Chapter 6: Recommendation Letter

The exchange of thoughts was instantaneous.

Duke had already completely understood Xiaoyi's function. She was akin to his second brain, a supercomputer-like brain.

As long as enough data was collected, Xiaoyi could handle more tasks.

Her thinking capabilities would also become stronger.

"Wondrous!"

Opening his eyes, Duke felt that the world before him had changed. Compared to before he opened his Sea of Spirit, the world now appeared brighter and more colorful.

"Xiaoyi."

"I'm here."

"No worries." Duke was just confirming that even without entering the Sea of Spirit, he could still directly communicate with Xiaoyi through thought. "By the way, can you collect everything I see with my eyes?"

"Yes."

"Can I access this information whenever I want?"

"Of course."

"Marvelous!"

Duke was already astounded by the power of the 'cheat code', his excitement beyond measure.

 He could finally be certain that he could live well in this transcendent world, appreciate its most magnificent landscapes, and explore the profound mysteries of the Spiritual Magic system.

...

The future was bright and dazzling.

However, opening the Sea of Spirit wasn't an instant ascension.

It merely indicated Duke's talent for practicing Spiritual Magic.

"I've just opened the Sea of Spirit. To be accurate, I'm not even at the level of a Spiritual Apprentice. I need to go to the city's Arcane Tower for registration to become an official Spiritual Apprentice."

A Spiritual Apprentice was akin to an apprentice in the Spiritual Magic system.

In fact, most individuals who awakened their Sea of Spirit through the use of Spirit Awakening Potions, colloquially referred to as "potion-takers," would ultimately remain at the level of Spiritual Apprentices and couldn't advance to become true Arcane Mages.

For instance, the card repairer Bast was a potion-taking Spiritual Apprentice, and Old Sam was also a potion-taking Spiritual Apprentice. They would probably spend their whole lives without being able to construct a closed energy circuit—a ring.

Therefore, the rank of a Spiritual Apprentice was specifically designated as "0-ring."

They shared the same tier as creatures like the 0-ring Spiritual Beasts such as the Mail Carrier Owl, all situated at the base of the pyramid within the Spiritual Magic system.

"I'm different. Although my Spiritual Core hasn't yet solidified, and my energy circuit hasn't begun to take shape... I already have the 9-ring Xiaoyi and the 1-ring Desert Eagle in my Sea of Spirit. My potential is boundless!"

After taking a moment to rest and recover from the fatigue of summoning the 1-ring Desert Eagle, Duke proceeded to enjoy a hearty meal. 

After deducting the money spent on purchasing Spirit Awakening Potion from the ten Gold Dragons, he stored the remaining sum in his Spirit Dragon Card. He currently wasn't lacking funds.

Satisfied and re-energized, he left his house.

Snakehead Town wasn't small, with a total of four streets that formed a "well" shape, dividing the small town into a nine-block grid.

He needed to head to the central area of the "well," where there were well-arranged buildings. This was the residential area for the Black Serpent Family and the wealthy in the town. Several tower-shaped buildings were especially prominent.

The tallest among them had a sign hanging at its entrance that read "Arcane Society."

"This is the place. The Arcane Tower's local establishment in the town—the Arcane Society." Duke adjusted his collar and walked toward the entrance.

Just as he arrived at the entrance, a guard stopped him. "Please show your credentials."

"I'm here to register."

"To register as a Spiritual Apprentice?"

"Yes."

"Follow me." The guard's stern expression softened with a few traces of a smile. "Young brother, what's your name? Have you successfully opened your Sea of Spirit? Your talent is truly exceptional!"

"I'm called Duke."

"Duke, young brother, come this way. The place to register as a Spiritual Apprentice is on the second floor."

The interior of the Arcane Society was luxuriously decorated, exuding an air of extravagance. The guard led Duke to a spacious office on the second floor before departing.

"Hello. May I ask, which desk should I go to for registering as a Spiritual Apprentice?"

"Go to desk number four."

The office had a circular layout, with rooms partitioned in the center. Duke quickly located desk number four, where four staff members were stationed.

Three were young staff members who swiftly inquired about and recorded Duke's personal information.

"Duke, male, born on the 16th of May, year 4396 in Storm Calendar; orphan of the 'Black Serpent Nest' war, residing at 443 Second Cross Street, Snakehead Town..."

While the young staff members busily filled out the form, a middle-aged woman seated behind the desk, with a gentle smile, beckoned Duke to sit. "Come, have a seat."

Duke didn't hesitate and took a seat.

The middle-aged woman introduced herself with a smile. "I'm Mulawi. I'm in charge of qualifications verification. I must inform you that only the Arcane Tower in Chenjiao City has the authority to register Spiritual Apprentices. I can only verify your qualifications here and then recommend you to register at the Arcane Tower."

"I understand."

"Alright then, did you naturally meditate to open your Sea of Spirit?" Mulawi's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of anticipation in her gaze.

Duke shook his head. "I used a Spirit Awakening Potion."

"I see." Mulawi's warmth visibly diminished, and her tone lost its friendliness. "Well, individuals who awaken their Sea of Spirit through the use of awakening potions are quite rare."

"Yes, I was lucky."

"Tell me about your experience opening your Sea of Spirit."

Duke briefly described his experience. Mulawi asked a few more details before confirming that Duke had indeed opened his Sea of Spirit.

At that moment, the young staff members had completed a form. Mulawi indicated for Duke to sign his name on the recommendation letter and then signed her own name, sealing it with the official stamp of the Arcane Society.

She didn't hand the form to Duke right away.

In a plain tone, she said, "Duke, before I recommend you to register at the Arcane Tower in Chenjiao City, I have another option to offer you... Snakehead Town is a territory of the Black Serpent Family. You can choose to join the Black Serpent Family and, under the family's patronage, register as a Spiritual Apprentice at the Arcane Tower."

Without waiting for Duke's response, another staff member chimed in, "Being a vassal of the Black Serpent Family is a very precious opportunity, providing you with many benefits!"

They proceeded to list these benefits in great detail, talking extensively.

Another staff member added, "Indeed, indeed. The Black Serpent Family is a prominent rising clan. Becoming a family vassal and enjoying such treatment is truly envy-inducing!"

These benefits were truly enticing.

For an ordinary Spiritual Apprentice, this might have swayed them.

However, Duke remained completely unmoved. Rights and obligations were always balanced. He had grand aspirations and wasn't willing to be bound by the wheels of the Black Serpent Family.

Moreover, as an Earthling, he wasn't accustomed to being a vassal, subservient to other families' commands.

So, after pretending to contemplate for a moment, he replied, "I'm sorry, Ms. Mulawi, but I'd like to develop on my own for now."

Mulawi's tone turned decidedly chilly, but she didn't make things difficult for Duke. She casually placed the recommendation letter on the table. "Well then, young man, good luck."

A Spiritual Apprentice who had only opened his Sea of Spirit through potion usage wasn't of significant importance.

As Duke picked up the recommendation letter and prepared to leave, Mulawi's voice sounded again, somewhat calmly this time. "There's a special carriage from the Arcane Society to Chenjiao City the day after tomorrow. You can take it for free with the recommendation letter."

"Thank you, I appreciate it."

After Duke left, a young staff member muttered with a hint of discontent, "Aunt, this Duke actually rejected the family's offer."

The corners of Mulawi's mouth curled up slightly. "Young people often harbor unrealistic aspirations. Let him venture on his own; he'll come to understand the benefits of shelter from a large clan."

"Hmph, by that time, the family might not necessarily take him in."