[Chapter 82: Sanctum Lord]
"Huh? Only 1,000 Merit Points?" Daniel muttered, eyes narrowing in realization.
"I see now. The Merit Points needed for upgrades don't stack infinitely. For every new tier, the required Merit Points multiply by ten compared to the previous tier," he explained to himself. "For example, upgrading in first tier started from 100 points, now this tier demands 1,000 points. If going from Senior Exorcist to Senior Exorcist (Max) took 51,200 points, then for this tier, the top level would cost 512,000 points."
"Ten times is still steep, but it's definitely not infinite." A smile played across Daniel's face -- finally, the long-standing worry weighing on him was lifting.
With 79,900 Merit Points left, the "Upgrade" button remained active. Suppressing his grin, Daniel clicked it again.
[Exorcism Level: Consecrator]
[Merit Points: 77,900]
"Keep going!"
[Exorcism Level: Writ-Bearer]
[Merit Points: 73,900]
"Again!"
...Progressing to [Covenant Judge] to [Relic Sovereign] to [Sanctum Lord].
[Merit Points: 17,900]
Upon reaching Sanctum Lord, the "Upgrade" option grayed out -- Daniel no longer had enough Merit Points for further advancement.
As a Sanctum Lord, his magical power had deepened remarkably; his command over spiritual energy was far more profound. The spiritual energy he could summon now bordered on astonishing.
Feeling the surge of strength within, Daniel couldn't suppress the smile tugging at his lips. In just one day, his power had undergone a transformative leap.
This kind of breakthrough was impossible through normal Exorcism -- the System alone made it achievable.
He was confident that if the Female Ghost from One Missed Call tried to lure him now, he could kill her even if answering her call.
Though he had 17,900 Merit Points left, his Exorcism level wouldn't budge. However, he could still improve his Spells.
After a moment's thought, Daniel selected the Rite of Divine Empowerment next.
...
[Host: Daniel Cross]
[Body Constitution: Thunder Body]
[Exorcist Level: Mandated Exorcist]
[Skills:]
[Sanctum Blade Technique: Third Tier]
[Divine Incantation for for Purifying Souls: First Tier]
[Prayer Seal Crafting Art: Fourth Tier]
[Spiritual Perception Technique: Third Tier]
[Rite of Divine Empowerment: Fourth Tier]
[Inner Sanctification Rite]
[Artifact Forging Art: Third Tier]
[Golden Aegis Rite]
[Merit Points: 7,900]
...
Staring at his status screen, Daniel fought the urge to laugh aloud. Aside from breaking through a major tier, his biggest takeaway was acquiring the Golden Aegis Rite.
This divine rite was no less powerful than the Divine Incantation for for Purifying Souls. It offered both defense and offensive potential.
Daniel felt sure that with his current strength, even if he openly clashed with the Brotherhood of Saints, he'd be capable of fending for himself.
Of course, this was assuming typical combat scenarios.
Regarding switching Katherine and Tanusha's souls back, he was still powerless.
The problem wasn't his ability, but Katherine's soul -- it couldn't endure such upheaval.
Before performing a soul swap, Katherine's soul needed to be restored to the strength it held before the transfer.
Otherwise, the soul would disintegrate completely.
Even if she somehow survived, she'd be left an empty shell, like a hollowed-out mindless husk.
"Ways to strengthen the soul..." Daniel muttered.
But he realized no reliable methods existed for now.
There were a few options, such as rare foods or medicinal herbs that, over years of consumption or infusion, could gradually fortify the soul.
Unfortunately, Katherine's body simply didn't have that luxury of time.
...
For the next several days, Daniel dived deeper into researching soul-strengthening techniques, but no breakthrough appeared.
That day, Amanda called.
"Tomorrow's the audition for The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," she reminded him, snapping Daniel back to the present.
He'd prepared long ago. "I'll stay at your place tonight."
...
The next morning, Amanda's agent Wendy arrived.
Seeing Daniel, she no longer appeared surprised, and her attitude toward him had shifted noticeably. She greeted him first, "Good morning, Daniel."
"Good morning, Wendy," Daniel replied politely.
Wendy said, "Amanda, we should head out."
Amanda was ready, having changed clothes and applied makeup to fit the role she was auditioning for.
Her choice of jeans perfectly accented her hips, giving her a casual yet confident look.
"Okay, I'm coming," Amanda answered Wendy, then turned to Daniel. "I'm ready."
Yet, behind that confident declaration was a quiet hope silently burning in her heart.
Daniel's hand flickered with a subtle motion, and a Seal appeared in his palm.
By consecrated seal, misfortune is dispersed and balance restored.
What was burdened is lightened; what was hindered is cleared.
Blessing is aligned by lawful authority.
Judgment sealed.
"Scritch!"
The Seal ignited on its own -- without flame, it glowed with an ethereal brilliance.
Daniel fetched a glass of water and dropped the burning Seal inside.
It burned away completely, leaving ash floating on the surface.
Stirring the ashes into the water, Daniel handed the concoction to Amanda.
Without hesitation, Amanda lifted the glass and drained it all.
Setting the cup down, she wiped her mouth with a tissue and smiled at Wendy, who looked stunned.
"Let's go."
...
Only when Wendy was seated in the car did she demand, "What did you two just do? You drank... that?"
Amanda smiled, "It's called 'Seal Water.' It's for changing one's luck."
"Changing luck?" Wendy's eyes sparkled with recognition. "Wait, that's why..."
Amanda nodded. "That's why I landed the female lead role in V for Vendetta last time."
"Seriously? Oh my god, that's incredible!" Wendy exclaimed.
Amanda chuckled softly. "Whether it works this time or not, we'll find out when the audition results come out."
---
After Amanda and Wendy left, Daniel tidied up and left Amanda's place.
He headed to Cross Hall, where business had already opened.
As always, those who tried bargaining at the door rarely walked away with a deal.
And those truly in need accepted the price without hesitation.
Hours passed until 3 PM when Amanda called him again.
"Daniel, I did it! I got the role of Tibby."
"You won't believe it -- I actually beat Amber, the child star who's also a second-generation celebrity."
Amanda's excitement spilled over the phone, full of details about her triumph.
In short, fortune had smiled upon her once more, and she'd snagged the part she wanted, defeating several high-profile contenders along the way.
Having secured the female lead in V for Vendetta had already boosted her fame considerably, making her even more competitive.
Daniel's concern shifted. "Did anything unlucky happen to you today?"
"No," Amanda replied. "So far, everything's gone smoothly. Nothing bad."
Hearing this, Daniel's voice grew serious. "Amanda, remember what I said before? You have to be careful next. Bad luck can strike at any moment."
"I know," Amanda said soberly. She understood the seriousness of the warning.
*****
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