Inside the conference chamber of the Xianzhou Yuque, the highest combat authorities of the Xianzhou Alliance were seated.
Marshal Hua, along with Jing Yuan, the Divine Foresight General of the Xianzhou Luofu; Yueyu of the Xianzhou Yaoqing; and Huaiyan of the Xianzhou Zhuming.
Whether Marshal or General, behind each of them stood an immense manifestation of the Reignbow Arbiter's Hunt. In particular, the golden Spirit of the Reignbow behind Jing Yuan radiated overwhelming majesty.
Soon, Marshal Hua and the others extended their hands, intending to test the Soul Gems.
Seeing this, Yao Guang did not hesitate. She distributed the Soul Gems to the generals and the Marshal, explaining, "The method of using a Soul Gem is to bind it with a drop of blood. After binding, as long as you meet the usage requirements, it can function as a Path power amplifier."
Marshal Hua did not hesitate in the slightest. She was about to bite her fingertip and perform the blood-binding.
"Please wait."
Jing Yuan quickly interjected from the side. "Marshal, you are the supreme commander of the Xianzhou Alliance. Matters such as blood-binding should be tested by us generals first."
"No need for further discussion. I trust Yao Guang."
After speaking, Marshal Hua directly completed the blood-binding. The instant her blood fell upon the Soul Gem, she felt a peculiar connection form between herself and the gem.
More crucially, in that very moment she sensed that when the power of The Hunt flowed through the Soul Gem, it truly received amplification.
Marshal Hua's pupils trembled violently. When she raised her head again, she addressed the assembled generals.
"What Yao Guang said is true. The Soul Gem is extraordinary. Even my Path power can be amplified. Though the degree of amplification is pitifully small, it is undeniably there."
The generals present felt their pupils shake as well.
At that moment, a thoughtful glint flashed through Jing Yuan's eyes as he spoke. "General Yao Guang mentioned earlier that the Soul Gem has usage conditions. Yet the Marshal was able to use its amplification immediately. How is this explained?"
Yao Guang smiled casually. "Very simple. Marshal Hua's magnificent Phoenix outfit perfectly satisfies the gem's usage requirements."
A sharp light flickered in Jing Yuan's eyes. "General Yao Guang means that the Soul Gem's requirement is that the attire be as splendid as possible?"
Yao Guang shook her head slightly. "More precisely, the closer one's appearance aligns with the definition of a magical girl, the more compatible one is with the Soul Gem."
"A girl?"
Marshal Hua's exquisite face was filled with confusion.
Her age certainly did not qualify as that of a girl. In fact, among certain circles within the Xianzhou, she was already considered long past marriageable age. So why did she still meet the Soul Gem's conditions?
As she pondered this, her gaze instinctively lowered to her own unremarkable figure. The corners of her mouth twitched.
Could it be that the Soul Gem's definition of 'girl' is not based on age, but on secondary feminine characteristics?!
At that thought, Marshal Hua's aura shifted, and her brows began to knit.
Jing Yuan and Huaiyan, standing nearby, did not dare utter a word.
At that moment, Yueyu—the Foxian general of the Xianzhou Yaoqing—pricked her finger and completed her own blood-binding. She then spoke to Marshal Hua.
"Marshal Hua, I too can use this Soul Gem to amplify my Path power."
Upon hearing this, Marshal Hua's slightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed.
The reason was simple. Yueyu was a female general of the Xianzhou in the prime of her life. That meant she did not fit the definition of a young girl either—and her figure was notably ample.
Yet she could still use the Soul Gem.
This proved that the Soul Gem did not determine eligibility based on secondary feminine traits—nor on age.
As Marshal Hua's expression eased, Jing Yuan finally spoke.
"If the Soul Gem requires dressing as a magical girl to be used, it seems I lack the fortune to make use of it."
Huaiyan stroked his white beard and nodded in agreement. "Across the cosmos, every female Pathstrider can purchase a Soul Gem to strengthen her Path power."
Hearing the two male generals speak, Yao Guang shook her head slightly.
"You are mistaken. Men can also use Soul Gems—so long as they are willing to go far enough."
"By 'go far enough,' you do not mean what I am thinking, do you?" Jing Yuan narrowed his eyes.
"Exactly what you are thinking. As long as a man cross-dresses as a magical girl, he can receive the Soul Gem's amplification."
As she finished speaking, Yao Guang's gaze fixed squarely upon Jing Yuan and Huaiyan.
Jing Yuan shuddered under that peculiar look. "It is impossible for me to don magical girl attire. No matter what, I am a Xianzhou general. I cannot abandon decorum. More importantly, I am the Divine Foresight General."
Huaiyan quickly added, "This old man cannot possibly wear magical girl clothing either. I am already advanced in years. My thinking remains somewhat traditional."
Yao Guang replied calmly, "Of course, I will not force you to change into such attire now. But what if a critical moment arrives—such as the one foreseen in my Fortune Hexagram calculations?"
"According to my divinations, in the great calamity of the future, the Xianzhou Luofu, the Xianzhou Yaoqing, and the Xianzhou Fanghu all face the risk of falling. More critically, even Xianzhou generals will perish."
"In my vision of the future, the first to fall was General Yueyu of the Yaoqing. After her... my own master, and Fu Xuan's master as well..."
Jing Yuan and Huaiyan fell silent.
More precisely, their thoughts were locked in fierce internal struggle.
When the future crisis descends upon the Xianzhou Alliance, for the sake of greater power... should they cast aside a measure of dignity?
After wrestling with their thoughts for some time, both Jing Yuan and Huaiyan silently picked up the Soul Gems resting upon the conference table and kept them close to their persons.
Marshal Hua then spoke.
"Since the Soul Gem is effective, we must place large-scale orders. Ideally, every female soldier of the Xianzhou should have one."
Yao Guang nodded. "I wholeheartedly agree with the Marshal's decision... In fact, I have already purchased Soul Gems to gift to my junior sister, as well as to my master."
Upon hearing this, Jing Yuan also resolved to purchase a batch of Soul Gems to enhance the strength of the Cloud Knights.
Additionally, he intended to buy a Soul Gem for the man who had left the Xianzhou—the one reborn from the Vidyadhara High Elder Imbibitor Lunae, Dan Feng, and now calling himself Dan Heng.
He had heard that Dan Heng was being pursued by Yingxing, who had taken the alias Blade and joined the Stellaron Hunters. In that case, it was necessary to provide him with an item capable of increasing his strength... Perhaps in a moment of crisis, the Soul Gem would prove useful.
Meanwhile, Yueyu was also considering purchasing a batch of Soul Gems to bolster the combat strength of the Yaoqing's warriors.
For example, the young girl Feixiao whom she had rescued. That girl possessed tremendous combat potential—and she was indeed young. She would undoubtedly meet the Soul Gem's binding requirements most perfectly.
And just as the Xianzhou generals were deep in thought, Marshal Hua continued speaking.
"In Yao Guang's prophecy, the future of the Xianzhou holds great calamity. No matter what form that disaster takes... we must face it!"
Marshal Hua of the Cloud Knights raised her hand high and declared solemnly, "Let the Xianzhou soar—may the Cloud Knights ever triumph!"
"Let the Xianzhou soar—may the Cloud Knights ever triumph!"
"Let the Xianzhou soar—may the Cloud Knights ever triumph!"
The assembled generals shouted in unison.
...
After that day, the Xianzhou Alliance began large-scale distribution of Soul Gems.
On the Xianzhou Luofu, Bailu—the nominal High Elder of the Luofu—received a Soul Gem. She swished her tail as she studied the tiny glowing object with great curiosity.
Meanwhile, another Vidyadhara on the Luofu, Lingsha, also obtained a Soul Gem and even used it to amplify her Path power while refining medicines.
On the Xianzhou Yaoqing, the young Feixiao learned that a great enemy awaited the Xianzhou in the future. She too received a Soul Gem. At night, she raised it high toward the sky, gazing at the radiance shimmering upon its surface.
"The light of this Soul Gem is like a shooting star. General Yueyu, thank you for gifting me this. I will train diligently and live up to your expectations! In the future, I will become strong enough—strong enough to kill all enemies and secure countless great victories!!"
At the same time, Dan Heng—currently being pursued by Blade of the Stellaron Hunters—received a delivery from Jing Yuan, one of the High-Cloud Quintet.
Dan Heng was deeply puzzled... To him, Jing Yuan was both familiar and distant.
After all, following a Vidyadhara rebirth, although one retains memories from the previous incarnation, viewing those memories feels little different from watching a film. One can only immerse oneself in them to a limited degree.
Moreover, from Dan Heng's understanding, the current general of the Xianzhou Luofu was still Jing Yuan. He should be thoroughly familiar with the rules of Vidyadhara rebirth and know that Dan Heng was not the former High Elder Dan Feng, but the exile of the Xianzhou.
So why would Jing Yuan send him something?
Under normal circumstances, Jing Yuan, as general of the Luofu, ought to issue a warrant for his arrest and personally lead forces to capture him—not send gifts.
Carrying boundless confusion, Dan Heng opened the Xianzhou logistics box. He soon saw a gleaming orb. Alongside it was a note.
'This is equipment capable of amplifying Path power... I have heard you are being pursued by Yingxing. Given my position, I cannot assist you openly. However, this item may prove useful to you. Of course, using it comes with a small price.'
After reading the message, Dan Heng's gaze settled on the orb.
Soul Gem?
Equipment that can amplify Path power... even if there are side effects, I must try it!
After all, Blade was pressing him relentlessly...
Gritting his teeth, Dan Heng performed the blood-binding, letting the blood of Permanence drip onto the Soul Gem.
At that exact moment, Blade—who had been relentlessly hunting him—arrived at the door with sword in hand. Seeing what Dan Heng was doing, his pupils shook violently.
The current Yingxing—now known as Blade—was a member of the Stellaron Hunters. Naturally, he had heard from Elio about the Soul Gem's harsh usage conditions. This thing was practically usable only by women.
And now, Dan Heng had performed blood-binding with a Soul Gem.
Was Dan Heng about to cross-dress?!!
...
While Blade was misunderstanding Dan Heng, Herman on The Blue received a shipment of dark matter materials from the Interastral Peace Corporation.
At the same time, he received good news from The Herta. Her research into the Dark Plane had achieved another breakthrough.
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