5 Chapter 5: Xiaoyi

Spirit Sea, the sea of spirituality.

"All things flow with spirituality, not just a person, a flying bird, even a piece of stone, a drop of water; all leave traces of spirituality. However, this spirituality could be seen and felt, but it could not be touched, traced, or estimated… Opening the Sea of Spirit signifies embarking on an extraordinary journey."

The book <<Unlocking Spiritual Magic>>, authored by an unknown person, is the best-selling book in the Seven Pagoda Federation.

Perhaps this is due to its lack of copyright fees.

However, the exposition of the spiritual magic system in the book has indeed gained recognition from many Arcane Mages, making it an enlightening book suitable for newcomers to clarify their understanding.

"It really is like an ocean, and these countless stars should be the manifestations of all things' spirituality." Duke, in his cognitive form, roamed within the Sea of Spirit, instantly comprehending the knowledge he gained from the book. "The Sea of Spirit is where a person's spirituality gathers, but at the same time, it is also the sea where all things' spirituality is projected. The next step is to guide the spirituality and condense the spiritual core."

The spiritual core is the center of the Sea of Spirit, outlined by spirituality into an energy circuit. Once this energy circuit can close into a circular structure.

Then.

He can ascend to the rank of a 1-ring Arcane Mage.

If the energy circuit cannot be closed, then one will remain at the level of a spiritual apprentice throughout their life. For example, the owner of Little Sam's card repair shop and the three hired card repairers are all spiritual apprentices.

"But I should be different!"

Duke looked at the two dazzling clusters of light hanging high in the center of the Sea of Spirit, his mind excited and active. "In my Sea of Spirit, I already have two spiritual cores, a multi-ring cellphone and a 1-ring handgun. Does this mean I have become a qualified Arcane Mage?"

Duke was unfamiliar with the spiritual magic system, so he didn't dare to be certain.

However, this didn't stop him from reaching out and touching the first-tier pistol. In the dreams of the past two nights, the handgun had shown no response, but now he felt the genuine sensation of gripping it.

It was a strange and mysterious feeling, almost inexplicable.

In an instant.

He had broken free from the Sea of Spirit, returning to reality. He sat cross-legged, but unlike before, he was now holding a silver-grey handgun in his hand.

A Desert Eagle with a silver-grey barrel and a black handle.

"Indeed, when I crossed over, I really brought this Desert Eagle with me!" Holding the handgun, feeling its weight, Duke's inner excitement was beyond words.

He had successfully opened the Sea of Spirit and activated the 'cheat code'.

Being in a different world, he finally felt a hint of security.

"However, what kind of existence is this Desert Eagle exactly?" Duke suppressed his excitement and began studying the Desert Eagle in his hand. "My crossing could be explained as a soul transference, but what about this Desert Eagle? What about my cellphone? Could it be that they fused with me during that explosion and became my exclusive arcane artifacts?"

Arcane artifacts, created through arcane magic.

Spirit artifacts, products of spirituality.

These are two different concepts. Spirit artifacts are common electrical devices, while arcane artifacts are mystical items exclusive to arcane mages, possessing enigmatic and unpredictable power that only arcane mages can wield.

"If I were to fire now, what effect would it have? Would it shoot a bullet just like a real gun, or would it have a more magical effect?" 

Duke resisted the urge to fire the gun. The sound of the Desert Eagle's gunshot would attract a crowd, and he had a strong feeling that he couldn't even pull the trigger.

"Just give it a try... just try..."

Duke slowly pulled the trigger, carefully adding pressure.

As expected, the sensation became real. Even with all his strength, he couldn't pull the trigger of the Desert Eagle. He couldn't even open the magazine, as if it were a gun made of steel.

"Why?" A flash of insight lit up in Duke's mind. "Could it be that it requires spiritual energy to operate?"

After opening the Sea of Spirit, Duke already had the innate talent to manipulate spiritual energy, although he hadn't formally studied it and didn't know how to control it.

However, the book <<Unlocking Spiritual Magic>> had mentioned several times that spirituality would guide you.

With his eyes slightly closed, Duke held the Desert Eagle in both hands, aiming at the sky outside the window, clearing his mind of distractions and focusing only on the pure thought of firing the gun.

At this moment.

He felt a surge of energy gathering in his hands. The trigger, which had been impossible to pull before, gradually loosened.

Before he could pull it, a wave of fatigue swept over him. The Desert Eagle in his hand shattered into a sparkling light and quickly disappeared without a trace.

"This..." Duke blinked his somewhat heavy eyelids, quickly realizing what had happened. He gave a helpless smile. "My spirituality is too weak. I can't control an arcane artifact at all."

He took a deep breath to adjust his emotions.

Once again, he closed his eyes. This time, there was no need for meditation. His thoughts quickly entered the Sea of Spirit.

As expected, the Desert Eagle handgun had returned to the Spirit Sea. The light on the energy circuit was somewhat dim, indicating that its materialization in reality had consumed a significant amount of energy.

"The Desert Eagle is just a 1-ring arcane artifact, and I can't even use it."

He shifted his gaze to the more dazzling multi-ring cellphone beside him. "This cellphone, I have no idea how many rings of arcane artifact it is. I'm afraid I can't even materialize it."

However, despite his reservations, he still had to try.

As he reached out to touch the multi-ring cellphone, he didn't detach from the Sea of Spirit but suddenly received a wave of thought fluctuation from the multi-ring cellphone: "Xiaoyi at your service."

"Hiss!"

Duke's mind trembled.

He thought it was just the cellphone that had come over, but he didn't expect that even the AI voice assistant Xiaoyi had also crossed over: "Xiaoyi, do you know your current situation?"

Xiaoyi responded, "According to the available information, Xiaoyi has followed you through the crossing and is currently located in the Seven Pagoda Federation, Black Serpent Territory, Chenjiao City, in the town of the Black Serpent Family. You have successfully opened your Sea of Spirit and activated me, as well as the Desert Eagle handgun beside you."

Xiaoyi's language logic was very smooth. Before the crossing, ChatGPT technology was trending globally, and AI of all sizes had integrated ChatGPT technology.

"Can you know about the outside world?"

"Xiaoyi is structured within the host's Sea of Spirit. Anything the host perceives is the source of Xiaoyi's information."

"Then, what tier of arcane artifact are you?"

"If one tier is the closure of one energy circuit, and Xiaoyi has nine non-intersecting energy circuits, then Xiaoyi is a 9-ring arcane artifact."

"Nine rings!"

Duke had never heard of such a thing. In his previous memory, there was no concept of nine rings. He only knew that the high priest of the Black Serpent Family in town was only a 2-ring Arcane Mage.

"Phew!"

It took a while for his thoughts to calm down.

Duke re-evaluated the 9-ring cellphone in front of him. "Xiaoyi, we have crossed over. What exactly can you do now? How can you help me in my current situation?"

"Xiaoyi cannot manifest, and more abilities need to be unlocked as the host's strength increases." The light on the 9-ring cellphone flickered. "At present, Xiaoyi can assist the host in completing all operations within the Sea of Spirit. This is also the purpose of Xiaoyi's existence. Essentially, Xiaoyi is a part of the host, not just a simple arcane artifact."

"Can you replace me in cultivating spirituality?"

"It is necessary for the host to acquire the meditation methods for cultivation in order to verify whether Xiaoyi can replace the host in cultivating spirituality. At the same time, it is also necessary to reference the spiritual magic cultivation system to help the host condense the spiritual core and then assist in advancing."

"Aren't you my spiritual core?"

"No, Xiaoyi and the Desert Eagle handgun are both arcane artifacts attached to the host."