Alive!

The Demon Bull Body's Talent Spirit suddenly stirred, rubbing its eyes with both hands before opening its big eyes, curiously surveying the world.

It let out a soft cheer, its transparent Wings fluttering as it charged toward Suye, leaving behind a trail of light composed of scattered starlight.

Suye reached out to catch it, but the Talent Spirit dove straight into his body and vanished without a trace.

Suye searched everywhere but found no sign of it, though he felt it should have become part of his power.

"Hmm... if I can become a strong enough mage, I'll be able to see it."

"Talent Spirits—powerful mages can refine them too, but the cost is at least ten thousand Golden Eagles, and success isn't guaranteed. In Greece, only the top-tier Great Nobles or wealthy tycoons would be willing to buy one. If you converted it to Blue Star's imperial capital housing prices, it might be over a billion each—though you can't really calculate it that way."

"Those most powerful Talent Spirits can't be refined; most are innate or god-given, with the third major source being continuous cultivation. I wonder if this Altar can yield even stronger talents, or even the legendary Talent Gods..."

At that moment, the Altar trembled slightly, generating a tremendous suction force. The light converged, pulling the other three Talent Spirits and all the radiance 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 the Money Pouch hadn't changed, so he opened it and found the Gold Coins still inside, though their luster seemed a bit dimmer.

As for the Bronze Short Sword, there was no change at all.

"That's strange..."

Suye thought for a long time but couldn't figure out the exact mechanism of the sacrifice. He finally shook his head, deciding to test it slowly later—he didn't have time now.

"Looks like I need to keep saving up. Let's set a small goal: first earn 100 Golden Eagles. When I get a chance, I'll try exchanging 100 Golden Eagles with someone to see if I can sacrifice them. But after the sacrifice, the money's still here—what exactly did the Altar absorb?"

Suye thought to himself, gripping the short sword and Money Pouch, silently reciting the command to return.

His vision went dark, then bright. Suye opened his eyes and found himself back in the bedroom.

Suye hurriedly checked the Money Pouch—it was open, all one hundred Golden Eagles inside, their surface slightly dull, while the Bronze Short Sword showed no change.

Suye examined his body carefully. No major changes, but it did feel warm and comfortable.

"Since it's a talent, it should just take effect gradually. No rush."

Thinking this, Suye walked back to the Living Room.

Nothing had changed. The three great deities and Plato's Magic Image still stood guard at the door.

Suye sat back down, his thoughts scattered.

"Meditate for a while? Forget it—let's survive tomorrow first."

Suye shook his head helplessly.

Back on Blue Star, Suye had dabbled in meditation. At first, he didn't feel much, but later, to improve himself, he kept practicing. He found that both his mental state and mindset improved, and even his energy and body grew stronger.

So Suye started with mindfulness psychology, systematically studying Eastern and Western meditation, and even attended Zen retreats and Vipassana centers. Once, at a Vipassana center, he was completely isolated from the outside world—no phone, no internet, no contact with anyone. Every day, aside from eating, sleeping, and washing, he remained silent, meditating the entire time for ten full days, reaching a very high level.

Suye sat quietly, constantly thinking about his future in Greece, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

As Suye slept, the powerful talent finally awakened, sending warm energy surging into every part of his body.

Suye's skin grew tougher, his muscles firmer, his bones thicker, and his entire body began to grow taller.

By the dead of night, the talent's power gradually receded.

Faint starlight scattered across the courtyard. Suddenly, the shadow at the base of the wall began to Wriggle.

The Wriggling shadow grew larger, slowly rising like black sludge.

Finally, the shadow split open, revealing a black human figure, entirely shrouded in a black robe.

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

Within that shadow, countless twisted human faces wailed, wept, cursed, and struggled...

A wave of shadow seemed to carry the Black-robed Man forward as he slowly advanced, stopping just outside the Veranda Pillar.

Three divine statues with blurred faces stood at the entrance of the Living Room, and behind them, the smiling Plato Magic Image remained motionless.

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

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

After a long time, the Black-robed Man slowly retreated, eventually merging back into the shadows and vanishing without a trace.

The stars wheeled through the sky, and Suye slept.

Roosters crowed again and again, and Suye slept.

The sun rose, and Suye was still sleeping.

Clang...

The Bronze Short Sword fell to the floor.

Suye's body jolted, and he woke with a start, frantically grabbing the Bronze Short Sword and pointing it toward the door.

The morning sunlight hung outside like a golden curtain.

"I survived!"

Suye was incredibly excited, laughing loudly, venting all the fear and helplessness that had built up over the entire day, then discreetly wiped the corner of his mouth.

Gurgle...

Suye patted his stomach, stood up, stretched, and was about to eat breakfast when he suddenly felt something was off.

Soon, Suye sensed trouble and looked toward the door.

The sun was a bit too high...

Suddenly, the open Magic Book conjured a three-dimensional marble archway, and an irritable voice came from within the door.

"Suye! Do you take my words as nothing but flatulence? The Opening Ceremony, and you're the only one in the entire school late! Get your ass to the academy for class right now, right now!"

Boom...

The marble archway fell heavily again.

Suye nearly broke out in a cold sweat, not expecting That One's assistant to be truly furious.

Suye looked around, no longer caring about his appearance or breakfast, grabbed the Money Pouch, snatched up the Magic Book, sidled out the door, and said to the Three Divine Statues as he walked, "Three of you, bask in the sun for a while. I'll move you back inside tonight. If there's any disrespect, please forgive me."

Suye went into the bedroom, changed into a clean robe, lifted the hem of the robe, tucked the Magic Book under his arm, and rushed out the door.

The Money Pouch had already been sent into the Ruined Space.

"Suye! You're okay?" The Strong Man Figo, holding a barley bread, let out a joyful exclamation.

Suye laughed loudly and said, "It's fine, the money's paid back, I'm safe! Thank you, Uncle Figo!" With that, he snatched half the bread from Figo's hand and kept running.

"I already bit that!" Figo shouted.

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

"You slick kid!" Figo watched Suye's fleeing Back View, revealing a relieved smile.

Nearby neighbors came out of their homes one after another.

"I told you Suye would be fine."

"Their whole family are good people."

"I hope he becomes a mage someday and avenges his Parents."

"Shh..."

Suye ran all the way, barefoot and grimacing, getting closer and closer to Plato Academy.

As he passed Arena Avenue, a stooped Old Man shuffled forward slowly, holding a long Iron Hook in his hand, the rust on the hook a deep shade, thick black-red clinging to it.

People nearby instinctively shrank back from the Old Man, their eyes hiding a hint of strangeness.

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

Old Buck hunched his back, didn't look at the man, raised his Iron Hook, and continued toward the arena.

Crossing Arena Avenue, Suye ran for a good while longer before finally reaching the Main Gate of Plato Academy.