Chapter 380 (1/2)

Chapter 380: Five Years

Translator: Radiant Translations Editor: Radiant Translations

Within the Star Pagoda.

Mountain Lord He sat cross-legged, pondering the Profound Mysteries of the array when he suddenly frowned. “No, this is not quite right.”

“Xue Ying!” he hollered as he stood up, his voice reverberating throughout the sealed hall.

A figure condensed beside him.

Having refined the Star Pagoda, Xue Ying could draw support from the the world’s power to immediately respond to any matter pertaining to it. Naturally, he could also condense a temporary incarnation anywhere inside it.

“Mountain Lord He, what’s wrong?” Xue Ying was somewhat confused. After he had been trapped inside the black flower and had begun cultivating, neither Chao Qing, Palace Head Chen, nor any of the others would disturb him for any small matter.

“There’s a very important matter we must discuss. At first I didn’t want to disturb you, but after hesitating again and again, I found that something is truly amiss. It would be better if I told you about it.” Mountain Lord He frowned and continued, “It concerns mage Jing Qiu.”

“Is something wrong with her?” Xue Ying was startled.

Mountain Lord He explained, “You’re aware that operating the Star Pagoda places a harsh burden on the soul, which is why you had me and Chao Qing help Jing Qiu. However, the amount of Deity Crystals which the Star Pagoda has been consuming lately has become smaller and smaller. When I asked Jing Qiu about it, she brushed it off saying she had achieved a new comprehension of the arrays, which allowed her to lessen the wear and tear, but I suspect that is not truly what happened.”

“It’s not what happened?” Xue Ying frowned.

“Indeed! I’ve been watching carefully over the last two years, and under her control of the Star Pagoda, the amount of Deity Crystals it consumes has already decreased many times over. Each time it would only decrease by a little, but if we look at it cumulatively…the pagoda only consumes half of what it did at first!” The same frown plastered on his face, Mountain Lord He continued, “Progress to such an extent is actually very much outside the norms. In fact, my conjecture is that Mage Jing Qiu is actually controlling the Star Pagoda in spite of the damage accumulated on her soul.”

“Mountain Lord He,” Xue Ying began with bated breath, “that can’t possibly be true, can it? The pain caused by accumulated soul damage is incomparably violent. How could she control the arrays under such circumstances?”

When his Qi Avatar was defeated, a thread of Xue Ying’s own soul had dissipated, which gave him a very clear view of that type of pain.

“You’ve also been tortured by that hex poison, but weren’t you able to bear it all the same?” Mountain Lord He shook his head. “Go ask her yourself. Straining herself and piling up damage on her soul in order to lessen the usage of Deity Crystals might be considered a necessary sacrifice for the Xia Clan, but it’s simply too short-sighted. Should her soul continue stacking damage, how long will she last? If too long a time goes on, I’m afraid she’ll even fall unconscious.”

“Alright, I’ll go ask.” Xue Ying nodded. Since Mountain Lord He decided to tell him about it, he must have determined it to be true based on many clues.

Inside a separate hall, the light-blue robed Jing Qiu sat cross-legged with her eyes closed. She was incomparably beautiful, like a fairy who had descended onto the mortal world.

“Jing Qiu.” Xue Ying’s figure condensed by her side.

“Xue Ying, what’s the matter?” Jing Qiu opened her eyes. “I’m in the middle of operating the Star Pagoda right now, so if there’s no big issue, I think we should talk later.”

“We’ll talk now.” Xue Ying examined his wife, carefully checking complexion; he couldn’t help but say, “Is it true that, while disregarding the damage to your soul, you’ve been forcefully controlling the Star Pagoda?”

Jing Qiu initially blanked, but she then showed a faint smile. “Xue Ying, what’s with the sudden accusation? I’ve always been talented when it comes to arrays, and I’ve simply undergone a few realizations in a row at this critical juncture. The only result was reducing the consumption of Deity Crystals; you’re worrying too much.”

“Can I call Mountain Lord He over to examine your soul, then?” Xue Ying asked.

Jing Qiu froze.

An examination?

If a single thread of Mountain Lord’s consciousness entered Jing Qiu’s sea of knowledge, he could easily see if Jing Qiu’s soul suffered any damage.

“Alright, alright. You’ve guessed right.” Jing Qiu helplessly smiled. “I’ve always known you were smart.”

Watching his wife’s somewhat pale complexion, Xue Ying couldn’t help but anxiously call out, “Jing Qiu, you can’t brute force the operation of the Star Pagoda! As long as you begin resting the moment your soul is being pressured, there’s no way it will suffer any damage.”

“I was just worried,” Jing Qiu stepped in. “On top of that, a bit of damage on the soul is no big issue. I only have to let it slowly recuperate in the future. At such a critical moment in the war, I just have to endure the pain.”

Xue Ying replied, “Then you can just take your time and properly recover from today onward. You can reduce the time you’re in control of the Star Pagoda to half of what it’s now. Once your soul is fully healed, you can resume control.”

“No!” Jing Qiu cried without a moment of hesitation. “Mountain Lord He’s control isn’t at the same level as mine, and there’s no need to even discuss Senior Chao Qing. How can I rest at such a time? Xue Ying, am I not still fine? Don’t worry, I know how to control myself.”

“I’m making you stop.” Xue Ying sent his wife a sharp glare.

Jing Qiu had always greatly admired Xue Ying, and during their life together as husband and wife of a hundred years or more, Xue Ying would normally make the decisions on important matters, and Jing Qiu would generally not oppose them.

“Xue Ying!” Jing Qiu’s brows knit together as she angrily responded, “I’m operating the Star Pagoda firstly to save you, but I’m also doing so to save the entire Xia Clan!”