The Frost Moon Sect was an intricate maze of courtyards, halls, and secluded training areas. Every step Lin Xue took was filled with purpose, her sharp eyes scanning her surroundings, observing the slow-moving fog that curled around the mountain. The towering peaks that surrounded the sect acted as silent sentinels, guarding the secrets within, their icy tips disappearing into the misty sky.
The architecture of the sect was magnificent, ancient in design. The buildings were built from stone, intricately carved with runes that shimmered faintly with spiritual energy. Frost clung to the roofs, and the very air seemed to hum with an ethereal cold, but Lin Xue felt at home in this frigid atmosphere. She had become one with it.
As she made her way toward the sect's main courtyard, the distant sound of disciples training reached her ears—clashing swords, chanting incantations, the soft thrum of spiritual energy. Lin Xue ignored it all. They were distractions. She had more important matters to attend to, namely refining her cultivation and preparing for the sect competition.
The competition was the primary path for outer sect members to advance. Those who succeeded would gain entry into the inner sect, a place where resources and techniques were more abundant, and the true elites of the Frost Moon Sect resided. But more importantly, the competition would determine who would be chosen to enter the mystic realm—a place filled with dangers and untold treasures. It was the chance of a lifetime for any cultivator seeking rapid advancement.
Lin Xue's gaze was fixed forward, her cold determination unwavering. Power was everything, and the mystic realm would bring her closer to the pinnacle.
As she approached one of the isolated training chambers reserved for body refinement, she passed a group of male disciples, their attention drawn to her almost immediately. She could feel their gazes, lingering on her every move, enchanted by her beauty. It was nothing new. Everywhere Lin Xue went, her flawless features and graceful figure drew attention. Yet, her beauty was but a mask to her true strength.
"She's beautiful, isn't she?" one of them whispered to the others.
"Too beautiful," another added, his voice a mixture of awe and envy. "No wonder even Xu Tian is after her."
Lin Xue suppressed the urge to scoff. Xu Tian's pursuit was laughable. He was blinded by his own arrogance and obsession with building a harem, convinced that power could only be secured through the admiration of others. Love and affection were weaknesses, distractions that pulled cultivators away from their true goal.
She had no need for such things. Power was the only love she sought, and strength was the only companion she required.
Reaching the training chamber, Lin Xue pushed open the heavy doors. The room beyond was simple, sparsely furnished with only the bare essentials. The walls were lined with cultivation mats, and at the center of the room stood a large cauldron, etched with ancient runes.
This was where she would refine her body further. She was already at the peak of the ninth stage of Body Refining, but she knew she could push her limits. The scroll she had found spoke of a hidden power, a transformation that only those with a unique body constitution could achieve. The Ice and Darkness Body.
She stood before the cauldron and began to circulate her spiritual energy, letting it flow through her meridians. Slowly, the air around her began to chill, her aura expanding as ice and shadows intertwined. Her spiritual roots, now fully awakened, pulsed with dark energy. The room darkened as her power filled the space, the light from the runes flickering under the oppressive weight of her spiritual energy.
She lifted her hands and closed her eyes, focusing on the technique. The energy surged within her, pooling at her core before spreading outward. Her muscles hardened, her bones strengthened, and her skin turned cold as ice. She was refining her body, molding it into something far beyond what most cultivators could hope to achieve at this stage.
As the process continued, Lin Xue felt a familiar, yet deeper connection with the darkness. It was more than just an affinity—it was a part of her, something she could shape and control. The ice, cold and unyielding, wrapped around her spirit, forming an impenetrable shield. Together, they created the perfect balance: cold and shadow, strength and mystery.
After what seemed like hours, Lin Xue finally opened her eyes. Her body hummed with power. She clenched her fist, feeling the strength coursing through her. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced before. The Ice and Darkness Body had fully awakened, revealing a latent power that far surpassed even Xu Tian's fiery roots.
She knew that Xu Tian had reached the ninth stage of Body Refining and was close to breaking into Qi Condensation, but Lin Xue had surpassed him. Her body was now a vessel of ice and shadow, and she was ready to ascend.
A sharp knock at the door broke her concentration.
"Mistress," Han Mei's voice came from the other side. "The sect has announced the official date for the competition. It will be held in ten days."
Lin Xue stood, her expression calm. "Thank you, Han Mei. You may enter."
The door creaked open, and her handmaiden stepped inside, her eyes full of admiration. Han Mei had been at Lin Xue's side since the beginning, and though the young girl was still at the third stage of Qi Condensation, her loyalty and dedication had never wavered.
"Are you prepared, Mistress?" Han Mei asked, her voice full of quiet confidence.
Lin Xue nodded. "I will be."
The upcoming competition would be the perfect opportunity to showcase her strength, to let the world know that she had surpassed everyone—including Xu Tian. The inner sect was her next goal, but more than that, the mystic realm called to her.
The outer sect was filled with cultivators who saw strength as a means to fame and admiration. They sought power to win affection, to gain influence, but Lin Xue's path was different. She sought strength for the sake of strength itself. She would rise to the top, not for anyone else's sake, but for her own.
"I'll need more training supplies," Lin Xue said, her voice steady. "Prepare them for me, Han Mei."
"Of course, Mistress," Han Mei replied with a bow before quickly leaving to carry out the order.
Lin Xue sat back down, her mind turning toward the competition once more. The path ahead was clear. She would enter the inner sect, gain access to more powerful techniques, and continue her journey toward the pinnacle of cultivation. The mystic realm would provide her with the opportunity to grow even stronger.
But most importantly, she would prove that true power needed no alliances, no love, no distractions. Only the pursuit of strength mattered.
With ten days left, Lin Xue knew that the time for preparation was short. The storm that was the sect competition loomed ahead, and she would be ready.