"An agreement...? What kind of agreement?" asked Noah, trembling as he took a small step back and crouched down. With the serpent's eyes closed, he couldn't see anything else in that place—not even her.
"I'll let you take everything here for yourself."
"...But I can keep everything after you die, can't I?" Noah replied, his body trembling and a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Ha! ...You're right, human. You could indeed take everything here once I'm gone, but you know that even in this state, I can easily kill you, don't you?" retorted the serpent, straining hard to lift her head a little from the ground and open her eyes.
`[Warning!]`
`[She's absolutely correct – you'd die without even knowing how or when it happened!]`
"Haha... how nice to hear that..."
Trembling, Noah emerged from what he assumed was a pile of stones where he had been hiding and tried to approach—but without success. The sheer pressure of that creature's presence forced him to recoil.
"...Okay, I'll make a deal with you; just tell me what I need to do," said Noah, his body still trembling yet his posture firm as he stared into the half-open eyes of the semi-dragon.
"...You will be the first human I ever trust, so you'd better not betray that trust!"
"Don't worry—agreements and promises are very important to me, so there's simply no way I could ever betray you." Noah asserted, adding, "Otherwise, I wouldn't be any different..."
A clicking of the tongue echoed.
"...Alright, human, I want you to do one thing only: take care of my son and make sure that he can ascend to become a Legendary Dragon, so that he doesn't end up with a fate like mine."
The semi-dragon declared, a tear streaming down its immense face, its eyes slowly closing as it thought, "Please, human..."
And, unable to hold on any longer, the semi-dragon succumbed to its injuries.
Seeing the complete silence that followed, Noah quickly realized that the semi-dragon was gone. Not even the pressure that had been restraining him seemed to exist anymore. And although he did not particularly feel sympathy for that serpent, he bowed to pay his respects to a mother who—unlike his own—truly cared about her child.
"Taking care of your child... first I have to manage to stand up to do something like that."
Unable to plant his right leg on the ground, he deduced that it must be broken—while his other leg had barely enough strength to keep him upright for a few moments at best. His arms wouldn't move, of course, as they had been mangled during his descent.
Suddenly, a strong, strange odor permeated the area, nearly making him vomit. Noah noticed a warm, viscous liquid seeping under his legs and asked,
— "What is that...?"
`[Semi-dragon blood – it's a very rare material used in cultivation and, perhaps, for making pills.]`
"Maybe...?"
`[No one in this realm can produce it, so it would only be useful in the higher worlds.]`
Noah felt a comforting warmth envelop him as the blood spread around him.
"Does... does this blood have any healing properties...?"
`[Not exactly. However, by using it you could enhance your cultivation and, therefore, repair your body once again.]`
"Enhance my cultivation... By the way, until now you haven't explained to me how I'm supposed to cultivate."
`[...Didn't I say it?]`
"No!" shouted Noah, irritated with the system.
`[Okay, my mistake. I should have explained that to you earlier. To make it up to you, I'm going to tell you one of my duties!]`
"Duties? What duties? Wasn't it just for you to bring me into this world and stay by my side?"
`[Negative!]`
`[I also need to assist you in your quest for power, helping you in every possible way! And one of my duties is to provide you with the technique to start your training, along with some information about cultivation once you arrive in this world!]`
"Huh? ...And with that, will I be able to absorb the semi-dragon's blood?"
`[Affirmative!]`
"Hmm, alright then, so how do you – Aaaaaaahh!!"
Before Noah could finish speaking, an immense pain exploded in his head, causing him to cry out in agony as he writhed on the ground, spinning amidst the sticky blood that was spreading around him.
`[Warning!]`
`[The transfer of information has been initiated!]`
`[The basic knowledge regarding the cultivation system will be transferred to you, along with the basic Anti-hero cultivation technique!]`
`[11%!]`
At first, the information about the initial levels of cultivation flooded Noah's mind.
`[29%!]`
He saw words darting in every direction, forming sentences and inundating him with knowledge about this new world he now finds himself in.
`[56%!]`
Body Refinement is only the beginning—it's far from something easily achieved. Somehow, even the pain necessary to reach it was conveyed to Noah on some level. One must push oneself to the point of repeatedly breaking one's own bones, only to use Qi to heal and fortify them along with the muscles and organs.
`[65%!]`
Moving on to Qi Refinement, where the manipulation of energy truly begins. But it is only during the Qi Foundation that the energy becomes entirely yours—when your central dantian is formed. During Condensation, a new power is awakened. However, it is only after the Foundation is established that new levels will be revealed.
`[74%!]`
The Golden Core is magnificent—formed in the sea of consciousness. Yet it pales in comparison to the Nascent Soul, which grows pure and unblemished—paving the way for a true step toward ascension.
`[92%!]`
Even stranger words emerged—confusing, yes, but so familiar. Noah immediately understood them, grasping their incantation and their purpose.
`[100%!]`
`[The transfer of information has been completed successfully!]`
*Cough! Cough!*
"...Next time, warn me before doing something like that! That hurt, damn it!" he exclaimed, irritated.
`[...Understood!]`
`[Should I activate the energy absorption assistance?]`
"Assistance...? Yes, activate it."
Closing his eyes, he was unable to assume the ideal position required for the technique to take effect—unable to cross his legs and with his arms immobile. However, it wasn't long before he could perceive countless tiny bright dots swirling around him—so many that it was impossible to ignore them.
"Was it supposed to be this quick? Or... am I a genius...?!" he said, feeling confident.
`[Actually, the concentration of Qi in the semi-dragons' blood is so intense that, to be honest, you took longer than expected to sense the energy around you—it's been over 5 hours since you began meditating.]`
"Tsk! Killjoy... According to what I understand, I must concentrate the energy to fortify my body first, right? In a continuous cycle of destruction and reconstruction. Is there no faster way to do this? And one that is less... painful, too?"
`[I'm afraid not. This is an essential stage in cultivation, so if you choose to approach it carelessly, it could severely impact your progress in the future. Perhaps even permanently stall it.]`
"So it's 'no pain, no gain,' huh..." Noah sighed. "All right... let's get on with it then!"
Closing his eyes, he ignored the pain and tried to control his breathing once more. The energy around him was vivid—like incandescent points resembling stars. The warmth of being enveloped in it was comforting, but the pressure made him feel suffocated, as if each of those tiny stars were forcefully pushing his body downward.
The first mantra echoed in his mind, soothing him. However, only the second one needed to be spoken at this moment:
"Like a river merging with the sea,
I open my being to the energy that stretches along the vast trails of the universe.
Each breath captures the pulse of creation,
Where gentle yin intertwines with the vigor of yang,
Transforming lightness into dynamic and precise momentum.
In the embrace of movement, I receive the cosmic current,
Which accelerates my spirit with the swiftness of the wind
And, with skill, transforms it into serene and controlled power.
Thus, I feel the harmony of opposites,
Where darkness accentuates the light, and the light, with its speed, guides the way.
With every beat of my heart, the universe reveals itself,
And I become the channel through which ancient energy flows with mastery.
All is one and all in one,
With universal energy within me, I attune myself,
I allow myself to experience life
And I become the place where it dwells in vast and beautiful infinity."
As the chant was repeated precisely, the scattered points of light converged around Noah. The pain was indescribable—his bones twisted, cracked, and mended while his muscles and organs were simultaneously injured and fortified by a Qi that seemed to flow infinitely.
He lost all sense of time, fully aware that it no longer mattered. There was no turning back. If he tried to give up, death would come instantly—his muscles would shatter, his organs would fail, and the bones throughout his body might even pierce his heart.
After a sudden crack—one so subtle he almost didn't notice, as the overwhelming pain was all that hit him—Noah realized he could move his legs normally again. He crossed them while continuing the chant.
Soon, his arms extended as his bones began to reconstruct. The pain throughout his body was so intense that, for a moment, his mind seemed to go blank. But then clarity returned, and the first mantra resonated in his mind: "Balance," he declared, regaining calm, focus, and control.
Interlocking his fingers, he formed a circle in front of his abdomen. One more verse, and it all ended.
"And I become the place where it dwells in vast and beautiful infinity. Vital Flow."
When Noah opened his eyes, he couldn't have been more ecstatic. The pain had vanished, and the darkness was no longer at his side—he could see everything. The bones of creatures scattered throughout the area—which he had once mistaken for mere pebbles—and, most notably, the ghastly creature hanging upside down in the hole through which he had entered: the semi-dragon.
"Aaahh! That was more painful than I expected. But it seems worth the cost, I guess."
He stretched, extending his limbs. The smell of blood, mixed with the sticky substance now coating his body, churned his stomach.
"How long was I doing that? Half an hour? Fifty minutes, maybe?"
`[120 hours have passed since the beginning of your meditation—that is, 5 days.]`
"5 days?!" Noah exclaimed, his mouth agape.
`[Normally, it takes years to surpass Body Refinement—a few prodigies even take months. Thanks to that creature's blood, you achieved it in just a few hours. Isn't that something to be happy about?]`
"Yes, I suppose... But 5 days is still a long time...!"
After much hesitation, he cautiously approached the serpent. Even though it was dead, its expression and presence remained terrifying.
"She's really dead, huh...?"
Noah circled around the immense creature, searching for the spot where its blood had been flowing from the very beginning. His legs trembled, and he avoided touching it as much as possible.
"That smell is almost killing me, but since I'm already in this state, I might as well take advantage of it, right?"
He sat down right where the blood continued to gush, albeit with less intensity now, and resumed his meditation.
So many questions flooded his mind—among them, why he hadn't felt hungry even after five days. But now that he was in a world where mystical creatures and extraordinary powers existed, Noah decided such thoughts could wait.
Now, the energy cascading over him was remarkably pure—and intense too, as if wave after wave, a succession of tsunamis, were crashing over his head. He couldn't understand why, but he believed it must be good for his cultivation. After all, the more Qi he accumulated, the better, right?
Phew...
Eventually, the blood flow ceased, and with it, the rush of energy diminished considerably. After wiping his eyes, Noah stood up.
"...Nothing's changed, huh?"
`[The changes brought about through cultivation are initially internal, not external.]`
"Yeah, yeah, I know... wait, did you say 'initially'?" he asked.
`[Yes! Small changes typically occur upon reaching higher levels of cultivation—changes in stature, hair color, and in some cases, even extra limbs.]`
"Extra limbs..?!" Noah gasped, a chill running down his spine.
`[Want to know how much time has passed this time?]`
"Hmm, no, better not. I think it's some ridiculous number again, so I don't even want to know."
`[216 days have passed.]`
"Hey! I said I didn't want to know...!"
Despite his protest, Noah was truly astonished by what the system had revealed. He had expected the passage of time to be noticeable, sure, but not nearly this much—in his estimation, at most another day should have passed.
"You said that the bodies of these creatures can be useful, right? So what do I do? I don't want to just leave something like this behind."
`[Should I put the semi-dragon's body in your inventory?]`
"Inventory...? You have an inventory?" Noah asked.
`[Yes.]`
Noah complied, and in the very next moment, the grotesque body of the serpent vanished from his sight. The passage to the exit was open again, even though he still had no idea how he would climb out of this place.
"...Do you know where her child is?" he asked hesitantly. Even though he thought leaving would be best, after having made his promise, he just couldn't do it—he couldn't allow himself to break it.
`[Will you really take care of the semi-dragon's child?]`
"As I said before, promises and agreements are extremely important to me," Noah replied with a sigh, mentally chastising himself for his own words.
`[Alright, then I'll show you the way!]`
Noah followed the system's instructions to reach what was likely the location of the dragon's child, but the deeper he ventured into the tunnel, the more confused and disoriented he became.
"But what the... damn! Is this some kind of labyrinth?!" he shouted in frustration, losing count of how many times it seemed like he had passed through the same area.
`[Affirmative!]`
`[And it spans about 50,000 kilometers!]`
"50,000 kilometers?! I'm not going to walk all that! Don't you have a faster way to get to her child?" Noah demanded, collapsing onto the ground from mental exhaustion after endless wandering.
`[Negative!]`
`[Didn't you say that promises and agreements are very important to you? You're not thinking about breaking one, are you?]`
"Damn...! Always this mouth of mine!" Noah exclaimed as he got up, brushing off the dirt that still clung to his clothes. The buildup of blood and impurities made everything stick to him instantly—even the ambient dust.
Without overthinking it, Noah resumed his aimless sprint through the tunnels, following nothing but the system's guidance. After a long run, the system notified him that he was nearly at the location of the dragon's child.
However, just before reaching his destination, Noah fell into what appeared to be a trap—a huge hole concealed beneath the uneven terrain of the path.
"Damn!" he exclaimed, realizing he was about to fall.
"Aaaaaahh...!" he cried out.
"Huh...? Why am I not feeling anything...? Am I dead already?" he wondered, eyes shut tight.
`[Noah, you didn't die...]`
"You wish! I nearly had a heart attack just now!"
After a few moments of recovery, he got up and opened his eyes, only to be confronted by another enormous body before him.
"Wow...! What is this...?" he murmured in awe.
Impressed by the massive form of a creature that resembled a bird, he kept a safe distance, hesitant to get closer. Even though it lay motionless, the avian creature was breathtakingly beautiful; its body feathers shimmered with an enchanting blue flame, and its tail feathers glowed with an intense, icy blue fire.
`[Warning!]`
`[This is a Legendary Phoenix!]`
`[Legendary phoenixes are considered equal to dragons—just as powerful as they are at their peak!]`