VERSATILE MAGE: RISE OF A LEGEND

Light's journey as a young mage was one of relentless dedication, fierce determination, and a thirst for power that burned brighter each day. He had turned 17 now, and time seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. His youth had been consumed by cultivation and hunting magical beasts, a life he had come to enjoy more than anything else.

Light had quickly climbed the ranks, becoming a notable figure within the Hunters Union. Despite his young age, the number of beasts he had slain was now over 15, earning him respect even among veteran magicians who had years of experience. His accomplishments, however, weren't just limited to hunting; his cultivation had advanced rapidly over the years.

Currently, Light's progress stood as follows:

Space Element: Peak Intermediate Stage

Undead Element: 3rd Level Intermediate Stage

Chaos Element: 3rd Level Intermediate Stage

Lightning Element: 1st Level Intermediate Stage

Fire Element: 1st Level Intermediate Stage

Earth Element: 1st Level Intermediate Stage

Although his cultivation in the Space Element had reached the Peak of the Intermediate Stage, Light found himself unable to push past the bottleneck into the Advanced Stage. No matter how much time he spent refining his mastery, there was no further progress. His Space Element had been at this bottleneck for over half a year, whereas his Chaos and Undead Elements had only recently reached the 3rd level of the Intermediate Stage.

He knew that breaking through in the Space Element was his safest bet for reaching the Advanced Stage, as the other elements were too far behind. But the Space Element had been stubbornly stagnant for months, refusing to budge. Light realized that the only way to break through would be with the help of some external assistance—something like the Little Loach Pendant or Treasure Cultivation Tool.

Determined not to waste any more time, Light changed his cultivation schedule. For the next two months, he focused 5 hours a day on his Lightning, Fire, and Earth Elements, while dedicating just 1 hour each to the Space, Undead, and Chaos Elements. The results were slow but steady. Light knew this was not the most efficient method, but it kept his cultivation diverse while he waited for the right opportunity to break through with his Space Element.

During these two months, Light also received three Star Galaxy Veins from the Zhao Clan as part of a deal they had made. These veins were incredibly rare resources that would help him accumulate the energy necessary to break through his bottleneck. With these valuable tools in hand, Light decided it was time for seclusion.

He secluded himself from the outside world, retreating to his personal cultivation space. In his mind, he visualized the Nebula of the Space Element. He could see the 49 Stars within it, glowing faintly but restlessly. The barrier that surrounded the Nebula was like an impenetrable fortress, thick and unyielding. He had to excite the Stars more, to push them into ramming the walls with enough force to break through. But to do so, he needed more energy.

The energy from the Star Galaxy Veins provided the perfect fuel for his breakthrough attempt. Unlike other magicians, who could only withstand a certain amount of pressure, Light's soul was far more resilient due to his mastery over multiple elements. He had always known that the gap between Intermediate and Advanced Level was immense, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Light gathered his energy and directed it toward the Nebula. He could feel the 49 Stars becoming restless, their collective energy surging forward like an army preparing to breach a gate. The Stars were no longer content to remain confined within such a small space. They demanded freedom, expansion, a greater realm to roam.

As the Stars collided with the barricade, cracks began to form in the thick walls surrounding the Nebula. Light held his breath, focusing all his attention on directing the energy. He couldn't afford to lose focus now. The cracks continued to grow, widening as more and more pressure was applied.

The pain was excruciating, like his mind was being torn apart. Every time he pushed the Stars harder, it felt like his head was going to explode. But Light knew he had to persevere. He had come too far to stop now.

"AHHHH!" A scream tore from his throat, his voice echoing through the quiet of the treehouse. The pain was unbearable, but he forced himself to push through. This was the cost of growing stronger, the price of leveling up his soul. Every magician knew that breaking through to the Advanced Level was torturous, but Light had always been determined to surpass his limits.

With one final surge of energy, the barricade finally crumbled. The Stars broke free, flooding the Nebula with their radiant light. Light could feel the power coursing through his body, filling every inch of his Spiritual World.

"The Nebula has grown into a Galaxy… three hundred and forty-three Stars!" Light mumbled, his voice filled with awe.

The transformation was breathtaking. What was once a compact Nebula was now a vast, sprawling Galaxy. The Stars floated gracefully through the expanse, their light shining brighter than ever before. Light opened his eyes, and for a moment, he could see the silhouette of a Star Constellation revolving around him.

"I succeeded." The words left his lips in a whisper, but the joy and relief in his voice were unmistakable.

His Space Element had finally broken through to the Advanced Stage, and now, he had a fully formed Galaxy in his Spiritual World. The implications of this were enormous. Not only did his Nebula cultivation increase by 100%, but his Stardust cultivation would now grow 200% faster. He was on the verge of mastering spells that only Advanced Magicians could cast, and even more exciting, he was ready to awaken new elements.

With his newfound power, Light used his Magic Accelerator to begin connecting the Stars in his Space Element Star Constellation. The process was slow but efficient; his Magic Accelerator allowed him to connect 21 Stars per day, meaning it would take him 14 days to fully draw the Star Constellation.

Two weeks passed in a blur of cultivation, and when the final Star was connected, Light was ready for the next step. He had achieved what he set out to do, and now it was time for a new journey. It was time to awaken more elements.

Light gathered his sisters, discussing his next course of action with them. Together, they set out for the Asia Magic Association, returning to the very place where Light had first awakened his elements. His heart raced with anticipation. This was it—the next step in his evolution as a mage.

When they arrived at the Asia Magic Association, they headed straight for the best Awakening Chamber, the same one where Light had undergone his first awakening. As they entered, they were greeted by the Collector, who was immediately surprised to see Light again.

"You're back," the Collector remarked, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "I remember you. It took you four years to reach the Intermediate Stage?"

Light nodded, explaining that he had spent the last year stabilizing his Intermediate spells. The Collector nodded in understanding.

"So, what type of Awakening Stones will you need this time?" the Collector asked, his curiosity piqued. "And will you require a guided awakening?"

"I want to awaken the Dark Element," Light replied without hesitation. "I'll need Dark Awakening Stones and Dark Guiding Stones."

The Collector wasted no time, ordering his apprentice to fetch the stones. As Light and his sisters walked into the Awakening Chamber, the room was bathed in the soft glow of luminous stones. Light approached the Awakening Stone, his heart pounding in his chest.

The Collector left him alone with his sisters in the room. Light closed his eyes and placed his palm on the cold, glossy surface of the Awakening Stone. As soon as the stone sensed the warmth of his hand, it began to react, a faint light blossoming from its center.

Just like before, Light could feel a bizarre energy flowing through his body, seeping into his Spiritual Universe. The energy was different from his previous awakenings, calmer, cooler, and far more subtle. It was as if the motes of energy were sneaking into his Spiritual World, carefully exploring their new territory.

"What is this…?" Light muttered, his mind racing to identify the new element.

The energy was dark, almost invisible as it blended into the depths of his Spiritual Universe. It wasn't fierce like the Lightning Element or aggressive like the Fire Element. Instead, it was quiet and patient, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself.

Slowly, the realization dawned on him.

"Dark color… this is a dark color!"

The motes of energy gave off a faint, dark radiance, barely visible to the naked eye. But they were there, swirling in his Spiritual Universe, marking the birth of a new element.

"Shadow Element," Light whispered, his heart racing with excitement. The guidance had been successful.

The Dark Element was now part of his arsenal.