A few days later, Mira finished improving a few of her previous techniques to fit her current self better. The [Frozen Terrain Change], [100 Glacial Warriors], [Elemental Barrier], [Paragon Wings], [Frostbite Requiem], [Calamity's Embrace], and [Paragon Blizzard Obliteration] techniques all saw some sort of improvement, even if they were minimal.
However, it wasn't long before she ran into a roadblock. The problem wasn't with the [Frostbite Requiem], [Calamity's Embrace], [Elemental Barrier], and [Paragon Blizzard Obliteration] techniques, but with the other three.
All of them required her to create something or perform a semi-permanent action.
[Frozen Terrain Change] literally changed the area around her.
[100 Glacial Warriors] made a hundred golems that she had to control.
[Paragon Wings] created a pair of elemental wings behind her, with each feather having a unique property or effect.
These were all fantastic techniques, but they required her to keep pumping Qi into them to keep them strong and active, draining her energy reserves. She would also have to use a significant portion of her mental capacity focusing on them.
She could somewhat get around this limitation by continuously killing living entities, but that couldn't always happen. That didn't lessen the mental burden either.
So, that begged the question: How could she remove this restriction?
***
Raising her hand and pointing it at the ground, Mira's white tail lit up as a mist of ice emerged from her palm. It converged on a single point and shaped itself into a cube.
Cutting off the connection to her Creation Tail, Mira stopped shooting ice and stared at her creation.
'It doesn't look much different than an ice cube made directly from my Qi.' Mira thought as she inspected it.
Picking it up, the cube was cold to the touch, but that's when she felt something… odd.
It was like there was a disconnect between her and the ice cube.
'...So that's what it is.' Her eyebrows shot up as she rotated it, inspecting every inch of it.
Raising her other hand, she created an identical-looking ice cube, but without the use of her Creation Tail. That was the only difference between the two, but Mira could immediately spot which one was which.
'Creating something with Qi, there's a certain connection between the object and the user. That link is my energy, which is located in my core. Any element I 'create' is tied to me in some way. If I want my ice to melt, then it melts. If I want to get rid of a fire I created, it's as simple as a thought. The reason is they're merely manifestations of my affinities. But-'
She crushed the second ice cube and watched the Qi disperse as it disappeared. It didn't behave like a normal ice cube at all.
Then, she crushed the first ice cube, which crumbled into thousands of tiny ice particles and fell to the ground.
'-creating something with my creation tail cuts off that connection. It turns what's inherently mine and almost imaginary into something real. Something that can exist outside of me.'
Normally, when a cultivator used their affinity to create something, they would simply disappear after a certain length of time. The used Qi would return to the world, and their mark on the world would be gone.
Stronger cultivators will leave their 'traces' longer, as the energy within them can sustain the 'creation' longer, but it's still part of the cultivator—an external entity forced upon the world.
Now, she had suddenly become something different. She could affect the world and its energy on a more fundamental level.
Although she wasn't exactly the existential type, that thought freaked her out a little. It was like she was granted the power of god. This power opened up all kinds of opportunities and could potentially make even more enemies that she didn't even know where to start.
Unfortunately, there were limitations, something she noticed with just a single use.
'It's so weak!' She frowned, turning away from the ice fragments below her. 'If I create a pair of Paragon Wings out of that, I might as just not even try with how useless they'd be.'
Mira stood in contemplation. The raw power of creation was at her fingertips, yet it came with complexities that demanded her full attention.
"Creation without connection..." Mira mused, her eyes narrowing in thought. "How can I weave this new aspect of creation into my techniques and yet, retain the link that makes them potent?"
She considered the nature of her Creation Tail, a gift that allowed her to bring forth matter from nothingness. It was a profound ability, but it lacked the innate connection and strength that her Qi-infused creations held.
However, she wanted both. The permanence, the control, the strength, and the connection. She wanted it all!
'They're my abilities, and I'll do with them as I please!' She clenched her fists, crushing the remaining ice crystals in her hand.
Mira decided to experiment. She focused, creating a small whirlwind of ice and wind around her palm. This time, she tried to infuse it with the essence of creation from her tail.
The whirlwind spun faster, becoming denser and more tangible. Yet, as she cut off the flow from her Creation Tail, the whirlwind continued to spin, independent of her will. It was a creation that stood on its own, yet it lacked the versatility and adaptability of her Qi-based techniques.
She also found that she couldn't control or influence it in any way. The creation was no longer hers.
"Is it a matter of understanding the essence of creation more deeply?" Mira pondered, watching the whirlwind dissipate. "Or is it about finding a way to merge this essence with my Qi to create something that's both independent and connected?"
Her mind raced with possibilities and questions. Could she create something that not only existed independently but also had a semblance of life? Was it possible to imbue her creations with a fragment of her consciousness, giving them the ability to act according to her will even when detached from her direct control?
No, she didn't even need that. As long as she still had full control over her creations, that was enough.
'And can I only make them semi-permanent? I don't want my Paragon Wings to always exist until they're destroyed. I'd like to be able to disassemble them at will.' She wondered.
Determined to find answers, Mira set to work. She began by creating a series of ice sculptures, each more intricate than the last. She focused on infusing each creation with a spark of her consciousness to create that link, a task that required intense concentration and control.
As she progressed, she noticed subtle changes. The sculptures began to respond to her presence, their surfaces rippling slightly as she moved around them. It was a small sign, but it indicated a connection, a link between her and her creations.
Encouraged by this development, Mira pushed further. She created a larger ice figure, this time infusing it with more of her consciousness. She willed it to move, to react to her commands.
The figure shuddered, its form wavering as if struggling to obey her. It was a crude attempt, but it showed potential. The idea of creating something that could act on its own, yet remain under her influence, was tantalizing.
Mira realized that the key lay in the balance between creation and control. It wasn't just about making something from nothing; it was about imbuing that creation with a part of herself, a thread of her essence that maintained the connection.
She continued her experiments, each creation becoming more responsive and more attuned to her will. She tried creating elemental creatures, small beings of ice and wind that fluttered around her, reacting to her emotions and movements.
As the sun began to set, Mira stood surrounded by her creations.
She observed her creations, appreciating the progress she made, yet a crucial piece of the puzzle eluded her. She needed to merge the essence of creation with her Qi, allowing her to create lasting yet controllable attacks.
If she created an ice storm, she would have to continuously pump Qi into it so it lasted longer, but she didn't want that. She wanted to only create it once and let the rest happen naturally.
"I need to find a balance," she mused, her eyes reflecting the fading light. "A way to infuse my attacks and creations with my Qi without losing their semi-autonomy."
She contemplated the nature of Qi and its flow through her meridians. It was an extension of her will, a force that she controlled with thought and intent. Could she extend this control to her creations, making them a natural extension of herself?
With that thought in mind, Mira focused her energy on a single ice sculpture. She closed her eyes, channeling her Qi into the figure. She imagined it as a conduit, a vessel for her power that could act independently yet remain connected to her.
As she infused the sculpture with her Qi, she felt a familiar warmth spread through her body. The sculpture began to glow subtly, its surface shimmering with a light that mirrored her own energy.
Mira opened her eyes and willed the sculpture to move. To her amazement, it responded, albeit clumsily. It was a small movement, but it was a start.
The connection was there, but it was fragile.
Now, all she had to do was work on it.
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