Under the woman's guidance, Lu Jun began his attempt.
The visitor turned out to be Elder Mina's daughter, named Putana—young in age, yet a dual Super-level in Space and Summoning.
The dark-skinned beauty parted her fiery lips and said gently, "Close your eyes, capture the contract space within your body, then use the mid-tier space rift magic of the Space Element to divide it into two parts."
Hearing this, Lu Jun sank into meditation. In the boundless darkness, his spiritual will swept through, and soon he caught sight of a brilliant singularity.
When his soul entered it, the scene suddenly opened up—it was clearly a vast little world, tides surging, azure radiance filling the sky. This obviously represented that this contract slot already had a master—it was occupied by the Mermaid Holy Spirit.
Hearing that he was to cut it in half with a space rift, he couldn't help but hesitate. Damn, seriously? Isn't this way too brutal?
"It's fine," Putana spoke in time, encouraging him. "You have to trust in the healing nature of the contract space."
Lu Jun gritted his teeth and decided to trust her this once.
Buzz buzz buzz!
Within the void universe inside him, above the mysterious cluster of light, his will became like a blade. A streak of silver light fell, and with a plop the light cluster was suddenly split into two halves.
Ring!!! The Mermaid inside the contract space was startled awake by the great commotion. Seeing this scene, her high-pitched trembling voice was filled with disbelief—she woke up to find her home split in two?!
Her big, shimmering eyes welled up with tears. As expected, men were all big pig hooves—once they got you, they didn't cherish you anymore.
Life had finally decided to deal a blow to her, this poor little Holy Spirit.
Yet thinking of her mother's warnings, the mermaid girl forcibly swallowed her grievance. Living under someone else's roof, she had to show the demeanor of a principal wife—serve with tact and grace, so she could be the one laughing in the end.
So the mermaid princess forced a smile and sang lightly with dignity, "Ring~" (It's fine, this concubine is willing to make some room for her little sister.)
At this moment, Lu Jun had no time for the Water Holy Spirit's inner drama. Deep in his mind came a sharp pain, as if his soul were being split in two.
Just when he was suspecting that this ancient Incan folk method might be dangerously harmful, a majestic surge of spiritual power erupted from his brow, like a silver moon shining bright. Threads of coolness poured down from the crown of his head, instantly easing the pain.
Looking inward, Lu Jun was shocked to find that the edges of the two mysterious spaces were rapidly mending themselves. Soon they began to draw in soul force and space magic from all directions in the void, nourishing and strengthening themselves.
Given some time, both would soon recover to their original state—it was just like cell division and reproduction.
They now respectively represented the first contract slot and the second contract slot.
"So that's it. As long as high-level space magic is involved, opening a second contract is easy." (Secondary setting)
Realization struck Lu Jun—originally, Mo Fan's second contract had simply come naturally once his cultivation was high enough.
Wait—since it could be split from one into two, could it not also be split into four, and then into all things?
He fell into thought again, itching to make a few more cuts.
Unexpectedly, Putana seemed to read his mind, patiently warning, "If you want to continue splitting contract slots, you absolutely must not. This is experience accumulated by the forebears after countless failures—each contract slot can only be torn once."
"In truth, the fact you can recover so quickly is already incredible. A normal Space Summoner would require a long time of nurturing."
"Really?"
Lu Jun clicked his tongue in regret, but didn't recklessly try it. The predecessors had stepped on this trap countless times—no need for him to fall in again.
He wasn't qualified yet to innovate, nor did he understand the Summoning Element deeply enough.
Putana asked seriously, "Now that your Spirit Carving Method and second contract are both taking shape, and both the Psychic Element and Space Element have connected with the Summoning Element, do you wish to proceed to the next step?"
"Of course! If not me, then who?" Lu Jun declared firmly, righteous and resolute. "This is the empire's only chance in this lifetime—restoring the empire's glory is our unshirkable duty!"
He saw the future clearly, feared nothing, and naturally shouted his slogans with as much righteousness as he could muster.
The Spirit Carving Method and second contract were already long-standing, safe, and mature methods. Beyond them lay entirely unknown territory—derivations on their basis, with life or death uncertain. The best possible outcome was still total loss of cultivation.
So Putana was truly shaken by Lu Jun, inwardly admiring and moved. In the empire's time of crisis, it was precisely because so many benevolent and righteous people stepped forward that the tide could be turned.
Her eyes changed, as if recalling something, now filled with warmth.
Putana instructed, "You've been in intense seclusion for a month. Go rest for a while, then come to the Space Element for the final experiment."
"Alright."
Lu Jun had been stone-carving for so long that both body and spirit were exhausted, so he also wanted to adjust. He nodded in agreement.
A moment later, he walked out of the Sacred Stone Forest and unexpectedly found that the passing priests had become much fewer. The more than twenty institutions and academies within the holy land were empty, and the people coming and going moved in haste.
As he passed through the small town along the way, his expression grew solemn. In this space-time town, the flow of people had likewise all but vanished. The occasional passerby was always a squad of mages marching in formation.
They wore helmets adorned with bright feathers, their entire appearance reeking of murderous aura, spattered with blood. Most of them were even heavily injured, their faces full of exhaustion.
"Even the purest holy land of the Inca is flooded with soldiers… How bad is it outside—are the enemy at the city gates already?"
Lu Jun felt a bit panicked. According to the historical course, the Inca Empire's destruction had been utterly thorough. If the Amazon invaded before he could find a way to leave through the Eye of Time and Space, wouldn't he perish along with it?
With that thought, he nervously grabbed a mage-soldier and asked about the situation.
That mage was small in stature, with an exceedingly youthful face, looking no older than a high school student. Seeing Lu Jun, he was momentarily stunned, but instead of showing any impatience, he said in surprise, "Are you Lord Lu Jun?"
"Ah, yes, I am… You know me?"
This time, it was Lu Jun's turn to be stunned, asking in puzzlement.
The young man said excitedly, "Lord Lu Jun, there's no one in the entire empire who doesn't know you! You are the hero of the empire. His Majesty the Emperor and the Grand Elder both said that the hope of saving the Inca lies with you, and the success of the ultimate plan is just around the corner."
His eyes were full of reverence. "Please, you must take back my hometown from the hands of the demons."
Looking into the young man's bright eyes, Lu Jun found himself unable to meet his gaze for a moment. After all, he was merely a passerby, and history's ending was already set in stone. As a mere High-level Mage, he could not save anything.
What's more, seeing the age at which this youth went to the battlefield, and the empire using a vague, illusory plan to boost morale, Lu Jun understood all too well that the Inca Empire was on the verge of destruction.
But guilt gnawed at him—he had taken the Inca's legacy yet had given nothing back in return. After a brief silence, he said seriously, "The future will surely see it reclaimed."
Centuries later, the Amazon Empire would, due to some unknown influence, retreat back into the forest, and South America would once again see prosperity.
And within himself, he also became resolute—if he found the way back, he would fight alongside the Inca natives until the very last moment. Only when the situation became truly irretrievable would he return.
Lu Jun said in a deep voice, "But soldier, you must first tell me the current situation."
The youth, trusting their "Lord Lu Jun," detailed the empire's overall state.
For additional chapters
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