Cooling Off
High above the mountain of almost drained spirit stones, Xiao meditated as the qi from underneath all swirled, seeping into Xiao.
While inside Xiao's inner realm of infinite winter, she watched as the 7 empty stars slowly progressed, getting filled with ice qi. Upon reaching its completion, the star meter emitted a glacial qi explosion as a show Xiao's new found power.
[Supreme Tyrant Realm : 8 Stars]
Xiao closed both her fist, with a grin, she basked in the euphoria brought about by her new strength.
A grin that vanished once Xiao was reminded of her argument with Yanmei.
"On guard, Xiao." Zhen called out.
Xiao turned around to face her master, only to find an ice sword already on its way to impale her face. The startled Xiao immediately moved her head to evade.
"Master, what the fuck!?"
Sending a flying sword was an odd way to congratulate Xiao on attaining her stars. Even so, Zhen did it with a lively smile.
"Forgive me, I am merely testing your new strength. How about it, care to make another attempt on my spirit stone fountains? I would reckon your chance of landing a hit has now gone up by 1 percent." Zhen playfully mocked. It was the master's own way of cheering up her student.
"1 percent, huh." Xiao regained the grin she lost earlier, the thoughts of Yanmei temporarily purged. After all, the allure of being able to go all out with a sparring partner that would never break is quite enticing. "Then how about we put that estimation of yours to the test, master?"
Xiao lowered her legs and took her baji stance, her arms both ready to deliver fast and devastating blows.
"Have at it, Xiao." Meanwhile, Zhen merely put both her arms behind her back with complete laxity.
Xiao blitzed with a new level of speed powering her legs. Her right fist was about to hit Zhen smack straight, as if time had slowed, Xiao watched as her hit was about to land. Xiao can't believe it, was she about to do it? Who knew that 8 stars were all she needed to match her esteemed master in terms of speed!?
And in that slowed time, Xiao witnessed Zhen's lively smile turn into a cruel one, waiting for the final split-second until Xiao's fist was a hair's breadth from hitting Zhen's nose before finally dodging by simply swaying her head back.
Curses! Her master was playing with her again! But Xiao's assault wasn't over yet, Xiao transitioned her momentum into her left foot, raising it high for a split kick. Naturally, a kick's long range would be hard to evade at such close proximity. And with her empowered speed, her victory was certain. Xiao's grin widened, a grin that explicitly taunted 'Try and dodge this now, master!'.
At the same time as Xiao's leg swung, so too did Zhen's. Zhen kicked Xiao in the stomach so hard, it not only wiped the grin off of Xiao's face, but also sent her flying, landing face first into the icy floor.
"That lucky one percent will not be today, it seems. Had enough, Xiao?"
Xiao stood. Her bastard of a teacher really wasn't going to hand her those spirit stone fountains without battering every bone inside of her spiritual body. At least, Xiao was getting free training out of it.
"Don't underestimate me, master. I can do this all day."
Once more, Xiao charged her invincible master.
+++
Xiao couldn't do it all day as she needed a break after getting ragdolled around, she exited her room to find what the disciples and Fang Xuan were currently up to.
The afternoon sun shone down upon the Transient Blades' courtyard.
Xiao visited Fang Xuan who was deep in training the junior disciples.
Fang Xuan supervised as the disciples focused on today's regimen, the iron staff. A versatile weapon that excels in blunt offense and overall defense. One well placed strike can break your opponents bones while having the option to keep your distance or vault over your target as a form of merging mobility and defense.
Their grips held firm, the disciples shouted with every imaginary blow as they all practiced the standard form in unison.
Once Fang Xuan saw their elder approaching, he immediately dismissed the disciples.
"All right, that's enough for today. All of you, gather in front of me." The disciples clumped together, awaiting the supposed announcement of the young master - nay, their elder brother. The usually lofty Fang Xuan harbored a solid determination in his eyes harder than the iron staff the disciples held. "As you all know, the day after tomorrow will be the start of the inter-sect tournament. There will be no training for tomorrow as your elder and I will make some necessary preparations. Enjoy the final days of this sect being spacious, after the tournament, this place will surely be packed with disciples once more!"
The disciples cheered in unison at the promise of a more lively sect. In fact, one of the disciples with short violet hair got so amped up that she even raised her hand, "Brother Fang Xuan, can we make some banners?"
"Absolutely yes! In fact, make the banners as large as you can! Wear the name of our sect proud!" Fang Xuan then gazed at Xiao. "Elder Xiao, do you have anything to say to the disciples?"
Xiao took the spot next to Fang Xuan, there was an immediate problem that she needed to adress. With her and Yanmei cooling off from each other, Xiao has no course but to pick one of the disciples as a substitute.
"Banner girl, what's your name?"
The young woman was surprised, what could possibly be the reason for singling her out?
"M-me!? It's Jinghua, Elder Xiao!"
Xiao eyed Jinghua from head to toe. Xiao deemed her the kind of woman who would go down with just a flick..
"State your cultivation level, Jinghua."
Now Jinghua was even more concerned. Still, she answered, "Ardent Warrior, 3 stars."
"Congratulations Jinghua, you are now officially one of the representatives of The Transient Blades sect."
The hysterical Jinghua argued, "What!? Elder, Xiao you can't - I can't fight alongside you!"
"Don't worry, you won't. We're just going to register your name."
Fang Xuan immediately questioned, "Elder Xiao, what happened to sister Yanmei?"
"Yanmei and I…are not on speaking terms as of the moment."
The decision to use Jinghua would have to be made since they have no other choice. The path to an easy victory had now been blocked since Yanmei was no longer with them. Now, Xiao had no choice but for her and Fang Xuan to power through the matches and secure a victory every time. The question is, since they will be up against sect powerhouses, will Fang Xuan be able to step up to the plate?
With doubtful eyes, Xiao looked at the man next to her. Mistaking this as their elder needing some pick me up due to her falling out with Yanmei, Fang Xuan flashed their elder his brightest smile.
Xiao sighed. She could only pray to the heavens above that he doesn't get matched with Lin, she's going to skin him alive with her whip.