Chapter 51: Spiritual Relam

Su Mu was enveloped in a soft, shimmering light as she focused intently. Her breath was steady, and her face calm, yet her posture revealed a determination to surpass her current abilities. Ram observed her closely, understanding that advancing to the next level demanded unwavering concentration; even a minor slip could result in serious internal harm. Unlike himself, where he simply needed to accumulate enough experience points to level up with the help of an attribute panel.

Minutes passed, and the glow around Su Mu intensified. Ram could feel the energy in the room shifting, becoming more concentrated. He knew she was close to achieving her breakthrough. He remained silent, not wanting to disturb her.

Finally, with a soft sigh, Su Mu opened her eyes. The glow faded, but her eyes shone with a newfound power. She looked at Ram and smiled weakly. "It's done," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ram smiled back, relief washing over him. "Congratulations. How do you feel?"

"Tired but stronger," Su Mu replied. "I can feel the difference. Thank you for helping me."

Ram nodded. "You needed it. I'm just glad you're okay." He reached out and took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Now, you should rest. Although your body is healed, your mind still needs some rest."

Su Mu nodded and lay back down on the bed, closing her eyes. "You too, Ram. You need to recover your Life Energy."

Ram agreed and found a comfortable spot to rest. As he closed his eyes, in another part of the subway station, Mai returned to her workspace, her mind racing with thoughts about what she had witnessed. She couldn't shake the image of Su Mu drawing Life Energy from Ram and healing so rapidly. It was unlike anything she had ever seen.

As she sat down at her workbench, she glanced at the holographic display showing the station's surveillance feeds. She watched the footage of Su Mu's battle with the wraiths, analyzing every move. "How did she kill three wraiths so fast with just Tier 1 strength?" Mai wondered aloud. After watching the feeds, she finally understood how strong Su Mu was and guessed that her profession must be a Hero profession.

As the night wore on, the subway station remained eerily quiet. The echoes of the wraiths' screams had faded, but Ram suddenly sat up, his gaze darting around. There was no air around him, but small lights floated, shimmering with an ethereal glow and casting a soft, otherworldly light over the surroundings.

When he looked down at his hands, a sense of wonder and confusion washed over him. His hands, usually solid and tangible, now appeared as if crafted from a hazy, light-blue cloud-like substance. The effect extended to his entire body.

"What... is happening?" Ram muttered to himself, his voice carrying a blend of awe and uncertainty. He tentatively reached out, running his fingers through the surrounding energy particles. The texture was unlike anything he had ever felt before, a sensation that seemed to blur the line between tangible and intangible.

As Ram explored, the lights around him responded to his touch, shimmering in vibrant patterns as if echoing the pulse of his own energy. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was no longer confined to the physical constraints of his usual existence.

"Is this a dream? Or wait, is it my spiritual realm?" he wondered aloud, the hazy quality of his voice resonating in the emptiness around him. "Isn't it said that Professionals can only unlock their spiritual realm once they upgrade to Tier 3? Why am I able to do it with my current strength?"

Typically, professionals unlock their spiritual realms upon reaching Tier 3, while some exceptionally talented individuals may awaken this ability at the peak of Tier 2. The spiritual realm is a space where the consciousness or soul of awakeners resides, and unlike ordinary individuals, spiritual professionals or professionals with formidable mental strength can access and utilize their spiritual realms. This space serves as a reservoir for storing spiritual power or other elemental energies.

"So, are these blue and green lights representing Spiritual Power and Life Energy?" Ram pondered as he observed the small lights wandering around. He found himself able to control these lights effortlessly, experiencing an ethereal connection with them.

As he moved further, the lights began to coalesce, forming intricate patterns and symbols that hung in the air. "Could these symbols represent my skills, my abilities?" he pondered, reaching out to touch one of the luminous symbols. The moment his hand made contact, a surge of understanding flooded his senses. The symbol depicted his Seed Collection skill, its essence unfolding in a silent display of special totems.

As he moved deeper, more symbols emerged. "Rapid Growth, Plant Enhancement, Greenwood Heart Technique... they're all here," he observed, recognizing the visual manifestations of the skills he had practiced in the physical world. There was even a pattern that connected him to the Mind Shadow parasite, but it was currently dim.

In the midst of this, a peculiar symbol caught his attention. It glowed with an intensity that set it apart from the others, blinking on and off as if calling him. "Groot? Is that the symbol for my Titan Wood Sprouts?" he wondered. The symbol seemed to pulsate with Life Energy, echoing like a calling.

Ram extended his hand toward the symbol, and as he made contact, he felt a surge of connection with the essence of his Titan Wood Sprouts. "Incredible... it's like I can commune with them on a deeper level here, similar to how I connected with the Mind Shadow Parasite," he exclaimed, with a sense of newfound understanding. But it wasn't over yet; a sudden suction came from the symbol, "It feels like something is summoning me, or more like summoning Groot somewhere?" before he could process the subtle feeling, pulling his consciousness inside.

Then, he found himself in a vast expanse of a world with green plants around. But something felt different. He looked down at his own body. It wasn't just his body anymore. Somehow, he was melded with Groot! A living suit of armor covered him.

Strong, thick bark grew through the skin on his chest, hands, head, and legs, like a natural shield. It felt powerful, making him feel almost invincible. His strength seemed to have surged through the increase in his physical attribute, amplified by -- Bio Armor. He wiggled his fingers, encased in rough bark now, but they felt strong and flexible.

With Bio Armor, Ram marveled at the unique perspective he now possessed. The place he was in seemed more special; he could feel the essence of the spiritual power and Life Energy flowing through him, connecting to the collective consciousness of the world around him.

"This must be the shared consciousness mentioned in the skills," he realized, a sense of satisfaction filling him. However, his contemplation was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a figure in front of him, moving faster than his eyes could follow.