Ch 61 : New Heavenly Rune

Lying in bed, Auron was sweating profusely as his consciousness drifted into a different dimension where he felt himself being sealed.

"Nine Heavens Sealing Art, huh? It's powerful, no doubt, but I didn't have enough time at home to practice it. Maybe I can try at school," Auron thought, feeling a sense of urgency. He wanted to master it, but his to-do list seemed never-ending.

"I've got a bit of time, though. I'll make a pendant for my sister," he decided. Reaching into his spatial ring, Auron pulled out some beast hide and string. With careful precision, he crafted a frame to hold a crystal stone, then inscribed durability, cleanliness, and mana efficiency runes onto it.

The final product wasn't extravagant, but it was functional. Auron didn't want to attract unnecessary attention with something too flashy. Satisfied, he found his baby sister and gently placed the pendant around her neck. He observed the aura emitted by the crystal, ensuring it was safe for her. Once assured, he joined his mother for breakfast.

"Why are you up so early? You haven't slept yet, have you?" Sarah asked as soon as she saw him.

"I'm not sleepy," Auron replied while grabbing some bread to quell his hunger.

"It's not good to go without sleep, you know?" she said, concerned about his well-being.

"I'll rest after breakfast, I promise," Auron reassured her, though as a magus, skipping a day or two of sleep wasn't too taxing. Still, he didn't want his mother to worry.

As they ate, Auron shared his adventures from the previous night. "We hunted Wood Moose and Mud Boars. Made a good bit of money selling them..." he trailed off, already thinking ahead to his next task.

"Whew, I want to go outside to carve my Omniscient Fire heavenly rune, but I'll do it later. For now, I'll meditate on the Order Fire heavenly rune. Hopefully, I'll understand it enough to carve it afterward," Auron mused, retreating to his room.

Settling comfortably on his bed, Auron entered meditation. Slowly, he began to sense the aura of an absolute ruler. It became clearer with each passing moment. His mind drifted into memories of the ruler, who stood amidst his enemies, wielding a majestic sword ablaze with flames. With a single slash, he sent a blazing wave that incinerated his foes, while in his other hand, a towering kite shield radiated power. The shield became the core of a massive flaming ward, protecting his kingdom from invaders.

"Flame of Sacred Order."

Auron awoke abruptly, the memory of the scene vivid in his mind. The afternoon sun was already high in the sky.

"That was incredible. The interpretation of the Order rune is astonishing. I wonder if that ruler was real, or just a figment of the rune's memory?" Auron whispered to himself, still in awe.

Later that evening, Auron made his way upstream to a secluded spot, ensuring no one would disturb him. He sat on a large rock, his breathing calm and steady.

"Xiao Yu, keep an eye on me and the surroundings," Auron instructed, beginning the process of carving the Flame of Sacred Order onto his middle dantian. Slowly and meticulously, the rune took shape. When it was finally complete, Auron waited, but nothing happened immediately.

"Strange... nothing's happening?" he wondered aloud. But almost as soon as he spoke, a mana vortex formed around him. His body was engulfed in flames, burning everything nearby to ashes. The Flame of Sacred Order refined his meridians and acupoints, making them stronger and more resilient.

"Good thing I removed my clothes; they would've been reduced to cinders," Auron sighed in relief. He could feel the once-berserk Primordial Fire within him calming, while his celestial aura flowed more smoothly than ever before.

"Xiao Yu, any activity around?" Auron asked.

"Nothing within a 30-meter radius. Your breakthrough was subtle this time, unlike your first," Xiao Yu reported.

The stone beneath Auron remained untouched, no signs of burns or cracks. Even the snow nearby was undisturbed.

"What a tame flame! It only strengthened my body," Auron remarked with excitement.

"Xiao Yu, scan my body," Auron requested.

- Celestial Aura Circulation: +40%

- Celestial Aura Concentration: +30%

- Emotional Stability: +25%

- Fire Affinity: +40%

- Fire Resistance: +40%

- Willpower and Determination: +25%

Special Characteristic:

- Calming Presence – The celestial aura now carries a calming effect on both the user and those nearby.

"With increased emotional stability, you'll be more level-headed in battle. Plus, your body cultivation has reached the peak of the Muscle Enhancement stage," Xiao Yu noted.

"Not bad at all. The calming effect will definitely be useful," Auron nodded.

"One more rune to carve. I hope it goes as smoothly as this one," Auron said, moving on to his next task.

Focusing on his upper dantian, Auron began the delicate process of engraving the Omniscient Fire heavenly rune. Slowly, the rune formed, evolving from simple lines into a complex, enigmatic pattern. As the final stroke was completed, a sharp, searing pain shot through Auron's body.

Clutching his head, Auron screamed in agony. The pain wasn't physical, but spiritual—his very soul was being burned by the heavenly rune. Thankfully, he was deep in the woods, far from any prying eyes.

Gradually, the pain subsided. Auron's soul had undergone a profound transformation, becoming smaller yet more condensed, radiating an ethereal glow. It now possessed an almost tangible solidity.

"My thoughts are faster, clearer... I can recall memories from my past life with ease," Auron marveled, standing up shakily.

"I suggest you move from here. Your scream might have attracted unwanted attention," Xiao Yu warned.

"Good point. Let's get out of here," Auron agreed, moving downstream to a quieter spot by the river.

"Update my status, Xiao Yu," Auron said, leaning against a tree.

- Soul Force Control: +50%

- Soul Perception: +50%

- Mental Clarity: +40%

- Fire and Soul Affinity Fusion: +30%

- Meditation Efficiency: +25%

- Resistance to Mental and Spiritual Manipulation: +30%

- Intuition and Insight: +30%

- Recovery and Spiritual Healing: +20%

- Comprehension Speed: +25%

"You've also unconsciously advanced to the third stage of soul cultivation: Soul Perception," Xiao Yu informed him.

The Soul Perception stage allowed Auron to observe the flow of his soul force throughout his body. This advancement also enhanced his ability to inspect his mana circulation with greater detail and precision.

"Wow, I thought I'd reach that stage naturally later, but this is happening sooner than expected," Auron remarked, surprised.

"Let's take it easy for now. I need to stabilize my strength before my parents notice anything," Auron thought, taking a deep breath to center himself.

After stabilizing his cultivation, Auron made his way home. The sun was already beginning to set as he returned.