In the inner world, Yuuki sneezed abruptly and rubbed his nose. "Who the hell's talking about me at a time like this?"
They had been within the inner world for a while. In the distance, Retsu was diligently practising the formulation of the one-handed Rasengan, successfully assimilating the technique without Mio's assistance. By morning, she managed to create a giant Rasengan and slammed it repeatedly into their dummy target, resembling Xiao Wuyi. The dummy endured being slammed, burned, and sliced apart countless times before regenerating each time.
Retsu then focused on mastering her water-bending skills for the upcoming tournament, making the dummy Xiao Wuyi her primary target. Jasmine, in the meantime, enjoyed showcasing her Star God Arts to Retsu.
Mio, on the other hand, worked on assimilating her dark energy into the Rasengan. Despite Retsu offering assistance, Mio opted to accomplish the one-handed Rasengan on her own. Retsu used a paper fan to train Nemu's reaction speed in the process.
Kon, in his usual manner, entertained himself by performing air combos on the dummies—hitting them before juggling them in the air with fireballs. Yuuki had warned him that sometimes a few fireballs were all that was needed to deal with cultivators.
Shifting his attention, Yun Che focused on the Overlord Colossal Sword obtained from the palace. "Now..."
A notification appeared in front of him, asking if he was sure about dismantling the Overlord Colossal Sword. Yuuki hesitated, wondering if he should keep the sword for the sake of collection.
"Am I going to dismantle this sword for my own good?"
Another prompt appeared, attempting to dissuade him.
===============
[Ding... This is Yun Che's first great sword. Do you have the slightest empathy for keeping such a wonderful piece for the sake of collection instead of destroying it...]
===============
"Yeah, I am..." Yuuki spoke without the slightest regret.
===========
[You really have no sense of empathy for the guy.]
[Ding… Initiating Overlord Colossal Sword Dismantling Protocol.]
[Ding … sword successfully dismantled. Host gains valuable materials.]
[Obtained Earth Profound Realm meteorite sword base]
[Acquired Sword Core – This unique core allows the host to infuse a soul, creating a weapon with consciousness.]
[Host can enhance the sword further by adding a gikon, similar to imbuing a faux body with a soul. It's crucial to note that this enhancement is exclusive to Sovereign Level weapons. Infusing consciousness into the blade will awaken it, elevating it into a formidable half-step Origin weapon.]
[Half-step Origin weapons are extraordinary creations synchronized with the host's level, growing alongside them. Once detached, these weapons retain the power of their former host. They possess the ability to manifest humanoid forms, complete with consciousness, feelings, and memories, though not as potent as Zanpakuto. Breakage, however, results in the permanent dissipation of their consciousness.]
===========
"Half-step Origin weapons? Holy hell… A weapon that can grow alongside their masters." Yun Che grinned, excitement coursing through him at the prospect of infusing his sovereign-level weapons with consciousness. With a swift motion, he drew Yoru and the small knife blade—the only Sovereign-level weapons in his possession.
The sword hovered before him as he retrieved two Gikon souls and two sword cores, preparing for a process that could potentially elevate his weapons to an entirely new level.
==========
[Ding… Do you wish to infuse these materials into 'Yoru'?]
==========
"I wonder what would happen if I did this." Yun Che pressed the system interface, watching as the cores and gikons floated into the swords. The process unfolded mysteriously, the weapons bathed in a radiant glow as Yoru and the small knife evolved into Half-Step Origin Realm weapons. The ethereal merging of gikons and sword cores added a captivating brilliance to the transformation. As the weapons completed their evolution, they floated before him, appearing unchanged yet subtly emanating a newfound energy, as if embracing their enhanced consciousness.
=============
[Ding… Fusion complete]
[Name: Black Sword 'Night' (Kokutou - Yoru)]
[Weapon Level: Half-Step Origin Realm]
[Owner: Yuuki]
[Type: Longsword]
==============
Yuuki was excited as Yoru has now surpassed the Supreme Grade Rank and entered the Legendary Rank. The same goes for the small pendant knife.
"Hmmm… seems like nothing happened. An upgrade is still an upgrade I guess." Yuuki sighs but just before he can touch Yoru's handle, the weapon avoids him.
"What in the…" Then, an extraordinary transformation ensued. Yoru gracefully shifted to the side, and particles around it began to coalesce, gradually forming a luminous, ethereal figure that delicately held the sword with a single hand. The radiant glow materialized into a human-like shape, revealing a tall, slender woman with an ample bosom and round buttocks. Her luscious hair cascaded beyond her waist, framing her enchanting form.
The figure adorned a black choker with five straps extending below it. Her attire seemed to transcend timelines, resembling a Victorian-style corset dress. The bust part was pristine white, while the part below it featured intricate line patterns. Around her waist, a white long skirt with black frills adorned the edges, embellished with symmetrical crosses and line patterns on the backside. Notably, she wore long black stockings extending from her thighs, complemented by high-heeled boots. A large black bonnet hat adorned with feathers added a touch of elegance to her ensemble.
Her face, the epitome of female beauty, depicted a stoic expression that hinted at a cool and mysterious character. Dark blue ocean eyes exuded a captivating allure, set above a cute small nose and accentuated by red, luscious lips. Her porcelain face added an irresistible charm to her form, making her appearance truly mesmerizing.
As for the imposing black sword, it stood tall behind her. The sword emanated a formidable presence, a silent guardian behind the enigmatic woman.
Before Yuuki could fully process the spectacle, another enchanting transformation unfolded. The once small pendant knife metamorphosed into a humanoid form as well. Instead of adopting the shape of a young woman, this manifestation took on the appearance of a loli-sized child. Delicate blonde hair was tied into two twin tails with ribbons as charming support. She wore a small summer dress adorned with a black ribbon in the middle, connected by a cross pattern underneath. Frills along the edges added an extra layer of cuteness to her outfit, complemented by striped blue and green socks and tiny child shoes. The child's green eyes sparkled with happiness as she locked onto Yun Che, a radiant smile emitting an aura of innocent joy. The transformed knife adorned her neck, worn in a manner reminiscent of how Mihawk wears his weapon.
In the presence of these two extraordinary beings, it was akin to encountering a pair of sisters. The older sister exuded an air of cool, darkness, and mystery, while the younger one radiated a happy-go-lucky charm of innocence. The undeniable truth lay in the bond they shared—the black sword and the small pendant knife were undeniably sister swords, each embodying a distinct yet captivating personality.
==============
[Ding…. Fusion Complete]
[Name: Yoruko]
[Weapon Level: Half-Step Origin Realm]
[Owner: Yuuki]
[Type: Dagger]
=================
"Yoruko? This thing has a name?" Yuuki wondered aloud. Until now, he simply referred to it as Kogatana, or the small knife.
"Master!!" Without warning, the little one screamed and rushed to hug him, a big smile lighting up her face.
"Hey now…" Yuuki was taken aback as the small blade continued hugging him, rubbing her face against his coat, as if they had been separated for a long time.
"It's master… it's master…!" She kept repeating before looking up at him with her big green eyes. Then, she announced, "It's Yoruko-desu…" and resumed hugging him tightly around the neck.
Yuuki was momentarily speechless as the stoic woman with the large bonnet bowed before him. Despite her slightly taller and slender figure, he was still shorter than her.
"Master…"
"Are you the Black Sword?" Yuuki asked, intrigued, as he had never encountered such a tall woman before.
With a cool and stoic tone, she inclined her head slightly. "Yes, please forgive my sister for her little outburst. Meeting our master like this makes her very happy, as she can now express herself. Thank you for granting us this chance."
She continued, "I am called Yoru. I am the manifestation of the black sword that stood by your side when you donned your Mihawk's persona. This is my sister sword, Yoruko. She is just a child, the manifestation of the small blade on your neck."
"To think that you gave us a chance to talk to you like this. We've been trying to communicate with you ever since you created us," Yoru explained, expressing her gratitude, despite her emotionless appearance, reminiscent of the night itself.
"But, I thought the swords were just named created swords," Yuuki mused.
"You created us from the Dragon Fault, am I right?" Yoru asked again.
"Yeah…" Yuuki nodded.
"The sword was infused with the soul of a young dragon. That soul alone gave us consciousness, but it is not the same as your Zanpakuto. When you gave us a sword core and a self-soul, we could finally manifest ourselves into a form that you are comfortable with and talk to you like this." Yoru expressed her happiness.
Yuuki was astonished. The sword and knife pair had chosen these forms to manifest themselves in a way that he would find comfortable. Did that mean the system was somehow responsible for portraying them as girls and women, perhaps fulfilling his unspoken desires?
==========
[Took you long enough.]
==========
"We might not be as powerful as your Zanpakutos, but please treat us well, master. We spent countless of times trying to talk to you, to see you able to talk to us like this is indeed a blessing." Yoru spoke before bowing alongside her sister.
"Well, please treat me well too. You two are my only Legendary weapons when I am in my normal form, so I really need you two. If you ever want to talk to me, don't hesitate," Yuuki grinned at the manifestation of his swords.
"Ehee… Thank you, master!" Yoruko spoke cheerfully.
"Anytime, Yoruko!" Yuuki grinned as the girl hugged him again. Surprisingly, Yoru joined in, hugging him from behind with her chin on top of his head, maintaining her stoic expression. It was a unique sight, these girls hugging him just like how he stored them, on his back and around his neck.
"A new Zanpakuto?" A voice chimed in, and it was from Jasmine, drawn in by the glowing lights. Seeing Yuuki being embraced by two unknown girls left her suspicious for a moment.
"Nope… this is Yoru and Yoruko. The black blade and the small blade manifested as human forms the moment I infused the Overlord's Sword core into them," Yuuki explained. Yoruko let him go and offers Jasmine a handshake.
"I am Yoruko-desu!!" The little one spoke with a bright expression. Observing her joyful demeanor reminded Jasmine of those twin Zanpakutos. Jasmine lowered herself before patting the girl on her head.
"I am Jasmine." Jasmine had a small smile seeing the small kid in front of her but was even more impressed seeing the taller woman before her, as her height really dwarfed her.
The tall woman, Yoru, also bowed to Jasmine and spoke, "I am Yoru. Pleased to meet you, Jasmine-sama." Jasmine was indeed baffled to see someone so tall before her and so expressionless.
"They manifested as human versions of your swords. They looked entirely powerful," Jasmine commented as the aura of both Yoru and Yoruko wasn't weak at all. She initially thought of them as mere weapons, but seeing them now made her wonder if both really were weapons.
"Believe it or not, they're Half-Step Origin realm swords or Legendary Unique Rank swords," Yuuki mentioned.
"Half-step Origins? Are their strengths now at the peak of the mortal realm?" Jasmine wondered.
"More like a sword that can grow alongside its master. They kind of scale with my levels. Pretty unique, huh?" Yuuki grinned as he mentioned that Yoru and Yoruko could now scale with their master's level and power. It meant that if they entered the real world, their levels would be the same as their master's, not to mention their invulnerability because of the Vibramantium.
Jasmine was utterly speechless. Typically, a sword is crafted with a fixed rank, but the idea that a sword could grow alongside its master, advancing with each breakthrough, left her astonished. While consciousness in swords is not uncommon in the Divine Realms, the ability to manifest into a human form is extraordinary and rare. Instances of humans or gods being transformed into swords exist, but the notion of a sword transforming into a human was unprecedented.
Boom!!!
An explosive white dome in the distance of the infinite void interrupted their thoughts, prompting Yuuki to nod toward Jasmine to check it out. Yun Che instantly took flight, followed by Jasmine and his newly acquired sword spirits. Yuuki was somehow surprised to see the swords taking flight on their own, realizing that they could progress independently. It meant they could learn any profound techniques that benefited them or use their knowledge as their own.
Arriving at the scene, they were greeted by Retsu in her Reaitsu cloak alongside Mio with her darkness aura around her. Both of them were panting after turning the dummy Xiao Wuyi into Swiss cheese before the system generated it again. Mio saw Yuuki approaching and happily ran towards him, covered in smudges, and with her kimono ripped in certain parts. The same was true for Retsu, whose kimono was torn apart by the blade storm around them. Even her braided hair was undone. Nemu had finished her training and was currently taking a rest, as her energy pool was only around the True Profound Realm, limiting her ability to spam Kido as much as Retsu.
"Danna-sama!! I finally did it!!" Mio shouted despite looking haggard alongside Retsu.
"Did what?" Yuuki sweatdropped, observing their dishevelled appearances.
"Eheee… I managed to somehow complete it with Ret-chan's help," Mio explained, but both Yuuki and Jasmine had no idea what they were talking about.
"Yuu-kun, I managed to complete mine as well. It was tiring, but it somehow works," Retsu smiled, her eyes turning blue, indicating she was currently in her Yin Mode.
"What are you two talking about?" Jasmine wondered.
"This…" Mio manifested four shining dark spider legs or pincers behind her. The sight astonished Yuuki for a moment, reminiscent of the Iron Spider moment from his original world. Mio put her hand in front before manifesting a Rasengan, but in a dark version of it. The spiraling ball consisted of dark energy focused on a single point, imitating a black hole version of the Rasengan. It didn't stop there; the air compressed around the dark energy Rasengan, forming rings around the spiraling energy ball. Since Mio controlled the energy well, it didn't create a storm around her, unlike the first time they created the Rasenshuriken.
Yuuki widened his eyes as another familiar technique caught his attention.
"Ehee… after struggling for a while, I finally did it! I call this one the Great Spiraling Ring. It's the merging of my darkness and air-bending into the Rasengan. Ret-chan helped me stabilize the air around it, and it formed into this. But I had to use my spider legs just to keep it stable." Mio happily spoke, having created a dark purple orb of profound energy surrounded by a series of white rings of energy that orbited the main sphere. These rings then aligned into one disc-like shape around the orb, causing the rings to resemble planetary rings.
"You created your own dark version of the Rasenshuriken. I am really impressed." Yuuki expresses surprise as Mio creates a dark version of Rasengan with spinning air blade rings around it.
"The Rasenshuriken is the product of our learnings together. If Mio can do darkness and air, I can do this..." Retsu controlled her Reaitsu Cloak chakra arms to her front, just like Mio. Since she had the Reaitsu Cloak, she didn't need to manifest her fox tails anymore. Retsu manipulated the water in the air into forming a spiralling sphere on her hand, but this time, it was made entirely out of water. Once it was complete, the new Rasengan was basically a compressed vortex of water. However, make no mistake, a spiralling vortex of water consists of a massive amount of energy, as water is not a force to be reckoned with. But it didn't stop there; the vortex of water formed shuriken-like blades around it. The blades were made entirely out of water, and four more blades formed around it, this time the same air blades as the Rasenshuriken. The difference between the water blades and the air blades was that the water blades spun slower than the air blades, creating the illusion of eight spinning blades.
"It took me days to master this. Yachiru helped formulate my understanding of her inner world. She improved them, and I improved them further, and thus, this happens..." Retsu smiled before she nodded toward Mio. Both of them immediately threw their newly formed techniques at the dummy Xiao Wuyi. The collision of both energies catapulted him towards the distance before exploding, creating a giant dome of white energy in the distance. The shockwave of the energy reached them before Yuuki created a barrier around them. The shockwave was so powerful that it even shook the Heretic God barrier he was holding, completely decimating the dummy in the process.
Mio had created a Rasenshuriken from the Darkness Element, while Retsu had crafted a Water Element Rasenshuriken. Both Jasmine and Yuuki were entirely speechless again, witnessing the overwhelming power of these techniques capable of decimating an entire city. Jasmine recalled firsthand when Retsu unleashed the air-based Rasenshuriken on Wrath's face back in the sanctuary. Nemu felt a tinge of envy, knowing her Haki progress was only at a basic stage for Kenbunshoku and Busoshoku. To perform such feats, she must reach at least the Intermediate Stage, where she could learn the Rasengan and infuse it with her Elemental bending, a power not yet awakened in her.
"What do you think, Yuu-kun/Danna-sama?!" Both Mio and Retsu eagerly sought his comment and attention.
"I mean… it's awesome. It's great! To think that you girls can come up with this only by learning Rasenshuriken. I guess I can learn from you girls once I obtain the Darkness Seed and the Water Seed in the future." Yuuki praised them, patting their heads and kissing their cheeks, acknowledging their efforts as they squealed in excitement. They disengaged their extra limbs and sat in exhaustion. He also patted Nemu's head for a job well done, which made her blush.
"Sugoi!!!" Yoruko squealed, capturing the attention of Retsu, Mio, and Nemu. Their eyes turned toward the tall woman with the large bonnet hat alongside a small kid.
"Ara~ this is?" Retsu inquired, noticing these unfamiliar girls. She wondered why the tall lady was holding Yoru behind her back. "Another Zanpakuto as a reward, Yuu-kun?"
"Mouuu…. How many more women are going to enter our little group?" Mio mumbled, observing Yuuki with two new additions, mainly women, again. Zanpakuto or not.
"No, actually, this is Yoru and Yoruko, my Mihawk persona's weapons. They awakened their humanoid forms once I gave them the Overlord Sword's Core." Yuuki explained, introducing both girls to his fiancées. He clarified that he originally desired a weapon with consciousness, but after infusing the sword core, it granted his weapons not only consciousness but also humanoid forms. As it turned out, they already possessed consciousness, and the sword cores and gikons completed the equation needed to form a humanoid body.
"That woman is really tall," Kon commented as he landed on Yuuki's shoulder. This time he refrained from jumping on the tall woman after seeing the towering Yoru behind her.
"Right? I was even surprised at first. I think it's cool," Yuuki replied.
"Thank you for your thought, master," Yoru bowed her head slightly, somehow glad her master was pleased with her new form. Observing this, Yuuki wondered, as usually, sword spirits were not just spirits but the embodiment of their master's skills. Yoru represented Dracule Mihawk himself in terms of skills. Curious, he asked, "Yoru, as humanoid forms, do you basically learn every one of my sword skills?"
"Yes, I might not be able to learn Getsuga Tenshou from you, but I've learned all your energy-based sword slashes. As long as it's a sword skill, I can learn it quite well. Even Yoruko can do it too," Yoru replied, and Yoruko in Mio's arms nodded as well.
"Well, I don't wish to learn any sword profound skills of this world. You can learn them in my stead," Yuuki mentioned. Despite the profound skills offered in the world of ATG, he wasn't interested in any of them. However, some skills might be useful to both Yoru and Yoruko, so they might do their best to learn them, similar to Zanpakuto spirits.
"Yes, as long as it's sword-based, I can learn it," Yoru nodded.
Turning to his fiancées, he explained, "As you girls see, Yoru and Yoruko are not like any Zanpakuto. They don't have devastating Shikai or Bankai. Since they are humanoid versions of my Yoru and my small knife, they can manifest themselves in the outside world and fight in my stead should I need them."
"A sword gained a human form, just like your other spirits," Jasmine spoke bewildered.
"Nope, a Zanpakuto is a spirit that manifests itself in the form of a sword as a sealed form. These two are swords that gained consciousness and manifest humanoid body forms," Yuuki corrected her.
"Let's test you two out. Can you fight the dummy over there?" Yuuki pointed towards the Xiao Wuyi dummy standing alone. The system regenerated it countless times after being obliterated by Retsu and Mio. Yuuki changed the main settings from standing still to AI-controlled and set the difficulty to normal, as he had never seen them fight before, and normal seemed just right.
Nodding in unison, Yoru and Yoruko began advancing side by side. Facing the dummy version of Xiao Wuyi, it began throwing explosives around them. Yoru drew her black sword and engaged Xiao Wuyi, countering the explosive spam from the dummy with powerful and heavy attacks. On the other hand, Yoruko swiftly closed in on the dummy, delivering light attacks with her small dagger. Yuuki observed that Yoru favored heavy, devastating attacks, while Yoruko employed a hit-and-run technique, delivering quick, light strikes and moving away.
She instantly counters the attack away from the dummy Xiao Wuyi. In an instant, Yoru sliced the dummy into two before elegantly storing her sword behind her. The duo's coordination and fighting style were impressive. Yoru focused on overwhelming the opponent with sheer power, while Yoruko danced around, delivering precise strikes. Their teamwork showcased their ability to complement each other in battle. Should they enter the real world, it seemed they could cause quite a sensation.
"Sugoi... She fights just like you," Kon exclaimed.
"More like she fights just like Mihawk would," Yuuki nodded, drawing parallels with the original Dracule Mihawk.
The two newly acquired sword spirits returned to the group seemingly unfazed. Despite just attaining human forms, they moved with the skill and ease of seasoned fighters. Now, Yuuki had a backup plan—these two could materialize if Mihawk ever found himself in trouble. There were times when Yuuki had to give up his weapons, and these humanoid swords could manifest themselves and wreak havoc in his place.
"It's a nice idea," Jasmine nodded in agreement.
The intriguing part was Yoruko, who appeared like a genuine child yet fought like an expert. They contemplated bringing them into the inner world's main world to introduce them to the other spirits. Most were impressed by how tall Yoru was, slightly surpassing Yuuki in height.
Yoru and Yoruko were impressed with the dummy's capabilities and requested more training. Yuuki increased the difficulty to hard, and the two humanoid swords seemed to relish the challenge.
"I wonder if that girl is okay by herself?" Jasmine inquired as they enjoyed lunch in the training room, observing the two swords effortlessly handling the Xiao Wuyi dummy.
"I'm sure she had fun on her own," Yuuki assured them, unaware of the unfolding situation on Cang Yue's side.
==========================
"This is not fun at all," Cang Yue remarked, her voice carrying a playful tone as she found herself surrounded by hugs, tickles, and pats from the twin fairies, much to Chu Yueli's evident dismay. They had just passed through the main gates leading to the Palace of Snow and Ice. The enormity of the place became apparent from their vantage point.
"You're the one who wanted this," Little Fairy teased with a mischievous grin.
"Mouu… but being showered by hugs from the twins wasn't part of it. It's like I am a doll or something," Cang Yue commented, her playful complaint met with more attention from the twins, causing her to be cradled again, this time by Chu Yueli.
From above, the palace looked like a massive tower surrounded by swirling ice, with four connecting paths leading to various parts outside the main structure. The main palace stood at the bottom, surrounded by several administration buildings. Cang Yue couldn't help but wonder about the height of this tower.
Taking a mesmerizing tour of the Palace of Snow and Ice in the heart of the Frozen Cloud Asgard, Cang Yue marveled at its stunning architecture. The palace, a masterpiece of intricate carvings reminiscent of ancient dynasties, showcased elegance and grandeur.
As she explored the majestic halls, Cang Yue admired glistening ice sculptures capturing historical moments, illuminated by ethereal blue lights that created a magical atmosphere. The tour continued through expansive gardens with crystalline flowers and carefully crafted ice sculptures, providing a refreshing chill that heightened the enchantment.
The climax of the tour was reaching the Ice Tower, offering a panoramic view of the snowy Asgard below, extending as far as the eye could see. Chu Yueli left both of them before descending down the tower with the other fairies, leaving Cang Yue and Little Fairy alone on the tower's peak.
"I sometimes come up here after I left all of you. To think after all this time, I never once admired the beauty of this place," Little Fairy spoke to Cang Yue through their link.
"It is indeed beautiful. Just like their disciples. To think a heaven on earth exists like this, unknown to the outside world," Cang Yue commented.
"It is necessary, sister Yue. To protect ourselves. Did you want to know why the Asgard is forbidden to love? To have a family? To be forced to seal our emotions and desires," Little Fairy spoke, and Cang Yue shook her head as she listened attentively.
"It is because the Frozen Cloud Arts can easily be stolen by men through our Primordial Yin. That's all they need to steal the Frozen Cloud Arts," Little Fairy revealed, causing Cang Yue's pink eyes to widen in shock.
"It's… Why did you tell me this? An outsider," Cang Yue wondered.
"Sister Yue, you are more than just an outsider. You are just like Rascal. Someone I can entrust my whole life to. If rascal entrusts his origin secret to both of us, we can entrust ours to both of you. Yes, it can be stolen. Imagine if we cultivate to the final stage, then men force themselves on us. All those arts will be stolen just like that, as if they are the ones who cultivated them. Years of cultivation, stolen just like that and left us with nothing. Should this knowledge be known to the outside world, we will be attacked and forced to become cultivation cattle for men," Little Fairy continued, revealing the dire consequences of their unique cultivation method. Cang Yue was unable to believe what she heard. A sanctuary for women harbors this kind of secret. Now she feels guilty for saying the Frozen Cloud Asgard was a cold and proud sect, as she didn't know anything about them.
"Did Yun Che know of this?" Cang Yue asked.
"He did, but he's fine with it, as if he already knows. He didn't force himself on me or whatever to gain the Frozen Cloud Arts. I suspected that he knows a lot about us, but even though we didn't know anything about him," Little Fairy smiled, reminiscing about her interactions with Yun Che. She was surprised when Yun Che revealed knowledge about their grand secret, but his nonchalant acceptance left her in awe. Could it be that his secret realm was aware of Frozen Cloud Asgard, marking them as a neutral sect?
"To think that this Asgard has that kind of secret," Cang Yue spoke with a touch of sadness.
"We don't know how long we have until a calamity strikes our sect, just like the Ancient Phoenix Sect," Little Fairy spoke, expressing her concern about the impending 1000-year calamity.
"Don't worry, Sister Yuechan. One day, I'll come and protect this sect. Two years, that's all I need to grow and protect all of you," Cang Yue promised, her determination shining through. If what Yuyun said was true, two years were all she needed to reach the Sovereign Profound Realm.
Little Fairy smiled as she patted the little girl's head. "If you can grow to this level, I am sure in two years, our sect will be blessed by your protection."
Little Fairy pondered the potential growth ahead. If Cang Yue could advance from the True Profound Realm to the Earth Profound Realm in mere months, the prospect of two years' worth of growth excited her. Cang Yue might indeed become a formidable protector for the sect.
Cang Yue's gaze shifted towards a feature near the high tower of the sect—a massive trench with seven divided sections and seating areas on top of each side. Using her Eagle Vision to zoom in, she scrutinized the place, noting a variety of peculiar obstacles.
"Is that… an obstacle course?" Cang Yue asked Little Fairy, who stood beside her.
Little Fairy followed her line of sight and observed the massive trench. "Hnnn… it is the Icy Mirage Challenge Realm. It's designed to test some of the Earth Profound Realm disciples. It has seven levels until the end. Most of them can't make it to the end. The only one who has ever made it to the end was me and those six fairies. It is the reason we became the Seven Fairies of the Frozen Cloud Asgard. Then, earlier this year, someone else completed it, adding another to the list."
"Who is it?" Cang Yue inquired, curious about the unexpected finisher.
"The pearl of the sect itself. Xia Qingyue," Little Fairy replied. Cang Yue nodded in understanding, though a twinge of jealousy flared at the mention of Xia Qingyue, Yun Che's wife. Lost in her thoughts, Cang Yue was abruptly pulled back by Yuyun's enthusiastic voice. "Little Yue!! Try the obstacle course!! No, don't just try it. Do it!!"
Hearing Yuyun's excited tone, Cang Yue was perplexed. "Ehh!!? How in the world am I supposed to do that?"
"I finished analyzing the course through your Haki just now. The obstacle course has seven stages. Each stage corresponds to the stages you need to complete the Rokushiki Arts," Yuyun explained from her inner world.
"Analyzing?" Cang Yue tilted her head in confusion.
"It means scanning for gathering data, but never mind about that. I need more data on the course. You must complete it so I can set up something similar in the Moon World for you, but after I improve it, of course," Yuyun spoke out in excitement. The Rokushiki needed a challenging environment for cultivation, and the obstacle course provided the perfect conditions, with each stage offering a suitable terrain for Cang Yue's repeated takeover.
"But, my body is really small," Cang Yue protested, unsure about taking on the challenging Icy Mirage Challenge Realm.
"Just trust your Haki. This kind of course can also train your Kenbunshoku and Busoshoku Haki," Yuyun encouraged, instilling confidence in Cang Yue that her Haki skills were up to the task. There were experiments she wished to conduct after her Moon World Haki training.
"Sister Yuechan, can I take a closer look?" Cang Yue tugged at Little Fairy's sleeve, her curiosity shining through like a child seeking approval.
"If that's what you want," Little Fairy acquiesced, cradling Cang Yue and flying toward the Frozen Cloud Asgard's Icy Mirage Challenge Realm. The closer view surprised Cang Yue; from the tower, it appeared smaller. Nestled between two towers with a circular formation in the middle, the course loomed large. Little Fairy inquired, "Why do you want to see the Icy Mirage Challenge Realm anyway?"
"Curious?" Cang Yue admitted sheepishly. In reality, she aimed to get closer so Yuyun could analyze the challenge realm for replication in the Moon World. Once done, she planned to enhance it for Cang Yue's Haki and Rokushiki Arts training after the tournament.
"Hurry up before Yueli comes back; she wouldn't want to see you…" Little Fairy urged as Cang Yue approached the central formation. The moment she stepped in, however, the formation activated, sealing Cang Yue inside with a profound energy barrier she couldn't escape. Panicking, she tried pushing and punching it, but the barrier held firm. Simultaneously, the obstacle course activated, signalling someone was ready to take on the challenge.
"Sister Yue! What are you doing?!" Little Fairy shouted as Cang Yue found herself trapped in the Icy Mirage Challenge Realm.
"Eh?! I just wanted to take a closer look, and this happens!" Cang Yue, initially planning to scan the entrance, was now trapped in the initial zone.
Little Fairy wanted to slap herself, realizing she forgot that the formation activates when an Earth Profound Realm disciple enters it. Cang Yue's cultivation triggered it. She knew this, but Cang Yue didn't. "The formation recognized your strength and initiated the course. You either complete the course or become heavily injured to be ejected."
"What happened here…? Nee-san! Where's Nezuko?!" Chu Yueli landed, not seeing Nezuko with Little Fairy. Her eyes widened in dread as she spotted the small Nezuko inside the obstacle course. "No! How did this happen?!"
"Her curiosity got the better of her. She's inside the Obstacle Formation. The formation recognized her Earth Profound Realm strength and activated the course," Little Fairy explained, realizing the formation wouldn't activate for anyone below the Earth Profound Realm to prevent unauthorized usage. However, the moment Cang Yue stepped into it, the challenge realm activated.
"No! She'll get hurt!" Chu Yueli shouted as she tapped the barrier trapping Nezuko. She was well acquainted with the barrier's nature, having suffered injuries from the Icy Mirage Challenge Realm herself. "Nezuko! Just stay there! I'll disable the formation and get you out!"
"Nezuko!" Feng Hanxue and Feng Hanyue joined the chorus of worried voices. The other fairies rushed to the scene, their anxiety growing at the sight of Nezuko trapped behind the obstacle's initial formation. The fear of seeing the adorable girl injured stirred emotions among them or more like fearing the father of the girl herself.
"Sisters, help me find a way to disable it!" Chu Yueli and the twins were ready to take action, but Murong Qianxue's voice halted their efforts.
Murong Qianxue shook her head. "We can't. It's an ancient formation created by our ancestors. It can't be disabled unless she completes it or is heavily injured."
"No, we can't let her get hurt." Chu Yueli pleaded, unable to bear the thought of Nezuko's harm.
"Little Yue, you have to finish the course, or else you might be stuck here forever," Little Fairy advised through their link, aware that completion or injury were the only ways out. The formation aimed to test the resolve of the disciples, much like the seven fairies had faced.
Little Fairy, however, hesitated. The formation was designed for Frozen Cloud Asgard disciples with specific skills, and Cang Yue lacked them. Passing the first stage seemed impossible. "Sister Yue! We'll try..."
"Tell me how to complete it," Cang Yue asserted, determined to rectify her mistake and complete the challenge.
"Sister Yue... It's impossible..." Little Fairy attempted to dissuade her.
"Just tell me. The more I stay here, the more restless Sister Yueli becomes," Cang Yue insisted. Little Fairy glanced at her sister, witnessing the determination to tear down the formation for a new one if necessary. If she intervened, her strength as a Half-Step Tyrant Profound Realm would be revealed.
So Cang Yue had no choice, she had to complete the challenge or she might be stuck in the challenge forever.