I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield Chapter 1090 - 669: Unveiling the Secret (Part 2)

He mindfully called forth a lamp spirit recently recorded in the Reincarnation Lamp.

"Swish——"

Metaru’s soul body appeared before him.

Unlike the anticipated ethereal and fleeting ghostly form, Metaru’s soul body seemed unusually solid, with clear features and distinct body contours. Just from appearance, one might not even believe it was a soul body, but rather a flesh and blood entity—just lacking the unique warmth and qi and blood fluctuations of flesh, emanating a cold yet pure soul energy all around.

"Master." Metaru deeply bowed to Qin Tian, with utmost respect, showing not a trace of reluctance or resistance.

The Reincarnation Lamp not only preserved his consciousness and memory but also thoroughly subjugated him on a soul level to Qin Tian.

"Mm." Qin Tian nodded, examined Metaru a few times, then said, "Attack me first, let me see how much of your strength you retain."

"Yes!" Metaru responded promptly, without the slightest hesitation, his soul body instantly emitting intense spiritual energy fluctuations. Although his physical body was lost, his spell casting process remained smooth.

A Tier Six Spell Wind King’s Spear formed in front of him. The entire spear was comprised of compressed cyan wind energy, its surface streaming with fine wind patterns, carrying a sharp piercing noise as it shot towards Qin Tian.

Qin Tian raised his hand, spread his five fingers, like grasping a common object, and crushed the Wind King’s Spear, which could penetrate steel plates, within his palm. The wind spear disintegrated into chaotic winds in his hand, ruffling his clothes and hair edges, then dissipated into the air.

Metaru did not stop. He continued to seal with both hands, one spell after another endlessly firing out—Wind Blade, Wind Wall, Wind Burst Bomb, Vortex Binding, Tier Six Spells readily unleashed, streaming out like flowing water. Qin Tian received each one, either crushing, sweeping aside, or dodging, his actions casual and leisurely, as if simply testing a tool’s performance.

Until Qin Tian said "stop," Metaru withdrew his hands, stood respectfully to the side, awaiting evaluation.

"You think, how much of your peak strength do you have left?" Qin Tian asked. Metaru died so quickly in his hands, he couldn’t clearly gauge this Tier Seven Mage’s true battle power, so he could only ask the person involved.

Metaru thought for a moment, then seriously answered, "I feel it should be around seventy percent. After losing my physical body, the bloodline’s enhancement effect on spells completely vanished, the speed of spiritual energy’s circulation and condensation are significantly affected, many high-tier spells that were easily cast now require more preparation time. However..."

He shifted his tone, "Becoming a soul body, the Reincarnation Lamp greatly enhances my spiritual power. This enhancement isn’t a simple amplification, but a qualitative upgrade—my spiritual perception is sharper than when alive, the precision in spell control is more refined. It’s like a basket having one corner flattened but simultaneously lengthened on another side. Overall, I think I can retain about seventy percent."

He paused, then added, "For other martial artists relying on physical body and spiritual energy, losing their body would cause more serious strength reduction, I estimate about fifty to sixty percent."

Five to seventy percent.

Qin Tian nodded slightly, this value was within his expectations. Losing the physical body certainly has a huge impact on combat power. A martial artist’s strength, speed, and defense are based on the physical foundation, spiritual martial techniques rely on body coordination to exert full power, losing the body is akin to severing the roots. Mages are secondary as the core of spells lies in the combination of spiritual power and spiritual energy, with lesser physical influence. Spiritual Mind Masters might not decline in combat power, but increase under the Reincarnation Lamp’s enhancement.

Compared to Soul Seal type abilities which enslave the mind, Soul Sealing General cannot retain the target’s entire fighting power, this is its drawback. But it also has its unique advantages—becoming a lamp spirit completely frees one from original identity shackles, no longer limited by any faction, any family, any position. They can become a dark chess piece for Qin Tian to deploy freely, sent to anywhere needed, becoming any role.

Though combat power is reduced, quantity can compensate for it.

Test concluded, Qin Tian looked at Metaru, asked the question on his mind, "Who is your superior? Why kill Dongfang Haoyue?"

Metaru answered without hesitation, "This was a command from the Fifth Prince. As for why kill Dongfang Haoyue... I don’t know. I’m just executing orders; whatever task the higher-ups assign, we do. Those higher-level matters, I have no authority to know."

The Fifth Prince?

Waves arose in Qin Tian’s eyes.

The Fifth Prince Ji Taiyan, he was no stranger to this person. Back in the Ice God Ruins, the Fifth Prince was among them—with Ji Taiyan at Tier Seven, Eight Stars, slaying Tier Eight Demon Generals like cutting vegetables, a display of power and tenacity left a deep impression on him. As one of the most outstanding martial arts geniuses among the Emperor’s Heirs, Ji Taiyan held high prestige and influence among the Empire’s younger generation.

He still remembered, during the Ice God Ruins, the Fifth Prince showed him some inexplicable hostility. At that time, he felt puzzled, not knowing when he had offended this never-before-met Fifth Prince. Now it seems, the root of that hostility likely wasn’t in himself, but rather in his close relationship with Dongfang Mingyue—the Fifth Prince wanted to kill Dongfang Haoyue and Dongfang Mingyue, and as the person closest to Ming Yue, naturally he too was listed as an enemy.