The illustrious magus stage realm. The first step of a cultivator''s journey to attain immortality was achieved when one''s spirit core had been developed thoroughly, ready to be the dwelling of the soul.


    With the spirit core as the foundation and the nine pirs as the support, when one was ready to finally kick off the momentous undertaking, they would begin by sending their sea of consciousness – their soul, into their spirit core.


    Despite the simple wording, such a task was far from easy. Hence, the reason why the [Scroll of Awakening] was created in the first ce, to act as a guide for those aspiring magus and increase their chance of sess.


    If they managed to push through the perilous endeavor and seed in aplishing the arduous task, then they would finally obtain the strength they were striving for and be a bonafide magus. But if they failed, then the only ending for them would be death.


    In Emery''s case, not only did he possess two spirit cores, but both were not ordinary at all. His situation was unique to himself, thus there was no known path or instructions he could use as a reference. This meant the degree of his sess was even lower – if not close to impossible.


    Fortunately for Emery a supreme being, Altus Dresden himself, had told him he would be his guide in this venture full of risk and peril. The supreme magus vast knowledge and experience would definitely be of great help, but that didn''t mean his breakthrough was guaranteed, thus he couldn''t rx.


    "Now follow my instructions."


    "It will be impossible for you to undergo the breakthrough of both of your spirit cores at the same time. Especially with Zenonia currently devouring your other core. Hence, before we move on to the next step, first you have to break the bridge that connects andbines the two."


    The bridge mentioned was one that Emery had painstakingly created using his [Divine Dao Technique]. To break it apart was something so absurd and preposterous in Emery''s eyes that he would be very reluctant, if not instantly refuse, but not now.


    Staring at the old figure, Emery asked with determination.


    "How can I do that?"


    "I can do that for you. Just endure the pain thates after."


    Emery didn''t even have the chance to say more, because the supreme magus'' soul had torn it apart for him in the next moment. A suppressed grunt escaped his mouth as a sensation of excruciating pain spread throughout, one that was not only felt in his body but also his soul.


    [Your spirit core was severed]


    [You are unable to channel spirit energy from your core]


    The following notification that appeared shocked Emery. If it was not for his trust in the supreme being, Emery would have panicked. Instead, the determination that his eyes disyed grew even further, as the memory of his master''s death resurfaced.


    "Elder, tell me… what''s next!"


    "Now, you will perform the breakthrough of your nature core. Follow my instructions."


    Emery quickly fell into a trance-like state. Every word he heard spoken by the supreme being had an indescribable weight to it. It was some sort of incantation, formation runes that were used when one cast a spell. But instead of itsmonly known use, the incantation purposely functioned to guide and bring his consciousness into his spirit core – his nature core.


    "Good, you have an above-average quality of soul. It seems you did more than just tempering it. That will certainly give you more chances of sess."


    The tempering mentioned was the fact that he had mastered the [Soul Tempering Meditation - Book Two]. As for the other mention, Emery couldn''t help but recall the incident that happened at the body tempering facility during which his soul was severed. It was certainly an extraordinary instance of his life when he felt his soul was reinforced.


    As he followed Headmaster Altus'' instructions to great detail, before long, Emery could feel his soul manage to reach his nature core. This greatly exhrated him as it meant he was already halfway through in seeding his magus breakthrough. This was also the moment where hisprehension would be put to a trial.


    As soon as his sea of consciousness entered the vibrant green core, it quickly went and situated right in between the other eight pirs that were already formed, missing the one that he has not yet formed, but Emery just had to deal with what he had.


    —


    [Earth spirit - 3 pirs]


    [nt spirit - 2 pirs]


    [Light spirit - 2 pirs]


    [Water spirit - 1 pir]


    [974 spirit force found]


    The number that came into his mind was half of the total spirit force he had umted so far. It was the requisite energy he needed for the trial, and the first that came his way was the Trial of Earth Element. One that he understood the most.


    As soon as it started, Emery quickly found himself unable to move, his body felt hard and rigid like a rock. Just like an infant who needed to learn to walk after taking the first step, Emery was required to be able to take control of his rocky body to pass the trial.


    [Your understanding inw of elements were measured]


    It took him a while, but eventually, he became familiar with the heaviness of his body. As he began to take control, a notification suddenly entered his mind.


    [Spirit forced has been sessfully reformed into soul force]


    [Soul force has increased by 24 points]


    [You have seeded inprehending thew of Earth by 2%]


    Out of the three Earth pirs, only two managed to bepletely absorbed while the third one shattered apart. Even though he only managed to get an increase of 2% from the trial, Emery breathed a sigh of relief that he made it through.


    As soon as the Trial of Earth Element was over, Emery was quickly presented with the next one: the Trial of nt Element.


    It was nearly an identical test to its Earth counterpart, just this time Emery needed to feel the ''breath'' within a vast forest, from the roots into the many leaves. The trial was by no means easy, but soon enough the notification came.


    [Soul force has increased by 20 points]


    [You have seeded inprehending thew of nt by 2 %]


    Going against the pattern, the third trial was of Water Element. With rtively less understandingpared to the previous two elements and only one pir facing him, Emery couldn''t help but worry about this particr one.


    What he faced this time was a small pond that exuded a serene atmosphere. It was one so calm that he didn''t even know how to start. In the end, Emery was barely able to absorb the single Water pir. In fact, he was extremely grateful to be able to reach the minimum requirements to pass the trial.


    [Soul force has increased by 10 points]


    [You have seeded inprehending thew of Water by 1 %]


    With a totalprehension of 5%, Emery had a lot of expectations from his supposed-to-best trial – the Trial of Light Element. The element that he had recently spent a lot of time learning.


    Staring at the two brilliant pirs of Light, Emery showed a confident expression. He was ready to be tested. However, the trial didn''t go as he expected. In fact, it was such a different experiencepared to the other three.


    When the two Light pirs stood before him, Emery felt as if he was standing in front of two omnipotent beings scouring over his mind. It was as if his earnestness, his fate was being tested.


    As soon as the trial started, Emery knew immediately he had failed horribly, proven by the one pir that instantly shattered in front of him, leaving only one absorbed.


    [Soul force has increased by 11 points]


    [You have seeded inprehending thew of Light by 1 %]


    Immediately after, all fourprehensions ofws became walls that covered his soul. Layer byyer, theprehension ovepped each other until it turned into a crystallized core, which was what wasmonly known as a magus'' spirit soul.


    [You have sessfully advanced to the magus realm]


    [Law of Earth 2%]


    [Law of nt 2%]


    [Law of Water 1%]


    [Law of Light 1%]


    [Comprehension of thew - 6%]


    [Magus Realm - New Moon]


    [Soul force: 65]


    6% was generally considered an unsessful breakthrough into the magus realm, but given the bizarre circumstance Emery had, some would certainly argue it was aplete sess. Emery, on the other hand, regardless of sess or unsessful, would take anything as long as he could break the restraints that the grand magus had over him.


    Unfortunately, the breakthroughs only still barely allowed him to resist the bloodline''s restraints, let alone the grand magus'' overwhelming strength.


    But then, to his surprise, from the ashes of his nature core''s foundation, came a voice.


    A female one.