When Allie arrived at the training ground again, Ryan was already waiting. His expression remained serious, but there seemed to be a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
"Are you ready, Allie?" Ryan asked, his voice deep and powerful.
Allie took a deep breath, feeling the Kunlun Force flowing within her. She wore a form-fitting training suit, her silver hair tied up high, her purple eyes sparkling with determination. "I'm ready," she answered firmly.
The training began. Like the previous two days, the environment on the track was unpredictable. Extreme cold, scorching heat, high altitude, underwater... various extreme conditions came one after another. But this time, Allie's performance was drastically different.
When the cold hit, the track surface instantly froze, the temperature plummeting to tens of degrees below zero. However, Allie no longer felt the bone-chilling pain but could use the energy within her to resist the low temperature. A faint halo seemed to envelop her body, with frost melting immediately upon contact with her skin.
In the high-temperature environment, the track surface became scorching hot, and the air filled with burning heat. Yet Allie could easily control her body temperature, maintaining comfort. Her movements were fluid and graceful as if dancing in blazing magma.
At high altitudes, Allie's sense of balance was better than ever. She skated at high speed on the narrow track, her body seeming to merge with it. Even the most treacherous turns and drops were easily handled, demonstrating amazing skill and control.
Ryan observed from the side, the surprise in his eyes becoming increasingly evident. Allie not only could withstand the pressure training but was beginning to learn how to use the Kunlun Force to increase her skating speed. Her figure on the track was like a silver lightning bolt, moving so fast it was almost dizzying to watch.
"Excellent, Allie!" Ryan couldn't help but exclaim, "You're gradually mastering the Kunlun Force!"
Hearing these words, a strong sense of pride welled up in Allie's heart. She increased her speed, and her body and energy perfectly merged. The changing environment around her was no longer a threat, but a stage for her to showcase her abilities. She sped along the track, every movement full of power and grace.
When the training ended, Allie hardly felt tired. She stopped at the finish line, her face beaming with a victorious smile. Ryan walked over quickly, his face showing a rare smile of satisfaction.
"Well done, Allie. That's it for today's training," he tossed her a towel. "Are you hungry? I'll take you out for dinner as a reward."
"There's a reward?" Allie asked excitedly, her eyes shining with excitement.
"That's right. Let's go for a big meal to celebrate your breakthrough," Ryan's tone carried a rare hint of warmth.
Ryan took Allie to a restaurant called "The Heart of Mars." It was a high-end restaurant that fused Martian local culture with Earth cuisine. The restaurant's exterior was designed as a huge red dome, like a miniature version of Mars. Red lights were embedded in the red walls, particularly eye-catching in the night.
When they entered the restaurant, Allie couldn't help but gasp in amazement. The entire interior was designed as a miniature version of Mars' topography. The ceiling projected the Martian sky, with twinkling stars seemingly within reach. The walls displayed holographic images of Mars's surface, with red dunes and canyons vividly rendered. Even the floor mimicked Mars' red soil, walking on it felt like stepping onto Martian ground.
A waiter guided them to a window-side table. Through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, they could see a panoramic view of Mars City. The city lights twinkled in the night, with the silhouette of distant mountains faintly visible, forming a magnificent picture.
"The view here is amazing," Allie marveled, the fatigue from days of intense training instantly vanishing. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, like a child visiting a big city for the first time.
Ryan watched Allie's excited expression, the corners of his mouth involuntarily turning upward.
They ordered several signature dishes, each a work of art. A salad made from special vegetables grown in Martian red soil, with unique shapes and colors, tasting delicious with a hint of sweetness. A special drink brewed from pure water extracted from Mars' underground glaciers, crisp and sweet with a hint of mineral fragrance. Each dish was carefully designed to resemble Martian topography, both delicious and artistic.
When the food arrived, Allie eagerly began tasting. Her eyes narrowed with delight, her face beaming with happiness. Seeing her like this, Ryan couldn't help but be infected, starting to enjoy the meal as well.
"Oh, it looks like there's some kind of ceremony going on over there," Allie suddenly noticed, as they were finishing their meal, countless bonfires were being lit on the ground in the distance, glimmering on the darkening horizon.
Allie suddenly remembered that today was the annual Red Child Festival. It was during the Red Child Festival ceremony with her father that a riot suddenly broke out, causing them to be separated. She wanted to see it again, although she knew the chances of meeting her father were slim.
She looked at Ryan's face and said in an earnest tone, "Today is Mars' Red Child Festival, an important Martian holiday. It's interesting. Can we go and see it together?"
Ryan looked towards those sparks, pondered for a moment, then nodded, "Alright."
They left the restaurant and headed towards the edge of the city. As they approached, the festive atmosphere grew stronger. Red lanterns hung along both sides of the streets, the air filled with the aroma of spices and roasted meat. People's faces were beaming with joyful smiles, the streets filled with laughter and cheer.
When they reached the city's edge, a grand festival was in full swing. Mars natives wore bright red and orange robes, their faces painted with mysterious totems. They sang and danced in the streets, celebrating the annual "Red Child Festival."
Allie and Ryan were deeply attracted by the scene before them. Martians threw red sand into the air while chanting ancient spells. The sand grains formed beautiful patterns in the air as if narrating the history of Mars. The red grains danced in the air, like countless twinkling stars in the reflection of the bonfires.
Suddenly, a handful of dust was thrown towards Allie and Ryan. An elder in a red robe approached them. His face was etched with the marks of time, but his eyes shone with wisdom and devotion. "Welcome, friends from afar," his voice was hoarse but full of power.
"In this ceremony, we need a pair of witnesses," the elder turned to Ryan and Allie. "Are you willing to take on this honor?"
Being chosen as witnesses was an honor for the family. "We are willing," Allie answered without thinking, then realized Ryan might be reluctant. She made a face, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
The elder nodded with satisfaction, then began to explain the ceremony's process to them. Soon everyone would dance together, representing the continuation of life and the eternal rotation of the universe. Male dancers symbolized the sun, while female dancers symbolized the earth. The dance of the two would simulate the movement of the sun and moon, and the process of life's creation.
Before the dance began, Allie and Ryan were taken to preparation rooms on opposite sides. Allie changed into a fiery red long dress, its skirt flowing like flames. Her silver hair was intricately braided, and she wore a crown inlaid with rubies. When she looked at herself in the mirror, it was as if she saw a strange yet beautiful woman.
Ryan wore a golden robe with a sun totem embroidered on the chest. His black hair was neatly combed, and his forehead adorned with a touch of red soil. This attire made him look both solemn and mysterious.
When they re-entered the square, the Martians let out a cheer. Bonfires were lit, the flames dancing on their bodies, giving them a mysterious glow. They slowly paced, rotating around the central bonfire in the square. The male dancers' movements were powerful and full of tension, much like the burning heat of the sun. The female dancers were as gentle and inclusive as the earth, each turn seeming to nurture life.
Allie and Ryan were a bit stiff at first but were soon infected by the surrounding atmosphere. Their movements became more natural as if they truly became incarnations of the sun and earth. Allie's skirt swirled like flames as she turned, while Ryan's robe shimmered golden in the moonlight.
The people around began to chant ancient praises, their voices loud and devout. The entire square seemed to be enveloped by a sacred power. A mysterious and solemn atmosphere permeated the air.
At this moment, the sky suddenly burst into brilliant auroras. Red, green, and purple lights danced in the night sky, adding a dreamlike touch to the ceremony. The aurora's light enveloped the entire square, casting everyone's faces in a kaleidoscope of colors.
Under the glow of the aurora, people's dance movements became increasingly mesmerizing. Their bodies seemed to perfectly align with the rhythm of life, each movement containing reverence for the universe and worship for nature. Allie and Ryan were completely immersed, their dance seeming to tell an ancient and mysterious story.
Watching and participating in this dance at such proximity, with dust flying and blood boiling, Allie and Ryan were deeply moved by the atmosphere. They exchanged smiles, their eyes full of indescribable awe and reverence for life. Allie's purple eyes sparkled with excitement, while Ryan's gaze showed a rare tenderness.
On this night, humanity, Mars, and the entire universe seemed to merge into one. Allie felt an unprecedented sense of belonging as if she had found her place in this universe. Ryan, for the first time, truly felt the charm of Mars, beginning to understand why Allie loved this red planet so much.
As they left the square, Allie and Ryan walked side by side, still immersed in the awe they had just experienced. Night had fallen, and Mars' two moons hung in the sky, casting a soft light over the land.
Suddenly, the sky once again burst into brilliant auroras. Red, green, and purple lights danced in the night sky, adding a dreamlike touch to this land. The aurora's light enveloped the entire earth, casting a mysterious hue over the distant mountains and nearby buildings.
"This is the heartbeat of Mars," Allie said softly, her voice full of awe and joy, "Can you feel it?"
Ryan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. At this moment, he seemed to truly feel the pulse of the earth, to feel the vitality of this red planet. Mars was not just a planet; it had its soul and believers.