Morning training began not long after Evan stepped outside.
The estate grounds were still quiet. Thin mist lingered above the grass, slowly dissolving as the rising sun warmed the earth.
Lyra stood at the center of the training yard with her arms crossed, watching Evan carefully.
"Again," she said calmly.
Evan exhaled slowly.
His muscles were still sore from yesterday, but he lifted the wooden practice sword anyway.
He had started practicing weapons now. After taking his first life, the next logical step was learning how to use a blade properly.
The blade felt slightly heavier than usual.
He stepped forward and swung.
The motion cut through the air with a soft whoosh.
Then another.
And another.
Lyra's sharp eyes followed every movement.
"No," she said after a moment.
Evan stopped mid-swing.
"What?"
"Your stance collapsed halfway through the strike."
Evan frowned slightly.
"I thought it was fine."
Lyra walked closer and lightly tapped his leg with her foot.
"Your balance shifted forward."
She adjusted his shoulder position with one hand.
"When you strike, your entire body must support the movement."
She stepped back slightly.
"Again."
Evan nodded.
He lifted the practice sword and tried once more.
This time, he focused more carefully.
His feet remained planted.
His shoulders stayed steady.
The strike flowed more smoothly.
Lyra nodded faintly.
"Better."
Evan allowed himself a small breath of relief.
But just as he prepared for the next movement—
Echo's familiar voice appeared in his mind.
[Master.]
Evan blinked.
He had almost forgotten she was there.
Yes?
Echo's voice carried a faint curiosity.
[There is a slight irregularity in the surrounding spiritual energy.]
Evan paused.
'Irregularity?'
[Correct.]
[Ambient Qi density has increased by approximately 12% within a five-meter radius of Master.]
Evan looked around the training yard.
Nothing seemed different.
Lyra noticed his distraction.
"Why did you stop?"
Evan hesitated slightly.
"I… thought I felt something."
Lyra's expression sharpened immediately.
"What kind of something?"
Evan struggled to explain.
"I'm not sure."
He looked around again.
"The air just feels… strange."
Lyra didn't dismiss the comment.
Instead, she slowly closed her eyes.
For several seconds, she remained completely still.
The wind rustled softly through the nearby trees.
Then Lyra opened her eyes again.
Her gaze moved toward Evan.
"Interesting."
Evan blinked.
"What?"
Lyra stepped closer and studied him more carefully.
"Do you feel it gathering?"
"Feel what?"
"The Qi."
Evan froze slightly.
"…Qi?"
Lyra gestured around them.
"The natural energy of the world."
"I know what Qi is."
Lyra giggled and pointed at his chest.
"It's slowly drifting toward you."
Evan's confusion only deepened.
"I'm not doing anything."
Lyra's lips curved slightly.
"That's exactly why it's strange."
Echo spoke again.
[Confirmation.]
[Qi particles in the surrounding environment are displaying passive attraction behavior toward Master.]
Evan frowned slightly.
'That sounds… unusual. Normally, I can sense when the Qi changes.'
[Correct.]
[This phenomenon normally occurs only after entering the Essence Awakening Stage.]
Evan's eyes widened slightly.
'But I haven't reached that stage yet.'
[Correct again, Master.]
[Which is why this observation is… interesting.]
Lyra circled him slowly.
Her sharp gaze studied every detail.
"Raise your sword again."
Evan obeyed.
He lifted the practice blade.
"Now strike."
Evan swung.
But the moment the blade cut through the air—
Lyra's eyes narrowed.
"…There it is."
Evan lowered the sword.
"What?"
Lyra didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she extended one hand and focused slightly.
A faint ripple of invisible force moved outward from her palm.
The air around Evan stirred slightly.
Then the subtle movement of Qi became easier to sense.
Evan felt it now.
Something faint.
Almost like a gentle current flowing around him.
His eyes widened.
"Wait… I actually feel it."
Lyra nodded.
"The world's energy is responding to you."
She crossed her arms again.
"That usually doesn't happen this early."
Echo added calmly.
[Master's bloodline likely possesses high spiritual affinity.]
[Such individuals naturally attract Qi.]
Evan scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"So… is that good?"
Lyra gave a small smile.
"It's very good."
Then her expression became serious again.
"But it also means something else."
Evan tilted his head.
"What?"
Lyra looked toward the distant mountains beyond the estate walls.
"People who understand spiritual energy may notice."
Evan's stomach tightened slightly.
"You mean… cultivators?"
Lyra nodded.
"Yes."
She looked back at him.
"Strong ones."
The training yard became quiet for a moment.
Then Echo spoke again.
[Additional observation.]
Evan focused inward.
'What now?'
[Long-range spiritual fluctuation detected.]
His heartbeat slowed slightly.
'Explain.'
Echo paused briefly.
[It appears another cultivator within approximately several kilometers briefly reacted to the Qi disturbance.]
Evan's eyes widened slightly.
'Someone noticed?'
[Possibly.]
Lyra suddenly turned her head toward the eastern hills.
Her gaze became sharp.
"…Hmm."
Evan noticed immediately.
"You felt something too?"
Lyra didn't answer at first.
She stared into the distance for several seconds.
Then she relaxed slightly.
"Maybe."
That answer did not make Evan feel better.
"Maybe?"
Lyra waved one hand dismissively.
"Whoever it was, they're far away."
She looked back at him.
"But this confirms something important."
Evan waited.
"You're progressing faster than expected."
Echo sounded pleased.
[Affirmative.]
[Master's growth rate exceeds standard cultivation benchmarks.]
Lyra stepped back toward the center of the yard.
"Well then."
She clapped her hands once.
"That means today's training will be slightly different."
Evan groaned quietly.
"That never sounds good."
Lyra smirked faintly.
"You'll survive."
She pointed toward a nearby stone platform.
"Sit."
Evan walked over and sat down.
Lyra stood in front of him.
"Close your eyes."
Evan obeyed.
The sounds of the wind and birds became clearer as his vision disappeared.
"Now breathe slowly," Lyra said.
"In."
He inhaled.
"Out."
He exhaled.
Lyra continued speaking calmly.
"Focus on the energy you felt earlier."
Evan concentrated.
At first, there was nothing.
Just darkness.
Then slowly…
That faint current returned.
Soft.
Subtle.
Like a gentle tide brushing against his skin.
"I think I feel it again," Evan said quietly.
"Good," Lyra replied.
"Now don't chase it."
"Just observe."
Evan focused deeper.
The faint streams of energy seemed to drift around him naturally.
Echo's voice appeared again.
[Master is entering early-stage Essence Gathering.]
[This is earlier than projected.]
Evan kept his breathing steady.
The strange sensation grew slightly clearer.
Tiny threads of energy floated through the air.
Some of them brushed gently against his body.
Others drifted away.
Lyra watched quietly.
For the first time since morning—
She looked genuinely impressed.
Lyra's eyes widened slightly.
"…Her majesty wasn't exaggerating," she murmured under her breath.
"To reach Essence Gathering this early…That too in such a smooth way."
She looked at Evan again, her expression filled with disbelief.
"You really are a monster."
Then—
BOOM!
A sudden pressure exploded through the air.
The ground trembled beneath Evan's feet.
A powerful shockwave rippled outward from his body, scattering dust and leaves across the training yard.
...
Meanwhile, several kilometers away—
High on a quiet hill overlooking the region—
An old man sat beneath a massive tree.
His long grey hair moved gently in the wind.
His eyes suddenly opened.
"…Oh?"
A faint ripple of spiritual awareness passed through the air.
The old man's brows rose slightly.
"What an unusual fluctuation."
He looked toward the distant estate lands.
His lips curved into a faint smile.
"Faint. A child…?"
He leaned back slightly against the tree trunk.
"Interesting."
The old man closed his eyes again.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"This region just became far more interesting."
...
Back in the training yard—
Evan slowly opened his eyes.
The world looked the same.
But somehow…
He felt different.
Lyra looked down at him.
"Well?"
Evan hesitated.
"…I think I understand it a little."
Lyra nodded.
"That's the first step."
Echo spoke softly inside his mind.
[Congratulations, Master.]
[Master, your cultivation has reached the Essence Gathering stage.]
Evan stood up slowly.
The weight in his chest from yesterday was still there.
But something else had appeared beside it now.
Determination.
He looked toward the rising sun beyond the estate walls.
Somewhere out there—
Someone had already noticed him.
But for the first time—
That thought didn't feel frightening.
It felt like the beginning of something much bigger.
And for the first time—
Evan felt ready.
Ready to face whatever waited beyond the estate walls.