"That kind of temptation…" Arthur murmured, "can make even the most loyal friend turn into a knife-wielding traitor."
He stared at his trembling hand.
Power… always came at a price.
And if he wanted to survive in this world—he had to pay it. Carefully.
---
"Let's take the day off," Arthur said to himself, stretching his arms as he looked out the window. "I haven't rested in a whole month. Today, let's stroll through the city and see what I can find."
A grin tugged at his lips. After a full month of non-stop cultivation, monster hunting, daily missions, and painful breakthroughs, the idea of simply walking around without a sword in hand felt strangely exciting. He had earned quite a bit of coin too—but hadn't found the time or the opportunity to spend it.
Though he had once considered buying a house, that plan had long been discarded. The entrance exams for the top academies, originally scheduled for six months later, had been unexpectedly moved up to just two months from now. There was no point settling down in this city anymore. What he needed now wasn't property, but power, information… and perhaps a good bowl of noodles.
As he walked through the city streets, Arthur marveled again at the unusual blend of eras. Towering stone buildings with elegant wooden carvings and curved rooftops lined the streets, exuding an ancient charm—yet inside, glowing crystals powered floating displays, mechanical stall carts sold digital trinkets, and communication runes buzzed with coded transmissions.
"I still can't get over this strange city," Arthur murmured, hands tucked into his cloak. "These people really love ancient aesthetics… but they're living in a sci-fi fantasy novel."
"You're right. I had the same thought when I first came here."
Arthur jumped slightly at the sudden voice behind him. His body tensed as he spun around, eyes scanning sharply. Someone had approached him without triggering his Soul Eyes or his cultivation senses.
> Impossible.
> He should've sensed something.
Standing behind him was a smiling old man—his gray hair tied in a short topknot, his beard well-kept, and his eyes sharper than they had any right to be.
Arthur instinctively took two steps back.
"Hohoho, why so frightened?" the old man chuckled in a voice as warm as a crackling hearth. "Forgive me. I didn't mean to startle you. I was just passing by and heard you muttering to yourself."
Arthur narrowed his eyes. "Who are you? Why couldn't I sense your presence?"
"It's not good to know everything too soon, boy, it's not fun to know everything from the star, you should discover something on your own." the old man replied with a knowing grin. "You should focus more on your cultivation first. But since you asked, my name is Kim Sang Jee."
Arthur studied him warily for a moment longer before exhaling.
"I'm Arthur," he said at last, sensing no hostility from the man.
Kim nodded approvingly. "As I was saying, this city has a long history. The locals preserve the ancient architectural style as a mark of pride, even if their technology could make the sky blush."
"Are you from here, Grandpa Kim?" Arthur asked curiously.
"Oh, no. I came from a place far away." The old man pulled out a folded piece of parchment and handed it over. "Would you mind helping this weak old man find this address?"
Arthur stared at him, deadpan.
"Weak old man? Who are you fooling? with that aura of your, you could probably fold me into an origami crane without blinking." He thought.
Internally, he screamed caution. "Do not get involved with mysterious old men who defy logic and detection. That's how cultivators disappear."
"I'm sorry, Elder Kim," Arthur said with forced politeness, already backing away. "But I'm a little busy today."
"Oh?" the old man sighed dramatically. "Young people these days… no respect for the elderly. What a shame. What a shame. I was even going to give you a reward…"
Arthur stopped mid-step. His ears perked up like a fox catching wind of a roast chicken.
"Did you say reward?" His voice dropped an octave.
The old man grinned "Of course," Kim said, clearly amused. "You help me, and I'll compensate you. I'm not completely helpless, you know."
Arthur's expression flipped like a coin.
"Why didn't you say so earlier, Grandpa?" he said shamelessly, taking the old man's arm with sudden enthusiasm. "Come on, let's go! I've always been taught to respect my elders! Especially generous ones!"
Kim stared at him, blinking slowly. "Grandpa? Who's your grandpa?"
Arthur smiled brightly. "You are, now."
The old man let out a wheezing laugh, shaking his head.
"You shameless brat," he muttered—but he handed Arthur the address anyway, that mysterious glint still lingering in his ancient eyes.
The two of them strolled down the bustling city street, weaving through crowds of robed cultivators, armored mercenaries, and merchants hawking everything from talismans to floating fruit carts.
"You stingy brat," grumbled Old Man Kim, tapping Arthur sharply on the head with his ornate, rune-engraved staff. "You really made an old man like me walk these crowded streets when there are perfectly fine flying carriages and spirit-taxis!"
Arthur winced and rubbed the sore spot. "Who's stingy?! I'm broke, okay? My savings can't even cover a breakfast bun from the market." He threw his arms in the air, then looked at Kim with a cheeky grin. "Give me some money and I'll summon a luxury ride fit for royalty!"
"You shameless child," Kim muttered, shaking his head in defeat. Yet he still reached into his sleeve and handed over a small pouch filled with silver and crystal coins. "Here. Book the damn taxi before I faint from exhaustion."
Arthur's eyes sparkled. "Grandpa, you're so generous! Truly, you're the kindest old man I've ever met. Fear not—your loving grandson shall summon the finest taxi in the city!"
Old Man Kim stared at him, speechless, as if questioning all the life choices that had led to this moment.
Soon after, the two were seated in a sleek spirit-powered taxi, its interior trimmed with light-inscribed wood and humming softly with energy. It floated smoothly through the city's main roads, past massive spire towers and serene gardens woven between skyscrapers and ancient pagodas.
Eventually, the vehicle slowed and landed in front of a towering mansion surrounded by glowing jade pillars and golden statues. The building loomed like a forgotten relic of kings, its massive gate etched with divine runes and beastly insignias. Even standing outside, Arthur could feel the pressure in the air—an invisible weight pressing down on his shoulders.
The aura was thick with authority. And danger.
"Whoa… this place… is insane," Arthur said, stepping out and craning his neck upward. "Where is this? Don't tell me you live here, Grandpa Kim."
The old man snorted. "Brat, is your head filled with soup? If I lived here, would I need your help just to get here?"
Arthur coughed. "Right. Silly me."
"This mansion belongs to an old friend of mine," Kim explained, glancing toward the gates with a nostalgic glint in his eyes.
They stood there a moment before Kim turned toward Arthur with a more serious expression. "Tell me something, brat—do you plan on joining an academy?"
Arthur nodded. "Yes, Grandpa. That's why I'm working so hard. I want to be strong enough to pass the entrance exams."
Kim raised a brow. "A cultivation academy, I presume?"
Arthur shook his head, firm and resolute. "No. I want to join an academy that specializes in soul techniques."
For the first time, the old man's face froze.
His eyes slowly narrowed as they seemed to shimmer faintly, scanning Arthur from head to toe—not just physically, but through the layers of energy flowing within him.
"You use qi," Kim said, voice lower now, "and yet you wish to study the soul path?"
Arthur nodded. "I walk both paths—cultivation and soul."
Kim's pupils contracted slightly. "You what?"
Before Arthur could react, Kim reached out and grasped his wrist. A soft pulse of energy—calm, refined, ancient—flowed from the old man's palm and surged into Arthur's meridians. It coiled through his dantian, his soul sea, his channels.
A long, stunned silence followed.
"What in the heavens…?" Kim murmured, eyes wide with disbelief. "Your qi and soul force… they're both flowing… naturally. Independently. In harmony. No rejection, no conflict. It's like your body was *designed* for this."
He withdrew his hand slowly, brows furrowed in shock.
"Do you have any idea what you're doing, boy?" Kim asked gravely. "The path you're walking… it's not just rare—it's *forbidden* in many places. Cultivating both internal energy and soul force is an unstable path. Most who attempt it either destroy their bodies… or lose their minds."
Arthur tilted his head. "But it feels normal to me. I'm just cultivating qi and soul force separately. What's so dangerous about that?"
Kim closed his eyes for a moment and inhaled.
"When internal energy and soul force reside in the same vessel, they usually reject each other like oil and water. Even if someone miraculously survives the initial stages, the moment the two forces grow too strong, they begin to tear the cultivator apart from the inside—your meridians rupture, your soul splits, and the backlash can kill even high-level experts."
He paused, then looked Arthur dead in the eye.
"And yet, in your body… they're like two rivers flowing side by side, never crossing, never clashing. But i don't know how long they can be separated."
Arthur was silent.
"As they both energy grow stronger through your cultivation, they will clash and your body will be destroyed."
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