The cold morning air was sharp in the aftermath of the competition, but Lin Xue's heart remained still and focused. The match with Xu Tian had passed, just another battle in a long series of steps toward her ultimate goal. She had won decisively, and now the outer sect disciples, once full of whispers and curious glances, kept their distance. They were no longer curious; they were afraid. Lin Xue's power was too much, her ice and shadow techniques too overwhelming.
Xu Tian's defeat had silenced the fiery arrogance that once defined him, but even his defeat did not interest her. The real prize lay ahead—the Mystic Realm. It was the one thing she cared about, the one thing that could provide her the resources to advance her cultivation and solidify her foundation. Promotion to the inner sect was a mere formality. The Mystic Realm held the secrets she sought, the essence of spiritual power that could push her beyond her current limits.
As the other disciples dispersed from the arena, Lin Xue turned away, her steps quiet and measured. Han Mei followed a few paces behind, her loyal handmaiden sensing the gravity of the moment. They walked in silence through the towering stone halls of the sect, the distant hum of excited chatter echoing from every corner. But all of it was background noise to Lin Xue—her mind was consumed with thoughts of cultivation.
Finally, they reached Lin Xue's private chamber. The room was simple, yet elegant, with an air of cold stillness that mirrored its occupant. Frost gathered along the edges of the stone floor, and the room's temperature was perpetually frigid. In the center of the room stood a modest meditation platform, surrounded by shelves containing ancient scrolls and cultivation manuals.
Han Mei broke the silence. "Mistress, you've surpassed every expectation," she said softly, her tone reverent but hesitant. "The elders will surely reward you with the finest resources from the sect. And the Mystic Realm… it will be dangerous, but you will surely emerge victorious there as well."
Lin Xue nodded but said nothing. The rewards of the sect were not what she sought. They were useful, yes, but her ambitions went beyond what mere spiritual stones or treasures could provide. She had already tasted the limitations of the outer sect's resources. What she needed now was something deeper, something far more profound.
Sitting down on the platform, Lin Xue closed her eyes, letting the cold energy of her cultivation technique flow through her body. The frost in the room deepened, and a thin layer of ice formed on the stone floor. Her breathing slowed, and she began to reflect on her next step.
She had recently begun studying a new technique—an ancient body refinement manual discovered deep in the sect's archives. The technique was rare and dangerous, but its promise was alluring. It detailed the cultivation of a body as cold as ice, infused with the power of darkness, capable of storing more Qi than any normal human form. This technique, she had learned, was the key to awakening her true potential.
Lin Xue had already suspected that her body was different. During her earlier training, she realized she could command both ice and shadow with an ease that far surpassed others. This technique was designed for someone like her, a cultivator whose spiritual roots aligned with the elements of ice and darkness.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Han Mei's voice. "Mistress, do you think Xu Tian will trouble you again? He seems… persistent."
Lin Xue opened her eyes slowly, her gaze as cold as ever. "Xu Tian is irrelevant," she replied, her tone devoid of emotion. "He's blinded by ambition and the desire to control. He has potential, yes, but his heart is divided. He will never reach the heights he dreams of."
Han Mei nodded, understanding that Xu Tian's obsession with Lin Xue was more of a burden than a threat. His feelings, however, were no secret among the sect's disciples. Many believed that Xu Tian's pursuit of Lin Xue was romantic, but to her, it was nothing but an annoyance.
"Love is weakness," Lin Xue said, more to herself than to Han Mei. "It clouds judgment and distracts from true power. I seek strength, not the fleeting affections of fools."
Han Mei did not respond. She had long known that Lin Xue held no interest in the emotions that others cherished. For Lin Xue, cultivation was everything—the path to absolute control, the only thing that mattered.
As the day wore on, Lin Xue resumed her meditation, delving deeper into the ancient body refinement technique. Hours passed like minutes, and as she concentrated, she felt the changes begin to stir within her. The ice and darkness in her veins pulsed with new life, intertwining and solidifying, shaping her body into something far stronger than before.
She could feel it now—the Ice and Darkness Body. It was awakening, slowly but surely. The cold energy coursed through her limbs, fortifying her bones, strengthening her muscles, and refining her blood. This was no ordinary transformation. It was a complete rebirth, the first step toward unlocking the full potential of her unique constitution.
The process would take time, but Lin Xue had all the patience in the world. Strength was built through patience and relentless effort. She would push herself beyond the limits of ordinary cultivation, beyond the petty ambitions of those like Xu Tian.
As night fell and the cold of the mountain deepened, Lin Xue's icy aura spread throughout the room. Her heart, colder than ever, was focused entirely on one thing: becoming the strongest, no matter the cost. The Mystic Realm awaited, and she would be ready.