Chapter 125: Dual Casting (Bonus Chapter with Rewards)

When Chu Yunfei returned to Blackstone City, many of those who had fled upon hearing of the death of the Earth Devourer had come back. However, due to the king’s illness, the city’s defenses had become even more stringent, surpassing all previous measures.

Chu Yunfei was unaware that the king was on the verge of death. Even if he had known, it was of no concern to him; whoever ascended the throne would not affect him in the slightest. His foremost concern now was advancing his own rank.

Ignoring the city guards below, Chu Yunfei flew straight into the city and headed back to his residence.

His spiritual energy was nearly depleted, leaving him with a deep sense of insecurity. Upon returning home, he began meditating to restore his vigor.

Several hours passed before his spiritual energy was fully replenished.

Though Chu Yunfei’s meditation skill was advanced, his spiritual energy cap had increased significantly, so it still took a considerable amount of time to fill it completely.

“The experience is almost enough to level up three times. As expected, farming bosses is the fastest way to level up.”

Profession: Traveling Mage, Level 13 (387/2400)
Experience: 8,050 points

Chu Yunfei transferred his universal experience points into his profession experience to level up at once. A series of notifications appeared in succession:

[Traveling Mage profession level increased to Level 16 (937/2700)]
[Health +17]
[Spiritual Energy +36]
[Skill Points +75]
[Upon reaching profession level 14 as a Traveling Mage, you will randomly acquire skills from a corresponding level of the multiverse]
[Acquired 2nd-level spell: “Summon Familiar”]

**Summon Familiar**
Rank: 2nd-level Ritual
Casting Time: 5 actions
Range: 1 kilometer, consumes 1 spiritual energy per kilometer
Components: Incantation, gestures, material (target’s hair, scales, or blood)
Duration: Instantaneous

Spell Effect: Summons a familiar with whom you have a contract and mental link. The farther the summon distance, the more spiritual energy consumed.
Spell Notes: Maximum range does not exceed Intelligence + profession level.

This spell was quite useful. Although it consumed a fair amount of spiritual energy, it allowed Chu Yunfei to conveniently orchestrate his deployments and maneuvers.

[Acquired 2nd-level spell: “Elemental Spear”]

**Elemental Spear**
Rank: 2nd-level Conjuration
Casting Time: 3 actions
Range: 30 meters
Components: Incantation, gestures
Duration: Instantaneous

Spell Effect: Creates an elemental spear to attack, dealing 12 to 18 base damage. Different elemental attributes confer different elemental effects.
Spell Notes: For every additional doubling of spiritual energy spent, the casting process can be skipped to quickly replicate one elemental spear. Maximum number of replicas, X = Intelligence × 10%.

Chu Yunfei was somewhat surprised by the second spell. He had expected a 1st-level spell, but both spells he received upon leveling to 2nd rank were 2nd-level.

Elemental Spear had respectable attack power and could be adapted with different elements to suit various combat scenarios, making it extremely practical. Even more remarkably, by investing more spiritual energy, he could effortlessly replicate spears of equal power. For someone like Chu Yunfei, whose spiritual energy pool was exceptionally large, this spell was tailor-made.

Spiritual energy consumption for spells was as follows: 0th-level spells cost a minimum of 1 point, 1st-level spells 3 points, 2nd-level spells 10 points, and 3rd-level spells 20 points. Chu Yunfei could easily cast twenty consecutive 2nd-level spells, especially when combined with the life-conversion blessings from his camp.

At this thought, Chu Yunfei’s gaze shifted to the camp’s blessings.

[Upon reaching profession level 15, acquired the “Dual Casting” growth blessing! Hold fast to your beliefs, towards the stars and the abyss!]
[Acquired camp blessing “Dual Casting”: There is a chance to trigger elemental resonance and cast the spell twice. Current chance: X, where X = (Intelligence + Perception) × 0.1%, cooldown 1 second.]
[Upon reaching profession level 16, gained 3 free attribute points.]
[Kind reminder: Reaching level 17 will grant a random spell reward.]

Chu Yunfei allocated all his attribute points to Intelligence, boosting his spiritual energy to an astonishing 235 points.

This camp blessing was special. Unlike previous blessings allowing only one use per day, Dual Casting now triggered probabilistically.

With Intelligence at 33 and Perception at 17, he had a 5% chance each time to cast the spell twice. Though it seemed modest, this ability was growth-oriented and would become more powerful over time.

Regarding skill points, Chu Yunfei spent 15 + 16 + 17 + 18 points to raise his Meditation skill from level 15 to 19, keeping 9 points in reserve.

With this, he could recover 19 + 23.5 = 42.5 points of spiritual energy per hour, meaning a full restoration took 5.5 hours of meditation.

“Ordinary meditation techniques are a bit too basic. I need to find an opportunity to learn more advanced meditation,” Chu Yunfei thought. He recalled that the Mage Guild only allowed 3rd-level mages to study advanced meditation.

This restriction mainly existed because insufficient spiritual energy made mastering such meditation difficult, but Chu Yunfei found it manageable.

The 3rd-level mage assessment was more rigorous than the 2nd-level. Candidates needed to master two 3rd-level spells and five 2nd-level spells before being considered.

Chu Yunfei’s Fire Element Summoning was unique and could be downgraded to 3rd-level spell use. His Mirror Replication ability could duplicate another 3rd-level spell for him.

Of the required five 2nd-level spells, the creation of undead creatures was unsuitable for evaluation. However, his Mirror Replication could duplicate up to two spells; as long as he copied one more 2nd-level spell, he would meet the basic criteria to qualify as a 3rd-level mage.

Beyond meeting the basic requirements, becoming a 3rd-level mage was more complicated. Three 3rd-level mages and the 4th-level Guild Master Nelson had to be present for a practical combat evaluation.

Only by passing this trial could one gain true recognition.

The evaluation was not solely combat-focused; for research-based alchemists, producing alchemical products could substitute as the practical test.

The status, authority, and subsidies for 3rd-level mages were several times greater than for 2nd-level mages. If he could complete the evaluation, there was no reason not to pursue it.

Driven by his characteristic decisiveness, Chu Yunfei, having familiarized himself with his current spells, visited the Guild’s front desk before closing to inquire about the evaluation process.

“Lord Chu Yunfei, the 3rd-level mage evaluation requires submitting an application and paying a 1,000 gold coin evaluation fee. The exact assessment time will be set by the Guild Master and usually will not exceed seven days.”

A thousand gold coins was reasonable, considering that it summoned one 4th-level mage and three 3rd-level mages, already a discounted rate within the Guild. For non-members, the fee would at least double.

Chu Yunfei was not short on money. He had sold a hundred glass lilies, earning 500 gold coins each.

After paying ten platinum coins, Chu Yunfei headed toward the Star Tree Café. He wanted to check on the little girl’s health and also to consult with the four-leaf clover brigade leader about customizing some magical equipment.

———End of side note———

Thanks to the readers: Wolf Howl, He Guang and Tong Chen, Lucifer of the Seven Deadly Sins Pride, Sunshine on the Strawberry Tree, Bookmark Black, Your Silly Online Friend Duck, Cage Longlong, and Octopus Eating Dried Squid... for their generous support. This chapter was an extra update thanks to a cumulative 10,000-point reward from readers. (Self-purchases not included)