[Chapter 311: Space, Time, Causality]
Daniel understood.
A Higher Ascendant Order cultivates power by borrowing the momentum of Heaven and Earth.
A Celestial, however, cultivates the power himself, mastering the fundamental rules of Heaven and Earth.
These three stars didn't grant him instant mastery over the three rules, but instead gave him a key -- a direction.
This was the so-called "Understanding the Universe."
An exorcist, even exhausting their entire lifetime, would be considered exceptionally talented if they managed to grasp just one ordinary rule within the Celestial Order.
Yet here he had imprinted the three supreme rules of Space, Time, and Causality at once.
The difficulty involved was multiplied by millions, if not billions.
Without the System, relying solely on himself, Daniel probably wouldn't have even qualified to glance at these three rules.
He smiled self-deprecatingly, then a brilliant light erupted in his eyes.
"But since I've obtained them, what heights will I reach once I've grown?"
Daniel didn't know the answer yet, but he was filled with fierce anticipation.
He stood up, raised his right hand, and clenched his fist in the air.
The air inside the Exorcism Room solidified instantly, as if becoming an unbreakable substance.
"This feeling..."
Daniel murmured.
If the Higher Ascendant Order focused on "borrowing" power from Heaven and Earth -- an exchange that required IOUs, communication--
Now he was part of Heaven and Earth itself.
He no longer borrowed power; he took it directly.
With a mere thought, the surrounding spiritual energy obeyed his will like an extension of his own body.
No need for cumbersome incantations or guidance; wherever his intent reached, his power followed.
He closed his eyes, and his spiritual sense exploded outward.
It passed through the thick basement walls, spread over the villa's garden.
One mile, five miles, ten miles...
"Thirty miles."
Daniel withdrew his spiritual sense, a brilliant light flickering in his eyes.
"The coverage range has multiplied several times over, and the clarity is on a completely different level."
He looked inward at his Sea of Consciousness.
The three star imprints floated quietly.
Silver for Space, colorless for Time, and gray for Causality.
Though he couldn't fully control them yet, he sensed profound fluctuations.
Daniel glanced at the water cup on the table, and with a slight thought, he touched the silver 'Space' imprint.
Hum.
The air around the cup suddenly distorted.
There was no breeze, and the cup didn't move, but the space the cup occupied seemed folded, like fabric creasing.
"Although I can't teleport or cut space yet, this is just the beginning."
The corner of Daniel's mouth lifted.
He checked the System panel. Remaining merit points: 48,142,200.
"Continue."
Daniel didn't hesitate; he pressed the upgrade button again.
[Consumed 2,000,000 merit points. Exorcism level increased.]
Boom!
The power of Heaven and Earth poured into his body.
This time, it wasn't just a cleansing with raw magical power, but a deep baptism of his physical body and soul.
Daniel felt every cell in his body cheering, greedily devouring this higher-level energy.
Moments later:
[Exorcism Level: Celestial Warden of Celestial Order]
[Merit points: 46,142,200]
"Again!"
Consumed 4,000,000 merit points...
[Exorcism Level: Celestial Arbiter of Celestial Order]
[Merit points: 42,142,200]
As his exorcism level rose, the three rule imprints in his mind became increasingly clear.
The once-blurry stars began emitting faint but steady halos, slowly merging with Daniel's soul.
"Still can go higher."
Daniel looked at his more than forty million remaining merit points, his gaze blazing.
This feeling of strength skyrocketing was intoxicating.
"Upgrade!"
Consumed 8,000,000 merit points...
[Exorcism Level: Celestial Sovereign of Celestial Order]
[Merit points: 34,142,200]
The magical power in his body reached an extreme concentration, showing signs of beginning to liquefy.
It wasn't ordinary magic -- it was Celestial Force, carrying a trace of Celestial resonance.
Daniel clenched his fist.
In his palm, the lightning no longer pure violet now bore a faint hint of chaotic colors.
It was the embryonic form of rule power.
"Still have thirty-four million. The next level requires sixteen million. Enough."
He took a deep breath and clicked again.
Consumed 16,000,000 merit points...
Rumble!
Thunder materialized out of thin air inside the Exorcism Room.
Daniel's body levitated, surrounded by an invisible force field.
After a long while, the strange phenomena subsided.
Daniel landed.
When he blinked, it was as if galaxies spun within his eyes.
[Exorcism Level: Heavenly Regent of Celestial Order]
[Merit points: 18,142,200]
The next level required 32,000,000 points -- not enough.
Daniel spent another 10,000,000 merit points to raise Doctrine of Arcane Geometry to the seventh tier.
Then, he used 6,000,000 merit points to bring all five remaining spells to the sixth level.
He stopped and looked at the panel:
...
[Host: Daniel Cross]
[Body Constitution: Celestial Thunder Body Enhancement (Fourth Tier)]
[Exorcism Level: Heavenly Regent (Celestial Order)]
[Skills:]
[Sanctum Blade Technique: Sixth Tier]
[Prayer Seal Crafting Art: Sixth Tier]
[Spiritual Perception Technique: Sixth Tier]
[Rite of Divine Empowerment: Sixth Tier]
[Artifact Forging Art: Sixth Tier]
[Sacred Alchemical Transmutation: Sixth Tier]
[Five Thunder Doctrine: Seventh Tier] (Celestial, Terran, Abyssal, Flame, and Tempest)
[Doctrine of Arcane Geometry: Seventh Tier]
[Edict of Soul Suppression: Sixth Tier]
[Spirit Binding Rope: Sixth Tier]
[Bell of Celestial Dominion: Sixth Tier]
[Spatial Stride: Sixth Tier]
[Earth Flow Technique]
[Five Elements Thunder Prison: Sixth Tier]
[Spells:]
[Divine Incantation for Purifying Souls]
[Golden Aegis Rite]
[Inner Sanctification Rite]
[Body Absolution Rite]
[Seven Lamps of Dominion Rite]
[Nine Sacred Invocations: Guard, Might]
[Merit Points: 2,142,200]
...
Within such a short time, he had leapt from Higher Ascendant Order to Heavenly Regent of Celestial Order -- nothing short of a miracle.
"Heavenly Regent of Celestial Order..."
Daniel felt the power inside him, vast as an ocean.
And then there was the newly obtained 'Might' Invocation.
Each invocation of the Nine Sacred Invocations contained supreme power. Previously, relying on the 'Guard', he had easily defeated Valak's projection. The 'Might' also possessed mysterious and formidable power.
After grasping its meaning somewhat, Daniel's heart surged with excitement.
"If I encountered Valak's projection now, I could eliminate it even more easily. Even if its true body descended, I could still knock out a couple of its teeth."
...
Daniel stepped out of the Exorcism Room and arrived in the back garden.
Chris emerged from the phone.
As soon as she poked her head out, she was startled by the aura emanating from Daniel.
"M-master?"
Chris instinctively took two steps back, her enchanting eyes filled with terror and awe.
The current Daniel -- even with his aura restrained -- still made her feel an oppressive force weighing down on her soul.
It was like a little white rabbit standing before a mighty dragon.
"Don't be afraid."
Daniel spoke calmly.
His aura instantly retracted, transforming him back into the seemingly ordinary young man.
As he willed it, that overwhelming pressure capable of crushing the sky vanished without a trace.
The faint electric arcs that had been dancing around him retreated deep into his pores.
He stood on the garden lawn, directly before Chris.
But now, the feeling he gave off had completely changed.
A moment ago, he was like a volcano on the brink of eruption, like a peerless sword drawn from its sheath, edges gleaming, daring no one to look at him directly.
Now, he was like a rock, a tree, or a gentle breeze passing through the courtyard.
A withered yellow leaf drifted down from a treetop, swaying gently, and finally landed softly on his shoulder.
It wasn't repelled by his aura nor did it slide off.
It simply rested there quietly, as if he himself was part of the natural scenery.
Chris was stunned.
She blinked her big, enchanting eyes, struggling to believe what she was seeing.
*****
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