The basics of the ancient technique seemed quite simple as most of the five managed to break through a few stages in just one month.

The great thing about all these ancient techniques was that they worked as a supplement to the existing cultivation their practitioner had. Each technique would boost its practicioner's understanding toward related elements and also provide a little improvement of certain attributes.

For example, the [Nine Sun Divine Technique] would give its practitioner body regeneration capability, which subsequently made Thrax not exhaust himself as easily, but also improved his self-healing ability in prolonged battle. It was truly an ideal attribute for a battle-crazed person like him.

The [Nine Moon Divine Technique], on the other hand, would give a substantial increase to the spell power of its practitioner and related elements, which in Klea's case, wind and water element. With the myriad list of versatile spells in her repertoire, the improvement in spell power would certainly make her already powerful spells even more overwhelming.

The [Twelve Golden Bell Divine Technique] that Julian cultivated gave its practitioner an increased body durability, muscle hardness and bone density. To put it simply, an overall enhancement in the physique field. This would make Julian almost invincible being at the front.

As for Chumo's technique, it was a mystic art that had not much information about it. And thus, there was also not much he could say about it.

But for Emery himself, he discovered that the [Dao Divine Technique] allowed him to have more control over his spirit core, which was no small matter.

Every day, Emery drew spirit energy from both the [Nature Grasp] spell and his dark core to channel it toward his spirit seed, while giving his all to maintain the balance. With his gradually increased understanding of the Dao, he found out he could pour a larger amount of spirit energy from his dark core to the spirit seed.

His previous - one out of a hundred friction of the dark core - spirit seed had improved to a hundred, which was ten times larger. Even so, there was still a 100 times imbalance between the two.

Emery would stop and take a few hours each day to train in the Dao with his sword. However, the swordsmanship he practiced wasn't actually the two Han master sword techniques. Instead, he chose the swordsmanship he learnt in the Magus Academy as the basis and adapted the Dao into it.

This was the first time he tried to experiment with the creation of his own sword technique. It would be a sword technique using dual swords based on his understanding of Dao.

One sword would appear soft and flowing, while the other was fierce and hard. Sometimes, Emery's sword might look slow, but it would instantly turn into a fierce attack the next instant.

The sword practice helped Emery a lot in increasing his understanding of the Dao, controlling and maintaining the balance of his spirit energy.

Weeks passed, but Emery still hadn't managed to break through the 4th stage of the [Dao Divine Technique]. In addition, it had been more than six month since he had been cultivating his spirit seed, and there was still no visible progress.

Even so, this slow progress of his didn't make him nervous, because Emery knew he couldn't be hasty about this matter. Combining two contradictory forces was no small matter and needed to be done carefully, as the slightest mistake would cause irreversible consequences - something he truly couldn't afford.

Therefore, he kept marching day after day, doing the same thing diligently and constantly.

It took Emery a few more weeks of patience until the awaited notification finally came popping into his mind.

[You have obtained a new understanding of Dao, stage 4]

With the arrival of the notification, Emery could immediately perceive the changes brought by the breakthrough. He felt the channel was multiplying from its previous one to one hundred fractions into one tenth. And with that, he suddenly felt a deluge of energy gushing through the meridians of his body flowing into the spirit seed.

The torrent of spirit energy was so sudden Emery was caught off guard by it. As a result, he couldn't contain the intense flow of spirit energy properly.

He quickly stood up and started performing eight variations of the [Dao Divine Technique], using his entire physical body to help control the flow of energy and maintain the balance that was on the verge of collapse.

However, when Emery put his entire attention to controlling the raging energy inside his body, an unknown reaction suddenly occurred from the spirit seed that caused him to throw up blood.

The situation turned from bad to worse in an instant, Emery knew he had to do something now, before it was too late. He quickly sat down and gave his all to solve the dilemma he was currently experiencing.

However, it only took another minute before the unknown reaction occurred again, causing him to throw another mouthful of blood. The pain drowned out his physical body and Emery felt as if life was slipping out from him.

Understanding the critical situation he had unknowingly jumped into. Emery knew he needed to get his bearings together. He understood he would be beyond helping if he fainted at this moment. Therefore, he gritted his teeth and gave his all, persevering against the pain.

The excruciating pain quickly spreaded through his entire body and then made its way to his brain.

A life and death situation had arrived before Emery. In a moment like this, where he almost accepted the temptation, the image of his father suddenly came into Emery's mind.

He remembered how weak he was and how he was only a stupid, powerless boy when his father died. Ever since then, he had been trying hard to not experience the same feeling the second time.

Emery's eyes shot open, as his will blazed again. He would definitely not let his efforts go to waste like this.

Knowing the spirit flow coming from the dark core was too strong compared to the spirit seed's, Emery decided to stop his attempt of restraining and focused on his [Nature Grasp] spell instead. He wanted to use the spell to increase the nature element spirit energy within him, effectively solving the dilemma. But he quickly found out the spell's input wasn't enough.

The amount of spirit energy that [Nature Grasp] carried was incomparable to the spirit energy currently coursing through his body.

Emery started to lose his sight. Everything was becoming blurry, as his vision was gradually obscured by darkness.

Just as Emery was about to sink into the darkness, another reaction occurred in his body. An explosion of natural energy abruptly appeared from the spirit seed and circulated throughout his body.

Unexpectedly, this sudden development also caused a certain reaction to Emery's body. It was suddenly filled with power and gray fur began to appear on its skin.

[Fey Bloodline - Second Stage Transformation]

Emery was barely conscious and therefore had no control over his transformation. His body changed rapidly. Wolf-like fangs and claws appeared, which were then followed by a roar, as he broke the door of his training room.

The incident quickly alarmed everyone, but none of them were quick enough to stop Emery. Even so, there was already a figure standing in front of Emery's training room.

The figure was the little monk, Damo.

Emery, whose consciousness had slightly recovered, tried hard to control his body, but he soon realized he couldn't. His body was currently overwhelmed by the transformation's natural instinct for rage and blood.

Seeing Damo standing in front of his uncontrollable, massive body, Emery wanted to scream for him to run away and seek help, but that only came out as a roar of the ferocious wolf.

Immediately after, Emery's monstrous form charged towards the little monk without the former's control. Emery could only watch in horror as his sharp claws rapidly approached Damo's body, intent on ripping him apart.

Fortunately, a figure shrouded in golden light stopped Emery. It was the Abbot.

There was also Fjolnir, who swiftly summoned a hammer out of nowhere and slammed it into Emery's monstrous figure, pushing him backwards

"So that's him? No wonder he's strong!"

Fjolnir said, as he quickly summoned multiple chains and bound Emery's four limbs. Seeing that, the Abbot immediately followed by jumping towards the restrained Emery and hitting his forehead with his palm.

It was a very powerful strike, but it was followed by a calming energy that gradually made his consciousness blur.

During his semi-conscious state, he could tell that more people were coming and approaching him, which was then followed by a lot of energy being drawn into him.

Moments later, a notification he didn't expect appeared in his mind.

[Spirit seed has been fully nurtured]