The Holy Grail absorbs the negative energy of fallen Servants, purifies it, then feeds it back to the planet, after which the planet's will returns that power as faith, thereby condensing divinity.
Lu Jingming could feel that within the Holy Grail, a certain godhood being gestated with the aid of the planet's will had suddenly begun to coalesce much faster, as if separated only by a thin veil and about to fully manifest in the world.
He couldn't suppress the smile tugging at the corner of his lips. This way, he wouldn't need to worry about the godhoods of those around him. Whether it was Zhang Lexuan, Xu Jiujiu, or Meng Hongchen, without his help becoming a god would be extremely difficult.
But with his help, with the Holy Grail, he could mass-produce godhoods and forge a divine all-star team of his own.
Just like the original Shrek Seven Devils ten thousand years ago—Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai, and the others actually had no potential to become gods; they hitched a ride on Tang San's tailwind.
Isn't that precisely the meaning of "when one person ascends, even their chickens and dogs rise to heaven"?
The gentle, life-filled white light gradually drew back. Lu Jingming exhaled in relief; some color returned to his face, but the profound fatigue etched into his very soul from entering Divineform Mode wasn't something that could dissipate immediately.
He had barely opened his eyes when a slender figure, carrying a familiar fragrance, rushed up to him.
"Xiao Ming!"
Zhang Lexuan's voice was laced with undisguised anxiety and heartache. She didn't even care if others were around; her slim, cool fingers lightly cupped Lu Jingming's cheek, carefully checking his pallor and the lingering unfocus in his eyes.
Those eyes of hers, normally gentle as the moon, were now brimming with worry and lingering fear.
"How could you… how could you be so reckless?"
Her voice trembled slightly, carrying a hint of a sob that was hard to detect.
"That was a God-King's divine sense. If anything had happened to you, I…"
She couldn't go on. She bit down hard on her lower lip, her eyes reddening.
Feeling the cool softness of her touch and the faint trembling at her fingertips, Lu Jingming's heart warmed, tinged with guilt.
He raised his hand to cover hers on his cheek, gently clasping it, his fingers soothingly stroking her smooth skin.
"Sister Lexuan, I'm fine."
He lowered his voice, wearing a reassuring, gentle smile. "You know me—I never fight a battle I'm not sure of."
He deliberately adopted an easy tone, trying to divert her attention. At the same time, he tightened his grasp, warming her chilly hand in his palm.
But Zhang Lexuan wasn't so easily placated. She turned her hand to grip his back, eyes still locked on him as if to verify every minute detail of his condition.
"Don't try to fool me. I can tell how badly your mental strength is overdrawn—and your body too. I've never seen you this weak."
Her tone carried an unusual sternness, but even more of that thick, unshakable heartache.
She lifted her other hand, moonlight power cool and gentle at her fingertip, and carefully tapped his temple to soothe some of the stinging in his mind.
Lu Jingming obediently closed his eyes, feeling that cool, calming force seep into his sea of consciousness like rain upon parched earth.
He savored the moment of tenderness, leaning his body slightly toward Zhang Lexuan until their foreheads were nearly touching.
"To become stronger, a little risk is worth it."
He murmured, his voice close enough to feel.
"And… Sister Lexuan, the Holy Grail's power is getting fuller. It won't be long before you can be like me."
He opened his eyes. In his deep gaze—reflecting Zhang Lexuan's concerned face—his tone became solemn and expectant.
"Very soon, I'll be able to use this Holy Grail to condense your own 'Moon Goddess' godhood. Then you'll no longer be bound by planar laws—you'll have true eternal life and the strength to protect yourself."
Zhang Lexuan froze for a moment.
Moon Goddess godhood. Eternal life. Looking into Lu Jingming's eyes, she felt a wave of emotion.
But in the next instant, she shot him an exasperated glare, half amused, half annoyed. "Changing the subject again. Was I asking about godhoods? You know you're more important to me than that."
She lifted her hand and gently brushed his still-furrowed brow and slightly pale lips, her touch full of pity.
"Seeing you like this hurts a thousand times worse than being hurt myself. More than any godhood, I want the whole, smiling, teasing you."
Catching that ache deep in her eyes, the softest part of Lu Jingming's heart was pierced.
He sighed and opened his arms, gently pulling her into his embrace, resting his chin atop her fragrant hair.
"All right, Sister Lexuan. I promise—I won't take risks again."
His voice carried pampering warmth, with a hint of helplessness.
Nestled against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat and low voice, Zhang Lexuan's taut nerves slowly relaxed.
She knew that once Lu Jingming promised, he wouldn't do something as crazed as this again.
After all, for a mortal body to battle a God-King's divine sense was too reckless, too insane—even if Lu Jingming had a plan and many trump cards.
But everything fears that one-in-ten-thousand accident. Walk by the river long enough, and you're bound to get your shoes wet.
While Lu Jingming was soothing Zhang Lexuan, Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen were leading the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy students, some civilians, and Xu Tianzhen toward their stronghold.
Meng Hongchen had been in contact with Lu Jingming and knew he could send civilians and students to a safe place. Only then did they head his way.
At that moment, Xiao Hongchen—rushing at top speed—suddenly paused.
He looked in disbelief at the back of his hand—where three bright red Command Seals had been clearly visible. Now they were fading as if erased by a rubber, then vanished completely, leaving only smooth skin.
Like a bucket of ice water poured over his head, he instantly understood what it meant.
"Bro…" he muttered, the usual pride and unruliness wiped from his face, replaced by raw shock and a deep, unexpected loss.
Though their time together had been short, he had clicked with that battle-mad executive from Snezhnaya. The man's boldness and pure love of combat had won his respect.
He hadn't even had a proper drink with him or discussed martial arts from another world—and now, so abruptly, came a final farewell… without even a formal goodbye.
A wave of inexpressible sadness surged up, leaving him momentarily hollow.
Beside him, Meng Hongchen keenly sensed his mood shift. Following his gaze, she immediately understood the reason.
She cast a worried glance at her brother's vacant profile, then unconsciously touched the still-bright triple Command Seals on the back of her own hand—the sign of an intact contract with her Servant, Miyabi. She secretly exhaled in relief, but also felt sorry for her brother.
She tugged lightly at Xiao Hongchen's sleeve and whispered, "Brother…"
Xiao Hongchen drew a deep breath, forced the churning emotions down, and when he raised his head again, his face had returned to normal—though a shadow lingered deep in his eyes.
He shook his head to say he was fine.
This wasn't the time for grief. First, get everyone safely to Lu Jingming. Along the way, they had encountered anti-matter legions, but the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy wasn't to be trifled with; they had plenty of Rank-9 soul engineers.
Even Trampler-class enemies they could handle. That was the confidence behind moving the students and civilians.
…
In a quiet corner hastily opened inside the stronghold, Lu Jingming had just calmed Zhang Lexuan and was preparing to meditate and recover when the protective soul tool at the entrance rippled slightly.
Footsteps—hurried yet rhythmic—approached from the distance.
What first entered view was Meng Hongchen's signature white hair. Her delicate face was visibly anxious; the moment she stepped in, her eyes searched urgently, finally locking onto Lu Jingming, sitting against the wall, still pale.
"Xiao Ming!"
She almost cried out, trotting over, completely ignoring her brother and the group of shaken, bedraggled academy students behind her.
"You're hurt?! I saw the commotion from afar… I was scared to death!"
Unlike Zhang Lexuan's restrained heartache, Meng Hongchen's concern was more overt and direct.
As she spoke, she couldn't help but give Lu Jingming's shoulder a light punch—more a spoiled, scolding tap than anything. "What's with you? Fighting that kind of opponent?"
Following her in, Xiao Hongchen glanced at his sister, then at Lu Jingming and Zhang Lexuan at his side. The corner of his mouth twitched; in the end, he simply sighed and quietly arranged for the surviving students and civilians to rest elsewhere, distributing water and food, pretending not to notice the delicate atmosphere.
Looking at the two women before him—both peerlessly beautiful, yet with entirely different styles—Lu Jingming felt a headache. One was gentle as moonlight, the other vivid as the aurora, both focused on him with worry and reproach.
Just as he was about to soothe Meng Hongchen, Zhang Lexuan moved first.
Finding an ally, she lifted her gaze to Meng Hongchen and gave a small nod, her tone tinged with the helplessness of shared exasperation.
"Sister Meng is right. He was reckless this time."
Then both pairs of eyes fixed on Lu Jingming—one gentle, one coquettishly stern—united for the first time.
Lu Jingming: "…"
He suddenly felt like his injuries had gotten worse.
Buoyed by Zhang Lexuan's support, Meng Hongchen grew bolder, indignantly saying, "Exactly! Sister Lexuan is right—you went off risking your life without thinking about our feelings. We can't let you off easy."
Zhang Lexuan nodded in firm agreement, her voice still soft but smiling. "Mm. Xiao Ming, you need to reflect properly. Sister Meng and I were both very worried."
As she spoke, she exchanged a look with Meng Hongchen.
In that instant, the two formed an alliance—ready to properly discipline this disobedient man who kept making them worry.
And so, Lu Jingming fell into an unprecedented "sweet interrogation."
They played off each other—one silent pressure, one relentless verbal assault—surprisingly in sync.
But Lu Jingming wasn't helpless. He reached out, taking both Zhang Lexuan's and Meng Hongchen's hands, placing their cool palms over his heart. His tone was sincere, with a hint of placation.
"All right, all right—I know I was wrong. I made you worry. That's on me. I promise I'll cherish my life more and think twice about everything, okay?"
Feeling the warmth of his palm and the strong heartbeat beneath, and hearing him soften and apologize, both women's hearts melted more than halfway.
Meng Hongchen sniffed and huffed, but didn't pull her hand back. "You're just good at saying sweet things to coax us…"
Zhang Lexuan gently squeezed his hand in return and said softly, "Remember what you said."
The joint interrogation ended—for now—under his practiced appeasement.
The two beauties guarded him on either side. Their approaches differed, but their deep care and love wrapped him in the warmest, most healing light, slowly nourishing his weary body and soul.
Not far away, Xiao Hongchen averted his gaze, feeling like he and the students were a bit superfluous.
The other students also kept their eyes on their noses and noses on their hearts, pretending to see and hear nothing.
Only Xu Tianzhen, seemingly recovered and lively again, looked at the trio with eager curiosity.
"Sister Lexuan, you and Meng and Xiao Hongchen should retreat together. The Holy Grail War is nearing its end. What comes next has nothing to do with you."
Lu Jingming squeezed Zhang Lexuan's hand lightly, his gaze sweeping over the core battlefield, where violent energy and divine might still raged. His tone was solemn.
His meaning was clear: once Jingliu completely dealt with the Sea God Tang San's divine sense avatar, it would all be over.
Zhang Lexuan nodded without hesitation. "Okay."
She knew her and Meng Hongchen's limits. Staying would not help; it would only burden and distract Lu Jingming.
Her eyes lingered gently on his face. "Be careful in everything. We'll wait for you in Haiyuan City."
Her decisiveness and understanding drew a faint smile from Lu Jingming. As expected, Zhang Lexuan was empathetic.
…
However, on the side, Xiao Xiao panicked at the news.
She and Jiang Nannan hadn't followed the main group through the space gate before, holding on to a sliver of hope—waiting for Elder Xuan and the other teachers, or seeing if they could help.
Hearing that Haiyuan City would fully evacuate, she was suddenly at a loss.
"Huh? We… we're leaving?"
Xiao Xiao instinctively clutched Jiang Nannan's sleeve, her face a mix of confusion and urgency.
"What about us? Elder Xuan and the others are still fighting out there. We… we can't just leave!"