Chapter 253: The Hermit

Chapter 253: The Hermit

Spiritual energy flowed like delicate threads, weaving intricate paths that led deeper into the unknown.

He had been a Full Mage for nearly a month now, and his spiritual energy and mana continued their rapid ascent, growing at a pace that surprised even himself.

When he first broke through in the Black Mist Jungle, his spiritual energy had surged from 4.9 to 5.3.

Now stabilized at 5.4, it far exceeded the rate he had anticipated.

This progress wasn’t a chaotic leap but a steady evolution.

Each meditation session brought subtle yet tangible gains, while the "Star Projection" Trait granted additional boosts during nights of bright starlight.

Mana growth was even more astonishing, rising steadily from 3.8 to 4.2.

In terms of raw mana volume, this was nearly double that of an ordinary newly ascended Full Mage.

This was thanks to the continuous effect of the "Star Projection" Trait, operating without pause day and night.

Starlight mana poured ceaselessly into his body, nourishing the mana core and expanding its depth and capacity.

Luo En’s consciousness sank deeper, passing through the outer layers of mental fluctuation into the vast ocean of stars—his profound consciousness world.

After ascending to Full Mage, his spirit world had undergone a transformative metamorphosis.

Once resembling a calm lake, the sea of spiritual energy now stretched infinitely, crystal clear.

Countless stars glittered within, forming a breathtaking star chart that compressed the entire cosmos into his spirit world.

These stars weren’t randomly scattered but arranged in complex yet precise patterns.

Like a microcosm of the universe, each star represented a potential or possibility—a guiding light for his future growth.

However, most stars remained dim, with only a few flickering weakly, showing early signs of activation.

They were like slumbering titans occasionally stirring in their dreams, foreshadowing immense powers waiting to awaken.

"Through meditation, gathering starlight to gradually illuminate the star chart within the spirit world—this is the path of growth outlined in The Murmuring of the Star Devourer for Full Mages."

Luo En recalled the annotations in his meditation technique, his thoughts drifting across the celestial map.

In terms of strength, he had just crossed the threshold of the Dawn Star Rank, far from reaching its peak.

To solidify this realm, he needed to ignite the first star in his spirit world, raising his spiritual energy to 5.5 and completing the mana circulation system.

At this moment, the brightest star in Luo En’s spirit world remained half-activated.

It flickered like the morning star before dawn—bright, then dim, as if needing just one final push to blaze fully, unleashing its dormant potential.

This was the "Hermit Star", a celestial body symbolizing solitude and wisdom.

As described in Compendium of Celestial Bodies, it was "the guardian of knowledge, the wise one who comprehends the secrets of silence."

Once ignited, it would grant its wielder extraordinary intelligence and insight, enabling them to pierce illusions and grasp the essence of reality.

According to the meditation technique’s description, igniting the Hermit Star wouldn’t just push his spiritual energy past 5.5, establishing a new threshold.

It would also bestow a permanent attribute boost—enhanced intelligence, greatly improving his learning and comprehension abilities.

At night, especially when the Hermit Star hung high in the sky, this bonus would amplify further.

Combined with traits like "Broad Knowledge" and "Conceptualization", this enhancement would allow him to grasp complex ideas faster, uncover clues invisible to ordinary people.

In some cases, it might even grant an almost prophetic intuition.

"Just one final step."

Luo En gazed at the half-lit, half-shadowed star in his spirit world, his heart a mix of anticipation and urgent resolve.

According to The Murmuring of the Star Devourer, as stars were ignited one by one, they would form constellations—more intricate and potent mana structures.

When a complete constellation emerged, the power of all its stars would fuse.

This would further amplify abilities and grant unique traits, signaling a transcendence beyond the Dawn Star Rank to the Moonlight Rank.

The "Hermit Star" held a core position in the "Wisdom Constellation", a constellation relatively harmless yet offering the most pronounced enhancements.

This was why Luo En chose it as his first target.

Once most major constellations in the star chart were fully ignited and the wielder began forging the "Phantom Husk Prototype" through willpower,

it would mark reaching the Dusk Sun Rank and embarking on the path to Archmage.

This journey was long and perilous, demanding immense effort and patience with each ignition.

Luo En harbored no illusions of swift success; he preferred steady, deliberate progress.

On another note, since ascending to Full Mage, he had felt a qualitative leap in his life’s essence.

The most noticeable change was the drastic reduction in sleep needed.

Once requiring at least five or six hours, his spirit now peaked after merely two or three hours of rest.

This constant clarity had doubled his research efficiency.

Nights that once required struggling through fatigue now became his most mentally active hours.

Early morning, Luo En opened his eyes from meditation, feeling his mana surge strongly within.

Since becoming a Full Mage—especially after obtaining the "Star Projection" Trait—his spiritual energy had steadily risen.

Like an ever-expanding reservoir, it had long surpassed his High Apprentice days.

Outside the window, the morning of Town 69 had already begun bustling.

Gray smoke rose from chimneys, mingling with low clouds like ink staining parchment.

Faint traces of mana residue shimmered in the smoke—a byproduct of Abyssal Breath interacting with ordinary combustion.

Luo En rose and waved a hand casually.

The teapot in the room floated upward, pouring a cup of tea at the perfect temperature, which then hovered steadily to his side.

The surface of the tea remained mirror-still, not a single drop spilled, showcasing his improving precision in mana control.

Such fine manipulation would have been nearly impossible before ascending to Full Mage.

Even with spells like "Radiant Halo" aiding him, such precision would have been unattainable—

At most, he could only force objects to move clumsily, not execute such fluid, complex actions.

Now, with the mana flow invigorated and smoother, this was merely a casual thought made manifest.

He took a sip of tea, savoring the warmth as it flowed down his throat.

"Refining spiritual energy and achieving precise mana control are among the most noticeable changes after ascending as a mage."

Luo En mused, condensing mana between his fingertips into a tiny glowing point.

Earlier, he’d struggled to stabilize such a light point for even three seconds.

Now, the light danced at his fingertips—

Transforming into a lifelike butterfly, then a budding flower.

Each transformation was astonishingly precise, even mimicking the delicate patterns on butterfly wings and the veins of petals.

He could even send this light through walls, maintaining its form on the other side—a level of control bordering on the surreal.

"Still, flight remains an unresolved challenge."

Luo En mused, glancing out the window at several large, deep-gray-feathered birds soaring high.

Their flight was eerily graceful, maintaining balance even in turbulent air.

Setting the teacup back on the table, Luo En walked to the window and gently raised his hand.

An invisible force lifted his body, raising him half a meter above the ground.

This floating technique could indeed achieve flight in short bursts, but its speed was mediocre and precise directional control proved difficult.

He subtly adjusted his mana output, rotating his body in a full circle midair before taking two floating steps forward and coming to a smooth halt at his original position.

Though seemingly simple, this entire process consumed a considerable amount of mana.

It felt like trying to drink water with a wine glass—inefficient and impractical.

Dissipating the mana, he landed back on the ground, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Crystal Spire certainly has specialized flight spells", Luo En mused while formulating a plan:

"Or even more efficient spatial teleportation techniques, like 'Teleportation.' I should prioritize learning those once I reach the Central Lands."

Proper flight spells would significantly reduce mana expenditure while greatly increasing speed and stability, making flight a practical mode of transportation rather than an extravagant mana drain.

As for "Teleportation", its difficulty level was far higher. It was said that anyone below Archmage rank attempting such a spell would require a Special Innate Talent related to space or rely on specialized spellcasting mediums.

Yet its versatility far surpassed ordinary movement spells, unrestricted by distance or obstacles—it was the pinnacle of all transportation magic.

Suddenly, a soft knock interrupted his thoughts.

He responded with his usual aloofness, "Come in."

The door opened to reveal the elegant silhouette of Ai Lan.

The emerald vines of her tree spirit form shimmered in the sunlight, and her marble-like face bore its usual gentle expression.

"Master, Guide Yisen has been waiting outside for quite some time", Ai Lan's voice flowed like a breeze rustling through leaves.

"He mentioned that Shadow District's special commodity trades usually occur during daylight hours. If you wish to visit, it would be best to depart now. Apparently, several explorers recently returned from the Abyss with rare items."

Luo En nodded, rising to his feet.

This was precisely one of his objectives—to seek rare materials for constructing a Simulation Combat Device and find suitable fusion carriers for each "Core" of the Chimerabloodline.

"Tell him I'll be right there. I need to prepare collection containers and detection tools first. There might be Vitality Tissue samples to process."

Ai Lan nodded silently and exited the room soundlessly.

Walking back to the window, Luo En gazed at the gradually brightening sky, a faint trace of anticipation flickering across his lips.

Within the Spiritworld, the half-lit, half-dark Hermit Star continued its rhythmic flickering, patiently awaiting the moment of complete illumination.

That moment might arrive sooner than expected. Every new piece of knowledge obtained and every insight into world essence brought this wisdom-representing star closer to full awakening.

As he prepared to continue his meditation, an energy fluctuation rippled from behind, accompanied by crisp footsteps.

Turning around, Luo En saw a young woman in an airship uniform approaching swiftly.

"Lalfmage?"

The woman bowed respectfully, her tone courteous.

"I am Chief Stewardess Mary Ann of the Dawnwalker. The captain sent me to inform you of a message."

Luo En nodded for her to continue, inwardly curious why the airship management had sent someone specifically for him.

"This afternoon, we will be welcoming another Full Mage passenger", Mary Ann explained.

"Considering both of you reside in the A-deck area, the captain wishes to consult your opinion beforehand. Would you like isolation partitions installed between the two suites? This would ensure your privacy remains undisturbed during the voyage."

Luo En raised an eyebrow—this was certainly unexpected.

"Could you share more details about this mage?" he asked, his tone indifferent.

Mary Ann hesitated momentarily, seemingly weighing what information could be disclosed.

"The other Vip is Mage Reynolds. He's an experienced Dawn Star Rank Mage and also holds qualifications as a bloodline modifier.

As far as I know, he frequently travels between the Central Lands and various Abyss exploration points—he's a regular passenger with us."

She paused before adding, "Mage Reynolds is relatively reserved in personality but kind-hearted. He's never had any unpleasant incidents with other passengers during past voyages.

The captain hopes for harmonious coexistence, but understands mages' needs for personal space."

Luo En fell into contemplation.

An experienced Dawn Star Rank Mage who was also a bloodline modifier—such a person would undoubtedly possess valuable information and experience.

Especially since this mage frequently traveled to the Central Lands, he likely had the latest intelligence and developments.

For Luo En, this encounter presented the best channel to understand the Central Lands in detail.

"No need for isolation partitions", he finally decided. "I'd be delighted to meet this fellow mage."

Mary Ann exhaled in relief, clearly satisfied with the response.

"Thank you for your understanding, Mage Sir. Mage Reynolds is expected to board in the evening hours.

If you're agreeable, the captain would like to invite both of you to dine together tonight for mutual acquaintanceship."

"I'll consider it."

Luo En gave a vague reply, neither rejecting nor committing.

He wanted to observe this traveling companion first before making a decision.

Mary Ann nodded understandingly—naturally, they wouldn't dare to overstep their bounds.

"In that case, I won't disturb your outing any further.

If you decide to attend dinner, please notify us through the service crystal before dusk. Wishing you an enjoyable visit in Town 69."

With an elegant bow, the woman departed, leaving Luo En to ponder this new development.

Stepping out of the Dawnwalker, Luo En spotted Guide Yisen's gray-clad figure below the Berthing Tower.

Today, the guide wore a simple yet high-quality deep gray coat.

The number of small bottles at his waist had increased compared to yesterday—clearly, he had made thorough preparations for possible emergencies.

"Good morning, Mage Sir", Yisen greeted with a respectful bow, the angle perfectly measured—not overly obsequious but clearly demonstrating deference.

"I'll be accompanying you throughout today's journey to ensure your safety and convenience.

I've already arranged the Shadow District access. We should avoid unnecessary complications."

He gestured forward with a polite "Please", and the two walked along the broad stone path toward the town.

Along both sides of the path were peculiar streetlamps.

Their lanterns didn't contain ordinary flames or magical light sources but instead housed mutated fireflies sealed within containers.

These creatures emitted sinister blue glows from their abdomens, piercing through Town 69's characteristic gray mist more effectively than regular illumination.

Compared to yesterday, the town appeared significantly livelier today.

The number of pedestrians had at least doubled.

Long queues formed in front of many stalls, creating a cacophony of trading voices.

At the market center, a temporary stage had been erected where several gray-robed singers performed a strange song.

The lyrics mixed unfamiliar words with melodies that shifted between pleasant and jarring—clearly influenced by Abyssal culture.

Even more noticeable were the adventurers in colorful attire.

They moved in groups through the streets, well-equipped and bearing complex expressions of vigilance and excitement.

Some teams even had large supply carts laden with specialized Abyss exploration tools and protective gear.

"Is there any special event happening today?"

Luo En asked, keenly observing that many groups were heading in the same direction, as if drawn by an unseen force.

"It's the Abyss Tides' transformation", Yisen whispered reverently, his voice carrying a sense of awe toward supernatural phenomena.

"The observatory detected last night that Abyss mana is about to enter the trough phase of its minor cycle.

Many adventuring teams are seizing this opportunity to conduct short-term explorations.

Such chances occur only four or five times a year, with varying durations. Missing this window might mean waiting months before the next opportunity arises."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end