The first rays of morning light painted the ruined Sterling Clan mansion in shades of melancholic gold. Rylan stood at the entrance, the cool morning breeze a refreshing contrast to the stagnant air of neglect within. Elara stood beside him, clutching the crude wooden bird, her face pale but her eyes holding a new, subtle flicker of determination.
"Are you ready?" Rylan asked, his gaze sweeping over the overgrown path that led away from the manor.
Elara nodded, her voice still soft but firm. "Yes, Master Rylan. I will follow you."
The title, "Master," felt strange, yet fitting. It acknowledged the new dynamic between them, born from dependency and the profound shift in her very being. Rylan nodded in return, a silent acknowledgment of his newfound responsibility and authority.
As they stepped onto the winding dirt path, Rylan immediately felt the difference in his body. Every stride was lighter, every breath deeper. His vision seemed clearer, picking out details in the distant foliage he wouldn't have noticed before. His hearing was sharper, distinguishing the rustle of leaves from the distant chirping of birds. This was the result of the Minor Physical Enhancement gained from his first dual cultivation. He was no longer just a cultivator; he was a vastly improved version of his former self.
He kept the Harem System's blue screen active, just as a faint, transparent overlay in his peripheral vision. He noticed new icons, new data streams. The world was more than just crumbling ruins; it was a tapestry of spiritual energy, now faintly visible to his awakened senses.
"This way," Elara pointed, her small finger indicating a path worn by time, heading east. "Oakhaven Village is in that direction. It's about half a day's walk for me. Perhaps faster for you now, Master Rylan."
Rylan followed, allowing her to lead for now. She knew this territory better than he did. As they walked, he tried to sense the spiritual energy around them, mimicking the rudimentary breathing techniques from the Art of Veiled Desire. The energy was thin outside the concentrated ruins, diffused by the vast open air, but it was there, flowing like invisible currents.
After an hour of walking, they entered a denser part of the forest. The trees grew tall, their canopies thick, casting deep shadows. The path narrowed, becoming little more than a game trail. A sudden rustle in the undergrowth caught Rylan's attention.
He instinctively reached out with his spiritual sense, a new ability that came with Foundation Establishment. It was like an extension of his mind, probing the surroundings. He detected a presence—small, but surprisingly fast.
A flash of brown fur burst from the bushes. It was a Forest Boar, its tusks glinting wickedly, its eyes bloodshot with aggression. It charged directly at Elara, grunting ferociously. Elara gasped, freezing in terror.
Rylan didn't hesitate. Before the thought could fully form, his body moved. He sidestepped the charging beast with effortless grace, his enhanced agility surprising even himself. As it thundered past, he drove his open palm into the boar's flank.
A burst of spiritual energy, guided by instinct rather than conscious thought, flowed from his Dantian and exploded outward. The Forest Boar squealed, a high-pitched shriek of pain, and was sent tumbling, crashing through the undergrowth before lying still, a faint wisp of spiritual energy dissipating from its body.
[Ding! Host has defeated a Forest Boar (Minor Beast) - First Combat Experience!][Reward: Minor Cultivation Essence +0.1 (Absorbed)][Note: Direct combat yields minimal cultivation essence. Focus on Primary Objective.]
Rylan stared at the dead boar, then at his hand. He hadn't used any martial art, just a raw burst of spiritual energy. The attack was crude, but effective. He felt the tiniest, almost imperceptible increase in his Dantian's hum. It was negligible, but confirmed the System's note: combat wasn't the primary path to power.
Elara stared, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and profound admiration. "Master Rylan!" she breathed, her voice trembling. "You... you killed it! Just like a true cultivator!"
Rylan managed a slight, confident smirk. "Just a small beast. We should keep moving. There might be more."
As they continued, Elara seemed even more secure in his presence. Her fear of the world had diminished, replaced by a growing faith in Rylan's ability to protect her. She even attempted to sense the spiritual energy herself, mimicking Rylan's earlier posture. A faint, almost invisible wisp of energy momentarily coalesced around her, a sign of her active Qi Gathering cultivation. The Lustful Emperor's Guidance was subtly at work.
The sun climbed higher, warming the forest. They walked for another few hours, the landscape gradually becoming less wild. The trees thinned, replaced by scattered farmlands. In the distance, smoke plumed from chimneys, and the faint sounds of human activity drifted on the wind.
"Oakhaven," Elara said, pointing. "We're almost there."
Rylan gazed at the small, rustic village nestled amidst the fields. It looked peaceful, humble. But he knew appearances could be deceiving. This world was harsh, and he was no longer a naive virgin. He was the Lustful Emperor, and Oakhaven would be his first true testing ground outside the Sterling ruins. He needed information, resources, and perhaps, his next conquest. The journey had just begun.
End of chapter 6