While Lian’s awakening had put Starlight’s plans on hold, it also made him realize that their feelings didn’t need a grand gesture to be proven. Instead, they had already taken root and sprouted within the small details of their daily lives.
At this thought, the conflict and panic in Starlight’s heart were replaced by a relieved smile. Driven by this pleasant mood, he walked toward the deck with a light step, his gait reflecting an unprecedented sense of ease.
Lira, who was still busy directing the crew, also let out a long sigh of relief upon hearing that Lian was out of danger. Combined with the fact that they had safely sailed out of the storm’s reach, it was undoubtedly a double blessing.
Lira exhaled deeply, his brow finally smoothing out as his tense shoulders relaxed.
Later, Starlight found Po Kong and Xia Duo in a corner of the deck. The two were leaning side by side against the gunwale, gazing at the distant horizon as they discussed something.
“Are you alright now?” Starlight saw that Po Kong’s face had regained its usual composure and brightness, so he walked up to greet them.
“Oh? Little Star, you’re here! My battle qi was just a bit overdrawn, that’s all. I’ll recover in no time! You seem to be in a good mood—did something good happen?” Po Kong laughed as he turned around, speaking easily while making sure to flex the solid muscles on his arm.
“Hmph, back to showing off again. You were literally pulled out of the water by me like a lump of wet clay not long ago. I have no idea where you get this confidence... But regardless, thank you, Starlight. If you hadn’t found us in time, we would have been in real trouble.”
Xia Duo snorted, seemingly expressing her dissatisfaction with Po Kong’s recklessness, then nodded solemnly to Starlight to show her gratitude.
Starlight simply smiled and shook his head at them, then stepped up to the gunwale to talk about what had happened after they were separated.
“So... that little girl who was with you is actually a noble among the Night Elves? And the news you got from them was actually like that... Oh, right! I almost forgot to return Senior to you!”
After listening to Starlight’s description, Po Kong asked curiously while taking down the large box he had been carrying on his back.
“Yes. From my interactions with them over the past two days, they didn’t seem to be lying, and they have no motive to hide such things.” Starlight pried open the tightly sealed box, took out Noah’s body, and hung it back on his waist.
Noah did not respond to Starlight. Because he had maintained a mental link for so long, he was utterly exhausted and had fallen into a deep sleep the moment they were out of danger.
“I see... The information recorded on the World Tree was just the commotion caused by them preparing for a ritual... Since you don’t think it was the Dark Tribe, who else could it be?”
Xia Duo pondered, her finger lightly tracing her chin. Her brow furrowed slightly as she fell into deep thought.
“Sigh, if things are truly as Starlight described, then our lead has gone cold again. How a headache!” She sighed, eventually giving up on dwelling on it further.
“Don’t be disappointed, Xia Duo. Once we reach Night Lotus Valley, I’ll ask Lian about it. Maybe we’ll find something else. But speaking of which, Po Kong, what happened back there on the seabed? Where is that giant golden sword?”
After finishing the discussion about the leads, Starlight shifted the focus of the conversation to Po Kong.
The aura and technique Po Kong had displayed on the seabed were definitely not something he should be able to use at his current rank. Starlight even suspected that an average Saint Rank might not be able to reach the level of that single strike.
“You’ve hit the nail on the head. If I’m not mistaken, that sword sealed within the Night God’s power should be the Divine Artifact left behind by my ancestor. I remember the old man saying that our family had something similar sealed away.”
Po Kong puffed out his chest with pride, indicating that their trip hadn't been in vain.
“Then where is it? After you used that move, I saw the sword turn to ash and disappear. Surely a Divine Artifact isn’t a one-time-use item?” Starlight asked.
“Of course not. It’s right here! It’s just that its situation is similar to Senior’s. After using it once, it fell into a deep sleep and is slowly absorbing my battle qi. I have no idea when it will recover.”
To answer Starlight’s question, Po Kong lightly unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it aside slightly, revealing his sculpted chest muscles.
A faint golden sword-shaped symbol was clearly visible over his heart. It seemed to be endowed with some mysterious power, emitting a soft, gentle glow.
Starlight leaned in closer to examine the symbol.
Unlike a common tattoo or mark, its light seemed synchronized with Po Kong’s heartbeat, each pulse of light echoing the rhythm of his life. It was as if it were alive, rising and falling gently with Po Kong’s breath, appearing both ancient and mysterious.
Both Starlight and Xia Duo were drawn to this miraculous sight, their gazes focused on the magical symbol.
“Since it can use your body to nourish itself, it means this weapon is at least a Spirit Armament... Yes, it truly was worth the trip.”
Xia Duo said thoughtfully, a flash of wonder in her eyes. At the same time, she curiously reached out a finger to lightly touch the sword symbol. The sensation against her fingertip was entirely different from normal skin, as if she were touching a living metal.
Starlight had also heard of the term ‘Spirit Armament.’ It was a miraculous type of weapon that could be bound to its owner.
Their manufacturing process was extremely complex, and the success rate was staggeringly low. Even the most elite dwarven smiths could only forge a handful of such legendary weapons in their entire lives.
However, the advantages of a Spirit Armament were incomparable to ordinary weapons. First, they could be stored inside the owner’s body, offering extraordinary concealment and portability.
Furthermore, unlike other weapons, Spirit Armaments did not require regular maintenance. Even if they suffered severe damage, they could slowly repair themselves within the owner’s body.
In fact, the pair of bracers Po Kong was currently using could be considered a type of Spirit Armament, though many effects had been sacrificed to reduce costs and add functionality.
Such powerful characteristics, combined with their extreme rarity, meant that Spirit Armaments across the continent were always in a state of being priceless and unavailable for purchase; their value simply could not be measured in gold.
Moreover, the weapon Po Kong spoke of likely came from the hands of the War God Mars himself, making it an existence that perhaps even transcended a Spirit Armament.
“There’s no use thinking about that now. Aside from my chest feeling a bit itchy, I haven’t figured out how to use it. I can’t even feel it inside me.”
Po Kong shrugged helplessly. Although he was also full of curiosity about this weapon left over from the primordial era, he was currently unable to communicate with it at all.
To him, a weapon he couldn't use was far inferior to his usual dual swords. Perhaps he would only be able to find more information about it after returning to his family.
“Anyway, I don’t plan on going back anytime soon, so this thing is just a decoration for now.” Po Kong waved his hands dismissively, his tone very relaxed, seemingly unbothered by the temporary uselessness of this Divine Artifact.
Seeing that Po Kong himself was unconcerned, Starlight and Xia Duo didn't say much more. Instead, they changed the subject and chatted about other things.
The sea breeze continued to blow gently, and the afterglow of the setting sun spilled across the deck, casting a golden halo over their silhouettes.
...
Rate on N.U.
