Chapter 2357 Spring After the mid-exam, Emery once again qualified for the top Hall instructor reward. He entered the Myriad Spring of Life alongside Klea, both determined to make the most of their prize. The waters shimmered with a soft glow, rich in spirit energy, instantly providing a refreshing sensation as they immersed themselves. For the next three and a half days, they would bathe in this precious source of power. As the invigorating energy flowed through him, Emery closed his eyes, drawing inward. His consciousness drifted away from the physical realm, and soon he found himself within the familiar landscape of his personal domain. The sprawling green forest spread out beneath him, vibrant and lush. To the south, near the buzzing Chizpur village, lay his latest project—a spring lake, glowing faintly with the pulse of natural energy. Hovering above the lake, Emery began to channel the powerful spirit energy from the Myriad Spring into it. He watched as the water below began to stir and grow, its surface shimmering like liquid crystal under the flow of power. The lake expanded slowly, fed by the boundless energy of nature itself, the very essence of life pulsing through each drop. As the Myriad Spring continued to feed his domain, Emery felt the transformation take hold—both within his land and within himself. [Soul Force increases…] After a full day of concentrated effort, Emery felt a breakthrough. The connection between him and the natural world deepened. [You have successfully comprehended the law of Nature by 1%] [Law of Nature: 39 (40%)] With a calm breath, Emery smiled, feeling the new strength within him, knowing this was yet another step in mastering the natural forces around him. It took Emery five long months of dedicated cultivation with the Elysian Tree to gain just a 1% improvement in his mastery of nature. But here, in the Myriad Spring of Life, that same progress was achieved in just a single day. The sheer difference in the potency of this sacred spring left Emery both amazed and grateful, yet he knew he couldn't lose focus. As he continued channeling the spring's rich energy into his domain, the lake grew larger and more vibrant. Two more days passed, and Emery felt another surge of progress. His mind sharpened as more breakthroughs came to him. [Law of Nature: 40 (41%)] [Law of Light: 32 (33%)] In just three days, he had accumulated a total of 3% comprehension—a remarkable feat. While it may seem slow in the grand scheme of his ambitions, it was a rapid advancement compared to most other Magus, especially at such high levels of mastery. Emery understood that the path to the Grand Magus realm typically demanded decades of unwavering dedication and talent. He felt fortunate; his encounters and experiences had significantly expedited his journey. After his breakthroughs, Emery paused for a moment, letting VIA analyze his progress. A familiar display of numbers appeared in his mind: [Domain Size: 160 (168) square miles] [Energy Balance: Darkness 54%, Light 46%] The balance between light and darkness had remained unchanged for some time, a delicate equilibrium that Emery had been carefully maintaining. But with the surge of light energy he had absorbed from the Myriad Spring of Life, he decided it was time to act on a plan he had been considering. As spirit energy continued to flow into his domain, Emery turned his focus to the landscape. He began shaping the terrain, drawing energy from the spring to create a river that would run through the heart of his domain. The river started at the lake, winding its way through the lush green forest, nourishing the Elysian trees with every ripple of its flow. With careful precision, Emery extended the river toward the boundary where his two domains met—light and darkness. Slowly, he connected the new river to the one that divided the two energies. The waters shimmered with a blend of both forces as they began to merge. Emery watched closely, ensuring the balance remained stable as the energies intertwined. This river, he hoped, would serve as a bridge between the light and dark aspects of his domain, creating a more harmonious flow of energy between them. As the river's waters finally met, a palpable surge of energy swept through Emery's domain. On the eastern bank, Twik and the Chizpurs stood, their small forms trembling with anticipation. Across from them, Durak and the Dark Orcs watched in silence, their eyes fixed on the merging currents. Emery could feel the delicate shift in the balance of his domain. [Energy Balance: Darkness 53%, Light 47%] [Energy Balance: Darkness 52%, Light 48%] "Success!" Emery exclaimed the huge balance adjustment was a clear sign of progress. But just as he allowed himself a brief moment of triumph, the dark mountain that loomed over the western side began to tremble violently. The ground quaked, and chaos erupted on both sides. "Kuang!! Ku ku!!" Twik screeched, his tiny frame leaping back as the Chizpurs scattered in alarm, the Orcs on the other sides followed. "CHIWWIK!!" A massive fissure appeared, splitting the mountain from its peak all the way down into the river, carving a deep ravine that widened the divide between the two halves of the domain. What had once been a hopeful attempt to unite light and dark now threatened to tear them further apart. The ground beneath the river twisted violently, sending tremors rippling through the land. This resulted in yet another imbalance, setting the equilibrium back one level. [Energy Balance: Darkness 53%, Light 47%] Before Emery could react, a deep, guttural roar echoed from the northern island, where the ancient beast slumbered. Its fury reverberated through the domain, shaking the trees and waters alike. The creature, awoken by the instability, was now fully enraged, its roar like thunder as it bared its teeth at the disturbance. There was no time to dwell on the failed attempt—Emery had to calm the beast before its wrath made the situation worse. Emery spent the next few hours carefully settling and analyzing the situation. Balancing his two cores—light and dark—had always been a crucial part of his plan, the first step toward his eventual breakthrough into the Grand Magus realm. However, the recent events made it painfully clear that achieving that balance was far from easy. Even with his light energy reaching 48%, it wasn't enough. He would likely need a perfect 50/50 split before he could make another serious attempt to connect the two. Unfortunatly there was more at stake. The higher his nature core rose, the more agitated the Devouring Beast became. It was a delicate dance, one that required far more control and preparation than he had anticipated. As the energy from the Myriad Spring of Life began to wane, Emery knew his time was up. The three and a half days had passed, and though he had made progress, the work was far from complete. When he emerged, the sight of Klea's bright, elated expression lifted his spirits instantly. Just as they were about to leave the room, the door swung open, and in stepped Grand Magus Aurora, her presence commanding as always. "Congratulations, Emery," she said with a warm smile. "You have been selected as this year's most distinguished instructor."