Second Awakening / Spiritual Power Level

"My plan is to renew the Nebula Magic Tool for another six months. That'll be three million."

It was easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go back. She was already used to the rapid growth in her cultivation. Give her another month or two, and her Wind Element would break through to the second level!

Lu Jun agreed. Money was just a worldly possession. They were both still on the rise, so there was no point in scrimping.

After that, the two went home, washed up, and sat down separately on the sofa to cultivate.

Bzzzz!

Lu Jun sent his mind into the White Tiger Pendant. A few points of light drifted over a blood-red lake, but one complete Servant-level Essence Soul shone brighter than all the rest. After hunting down two wolf dens and gathering over a hundred Remnant Souls, he had combined them into another Essence Soul.

Carefully, he guided the blue flame into his Spiritual World. His Gold Nebula had already expanded to its limit, its platinum light cluster tightly wrapped in a faint Light Screen.

This meant his Primary Magic cultivation had reached its limit. Breaking through that hazy Light Screen would turn his Nebula into a Star Cloud and advance him to the Intermediate Level.

Lu Jun had spent quite some time wearing it down. The Light Screen had grown thin and looked ready to give way. Now, all he had to do was use the Essence Soul's boost to complete the breakthrough.

Truthfully, someone like Mo Fan, who used Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to break through in two Magic Systems, was exceedingly rare. Most people advanced this way, by gradual effort.

Those children of the Great Noble Families who entered university with Intermediate Level cultivation and control of their magic usually became Primary Magic peak mages by the end of their second year of high school, once you accounted for the time spent breaking through and gaining control over their Stars.

So it was perfectly reasonable for Lu Jun to break through midway through his second year of high school. Mu Ningxue might well have reached the Intermediate Level at the same age.

Before long, the Essence Soul merged into one of the platinum Stars, making it swell several times over. The seven Stars in his Nebula flickered, and three of them stood out, bringing him closer and closer to his level-four Primary Magic.

Rumble!

The platinum light cluster within the Light Screen silently gathered a sharp force. When it reached a certain point, it burst forth. A sword imprint rang out from within and shot into the sky.

With a sharp rip, it tore through the Light Screen. In the endless Dark Universe, it split open the heavens with its sword, carving out a more dazzling [Platinum Nebula].

The platinum light cluster's size surged, increasing seven or eight times in an instant. Forty-nine Stars emerged and floated within it like a galaxy, brilliant and dazzling.

Lu Jun felt a sharp pain in his head. A mighty surge of magic power welled up from within and continuously expanded the boundaries of his mind. His thoughts and Mental Power seemed to take on tangible form, growing much stronger.

Outside, platinum light shone from the young man, and a keen aura swept through the living room and courtyard.

Lu Mei, who had been meditating, felt a prickling pain across her skin and shuddered. She quickly woke and looked at her younger brother, a smile appearing on her face. "An Intermediate Mage at seventeen."

When Lu Jun opened his eyes, they gleamed with sharpness. Ordinary people wouldn't dare meet his gaze. He heard his sister say warmly, "Congratulations."

"Heh." Lu Jun couldn't help grinning, delighted. Just then, the White Tiger Pendant had sent him another message: his Metal Element Intermediate Magic was called [Artifact Control].

Its first level was Sword Flying! By making use of the magnetic properties of metal found across the planet, he could control his Vibranium Heavy Sword and send it wherever he wanted. He could take someone's head from a hundred paces as easily as reaching into a bag.

Most importantly, now that his Metal Element had formed a Nebula, the effects of its Primary Magic—Size Change and Golden Radiance—had both improved greatly. His Vibranium could expand up to nine times its original size. At one point three meters long, it could reach nearly twelve meters, and at least a meter wide.

Lu Jun immediately thought of all kinds of possibilities. If the sword could fly, then standing on it would let him fly around like Li Xiaoyao!

Ahem. He'd just advanced from the Wind Swordsman!

Of course, it wasn't quite as stylish as the immortal cultivators who merged with their swords and shot into the sky as streaks of light. Still, it was pretty cool, wasn't it? Besides, this was only the Intermediate Level. What more could he ask for?

And he didn't need to worry about getting vertigo while standing on it. This little mountain of a Heavy Sword was bigger than a CEO's bed. It could carry a whole car—well, a whole swordful of people, no problem.

This meant Lu Jun had gained control of the skies at the Intermediate Level. He remembered that the Intermediate Water Element Magic [Storm Wave] was clearly a ranged attack. It was almost ridiculous how well the two Magic Systems complemented each other, from the Primary Magic all the way to the Intermediate Level.

"I used to think the Size Change effect was just so-so. I didn't realize it would become so versatile when paired with [Artifact Control]."

"It even has two modes. Shrink it ninefold, and it becomes a streak of sword light, perfect for a hard-to-detect assassination. Enlarge it ninefold, then fly it up and let it crash down from the sky— even a General-level demon beast would be pierced through and killed on the spot, right?"

Lu Jun was thrilled. He felt there were many more tricks he could pull off, to say nothing of flying around freely on his sword.

He hadn't gained complete control over his Stars yet, so he didn't know the full details or range of Artifact Control. He'd find out later.

Besides, this was only the first level of the Intermediate Level. The second and third levels would bring useful skills too, and he had plenty to look forward to.

"It does feel like it's countered pretty hard by Lightning Element Intermediate Magic, [Thunderbolt]. A bolt of lightning comes down from the sky, and anyone flying on a sword is a sitting duck. I'll need to find a way to counter that."

Lu Jun rubbed his chin. Metal wasn't necessarily countered by lightning. For instance, he could use its conductive properties and rely on his Metal Element to defend against the Lightning Element.

Once the Heavy Sword was no longer confined to being held in his hand, there were a lot more ways to use it.

"And that's not all." Lu Jun remembered that now his Vibranium Heavy Sword had reached the Intermediate Level, he could fuse it with a second kind of metal. That would give it a huge boost, and the new metal could even be a magical metal with a special effect.

Invincible. Absolutely invincible.

Lu Mei walked over to her younger brother. Looking at the boy's silly grin, she bent down, puzzled, and ran her slender hand across his forehead. "What's wrong with you? Have you gone crazy?"

Chapter 30: Second Awakening

As his sister bent down, her full curves pressed together. Lu Jun stared ahead. The pale skin in the deep cleavage of her cream-white sweater caught his eye, and his eyelid twitched. He quickly brushed Lu Mei's hand away.

He turned his head aside. "It's nothing. The Metal Element's Intermediate Level skill is amazing."

Lu Mei didn't notice anything strange about her younger brother. She sighed and counted on her fingers. "The Metal Element needs another magical metal to fuse with. At least it's just materials, so we can get it done for around ten million."

"But I can never manage to save any money."

"There's no rush about the magical metal." Lu Jun's mind settled. He thought it over before saying, "Right now, I only have one effect, [Fortified]. For the second effect, I want something with offensive power. I can take my time choosing."

After advancing to the Intermediate Level, his Natal Magic Tool had also been nourished. The forty-nine Stars gathered within it, and the power of his Metal Element Magic depended on this sword. Its Fortified effect had improved: whereas it had once been impossible for even an Advancement Period Commander-level demon beast to break, now Lu Jun felt that even a Sub-Lord might not be able to damage it.

"Mm." Lu Mei nodded. "You'll be going to university soon, too. You'll meet people in some Magic Tool labs, and you'll have more connections than I do. You can choose from all sorts of options."

Then she bit her lip and asked, "What Magic System do you want to awaken at the Intermediate Level?"

"Me? Mind, Curse, or Undead."

Lu Jun had already thought it through. He was leaning toward awakening the Mind Element and another system at the Intermediate Level. He had researched the opportunities available to those three systems, and each had its own uses. If developed well, they might prove no weaker than Mo Fan's Lightning Fire.

The Mind Element in particular. After a year and a half in this world, some parts of his memory of the original novel had grown blurry. Awakening the Mind Element would let him search through the deeper layers of his memories, leaving nothing out.

And although the Mind Element had no combat power before the High Rank, it was actually a bug-level Magic System.

First of all, it was unbeatable in a one-on-one mage duel and could hard-counter every Magic System. The most fundamental reason was that Mind Magic could stop someone from casting spells by interrupting their connection to the Stars.

Without magic, wasn't a mage just an ordinary person?

Lu Jun remembered how Mo Fan had struggled whenever he encountered a Mind Element mage. Though he always won in the end, those battles were among the most frustrating. Without Mind Magic Tools or allies, he'd been helpless.

Second, it could help mages avoid attracting the hostility of demon beasts. At a high enough level, it could even control them, making it the king of wilderness survival.

Lu Jun's talent in the Metal Element could still be kept under wraps at the Intermediate Level. By the High Rank, it would probably be conspicuous enough that people could tell at a glance it wasn't just a Magic Tool.

By then, he had three plans: Plan A was best—stay hidden until he was invincible, with the country at his back so no one would dare touch him. Plan B was to reveal himself early and rely on various factions to protect him. Plan C was the backup: if this place wouldn't have him, another would.

He could join a Great Demon and live within an empire. To achieve that, the Mind Element was essential, as it would let him communicate with demon beast Monarchs. He could be cautious and seek out the Kunlun Empire, which was rather friendly toward humans, or take the more extreme route and join the Bermuda Empire, which probably wouldn't mind having a human collaborator.

As long as he stayed alive, he could work toward his greater plans.

Of course, Lu Jun wouldn't choose Plan C unless he had no other choice. He still had his sister, and it would be better to live in the human world. But if people pushed him too far, he wouldn't hesitate to take revenge by any means necessary.

Lu Mei knew nothing about her younger brother's plans. Frowning, she said, "Those three systems are so obscure. It'll be hard to find someone who can teach you, and they're difficult to develop. Why not choose an Elemental Magic system instead? The Shadow Element would work too. You're also missing a way to move around."

"I have the Metal Element and the Water Element. Other Elemental Magic systems, like Lightning and Fire, overlap with what I already have. And I don't need a way to move around anymore. What I'm missing is control. The Mind Element would be perfect."

Lu Jun stuck to his chosen path. He knew that the Mind Element differed from Elemental Magic: it had no Spirit Seed or Soul Seed, and its growth path wasn't fixed. It could easily develop a weird, difficult-to-deal-with skill tree.

In the late game, any powerful expert who didn't have some ability beyond the established system of magic would hardly dare brag.

"Fine, do whatever you want."

Lu Mei was helpless. "Come on, let's go to the Magic Association and awaken your magic."

The two left home and headed straight for Bo City's landmark, the [Yin Mao Building]. For one thing, it was the tallest and most luxurious building in the city, towering over everything else, and home to many organizations. The city's greatest treasure, the Earth Sacred Spring, was hidden underground.

For another... Lu Jun stood before the entrance and looked up. The building's shadow blocked out the sky, and it truly felt oppressive.

He remembered that a year and a half later, the One-Eyed Magic Wolf pack would invade. A Winged Azure Wolf at the Commander-level would perch atop the building and look down on everyone, arrogant and untouchable. Below, demon beasts would run wild, making the place seem like a demon lair. It was a famous scene.

Lu Jun sighed. With him here this time, things should be different.

The siblings entered the Magic Association at the entrance to the Yin Mao Building. A female assistant came to greet them with a smile. "Welcome. What can I help you with?"

Since the two of them had repeatedly come here to deal with Essence Souls, the Magic Association had directly raised their status to the highest level.

Lu Mei got straight to the point. "We're here for a magic awakening. Keep it confidential and take us to a private booth."

The female assistant didn't pry. She nodded and replied with a smile, "Please come this way. With your privileges, the awakening is free."

Lu Jun was delighted. Free was the best.

Before long, they were in a simple silver chamber with a futuristic feel. A Star Compass stood in the center, with the Awakening Stones they'd requested already arranged on it: a transparent crystal representing the Mind Element and a black stone representing either the Undead or Curse Element.

The former needed no explanation. The Curse and Undead systems were closely related. The Undead had evolved from the Curse, and only after reaching its peak had it split off to form a separate system.

He'd leave it to luck. He'd be happy with either one.

"Please, make yourselves at home." The female assistant quietly left and closed the door.

At his sister's urging, Lu Jun took a deep breath and stood before the Star Compass. He placed both hands on it, closed his eyes, and began his second awakening.

Bzzzz!

Before long, he felt a strange magical energy flow through his hands and gather in his mind.

Nothing seemed to have changed in his boundless, dark Spiritual World.

A strange sensation stirred in Lu Jun's mind. He looked toward a corner beside the azure and platinum star systems. A tiny, transparent Nebula appeared, with seven translucent Stars floating within it, almost blending into the background.

The Mind Element had awakened!

Then a black-red glow appeared behind the transparent Nebula. If the first felt peaceful, the second felt ominous.

Within his Spiritual World, the Metal Element Nebula was the broadest and brightest, firmly occupying the center. The Water Element Nebula came next, followed by these two smaller Nebulae.

"This is... the Curse Element!"

Lu Jun took a moment to recognize it, then felt a rush of delight and nodded with satisfaction. In the original work, Zhan Kong had used the Curse Element with great skill. The Zu Family was the strongest in the country, and the system also tied into Lu Jun's path of close-quarters combat.

One day, he'd gain the Super Rank [Curse Body Borrowing Technique], the only method in the original work that let a human acquire a demon beast's abnormal physical strength. (It was a Zu Family Forbidden Art, but I don't think it could have achieved such an absurd effect without the involvement of Super Rank Magic.)

Artifact Control at the Intermediate Level didn't mean he'd given up on close-quarters combat. But as he advanced, Commander-level and Monarch demon beasts would grow enormous, with bodies like Godzilla's. He'd need to keep strengthening his own physical body too.

Just imagine it: a Monarch-level body with the destructive power of the Metal Element. He could cosplay as the Dark Sword Master without a problem.

Chapter 31: Mental Power Realm

Lu Mei was delighted to see this. "A second Curse Element is great! At the Primary and Intermediate Levels, it has amazing offensive power and can catch people off guard. It's also the powerful control skill you're missing."

Lu Jun smiled and nodded. He sensed the two Nebulae of the Mind and Curse Elements, and his thoughts seemed to turn into something tangible he could touch. His awakening had given him some strange new abilities.

He'd have to explore them over time. He could already guess what they were, though: [Mental Power cultivation]. In his view, his sister's concern—that obscure Magic Systems had no clear way to improve—wasn't a problem at all.

No one understood magic better than he did!

The [Space], [Summoning], [Sound], and [Chaos] systems of Dimensional Magic, as well as the [Mind] system of White Magic and the [Curse] system of Black Magic, all depended on the level of one's mental cultivation.

There were nine realms in total, from the First Realm to the Ninth Realm.

The first three realms gave magic a boost equivalent to a Spirit Seed, the next three were equivalent to a Soul Seed, and the final three great realms were truly invincible.

So as long as Lu Jun's Mental Power Realm improved, both systems would gain a boost at the same time. It was easy and efficient.

This was also the advantage of being born with two systems: the more Magic Systems you had, the more Mental Power you naturally possessed compared to other people.

Lu Jun's Mental Power was already infinitely close to the First Realm. Once his Water Element advanced to the Intermediate Level, he'd step into the First Mental Power Realm.

Even so, he remembered that Mo Fan didn't reach the end of the Second Realm until he had two Magic Systems at the High Rank. So while it seemed simple, it was still quite difficult.

For the year and a half after his second year of high school, Lu Jun didn't plan to focus on his Mind and Curse Elements. It would be enough to master their Primary Magic and raise them to level three.

For the rest of the time, he'd need to gain control over the Stars of his Metal Element Intermediate Magic. He also had to break through to the Intermediate Level in his Water Element within the next six months, then master its Stars. All things considered, time was tight.

After completing his awakening, Lu Jun stepped out of the Yin Mao Building. The two chatted happily as they headed home.

Little did they know that not long after they left, Mo Fan, using the alias Fan Mo, walked into the Demon Hunting Alliance hall on the first floor. He began looking for a City Demon Hunting Squad to join, a little earlier than in the Original Timeline.

After seeing the gap between them, Mo Fan was determined to catch up.

As expected, he eventually joined Cai Shang's squad. At the same time, he heard the famous names of the siblings Lu Mei and Lu Jun, and felt the pressure rise again.

Lu Jun knew nothing about this. For the rest of winter break, he immersed himself in gaining control over his Metal Element Stars.

By the time he returned to school, he'd barely managed to complete the connections for two Star Tracks. He still needed five more to draw the Star Chart.

During this period, he also set aside some time to gain control over his newly awakened [Mind] and [Curse] Elements. With his wealth of experience and growing Mental Power, he might be able to cast their Primary Magic in a month or two.