School Transmigration: I, Chosen as the Saint by Dragons at the Start-Chapter 148 --Two Mystic Technique

Barlo slightly adjusted his phrasing, "...are not just humans, but all beings. At the moment of their birth into this world, the essence of spirit within them is at its fullest."

He paused, ensuring his words were well understood, "But as they grow, the spiritual essence within their bodies gradually mixes with the impure airs of the world, transforming into what we call ’Spiricontam.’"

Owen, stroking his chin in thought, summarized, "’Spiricontam’ then, is a mix of spiritual essence and these impurities, a symbol of chaos, isn’t it?"

"You’re quite right," Barlo snapped his fingers and grinned broadly, "Your Highness is indeed astute. The formulation of rules demands a vast amount of energy, and this chaotic ’Spiricontam’ energy is a crucial component in the deduction of those rules. It is this very power that the deities covet."

He then fixed Owen with a serious gaze and stated emphatically, "Tell me, who do you think bears the most concentrated ’Spiricontam’ energy?"

"The mighty, naturally," Owen replied, "As you’ve said, with growth, beings accrue more of this chaotic energy within them."

"Exactly," Barlo’s smile vanished, replaced by a stern expression, "The chaotic energy we desperately avoid is, in the eyes of the gods, akin to a tonic. They require the ’Spiricontam’ energy to deduce the rules."

Owen’s face darkened as he spoke in a low tone, "So, they must design to kill the powerful, to harvest this ’Spiricontam’ energy as a supplement?"

With his hands clasped behind his back and a cold look in his eyes, Barlo responded, "This is the conclusion of my investigations. There might be discrepancies, but this is what I believe."

Owen’s heart skipped a beat, realizing that the dragons’ seclusion in Dragon Echo Valley might stem from their discovery of the gods’ hunting activities.

It was even conceivable that the Dragon Slaying Field was a divine instrument bestowed upon the Dragon Slayer organization.

The aim was clear: to harvest a substantial amount of ’Spiricontam’ energy.

Given dragons’ longevity, with each maturing into at least a master-tier being, their ’Spiricontam’ energy was as abundant as algae on a contaminated pond.

Barlo spoke in a grave tone, "Do you know one of the primary functions of the Dragon Slaying Pillar?"

"How would I know?" Owen thought to himself.

Barlo didn’t wait for an answer but continued, "One of its functions is undoubtedly to absorb ’Spiricontam’ energy."

Owen’s pupils narrowed as he took a deep breath, "So, the God of Dragons doesn’t aid the dragons but colludes with other deities, harvesting ’Spiricontam’ energy from his own kin."

Barlo was taken aback by Owen’s bold accusation and reprimanded, "Saint, watch your words!"

Owen offered a sheepish smile, "Just joking."

Shaking his head, Barlo said softly, "Your Highness, now that the Dragon Slaying Pillar is gone, I suspect the gods’ harvest of ’Spiricontam’ energy is imminent. We must take bold measures to uncover those behind this, lest our dragons and other races of the continent follow suit."

"You would be better off studying at the Grand Magus Academy; even Dragon Echo Valley might not be as safe," Barlo added.

Owen understood that in this divine game, even grandmaster-tier powerhouses were mere pawns, and sages, albeit slightly stronger pawns.

His involvement as a master-tier would be tantamount to courting death.

"Alright, I understand," he agreed promptly, recognizing the gravity of the situation.

The ward dissipated, and nothing out of the ordinary could be discerned from Owen’s expression.

Barlo reverted to his usual carefree demeanor, as if the gravity he had displayed moments before belonged to someone else entirely.

The illusionary trial came to an abrupt end.

Without a doubt, the Grand Magus Academy had emerged victorious, but the atmosphere was steeped in sorrow, leaving no one inclined to speak of the triumph.

Everyone simply went their separate ways, returning to the comforts of home. Barlo, alongside a grandmaster, soared into the skies, vanishing in a streak of light.

Owen once again boarded the flower-adorned carriage, making his way back to the Grand Magus Academy.

...

In the headmaster’s office of the Grand Magus Academy, the walls were adorned with various mystical magical paintings.

Each piece was alive with movement; the figures within greeted Owen as he entered the office.

The frames of these artworks, crafted from rare magical wood and inlaid with precious gems, sparkled with an enchanting radiance.

At the center of the office stood a massive magical desk, carved from a single ancient crystal, its surface clear and gleaming, emitting a soft blue glow.

The desk was arrayed with an assortment of delicate magical tools, including pens, ink bottles, and parchment, each item a carefully selected treasure.

Owen sat across from Kendo, leaning back in his chair without a hint of intimidation. "Headmaster, now that the championship is ours, isn’t it time for you to teach me the two arcana?" he asked, his tone devoid of any fear.

Kendo nodded slightly, his demeanor untouched by the sorrow that overshadowed the recent trials. "Would you like to choose for yourself, or shall I make the selection for you?"

Owen straightened up, intrigued.

Kendo had always been an enigmatic figure within the academy, shrouded in a mist that seemed to veil his true nature, rendering him an enigma to all.

Indeed, no one within the academy walls truly knew the extent of Kendo’s prowess.

It was known that he had been serving as the headmaster for over seventy years, and the sole instance he had demonstrated his abilities was a century ago, back when he was merely at the master-tier.

The notion that Kendo’s skills had stagnated was laughable.

Owen had always noted the respect Eldrich held for Kendo, and he harbored no doubts regarding Kendo’s discernment.

"Headmaster, would you mind assisting me in making a choice?" Owen mustered a smile, a gesture of respect and request, "Your insight is undoubtedly more profound than mine."

Kendo responded with a gentle smile, which lent him an air of benevolence, his facial wrinkles gathering like the bark of a tree: "You... well, it seems you have a decent grasp on combat-oriented forbidden techniques. What you lack are skills for self-preservation and a few more unorthodox strategies."

Owen straightened further, even adjusting his attire.

Such guidance from a sage, aimed at enhancing his practical abilities, was a rare opportunity indeed.

After a moment’s contemplation, he swept his palm across the magical surface of the table.

In a flash of light, which vanished as quickly as it appeared, two bone shards materialized on the table.

"These are two Mystic Techniques," Kendo paused for effect, "You do know what Mystic Techniques are, don’t you?"

Owen shook his head earnestly, seeking enlightenment, "Please, headmaster, enlighten me."

"Mystic Techniques are spells that can only be wielded by those at the grandmaster-tier," Kendo explained slowly, "Stepping into the grandmaster realm is marked by one’s ability to conjure a Mystic Technique. These spells are generally unique, crafted solely by their creator. Aside from the creator, no one else is privy to the nature of a grandmaster’s Mystic Technique."

"Killing skills." Whenever the conversation veered towards anything related to the grandmaster-tier, Owen felt as if he were navigating through a fog.

"It’s a simplistic view, but it’s an acceptable understanding for now," Kendo wasn’t expecting him to grasp it fully. "Once a Mystic Technique is created, some grandmasters take it upon themselves to document and preserve these techniques for future generations to learn."

He slid the two bone shards towards Owen: "These are two such Mystic Techniques."

Owen’s eyes gleamed with fervor, fixated on the bone shards, unable to look away: "Headmaster, are you sure you want to be this generous?"

Kendo chuckled lightly: "This trial, aside from our academy, the other three major academies suffered heavy losses. I’ve heard the entire account from Jonathan, and I know that if it weren’t for you, our academy would have likely faced total annihilation. Consider this your reward."

Owen eagerly grabbed the bone shards, grinning: "Then I won’t hold back."

Kendo gestured invitingly: "They were meant for you. However, these are, after all, intended for grandmaster-tier use. You might encounter some limitations, but don’t panic. Even a marginal ability to utilize them would be a significant advantage."

He began to describe the bone shards: "One of them is a Mystic Technique called ’Substitution Stratagem.’ You’ll need to prepare a Celestial Cicada Shedding. Within a radius of several meters, you can switch places with the Celestial Cicada Shedding without encountering any obstacles."

Owen’s eyes sparkled with intrigue: "Isn’t this perfect for ambushes?"

"Isn’t this akin to spatial teleportation? Could ’Substitution Stratagem’ have a connection to space magic?"

Kendo paid no heed to the darker undercurrents of thought, continuing, "The other bone shard contains the ’Doppelganger Technique’. It enables you to conjure a clone identical to yourself, possessing all your skills. You can command it, allowing it to fight autonomously if you choose. However, at your current level, the duration for which you can sustain your doppelganger is likely quite limited. Yet, wielded wisely, it too can work wonders."

"This Mystic Technique is remarkable," Owen felt a surge of joy within.

Emerging from this illusionary realm, he had come to realize something profound.

The era of the adults had changed; the days of one-on-one combat were long gone.

The trend of the times favored group confrontations; only a fool would cling to the notion of solo duels.

The relentless assault of the Skeletal Golem legions, undying and inexhaustible, had left Owen utterly drained.

Without the aid of his comrades, he would have surely fallen prey to the young spawn of the River Crossing Demon.

Seeing Owen so enamored with the techniques, Kendo shook his head and said, "You’d better head down and commence your training. These two Mystic Techniques can not only save your life but also enhance your arsenal against adversaries. Not too shabby, right?"

"Not bad at all," Owen responded, stowing the bone shards within his space ring, "There’s one more thing I wish to ask you..."

Kendo, seemingly anticipating Owen’s query, closed his eyes, his voice tinged with a hint of weariness, "Go and train. I am tired."

Owen, taken aback, knew he must respect Kendo’s kindness and could not afford to disregard his wishes.