C8 Mystical Power Sharing!

Niu Li strolled down several streets until he reached a rather rundown one, where he entered a modest eatery.

Huimin Restaurant was its name—a small establishment with just two stories. The unassuming interior with its basic furnishings made it clear this was a humble place.

As Niu Li stepped inside, he found the restaurant quiet, with few patrons around. It was midday, and the usual lunch crowd wouldn't start trickling in until after 1:30 pm.

"You're here," greeted a kindly middle-aged woman from within the restaurant.

She was Huimin Restaurant's sole attendant, known affectionately as Big Sister He, and also Niu Li's neighbor. Her financial situation was tight, and she had been employed by Niu Li's family for several years.

With a warm smile, Niu Li replied, "Hello, Auntie He."

"Come over and lend a hand," called out Gu Huiping, who was busy moving a case of wine and had just spotted Niu Li.

Niu Li flashed a smile at Big Sister He and hurried over to assist with the task.

Once the work was done, Gu Huiping served up a generous lunch. Niu Li didn't hesitate; he took the bowl of noodles to his father's office and dug in heartily.

Meanwhile, the Elf inside the Creating Ring watched on with longing eyes, drooling pitifully. Gu Huiping had prepared a meal of two dishes and a soup for Niu Li, and her culinary skills did not disappoint. The aroma of the simple, well-cooked dishes wafted through the air, whetting the appetite.

For the Elf, who had been in existence for less than a day, such enticing smells were a novel experience. Her mouth watered uncontrollably at the scent.

Watching the Elf's reaction, Niu Li couldn't help but chuckle. He'd been eating the so-called nutritious fast food his mother made for over a decade and had long since lost any sense of its appeal.

Nevertheless, seeing the Elf's eagerness, Niu Li discreetly halved his meal and placed it into the Molding Space.

The Elf let out a joyful cry and devoured the scrumptious food before her, exclaiming between bites, "Yummy! This dish is really tasty!"

Niu Li watched, dumbfounded and utterly at a loss for words.

After their satisfying meal, Niu Li and the contented Elf quickly made their exit from the restaurant.

Niu Li was eager to experience the sensation of borrowing magical power, as the Elf had described. The prospect of performing magic, a feat of legend, was about to become a reality for him, and he was thrilled. He was filled with anticipation, even if his first attempt might only yield a less-than-perfect Water Lubricant Skill.

He ventured into a long-abandoned factory, a place seldom visited by others, making it an ideal spot for his magical practice.

"Diaochan, how do I go about borrowing magic from you?" Niu Li asked, his voice tinged with excitement.

Diaochan, engrossed in savoring her ice cream, responded without looking up, "Just follow the ancient deities' protocol, form a blood pact with me, and begin sharing magical power. It's as simple as that."

"Just like that?" Niu Li was momentarily taken aback, but his excitement quickly surged as he focused his spirit and began to recite the incantation the Elf had taught him silently.

"By the ancient gods' decree, let the magic power of the blood pact be shared; let the covenant be formed."

No sooner had he finished the incantation than Niu Li felt a sharp pain in his head. Suddenly, his senses seemed to expand beyond his body, connecting him with the world around him.

Simultaneously, warmth flowed from the ring on his finger, infusing his body with a comforting sensation.

"What's happening?" Niu Li peered down at his own body, which stood with eyes closed, feeling bewildered.

"You've managed to share 80% of the magic power! That's incredible," Elf exclaimed, her surprise causing her to abandon her ice cream.

"Eighty percent shared?" Niu Li was still trying to grasp the concept.

"Dopey brother, it means you can borrow 80% of my magic power. And brother, can you also project your Devil Spirit outside your body?" Elf's astonishment had given way to a stunned expression.

"What's this about the Devil Spirit leaving the body?" Niu Li was initially anxious about his unexpected separation from his body, but seeing that Elf seemed to understand, he quickly inquired.

"It's exactly what's happening to you now. Your spiritual awareness is extending beyond your physical form, allowing you to absorb spiritual energy more swiftly and transform it into your own magical power," Elf explained, her voice laced with envy.

"So that's what it means for the Devil Spirit to leave the body!" Niu Li's fear dissipated, replaced by the realization that this was, indeed, a fortunate development.

"However, this is your first time attempting this. It's best not to let your Devil Spirit remain outside your body for too long, or it might disperse," the Elf cautioned.

"What happens if the Devil Spirit collapses?" Niu Li inquired, clearly confused.

"If your Devil Spirit collapses, you'll turn into a fool," the Elf said with a mischievous laugh.

"Ah!" Niu Li exclaimed, startled. He quickly coaxed his Devil Spirit back toward his body. His vision darkened for a moment, but then he regained control. He exhaled and muttered, "That was close!"

"You're such a scaredy-cat. Many magicians exhaust themselves trying to release their Devil Spirit, yet they fail. And here you are, calling it dangerous," the Elf remarked, her tone a mix of envy and scorn.

"Is it really that hard? It seemed pretty straightforward to me; my Devil Spirit just came out when I wanted it to," Niu Li said, oblivious to the impact of his words.

The Elf frowned, feeling the need to set things straight. "Manifesting the Devil Spirit is a special gift. If a magician is born with strong Mental Energy, they can form a Devil Spirit the first time they encounter magic. During their training, their magic can become two to three times more powerful. There's another way, but it's much rarer. A magician might reach a high level through sheer effort and then forcefully summon their spirit. But that's incredibly risky. A single misstep could leave a magician a complete fool or consumed by their own magic. In such cases, they would be reduced to ash, their very souls obliterated."

"That dangerous?" Niu Li gasped, then his fear turned to delight. "Does that mean I'll be the envy of many?"

"Absolutely, I'm quite envious myself. Even though we elves are born with potent Mental Energy, we still fall just short of forming a Devil Spirit," the Elf admitted, her eyes reflecting her longing.

Realizing he had an advantage over the Elf, Niu Li swelled with pride and reassured her, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of you from now on. No one will dare to mess with you."

"You're so kind," the Elf said, her envy giving way to a contented smile.

"I'm not exactly green with envy, you know, since we've got that blood pact between us. As long as you level up quickly, I'll be climbing the ranks just as fast," the Elf said with a playful twinkle in her eye.

"Is that so? That's fantastic!" Niu Li burst into delighted laughter.

"Absolutely. Keep up the diligent cultivation, and I'll be a Mid-level elf before you know it. I've got my sights set on becoming the Elf Queen," the Elf remarked, her expression a mix of innocence and determination.

"Rest assured, your dream is going to come true," Niu Li assured her confidently.

"Halt, halt! Run any further, and I'll open fire!"

Just then, a furious shout erupted from outside the factory, followed by two figures bursting into the building.

Niu Li was taken aback, still trying to make sense of the commotion when he heard an excited cry, "Ha! I might just snag myself a hostage!"