Jacob placed his fingers on Juliet’s forehead and showed her the pathways she needed to circulate Qi through to get the Martial Technique to work.

“This is a very broad Martial Technique. It’s a Strengthening type, meaning that it will make your body stronger with the rise in levels of the Technique. It has 21 Belts. It was developed specifically for people with Constitutions like yours. The Sacred Queen Phoenix Constitution paired with this technique will make you insanely strong. Your body will be as tough as steel during the first three levels. However, once you reach the apex of this technique, it might evolve and get you a body as strong a real Phoenix.”

“Really?” Juliet seemed impressed.

“Yeah, but no one ever reached such a level. It’s sort of a legend.”

“What do you mean no one? Didn’t the change just start?”

“Yeah, I meant it sort of like that… Anyway!”

They had the Ancestral Bond, so they better take advantage of it, right?

Jacob showed her how to circulate her Qi to reach the first level. Knowing Juliet, it wouldn’t take too long.

While his palm was on her heart, the same organ started beating faster in response to his touch. Jacob knew that Juliet did not have feelings for him, but their closeness made them both blush quite a bit.

Some people never got such a deep bond, not even after a life side by side. It was rare, if not exceptional. That was the reason why the Ancestral Bond Technique was invented. It was rumored that initially, it had been meant for warriors to coordinate in the best possible way. The Earthers, though, viewed it as something to be used among lovers.

Stupid romantic humans, Jacob thought.

“Do you think we will fall in love?” Juliet asked, feeling the emotions Jacob was going through.

“It’s a risk, maybe? I don’t know, Juliet. It’s new for me too. I just thought that this Technique was born in other universes for warriors, sort of like Sparta. Warriors needed a great degree of coordination and trust. So what better solution than the Ancestral Bond?”

“Well, I hope that in our universe, we can do without the romance,” she snorted.

Jacob looked at the fit and beautiful woman, as beautiful as she was ill-mannered.

“Don’t worry, Ralph, the more time I spend with you, the safer I am.”

Juliet raised her fist but then decided to spare him.

“Don’t give me that attitude, mister. I will kick your ass if you f*ck up, understood?”

Jacob raised both thumbs and backpedaled quickly.

“The technique will work without insights for the first three Belts. This Technique is called the Sacred Phoenix Body Transcension. Then, from the 4th onward, you will feel your constitutions slowly guiding you and showing you things.”

“Things?”

“Yeah, mystical visions and stuff. Don’t worry. You’ll know when it happens”, Jacob laughed.

“Wow, next time, I’ll go ask Frederick for help. Maybe he knows more than you”, Juliet said.

“Oh really?” Jacob laughed. He was not fifteen and would not get hung up for a simple joke.

“Maybe you should ask some questions to Lucia. She probably has much advice to give you,” Jacob mimed a squeezing motion on his chest.

Lucia was particularly gifted in one department where Juliet was quite lacking.

Juliet’s face darkened visibly, and her eyes locked onto him.

“You are so dead, you fuc**r.”

His aunt Linda came out right on time, moments before Juliet could pounce on him and kick his ass for good.

“Jacob, I think I made it to the 3rd level with my Mana. But, I can feel a resistance from the next one. My Mana seems to be stickier and denser, however. It’s hard to describe.”

“Oh, auntie, you didn’t just get to the 3rd level of the Cockroach realm. You got to the peak of the 3rd level… It’s time you learn some magic!”

“Finally!” her aunt fist-pumped in the air, more excited than anyone else. Her delusional Xianxia dreams had finally come true. She couldn’t wait to slap some young’s and give no face to nobles and—and.

“Auntie? Where are you looking at? Are you ok?”

His aunt had just been lost in the realm of dreams.

“What are we going to learn?” she asked, still jumping on the spot. She was small and cute, even though she indeed did not look like a model.

“You have a natural affinity for Fire and Earth, with a minor one for Crystal Minerals, if you remember. Fire and Earth can be combined into a Magma specialization later on; however, we will stick with some simple Fireball and Earth Wall for now. Once you master those two, you will have a foundation for more complicated spells. No apocalyptic spell, for now, I fear.”

Her aunt grumbled but nodded. Her dreams of grandeur had just been shattered.

“Auntie, I could teach you showy spells, but they would not be as effective as the mastered versions of the basic ones. You need a foundation. No other human will have one, whereas you and Juliet will be faster and stronger in the long term. I’ll go teach something to Joseph too. I think I have pinned down a couple of simple Techniques that will make him strong enough.”

He briefly showed his aunt the chants, the optional hand gestures, and which Meridians to use. Then, he would pick her mistakes later so that she could improve incrementally.

While crossing the door, he found Joseph sleeping soundly on the couch, apparently exhausted by all the adrenaline he had produced today.

“I know, buddy, it’s not easy,” Jacob muttered.

He felt almost paternal toward the little kid who was struggling to make it in this new world. He did not know whether he could trust him or not. But he knew that Joseph was just immature. Even his behavior toward dear Mr. Michelis was just him being an arrogant child. Seeing monsters and people die had gone a long way in having him mature faster, in any case.

But now, Jacob had to push toward the 2nd level of the Cockroach realm! After all that happened, he would take a little shortcut.

In his past life, he had been an incredible Alchemist. It was now time to get the old bag of tricks out once again!