This was a special Ether of the Spiritual Element, full of vibrant life force, causing even his Sea of Spirit to stir restlessly.

Lisa's eyes widened even further as the mercury-like tint at the tip of her tail shone brightly.

"Go ahead, absorb as much as you can."

Lin Guang did not hesitate any longer and jumped in with Lisa.

Light and shadow shifted.

Direction and gravity seemed to keep reversing and changing until they finally stabilized.

Then, they found themselves in a wondrous space.

This place was as large as two big football fields put together, with gentle light streaming down from the ornate dome above.

The circular hall's floor was inscribed with various complex Spirit Patterns, and intricate Array pathways made of diverse metals crisscrossed it, resembling the complex branches and roots of an ancient tree evolved over millennia, stretching from the dome to the ground below.

In the very center of the space, just a few meters ahead of them, there was a small pool.

The pool looked like a warm jade-like translucent yellow, crystal clear, with liquid of the same hue, completely still, like sculpted jade stones.

Here, a certain unique process seemed to be perpetually repeating; the "roots" of the Array on the ground occasionally lit up with a brilliant sheen, then extended upward toward the dome.

As it ascended, this brilliant sheen converged increasingly, growing even brighter until, at the apex of the dome, it reached its peak brightness, transforming into a dew-like drop that fell and merged into the pool below.

The kind of Ethereal Fluctuation of Spiritual Element that Lin Guang and Lisa found wondrous beyond compare emanated from here.

Lisa squatted down, carefully observing the pool: "Wow..."

The Ethereal Fluctuation wasn't very strong, perhaps only at Tier Five, yet it carried an indescribable life force.

Even though for Lin Guang, acquiring a Tier Six Ethereal Crystal wasn't particularly difficult, merely absorbing Ether didn't equate to advancement in Level, nor did it signify reaching one's own Talent and Potential's limit—just like eating a lot doesn't mean one can grow taller quickly to reach their physiological limit.

In order to convert external nutrients into their own use, Spirit Masters and Spirit Beasts need to blend various components of potions, along with reasonable cultivation, to maximize their growth rate.

However, this pool before them...

Just absorbing it could lead to upgrading.

Lin Guang could feel the miraculous life force within.

"Let's begin," Lin Guang said to Lisa beside him.

The girl nodded, and the two of them sat cross-legged by the pool, slowly closing their eyes and entering meditation.

The next moment.

Dark-golden and pink Spiritual Power spread through the space.

The translucent yellow pool water began to be probed by the intertwined Spiritual Powers, nourishing and expanding their bodies in a gentle yet efficient manner.

As the water level in the pool gradually dropped.

Their Levels began to rapidly advance without them realizing it.

...

In the principal's office.

A silver-haired old man in a suit sat at his desk, bowing his head as he reviewed documents.

The fountain pen in his hand flowed smoothly, rapidly inscribing elegant writing, yet the bundles of documents on his desk showed no signs of decreasing.

—It was hard to say whether reviewing with a fountain pen had any real significance for him.

Perhaps it was merely a pastime... or entertainment.

He continued reviewing what seemed like an endless pile of documents until the office door was knocked.

"Qiu Xiao requests an audience."

The next moment.

A stern-faced, black-robed middle-aged man walked in.

Standing at two meters tall, his figure was lean, and his face showed no emotion, giving off an aura of impartiality without any hint of sentiment.

If a Six-Star Spirit Master were present, they would sense it.

Compared to Li Jiatu's slightly ephemeral presence, this man's True Intent and aura were noticeably more genuine, as if a strictly ordered world lay within him, ready to unfold at any time.

Undoubtedly, a Seven-Star Spirit Master with his true form present.

Another principal at the school.

Plague Division True Master, Qiu Xiao.

Li Jiatu put down the pen in his hand, looked at him, and smiled, "You've emerged from seclusion?"

The man nodded, "The [Judge's Pen] has reached Tier Seven, so I naturally came out."

"What's the plan next?"

"The situation has been unfavorable recently; the Demon Race's attacks are fierce, so I need to guard the Number Seven defense line for a while, and also wait for news from the [Return to Ruins]."

Li Jiatu nodded, showing approval, "With the arrival of the Golden Era, the [Tide] is likely also nearing, and things will start getting increasingly tumultuous."

"With you guarding there, I'll be more at ease."

Having said that, he lowered his head and continued reviewing documents.

After the brief conversation, the man named Qiu Yuan suddenly spoke, "Principal."

"The Lei family filed a protest."

Li Jiatu gave a soft "Mm," indicating for him to continue.

"Lei Qianxiao's daughter, two years ago, had a reserved slot for the Upgrade Secret Realm, which you personally breached and transferred to a student who enrolled just two months ago."

Li Jiatu didn't raise his head, "The compensation provided by the school should have reached them."

"Those two Tier Six blue thunder elemental Spiritual Materials, and the favor allowing a designated intervention from the head Miracle Master, outweigh the value of the Secret Realm slot itself."

"I have not wronged them."

Qiu Yuan nodded, did not continue this topic, and switched to another subject.