Chapter 348: Chapter 348: Di Youlin’s Spiritual Power Rampage
Ning Xuan showed no signs of emotional distress. Yu Mingche couldn’t tell if she was genuinely unconcerned or just hiding her true feelings, but his heart tightened at the thought of the cases Ying Yaoshi had mentioned.
"Xuanyuan, once General Ying gets through this busy period, let’s get a clear understanding of the situation with two coexisting Companion Spirits before we decide on our next step." Yu Mingche gently persuaded Ning Xuan to postpone her examination at the information center for now.
Ning Xuan understood what he meant and nodded.
Lin Mo had previously applied for a month of leave for Ning Xuan. Per regulations, she was also eligible for two months of annual leave. Since the end of the year was fast approaching, Ning Xuan decided to take all the time off consecutively.
The day after Ning Xuan returned to the Central Star, Di Youlin received word from his parents that she was back.
When he received this news, Di Youlin had just ended a grueling battle. His spiritual power was running rampant from the continuous combat, enveloping the entire interstellar battleship. Purple blood had congealed on the Heart Protection Mirror on his tactical suit, dripping to the floor with every step. He reached up, tore off the blood-corroded Heart Protection Mirror, shed his black tactical suit, and stepped into the shower to rinse off.
Di Youlin could feel the black mist churning in the depths of his Sea of Consciousness, creeping along his spiritual meridians to flood his pupils and dye his once-gilded irises a murky, dark red. He downed a Spiritual Calming Potion that Ning Xuan had prepared for him, yet the churning black mist showed no sign of receding. Instead, it suddenly erupted, transforming into countless sharp spikes that stabbed at his spirit body.
"Argh!" Di Youlin cried out, clutching his head in agony. The black meridians spreading across his neck pulsed in time with his heartbeat.
His adjutant, who had rushed over at the sound, looked at him in horror. "General, your spiritual power is rampaging! You need treatment."
"Prepare the fastest Starship for me immediately. I’m returning to the Central Star," Di Youlin ordered.
"General, even with the fastest Starship, it’s a minimum two-hour journey to the Central Star from here. If you don’t receive treatment, I’m afraid you won’t last that long in your current condition," the adjutant urged anxiously.
"There’s no one here who can treat my condition. I’m aware of my own state. Just do as I say," Di Youlin said through gritted teeth, his face contorted in pain.
"Yes, sir. I’ll go prepare it at once." The adjutant accepted the order and left.
After his shower, Di Youlin changed into a clean training uniform and went to the main hall. His adjutant had already prepared an express Starship for him.
Di Youlin gazed at the Starship before him, a vessel just over ten meters long. Its streamlined hull shimmered with a bright silver metallic luster under the cold lights of the landing pad. Dark red energy circuits were inlaid along the sides of the ship. The forward viewport, made of a special lightweight, high-strength tempered glass, was a translucent matte surface in its inactive state, faintly revealing the outline of the wraparound cockpit within.
"It’s a Hummingbird-class personal Starship. It’s equipped with the latest folding engine developed by the military’s technology department, so its acceleration is incredibly fast," the adjutant explained.
The Starship’s overall performance wasn’t top-tier, but its speed was indeed among the best.
Di Youlin reached out and ran his hand over the Starship’s hull. A ripple of light instantly flowed across the surface, as if a slumbering metal beast had been awakened.
Di Youlin curled a finger and tapped lightly on the side armor. The seemingly solid metal surface slid apart, revealing a hidden weapons module: two micro ion cannons embedded in the bulkhead, dormant. This was the extent of the Starship’s offensive weaponry.
"While I am gone, Su Fengyang is to take over all military affairs. All procedures will follow wartime protocols. Let’s go." Di Youlin entered the Starship’s cabin. At his command, the pilot activated the power systems, and the ship came to life. The destination was set for Villa 17, Qingluan Mountain.
Black mist swirled around Di Youlin, and none of his entourage dared to get close. He clutched his head, his face a grimace of pain, and downed another Spiritual Calming Potion, hoping to slow the collapse of his spiritual power.
Previously, whenever this happened, he only needed one Spiritual Calming Potion to soothe his rampaging spiritual power. However, half a month ago, he had suffered a grievous injury and fallen into a deep coma. Left with no other choice, his trusted subordinate had given Di Youlin the Life-saving Elixir from Ning Xuan—the one refined with her own blood. Di Youlin had indeed woken up, but since that day, the corruption within his Spiritual Sea had grown progressively worse, and the medicine was becoming less and less effective.
The moment they left the area covered by classified military coordinates, Di Youlin dismissed his entourage and secluded himself in the main cabin to contact Ning Xuan.
Seeing the call was from Di Youlin, Ning Xuan answered immediately. "Master, my head hurts so much," Di Youlin said, his voice soft as he suppressed his agony.
"Are you injured? Don’t worry. Where are you? I’m free right now, I can come to you," Ning Xuan soothed.
"There’s no need, Master. I’m on my way home. I’ll be there in an hour at most. I can hold on." Di Youlin didn’t dare open his eyes.
"Alright, I’ll wait for you at home then. Among the medicines I gave you, there’s a blue pain relief potion. Drink one, it’ll make you feel a bit better," Ning Xuan coaxed gently.
"Okay, I’ll drink it." Di Youlin felt as if his head were being split open; the pain was so intense he wanted to slam it against a wall.
The blue pain relief potion induced immediate, deep sleep and was only to be used as a last resort.
Di Youlin retrieved the case of medicines from his Space Button, found the blue potion inside, and drank it without hesitation.
After drinking the pain relief potion, Di Youlin immediately fell into a deep sleep. However, the rampaging spiritual power in his Sea of Consciousness did not quiet down for even a moment. His entourage was forced to endure the spiritual assault, and they were all in agony.
Fortunately, an hour later, they reached the Central Star. After presenting their clearance, they entered without issue. Worried about Di Youlin’s spiritual power, Ning Xuan had been waiting for him at the starship reception center for some time, with Yan Fuzhen and Yu Mingche by her side.
Di Youlin’s parents, Di Jingtian and Wen Yuebai, already knew about his condition and had also sent someone to meet him. The person sent was one of Di Jingtian’s trusted aides. While waiting, the aide recognized Yu Mingche and naturally deduced Ning Xuan’s identity. Upon seeing Ning Xuan there to receive Di Youlin personally, the aide excitedly relayed the news to Di Jingtian.
After being informed, Di Jingtian instructed his aide to stay aside and simply confirm that Di Youlin met up safely with Ning Xuan, without needing to show himself.
Ning Xuan came to Di Youlin’s side. With a deft flick of her fingers, she retrieved seven Golden Needles from her needle bag. She infused Fire Element Energy into the needles, and they immediately began to glow with a strange light. Focusing her mind and steadying her breath, she flicked her fingertips, tracing a profound pattern in the air.
"Seven Stars Soul-Stabilizing Needle."
The seven Golden Needles simultaneously pierced the vital acupoints on the crown of Di Youlin’s head.
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