Alive!

The Demon Bull Body talent spirit suddenly stirred, rubbing its eyes with both hands before opening its Big Eyes and curiously surveying the world.

It let out a soft cheer, its transparent wings fluttering as it flew toward Suye, leaving behind a radiant trail of fine starlight.

Suye reached out to catch it, but the talent spirit burrowed directly into his body and vanished.

Suye looked himself over from head to toe, but found no trace of it. Still, he felt that it had probably become part of his power.

"Hmm... If I become a powerful enough mage, I'll be able to see it."

"Talent spirits can also be refined by powerful mages, but the cost is at least ten thousand Golden Eagles, and success isn't guaranteed. In Greece, only top Great Nobles or the richest of wealthy merchants would be willing to buy one. If you converted that into the price of houses in the capital of Blue Star, it might be over a billion each. Of course, you can't really calculate it that way."

"The most powerful talent spirits can't be refined. Most are innate or bestowed by the gods, while the third major source is continuous cultivation. I wonder whether this altar can grant an even more powerful talent—even a legendary talent deity..."

At that moment, the altar trembled lightly, generating an immense suction force. Its radiance contracted, pulling the other three talent spirits and all their light into the altar.

"Looks like I can only choose one..."

Suye looked at the money pouch and Bronze Short Sword on the altar.

"Huh?"

Suye noticed that the money pouch had not changed. He opened it and found that the coins were still inside, though their light seemed somewhat dimmer.

As for the Bronze Short Sword, it had not changed in the slightest.

"That's strange..."

Suye thought for a long time but could not figure out the exact mechanism of the sacrifice. In the end, he shook his head and decided to test it slowly in the future. He had no time for that now.

"Looks like I'll have to keep saving money. Then let's set a small goal: earn one hundred Golden Eagles first. When I have time, I'll try exchanging one hundred Golden Eagles with someone and see whether they can be sacrificed. But after the sacrifice, the money is still there. So what exactly did the altar absorb?"

Suye thought as he gripped the Short Sword and money pouch, silently reciting his return.

His vision went dark, then brightened. Suye opened his eyes and returned to the bedroom.

Suye hurriedly checked the money pouch. Its opening was still ajar, and all one hundred Golden Eagles were inside, though their surfaces looked slightly duller. The Bronze Short Sword had not changed at all.

Suye examined his body carefully. There were no major changes, but he did indeed feel warm all over.

"Since it's a talent, it should only gradually reveal its effects. There's no need to rush."

Thinking this, Suye walked back into the Living Room.

Nothing had changed. The Three Divine Statues and Plato's image still stood guard at the entrance.

Suye sat down again, his thoughts racing.

"Should I meditate for a while? Forget it. I'll worry about that after I survive tomorrow."

Suye shook his head helplessly.

Back on Blue Star, Suye had happened to come into contact with meditation. At first, he had felt nothing, but later, in an effort to improve himself, he practiced constantly. As a result, he discovered that both his spirit and state of mind had improved. Even his stamina and body had grown stronger.

Thus, Suye had begun with mindfulness from psychology, then systematically studied meditation from both the East and West. He had even attended meditation courses and vipassana centers. Once, at a vipassana center, he had been completely cut off from the outside world. He did not use his phone, go online, or contact anyone. Every day, aside from eating, sleeping, and washing, he had not spoken a word and had done nothing but meditate for ten whole days. He had already reached a very high level.

Suye sat quietly, constantly contemplating his future in Greece, and slowly fell asleep.

As Suye fell asleep, the powerful talent force finally awakened. Warm energy surged into every part of his body.

Suye's skin grew tougher, his muscles became stronger, and his bones thickened. His entire body began to grow taller.

It was not until the latter half of the night that the talent force gradually subsided.

Faint starlight spilled into the courtyard. Suddenly, the shadow at the foot of the wall began to writhe.

The writhing shadow grew larger and larger, slowly rising like black sludge.

At last, the shadow split open, revealing a black figure whose entire body was shrouded in black robes.

The Black-robed Man walked to the center of the courtyard, his long shadow falling across the ground.

Within the shadow, countless twisted human faces wailed, sobbed, cursed, and struggled...

It was as though a wave of shadows lay beneath the Black-robed Man's feet, carrying him slowly forward. He suddenly stopped outside the veranda pillar.

Three statues with blurred features stood at the entrance to the Living Room. Behind them, Plato's smiling Magic Image remained motionless.

At that moment, all four pairs of eyes seemed to be watching the Black-robed Man.

The Black-robed Man stared at Plato's Magic Image.

After a long while, the Black-robed Man slowly retreated and finally merged into the shadows, disappearing without a trace.

The stars shifted and time passed. Suye slept.

Roosters crowed one after another. Suye slept.

The sun rose. Suye was still sleeping.

Clang...

The Bronze Short Sword fell to the ground.

Suye's body jerked. He suddenly awoke, hurriedly grabbed the Bronze Short Sword, and pointed it toward the door.

The morning sunlight hung outside the door like a golden curtain.

"I survived!"

Suye was so excited that he laughed loudly, venting the fear and helplessness he had accumulated over the entire day. Then he discreetly wiped the corner of his mouth.

Grrr...

Suye rubbed his stomach, stood up, and stretched. Just as he was about to eat breakfast, he suddenly sensed that something was wrong.

Soon, Suye realized something was amiss and looked toward the door.

The sun was a little too high...

Suddenly, the open Magic Book produced a three-dimensional marble archway. An irritable voice came from within.

"Suye! Do you take this mage's words for farts? It's the Opening Ceremony, and you're the only person in the entire school who's late! Get to the academy for class immediately! Now!"

Boom...

The marble archway slammed down again.

Cold sweat nearly broke out on Suye's forehead. He had not expected Plato's assistant to truly lose his temper.

Suye looked around. Without bothering about his appearance or breakfast, he picked up the money pouch and grabbed the Magic Book. Sidling out the door, he said to the Three Divine Statues as he walked, "The three of you can enjoy the sun for now. I'll move you back inside tonight. If I've shown any disrespect, please forgive me."

Suye entered the bedroom, changed into a clean robe, gathered up its hem, tucked the Magic Book under his arm, and rushed outside.

The money pouch had already been sent into the Ruined Space.

"Suye! You're all right?" Figo, the Strong Man holding barley bread, cried out joyfully.

Suye laughed and shouted, "I'm fine! The money's been repaid, and I'm safe! Thank you, Uncle Figo!" With that, he snatched the half-loaf of bread from Figo's hand and kept running.

"I've bitten that!" Figo shouted.

"Don't worry. I'll tear off the part you bit."

"You cheeky brat!" Figo watched Suye's rapidly retreating figure and smiled in relief.

The nearby neighbors came out of their houses one after another.

"I told you Suye would be fine."

"They're all good people."

"I hope he becomes a mage and avenges his parents."

"Shh..."

Suye ran barefoot all the way, gritting his teeth in pain, as he drew closer and closer to Plato Academy.

As he passed Arena Avenue, a hunched old man slowly walked forward, gripping a long Iron Hook. The rust on the hook was an extremely deep color, thick black-red grime clinging to it.

The people nearby instinctively avoided the old man when they saw him, strange looks hidden in their eyes.

Only the owner of a nearby coffin shop greeted him with a smile. "Old Buck, heading to the arena so early?"

Old Buck remained hunched over and did not look at him. He raised the Iron Hook slightly and continued toward the arena.

After crossing Arena Avenue, Suye ran for quite a while longer before finally reaching the main entrance of Plato Academy.