Chapter 203

After the Team Battle ended, the cheers from the stands continued.

The shattered fragments of starlight on the arena were blown away at the edges by the wind. Dark red scorch marks were embedded in the cracks between the stone slabs, like traces left behind by a fire that had just burned out.

Xue Lingyun had already put his coat back on and was walking down the arena steps toward the outside.

He stopped as he stepped down the final stair, not because he could not walk any farther, but because he saw someone waiting at the entrance to the passage outside the arena.

Xu Jiujiu stood to one side of the passage entrance, right along the only route from the arena to the rest area.

Her Star Crown had already been withdrawn. The diamond-shaped golden mark on her forehead remained, though it was much fainter than when she had entered, with a faint dark mark at its edge.

Her hair had been tied up again, neater than it had been at the end of the match. She had probably taken the opportunity to fix it earlier.

When he reached the passage entrance, he slowed down and stopped just inside it.

Xu Jiujiu also stopped outside. A few steps separated them as their gazes met.

Xu Jiujiu had not expected that to be the first thing he asked. She paused for a moment, then smiled. It was only a small smile, but it was a genuine one. "Eighteen days."

She paused. "The gem in Star's Protection shattered. It needs to absorb star power again to repair itself. It will take eighteen days."

Her tone was not heavy as she spoke. She sounded as though she were merely stating a fact, without the slightest trace of complaint.

She lowered her head