"Soul traversal through the World Gate didn't feel special at all."
His eyes closed and opened, and he found himself on an Array platform, looking up to see the long-missed canopy of the World Tree covering the sky.
A pale giant dragon, reduced to bones, held up its majestic head, its bony trunk embedded in the center of the tree trunk, and amidst the undying Gray Fire swirling around, the starry-skirted dragon lady still half-closed her eyes, deeply asleep atop the Divine Throne.
"Gulp—"
Xia Feng swallowed subconsciously, his long-dormant hunger resurgent.
[Remaining Activity: 5 days 6 hours]
The maximum single consumption limit for a First Rank Spirit Master is seven days; after that, one feels full and can't eat anymore. The cooldown period is one day, meaning he could eat once every other day.
Swoosh—
Noticing the noise, Black Crow suddenly opened her eyes on the branch above, and with a beak, a mature, laughing voice said,
"Human kid, didn't expect you to arrive so quickly~"
Thump thump! Thump-thump-thump! His wildly beating heart, like a runaway horse, galloped uncontrollably. Xia Feng clutched his chest and looked at the woman on the Divine Throne, his breathing rapid.
It seemed that after tasting something delicious once, he became even more gluttonous, developing a taste for the essence.
Thinking this, he stepped forward, eager.
Seeing Xia Feng so excited, Black Crow said helplessly, "It seems you really crave Spiritual Unsealing. Very well, come forward, and I'll teach you how to harness the power of Spiritual Energy."
"..." Xia Feng paused, forcibly moving his gaze away from Evil Dragon Miss and looking up at Black Crow, a twitch in the corner of his eyes.
Damn it... Couldn't I have been fed before learning?
Considering it imprudent to reveal too much desire for Evil Power, he suppressed his craving and nodded reluctantly, deciding to focus on Spiritual Unsealing first.
Spiritual Unsealing, formally known as Soul Unsealing, also called Spiritual Energy Unsealing.
It means that everyone's soul contains mysterious Spiritual Energy, and by unleashing it through special methods, which gather and form a "Spiritual Artifact," one can harness this deep-seated Spiritual Energy.
For this reason, even ordinary people might awaken a Spiritual Artifact, though the chances are low.
And if an ordinary person truly awakens a Spiritual Artifact and it proves useful, they might overturn an Apprentice Spirit Master or even a First Rank Spirit Master!
Thus, a Spiritual Artifact is exceedingly crucial for a Spirit Master, offering a superb means to significantly enhance combat prowess without the arduous study of Spiritual Particles.
Of course, Spiritual Clothes are graded, and naturally, so are Spiritual Artifacts.
And like Spiritual Clothes, they are graded from low to high as N, D, C, B, A, S.
N Level is the worst but can be incredibly powerful in certain domains.
For example, the 'Chef God Gloves'—any food made with these gloves, even if it's crap, can taste like chocolate.
It is said that this Chef God first appeared on a variety show, and with his signature dish 'Authentic Taste Pork Intestine,' he went viral and became an internet sensation.
And then there's the 'No Sleep Glasses' which allow one never to sleep while remaining alert, the 'Slimming Belt'—one can never get fat, only lose weight...
When it reaches D Level, some battle-useful Spiritual Artifacts appear, but they are only useful and still cannot dictate the outcome of a battle.
Only C Level and above Spiritual Artifacts can radically shift the course of a battle, allowing a Low-level Spirit Master to defeat a high-level one.
"Normally, there are two conditions under which one can awaken a Spiritual Artifact."
Black Crow, perched on a branch, explained, "First, during intense emotional fluctuations, and second, at the moment of death. Both scenarios might allow one to perceive the 'Spiritual Artifact' and unseal it, but it all depends on luck.
Some ordinary people could awaken a C Level Spiritual Artifact, while some Spirit Masters, even at Third Rank or Superior Rank, might not sense their own Spiritual Artifact."
"Lady Black Crow, I understand all you're saying, but could you just tell me the conclusion, why did you say you could 100% help me succeed in Spiritual Unsealing?"
Black Crow chuckled lightly, "It's because of my Spiritual Artifact—'Awakening Spiritual Device', its purpose is to awaken that hidden spiritual power deep within oneself."
"Oh, so..."
Using a Spiritual Artifact to awaken another Spiritual Artifact, this is definitely a divine object!
"If I may ask, what level is your Spiritual Artifact?"
"A Level."
Xia Feng's eyes lit up, "Is awakening an A Level easy?"
"... What do you think." Black Crow rolled her eye in a very human-like expression.
"Human kid, I advise you not to get your hopes up. From my experience of helping so many humans awaken their Spiritual Artifacts, even if you're incredibly lucky, you might manage a C Level, B Level is a dream, and as for A Level, don't even think about it!"
"Do you have to be so discouraging...." Xia Feng muttered softly, then boldly asked, "Then—what about S Level?"
"?" Black Crow practically lit up a question mark on her forehead, her perplexed and puzzled eyes seemed to say, are you teasing me? That's quite a bold imagination.
"Let me put it this way, I've helped countless humans and even other races, and though a few have awakened A Level, S Level, is still zero."
"Alright then..."
Xia Feng roughly understood, A Level is like the SSR card in card games, and S Level is like the UR card, with just a few UR cards in the entire game. Hoping to draw one might take tens of thousands of years in exchange.
Considering his perennially bad luck in games, in never drawing an SSR card, hoping for a B Level Spiritual Artifact would be enough...
No, wait, C Level! Xia Feng clasped his hands and prayed, "A C Level Spiritual Artifact would be great!"
"Got it all?" If you understand, look up and into my eyes."
Obediently, Xia Feng looked up, only to see Lady Black Crow's deep gray eyes sparkling with golden specks, as she gently opened her beak:
"After entering the Awakening Spiritual Device space, defeat the incarnation of your Spiritual Artifact, and you will gain the power of Spiritual Energy."