The First Cultivation Retreat

Chapter 39 — The First Cultivation Retreat

The hundreds of golden eyes stared from the darkness.

Aether stood at the entrance of the B-grade Origin Zone, his Unknown Origin Blade resting in his hand.

He could feel the dense Origin Energy surrounding the valley.

It was several times richer than the previous Origin Zone.

But he didn't move toward the beasts.

Instead, he closed the system interface.

“Not today.”

Lyra looked at him.

“You're not fighting them?”

“No.”

Aether looked deeper into the valley.

“We've been fighting constantly.”

He glanced at his own status.

[Name: Aether Draven]

[Cultivation: Origin Awakening — Stage 3]

[Origin Points: 179/200]

[Origin Adaptation: 19.4%]

[Infinite Origin Physique Development: 0.31%]

[Potential: ∞]

[Unknown Origin Blade Synchronization: 7%]

He needed twenty-one Origin Points.

But killing twenty-one random beasts wasn't the point.

His foundation needed strengthening.

His body needed to adapt.

And most importantly, he needed to understand the power he already possessed.

“We're cultivating.”

Lyra blinked.

“Here?”

Aether nodded.

“This place has enough Origin Energy.”

He looked around.

“But we need somewhere defensible.”

They traveled deeper into the valley.

The further they went, the denser the Origin Energy became.

After nearly an hour, Aether found a cliff surrounded by enormous trees.

Behind the cliff was a natural cave.

The entrance was narrow, but the interior opened into a large chamber.

More importantly—

Origin Energy flowed through the cave like a slow underground current.

Aether entered.

The system immediately reacted.

[High-density Origin vein detected.]

[Origin Energy purity: 87%.]

[Suitable for cultivation.]

[Environmental threat level: Moderate.]

Aether smiled.

“This will do.”

Lyra walked deeper inside.

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“There are traces of an old formation here.”

Aether examined the walls.

Faint silver lines covered the stone.

Most had faded.

Some were completely broken.

But the remaining formation was still absorbing Origin Energy.

“Ancient.”

Aether placed his palm against the wall.

The Infinite Origin Physique reacted.

[Ancient Origin structure detected.]

[Understanding: 4%.]

[Origin Adaptation increasing.]

[19.4% → 19.6%.]

Aether pulled his hand away.

“It's connected to the same type of Origin we've been encountering.”

Lyra looked at him.

“Can you repair it?”

“Not yet.”

Aether studied the formation.

“But eventually.”

He looked around the cave.

For the first time, an idea began taking shape.

A place like this could become more than a temporary shelter.

A cultivation residence.

A safe location.

A home.

But he wasn't going to decide that today.

First, he needed strength.

Aether sat down in the center of the chamber.

“I'm beginning.”

Lyra nodded.

“I'll cultivate too.”

Nyx curled up nearby.

The cave gradually became silent.

Aether closed his eyes.

He activated the Infinite Origin Physique.

The surrounding Origin Energy immediately began moving toward him.

Unlike ordinary cultivation, Aether didn't simply absorb the energy.

His physique broke it apart.

Purified it.

Analyzed it.

Then reconstructed it into energy compatible with his Origin.

The process was slow.

But incredibly stable.

Hours passed.

Then an entire day.

Aether remained motionless.

[Origin Energy refined.]

[Origin Points +1.]

[Origin Points: 180/200.]

Another day passed.

[Origin Energy refined.]

[Origin Points +2.]

[Origin Points: 182/200.]

Aether continued.

There was no explosive increase.

No sudden miracle.

Just steady progress.

His foundation was becoming denser.

His Origin Energy circulated through every part of his body.

His muscles strengthened.

His senses became sharper.

Even his breathing gradually synchronized with the surrounding Origin Energy.

On the fourth day—

[Origin Adaptation: 19.6% → 20.1%.]

[Infinite Origin Physique Development: 0.31% → 0.34%.]

Aether opened his eyes.

A faint silver light flashed through them.

He clenched his fist.

The surrounding air trembled slightly.

“Better.”

His strength hadn't increased by an absurd amount.

But his control had.

That mattered more.

He looked toward Lyra.

She was still cultivating.

Lightning occasionally flickered around her body.

Her Thunderheart Physique was absorbing the surrounding Origin Energy at a much faster rate than before.

Aether didn't disturb her.

He stood and walked toward the cave entrance.

The valley was quiet.

The beasts that had watched them enter were still nearby.

But none approached.

Aether looked at the surrounding terrain.

The cliff.

The cave.

The Origin vein.

The ancient formation.

The natural defenses.

He slowly realized something.

This wasn't just a good place to cultivate.

It was a good place to stay.

He returned to the cave.

Lyra opened her eyes.

“How long have you been standing there?”

“A few minutes.”

She stretched.

“How much did you gain?”

Aether checked his status.

[Origin Points: 182/200]

“Three.”

Lyra smiled.

“Only three?”

“I'm not trying to destroy my foundation.”

“That sounds like something an old man would say.”

Aether stared at her.

“I'm seventeen.”

“You certainly don't act like it sometimes.”

Aether shook his head.

Then he noticed something.

Lyra's aura had changed.

[Lyra]

[Cultivation: Origin Awakening — Stage 2]

[Thunderheart Physique: Active]

[Lightning Manipulation: Improved]

[Potential: B]

She was getting close to the next breakthrough.

“You're progressing quickly.”

Lyra smiled.

“I've had a good teacher.”

“I haven't taught you anything.”

“Exactly.”

Aether stared at her.

Lyra laughed.

The quiet atmosphere returned.

For the first time in a long while, neither of them was surrounded by enemies, ancient creatures, collapsing ruins, or bloodline hunters.

They simply sat inside a cave and talked.

Aether eventually looked toward the broken formation.

“We're staying here for a while.”

Lyra tilted her head.

“Staying?”

“Yes.”

“For how long?”

“Until we're strong enough to move forward.”

Aether looked around the cave.

“And I want to repair this place.”

Lyra understood.

“You want a base.”

“Eventually.”

Aether stood.

“I don't want to keep sleeping wherever we happen to stop.”

He looked toward the entrance.

“If we're going to explore this world, we should have somewhere to return to.”

Lyra smiled.

“I like that idea.”

Aether nodded.

“But first…”

He opened his system.

[Origin Points: 182/200]

“Eight more.”

Lyra stood beside him.

“And then?”

Aether looked deeper into the valley.

“Then I break through.”

A distant roar suddenly echoed through the mountains.

Aether's expression remained calm.

He wasn't going to rush.

This time, he would cultivate first.

Build his foundation.

Build his strength.

And eventually—

build a place he could call home.

Far away from the cave, however, a girl with long dark hair stood alone on a rocky ridge.

Her clothes were torn from battle.

A faint scar crossed her shoulder.

She held a broken spear in one hand.

Several powerful beasts surrounded her.

She looked toward the distant cave.

For some reason, her heart suddenly began beating faster.

She didn't know why.

She only knew that something felt familiar.

Something she hadn't felt in years.

Her fingers tightened around the spear.

“...Aether?”

The name escaped her lips before she even realized she had spoken it.

And deep within the valley—

Aether's Origin System suddenly flickered.

[Unknown familiar Origin signature detected.]

[Distance: 6.2 km.]

[Classification: Human.]

[Potential: A-]

[Threat: Undetermined.]

Aether's eyes opened.

He stood immediately.

Lyra looked at him.

“What happened?”

Aether stared toward the eastern ridge.

“I don't know.”

For the first time in years, something inside his heart stirred.

Not danger.

Not curiosity.

Recognition.

But he couldn't understand why.