Chapter 213: Mage · Primordial (Three Stars)

Chapter 213: Mage · Primordial (Three Stars)

"The threshold is 4.9 spirit scale, the same as the traditional method."

Madame Ellen lightly tapped the table with her fingertip, her gaze unfathomable.

"Once spiritual energy reaches this threshold, it's like a door that's been knocked upon, awaiting the final key to unlock it."

Luo En silently nodded.

He had long anticipated this. After all, whether through the traditional path or the True Path, the essence of ascension remains the same—qualitative transformation of spiritual energy and a leap to a higher realm.

"As for the specific meditation method, there are also other ways to enhance breakthrough success rates."

Madame Ellen paused, as if contemplating how to articulate these ancient and complex concepts.

She rose and walked to the window, her long lavender hair gently swaying in the breeze. Sunlight filtered through the glass, outlining her silhouette like a ghost from antiquity.

"Among all who've attempted the Primordial Path that I've witnessed..."

Her voice was soft yet steady.

"One key factor greatly influences the success rate—Special Innate Talent."

Luo En's heart quickened.

He thought of his own "Dual Soul" and "Protection of the Sun", a flicker of hope stirring within. These unique innate talents might be his greatest asset in daring the True Path.

"The more Special Innate Talents one possesses, or the stronger they are, the higher the success rate."

Madame Ellen turned, her emerald green eyes piercing Luo En.

"This isn't merely due to the innate talent's ability enhancements, but because of a mysterious resonance between the innate talent and the meditation technique's trait."

She lifted her teacup, sipping the now-cooled tea before continuing.

"It's like a peculiar harmony—when Special Innate Talent resonates with the meditation focus during visualization, the ascension process becomes smoother, as if water finding the perfect channel."

Luo En's brow furrowed slightly.

"This explains why some individuals with seemingly mediocre spiritual aptitude can achieve astonishing success during breakthroughs."

He mentally cross-referenced this critical information with his existing theories, seeking logical connections.

"Exactly." Madame Ellen nodded firmly.

"More importantly, Special Innate Talent doesn't just increase breakthrough success rates—it significantly reduces post-breakthrough pollution and spiritual chaos."

Her fingers traced a complex symbol in the air.

The motion felt oddly familiar to Luo En—it was a core rune from The Murmuring of the Star Devourer, symbolizing "containment."

"Those without Special Innate Talent who force a breakthrough, even if they succeed by luck, will inevitably suffer immense spirit pollution and madness. Those with powerful Special Innate Talents, however, often pass through this process smoothly, with pollution levels reduced by at least fifty percent."

A glint of realization flashed in Luo En's eyes.

"So this is why Victor Reinhardt periodically descends into madness? Because he lacks sufficiently powerful Special Innate Talent?"

He deliberately posed this question, testing his hypothesis.

"You're very clever", Madame Ellen praised.

"Victor's success was almost miraculous, considering he actually possessed no confirmed Special Innate Talent."

"He succeeded purely through extraordinary willpower and unparalleled courage. The cost, however, is the periodic madness you're aware of. Research suggests the fragment of the 'Convergence of Stars' will he received during ascension has always remained unstable within his spirit world, like a foreign body implanted within—never fully assimilated."

Luo En mentally noted this.

Previous use of the pocket watch already proved he could entirely cleanse spirit pollution.

"Let me give you more examples—mages with extremely powerful, even multiple innate talents. After breaking through via the True Path, they suffered almost no side effects and instead became even stronger."

Madame Ellen resumed her seat, flipping open the ancient archival records to a page featuring a chilling illustration.

A woman wrapped in countless tendrils, each ending connected to twisted organs, simultaneously terrifying and mesmerizing.

"'The Blood Lady' Grandmage Selena, born at the dawn of the Third Era, possessed two Special Innate Talents—'Formless Transformation' and 'Organ Adaptation.' The latter allowed her to transplant any creature's organs into herself without rejection, while the former let her alter those organs' form and function at will."

Madame Ellen's voice grew low and solemn, as if recounting forbidden history.

"At twenty-two, she chose to visualize the 'Thousand Changing Faces'—an ancient entity dwelling in dimensional gaps capable of arbitrarily altering its form and attributes, regarded as a symbol of chaos and mutation."

"Most mages attempting to contact such beings often get assimilated instantly by their chaotic nature, becoming nothing but a writhing mass of shapeless flesh. But Selena not only established a connection successfully—she gained the 'Form Transformation' meditation technique trait, allowing her to alter her biological structure at will, even transforming into non-carbon-based lifeforms."

Imagining that terrifying yet powerful form, Luo En felt a strange mix of fear and longing.

The ability to change forms meant practically infinite adaptability and survival capabilities.

"Selena later became a top-tier Archmage renowned in biology and mutation studies. It's said she created countless unique lifeforms, some still thriving in secret dimensions today. Though her physical form became grotesquely twisted, her spirit and consciousness remained alert and stable, never descending into madness or chaos."

Madame Ellen turned the page, pointing to a silhouette composed of countless black threads—this entity had no remaining human features. The threads extended beyond the image, as if connecting to every corner of reality.

"'The Elder' Callix, born in the middle-to-late Third Era, possessed two Special Innate Talents—'Result Premonition' and 'Causal Severance.' The first allowed him to simulate detailed future outcomes within his spirit world. The second let him sever specific causal chains, preventing certain events from occurring."

"At twenty-nine, Callix chose to visualize the 'Weaver'—a legendary hyper-dimensional being controlling causal threads. Ordinary people, even ordinary mages, attempting to contact such beings often get overwhelmed by infinite possibilities, their spirits completely shattered. But Callix not only succeeded—he gained the 'Causal Reversal' meditation technique trait, capable of reversing causal relationships under limited conditions, making results precede causes."

A chill ran through Luo En.

Reversing causality?

This defied all his previous conceptions of power. If mastering this ability was possible, it would practically equate to controlling fate itself.

"Callix ascended to Dusk Sun Rankmage, and after implanting the stellar ring bloodline 'The Elder Eye Tyrant,' became nearly invincible. He could always predict his opponent's every move in advance, then formulate optimal counterstrategies. Once, a peer-level enemy attempted to ambush him—before even initiating the attack, the enemy found himself already trapped in Callix's pre-prepared snare."

A flicker passed through Luo En's expression, though he remained silent as Madame Ellen continued.

"Even today, mage researchers struggle to fully explain why Special Innate Talents so dramatically increase True Path success rates."

Madame Ellen shook her head, her expression tinged with regret at this knowledge gap.

"The prevailing theory suggests Special Innate Talents are essentially the soul's unique resonance points with universal laws—a key unlocking specific doors. When someone possesses multiple Special Innate Talents, their soul gains more 'languages' to converse with the universe's deeper structures, better understanding and accepting the will fragments of those great entities."

"Actually", Madame Ellen suddenly lowered her voice, her expression turning unusually grave,

"About two thousand five hundred years ago, Master Gwendolyn from the Star School conducted secret research attempting to decipher the inner connections between different Special Innate Talents..."

Luo En listened quietly, his understanding of his own Special Innate Talent shifting entirely.

"There's also an ancient legend", Madame Ellen continued, her expression darkening. "It claims that all Special Innate Talents actually originated from the 'Demon God' himself. The Demon Gods, seeking to observe and understand the multiverse's endless possibilities, transformed fragments of their essence into innate talents and bestowed them upon mortal beings.

According to this theory, Special Innate Talents are actually 'anchors' for the Demon Gods, allowing them to perceive and influence the material world indirectly through these gifted individuals."

She shook her head, concern flickering across her emerald eyes. "Naturally, this is just one of the oldest legends, with no concrete evidence to support it. But it's undeniable that those possessing multiple Special Innate Talents often achieve greater heights on their cultivation path, as if some invisible force is guiding them."

Luo En silently processed this information, weighing various possibilities in his mind.

If innate talents truly were "anchors" for higher beings, then utilizing them for power might also mean accepting some unknown connection or influence.

This was a matter requiring careful consideration.

At that moment, his semi-transparent profession interface flickered again:

[True Path Ascension Knowledge Unlocked]

[New Advancement Path Confirmed: Mage·Primordial (Three Stars)]

[Advancement Requirements:
1. Spiritual energy reaches 4.9
2. Crown-Level meditation technique attains mastery
3. At least one Secondary Tier Special Innate Talent
4. Mastery of at least three spells
5. Complete qualitative transformation through the True Path]

[Traits: Primordial Circuit, Radiation Field, Overmagic Technique, Spirit Shockwave]

[Special Notice: Mage·Primordial (Three Stars) and Mage Unknown Direction (Two-Star and a Half) are mutually exclusive advancement paths. Each can branch into different directions later, but both cannot be pursued simultaneously.]

[Current Innate Talent and Trait Evaluation:
Special Innate Talents: Dual Soul, Protection of the Sun (Fragmentary)
Skill Traits: 9
Breakthrough Success Rate Evaluation: 74.3% (with Starlight Elixir and complete purification of spirit pollution)]

Luo En's heart pounded faster.

Seeing the interface information, a sudden realization struck him:

The various "additional traits" and "advancement traits" he'd acquired through his profession interface by grinding skills might share the same fundamental nature as innate Special Innate Talents.

Whether it was "Encyclopedic Memory", "Conceptualization", or even "Boiling Blood" from Bloodline Knight...

Even those career synergy effects might essentially be no different from innate Special Innate Talents.

"Now the interface notification confirms that traits obtained through the profession interface can resonate with meditation techniques, increasing breakthrough success rate."

Luo En's thoughts expanded, a bolder hypothesis forming.

If Special Innate Talents were anchors bestowed by the "Demon Gods"...

Then his own profession interface, capable of infinitely stacking professions, might actually be a more fundamental "Primordial Innate Talent" surpassing all existing Special Innate Talents.

"This blessing might be deeper and more unfathomable than I imagined."

Excitement and caution warred within Luo En.

If his hypothesis proved correct, his potential exceeded his wildest expectations. But it also meant some unknown connection might exist deep within his soul, linking him to those legendary "higher beings."

"Regardless, the priority now is continuing to accumulate traits and increase breakthrough success rate."

Luo En warned himself, temporarily locking away this hypothesis and focusing on the matter at hand.

Madame Ellen had long since fallen silent, watching him with those piercing emerald eyes, as if waiting for him to emerge from his thoughts.

"You've got that faraway look again", she said softly, curiosity lacing her voice. "What were you thinking so intently about?"

Luo En returned to the present, a smile curving his lips. "Just reflecting on the value of Special Innate Talents. Seems I might have underestimated my own potential before."

Madame Ellen's sharp gaze caught something, understanding flickering in her eyes. "You've made a new discovery?"

Luo En nodded cautiously, his face remaining carefully composed. "I believe I have sufficient reason to attempt the True Path."

This decision wasn't impulsive, but rather the result of calm evaluation and rational calculation. At least a 70% success rate, potentially rising to even higher levels through further skill trait accumulation in the coming months - this was sufficient to justify his choice.

Madame Ellen studied him intently, leaning slightly forward. "Then you must listen carefully to the specific meditation method. This isn't a game - once it begins, there's no turning back."

Her voice turned grave. "When your spiritual energy reaches the critical threshold, you must find a quiet, isolated location, preferably one with high mana fluctuations. Then, consume the 'Starlight Elixir' and enter the deepest meditation state possible."

"This meditation differs from normal practice. You won't simply visualize the 'Devourer' image - you must actively attempt to establish a connection, reaching out as if extending a hand, waiting for its response."

A rare concern shadowed Madame Ellen's features. "This process is extremely dangerous. When your spirit touches that existence, countless illusions and voices will try to distract you.

Some will manifest your deepest fears, others will be the entity's own tests, and still others will be manifestations of every psychological trauma you've ever experienced, appearing in their most terrifying forms."

Luo En thought of the horrors he'd witnessed during his meditation in "The Murmuring of the Star Devourer", a chill running through him.

"The key point - no matter what you see or hear, don't waver or fear. Guard your will fiercely, ensuring it remains unbroken."

Her voice held both gravity and certainty. "Only when your will proves sufficiently steadfast will that existence recognize you. It will imprint a fragment of willpower into your spiritual world, forming a meditation technique trait and completing the qualitative transformation."

Nodding, Luo En committed these critical instructions to memory.

To him, the process, while dangerous, had clear logic - maintain unyielding will, resist all illusions, until recognition was achieved.

"One final point", Madame Ellen added, her gaze sharpening. "Before attempting this, best completely purge any spirit pollution from your body.

Any slight spiritual instability could be infinitely amplified during ascension, leading to loss of control. Those seemingly harmless cracks in your spirit could instantaneously expand into an abyss within your soul when struck by the will of a higher existence."

She locked eyes with Luo En, her gaze like burning torchlight. "I know you have methods to purify spirit pollution, whatever they may be. Before ascension, you must use them completely."

A flicker of surprise crossed Luo En's mind, though his expression remained calm.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end