Lin Xue stood at the entrance of the Frost Moon Sect, her mind still spinning from everything that had happened. Just hours ago, she had been an ordinary girl. Now, she was thrust into a world of cultivation, standing under the guidance of the Grandmaster himself.
The sect sprawled out before her like a palace of ice and marble, towering mountains shrouded in mist stretching beyond the horizon. The atmosphere was saturated with spiritual energy, an invisible pressure pressing against her skin, filling her with both awe and anticipation.
"Come with me," Yi Feng's voice was cold but commanding, and he turned on his heel without waiting for her response.
Lin Xue followed him through winding corridors and courtyards, the chill of the sect's aura seeping into her bones. Han Mei trailed behind silently, her gaze lowered in respect. The other disciples they passed shot her curious glances, but no one dared to speak. It was clear that her sudden appearance as the Grandmaster's only personal disciple had caused a stir.
As they approached a towering pagoda, Yi Feng stopped. He extended his hand, and the doors swung open silently, revealing a vast chamber filled with scrolls and ancient texts. The air here felt different—heavier, charged with history and knowledge.
"This will be your sanctuary," Yi Feng said, his tone unwavering. "The Sect's library. Only a few have access here, and now, you are among them. You have inherited the strongest spiritual roots in ice, darkness, and space. You must cultivate diligently if you are to survive in this world."
Lin Xue glanced at the endless shelves of scrolls. There was a lifetime's worth of knowledge here, perhaps more. The path before her felt daunting, but she had no choice. Her heart steadied. She had already made up her mind—she would focus on cultivation, pushing aside all other distractions.
Yi Feng turned to leave, but before he stepped out, he spoke again, his back to her. "Remember, power draws attention. You will have admirers, allies, and enemies. Cultivate not only your strength, but your heart. And beware of those who covet what is yours."
With that, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving Lin Xue and Han Mei alone in the quiet of the library.
Lin Xue stood in silence for a moment, letting the weight of his words sink in. Power. Attention. She had no interest in the admiration of others, but she knew what the Grandmaster meant. Cultivation sects were often breeding grounds for ambition, where alliances were forged as easily as betrayals were made.
Han Mei stepped forward, her voice soft but steady. "Mistress, would you like me to prepare your cultivation area? The Grandmaster has also left you several techniques suited to your talents."
Lin Xue nodded, her expression calm. "Yes, prepare it. I need to start immediately."
As Han Mei moved to obey, Lin Xue wandered deeper into the library. She paused before a scroll that hummed faintly with energy, its title catching her eye: Frozen Abyss Technique. As her fingers brushed the parchment, a chilling sensation ran up her arm, the ice-cold energy resonating with her very soul.
This is it, she thought. The first step on her path to the pinnacle.
She unrolled the scroll and began to read, her mind quickly absorbing the instructions. The Frozen Abyss Technique was a cultivation method that harnessed the power of both ice and darkness, allowing the user to envelop their surroundings in a freezing void. It was dangerous, and few had ever mastered it.
But Lin Xue had never been one to shy away from a challenge.
As she read, she felt a ripple in the spiritual energy around her, as if the sect itself was reacting to her choice. She was beginning to understand the depth of her potential. If she cultivated well, even the heavens would have to bow before her.
Suddenly, the door to the library creaked open. A tall figure strode in, his presence domineering and confident. His eyes, sharp like a predator's, locked onto Lin Xue.
"Ah, so you're the new disciple." His voice was smooth, almost amused. "I've heard quite a lot about you."
Lin Xue's gaze hardened. She didn't need to be told who this was. Xu Tian, the so-called "prodigy" of the sect, the one everyone whispered about—the male protagonist whose harem grew with each passing day, whose power and ambition knew no bounds. His spiritual roots were renowned, a combination of fire and lightning that made him nearly unstoppable.
But she wasn't impressed.
Xu Tian stepped closer, a smirk playing on his lips. "You should be careful. This world is dangerous for a girl like you. So much attention, so much power... You might need someone to watch your back."
Lin Xue's voice was cold as the ice she commanded. "I have no need for anyone to watch my back. Least of all you."
Xu Tian's smirk faded, replaced by an intense gaze, his amusement giving way to something darker, something possessive. "We'll see about that."
But Lin Xue was already turning away, her mind set on one thing—cultivation. She would rise above all of them, and nothing, not Xu Tian, not his harem, nor the desires of any man, would stand in her way.