!!!

A deafening crash echoed, and the ground trembled slightly!

Green light and water vapor exploded, scattering into a sky full of sparkling water droplets that reflected a rainbow of colors in the morning sun, like a dreamlike sun shower.

The water droplets fell on the street, walls, and even some distant onlookers, bringing a cool, moist sensation, but without any destructive power.

As for the Mara-Struck that were hit head-on by the green giant fish... only twisted remains were left on the spot.

The terrifying threat from moments ago, under this seemingly cataclysmic blow, disintegrated instantly like sandcastles shattered by a giant wave, unable to put up any decent resistance.

One strike, utter annihilation.

The water droplets landed, quickly seeped into the ground, and vanished without a trace.

The majestic green giant fish phantom also faded, as if it had never appeared.

In the center of the street, only the dumbfounded Qingque remained.

Qingque: "..."

She maintained the posture of throwing the jade plaque, her mouth slightly agape, eyes wide, her mind filled with the chirping of what felt like a hundred thousand qiongyu birds, or like a pot of boiling black sesame paste, having completely lost the ability to think.

(What... just happened?)

(I... threw a jade plaque?)

(...Huh?)

She slowly lowered her head, looking at her empty right hand.

The jade plaque... was gone?

The moment this thought arose, a coolness suddenly touched her palm.

The pale green jade tiles with the fish carving reappeared in her hand, completely unharmed.

Its touch was warm and slightly cool, exactly as before, as if the earth-shattering scene just now was merely an illusion.

Qingque: "!!!"

She almost dropped the jade plaque again as if burned, but managed to hold back in time, clutching it tightly.

The cool, jade-like touch reminded her that this was not a dream.

"Ah—! Murder! No, Mara-Struck murder!"

"What was that just now?! Such a huge fish! Was it a gift from the Aeons?!"

"Is that young lady a master from the Cloud Knights?!"

"Run! Are there any other Mara-Struck?!"

The unharmed pedestrians who had fled far away finally reacted, erupting in louder clamor and exclamations.

Many pointed towards Qingque, gesticulating and discussing animatedly.

Qingque suddenly shivered, snapping out of her petrified state.

(Oh no!)

(I caused such a huge commotion! And so many people saw it!)

(Although I killed Mara-Struck, but... but I can’t explain this! Where did I get such power?! What’s with this jade plaque?!)

(If the Cloud Knights catch me for questioning... wouldn’t my slacking-off career be completely over?!)

Thinking of Grand Diviner Fu Xuan’s stern face and possible punishments, Qingque suddenly felt it was a million times scarier than facing Mara-Struck!

Run!

She had to disappear immediately, right now!

She dared not hesitate any longer, nor did she care about her image. She stuffed the jade plaque into her embrace and, moving at the fastest speed of her life, plunged into a narrower alley nearby, vanishing instantly.

Her agile movements and familiar route clearly indicated that this was not the first time she had done something like "accomplish a deed, then leave, hiding her Merit and fame (achievements and fame)."

Only a group of shaken passersby remained on the street, and Yanqing, who soon arrived after hearing the news, looking bewildered at the scene.

And not far away, by the window of a private room in a teahouse, Baiheng and Cipher, who had just been equally astonished.

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