A Surge in Spiritual Power

A day passed. Linley continued carving without pause, and the massive boulder had begun to clearly reveal what he was sculpting. Linley was completely immersed in his carving. Earth and wind elemental essence continuously flowed into his body, replenishing the energy he expended.

Yale had arrived long ago. After George and Renault explained their analysis to him, Yale did not dare disturb the two of them.

Another day passed. Looking at Arnold and Linley, Yale asked George and Renault in confusion, "Fourth Brother's condition seems fine. He's just carving. That huge boulder is probably a sculpture of that bitch Alice. But what's going on with Arnold?"

George and Renault could not answer either, because Arnold's current state was extremely strange.

When he had first entered his state of enlightenment, Arnold had seemingly unconsciously cast a Fifth-level spell, Earth Guardian Sacred Armor.

But after a day had passed, the Earth Guardian Sacred Armor was still there, and a yellowish-brown glow continuously flowed across the surface of Arnold's armor. Logically speaking, even a Fifth-level defensive spell could not last that long.

Meanwhile, Delin sighed to himself. Arnold had probably been studying this Earth Guardian Sacred Armor recently, and the Earth Guardian Sacred Armor he had cast seemed somewhat different from the commonly known version.

Who was Delin Cowart? He was a Saint Domain Magus who had comprehended the Earth Law. Although he was no longer alive, his discernment remained. Naturally, he could see the differences in Arnold's Earth Guardian Sacred Armor.

It could be said that Arnold had been exceptionally fortunate this time. Watching Linley carve had sent him into a state of enlightenment, and his spiritual energy had constantly been analyzing his own Earthquake Sacred Armor.

Arnold was now completely immersed in analyzing magic. He was utterly unaware that he needed to stop, unaware that he needed food or drink. This state kept Arnold in constant harmony with nature.

With such absolute harmony with nature, Arnold's spiritual energy began to grow at an unprecedented rate...

At this moment, Arnold's spiritual energy was growing hundreds, even thousands of times faster than the rate at which ordinary magi increased theirs through meditation.

But hadn't Arnold already incorporated vibrations into the Earth Guardian Sacred Armor? Why was his enlightenment still analyzing the Earthquake Sacred Armor?

That was because Arnold was still dissatisfied with the Earthquake Sacred Armor. Although it had greater defensive endurance than the Earth Guardian Sacred Armor, Arnold felt there should be an even more ingenious method.

Previously, his research had focused only on combining the Earth Guardian Sacred Armor with vibrations. Now that he had entered a state of enlightenment, Arnold had even more new ideas.

When an earth-style magus stood upon the ground, could the Earthquake Sacred Armor be integrated with the earth itself? When the Earthquake Sacred Armor was attacked, could it redirect the attack into the ground?

Under normal circumstances, figuring out how to do this might have taken Arnold at least a month. But Arnold was currently in a state of enlightenment. His spiritual energy was growing rapidly, countless ideas collided within his mind, and his efficiency was terrifyingly high.

A day passed. Arnold devoted himself wholeheartedly to analyzing magic. Finally, on the morning of the tenth day after entering enlightenment, Arnold awoke.

After waking, Arnold was still somewhat dazed, like someone who had just risen from sleep.

Yale, George, and Renault had set up a tent not far from Arnold and Linley. They had been keeping watch over the two of them the entire time.

When they saw Arnold looking around with a confused expression in his eyes, Yale and the others hurried over and pulled him into the tent.

"So I entered a state of enlightenment?" Arnold asked, his eyes wide.

"You brat, don't act smug after getting such a bargain," Renault pouted.

"Yeah, Arnold, examine your spiritual energy and see what level it has reached. I've heard that after a magus enters enlightenment, their spiritual energy grows rapidly. Maybe yours has already broken through to Sixth-level?" George said.

At George's words, Arnold immediately began examining his spiritual energy. It was surging, far more vast than before, and its strength was vastly greater as well. Arnold even felt that his spiritual energy had directly reached the level of a Seventh-level Mage.

Moreover, all kinds of insights into the Earthquake Sacred Armor from those nine days of enlightenment filled Arnold's mind.

"Thank you, everyone. My spiritual energy has indeed reached the upper tier of Sixth-level Mage," Arnold said, telling a slight lie.

"You worked hard yourself, Arnold. Look at Boss Yale, Third Brother, and me. We all watched Linley carve too, but none of us entered enlightenment," George said.

"After such a long period of enlightenment, you must be hungry! Here, eat this!" Yale had specially ordered someone to prepare it. He untied the fur wrapping around a large box, revealing an iron container filled with sumptuous dishes.

Then the three of them watched Arnold eat. Afterward, they continued waiting for Linley to awaken.

More than half a day later, Linley finally woke up, but he kept staring at his work.

"Boss Yale, Second Brother, Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother." Linley's voice suddenly rang out, startling the four of them slightly.

"Linley, you brat, you finally woke up! It's been eleven whole days! You went eleven days without eating or drinking!" Renault shouted excitedly.

Linley had first stood quietly before the massive boulder for a day, then carved for ten days. It had indeed been eleven full days.

Next, the five of them ate and drank together. Seeing everyone busily preparing rice, pouring wine, and doing various other things, Linley was deeply moved.

After they finished eating, Renault said to Linley, "Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother did something just as incredible as you this time. He entered a state of enlightenment too, and his spiritual energy has now reached the upper tier of Sixth-level Mage."

"Then congratulations, Arnold," Linley said with a smile.

"Mm. But Linley, you definitely improved even more than I did. I was enlightened for nine days, while you carved for ten days and ten nights. That's a day more than me. Has your spiritual energy broken through to Seventh-level already?" Arnold asked in return.

"Mm." Linley did not hide it.

Sure enough, during enlightenment, one was constantly in harmony with nature, and spiritual energy grew at an astonishing rate. Linley had reached Sixth-level Mage only one or two weeks later than Arnold. By now, Linley's spiritual energy might even have reached the middle tier of Seventh-level Mage.

"Seventh-level? Doesn't that mean you've reached the realm of a Seventh-level Mage?" Yale stared in shock.

"Hahahaha! Fourth Brother is completely surpassing Dixie now! Let's see how that Dixie can keep acting so high and mighty, always wearing that stiff face like everyone owes him something," Renault laughed loudly.

"Boss Yale, George, Renault, Arnold, please keep this secret for me. I don't want to make it public yet. When the time is right, I'll reveal it," Linley requested.

"Mm. At most, we'll say you're a Sixth-level Mage. We won't mention Seventh-level for now. That's too frightening—Linley, you're only seventeen," George said. Yale and the other two nodded as well.

Afterward, Linley had Yale store the stone sculpture for him, then prepared to enter the Warcraft Mountain Range once more for training.

Although they were all worried about Linley's condition, when they considered Linley's attitude toward the stone sculpture of Alice, they did not stop him.

Arnold also began rapidly refining his magical essence so that he could reach the level of a Seventh-level Mage sooner.