“But Master has never been able to let go of another person.” Qi paused here, stopped and turned around, “It’s that girl named Liuli.”
Both of them were slightly surprised, although they had already guessed that "Liuli" was a person's name.
"Two girls, huh? I didn't expect Yug to have this trick up his sleeve," Philsa joked.
"Aren't you the same?" Jelu thought to herself, but ultimately didn't say it aloud.
She saw that Qi had turned around and continued to lead the way for the two of them.
It seems we're almost at the end of the secret passage—which will also be the end of this journey.
"I don't want to see Master suffer so much because of Liuli anymore. So I want to stay with him and take good care of him."
Firsa agreed, "He definitely needs a companion like you to take care of him. Fools often overlook the people who care about them most until they lose them."
“You’re not like that!” Jelu thought to herself.
Firsa, oblivious to her thoughts, continued chatting, and for some reason, he suddenly became more talkative here:
"Your master is quite shrewd, devising such a plan that fooled the mercenaries. Next time... next time we meet, I'll put in a good word for you. You have indeed helped us a lot, and we are very grateful."
"No need to be so polite, my master's friends are my friends too!"
Qi finally told the story of her master and a girl named Ruri, and explained that Yug's purpose in meeting the Midnight Slayer was to kill the demonized Ruri, not to offer any treasure as rumored.
“I knew it. I knew it. I understand.” Philsa seemed to be implying something else.
Jielu was also curious; it seemed that he understood not only what Qi had said, but also something else.
After the conversation in the secret passage ended, the three finally arrived at their destination. Philsa immediately sensed a magical barrier upon entering.
This is an "altar"—a name suggested by Yog on a whim, but in reality, it is a secret base for the two of them, with many tools scattered around, including carving tools such as chisels and knives.
Qi walked to a standing mirror next to the stone platform and looked around. She didn't seem to be looking at herself; it was only later that Jielu realized that the standing mirror was also made of crystal silk, allowing her to clearly see the movements outside the hut. It turned out to be a surveillance device.
"There are seven amethyst lamps around the perimeter. The light isn't very bright, but it's enough to illuminate the area. In the center, there's a stone platform, and it looks like someone is lying on it? No, no, it should be the doll that Yug prepared, right?" Jelu described everything she saw to Felsa in detail.
He nodded after hearing this. "Take a look at the doll for me."
Jielu asked Qifang if it was convenient for her to go over and observe, and the latter said, "The ceremony hasn't started yet, so there's no problem!"
So she stepped closer to examine it, and the image of Sherry from her dream came to mind. The doll was indeed made of crystalline silk, and it seemed that Inori had also helped with it; it was extremely detailed.
She gripped the doll's arm tightly; it was as soft as a real human body, and she could even feel the skeleton.
Not only that, even the smallest joints and fingers are indistinguishable from the real thing. The doll is also dressed in simple white gauze clothing. In such dim lighting, an ordinary person would probably be misled by its appearance from a distance.
"The face is only outlined, and the hair is white," Jelu described to Firsa truthfully.
“My master and I never saw her in person, so we could only make a rough representation. But my master said it doesn’t matter, as long as we infuse the soul into it, the doll’s body will change and be reshaped to look like she did when she was alive.”
Jielu exclaimed that this was truly amazing, but then she thought that this was, after all, a forbidden technique in legend.
Qi then explained, "After all, it's a doll, not a flesh-and-blood body... so its weight is probably only half that of an ordinary person... There's nothing my master and I can do to change that. I hope she won't feel uncomfortable about it."
"She's lighter? Maybe that's a good thing for her. Sherry is used to using wind magic and is focused on speed and agility."
"Is that so! That's wonderful!" Qi was equally happy about it, and Jielu could see that she was kind-hearted.
It's quite unbelievable that Yug was able to win the heart of such a young girl.
Next came the preparations for the ritual. Qirang Jelu opened the scroll and carefully read the steps recorded within, as well as memorizing the incantations to be cast at each step. Every step had to be correct, and every incantation had to be included.
First, the soul must be refined into a liquid state. The first step requires the aid of Qi's abilities; her crystalline threads are formed through melting. Tools and a source of fire are still available at the altar, so this step is not difficult.
In the Starry Continent, Crystallizers are actually a branch of Alchemists, though in fact the former are more specialized.
Qi immediately brought over various alchemical potions and a crucible, lit a fire, and began to work.
Jelu continued to study and advance the second step of the "ritual," occasionally asking the other two for their opinions to see if she had any misunderstandings.
The aura of the vortex of wind permeated the entire altar along with the steam. A pale green mist appeared before Jelu's eyes, which surprised her.
Philsa explained, "That's the divine wind power contained within the Wind Vortex Stone, released as a pale green mist. It's alright, it won't harm anyone, I know."
The steps of the incantation need not be discussed in detail. Only after Qi completed the smelting process did the aura of the vortex gradually dissipate.
Jielu observed the liquid in the transparent test tube. "It's emerald green..." She had never seen or heard of it before. It turns out that souls also have color. Sherry, who was skilled in wind magic in her previous life, had an emerald green soul, as dazzling as flowing jade.
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