A while ago…
Asty walked toward the backyard where the pond lay, with Aurora silently following. Aurora was excited because she now had the chance to become stronger, but she was also curious – with her crippled condition, how exactly was Asty planning to train her?
Asty continued walking until she stopped at the shore of the pond. Although the pond wasn't very large in diameter, its depth was immense, making it impossible to see the bottom from above.
"Looks like we'll have to create our own training ground, seeing as that lazybones didn't expect to gain a disciple so quickly and never built anything suitable for training," Asty sighed, glancing at the pond. An idea sparked in her mind.
"Let's go; we'll make this training ground in the pond." Asty raised her paw, ready to enter the water, but paused, looking back at Aurora. "But you're a mortal, so I suppose you won't be able to breathe underwater. How troublesome."
Aurora wanted to point out that no one could breathe underwater except for a few water-element Profound Artists, and even they had to use a considerable amount of Profound energy to manage it. But her intuition told her to stay silent.
Asty waved her small paw, and a water bubble appeared around Aurora, with her at its center. Aurora touched it, and her hand passed through the bubble's surface without breaking it – the bubble merely stretched a little but held its shape.
"You don't need to worry, just follow me," Asty said as she entered the pond, allowing the water to engulf her as she sank toward the bottom.
Aurora hesitated briefly but then followed Asty into the pond. To her amazement, she could breathe underwater. The sight outside the bubble was magical; she could see the water surrounding her, a scenery she had never imagined. Occasionally, small fish swam by, darting around her bubble.
The bubble not only kept the water out but also blocked any external aura and energy, which is why Aurora remained unaware that even the weakest of the small fish were at the Ruler Profound Stage. After staying in this Heavenly pond for just a month, their cultivation levels had skyrocketed.
Soon, they reached the bottom, where Asty landed first, followed closely by Aurora. Aurora felt puzzled by Asty's actions – how was this supposed to be a training ground?
Asty walked over to a relatively flat area, then began drawing a large circle on the ground. Once it was complete, she stood at the center.
Suddenly, Asty's eyes turned golden. The space around her started to distort, and cracks formed as if reality itself was splitting open. The circle under her changed as well, fluctuating with spatial energy until it glowed a bright golden hue.
Aurora stood transfixed, watching this divine phenomenon. She couldn't understand what was happening, and could only stare in awe, like a statue. Now, she was certain Asty was an extraordinary being, on a level she could only dream of reaching.
After a while, the phenomenon subsided, leaving only the glowing golden circle beneath Asty, who was now levitating. The sight of a levitating cat surrounded by golden light underwater was surreal.
Asty then directed her golden gaze at Aurora. Aurora felt a strange tremor inside her, though she couldn't identify what it was.
"You felt it, didn't you? That was the bloodline resonance, as we share the same bloodline," Asty said, her eyes returning to their pitch-black color.
Aurora was initially confused, then thrilled. She didn't know how she had obtained this bloodline, but one thing was certain – she could potentially become as strong as Asty someday, capable of performing similar techniques. The mere thought filled her with excitement. But Asty's following words shattered her newfound hopes.
"Don't be delusional. What you have is barely a fraction of my bloodline, and even with that, you'll face countless hardships. For now, even establishing a foundation will be difficult. It all depends on you, so… good luck with what lies ahead," Asty said with a light, innocent smile.
But to Aurora, that smile seemed like it came from the devil himself. She wanted to ask what she meant, but before she could, Asty entered and vanished into the golden light of the circle.
As Asty departed, the bubble surrounding Aurora dissipated without its energy source, causing the outside water to surge in.
Aurora had no time to react as water filled the space, instantly engulfing her. The pressure was overwhelming, forcing her onto her hands and knees. She instinctively closed her mouth to hold in what little air she had left. The pressure didn't only come from the sheer volume of water but also from its extraordinary density.
Blood began to seep into the water as various cuts appeared on her body, causing severe pain. Her vision started to blur, but she clung to consciousness, remembering Asty's words. Now, she understood their meaning – only by enduring such relentless situations could she hope to achieve strength like Asty's.
Aurora tried to lift her head, but the effort proved agonizing. Even moving an inch intensified her injuries, spreading numbness through parts of her body. Still, she tilted her head enough to catch sight of the golden portal. She knew her only chance of survival lay in reaching it.
With clenched teeth, she started to crawl toward the portal. It was only a few steps away, but the short distance felt infinite.
*Crack*
A sharp, cracking noise pierced the silence as the bones in her hand fractured. She fought the urge to scream, knowing that opening her mouth would let in the water. Now she was battling not only the crushing pressure of the water but also the creeping sensation of suffocation.
Desperately, she fixed her gaze on the golden portal – her only hope for survival.