Chapter 380: Five Years

Inside the Star Tower.

He Shanzhu, seated cross-legged and pondering the mysteries of the magical formations, suddenly furrowed his brows: “No, something feels off…”

“Xueying!” He Shanzhu rose and called out, his voice echoing within the enclosed hall.

A figure materialized beside him.

Dongbo Xueying had already assimilated the Star Tower, enabling him to sense various locations through its power. Thus, he could temporarily manifest a clone within the tower.

“He Shanzhu, what is it?” Dongbo Xueying asked in confusion. He had been cultivating inside the black flower, and neither Chao Qing nor Master Chen would dare disturb him easily.

“There’s something important. Initially, I hesitated to bother you, but after much deliberation, I felt it was too strange not to inform you,” He Shanzhu said, frowning. “It concerns Jing Qiu.”

“Jing Qiu, what about her?” Dongbo Xueying was startled.

“Controlling the Star Tower places a heavy burden on one’s soul,” He Shanzhu explained. “That’s why you asked me and Chao Qing to assist Master Jing Qiu. However, lately, the consumption of divine crystals required to sustain the tower has been decreasing. I asked Jing Qiu about it, and she said she had gained some insights into the formations, allowing her to conserve resources. Still, I feel something is off.”

“Off?” Dongbo Xueying frowned.

“Yes, I’ve observed carefully. Over the past two years, Jing Qiu’s control of the Star Tower has repeatedly resulted in reduced consumption of divine crystals. Each time, the decrease is slight, but cumulatively, the current consumption is only half of what it was initially!” He Shanzhu continued frowning. “Such rapid progress is abnormal. I suspect Jing Qiu might be forcing control despite soul damage.”

“He Shanzhu,” Dongbo Xueying interjected anxiously, “that seems unlikely. The pain from soul damage is unbearable. How could she control the formations under such circumstances?”

He was intimately familiar with the agony, having endured the shattering of his battle qi avatar and the severing of a sliver of his very essence.

“Didn’t you endure the witch’s poison?” He Shanzhu shook his head. “Go ask Jing Qiu yourself. While enduring soul damage to conserve divine crystals might be a sacrifice for the Xia Clan, it’s reckless. How long can she endure continuous soul damage? Eventually, she might fall into a coma.”

“Alright, I’ll go ask her,” Dongbo Xueying nodded. If He Shanzhu had spoken thus, he must have deduced it from many subtle clues.

…

In another hall.

Yu Jing Qiu, clad in a pale blue robe, sat cross-legged with her eyes closed, exuding beauty, like an ethereal fairy.

“Jing Qiu,” Dongbo Xueying’s figure materialized beside her.

“Xueying, why are you here?” Yu Jing Qiu opened her eyes. “I’m currently controlling the Star Tower. Can we talk later?”

“No, now.”

Dongbo Xueying looked at Jing Qiu, carefully observing her complexion. “Jing Qiu, are you forcing control despite soul damage?”

Yu Jing Qiu was momentarily stunned, then smiled gently. “Xueying, why are you suddenly saying this? I’ve always had talent in formations. Now, during this critical period, I’ve had some insights, which is why the consumption of divine crystals has decreased. Don’t overthink it.”

“Shall I ask He Shanzhu to check?” Dongbo Xueying asked.

Yu Jing Qiu was taken aback.

Checking?

He Shanzhu could easily detect any soul damage by probing Jing Qiu’s consciousness with a fragment of his spiritual power.

“Alright, you’re right,” Yu Jing Qiu sighed with a helpless smile. “I knew you’d figure it out.”

Dongbo Xueying looked at his wife’s pale face, growing anxious. “Jing Qiu, you mustn’t force control of the Star Tower! Rest when your soul is strained. Why would you allow soul damage?”

“I was just a bit impatient,” Yu Jing Qiu quickly replied. “Besides, slight soul damage isn’t a big deal. I can recover gradually later. Now is a critical time for the war. I can endure a little.”

“Then from today onward, you must rest properly. You can only control the Star Tower for half the previous time until your soul fully recovers,” Dongbo Xueying insisted.

“No way!”

Yu Jing Qiu immediately refused, her voice urgent. “He Shanzhu isn’t as skilled at controlling the tower as I am, and Elder Chao Qing is even less so. How could I rest now? Xueying, I’m still fine, really. Don’t worry. I’ll manage myself well.”

“I’m telling you to stop,” Dongbo Xueying looked at his wife.

Yu Jing Qiu had always deeply admired Dongbo Xueying.

After over a hundred years of marriage, they generally followed Dongbo Xueying’s decisions on important matters, with Yu Jing Qiu rarely objecting.

“Dongbo Xueying!” Yu Jing Qiu frowned, her voice rising. “I’m controlling the Star Tower not only to save you but also to protect the entire Xia Clan!”

Dongbo Xueying anxiously retorted, “You must stop! If you don’t, I can prevent you from controlling the Star Tower altogether. Jing Qiu… soul damage isn’t something to be taken lightly.”

Yu Jing Qiu looked at the most important person in her life. “If you really do that, you’ll be forcing me to die. Rest assured, if you don’t let me control the tower, I’ll take my own life immediately.”

“How could you… how could you…” Dongbo Xueying looked at his wife’s determined expression and understood her resolve.

“It’s alright,” Yu Jing Qiu smiled again. “Really, it’s alright. I’m doing this for the Xia Clan. A little sacrifice isn’t a big deal. Besides, if my soul damage becomes severe, I’ll fall into a coma, and I won’t be able to control the tower anymore. After I recover from the coma, I can gradually heal with proper rest. At most, I might lose the ability to cultivate further. But since I’ve already become a demigod, I can live for three thousand years anyway!”

Dongbo Xueying couldn’t persuade his wife and could only sigh inwardly.

Alright.

Once the soul damage reached a certain level, she would fall into a coma. Given her power as a demigod, at least her life wouldn’t be in danger.

“Fine, go ahead. I’m still controlling the Star Tower,” Yu Jing Qiu urged.

Dongbo Xueying could only leave.

Yu Jing Qiu gazed at Dongbo Xueying’s fading figure, silently whispering in her heart, “Senior Xueying, if I can’t save you, we’ll never reunite again. For me, what’s the difference between that and death?”

Then she focused her mind and continued controlling the Star Tower formations.

Under full concentration on the complex formations of the Star Tower, her already slightly damaged soul bore a heavy burden, and the damage gradually worsened, with fragments of her soul energy dissipating. Yet Yu Jing Qiu ignored it all. She even noticed something strange: “Even with soul damage, my comprehension of countless formations seems to be improving more efficiently?”

Indeed.

It was a strange phenomenon! It seemed as if she had broken free from a constraint, freed from burdens, and her insight had actually increased. Occasionally, flashes of inspiration illuminated deeper mysteries of the formations.

Yu Jing Qiu became completely immersed, continuously manipulating and analyzing the formations.

“Senior Xueying, you will surely come out.”

…

Year after year passed.

Jing Qiu’s complexion grew increasingly pale, yet her efficiency in controlling the Star Tower kept increasing. This could no longer be explained by mere “exertion”; clearly, Master Jing Qiu’s understanding of the Star Tower formations was genuinely improving. However, seeing Jing Qiu’s face grow paler and even her aura begin to weaken, Dongbo Xueying grew increasingly anxious.

“Don’t worry. Nothing serious. I’ll fall into a coma when I can’t endure anymore.”

“You care for me. Just break through that black flower as soon as possible.”

“Yes, yes, I’m fine. My comprehension of formations has increased again. I can keep going for a while longer.”

Yu Jing Qiu always comforted Dongbo Xueying after each encounter.

…

In the desert, the white-robed youth trapped inside the black flower continuously practiced his spear techniques, fully immersed in training while the Witch God played his flute.

“Five years.”

“Five years!!”

“I still haven’t broken through. None of my three true insights have advanced. Why? Why?” Dongbo Xueying’s heart burned with frustration. Seeing his wife’s increasingly pale face, he felt immense guilt. Why couldn’t he break through this black flower? Why couldn’t he advance even one of his three true insights?

Dongbo Xueying’s face twisted with fury as he glared at the distant Witch God and Great Demon God within the Red Leaf Space.

“I will definitely get out. Definitely!!!”

“Boom, boom, boom…”

Dongbo Xueying furiously practiced his spear techniques.

He shut out all distractions. The interference from the Witch God’s flute had significantly diminished compared to the beginning. He continuously pondered each spear move, even studying divine-level secret techniques, desperately seeking further insights.

At night.

Moonlight, like a silken veil, draped over the vast desert through the membrane of the Star Tower, even penetrating the black flower to illuminate Dongbo Xueying.

Dongbo Xueying continued silently practicing his spear techniques.

“Rumble~~~”

Suddenly, a colossal planetary illusion appeared behind Dongbo Xueying’s body. The planet was entirely black, as if containing infinite mysteries.

“Stellar Divine Heart?” The Witch God and Great Demon God within the distant Red Leaf Space both changed expressions, with the Witch God exclaiming in astonishment.