Tear of Neptune

The Tear of Neptune is an S-ranked power gem produced in the oceans of Lyr. It absorbs supplied energy and filters impurities from another gem or alien vital crystal, turning once-undervalued stones into essential research and war assets. The name denotes a gem type with multiple specimens, so its auction purchase, research use, enemy consumption, and Poseidon Group stockpile are not one continuous object's custody history.

History

Auction specimen and exuviation research

Lan Jue buys a five-carat Tear at Lyr's annual auction after other bidders reject its high cost and limited conventional use. Xiuxiu carries the purchased stone until he gives it to Skyfire's Keeper as repayment for assistance. The Keeper and Bookworm use it to purify a Taihua monster core, establishing the process that later becomes exuviation: alien vitality is filtered until it can renew human cells. The procedure extends life but requires expert control and does not make every subject or dose automatically safe. (Chapters 205–220 and 461–514)

Strategic stockpiles and battlefield use

Once the value of alien vital crystals becomes clear, all three Alliances classify Tears as war assets. Poseidon Group, led by Hua Li, buys heavily before restrictions take effect; Hua Li later leaves the front specifically to gather more Tears for the sword bearers' cultivation. Other specimens follow separate paths: the Violet Princess swallows one taken from Lyr, Jue Di uses one to filter a corrupted crystal for controlled absorption, and Skyfire arrays twelve around a high-level crystal to strengthen Lan Qing and the Pharmacist. Several gems are spent in that process, confirming that purification consumes their usable stock. (Chapters 505–514, 663–664, 746, 869, and 881–882)

Abilities and properties

• A Tear accepts energy supplied by a user and emits gentle blue purification light. It removes impurities from other power gems or alien vital crystals, leaving a cleaner energetic essence; it does not normally release a useful independent attack. (Chapters 207 and 211)
• Its filtration is unusually thorough, but it requires substantial sustained energy and skilled balance. Cheaper lower-ranked gems can perform less complete purification, which explains why Tears were initially considered poor value despite their S rank. (Chapters 207, 211, and 746)
• Purified animula energy can revitalize cells and support exuviation, cultivation, and life extension. The research explicitly warns that stable healing benefits require experience and that results for weaker Adepts or non-Adepts were initially unknown. (Chapters 461 and 514)
• Tears are consumable strategic inputs rather than endlessly reusable batteries. Large-scale refinement depletes Skyfire's cache, and half the available training stock is spent while processing one especially powerful vital crystal. (Chapters 514 and 881–882)
• The local text presents auction and research specimens as loose, cut stones. It does not establish a single permanent life-saving necklace called the Tear of Neptune. (Chapters 211, 218, 664, and 746)

Ownership and custody