Chapter 398 - 382: Soul Stealing

Chapter 398: Chapter 382: Soul Stealing

[Detected Hidden Profession available: Spiritual Master]

[Requirements: 22 Spirit (met), Learned and mastered a basic Spiritual Energy technique (1/1), Resisted superior Spiritual Shocks/mind control (3/3), Successfully channeled and released pure Spiritual Energy (5/5), Used Spiritual Energy to interfere with physical matter (1/1)]

[Change Profession?]

’Confirm Profession Change.’

Roland confirmed it in his mind, ignoring the Heartstealer wailing beside him as it continued to burn under the effects of [Ashes of Original Sin]. He simply watched the illusory text floating before his eyes.

However, unlike his previous, rapidly completed profession changes, the transition to Spiritual Master was taking an exceptionally long time.

Seconds ticked by, but the status on his Professional Panel remained stuck on a single line.

[Analyzing...]

Roland didn’t grow impatient despite the unusual delay.

Instead, he turned his attention back to the strange experience he’d just had while using Spiritual Energy to interfere with physical matter.

The sensation was completely different from the Arcane Magic he knew so well.

He could have pushed the small stone with [Mage’s Hand] as well.

But the essence of [Mage’s Hand] was to draw free-floating Magic Elements from the external world and drive them with specific Spells and formations to affect a target on the physical level.

It was like pushing an object with an invisible hand.

But Spiritual Energy...

Roland carefully recalled the sensation.

When Spiritual Energy interfered with reality, its effect didn’t seem to be limited to the physical plane.

What moved the stone wasn’t a purely external force. It was more like a fundamental "command" originating from his own will.

This power didn’t come from the outside world. It was drawn and converted directly from the source of his life and the spark of his will—a pure manifestation of "Heart Power."

It felt more like a direct extension of his consciousness than an effect achieved by leveraging external elements.

This power originated from within, independent of any external source.

Roland even had a... slightly absurd thought.

’If my Spiritual Energy were powerful enough, could I delve into the very essence of matter, manipulate its internal structure, and achieve...’

’...turning stone into gold?’

Roland shook his head at the thought.

Regardless, the potential depth of "Spiritual Energy" seemed to far surpass the traditional Arcane System.

Just as he was lost in this new understanding, the text in his vision, which had been stagnant for so long, finally rippled like water. It slowly faded, then reformed into a new message.

[Profession Change Successful. Current Profession: Spiritual Master]

[Attribute Bonus Gained: Spirit +20]

’Only a pure Spiritual Attribute bonus?’

Roland’s brow furrowed as he stared at the text floating before him.

This singular, extreme method of attribute allocation was completely different from any profession he had encountered before.

However, before he could examine the detailed changes on his Professional Panel, an unprecedented and strange sensation washed over him.

This wasn’t the simple sensation of sharpened senses and accelerated thoughts he usually felt when gaining a Spiritual Attribute bonus.

This was a...

Qualitative change.

He felt as if his "consciousness" itself were being forcibly stretched open and reshaped, becoming denser and vaster.

If his Spiritual Power had been a lake before, it was now transforming into a boundless ocean.

At the same time, his Perception of the Magic Elements in his surroundings was magnified to an almost terrifying degree.

The flow of Elements in the air, once sparse and gentle, now felt incredibly "rich" and "active," as if he had suddenly plunged into a deep pool of pure Energy.

Countless motes of Magic Power, glittering in a kaleidoscope of colors and varying properties, flooded his Perception with unprecedented clarity.

The sheer volume of information brought a dizzying sensation, as if he’d been force-fed potent liquor. His consciousness swayed between extreme acuity and a momentary stupor.

In that fleeting moment, half-dreaming and half-awake, the line between reality and perception blurred...

He felt himself suddenly "plummeting" downward.

It wasn’t a physical fall, but a sinking of his consciousness.

The sights and sounds of the physical world around him rapidly receded and dimmed, as if viewed through a thick curtain of water.

His "gaze" turned inward, sinking deeper and deeper into a lightless, soundless place where only pure consciousness existed...

The Deep Sea of Consciousness.

When Roland’s "vision" refocused in that absolute darkness, he immediately noticed a starkly different sensation from his last visit.

The immense pressure that had once pressed in from all sides, threatening to crush his consciousness, was still there, but it was no longer a chaotic, violent assault.

Instead, it had become uniform and stable.

After adapting to this heavy, yet orderly, pressure, Roland focused his will and attempted to inscribe the runic pattern for the [Flaming Arrow] Trick.

The process was much smoother than he’d anticipated.

The flow of his Spiritual Power was no longer as difficult and sluggish as it had been before.

The immense, uniform pressure no longer seemed to be an obstacle. Instead, it provided a sort of stable "foundation" for his will, allowing him to sketch the Spell Model with greater stability and precision.

Though it still required significant mental effort, it was a far cry from the last time, which had felt like struggling through molten lead.

’It seems the qualitative change in my Spiritual Attribute is fundamentally altering my ’permissions’ in the Deep Sea of Consciousness...’

Realizing this, Roland lingered no longer.

He closed his eyes and focused his mind. The next moment, with a sensation of "surfacing" and being pulled away, his consciousness left that deep sea of Spirit and returned to reality.

The suppressed wails of the Heartstealer and the scraping of Chains once again filled his ears.

He walked over to the Heartstealer, which was still convulsing in agony. A pale Flame was still Burning in the depths of its consciousness.

"You..."

Roland’s calm voice cut through the creature’s wails.

"Do you know of, or know how to use, Ring Tier Spells?"

He felt no pity for an utterly inhumane Race like the Heartstealer.

Its best fate was to be squeezed dry of every last drop of value.

However, the Heartstealer’s reply was laced with both pain and a deep-seated contempt.

"Ma... Magic? Heh... Only Spiritual Energy... is the supreme power... that touches the true source!"

"Those clumsy tricks... that rely on Runes... to bind fragile Elements...? Nothing more than... boring toys for you Short-lived Species..."

Its mental fluctuations were chaotic and intense, but the message it conveyed was unmistakable.

The Heartstealer had not only never dabbled in the Ring Tier Spells of the traditional Arcane System, but it despised them from its very core.

After a faint, golden light confirmed there were no lies in its words, a trace of regret passed through his heart.

’It seems that if I want to systematically learn higher-level Magic, my only option is to head to Aiselon and try my luck...’

Just as he was contemplating his next move, the text in his vision, which had just fallen silent, suddenly lit up again. Cold characters refreshed and re-formed at an unprecedented speed.

[Host’s Spirit energy level detected to have surpassed the critical threshold...]

[Abnormal strength detected in Host’s soul source...]

[Re-evaluating innate Traits... Evaluation in progress...]

[Evaluation Complete]

[Trait Gained: Soul Stealing]