Mind Soothing, Curse of Fear / Coming of Age, Buying a Spirit Seed

By then, Lu Jun would have five skills at his disposal, giving him a much wider range of options.

As soon as Lu Jun stepped into the Advanced Class, the noisy classroom fell abruptly silent.

Everyone watched him enter with strange looks in their eyes.

He paused slightly, but paid them no mind. Calmly taking his seat, he was soon joined by Mo Fan, who clicked his tongue and said, "Well, well, Old Lu, you've been hiding your talents. Be honest—what level are you at now?"

"Nothing special. My sister bought me a Magic Tool." Lu Jun gave a vague answer, then changed the subject. "Where's Zhang Xiaohou?"

"Ah." Mo Fan sighed and jerked his chin toward the side. "Over there, getting cozy with his girlfriend."

Lu Jun looked over and saw Zhang Xiaohou chatting happily with He Yu in the distance. So he's still following the original path. I hope they'll be happy together.

Mo Fan lamented, "You two are both freeloaders who value romance over friendship. The Three Musketeers have fallen apart."

"Give it a rest. The Three Musketeers never existed."

Lu Jun pursed his lips. He and his sister had been perfectly happy on their own. Why would they need Mo Fan tagging along as a third wheel?

After that, plenty of classmates grew curious and tried to ask about him. Some had ulterior motives, and the attention soon became unbearable. In the end, he simply asked the school for permission to study at home.

Fortunately, Principal Zhu knew his cultivation was no joke. Special talent called for special treatment, so he approved the request without hesitation. He only reminded Lu Jun to return a few months before the college entrance exams and try to get into one of the world's top universities.

And so, after only a few days back in class, Lu Jun slung his schoolbag over his shoulder and left again, to the envy of his classmates.

From then on, he became a legend at Tianlan High School. As his fame grew, the stories about him only became more and more outrageous.

When he got home, Lu Mei asked curiously, "Why are you back?"

Lu Jun silently stared at the dining table in the living room. It was covered with a feast—Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, roast goose, Boston lobster, tomahawk steak...

He put down his schoolbag and sighed. "When I'm home, I just cook noodles for convenience. When I'm away, you order a feast like this? That really hurts."

"Don't be mad." His sister gave an awkward smile and hurriedly invited him over. "Come sit and eat."

Lu Jun held his forehead. Only his own sister could pull something like this. He turned his sorrow into an appetite and dug in. Mages really did eat a lot more than ordinary people—the amount of exercise involved in hunting Demonic Beasts made that inevitable.

Over the next two months or so,

Lu Jun devoted himself to controlling his stars. He still hadn't mastered the Metal Element Intermediate Level Magic, but he could already cast the Primary Level One Magic of the Mind and Curse Elements.

Having learned new magic, Lu Jun eagerly began experimenting. First up was the Mind Element's Primary Level One spell, [Spirit Ripple · Soothe], which had little offensive power and was purely supportive.

In the living room, he traced a transparent Star Track. His eyes shone brightly as a faint, translucent ripple emerged from his forehead and washed over his "test subject"—his sister.

As he cast the spell, Lu Jun felt as though his thoughts had reached a vast Mind Lake, its surface rising and falling. He could vaguely sense her emotions. When his thoughts brushed over it, the ripples seemed to smooth out, leaving it as clear and still as a mirror.

After casting the spell, he saw that she seemed perfectly calm, and couldn't help asking Lu Mei how she felt. He followed a strange intuition and kept silent, transmitting the question through thought alone.

To his surprise, a voice rang directly in Lu Mei's mind. "How do you feel now?"

"Huh?" His sister came back to herself slightly. Her emotions finally stirred, though her voice remained calm. "I was nervous about being used as a test subject, but once you cast the spell, I relaxed. My mind went blank. Other than that, I didn't feel anything."

"Wait. You can really hear my thoughts?"

Lu Jun was first incredulous, then thoughtful. It did fit the nature of a Mind Element Primary Magic spell, but being able to casually manipulate someone else's emotions was still terrifying. It gave him the feeling that he could control everything.

Besides, Primary Magic was only a minor branch of what the Mind Element could do. What amazed him was that he seemed to have genuinely awakened a superpower: the ability to transmit his voice to someone from a distance. In the East, that was the Buddhist power of reading another's mind; in the West, it was the psionic power of a Mind Mage.

The sacred Khala connected everyone!

Nearby, Lu Mei seemed to have just recovered. Her emotions surged, and her face was full of astonishment at the wonders of the Mind Element.

Chapter 32: Mind Soothing, Curse of Fear

The more Lu Jun studied the Mind Element, the more discoveries he made. This power of thought was actually the most direct expression of one's Mental Power. Combined with the abilities of the Mind Element's Nebula, it could unlock a range of passive abilities.

Telepathy was only the most basic one. Recently, while slaying Demonic Beasts with the Metal Element, he had found his senses exceptionally sharp, with a remarkably keen sixth sense.

It was almost like the fabled Mind's Eye of swordsmanship, or the martial arts principle of utmost sincerity, which let one sense what was to come before it happened. Like a cicada sensing danger before it moved, the ability greatly improved his fighting and survival skills.

And while the Mind Element's Primary Level One spell, [Mind Soothing], might not be especially powerful, its Level Two spell, [Mind Impact], was terrifying. It worked on the same principle as the spell he had just used.

He used his thoughts to probe someone else's "Mind Lake." The first spell soothed it; the second stirred it up, creating stormy waves that disrupted the target's focus. Even an Intermediate Mage could be prevented from casting magic.

At Primary Level Three, [Mind Wall] let him build a wall over his own Mind Lake and those of his teammates, protecting them from outside mental interference.

All in all, it was extremely useful.

Of course, the concept of a Mind Lake was Lu Jun's own conclusion based on his spellcasting. It probably corresponded to the mysterious region of a mage's Spiritual World.

This led to a simple principle: the higher a mage's cultivation, the more vast their Mind Lake would be. An attempt to shake it with a Primary Magic spell would take far more effort. It might even be like a breeze passing over an ocean, leaving no effect at all.

That was why Mind Mages were wary of people with a high spiritual realm.

Lu Jun figured there was no need to worry about anyone below the High Rank. Just look at Mo Fan. He had only recently reached the late Second Realm, despite having two High-Rank Elements. At Lu Jun's level, he could toy with anyone of the same rank.

A moment later, he began experimenting with [Curse Element] Primary Magic. He immediately felt the difference. He still used Mental Power to reach into the Curse Nebula and control its stars, but it was like a converter: he fed in his thoughts and out came another kind of strange power.

This time, Lu Mei was still his test subject, but he made sure to keep the spell's power under control.

"Level One Fearful Haze · Terror!"

Lu Jun's eyes turned black and red, and an ominous aura emanated from him.

In a daze, Lu Mei found herself surrounded by darkness. She could just make out a pair of blood-red eyes above Lu Jun's head, watching her from on high with a bloodthirsty look.

The next instant, her heart began racing and her breathing grew rapid. Her body stiffened and tensed, sweat poured down her back, and her heart seized.

Lu Jun realized something was wrong. He sensed that the Mind Lake before him was about to capsize, so he hurriedly cast the Mind Element's Primary Magic to soothe it. A gentle breeze passed over the lake, and Lu Mei's emotions swung to the opposite extreme. Her mind became calm as still water.

Before long, the spell wore off. Lu Mei panted, her curvy body sprawled across the sofa, her eyes rolled back and her skin slick with sweat. She had gone from utter terror to absolute calm, and her mind was exhausted. She looked utterly wrecked.

Seeing this, Lu Jun panicked a little and turned to flee. I've done it now. I've left Lu Mei in this state.

"Lu. Jun. Get. Back. Here!"

Sure enough, Lu Mei's voice came from behind him, each word gritted through clenched teeth. Then he felt a gust of wind at his back and a soft impact slammed into him. He fell to the floor, pinned beneath a soft, cottony weight and unable to move.

Lu Mei tackled him and tripped him up, wrapping her long, shapely legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. Like an octopus, she clung to him with all four limbs, pinching and tugging at both his cheeks.

Her low, melodious, annoyed voice rang in his ear. "You said you'd control the strength! What was that just now?"

Lu Jun's brain short-circuited. His head wouldn't work, and he could barely breathe. All he could manage was a muffled, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

"You didn't mean to?!" Lu Mei ruthlessly mauled him, venting the fear she had just felt.

Honestly, if the target had been an ordinary person, Fearful Haze · Terror could have triggered a fatal heart attack. It was a rare skill that could both control and kill.

The two of them wrestled and played around in the living room.

Gradually, Lu Jun's expression turned strange. The moist breath from Lu Mei's lips brushed his ear, making him uncomfortable. Realizing that most of her curvy body was pressed against him, his face flushed. "Get off me."

"What's wrong? Are you going through a rebellious phase...?"

Lu Mei was annoyed at first. Then she looked down and saw that the tips of Lu Jun's ears had turned faintly red. Suddenly understanding, she released her arms and sat up, sweeping her dark hair back behind one ear. With a flirtatious smile, she said, "Ohhh, so you're embarrassed."

Lu Jun looked up from below. From this angle, Lu Mei's chest looked generous and full, and her face was stunning, radiating a captivating charm. He couldn't help swallowing.

"What are you embarrassed about? We've bathed together before, when you were little."

She gave Lu Jun's bottom a playful slap, rose gracefully, and stretched without a care. "Forget it. You've got me all sticky. I'm going to wash up."

With that, Lu Mei ignored him and headed into the bathroom.

As soon as she shut the door, she leaned against it and covered her chest. Her face had turned bright red. Her mind kept replaying the strong scent of his hormones and the sense of security she had felt watching Lu Jun slay Demonic Beasts.

After a while, she scolded herself for thinking such things, then turned on the shower and washed up.

In the living room, Lu Jun also sat dazed for a while. After getting up, he sat on the sofa and tried to focus on meditation, but his mind just wouldn't settle.

With no other choice, he controlled his stars and cast the Mind Element's Primary Level One spell, [Soothe], on himself.

At once, he felt a cool sensation descend from his crown, as if someone had poured a basin of cold water over him. His Blood Qi settled. Like a wise man in a moment of clarity, his mind became still as water.

He began reviewing what he had learned from using the Mind and Curse Magic, then turned his attention inward to his Spiritual World. The black-and-red Nebula and the transparent Nebula sat side by side, both somewhat dim.

"I see. The Mind and Curse Elements are two sides of the same coin. Both originate in the soul. The former leaves the body unharmed; the latter ravages it. That's what separates White Magic from Black Magic."

Lu Jun pondered. The Mind and Curse Elements were the only branches of the two great categories of White and Black Magic that relied on Mental Power. There had to be some kind of connection between them.

If he could grasp that relationship, perhaps he could combine the two Elements to create Fusion Magic, and even share the magic energy between their Nebulae.

Lu Jun then began practicing. He found that the power of the Mind Element could indeed strengthen the Curse Element. If Spirit Ripple reached Level Two, then a Mind Impact laced with a curse would be almost impossible to guard against.

This would also help conceal his Innate Dual Elements. The Mind Element was transparent and subtle. Even if he used it alongside the obvious concealment of his Curse Element, nobody would notice.

At worst, they would assume it was some kind of Mind-related Magic Tool.

From that moment on, his second Intermediate Level Element was the [Curse Element].

Of course, after reaching the Intermediate Level, the two Elements would follow very different paths. They started from the same place but headed in different directions.

Lu Jun nodded with satisfaction. The Mind Element could keep him undefeated in a one-on-one fight and make him a match for anyone. The Curse Element offered control and damage, rounding out his abilities. Its damage was also unlike the physical attacks of the Metal Element—strange and unconventional.

His four Elements gave him an answer for every situation.

Chapter 33: Coming of Age, Buying a Spirit Seed

Time passed, and a year went by.

Lu Jun spent the second semester of his sophomore year and the first semester of his junior year cultivating at home, controlling his stars and breaking through to new levels. Neither sibling ever mentioned their little episode, but it had left traces in both their hearts.

He had now reached eighteen by nominal age, which meant he could just about be considered an adult.

During that time, Lu Jun had long since mastered the entire Star Chart for his Metal Element Intermediate Level Magic, [Artifact Control]. He had also trained the Mind Element's Spirit Ripple and the Curse Element's Fearful Haze to Level Three.

Spirit Ripple's Level Three abilities had different effects, as he already knew. Fearful Haze, meanwhile, continued to harm the body by reaching through the soul. Its Level Two spell was [Shadow], and its Level Three spell was [Nightmare].

"Shadow" brought the Curse Element's nature to the fore. Anyone struck by Fearful Haze would be left with a shadow that clung to them relentlessly. Every so often, they would see those blood-red eyes and be struck by terror.

Unlike Level One Terror, which only worked once, Level Two Shadow could take effect repeatedly, growing more intense each time. An ordinary person would almost certainly die. They might survive one sudden heart attack, but not two or three.

Mages fared a little better, but the effects often took over ten days to fade. Imagine being in the middle of a battle where every split second counted, marked by Fearful Haze and focused on controlling your stars—only for those blood-red eyes to suddenly appear and break your concentration.

It was infuriating.

Level Three Nightmare took things even further. It constantly probed the target's inner weaknesses, suddenly appearing in their most terrifying memories. If they couldn't handle it, they could become dazed in battle for two or three seconds, trapped in their nightmare.

That was why Curse Mages needed to fight prolonged battles, weaving traps as they went and luring their opponents into them without their notice. By the time the target realized what was happening, it was too late to turn things around.

During summer vacation, Lu Jun had also tested it on Demonic Beasts while hunting them. To his surprise, it worked even better on them. One glare from Fearful Haze made a Servant-level Demonic Beast's heart seize, freezing it for a second or two. The weaker its soul, the more likely it was to die of fright on the spot.

None of this had taken him much time. With the White Tiger Pendant nourishing him and his Intermediate Mage cultivation boosting his training efficiency, he had completed it all in just eight months.

Over the remaining four months, his Water Element finally reached the critical point after years of tempering.

Whoosh!

In the yard, Lu Jun sat cross-legged as several streams of azure water circled him. The air filled with thick moisture, and a faint sound of tides seemed to echo from within his body.

In his Spiritual World, the platinum Nebula occupied the center. Beside it, seven stars spun rapidly within a blue mass of light, forming an azure vortex. Layer upon layer of waves surged against the membrane of light.

The Metal Element was unyielding, winning with a single decisive push. The Water Element was gentle, wearing stone away one drop at a time.

At last, with a soft pop, the azure membrane shattered. Vast blue light surged out, rapidly claiming a wide area and expanding several times over. Forty-nine blue stars emerged.

His Water Element had broken through to the Intermediate Level!

At the same time, Lu Jun closed his eyes and felt his mental awareness grow stronger. His Mind Element's range of perception extended, and his spiritual realm officially reached the First Realm.

Inside the house, his sister Lu Mei seemed to sense the change. She stepped outside with a gentle smile. "Your Water Element reached the Intermediate Level?"

Lu Jun opened his eyes, exhilarated. Only half a year remained before the Disaster of Bo City. Things might have seemed calm lately, but this was the calm before the storm.

He had achieved his goal: two Elements at Intermediate Level One and two at Primary Level Three. His chances of staying safe had improved considerably.

The rest of his final semester of high school would be enough time to master his Water Element Intermediate Magic.

"We've still got some vacation time left. Let's go to Magic City and buy a Spirit Seed."

He came back to himself and smiled at his sister. Over the past year, it wasn't just him who had made rapid progress. With his "watering"—cough, his support—Lu Mei had grown considerably stronger too. She was using both a Nebula Magic Tool and a specialized Wind Element Magic Tool, an extravagant combination.

The latter had a similar effect to a Nebula Magic Tool, but boosted one specific Element. The two could be used together.

Lu Mei now had Wind Element Intermediate Level Three and Rock Element Intermediate Level Two. She was a top-level fighter beneath the High Rank. Once she had a Spirit Seed, Lu Jun suspected she could take on two Warrior-level Demonic Beasts by herself.

She was probably only a little behind Tang Yue, who had already begun trying to break through to the High Rank.