Chapter 5331: Grafting Foreign Essence?

"Fairy Qiyra, how is your health now?"

A gentle voice echoed from behind.

Fairy Qiyra Darkstar stood before the window, her gaze on the distant mountains outside the palace.

She did not turn to look at the annoying man behind her.

She remained before the tall window as if the palace itself were only a temporary cage and the snow-covered peaks beyond it were the true measure of distance. Her slender figure was outlined against the pale light, the night-sky weave of her purple robe falling in long, unhurried folds that caught starlight and turned it into slow-moving constellations across the silk.

The high collar framed her pale throat and a veil hid her pale face.

Her features were sharp: high cheekbones, a solemn mouth that appeared to have forgotten how to relax, while her silver eyes shone like a mysterious star. There was no warmth in her look. Her face was pale, and her brows were knitted into a frown that revealed she was still sick. Her gaze was stuck to the farthest peak as though she couldn’t wait to leave.

She exuded a cold aura of detachment, yet her beauty didn’t wane one bit.

"It’s fine. There’s no need for you to worry. I have made sure that my physique is self-sustaining when it comes to dangerous situations like this. It won’t happen again."

"Then I ask Fairy Qiyra to enlighten me." Davis cupped his hands.

He gazed at her demeanor that was cold and distant as ever. She appeared to be carrying the weight of the cosmos on her shoulders, and he was sure she was thinking about how to go back to her master right now without fainting halfway somewhere in the vast space.

"Scram."

Fairy Qiyra’s words were quiet, almost lazy, as though she couldn’t bother to explain.

This cold, piercing voice somehow made Davis smile. He flicked his sleeve gently.

"Even if you curse me, I’m bound by duty and gratitude to help you get back to health. As an aspiring physician, I couldn’t ask for a better patient."

"I said scram."

"..."

Davis still did not leave.

He stepped closer until he stood a respectful an arm’s length behind her left shoulder, close enough to catch the faint aura of darkness and starlight that always clung to her. His avatar’s expression stayed mild.

"Your physique nearly collapsed three days ago. A small amount of my life energy injected at the appropriate meridians bought time. I have used it again today, but its efficiency cannot be trusted. If the Starlight Devouring veins attempt reverse circulation again while the replica ring still suppresses your cultivation base, the next flare will not be so polite."

Fairy Qiyra Darkstar turned her head a bit; the silver pupils slid towards him, meeting his gaze.

The movement was small, distant, as if she were granting an insect a moment of notice before returning her attention to the mountains.

"You examined me while I was unconscious. That was already more than enough. I will not discuss the inner workings of my physique with an outsider whose cultivation path has nothing in common with the stars."

Davis looked as though he was about to laugh, "Then discuss it with the man who stopped the stars from devouring you."

A faint crease appeared between Fairy Qiyra’s brows. For a heartbeat, the cold mask slipped, replaced with raw exhaustion, perhaps irritation towards her own weakness. To think she couldn’t even swat a fly when she wanted to. Using her energy right now would only provoke the physique to attempt reverse circulation again.

Davis also knew this, so he was daring to talk like this to her.

"The veins were tempered under a particular star. It could be a Divergent Star as you expected, but my physique isn’t that easily devoured. The Divergent Star had absorbed its fill from my physique for the moment and wouldn’t take more. This ring is also a way for me to make it so that all the astral essence that was taken is returned, so as much as it suppresses me, you don’t need to worry that I would die. At most, I’ll remain like this for the time being. Junior brother Karyot and Junior sister Wix can still take us back to master."

She spoke in a cold voice, but her tone had become a bit gentle.

Davis watched the line of her throat as she swallowed her saliva to keep her hydrated. Even now her aura remained tightly coiled, like a winter lake that refused to ripple. Only the slightest tremor in her fingers hidden in the wide sleeves revealed how sick she was.

Davis shook his head, "The solution is still the same."

"The ring must come off, or the veins must be taught a new method of refinement that does not require the full strength of your cultivation base. I have spent the last few days scouring through Saint Riyal Mendez’s memories. There are techniques for grafting foreign essence into a damaged physique without triggering rejection. They are crude compared to a true master physician, but they exist. Since you devour starlight, you should be able to devour the astral essence from other astral cultivators as well. Am I wrong?"

"..."

Fairy Qiyra frowned.

"Even though I have committed crimes, I have never refined another astral cultivator. Watch your words."

"Naturally, how can I let you devour my Lydia? I’ll-" Davis stopped himself from saying ’slap you into oblivion’ before he chuckled wryly, "My little Lydia is a reincarnator, but she’s still connected to the Grand Major Constellations - Grand Divine Phoenix Constellation, I think. Perhaps she will be able to help you regain astral essence. What do you think?"

Fairy Qiyra’s gaze flickered. Her lips pursed lightly, "Even if she is a reincarnator, isn’t she just a little child? What can she accomplish?"

Davis spread his hands, "I don’t know, and we wouldn’t know until we try. She’s extremely knowledgeable since she’s a priestess of a big family that cultivates the Astral Path."

"..."

Fairy Qiyra went silent.

She didn’t say anything for quite some time, but Davis still waited patiently.

Davis was in no hurry. He stood like a subordinate here, but his main body was still having fun, the best time of his life. He felt bad for Fairy Qiyra instead. It was amazing to think he still wasn’t kicked out for not bringing his main body here in a time of emergency and distress.

Perhaps Fairy Qiyra was disappointed.

Regardless, he couldn’t disappoint his wives nor disappoint his benefactor.

So even if he was being insulted, he preferred to make sure to stand by Fairy Qiyra’s side using the avatar and make sure nothing happens to her the next time her physique flares.

He didn’t know when it would occur, but should she use her energy, then it would directly provoke the underlying symptoms, causing her physique to start breaking down again as it gets absorbed by the Divergent Star.

He was inside the palace, and Fairy Glacia was outside, making sure that Fairy Qiyra didn’t escape secretly.

After all, Fairy Qiyra was under house arrest. She was told by her juniors not to use her energy, not to fly, not to make even the slightest movement that would cause her physique to flare. Perhaps it was the first time she was feeling so constricted that she might burst out instead.

"How confident are you in grafting astral essence into my physique?"

"Not much." Davis instantly answered, "This technique is for grafting immortal essence, so it would be completely different than what I could expect from astral essence. I can’t sense astral essence, so I would need to share someone’s senses, someone who can sense astral essence when I do the procedure. I think Lydia will allow me to share, so it shouldn’t be a problem, but her cultivation is low and might not prove to be enough. We will have to go with the flow."

Fairy Qiyra’s gaze flickered.

She turned fully at last. The movement made the robe whisper against the floor. For a moment the high slit revealed the pale length of her thigh before the fabric settled again. Her silver eyes finally locked onto his, and the distance in them was almost physical, like an invisible wall of starlight and pride.

"You already placed your hand on my dantian once, and now you want to share my senses? Do not imagine I will allow a second liberty simply because you claim gratitude. I am not junior sister Wix. I do not confuse necessity with intimacy."

The words were uttered as though they were meant to cut any wishful thoughts. They landed with less force than she intended since her voice had gone slightly hoarse at the end, and she barely kept herself from coughing.

Davis did not smile. He only slightly bowed as he cupped his hands.

"Then I will wait until Fairy Qiyra decides whether pride or survival matters more. The next flare will not ask for permission like before. When it comes, you will fall unconscious, and I will do what I have to do."

"You-"

Fairy Qiyra’s gaze exuded killing intent.

"Farewell- but I will be right outside."

Davis gestured as he left the chamber, his footsteps hurried.

Fairy Qiyra could only watch him leave with wide eyes and a look that could kill. She couldn’t believe how audacious he was!