The night was unusually quiet.
Ashwood Village slept peacefully beneath a sky filled with countless stars, their silver light washing over the wooden rooftops like a calm river.
The laughter from the evening meal had long faded, leaving only the gentle chorus of crickets and the distant rustling of leaves from the Azure Forest.
I couldn’t sleep.
The leather pouch containing the six Spirit Stones rested beside my bed.
Even through the thick leather, I could feel a faint warmth radiating from them.
The Origin Core seemed…
excited.
Every few minutes, it pulsed against my chest, almost as if urging me to begin.
Grandma Mira’s soft breathing echoed from the other side of the room.
I carefully stood, making sure not to wake her.
Taking the pouch, I quietly stepped outside.
A cool breeze greeted me.
The moon hung high above Ashwood, illuminating the path leading to the ancient monument at the center of the village.
Without thinking, my feet carried me there.
The monument stood alone beneath the moonlight.
Ancient.
Silent.
Watching.
Yesterday it had shaken the heavens.
Tonight it looked like nothing more than weathered stone.
I placed my hand against its rough surface.
For a long moment…
Nothing happened.
Then—
Thump.
The Origin Core answered.
Golden veins spread beneath the stone like flowing rivers of light.
The runes carved into the monument slowly awakened, glowing one after another.
A familiar blue window appeared before my eyes.
Origin Core
Cultivation Sequence Detected
Location Compatibility: 100%
Spirit Density: High
Recommended Action:
Begin Opening the First Origin Meridian
“So this is the place…”
I slowly removed one Spirit Stone from the leather pouch.
It was no larger than a walnut.
Translucent blue light shimmered within it like liquid trapped inside crystal.
The moment I held it in my palm, an overwhelming wave of pure spiritual energy surged toward me.
The air around the monument changed.
The night breeze stopped.
Even the insects fell silent.
The Origin Core released another pulse.
Tutorial Activated
Step One
Hold the Spirit Stone.
Clear your thoughts.
Feel the flow of spirit energy.
Do not resist.
I took a deep breath.
Closing my eyes, I relaxed my grip.
At first…
Nothing.
Then a strange sensation spread through my fingers.
It felt like warm water flowing beneath my skin.
The energy slowly traveled through my arm, moving toward my chest.
The instant it touched the Origin Core—
Pain exploded throughout my body.
“Ugh…!”
I collapsed to one knee.
It wasn’t ordinary pain.
It felt as though countless burning needles were piercing every bone, every muscle, every vein.
My breathing became ragged.
Sweat poured down my forehead despite the cool night air.
The Spirit Stone glowed brighter.
The energy refused to stop.
Warning
Host’s meridians are rejecting spiritual energy.
Initiating emergency stabilization.
Golden light burst from my chest.
Instead of allowing the violent spiritual energy to spread uncontrollably, the Origin Core gathered it into a single point.
Slowly…
The unbearable pain began to lessen.
I gasped for air.
“What…”
“…was that?”
Explanation
Ordinary cultivators absorb spirit energy through naturally awakened meridians.
Host possesses Dormant Origin Meridians.
Additional synchronization is required.
“Dormant Origin Meridians…”
So I wasn’t unable to cultivate.
I simply possessed something completely different.
I looked down at the Spirit Stone.
Nearly half of its energy had already disappeared.
Yet I hadn’t advanced at all.
A bitter smile crossed my face.
“No wonder the success rate was only thirty-one percent.”
Suddenly, footsteps echoed behind me.
I turned instantly.
Standing at the entrance of the square was Grandma Mira.
She wore a thick shawl over her shoulders, her expression filled with concern.
“I knew I’d find you here.”
I quickly hid the Spirit Stone behind my back.
“I couldn’t sleep.”
She smiled knowingly.
“You’ve never been good at hiding things.”
For several moments, she simply gazed at the moon.
Then she spoke.
“Your grandfather used to come here whenever he was troubled.”
I looked at her in surprise.
“He did?”
She nodded.
“He believed this monument listened.”
A faint laugh escaped her lips.
“Everyone thought he was a fool.”
She gently touched the weathered stone.
“But he always said…”
“‘Some stones remember more than people do.'”
Her words sent a chill through me.
Did Kael’s grandfather know something about this monument?
Or was it only an old man’s belief?
Before I could ask, the Origin Core pulsed once more.
The monument’s runes flickered faintly beneath my hand.
Grandma Mira didn’t seem to notice.
Only I could see the golden light.
Then, deep beneath the village…
Something answered.
A low vibration echoed through the earth.
Not loud enough for ordinary ears.
But loud enough for the Origin Core.
A new notification appeared.
Unknown Energy Signature Detected
Source:
Beneath Ashwood Village
Status:
Dormant
My heartbeat quickened.
The monument…
Wasn’t the only secret hidden beneath Ashwood.
The notification lingered before my eyes.
Unknown Energy Signature Detected.
Location: Beneath Ashwood Village.
I stared at the glowing words, my heart pounding against my ribs.
“Beneath…
the village?”
The Origin Core remained silent.
It had warned me, but—as always—it refused to explain.
I glanced at Grandma Mira.
She was looking peacefully at the night sky, completely unaware of the golden runes flickering across the ancient monument.
Whatever was happening…
Only I could perceive it.
A faint vibration traveled through the ground once again.
This time it lasted only a heartbeat.
Then everything became still.
I slowly withdrew my hand from the monument.
The golden light disappeared instantly.
“So…”
“You’ve decided to keep your secrets.”
Grandma Mira stood up and dusted off her shawl.
“It’s getting late.”
“You should rest.”
I smiled weakly.
“I’ll come in soon.”
She stopped after taking a few steps.
Without turning around, she quietly said,
“Kael…”
“No matter what road you choose…”
“Don’t carry every burden alone.”
“There are people who care about you.”
For a moment, I couldn’t answer.
Those simple words carried more warmth than I had expected.
“I know.”
“And…”
“Thank you.”
She nodded before slowly returning toward the cottage.
Watching her disappear into the darkness, I felt a strange mixture of gratitude and guilt.
I still hadn’t told her the truth.
Not because I wanted to deceive her…
But because I didn’t know how.
Would anyone believe that the Kael they knew had died?
Or would they simply think I had lost my mind?
The answer didn’t matter.
Some truths were better left buried.
At least…
For now.
I looked down at the Spirit Stone still resting in my hand.
Its once brilliant blue glow had faded considerably.
Almost half of its energy had already been consumed.
Yet my cultivation had not advanced.
The Origin Core suddenly pulsed.
A new notification appeared.
Cultivation Analysis
Spirit Energy Absorbed: 48%
Energy Successfully Refined: 4%
Efficiency: Extremely Low
Reason:
First Origin Meridian remains sealed.
Recommendation:
Attempt direct synchronization.
“Direct synchronization?”
The words had barely left my mouth before the Origin Core reacted.
A warm current spread from my chest throughout my body.
Unlike before, it wasn’t painful.
It felt…
As if someone was carefully guiding the flow of spiritual energy.
The remaining energy inside the Spirit Stone slowly left the crystal and entered my body.
This time, instead of scattering wildly, it followed a single path toward my heart.
The Origin Core shone brighter.
Golden lines spread beneath my skin like tiny rivers of light.
Pain returned.
But it was different.
Controlled.
Purposeful.
I gritted my teeth.
“I can handle this…”
The pressure inside my chest continued to build.
Every breath became heavier.
Every heartbeat echoed louder than the last.
Then—
Crack.
A sound echoed inside my body.
Not a bone.
Something else.
Something invisible.
The pressure vanished instantly.
Warmth flooded every part of my body.
The cool night air suddenly felt unbelievably clear.
I could hear leaves rustling dozens of meters away.
I could smell damp soil after yesterday’s rain.
Even the flow of spiritual energy surrounding the monument became faintly visible.
The Origin Core displayed another window.
Congratulations
First Origin Meridian: Partially Opened
Synchronization Increased.
20% → 24%
Current Cultivation:
Body Tempering Realm – Half Step
New Ability Unlocked:
Origin Sense (Basic)
A smile spread across my face.
“I actually did it.”
Not completely.
But it was progress.
Real progress.
I closed my eyes once more.
The world felt…
different.
Tiny particles of pale blue light drifted through the air like glowing fireflies.
Some floated among the trees.
Others gathered around the ancient monument.
So this…
Was spirit energy.
Something ordinary people couldn’t see.
Suddenly—
Rustle.
My eyes snapped open.
Someone was moving near the edge of the forest.
I quickly stood and focused my senses.
At first…
Nothing.
Then I noticed it.
A faint spiritual aura.
Weak.
But definitely present.
A small silver fox cautiously stepped out from the bushes.
Its fur shimmered beneath the moonlight, and a single blue marking decorated its forehead.
The fox looked directly at me.
Not with fear.
With curiosity.
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
Then the little fox tilted its head before letting out a soft cry.
“Kyu…”
The Origin Core reacted immediately.
Spirit Beast Detected
Species:
Moonlight Spirit Fox
Threat Level:
None
Affinity:
Unknown
The fox blinked once.
Then, as quickly as it had appeared, it disappeared back into the forest.
I stood there in silence.
Spirit Beast…
The first one I had seen that wasn’t trying to kill someone.
Perhaps…
Not every creature in this world was an enemy.
As dawn approached, the eastern sky slowly brightened.
I looked once more toward the distant mountains where the Azure Sword Pavilion lay hidden beyond the horizon.
My journey had finally begun.
I wasn’t strong.
I wasn’t special.
Not yet.
But today…
I had taken my first real step as a cultivator.
Far away, atop the highest peak of the Azure Sword Pavilion, the silver-haired swordswoman opened her eyes during meditation.
For a brief moment, she looked toward the distant direction of Ashwood Village.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
“He succeeded…”
She whispered.
Without realizing it…
The First Heir had just opened the path that countless ancient beings had waited thousands of years to witness.