Noah walked steadily down the dirt road toward the massive gates of Tharvane. The city loomed ahead, its walls rising high, banners fluttering above the watchtowers. Merchants and travelers bustled in and out, the sound of wagon wheels and the smell of dust filling the air.
Along the road, a group of cultivators emerged from the nearby forest, their hunting spoils carried in sacks and tied to beasts. Among them was a woman who immediately caught Noah's eye—or perhaps it was the other way around. She was strikingly beautiful, her features sharp yet inviting, her figure full of grace and strength. Her gaze lingered on Noah longer than it should have.
"Hmm…" she murmured, her lips curving into a smile. "Interesting."
Noah, unaware of her growing interest, kept walking. He didn't realize that after his rebirth, Zara had reshaped his body—making his frame tall, his muscles refined, his face strikingly handsome, with an aura that drew attention without effort.
When Noah reached the city gate, two armored guards stepped in front of him, spears crossed.
"Halt. Identity card," one demanded.
Noah blinked. "Identity… card?"
The guards exchanged glances. "Don't tell me it's your first time here. If you don't have one, you'll need to register. The fee is ten silver coins."
Noah's expression stiffened. Coins? Currency? He had nothing of this world. Zara hadn't provided him with even a single copper.
The guards' brows furrowed. Their tone turned sharper. "No money, no entry. Step aside."
Noah clenched his fists. He could destroy them with a thought inside Aetherveil, but here… here he was just beginning. Before the situation escalated, a familiar, soft laugh drifted toward him.
"That's a little harsh, isn't it?"
The beautiful cultivator from earlier—Mia—walked forward. She moved with grace and confidence, her long cloak trailing behind her. She looked Noah over once again, her eyes bright with curiosity.
"He's new," she said smoothly to the guards. "I'll cover the fee."
Noah frowned. "That's not necessary. I don't—"
But Mia cut him off with a raised brow. "Do you want to stand outside the gate all day? Don't be stubborn."
The guards, recognizing Mia's strength and influence, immediately stepped back once she handed over the coins. With the sound of clinking metal, Noah's registration was complete, and an identity card was pressed into his hand.
Still, Noah's pride refused to let it pass easily. "I'll repay you," he said firmly, meeting Mia's gaze.
Mia chuckled, amused by his stubborn seriousness. "I'll hold you to that."
With that, Noah stepped into Tharvane.
—
The city was alive with color and motion. Stalls lined the streets, merchants shouted prices, spices and smoke filled the air, and children darted between the crowds. Noah's eyes widened with fascination. He had never seen such a place—every sight, every sound was new.
He spent the day gathering information, asking careful questions, observing carefully. From bits and pieces, he learned the truth of this world.
This was Aldora, a vast land divided into multiple kingdoms, each with its own sects and powers. Cultivation was the essence of survival and strength here. Many paths existed, but the fastest and most recognized was to join a sect. Yet, in whispered corners of taverns and quiet alleys, Noah heard of another method—one more primal, more dangerous.
Dual cultivation.
The concept intrigued him deeply. It was spoken of in hushed tones, as both taboo and miraculous.
By the time night fell, Noah realized something strange—he hadn't eaten all day, yet hunger never came. His body, refined by spiritual energy, no longer needed mortal sustenance.
With that realization, he retreated from the crowded streets and returned to the misty sanctuary of Aetherveil.
—
The fog parted as he arrived. Zara was waiting, her silver hair glowing faintly.
"Welcome back, Master," she said warmly.
Noah's expression was steady. "Zara… today, I made a decision. I will become a dual cultivator."
Zara's lips curved in approval. "An excellent choice. That path, while dangerous, will let you grow quickly—and with your unique constitution, it may be the strongest path of all."
"Do you have a manual for it?" Noah asked directly.
Zara nodded. With a gesture, a scroll of shimmering light appeared in her hand. She offered it to him, and as Noah touched it, knowledge began to flow into his mind—techniques, methods, and secrets of cultivation through intimacy. They weren't simply crude—they were refined arts, designed to harmonize body, spirit, and energy.
But her tone grew serious. "Listen well, Master. You are not like ordinary men. Your body possesses both Yin and Yang energy, as well as affinity with every element. When you dual cultivate, you must balance them. If you allow one to overflow, your body could collapse from within."
Noah's breath caught. "So… it's a risk."
"All power comes with risk," Zara said softly, her silver eyes glowing. "But if you master it—you will become unstoppable."
Noah looked down at the glowing scroll in his hands, determination flickering in his gaze. His path was chosen.
But Zara raised her hand once more, and another scroll materialized beside the first. Unlike the radiant glow of the dual cultivation art, this one pulsed with a calmer rhythm, its cover etched with the symbols of Yin and Yang.
"This," Zara explained, "is the Yin-Yang Harmony Art. A normal cultivation method. With it, you will be able to gather Yang energy through solitary cultivation, and balance it within your meridians."
Noah's brow furrowed. "And the dual cultivation art?"
Zara's lips curved. "That will allow you to absorb Yin energy from women through shared cultivation. Together, the two arts will let you advance at a pace faster than ordinary cultivators—so long as you keep your balance."
Her voice softened, as if anticipating his unspoken concern. "Understand this, Master—dual cultivation is not inherently dangerous. Many shun it because of pride, prejudice, or tradition. They consider it 'impure,' even though its results are undeniable. Most men do not have the constitution to master both paths—but you are different. You carry both Yin and Yang in your body, with affinity for all elements. You can walk both roads at once."
Noah's eyes narrowed slightly. Something gnawed at his mind. "Zara… how do you even know all this about Aldora? About cultivation, sects, kingdoms? You talk as if you've been here far longer than I have."
Zara's silver eyes softened, and for a moment, her usual composure gave way to something almost tender. "That is because we are soul-bound. The instant you awakened me, my essence became tied to yours. I share your senses, your thoughts, your very existence. When you breathe, I breathe. When you suffer, I suffer. When you walk, I walk with you—even if you do not see me."
Noah froze, his breath catching. "All this time… you were with me?"
She gave a small nod, her silvery hair swaying like mist. "Always. From the moment you opened your eyes in Aetherveil, I have been beside you. That is why I can guide you, why I know the flow of this world and its laws. You are never alone, Master. Not anymore."
A strange warmth filled Noah's chest at her words. For the first time since awakening in this alien land, the fear of isolation lifted. Someone was with him—bound to him in soul, inseparable.
Slowly, he exhaled, his grip tightening around the scrolls. "Then… let's walk this path together. Both of us."
Zara's lips curved into a faint smile, her eyes gleaming with quiet pride. "As it should be."