Over the next week, Kira fell into a comfortable rhythm of cultivation and training with Kjell.
After a long day of hard practice and refining her techniques, she reached the fourth stage of Body Tempering—successfully tempering her bones.
Kira was on her way back from her training spot near the river when she passed the peach garden again. She stopped to refill her supply.
While gathering peaches, she suddenly heard an ethereal voice from above.
"So it is you! The one stealing my peaches," the voice accused.
Kira's head snapped upward.
Floating in the air above her was a gorgeous young woman, her long white hair cascading beneath her feet. Cold, dark eyes bore into Kira's soul like icy needles.
She wore a pitch-black robe adorned with golden lines—identical to the one worn by the elder who had welcomed Kira's batch into the sect.
Panic surged through Kira.
She immediately dropped to her knees and bowed.
"Disciple greets the honorable Elder," she said, voice tight.
Cold sweat formed along her back.
Oh shit, she thought.
The elder descended, stopping just above the ground—her feet never touching the grass. Her hair hovered barely above it.
"Tell me," the elder said, voice smooth but laced with threat, "why shouldn't I kill you this instant, thief?"
A murderous aura radiated from her like a storm about to break.
"Please, Elder, have mercy!" Kira begged. "I didn't know these peaches belonged to you!"
"So if they belonged to someone else, it would be fine to steal?" the elder asked, raising a brow.
"No! Of course not, Elder! I meant—I didn't know they belonged to anyone," Kira clarified quickly.
"So the fence you hopped over was just… what? Poorly placed decoration?"
Kira lowered her head in shame, at a complete loss for words.
"Ignorance doesn't shield you from punishment, little girl," the elder reprimanded.
"I understand," Kira said softly.
"Do you now?" the woman replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"I will accept punishment, Elder… but please, spare my life."
The elder remained silent.
Kira suddenly felt a powerful wave of Qi sweep over her—gentle yet suffocating.
Then, a glint of curiosity appeared in the elder's eyes.
"Fourth stage already?" she drawled. "At least you didn't waste my peaches."
The elder chuckled.
"Draw your sword," she said.
"What?" Kira blinked.
"Your sword," the elder repeated. "Let's see if your success in cultivation is entirely due to those fruits."
"Yes, Elder," Kira said, bowing. She drew her sword, trying to hide the fear in her eyes.
"What are you waiting for? Attack," the elder ordered.
"Attack… what?"
"Me."
I am so done, Kira groaned inwardly.
She activated her Qi and dashed forward using Gale Steps, closing the distance instantly. With a loud crackle, she brought her sword down in an overhead strike—Thunderous Crash—lightning coursing down the blade.
In a graceful motion, the elder caught the blade between two fingers—then flicked it away like a toy.
Kira stumbled backward, eyes wide in shock.
"Again."
I can't just charge blindly, Kira thought. I need to think.
She exhaled, then dashed forward once more. This time, she tossed a peach at the elder's face mid-charge. As the elder's brow lifted, Kira vanished with Gale Steps, reappearing in the elder's blind spot.
She swung horizontally, lightning crackling through her sword.
The elder blocked it again—but nodded.
"At least you're not entirely hopeless. Again."
Kira steadied her breath. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
Think… wind and thunder, she told herself.
Until now, she had trained her affinities separately.
She closed her eyes for a single heartbeat and focused.
She gritted her teeth—and forced the two different Qi strands together.
Her blade trembled violently in her grip.
Her eyes snapped open.
A crack echoed through the air. Gale Steps thundered beneath her feet. The wind distorted, the air warping around her.
A smile flickered on the elder's lips.
A glint of interest entered her dark gaze.
Kira lunged.
Her blade hummed—like the sound of a distant storm.
Mid-air, she twisted. The sword swept in from the side, cloaked in lightning and accelerated by wind.
The elder raised a single finger.
The two forces collided.
A blinding flash.
A thunderous boom.
When the dust settled, Kira stood panting, her arms numb—but still on her feet.
The elder's robe fluttered from the shockwave. A single strand of her white hair drifted down—singed at the tip.
She touched it, brows raised.
Then, she laughed—a cold, melodic sound.
"Good. Very good."
She floated forward until her face was inches from Kira's.
"So… there is talent," she said.
She turned and tossed a bottle to Kira.
"Take this. Fix that malnourished complexion of yours."
Then, with a final glance, she said:
"If you achieve first place in the tournament… I'll spare you."
And with that, the elder vanished into the wind.
Leaving Kira standing alone in the ruined grass—staring at the bottle in her hand.
Her breath still ragged. First place. Or Die. Her fingers tightened around the glass.
I need to train even more!