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?System Alert! You have been bound to a weapon of unknown potential as well as origins! Information regarding this weapon has been placed in your mind. However, it is in a sealed state. Certain conditions have yet to be met to wield this weapon. Warning: Forcefully wielding this weapon before it unseals itself will kill you!? ??

'Wait...what? Not only do I not know how to invoke this weapon, utilizing it will kill me? What type of madness is this? Why the hell would it bond with me if this is the case? It's nonsense! If I'm not strong enough to wield it, what prompted it to do so?'

The questions in Apollo's mind increased. The most prominent one being—what the hell was the origin of this weapon and how did it end up in the treasury of their small family. Sadly, his questions possessed no answers for the time being.

[Hmm, what is wrong with this weapon? It seems archaic going beyond even my knowledge, however, it feels familiar at the same time. I'm curious as to why something like this appeared here. Wait.. I believe I've read something like this before. I believe it was mentioned along the lines of weapons being cast away from some plane unknown to even us.]

Although Apollo couldn't sense the weapon, Azridan could. In fact, it still resided on Apollo's hands. It was just trapped between dimensions, or it was better to say it concealed itself there as if hiding from something. Nevertheless, as it was now, Apollo was incapable of using it. Hence, he stopped dwelling on the matter.

Stowing large amounts of the pills capable of sparking his interest, he left. During his exit, he met Kayn awaiting his departure. As he saw him, however, he became curious. 'I wonder...' Apollo thought.

"Have you seen a glove inside that treasury before?" Apollo asked Kayn's unknowing as to whether or not the family was privy to this item being there.

"Gloves? As far as I know, I don't remember such an item being there. Seldom are knuckles used in this day and age. Instead, one would use gauntlets which can be seen as their counterpart increased lethality." Kayn responded, looking at Apollo's with a weird expression.

"Oh. Never mind then. Forget I've asked this question," Apollo rubbed his chin as his skepticism intensified. 'Not even he was aware of this thing then.. perhaps...I don't know.' Apollo shook his head unable to muster a viable conclusion, disappearing into the shadows.

Kayn's eyes widened as he watched Apollo disappear. Even his trained senses were unable to discern the half of his body engulfed by the shadows. "Hm? Is he of the Dark Element as his father was? Perhaps he also has the rare Spatial Element. If so, it could make the future level of cultivation easier."

Apollo came to a halt before his previous living area. 'This will do. It's quiet and that's just what I like.' Entering the area, he approached the small courtyard area. He took a seat before the tiny pond. After doing so, he retrieved the pills as well as the small remainder of Essence Cores in his possession.

Waving his hand, four pills appeared in his palms. Two white pills of different lusters, one dull red, and one faint blue one. He examined their qualities quietly, 'The grade isn't as pure as what Irauk supplied me with but they're the same rank nonetheless. It'll suffice for the amount of Experience I need.'

Two of them he was previously familiar with; the Essence Gathering Pill and the Foundation Forging Pill. Beyond those, there were two more. Despite not being of the best grade, the sheer volume he possessed them in made up for it.

Item Name: Essence Boosting Pill

Rank: Rank 1 Pill

Grade: Average

Information: Another pill vital to the cultivation of Mortal and Zul Warrior Cultivators. It allows the cultivator to compound the Natural Essence in one's body. If one possesses an awakened Dantian, it accelerates the rate at which the Essence is stored. However, depending on the grade and other factors, the amount varies.

Effect: When ingested, increases Experience by 1,000.

Item Name: Essence Purification Pill

Rank: Rank 1 Pill

Grade: Average

Information: As the name hints, it's a vital pill towards cultivators. Unlike the Foundation Forging Pill, this one focuses more so on the Essence. As a result, it purifies the essence, increasing its density.

Effect: Ingesting this pill rewards 1,200 Experience.

'Hmm.. boosting and purification. These seem more focused on Zul Warrior rather than a Mortal. If a normal mortal ingested these, most of their effects would go to waste. However, to me, these are just another source of experience.'

Throwing his head back, Apollo closed his eyes entering a state of cultivation as he inhaled pills in a frenzied manner. Continuing this handful after handful, he gained experience from the pills, as well as incorporated absorbing Natural Essence to boost the efficiency of cultivation. Equally important, the dark wisp interacted with the essences entering his body albeit faintly. The colors began to vary.

In this way, his night passed until the sun rose. Sadly, his large experience pool didn't allow him to level up in that one night. However, his meridians did thicken slightly. During these higher levels, it seemed the state of his meridians were directly linked to his level.

'Hm.. I should seek out Aaron. Battling him increases the rate of my body's digestion of that black wisp. It seems to have something to do with his body being fairly strong; I wonder what method he cultivates.'

Apollo rose to his feet, walking at a leisure pace to Aaron's place. Surprisingly, the door opened as he raised his hand revealing a hurried Aaron. Apollo was shocked, it was like Aaron was telepathic. After all, this all happened before he could even attempt to knock.

"Oh! Apollo! I was just coming to see you. Let's go. We have a day of sparring and cultivation to undergo," Aaron exclaimed. Apollo was unable to get a response out before being dragged by Aaron towards the training ground.

Once again, they were embroiled in battle. However, there were small differences. This time, Apollo increased the ruthlessness of his attacks. He didn't allow the possibility of Aaron's progress with dismissing his former mindset regressing. Furthermore, he wanted to better emulate the feeling of imminent danger.

As a result, this became his daily routine—a perpetual cycle of realistic sparring and endless consumption of resources—including that of the flesh of the Wyvern's corpse. With all this included, Apollo made great strides. So much so, in just two weeks he had returned to the state enabling him to ingest the Natural Blessings.

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Cross-legged before the small ponder he withdrew the Smoldering Spirit Accentuation Fruits. In its optimal state, he ingested the fruits without hesitation. Although it was painful, it didn't hold a candle to what he had experienced from those knuckles nor did it come close to his encounters in the forest.

However, it did show more benefits than the rest. Impurities were expelled from his body in large amounts. As for the process itself, it took a few days. During that time, Aaron had visited him multiple times, saw his state, and chose not to disturb him. historical

Apollo's eyes opened a lively glint circulating through them. Beyond that, there was an obscure yet unsettling vibe emanating from them.

?System Alert! Your Inner Physique has risen to the Top Tier of Spirit-Grade. In response, your level has been set to 99.?

?System Alert! The assimilation process is complete! Traces of demonic bloodline have been absorbed. Evolution meter has increased to 92.04%!?

'This feeling.. it's exhilarating!'

With a thought, the Natural Essence in a small radius seethed and was soon devoured! Once again, his absorption rate had increased. While it wasn't the strongest to be seen in the world, it was commendable. At the very least, in this family, there was no one else his age capable of this.

Instead of moving, Apollo continued his actions. During these passing days, the only thing on his agenda was to cultivate. As for the matters with Aaron, he continued with those as well. Just that it was limited to a shorter time. In exchange for the reduced time, Apollo increased the intensity of his onslaught.

In due time, over a month later, an echoing bell resounded throughout the estate awakening Apollo from his cultivating state. His eyes shimmered with an ominous light as word circulated throughout the estate. Whereas the message received excited him, it was unsettling to everyone else within the family.