I'm in my bed, vexed while gazing at my Shadow Nebula. The stars are whirling around, but the small fissures engendered in their wake, even in addition to my own pounding, aren't enough to shatter the dark barrier surrounding the cloud of dust.
[One Galaxy Vein wasn't enough? Seriously?]
Although I siphoned off some of its energy to expand my Chaos Stardust into a Nebula, I thought the difference was negligible. I was cocky; most Mages wouldn't dare to guarantee a single Galaxy Vein was sufficient to turn a Nebula into a Galaxy, let alone fuel the creation of a Nebula on top of the chief endeavor.
I grit my teeth and grab the second shimmering crystal, funneling its energy into my bubbling Shadow Nebula. Finally, I shatter the barrier, an action accompanied by a splitting headache. Wait, it's accompanied by something else.
A black aura pervades my surroundings, spilling out the window and into the hall. It's the consequence of my 343 Shadow stars dancing in joy. They're mirroring my current emotions: 3 Elements at the Advanced level! As many as a peak Advanced Mage, and it's only been a few months since I broke through the Light Nebula barrier.
Also, the Shadow Element only displays its true potency upon unlocking Advanced spells. Whereas it was sidelined as a trump card in the past, that'll waste its potential now; as soon as I can align its stars, it'll be worthy of being one of the core aspects of my repertoire.
…
…
In the morning, the five advisors gather us in a private meeting room in the hotel. Mochizuki Chihaya tactfully remains outside. Most of the team appears ecstatic: it's the monthly bestowment of resources.
Feng Li twirls his mustache, condemning us. "Your performance is passable, nothing out of the blue."
"They did alright. After all, they did survive a huge tide rise. According to Ai Jiangtu's report, Mu Ningxue had an outstanding performance?" Song He beams at her.
He is the Dean of Imperial College, her institution, and it seems he's sympathetic to her current situation. And her performance was indeed marvelous: without even employing her Ice Crystal Bow, her Ice Domain alone was sufficient to hamper Commanders enough for the rest of the team to take them out, not to mention her commendable control of the battle with Ice Locks and threads to debilitate the enemy and yank her teammates out of harm's way.
Feng Li, however, is having none of it. "She's the only person who hasn't reached the Advanced level. She's out."
I intervene on her behalf. "She'll easily keep up with the others if you funnel enough resources her way to fuel her advance. Forcing her to remain a substitute at the behest of the Mu Clan is a detriment to the team. The only advantage Mu Tingying's Ice Element has over hers is the fact that it's a Galaxy, and nothing else. The remedy, and correct decision, is obvious."
He glares at me. "Rules are rules. Not an Advanced Mage, not on par with the others. The new substitute is already being flown in soon, and we advisors will leave with Mu Ningxue on that very plane."
Song He wears a helpless expression: there's nothing he can do, since the other 3 agree with Feng Li.
"I've already packed, but I just want to ask a few questions."
Mu Tingying sneers at her, interrupting. "What more is there to ask? You're lucky to even stay on the team as a substitute. Who apart from you would shamelessly stay on the team when they are not qualified to?"
Refreshingly, Mu Ningxue treats her like air. "The people who perform well in the National Training Hall have a chance to be promoted to representatives of the national team. I want to ask if I may be appointed as a defender at the National Training Hall after I leave the team?"
The substitutes are reserves for the official team, and the defenders at the National Training Hall are reserves for the substitutes. However, clawing your way up is no easy feat, especially without a faction to support you. Perhaps that's why Feng Li's eyes flicker with admiration.
"Well… you may, but there's no guarantee you'll make it back."
"As long as there's a chance, I'm willing to do it."
I've anticipated this outcome.
"There's no need to remain in a team when its advisors heed the whims of influential giants, without care for China's rank among the nations. You're losing a star student by not assisting Mu Ningxue. Oh, make that two. I predicted your idiocy and packed my bags accordingly, and I'm going back with her. Enjoy the absence of a combat genius with 3 Galaxies. Sadly, I doubt you will, considering I'm a mere substitute."
Feng Li fixates a death stare upon me. "I dare you to say that again."
"I'm leaving the team with Mu Ningxue and joining the defenders with her. Don't worry, it's not all bad: not a single country will obtain China's stamp while we're there. Your only concern is obtaining enough of your own without the two of us. Now wouldn't that be a pathetic headline: China destroys its own chance at entering the tournament! Hahahaha!" I can't stop myself from laughing.
His face turns a beet red, about to explode in rage. Song He places a hand on his shoulder, attempting to calm him. It appears to work: he exhales, composing himself.
"Why would I be angry? I should be happy now that someone is willing to quit the team voluntarily. The national team doesn't need people who lack resolution, not to mention that you joined the team through unofficial methods. Piss off, get out of my sight, I feel annoyed the more I see you, be gone!"
"Oh, aren't I flying back to Shanghai with you?"
"... Aaaarghhhhh!"
…
…
Jiang Shaoxu's POV:
It's impossible to say I'm not at all jealous at seeing Yang Jianyu board the plane while teasing Mu Ningxue, but my mood brightens upon noticing the fuming figure next to me.
"Guan Yu, why the long face?"
"None of your business!"
"Then it isn't your business to be angry. He's willing to quit the team to demonstrate his determination. Mu Ningxue can't help but be moved. You aren't willing, so she'll treat you like the insignificant blip you are."
Zu Jiming butts his ugly face into our conversation. "Don't listen to this wench. Once you show off in Venice and leave that bumpkin behind with the team's and your family's resources, she'll naturally gravitate toward you."
I scoff, knowing Mu Ningxue isn't at all materialistic or a status seeker. She just wants to clear her name by displaying her talents in the World College Tournament, removing any doubts in the people's minds that she's a proud Chinese citizen and not associated with the Black Vatican. Guan Yu is also aware of this, since his grimace doesn't loosen after hearing Zu Jiming's drivel.
…
…
Yang Jianyu's POV:
Normally I wouldn't launch such a withering verbal attack, but doing anything else wouldn't force the advisors to see they were committing a grave error.
I did have an ulterior motive for getting on the plane back to Shanghai, distinct from supporting Mu Ningxue or displaying my dissatisfaction. And that's getting rid of the Japanese woman, currently in the aisle seat. I'm in the middle seat, and Mu Ningxue is in the window seat. Her body exhibits a frigid aura, a stark difference compared to the almost warm one when I left her hotel room.
[This is going to be a long flight.]
…
…
Having Mochizuki Chihaya on my ass constantly is tiresome. I'm about to shake her loose, thankfully. I enter the nondescript Clearsky Hunter Agency's familiar, cozy lobby, and I gesture her to find a chair while I head upstairs.
"Old Bao, are you here?"
"Ah, Jianyu! You're back."
A familiar wrinkled face greets me, but his happy smile grows solemn once I reveal what's in my hand. I unwrap the silver cloth covering the Red Demon Orb, and he grimaces at its devilish presence.
"Mochizuki Ken pleaded with me to take this object to you. I'm not sure how, but he believes you can eliminate its malicious nature, turning it into a regular orb."
"... That old fart. Fine. He's right, this is an urgent matter. I'll begin immediately, now shoo."
"Okay, but be careful. It's an insidious entity."
"The day hasn't arrived when a mere item can cause me to bear trepidations. It's safe with me, so go. Actually, come back in a month or so."
Befuddled, I nod and walk downstairs.
"It's done. You may cease monitoring me and ruining your reputation."
"Finally! I mean, thank you for completing the task."
She corrects her joyous outburst with an insincere expression of gratitude.
[Hmm. Whatever.]
I head back to my apartment, making a detour to greet Mui Nujiao and Ai Tutu in their rooms on the way to my own. Mui Nujiao's face was red, and she was sniffling during our brief conversation at her door. She quickly shut it once the pleasantries were conducted.
[Well, at least she's not ignoring me completely. Is she still depressed over not landing a spot on the national team?]
…
…
The next day, I drive Mui Nujiao to the National Training Hall near the center of Shanghai. I greet Mu Ningxue at the entrance; we planned to arrive together for our first day of defense.
We hear eerie groans, feel death encroach on our skin, and smell the foul odor of a tomb as we approach the arena. I'm familiar with these sensations: undead.
Sure enough, Dongfang Lie, the first-ranked Fire student on the Main Campus of Pearl Institute, is facing off against a three meter tall mummy: an undead wrapped in gray cloth that isn't native to China, but rather… Egypt. Indeed, a handsome man with brown skin far darker than my lightly tanned tone is behind the creature. A representative of Egypt's national team, here to obtain China's stamp.
The mummy's diminutive size belies its strength: its cloth-wrapped feet sink into the ground with every step. Dongfang Lie underestimates its speed, and barely summons a Magic Shield that shatters upon receiving the mummy's sudden charging blow. The momentum propels him out of the designated dueling circle, eliminating him. Fortunately, his hasty Magic Armor prevented him from sustaining serious injury. Judging by the traces of Fire magic around the mummy, his Fiery Fists didn't deal much damage to the tank-like creature.
The instructor of our National Training Hall, Bai Dongwei, doesn't accept the loss graciously. He fumes, yelling at the 8 students on the defense team about their disappointing performance. Wait, he's sending another person into the dueling ring? It's Yue Tangxin, a glasses-clad girl claiming that her Plant Element is stronger than Mui Nujiao's. Doubtful. She brazenly steps into the circle, ready to commence battle.
Evidently, her confidence is not unfounded. Green vines materialized by Basic Plant spells slowly fill the area, restricting the helpless Gray-Cloth Iron Mummy's movement. She finishes trapping it with a Forest of Kun, doubly effective in an area containing plants in advance.
Her victorious grin slips off her face as the blue-eyed Egyptian, Sayed, casts a Basic Undead spell, summoning a hole reminiscent of the Dark Abyss, just on a smaller scale. It's the source of the pervading deathly black aura, rotting smell, and eerie sounds.
A giant, sleek, black bone saber 6 meters long pokes out, followed by a plump 5 meter tall corpse covered in winding sheets. A Death Saber Mummy, carrying a blade larger than itself. It pauses briefly, gathering its strength, and violently slashes the saber in an arc in front of it. The move generates a shockwave that tears through all the vines and leaves a gash on Yue Tangxin's armor from over a hundred meters away. She's dazed by the awe-inspiring sight, and doesn't react to the Gray-Cloth Iron Mummy charging at her. She snaps out of it and announces her surrender, but Sayed doesn't call back his creatures. The tank rams right into her, deforming her body amidst the crack of bones breaking.
The Healer on standby panics, clearly untrained to handle such severe injuries. He hastily calls an Advanced Healing Mage, who directs the student Healer to follow his lead. Thankfully, they stabilize her condition.
Bai Dongwei's relief quickly transforms into a towering rage aimed at Sayed. "Asshole, didn't you see her surrender!?" he curses.
Sayed's brows furrow. He declares coldly, "First of all, she should have surrendered earlier! She didn't really finish her sentence there! Second, even though the undead is following my orders, I don't possess full control over it! Its nature is violent to begin with, so even if I tried to stop it, the creature wouldn't necessarily halt its attack in time!"
Mu Ningxue exudes a frigid aura. "In that case, you shouldn't have sent it to attack at all. We're not fighting to the death here, it's just a stamp."
He scoffs. "In our country, we don't baby our students. Incidents like this are a dime a dozen. You're just soft."
I step into the circle. "In that case, why don't you face me? No surrendering. No leaving the dueling circle. The fight is over when the winner is through with the loser. Do you dare?"
Bai Dongwei frowns. "Who are you?! Sayed agreed to face three of our students, but I think it's enough. I'm giving him the stamp and sending him away; a vicious person like him doesn't belong here!"
"I'm from the national team, but I quit because the advisors are insufferable gits. I'm waiting here until their idiocy blows over, and then I'll go back."
He's now as incensed at me as at Sayed, pointing a trembling finger. "You… how disrespectful! Arrogant! They kicked you out for your ineptitude, and you're slandering them because you're angry. Is the national team something you can just go back to on a whim?"
"Call the advisors if you don't believe me. Or don't. I really don't care about your opinion of me. Hey, Sayed, I'm growing old waiting for your answer."
He hesitates before stepping into the circle. "When have I ever been afraid of a high-stakes fight? China's national team? Hmph! Judging by the standard of the defensive lineup, the national team can't be anything special. Have it your way, but don't start crying when the undead tear you apart."
I don't bother responding. "3… 2… 1… fight!"
His Gray-Cloth Iron Mummy charges at me while the Death Saber Mummy keeps its distance, preparing its deadly swing of the saber.
Providence does not shine upon Sayed. Descending Light: Plummeting Rays!
I finish constructing the Light Star Constellation when the hurtling tank is a couple dozen meters away. Countless dazzling rays of light illuminate the arena, burning the Gray-Cloth Iron Mummy into dust. Although the Death Saber Mummy evades for a few seconds, it's futile. I control the blinding beams to erase it from existence, and the light fades away soon after.
Sayed drops to his knees, crushed by the blow of having his undead killed. It's purely a mental blow, not a spiritual one: Undead Magicians aren't connected to their summons on a spiritual level like Summoners are linked to their Contracted Beasts. The latter would be spitting blood, nearly unconscious if their Contracted Beast was murdered, but Undead Mages would just shrug the loss off, reviving them after a brief delay.
Except in circumstances like this, where the undead can't be revived to fight again. I've burned their bodies to bits and Nyx has extracted their Soul Remnants, so quite literally nothing remains of them on the face of the earth. Consuming energy from an Undead Nebula or Galaxy can't recover what doesn't exist.
The lack of a spiritual connection ensures the undead's erasure doesn't manifest as a severe injury to his Spiritual World, but he's still mentally crushed by losing all his progress on raising those undead.
He starts bawling, striking a wretched, disgraceful figure. Shaking my head, I stroll away, high-fiving a few members of the defensive team. Mui Nujiao's face is conflicted for a while; evidently, she's wondering if I went too far. She comes to the same conclusion as Mu Ningxue: he deserved it.
His breakdown is understandable. A rare species like the Death Saber Mummy with an overwhelming special move, at the Advancing Warrior level. It might evolve to the Commander level given time and appropriate provisions.
Regardless, I don't pity him. I head to one of the meditation rooms, awaiting more challenges. None happen.
…
…
Over the past few days, I've focused on controlling the stars in my Shadow Galaxy. It's excruciatingly slow progress: I spent time on control every single day back at Mount Hua, but it still took me a month apiece for Light and Water, and another month to familiarize myself with them enough to construct Star Constellations in battle.
Even the Three Step Tower's assistance doesn't help much: its 20x boost only affects my meditation, not control. Flooding my Spiritual World with energy won't directly help me get acquainted with stars, only improve the force I can employ to align them. Back when I had just started using the Underground Holy Spring or Three Step Tower, the improvement was so vast that I could cast a new spell within one or two weeks or even days. But now that my body and Spiritual World have become accustomed to the tower's help, the enhancement is negligible.
Sighing, I walk into my meditation room of choice, but less than an hour later, a soft bell's ring indicates a challenger's arrival. I perk up, but once I reach the arena, I see a downcast Sayed next to brown people with curly hair that I can only assume are his teammates.
Although nations have three attempts at taking a country's stamp, most disdain the idea of initiating a battle more than once. The Egyptian team's face must be quite thick to have returned after their failure.
[I'm ending this farce.]
"Instructor Bai Dongwei, my Light Element suppresses their undead. Please allow me to discuss the terms of battle."
He doesn't ponder for long, nodding after remembering my dominating performance against Sayed. With permission secured, I step inside the boundary of the dueling circle.
"Sore losers, propose a format."
A girl of average stature with a fit body bristles at the insult. "Excuse us? You only got lucky that Sayed's second Element was Shadow, and its Nebula is merely a pretty object during the duration of an Advanced Light spell. We're back to correct the result: a small country like yours doesn't deserve to retain its stamp."
[Small country? Oh, I see what she's implying.]
"China's unenviable result in the previous World College Tournament 4 years ago was not the product of a weak team. The students had a terrible streak of misfortune, facing off against multiple strong teams in a row and subsequently getting knocked out in the first round of elimination. Any team outside of the top 10 would have suffered an identical outcome."
She furiously raises a trembling finger, but can't construct a scathing reply. I discontinue the verbal spar. "Since you're unwilling to propose a format, I will. Send one person. You'll get the stamp if you defeat me."
I overhear their conversation. The girl, who seems to be the vice captain, is speaking to a tall man, the captain. "Let me go, Schindler! I'll teach him a lesson!"
"Meos, think carefully. Something isn't right. An ordinary defender couldn't have possibly erased Sayed's progress, by casting an Advanced Light spell no less. I'll handle this fight."
"We'll lose to other teams in the tournament if you expose your strength so early. I won't be defeated by him! And even if I am, we'll gather enough stamps from other nations anyway. We're only here to reclaim our dignity."
"... You're right. Go, and don't disappoint us."
Smirking, Meos nods and enters the boundary to face me. After a brief countdown, Bai Dongwei announces the start of battle.
Instead of summoning undead, she approaches me. A cloud of sand begins revolving around her, and upon seeing me nock an arrow, she condenses some of it into a brown wall. Sure enough, the 4 arrows I fire lose all their momentum after penetrating a dozen centimeters into the barrier.
However, the line of sight between us has disappeared, and the sand wall only protects her from the front. I adjust the angle of my arrows, shooting them nearly vertically in magnificent parabolas. Screams resound the arena as two projectiles find their marks on her legs, a scene visible after her concentration vanishes, and the Domain vanishes along with it. I hadn't expected her to commit such a trivial error, especially because she's an elite with an outstanding Earth Spirit.
[An excellent Soul-grade Earth Spirit, one that boasts a sand Domain.]
The most sought-after Soul-grade Elemental Spirits are those with Domains. By consuming mana from one's cluster of stars, a Spirit attracts certain elemental particles around its owner and expels other Elements. Meos's Earth Spirit attracts Earth particles and rejects all other Elements, which boosts the strength of her Earth spells by over 40% and reduces the potency of non-Earth spells by 40%. This is typical of Domains, but they manifest themselves in various ways. Meos is absurdly fortunate to have obtained an Earth Spirit that can summon a Domain which allows her to just will any offense or defense into existence by manipulating sand, no aligning stars required.
Although to be fair, all Domains increase the degree of freedom with which magic is manifested. The nature of spells are easily altered, stars align much quicker, and trajectory and destination of magical phenomena are subject to one's will. This, along with the enhancement and suppression effects, is sufficient to explain why Soul-grade Elemental Spirits are multiple times more expensive when they possess Domains.
I recall Mu Ningxue's Ice Domain. It's a natural one: even at the Intermediate stage, in that battle between Pearl Institute and Imperial College students before Jinlin City, she utilized it to great effect. Her Innate Talent is outstanding indeed, to bestow a peerless Ice Spirit upon her. It's almost alarming how overwhelming her Domain can become: she gradually expanded it to kill hundreds of Soldiers back at Rock Island off the coast of China.
Sadly, she hasn't shown up since 2 days ago: she informed me that she's paying a visit to Tianshan Mountain. It's undeniably a dangerous region, teeming with Commanders and even Rulers, but its freezing climate and snowy grounds render it a holy ground for Mu Ningxue.
That leaves me as the only former member of the national team here to defend our stamps. Which I certainly did. Schindler, to his credit, comforts Meos and doesn't lash out at her. Once he ensures our Healers cure her legs, he walks over to me. To my surprise, he extends an open hand. I grab it, completing the handshake.
"I'm positive you could have killed her there, but you chose to injure her legs. Your generosity is admirable: given your skills, many students might have taken the chance to eliminate one of our strongest members and pass it off as an accident. However, why did you go so far against Sayed?"
"He didn't tell you? He made a mockery of our National Training Hall, insulting us at every opportunity. I can take that in stride; I'm not easily riled up. However, he went on to demonstrate a complete lack of control over his undead, which brutally shattered dozens of his opponent's bones even when she announced her surrender. And he didn't even apologize. Not like I would have forgiven him, but still, not a good look."
"I feared he was misconstruing the situation, which is why I asked you. I appreciate your candor and geniality. Good luck on your future endeavors, and I'm sure I'll see you again. China's advisors would have to be insane to keep you off the team," he compliments.
"Likewise. Safe travels."
We wave each other off, and I stroll away. Clearly, there's bound to be rotten eggs like Sayed, but by no means does he represent the majority of Egyptians. The same holds for nearly all countries. Arrogant, xenophobic, or irritating people compose the vocal minority. They're just more common when filters such as high status and outstanding strength are used, resulting in me finding people like Luo Song, Lu Zhenghe, Guan Yu, Zu Jiming, Mochizuki Chihaya, Sayed, etc.
…
…
A month has gone by since that day I quit the national team. I've finally grasped the ability to construct a Shadow Star Constellation and a Chaos Star Pattern.
I haven't used Chaos against a single Mage or demonic beast; I immediately understood its volatile nature that requires precise control, so I've been practicing its spells in seclusion. The Basic Chaos spell is Change of Order. Each of the 3 spells changes some order in a region, and the larger the region, the more mana required to cast it. To increase the intensity or maximum region size of the change of order, a higher Spiritual Attainment is required.
The 1st tier: Direction. It deflects projectiles by 20 degrees within a region.
The 2nd tier: Gravity. Choose a direction for gravity within a region.
The 3rd tier: Movement. For everyone but the caster within a region, all actions they take are reversed, making navigating one's surroundings hopeless. E.g. they try to step forward but their muscles move the leg back. Spells are cast in the opposite direction as intended. All with respect to a specified point of origin, usually the caster.
The Intermediate spell: Chaos Vortex. It creates a whirlpool that absorbs magical attacks and projectiles, which are then flung out in any desired direction with 5% more power. The vortex's capacity is not unlimited: it'll at most absorb power on the scale of 3 Advanced spells. However, if someone has a Soul-grade Elemental Spirit with a 6x amplification, the whirlpool would not handle a single Advanced spell.
Each tier in the Chaos Nebula doesn't unlock a new Intermediate spell, and instead doubles the power increase and doubles the capacity. The 2nd tier makes it 10% more power, and the 3rd tier improves it to 20%. At the 3rd tier, I'd be able to absorb 2 Advanced spells with a 6x boost, but I'd only be spending 1 Intermediate spell's worth of mana.
In fact, I have 30 Soldier and 5 Warrior Soul Essences remaining after I spent 49 to upgrade the Chaos Nebula's stars. Strangely, this maneuver did not unlock a new Basic spell, but rather doubled the power of the existing ones given identical inputs of mana. Regarding the Intermediate spell, since the Chaos Nebula is just tier 1, the star upgrade only improved the Chaos Vortex to the second tier, but I imagine 4th tier stars would double the capacity and the power increase of the 3rd tier Chaos Vortex.
[Chaos truly acts like no other Element.]
Shadow improved immensely as well. Nyx Regime: Night Dominion is the 1st tier Advanced Shadow spell. It summons a Shadow Domain that weakens all non-dark magic, increases the level of Basic Shadow spells by 2, and increases the level of Intermediate Shadow spells by 1.
Dark magic is Shadow, Curse, Undead, or Poison, since those Elements function as a contract of sorts with the Dark Dimension: we supply it with pure mana from our star clusters, and it manifests Dark spells in our world. This is why no Spirits (and Domains borne of them) exist for Dark magic. To replace them, there's other methods of expanding the limits of the 'contract', which are at least as potent as the best Soul-grade Elemental Spirits. Correspondingly, the prices of such things rocket to over billions of yuan.
This is all standard knowledge, obtained by Mages who reached the peak of the Shadow Element and generously transcribed their experiences. One day, I'll ascend to their heights, and beyond.