Chapter 4: First Step as a Spirit Master!

Walking around through the city, Sorin could see all the street stalls selling any item you could possibly think of.

Weapons and equipment of various shape, sizes and materials could be seen displayed with mostly black robed disciples selling them.

Some stalls even had other miscellaneous things.

Pills, potions, elixirs, spears, sabers, swords, daggers, and armour pieces were neatly presented.

As Sorin was walking, he noticed how a few white robed disciples were eyeing the weapons with yearning.

All of these weapons and armours have been created by Spirit Artificers, using beast bone relics as its main ingredient combined with other strange materials.

Moreover, small runes could be seen etched onto some of them. As the white robed disciples looked at the prices of those, their eyes immediately turned to shock. What kind of price was this?!

Sorin had briefly glanced at how many astral tokens it cost and saw the figures: 12,000!

Compared to the ones without runes, the price increased by at least 15 times!

Seeing these new disciples look of shock, the black robed disciple behind the stall sneered. "Think you can buy these mystic grade items with your measly wealth? As your senior brother, let me enlighten you so you don't misunderstand as me scamming you. Hehe, I had the same expression as you when I first arrived here!" The black robed disciple laughed, rubbing his nose, proud of the items he's selling.

He then continued, "What separates the value of them despite appearing similar were the tiny runes engraved onto them. These runes had been created by me, a runemaster at the second star rank! A runemaster has the ability to engrave special effects onto items and equipment. For example, this spear here had been engraved with the rune of spiritual harmony, allowing the user to channel their spiritual energy onto this weapon more efficiently by 10 percent!"

Seeing the white robes disciples' confused expressions as they had likely only recently been admitted to the academy, he laughed and said.

"Hehe, in simple terms, it means your battle prowess will increase with this weapon as it would make it much more compatible with the energy you'll eventually control. For now, you shouldn't even dream of obtaining an engraved weapon, instead..." The black robed disciple began trying to sell his cheaper items. Although they likely couldn't afford them now, it didn't mean they wouldn't be his customers in the future.

As for Sorin, he had long left.

After walking through the city, Sorin had eventually arrived in front of a three story building. This building was truly massive. It had 3 floors, with each floor having the length of 100 meters and the width of 80 meters.

At the front, there were two large doors and above was massive words plated in silver with some words written on it: Recruitment Pavillion!

This was the first place all new disciples arrive to when they were selected.

Sorin entered the building and saw many disciples here. The first floor was where people officially become outer disciples of the academy. Moreover, this was the place that sold the spiritual catalyst for disciples to truly become Spirit Masters — not just in name, but actual ability!

The second floor was for the missions and requests of other disciples of this academy, all paying astral tokens for assistance, hunt beasts or to find unique materials outside the academy.

As for the third floor, it is for the various factions and groups in the academy, potentially looking for new recruits with decent talent.

As Sorin walked to the counter with numerous people behind it, all attending to other disciples, he eventually was in front of a woman.

Her appearance was average, and her body was okay. At least, to the standards of Sorin that was. To these new mortal disciples, they seem to be looking at these women as if they had been enchanted.

Sorin knew that all the people behind the counter were at least at the second or third level of the Outer Assimilation realm. They were all talentless in his eyes. Just them working here proves it.

Seeing the handsome boy with a somewhat domineering temperament, the woman spoke with a smile, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

Sorin pondered slightly before saying, "I would like to purchase two spiritual assimilation elixirs."

"Of course! Here you go! That will be 12 astral tokens." The women spoke, taking out two vials containing a sky-blue liquid and handing it to Sorin.

Taking out his astral crystal, he transferred his tokens before leaving the Recruitment Pavillion. He had only come here for this elixir.

Seeing the back of the boy leaving, the women felt like she had met with a prominent figure in the future. Just his natural presence had made her slightly uncomfortable despite figuring out the boy still hadn't even become a Spirit Master!

Moreover, this was the second day of these batch of disciples, yet he could already take out 12 astral tokens like it was nothing!

At the early stages of a Spirit Master in this academy, earning astral tokens was extremely difficult. Most disciples chose to do slow, hard labour like mining for materials in caves. Only the talented few could do those special occupations like alchemy or engraving runes, garnering astral tokens quickly.

"He will definitely become someone great in the future..." The women sighed. It had already been two years, yet she could only reach the second level of Outer Assimilation. Her talent was mediocre and her fighting abilities were even worse. However, she was satisfied as she could work at this place. The conditions were very good!

Once Sorin left, he had searched for where he had previously rented his accommodations. After a while of searching, Sorin had eventually found it. This was where he had spent his first astral token.

This was the cheapest place he had found in his past life. One astral token in this place was enough for him to stay for four days and it provides free food once a day.

Entering his room, Sorin didn't waste any time and drank the first spiritual assimilation elixir.

In this world, it isn't so easy to become a Spirit Master. Only a small number of individuals have the capabilities to manipulate spiritual energy without a magical catalyst that attracts spiritual energy to their body.

Until one reaches the late stages of Outer Assimilation if their talent was good, or at Inner Assimilation, most people can't freely control spiritual energy.

Once you drank this elixir, you will officially become a Spirit Master at the half level of the Assimilation realm.

The Assimilation realm is split into two parts. But Sorin's experiences knew that there was a third. Even in his first life, he knew this information as he remembered it from the novel.

The three parts are: Outer Assimilation being the first 4 levels. The next is Inner Assimilation which begins at level 5 to 8. Finally there was Core Assimilation which begins at level 9 and ends at 12.

Once you reach Inner Assimilation, you can decide to promote to the next realm: Spiritual Condensation.

The moment the elixir travelled down his body, he immediately felt a cool sensation envelop him.

The elixir was already taking effect, moreover, until he fully digests it, it would just be left in his body for a while.

This was where one's talent comes into play and one's background. Although Sorin could already begin the digestion process, he was going to go to the Heavenly Library where he can select his esoteric spiritual art and fighting techniques!

This was the special method that allows Spirit Masters to absorb spiritual energy more efficiently.

In Outer Assimilation, you are tempering your body with spiritual energy. In Inner Assimilation, you are tempering the internal structure of your body. As for Core Assimilation, you were strengthening your soul!

As an old demon who experienced countless trials and tribulations, Sorin already had powerful esoteric spiritual arts and fighting techniques. However, he still has to act as a regular disciple. The most he will do was become an extremely talented disciple in the eyes of others.

But he wouldn't expose his true prowess, being labelled as a monster with unfathomable secrets.

Until he can protect himself, such troubles can be avoided if he approaches his cultivation this way.