Edward suddenly opened his eyes, his right hand instinctively reaching to the side and tightly gripping his sword's sheath. Only then did he let out a slow breath.
In this world, he couldn't sleep peacefully without a weapon nearby.
Though he had slept soundly last night, a sense of alertness always lingered deep within him.
He slowly sat up in bed, stretched, and felt the tension of the previous night melt away.
Quickly dressing himself, he pushed open the door and stepped outside.
In the courtyard, he spotted Gwen sitting in the middle, surrounded by four or five brightly colored butterflies.
Hearing the door, Gwen turned to Edward, her face softening into a gentle smile, with a trace of affection in her eyes.
The butterflies fluttered away, startled by Edward's sudden appearance.
Edward cast a glance at Gwen, his brows furrowing slightly as he walked straight to the center of the courtyard.
"What's with the butterflies?"
"I'm not sure," Gwen shook her head, her expression showing a bit of helplessness. "
Ever since I was a child, butterflies have always been drawn to me.
No matter how I try to shoo them away, they never leave."
She gestured toward the table in the courtyard, which had already been set with breakfast, looking neat and orderly.
"Were your parents like that too?"
Edward asked as he sat down casually, picking up a fork and starting to eat.
"I don't know what my parents were like.
I grew up with a woman, but she left one day, leaving me behind," Gwen replied, her tone carrying a hint of melancholy.
She then sat down as well, quietly beginning her own breakfast.
Edward didn't say much more, focusing on his meal.
Shortly after, Russell emerged from his room, his face bearing deep, dark circles and bloodshot eyes, evidence of a sleepless night.
He looked exhausted, but when he saw Edward and Gwen having breakfast together, his face showed no anger or surprise.
He quietly sat down at the table, eating his breakfast without acknowledging the awkward situation before him.
Edward keenly sensed the strange atmosphere at the table.
Russell's indifferent attitude, especially in light of the ambiguous relationship between Edward and Gwen, made Edward uncomfortable.
Russell should have shown some reaction, yet he remained cold and distant, as if he had already accepted the relationship between Edward and Gwen.
Gwen, for her part, didn't glance at Russell even once.
Instead, she kept asking Edward if the breakfast was enough, completely ignoring her husband.
The stifling air at the table became unbearable for Edward.
He quickly finished his meal and hurriedly excused himself, jogging out of Russell's house.
…
As Edward walked away from Russell's house, his steps slowed, and he glanced at the floating text in front of him.
[Current Skills]
Demon-Slaying Sword Technique (Perfected)
Piercing Iron Palm (Perfected)
Dragonfly Step (Perfected)
Boiling Blood (Perfected)
[Remaining Demon Life: 238 years]
[Remaining Human Life: 10 years]
[Year 1: You begin to reflect on your life. Familiar memories flood your mind. The techniques of Boiling Blood are deeply ingrained in you. You replay every move, every battle in your mind. These memories are instinctively absorbed into your body.]
[Year 15: Through continuous refinement, your swordsmanship and palm techniques have reached the peak. Every strike contains immeasurable power and precise control. You stand at the pinnacle, gazing down upon the world.]
[Year 32: As time passes, your cultivation reaches a point where you begin to sense the faint traces of the world's energy. Invisible threads in the heavens and earth guide your power and intent. You feel a mysterious resonance, still faint but haunting, pulling at your soul.]
[Year 48: You delve deeper into the mysteries of the universe. You start to understand the pulse of the world. Though still vague, you begin to grasp the existence of certain truths. It seems you are on the edge of understanding the essence of the world.]
…
Year after year, the long passage of time unfolded before Edward's eyes. Though these were but fleeting notifications, he felt the agony of endless, fruitless effort.
The mere thought of it made his skin crawl.
[Year 59: You've grown so familiar with the energy of the world that it feels like an old friend. You can sense its presence, but you still cannot fully merge it with your body. No matter how hard you try, the power remains separate from you. Desperately, you turn to your sword, seeking a new breakthrough.]
[Year 72: Each time you use the Demon-Slaying Sword Technique, your blood depletes a little. As years of self-exertion pass, your body begins to deteriorate, feeling the inevitable approach of old age, yet you still haven't found the true path forward.]
[Year 99: You finally return to an ordinary human state, no longer reliant on those powerful forces. Despite this, you never let go of your sword.]
[Year 108: Your flesh has almost withered. Wielding the familiar sword feels weak, and the trembling in your hands makes you doubt your own body.]
[Year 157: Just when you think everything is about to end, a cool breath of air flows into your skin. At that moment, a smile appears on your face because you know—you guessed right. This is the key you've been chasing.]
[Year 175: Your thoughts were correct. If you can't control the world's energy directly, you must push yourself to the brink of death, forcing your body to instinctively draw on that power. This reverse cultivation method unexpectedly works, and you gradually become adept at absorbing the energy of the heavens and earth. You continue to repeat this near-death, self-recovery process, making your body more and more attuned to the world's energy.]
[Year 197: After years of practice and constant adjustments, you have finally perfected the entire cultivation process. You compile this method into a manual, naming it 'Resonance with Heaven and Earth'. It becomes the most important milestone in your cultivation. Through this unique method, you not only gain a new level of power but also begin to unlock the mysteries of resonating with the world itself.]
[Remaining Demon Life: 41 years]
Edward gritted his teeth as a sudden wave of weakness washed over him, nearly knocking him off his feet.
He reached out to steady himself, breathing heavily, his body trembling from the strain.
Yet, despite the exhaustion, excitement surged within him.
The cultivation information for 'Resonance with Heaven and Earth' that had flooded his mind filled him with exhilaration.
Though it had taken countless years to perfect, the technique was remarkably practical and not overly complicated.
It was an immensely valuable method of cultivation.