After a long time of experimentation with the recipe to make the Divine Ice Qi Pellets that was acquired from their inheritance, Ki was within her research room with a cauldron in front of her.
She opened the lid and inside were five small circular shaped pills or pellets laying at the bottom of the cauldron.
Lifting one out of the cauldron she inspected it and could faintly detect the strong icy properties hidden within. "After wasting so many materials it has finally reached the stage of perfection."
Behind her were many containers filled with similar pills but they looked a little inferior compared to the one that she was holding, those were considered failed products but in the eyes of many others were precious treasures.
Much like the qi boosting pills that she acquired in the past the pills she had made allowed a martial artist to break through to the peak or transcendent realm depending on when they have consumed it but the limitation is that only one can be consumed per person to avoid pill poisoning and the impurities building up in the body.
The other pills she had acquired were suited to all kinds martial artists of different types while the ones that she had made only suited cold based martial arts with any icy nature.
Even those that had eaten the previous pill should have no problems progressing further if they ate it too because of the different types of materials used.
However there was still one recipe that she had to complete that was among the inheritance which was the Extreme Divine Ice Qi Pellet which is used by peak transcendent martial artists who wish to attempt a breakthrough to the next realm.
Due to its high concentration of cold materials and its volatility, it can only be used during a time of breaking through to the next realm.
Although she had gained familiarity with the cold herbs and the recipes, she still needed more rare and potent ice natured herbs to make the other pill.
Much like the herb that she had used to make the cold poison that she consumed along with the heat poison to give her a combination of cold, heat and a hundred poison immunity, she needed such a herb to make the pills.
She turned and looked at the inferior pills and thought for a moment. "These will still have some use… but first how should I use the perfect ones.."
She continued to take out the new pills and but them in a vial before sealing it and walking out of her room.
Lumi and Rayleigh had long been on the verge of breaking through their realm but had to suppress and refine their qi further, sometimes they even entered the secret passage so that they could go to the icy cavern underneath the Divine Ice Sects grounds that Lumi used to practice in so they could have access to a colder environment more suited to their practice.
After eating a qi boosting pill and their time in the north, they were already far ahead of many people their age unless it was a prized disciple of a sect that had connections with an alchemy based sect that could supply them pills to boost their training speed.
Now that they were on the verge of breaking through to the transcendent realm all they needed was a small push.
The same was true for another person who had also consumed a qi boosting pill which was her mother but her martial arts attainments and qi did not allow her to breakthrough without help.
As for her little sister who had yet to begin her path as a martial artist, Ki still kept a spare qi boosting pill and divine ice qi pellet aside for her for future use.
In the training grounds the sounds of swords clashing was heard one after another.
Ki's sword kept moving to defend and acted like it was going to strike back at any moment but instead it turned and swept the opponents sword away from its target and created an opening on her enemy.
Her sword approached the throat of Lumi who stood there silently after depleting all of her energy but she still locked eyes with Ki who began to lower her sword and talk. "Your swordsmanship is getting better but remember this.. if you wish to pierce through someone's defences you need to be faster, more precise and not be so straight forward. You are a woman, your body is not suited for brutal fighting and straight forward fighting styles so you must use your balance, flexibility and speed and hone them so that when you do swing your sword at your opponent your strike will land. It is also good to keep working on your footwork and defence so that you can avoid attacks better and let your enemy wear themselves out. Nobody has unlimited stamina… eventually they will tire out and reveal a weakness. Try to use the principles that you have been using with ice, snow, water and the cold winds to gain your own martial path. Even if you have learned most of your inheritance there will also be some parts that could be unsuitable for you."
Lumi nodded calmly and fell into thought. "Mm.."
Meanwhile Rayleigh who was also looking as tired commented. "It's because she is too simple and straightforward. I swear those old ladies broke her, back then she was an even tougher opponent to beat and she had more fight in her."
Ki shook her head and spoke. "What's lost is lost. Now it is just different and different doesn't necessarily mean weaker. Perhaps back then she may have been desperate to get to her position not knowing the true outcome so she risked herself to get there but eventually such people may find themselves in later life stuck because they have suffered too many injuries from pushing herself too hard. Now she is more calm and can take a broader look at the world, her path may no longer be rugged and full of hardship but now she is focussed on her path but does not forget to look around and learn. I think she has potential just like you."
Rayleigh snorted as she replied. "If you say so."
Ki looked at the two of them and took out two vials containing a pill each and handed them over. "Make sure to eat this when you feel that you are getting close to a breakthrough as it will help boost your icy qi to help you break through the wall that is blocking you."
Rayleigh inspected it and her icy qi seemed to become excited in her body as she smelled the contents of the vial. "Don't tell me.. this is?!"
Ki nodded calmly. "I finally got a perfect batch so I thought I would gift you two the first ones since you are on the verge of a breakthrough. If my estimates are correct even after your breakthrough there will still be some of the medicinal properties left in your body so you will need to train hard to fully absorb it and make it your own."
Rayleigh suppressed the shock on her face and asked. "What about the other recipe?
Ki shook her head while replying. "I do not have the materials right now so it could be a long time before I can get it right and create a perfect batch."
In response to that, Rayleigh looked towards Lumi and said. "If it is rare materials then there must be a secret treasure vault within the sect grounds. The only people that would know of this would be the grand elder and the sect master. I am sure that Lumi will know, if you ask her then she will tell you. I am sure that the key in your possession has more than one use."