I trained in talent extraction and even cultivation in a couple of days. And it took me over a month more to check all the info on possible talent options and acquisition opportunities, then carry out the plan.
Finding practice targets was easy. Just searched "atrocities by minor clans in provincial cities."
Naturally, no recent events—government loves to hush those up. But a thirty-year-old case about the newly formed Lei Clan (only 70 years old) in the provincial city of Jinyan, keeping two dozen girls and guys in basement slavery for carnal pleasures, they let slip.
Naturally in the context—Look how barbaric it was before; no such crap under us.
The clan was small and specialized in the lightning element. Barely two dozen members, probably one slave each. Not even a High Tier mage. Perfect target for me.
I jumped there, stealthily knocked out the strongest, then captured the rest. And started experiments.
After several failures (god, if there are people who can commit such atrocities with joy, reincarnate them as livestock; I nearly puked. Didn't think I'd say this, but drooling Wu Tu was cuter), I quickly got the hang of it.
To clean my karma a bit, I transferred the cultivation from the mages who didn't turn into inside-out mummies to the basement slaves I freed, then bailed to my world.
Luckily, among that scum was one guy with a talent, albeit weak. It boosted single-element magic output by 1.1 times. Good thing I didn't need more test subjects to hone skills; the sight of those inside-out mummies was enough for a year.
And that talent, I'll give to someone in exchange for one I took. Not risking exposure for a 10% magic boost.
After checking, it turned out I could grab only two talents right now: Heidi's Heart of Three Apertures and Dongfang Min's Star Enhancement. The others have guards too strong for current me.
And until the World University Championship ends, no flashing extra talents. Need exactly one per magic level to maintain cover.
After thinking, I picked Heart of Three Apertures from Heidi for Intermediate Tier—more promising now. Star Enhancement on High Tier.
Was about to go steal Heidi's talent, but conscience, that dog, stirred. Had to first jump to sixteen-year-old Dongfang Min, ambush him after school, knock him out on the way home, and take his talent. Gave him the Lei Clan guy's in exchange.
Only then did I jump to poor orphan Heidi in her little Alpine town. Ambushed her after church school, gently knocked her out, took her Heart of Three Apertures, gave her Dongfang Min's Star Enhancement in exchange. Only then did conscience shut up.
Now that talents are on hold, time for the summoning element. Two weeks to the Tang Yue mission should be enough for a lightning elemental creature.
Well, if my idea works. Otherwise, to practice body enhancement technique, I'd have to wait for High or even Supreme Tier breakthrough.
So my idea is to use Reversal Law to rewind my body in time when lightning magic energy strays from the intended technique path. Won't rely on luck.
The idea: instead of basic Beginner summoning spell "Spatial Summon," use fusion magic and add lightning element.
That way, I aim to mimic how Mo Fan in canon summons element-specific creatures at Supreme Tier summoning.
But where do I get lightning element if I don't have it? That's why I saved summoning for last.
I want to yank a lightning mage's cultivation with Element Transfer. Not to fuse with myself, but add straight to the spell. Since I don't even know if it's possible, I called it an idea, not a plan.
First, I popped to a parallel Lei Clan and yanked a lightning mage's cultivation.
Then, holding it in hand, back to my world, cast Beginner summoning, trying to fuse the lightning cultivation clump into the spell.
Thanks to the talent, the energy obeyed perfectly; process went smooth. Felt like fusing my own elements.
My consciousness dropped into the summoning plane, spiritual projection by a Peak Servant-rank Thunder Python.
Apparently, the higher the lightning cultivation I pour in, the stronger and matching element monster it leads me to. I poured Beginner third step lightning mage cultivation.
But need more experiments. Luckily, idea confirmed; no delaying body enhancement training.
Now just dial in the right cultivation ratio for the spell and find a lightning elemental. Should make it before calling Tang Yue.
A week later.
My spiritual projection was now in the summoning world, by the Lightning Spire Tree. Named that 'cause it's literally the best lightning rod. If lightning's hitting an area, it strikes this tree.
This particular tree grew on a big rock in the middle of the sea... or ocean. Not big on summoning plane geography.
Just a huge rock jutting from the water, nothing but ocean around. Might even count as a small island.
What am I doing by this weird tree in the ocean? Observing a cool phenomenon—natural birth of a lightning elemental creature.
Apparently, storms hit this ocean area often, lightning striking the tree for a huge time. Maybe thousands of years.
Wonder how the tree got on the rock after the ocean? Maybe a seed from a migratory bird? Who knows.
Anyway. Lightning hit for thousands of years, finally result: a blue fruit on a branch, woven from lightning. As I understand, like the fire fruit that birthed Mo Fan's Fiery Hetera.
And by my senses, the fruit's ripe; lightning elemental creature about to emerge. Otherwise, spell wouldn't lead here.
While waiting to contract the newborn, a dumb idea hit me. But I liked it so much I went for it.
I started beaming spiritual thoughts into the lightning fruit, focusing on a specific image.
Why? Elemental creatures have no fixed form; in nature, random shapes. So why did Mo Fan's Flame Fairy look like a little girl?
Logical conclusion: the fire witch tending the fire fruit saw future Fiery Hetera as her daughter. Being a spirit mage, she probably transmitted those thoughts to the fruit.
So I'm shaping the newborn. A form I'll definitely like.
Two minutes later, one blue fuzzy paw broke the fruit skin, then another. Then, like parting curtains, out crawled... a very popular from my first life, fuzzy rat, just unusual color.
"Pika-pika-chu! (I was born! And soon heading to Earth!)"
Yeah, focused on Pikachu image. But with my current weak power, he can't shift fur to yellow yet.
Not focusing on a girl shape? Won't stick my dick in a living lightning clump; find another fool.
"Well, hi cutie. Wanna contract with me? Tough in the middle of the ocean..."
"Pika-pika-chu-chu! (Yes Master! Time for adventure!) "—The blue rat rudely cut me off.
Wanted to explain no resources here on the rock for his growth, but I could help if he contracts.
Guess some Pokemon episodes snuck into the image; now he craves adventure. Even better.
"Then accept the contract, Pikachu. Lots of adventures await!"—Sent the contract request; he accepted gleefully.
Now, figure out what to feed him.