One point of Source Power remained. A fierce, determined glint entered Su Mu's eyes. She was so close to the next major threshold.

"Upgrade!"

The final point was spent.

The three runes blazed, and a fourth, dazzlingly complex Will Rune materialized, locking into place with the others, forming a perfect, symmetrical constellation in her mind's eye.

[ Lunar Disc Breathing Method upgraded to Level 4. ]

[ Number of Will Rune constructed (Total: 4). ]

[ Spirit +1.5 ]

[ Physique +0.9 ]

—

[ Core State: 'F' Rank Awakener (First-Level Wizard Apprentice) ]

[ Source Power: 0.13 ]

[ Physique: 3.75 ]

[ Spirit: 8.0 ]

[ Cultivation Method: Lunar Disc Breathing Method (Level 4) ]

A profound sense of power settled over her, so potent it was almost a physical weight. She felt incredible.

She could feel the faint spiritual energy signatures of the plants in the garden outside, the hum of the house's power systems, the very beat of her own strong, steady heart.

She had built four Will Runes in less than a minute. What would take a privileged noble scion months, or an ordinary student years, she had achieved with a thought.

A slow, dangerous smile spread across her beautiful face. The ghost of Su Yang's pride, his desire to be a creator, merged perfectly with Su Mu's newfound determination.

Her memories as Su Mu, now seamlessly integrated with her own, were clear on this point: consistent meditation with the Lunar Disc Breathing Method was the key to increasing her Spirit attribute.

And now, with the four new Will Runes etched into her consciousness, a solid foundation built in mere minutes, she should be able to perceive the necessary energies far more easily.

She settled herself back on the plush rug, the memory of Xu'er's bed a pleasant, lingering warmth.

She closed her eyes, adjusted her posture into a comfortable cross-legged position, and began to execute the familiar, yet now profoundly different, breathing patterns of the Lunar Disc Breathing Method.

She focused her enhanced Spiritual Sense inward, a sense that felt sharper, more precise.

She reached out with her mind, guiding the flow of spiritual energy from the room around her and the subtle, cool "Yin" energy that seemed to be drawn towards the teardrop pendant at her throat.

This time, instead of fumbling with the mental blueprint of the runes, she guided the energy directly into them.

The process was like night and day.

Before, meditating without a complete Will Rune was like trying to fill a bucket with a leaky eyedropper; the effort was immense, and the results were frustratingly small.

An hour of grueling focus might have yielded a barely perceptible shimmer of progress.

Now, with four runes acting as powerful, efficient engines, it was like opening a floodgate.

She could feel the energy being drawn in with a palpable force, a cool, invigorating river flowing into her.

The four Will Runes in her mind pulsed in a steady, harmonious rhythm, acting like a complex spiritual filter and condenser.

They drew in the raw ambient energy, purified it, and channeled a refined, potent stream directly into her Spiritual Core.

It was an incredible feeling, a direct, tangible sense of growing stronger with every breath.

Her Spirit attribute, which had just leaped to 8.0 after the upgrades, began to slowly but another steady climb.

Time seemed to melt away.

The quiet of her uncle's house was perfect; there were no distractions, no demands, only the rhythmic pulse of her own breathing and the steady, intoxicating flow of power.

She was lost in the process.

A low, insistent rumble from her stomach was what finally pulled her from the deep, meditative state.

Her eyes fluttered open, a little unfocused at first.

The room was just as she'd left it, but the quality of the light filtering through the window had changed, the morning sun now higher in the sky.

She glanced at the sleek watch on her wrist. Her eyes widened. More than three hours had passed by in what felt like the blink of an eye.

She quickly called up her attribute panel.

[ Spirit: 8.0 - 8.21 ]

A small smile of satisfaction touched her lips. A 0.21 increase in just three hours.

It was a slow climb, yes, but it was a consistent, measurable result that would have been unthinkable just yesterday.

She knew from the Lunar Disc Method's instructions that prolonged, focused meditation like this would yield significant results over time.

And now, without the added mental strain of constructing the Will Rune from scratch, she could dedicate all her focus to the pure act of cultivation.

'And this is without even actively seeking out a place rich in energy,' she thought, her mind already racing.

With her Upgrade Matrix, she could push this efficiency to an entirely new level.

'I can use the Source Power points to upgrade the breathing method itself. Or I could upgrade my Spiritual Sense further, allowing me to draw in energy more effectively.'

With her unique abilities, she could achieve in weeks what took others years.

The memory of her complete surrender to Xu'er, the feeling of being her 'toy', flashed in her mind again, but this time it wasn't followed by shame. It was fuel. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on noveⅼfire.net

'Just you wait, Xu'er,' she thought, a dangerous, thrilling smile playing on her lips.

With a new fire lit within her, Su Mu pushed herself to her feet.

The rumbling in her stomach was a grounding, very human reminder that even F-Rank Awakeners needed to eat.

The intense meditation and rapid evolution had clearly taken a toll on her energy reserves.

As she left the bedroom, the house was just as quiet as before.

Now that she wasn't consumed by her inner turmoil or focused solely on cultivation, she took the time to properly look around her uncle's home.

The living area was an open, airy space, decorated with a tasteful blend of modern comfort and unique artifacts.

A large, plush sofa faced a sleek, wall-mounted holographic display, currently dark.

On a side table, a strange, metallic sculpture that looked like a tangle of gears and wires pulsed with a soft, rhythmic light, likely some kind of advanced clock or weather forecaster.

The art on the walls was a mix of abstract paintings and what looked like framed schematics of complex magical formations.

It was a space that spoke of two distinct personalities: one modern, tech-savvy, and perhaps a little rebellious, and another that appreciated artistry and the deeper complexities of the spiritual world.

It was the perfect reflection of the couple she had met yesterday.

Following the faint, delicious scent of roasted nuts and herbs, she found her way to the kitchen.

It was a marvel of clean lines and advanced technology.

The countertops were a smooth, seamless dark stone, and the appliances hummed with a quiet, efficient energy.

Instead of a normal refrigerator, a large, temperature-controlled unit displayed its contents through a translucent door, showing rows of strange and familiar ingredients.

There were vegetables that looked similar to Earth's carrots and greens, but also odd, faintly glowing fungi and fruits that shimmered with an iridescent sheen.

As she opened one of the cupboards, looking for something simple, Little Black padded silently into the kitchen.

The cat hopped onto a nearby stool, its emerald eyes watching her with that unnerving intelligence.

Su Mu smiled at it, a genuine warmth spreading through her.

"Hey there, Little Black. Are you hungry too?"

The cat just blinked slowly. With her newly upgraded Spiritual Sense, Su Mu noticed something she hadn't before.

There was a faint, almost imperceptible aura around the cat, a subtle distortion in the air that her normal senses would have missed entirely.

Curiosity piqued, she focused her Insight Digitization on the small feline.

[ Target: ??? ]

[ Race: ??? (Mimicry Active) ]

[ Core State: ??? (Power Level Heavily Suppressed) ]

[ Emotional State: Curiosity, Mild Amusement, Patience ]

[ Notable Traits: ??? ]

[ Warning: Analysis Blocked. Target possesses a high-level concealment ability far exceeding the host's current perceptive capabilities. Further attempts at analysis are not recommended. ]

Su Mu's eyes widened.

She quickly averted her gaze, her heart giving a little thump.

Blocked? Not even a partial reading?

Her uncle's casual comment about Little Black being "very strong" suddenly took on a much more serious meaning.

The cat seemed to sense her scrutiny and let out a soft, almost questioning meow.

"Sorry," Su Mu murmured, giving it a reassuring scratch behind the ears, which it seemed to accept.

Deciding not to press her luck, she found a pre-packaged nutrient bar that looked like a high-energy version of granola and a bottle of chilled, faintly sparkling water.

As she sat at the small kitchen island, taking slow, deliberate bites, her mind began to formulate a plan.

She had four days until the academy orientation. Four days to get stronger and to understand this new city.

Meditating at home was good, but her Empathic Siphon thrived on external stimuli.

To gain Source Power efficiently, she needed to be around people, around intense emotions.

'RomantiX is an option,' she considered. 'The... activities there are a goldmine for my power.'

A faint blush touched her cheeks at the memory of the private lounge.

But her goal wasn't just about accumulating power; it was about control and knowledge.

And her newfound resolve regarding Xu'er demanded a different approach. She couldn't just be the passive recipient anymore.

'I need to understand this world better,' she decided, her gaze hardening with determination. 'The academy will teach me, but I can get a head start.'

She thought about the various districts her uncle had mentioned.

The Emberlight District, with its boutiques and chaos.

The Jade Vine District, more upscale and serene.

There had to be places for Awakeners, markets where they traded resources, libraries with information on cultivation, and training grounds.

'That's it,' she thought, a plan clicking into place.

'I'll spend the next few days exploring. I'll find the Awakener's market, see what kind of resources are available. I'll visit the city library, learn more about history, Cloud Beasts, and the different factions at play.'

' Knowledge is power, and right now, I need both.'

She finished her nutrient bar, the simple meal replenishing her energy.

The world of Blue Star was dangerous and complex, but for the first time, she felt like she had a real foothold.

She glanced at Little Black, who was now grooming a paw with meticulous care, seemingly just an ordinary cat once more.

"Well," Su Mu said softly, a challenging smile on her lips, "time to see what Monster City really has to offer."