"Didn't I tell you not to move?"
Noah tossed the core up and down in his hand as he walked over slowly.
"Noah, you solved the Luminary Pattern mechanism so quickly?"
Changli was startled, then quickly stepped to Noah and handed over the document in her hand.
"Look at this document quickly. It says..."
"I already know all of it."
Noah pushed Changli's hand back and handed her another document in return.
["Court of Savantae Research Memorandum - One"]
Changli took it without hesitation, her eyes rapidly scanning the text, her gaze shaking.
"This is—the Chronosorter developed by the Court of Savantae was actually achieved through resonance with the Sentinel, aimed at restoring the Sentinel's chronal abilities."
"Exactly. The Court of Savantae brilliantly proposed the hypothesis of secondary resonance: a Chronosorter in sync with the Sentinel collides frequencies with the Sentinel's, causing the Chronosorter to Overclock and exert full chronal power."
Noah explained.
"Their hypothesis was viable, but as an artificial resonance object, the Chronosorter could bear limited resonance power—it shattered upon contact with the Sentinel's frequencies."
Changli caught the implication in Noah's words, her eyes flickering, somewhat incredulous.
"To resolve the crisis on Mt. Firmament and even Jinzhou, secondary resonance with the Sentinel must be triggered."
"But the Chronosorter's limited capacity means a carrier capable of withstanding more collision is needed."
"And that carrier must also resonate with the Sentinel, meaning—"
She couldn't continue, but a weak voice from behind her spoke in her stead.
"Meaning, I need to clash with the Sentinel's frequencies to achieve secondary resonance."
Jinhsi walked over with trembling steps, her face still pathologically pale.
She lowered her head, tightening the blue Static Mist bracelet on her wrist by one notch, gaining a slight flush of color.
"Jinhsi, when did you wake up?" Changli carefully supported her, eyes full of heartache.
"What Teacher just said is merely a hypothesis that failed over nine hundred times. Don't take it too seriously. How do you feel now?"
"Teacher, you never lie."
Jinhsi exhaled long, her eyes somewhat desolate.
"If this is needed to save Mt. Firmament and Jinzhou, then—sacrificing one person like me is no pity."
"Don't be willful, Jinhsi. Even at your peak, you might not withstand the frequency collision with the Sentinel, let alone now."
Changli grew angry, pointing out the document Noah gave to Jinhsi.
"In your current state, you'd only end up shattered into dust by the Sentinel's power like those over nine hundred Chronosorters in this document. If you insist, how is it different from seeking death?"
Jinhsi coughed several times, her right hand clutching her chest, turning her head away, eyes downcast.
"Teacher, even without seeking death... how much longer can I linger?"
Her light words left Changli completely speechless. She turned pleadingly to Noah.
Noah, say something!
"Jinhsi." Noah spoke.
Jinhsi pressed her lips slightly, raised her head to Noah, performing the solemn Mohling salute with a slight bow, her eyes carrying a plea.
"Noah, I'm grateful you came to save me, but please don't stop me in this matter."
If even Noah advised her, she would truly waver and lose her resolve.
"You misunderstood. I have no intention of stopping you."
Changli's eyes widened beside them, instinctively reaching to pinch Noah's waist but realizing it improper, her hand freezing mid-air.
Noah caught Changli's small action in his periphery but ignored it, continuing.
"I have a twenty percent chance of helping you achieve secondary resonance and survive afterward."
"Twenty percent—"
Jinhsi's eyes flickered as she nodded heavily.
"Good!"
Thank goodness Noah didn't advise her to give up.
Let alone twenty percent—even if the success rate was one in ten thousand, Jinhsi would gamble this broken body for that slim chance of survival.
A green bag appeared before Jinhsi.
[Basic Energy Bag (Green Medicine): Restores 100 HP per second to the designated Resonator on the team for 30 seconds. Price: 3000 Shell Credits.]
Due to Jinhsi's poor condition, Noah didn't dare pull out stronger energy bags.
"Your state is terrible. Want to try drinking some medicine?"
"I..." Jinhsi bit her lip slightly, unable to refuse, gently tearing open the Basic Energy Bag and sipping lightly.
At the same time, a line of small text appeared in Noah's view.
[Character Rover recovers 100 HP.]
Noah's eyes widened instantly. He opened the shop module in his panel and found a hidden description in the item details.
(Only affects your own character in multiplayer games)
No way—someone else consumes the medicine, and the buff applies to me?
—Kuro, you need to optimize this.
Noah inwardly complained, snatching back the Basic Energy Bag under Jinhsi's bewildered gaze.
"Forget it. Let's hear my plan first. We'll talk as we walk."
The trio left the secret room, setting out on the road back to Hongzhen.
Along the way, Noah detailed the concept of "Rover" to them.
"You're saying the Sentinel of Jinzhou has a master called Rover. Without the master's approval, the Sentinel cannot transfer chronal power to Jinhsi at the critical moment, thus saving her life."
Changli lightly furrowed her brows, her heart unsettled.
"And your current power is exactly the same resonance power as Rover's."
"Correct. We must make the Sentinel believe a lie—that I was entrusted by 'Rover' to have Her transfer chronal power to Jinhsi."
"This won't be easy. The success rate might be far below twenty percent."
Changli shook her head, her phoenix eyes fixed intently on Noah.
"Noah, Jinhsi once told me your ability allows you to temporarily possess others' resonance abilities."
Her words paused, as if hesitant, but she finally gritted her teeth and spoke.
"Though my request might be offensive to you, could you please explain in detail: your resonance ability?"
"..." Noah was silent for a moment before finally nodding. "I can, but I'll conceal the private parts."
On the other side.
Time passed unbeknownst how long before a Fractsidus member cautiously approached Phrolova.
"Um... Overseer, we've detected the Mianloong Chamber has been opened. Should we head there?"
Phrolova stood high up, her crimson eyes glancing at the artisan beside her without speaking.
This made the member dare not act rashly. After a long standoff, Phrolova finally spoke softly.
"If you want to die, I won't stop you."
"Ah, this?"
The Fractsidus member instantly had his hairs stand on end upon understanding, secretly glad he hadn't acted on his own.
He continued asking.
"Since there's a strong enemy in the Mianloong Chamber, staying on Mt. Firmament is meaningless. Should we evacuate?"
This time, Phrolova replied quickly.
"If you want to die, I won't stop you."
"Ah, this? Advance or retreat—neither works. What should we do?"
Phrolova fell silent without answering, her crimson eyes fixed on the distant red dragon-shaped mountain range.
She stood motionless, like a fixed sculpture.
The Fractsidus member beside her, seeing Phrolova's enigmatic demeanor, felt incredibly frustrated.
He somewhat regretted it. Had he known his female superior was so difficult, he should have followed Overseer Scar back then.
Uh... never mind. He'd heard the grass on the graves of artisans following Scar was already three feet high.
Though the situation on Mt. Firmament was unfavorable now, no matter what, Overseer Phrolova couldn't possibly abandon them.
Thinking this, the Fractsidus member finally comforted himself. Turning his head, Phrolova's figure was nowhere beside him.
A puddle melted in the snow. The member looked down to see a red Red Spider Lily petal landing precisely on the nose tip reflected in the water.