Chapter 5: Contract of the Spiritual Guardian and the Divine Elemental Body
If you were given three chances… what would you do?
So far, this is my third life.
In my first life, I lived every day in pain, without a goal.
My second life was better, full of effort and unimaginable hardships, but in the end, I gained power and authority—yet even then, my ending wasn't a happy one.
And now, I live my third life.
I don't know if it will be the best...
No—I'll make it the best!
And I'll do that by walking a path I've never dared to tread before.
The Path of Nihility!
…
"You said… you've found a way to obtain a Divine Sacred Body? Do you even understand what you're saying?"
Mi Min was stunned by what she heard.
A divine body isn't something you can just acquire because you want to. That's why she was so shocked.
In this world, some people are born with bodies that grant them superior talent and power, bodies known as special physiques or spiritual bodies.
Such physiques are something you're born with, not something you acquire. They're so rare that anyone born with one is deemed a prodigy and destined for great achievements.
But for some reason, the proper techniques to utilize these bodies were lost long ago, and those born with them are now viewed as "untalented"—unfit to become sorcerers.
"I know exactly what I'm saying. The Divine Elemental Body is a special divine physique—and it's the one I intend to obtain."
The Divine Elemental Body is one of the greatest special physiques—once known as a "Spiritual Body" in the ancient times.
These physiques are ranked in terms of rarity as follows:
Special Body → Sacred Body → Divine Body
Divine Bodies are considered the only path to reaching divine cultivation realms, but obtaining one is so difficult that only one person in a hundred generations might succeed.
"I possess the means to obtain it. The Divine Elemental Body is an incomplete divine body."
The fact that it's incomplete means two things:
First, it requires other components to be completed.
Second, using it in its current form will cause harm to Sayru's soul.
As Sayru began explaining, Mi Min interrupted him.
"But… an incomplete body will harm you more than it will help! So why even bother?!"
Sayru looked around, gathered mana around his fingertip, focused it into a fine point, and began carving into the cave wall.
"While researching the secrets of the Divine War—during the time you were gone—I found clues that led me to a method of body replacement.
I adapted it into a technique of my own.
Later, by sheer coincidence, I discovered that it could help me obtain a Divine Sacred Body.
Unfortunately, the requirement for that was to have a pure soul… and my Black Mana made that impossible.
So I refined the technique. Now, it has two phases:
Phase One: Replace my current body with the incomplete Divine Elemental Body while I'm still a One-Star Sorcerer.
Phase Two: Find seven immortal components, fuse them into the Divine Elemental Body, and eventually complete it—before I surpass Ten Stars."
As he explained, Sayru drew seven elemental symbols on the wall:
Light, Darkness, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, and Lightning.
Mi Min responded:
"I see… it seems a lot happened while I was gone. So—what do you plan to do now?"
Sayru's expression shifted for a moment, but soon returned to its usual emotionless state.
"First, we need to reforge the contract between us.
I want you to become my Spiritual Guardian once again.
Gaining the Divine Elemental Body will benefit you as well—you're just one step away from evolving into a Divine Spirit, aren't you?"
"Ah… now that you mention it, I suppose I am.
But why me, specifically? Your soul is strong enough to contract with other Sacred Spirits besides me."
Sayru looked directly at her and smiled.
"Why?
Pff… Hahaha…
The reason is simple—because you're you.
You're the only one I can trust.
Even if a Divine Spirit offered herself, I'd never make the Guardian Pact unless it was with you."
As he laughed heartily, Mi Min turned red with embarrassment and tried to smack him—but couldn't.
"You idiot… if you weren't so weak right now, I'd have beat you black and blue. Hmph."
"Haha… I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Besides, even if my mana is weak, don't forget—I still have my skills."
"Are you challenging me? Want me to test that, huh?"
Sayru wisely didn't respond—he didn't want her angry right now.
"Fine, fine… I admit I'm wrong.
Let's activate the contract. Give me a fragment of your soul."
Mi Min handed over a soul fragment. Sayru combined it with a piece of his own and began drawing a Level 4 rune around it, followed by a Level 5 rune using focused mana from his fingertip.
The runes merged into an unfamiliar formation—a new kind of mark.
He recited:
"By this Spirit Contract,
I—One-Star Sorcerer,
I—Wielder of a Crimson-Golden Sacred Soul…"
Mi Min followed him, saying:
"I—Crimson Sacred Spirit,
Swear to become the Spiritual Guardian of this One-Star Sorcerer…
And protect him until death separates us."
As their words ended, the runes glowed brightly and disappeared.
Their soul fragments returned to them.
"Looks like it worked.
You can return to my Mental Sea now. I need to prepare to obtain the Divine Elemental Body."
Mi Min returned to Sayru's inner mindscape and communicated with him telepathically:
"Be careful of magical beasts.
I'm going into deep meditation now to train...
I don't know how long it'll take, so stay alert."
Sayru stepped out of the cave and replied:
"Yeah… don't worry.
It's time to gain even more power."