《Bone Throne Ascendant》 Chapter 1：Spiritual Awakening In Shixi City, within a classroom of Shixi No. 3 High School, by the window sat a slightly tanned teenager. Propping his chin with one hand, he was Kael Vorn, currently looking at the chaotic classroom in sheer boredom. It was already the third year of senior high school. The students who had just returned to school were still in the throes of vacation syndrome, completely oblivious to the fact that the semester had already commenced. "Hey, what on earth did you do during the vacation? You''ve gotten so much darker," his deskmate asked in astonishment after fooling around with other classmates for a while and then plopping back into his seat to eye Kael Vornup and down. "I went to work on a construction site..." Kael Vorn''s family was in a tight financial spot. His parents were both ordinary factory workers, and with two younger brothers in the family, his parents'' meager salaries struggled to make ends meet for the family of five. During the vacation, Kael Vorn, who was now in his senior year, found a job as a handyman at a construction site to earn some extra money for the family. "Seriously? Construction work?!" "Yeah, otherwise, look at my muscles. All that labor paid off," Kael Vornsaid, pulling up his sleeve and flexing his arm, revealing the well - developed muscles that had taken shape during his month - long stint at the construction site. The muscles bulged prominently as he exerted himself. "Wow, that''s amazing!" The deskmate reached out and touched Kael Vorn''s muscles, clearly envious. "Know where I was during the vacation?" the deskmate then whispered conspiratorially. "What did you do?" Kael Vornleaned back against the table behind him, relaxing his body. Squinting his eyes slightly, he asked in a lazy drawl. He knew his deskmate well enough to anticipate his every move. It was as clear as day that his deskmate was about to show off. If he didn''t listen, this guy would be as fidgety as someone with a three - day constipation. "My dad signed me up for a wilderness survival class. I trained there for a month, and now I feel like I''m super strong!" The deskmate grinned from ear to ear, his words oozing with pride. "Sounds like you''re gearing up to head to the Spirit Realm," Kael Vornquipped, shifting his position to lean against the wall, propping his head with one hand. "Absolutely! Once I succeed in Awakening my Spirit, I''ll be your big brother from then on. I''ll definitely look out for you!" The deskmate waved his hand grandly, full of bravado. "Alright, I''m looking forward to it..." "What about you? This semester, it''s time to prepare for Spirit Awakening. Wanna do it together?" the deskmate inquired. "Me? I''ll see how things go..." Kael Vornreplied off - handedly, closing his eyes. As his eyes shut, his thoughts began to wander. Spirit Awakening was a new concept that had emerged on Blue Star in the past three hundred years. Over three hundred years ago, the world was a barren wasteland devoid of the extraordinary, often referred to as the world of the end of the Dharma, where great powers were concentrated within groups. However, with an unexpected event, the world underwent a drastic transformation. Blue Star was ensnared by the Spirit Realm! The Spirit Realm was an incredibly vast world where the extraordinary was manifest. As Blue Star drew nearer to the Spirit Realm, the extraordinary elements within the Spirit Realm started flowing towards Blue Star, much like water naturally seeking lower ground. A continuous influx of these elements flooded into Blue Star. Moreover, from time to time, spatial rifts and planar passages would form, providing pathways for humans to reach the Spirit Realm. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Similarly, creatures from the Spirit Realm could also enter Blue Star. This was both a revolution and a calamity for Blue Star. The creatures in the Spirit Realm included many extraordinary beings, and it was extremely challenging for the mortal forces on Blue Star to resist them. Fortunately, the great will of the Spirit Realm harbored goodwill towards the arrival of a new world. Along with this, various extraordinary inheritances present in the Spirit Realm also made their way into Blue Star. Thus, with the aid of technology and the gradually emerging extraordinary powers, the people of Blue Star managed to defend their homeland and began to explore the Spirit Realm. Spirit Awakening was invented by the sages during this period. Blue Star, once a desolate land in terms of the extraordinary, was filled with mundane beings. Although the extraordinary factors from the Spirit Realm had seeped in, fully transforming Blue Star would still require a significant amount of time. Some people discovered that by venturing deep into the Spirit Realm, capturing and compressing the Spirit Realm''s aura, and then bringing it back to Blue Star and releasing it, they could accelerate the infection of humans by these extraordinary factors. Once the extraordinary factors within a human body reached a certain level, the Spirit Realm would actively capture that person and teleport them into the Spirit Realm. Upon entering the Spirit Realm, some fortunate individuals, with the assistance of the rich magic power there, would successfully awaken their Spirit. Their physiques would transform from mundane to extraordinary, enabling them to engage in cultivation. Only those actively captured by the Spirit Realm could experience this transformation of their physique. Those who entered the Spirit Realm through other portals would forever lose the chance to transform their physical nature. This step was like a fish leaping over the Dragon''s Gate. Once crossed, one could ascend to a higher status. The extraordinary could enhance their abilities through cultivation. There were warriors, knights, sorcerers, mages, wizards, and dozens, even hundreds, of inheritances available for selection and cultivation. The extraordinary world was a realm that inspired longing and an enviable class. As a result, the world was divided into two distinct worlds: the extraordinary world and the mundane world. In the mundane world, the class structure was nearly rigid. As long as one did not achieve the extraordinary, the lower - class people in the mundane world could do little more than work hard to scrape by. They strived to raise children, hoping that their offspring would succeed in Spirit Awakening and become extraordinary. ... Suddenly, the classroom fell silent. Kael Vornlooked up to see the head teacher standing on the podium. The head teacher surveyed the students, taking in their spirits, and nodded in satisfaction. "Classmates, we''ve been together for three years, and now it''s time for us to part ways. This semester... is a crucial turning point in your lives." "Monitor, come and distribute this form," the head teacher said, looking around at the young faces in the classroom. The monitor dutifully distributed a paper form row by row. Kael Vorntook a look and saw: Shixi No. 3 High School Spirit Awakening Application Form! "Classmates, take this form home. After discussing it with your parents, if you''re willing to participate in Spirit Awakening, fill it out and hand it in to me tomorrow." Spirit Awakening was not without risks, and not everyone who attempted it would succeed. Therefore, the state did not mandate that every child participate. The extraordinary had been present for over three hundred years, and Blue Star had long passed its most perilous stage. Now, the people of Daxia had ventured beyond Blue Star, with many entering the Spirit Realm for development and exploitation. Ordinary people who wished to partake in this lucrative journey, similar to the Age of Discovery, or those aiming to leap across class boundaries would choose to participate in Spirit Awakening. For the Daxia state, it did not arrange for the majority of commoner children to learn about the Spirit Realm from an early age. On one hand, educational resources were limited. On the other hand, the upper echelons of society were already crowded, and there was no need for a large influx of new entrants. Both educational and extraordinary resources were scarce. What Daxia needed now was a continuous supply of potential extraordinary individuals, so to speak. Hence, Spirit Awakening was scheduled for the second semester of senior year. If you were willing to take a risk, you could study the knowledge related to the Spirit Realm and ultimately participate in a high - stakes game. If not, you could focus on ordinary studies and become an ordinary cog in the wheel of Blue Star, such as a factory worker, a service industry employee, or someone in the entertainment field. For those with power and influence, their children usually did not need to take such risks. They had access to better education, resources, and equipment, and even had a higher probability of successful Spirit Awakening. Everything seemed predetermined from the moment of birth. So... would you take the gamble? Kael Vorntightly clutched the application form in his hand. He knew he had to take the plunge. Even if it meant putting his life on the line, he had to seize this one and only opportunity. Otherwise, his future would be no different from that of his parents... ... "Alright, you''ve all worked hard cleaning the classroom today. School''s over. Go home early." As the bell rang from the tallest building on campus, the head teacher promptly announced the end of the school day. All the students immediately rushed out in a hurry. Kael Vornwas no exception. He grabbed his schoolbag, climbed out of the nearby window, and sprinted towards the school gate. Despite the start of the school semester, he still had a part - time job. He worked as a waiter in a restaurant near his home. Being a waiter in such a restaurant was extremely arduous, especially for a part - timer. He not only had to serve dishes and clear tables but also had to help with dish - washing at times. What? You think dish - washing is too dirty and tiring and don''t want to do it? Well, if you don''t, you''re out of a job... Kael Vornworked part - time here from six o''clock to eleven o''clock every day, earning twenty yuan a day. It wasn''t a large sum, but considering the circumstances, it wasn''t bad either. Especially now that school had started, suitable part - time jobs were scarce. At least this restaurant provided a meal, which was a plus. Dashing into the restaurant, Kael Vornquickly changed into his work clothes and got down to his work for the day. Chapter 2: Preparations Before Spirit Awakening Late at night, the restaurant that had been abuzz with activity throughout the evening finally quieted down. Kael Vorn carefully gathered some of the more appealing leftover meat dishes. These were intended to be a special treat when taken home. Given his parents'' meager earnings, the family couldn''t afford to have meat every day. Once these leftovers were washed and stir - fried at home, they would be a welcome change for his younger brothers, offering them some much - needed additional nutrition. By the time Kael Vorn got home, it was well past eleven o''clock. His parents, who were still awake, were sitting in the small living room. Hearing the door open, Kael Vorn''s mother quickly stood up. She gently patted his clothes, attempting to remove any lingering dust. Then, she took the packed dishes from him and immediately headed to the kitchen to start cleaning them. His father gestured for Kael Vorn to sit down. "Did your teacher distribute the application form today?" he asked. "Yes, Dad. Here it is," Kael Vorn replied, pulling out the application form. He had already filled it out, leaving only the space for his parents'' signature before it could be submitted. His father took the form and stared at the densely - printed words, remaining silent for a while. Then, he lit a cigarette and took a long drag. "Have you really thought this through?" he inquired. "I have!" Kael Vorn nodded firmly. Through the billowing smoke, Kael Vorn noticed his father''s hand trembling slightly. Clearly, his father was far from calm. "Good! Son, you''re courageous. I''m certain you''ll succeed in Awakening the Spirit!" His father said, patting Kael Vorn on the shoulder with a warm smile. "Alright, it''s getting late. Go wash up and get some rest. You''ve got an early start tomorrow," his father added. Kael Vorn turned and made his way to his room. As he lay in bed, he could faintly hear his mother sobbing softly. Awakening the Spirit was far from a safe undertaking; in fact, it carried an extremely high mortality rate. Out of every ten participants, at least three or four would lose their lives. And among the survivors, only one or two would manage to successfully Awaken the Spirit and obtain an extraordinary physique. For children from poor families like Kael Vorn, Awakening the Spirit was a genuine life - or - death gamble. But it was also their sole opportunity to change their destinies. Success meant a chance to rise above their circumstances, while failure could prove fatal. It was understandable that his parents were worried, yet they didn''t want their concerns to influence their son. Kael Vorn pursed his lips, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind. In the days to come, he needed to be in peak condition. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ... Early the next morning, Kael Vorn arrived at school. Along with the homeroom teacher, he entered the classroom where the classmates'' application forms were being collected. The homeroom teacher stood at the podium, carefully reviewing each form with a serious expression and sorting them into two piles. After a while, the teacher looked up. "Classmates, I''ve gone through your application forms. I''m glad to see that over forty of you in our class have chosen to participate in Awakening the Spirit. Let''s give them a round of applause!" Applause broke out in the classroom. Some students, their faces flushed with excitement, were those who had submitted the forms. Others wore somewhat uncomfortable expressions; these were the ones who hadn''t. In Kael Vorn''s class of over ninety students, nearly half had decided to take the risk and participate in Awakening the Spirit, a relatively high proportion. "Alright, students participating in Awakening the Spirit, stand up and follow me. The rest of you, stay in your seats," the homeroom teacher instructed, clapping his hands. Then, he led the standing students out of the classroom. Some of them felt a bit reluctant to part from their classmates but still followed the teacher determinedly. Before long, under the teacher''s guidance, they reached a new classroom. This would be their learning space after the class division. Here, they would delve into new knowledge, preparing for the upcoming Awakening the Spirit. Their curriculum now included a core course on basic Spirit Realm knowledge, along with two supplementary courses on physical training and wilderness survival. Meanwhile, for the students who remained in the original class, these courses would be replaced with others. ... Awakening the Spirit was a complex process with both straightforward and intricate aspects. The simple part was that once these students were exposed to the Spirit Realm''s aura in the days ahead, they would soon be affected by it. Subsequently, the Spirit Realm would spontaneously open a planar rift and draw them in. The complexity lay in the journey from Blue Star to the Spirit Realm. Traversing the vast expanse of space was extremely dangerous. Many would perish in the spatial tunnel. And even upon reaching the Spirit Realm, safety was far from guaranteed. The location where each newcomer materialized was completely random. Some might land in resource - rich areas, surrounded by valuable treasures, while others could find themselves in perilous spots, facing immediate danger from hostile Spirit Realm creatures. The unlucky ones might even be teleported into the ground, rocks, or a volcanic crater, meeting an instant death. This unpredictability was a major reason for the high casualty rate associated with Awakening the Spirit. The upcoming courses for Kael Vorn and his classmates were designed to inundate them with Spirit Realm survival knowledge, increasing their chances of making it through. Although they were starting to learn about the Spirit Realm now, their ability to retain and apply this knowledge was limited, so they could only focus on essential, general information. In addition to knowledge, physical training was also crucial. Once in the Spirit Realm, they couldn''t expect to return to Blue Star right away. Most would need to survive there for three to seven days. Thus, survival skills and physical fitness were of the utmost importance. Physical strength was a key factor. Unless they were teleported to certain - death locations, the students would have to find safe havens to protect themselves. In the Spirit Realm, a vast variety of creatures roamed. There was a well - known saying on Blue Star: "The most ruthless criminal on Blue Star is still more humane than the kindest spirit in the Spirit Realm." In the Spirit Realm, death was sometimes not the end. There were fates far more terrifying. Souls were often treated as playthings by some Spirit Realm beings, who derived pleasure from torturing both body and soul. This was especially true for these young students on the verge of Awakening the Spirit. Their vulnerable bodies were no match for the countless powerful entities in the Spirit Realm. ... In the following months, Kael Vorn and his classmates immersed themselves in intense studies. Their minds were filled with a flood of Spirit Realm knowledge, as if being force - fed. Morning classes were dedicated to knowledge acquisition, while afternoons were reserved for physical education. They engaged in various exercises, including long - distance and short - distance running, as well as combat training, steadily enhancing their physical fitness and combat skills. During this time, Kael Vorn even gave up his part - time job. His body, like a sponge, absorbed knowledge and sustenance, growing stronger day by day. Chapter 3: Spirit Awakening ball In the blink of an eye, the semester was drawing to a close. After months of rigorous training and study, Kael Vorn''s body had transformed remarkably. He had filled out, his muscles becoming more defined, and he had even shot up in height. Standing at over 1.8 meters tall now, he was a picture of strength, with well - formed muscles that lent him a powerful yet not overly bulky appearance. With the courses completed, a week - long break ensued. This period was dedicated to allowing the students to rest and rejuvenate, preparing them for what lay ahead. Kael Vorn slung his schoolbag over his shoulder and set off at a jog towards home. "¡­It''s 6:11 p.m. on June 7. The eleventh large - scale permanent military base in the Spirit Realm of Daxia has been officially completed. The list of the first - batch legions dispatched for garrison duty has been confirmed. It is understood that the list includes¡­" "Chinese hamburgers! Chinese hamburgers! Only three yuan each!" "¡­" As he jogged along the bustling street, the cacophony of sounds from the loudspeakers of the roadside shops filled his ears. But none of these distractions could slow his pace. In the June heat, even at six o''clock in the evening, the ground, having been baked by the sun all day, still radiated intense warmth. He swiftly crossed the road and ducked into the welcome shade of a building, then continued his run along the street. Before long, an old - fashioned residential area came into view. On a curved iron frame, several large, rust - stained characters spelled out "Guangming Residential Area." Taking two steps at a time, Kael Vorn bounded up the stairs and opened the door to his fourth - floor home. His parents were yet to return from work. One of his younger brothers, who was in junior high school, was boarding at school, and the other, in primary school, should have just finished classes and was likely on his way back. Kael Vorn opened the ancient refrigerator that had served the family faithfully for at least a decade. He rummaged through and took out some ingredients, then set about cooking. His parents'' factory did not provide dinner, so every time he got home, he made it a point to cook and wait for them. The saying "Children from poor families take on responsibilities early" held true in his case. It was debatable whether this was a compliment. In reality, it was more a statement of necessity. Given a choice, no child would willingly take on the burden of work at a young age. A little after seven o''clock, his parents and younger brother had all arrived home. The family of four sat around the dining table, quietly enjoying their meal. On the table were three simple dishes and a bowl of soup: home - style tofu, stir - fried pork with chili peppers, scrambled eggs with bitter gourd, and seaweed and egg soup. Kael Vorn''s cooking skills were commendable. Having helped with household chores since childhood and having picked up some tricks from the restaurant''s head chef during his part - time job, he had developed a knack for cooking. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. At the table, Huo Liren finished his meal first. He put down his chopsticks and looked at Kael Vorn and his younger brother. " I bought you something. It''s in your room. Go take a look later and see if it fits," he said. "Okay," Kael Vorn replied. He quickly wolfed down a few more bites, then headed to his room. Kael Vorn''s room was tiny. Besides a bed, there was scarcely any space left. After placing a desk, the remaining area was filled with books. On the floor, there was a cardboard box. When he opened it, he found a stab - proof vest inside. Kael Vorn opened the packaging and examined the brand. It was a well - known one, and this vest likely cost over ten thousand yuan. His parents'' combined monthly income was only a little over four thousand yuan. Supporting the entire family, including their grandparents back in the hometown, was a challenging task. Saving up over ten thousand yuan would undoubtedly take them years. Holding the stab - proof vest, Kael Vorn''s grip tightened. This was a symbol of his parents'' love, yet from what he had learned about the Spirit Realm, its practical value was limited. In the Spirit Realm, there were few attacks that such an ordinary stab - proof vest could withstand. In a real - life battle situation, the wiser choice might be to find an opportune moment to end his life quickly, sparing himself from the unthinkable tortures that awaited. ¡­ The week passed in a flash. After bidding farewell to his family, Kael Vorn made his way to school. Today was the day of the Spirit Awakening. The school was abuzz with activity. The regular - class students were absent, and the campus was filled with those about to undergo the Spirit Awakening. The school gate was bustling with traffic. Many parents had driven their children to school. "Kael Vorn!" a voice called out from afar. Kael Vorn turned to see his deskmate, Ren Zhengyang, running towards him. In contrast to Kael Vorn, who traveled light, Ren Zhengyang was decked out in an array of gear, with various odds and ends hanging from him. "You''re wearing a stab - proof vest too!" Ren Zhengyang, with his sharp eyes, immediately spotted the vest beneath Kael Vorn''s outer clothing. "Yeah," Kael Vorn replied. "Check this out! I''m even wearing stab - proof pants!" Ren Zhengyang, with a youthful flourish, rolled up his trouser leg to reveal the stab - proof pants underneath. Kael Vorn was accustomed to his friend''s antics and didn''t bat an eyelid. Ren Zhengyang''s family was a small - scale middle - class household. They owned a shop, and their daily life was relatively comfortable. "Here, this is for you," Ren Zhengyang said, tossing a small bag over. "What''s this?" Kael Vorn asked as he caught the small black bag and began to unzip it. "A survival kit! Your big brother takes good care of you, right?" Ren Zhengyang exclaimed, throwing an arm around Kael Vorn''s shoulder, causing the various items on his body to jingle. Kael Vorn opened the survival kit. It was filled with an assortment of useful items: several sharp knives, a first - aid kit, a rope, fire - starting tools, and other miscellaneous gadgets. It was an excellent survival kit. "Not bad¡­ You''re really a great big brother!" Kael Vorn grinned, this time truly meaning it. This small survival kit, though unassuming, would easily cost at least a thousand yuan to purchase. Despite his quirks, Ren Zhengyang was indeed a good friend. Shortly after, the homeroom teacher quickly gathered the class, and they boarded a coach bus. The Spirit Awakening was a perilous endeavor and couldn''t be carried out casually at school. They needed to travel to a specialized location. The students chatted animatedly on the bus, excitedly discussing their post - Awakening plans and envisioning the extraordinary lives that awaited them. The homeroom teacher watched them with a smile, but his expression dimmed as he thought about the harsh reality: at least half of these students might not return alive. After a journey of over two hours, the convoy of coach buses finally reached a base located far from the city center. This was the Spirit Awakening base. A battalion of the Daxia Army was stationed here, tasked with safeguarding the base and the students about to undergo the Spirit Awakening. Shixi City was just a small county. With five high schools in the area, over three thousand students had come to participate in the Spirit Awakening this time. As more and more buses arrived, the place grew increasingly noisy. The students were led into a classroom. The homeroom teacher entered, holding a crystal ball the size of a pomegranate. All eyes in the class were immediately drawn to the object in the teacher''s hand. "Students, this is a simulator of the Spirit Awakening ball you''ll be using. I''ll now demonstrate how to operate it," the teacher announced, standing at the podium. The simulator was for demonstration purposes only and had no real - world functionality. The students watched intently as the teacher demonstrated the operation. This demonstration was crucial, as it held the key to their impending Spirit Awakening. Chapter 4： Teleportation The teacher wrapped up the demonstration in a flash. He even passed around the fake Spirit Awakening ball, giving the students a chance to have a hands-on try. There was still quite a bit of preparation work left. They handed out some compressed food to the students, which was sufficient to sustain them for ten days. The most critical aspect of Spirit Awakening is survival. So, as long as the students can find a safe haven and make it back alive, they stand a chance of successfully awakening their spirits. Even if they don''t succeed, staying alive is already a considerable achievement. With these compressed rations, they won''t have to put themselves at risk just to find something to eat. As the preparatory work gradually concluded, the classroom fell silent. What lay ahead was the life-altering process of Spirit Awakening. The initial excitement had waned, and some students started to feel jittery. They fidgeted restlessly, and some even broke out in a cold sweat from nervousness. Observing the scene before him, the homeroom teacher felt a twinge of sadness. He clapped his hands and said, "Alright, all you future paragons of the extraordinary! Don''t be nervous. Tidy up your gear, and let''s go for the Spirit Awakening!" At this juncture, there was no turning back for any of the students. The state had invested a vast amount of resources. If they were to abandon the Spirit Awakening now, they would face imprisonment. The students trailed after the teacher and filed out of the classroom one by one. Under the teacher''s guidance, they entered a circular arena. It bore some resemblance to a sports field, but instead of open space, it was filled with small, individual rooms. At the sight of this, Kael Vorn knew instantly that this was the Spirit Awakening chamber. According to the records in the books, the Spirit Awakening chamber was a small room of about four square meters. Its walls were constructed from thick cement, devoid of windows, with only a hefty iron door for entry and exit. Spirit Awakening is fraught with uncertainties. Most of the time, those undergoing the process are teleported to the Spirit Realm and then subsequently sent back to Blue Star. During this process, some fortunate individuals leave behind a spatial rift to the Spirit Realm when they are transported back to Blue Star. This spatial rift will either expand or contract over time. If the other side of the expanded rift in the Spirit Realm proves to be relatively safe, the state will take control of it. Subsequently, an expedition team will be dispatched to scout out the situation on the other side. As long as the danger is manageable, it becomes a valuable asset. This is precisely how the large-scale Spirit Realm bases of Daxia came into existence. Of course, if the other side poses too great a threat, the garrison troops stationed at this Spirit Awakening base will use specialized equipment to seal off the spatial rift, safeguarding the safety of Blue Star. Pulling his thoughts back to the present, Kael Vorn, guided by the teacher, stepped into his designated Spirit Awakening chamber. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. After the staff locked the massive door behind him, Kael Vorn took a quick look around the chamber. In the center of the room, there was a Spirit Awakening ball. Besides that, there was a short dagger placed there, intended for the students to use for self-defense and survival once they entered the Spirit Realm. The reason for choosing a short dagger over other weapons was straightforward. The Spirit Realm was teeming with diverse races, most of which were far more powerful than these students. The short dagger served as a basic survival tool. If an enemy could be dealt with using a short dagger, there was no need for more elaborate weapons. Conversely, if a short dagger couldn''t handle the situation, other weapons would likely prove ineffective as well. Firearms were completely useless in the Spirit Realm. Due to the unique magical properties of the Spirit Realm, even fundamental physical and chemical laws differed from those on Blue Star. As a result, hot weapons, which functioned well on Blue Star, were no more useful than a stick in the Spirit Realm. So, a short dagger was deemed sufficient. After all, the primary goal for these students was to stay hidden and alive, not to engage in combat. Surviving was their greatest victory. If one was unlucky enough to encounter a Spirit Realm creature, it was highly likely that they would meet their demise, regardless of the weapon they were holding. Now, it was up to Kael Vorn to face what came next. Kael Vorn first double-checked his backpack and equipment, ensuring that everything was securely fastened and wouldn''t fall off during the process. He slid the short dagger into his belt and then picked up the Spirit Awakening ball from the floor. Gazing at the ball, Kael Vorn''s mind wandered. He thought of his parents, his classmates, and the places where he had worked part-time. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself. "I can''t remain at the bottom of society forever!" With determination in his eyes, Kael Vorn sat down on the floor and opened the lid of the Spirit Awakening ball. An otherworldly aura began to fill the air. With each breath, he inhaled the magical essence of the Spirit Realm into his body. All he could do now was wait. Once his body was fully saturated with the Spirit Realm''s aura, the Spirit Realm would draw him in. Kael Vorn found a comfortable position to lie down, his hand still firmly gripping the dagger''s hilt. Time seemed to stand still. It could have been half an hour or an hour later when a spatial rift suddenly materialized behind Kael Vorn. A powerful suction force yanked him in, leaving no time for him to react. The suction was so strong that it swept through the Spirit Awakening chamber, clearing away all the dust and debris in its path. ... Once inside the spatial rift, Kael Vorn lost all sense of time. In what felt like the blink of an eye, he was transported from the Spirit Awakening chamber on Blue Star to an unfamiliar realm. The spatial rift spat him out unceremoniously, and Kael Vorn found himself in the Spirit Realm. He crouched slightly, immediately checking his body and equipment. Teleportation from Blue Star to the Spirit Realm was inherently risky, and it wasn''t uncommon for people to be torn apart during the process. Relieved to find that all his limbs were intact, Kael Vorn then turned his attention to his gear. His heart sank when he felt a large tear at the bottom of his backpack. At least half of its contents were gone. Holding the damaged backpack, Kael Vorn broke into a cold sweat. He had been so close to disaster! If the rift had torn through his body instead of his backpack, he would be dead. Shaking off the fright, Kael Vorn began to survey his surroundings. He appeared to be in an abandoned city. Vegetation had overrun the streets, with roots breaking through the pavement and vines climbing up the walls of the buildings. Drawing his short dagger, Kael Vorn moved forward cautiously, keeping his steps light. He wasn''t sure if the teleportation had made any noise that might attract unwanted attention, so he knew he couldn''t stay in one place for too long. He crept forward for a few minutes, not daring to venture too far. Although the city seemed deserted and he hadn''t encountered any Spirit Realm creatures yet, Kael Vorn remained vigilant. He spotted a building with a relatively stable structure and made his way towards it, moving stealthily up the stairs. The building was located on a street, flanked by two rows of similar structures, each about twenty to thirty meters tall. Unfortunately, the city had been abandoned for so long that there were no discernible signs or inscriptions to provide any clues about its past. Inside the building, many of the room doors were already ajar. Kael Vorn''s attention was drawn to an iron door that was still locked, but had a large, jagged hole in the center, as if it had been ripped open by a powerful force. Peeking through the hole, Kael Vorn could see that it was irregularly shaped, likely the work of a ferocious beast. It was clear that this place wasn''t entirely safe, but compared to the other buildings in the vicinity, moving forward seemed even more perilous. After some deliberation, Kael Vorn decided to continue exploring the building. He conducted a quick search, listening and looking out for any signs of other life. So far, apart from a few locked rooms, there were no indications of any creatures present. For now, at least, he seemed to be in a relatively safe spot. Kael Vorn found an open room on the third floor. The iron door to the room was mostly intact, though it creaked loudly when he tried to close it, making him freeze in his tracks. Holding the dagger tightly, he began to search the other rooms in the house, his senses on high alert. Chapter 5： Successful Spirit Awakening Gently, Kael Vorn pushed open a wooden door that hung ajar. The room before him was clearly a bedroom. There was a tattered wooden bed, still bearing some bedding, yet soiled and threadbare from the passage of time. A wardrobe stood nearby, and Kael Vorn used his short dagger to nudge open the wardrobe door. The clothes inside were in a pitiable state. With a light touch from his hand, they disintegrated like brittle parchment, having long since succumbed to the elements. Kael Vorn quietly backed out of the room and turned to open another door. As the door creaked open, his heart jolted in his chest. Opposite the doorway, propped against the wall, lay a skeleton. Kael Vorn instinctively held his breath and tightened his grip on the short dagger. Glancing from the skeleton to the dagger in his hand, a sense of unease crept over him. He decided to retreat, moving slowly backwards. Reaching into his backpack, he pulled out a rather large item - a red fire axe. This axe had been retrieved from an old fire box at the base of the building in his home''s residential area. Once home, he had painstakingly sharpened it to a fine edge. Sheathing the short dagger and hanging it from his waist, he hefted the fire axe and re - entered the room with the skeleton. He began by surveying the room''s layout. It was remarkably similar to the previous one. A bed, a large wardrobe, and a bedside table were the main furnishings. The skeleton lay at the foot of the bed, and beneath it was a dark - brown stain. Could this be the residue left after the body had decomposed? Kael Vorn wondered. Approaching the skeleton gingerly, he gently prodded it with the fire axe. To his surprise, the skull rolled away with just that slight touch. Kael Vorn froze in his tracks, startled. After a moment, he regained his composure and continued his examination. The skeleton was a dark gray color, a testament to the long years it had spent in this state. Besides the detached skull, its ribs were strewn across the floor. Kael Vorn leaned in closer and noticed fractures in some of the ribs. Moreover, the leg bones were nowhere to be found, and among the arm bones, only the bones of one hand remained. Suddenly, Kael Vorn''s eyes narrowed. On the bones, he saw what appeared to be teeth marks. He picked up a rib and scrutinized the mark intently. There was no doubt about it - these were human - like teeth marks. Growing up in a poor family, Kael Vorn and his brothers rarely had the luxury of eating meat. When they did get pork ribs, they would devour them with such gusto that the bones were often left with distinct teeth marks. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. Had this person been eaten? The thought sent a shiver down his spine. When they ate cooked pork ribs, they could leave teeth marks easily. But for these marks to be on a human skeleton... had the body been cooked as well? If not, the force required to leave such marks on raw bones was unfathomable. Kael Vorn took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. The skeleton had clearly been here for ages. Even if it had been the victim of some macabre act, the perpetrator was long gone. There was no use scaring himself senseless. Kael Vorn raised the fire axe and began to scatter the skeleton''s remains. He knew of the existence of skeleton soldiers, a type of undead. It was better to be safe than sorry, and destroying the skeleton was a prudent precaution. After that, he checked the last room. It was uneventful, containing nothing more than a dilapidated bed. There were no new skeletons to be found. Kael Vorn carried his backpack to the innermost room. Looking around, he decided to move the rickety sofa to the door. The iron door was out of the question - it creaked loudly with even the slightest movement, and that could attract unwanted attention. The sofa, though not much of a barrier, could at least give him a bit of warning if danger approached. Only then did Kael Vorn have the chance to inspect his backpack. The spatial rift had sliced a large hole in the bottom, and he was eager to see what was left. Opening it, he let out a sigh of relief. Most of the essential items were still there. The tent and some miscellaneous items had been lost, and a portion of the food had fallen out. Thankfully, the survival kit given by Ren Zhengyang was intact. Kael Vorn took stock of the remaining food. If he rationed it carefully, it would last. He quickly cleaned the room. The bed and bedding were in such a state of disrepair that using them was out of the question. He tossed them into another room and swept the floor, resigning himself to sleeping on the hard ground for the next few days. ... Kael Vorn leaned against his backpack and stretched out on the floor to rest. Finally, the tension that had gripped him since the Spirit Awakening process began gradually eased. His current situation was manageable. He had found a temporary haven, and as long as he remained cautious and avoided unnecessary risks, there was a good chance he would survive until he could return to Blue Star. He focused his mind, trying to sense the beacon that, he knew, was in his head. It was the key to his return to Blue Star, but for now, it felt faint and elusive. According to the books he had read, when the beacon felt as if he could crush it in his mind, that would be the signal for his return. Suddenly, an odd sensation coursed through his body, starting from his head. It grew stronger by the second, and Kael Vorn felt as if his mind was being scrambled. He was dizzy, as if he were trapped in a whirling washing machine. Despite the discomfort, a surge of excitement welled up within him. This was it - the Spirit Awakening! He was on the verge of obtaining an extraordinary physique, of leaping over the metaphorical dragon''s gate. With his remaining strength, Kael Vorn clutched the fire axe tightly and fixed his gaze on the door. He was determined to be ready for any unexpected events. Gritting his teeth, he fought to remain silent, knowing that in this perilous Spirit Realm, any noise could spell disaster. ... Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Eventually, Kael Vorn''s consciousness began to clear. He shook his head, still feeling the lingering effects of the dizziness. A metallic taste filled his mouth - it was blood. Touching his face, he found traces of blood around his mouth and nose. Alarmed, he quickly rummaged through his things and found some tissues. In this dangerous place, silence and the absence of any blood - smell were of utmost importance. He wiped his face clean and sealed the blood - stained tissues in a plastic bag to prevent the smell from spreading. As he examined his body, he could feel the changes. His strength had increased, his body felt lighter, and his senses were more acute. Even his mind seemed sharper. It was clear - he had successfully awakened. Chapter 6： Meditation Method and Data Panel Kael Vorn was overwhelmed with excitement, an intense impulse surging within him to laugh heartily towards the sky. Nevertheless, being in the treacherous Spirit Realm, he exercised remarkable self-restraint and held back his exuberance. Just at that moment, a sharp pain shot through his head once more, and a virtual panel suddenly materialized before his eyes. Kael Vorn was taken aback with a start. What on earth could this be! He shifted his gaze and examined it closely. Name: Kael Vorn Bloodline: Human Strength: 1.3 Physique: 1.1 Agility: 1.1 Spiritual Power: 2.1 Skills: None Potential Points: 0 What was this? Could it possibly be a display of his physical attributes? Kael Vorn stared at the semi-transparent panel in front of him, a sense of bewilderment washing over him. He realized that having this panel constantly in his field of vision would pose a significant inconvenience, both in his daily life and during battles. He thought to himself that it would be ideal if he could make it disappear. And as if in response to his thoughts, the panel hovering before his eyes retracted. Huh?! "Come out again," Kael Vorn silently murmured in his mind, his eyes fixed on the vanished panel. Sure enough, the attribute panel reappeared before him. Very good. Even though he had no clue where this panel originated from, having such a data panel at his disposal would undoubtedly make it convenient for him to keep track of his cultivation progress in a timely manner. His strength, agility, and physique were all slightly above 1. By comparison, he deduced that the average data for a normal adult was likely around 1. Evidently, his physical attributes had been enhanced as a result of his successful Spirit Awakening. As for what these potential points signified, he was completely at a loss. Moreover, his spiritual power was the highest, reaching 2.1. It seemed that upon his return, he could cultivate to become a spellcaster. The mere thought of this made Kael Vorn unable to suppress a smile. Subsequently, Kael Vorn picked up the axe and opened the door. He meticulously inspected the entire house, even venturing out of the corridor to check the building from top to bottom. He was on the lookout for any potential danger that might have been attracted during his period of unconsciousness. Not finding anything menacing for the moment, he felt a sense of relief and retreated back inside. Leaning against his backpack, he opened the compressed biscuits, sliced off a portion with a knife, and began to chew on the dry food in silence. Simultaneously, he focused his mind to sense the beacon of Blue Star within his mind and check its energy storage status. To his astonishment, beside the beacon, he also detected the presence of a book. A Blessing from the Spirit Realm! After individuals from Blue Star entered the Spirit Realm, some fortunate ones, upon achieving successful Spirit Awakening, would receive the blessing of the Spirit Realm''s will. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Some would be bestowed with scarce high-level resources, while others would be granted inheritances. In fact, most of the cultivation inheritances that people on Blue Star were currently practicing had been developed by these fortunate individuals. Could it be that he was equally fortunate? Kael Vorn was overjoyed at the thought. He gently probed the book with his mind. "Pop!" The book materialized in the real world and hovered before Kael Vorn. Kael Vorn gazed at the hovering book with a fervent heart. This had to be some form of inheritance. The inheritance bestowed by the Spirit Realm was undoubtedly the most suitable for his physique, and all he needed to do was cultivate according to it. Kael Vorn reached out and took hold of the book. There were several characters on it. Although he couldn''t recognize them, with the assistance of the Spirit Realm, he was able to understand their meaning. "The Magic Book of Alik" Was this the inheritance of a mage named Alik? Recalling what was recorded in the books about the blessings from the Spirit Realm, most of the inheritances bestowed by the Spirit Realm to Blue Star''s inhabitants were indeed of this nature. For warriors and knights, it would typically be the original owner''s weapon or armor, from which they could grasp the inheritance. For spellcasters, their inheritances mostly came in the form of magic books or spellcasting notes. By comparison, magic books were superior, as they were essential companions throughout a spellcaster''s life and contained the most comprehensive content. At this moment, Kael Vorn hoped that the mage named Alik was of a high level. The higher the level, the more invaluable the knowledge left behind would be. Kael Vorn opened the book. On the first page, there were densely packed characters that made his head ache just by looking at them. After being translated by the Spirit Realm, Kael Vorn took a deep breath. This was a mage''s meditation method, the very one that Alik had practiced. "The Breath of Darkness" Judging from the name, the attribute of this meditation method leaned towards the dark side. He thought to himself that he was a cheerful and sunny young man. Why, then, was the inheritance recommended by the Spirit Realm of the dark attribute? The more he pondered over it, the angrier he became. Then Kael Vorn continued to flip through the book. The subsequent content was about spells, and they occupied more pages. The first zero-level spell: The Gray Mist Generally speaking, zero-level spells were often referred to as tricks. Their attack power and various abilities were relatively weak. The Gray Mist was an area spell. Upon casting it, a cloud of gray mist, not covering a large area, would be released. This gray mist had no lethal power and could only serve to obscure the vision. Although it was a zero-level trick, it occupied a substantial number of pages in the spell book, a full three pages. Among them, the spell runes took up one page, the casting skills another page, and Alik''s spell analysis along with various notes filled yet another page. Upon seeing that a mere zero-level spell occupied three pages, Kael Vorn estimated the thickness of this magic book and surmised that the number of spells recorded in it might not be as numerous as he had initially imagined. Kael Vorn continued to flip through the book and came across the second zero-level trick: The Bone Tooth Spell Ability: Utilize magic power to condense a bone tooth. After a brief pause, shoot at the enemy through kinetic energy. The attack distance was 25 times the spiritual power in meters. This was a zero-level spell with offensive capabilities, which was quite impressive. The third zero-level trick: The Touch of Fatigue Spell Ability: Cast the spell to release an illusory tentacle, which induced fatigue in the target until the spell''s conclusion. It was a spell capable of producing negative effects. After reading this, Kael Vorn attempted to continue flipping through the book, but this time he couldn''t. The pages at the back seemed to be stuck and wouldn''t turn. Upon seeing this situation, he understood that with his current strength, he could probably only learn this meditation method and the three zero-level tricks. The spell content at the back would likely require him to attain a certain level of strength after commencing meditation before he could study it. Since that was the case, Kael Vorn didn''t persist in trying. Instead, he flipped back to the first page to examine the meditation method, The Breath of Darkness. He read it carefully and strived to comprehend it. He was astounded when he realized that this meditation method was actually a gold-level one. He had truly stumbled upon a great treasure! According to the statistics on Blue Star, the inheritances bestowed by the Spirit Realm were categorized into five ranks: Black Iron, Silver, Gold, Holy Domain, and Legendary. Most people did not receive the blessing from the Spirit Realm, and the inheritances they could learn upon their return, whether they were the breathing methods for warriors and knights or the meditation methods for spellcasters, were mostly of the Black Iron or Silver rank. Could the inheritances of the Black Iron and Silver ranks be cultivated to a high level? It was possible, but the efficiency would be rather low later on. Gold-rank inheritances were extremely scarce, let alone those of the Holy Domain and Legendary ranks. For commoners like Kael Vorn, they didn''t even have the privilege of hearing the names of inheritances of these two ranks. Kael Vorn looked at the spell book before him with a heavy breath. The Breath of Darkness, he thought, I was wrong. My previous thoughts were hasty. So what if it was of the dark attribute? I, Kael Vorn, loved the dark attribute. If I were to cultivate other attributes, I would feel out of place and wouldn''t be able to make any progress in my cultivation at all. Gold rank, it was truly wonderful!!! Chapter 7： Zombies Kael Vorn perused the meditation method meticulously, word by word, and then committed it to memory. Not only did he pore over the original text, but he also dedicated himself to studying and grasping the meditation techniques and notes left by Alik. These supplementary materials would undoubtedly facilitate his understanding and mastery of the method. After spending half a day in earnest study, Kael Vorn embarked on his first meditation practice. Recalling the steps of the meditation method vividly in his mind, he assumed his most comfortable sitting position and initiated the meditation process. As time trickled by, more than half an hour later, Kael Vorn opened his eyes, astonishment brimming in his gaze. Could it be that he was a natural talent? He had managed to make an initial breakthrough in the "The Breath of Darkness" meditation method on his very first attempt. Sensing the magic power that had been absorbed into his body during the recent meditation, a smile spread across Kael Vorn''s face. After a moment of thought, he summoned his attribute panel to see if there were any changes following this meditation session. Name: Kael Vorn Bloodline: Human Rank: 0th Rank Apprentice Strength: 1.3 Physique: 1.1 Agility: 1.1 Spiritual Power: 2.1 Magic Power: 1.7 Skills: Entry - level "The Breath of Darkness" Potential Points: 0 The panel revealed some notable changes. His rank, 0th Rank Apprentice, now appeared, indicating that only after achieving this basic level of meditation had he truly entered the extraordinary realm. A new attribute, "Magic Power," had been added, yet its value was rather low. Based on his personal perception of his body, Kael Vorn surmised that the magic power value could be further enhanced. After all, this was merely his first foray into meditation. In terms of skills, the addition of "Entry - level ''The Breath of Darkness''" was evidently a result of his recent acquisition of this meditation method. Contemplating these developments, Kael Vorn was filled with excitement. The attribute panel enabled him to monitor his cultivation progress in a timely manner and receive positive feedback. This transformed his attitude towards meditation. Many individuals struggled to persevere in their cultivation due to a lack of observable changes. Once the meditation concluded, Kael Vorn rose to his feet and stretched his body. Then, he leaned forward and peered out of the window. The sky was gradually darkening, and it was estimated that within an hour and a half, it would be pitch - black. Detecting no signs of danger, Kael Vorn sat back down to resume his meditation. At this moment, he was like a child who had just received a fascinating new toy, in a state of exuberance and eager to meditate at every opportunity. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ... Kael Vorn completed another round of meditation. Savoring the abundant magic power coursing through his body, he felt highly satisfied. He called up the panel for an inspection and discovered that none of the other attributes had altered, except for the magic power, which had now increased to 2.1. It seemed that the magic power attribute was indeed correlated with spiritual power. Regrettably, despite possessing a substantial amount of magic power, he had yet to learn any spells, rendering this power somewhat unusable. Kael Vorn clicked his tongue in disappointment. Suddenly, he heard the volume of the sounds downstairs intensifying. This sent a wave of panic through him, causing his face to blanch with fear. He stood up gingerly, grasped the fire axe firmly, and edged slowly towards the window. Through the drafty window, he caught sight of the source of the commotion below. It was a vast horde of zombies, shambling along the road in a disorganized manner. Kael Vorn''s heart pounded wildly in his chest, and his palms grew sweaty. He gripped the fire axe tightly, as if seeking a semblance of reassurance. Zombies were an unintelligent species not commonly encountered in the Spirit Realm. Their origin was straightforward. When a particular world became part of the Spirit Realm, if the races within it could not endure the influence of the Spirit Realm''s aura, they would transform into mindless zombies. In certain regions of the Spirit Realm, such zombies could be found. Although devoid of intelligence, they were capable of naturally absorbing magic power, which sustained their bodily functions. As long as they remained unslain, they could survive for centuries. The zombies that emerged after each world''s integration into the Spirit Realm varied. Some had the potential to grow continuously, attaining colossal sizes, while others were bloodthirsty, relentlessly seeking living beings to prey upon. Furthermore, zombies were capable of reproduction. Despite their lack of intelligence, their reproductive instincts remained intact, leading to the successive generations of zombies. Perhaps in the future, the descendants of zombies might develop intelligence and evolve into intelligent beings within the Spirit Realm. Kael Vorn had briefly skimmed through this information while perusing an encyclopedia of the Spirit Realm. Now, he deeply regretted not having studied the details of zombies more thoroughly. Of course, even if he had studied the information comprehensively, it might not have been of great practical use, as the characteristics of zombies varied from world to world. Some had enhanced visual capabilities, others had acute hearing, and still, others had a highly developed sense of smell. These traits were not discernible from their appearance. By now, Kael Vorn finally understood the fate of the skeleton in the adjacent room. Presumably, the skeleton had fallen victim to the zombies. Although zombies could survive on magic power, they were also bloodthirsty. Any creature that intruded into their territory and was detected would likely become their next meal. The skeleton was probably an unfortunate soul from the past. No wonder there were teeth marks on the bones. Everything now fell into place. There were perhaps over a thousand zombies downstairs, stumbling along the road aimlessly, their destination unknown. Despite their lack of intelligence, zombies had heightened hearing and a keen sense of smell, allowing them to detect sounds from afar. However, they were mostly blind, as they were averse to light. Although sunlight did not harm them, it made them uncomfortable, so during the day, zombies typically sought refuge in dark, secluded places. When night fell, these zombies would emerge in droves, drawn by the various nocturnal sounds to different locations. Kael Vorn was on the fourth floor. As long as he remained silent, he was relatively safe. The zombie horde downstairs, with over a thousand zombies forming a ragged line stretching over a thousand meters, shambled forward unsteadily. At this moment, Kael Vorn dared not rest, fearing that he might make a sound in his sleep or that a zombie might venture upstairs. Fortunately, he had been meditating earlier and had not made any noise. Immediately after the meditation ended, he heard the approaching zombie sounds and cautiously came to investigate. Otherwise, if he had made a noise at that time, the zombie horde would not be moving at this leisurely pace. According to the records in the books, when zombies hunted, their movements were remarkably swift, comparable to the running speed of an average adult. Moreover, among the zombie species, there were many formidable individuals. Although lacking intelligence, their strength grew over time as they absorbed magic power. Generally, the longer a zombie had existed, the more powerful it became. Although the average lifespan of a zombie was only a few hundred years, some fortunate ones, upon amassing a significant amount of magic power, could advance in rank, and their physical strength would increase exponentially. In the records, a mage who had ventured deep into the Spirit Realm once encountered a massive zombie horde. Among this group, there were numerous zombies of the Black Iron and Silver ranks. He even spotted several at the Gold rank. Fortunately, despite their power, these zombies had not acquired intelligence and retained only their primal instincts. Otherwise, the mage''s escape would have been highly uncertain. After waiting for an extended period, the horde of over a thousand zombies finally moved on, alleviating some of the tension in Kael Vorn''s heart. When the zombies were present earlier, his heart had been in a constant state of high alert, and this intense stress was extremely exhausting. Relaxing slightly, he slumped back onto his backpack, still not daring to make any sound. At this point, he dared not resume meditation either, as during meditation, he was in a vulnerable, unaware state, oblivious to external events. Chapter 8： Three Zero - level Spells He was unable to meditate any longer, and sleep was equally out of the question. Thus, he could only lean against the window, making use of the faint moonlight that filtered through. He summoned the magic book again and started to study the three zero-level spells it contained: The Gray Mist, The Bone Tooth, and The Touch of Fatigue. Among these three spells, The Bone Tooth was the clear first choice for study, as it was the only spell with offensive power. The plans to learn the other two spells could be postponed. In this perilous Spirit Realm, having some offensive ability was essential for survival. The Bone Tooth didn''t require a large number of spell runes, yet memorizing them was quite a challenge. Without a teacher''s guidance, Kael had to rely entirely on this magic book for his learning. Mastering a spell was a time-consuming endeavor that demanded a great deal of effort. According to the book, an apprentice usually needed one week to half a month to gain a basic understanding of a zero-level trick. And even then, it merely meant being able to cast the spell, with the risk of failure still looming during the casting process. To cast the spell more swiftly and accurately, extensive and continuous practice was necessary. Fortunately, a failed casting of this sort wouldn''t cause a backlash to the caster. Otherwise, many mages would die during the learning stage before even entering a battle. Mastering spells required a significant amount of time and was a lifelong pursuit. Under normal circumstances, casting a zero-level spell, from the moment of drawing the runes to the successful release, took about three seconds. In ordinary situations, this might not be an issue, but in battle, those three seconds gave the enemy plenty of time to act. Therefore, to use a spell effectively in combat, one first needed to be able to cast it skillfully and successfully, while also shortening the casting time. Some casters could reduce the casting time to one second or even less, casting spells almost instinctively. The advantage of such casters in battle was extremely significant. An apprentice-level caster was at their weakest state. Most zero-level spells lacked lethality. Even those with offensive capabilities had limited destructive power. Besides, the casting time was relatively long, and the risk of failure remained. The amount of magic power within their body was also limited. All in all, they could probably cast only a few spells before running out of magic power. This was the only stage when warriors could gain an advantage over casters. Unlike casters, warriors who fought in close combat relying on their physical strength already had combat ability at the apprentice level. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. By channeling the battle qi they cultivated into their bodies, they could unleash powerful force. Even when their battle qi was exhausted, their well-trained bodies could still support them in the fight. Of course, the power of casters wasn''t just shown in battle. Casters had a wide range of capabilities. An apprentice-level caster, although they couldn''t cast many offensive spells, once they mastered the spells proficiently, they could easily defeat several warriors with their magic. Moreover, even zero-level spells came in various types, including those for disguise, protection, attack, clearing the way, and decoding¡ªall of which could be learned. In contrast, apprentice-level warriors could mainly only slash at people and monsters. As they advanced in rank: Black Iron and Silver rank casters could master more spells, enabling them to deal with various challenges in life and battle. They began to have spells with greater lethality, better control over their magic, and could even learn healing spells. While Black Iron and Silver rank warriors just learned to strike more powerfully. When it came to Gold and Holy Domain rank casters, their spells could basically meet all the needs in combat and daily life. They could use powerful magic to crush their enemies, summon powerful creatures to fight for them, resurrect the dead, teleport over long distances, travel across multiple planes, and even create a space for rest. On the other hand, Gold and Holy Domain rank warriors could slash at their opponents with even greater savagery. Legendary casters were truly extraordinary. They could move mountains and fill seas with a single thought, create or destroy a world, and pick stars from the sky effortlessly. Space was like a thin piece of paper in front of them, and they could travel through countless planes, moving freely even in the deepest abysses. In comparison, legendary warriors could use their legendary physiques and great power to deliver even more powerful slashes. This was the fundamental difference between casters and warriors. This was exactly why casters were nicknamed "Master Caster." Compared with other professions, they were far more powerful. ... It was late at night, a time when sleepiness naturally came. After waiting for a long time and hearing no more sounds of zombies passing by, Kael, whose eyes were almost too tired to keep open from reading, decided to get some sleep. He had already experienced the dangers of the night in the Spirit Realm, but he didn''t know what dangers might lie in this abandoned city during the day. If he didn''t take this opportunity to rest and regain his strength now, he wouldn''t be able to deal with any potential danger tomorrow when he was tired. Fortunately, he didn''t snore when he slept. Otherwise, he couldn''t help wondering if the sound of his snoring would attract the zombies. This thought flashed through his mind just before he fell asleep. ... He didn''t know how long he had slept, but the gentle sunlight shone on Kael''s face, and he slowly opened his eyes. The second day in the Spirit Realm had arrived. Feeling the warmth of the sunlight, he stood up and stretched. After simply satisfying his hunger and thirst, Kael continued to open the magic book to study spells. Learning spells was a process that needed a lot of time and had no shortcuts at all. He tried hard to memorize the runes, constantly visualizing and drawing them in his mind. This was what occupied Kael''s morning. At one point, he took a short break to find a room upstairs to relieve himself. Afterward, he used the items in the room to bury his excrement, preventing any smell from leaking out and attracting trouble. ... As Kael was deeply engrossed in studying the magic book, a series of sounds reached his ears again. Was there no end to this? What kind of trouble could there be in this city during the day? He carefully poked his head out and looked in the direction where the sounds were coming from. Squinting his eyes, he looked for a while and finally saw several green figures at the end of the road. Upon closer inspection, he realized they were goblins! Goblins were a common creature in the Spirit Realm. They were entirely green and were between 1.2 and 1.4 meters tall. They were omnivorous and lived in groups. Most goblins had low intelligence, similar to that of a seven or eight-year-old child. Goblins usually lived in small tribes. Their temperament was both fierce and cowardly, and their courage depended on the number of companions around them. The more companions they had, the bolder they became. At the same time, when a goblin tribe grew to a certain size, some goblins with higher intelligence would emerge. The larger the tribe, the higher their intelligence would be. Some goblin tribes could even develop into goblin kingdoms. These intelligent goblins could also cultivate battle qi and even have casters among them, though the number was not large. Chapter 9： The Battle with the Goblins There were six goblins in this group, and they failed to notice Kael, who had only stealthily peeked out with a pair of eyes. These goblins were stark naked, except for the leader, who wore a necklace crafted from braided grass stems around his neck. The necklace was adorned with several messy bird feathers, which made it stand out among the group. It was evident that this goblin held the position of the head within the gang. Each goblin in the group clutched a weapon, all of which were long spears nearly two meters in length. The spearheads appeared to be hewn from sharp stones, giving them a menacing look. The spear shafts, though not perfectly straight, had these sharp stones firmly lashed with grass ropes, forming their crude yet functional weapons. Judging by their primitive weaponry, it was clear that their civilization level was rather low, and it was reasonable to assume that this goblin tribe wasn''t very large. As the goblins ambled along, they hollered and whooped loudly, which left Kael utterly perplexed. Given their lackluster combat capabilities, weren''t they worried about attracting dangerous predators? The goblins intermittently brandished their stone spears, banged on the walls, and let out ear-piercing shouts. They chattered in a goblin dialect that was completely unintelligible to Kael, and occasionally, they even erupted into raucous laughter. While they were on the move, the group of goblins suddenly split up and entered several buildings in pairs. This unexpected action sent a shiver of foreboding down Kael''s spine. Why on earth were they going into the buildings? Kael swiftly grabbed the fire axe and fastened a dagger around his waist, his eyes fixed intently on the goblins'' every move. After about ten minutes, one group of goblins emerged from the building, carrying several items in their hands. Kael squinted and took a closer look. To his surprise, they had an iron pot and some odds and ends. Were these goblins scavenging for supplies? Kael couldn''t help but wonder. Shortly after, the other two groups of goblins also came out of the buildings, each holding varying amounts of items. Then, after depositing their loot, the goblins dispersed once again and randomly entered other buildings. This turn of events filled Kael with a sense of dread. He silently prayed, hoping fervently that these goblins wouldn''t set foot in the building he was in, let alone his room. Unfortunately, his prayers went unanswered. One group of goblins emerged from the opposite building, empty-handed and muttering curses as they marched straight into Kael''s building. This sight made Kael''s heart sink, as he had been closely monitoring their every step. He had no desire for any unforeseen complications. Now that he had successfully awakened his spirit, received a blessing from the Spirit Realm, and even had an attribute panel that he was yet to fully understand, all he wanted was a smooth journey back to Blue Star. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Once there, he envisioned himself quickly rising through the ranks to become a powerful spellcaster, a figure of great influence and promise. But fate had other plans, and these two goblins were steadily approaching. A single goblin wasn''t overly formidable. Standing at just around 1.2 to 1.3 meters tall, their combat prowess was roughly on par with that of an eleven or twelve-year-old child. However, their savagery was a different story altogether. Those with experience in combat knew the old adage well: the timid cower before the aggressive, the aggressive are daunted by the reckless, and the reckless fear those who have nothing to lose. These goblins, bolstered by their numerical advantage, had the audacity of the reckless. If he had a choice, Kael would have avoided this confrontation at all costs. But as fate would have it, despite his earnest prayers, the two goblins drew nearer. As he listened to the goblins'' unintelligible chatter growing louder, Kael''s initial nervousness gradually gave way to a steely resolve. When faced with this imminent threat, he knew that his only option was to fight with everything he had. Although fear coursed through his veins, he refused to back down. After all, he was tall and robust, and he was confident that he could handle a goblin. If he could just dispatch these two goblins first, dealing with the remaining four would be a much easier task. Kael crouched behind the door, his right hand gripping the fire axe firmly. The fire axe felt like an extension of his arm, and with his enhanced strength after the spirit awakening, he was ready to strike. In his left hand, he held the dagger in a reverse grip, patiently waiting for the goblins to enter. The door was blocked by a dilapidated sofa that Kael had positioned there, but it proved to be no obstacle for the determined goblins. With a powerful shove, they pushed the wooden sofa aside, causing the fabric to tear and sending a cloud of debris and dust into the air. The goblins coughed and spluttered, their voices muffled by the dust. As the goblins'' chatter grew louder, they first opened the other two rooms. It seemed they had stumbled upon the skeleton, and they lingered there for a brief moment. ¡°Creak~¡± The door in front of Kael slowly opened, and a pungent stench of unwashed bodies wafted into the air. Kael held his breath, his heart pounding in his chest. ¡°Gobble-de-gook!¡± The two goblins spotted Kael''s backpack, along with the food and tools piled in the corner of the room, and they let out excited yells. At that moment, Kael, who had been hiding in the shadows, crept out silently. The two goblins stood with their backs to him. One goblin held a bundle of sundries scavenged from the other rooms, and on his head, he even sported the top bone of the skull from the neighboring room. The other goblin brandished a stone spear, and they were engaged in a heated argument. A fierce look flashed across Kael''s face. He raised the fire axe high above his head and then brought it down with a powerful swing, aiming for the goblin holding the stone spear. The axe blade, sharpened to a keen edge, sliced through the goblin''s flesh with ease, aided by Kael''s tremendous strength. ¡°Crack!¡± The goblin let out a blood-curdling scream as its green blood spurted out. It crumpled to the ground, lifeless. The other goblin stood there, stunned, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Seizing the opportunity, Kael wrenched the fire axe free from the goblin''s bone. The sudden movement jolted the stunned goblin back to reality, and it let out a terrified scream. But Kael showed no mercy. He raised the axe once more and brought it down with all his might. The goblin shrieked in terror. With no weapon in its hand, it instinctively raised the sundries it was holding, trying to shield itself from the blow. But Kael''s powerful strike was too much for the puny goblin to withstand. ¡°Smack!¡± The axe, along with the sundries, slammed into the goblin''s body. Miraculously, the goblin managed to survive, thanks to the makeshift shield. Kael lifted the axe and delivered a powerful kick, sending the goblin flying onto the wooden bed. Before the goblin could scramble to its feet, Kael leaped forward and brought the axe down on its forehead. The goblin''s skull shattered, and its brain matter mixed with green blood splattered across the room. It was clear that the goblin was dead. ¡°Whew~ Whew~¡± Kael gasped for breath, his chest heaving. Although he had emerged victorious from the battle, the adrenaline rush had left him feeling weak and exhausted. As someone with no prior combat experience, the sudden release of tension made his entire body feel like jelly. This was the harsh reality of inexperience. No amount of training could prepare him for the intensity of a real fight. Despite his regular combat training with his classmates at school, this was the first time he had ever shed blood. The only other times he had dealt with blood were when he had slaughtered fish and chickens in a restaurant. This battle had been a baptism of fire, intense and unforgettable. Chapter 10： Killing the Goblins Kael planted his foot firmly on the rickety wooden bed. Already in a precarious state, the bed was now on the verge of collapsing completely after the fierce battle that had just transpired. He wrenched the fire axe free from the goblin''s skull, and with that final act, the goblin beneath him finally breathed its last. Suddenly, a faint, glowing speck emerged from the dead goblin''s body and hurtled straight towards Kael. Before he could even register what was happening, the tiny light disappeared into his body. What in the world was that?! Kael was taken aback, but since there were no immediate adverse effects on his body, he decided to put it out of his mind for the time being. He''d examine it later if he managed to survive this ordeal. He scooped up his backpack and tossed in all the food and tools. Fortunately, the backpack had remained free of bloodstains. He stashed the backpack in another room. There was no time to waste; he had to deal with the remaining four goblins promptly. Returning to the goblin''s lifeless form, he picked up a stone spear. Using his dagger, he sliced through the rope securing the stone tip, then discarded the sharp stone and lashed the dagger in its place. As the old saying went, "An extra inch of length can make all the difference in battle." Long-handled weapons indeed held an edge in combat situations. The dagger, compared to the crude stone spear, was far sharper. Its slightly curved blade, with a keen point, made it a more than adequate substitute for a spearhead. Leaning against the window, Kael kept a vigilant eye on the movements of the other two groups of goblins while deftly securing the dagger to the wooden pole with sturdy grass ropes. In no time at all, he had fashioned a new, improved spear that was leagues better than the goblins'' primitive stone spears. Without hesitation, he snatched up the newly made spear and the trusty fire axe and dashed downstairs, making his way into the building where another group of goblins was conducting their search. Just as he was about to ascend the stairs, he heard the unmistakable chatter of the two goblins as they descended. There was no time to climb up now. Quickly, he crouched down beneath the stairs on the first floor. The area was shrouded in deep shadow, and the goblins were unlikely to spot him unless they looked closely. The two goblins, one trailing the other, made their way down the stairs, each clutching some items in their hands. Kael, crouched low at the base of the stairs, took a slow, silent breath and let the first goblin pass by. In a surprise attack, it was often wiser to target the one at the rear. Once the second goblin had also reached the bottom of the stairs, Kael rose to his feet. With a powerful stride, he grasped the two-meter-long spear firmly in both hands and thrust it forward with all his might. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°puff£¡¡± The spearhead pierced through the goblin''s chest with a sickening sound, and a stream of blood began to trickle down the wound. ¡°hoh~¡± The goblin gazed down feebly at the spear protruding from its chest, emitting a pained moan. This cry of distress immediately caught the attention of the goblin ahead. When it turned around, it was met with the sight of the towering Kael delivering a swift kick to its companion, followed by the removal of the spear from the fallen goblin''s body. ¡°Ah!¡± The goblin let out a shrill scream of terror, flinging the sundries in its hands away in a panic, and even dropping its spear in the process. This was the perfect opportunity! Kael wasn''t about to let this chance slip through his fingers. He closed the distance between them in a matter of seconds, driving the spear through the goblin''s back with a powerful thrust and then withdrawing it just as quickly. The goblin spun around, its hands clutching at its chest as blood gushed from its mouth. It stared at Kael with a look of sheer terror in its eyes. Kael, however, remained stoic. He knew that the two goblins in the opposite building had heard the commotion and were now emerging from the building. For the previous four goblins, Kael had had the element of surprise on his side, which had allowed him to dispatch them with relative ease. But now, these two remaining goblins were on high alert. They brandished their spears menacingly and uttered guttural growls, either attempting to intimidate Kael or bolster their own and their companion''s courage. Kael exhaled slowly, gripping the spear tightly with both hands. He bent his knees slightly, assuming a stance that would allow for a quick and powerful thrust. What lay ahead was a direct, face-to-face confrontation, and he couldn''t afford to make even the slightest mistake. The two goblins began to circle Kael slowly, spreading out in an attempt to find any vulnerabilities in his defenses. Kael was acutely aware that he couldn''t afford to wait any longer. Engaging two opponents simultaneously was a dangerous proposition. If he allowed one of the goblins to get behind or to the side of him and waited for them to make the first move, he''d be at a significant disadvantage. With a resounding shout to steel his nerves, Kael charged forward. The sudden outburst caught the goblins off guard. He lunged towards the goblin directly in front of him, the tip of his spear aimed straight at the creature. The goblin, its aggression now fully roused, charged towards Kael in return. But it was clearly outmatched in terms of height. Standing at only around 1.3 meters, the goblin was significantly shorter than Kael. Its shorter stature meant shorter arms, putting it at a distinct disadvantage in a close-quarters fight. Using his well-honed stabbing techniques, Kael deftly flicked his spear, knocking the goblin''s stone spear off course. ¡°puff£¡¡± Kael''s spear found its mark once again, piercing the goblin''s body. This time, however, it wasn''t a fatal blow; instead, it struck the goblin''s shoulder. The goblin let out a howl of agony and reached out to grab Kael''s spear, effectively trapping it in place. For a moment, Kael struggled to pull the spear free. Despite the searing pain, the goblin continued to shout, desperately calling for its companion to come to its aid. After two unsuccessful attempts to retrieve the spear, Kael''s determination hardened. He released his grip on the spear and reached for the fire axe at his waist. ¡°hoh¡«¡± The goblin stared at Kael in a mixture of shock and terror as he brought the axe swinging down. ¡°sizzle£¡¡± The fire axe once again proved its lethality. With a powerful swing, the blade cleaved through half of the goblin''s neck, and the creature''s head lolled to one side as it succumbed to its injuries. In that instant, a faint, glowing speck emerged from the goblin''s body and hurtled towards Kael, disappearing into his form. Meanwhile, the other goblin, who had been on the verge of coming to its companion''s rescue, saw that all of its comrades were now dead. Its bravado instantly evaporated. Goblins were known for their fickle courage; in large numbers, they were as bold as brass, but when their numbers dwindled, they were quick to flee. The goblin promptly discarded its spear and took off running. Kael turned his head and saw that the goblin had already covered more than ten meters. Without a second thought, he knew he couldn''t let it escape. He had no idea how far the goblin tribe was or how many goblins it contained. If this goblin managed to get away and return with reinforcements, he''d be in serious trouble. Kael planted his foot on the goblin''s corpse and wrenched the spear free. He took off after the fleeing goblin, his long legs carrying him quickly. But the goblin was running faster and faster. Kael took a running start and hurled the spear with all his might. The spear sliced through the air in a graceful arc. With a sickening ¡°puff£¡¡± sound, it embedded itself in the goblin''s thigh, its great kinetic energy bringing the creature to a halt. The goblin was now unable to run. It struggled in vain to pull the spear out of its bone, forced to hobble forward slowly with its severely injured leg. It didn''t take long for Kael to catch up. With a single, decisive swing of the axe, he ended the goblin''s life once and for all. Chapter 11: Potential Points Upon concluding the battle, Kael didn''t dare to tarry. After a brief respite, he shed his blood - stained outer garment, remaining clad only in his stab - proof vest. Subsequently, shouldering his backpack and lugging all his possessions, he set off along the road. Staying put was out of the question. With the corpses of the six goblins lying there, and the pungent smell of blood permeating the air, who could say whether it might attract other perils? Furthermore, he was still in the dark about the presence of other goblins in the vicinity. He had just finished a strenuous fight with these goblins and was thoroughly drained of physical energy. If a few more goblins were to materialize, the outcome of the encounter would be highly uncertain. Walking with utmost caution for half an hour, Kael slipped into another building. After a quick reconnaissance, and finding no signs of danger, he took up residence in a relatively clean room. After a cursory sweep to clear away the dust and debris, Kael slumped onto his backpack. The battle and the subsequent trek had truly worn him out. Recollecting the recent skirmish, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of lingering fear. Fortunately, he had managed to dispatch most of the goblins through surprise attacks. Otherwise, if all six had charged at him simultaneously, it would have been an arduous struggle. This train of thought led him to recall that during the battle, after two of the goblins had perished, two faint light spots had hurtled towards him. What on earth were these two luminous specks? Kael conducted a thorough self - examination but discovered nothing amiss on his person. With a mental command, he summoned his attribute panel. Sure enough, there were alterations on the panel. Name: Kael Bloodline: Human Rank: 0th Rank Apprentice Strength: 1.3 Physique: 1.1 Agility: 1.1 Spiritual Power: 2.1 Magic Power: 21/21 Skills: "The Breath of Darkness Meditation Method" Potential Points: 2 The potential points, which had hitherto been at zero, had now increased to 2. How had this come about? Could it be that he had acquired them by slaying those two goblins? But why hadn''t he received potential points upon killing the other four goblins? This conundrum left Kael perplexed. Kael attempted to allocate the potential points to attributes such as strength but found it impossible to do so. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. So, what precisely were these potential points, and what purpose did hoarding them serve? Unable to fathom the answer, he decided to set the matter aside for the time being... After the battle and the lengthy walk, Kael''s stomach began to growl. He retrieved some compressed biscuits and began to nibble on them. He refrained from overeating, for he knew that after such intense physical exertion in the battle, a full stomach would likely induce drowsiness. He still wasn''t certain if he had eluded danger, and this was hardly the time to sleep. After a short rest, he once again leaned against the window to better gather auditory information. Then he summoned the magic book and readied himself to resume his study of the spell "The Bone Tooth." Suddenly, the attribute panel, which had previously receded from view, popped up again, accompanied by a line of text. "Do you wish to utilize potential points to expedite learning?" What! Could potential points actually hasten the learning of spells? Kael was taken aback. After a moment''s reflection, he clicked "Yes." The panel then retracted once more. Seeing this, Kael didn''t dare to waste a moment and bent his head to commence learning the spell. This learning experience was nothing short of astonishing. It was as if a veil had been lifted from his eyes. The runes, which had previously seemed arcane and impenetrable, now appeared as straightforward as one plus one. He could effortlessly conjure them in his mind. If learning spells before had been akin to a primary school student grappling with advanced mathematics, now it was as easy as a university student performing basic arithmetic. Was this the might of potential points! Potential points, go for it! Let me see just how far you can take me! Kael''s heart was ablaze with excitement, but he didn''t dare to pause. He couldn''t afford to squander this precious learning opportunity. ... As evening descended and the sun began to set, Kael roused himself from his intense study. The enhancement provided by the potential points had been expended, and Kael had emerged from that seamless learning state. Nevertheless, the learning during this period had reaped rich rewards. He silently traced the magic runes in his mind, and three seconds later, a sharp tooth, the size of a peanut, materialized and hovered beside him. The spell "The Bone Tooth" had been successfully cast! "Whoosh!" This bone tooth hurtled through the air with a piercing sound and struck another building, more than thirty meters away on the opposite side of the road. It left a hole in the building''s wall, the size of a human head. Although it failed to penetrate the wall, the damage it inflicted was substantial. Had it struck a goblin''s head, it would have undoubtedly splattered it. The attack range wasn''t overly extensive. Calculated based on his spiritual power of 2.1 multiplied by 25, it was merely 52 meters. However, for an apprentice, this was still a respectable distance. As he continued to practice meditation in the future, his spiritual power would steadily increase, and the attack range would surely expand. He called up the panel and examined his attributes once more: Name: Kael ... Magic Power: 18/21 Skills: "The Breath of Darkness Meditation Method", Zero - level Spell: "The Bone Tooth" Potential Points: 0 Sure enough, the potential points had been depleted. This was truly a remarkable resource. Regrettably, he had no idea how to obtain potential points consistently. The two light spots that had appeared when he killed the goblins were likely the potential points. But why had they manifested when two of the goblins were slain and not when the other four were? If he could amass hundreds or even thousands of potential points, learning spells would become a breeze. Glancing at the magic power consumption, casting "The Bone Tooth" once depleted three units of magic power. In his current state, he could only cast the spell seven times in total. Conversely, casting the spell consumed relatively little spiritual power. His spiritual power of 2.1 was more than adequate for the time being. Nonetheless, this was still a significant improvement over his previous situation. Now he finally possessed the ability to launch a long - range attack. If he had had this capability during the earlier battle with the goblins, he could have eliminated them one by one from a distance, without even revealing himself. Channeling his spiritual power, Kael scanned all the dilapidated buildings within a radius of over fifty meters and detected nothing out of the ordinary. Now he could rest easy. He had learned to harness his spiritual power after mastering his first zero - level spell. With the aid of spiritual power, reconnaissance would be far simpler in the future. At the very least, when moving to another building, he wouldn''t need to scurry up and down for a search. A simple scan with his spiritual power would suffice. However, this form of spiritual power scanning also exacted a heavy toll on his spiritual energy. In just a few minutes of use earlier, Kael''s spiritual power had plummeted from 2.1 to 1.9. By calculation, if he used his spiritual power to scout at full tilt, it would last for less than half an hour. As for when his spiritual power was completely drained, the recovery time was measured in days. Spiritual power differed from magic power in that it recovered at a much slower pace. Even if he sat down to meditate, the recovery rate was still slower than that of magic power. Chapter 12: The Horde of Zombies Magic power and spiritual power are intricately linked and mutually reinforcing. The upper bound of spiritual power sets the limit for magic power, and through meditation, one can cultivate magic power and expand its ceiling. As magic power grows, it, in turn, spurs the growth of spiritual power. Despite having mastered an offensive spell, Kael still lacks confidence in this treacherous Spirit Realm. If he were surrounded by goblins or a horde of zombies, a few invocations of "The Bone Tooth" would hardly prove sufficient to extricate him. After vigilant observation for an extended period, with no immediate signs of goblins in pursuit, the knot of anxiety in Kael''s heart began to gradually unwind. Leaning against the window, he slipped into a state of shallow meditation to restore his magic power and spiritual energy. Meditation exists in two forms: shallow and deep. In the shallow state, Kael remains attuned to the external world. Any unusual occurrence will prompt an immediate response from him. In contrast, during deep meditation, all his external perceptions are blocked. He will only rouse from this state when the meditation concludes or when he is attacked. However, the efficiency of shallow meditation pales in comparison to its deep - state counterpart. Previously, Kael had habitually engaged in deep meditation. But now, having identified two significant threats, the goblins and the zombies, he could no longer afford to be so foolhardy. The appearance of a few goblins or zombies during his deep meditation would spell disaster. The silver lining is that both deep and shallow meditation can substitute for sleep. The circulation of magic power within his body can effortlessly dissipate physical fatigue, a fact that brings Kael a sense of relief. Now, he can not only rest through meditation but also maintain vigilance against potential external threats during this time. ... As night deepened, rustling sounds gradually emerged on the otherwise deserted street. Glancing out of the window, Kael failed to spot the source of the noise. Caught off - guard for a moment, he then recalled his newly acquired spiritual - power ability. With a faint smile, he activated his spiritual - power scan. Eventually, he located the source of the sound downstairs, diagonally opposite¡ªa small, scrawny mouse. The discovery of a mouse in this forsaken city, alongside the ever - present zombies, came as a complete surprise. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Unlike zombies, which instinctively absorb the magic power of the Spirit Realm to sustain their bodily functions despite their lack of intelligence, this mouse evidently lacks such an ability. So, how does it manage to survive in this desolate place? Before Kael could fully ponder this question, the faint patter of approaching footsteps reached his ears. Looking up, he saw another horde of zombies advancing. Zombies seldom move alone. Their highly developed auditory senses enable them to pick up a plethora of sounds unconsciously, including the footsteps of their fellow zombies. To their ears, these sounds are indistinguishable from those made by potential prey. Thus, when one zombie begins to move, others will gradually converge, and over time, a large horde forms and continues to grow. Another zombie horde was passing by downstairs, causing Kael to hold his breath. This city was aptly named a "city of the dead," as zombies emerged to roam the streets every night. In stark contrast to Kael, who remained hidden and silent, the mouse downstairs continued to scurry about heedlessly, occasionally emitting a few high - pitched squeaks. A knowing smile crept across Kael''s face; he knew the mouse was in trouble. As Kael had anticipated, the zombies, still over a hundred meters away, detected the sound made by the mouse. Several lead zombies lifted their heads, halted in their tracks, and cocked their ears to determine the origin of the sound. In no time, they pinpointed the mouse''s location and charged towards it. These zombies were stark naked, their emaciated frames paradoxically filled with sinewy muscles. Their skin, pale from long - term lack of sunlight, made them resemble ghosts as they sprinted towards the unsuspecting, foraging mouse. The movement of the leading zombies was like a spark igniting a powder keg. In their wake, the rest of the horde took off running. "Rumble!" The thunderous sound of the charging zombie horde reverberated, the pounding of their footsteps deafening. The terrified mouse immediately scurried towards its lair. But by then, the leading zombies had closed in. They pursued the mouse into the building, their pursuit setting off a chain reaction. The entire horde, a seething mass of bodies, followed suit, squeezing into the building like a writhing dragon of humanity. Kael quickly deployed his spiritual power to monitor the mouse''s situation. The panicked rodent scrambled up the staircase railing, emitting shrill, terrified squeaks. Hot on its heels, several zombies thundered after it, their heavy footsteps kicking up clouds of dust. Just as the poor mouse rounded a corner and reached the mid - point of the second - floor landing, a massive hand shot out and grabbed it. "Smack!" The mouse let out a final, desperate squeal as it was ensnared by the zombie. In an instant, its short life came to an end. The zombie''s gaping maw, filled with yellowed teeth, opened wide, and the mouse disappeared inside, leaving only its twitching tail protruding. "Crunch!" As the zombie''s teeth clamped down, a jet of the mouse''s blood spurted from its mouth. The sound of the zombie''s chewing was almost audible to Kael, who watched in horror. The spilled blood was quickly lapped up by another zombie, which crouched on the ground, licking the steps clean. After what seemed like an eternity, the frenzied horde of zombies finally quieted down. Kael, who had recoiled in fear as soon as the chase began, was left shaken. The sight of hundreds of zombies in full - throttle pursuit had been terrifying. Ordinarily, zombies shuffled along at a snail''s pace, akin to feeble old men. But when on the hunt, they transformed into sprinters, capable of astonishing speed. By Kael''s reckoning, if a single zombie were to chase him, there was no way he could outrun it. Discovery by zombies would undoubtedly mean certain death. With a large number of zombies congregating downstairs, Kael dared not move a muscle. He could only intermittently use his spiritual power to scan and scout the area. The zombies gradually calmed down, a jumbled mass of bodies after the chase. The horde lingered downstairs for a while before slowly dispersing, resuming their journey along the road. This finally allowed Kael to release the breath he had been holding. The pressure exerted by the hundreds of zombies downstairs had been overwhelming. He had been so tense that he dared not even let his heart rate accelerate for fear of being detected, nor did he dare to sweat, lest the scent attract the zombies'' attention. It took over an hour for the zombies downstairs to finally disperse, and they staggered away, one by one, into the night. Chapter 13:The Bone Tooth Spell As the zombies gradually moved farther away, Kael wiped his forehead, as if attempting to rid himself of the non - existent cold sweat. He had to concede that he had underestimated these undead creatures. This particular horde wasn''t even all that large, numbering only a few hundred. Presumably, none of them had attained the strength equivalent to that of a Black Iron - rank professional. Yet, even these ordinary zombies had generated such a terrifying ruckus. It was daunting to envision just how fearsome hordes of tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of zombies would be. This night was fated to be anything but tranquil. Whether it was the lingering trace of the mouse''s blood in the air or the commotion from the zombies'' recent frenzied dash, it was bound to draw in more of the undead. Immediately after the zombies departed, Kael slipped into a state of shallow meditation as a substitute for sleep. Periodically, he could hear the approaching sounds of additional zombies. Each time this occurred, he would halt his meditation, waiting for the horde to pass before resuming. The zombie hordes that night varied significantly in size. The largest ones boasted two or three thousand zombies, the smaller ones had several hundred, and the tiniest horde consisted of merely a dozen or so. It seemed that this dozen - strong horde had either just formed or had been left behind by a larger group. Some hordes simply passed by without incident, while in others, a few zombies clumsily made their way up the building where the mouse had met its demise. Witnessing this scene, Kael yearned to relocate as soon as daybreak arrived. Who could endure being so terrified and on edge throughout the night? He hadn''t anticipated that the scent of a single mouse''s blood could entice zombies to keep coming upstairs to investigate. Then, just how many zombies would the corpses of the six goblins he''d slain during the day attract? The very thought of the scene was too terrifying to contemplate. For the zombies, it would likely be a veritable feast. Once all the zombies had left, Kael shook his head and once again entered the state of shallow meditation. ... As the sky began to lighten and the sun was on the verge of rising, Kael''s countenance grew grave. Dozens of zombies still loitered downstairs. This was the last wave of zombies. After a long journey, they had chanced upon this location, and a few more had caught the whiff of blood and were currently searching upstairs. Sure enough, the worst - case scenario had materialized. This batch of zombies had already sensed the change in light, and it was highly likely that they wouldn''t continue moving forward. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. This was disastrous. If these zombies didn''t press on, once the sun fully rose, they would inevitably enter the buildings on either side to escape the sunlight. At the moment, Kael dared not stir and could only pray that these zombies wouldn''t enter the building he occupied. But fortune did not favor him. After the sun ascended, the faint sunlight began to spill onto the ground. The sunlight fell upon the zombies, causing them to lift their heads and emit soft hisses. Although the sunlight couldn''t harm them, they detested the sensation it brought. One by one, they shuffled into the buildings on both sides. Even in Kael''s building, several zombies had entered. This terrified Kael to the point where he scarcely dared to breathe, for fear that the slightest noise would draw the zombies'' attention. Fortunately, he had chosen a relatively high floor, and currently, the zombies were all confined to the first and second floors. Kael didn''t stint on using his spiritual power to check the number of zombies in his building. There were a total of five, with three on the second floor and two on the first floor. What should he do? Should he remain in place and await the zombies'' departure on their own after nightfall? The moment this thought crossed his mind, Kael dismissed it. There were far too many uncertainties with such a plan. No one could predict what the zombies would do next or whether they would venture up to the fourth floor. And waiting until night was even more perilous, as it would mean entrusting his fate to the whims of the undead. Kael considered using a rope to lower himself slowly from the fourth floor. It seemed like a viable idea, and he did have a rope in his backpack that his deskmate had given him. However, when Kael surveyed the room, he found that there was nothing sturdy enough to secure the rope and support his weight. The furnishings in the room were all in a dilapidated state, and the window frame was especially flimsy, barely more than a skeletal structure. It was hard to believe that it could bear the weight of his descent. With a soft exhalation, it seemed that the only option left was to fight his way out. Kael slowly sat down, closed his eyes, and periodically used his spiritual power to observe the movements of the few zombies downstairs. As the sun steadily climbed and its rays shone more brightly, these few zombies gradually retreated to the dark corners of the rooms where the sunlight couldn''t reach. Observing this, Kael thought that if he were extremely cautious and made no noise while traversing the corridor, these zombies likely wouldn''t emerge. But, unfortunately, there was a zombie positioned right in the middle between the first and second floors, taking refuge from the sunlight. This was the inevitable route for Kael to descend. After waiting for an hour, there was still no indication that this zombie would leave. Kael knew that he couldn''t afford to wait any longer. The longer he waited, the more variables there would be. He carefully slung his backpack over his shoulders, picked up the spear fashioned from a dagger and the fire axe, and crept out of the room on tiptoes. After all, Kael wasn''t completely defenseless now. He still had his spells. It was a pity that the attack of the Bone Tooth spell traveled in a straight line and couldn''t bend around corners. Otherwise, Kael could have easily dispatched the zombie from upstairs with a well - aimed shot to the head. Through his spiritual power detection, he discovered that during the day, the zombies were all in a state of keeping their eyes closed, minimizing the expenditure of their bodily functions. Only when the sun''s rays directly hit them would they be compelled to move and seek out another shaded corner. Kael quietly made his way downstairs. When he reached the third floor, through the gap in the stairwell, he could already make out the zombie lurking in the corridor. The structure of this building featured windows on the walls both in front of and behind the stairwell, which were originally designed to illuminate the corridor. Now, this very light was confining the zombie''s movement. Sunlight streamed in from both above and below, effectively trapping the zombie in a corner. Otherwise, this zombie would likely have already entered a room. Since he had spotted the zombie, Kael had no intention of getting any closer. He mentally sketched the runes, and in the blink of an eye, three seconds elapsed, and a small Bone Tooth materialized and hovered beside Kael. "Whoosh!" The Bone Tooth sliced through the air, producing a faint sound. The zombie, with its eyes closed, seemed to have heard the noise, and its ears twitched slightly. But before it could react, the Bone Tooth''s attack had already landed, hitting it squarely in the head. "Bang!" The zombie that was struck had its head blown apart. Thick blood and brains splattered everywhere, and the stench of blood began to permeate the air. On the other side, Kael didn''t dare to move an inch. He maximized his spiritual power scan to monitor the movements of the remaining zombies in the building. The few zombies had clearly heard the commotion and smelled the blood, but they neither opened their eyes nor stirred. This discovery elated Kael. It seemed that during the day, in the presence of sunlight, this group of zombies posed a significantly lower threat. Chapter 14: Hunting Just at that moment, a faint glimmer of light shot out from the zombie whose head had been exploded and landed squarely on Kael. ¡°Huh? What on earth is this!¡± An idea flashed through Kael''s mind. Could it be that slaying a zombie could also augment his potential points? He halted in his tracks and summoned his attribute panel. Name: Kael ... Magic Power: 18/21 Skills: ¡°The Breath of Darkness Meditation Method¡±, Zero - level Spell: ¡°The Bone Tooth¡± Potential Points: 0.5 Sure enough, the potential points had increased by 0.5! Having already experienced the advantages of potential points, Kael was elated. These potential points were truly invaluable. A single zombie could only yield 0.5 potential points, which was less than what a goblin provided. Could it be because zombies lacked intelligence? At this thought, a spark of excitement ignited within Kael''s heart. Why not eliminate all these remaining zombies! The few ghastly and ferocious zombies in the room now seemed oddly endearing in Kael''s eyes. He seemed to see several potential points beckoning to him. However, after a moment''s reflection, Kael suppressed his greed. He hadn''t yet escaped from danger, and he couldn''t place himself in a more precarious situation merely for the sake of these few potential points. As long as he remained alive, there would always be opportunities in the future. Currently, Kael was still far too weak. With this in mind, Kael wasted no more time. He tiptoed down the corridor, taking great care not to make the slightest sound. He carefully stepped over the corpse of the zombie whose head he had blown apart, avoiding the bloodstains on the ground. Once downstairs, Kael shouldered his backpack and changed his direction, intent on distancing himself from these zombie hordes. In the original direction, he had passed by several zombie hordes the previous night. Based on his current speculation, those zombies were likely lurking in the corridors on either side to avoid the sunlight. If he were to walk that way now, he might very well find himself in the midst of a zombie horde. So, Kael slowly made his way in the direction he had come from the day before, planning to find another building to take refuge in. But the Spirit Realm was perpetually full of surprises. Before he had taken more than a few steps, he heard sounds approaching from ahead. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! He dropped to one knee and listened intently, his expression changing involuntarily. The sounds emanating from not too far away were precisely the same as the goblin voices he had heard the day before. There were likely goblins up ahead. Could it be that the goblins had traced the trail he had left behind yesterday and had come to exact revenge?! That couldn''t be right. A whole night had passed, and so many zombies had roamed the area at night. How could they still manage to track him down? There was no time for further contemplation. Kael no longer cared about concealing his footsteps. He spun around and took off running. After all, there were zombies all around, and they dared not emerge during the day, so it was relatively safe. After running for about a hundred meters, he turned his head and saw a line of green figures appear on the street in the distance. Kael dared not run any further. He utilized his spiritual power to locate a building devoid of zombies and clambered in through a gap in the first - floor window. He cautiously climbed up to the fourth floor, hid in a room, and leaned against the window to observe the goblins'' situation. There were far more goblins this time than the ones he had encountered the previous day, at least over twenty of them. They were creating a ruckus, running amok. They chattered incessantly, and from time to time, some of the goblins engaged in rough play. The weapons in the hands of these over - twenty goblins were no different from those of the goblins he had seen yesterday. There were even a few more goblins sporting feather - grass necklaces. Upon seeing this, Kael dared not stir at all. With such a large number of goblins, their combat prowess was definitely beyond what he, a newly - initiated apprentice mage, could contend with. With his ¡°The Bone Tooth¡± spell, which could be cast once every three seconds, even if these goblins remained stationary, he could only eliminate seven of them. When it came to close - quarters combat, the situation was even more hopeless. Three goblins attacking simultaneously would be more than he could handle. For the time being, he could only conceal himself well and hope that the goblins wouldn''t detect his presence. This group of goblins strolled along the street, periodically knocking on the walls of the buildings and making a racket. Sometimes, one or two goblins would venture deep into a building and emerge after a short while. What were they up to? The goblins'' actions perplexed Kael. In such a perilous place, they ought to strive to make as little noise as possible. Why were these goblins being so brazen? Finally, these goblins drew near the building where Kael had once taken shelter. There were dozens of zombies in this vicinity. What would transpire when these goblins encountered the zombies? This piqued Kael''s curiosity. He peeked out with a pair of eyes from upstairs and stared intently at the goblins not far away. These over - twenty goblins formed a long line, and two of them entered a building once again. This caused Kael''s heart to tighten as he watched. There were several zombies in this building. Before long, the two goblins rushed out of the building, chattering loudly with excitement in their voices. What was going on? Kael was bewildered. Although he couldn''t understand what the goblins were saying, he could sense the exuberance in their tone. With the shouts of these two goblins, the remaining goblins also erupted into jubilant cries. They charged into the building with their spears in a frenzy. The distance was too great for Kael''s spiritual power to reach, so he couldn''t discern what was happening inside the building. However, after approximately ten minutes, these goblins emerged. Some of the goblins had blood on their spears, and they exited the building in high spirits. Kael, who had been observing them closely, witnessed a scene that made his pupils contract slightly. The goblins at the rear, in pairs, carried out the zombies! These zombies were now thoroughly dead. Marks of being stabbed by spears were visible on their bodies, and black blood dripped onto the ground along the wounds. The hands and feet of the zombies were bound to the goblins'' spears and carried out of the corridor by the goblins. None of the three zombies in that building had managed to escape; they had all been slain. This was not the end. Subsequently, the goblins scoured several more buildings, killed the zombies within, and then, just like tying up piglets, bound the zombies to their spears and carried them downstairs. The most recent time, Kael was able to use his spiritual power to monitor their movements, and naturally, he wouldn''t let this opportunity for observation slip by. As soon as the goblins discovered that there were zombies in this building, they began shouting to summon their comrades. Then, seven or eight more goblins charged in. Once the goblins found the zombies, they all wore grins on their faces. In stark contrast were the zombies. Although they heard the goblins approaching, they did not open their eyes and did not even stir. One goblin bared a malevolent smile and then thrust his spear straight into the zombie''s chest. The sharp stone spear pierced the zombie''s body. Only then did the zombie react. It suddenly opened its eyes and flailed its hands desperately, but it was already too late. With its chest pierced through, it was no longer able to get close to the goblin. Then, another goblin stabbed the zombie with a stone spear once more, putting an end to the zombie''s life. Chapter 15: Obtaining Potential Points But even after this zombie had been slain, creating such a ruckus and filling the air with the stench of blood, the other zombie in the same room showed no signs of rousing. Its ears twitched faintly, and its nostrils flared, indicating that it had heard the commotion and caught the scent of blood, yet its body remained utterly still. Before long, this zombie, just like its fellow, was effortlessly slaughtered by the goblins and then lashed to a spear and carted downstairs. These over twenty goblins swiftly dispatched around a dozen zombies. One by one, they heaved the corpses onto their shoulders and retraced their steps along the street they''d come from. Upon witnessing this, Kael finally grasped why these goblins made such a racket during the day and scoured these buildings. Evidently, they were on the hunt for these zombies. As for what they did with the zombies after killing them, Kael surmised that they likely ate them. Goblins were omnivorous denizens of the Spirit Realm. There was nothing they wouldn''t devour, from grass roots to rotting cadavers. They even feasted on the bodies of their own kind, let alone these zombies. Although these zombies were bereft of intelligence, their bodies harbored no viruses. They had simply ended up in this state because their consciousness had been obliterated by spiritual energy. Perhaps in the eyes of the goblins, these daytime zombies were nothing more than ambulatory slabs of meat. Kael watched from his vantage point upstairs as the goblins carried the zombie carcasses further and further away until they vanished from sight. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Kael suddenly burst out laughing. He had been so pent - up in the Spirit Realm for so long, and in that moment, his spirits finally soared. The zombies during the day remained completely immobile, like sitting ducks. The goblins had given Kael a brilliant example. Potential points, here I come!!! He set down his gear, then hoisted his spear and fire axe and headed downstairs. Activating his spiritual power, he pinpointed a building housing zombies and began ascending the stairs, step by cautious step. He stepped into a room, and there, in the gloomy corner, stood two zombies. Knowing that zombies wouldn''t move was one thing; actually facing them was quite another. Kael sized up the zombies. They weren''t markedly different from humans, yet they exuded an air of profound dread. Their skin was pallid, likely a result of never being exposed to sunlight, and was caked with grime. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. The two corpses before him were male, and he could even make out their obvious physiological organs. These zombies were probably from the second - generation or later. That is, they were the offspring of zombies reproducing among themselves. Despite their lack of intelligence, driven by their reproductive instincts, they continued to swell the ranks of the zombie population. Although zombies had few opportunities to acquire sustenance, they could still grow by harnessing magic power. The only drawback was that they were rather gaunt. Kael''s mind raced in that instant, and now it was time to get down to business. First, he traced the runes and conjured a Bone Tooth, but instead of releasing it, he let it hover in mid - air. This was a safeguard he had put in place. In the event of any unforeseen circumstances, Kael would have a means of defense. Having done this, he gripped the spear tightly with both hands and, summoning all his strength, thrust the spear through the zombie''s chest. The zombie was instantly roused. It let out a low, guttural howl, flailing its hands about. Its hands were tipped with sharp nails as it tried to attack Kael. But the length of the spear kept the zombie at bay. Simultaneously, Kael kept a close eye on the other zombie''s movements. Seeing that the other zombie remained motionless, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. The spear remained lodged in the zombie''s heart, and before long, the zombie was completely lifeless. But after waiting for a while, no light spot materialized, and Kael felt a twinge of disappointment. Nevertheless, he quickly rallied and once again picked up the spear to dispatch the other zombie. Alas, fortune did not smile upon Kael. This zombie, too, failed to bestow any potential points upon him. But Kael had grown accustomed to such setbacks. He hefted the spear and eliminated all the remaining zombies in the building. This time, luck was on his side. Two zombies emitted light spots, and he accrued an additional potential point. A smile spread across Kael''s face. He surveyed the surrounding buildings, his eyes alight with hunger, like a wolf sizing up its prey. As Kael continued his onslaught against the zombies, he finally encountered something different. Amidst the ceaseless killing, he had seen both male and female zombies, as well as quite a few elderly ones. In this building, he at last came across a juvenile zombie. Unlike adult zombies, this juvenile still had a smattering of hair, though it was dry and brittle. Perhaps before long, that hair would also fall out, just like that of the adult zombies, leaving it bald. At first, he had intended to spare it, but then Kael wondered if juvenile zombies could consistently yield potential points. In the end, he blew the juvenile zombie''s head apart. Regrettably, it was no different from adult zombies. There was no guarantee of potential - point generation. ... After nearly two hours of grueling combat, Kael finally eradicated all the dozens of zombies in the vicinity and reaped bountiful rewards. Name: Kael Bloodline: Human Rank: 0th Rank Apprentice ... Magic Power: 21/21 Skills: "The Breath of Darkness Meditation Method", Zero - level Spell: "The Bone Tooth" Potential Points: 7.5 In total, he had slain nearly forty zombies, yet the number of potential points he''d amassed was only seven, falling far short of Kael''s expectations. Even now, he still hadn''t fathomed the precise mechanism by which these potential points were generated. Sometimes they manifested on robust zombies, and other times on decrepit ones. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason. However, Kael wasn''t one to waste mental energy on things he couldn''t figure out. He shouldered his backpack and, while the sun was still high in the sky, set off to find a new hiding place. He had realized that not only did zombies frequent these street - side buildings, but goblins were also regular visitors. This was no place to linger. There was a real risk that one day he might be trapped in the building by zombies or goblins, and that would spell disaster. He moved briskly, taking care not to make excessive noise. After more than an hour, he finally stumbled upon a suitable location. This place resembled a residential complex, surrounded by a wall. When Kael reached the gate, he noticed some characters emblazoned on the top of the gate. Evidently, these were likely the written characters of the humans in this city. He gave them a cursory glance but didn''t dwell on them, as he couldn''t understand them anyway. If one wished to understand the languages of the denizens of the Spirit Realm, aside from learning, the simplest method was to employ the Black Iron spell: Language Comprehension. When this spell was cast, one could understand the words of the Spirit - Realm creatures for the duration of the spell. Of course, this spell could be cast not only by mages but could also be crafted into spell scrolls by them and used by other professionals, which was rather convenient. Chapter 16: The Crazy Learning Speed The residential area Kael had chosen presented a rather appealing sight. Not only was it enclosed by walls within, but it also offered spacious areas flooded with abundant sunlight. This aspect was of utmost importance. Sunlit locations naturally deterred most zombies. And without zombies, there would be no allure for goblin hunting parties. Thus, relatively speaking, Kael would be far safer taking refuge here. There were seven tall buildings in total within the residential area, each standing over twenty floors high. Subjected to the wear and tear of time, the houses had assumed a somewhat dilapidated look. The wall tiles had fallen off, and the lower parts of the walls were overgrown with climbing plants. Presumably, these plants would further hasten the decay of the buildings. Kael selected the building with the best illumination. After placing his backpack aside, he initiated a thorough exploration of the residential area. Employing his spiritual power, it took him approximately half an hour to conduct a comprehensive scan of all seven tall buildings. It was truly remarkable how much more convenient spiritual power made things. There was no longer any need to painstakingly open doors and check each floor one by one. Despite the emptiness of the residential area, there were still around a dozen zombies dispersed among the various buildings. After eliminating them one by one, Kael was delighted to acquire two additional potential points. Returning to the open square of the residential area and savoring the warmth of the sunlight, Kael engaged in deep contemplation. The zombies in the buildings surely couldn''t have been the original inhabitants of this residential area. They must have passed through from other places at night and, being unable to leave the area, had remained there ever since. In such a vast residential area, the complete absence of mice was likely due to them having been devoured by the zombies. Since he intended to use this residential area as his hiding place for the next few days, safety was, of course, his top priority. Given that there were no zombies during the day, making a bit more noise wouldn''t have a significant impact. Kael made a circuit around the walls of the residential area. Besides the two main gates at the front and back, there was a gap in the wall. How this gap had come about was a mystery, but now that he had discovered it, he was determined to address the issue. At the residential area''s gates, the once - sturdy iron gates had long since been corroded by time, covered in rust, and their remaining defensive capabilities were uncertain. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Nevertheless, Kael closed them. Subsequently, he began a process of "house - dismantling," hauling out all the furniture on the verge of rotting from the lower - floor houses. He then piled this furniture at the two main gates and the gap in the wall. With these obstacles in place, as long as he refrained from making loud noises at night, even if a horde of zombies approached, they would likely bypass this residential area due to the wall''s obstruction. Zombies were essentially blind and devoid of intelligence. When confronted with su ch barriers, they wouldn''t persistently try to break through but would simply follow the walls and move on. After completing all these tasks and with some time still remaining, Kael shouldered his backpack and climbed directly to the fifteenth floor. This floor boasted the best sunlight, with an apartment layout that allowed for excellent cross - ventilation from north to south. Moreover, it was at a sufficient distance from the ground floor, making it an ideal spot to set up a temporary abode. Subsequently, Kael cleared out all the unusable furniture from this room and stacked it in the opposite room. After a meticulous search up and down, he finally managed to gather enough basic furniture. In a sense, he had established a home in this Spirit Realm. He even stumbled upon a quilt in a sealed compression bag left by the original owner in the wardrobe. It was a great find. Kael promptly made the bed. It had been three days since he''d arrived in the Spirit Realm, and now he could actually sleep in a proper bed. Kael returned to the room, seated himself on a chair, and began munching on compressed biscuits. His current living situation wasn''t bad, except that the food left something to be desired. However, he knew he couldn''t be overly picky. After satiating his hunger, Kael watched as the sun on the horizon set once again, and the pitch - black night descended anew. He turned around, retrieved his magic book, and commenced studying by the faint moonlight. His next objective was to master the remaining two spells. "Do you wish to use potential points to expedite learning?" "Yes!" ... As the moon ascended above the treetops, Kael, who had been studying assiduously for several hours, finally put down his magic book with a satisfied smile. He traced the runes in his mind and channeled magic power. "Gray Mist!" A cloud of gray mist materialized at Kael''s command, emerging in mid - air. Then, the entire cloud slowly drifted down towards the ground. Success! He then proceeded to cast the other spell: "Touch of Fatigue!" The spell was successfully cast, but he was unable to find a suitable target to apply it to. After searching in vain, Kael had no choice but to test the spell on himself. An illusory tentacle coiled around Kael''s body and then vanished. Suddenly, a profound sense of fatigue engulfed Kael''s body. If he had to liken it to an experience, it was as if he had spent the entire morning engaged in strenuous brick - carrying. He was extremely exhausted. I need to rest! Kael thought to himself. He quickly dispelled the magic and finally managed to shake off that overwhelming fatigue. Now that he had learned both zero - level magic spells, the next step was to delve deeper into their study and practice more intensively to enable quicker spell - casting. He summoned his attribute panel to review his current attributes. Name: Kael Bloodline: Human ... Skills: "The Breath of Darkness Meditation Method", Zero - level Spells: Bone Tooth, Gray Mist, Touch of Fatigue Potential Points: 5.5 Spending four potential points to gain an initial understanding of these two zero - level spells was an extremely rewarding bargain. Previously, learning these two spells would have taken him at least around twenty days. But now, he had accomplished it in just a few hours. Even the most brilliant geniuses in history might not have been able to achieve such a feat! However, at this moment, he was still unable to turn the pages of the magic book to access new spells. It seemed that there was little hope of obtaining new spells from it in the near future. Subsequently, Kael''s attention turned to the meditation method, "The Breath of Darkness." Since spells could be learned more rapidly with the aid of potential points, he wondered if the same applied to the meditation method. At this thought, Kael''s breathing quickened with anticipation. Without hesitation, he put away the magic book, assumed a comfortable position, and entered a state of meditation. "Do you wish to use potential points to accelerate learning?" As expected! Potential points could indeed accelerate the learning of the meditation method! With that, Kael immersed his consciousness in meditation, slipping into a deep meditative state. Now, after Kael''s efforts to fortify it, this residential area was relatively secure. Thus, entering a deep meditative state for a short period wouldn''t pose any risks. He was now eager to uncover the full extent of the accelerating effect of potential points on meditation. Come on, potential points! Let me see just how far you can take me!!! Chapter 17: The Dragon "Huff!" Kael emerged from his deep meditation. This time, with the aid of potential points, the process had been astonishingly seamless. Magic power, which had previously eluded his grasp like a wily sprite, now seemed as docile as a lamb, readily ensnared by his spiritual power and drawn into his being. Alas, the scarcity of potential points was a persistent thorn in his side. The contrast between this meditation and his usual efforts was like night and day. After gathering his thoughts, Kael summoned his trusty attribute panel to assess the fruits of his labor. Name: Kael ... Spiritual Power: 2.6/2.6 Magic Power: 26/26 Skills: "The Breath of Darkness Meditation Method", Zero - level Spells: Bone Tooth, Gray Mist, Touch of Fatigue Potential Points: 0 The potential points had been depleted, but the results were nothing short of spectacular. His spiritual power had surged by 0.5, and his magic power had climbed by a full 5 points. This was a colossal leap, effectively boosting Kael''s combat prowess as a spellcaster by a substantial quarter. Gazing at his enhanced stats, Kael''s lips curled into an uncontrollable grin. He let out a silent, jubilant laugh. This method was far more efficient than his previous, painstaking attempts at magic power meditation. A quick estimate told him that this meditation session had likely consumed no more than two hours, yet the effects were palpable. In contrast, the previous night''s extended meditation had yielded no discernible increase in his powers. The difference was staggering! Of course, the prior meditations hadn''t been entirely in vain. Perhaps the gains were simply too minuscule to register on the attribute panel. The thought of tomorrow already danced in his mind. Should he venture out to slay more zombies? After all, during the day, these undead creatures were as defenseless as sitting ducks. Taking them down would be as easy as plucking low - hanging fruit. A greedy spark ignited in Kael''s heart, and he promptly began formulating plans to amass more potential points in the future. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ... As the night wore on, Kael wasted no time and slipped into a state of shallow meditation. Every bit of magic power he could accrue was precious, and besides, meditation served as a viable substitute for sleep. Suddenly, a thunderous "Roar!" reverberated across the distant sky, jolting Kael out of his meditative trance. The abrupt interruption triggered a backlash of magic power, causing his body to throb with pain and his heart to pound erratically. In that moment, his discomfort was forgotten. The terrifying roar had piqued his curiosity, and he rushed to the window, eager to identify the source of the sound. In the inky blackness of the night sky, the moon cast a faint, ethereal glow. By its light, Kael finally made out the fearsome creature responsible for the commotion. A dragon! A magnificent, winged behemoth soaring through the heavens! Kael gulped nervously. Dragons were the stuff of legends in the Spirit Realm, creatures of unfathomable power. Adult dragons typically boasted combat capabilities at the Sanctuary level. Even the more diminutive dragon species often reached the Gold Rank in strength. They were veritable powerhouses, with robust frames, impenetrable scales, and fearsome claws and fangs. Moreover, every dragon was imbued with the ability to wield magic, a gift bestowed by their ancient, powerful bloodlines. As they matured, arcane knowledge was passed down within their very essence, and sometimes, a simple slumber was all it took for them to master these formidable spells. Such a creature was a walking treasure trove. Every part of a dragon held value. Their scales were prized for crafting armor, their hides were ideal for mage robes and high - grade spell scrolls, and their blood made for potent magical ink. A dragon''s meat was a delicacy among warriors, capable of enhancing physical prowess, while its bones were the stuff of which legendary weapons and staves were made. Not a single part of a dragon was wasted. Even their saliva and excrement were valuable commodities, used to nourish magical plants with a potency rivaling the most powerful fertilizers. At that moment, the dragon, lost in its aerial acrobatics and furious roars, was oblivious to the presence of a curious, albeit insignificant, human observing from a nearby residential area. Kael squinted, using the moonlight to study the dragon. The distance between them was considerable, likely several kilometers. Fortunately, his vantage point on a high floor, combined with the dragon''s luminous scales, allowed him a clear view of the majestic creature. It was evident that the dragon was locked in a fierce battle. Its wings beat furiously, and it unleashed gouts of dragon''s breath as it swooped and circled. Alas, the distance blurred the details, and Kael was unable to determine the dragon''s species. However, by comparing its size to the surrounding buildings, he surmised that it was not yet fully grown. Measuring around six or seven meters in length, it was likely a juvenile or young dragon. Despite its youthful appearance, its power should not be underestimated. Juvenile dragons often boasted combat prowess at the Silver Rank, and some young dragons even reached the Gold Rank. In all likelihood, a single spurt of saliva from this dragon could spell doom for Kael. This realization only deepened Kael''s curiosity. What could possibly be challenging such a fearsome creature? A horde of zombies, perhaps? But zombies were notoriously devoid of valuable loot, even those that had managed to gain some semblance of power. Shrugging off his musings, Kael decided to simply enjoy the show. He leaned against the window, watching with rapt attention as the dragon continued its aerial assault. It was inevitable that the dragon''s raucous display would attract the attention of nearby zombies. Their sensitive hearing would pick up the noise from kilometers away, and they would surely be drawn to the source. Kael couldn''t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for whatever was on the receiving end of the dragon''s fury. If it was zombies, they might stand a chance, but if it was another, more vulnerable creature, they were in for a world of trouble. After all, the dragon could simply take to the skies and make its escape, leaving its opponent at the mercy of the approaching horde. Despite their individual weakness, a large enough horde of zombies could prove a formidable force. Their numbers could compensate for their lack of individual strength, and the outcome of such a confrontation was far from certain. Chapter 18: Return The dragon persisted in its attacks for a while longer. Evidently, its dragon''s breath had been depleted, as it now circled the sky, unleashing furious roars. Regrettably, Kael still couldn''t comprehend the dragon''s language. Otherwise, he''d be able to decipher those thunderous roars. However, Kael surmised that the dragon was likely hurling some rather colorful curses at the moment. It seemed that the adversary the dragon was facing was no pushover, considering it hadn''t been overpowered by the dragon. Otherwise, the dragon wouldn''t be in such a state. Before long, the dragon took off, grumbling and growling as it flew away. From the vantage point of the tall building, numerous flickering lights still dotted the battlefield. Yet, due to the vast distance and the obstruction of buildings, the finer details of the battle remained obscured. After enjoying this "spectacular show," Kael readied himself to rest once more. His meditation had been disrupted that night, making it ill - advised to resume immediately. He needed to allow his body to recover. He lay down on the bed, eager to catch some sleep. But scarcely had he closed his eyes when, in the now - silent night, he heard the faint rustling of footsteps. Kael swiftly sprang up and peered out of the window. A massive horde of zombies was trudging past the residential area. Thankfully, the two gates of the residential area and the gap in the wall had been blocked by Kael during the day. When these zombies encountered the barrier, they didn''t attempt to force their way through. Of course, if there were sounds or the telltale scent of blood within the residential area, the walls would likely prove ineffective in halting the zombies'' advance. The zombies veered around the residential area''s walls and made their way towards the battlefield where the dragon had been attacking, as if irresistibly drawn by some powerful force. Whether it was the clamor of the battle or the alluring smell of blood remained uncertain. But for Kael, it was immaterial. Even if there were priceless treasures on offer, he had no intention of venturing out at night. In such a terrifying city, going out at night was tantamount to offering himself as easy prey for the zombies. Without even seeing it, he could easily imagine that perhaps the zombies within a twenty - kilometer radius were all shambling towards the battlefield. After experiencing the dragon battle that night, Kael resolved to abandon his plan to hunt zombies. He was still far too weak. Even though zombies had minimal offensive capabilities during the day, this abandoned city was doubtless teeming with more than just zombies and goblins. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Given that such a rare creature as a dragon had made an appearance, it wouldn''t be the least bit surprising if other formidable Spirit Realm creatures emerged. There was no sense in taking unnecessary risks for the sake of potential points. Kael had a promising future ahead. As long as he remained cautious and a bit circumspect, he was bound to achieve great things. Moreover, he aimed to be the master of the potential points, not their captive. Although potential points could expedite his cultivation, Kael knew better than to rely solely on them. Otherwise, he''d be no different from a slave to these points. ... Time flew by, and soon it was the seventh day. According to the norms of Spirit Awakening, students teleported to the Spirit Realm typically stayed for three to seven days. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, today was the day for Kael to return to Blue Star. The Blue Star beacon in his mind had nearly completed its energy recharge. It was estimated that within an hour or so, the beacon would be fully charged, and he could then make his return journey. Ever since witnessing the dragon that night, Kael''s overconfidence had been thoroughly deflated. As a mere apprentice - rank mage with only three zero - level spells under his belt, there were countless creatures in the Spirit Realm far more powerful than him. With such limited might, he couldn''t afford to be reckless. So, for the past few days, he had been holed up in the tall building, biding his time. Each day, aside from attending to his basic needs, he sat cross - legged on the bed, engrossed in meditation. As the saying goes, "Hard work pays off." Through his daily meditation, Kael had indeed made progress. Name: Kael Bloodline: Human ... Spiritual Power: 2.7/2.7 Magic Power: 27/27 Skills: "The Breath of Darkness Meditation Method", Zero - level Spells: Bone Tooth, Gray Mist, Touch of Fatigue. Potential Points: 0 Thanks to these days of meditation, his spiritual power had increased by 0.1, and his magic power had also seen a slight boost. Calculating the time spent in meditation, it took approximately four days to achieve this 0.1 increase in spiritual power. His meditation speed was quite commendable. According to the records in the magic book, for an apprentice mage to break through to the Black Iron rank, their spiritual power needed to reach ten times that of an average person. Based on Kael''s current spiritual power and cultivation pace, it meant that it would take roughly a year. A year! In just a year, he could become a Black Iron mage! This was a monumental leap in rank. Kael closed his eyes and envisioned his future life. In his ordinary existence, Kael''s family had very little room for upward mobility. His parents'' combined monthly income was a meager four thousand or so. And both of them were already forty years old. After all these years, they were still ordinary workers, and it was clear that there was no chance of promotion for them. As for Kael, if he hadn''t succeeded in the Spirit Awakening this time, he would have had to enroll in a technical college. After graduating four years later, he''d likely follow in his parents'' footsteps. After graduation, he''d find a job in a factory. Perhaps, after saving up for a few years, he''d marry an ordinary woman, start a family, and lead a life mirroring that of his parents. This was not the life Kael desired, which was why he had come for the Spirit Awakening. Fortunately, he had been successful! Currently, his top priority was to stay alive, with improving his strength taking a backseat. As long as he remained alive, even as an apprentice - level spellcaster, he would earn significantly more than his parents. As long as he was alive, there was hope. At the very least, he could enable his hard - working parents, who had toiled for so many years, to finally take a well - deserved rest. He could finally become the mainstay of the family! This was the primary reason why Kael hadn''t ventured out to hunt zombies in the past few days. He no longer needed to risk his life. Even by meditating and cultivating steadily, he could reach the pinnacle of the apprentice rank in a year. Why take unnecessary risks? Sensing that the Blue Star beacon in his mind was finally fully charged, Kael stood up and gathered all his equipment, strapping it firmly to his body. He walked over to the window and took one last look at the desolate city outside. The empty streets, the dilapidated walls, and the overgrown plants. "I''ll be back!" Kael gazed intently for a moment and then, without a moment''s hesitation, summoned the Blue Star beacon in his mind. Looking at the beacon in his hand, which resembled an hourglass, Kael grasped both ends firmly and applied a gentle but decisive force. "Pop!" The beacon shattered, and Kael took two steps backward. At the spot where the beacon had broken, an oval - shaped teleportation gate materialized. On the other side of the gate, a warm, inviting aura emanated. That was Blue Star on the other side. Kael adjusted his gear and took a bold step forward, entering the gate. With a blinding flash of light, the teleportation gate remaining in the Spirit Realm began to contract until it vanished completely. Chapter 19: A Successful Return In the Spirit Awakening Base of Shixi City on Blue Star, the staff had been swamped with work over the past few days. Since the third day of the Spirit Awakening event, students had been trickling back from the Spirit Realm at irregular intervals. Some students were fortunate enough to return in the same state as when they left. However, others were less lucky, coming back battered and bruised. In such cases, the staff had to quickly don the hats of medical personnel and rush to treat these students. Inside the command room of the Spirit Awakening Center, a spacious hall was occupied by dozens of individuals. Among them were the base''s own staff, officers from the Daxia Army garrisoned there, as well as university teachers and teaching assistants. At the front of the command room, a large - scale screen was installed, displaying the detailed topographic map of the entire Spirit Awakening Center. This setup enabled real - time surveillance of all the Spirit Awakening Chambers. The moment a student in any chamber opened a spatial rift and made their return, the unique aura generated by the spatial rift could be promptly detected. "It seems that Shixi City won''t manage to establish a fixed spatial channel this time either," remarked a burly officer seated in a high - backed chair, his eyes fixed on the monitoring screen. "Commander Zhao, if a fixed spatial channel could be created so effortlessly, it might not necessarily be a boon," chuckled a middle - aged man clad in elegant attire. He was the county magistrate of Shixi City and had been actively involved in the base''s operations in recent days. "That''s a fair point," Commander Zhao replied with a wry smile and a shake of his head. Currently, this Spirit Awakening Base was under the garrison of Commander Zhao and his troops. A battalion of the Daxia Army boasted considerable combat prowess. Comprising over three hundred members, all the enlisted soldiers were apprentice - rank warriors. The non - commissioned officers and officers above the squad - leader level were filled by professionals of the Black Iron rank. As for the battalion commander, Commander Zhao had reached the Silver rank, making him a formidable warrior. On Blue Star, every fixed spatial channel leading to the Spirit Realm was a double - edged sword, both a potential goldmine of vast profits and a lurking source of great danger. Each time students were teleported to the Spirit Realm, they landed at different locations. The teleportation site could be a safe haven or an extremely perilous area. The danger wasn''t restricted to the terrain. Some students were teleported into the midst of alien tribes. Even if they were fortunate enough to survive and managed to leave behind a fixed spatial channel, the garrison might hesitate to preserve it upon their return to Blue Star. Occasionally, the indigenous races in the Spirit Realm could even reverse - invade Blue Star through these channels. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Killing and blood sacrifices were common practices among many Spirit Realm creatures. They offered such sacrifices to their gods, seeking divine favor and a boost in power. In the over three - hundred - year span since the Spirit Realm laid claim to Blue Star, such incidents had occurred innumerable times. Especially in the initial decades, Spirit Realm creatures launched frequent invasions. Their extraordinary martial might rendered Blue Star''s technological weaponry largely ineffective. In the end, extreme measures like nuclear bombs often had to be deployed, completely obliterating the area around the spatial channel. However, this was a pyrrhic victory for both Blue Star and Daxia. But the ingenuity of Blue Star''s populace should not be underestimated. Some wise sages had developed a magic - power potion, which significantly improved the situation. There was a specific reason why all the ordinary soldiers in the Daxia Army were apprentice - rank professionals. They were fated to remain at the apprentice rank throughout their military careers, with no prospects of promotion. Most of them either lacked the courage to participate in the Spirit Awakening ceremony or had failed in the attempt. After enlisting, they were administered a special potion and then dispatched to the Spirit Realm base. Under the influence of this potion, they acquired an extraordinary constitution. Nevertheless, this shortcut came with a drawback, capping their potential and confining them to the apprentice rank for life. This was precisely why, despite having an established base in the Spirit Realm, students were still compelled to risk their lives by participating in the Spirit Awakening ceremony and being randomly teleported to the Spirit Realm. The fixed channels in the Spirit Realm originated from the students who had participated in the ceremony and left them as a legacy. Those who entered the Spirit Realm through these channels would not awaken an extraordinary constitution. Yet, through the use of the potion, many individuals who otherwise couldn''t awaken an extraordinary constitution were able to attain an apprentice - level constitution. This substantially augmented the strength of the people of Blue Star and Daxia. Even apprentice - rank professionals were far more powerful than ordinary folks. With an increasing number of Blue Star inhabitants mastering extraordinary inheritances, along with apprentice - rank professionals serving as the backbone of the military and a growing number of Black Iron and Silver - rank officers, the people of Blue Star finally began to gain some ground against the Spirit Realm''s indigenous races. The tide started to turn, and the people of Blue Star began to expand beyond their home planet, establishing and growing their bases in the Spirit Realm. The Spirit Realm bases brought a plethora of advantages. Firstly, the spiritual energy density on Blue Star was extremely low, making cultivation on Blue Star a much more arduous task compared to in the Spirit Realm. As a result, many chose to enter the Spirit Realm and cultivate within the bases. Simultaneously, these bases functioned as crucial outposts. Many individuals ventured deep into the Spirit Realm to hunt for valuable magical materials and resources. Some even established plantations adjacent to the bases, cultivating a variety of magical substances. Consequently, for these Spirit - Awakening students who were fortunate enough to leave behind a fixed spatial channel, it was a mixed blessing. If the other side of the channel was a safe zone, it was all well and good. But if it led to a dangerous alien - occupied area, then this battalion of the Daxia Army would be called upon to defend. They would have to withstand the initial onslaught of the enemy. If the enemy''s strength and the level of danger were too overwhelming, the painful decision to destroy the spatial channel would have to be made. ... As the dazzling light of the spatial rift dissipated, a teenager materialized in the previously empty Spirit Awakening Chamber. Kael had returned. He surveyed the Spirit Awakening Chamber, a place that felt both strange and somewhat familiar, and his elation welled up, becoming impossible to suppress. Before long, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from outside the thick iron door. Kael looked up. Through the small aperture in the iron door, he caught sight of two pairs of eyes peering in at him. "Spirit Awakening Chamber No. 1078 is in normal condition. The student is in good health, with no visible injuries and no fixed spatial channel detected," a soldier outside the door reported into his walkie - talkie. "Received. Escort him to the testing room," came the new directive from the walkie - talkie. "Yes, sir!" Kael, inside the room, listened to the exchange. This was a standard procedure. After all, students returning from the Spirit Realm might have had a wide range of experiences. They could potentially carry hidden dangers from the Spirit Realm, and it wouldn''t be unheard of for the returned individual not to be the original student at all. "Click~" The thick iron door swung open from the outside, and the warm sunlight of Blue Star streamed into the dimly lit Spirit Awakening Chamber once again. Chapter 20: The Phantom The two who came to retrieve Kael presented distinct appearances. One, clad in work attire, was evidently a staff member here. The other, in military uniform, was clearly a soldier of the Daxia Army on garrison duty. "Student, kindly hand over your weapons to me for safekeeping," the soldier stated, his eyes fixed firmly on Kael, one hand resting on the gun at his waist, ever - vigilant for any erratic behavior. "Alright," Kael complied readily, handing over the spear and fire axe he held to the soldier. At the apprentice rank, firearms held significant potency. Even Kael''s zero - level spell, the Bone Tooth, had an attack power scarcely comparable to that of a sniper rifle bullet, and its range paled in comparison to that of a sniper rifle. The soldier accepted the spear crafted by Kael. Upon seeing the dried blood on it, an admiring glint flickered in his eyes. Evidently, this student had faced enemies in the Spirit Realm and triumphed over them. "Student, follow us. We''re headed to the testing room first," the staff member said, taking the lead. The soldier trailed closely behind Kael, maintaining a watchful eye. Kael followed the staff member along the corridor. On either side of the corridor were the Spirit Awakening Chambers. Currently, they were all vacant, enshrouded in darkness. Furthermore, at intervals of approximately fifty meters, a tall sentry tower stood. Kael looked up and beheld two soldiers on guard in the tower. A heavy machine gun was mounted there, exuding formidable firepower. Then he averted his gaze and obediently tailed the staff member. Before long, the trio arrived at the testing room situated beneath the command room. The testing room exuded an atmosphere of cleanliness and brightness. In the spacious hall, incandescent lights cast a brilliant glow. A gentle coolness from the air - conditioner wafted through the air, mingling with the refreshing scent of air freshener, which instantly invigorated them. "Student, you''re assigned to Testing Room No. 7. Best of luck! May you have an outstanding awakening experience," the staff member said, clenching his fist in a show of encouragement after guiding Kael to the testing room. "Thank you," Kael replied softly. The testing room was the place where students who had participated in the Spirit Awakening were examined to ascertain whether they had awakened an extraordinary constitution. Some individuals had taken part in the Spirit Awakening and returned alive, yet that did not necessarily signify a successful awakening of an extraordinary constitution. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Some, upon encountering the slightest commotion or experiencing minor ailments such as headaches or fevers in the Spirit Realm, believed they had awakened successfully, though this was often not the case. Likewise, some individuals journeyed to the Spirit Realm and exhibited no physical changes during their sojourn, which did not imply they had failed to awaken. Even some students unknowingly contracted a virus or other perils from the Spirit Realm. They might remain oblivious, but these could be readily detected through testing. However, Kael harbored no concerns. He was certain of his successful awakening, having already mastered several spells. If this was not considered a success, then what could be? Kael pushed open the door and stepped in. A young man wearing glasses sat opposite him. "Welcome, student. Take a seat," the tester greeted Kael cordially. "Hello, teacher," Kael addressed him. Those responsible for conducting the tests were all professors, teachers, or teaching assistants from various universities, so Kael''s greeting was appropriate. The young man before him did not seem overly old, and his strength surely did not reach the level of a professor. He was likely a teacher or a teaching assistant. "Student, let''s commence the test," the tester said. "Okay." "First, we''ll conduct a blood test. Please extend your hand," the tester retrieved a syringe and gestured for Kael to stretch out his arm. Then he drew a small vial of blood from Kael''s arm. Subsequently, he busied himself, placing the blood into a machine. In Kael''s perception, the machine began to emit a faint magical aura. Evidently, it was an enchanted device. Soon, the test result was ready. The tester retrieved a printed report from the machine. After a quick glance, he smiled at Kael and said, "Student, congratulations! You have successfully awakened an extraordinary constitution." "Thank you, teacher!" Although Kael had already been certain, he could not suppress a smile at that moment. After a brief pause, when Kael''s excitement had subsided, the tester continued, "According to the test, your constitution leans more towards that of a spellcaster. So, we''ll now test your spellcasting talent." "Certainly, teacher," Kael assented without hesitation. The tester then produced a crystal ball as large as a human head. "Come, place your hands on the crystal ball, focus your mind, and wait," the tester demonstrated the procedure and then pushed the crystal ball in front of Kael. Kael wiped his hands on his pants and placed them on the crystal ball. Seeing Kael''s action, the tester couldn''t help but smile. He had once been in the same position. As Kael''s hands made contact with the crystal ball, he felt two streams of energy seep from the crystal ball into his hands and extend all the way to his mind, and then retrace their path. The crystal ball began to emit a soft glow. "How dare you!" Before Kael could withdraw his hands from the crystal ball, a thunderous shout resounded from above. Then he saw the tester in front of him adopt a posture as if facing a mortal threat. What was going on? Kael was bewildered. "Student, get behind me," the bespectacled tester said, a rare look of panic on his face. He vaulted over the table and shielded Kael behind him. Immediately afterward, Kael heard a commotion coming from the adjacent room, followed by a faint scream. "Woohoo~" A faint whimper reached Kael''s ears, and then he witnessed a startling sight. A semi - transparent ghost passed through the wall from the neighboring room and entered the room where Kael and the tester were. With the ghost''s intrusion, a powerful aura of a high rank permeated the air, making Kael, who was standing at the back, feel a constriction in his chest. Although Kael was terrified, he was determined not to await death passively. He traced the runes in his mind, preparing to cast a spell. "Damn it! It''s a ghost!" the bespectacled tester muttered under his breath. Then he began to gather his magic power, and several arcane missiles materialized around him. But before they could launch their attacks, a beam of light pierced through the ceiling from upstairs. The spell beam struck the ghost, which was still hovering in mid - air. "Sizzle" "Ahhh!" The ghost let out a faint scream and then disintegrated like shattered glass. Seeing this, Kael swiftly canceled the Bone Tooth spell that he had not yet successfully cast. Simultaneously, at the spot where the ghost had perished, a light spot suddenly materialized and then hurtled towards Kael''s body at breakneck speed. Kael was taken aback. Judging by the light spot, he surmised that he had obtained potential points. But in this location, such a conspicuous light spot would surely be noticed. However, he soon realized that the light spot seemed visible only to him. Even the bespectacled tester, through whose body the light spot had passed, did not appear to notice it. Could it be that they were unable to see the light spot of the potential points? With this thought, Kael finally felt a sense of relief. Chapter 21： The Qualifications of a Spellcaster "That was a spectral wraith of at least the Silver rank," the bespectacled tester exclaimed, heaving a long, relieved sigh as if he''d just narrowly escaped death. He wiped the cold sweat from his brow; the terrifying scene moments ago had truly rattled him to the core. "Thank you so much, man. I really appreciate you protecting me just now," Kael expressed his gratitude sincerely. When the wraith charged in, the bespectacled tester had instinctively shielded him, and Kael knew he had to remember this act of kindness. "Don''t mention it. We were lucky that wraith didn''t attack us. Otherwise, we''d both be in a world of trouble," the bespectacled tester said, still visibly shaken. He patted his chest and attempted a nervous laugh. After all, as a mere Black Iron - rank mage, he was no match for a Silver - rank wraith. This was an understatement. The lethality of a Silver - rank wraith was truly terrifying. The most effective way to deal with such a wraith is through the divine magic of a priest. Next in line are the spells of mages and warlocks. However, Daxia has long prohibited priests from entering to spread their teachings, so there are no such priests within Daxia''s territory. The attack that had just vanquished the wraith was presumably the work of a powerful mage. "What on earth happened next door?" Kael asked, his curiosity piqued. The wraith had emerged from the adjacent room, and now that the spell - barrage from upstairs had ceased, it seemed the danger had passed. "I''m dying to know, too," the bespectacled tester replied, shooting Kael a helpless look. The testing room was designed to block spiritual - power detection, otherwise, he could have simply swept the area with his spiritual sense to get a clear picture. "Hey, how about we go take a look?" Kael could sense the bespectacled tester''s eagerness and egged him on. "Are you sure that''s a good idea?" The bespectacled tester''s tone wavered. He stared at Kael, his expression silently asking, "What about you, a freshly Spirit - Awakened newbie? Aren''t you worried?" "There might be someone hurt in there. We should go and help," Kael suggested. "True. Let''s go!" Indeed, the Blue Star people had an inherent curiosity and a penchant for watching a spectacle, and even a seasoned mage like the bespectacled tester was no exception. The two of them pushed open the door one after the other and made their way towards the adjacent room. The hall was in utter chaos, with staff members scurrying about in a panic. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Kael and the bespectacled tester exchanged a knowing look and continued forward in silence. The bespectacled tester pushed open the door of the next room, peeked in cautiously, and then jerked his head back as if he''d seen a ghost. Kael, who was right behind him, caught a glimpse of the scene inside at the same time. There was a gaping hole in the ceiling of the room, and from below, one could see the command room above. Bricks were strewn haphazardly across the floor, and the testing equipment was in disarray, as if it had been hit by a ferocious tornado. Three people stood in the room: an officer in military uniform and two middle - aged men in civilian clothes. Two others lay on the ground. One was clearly a student who had returned from the Spirit Awakening. His face was deathly pale, and a chilling aura emanated from his body. The other appeared to be a tester, lying on a chair with a pallid complexion, eyes closed, and blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. The blood dripped steadily, staining his shirt crimson. "Damn it! Get in here and help!" The three people in the room noticed Kael and the bespectacled tester peeking in and roared angrily. "Yes, teacher! Right away!" The bespectacled tester flinched at the angry shout, his reaction similar to that of a mouse spotting a cat. He quickly complied and then shot Kael a reproachful look. Why had he listened to this kid and come to this chaotic scene? Kael realized that one of the middle - aged men was likely the bespectacled tester''s teacher, and the tester seemed genuinely intimidated. In response to the bespectacled tester''s glare, Kael could only scratch the back of his head sheepishly and offer an awkward smile. The bespectacled tester entered the room and rushed over to the student. After a quick examination, he said gravely, "Teacher, this student is dead." Kael remained at the door, and upon hearing this, his heart sank. He didn''t know the student, but the thought of a life extinguished so suddenly filled him with a sense of loss. Then the bespectacled tester helped the other fallen tester, who was still alive. "I''ve stabilized his soul. Take him to the infirmary, and I''ll deal with you later!" a middle - aged man snorted coldly. "Yes, teacher." The bespectacled tester lowered his head submissively, not daring to utter a word of protest. He cast a spell to levitate the injured man and prepared to take him to the infirmary. As he reached the door, he seemed to remember something and said dejectedly, "Teacher, I haven''t finished this student''s test report yet." The middle - aged teacher, who had flown back to the command room through the ceiling hole, jumped down again upon hearing this. "You idiot! How could I have such a dim - witted student? Get to the infirmary now! I''ll handle the report!" The middle - aged man marched to the door and gave the bespectacled tester a sharp slap on the forehead, chasing him away. Then, the middle - aged teacher''s expression softened, and he turned to Kael, who was standing frozen against the wall, looking petrified. "Your spellcaster test report isn''t completed yet, is it?" "No, professor," Kael replied quickly, nodding vigorously. "Come on, let''s go in and finish the test." With that, the middle - aged man turned and led Kael back into the testing room. The middle - aged man walked behind the table, took a seat, and motioned for Kael to sit. "My name is Li, young man. Have a seat," he said. "Yes, Professor Li." Following Professor Li''s instructions, Kael placed his hands on the testing crystal ball once more. As the two familiar energy streams coursed through, the crystal ball began to emit a soft glow again. Professor Li, observing this, perked up and shot Kael a keen look. "Okay, you can remove your hands now." Then, he picked up the crystal ball and placed it on the adjacent instrument. Moments later, the instrument spat out a paper test report. Professor Li took it and studied the information intently, glancing up at Kael from time to time. This made Kael feel a bit uneasy. "Student Huo, congratulations. Your spellcaster aptitude is excellent. It''s level two!" After a while, Professor Li put down the report and clapped softly. "Ah! Really?!" Kael was overjoyed. Although he had hoped for a good result, he hadn''t expected his aptitude to be this high. The aptitude of a spellcaster was categorized into five levels, with level five being the lowest and level one the highest. The higher the aptitude level, the more favorable the conditions for cultivation. Chapter 22： The Blessing from the Spirit Realm "Absolutely true." Professor Li beamed, nodding with a gentle smile. "Moreover, this aptitude is truly outstanding within the second - level category. You were just a hair''s breadth away from crossing into the first - level threshold." He quickly added that extra detail. "Thank you, professor," Kael responded with a nod. "What kind of blessing did you receive from the Spirit Realm?" Professor Li inquired abruptly. "Hmm?" Kael feigned a look of confusion, doing his best to maintain an air of innocence. Prior to his return, Kael had delved deep into his memory, recalling the news he''d read and various books and materials. The blessing from the Spirit Realm was an act of the Spirit Realm''s consciousness. Such a blessing couldn''t be casually bestowed upon others nor snatched away. Even the recipient, until they''d fully mastered the inheritance, was restricted by the Spirit Realm''s will from disclosing the inheritance details. Consequently, after coming back, he''d been vacillating on whether to seize an opportunity to reveal his Spirit Realm blessing to enhance his standing. Now, with Professor Li''s question, Kael instantly recognized this as a golden opportunity. "Rest assured. No one has the power to take away the Spirit Realm blessing," Professor Li remarked, a glimmer of admiration flickering in his eyes as he regarded the composed Kael. "The Spirit Realm blessing is bestowed by the will of the Spirit Realm. Whether it''s a weapon or an inheritance, only the blessed individual can utilize it. Don''t worry, student." "If a weapon - type blessing were to fall into the wrong hands, it would be no more useful than a worthless stick. As for the inheritance, it''s even more so. Others simply cannot access it, and at this stage, you yourself are unable to divulge the inheritance''s content." Kael gave a subtle nod, acknowledging the fact. Revealing that he''d received a Spirit Realm blessing was bound to draw attention, and from the very beginning, he could potentially secure resource support. He''d just been hesitant until now, and Professor Li''s prompting had finally tipped the scales for him. Kael asked, his curiosity piqued, "Professor Li, how on earth did you figure out that I''d received a Spirit Realm blessing?" Professor Li held up the test report. "In your test results, there''s a record indicating that there were traces of high - level will on you. According to our records, this is a clear sign of having received a Spirit Realm blessing." So that''s the way it was! Kael finally understood. He hadn''t anticipated the test to be so thorough, almost laying bare every detail about him. "Could you briefly describe the blessing you received? I''ll document it in your file, which will significantly boost your chances of gaining the favor of top - tier universities," Professor Li asked, his smile inviting. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. "The blessing I received from the Spirit Realm is a mage inheritance. It encompasses a Silver - rank meditation method and several zero - level spells." After a moment of deliberation, Kael decided to hold back some information. The Gold - rank meditation method was far too eye - catching, and the Silver - rank one was a more fitting disclosure. Having a Spirit Realm inheritance was an advantage in the university application process, but being overly conspicuous could backfire, which didn''t align with Kael''s character. "A Silver - rank meditation method. Impressive!" Professor Li couldn''t help but exclaim in praise. "You''re truly fortunate. Even without an extensive spell inheritance, this single Silver - rank meditation method has already set you on a path to great rewards. " "You should know that even in the most prestigious universities, practicing a Silver - rank meditation method comes at a substantial cost." Hearing this, Kael refrained from elaborating. He knew his spellbook was rather thick and was confident that he''d be able to unlock new spells in the future. "Student Huo, are you interested in enrolling at Tiannan University?" Professor Li smoothly changed the subject, launching into a recruitment pitch. Tiannan University was situated in Tiannan Province, and Shixi County, where Kael hailed from, fell under the jurisdiction of Tiannan Province. Tiannan University was one of the top - tier institutions in the country, and there were only ten such universities nationwide. In Daxia, universities were classified into four levels: A, B, C, and D. There were thirty - six universities at level B, one hundred and eight at level C. Level D institutions were vocational and technical colleges, catering to regular - class students and those who had failed the Spirit Awakening. Tiannan University was an excellent choice among the top - tier universities. Before the Spirit Awakening, Kael had set his sights on applying to this very university. However, after the Spirit Awakening, he was in no rush. With his second - level spellcaster aptitude and the added advantage of the Spirit Realm blessing, he was confident that he could gain admission to any university with relative ease. Now, it boiled down to which university could offer the most favorable conditions. In the county grapevine, he''d heard tales of senior students with exceptional aptitudes. Some universities would dangle various welfare incentives to entice these students to apply and study there. Since Professor Li hadn''t yet presented any specific offers, there was no need to rush into a decision. After all, it was always wise to explore different options. With these thoughts in mind, Kael replied, "Professor Li, I can''t make a hasty decision on this. I need to head home and discuss it with my parents." "Fair enough." Professor Li nodded understandingly. He then neatly organized the materials and sealed them in a file bag. "Well, your test is now complete. You can proceed to the hall and wait for your homeroom teacher to come and collect you." "Okay. Thank you for your time and effort, Professor Li." Kael stood up, bowed slightly in gratitude, and then turned to leave. ... "Kael! Over here!" After waiting in the hall for a few minutes, the homeroom teacher arrived at the testing - room hall. The moment he entered, he called out to Kael. "Teacher." "How are you? No injuries, I hope? Did the Spirit Awakening go smoothly?" The homeroom teacher patted Kael''s shoulder, his voice filled with eagerness. "I''m fine. The teachers here took great care of me, and yes, I succeeded in the Spirit Awakening. I have a second - level spellcaster aptitude!" Kael felt a warmth in his heart as he shared the news. "Fantastic! I knew you had it in you, kid!" The homeroom teacher couldn''t contain his excitement and patted Kael''s shoulder even more vigorously. Although he was an ordinary person, he was overjoyed that his student had achieved such a remarkable feat. Moreover, a student with such potential could bring him substantial benefits, with a promotion and salary raise on the horizon. Subsequently, the homeroom teacher led Kael towards the accommodation area. Along the way, Kael asked curiously, "Teacher, do you know what transpired in the testing room adjacent to mine?" The homeroom teacher cast a sidelong glance at him and then whispered, "Keep this to yourself. I''m only telling you because you were present." " The student next door was from No. 1 High School. During this Spirit Realm journey, he was parasitized by a wraith. It was detected during the test." " You know the rest of the story. The wraith was slain, but he had already succumbed while being parasitized." "I see. Rest assured, teacher. I won''t breathe a word of this," Kael assured him with a nod. Before long, the homeroom teacher guided Kael to the front of a dormitory building. This ten - story dormitory was now filled to capacity with students. The surrounding tall buildings were all dormitories, currently housing students who had returned from the Spirit Realm. Chapter 23： Different Paths Kael was ushered to the door of a dormitory by his homeroom teacher, who then scurried away in haste, seemingly off to collect another student. Kael pushed open the dormitory door and surveyed the room. It was a standard single - occupancy dorm, furnished with two beds and a desk. On one of the beds, someone lay slumbering. Just as Kael set down his luggage, a jubilant cry resounded from behind him. "Kael! I knew for sure you''d make it back alive!" Ren Zhengyang had been sound asleep, but the wariness instilled during his time in the Spirit Realm jolted him awake. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Kael''s back. "Absolutely! How could such a trifling matter trip me up?" Kael swiveled around, plopped down on the bed, and grinned. "So, did you awaken your powers?" Ren Zhengyang leaned in, perched on the bed, and draped his arm around Kael''s shoulder. Kael nodded subtly. Upon seeing that Kael, too, had successfully awakened, Ren Zhengyang''s grip on Kael''s shoulder tightened slightly. "Good on you, lad! It seems the ''Two Titans of No. 3 High School'' truly are prodigies!" "Alright, what''s your aptitude level? I''ve got the aptitude of a third - tier warrior. I''ll still watch over you in the days to come," Ren Zhengyang inquired, wearing an expression that practically screamed for praise. "Hey, I''ve got you beat there. I''m a second - tier spellcaster in terms of aptitude!" Kael shot him a sidelong, amused glance and chuckled. At these words, Ren Zhengyang was left gaping, his hand dropping limply. Then, he seized Kael''s shoulders with both hands and shook him vigorously. "Unbelievable! When I told you to be careful, I meant stay alive, not skyrocket to this level of awesomeness!" "Second - tier spellcaster aptitude? You''re killing me with envy, man!" "Hahaha!" "How am I supposed to play the big - brother role now? Where do I even begin to salvage my pride?" Ren Zhengyang released Kael''s shoulders and feigned a look of profound distress. "No worries. I''ll be the big brother from now on, and I''ll have your back!" Kael jested. "Kael! Let me hitch my wagon to your star!" Ren Zhengyang dropped to his knees and latched onto Kael''s leg. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he continued, "Since I can''t be your big brother anymore, but you know I have a sister." "You know, my sister''s a real looker, a veritable beauty. Here''s the deal. I''ll make a sacrifice. I''ll introduce you to her, and then I can be your brother - in - law." "Scram! I''ve seen your sister before," Kael shoved Ren Zhengyang away, laughing heartily. Kael and Ren Zhengyang had been friends since childhood, having known each other since primary school. Kael had also met his sister, and he had zero interest in her. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The two of them engaged in some light - hearted banter and rough - housing, effectively alleviating the pent - up stress from their Spirit Realm escapades. After a while, Ren Zhengyang piped up, "You know what happened with Wu Yishuang''s Spirit Awakening?" Wu Yishuang was a female classmate in their class. She was strikingly beautiful and hailed from an affluent family. Her parents were both professionals. Despite her privileged background, she was incredibly arrogant, always looking down her nose at her classmates. "What was her outcome?" "She failed the Spirit Awakening!" Ren Zhengyang chortled gleefully. "She used to strut around like she owned the place, but she was back from the Spirit Realm in just three days. Now that she''s failed, she can''t keep up that haughty act." ... Subsequently, Kael and Ren Zhengyang spent another three days holed up in the dormitory. Counting from the day of the Spirit Awakening, it had now been ten days. Ordinarily, students teleported to the Spirit Realm could return within three to seven days. If they exceeded this time frame, the likelihood of not making it back was high. Summoned by the homeroom teacher, Kael and his classmates made their way to a classroom. Upon entering, they noticed that many of their peers, in contrast to their former exuberance, now seemed rather subdued. Conversely, there were those with beaming smiles, who had presumably triumphed in the Spirit Awakening. After waiting for an extended period with no additional arrivals, Kael tallied the number of classmates present. Only thirty - one remained. This meant that at least thirteen individuals had perished during the Spirit Awakening process. Kael exhaled a heavy sigh, his heart weighed down. The homeroom teacher stepped up to the podium, clapped his hands, and commanded everyone''s attention. "First and foremost, let us observe a moment of silence for our classmates who did not return." The homeroom teacher''s tone was somber. After all, people were not heartless; it was difficult not to be affected by the loss of a dozen vibrant lives in such a short span. The students all bowed their heads in solemn silence. A few minutes later, everyone lifted their heads. The homeroom teacher continued, "Now, let''s give a rousing round of applause to those classmates who successfully awakened during the Spirit Awakening!" Instantaneously, the classroom erupted in thunderous applause. "I never could have imagined that among my students, there would be one who awakened with the aptitude of a second - tier spellcaster! " "Let''s give another resounding round of applause to Kael!" The homeroom teacher''s voice brimmed with excitement. At these words, as the classmates clapped, they couldn''t help but gape at Kael in astonishment. None of them had anticipated him having such a remarkable aptitude. Kael had once been a rather unremarkable figure in the class. His family was of modest means, and aside from his relatively good physical condition, he seemed to have few stand - out qualities. No one could have foreseen that he would emerge from the Spirit Awakening with such a superior constitution. The female classmates regarded Kael with admiration in their eyes. Everyone''s gaze was tinged with envy and a touch of jealousy, as if they yearned to trade places with him. Kael, however, remained composed. He felt a forlorn gaze and turned to see that it was Wu Yishuang. Kael glanced at her briefly and then averted his eyes. In the past, this girl, buoyed by her parents'' professional status and wealthy background, had considered herself a cut above him. Now, Kael had successfully awakened and become a professional, while she, having failed the Spirit Awakening, was once again on a different plane. "Finally, for those classmates who did not succeed in the Spirit Awakening, do not despair. Even without becoming extraordinary professionals, we can still carve out a bright future." " I wish them all the best in repeating the year next year and securing a place in a top - notch vocational college!" The applause resounded once more... This time, in Kael''s class, a total of forty - four students had participated in the Spirit Awakening. Thirteen of them were either deceased or missing. Twenty students had failed to awaken. Although they had not achieved awakening, their time in the Spirit Realm had enhanced their physical fitness compared to classmates who had not made the journey. In the future, they would also have an edge in their studies and careers. Eleven students had successfully awakened. Among them, Kael boasted the best aptitude. Most of the others had the aptitude of third - or fourth - tier warriors. Besides Kael, there was one other girl with spellcaster aptitude, though hers was only at the third tier. Once the homeroom teacher had finished speaking, it was time to disperse, and next on the agenda was applying to universities. Chapter 24: Choosing a School Upon returning home, Kael promptly shared the elation of his successful awakening with his parents. "Son, with your remarkable aptitude, getting into a top - tier (Grade A) university is an absolute certainty!" Father was brimming with excitement. He had already delved into researching information about various Grade A universities, intent on determining the most suitable one for his son to apply to. "Thank the ancestors for their blessings! I''ll offer more incense to them tomorrow! Grateful for protecting my Ling''er!" Mother was now shedding tears of joy. For countless years, Their family had always been made up of ordinary people, and no one had ever successfully awakened before. Not to mention gaining admission to one of the top ten Grade A universities. Kael''s successful Spirit Awakening was truly a momentous honor for the family. "Son, which university are you leaning towards?" Father, holding a cup of strong tea, paced around jubilantly and then initiated an inquiry about Kael''s application aspirations. "I haven''t made up my mind yet. I intend to first assess which school is the most fitting and which offers the most appealing benefits and incentives," Kael replied. Given his aptitude, he was undoubtedly eligible to be vied for by multiple universities. "What ambition! You truly are my son!" Father exclaimed with a broad smile, patting Kael on the shoulder. His two younger brothers, regarded him with unabashed admiration. "Brother, you''re incredible!" Under the admiring gaze of his younger siblings, even the typically composed Kael couldn''t suppress a sense of delight. ... "Hello? Yes, this is Kael. Hello, teacher..." Another call came in from a university admissions office. This time, it was from a Grade B university, presenting rather attractive conditions. Over the past few days, Kael had received more than twenty calls. Among them, three were from Grade A universities, while the remainder were from Grade B institutions. The conditions proffered by these three Grade A universities were quite enticing. Haichang University promised fifty credits upon enrollment, along with a residential property in Haichang City. Wuan University''s offering consisted of thirty credits upon enrollment and a one - rank promotion in military status upon graduation. Wufu University provided eighty credits upon enrollment as an application inducement. As for the Grade B universities, they were temporarily excluded from Kael''s considerations. The conditions put forward by these three universities each had their own strengths and weaknesses. Through numerous conversations with admissions teachers, Kael had also familiarized himself with credits. Credits were a creation of the university alliance and could be utilized to exchange a diverse range of resources and inheritances at the school. These inheritances encompassed, but were not limited to, meditation techniques, breathing methods, various spells, and combat skills. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. In Daxia, nearly every university held significant academic influence. They exerted strict control over knowledge. When it came to student recruitment, it wasn''t merely about knowledge dissemination but also about establishing a cycle of cultivation and exploitation. Many of the valuable resources in Daxia could only be accessed either by joining official organizations or by university students using credits for exchange. If we were to assign an equivalent value, one credit was approximately, or even more, valuable than a magic stone. And a magic stone was priced at one hundred thousand yuan! This meant that the benefits offered by these universities were roughly equivalent to several million yuan. It was truly astonishing. Kael''s parents had toiled for over twenty years, yet their family savings had never surpassed one hundred thousand yuan. Meanwhile, Kael, merely after his Spirit Awakening, stood to gain so much just through university applications. Among them, Haichang University, located in Haichang Province, and offering a residence in the provincial capital, Haichang, likely held a value of around two million yuan. Wuan University was a military academy. Graduates at the Black Iron rank from this institution were generally conferred the rank of second lieutenant. The promise of a one - rank promotion upon graduation likely meant that Black Iron - rank graduates could attain the rank of first lieutenant upon completion, which was also an excellent condition. Regrettably, Kael hadn''t yet resolved to join the military. Wufu University''s offer was the most straightforward. Eighty credits were approximately equivalent to eight million yuan, representing a substantial benefit. However, what perplexed Kael the most was that Tiannan University in Tiannan Province hadn''t yet called him. This left him somewhat bewildered. The professor who had conducted his test should be from Tiannan University, and had even extended an invitation for him to attend at that time. Kael had made an excuse and declined. Could it be that Professor Li was refraining from sending an invitation due to that? ... On the other side, Professor Li, still in Shixi, was on a call in the hotel. He was currently moonlighting in the admissions office. "Ah..." Professor Li set down the phone and heaved a long sigh. His phone had been incessantly ringing for the past few days. Not only him, but even the student accompanying him had been constantly occupied with calls. The student beside him, a teaching assistant at Tiannan University, was assisting him with the call - making. "How many more calls remain?" Professor Li stretched and inquired of the student beside him. The bespectacled student picked up the form, gave it a glance, and replied wearily, "Almost there, teacher. Only about ten calls left." "Alright, you can handle the remaining calls. I need to take a breather." Professor Li slumped in the chair, paying no heed to his appearance. "Ah?" The bespectacled student, equally fatigued, glanced at his teacher and reluctantly readied himself to make the next call. Just then, he spotted Kael''s name, his details, and the benefits listed on the form: sixty credits plus a free voucher for a first - level spell. Noticing the entries stating "second - level spellcaster aptitude" and "Silver - rank meditation method as a Spirit Realm blessing," the bespectacled student seemed to have an epiphany and queried, "Teacher, is this Kael the student you helped me test at that time?" "Which one?" Professor Li took the form, skimmed the information, and responded offhandedly, "Yes, that''s him. I extended an invitation, but he sidestepped it." "He has a Spirit Realm - blessed meditation method. With the meager benefits we''re offering, can we really recruit him to Tiannan University?" The bespectacled student asked, clearly puzzled. "Should be sufficient. It''s just a Silver - rank meditation method. Even if it aligns with his attributes, he''ll eventually need to switch to a different meditation method," Professor Li waved his hand dismissively. Hearing this, the bespectacled student nodded. Then he picked up the phone, ready to make the call. His finger was halfway through pressing the dial button when he had another thought. He hung up the phone and said cautiously, "Teacher, there''s something I neglected to tell you about this Kael." "What is it?" Professor Li furrowed his brow and looked at the bespectacled student. The bespectacled student pondered for a moment and then said, "When the wraith charged into our testing room, I pulled Kael behind me. While I was in the process of casting a spell, I faintly sensed a magic power fluctuation from behind, as if someone else was casting a spell too. But I was so nervous at the time, and your spell immediately eradicated the wraith. I didn''t give it much thought. I figured, how could a newly Spirit - Awakened student like him cast a spell? I just assumed my perception was off and didn''t take it seriously." Then, he swallowed hard and probed tentatively, "Teacher, I just noticed from this information that he has a Spirit Realm - blessed meditation method and several zero - level spells as blessings." " Do you think it''s possible he''s already mastered the meditation method and even learned a spell?" Chapter 25: Generous Conditions "What! Are you certain?" Professor Li, who had been slouched in the chair, bolted upright upon hearing this. "I''m not entirely sure, but there was definitely a magic - power fluctuation from behind at that time. I''m positive about that sensation." " When we cast spells, we typically conceal such fluctuations. The only time it''s this palpable is when an apprentice mage has just grasped a spell," the bespectacled student muttered softly. Hearing this, Professor Li, too, began to recall the events of that day. He had indeed detected a spell - casting ripple downstairs while he was on the second floor. However, at the time, he hadn''t given it much thought. His apprentice, the bespectacled student, was also casting a spell, and he''d simply assumed the student was too nervous to mask the magic - power surge. The more Professor Li reflected, the more he suspected that something was off. The likelihood that Kael might have actually learned a spell seemed increasingly plausible. If true, this would be truly extraordinary! Receiving a Spirit - Realm blessing during the Spirit Awakening, while not unheard - of, was still relatively rare. A second - level spellcaster aptitude, though commendable, wasn''t at the level of an absolute prodigy. Among this year''s students, there were quite a few with a first - level spellcaster aptitude. Nevertheless, being able to successfully meditate within seven days and master at least one zero - level spell was truly remarkable. Professor Li rose from his chair and started pacing the room. "Come on, let''s look up Kael''s address through his school." "What for?!" The bespectacled student exclaimed in surprise. "We''re going to his place to find out if he''s really learned a spell," Professor Li turned to face the bespectacled student and stated. "But there are still over a dozen students on this list we haven''t called yet," the bespectacled student pointed to the form in his hand. "We''ll call them later..." ... In the room, Kael was examining his attribute panel. After the wraith in the testing room was slain, a light spot had alighted on him. Name: Kael ... Spiritual Power: 2.7/2.7 Magic Power: 27/27 Skills: "The Breath of Darkness Meditation Method", Zero - level Spells: Bone Tooth, Gray Mist, Touch of Fatigue. Potential Points: 9 Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. That Silver - rank wraith had bestowed ten potential points upon Kael. This was a significant boon. Previously, at the testing base, Kael hadn''t had the chance to meditate. Only in the past two days had he managed to find the opportunity to start. Yet, once he began, he quickly discovered a problem. The spiritual energy on Blue Star was incredibly scarce, rendering the meditation effect abysmal. Kael, undeterred, used a potential point to enhance his meditation speed. However, it became evident that there was no improvement whatsoever. You see, in the Spirit Realm, one potential point could augment one unit of magic power and 0.1 unit of spiritual power. On Blue Star, this attempt had simply squandered that potential point. Consequently, during subsequent meditations, Kael refrained from using potential points to hasten the process. Through this experience, his initial aspiration of advancing to a Black Iron rank mage within a year now seemed far more challenging. Unless he meditated in the Spirit Realm every time over the course of this year, relying on the meager spiritual energy on Blue Star, amassing enough spiritual power to break through to the Black Iron rank would be an arduous task. Just then, he heard a knock at the door. Kael instinctively employed his spiritual power to investigate. To his astonishment, he discerned that outside the door were Professor Li and the bespectacled tester. Simultaneously, Professor Li and the bespectacled student outside the door involuntarily exchanged a knowing look. They thought to themselves, just as they''d suspected! Kael had spiritual power, indicating that he had indeed made progress in meditation. A flicker of surprise flashed in the eyes of both Professor Li and the bespectacled student. "Professor Li, and you, teacher. What brings you here?" Kael opened the door and inquired with feigned delight, as if he were just noticing them for the first time. "I''m a teacher from Tiannan University. As for him, he''s a teaching assistant at our school and also your senior, Guan Borong. You can address him as Senior Guan," Professor Li pointed to the bespectacled student beside him and introduced. "Hello, Senior Guan." "We''re here today to extend an invitation for you to join Tiannan University," Professor Li said as he took a seat on the sofa. "Professor Li, you could have just called. Why make the trip all the way here?" Kael brought tea for the two of them and remarked with a smile. "We had to come in person to convey our sincere desire to have you on board," Professor Li smiled. "Professor Li, I''m not sure I''m worthy of such attention," Kael said earnestly upon hearing this. "You most certainly are. Let me ask you, have you successfully meditated using the Spirit - Realm - blessed meditation method and mastered a spell?" Professor Li set down his teacup and fixed his gaze on Kael, who was seated across from him. Kael was somewhat taken aback, but he didn''t dwell on it. After all, they had managed to detect his Spirit - Realm blessing. With this in mind, he simply nodded and replied, "Professor Li, you truly have a discerning eye!" "You''re truly exceptional. To have not only achieved successful meditation but also mastered a spell in such a short span. You''re indeed a genius hailing from Shixi!" Professor Li lauded. "We officially invite you to become a part of Tiannan University!" As he spoke, Senior Guan, the bespectacled student beside him, extended his hand. "Senior Guan, Professor Li, I''m curious about the benefits I''d receive if I were to join Tiannan University," Kael said, feigning a hint of embarrassment as he gestured towards the furnishings in his home. " As you can see, my family circumstances aren''t ideal. Since I was young, my mother has instilled in me the idea that children from poor families must assume responsibilities early." "To be frank with you, Haichang University, Wuan University, and Wufu University have all called, inviting me to apply to their institutions and have presented certain benefits." Kael''s face flushed slightly. "My family can''t offer much assistance on my journey to becoming an extraordinary professional. Thus, I''m hoping these benefits can expedite my path to becoming a professional." "I understand. We''ve all been in similar shoes," Professor Li nodded. "What conditions did these schools offer?" The bespectacled student beside him queried. "The most generous offer came from Wufu University, which proposed a hundred credits and a residential property in the city center," Kael looked at the two of them and fibbed without a hint of hesitation. He could sense that these two Tiannan University teachers were highly interested in him, to the extent that they''d come all the way to his home. This was the opportune moment to make a bold demand. Professor Li and the bespectacled student exchanged a glance and shared a knowing smile. Then Professor Li said, "In that case, you should definitely choose Tiannan University." "If you apply to Tiannan University, the post - enrollment benefits will include, first and foremost, a hundred credits and the privilege to freely exchange for five first - level spells." Chapter 26： First-level Spell Exchange Vouchers "Professor Li, please pardon my lack of knowledge. What precisely is this free - exchange coupon for a first - level spell?" Kael inquired after listening intently. "Let me elucidate for you. In the university setting, be it spells for mages or combat skills for warriors, anything of the first level and above necessitates credits for exchange. " "A standard first - level spell typically demands at least ten credits. For some more potent spells, the requirement can soar to twenty credits," Guan Borong elaborated. "In other words, the five first - level spell exchange coupons are, at the very least, equivalent to fifty credits." Kael mentally computed the figures. By comparison, the perks proffered by Tiannan University were indisputably the most enticing. They were offering a substantial amount of credits, and the university was also conveniently close to his home. Observing that Kael was still deep in thought, Professor Li cleared his throat and continued, "Student Kael, given our rather fortuitous connection, if you sign the application agreement with us today, I can privately introduce you to either an associate professor or a full - fledged professor as your mentor." "What!" "Are you serious?" Both Kael and Guan Borong exclaimed in unison, their voices laced with astonishment. "Bear in mind that even if you apply to a top - tier (Grade A) university, securing a mentor of this caliber is by no means guaranteed. Professors and associate professors are all high - echelon professionals at the Gold rank. In contrast, ordinary teachers in the university are merely at the Silver rank. In fact, when you first commence your university studies, some of your instructors might even be Black Iron rank teaching assistants. Having a professor as your mentor right from the start would endow you with a significant edge in your academic pursuits!" "Truly?!" At the mere thought of this, Kael''s breath quickened. Indeed, having an accomplished teacher was an invaluable asset in the learning process, not to mention the extensive network of connections a mentor could offer. Students under the tutelage of a Gold rank mentor were invariably highly talented individuals. Beyond the teacher''s connections, these senior students represented a rich reservoir of networking opportunities. For someone like Kael, hailing from a humble background, leveraging such connections could potentially open doors to great achievements. Subsequently, his thoughts turned to Professor Li standing before him. Since he, too, was a professor, could it be... Kael regarded Professor Li with sincere eyes and it all clicked into place. Presumably, Professor Li had taken a particular interest in him and might well accept him as a student once he enrolled. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Professor Li, meeting Kael''s gaze, smiled faintly and shot him a knowing look. Guan Borong, on the other hand, stared at the two of them in bewilderment. He darted his eyes between his teacher and Kael across the table. The two seemed to be engaged in a silent, meaningful exchange, and he opened his mouth, but no words emerged. "I''m eager to apply to Tiannan University!" Without further ado, Kael made his decision. "Excellent! Xiao Guan, fetch the contract!" Professor Li beamed with delight and promptly directed Guan Borong to retrieve the contract. Guan Borong produced a two - part agreement contract and handed it to Kael. Kael accepted it, perused the terms of the agreement meticulously, and upon finding no discrepancies, affixed his signature. "Marvelous! Kael, I''m eagerly anticipating our meeting at Tiannan University in two months!" Following this, the two visitors prepared to take their leave. Before departing, Kael exchanged contact information with them. ... After descending the stairs and exiting the community, Guan Borong swiveled his head to ensure there was no one in the vicinity. Then, he sidled up close to his teacher. He murmured softly, "Teacher, did you perhaps get a bit over - excited just now? Given your standing in the school, where on earth are you going to find a professor - level mentor for him?" "Teacher, if you possess such influential connections, could you first lend a hand in resolving my employment situation? I''m still a teaching assistant in the internship phase, and the school hasn''t yet offered me a permanent position!" "What nonsense are you spouting?" Professor Li delivered a light slap to the back of Guan Borong''s head. He heaved a sigh and said, "Didn''t I clearly state it was a private introduction? Moreover, it''s not stipulated in the contract. " "Besides, once I return to the school, I''ll make inquiries to see if any professor is willing. This still counts as an introduction, even if the professor ultimately declines. What more can I do?" "Teacher, you''re really resourceful! But what if Kael raises a ruckus later?" Guan Borong rubbed the back of his head and then gave his teacher an admiring thumbs - up. "What''s there to be concerned about? I''m a seasoned mage, after all. If he causes a commotion, I can always step in as his mentor if need be." Professor Li stood with his hands clasped behind his back, exuding an air of self - assurance. "Teacher, stop jesting. Kael has been addressing you as professor, but you''re only at the Silver rank!" Guan Borong chuckled. "You cheeky scoundrel, show some respect!" The dignified pose that Professor Li had just struck crumbled. He slapped Guan Borong on the back of the head once again. "I''ve reached the bottleneck of the Silver rank. I''m confident that a breakthrough is imminent. Once I do, I can directly assume the role of his mentor, thus fulfilling my promise." "What? Teacher, you''ve been saying that ever since I first became your disciple. It''s been years, and you''re still languishing at the Silver rank. " "Who knows when you''ll finally break through to the Gold rank?" "Hold your tongue! I told you to stop blabbering!..." "Ah, teacher, I''m sorry. I was wrong! You''re going to kill me! Stop hitting!" ... Back at home, Kael carefully stowed away the contract. This was an item of substantial value. One credit was roughly equivalent to one hundred thousand yuan. Calculating the benefits from Tiannan University, they amounted to a total of one hundred and fifty credits, which translated to a staggering fifteen million yuan. It was incredible how he had amassed such a large sum seemingly out of nowhere. Clearly, there was a vast chasm separating extraordinary professionals from ordinary folks. Nevertheless, there were still nearly two months until the commencement of the school term. It would be ideal if he could unearth some lucrative opportunities. Credits and money were distinct entities. From Kael''s current understanding, it was prudent to retain these credits. Exchanging credits for money was tantamount to trading high - value assets for inferior ones. However, his family''s financial situation was in dire need of improvement. His parents were still toiling away in the factory, working overtime daily, putting in more than twelve - hour shifts. While this might have been manageable when they were younger, now that they were in their forties, continued overwork would surely take a toll on their health. It was high time for him to shoulder some of the family''s burdens. The immediate priority was to seek out income - generating endeavors and capitalize on his status as an apprentice - level mage. After all, relying on meditation on Blue Star over the next two months would yield minimal gains in terms of strength. As for spells, he had already mastered the three spells in his spellbook. To enhance the casting speed and potency of these three spells, he could only rely on the passage of time and repeated casting to gradually accumulate proficiency. Chapter 27： Methods to Improve the Speed of Meditation Tiannan University demonstrated remarkable efficiency. The very day after Kael signed the agreement, the admission notice was swiftly delivered to his abode. Before long, the news reached his school. His homeroom teacher, well - aware of Kael''s family circumstances, applied for a scholarship on his behalf. The school authorities, seizing the chance to do a good deed, visited Kael''s home the next day, bearing the scholarship funds. They engaged in a brief conversation with Kael''s parents before taking their leave. "Our Kael has just successfully awakened his powers and already amassed a small fortune! That''s truly impressive!" His mother exclaimed cheerfully, her eyes fixed on the one - hundred - thousand - yuan stack of bills lying on the living - room table. She scooped up several stacks and held them close, as if cradling a precious treasure. "Xiaoling, our family isn''t in a position to offer you much support on your journey to becoming an extraordinary professional. This scholarship is a result of your own hard work. You can use it to purchase items that will aid your studies," his father said. He picked up a few bills, examined them briefly, then placed them back down and addressed Kael. Kael regarded the ten stacks of cash, his expression betraying little emotion. One hundred thousand yuan was merely equivalent to a single credit. Once again, he was acutely aware of the vast chasm separating the extraordinary from the ordinary. As a newly - admitted freshman, he was already entitled to credits worth over ten million yuan, and that was merely because he was currently just an apprentice. If he continued along this path, he was bound to incur even greater expenses in the future. With these thoughts in mind, Kael shook his head. "Mom, Dad, you can keep this money at home. I''ve applied to Tiannan University, and they''ll provide me with some resource subsidies upon enrollment. " "I don''t need this money for the time being." "Our son is truly outstanding!" Hearing this, his mother pulled Kael into a warm embrace. "Very well then. I''ll go and deposit the money in the bank. Let me know if you ever need it," his father said, and without further ado, he left to take care of the errand. The family chatted in the living room for a while longer, after which Kael retreated to his room, while his father headed out to the bank. "Hello, Second Sister! Yes! Our Kael has successfully awakened his powers. " "Indeed! He has the aptitude of a second - level spellcaster and has been admitted to Tiannan University. He even received a scholarship!" "Hello, Aunt! Our family..." From his room, Kael could hear his mother making congratulatory calls to their relatives in the living room. The elation in her voice was palpable. ... Kael, feeling restless in his room and frustrated by the meager results of his recent meditation sessions, found it nearly intolerable to endure the sluggish pace of meditation on Blue Star after experiencing the far - more - efficient cultivation in the Spirit Realm. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. After some deliberation, Kael retrieved his phone and sent a message to Guan Borong. In the past few days, he had gleaned a wealth of information from this teaching assistant, and they had engaged in numerous conversations. "Senior Guan, I''m currently meditating on Blue Star, and the progress is agonizingly slow. Is there any effective way to remedy this?" Kael inquired. After waiting for approximately ten minutes, Guan Borong''s reply arrived. "Well... The spiritual energy on Blue Star is severely lacking. This not only hampers the meditation speed of spellcasters but also diminishes the efficacy of the breathing techniques employed by warriors." "As for solutions, there are a few. For instance, our Tiannan University has a small spatial passage leading to the Spirit Realm. " "The school has constructed a cultivation base at the passage entrance, where the cultivation efficiency is significantly higher than in other locations on Blue Star." "Another option is to traverse this passage into the Spirit Realm. Cultivating in the Spirit Realm is also much more conducive to progress. " "However, you''ll only have the opportunity to access these two methods after you''ve enrolled at the school." "Besides these, there''s an additional approach, which involves using magic stones for cultivation. " "This method is even more effective than cultivating in the Spirit Realm, but it comes at an exorbitant cost." Gazing at these three options on the screen, Kael offered a rueful smile. "Senior, magic stones are prohibitively expensive. I simply can''t afford them." A single magic stone was valued at one hundred thousand yuan, equivalent to his high - school scholarship, and they were often in short supply. Even if one wished to purchase one, the seller might be reluctant to part with it. "Hahaha, don''t think you''re alone in that. I can''t afford them either." "Of course, aside from these mainstream methods, there''s one final option, which is to utilize your own Spirit Realm beacon to teleport into the Spirit Realm for cultivation." Guan Borong continued typing on the other end of the screen. "After all, everyone who has successfully awakened possesses a Spirit Realm beacon." " Provided the Spirit Realm on your side is sufficiently safe, there''s no impediment to teleporting there for cultivation." "Of course, safety is of utmost importance. If there''s danger on the other side, it would be wiser to wait until you reach the school to engage in meditation and cultivation. " "Just enjoy these next two months of vacation." "By the way, is the Spirit Realm on your side safe?" Guan Borong asked. Safe? Kael''s mind conjured images of the horde of zombies rampaging downstairs, the sight of thousands of undead shambling past, the goblin hunting parties, and the colossal dragon that had soared through the night sky. Was this what one would consider safe? But then, his thoughts turned to the small haven he had painstakingly established over the course of several days. "It''s safe, relatively speaking," Kael typed. "If it truly is safe, then you can teleport to the Spirit Realm for cultivation. " "Many of the top students in the school follow this practice. As long as the Spirit Realm on the other side is secure, they make their way there to cultivate." "This not only conserves a substantial amount of resources but also allows you to gain an early advantage. " "You must understand that in school, being one step ahead can lead to a continuous lead. Fall behind at the start, and it becomes increasingly difficult to catch up!" Guan Borong advised. Studying the message on his phone, Kael realized that as a top - tier (Grade A) university, Tiannan University attracted only the most talented students. With his second - level aptitude, he might well be an average student there. If he hoped to distinguish himself and achieve success, he would need to redouble his efforts. Undoubtedly, there would be numerous children of extraordinary professionals in the school. Those with the backing of family resources would surely not be content with the glacial pace of cultivation he was currently experiencing on Blue Star. Over these two months of vacation, the gap between wealthy students and someone like him, from a humble background, was likely to widen significantly. "Senior, if I decide to go to the Spirit Realm for cultivation, do you have any suggestions?" Kael asked. "Think it through carefully. If the Spirit Realm on your side is genuinely safe, then the most crucial thing when you go to cultivate is to exercise extreme caution." "Caution?" "Precisely. As an apprentice who has only just begun meditating, almost anything can pose a threat to you. " "When you go to cultivate, find a secure location to hunker down, return once you''ve finished, and avoid getting entangled in any other activities. " "You currently lack any means of self - defense, so don''t invite unnecessary trouble." "Hold on, you received a blessing from the Spirit Realm. Does the inheritance include any offensive spells?" Guan Borong suddenly recalled that the person on the other end had a Spirit Realm blessing. "There''s an offensive spell called Bone Tooth," Kael replied truthfully. "Have you mastered it?" Guan Borong asked, his tone betraying a hint of nervousness. "Yes, I can cast it successfully," Kael affirmed. Damn it! I loathe geniuses, Guan Borong muttered to himself, pounding his chest in frustration. Chapter 28： The Magic Mall "Great. Having an offensive spell under your belt will enhance your safety in the Spirit Realm, yet you still must remain vigilant," Guan Borong remarked. Kael typed back, "Alright, Senior. I''ll make the necessary preparations and look for a chance to revisit the Spirit Realm." "Take your time. If you''re truly set on going to the Spirit Realm, there''s an excellent side - hustle opportunity. Are you interested in giving it a shot?" Guan Borong inquired. "Senior, do tell me more about it." "Both the school and the government have an ongoing task. It involves taking an Awakening Orb to the Spirit Realm, soaking up magic power there, and then bringing it back." "For every twelve Awakening Orbs, you can trade for one magic stone. What do you think? Keen to take this on?" Guan Borong probed. "I''m definitely interested. But why on earth do the school and the government need so many Awakening Orbs?" Kael asked, brimming with curiosity. "You might not be aware, but what you students call an Awakening Orb is officially known as a Magic Power Absorption Compressor." "Do you know how non - natural magic stones are crafted? Magic stones are formed by compressing the magic power amassed by these Awakening Orbs into a crystal." "Magic stones are always in high demand, so it''s no wonder they keep putting out such tasks. " "After all, we all possess a spatial beacon. If the Spirit Realm side is safe, we can ferry a good number of Awakening Orbs there to gather spiritual energy." "Of course, the school offers a more generous exchange rate than the government. You can trade ten Awakening Orbs for one magic stone," Guan Borong typed a lengthy explanation, patiently elucidating the details for Kael. "Then why don''t they carry out this task in those Spirit Realm bases? We''ve got over a dozen Spirit Realm bases in Daxia, don''t we?" Kael queried, looking for clarity. "Why do you assume they aren''t?" Guan Borong countered. "Also, there are strict placement rules for Awakening Orbs. You can only place one within a radius of dozens of meters. Placing more will impede its magic - power absorption speed." "The demand for magic stones on Blue Star is astronomical. " "Whether it''s for cultivation, manufacturing enchanted gear, or powering various enchanted contraptions, magic stones are indispensable. As long as there are magic stones, there''s no shortage of buyers." So that''s the deal. This indeed appears to be a promising way to earn some cash. "But here''s another crucial point. When you place the Awakening Orb, you need to be extremely stealthy. " "After all, it''s shaped like a crystal ball, and some Spirit Realm denizens might pilfer it, thinking it''s a precious artifact," Guan Borong added as a cautionary note. Kael''s mind immediately went to the zombie - infested Spirit Realm city he had teleported to. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Wouldn''t that be an ideal location? The most menacing things in that city were the mindless zombies, and they certainly wouldn''t engage in thievery. "Senior, where can I obtain these empty Awakening Orbs?" Kael inquired. "That''s a breeze. I''ll send you a software link. Download it on your phone." " I''ll get the teacher to provide you with an invitation code so you can register on our Tiannan University''s software. Once that''s done, you can start accepting Awakening Orb tasks through it." As he spoke, Guan Borong sent over the link. Kael clicked on it and swiftly completed the download and registration process. "Thanks a lot, Senior!" "No problem. If you run into any questions, just holler." ... Kael launched Tiannan University''s software. Once inside, he discovered that the software boasted a plethora of functions. There was a comprehensive school introduction, a bustling forum, and study materials spanning various subjects. Besides these, there was a dedicated task section and an online store. He first delved into the store. The products on offer were incredibly diverse, ranging from magic scrolls and enchanted equipment. There were all manner of magic materials, and even breathing techniques and meditation methods were up for grabs. However, the price tags on the items made him balk. The unit prices were all denominated in magic stones, and some items even required additional credits. This made it clear that credits were likely far more valuable than he had initially thought. He clicked on the link of one product. It was a first - level spell, "Language Comprehension." This Black Iron - rank spell was quite a best - seller. After all, the languages of Spirit Realm denizens were incredibly diverse. Besides the mainstream common tongue, there were Draconic, Elvish, Infernal, and Celestial. In addition to these well - known languages, there were also Goblin, Orcish, Sahuagin, Dwarvish, Giant, and the languages of numerous minor races. Just as in Daxia, where each province and city has its own dialect, the languages of these Spirit Realm races also have countless dialectal variations. Even someone with a natural aptitude for languages would be daunted by the sheer volume of languages in the Spirit Realm. There were simply too many to master. That''s why Spirit Realm mages invented this spell. During the duration of "Language Comprehension," one can understand the speech of any creature, save for the most powerful magical beasts. Moreover, while the spell is active, the speed of learning these Spirit Realm languages skyrockets dozens of times. With frequent use of this spell, some of the mainstream languages can be mastered in no time. Furthermore, the beauty of spell scrolls is that they can be used not only by mages but by any professional. Except for some extremely powerful scrolls or targeted spell scrolls that demand substantial spiritual power. Most other low - level spell scrolls can even be wielded by apprentice - rank professionals. Spell scrolls are truly essential, whether for combat or daily life. He checked the price of the "Language Comprehension" scroll in the store: 10 magic stones! Good grief! Is this thing really that pricey!? Then he perused other spell scrolls. A first - level Fireball scroll went for 3 magic stones. A first - level Summon Monster scroll cost 5 magic stones. A first - level Cure Light Wounds scroll was priced at 8 magic stones. Spell scrolls really seem to be a highly profitable venture! Upon seeing this, Kael couldn''t help but whistle in surprise. The mages who crafted these spells must be raking in the dough. But then again, it made perfect sense. Mages have always been the wealthiest among all professionals, and that''s an established fact. After all, unlike warriors, who primarily rely on their physical prowess in combat - related jobs for income, mages have a multitude of revenue streams. Mages can create spell scrolls, fashion enchanted weapons and gear. They can also brew magic potions, and in combat, they generally outshine warriors. If they''re not inclined to do any of that, they can even engage in farming, cultivating magic materials. Magic materials nurtured with spells by mages grow faster and of higher quality. In essence, mages have numerous ways to make money, but correspondingly, they also have substantial expenses. After all, to master these skills, be it making scrolls, enchanting equipment, or brewing potions, a large number of initial experiments are required. These are all areas where significant sums of money are invested. Chapter 29： Lesser Defense Armor Kael spent some time perusing the online store, and it truly opened his eyes. The range of products was astonishingly diverse, featuring all manner of items, some of which he''d never even heard of before. He even stumbled upon dragon''s blood, specifically that of an adult red dragon. But when he saw the long string of zeros following the price tag, Kael, well - aware of his financial limitations, promptly closed the link. Subsequently, Kael remembered the task at hand. He opened the task section. As soon as he did, right at the top of the homepage was precisely what he was seeking. ¡¶Urgent! Need Charged Magic Power Absorption Compression Devices!¡· These bold, eye - catching words caught his attention, and Kael clicked on it. There was a concise introduction. This was a long - term task with no time limit imposed and no upper limit on submissions. For every ten Awakening Orbs, one could exchange for a magic stone. Additionally, for every hundred Awakening Orbs submitted, an extra reward of one credit was on offer. Thinking it over, Kael realized that every ten Awakening Orbs could potentially earn him around one hundred thousand yuan. This seemed like an excellent opportunity, he mused. Without further ado, he clicked to accept the task. Although he hadn''t yet enrolled, with the assistance of Professor Li and Guan Borong, he was able to take on tasks, just like a newly - admitted student. He read the instructions. As a freshman - to - be, he could apply for fifty Awakening Orbs without having to pay a deposit, using his student ID number. Fifty? That seemed rather few to Kael, and his greedy side kicked in. He clicked the plus sign, hoping to obtain more Awakening Orbs. Suddenly, a pop - up appeared on the screen. For any additional Awakening Orbs beyond the initial allocation, a deposit was required. Kael clicked to check the deposit amount and immediately abandoned his plan. Fifty Awakening Orbs would have to do. The deposit details stated that a deposit of ten thousand yuan was needed for each Awakening Orb. Goodness! That meant if he took fifty Awakening Orbs to the Spirit Realm, it would be equivalent to carrying five hundred thousand yuan on his back. Moreover, since he was getting these Awakening Orbs without a deposit by using his student ID number, if any of them were lost, he''d have to foot the bill for the loss. After filling in the necessary information, Kael settled in at home, patiently waiting for the mailed Awakening Orbs. ... The Awakening Orbs hadn''t arrived yet, but Professor Li''s call came first. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Professor Li inquired, "Student Huo, I heard from Xiao Guan that you''re planning to go to the Spirit Realm for meditation and have also taken on the task of gathering magic power?" "Yes, Professor Li. The Spirit Realm I can teleport to is relatively safe. " "The meditation efficiency on Blue Star is abysmal, so I intend to go to the Spirit Realm to cultivate and decided to take this task as well," Kael replied truthfully. "Hmm... The magic power density on Blue Star really isn''t conducive to cultivation. " "If the teleportation point in the Spirit Realm is genuinely secure, then it''s a viable option." Professor Li paused for a moment on the other end and then continued, "Alright, I''ll send you two practical zero - level spells. Learn them first; they''ll enhance your self - protection capabilities." "Remember, don''t act impulsively in the Spirit Realm. Staying alive is of utmost importance!" "Okay, thank you so much, Professor!" Kael exclaimed, his gratitude evident. "You''re welcome. After all, these zero - level spells can be borrowed and learned from the library once you enroll. " "I''m just giving them to you a bit early. Alright, I''ll send them shortly. Keep an eye out for them." "Once you''ve mastered these two spells, feel free to ask for more, and I''ll send you new ones." "Okay, Professor Li!" Subsequently, Professor Li ended the call. Moments later, Kael received several pages sent by him, which detailed two Spirit Realm spells. Lesser Defense Armor and Lesser Surveillance Eye. One was a defensive spell, and the other was a reconnaissance spell. These were precisely the types of spells Kael urgently needed at the moment. Clearly, Professor Li had given it some thought. Professor Li is truly a kind - hearted person! ... The delivery was impressively fast. On the third day, the fifty Awakening Orbs arrived at Kael''s home. After making the necessary preparations, early one morning, he picked up the box containing the Awakening Orbs. He decided not to tell his parents, sparing them any worry. He directly activated the teleportation and arrived in the Spirit Realm. When using the Spirit Realm beacon for teleportation, he''d return to the exact spot where he''d left last time. And unlike the first time, the beacon had now fully charged. Each time, he only needed to wait approximately an hour before he could return to Blue Star again. With a blinding flash of light, Kael found himself back in the Spirit Realm. He surveyed the abandoned house where he''d stayed previously. Sensing the rich magic power in the air, he couldn''t help but shudder with pleasure. The contrast between the Spirit Realm and Blue Star was like that of a person going from a low - altitude region to a high - altitude one, that uncomfortable sensation when breathing. The Spirit Realm was like a low - altitude area, with magic power so abundant that breathing felt like a breeze. Blue Star, on the other hand, was like a high - altitude region, with sparse magic power. Absorbing magic power there required much greater effort. After taking a short rest, Kael didn''t rush out to place the Awakening Orbs. Instead, he decided to wait until the beacon for his return to Blue Star had fully recharged. After all, once the beacon was charged, even if he encountered danger, he could escape and return to Blue Star within seconds. This was like an extra safeguard for his life. Of course, during this time, Kael didn''t sit idle. After receiving the two spells from Professor Li the previous day, he''d already briefly studied them and roughly understood their effects. Now, seated on the bed, he was determined to fully master these two Spirit Realm spells. "Do you wish to use potential points to accelerate your learning?" Potential points, here I go! The potential points he''d obtained from that Silver - rank wraith had remained unused until now. Anyway, they wouldn''t multiply if left sitting there. The sooner he used them, the stronger he''d become. ... After spending a few hours, Kael finally emerged from his intense learning state. He brought up his attribute panel. Name: Kael ... Skills: "The Breath of Darkness Meditation Method", Zero - level Spells: Bone Tooth, Gray Mist, Touch of Fatigue, Lesser Defense Armor, Lesser Surveillance Eye Potential Points: 5 He''d successfully mastered both spells. I''m still as brilliant as ever! Kael couldn''t help but feel proud of his learning ability. He once again felt the effects of these two spells and mentally gave Professor Li a thumbs - up. Lesser Defense Armor Spell Effect: Forms a defensive armor on the target, safeguarding the chest, abdomen, and head. During the spell''s duration, it offers semi - comprehensive protection. The duration can be extended by continuously channeling magic power. After being attacked, the armor''s defensive strength can be maintained by inputting more magic power. Casting Duration: 8 seconds. Spell Consumption: 5 magic power points Duration: 15 minutes Sustained Effect: Requires 2 magic power points every ten minutes. Armor Strength: 12 degrees (Each magic power point restores 3 degrees of armor) The concept of armor defense degree was new to him. It was calculated based on attack power. Generally, for apprentice - rank spells, the attack power ranged from 5 to 10 degrees. The attack power of the zero - level spell Bone Tooth, which Kael knew, was 7 degrees. Chapter 30： Lesser Surveillance Eye In essence, this defensive spell had the capacity to endure a single assault from the Bone Tooth spell without breaking. Subsequently, by infusing magic power, Kael was able to restore the depleted armor value. When considering the attacks of warrior - type professionals, an average apprentice - level warrior typically delivered a normal slash with an attack power ranging from 2 to 3 degrees. Should they utilize their breathing technique to unleash a burst of physical energy in an attack, the power could potentially double, reaching an attack strength of 4 to 6 degrees. All in all, with this spell in his repertoire, Kael was akin to wearing a lightweight yet highly efficient bulletproof vest. Nevertheless, this spell was not without its limitations. Its area of protection was restricted to the main torso of the body. The head, chest, and abdomen were shielded, but the limbs remained exposed. To achieve comprehensive protection, he would need to progress in his cultivation. Once he attained the rank of a Black Iron mage and acquired a first - level defensive spell, he could then enjoy full - fledged all - around defense. Lesser Surveillance Eye. Spell Effect: Enables the caster to conjure three surveillance eyes and fix them in a specific location. These surveillance eyes would gather information within their visual range and share their field of vision with the caster upon inspection. In the event of being damaged by an attack, the spell''s effect would cease. Casting Duration: 6 seconds Spell Consumption: 6 magic power points Duration: 30 minutes Spell Range: Spiritual Power ¡Á 100 meters Sustained Effect: Demands 3 magic power points every 30 minutes. Additionally, for each extra eye summoned, an additional 1 magic power point is required. Armor Strength: 1 This spell served as an additional safeguard for his safety. After mastering it, Kael descended the stairs and placed a surveillance eye in a dim corner on the first floor. Through the spell''s power, he could observe the scenes witnessed by this magical eye. Its visual range extended approximately 20 meters. He had the option to set a target, and if any object passed within its purview, it would promptly alert Kael. The experience of monitoring through the surveillance eye was rather novel. It was as if he had opened a small window within his own field of vision, much like watching a security camera feed. Equipped with these two spells and having completed all his preparations, Kael set about his task. He opened the box filled with Awakening Orbs, selected one, and perused the instruction manual attentively. Subsequently, in accordance with the manual''s instructions, he activated the magic - power - absorption function of the Awakening Orb and positioned it in a corner of the room. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. The instruction manual specified that the absorption range of the Awakening Orb spanned a radius of 30 meters. To fully charge it, the Awakening Orb needed to remain in place for two months. This was a considerable length of time, yet it was fortuitously timed. By the time Kael headed to Tiannan University, the orb would be fully charged upon the start of the academic year, providing him with a substantial sum of pocket money. Simultaneously, the manual noted that each Awakening Orb should be positioned at least 30 meters apart from the others. Otherwise, the magic - power - absorption efficiency would be compromised. Placing them too closely together would prolong the charging time. Gazing at the box containing fifty Awakening Orbs and contemplating the need to maintain such a significant distance between each one, Kael realized that this was no easy feat. However, for the sake of his financial prospects, he resolved to persevere. Subsequently, Kael embarked on his money - making venture. While remaining vigilant for any signs of other creatures, he scouted for suitable locations to place the Awakening Orbs. The Awakening Orbs featured a matte finish to prevent them from attracting the attention of Spirit Realm denizens with their distinctive appearance. He took pains to gather some soil, wrap each Awakening Orb in it, and then locate a building where he could toss the soil - covered orbs under a bed, thereby minimizing the risk of discovery. He was well aware that in this city, aside from the omnipresent zombies, there were also goblins. These goblins were impoverished and avaricious. Should they chance upon an Awakening Orb, they would undoubtedly seize it. During the day, despite the absence of zombie activity, Kael remained on high alert. Who could say whether there were other Spirit Realm creatures lurking in the city? For him, the city at night was paradoxically safer than during the day. At night, the zombies roamed freely, keeping other creatures at bay. All Kael had to do was remain hidden on a tall building, and he would be entirely secure. These zombies effectively served as his free bodyguards. Conversely, during the day, these once - fearsome zombies were as meek as quails. They could be hunted down by goblins with alarming ease, much like slaughtering chickens. During the day, the city teemed with all manner of strange and dangerous creatures, each vying for sustenance. For Kael, who was alone in this perilous environment, the daytime posed a greater threat. Before long, just before dusk, he had successfully placed all the Awakening Orbs in the vicinity of the residential area where he had taken shelter. On his way back to the area, he initially considered placing a surveillance eye but ultimately decided against it. The distance was simply too great. Beyond 270 meters, he would be unable to receive the visual feed from the surveillance eye. Moreover, from his vantage point on the 15th floor, he could overlook a range of over 200 meters with relative clarity, rendering the use of magic power for a surveillance eye unnecessary. Before nightfall, Kael returned to his small hideout on the 15th floor. Now, all that remained was to await the arrival of the "bodyguard" zombies. In the interim, he briefly returned home for dinner. He informed his parents that he would be entering a period of secluded meditation and requested that they refrain from disturbing him unless absolutely necessary. Subsequently, he teleported back to the Spirit Realm. By the time Kael returned, night had fallen, and the city had reverted to its eerie silence. Sensing the rich magic power permeating the Spirit Realm, he seated himself on the bed and initiated his first proper meditation in days. "Do you wish to utilize potential points to hasten your learning?" "Yes!" As Kael delved into a profound state of meditation, magic power, drawn in by his spiritual power, flowed steadily into his body. With each passing moment, his strength steadily grew. ... As the morning sun''s rays caressed his face, Kael roused from his deep meditation. "Huff~" He exhaled a long, slow breath of stale air and summoned his attribute panel to assess the fruits of his meditation. Name: Kael Bloodline: Human Rank: 0th Rank Apprentice Strength: 1.4 Physique: 1.2 Agility: 1.1 Spiritual Power: 3.2/3.2 Magic Power: 32/32 Skills: "The Breath of Darkness Meditation Method", Zero - level Spells: Bone Tooth, Gray Mist, Touch of Fatigue,Lesser Defense Armor, Lesser Surveillance Eye Potential Points: 0 Although he had exhausted all his potential points, the investment had paid off handsomely. His spiritual power and magic power had increased once more, reaching 3.2 and 32 respectively. Savoring the surge of magic power within him, Kael couldn''t suppress a smile. Additionally, he noted that both his constitution and strength had each improved by 0.1. Evidently, his physical attributes were beginning to enhance gradually under the influence of the magic power. Contrary to popular belief, a mage''s body was not as frail as commonly assumed. In fact, some mages boasted physical capabilities that surpassed those of warrior professionals. There was a certain legendary mage, whose sole area of expertise was the Light spell . Armed with a robust physique and spells designed to augment his constitution and strength, he was even capable of engaging in direct combat with a legendary demon from the Abyss. Such a feat was truly awe - inspiring. Chapter 31: Hunting Zombies Early in the morning, as the sun once again ascended into the sky, Kael readied himself for the day''s endeavors. During the daytime, zombies remained motionless. However, they were a valuable source of potential points, and Kael was determined not to enter this "treasure trove" only to depart empty - handed. Equipped with the weapon he had procured, Kael set out anew. This time, he had purchased a spear online. Paired with his current spells, he was confident that hunting zombies during the day would pose no problems. He traversed the desolate streets, where thick vegetation vied for space with countless broken bricks and stones. As the plants grew, they heaved up the once - solid road surface, transforming it into a pitted and uneven expanse. Periodically, Kael activated his spiritual sense to scour the houses flanking the street for any signs of zombies. In this zombie - ridden city, the number of zombies was substantial. Before long, Kael had located his target. Inside a structure that resembled a shopping mall, Kael detected a large congregation of zombies. He entered the dilapidated building with utmost caution through the gaping, broken - down main door. The sight that greeted him upon entry caused his heart to leap into his throat. There were far too many zombies. In the lobby of the shopping mall''s first floor, at least dozens of them stood, motionless for the moment. When he craned his neck and looked upward, the numbers were truly staggering. The shopping mall''s structure was relatively well - preserved. In the absence of electricity, it was plunged into inky darkness. Naturally, it had become an ideal sanctuary for zombies to evade the searing sunlight. Each floor of the five - or six - story shopping mall, including the escalators, was densely populated with zombies. It was easy to envision that this single building harbored at least a thousand of these zombies creatures. Kael swallowed hard, his nerves on edge, and quietly turned to make his exit. The interior was pitch - black. Without the illumination of sunlight, although the zombies were currently still as statues, Kael harbored misgivings. What if, after he dispatched a few of them, the remaining zombies suddenly roused and launched an attack? A prudent person avoids placing themselves in unnecessary danger. After all, there were numerous other zombies outside that he could hunt. Before long, Kael chanced upon a residential building nearby. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. It, too, housed a fair number of zombies, but this building was bathed in sunlight. The sunlight had effectively segregated the zombies, forcing them to cower in the shadowy recesses of the rooms. This was the perfect hunting ground. Even if something unforeseen occurred with the zombies, the sunlight would serve as a formidable obstacle, allowing Kael to make a swift escape. This building, spanning seventeen or eighteen stories, was home to at least a hundred zombies, more than sufficient for today''s hunting expedition. After all, without resorting to spells, it took Kael two to three minutes to fell a single zombie. He had to plunge the spear deep into the zombie''s chest and hold it firmly in place until the creature was definitively dead. Otherwise, he dared not withdraw the spear, fearing a sudden counter - attack. Commencing from the ground floor, Kael methodically cleared the zombies floor by floor. "Thud!" The sharp spear pierced the zombie''s chest, and a thick stream of dark - brown blood oozed from the wound. The zombie jolted from its slumber and flailed its arms wildly, but the length of the spear kept it at bay. Not only that, but Kael also traced intricate runes in his mind and unleashed a Bone Tooth spell, dispatching the other two zombies in the room. The zombie struck in the head by the Bone Tooth spell perished instantaneously. Spells could be cast more rapidly through in - depth study and frequent practice. Thus, each time his magic power replenished fully, Kael would cast a few spells. This not only expedited his zombie - clearing efforts but also honed his spell - casting skills. In the Spirit Realm, the rate at which a mage''s magic power recovered was markedly enhanced. A mage''s magic - power recovery speed was intricately linked to the amount of magic power remaining within their body. If a mage depleted all of their magic power, it would take approximately six hours for their body to restore it naturally. If they resorted to meditation, this time could be significantly reduced to around two hours. When a mage retained approximately half of their magic power, the recovery speed quickened considerably. Their body could restore the magic power in about an hour, and through meditation, they could achieve a full recovery in approximately twenty minutes. When a mage had only expended a small fraction of their magic power, with seventy or eighty percent still remaining, the recovery speed was astonishingly rapid. Even through natural means, it would take less than ten minutes. Through meditation, a full recovery might be achieved in just one or two minutes. Consequently, one of the most crucial aspects of a mage''s combat strategy was learning to manage their magic - power consumption. In the heat of battle, mages typically strived to keep their magic power above 75%. In this range, they would seize every opportune moment to rest and recuperate, ensuring they maintained peak combat effectiveness. After all, if they were careless and exhausted their magic power, they would be rendered combat - ineffective for at least half a day. This was a perilous situation for a mage, as a mage bereft of magic power was incredibly vulnerable. Especially in protracted battles, during lulls in the fighting and when accompanied by teammates, mages would utilize meditation to hasten their magic - power recovery. As a result, a mage''s combat prowess was formidable, and mages were the unrivaled force that dominated the battlefield. ... It took Kael over three hours to rid the building of all its zombies. The entire building was permeated with the acrid stench of blood. Bodies of the undead lay strewn about, and black - hued blood pooled on the floor. He could not remain here any longer. If the scent of blood attracted other predatory creatures from the Spirit Realm, it would be a difficult situation to extricate himself from. On the first floor, Kael first cast a Lesser Defense Armor spell upon himself. Once his magic power had fully replenished, he ventured out once more. He moved forward with extreme caution, taking great care not to leave any telltale signs. Only upon his return to his hideout did he finally relax. Today had been a highly productive day. By slaying seventy or eighty zombies, he had amassed 17.5 potential points. It was time to quit while he was ahead. These potential points needed to be promptly converted into enhanced combat capabilities. If he were to switch to another building today, he could indeed continue to accumulate more potential points. However, without the cultivation that came from meditation, these points would not contribute to the growth of his strength. Subsequently, he first returned to Blue Star. During today''s hunting spree, despite his best efforts, bloodstains had still marred his clothing. He returned to Blue Star to rest, prepare a meal, and launder his blood - spattered clothes. In the evening, he teleported back to the Spirit Realm. Only when the night had fully descended and darkness blanketed everything did Kael commence his meditation for the day. Darkness was his most effective guise, and the zombies were his reliable protectors. The potential points he had acquired today were about to be put to good use. Chapter 32: War Lizards Over the ensuing two days, Kael abstained from venturing out to hunt. Instead, he dedicated himself fully to meditation each day, ceasing only when every single potential point had been depleted. He called up his status panel to examine his current attributes. Name: Kael ... Spiritual Power: 5/5 Magic Power: 50/50 Skills: "The Breath of Darkness Meditation Method", Zero - level Spells: Bone Tooth, Gray Mist, Touch of Fatigue,Lesser Defense Armor, Lesser Surveillance Eye Potential Points: 0 The results of his two - day meditation session were highly satisfactory. His magic power had officially reached 50, and the 100 - magic - power - point threshold required for breaking through to the Black Iron rank now seemed well within reach. ... Kael set out on his journey once again. This time, he was determined to resume hunting zombies, with the aim of rapidly amassing spiritual power and magic power. The shopping mall from his previous outing had proven to be an outstanding hunting ground. For zombies, that colossal mall offered an ideal refuge, and Kael was set on returning there. As he traversed the familiar route, Kael''s pace was notably quicker than before. Three days had elapsed since his last hunting expedition, and he was eager to discover the fate of the zombie carcasses left behind at the scene. However, as he drew nearer to the shopping mall, an uneasiness crept over him. It became apparent that someone had beaten him to the punch. Kael scaled a tall building. On the ground floor of this structure, a dozen or so scattered zombies were cowering from the sunlight. To avoid detection, Kael refrained from attacking them and instead stealthily made his way to a higher vantage point. From this elevated position, he finally had a clear view of the situation at the shopping mall. As he had suspected, an unexpected turn of events had transpired. Outside the shopping mall, he beheld new inhabitants from the Spirit Realm. A small troupe of War Lizards! War Lizards were a species of low - level Spirit Realm denizens. They typically inhabited jungles or swamps. Standing between 1.5 and 1.8 meters tall, they were covered in scales, bearing a resemblance to upright - standing giant lizards. Their scales were fine and tightly - knit, and the skin beneath was as resilient as aged cowhide, endowing them with formidable defensive capabilities. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. The head of a War Lizard resembled that of a large reptile. They frequently flicked out their forked tongues to sense scents in the air, a crucial ability for tracking both prey and adversaries. The lower limbs of War Lizards were stout and muscular, providing the necessary strength for standing. Their upper limbs, too, boasted considerable power, enabling them to wield weapons. They often fashioned weapons from locally available materials, such as wooden staves or the bones of their prey. In the event of seizing weapons from defeated foes during battle, they readily adopted these new armaments. The native tongue of War Lizards was Lizard Tongue, and some had also acquired a basic grasp of low - level Draconic. They were a sentient race, yet their intelligence was relatively limited. The anatomical structure of their lizard - like heads imposed constraints on their cognitive development. An average adult War Lizard, relying on its rugged scales and robust physical might, could achieve the apprentice - level in terms of power. Some War Lizards with slightly enhanced intelligence would take on warrior - type occupations. Through breathing techniques, they cultivated battle qi, enabling them to transcend their biological limitations and ascend to the ranks of Black Iron or Silver - tier warriors. A select few of the more intelligent War Lizards could even become spellcasters. In most instances, these spell - casting War Lizards were Warlocks. By virtue of their bloodlines, they became Bloodline Warlocks, mastering a repertoire of low - level spell - like abilities, such as Acid Splash, Stinking Cloud, and Carrion Crawler Swarm. Overall, the combat prowess of War Lizards was quite formidable. At the very least, Kael was acutely aware that he stood no chance against such a group of Spirit Realm denizens. He might not even be able to effect an escape, given the War Lizards'' acute sense of smell, which allowed them to effortlessly detect the trails left by enemies and prey. Furthermore, War Lizards had a knightly class. Among the group of War Lizards stationed at the entrance of the nearby shopping mall, Kael immediately spotted some War Lizard Knights. Two towering War Lizards were currently astride even more massive lizards. These were a species of beast tamed by War Lizards, the Swamp Basilisk, which could be likened to an enlarged version of the Komodo Dragon. The Swamp Basilisk could reach a height of approximately 1.5 meters and a length of up to 5 meters. Saddles and reins were affixed to its body, facilitating control by the War Lizard Knights. Upon witnessing this scene, Kael instinctively ducked down even lower. Typically, War Lizard Knights were of the Black Iron rank in terms of strength, far beyond what Kael could contend with at this juncture. There were over twenty War Lizards lingering at the entrance. Excluding the two War Lizard Knights, the remainder appeared to be ordinary War Lizard warriors. Kael discerned no spellcasters among them, such as Warlocks. But what on earth were these War Lizards doing here? Gazing at the vast shopping mall before them, Kael wondered if they, too, had come to hunt zombies. Sure enough, as he had surmised, these War Lizards had indeed come for the zombies. After Kael had waited for a while, War Lizards periodically emerged from the shopping mall, dragging the slain bodies of zombies. It seemed that all Spirit Realm creatures considered zombies a viable food source. Why were the Goblins hunting zombies, and now the War Lizards were following suit? Watching the bustling War Lizards below, Kael''s mind raced with thoughts. Just then, an unexpected commotion erupted downstairs. Inside the pitch - black shopping mall, the War Lizards seemed to have encountered something terrifying. They fled the mall in a panic, as if their lives were hanging by a thread. They shouted as they ran. This instantly put the over twenty War Lizards waiting at the entrance on high alert. "Roar!!!" A thunderous roar reverberated from within the shopping mall. Then Kael witnessed a War Lizard being hurled out of the mall like a cannonball. "Boom!" The War Lizard, propelled by tremendous kinetic energy, crashed into the opposite wall, creating a deafening noise. Its body disintegrated into a shapeless mass upon impact. Subsequently, a menacing figure emerged from the shadows at the mall entrance. To his astonishment, it was a zombie!!! It let out a guttural roar, as if venting its pent - up fury. With its roar, the zombies that had been slumbering in the shopping mall roused from their slumber. At that moment, they seemed to have caught a whiff of the blood not far away, and one by one, they joined in the roaring. Then, led by the powerful zombie at the forefront, these zombies, which usually cowered from sunlight, seemed to have momentarily overcome this weakness. Could this be a Zombie King? Kael pondered. The zombies surged out of the shopping mall in a frenzied rush, charging into the ranks of the War Lizards like ravenous beasts. The War Lizards, not one to back down, brandished their weapons, relentlessly slaying these encroaching zombies. The tough leather and armor of the War Lizards shielded them from the bites and scratches of the zombies'' claws and fangs, rendering them impervious to ordinary attacks. Chapter 33: Zombie King Ordinary zombies, relying solely on their feeble physical might, found it extremely challenging to stand against the adult War Lizards. After all, adult War Lizards boasted combat capabilities equivalent to those of an apprentice - level warrior. Nevertheless, among the zombie horde, there were some long - existent specimens whose physical strength rivaled that of the War Lizards. Furthermore, zombies, devoid of intelligence and any sense of fear, were capable of unleashing a truly formidable combat force. In an instant, the casualty rate among the War Lizards skyrocketed. Observing this, the two War Lizard Knights could no longer contain their fury. They let out enraged roars. Spurring on the colossal lizards beneath them, they channeled the Martial Energy within their bodies, brandishing their hefty weapons, and charged defiantly into the advancing tide of zombies. Their target was that powerful zombie. Eliminate it, and these zombies would surely slink back to the dark recesses of the shopping mall. The giant lizard, with ponderous, lumbering strides, charged forward, its head swaying. It opened its cavernous maw and snatched a zombie in a single bite. With a couple of forceful flings, it tore the zombie into three pieces and sent them hurtling through the air. The thick, protective scales on its head provided it with robust defensive capabilities, allowing it to simply barrel through the zombies that obstructed its path. Simultaneously, the War Lizard astride the giant lizard was far from idle. The long - handled battle axe in its grasp flashed and whirled, dispatching the zombies on either side one by one. Upon sensing the commotion, the Zombie King no longer lingered in place. With a thunderous roar, it hurtled towards the War Lizard Knights. Once within range, it executed a flying leap and pounced upon one of the knights. The knight brandished his battle axe, augmented by Martial Energy. Yet, when the once - sharp blade struck the Zombie King, it failed to achieve the expected effect. It was as if a dull kitchen knife had struck tough old leather, leaving only a faint white mark. At this sight, the War Lizard Knight was left stunned. He had not foreseen such an outcome. But the Zombie King did not hesitate. It extended its razor - sharp claws and, with overwhelming force, clamped onto the knight''s shoulder. Then, it opened its massive jaws and bit down. The armor the knight wore, along with the scales he had once prided himself on, proved as fragile as tissue paper in that moment. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. The Zombie King effortlessly tore through his defenses. A gush of blood spurted from the knight''s body as the Zombie King savagely bit down. The War Lizard let out an ear - piercing scream, desperately calling for the aid of his comrades. The other War Lizard Knight did not abandon his fellow. Drawing near, he unleashed all the Martial Energy within his body and brought his battle axe crashing down on the back of the zombie. This time, his attack had an impact, leaving a shallow scar on the Zombie King''s back. This enraged the Zombie King to no end. It hurled the bitten knight aside and then charged straight at the other knight. The War Lizard Knight let out a terrified shriek and wildly waved his weapon, attempting to halt the Zombie King''s advance, but to little avail. The giant lizard beneath let out a deafening roar. Its gaping maw, exuding a noxious stench, clamped down on the Zombie King. The knight on its back cheered and urged the giant lizard on, but his elation was short - lived. The Zombie King, grasped around the waist, launched a fierce counter - attack. Its sharp claws easily dug into the area between the giant lizard''s nose and mouth. It left ragged, torn wounds, and then its claws dug deeper. With a powerful heave, it tore the giant lizard''s lower jaw asunder. Accompanied by the giant lizard''s agonized wail, its lower jaw split into two. The giant lizard, in excruciating pain, thrashed about wildly, and even the War Lizard Knight on its back was flung off. The War Lizard Knight, who had just landed on the ground, had just drawn the battle sword at his waist when he was attacked by the Zombie King once again. The War Lizard Knight desperately summoned the last of his Martial Energy and swung his sword with all his might. Yet, this attack barely registered on the Zombie King. The Zombie King nimbly sidestepped the knight''s strike and then pounced, knocking him to the ground. In a flurry of slashing claws, the knight''s armor was shredded to pieces, and both the armor and his natural scales were sent flying. Then, the Zombie King lowered its head and greedily feasted on the fresh flesh of the War Lizard. When the other War Lizards beheld this scene, and realized that even the mighty knight had been felled, their morale crumbled instantaneously. They abandoned their injured comrades and fled in panic. Their hasty retreat caused the defensive line to collapse completely. Except for a few War Lizards that managed to flee quickly, the rest fell prey to the zombies. "Why have the zombies suddenly lost their fear of sunlight?" From a nearby tall building, Kael witnessed the scene unfolding downstairs. His heart pounded wildly, like a jackhammer. One of the reasons he had dared to hunt zombies was their inactivity during the day. Now, these zombies had shattered his long - held belief. As the battle downstairs concluded, all the zombies set upon the bodies of the War Lizards, feasting voraciously. From time to time, disputes and scuffles broke out among the zombies as they fought over the flesh. However, as the chaos subsided, the zombies'' innate fear of the sun once again became apparent. Some zombies, still gnawing on the flesh, suddenly ceased, struggled to their feet, and scurried back to the dark confines of the shopping mall at a breakneck pace. Soon, all the zombies that had been on the battlefield retreated back into the shopping mall. A large quantity of the War Lizards'' flesh remained untouched on the ground. Observing this, Kael formulated a hypothesis. Zombies still harbored a natural fear of the sun. However, if there was a powerful Zombie King leading the horde, under its command, these zombies could overcome their instinctual aversion and launch attacks during the day. But once the battle ended and the Zombie King ceased issuing commands, the zombies could no longer resist their deep - seated fear of the sun. This explained why, despite the abundance of flesh still on the ground, the zombies left it behind and retreated to the shopping mall. Contemplating this, Kael felt a slight sense of relief. Today''s spectacle had truly terrified him. Hundreds of zombies launching an attack during the day, and the powerful Black Iron - rank War Lizard Knights being slain by the Zombie King as easily as one would swat a fly. Just how powerful was this Zombie King? Presumably, it had reached the Silver rank. Moreover, these zombies did not cultivate Martial Energy. Relying solely on their physical strength, they had achieved such formidable combat capabilities, which was truly not to be underestimated. The impact of today''s events was so overwhelming that Kael''s legs turned to jelly with fear, and he completely lost any desire to continue hunting. It seemed that in the future, whenever he planned to hunt zombies, he must conduct thorough reconnaissance. If he were to encounter a Zombie King, with his slender build, there was no way he could hope to escape.