In the darkness of the night, within the most concealed Meditation Room of the workshop, Ron sat cross-legged in the Array, surrounded by a circle of extinguished Magic Crystal Lamps.
Only two blue candles burned in front of him, their flames motionless in the windless environment.
This was the meditation environment he had specifically designed for the second stage of the "Star Eater’s Ravings," capable of isolating external disturbances to the maximum extent and enhancing the Spiritual Resonance with the "Starry Sky."
Deep breath, empty thoughts, Ron slowly closed his eyes and began tonight’s meditation practice.
The familiar Ravings soon echoed in his mind, but unlike the initial fear and resistance upon first contact, he had now learned how to coexist with it.
As the depth of Meditation increased, Ron felt his consciousness seemed to leave his body and float in the boundless Starry Sky.
Countless twinkling stars surrounded him, and in the distant darkness, some vast and ancient presence seemed to be watching him.
The feeling was both terrifying and bizarre, chilling yet irresistible.
The Ravings echoed in the sea of consciousness, while Ron used the Mind Barrier formed by the "Erosion Chapter" to combat it, guiding the flow and accumulation of Spiritual Power in the process.
[Erosion Chapter (Beginner) Experience Points +1]
Time became blurry in this state; it could have been an hour, or maybe three.
When Ron finally awoke from Meditation, he found that dawn was breaking, with the first rays of sunlight quietly spilling through the window crevices.
But more shocking was the change in his Spiritual Power — having broken through to Advanced Apprentice just about two months ago, his Spiritual Power had already reached an astonishing 4.4 points!
"This rate of growth..." Ron incredulously looked at his attributes panel: "At least several times faster than the first stage."
This was indeed not an ordinary Meditation Technique but a shortcut capable of significantly accelerating Spiritual Power growth and leading to higher realms.
"The introductory method of the Crown Meditation Technique..."
Ron lightly felt the abundant Spiritual Power within him: "Then the Crown Meditation Technique itself, how astonishing must its Effect be?"
He could understand why the dissemination of such a Meditation Technique was strictly limited.
Such rapid Spiritual Power growth, without corresponding protective means, would quickly spiral out of control due to Spiritual Contamination.
Ron took out the Time Guardian Pocket Watch, gently stroking the patterns on its surface, his heart filled with gratitude.
It was this rare antique that enabled him to safely walk this perilous path.
However, when he activated the Purification process, he found that the Energy required was more than ever before.
[Successfully reset negative state: Spiritual Contamination, Energy -10]
"The consumption increases each time..."
Ron frowned.
This meant that with further increases in Spiritual Power, the complexity and intensity of the contamination were also simultaneously growing, even possibly soon exceeding the Pocket Watch’s single purification capacity.
"Must accelerate the practice of the ’Melting Furnace Concept.’"
Ron decided that before his Spiritual Power reached the Critical Point, he must find a more fundamental solution for contamination handling.
But this issue could still be temporarily controlled, and the urgent task was to use this time to elevate Spiritual Power to the highest possible level, preparing for the trial of the Bloodline Altar.
Ron exited the Meditation Room and came to the main hall of the workshop.
Lilia had already gotten up and was preparing breakfast.
Seeing Ron, the girl smiled and greeted him, "Good morning, teacher. How was the Effect of last night’s Meditation?"
"Beyond expectations." Ron succinctly replied, taking the hot tea Lilia handed to him: "Where are Dale and Ailan?"
"Sister Ailan went to the back mountain to gather herbs, saying that some night-blooming plants need to be harvested before sunrise."
Lilia replied while busying herself, "Dale is still sleeping; yesterday’s training left her exhausted."
Ron nodded, though the growth of the Little Sea Siren was astonishing, her recovery speed of physical and Spiritual power still did not match that of an adult Sea Siren.
Adequate rest is very necessary for her.
"I’ve prepared the breakfast you like." Lilia placed a dish of appetizing food on the table:
"Do you have any special plans for today, teacher?"
"Same as usual, staying in the laboratory. You can just keep my lunch warm." Ron replied as he enjoyed his breakfast: "Some findings from the past few days are very interesting, and I’d like to do further research."
He looked sideways at the girl: "And you? What are your plans today?"
"I’m planning to organize the herbal storage, then continue practicing the Basic Magic Potion Making you taught me."
Lilia answered earnestly:
"Sister Ailan said she would bring back some fresh piyi grass, which is a key ingredient for making Enhancing Potions."
Ron nodded with satisfaction.
Her learning attitude had always been proper, with rapid progress.
"Great. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me anytime."
Ron finished the last sip of tea and headed toward the laboratory.
In the laboratory, a seemingly ordinary puppet lay quietly in a specially crafted energy isolation box.
Ron carefully took it out, placed it on the central lab table, and sensed the peculiar Energy Fluctuation emanating from the puppet.
The research over the past few weeks had given him a deeper understanding of this Abyssal Treasure.
The Stand-In Puppet could not only replicate the user’s appearance and basic abilities but also acquire additional Traits and strengths by absorbing Abyssal biological tissues.
The initial discovery was purely coincidental.
During a routine energy test, the Stand-In Puppet was placed next to a Scorpion tissue sample.