’Use Spiritual Power as a pen to brand the Soul-Devouring Rune onto the ’source body offshoot’...’

Wei’en meticulously studied Basic Theories of Magic and a Detailed Explanation of Level-Zero Spells, ensuring everything would be perfect.

’Spiritual Power as a pen...’

He extended a finger, gathering his Spiritual Power, and drew the pattern of the Soul-Devouring Rune in mid-air.

His max-level knowledge of the Soul-Devouring Rune allowed him to complete the drawing with ease, taking less than a minute.

He looked at the Soul-Devouring Rune in mid-air, flickering with a faint black glow.

’That’s it?’

’That was pretty simple...’

Next, Wei’en carefully inspected the rune’s pattern, then compared it with the diagram in Basic Theories of Magic and a Detailed Explanation of Level-Zero Spells.

The result was very satisfying. The entire Soul-Devouring Rune had been drawn successfully.

In fact, some of the details he drew were even more exquisite than the pattern on the parchment.

’It seems the Wizard who wrote this parchment hadn’t studied the Soul-Devouring Rune in much depth.’

However, while the drawing process itself was simple, it consumed a great deal of Spiritual Power—nearly thirty percent of his total.

No wonder the Secret Art Mage system required a Spiritual Level of at least 30. Without sufficient Spiritual Power, any attempt would likely end in failure.

Wei’en rested for a moment to get himself into optimal condition before looking up at the meditating Xiaoxi. "Are you ready to ’merge’ with me?"

The two heads looked at him in confusion, seemingly not understanding what he was saying.

"Chadunk, Wushask."

Wei’en repeated himself in the Gonzalez language, a "cruel" smile on his face. "I’ve raised you for so long. It’s time to take back my investment."

"Rexi."

"Baba."

The two Xiaoxi glanced at each other and immediately tried to "flee" to either side, spinning, flipping, and dodging left and right...

But no matter how they fled, they could hardly get more than a meter away, as if an invisible barrier was trapping them.

"Heheheheh,"

Wei’en cackled as he grabbed one of the Xiaoxi with his Spiritual Power. "Kustan." (*Got you.*)

"Apu!!"

The Xiaoxi shrieked, trying to escape his grasp. But with no arms or legs, all its desperate struggles only resulted in a series of changing facial expressions.

"Rosiss, Fuliye." (*Don’t move. I’m starting.*)

Of course, Wei’en was just joking. The source body offshoots were split from his own source, so how could they be fused back together?

But seeing the Xiaoxi struggle so hard, Wei’en couldn’t resist the urge to experience what it felt like to be the villain.

’I have to admit, it’s pretty thrilling.’

"Luno..." (*Despair...*)

Wei’en didn’t care whether the Xiaoxi’s despair was real or fake.

After pinning it to the table, he extended his finger, gathered his Spiritual Power, and began to brand the rune on the back of its head.

The entire branding process was nothing short of perfect. Every node and every circuit was drawn with an exquisite beauty.

The other head floated in mid-air, watching his actions. "Baba?"

’Is he finally going to get rid of that eyesore?’

’This is awesome! Baba!’

Wei’en ignored their sounds, focusing on branding the Soul-Devouring Rune.

His Spiritual Power drained away rapidly, like flowing water.

He didn’t finish the first Rune Branding until he had consumed nearly forty percent of his Spiritual Power.

Immediately after, he repeated the process, holding down the second Xiaoxi and branding it with another Soul-Devouring Rune.

"Hah..."

Only after the second rune was also branded did Wei’en finally stop.

By this point, he had consumed a shocking ninety percent of his Spiritual Power. He had come dangerously close to failing the Rune Branding.

’Thank goodness I finished.’

Wei’en leaned back in his chair, looking at his masterpieces with a mixture of exhaustion and gratification.

He had finally completed the first step of the Secret Art Mage system—Rune Branding. Next, he could begin practicing Magic and wield the true power of a Wizard.

Just then, the two runes lit up simultaneously with a black glow, flashing back and forth as if in response to each other.

The branded Xiaoxi closed their eyes, their faces serene, as if they had fallen into a deep sleep.

Immediately after, a murmuring whisper echoed from the void. "Apu, Luno, Rexi, Aus..."

Hmm?

Wei’en glanced around in confusion, trying to find the source of the sound.

BOOM!

Before he could react, a boom like a clap of thunder exploded by his ears.

It was like a tidal wave swarming in from a distant, unknown land, and its roar brought with it waves of excruciating pain that assaulted his mind.

"Ahhh—"

Caught completely off guard, Wei’en clutched his head and let out a bloodcurdling scream.

"Apu, Luno..."

The murmuring whisper gradually grew louder, and the excruciating pain became even more unbearable.

It felt as if someone was tearing his very soul apart with a sickle, punishing him for his blasphemous act.

Wei’en curled up on the floor in agony, gritting his teeth to endure. The intense pain twisted his face into a savage grimace, and all he could do was let out one wretched howl after another.

Just then, the two Xiaoxi opened their eyes. Their mouths opened and closed, chanting the familiar Gonzalez phrase, "Apu, Luno, Rexi, Aus..."

After what felt like an eternity, the voice slowly faded, and the pain gradually subsided.

"I... I’m alive..."

’I felt like I almost died...’

Wei’en lay collapsed on the floor, gasping for breath. Sweat poured off him like rain, soaking the floorboards beneath him.

’Is this the backlash from branding the Soul-Devouring Rune?’

’Or is it a required ordeal?’

After lying there for a long time, he struggled to his feet, wiped the sweat from his face, and looked at the two Xiaoxi.

He saw that the Soul-Devouring Runes, originally branded on the backs of their heads, had somehow moved to their foreheads to form an intricate black pattern.

The dense, complex markings looked like a third eye. Combined with their placid expressions, it made them seem even more mysterious and inviolable.

"What the hell?"

Wei’en felt that he had established some kind of connection with the two heads. With a single thought, he pointed at the head on the left and commanded, "Fly up."

Just as he commanded, the head shot into the air, passing right through the roof to hover beneath the red moon.

Strangely, the scene from outside appeared in Wei’en’s own vision; he too could see the giant red moon hanging high in the night sky.

"Get back here!"

The head immediately returned and looked at him quizzically, as if to ask, ’Was that right?’

Wei’en understood. This must be what the parchment referred to as the sources being connected.

’So that’s how it works—’

The Soul-Devouring Rune strengthens the connection with the "source body offshoots," turning them into extensions of one’s own body.

Or, to put it another way, the source body offshoots were now a part of his very soul.

This way, he could completely control the "source body offshoots" to do anything he desired.

Combined with the Ghost Soul School’s unique source-strengthening system, enhanced offshoots would be able to do even more in the future.

Wei’en now completely understood the principles behind the Ghost Soul School’s Source Wizard system.

"Hahaha..."

In high spirits, his playful side emerged. He gestured animatedly, controlling the two heads, making them freeze one moment and fly up and down the next...

He discovered that he could control all of their movements, just not their facial expressions.

They were just like his own arms, moving with perfect dexterity.

After playing for a while, Wei’en stopped. Looking at the resentful and gloomy expressions on the two heads, he said with a grin, "Let’s try to get along from now on."

The two heads: "Ada." (*Get lost.*)

Wei’en: "..."

’Did these two get a little smarter after the Rune Branding?’