Not only was Starlight confused, but the other three were equally at a loss. Po Kong checked the weapon several times, and after confirming there were no signs of energy leakage, he handed it to Moen to see if she could try as well.
But no matter how hard Moen tried, Sacred Wood Phantom remained motionless, showing no sign of being absorbed into her space. After several failed attempts, she had no choice but to hand it back to Po Kong with a helpless look.
Just as they were scratching their heads over the result, Noah’s lazy voice suddenly rang in their ears. After resting for so long since that great battle, his dormant soul had finally returned to its normal state.
“Whew... ah... that was a good sleep. What are you guys doing standing around here? Whoa! Where did you get a Saint weapon? These are real rarities!”
The group was just worrying about who could answer their questions, so when they saw Noah wake up, they hurriedly recounted what had just happened, hoping he could shed some light on the matter.
After listening to their explanation, Noah also fell into deep thought.
In fact, Carlos, Eventador, and the others had researched this very issue years ago, back when they had first entered the Saint Rank.
Given Eventador’s personality, he naturally wouldn’t pass up such a great research opportunity. After some discussion, they decided that Eventador would conduct the experiment himself. As a space specialist, his storage space was both massive and stable, making him the undoubtedly best candidate.
However, the results were unexpected. Only Eventador’s storage space could briefly hold another person’s Saint weapon, and even then, it could only last for a few minutes.
Arthur and Carlos stubbornly tried as well, but they nearly caused a catastrophe. Not only did they almost blow up their own storage spaces, but they also received a severe reprimand from Mowei for their recklessness.
What those four Saint Archmages couldn’t accomplish back then had now been inexplicably achieved by Starlight, which left even Noah feeling bewildered.
Ultimately, he could only explain the strange phenomenon by saying, “Starlight’s space was constructed by both our souls together, making it exceptionally stable.”
“Though I don’t quite understand the principles of your space yet, if used correctly, this space could be your trump card for achieving an unexpected victory, Little Star!” Noah said, his tone suddenly shifting after his long silence.
“Why? Even if it can store a Saint weapon, that just means Starlight’s space is a bit special. Isn’t it a bit much to call it a winning trump card, Senior Noah?” Xia Duo was the first to ask.
Noah gave a dry laugh and continued his explanation. “It seems you don’t have an intuitive understanding of the power of this magic yet. Let me ask you a question first. Silly lad, if you were to duel a mage, what’s the first thing you’d do?”
“Close the distance, of course! As long as I can get close, the threat from most mages decreases significantly. At the very least, it increases my chances of winning by thirty percent,” Po Kong answered without hesitation.
“Then here’s the key point—if Little Star chooses to approach you and immediately takes your weapon away, how would you respond?” Noah countered.
“This...” Po Kong was momentarily speechless. He truly hadn’t thought of that. After all, no mage on the continent would ever choose to actively approach an opponent, and the idea of taking away an opponent’s weapon was unheard of.
“But... Senior Noah, combat is usually accompanied by violent spatial ripples. Using space magic isn’t that easy, and if something goes wrong, it could be dangerous. Isn’t the risk a bit too high?” Moen asked thoughtfully.
When Noah proposed this novel tactical viewpoint, Starlight couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy. This undoubtedly offered a new possibility for increasing his combat power. However, after hearing Moen’s question, he fell back into thought.
It was true that he had excellent spatial affinity, but actually applying space magic in combat wasn’t something that could be figured out overnight.
In a fight, even if there was only a one-second gap, Starlight was confident he could tear through space and manipulate surrounding objects. However, on a rapidly changing battlefield, such an opportunity almost never existed.
Noah clearly perceived Starlight’s concerns and continued, “Don’t worry, I’m just pointing you in a direction for now. I can tell you for certain that this approach is completely feasible. Otherwise, why do you think Evan, that research maniac who has zero interest in fighting, was elected as an Archmage? It’s precisely because of his deep understanding and unique application of space magic that he achieved such a high status in the magical world.”
“Then it seems I’ll need to visit Uncle Evan later. After all, he is the authority on space magic...” Starlight bit his lower lip and said softly.
“No worries. We have to go to the Royal Capital anyway after this is over. Didn’t you promise the Principal and the others that you’d participate in the competition? There will be plenty of time for you to learn then.” Po Kong smiled as he walked over, patting Starlight’s shoulder while handing him the scythe. “How about this, Little Star? You hold onto this scythe for me for now. It’ll give you a chance to practice and get used to it.”
“Alright, I’ll keep it safe for you.” Starlight nodded slightly and stored Sacred Wood Phantom back into his space. He couldn’t help but quip, “To be honest, it feels much better with it tucked away. When you carry it on your back, you’re like a giant walking lightbulb. It’s too glaring...”
“??? Little Star, is that the only reason you’re taking it? Wait just a minute!”
...
Amidst laughter and playful banter, the group soon returned to Moen’s hut.
They weren’t surprised by this departure, so they had prepared early. This return home was merely to pick up some essentials.
Starlight was particularly relaxed because all his belongings were already tossed into his personal space, so he didn’t have to worry about luggage. While his companions were busy preparing, he stepped outside and gazed into the distance, lost in thought.
During the previous crisis, many elven homes had unfortunately been damaged by the monster invasion. Upon closer observation, one could see many tree houses undergoing intensive repairs. Such a busy scene was quite rare in the Star-Song Forest.
“Sigh, it’s just one thing after another. I thought I could step away, but I’ve found myself in another vortex instead.” Starlight sighed softly, his thoughts drifting back through every step of his journey. Thinking carefully, aside from that peaceful time at the Spiritual Arts Academy, almost all his days had been spent rushing and working.
“In that case, I really am a bit jealous of Ivan and the students who stayed on campus. At least their lives are carefree and full of simple joys...”
Just as Starlight stretched his body and intended to go inside to check on his companions’ progress, the door creaked open at that exact moment.
He happened to cross paths with Moen, who had just changed into her adventure gear, and the two inadvertently bumped into each other.
“Ah! I’m so sorry! Moen, are you okay?” Starlight instinctively reached out to steady the girl who was about to fall, but in his over-eagerness, he accidentally pulled Moen right into his embrace.
The girl struggled gently, but there was a hint of a smile in her voice, and she didn't seem to mind the sudden intimacy. “Starlight, you’re holding me so tight. Are you afraid I’ll run away?”
Starlight’s face instantly turned bright red. He hurriedly let go, his eyes wavering as he laughed awkwardly. “Ah, Moen, I’m so sorry. I... I just didn’t react in time.”
Moen looked up, a playful and charming smile blooming on her face. That smile was pure and vivid, like a lily quietly opening in spring—fresh and possessing an indescribable charm that made Starlight’s heart tremble.
It reminded him of that scene on the ship, but the difference was that the surrounding elements told him that this time, they truly had this tranquility all to themselves.
Just as Starlight’s thoughts were as tangled as a mess of yarn, a sudden figure interrupted the silence—Wuka leaped out from a nearby tree trunk, landing right next to him.
As a Wood Spirit, Wuka had the ability to travel instantly to various places through the sub-trees and roots of the World Tree. Starlight knew this, but the sudden appearance still startled him, making him jump back several steps as if he’d been electrocuted.
“Master Moen, are you going out again? The Worry-free Orchid we cultivated last time has bloomed. Do you need to take it with you? Also... Lord Starlight, what are you doing?” Wuka reported meticulously in its high-pitched, crisp voice while turning its head curiously toward the red-faced Starlight.
Moen couldn’t help but laugh at the sight, her voice like a spring breeze rippling across a lake. “Pfft... He was just a little startled by your sudden appearance. Since you were kind enough to mention the Worry-free Orchid, please bring it to me. Thank you for your hard work, Wuka.”
“Of course, Master Moen. But speaking of which, is Lord Starlight really okay? His face is as red as a ripe apple! Could he be feeling unwell or sick? But since Master Moen is by his side, he shouldn't be getting sick... Humans really are unpredictable and strange creatures...”
Wuka muttered to itself with a hint of confusion before blending gracefully back into the tree trunk and vanishing without a sound.
“Uh... that, Moen... I...” Wuka’s sudden appearance had disrupted the original atmosphere, leaving Starlight at a loss for words, standing there in a daze.
“Hmm? I’m here. Was there something you wanted to say?”
Starlight’s cheeks flushed again involuntarily, and he waved his hands frantically. “No, no, no... It’s, it’s nothing, Moen. I... I just...”
But with the words on the tip of his tongue, he didn’t know where to start, and it finally turned into a weak, “It’s nothing.”
Seeing this, Moen’s lips curled into a sweet smile as if she could see the tiny ripples in Starlight’s heart. She said softly, “Dummy.”
Before Starlight could ponder the meaning of those words, Wuka leaped out of the tree trunk again, this time accompanied by a flowerpot that was even taller than it was.
Inside the pot was a plant emitting a soft glow. On its calyx, two pale blue flowers were blooming elegantly.
Having lived in the hut for a while, Starlight was very familiar with various plants, but the one Wuka brought out this time felt very different.
Although it didn't look much different from other orchids in appearance, the rich natural aura it radiated from within, along with the faint mist gathering around the flowers, made it look unique and full of mystery.
Starlight’s gaze was deeply attracted by this strange flower, and he even forgot his previous embarrassment as he couldn’t help but ask, “Is this the Worry-free Orchid? It feels... so different from other flowers!”
Wuka smiled proudly and explained in its high-pitched, melodic voice, “Lord Starlight, this was cultivated by Master Moen using the essence of the World Tree. It doesn't just have a beautiful appearance; it contains powerful Power of Nature. In times of emergency, it can even provide us with protection.”
Moen also walked closer, scrutinizing the two pale blue flowers. “Hmm... not bad. Both of these are of very high quality. I’ll take them with me this time.”
With that, she reached out her fair hands and carefully plucked the two blooming Worry-free Orchids with gentle movements.
She meticulously placed one into an exquisite glass bottle for preservation and gently handed the other to Starlight. “Don’t listen to Wuka’s exaggerations. The greatest use of the Worry-free Orchid is soothing the mind and heart, as well as slightly increasing cultivation speed. May this one bring you peace and joy.”
Starlight looked at the Worry-free Orchid Moen offered, and a warm current rose in his heart. He nodded and solemnly stored it into his space.
After this warm and slightly surprising interlude, Po Kong and Xia Duo also finished packing their luggage. Everything was ready. After bidding farewell to the reluctant Wuka, the four set off once again.
Xia Duo had originally intended to ask Flora for help again to borrow Da Bai to take them to the border. However, due to the martial law order issued by Angela, Flora, as a trainee priest, had been urgently dispatched to the border, leaving her home empty.
With no other choice, the four went to a nearby relay station and rented a Split-Toothed Beast, then headed north along the forest road.
Although the Split-Toothed Beast’s pace was steady, its speed couldn’t compare to the soaring of a Snow-Winged Eagle. After a day of travel, they finally reached the edge of the Star-Song Forest.
Due to the previous crisis, they found that the brown barrier formed by the roots of the World Tree at the border had not diminished but had grown even taller. They encountered several elven guard patrol teams along the way, and the atmosphere was tense and solemn.
Fortunately, the World Tree’s communication system had been fully restored, and Angela’s orders could be quickly transmitted to every patrol squad, saving them a lot of potential trouble.
Coincidences often happen in life. When Starlight’s group passed through the checkpoint they had used when leaving, they unexpectedly reunited with the Leaf-Cutter Squad they had met on their way in.
This squad had originally been executing missions on the outskirts of the border, but due to the situation, they had been dispatched to assist the Night Elf operations and were currently resting near the border.
After learning about Starlight’s mission, the Deputy Captain, Gaila, gave them a communication token unique to the Divine Concealment Squad—a unique bell.
Inside this bell was a rare spice. To an ordinary person, it seemed normal, but for specially trained birds or monstrous beasts, they could keenly capture this unique scent, making it a key for tracking and communication.
When the Divine Concealment Squad went out on missions, they usually used this method to stay in touch. Although the four didn’t have monstrous beast companions yet, Moen could use the Power of Nature to guide wild animals, allowing them to similarly track the bell’s location and achieve a similar information transmission function.
From the Star-Song Forest, whether traveling to the mysterious Dragon Valley or the bustling Crimson City-State, one had to cross a vast distance of thousands of kilometers. Although messages couldn't be delivered instantly, this method of long-distance communication far exceeded the speed of human messengers.
After saying goodbye to the members of the Leaf-Cutter Squad, Starlight and his group officially set off on their journey to the Crimson City-State.
Rate on N.U.
