The ruins faded behind them as morning light spread across the mountains.
Kael followed Lyra along a narrow path carved into the cliffs, the cold northern wind moving steadily around them. Below, endless forests stretched toward the horizon while distant mountain ranges pierced through layers of mist like ancient giants.
For a while—
Neither of them spoke.
But Kael could already tell something.
Traveling beside Lyra felt completely different from traveling with ordinary cultivators.
Even the environment reacted subtly to her presence.
The wind avoided her.
The surrounding energy flowed naturally around her body, calm and obedient.
Absolute control.
⸻
Kael finally broke the silence.
"You're stronger than the old man from Black Ridge."
Lyra glanced at him briefly.
"Elder Ren?"
"So that's his name."
Lyra nodded once.
"He specializes in sealing techniques."
A faint pause followed before she added,
"But in direct combat…"
Her gaze shifted toward the distant north.
"…I am stronger."
Kael wasn't surprised.
Still—
Hearing it confirmed made him realize how massive the cultivation world truly was.
If someone like Lyra existed—
Then there were likely others even beyond her.
⸻
They continued traveling through the mountains.
As they moved farther north, Kael noticed the environment gradually changing.
The energy in the air felt denser.
Cleaner.
Even ordinary plants seemed stronger than those near Azure City.
Some trees radiated faint spiritual energy naturally, while beasts hidden deep in the forests carried stronger auras than many cultivators Kael had previously fought.
The north was different.
More dangerous.
But also richer in cultivation resources.
⸻
Lyra noticed his observation.
"The northern region contains some of the oldest spiritual veins remaining in this continent."
Kael listened carefully.
"Because of that, powerful sects and clans gathered here long ago."
Her expression became calm again.
"And because stronger people gather…"
"…conflicts become far worse."
⸻
Kael walked silently beside her.
Then asked the question lingering in his mind.
"How far does cultivation go?"
Lyra looked at him quietly for a moment.
Then she answered.
"Further than most people can imagine."
The wind shifted softly around them.
"You currently stand at the beginning of the Awakening Realm."
Kael nodded slightly.
That much he understood.
Lyra continued.
"Beyond Awakening comes Spirit Sea."
"The realm where cultivators begin forming true spiritual foundations."
Kael immediately remembered the terrifying pressure from the man at Black Ridge.
Spirit Sea.
So that was the level he had sensed.
⸻
Lyra kept speaking as they traveled.
"Beyond Spirit Sea…"
"Sky Origin."
"Then Domain Manifestation."
"And beyond even that…"
She paused briefly.
"…few people survive long enough to know."
Kael absorbed the information silently.
Each realm sounded vastly larger than the last.
The path ahead—
Was enormous.
⸻
Hours later—
They reached the edge of a massive canyon.
Kael stopped instinctively.
Before them stood an enormous bridge stretching across the abyss.
The structure was ancient, forged from black stone and silver metal, covered in glowing runes that pulsed faintly beneath the surface.
Below the canyon—
Nothing could be seen.
Only darkness.
Endless depth.
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…What is this place?"
Lyra answered calmly.
"The Divide."
"Crossing this bridge means entering the true northern territories."
⸻
As they approached the bridge—
Kael suddenly sensed multiple powerful presences nearby.
Not hidden.
Watching openly.
His gaze shifted toward the massive stone towers positioned near the bridge entrance.
Several cultivators stood there wearing dark blue armor marked with silver symbols.
Guardians.
Strong ones.
Far stronger than the Void followers.
⸻
One of the armored cultivators stepped forward.
The man's sharp gaze immediately locked onto Kael.
Then shifted toward Lyra.
His expression changed instantly.
"Lady Lyra."
He bowed respectfully.
The other guards followed immediately.
Kael noticed it clearly.
These people respected her deeply.
Not from fear alone.
Authority.
Status.
⸻
The armored man straightened carefully.
"You returned earlier than expected."
Lyra nodded slightly.
"Circumstances changed."
The man's eyes briefly shifted toward Kael again.
Curious.
Cautious.
But he didn't question further.
Instead, he stepped aside.
"The bridge is clear."
⸻
As Kael and Lyra crossed the Divide—
Kael looked down into the endless darkness below.
For some reason—
His Origin Core pulsed faintly.
As if reacting to something hidden deep beneath the canyon.
Kael frowned slightly.
Lyra noticed immediately.
"You felt it too."
Kael looked at her.
"What's beneath us?"
Lyra remained silent for a moment.
Then answered quietly.
"One of the ancient battlefields from the Void Wars."
Kael's eyes sharpened instantly.
Even after countless years—
The remnants below still existed.
That alone revealed how terrifying that war must have been.
⸻
Far away—
Within a hidden Void sanctuary buried beneath frozen mountains—
Several cloaked figures stood before a massive dark pool.
The water-like surface suddenly rippled.
An image appeared within it.
Kael.
Walking beside Lyra across the Divide.
One of the cloaked figures spoke coldly.
"He has entered the northern territories."
Another asked,
"What about Lyra?"
Silence followed briefly.
Then—
A larger figure emerged from the shadows.
Tall.
Wrapped entirely in black cloth marked with moving void symbols.
Its violet eyes glowed faintly.
"Send the Hollow Hunters."
The room grew colder instantly.
Several Void followers lowered their heads deeply.
Because among Void operatives—
The Hollow Hunters were feared even by their own kind.
⸻
Back on the bridge—
Kael looked toward the endless northern horizon.
For the first time—
He truly felt it.
His old life was gone completely now.
And ahead of him—
The real cultivation world waited.
Along with all the dangers hidden within it.