Ashen Territory, the secret room deep in the chapel.
Chen Jieqi was sitting cross-legged on the futon. There were no lights around, only the platinum-gold light from the mark between his eyebrows illuminated the entire secret room.
Dugu Yan stood at the door for a while, put a bowl of water and two pieces of dry food on the ground, turned around and closed the door.
She didn't ask him how long he would be in seclusion, and he didn't say anything.
The secret room became quiet. Chen Jieqi Close your eyes and sink your consciousness into your body.
Heart of the Naaru is suspended above the head, and its form is more condensed than when it first awakened.
The surface of the crystal structure flows with white-gold light, beating slowly like a heart.
On the periphery of Heart of the Naaru, countless hair-thin rays of light extend from the void, converge on the surface of the crystal, and then merge into it.
Each ray of light carries a different temperature, some are warm, like sun-baked stones;
Some are slightly cool, like morning dew; some are hot, like tightly held hands.
Sheng Hui's voice sounded in Soul Ring, so low that only he could hear it.
"Feel it?"
"I feel it." Chen Jieqi didn't open his eyes, "Where do these lights... come from?"
"Coming from someone who believes in you." Sheng Hui said,
"The villagers of Dawnlight Village, those Yang Wudi, Ye Lingling, Imperial Fighting Team.
Everyone who truly believes in you and puts their hope in you will separate a ray of faith and gather it into Heart of the Naaru.
This is faith."
Chen Jieqi pondered for a moment.
He tried to use Soul Power to pull the light, but the light did not move at all.
He increased the output of Soul Power, but the light still did not respond.
He tried to touch it with his mental power again, but the light only trembled slightly, and there was still no sign of being pulled.
"Soul Power can't control it." He opened his eyes.
"Faith is not Soul Power, nor is it spiritual power."
Sheng Hui's voice was calm and calm,
"Use your intention. Imagine that you are a lamp and the rays are moths.
If you don't catch them, they will come by themselves."
Chen Jieqi Close your eyes again.
He no longer tried to use Soul Power to pull him, but let go of his thoughts and imagined that he was a light.
It is a quiet oil lamp placed on the windowsill.
The light began to move, not being pulled, but actively moving closer, converging towards Heart of the Naaru twice as fast as before.
"The more you try to hold on to faith, the farther away faith will be from you." Sheng Hui said,
"The more you forget about it, the more it will find you."
Chen Jieqi said nothing.
He kept the light on and felt the changes inside Heart of the Naaru.
The moment the power of faith is integrated into the crystal, a warm force will be released, flowing along the meridians to the limbs and bones.
This power does not increase the total amount of Soul Power, but makes the original Soul Power more condensed and more active.
Soul Power circulates in the meridians twice as fast as before the retreat.
"Faith cannot directly increase the level." Sheng Hui said,
"But it can amplify your cultivation efficiency. If you practice for one day, your faith can last you for three days.
If you don't practice, your faith won't help you level up."
Chen Jieqi nodded. He took back his consciousness from Heart of the Naaru and started running Soul Power.
The effects of practice assisted by the power of faith are visible to the naked eye.
The time it takes for Soul Power to circulate in the meridians for one week has been greatly shortened.
He was not in a hurry to hit the level, but ran Soul Power over and over again to lay a firmer foundation.
Heaven Dou City, Royal Palace.
It was late at night, and there was only one lamp lit in the study.
Xue Qinghe was sitting in front of the case, with a memorial spread out on the table, but she didn't read a word of it.
She pressed her fingers on the feathers in her sleeves, and her fingertips felt slightly cold.
She carried the piece of feather with burn marks every day and never left her body.
The footsteps of the guards came from outside the door. "Your Highness, the medicine is ready."
"Come in."
The guard came in with a bowl of soup, put it on the table, and left.
Xue Qinghe looked at the bowl of medicine. The soup was dark brown in color and steam was rising.
She took out a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve, uncorked it, and poured the colorless liquid in the bottle into the decoction.
The medicinal liquid dissolves immediately when put into the bowl, has no smell and no color.
She put the porcelain bottle back into her sleeve, picked up the medicine bowl, and stood up.
She walked out of the study, walked through the corridor, and walked towards Xue Ye's bedroom.
The night breeze came in from the corridor, blowing her moon-white robe. She walked very fast, her steps were steady, and her face was calm.
At the door of the palace, the guard saw her and bowed. "Your Highness."
"Father, haven't you slept yet?"
"Your Majesty has just finished approving the memorial and has not rested yet."
Xue Qinghe nodded, pushed the door open and walked in. Xue Ye leaned on the couch, holding a roll of memorials in his hand, frowning.
Seeing Xue Qinghe come in, his brows relaxed a little and he put the memorial aside.
"It's so late and you haven't rested yet?"
"My son is bringing medicine to my father." Xue Qinghe handed over the medicine bowl.
"The imperial doctor said that my father has worked too hard recently and needs to be recuperated."
Xue Ye took the medicine bowl and drank it without hesitation.
Xue Qinghe watched him swallow, took the empty bowl, and placed it on the tray.
Her eyes were calm, and there was even a gentle smile on her lips.
"Father, please rest early."
"You too." Xue Ye looked at her back, "Qinghe."
Xue Qinghe stopped and did not look back.
"Heaven Dou Empire, I'll be relying on you from now on."
Xue Qinghe was silent for a moment. "I understand."
She walked out and closed the door gently.
On the corridor, the night wind came in again, causing the corridor lamp to flicker.
Her steps were still steady and her face remained calm.
She handed the empty bowl to the guard and walked back to the study alone.
She closed the door, leaned against the door panel, and closed her eyes. The feather touched the palm of her hand, and the burn marks were slightly hot in the darkness.
She remembered Chen Jieqi saying, "Whether you choose or not, it's up to you. This is what I recognize."
She lowered her head and looked at the burn mark on the edge of the feather.
"You recognize me," she said softly, "But what do I recognize?"
No one answered.
A few days later, Ashen Territory.
Chen Jieqi When I walked out of the secret room, it was almost dawn.
The mark between his eyebrows is brighter than before the retreat, and the lines of the mark are deeper and denser, like a blooming golden flower.
Dugu Yan was sitting on the stone steps at the door, holding a bowl of porridge in her hand. The porridge had already gone cold, so she didn't drink it.
"How long?"
"Five days." Dugu Yan stood up and handed the bowl to him, "The porridge is cold, I'll heat it up."
"No need." Chen Jieqi took the bowl and took a sip. The porridge was cold, but the rice fragrance was still there.
He lowered his head and glanced at his hand. There was a very thin platinum-gold line on his palm, extending from his wrist to the roots of his fingers.
"Is there a breakthrough?" Dugu Yan asked.
"No." Chen Jieqi said, "Level fifty-four. Only upgraded one level."
Dugu Yan glanced at him. "You were in seclusion for five days and you got a level up?"
"Soul Power hasn't increased much, but the quality has changed." Chen Jieqi handed the bowl back.
"The power of faith can amplify the efficiency of practice. In five days, the effect of practice is as good as the previous half month."
Dugu Yan took the bowl and said nothing.
Chen Jieqi walked out of the chapel, stood on the stone steps, and looked in the direction of Heaven Dou City.
The morning light had just climbed up from behind the ridge, turning the distant city into gold.
The mark between his eyebrows shone slightly, Holy Light Perception followed the wind and explored the distance.
Heaven Dou City direction, deep in the palace, a familiar atmosphere is slowly decaying.
The breath of Xue Ye.
It was a bit weaker than the last time he felt it. It wasn't because he was sick, but because something more fundamental was missing.
His brows furrowed.
"What's wrong?" Dugu Yan walked to him.
"It's nothing." Chen Jieqi took back his perception, "Heaven Dou City, something is wrong over there."
Dugu Yan didn't ask any further questions. She turned around and walked to the kitchen to heat porridge.
Heaven Dou City, Royal Palace.
Xue Ye was lying on the bed, his face pale. The imperial doctor knelt in front of the bed and took his pulse for a long time. His forehead was covered with sweat. Xue Qinghe stood aside, looking anxious, holding a handkerchief.
"Your Majesty, this is..."
"Say." Xue Qinghe's voice was not high-pitched, but it carried unquestionable majesty.
"Your Majesty has worked too hard and is weak in energy and blood. He needs to rest." The imperial doctor kowtowed.
"I will prescribe some tonics. Your Majesty will take them on time and adjust slowly."
Xue Qinghe looked at Xue Ye.
He closed his eyes, breathed heavily, and frowned, as if he was enduring something.
She walked over, gently pressed the handkerchief on his forehead, and wiped away the fine beads of sweat.
"Father, please have a good rest. The matters in the court are handled by your sons and ministers."
Xue Ye opened his eyes and glanced at her.
His lips moved, wanting to say something, but in the end he just nodded.
Xue Qinghe pulled up the quilt, turned around and walked out of the bedroom.
I will speed up the completion of the plan and then start the trial.