spiritual scholar

catalyst spell

The gathered crowd included a young couple in their twenties, the elderly ice cream vendor, and a middle-aged man in his forties.

Upon hearing Su Xiao's words, Feng Liping and the others were stunned.

Level 9? "Are you an extraordinary being?" Feng Liping asked in disbelief, subconsciously adopting a respectful tone.

It was no wonder he was shocked.

The normal citizen of Zhongxia has a command level of 0! Adults who have undergone short-term, professional military training have a command level of 1. This type of training is usually the freshman military training at Zhongxia University, which includes not just standing at attention, but also using light and heavy weapons, individual rocket launchers, crowd evacuation commands, and a series of common sense training.

Retired soldiers from the military, armed police, and fire departments have their command level increased by 1.

If someone is a member of the Human Realm, their command level increases by 1.

If an active soldier is on leave, their command level gets an additional boost based on their rank.

If someone is a practitioner, their command level is increased according to their cultivation level.

A level 9 command level is an astonishing value, hard for even a grassroots commander to reach! "I'm not an extraordinary being; extraordinary beings start at level 10," Su Xiao quickly replied, "Wait a moment."

As he spoke, he began taking some items out of the small bag he was carrying.

They were various special substances in small glass bottles, including small crystals, extracts, and yellow dust.

"Catalyst magic?" Feng Liping was surprised, "Are you a wizard?"

The surrounding crowd, seeking refuge, saw this scene. The woman in the couple whispered in confusion, "What's catalyst magic?"

Her boyfriend was equally puzzled and couldn't answer.

The elderly ice cream vendor, amazed, explained, "Catalyst magic, such an old thing!"

"You young people nowadays might not know this. When the evils first appeared, humans forcibly imitated them to develop this technique. It's very complicated. By using various materials called catalysts, specially trained personnel could perform magic-like abilities."

"These people were called wizards! Each wizard required two to twelve years of training, similar to cultivating a practitioner."

"Later, wizards were gradually replaced by practitioners cultivating spiritual energy. Now there are very few wizards left because wizard talents and spiritual energy talents overlap. Those who have time to study a lot of esoteric knowledge to become wizards usually don't find it hard to awaken their innate spells."

"And the upper limit of the two is vastly different. No matter how much knowledge a wizard masters, their heart is still human, and casting spells would gradually make them lose their sanity, becoming mad and strange. Practitioners of spiritual energy don't have this issue. Not to mention, the destructive power of spells isn't high and often can't match a rifle."

Rosalie, hearing the old man's explanation, showed a hint of sadness in her eyes and stood more alertly beside Su Xiao, guarding against possible attacks.

"Destructive power is one thing, tactical effect is another." Su Xiao placed several glass bottles at specific intervals, setting up a simple altar, holding a bottle with small crystals, "Even now, this magic is a compulsory course for special communications soldiers."

Su Xiao suddenly uttered strange, awkward words. These words didn't sound like something humans would invent. The pronunciation seemed to violate human speech rules, as if coming from some mysterious, unknown alien planet or the deep ocean. His hand holding the small glass bottle moved as well, resembling a shaman covered in oil paint, dancing in a dark, secret rainforest.

The scene was terrifying, making the couple step back several paces instinctively, and the middle-aged man's face showed fear. Only the elderly ice cream vendor and Feng Liping remained unchanged.

At the end of the spell, Su Xiao tapped the glass bottle on his glasses frame.

The white crystals inside magically turned light blue, then blood red in the sunlight, finally becoming violet.

A new message popped up in the augmented reality glasses of everyone except Su Xiao.

"Temporary spiritual network detected."

"Network setter ID: Su Xiao"

"Network setter command level: 9"

"Network setter trust level: Low"

"Do you wish to connect to the temporary spiritual network?"

Rosalie, standing beside Su Xiao, didn't hesitate and immediately joined.

As soon as she joined, the temporary spiritual network detected her proximity to Su Xiao and her status as a practitioner with anti-evil abilities, raising Su Xiao's trust level.

"Network setter trust level increased to: High"

Sometimes, the temporary spiritual network might be set up by someone possessed by evil or a cultist. Connecting to it rashly could lead to harm instead of receiving information and help.

Therefore, besides the command level, the trust level is also displayed.

"Initial trust level is low…" Feng Liping felt he was going mad.

A low initial trust level but a command level of 9? Is he a soldier? Doesn't seem like it, he'd have to be at least a colonel…

With a low initial level, he must not be a practitioner…

Finally, Feng Liping realized something and exclaimed, "Are you a researcher? A spiritual energy theory researcher?"

He recalled that mastering spiritual energy theory and passing its assessment could also increase one's command level.

This made sense because the more one understands the abilities of evil, the better they can make correct decisions in emergencies.

"This young man must have at least level 6 spiritual energy theory…" The middle-aged man beside them also marveled, "That's incredible."

"A level 6 spiritual energy theory, he must be an expert, right?" the young woman in the couple whispered.

"The expert who was explaining basic knowledge on TV last time only had level 5 spiritual energy theory, and he was a practitioner…" her boyfriend replied quietly.

Su Xiao felt helpless and not at all flattered.

Mainly because his school and major normally required a level 3 spiritual energy theory and being a formal practitioner to graduate. If one was at the cultivation level of the Enlightenment Realm, the spiritual energy theory requirement could be lowered by 1 level. But the problem was, he wasn't a practitioner! As a non-practitioner, he needed a level 6 spiritual energy theory to graduate.

Only Su Xiao knew how much effort and energy he had put in to graduate back then.

"Are you alright?" Rosalie asked Su Xiao with concern.

"I'm fine!" Su Xiao's face was slightly pale, "Modern catalyst magic has been evolved and improved to minimize mental damage."

With the network set up, other people besides this group began connecting to the network, providing feedback to Su Xiao.

Information is the most critical resource in emergencies.

"After the appearance of the puppets, casting this kind of catalyst magic doesn't weigh as heavily on me as it used to…"

"Next, we just wait for others within the network's range to connect. Those with high trust levels, especially those who have encountered evil, will definitely connect…"

Su Xiao glanced at the battery icon in the top right corner of his glasses. Only 71% remaining.

"Setting up and maintaining the network and the Tranquil Mind Spell consume a lot of power, but with Rosalie by my side for protection, I don't have to worry as much about the threat of evil, so I can temporarily turn off the Tranquil Mind Spell."

"Quickly, connect to the network and give me information…"

Rosalie looked at Su Xiao's serious and focused profile, recalling his dreams and his shortcomings in spiritual energy, feeling a touch of gloom in her heart.

Why does someone so diligent have such a significant flaw in spiritual energy?

Her heart was indignant!

Rosalie quickly cut off this negative emotion. It was an emergency, and she needed to stay focused! After a while, a stream of information appeared in front of Su Xiao.

People other than those here had joined the temporary spiritual network!

And they sent messages to Su Xiao, the temporary commander.