The familiar yet alien vision appeared once again, an endless void among the stars, and that terrifying, devourer-like presence.
But unlike before, this time Robb didn't panic. He observed the scene with a near-detached calm.
That indescribably massive being was devouring one star after another. With each one consumed into that bottomless abyss, it felt as though the universe let out a cry of pain.
For a beginner, this vision would be enough to shatter the mind. But after a month of grinding and adaptation, Robb could now remain composed.
[Mental State: Unstable]
[Potential Mental Contamination Detected]
Thanks to dozens of meditation sessions and the experience gained from his last inspiration burst, Robb had developed a personal method for dealing with mental contamination.
Much like muscle training, the right amount of strain could stimulate greater mental growth.
From within the void, the All-Devourer appeared again. A wave of indescribable terror washed over him, as though his very soul was being corroded by the cold, infinite darkness.
This fear didn't stem from death or pain, but from something deeper, an existential dread at the very essence of the universe's "truth."
Robb felt his consciousness being torn apart by the being's gaze, like a sheet of paper in a violent wind.
It was the most intense mental impact he had ever experienced, far beyond anything in past meditations.
"Mental rhythm... I have to find the mental rhythm..." he repeated over and over in his mind, like clutching a lifeline in the middle of a storm.
But this time, thanks to the solid mental foundation built over the past month, and being right at the 2.9 threshold, he was in a far better position than before.
As his mind achieved a subtle balance, a surge of insight rushed in.
The once-obscure portions of The Whispers of the Star-Eater suddenly became crystal clear.
The mechanics of stellar motion, the flow of cosmic energy, even some more esoteric dimensional concepts, all revealed themselves to him in an almost instinctive way.
When he synchronized his consciousness to that rhythm, the external pressure became noticeably more bearable.
The sensation of being torn apart slowly faded, replaced by a strange sense of resonance.
"So that's it... The essence of this meditation technique isn't about controlling mental power, but guiding it to flow in harmony with the primordial rhythms of the starspace..."
This burst of inspiration lasted around ten minutes. When Robb's awareness returned to the real world, he was drenched in cold sweat, his clothes clinging to his skin, but his mind felt remarkably clear.
Even better, a surge of unprecedented mental energy was now flooding his entire being, like a dam bursting wide open.
It was the tipping point, the final push triggered by this breakthrough of inspiration, and the result of an entire month of accumulation.
[Significant Mental Power Increase!]
[Spirit: 2.9 → 3.0]
[Mana: 0.7 → 1.0]
"I did it!" Robb whispered, quickly calming himself and focusing inward.
With his spirit stat at 3.0, he had officially stepped into the realm of intermediate apprentices.
He could now sense the surrounding magical energy with far greater sensitivity, even detecting the faintest fluctuations in the air.
More importantly, his spiritforce was no longer just passive, he could now actively extend it, forming what felt like "mental tendrils" to probe his surroundings.
But what mattered most to Robb was that he had achieved this without external tools, he had overcome the mutation-like effects of inspiration through sheer will and skill.
This proved that even without the Timewarden pocket watch, he now had the strength to face higher-tier mental challenges on his own.
"Lady Elena was right, inspiration is a curse, but also an opportunity. What matters is how you deal with this double-edged sword."
[Warning: Minor Mental Contamination Detected]
He reached for the silver pocket watch beside his bed and focused his consciousness into it to cleanse the abnormal state.
The black gem on the watch immediately lit up, absorbing the negative effects from his body.
[Status Reset Successful: Minor Mental Contamination Cleansed – Energy -2]
As the watch cleansed the contamination, Robb felt his head clear. The pollution was milder than the first time, but since it could be completely removed, there was no reason to hesitate.
[The Whispers of the Star-Eater EXP +10]
[Progress: The Whispers of the Star-Eater (Skilled 128/300)]
Despite the notable progress, Robb knew this gem-tier meditation technique was still less than halfway complete.
To reach the "completion of the first stage," as Lady Elena had described, there was still a long journey ahead.
And reaching that stage would mark his transition to an advanced apprentice, ready to break through to the official sorcerer level at any time.
A breeze drifted through the window, whisking away some of the sweat on his body and snapping him out of his thoughts.
It was time to head to the herb shop.
Packing up the items he needed to bring, Robb glanced around his modest dorm room, where he had lived for nearly a year.
He looked at the narrow wooden bed and the rickety desk, and a surge of complex emotion rose in his chest.
This place had witnessed his confusion and fear when he first arrived, and had also stood witness to every step he took on the path to power.
But with his current strength, this room was no longer suitable for him.
The poor conditions were one thing, but commuting between the market, school facilities, and other errands took up too much of his time. None of it could keep up with his current pace.
More importantly, as his power grew, he was becoming more and more aware that this dorm zone was becoming a security risk.
Lately, more and more people had been trying to get close to him, some with obviously ill intentions.
He could handle most trouble for now, but constantly being on guard in a vulnerable location was mentally draining.
"This place was never meant to be permanent..."