Si Zhao was stunned for a moment. Clearly, she had not expected Yunyang to say that.
Every beastfolk in the Federation knew that an S-rank female could purify an SSS-rank esper, but an A-rank female could not purify an S-rank esper or anyone of a higher rank.
So even though her spiritual power was only one step away from reaching S-rank, Si Zhao had never considered trying something like this—especially under the current circumstances.
Every second wasted meant another loss for the Federation army.
Besides, many A-rank females had tried before her, and all of them had ended in failure.
But Si Zhao felt that Yunyang would not have brought it up without a reason. Otherwise, it would have been more suitable to conduct the experiment during yesterday’s break.
Si Zhao quickly nodded. “All right. I’ll give it a try.”
She expertly spread her spiritual power, enveloping the Federation soldier.
After several days of experience, the soldier had figured out what was happening as soon as he was pulled back. He obediently stood there, waiting for the two ladies to purify him.
When Si Zhao’s spiritual power settled over him, the discomfort caused by his excessive pollution level seemed to ease considerably. His tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly.
Seeing his reaction, Yunyang already had her answer.
Even so, she turned her head toward Fu Shiyi and asked in a low voice, “Has his pollution level gone down?”
Fu Shiyi gave her a definite answer.
Yunyang also saw the parts of the soldier’s body that had begun to transform into those of a beast gradually return to their original appearance.
She had been right. Sister Zhaozhao hadn’t fallen asleep yesterday because she was simply too tired!
Si Zhao soon noticed the change herself. She had actually become capable of purifying an S-rank esper, and the purification process had not been difficult in the slightest.
Two minutes later, she withdrew her spiritual power. He Youchuan promptly handed the pollution detector to the Federation soldier.
The result was far beyond Si Zhao’s expectations—
She had used only thirty percent of her spiritual power, yet she had lowered the soldier’s pollution level by eighty points.
That was absolutely beyond what A-rank spiritual power could accomplish.
Si Zhao first used her ability to assist He Youchuan in sending the man back to the battlefield. Only then did she look toward Yunyang. “Yangyang, you already guessed this, didn’t you?”
Yunyang renewed the duration of her blessing before nodding at her.
“The night before my spiritual power advanced, I also lost all memory of when I fell asleep, just like Sister Zhaozhao.”
“Congratulations on reaching the next rank, Sister Zhaozhao.”
Yesterday, Yunyang had still been unable to say for certain, but today, Si Zhao could already purify an S-rank esper. That was enough to prove that her spiritual power had reached S-rank.
Wu Zhengming, standing nearby, had heard every word of their conversation.
As an outstanding commander, one of the skills he had mastered best was keeping an eye and an ear on everything around him.
So even while directing the battle, he still had enough spare attention to add, “Congratulations on reaching S-rank!”
On the holographic screen to Wu Zhengming’s front left were projections of the Federation’s other thirty-one commanders. They maintained constant communication with him.
Although they could not see Si Zhao and Yunyang, they quickly guessed from Wu Zhengming’s words that Si Zhao’s spiritual power had advanced.
In other words, the Federation now had four S-rank spiritual-power users!
The commanders were all incredibly excited, but they had no time to spare. They could only congratulate Si Zhao silently in their hearts.
Si Zhao herself was delighted as well.
Her spiritual power had reached S-rank at precisely this critical moment. From now on, she would no longer need to consider the rank of the Federation soldiers when purifying them, and she could also lessen Yangyang’s burden.
The balance of victory had tilted ever so slightly toward the Federation.
Si Zhao quickly composed herself and returned to the work of pulling soldiers from the battlefield and purifying them.
After reaching S-rank, she and Yunyang could take turns purifying the Federation soldiers they rescued. The burden on both of them was reduced considerably.
However, the situation on the battlefield gradually became less favorable.
The sudden increase in the number of high-level insects, led by the ninth-level insects, placed tremendous pressure on the Federation army.
Although Wu Zhengming promptly adjusted their battle plan, there was no way to completely make up for the disparity in strength.
The atmosphere inside the battleship gradually grew tense. The only sounds were Wu Zhengming and the other commanders speaking in calm, collected voices.
But the number of Federation casualties continued to rise.
Kalunden, the commander of the Fourth Army, could not hold back any longer. “Zhengming, how about I take some men over to support you?”
“Get lost, get lost, get lost! Just take care of your own side and stop coming over here to cause trouble!”
Wu Zhengming avoided the gazes of the other commanders, a heavy look flashing through his eyes.
If this operation ended in failure, then the fewer Federation soldiers who were lost here, the better. That was why he absolutely could not allow anyone to come and reinforce him.
How could the other commanders fail to guess what Wu Zhengming was thinking?
Kalunden simply let the words go in one ear and out the other.
He had already made up his mind. If the situation on Wu Zhengming’s side did not improve, he would lead his men over immediately.
Holmont asked the same question once more. “Where exactly are all these high-level insects coming from?”
Leo, who had remained silent until then, spoke up. “I’m afraid we’ll have to investigate from within the insect race.”
He knew that Yunyang was beside Wu Zhengming, and he also knew that Leonardo must be guarding her.
That was why he had deliberately made the suggestion.
Wu Zhengming did not know about Leonardo’s special ability. Hearing this, he sighed.
“How could that be easy? We’ll take another look. If it really comes to it, we’ll just fight our way into the insects’ nest.”
Leo nodded and returned to directing the battle without saying anything more.
Leonardo had heard every word Leo said.
There was probably only one person in the entire Federation who could investigate the matter from within the insect race.
But…
What if Mistress were injured while he was away gathering information?
As Leonardo wrestled with the decision, Yunyang suddenly extended a hand toward him. “Leon, help me restore my spiritual power.”
“All right.”
Leonardo instantly cast all his hesitation aside and efficiently picked Yunyang up, carrying her into the rest room.
As soon as the door closed, he opened his spiritual landscape so that Yunyang’s spiritual power could enter it.
Yunyang released her spiritual power as well.
Just as their spiritual entities drew close, Yunyang suddenly asked, “Leonardo, if it’s a recording of the insects, would you be able to understand what they’re saying?”
For a moment, Leonardo did not understand why she was asking. Uncertain, he replied, “I’ve never tried. Perhaps I can.”
Yunyang came to a decision.
She did not continue the subject. Instead, she reached out, pulled Leonardo closer, and took the initiative to kiss him.
On the insect planet, she never indulged her nine beast husbands. The moment her spiritual power recovered, she would leave.
Her nine husbands were sensible as well. They would not ask her to continue under circumstances like these.
After straightening her clothes, Yunyang led Leonardo out of the rest room and sat down beside Si Zhao again.
By then, Si Zhao’s spiritual power had also been nearly depleted, so she could only take He Youchuan with her to recover.
Once Si Zhao left, Yunyang could no longer pull the soldiers back from the battlefield by herself. She had no choice but to bless the defensive-type espers again.
The second battle lasted even longer.
For five days and five nights, neither side had rested. The casualties were too numerous to count.
When the Federation soldiers grew hungry or thirsty, they could take out a packet of nutrient solution and drink it at any time. The insects, however, had no spatial storage devices and could not replenish themselves whenever they needed to.
On the afternoon of the sixth day, the insects withdrew of their own accord.
Seeing the insectoids on the holographic display begin crawling back underground one by one, Yunyang immediately seized Si Zhao’s hand.
A butterfly-shaped micro-robot was placed in Si Zhao’s palm.
