114: Breakthrough Level 5 Mage

Brian didn't hesitate for a moment.

He returned to the meditation room on the top floor of the Mage Tower.

Brian calmed his mind and sat cross-legged in the meditation room.

At this moment, the sixteen Spirit Orbs in his spiritual sea were shining brightly.

However, two of these orbs were in a special state:

One was inscribed with the Breakthrough Spell [Level 5 Railgun];

The other carried the cornerstone of advancement—three Level 4 core spells [Spirit Fire], [Spirit Stabilization], [Spirit Control], as well as three other commonly used Level 4 spells.

During advancement, all Spirit Orbs would merge into one, and the ‘instant cast’ characteristic of the originally inscribed spells would be retained as casting instinct.

After successful advancement, the new, more powerful Spirit Core would have all its inscription slots empty.

This meant that if he inscribed the remaining Spirit Orbs with Level 5 Spells before advancing,

Then, once he successfully advanced,

He would immediately possess a large number of powerful, instantly cast Level 5 Spells, which would give him combat power and deterrence far exceeding others of his rank from the moment he reached Level 5.

“It’s time to prepare new sharp swords and sturdy shields for a new era.”

Brian murmured in his heart, then composed himself and immersed his consciousness into his spiritual sea.

With a slight thought, the Level 4 spell runes on the surface of the fourteen Spirit Orbs, excluding the two special ones, began to melt and peel away like ice and snow.

This process was familiar and completed in the blink of an eye, and the fourteen orbs returned to a pure and flawless state.

Next was the brand new inscription.

Brian steadied his mind and began to guide his spiritual power.

Following the Level 5 Spell models he had rehearsed countless times, he meticulously constructed new, more complex and profound rune sequences on the surface of these fourteen pure Spirit Orbs.

The spells he inscribed were carefully considered, aiming to build a tactical system with almost no weaknesses:

Area Clear: [Level 5 Meteorite Fall], [Level 5 Thunder Prison].

These were the ultimate upgraded versions of Level 4 Meteor Fire Rain and Thunderous Might, with power and coverage far beyond comparison.

Absolute Defense: [Level 5 Elemental Barrier].

Provides comprehensive, all-angle elemental resistance and physical defense.

Spatial Authority: [Level 5 Void Walk], [Level 5 Spatial Imprisonment].

The former is a higher-tier teleportation and evasion spell, while the latter can forcibly lock down an area of space.

Soul Dagger: [Level 5 Psychic Shockwave].

A direct strike against the soul's origin, impossible to guard against.

Life Assurance: [Level 5 Life's Blessing].

Potent area healing and status restoration, capable of turning the tide of battle at critical moments.

Tactical Spells: For the remaining inscription slots, he chose more targeted functional spells such as [Level 5 Mirror Clone], [Level 5 True Sight], [Level 5 Command Silence], to deal with various complex situations.

As the last Level 5 Spell rune stabilized on a Spirit Orb, Brian slowly exhaled a turbid breath.

Preparation work was now complete.

In the spiritual sea, sixteen orbs revolved, with the two special orbs and the fourteen orbs carrying new power reflecting each other.

This power lay dormant, waiting only for the advancement to complete, when it would transform into the power of thunder under his control.

He didn't hesitate in the slightest, closing his eyes again to adjust his state to its peak.

“It’s time!”

His consciousness triggered the changes in the deepest part of his spiritual sea.

The sixteen incredibly solid Spirit Orbs were slowly rotating according to the profound trajectory of the “Spirit Convergence Meditation Method.”

“Let’s begin!”

With a thought!

The sixteen Spirit Orbs were instantly drawn by an invisible force, converging, colliding, and merging frantically towards the center!

In the past, with his second-grade talent in spiritual power control, this process would inevitably be accompanied by violent spiritual sea turbulence and unspeakable pain, with a considerable risk of failure.

But now, under the effect of his first-grade talent,

This fusion, which should have been extremely dangerous, appeared as smooth and natural as streams flowing into the sea.

Vast spiritual power was compressed to its extreme, and a qualitative change occurred in silence.

After an unknown period of time,

All the brilliance and fluctuations receded, and a single Spirit Orb, more dazzling, more condensed, and containing immense power, quietly floated in the center of the spiritual sea.

The Spirit Core of a Level 5 Mage was formed!

The advancement was not over.

Immediately following was the operation of the “Spirit Convergence Mana Attraction and Refinement Method.”

The moment the Spirit Core formed, the powerful suction it generated autonomously and frantically drew in magic elements from the outside world.

The dense elements gathered in the tower surged into his body like a tide, rapidly transforming into his own mana.

However, the nascent Level 5 mana was far purer and heavier than when he was Level 4, requiring a comprehensive compression and replacement of his original mana.

This process brought a swelling pain in his meridians throughout his body, but the energy coordination characteristic played a crucial role at this moment.

His physical body seemed to have gained life, autonomously guiding and soothing these restless energies, minimizing internal attrition and impact on the meridians during the mana compression process.

The compressed, pure mana then nourished his physical body, beginning a refinement at the cellular level.

Brian could clearly perceive that every one of his cells was cheering, greedily absorbing this higher energy, becoming more vibrant and resilient.

However!

True life-level evolution is not achieved overnight.

He understood!

This initial strengthening was just the beginning; it would still require several days for the new mana to continuously refine his physical body to finally stabilize this leap-forward improvement.

Although!

This qualitative change required time to complete, the core stages of the advancement had concluded perfectly. The entire process was seamless, without any hindrance.

When he opened his eyes again, a tangible gleam of essence seemed to flash and disappear within them.

The world, in his perception, was entirely different.

With a slight thought!

His spiritual power spread out like a tide.

It effortlessly covered a vast area of 100,000 meters, perceiving the buzzing of mosquitoes in the tower and the falling leaves at the edge of his territory as if he saw them firsthand.

He could even feel that with just a thought, he could manipulate a giant object weighing 100,000 kilograms with his spiritual power, launching it through the air at an extreme speed of 100,000 meters per second.

At the same time, with a slight thought, over ten thousand controlled flying cones could rise in response, transforming into a steel torrent in the air, moving as if commanded by his arm.

He looked at his palm and slowly clenched his fist.

Mana circulated smoothly within him, perfectly integrated with his physical body, and a sense of immense power filled his entire being.

Five thousand years of lifespan!

Controlling ten thousand cones with a mere gesture!

Spiritual might capable of almost moving mountains and overturning seas!

At this moment, all were within his grasp!

This was a Level 5 Mage!