Spirit: 16

Early the next morning, when the sky had only just turned a pale fish-belly white, Su Ran left his rented room.

With a fortune in his pocket and a clear goal in mind, he headed straight for the busiest and relatively reputable Awakeners' commercial street in the Inner Ring District.

His first stop was Lingxi Pavilion, a shop specializing in all kinds of protective charms, calming items, and objects that warded off mental interference.

"I need something that can steady my mind and help me concentrate my mental power, preferably with some mental protection as well," Su Ran told the old man behind the counter, getting straight to the point.

The old man sized him up and took several brocade boxes from beneath the counter. One piece caught Su Ran's eye at once: a ring carved with a simple cloud pattern, its entire surface a lustrous milky white, with a spot of natural green at the center.

It felt cool to the touch, but quickly warmed to his body temperature, giving off a gentle fluctuation that calmed the mind.

[Mind-Calming Jade Pendant (Fine)]

Effect: Slightly increases mental power recovery speed, modestly improves mental resistance (resistance to low-level mental effects such as fear and confusion), and helps the wearer enter a state of concentration faster.

Price: 30 silver coins.

It was expensive, nearly half the market price of yesterday's [Berserk] scroll. But Su Ran did not hesitate for a moment. "I'll take it."

After paying 30 silver coins, he put the jade pendant around his neck.

A cool, peaceful sensation seeped into his skin, completely calming the slight agitation he felt over the important investment he was about to make.

This was preparation for taking the [Blood Tear Potion] and the possible intensive use of mental power in the future.

Next came the main event.

He arrived at an officially authorized store operated by the Professionals Association. Everything here was orderly, though its prices were also the most transparent. He went straight to the counter displaying all kinds of Class Change Scrolls.

[Black Iron-Class Scroll: Mage]

Price: 1 gold coin (or the equivalent of 1 million Credits).

The pale purple crystal tube, engraved with complex arcane runes, lay quietly on a velvet cushion, radiating an aura of knowledge, power, and expense.

It was a ticket to the path of a true magic-user, a dream beyond the reach of countless aspiring magic-users at the bottom of society, and a prime example of an investment with a long return period in yesterday's forum analysis.

Su Ran did not look at it for long. He took out the dazzling gold coin and placed it on the counter. "I'll take this."

The receptionist behind the counter gave him a surprised look, apparently not expecting an ordinarily dressed Awakener who looked so young to produce a gold coin so readily.

But she quickly regained her professional smile, expertly completed the transaction, and solemnly handed the crystal tube to Su Ran.

It felt somewhat heavy in his hand, and he could sense the energy information stream within it, far more active and aggressive than the one in the [Scholar] scroll.

Su Ran carefully put it away. This was a crucial step in his plan and an important investment in his future path.

He knew the advantages of a Gunslinger, but his Double Chests talent gave him the confidence to gamble on the mage's theoretically higher ceiling, especially the chance of obtaining rare spell knowledge.

Next came an equipment upgrade.

He first went to an armor shop and picked out a [Cloth Robe (Fine)] with faint energy-channeling patterns that could modestly increase the speed at which he concentrated mental power and provide slight physical defense. It cost 8 silver coins.

Next was a pair of [Rabbit-Skin Boots (Fine)], tanned from supple rabbit hide and set with faintly glowing runes in the soles. They could slightly increase movement speed and muffle footsteps, and cost 5 silver coins.

For a weapon, he once again chose a staff that suited his hand.

It was an [Oak Staff (Fine)], specially soaked in oil to make the wood tougher, with copper bands around both ends and a slight energy-conduction enhancement effect. It cost 7 silver coins.

Finally, he returned to Old Henry's Reliable General Goods and bought twenty high-quality [Blank Parchment Scrolls] for 7 silver coins.

By the time Su Ran left the shop, his equipment had been completely refreshed.

Though it still could not be called luxurious, every piece was fine-grade equipment that was practical and suited to his current path, a qualitative difference from his previous shabby getup.

He checked his remaining assets in his personal space: zero gold coins, silver coins... only two left, plus a few loose copper coins.

Only yesterday he had held a fortune in his hands, and in the blink of an eye, he had spent almost all of it.

But he did not begrudge it in the slightest. Money only had meaning when spent on the cutting edge of the blade, transformed into real combat power, productivity, and future potential.

The Mind-Calming Jade Pendant safeguarded his mental power, the Mage scroll determined the direction of his path, the full set of fine equipment improved his basic combat power and survivability, and the Blank Parchment Scrolls were raw materials for continued production.

Every penny had been spent on the path he had carefully planned.

He stood on a relatively clean street in the Inner Ring District as the afternoon sun shone through the sparse clouds.

Su Ran felt the coolness of the jade pendant against his neck, touched the heavy crystal scroll tucked inside his clothes, and hefted the Oak Staff, which felt even better in his hand.

A sense of fulfillment and clarity filled his heart.

The capital had been invested, and the blueprint had been drawn.

Next, he would return to his safe house and, with the Mind-Calming Jade Pendant's help, take that precious vial of [Blood Tear Potion].

Then he would use the [Black Iron-Class Scroll: Mage] and embark on a new class path.

Back in his rented room, he locked the door and drew the curtains over the window, which let in little light to begin with. The room fell into quiet dimness.

Su Ran did not begin immediately.

He first closed his eyes and focused, relying on the pendant's effect and his own will to make his breathing slow and steady, his heartbeat gradually slowing as well.

Only when he felt he had entered a state of intense concentration, his mind free of distractions, did he slowly open his eyes.

From the deepest part of his personal space, he took out the thumb-sized crystal vial containing a sealed dark red liquid: the [Blood Tear Potion (Rare)].

Su Ran pulled out the tightly fitted stopper, which was made of some unknown material.

No strong smell wafted out as he had expected. Only an exceedingly pure, indescribable energy fluctuation quietly escaped, making even the air in the room seem to grow a little heavier.

He hesitated no longer. Tilting his head back, he raised the vial's opening to his lips.

"Ngh!"

Su Ran let out a muffled groan, his body instantly taut as a bow!

The torrent was like countless fine, violent needle points, piercing straight through the lining of his mouth and forcing its way into his blood.

It raced through his network of blood vessels toward every limb and bone, while part of it surged straight toward the crown of his head like flames flowing upstream!

On a physical level, he felt every muscle and every bone being brutally torn and hammered by an invisible force!

On a mental level, the impact was even more terrifying! The torrent pouring into his mind transformed into countless chaotic, intense fragments of emotion and illusory memories.

The [Mind-Calming Jade Pendant] blazed with light, its warm, cool aura forming a dam that desperately resisted the raging tide on the mental plane, helping Su Ran hold on to his last shred of clarity.

He did not know how much time passed. Perhaps only a few minutes, perhaps half an hour.

The violent torrent finally began to weaken, gradually changing from a ravaging flood into a surging river, then slowly subsiding and merging into him.

Su Ran forced himself upright and sat down against the edge of the bed, unable to wait to call up his personal panel.

A pale blue screen unfolded in his consciousness, its data already updated:

[Strength: 6 → 7]

[Spirit: 14 → 16]

His attributes had improved, beyond a doubt!

The one-point increase in Strength brought a tangible improvement to his physical capabilities. And the effect of the two-point increase in Spirit was even more immediate!

Only after resting for a full quarter of an hour did Su Ran feel some of his strength return. He changed out of his soaked clothes and gave himself a quick wash.