He rode through the fading night. The forest had grown quieter after Lilith's appearance. No beasts attacked. No scouts followed. The red signature lingered at the edge of his Qi Sense—distant, patient, never closing the gap. She was waiting. He knew it. But he would not rush into her offer. Not yet.
The stallion moved slower now. Tired from the long ride. Dymas guided it off the trail into a sheltered hollow between two low hills. Thick ferns grew here.Qi gathered in the hollow, drawn by the stone and the water. He found a good place to rest and a better place to train.
He dismounted and tied the reins to a sturdy branch. The horse drank deep from the spring and lowered its head to graze.
Dymas walked to the center of the hollow and set the axe against a rock. Kept the spear in hand. The qi-infused blade caught the faint dawn light, gleaming with a subtle blue edge.
He had bought the upgrade in the village. Felt it settle into the weapon. Now he needed to test what it could really do.
He started simple. Basic stance. Feet shoulder-width. Spear held vertical. He breathed deep. Inhaled qi from the air. Exhaled through his mouth. The Auto-Cultivation Module pulled steady. He added focus. Guided the qi down his arms. Into the spear.
The blade hummed faintly. A thin layer of energy coated the metal.
He swung once. Slow arc. The air parted clean. No drag. The qi trail lingered for a second, visible like faint smoke.
Better than before.
He sped up. Thrust forward. Jab. Sweep. Spin. Each movement sharper. The spear felt like an extension of his arm. Basic Sword Intent flowed easier now. The qi-infused upgrade amplified it. Cuts left deeper grooves in the air.
He stopped. Breathing even. Sweat beaded on his forehead. Black hair clung to his neck. The silver scar on his cheek pulled when he smiled small.
Not enough.
He needed something real. A technique. Not just intent. A named move. Something to carry power when he faced sects.
He sat on a flat rock. Pulled out the Advanced Qi Circulation booklet from the cave. Flipped to the combat section. Diagrams showed hand seals. Breathing cycles. Ways to condense qi into strikes.
One caught his eye: Cursed Shadow Slash.
Description simple. Channel cursed qi (or any tainted energy) through the weapon. Release in a crescent arc. The slash carries corrosive properties. Eats through defenses. Leaves lingering damage.
Perfect for his curse.
He stood again. Closed his eyes. Felt the stored cursed qi inside—remnants from fights, from Seraphina's frost, from his own blood before the full conversion.
He guided it. Slow. Careful. Down his meridians. Into his right arm. Into the spear.
The blade darkened. Black veins spread along the metal. Faint purple glow at the edge.
He opened his eyes.
Stance low. Spear back.
He stepped forward. Twisted his hips. Swung in a wide horizontal arc.
"Cursed Shadow Slash."
The words came natural. The qi released.
A black crescent flew from the blade. Thin. Curved. Trailing purple smoke. It cut through the air. Hit a tree twenty paces away. Bark shredded. Wood blackened. A line of rot spread from the cut. The tree groaned. Leaves wilted along the branch.
The slash faded.
Dymas exhaled. The spear returned to normal. No recoil. No pain.
Technique learned: Cursed Shadow Slash Lv.1
Damage: Corrosive qi +20%. Lingering decay effect.
Cost: 400 qi per use. Cooldown: 1 minute.
He tested again. Smaller swing. The crescent smaller. Hit a boulder. Stone cracked. Black veins spread across the surface.
Strong.
He practiced for hours. Swing after swing. Adjusting stance. Breathing. Qi flow. The crescent grew sharper. Faster. The decay effect stronger.
By midday his arms burned. Sweat soaked his tunic. But the technique felt natural now. Like breathing.
He stopped. Drank from the spring. Ate the last of the dried meat. The stallion rested in shade.
Qi Sense flared.
The red signature moved closer. Not attacking. Circling.
Lilith Noir stepped from the trees at the hollow's edge. Wings half-spread. Tail swaying. Amber eyes locked on him.
She clapped slow. Mocking. But her smile looked real.
"Impressive, little prince. That slash… dark. Hungry. Like me."
Dymas lowered the spear.
"You've been following."
Lilith walked forward. Hips swaying. Robe clinging to her curves. Breasts heavy. Skin red and smooth in the sunlight.
"I told you I would be close."
She stopped five paces away.
"You're growing fast. Too fast. The sects will feel it soon."
Dymas met her gaze.
"I know."
Lilith tilted her head. Horns caught the light.
"Dual cultivation would make you grow faster. My essence. Your curse. Combined. Breakthroughs in days. Not weeks."
Dymas felt the pull again. Heat in his blood. Not just temptation. Something deeper.
He shook his head.
"Not yet."
Lilith laughed low.
"Stubborn. I like that."
She stepped closer. Tail brushed the ground.
"But when you're ready… call me."
She spread her wings. Red membrane stretched wide.
"I'll come."
She leaped. Wings beat once. She vanished into the trees.
Dymas watched the spot.
The hollow went quiet.
He picked up the spear.
Practiced the slash one more time.
The crescent cut deeper.
Stronger.
He mounted the stallion and rode east.
The path ahead curved toward distant mountains.
He would return.
And they would pay.