Earth's Greatest Magus
chapter-2242

Magus Academy, Plant Origin Stone Room

Within the mystical room, a challenging journey of 1000 steps awaited any who dared to approach its innermost sanctum. Only a handful number of acolytes had managed to reach the heart of the room, where the stones pulsed with the most power. Most students, particularly second and third years, struggled to advance more than 800 steps before the intensity forced them to retreat.

In recent days, a silver-haired first-year student had begun to make waves throughout the academy. Shinta Ouroboros was a name now murmured in every corner.

Her return to the academy six weeks ago had ignited a firestorm of gossip and speculation. The buzz was not just about her remarkable abilities but also about her mixed bloodline and the scandalous circumstances that accompanied it.

Whispers painted her as a tragic figure, a princess whose pure bloodline had been irrevocably tainted by a series of cruel experiments. The narrative that emerged was one of suffering and betrayal—of a noble lineage marred by the circumstances of her birth. Although many of the details circulated were exaggerated or outright false, the core truths lingered uncomfortably in Shinta's mind. Determined to shake off the weight of the gossip, Shinta resolved to focus on her training instead.

Ever since her father had introduced Khao's power, Shinta had felt a surge of dark affinity coursing through her veins, amplifying her spirit core exponentially. This sudden surge in power required meticulous balance and control, prompting Shinta to invest heavily in her training.

She took full advantage of the two months of allocated training time by the top halls, using every minute to its fullest. Additionally, she utilized the contribution points she earned from achieving a silver ranking in the tournament,

Shinta had dedicated an exhausting 130 hours to her training within the Plant Origin Stone Room. Unfortunatly, despite her relentless efforts, she had been unable to form a new pillar. Instead, there was an unusual development accompanying her efforts. Alongside her growing power of darkness, she had detected a strange, elusive energy hovering outside her spirit core.

This mysterious force had made its presence known when she successfully formed her last pillar of darkness. Since then, it seemed to siphon a portion of the spirit energy she had been channeling, an unsettling phenomenon that had left her both intrigued and concerned.

As Shinta was deep in concentration, one of the academy staff approached.

"Girl, your time is up… also, it's not good to force it all like this. Get some rest,"

Shinta reluctantly acknowledged the interruption. With a sigh, she began to walk out of the room and check her progress. [Shinta Ouroboros]

[Battle Power: 138]

[Spirit Force: 799 (810)]

[Plant Spirit - 2 pillars]

[Darkness Spirit - 3 pillars]

[Acolyte Rank: 9 - middle stage - 5 pillar formed]

Shinta's progress was both disheartening and perplexing. Her spirit force had increased by only 11 points, a figure that seemed disproportionately low given her effort. Commonly, reaching 800 spirit force should have been sufficient to create the sixth pillar of darkness. Yet, despite her dedication, the pillar remained elusive, and the strange energy she had sensed continued to linger, complicating her efforts.

As Shinta walked through the academy's corridors, she couldn't help but draw a parallel between her own struggles and her father's cultivation difficulties. She took a deep sigh, as she realized her cultivation journey might mirror the turbulent path her father had walked.

"It's his fault... He needs to take responsibility!!" The thought slipped through her mind like a spark. Yet, every time she considered reaching out to him, hesitation crept in. Shinta was acutely aware of her father's demanding schedule. The recent situation involving Golden City had kept him occupied, a topic she had gleaned from casual conversations with his girlfriend.

Though it appeared that matters had settled down, she sensed that much work still lay ahead, and she didn't want to add to his burdens.

Moreover, she wrestled with her pride. She didn't want to be the girl who always ran to her father with her problems, seeking his intervention at every turn. She felt a pressing need to tackle her challenges on her own, without relying on his influence. As she reflected on her predicament, Shinta acknowledged a glimmer of insight: balancing her energy with the plant element had indeed helped alleviate some of the struggles. While she waited for her father's return, she resolved to find additional training hours and accumulate more contribution points.

Shinta decided to take the water crane and fly back to Hall 9, where she hoped to earn some additional contribution points. Arriving at the left-wing building of Hall 9, she anticipated a lively and competitive environment. However, she found that none of the acolytes dared to challenge her. The last duels had resulted in significant point losses for them, and they had resigned themselves to avoiding confrontation with her altogether.

"I need more points!" Her friends, like Nimbus, the tiger girl, or Kehinde and the wolf groups, were more than willing to offer her some of their contribution points. However, Shinta was aware that their resources were limited. The gesture was appreciated, but it didn't fully address her needs.

As she was considering her options, Nimbus approached her with a hint of hesitation. "Sister Shinta," she began, her voice tinged with uncertainty, "is it true you are planning to move into your father's hall?"

The question hung in the air, drawing the attention of the six-wolf half-bloods who had been nearby. They appeared to be genuinely interested in Shinta's response, their curiosity a mixture of concern and anticipation. Shinta felt a pang of discomfort at the question. Not only had the headmaster remained tight-lipped about the matter, but Shinta herself was also conflicted. The brief moments Shinta had spent with her father were exciting and fun, but the prospect of being under his watchful eye all the time was daunting. She valued her independence and the ability to forge her own path without the constant scrutiny of her lineage.

The weight of her decision lingered in her mind, especially with less than four months left until the end of the academic year. She knew that the hours she could accrue in the Origin Stone Room would be invaluable for her training and growth.

As she looked at her friends, still waiting for a definitive answer, Shinta felt a twinge of guilt. "Well, most likely next year… we'll see," she replied, hoping her noncommittal answer would satisfy them for the time being. The group exchanged glances, concern etched on their faces as they began to discuss the merits of her staying with them, urging her to reconsider. However, feeling overwhelmed by the conversation, Shinta quickly retreated to the Right Wing building.

With her rapid advancement, Shinta had earned a spot among the top 20 half-blood geniuses. However, unlike the more approachable left-wing acolytes, the Right Wing elites were far less susceptible to trickery. They would accept her challenges, but none were willing to gamble their precious contribution points, reflecting the high stakes of their position.

Amidst this competitive atmosphere, one of the top contenders stepped forward—Rajh of the tiger bloodline. Rajh was a standout figure and his reputation as the strongest of the first-year half-bloods was well-earned. Rajh had made his intentions clear from the start: he aimed to dominate the hall and had even dared to challenge Shiriyu, the strongest half-blood acolyte in the entire academy.

Despite repeated setbacks, including a notable defeat by the dragon half-blood, Rajh remained undeterred. His tenacity and relentless drive had earned him the seventh position in the rankings.

"Fight me," Rajh declared, his tone serious and commanding. Shinta looked at him and sighed inwardly. She had been hoping to face either Rurik the Pyro Bison or Tobiao of the raven bloodline—both of whom she felt she could engage with more strategically. Rajh, however, was different. His arrogance and disdain had been evident as he had previously dismissed Shinta as a worthy opponent. It was only now, after Shinta's updated status as a Mythical Rank 8 mixed bloodline, that he seemed to take notice.

"Do you dare to fight me?!" Rajh pressed his challenge echoing in the training arena.

Shinta, her demeanor calm and collected, responded with a cheeky smile.

"Depends… well... how many points do you have right now?"