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The Lunar Crystal instantly dissolved in Lily’s hands, releasing powerful waves of lunar energy that merged seamlessly into her body. A profound sense of comfort washed over her, permeating every inch of her being. The intensity of the sensation was so overwhelming that it momentarily rendered her partially unconscious.

“Ahh…” Lily let out a soft moan as she floated, enveloped in the embrace of the lunar energy. Simultaneously, the energy within her body began to nourish and transform her, leading to remarkable changes.

Though her skin remained soft and pale, Lily’s strength, reaction speed, explosive power, and physical defense experienced a tremendous boost. The enhancements continued to surge, increasing at an astonishing rate.

“Huh?” Amidst the euphoria of her bolstered body, Lily’s soul sensed an ancient, profound sorrow and a feeling of degradation.

“What is this sensation? Why do I feel such profound sadness as I absorb the Lunar Crystal? This overwhelming sense of eternity, decay, and loss… What could it mean?”

Moments later, Lily completed the absorption of all the lunar energy and gently landed on the ground. Her skin glimmered subtly, as if adorned with the finest makeup. Furthermore, her natural fragrance became more alluring, captivating all those who were drawn to the scent of women. However, she couldn’t consider it a distinct advantage.

These changes merely scratched the surface of her transformation.

Incredibly, Lily’s base strength had doubled compared to before! The inexplicable sadness she had felt during the absorption process had vanished, leaving her puzzled. It seemed to be an ephemeral feeling tied to the Lunar Crystal, dissipating as it was fully integrated into her being.

“How… How is this possible?” Lily stared at her hands in disbelief. These delicate hands were now twice as potent as before?

In this moment, with the activation of her Purple Lunar Force, Lily would possess the strength equivalent to a triple-soul Big Dipper. In fact, she surpassed the majority of triple-soul Big Dippers in the world in terms of raw power.

“Lily, this is incredible. You’ve become even stronger!” Ayaka exclaimed, holding Lily’s hand and placing a tender kiss on her hair. “Even though your appearance hasn’t changed, I find you more captivating than ever.”

“Huh?” Lily regained her composure. “No, no. Sister Ayaka, I originally intended for you to use the Lunar Crystal. You were injured, and it would have been perfect for your recovery. I… I didn’t mean for this to happen. The crystal itself…”

However, Ayaka smiled gently. “Lily, didn’t I tell you that I’ve already recovered? The Celestial Maiden Physique allows for swift healing. Currently, only my Big Dipper Soul and Stellar Soul remain injured. Physical enhancement treasures won’t heal those.”

“Even so, using it would have made you stronger and safer in battle! You need it more than I do. But… the moment I touched the Lunar Crystal, it entered my body without my consent. I can’t even remove it…”

“I don’t know why this happened either. But I’ve never heard anything about avoiding direct contact with the Lunar Crystal… Lily, I’m here to support your training. Now that you’re stronger, you’ll be safer when you reach Mount Ooe. Besides, I can’t accompany you until I’ve fully recovered. Otherwise, I’d only be a burden to you. Even if you were to give it to me, I wouldn’t use it. You need it more.”

“Sister Ayaka!”

“Rather than regaining my own strength, witnessing your growth brings me greater joy. When I look at you, I see the hope that remains in this world. Unlike me, everything I’ve strived for has been nothing but an illusion…”

Ayaka enveloped Lily in her arms, her gaze filled with sadness as she nestled her face against Lily’s chest. The intoxicating scent of a mature woman after exertion captivated Lily’s senses. In a world fraught with danger, when would it all end? They shared the same fate, and Lily couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of loneliness.

As Lily’s hands trembled, she found herself in a trance and placed them on Ayaka’s soft and warm buttocks. Ayaka noticed but simply smiled in response, not objecting to the gesture. She gently lifted Lily’s chin and leaned in to kiss her.

In the midst of their comforting embrace in this endlessly brutal parallel world, a strange pulse suddenly startled Lily.

“Huh?”

“Lily, what’s wrong?” Ayaka asked, concerned.

Lily’s face flushed, feeling a mixture of satisfaction and slight unease. Meanwhile, her Purple Lunar Force had significantly recovered.

Lily retrieved a leather pouch from the Mirror Dimension, which she hadn’t thoroughly inspected yet. Opening it, she was shocked to find a samurai’s severed head with bleeding eyes.

Despite the macabre sight, Lily’s battle-hardened nature prevented her from being scared. “Who could be so cruel? Why would they carry around a decapitated head?”

“This is Head Voodoo,” Ayaka explained with a frown. “It’s an evil arcane arte where a head is placed in a pouch and soaked in a special fluid. The head remains alive, retaining its memories and ability to speak. However, it seems this head is already deceased.”

Lily shook her head helplessly, her mood dampened by such a gruesome discovery. “It must have been done by those people. They ravage any beautiful woman they come across, and they kill and rob those weaker than themselves. As we grow stronger, should we abandon all morals and ethics and do as we please? Then we would be no different from ordinary people.”

“Since he is already dead, let’s give him a proper burial,” Ayaka suggested.

“Yes.”

With a mere thought, a hole appeared beside the road. Lily had no intention of physically burying the head. Utilizing her Domain, she removed the head from the pouch and laid it to rest in the grave. She then used a flame spell to burn the pouch, erasing any remnants of its existence.

“I don’t even know his name. But the residual aura indicates that he was a skilled warrior. What a tragedy…” Lily’s heart swelled with a tinge of sadness.

She carved a piece of wood using her weapon and, with her Domain, inscribed the words: “Grave of a nameless samurai.” Placing the wooden marker on the burial plot, she paid her respects to the fallen warrior.

At that moment, a faint apparition of a gaunt samurai materialized above the grave.

“Thank you… You have managed to vanquish those who subjected me to this fate. My lady, you possess immense power. Despite your strength, you showed kindness in burying my nameless and defiled head. Your compassion knows no bounds… Sob, sob, sob…” The ghost appeared to weep in gratitude.

“Senior Samurai, there’s no need to thank me. It is clear that you have endured great suffering. This is the least I can do. May you find peace in your eternal rest…” Lily replied.

“Perhaps I would have succumbed to becoming a Vengeful Spirit, but your kindness and gentleness have transformed me. I believe… I may find enlightenment. However, there is something I cannot let go of. Lady, with your benevolence and immense power, surely you cannot bear to witness an ancient nation being consumed by darkness, am I right?” The samurai ghost exclaimed with excitement.

“Senior samurai, I’m not sure I understand. What do you mean?” Lily asked, puzzled.

“Lady, I know you have saved me, and yet I still make this audacious request. Regardless of how you perceive me, I implore you to save the Princess of my homeland! Save my Princess!” The spirit pleaded, overwhelmed with emotion.

“Wait, the Princess of your homeland? Which nation do you hail from? Are you a samurai from the Heian Dynasty?” Lily inquired.

“The Heian Dynasty? Hmph! That is the very dynasty that conquered and banished our Asuka Tribe to Iyo Island millennia ago, subjecting us to a life of hardship and humiliation. Nevertheless, our clan persevered, until… recently… If not for that, I would not have fallen into the clutches of those individuals. My lady, I beseech you, save the Princess of our Asuka Tribe! I beg of you!” The ghost pleaded with deep emotion.

Lily had encountered a blade demon named Azusa in Nara who claimed to be from Iyo Island. It was an island located outside of the Akitsu Continent, which was the world’s second largest mainland after Akitsu Island. Although it was referred to as an island, it spanned tens of thousands of miles in width. The four main islands, Akitsu Mainland, Iyo Island, Tsukushi Island, and Ezo, along with numerous smaller islands, collectively formed Ashihara, the world of humans. There were also distant Nanban islands, known for their small size and advanced mechanical engineering, although spiritual practice was impossible there due to the lack of spirit power.

“Wait a moment. This island outside of the Akitsu Continent is incredibly far away. Senior samurai, I don’t want to disappoint you, but I’m afraid I don’t have the time to undertake such a lengthy journey,” Lily stated directly.

The samurai examined Lily closely. “Lady samurai, you are the most formidable female warrior I have ever encountered. If you were to rescue our Princess, she would undoubtedly reward you generously. Currently, the Asuka Tribe’s king is under the control of a Dream Eater. The Asuka Kingdom is on the brink of destruction! The Princess once stated that if someone could rescue her and free our nation, she would marry that person!”

Lily was puzzled. “Huh?”

“Please don’t misunderstand, lady samurai. The Princess of the Asuka Tribe possesses mystical powers. Legend has it that our tribe were blacksmiths who served the Celestial Maidens. We have passed down extraordinary swordsmithing skills through the generations. Therefore, the first blade forged by the Princess upon reaching adulthood will be a legendary weapon! I do not exaggerate. Although you are strong, lady samurai, the swordsmiths of your mainland are insignificant compared to our Princess. Our Princess has possessed ancient knowledge since a young age and is a prodigy that emerges only once every few hundred years in our kingdom! Lady Samurai, they were once royalty who crafted weapons for the gods! Among all of humanity, only a heroine like you is worthy of such a sword! Even if someone else possessed the strength but lacked integrity, I would never divulge this information to them!” the ghost emotionally explained.

Lily’s heart raced as she realized the connections that were forming. “It seems that everything is coming together now!”

However, in her state of excitement, Lily failed to notice that Ayaka’s body was trembling. Ayaka, who had never displayed an ounce of fear when confronted by Minamoto no Yoritomo and the Cloistered Emperor, was now trembling uncontrollably. Nobody knew what Ayaka had heard in those words, or what had instilled such fear within her.