Chapter 309: Re‑shaping Ritual

Aobulaien's tendrils curled into a Star Realm sigil amid the mana fluctuations, while the brain specimens surrounding them suddenly burst one after another, and pale wisps drifted slowly between the two.

"It's a key. The elder Mind Flayer's gray‑purple skin glowed with the phosphorescence unique to its nerve bundles; this is the physiological trait of a soul‑sucking monster when it strains to suppress emotion."

The mana stone slab can grant its holder the power to rewrite the Sea of Thought. Aobulaien's iris suddenly contracted into a vertical line, twelve nerve cords simultaneously pierced the ground crystal cluster, and through mana resonance transmitted the message: "When the primary brain is reborn, the entire Aolingduoer mana network will become the furnace for forging the King's crown."

"We call it— the Re‑shaping Ritual."

"Through the stone slab's inherent special mana ceremony, after the primary brain is reborn it can swiftly use the slab's power to turn a Mind Flayer into a 21‑level King Mind Flayer, thereby protecting the fragile newborn primary brain."

"The superior primary brain did not activate the slab's ceremony before being seized by the Drow, because the clan had nominated me as the evolutionary candidate for King Mind Flayer, but I was away on business at the time, delaying the ceremony."

"When I returned, the primary brain had already been taken," Aobulaien said expressionlessly.

"So?" Naimi Xisi interrupted impatiently, "Do those Drow actually intend to create a Legendary Level King Mind Flayer? Those Matron Mothers can control a 20‑level primary brain, but that doesn't mean they can control a 21‑level King Mind Flayer."

"They have no such intention," Aobulaien denied.

"The mana ceremony within the mana stone slab can not only create a King Mind Flayer, it can also imbue other races with this power, albeit with some attenuation."

"The immense power contained in the mana stone slab can allow anyone to instantly become a 20‑level Psychic Sorcerer," Aobulaien said word for word.

The star‑map device on the cavern ceiling suddenly spun wildly, and the galaxy projected by Aobulaien collapsed on the wall into twenty‑one concentric circles. Naimi Xisi chuckled at the ripple symbolizing the Legendary threshold: "So that's it. The followers of Luosi aren't trying to forge weapons; they intend to use the slab as a stepping stone to ascend to divine servitude."

If they obtain this slab, they can not only open the path of mana cultivation, but also instantly become a 20‑level Psychic Sorcerer just one step shy of Legendary.

Although the Matron Mothers of the top three families in Menzoberranzan are already Legendary‑level powerhouses, the significance of this power should not be underestimated.

For strong individuals of the same tier, a side‑job means more varied tactics and stronger attributes.

Even among two 21‑level priests, if one also doubles as a 20‑level (or even 21‑level) Psychic Sorcerer, it will clearly crush the other.

Especially since a Psychic Sorcerer does not share Spell Slots like a Warlock‑Mage hybrid; the Psychic Sorcerer's independent casting resource (mana points) constitutes a second mana pool, making this slab an undeniable lure for spellcasting professions.

A treasure that can instantly make someone a 20‑level powerhouse, even if it lies on the ground, will become an object that countless adventurers sharpen their minds to fight over.

Naimi Xisi, having figured this out, let out a cold snort. He had already seen through these Mind Flayers' scheming: they merely intend to treat replicable mana knowledge as payment and silently conceal a one‑time mana‑enhancement ceremony.

But now that he knows, there is no reason to let the juicy meat slip away.

Although he is not a Mind Flayer, he is more than willing to boost his own mana once to the 20‑level mark.

If it can be carried out before breaking through the Mature Dragon stage, then...

The next time he awakens from slumber, his Psychic Sorcerer career will first break the Legendary threshold, jumping straight to 22 levels!

Under normal circumstances, this is impossible. Even a Golden Dragon cannot meet the condition for a spellcasting practitioner to become Legendary—mastering a Legendary‑level spell.

The same applies to Psychic Sorcerers; if Naimi Xisi cannot comprehend a Legendary ability, he cannot surpass 20 levels.

However, do not forget that although Naimi Xisi's race is Juan Ce Long, an anomaly that occurred when he first took the Psychic Sorcerer post turned him into a Juan Ce Long variant.

He not only possesses the Juan Ce Long bloodline but also the abilities of a Psychic Dragon.

Unlike Juan Ce Longs, who are born with mastery of the Prophecy and Spellcraft factions, the Psychic Dragon endows Naimi Xisi with innate command of all Psychic Teleportation and Psychic Enchantment abilities. In other words, even if Naimi Xisi has not yet mastered any Legendary ability and thus does not meet the criteria for a Legendary Psychic Sorcerer, when he reaches 22 levels he will naturally acquire the Legendary abilities of those two factions, propelling him to become a true Legendary Psychic Sorcerer and breaking the 20‑level ceiling!

That is the left‑foot‑on‑right‑foot, spiral ascent!

It sounds absurd, but it is indeed feasible. Juan Ce Longs become born Legendary spellcasters precisely by this method.

Why can other great dragons, even when they slumber to the Ancient Dragon Stage, not naturally break through to the Legendary spellcaster tier?

Because they have not satisfied the condition for a Legendary spellcaster—namely, mastering a Legendary spell.

"The Secret Path" is such a special existence.

Unlike the step‑by‑step "Legendary Path," in theory a 1st‑level novice mage who can withstand the universe's most primal secret and, with a god‑like mind, devise a Legendary spell, can instantly break through to 21 levels, becoming a 21‑level Legendary mage.

For spellcasters, level is never the cause of advancement. On the contrary, a spellcaster's rise in level is the fruit of acquiring secret knowledge.

Of course, under normal circumstances mortal races in the Multiverse can never achieve such a massive breakthrough across limits, because the Magic Net's information volume at each level differs from the previous level by a huge chasm.

Breaking from Ring 1 to Ring 2 is a natural progression, but breaking from Ring 1 to Ring 3 imposes an extremely terrifying pressure.

For flesh‑bound mortals this is unrealistic, so spellcasters appear to follow the same step‑by‑step ascent to Legend as warriors on the "Legendary Path".

!

The peculiarity of Juan Ce Longs is that they are born favorites of the Magic Net, which, like a steward, unlocks for them all knowledge of the Spellcraft and Prophecy factions.

However, this knowledge is tiered; to prevent a Young Dragon from having its brain ruptured by overly advanced magic, as the bloodline matures the Magic Net continuously unveils the next layer of magical power hidden within the Juan Ce Long's lineage.

Thus Juan Ce Longs can naturally become Legendary spellcasters at the Extreme Elder Dragon Stage. It is merely the Magic Net unlocking the shackles on the power they already contained.

According to the original expectation, Naimi Xisi thought his Spellcraft Guardian profession would reach the Legendary realm first.

If he could obtain the true power contained within this slab,

At that thought, Naimi Xisi smiled and said, "I can shelter you, even help you hunt Monsters to nurture a new primary brain."

Aobulaien waited silently for the other's proposal, yet he was well aware that the temptation of the mana stone slab is something no one can refuse.

"However, as a condition of exchange, I require the full power of the mana stone slab," Naimi Xisi said in an uncompromising tone.

Aobulaien, as if foreseeing this, said, "Without the protection of the King Mind Flayer, even if we recreate the primary brain, we will repeat the same mistake."

"Unless..." Aobulaien had not finished when Naimi Xisi interrupted, "I will shelter you until your primary brain breaks through to 21 levels."

"The premise is that you must not arbitrarily kill my Dependents, nor cause unrest in my territory on the surface."

The juvenile primary brain in the giant brain‑pool incubator suddenly opened three thousand compound eyes, each pupil reflecting the draconic rune that appeared on the Juan Ce Long's forehead. Naimi Xisi's mana pressure materialized into silver chains, binding Aobulaien tightly.

Aobulaien sighed; if there were a choice, who would not wish to keep power in their own hands?

But they have no choice, great primary brain.

"I agree, mighty Juan Ce Long," the elder Mind Flayer's telepathic transmission quivered with bitterness.

(End of Chapter)