ABRIWMTHM Chapter 33

Originally, before returning to the Imperial Capital, the spaceship was planned to take a slight detour. However, plans couldn’t keep up with changes—some political issues arose midway, forcing Chi Yao and his group to stay in a city for a few more days, extending their time to almost half a month.

During these ten days, Shi Xing had a very… fulfilling life.

Yes, fulfilling.

Upon arriving and as a newly joined Blue Star human in the team, Xu Jin began familiarizing Shi Xing with their team’s configuration and accompanying personnel from the start of the journey.

There were two spaceships in total; Chi Yao and his entourage occupied one, while the other, several times larger, housed over ten elite members of the royal guard along with a professional medical team.

Aside from Major General Fu Qing, who was the only officer accompanying them, there were also a Lieutenant General, Tan Jue, and a Major General, Xiang Fei. The royal guard was led by Lieutenant General Tan, with Major General Xiang serving as the deputy. Tan Jue’s mental power level was SS, while Xiang Fei’s was SSS. More than ten soldiers had varying levels of mental power, but all were selected according to the highest standards, with none lower than grade S.

Xu Jin introduced Shi Xing to the two officers, exchanged contact numbers, and assured Shi Xing that he could call on them whenever necessary.

“Some of the other officers and teams brought back by the prince from the boundary line are kept in the Nest, responsible for Major General Fei’s safety. The larger group has all returned to the Imperial Capital for rest after reporting back.”

“Tan Jue and Xiang Fei don’t accompany His Highness every time he goes out; it’s on a rotation basis. This time just happens to be their turn. Once they switch out, I’ll introduce you to the new team. Over time, you’ll become familiar with the direct officers assigned to His Highness.”

“Major General Fu was originally following Major General Fei, who has been with His Highness all along, so in a way, he has also been closely following His Highness.”

“You’ve just arrived, and since you’re familiar with him, His Highness has allowed him to protect you. This should remain until Major General Fei is fully healed and back with the team. You can always ask him to accompany you when you go out; there’s no need to feel shy about it.”

After discussing the team configuration, Xu Jin turned to daily arrangements.

This also included Shi Xing’s fixed routine for the next ten days.

Mornings were for learning, afternoons were set for regular medical check-ups with the medical team. Since Shi Xing still needed time to absorb crystals and beast cores and train his mental power, he had the remaining time to arrange according to his condition.

Xu Jin said, “His Highness said to take your learning slowly, no rush. If he can spare the time in the evening, he will give you a lecture on the history of the Empire for about an hour, which will also help you get to know each other better.”

A week passed, and Shi Xing followed this arrangement, living a well-ordered life.

Perhaps it was due to the sudden learning thrust he had before, his mental state had declined too rapidly. The restructured schedule referenced the routine of the Nest. Although his studies were slightly heavier than those in the Nest, it was within an acceptable range for Shi Xing.

He was genuinely eager to learn, but Chi Yao left him plenty of leeway.

Chi Yao said, “The maturity period lasts two to three years. Some etiquette and rules don’t need to be too heavily arranged. The Elders Council can do random checks, but since you won’t face the public, we won’t worry about their opinions. Everything should focus on your health.”

“The duties and rights of a royal partner will be taught as the primary content. Any uncertainties can be brought to me, and I’ll explain.”

“As for the rights inherently conferred by the Empire, I hope you can get accustomed to them as early as possible.”

“Of course, the prerequisite is still your health.”

Chi Yao drew a clear and distinct line.

After adapting for two days, Shi Xing grew accustomed to this routine.

Once they left Ancheng, he finally felt his mental sea beginning to stabilize, sensing that he was approaching the first stage of maturity. In the afternoons, after absorbing crystals and beast cores, he practically immersed himself in the mental power training room.

His intuition was correct.

The daily check-ups provided supportive data.

By the fifth day, Shi Xing finally felt he could freely utilize his mental power; that previously immobilizing sensation vanished completely. After the check-up, the doctor confirmed that Shi Xing had officially entered the first stage of maturity for Blue Star humans.

In the medical field, the maturity period for Blue Star humans is generally divided into two stages.

The first stage is the rapid growth period for the mental sea’s mental power.

In the second stage, this growth slows down; however, within the expanded mental sea from the first stage, a significant number of new mental threads will emerge.

The breadth and depth of the mental sea determine the lower limit of mental levels, while the density of mental threads determines the upper limit.

For a mental sea of the same size, if the density of the mental threads doubles, the rank will also advance by one level.

Thus, both stages are extremely important.

Entering the maturity period, the mental sea is at its most unstable. After passing this stage, Shi Xing would be able to test his abilities with others.

In this life, his talent assessment level was higher than both of his previous lives, and his initial mental sea was broader. Shi Xing wanted to see what stage he was currently at compared to when he lost his abilities—whether he had become stronger or weaker.

To practice his talent and abilities, Shi Xing first thought of Fu Qing.

In the mental power training room, the two attempted together for two days, and Shi Xing once more fully activated his talent, gaining clarity on the overall landscape of his mental sea within the energy world.

“Have you been injured?” Shi Xing asked, lightly brushing over a spot. “The threads here have withered a bit.”

Fu Qing only felt a warm energy pouring over him, which felt very comfortable.

“I was grazed by the energy of a mutated beast on the periphery of my mental sea and was treated,” Fu Qing replied straightforwardly.

Shi Xing understood.

The Empire’s medical treatment could somewhat extract the violent mental power from the periphery of the mental sea, but when it came to the subsequent repair and recovery, it was quite helpless.

Shi Xing said, “Let me try to stimulate its growth.”

Fu Qing thought he might have misheard. “Stimulate?”

“Yeah, healing this part should cause new mental threads to grow back since the withering is due to hidden injuries at the base of the mental sea.”

Fu Qing was stunned; he had never heard of a therapist being able to heal already healed old injuries.

Shi Xing understood what he was thinking and explained, “I can do it. It’s related to my talent. The areas with injuries present a slightly different color; if I can restore their original color, the likelihood of new threads growing back is very high.”

It had been like this in the past.

The difference now was that Shi Xing wouldn’t start practicing with SS-grade officers.

Realizing that he could potentially help, Fu Qing felt a moment of excitement. After that excitement faded, he felt a bit shy, scratching his head and saying, “Then do I need to pay some medical fees? Maybe get some high-grade crystals…”

“No need,” Shi Xing laughed and declined. “The responsibilities of my team members should fall under me in the first place. Plus, Major General, you are here to help me practice my abilities, so it wouldn’t be right to accept your fees.”

After agreeing on a date, the next day, Shi Xing began to try to treat Fu Qing.

Previously, he had only treated A-grade and S-grade individuals, and treating an SS-grade officer was indeed a bit tricky. The mental power concentrated for healing would be rapidly absorbed.

However, Shi Xing realized that his mental power had increased in strength. Facing the SS-grade mental sea, he was remarkably able to penetrate directly down to the seabed from the surface, clearly sensing the situation as his mental power passed through.

After two days of treatment, the third day, he continued to apply his ability to induce the growth of mental threads.

By that evening, after retracting his mental power, beads of sweat began to form on Shi Xing’s forehead, not from overuse but from the fatigue caused by the precise control of his mental power.

Fu Qing exclaimed, “They’ve really grown back!”

“Oh my, I didn’t expect this… Xing Xing, you’re amazing!”

Shi Xing regulated his breathing, smiling, “It’s nothing much. The mental threads are still fragile; it will take some time for them to solidify enough to be used. Roughly one to two months, depending on your situation; it varies from person to person.”

Fu Qing didn’t care too much about the details, repeatedly thanking Shi Xing and praising him until Shi Xing felt a bit embarrassed.

Then suddenly, Fu Qing’s eyes lit up, “Since my old injury can be healed, can His Highness’ mental sea…”

Shi Xing interrupted, “If my mental power can penetrate, I can heal it.”

“Based on the current situation, I should be able to resolve the issues on the outer layer of His Highness’ mental sea. For the inner layers, it will depend on how high my level is after I pass the maturity period.”

Since Chi Yao’s mental power was formidable, Shi Xing intuited that he would only have the possibility to try after entering maturity.

Talking about this, Shi Xing felt a bit distressed. “His Highness doesn’t allow me to see his mental sea because he says I can’t handle it right now.”

Fu Qing nodded thoughtfully, “His Highness is thinking of you.”

“I know, but… I don’t feel that fragile.”

However, those words were something only to say among familiar people; speaking in front of His Highness felt a bit inappropriate.

Shi Xing naturally understood, explaining, “I just want to help a little within my abilities.”

Chi Yao treated him well, and he wanted to contribute as much as he could.

After a pause, Shi Xing asked softly, “Is His Highness’s mental sea condition not very good recently?”

Although it hadn’t been disclosed to him, Shi Xing noticed that the doctor’s frequency of moving between the two spaceships had increased.

Each time he observed, Xu Jin was always accompanying him. It was evident that besides himself needing a doctor, someone else must need one as well.

Fu Qing clearly had the insight; at Shi Xing’s question, his expression showed a hint of discomfort.

Shi Xing had a sudden realization, “Is His Highness not allowing anyone to tell me?”

“Not entirely forbidden.”

Scratching his head, after helping himself heal from his hidden injury, Fu Qing finally spoke, “His Highness said your abilities are still weak, and his treatment arrangements are the same as in previous years. If there are no major issues, don’t bring them up in front of you.”

Fu Qing’s smile turned awkward. “His Highness said to take good care of yourself, and you’ll be fine.”

Shi Xing: “…”

Although he wanted to argue, when Chi Yao’s mental power leaked last time, he indeed felt the difference in their abilities was like a chasm.

Adding both past and present, he had encountered a considerable number of officers. There had been instances where he couldn’t make sense of abilities, but encountering a situation where he was counter-attacked by the opponent’s mental power while trying to observe was a first for him.

Feeling unsure about what to say, Shi Xing nodded after a while, “I understand.”

Later that evening, just before dinner, he noticed the doctor moving back and forth. As they passed each other, he overheard a few snippets of conversation.

Words like “mutated beast” and “residual energy” were among them.

Shi Xing pieced it together and largely understood it was likely the residual energy from the last incident that caused His Highness’ mental power to leak.

If… Shi Xing looked at his hands, uncertain if he could extract that energy now.

After contemplating for an entire evening, he decided to proceed with his own plan. Since His Highness didn’t want to disclose this to him, he would just ask Fu Qing secretly.

On this day, Shi Xing sensed a very faint fluctuation of mental power, but before he could catch it, it vanished.

At that moment, he had been free, so he wouldn’t have mistaken it.

When he asked Fu Qing, he said there was nothing.

Shi Xing was puzzled, even doubting whether the sensation he felt was truly a fluctuation of mental power, so he suppressed it.

Fortunately, in the second week, the frequency of the doctor’s visits decreased, and Xu Jin’s worried expressions became less frequent. Shi Xing subtly inquired about Chi Yao a few times, receiving very official answers: “You don’t need to worry; you’ll be informed when needed.”

Shi Xing: “……”

He had a feeling that if he was needed, it probably wouldn’t be communicated to him.

Well, he was very weak, at least in comparison to His Highness, he admitted that.

But the training had to continue. Having practiced with Fu Qing, he reported this to Chi Yao, and as long as the officers were willing, he was allowed to find someone to cooperate in practicing his abilities and talents within his range.

Shi Xing hadn’t actively approached the other battleship yet to inquire, but Fu Qing took the initiative to bring Major General Xiang Fei over.

Fu Qing explained, “It’s like this—when he killed the beast, there was some residual spirit power from the beast remaining on the periphery of his mental sea. He’s been treated for quite some time, but there hasn’t been much effect. I figured, since you need someone to practice with, why not try?”

“But don’t overdo it; Major General Xiang is SSS-grade.”

Shi Xing didn’t take on too much; he just said, “I’ll take a look first.”

Under his talent ability, there was indeed a stream of energy moving along the periphery of Xiang Fei’s mental sea and could still move within the mental sea.

Shi Xing understood that the spirit power from the beast could penetrate the mental sea, and during instrumental treatment, they would confirm the targeted areas and conduct extraction accordingly. If the movement speed remained at the level he observed, once the targeted point was determined, that energy would likely flow to other parts of the mental sea, making it harder to capture.

This was causing the unclear effects he was seeing.

At that moment, Shi Xing pondered—Xiang Fei had been injured while hunting the mutated beast, and within His Highness’ mental sea, was that energy in motion as well?

This hypothesis seemed to explain why the chaos kept recurring.

“I’ll give it a try,” Shi Xing concluded.

The actual process of attempting it was smoother than he had anticipated. The moment his mental power touched the beast’s, without needing much to draw it, that troublesome turbulent force seemed to dissipate beneath his mental power.

Shi Xing was puzzled.

Major General Xiang Fei was pleasantly surprised.

Shi Xing sensed that his body seemed to be undergoing changes he yet did not understand.

When Major General Xiang left, he expressed his gratitude profusely just like Fu Qing had before, leaving Shi Xing a bit flustered as he sent him off.

Just as Shi Xing returned to the main cabin, that energy fluctuation came again.

This time, he was very certain of its existence.

Dimly, it felt vaguely familiar.

After sensing for a while, the fluctuations didn’t decrease; instead, they intensified.

At that moment, Fu Qing’s sudden exclamation jolted Shi Xing, “His Highness’ mental power has leaked again!”

Shi Xing: “You can sense it?”

Fu Qing misunderstood, “Can’t you feel it?”

Suddenly, Shi Xing realized what those mental power fluctuations were that only he had perceived before.

It was truly existent, not an illusion…

The only reason he could feel it was because…

“His Highness?”

“Is His Highness alright?”

Just as Xu Jin and Yan Jin rushed out together, Shi Xing raised his mental power barrier, encompassing everyone inside the main cabin.

Having passed the early stages of maturity, his barrier had also become sturdier.

Xu Jin appeared frantic, “Didn’t they say it wouldn’t…”

Though he started to complain, he forced himself to suppress it; this wasn’t the moment for complaints.

Xu Jin forced himself to think of a countermeasure: “It’s just beginning to leak; it’s still very mild. Should everyone retreat from the ship immediately?”

Before Fu Qing could respond, Shi Xing stretched out his hands, instantly enveloping the entire main cabin with his mental power barrier.

Bringing his palms together with high concentration, the barrier contracted once more, reducing in size until everyone in their group exited the protected area.

The expansion and contraction both occurred in the blink of an eye; it was too brief for Xu Jin to react before a wave of mental power fluctuation erupted from the main cabin room…

Instinctively turning his face aside, the wave did not sweep over him.

When he raised his head again and comprehended what happened, Xu Jin involuntarily called out, “Shi Xing!”

Before them, Shi Xing’s barrier completely blocked the wave of mental power.

No, it should be said that Shi Xing’s mental power barrier had enclosed Chi Yao within it, capturing all the chaotic fluctuations of mental power as well.

Xu Jin’s eyes widened, “Hurry and retract it! His Highness’ mental power strength is beyond…”

Before he finished his sentence, the barrier began to shrink again, pushing inward. Shi Xing quickly interjected, “I know.”

“But I can still control it now.”

“I’ll see if I can suppress it before the chaos erupts.”

Xu Jin: “?”

In that moment, Xu Jin understood every word Shi Xing said but struggled to grasp the meaning of the entire sentence.

Shi Xing was saying he wanted to suppress it before it erupted?!

Theoretically, it wasn’t impossible; many therapists did just that regarding mental chaos.

——They would extinguish it before it began.

But, but!

That was His Highness!!

In reality, Xu Jin had never seen a therapist able to use mental power to soothe His Highness’ mental sea, forcibly interrupting the chaos and leakage of mental power.

Xu Jin and Shi Xing’s words escaped at the same time.

Xu Jin: “Come back! Don’t be a hero.”

Shi Xing: “You all go down first. I’ll give it a try. If it doesn’t work, I’ll pull back. His Highness’ mental power won’t harm me; I’ll follow right after.”

Xu Jin reached out to grab Shi Xing.

But Shi Xing was faster than him, running towards Chi Yao’s room, retreating the barrier again.

In the chaos, Xu Jin was pulled down the ship by Fu Qing. Before boarding, the second wave of mental power leakage erupted again, the energy sweeping out and touching Shi Xing’s barrier, yet it was firmly contained inside the barrier.