Immortal Ice Empress: Path to Vengeance

895 Insights

Settling down back at the resort, Mira laid Dominique down in her room and found a secluded place to meditate. It wasn't that late in the day, so there was still plenty of time to teach Dominique, but the girl was simply too tired right now.

'...I'll let her rest for a little bit.'

Part of her didn't understand why she made this decision, as usually, she'd force Dominique to wake up, only allowing her to rest once everything was over, but she just didn't feel like doing that today.

'Maybe it's because I feel a little bit bad about neglecting her?' She reflected. '...My techniques aren't simple, either. She'll need to be in peak condition to truly understand them.'

At least, those were the excuses she gave herself.

In reality, she felt-

Mira shook her head. 'Now's not the time for such, nonsense. I need to make use of this time to try and improve my strength as well.'

She found a tranquil spot by a small waterfall within the resort. She sat cross-legged under it as she closed her eyes and focused inward.

The breakthrough to the 2nd Stage of the Soul Transformation Realm had given her plenty of insights into how she should progress from here. Now that she was committed to training Dominique, it was time for her to focus on cultivating as well.

As she delved into her soul, the essence of the Absolute Ice Dao coursed through her soul.

It was like a constant, pulsating force that wanted nothing more than to dominate everything around it, turning it into a frozen wasteland. The icy Qi in her, combined with the essence of her Dao, flowed like a stream of cold light, illuminating the darkest corners of her soul.

It sent its icy tendrils around the manifestations of the rest of her affinities, attempting to subdue them under its rule. They 'fought' back, but as Mira's strength and understanding grew, they'd have no choice but to completely submit.

Mira's soul and the Absolute Ice Dao were no longer distinct entities but were starting to become intertwined. She no longer needed to consciously control it, as it was now a part of her–

partially.

The energy of the Absolute Ice Dao coursed through her soul like a tide as she began cultivating. With each passing second, the icy energy spread, reinforcing her soul's structure and deepening her connection to her Dao.

As Mira guided this energy through her soul, she visualized it strengthening her bond with the Absolute Ice Dao. She even sent half of the Qi to her heart, as the essence of the Absolute Ice Dao had taken root there as well.

She saw herself not just as a user of this Dao but as an embodiment of its nature. The cold, the frost, the ice – they were all extensions of her will.

Everything else was beneath her.

But, soon, she frowned. 'It's not enough.'

All she was doing was pumping her soul full of energy. Her understanding of the Dao hadn't improved much. Thus, her cultivation wasn't getting any closer to the 3rd Stage.

'Why is that? Do I need to use my Dao more often?' She thought as her brows furrowed.

That was certainly one option, but her instincts told her there was more to it. Fortunately, it didn't take her long to come to another conclusion.

'...My mind, body, and Qi are all interconnected.' She thought, slowly entering a trance-like state. 'I thought this simply meant improving one aspect improved them all, but is that really it? Can I really transform my Qi through my soul? Yes and no. If all it takes is more energy, then it's possible, but that doesn't seem to be the case.'

The soul was the foundation of all lifeforms, especially ones capable of conscious thought. However, the body was just as important, if not more, for putting that soul to use. Without it, a soul would just be an empty husk with little value.

Qi, then, was the fuel that sustained both of them. Without it, none could exist, at least not for any significant amount of time.

All three were already linked in some way despite being vastly different.

Then, what if, through some unique cultivation technique, they could grow as one while remaining separate?

Normally, the Soul Transformation Realm was exactly as the title sounded–transforming the soul. But now, since they grew as one, it turned into something akin to the Three Paths Transformation Realm.

'That being the case, wouldn't it make sense that I need to transform my Qi along with my body and soul?' Mira hypothesized. Her dantian had already merged, in a sense, with her body and bloodline, but that was merely the container. Her Qi was still mostly the same.

'...Then, how should I proceed?' Her expression eased slightly, but she remained contemplative. 'I guess there's nothing I can do other than check it out.'

Mira's consciousness delved deeper into her being, focusing on her Absolute Essence Core–the crystalized heart in her sternum.

It was already tinged with the essence of the Absolute Ice Dao, but now, she sought to evolve it further, to truly meld it with her soul and Qi, creating a more profound connection.

Mira envisioned the icy essence of her Dao wrapping around the core, seeping into every fiber, every particle. Though the core was always more Yin-oriented, it began to undergo a transformation.

This was not just an infusion of energy; it was a metamorphosis at the most fundamental level.

The core itself began to resonate with what she could only describe as the pinnacle of ice. It was as if it was becoming an extension of the Absolute Ice Dao itself, a container of cold so intense that it could freeze thoughts and time.

As the transformation progressed, Mira felt a change in her meridians as well. The millions of pathways were now, as a by-

product, taking on the characteristics of her Dao. This would normally be impossible, but that was just how overbearing the Absolute Ice Dao was.

It was one of the pinnacle Daos in all the Realms; a set of meridians was nothing before it.

The icy Qi flowed through these meridians, not just as a force of energy that she could change on a whim but as an embodiment of her Dao. Every movement of Qi was now slowly becoming a part of the Absolute Ice Dao, reinforcing her connection to it.

This change in her core and meridians had a cascading effect. Her Qi also began to evolve.

It became sharper, more refined, like a blade of ice honed to perfection. The coldness it exuded was not just a physical sensation but a manifestation of her will, her mastery over the Dao.

Mira's focus then shifted to the connection itself between her Core – where the Absolute Ice Dao had crystallized – her Qi and her soul, where it originated.

She visualized a triangle of energy, with each point representing one of these aspects. The energy flowed in a continuous loop, each aspect feeding into and enhancing the others.

As she continued this visualization, Mira felt her understanding of the Absolute Ice Dao deepening. It was no longer just a Dao she practiced; it was becoming a part of her very essence. Her soul and Absolute Essence Core were aligning, resonating with the icy energy in a meteoric rise of power.

The transformation was not without its challenges. Mira felt resistance from the very depths of her being. It was as if her body and soul were testing the limits of this evolution, ensuring that it was not just a fleeting change but a true integration.

However, she knew that this process was essential for her journey through the Soul Transformation Realm and beyond.

Hours passed, and the sun began to set. Mira remained in her meditative state, undisturbed. The energy within her continued to churn and grow, but sweat was starting to drip down her forehead, only to freeze right after.

As night fell, Mira's expression eased as her meditation came to a close. The transformation was not complete, but significant progress had been made.

Her core had begun changing; her Qi was sharper and more potent, and she finally felt that she had gained some semblance of direction.

She opened her eyes, feeling refreshed and invigorated.

However, she was swiftly interrupted by a soft voice from the side. "Mother?" Dominique stood at a distance, hesitant to disturb her. "Are you training?"

Mira opened her eyes, the icy blue fading to their usual blood-red. "Yes, I'm preparing for the next stage. How are you feeling?"

Dominique approached, sitting beside her. "I'm better now. Sorry for falling asleep earlier."

"No need to apologize. Rest is as important as training," Mira replied, a rare softness in her tone.

Dominique looked at Mira curiously. "Mother, what's it like... to be at such a high level of cultivation? I mean, the Soul Transformation Realm sounds so... distant."

Mira considered her words carefully. "It's like walking a path only you can see. Each step reveals a little more, and with each insight, you understand more about yourself and the world around you a bit better."

Dominique's eyes widened as she stared at her Mother eagerly. "I want to walk that path too, one day."

"You will." Mira gave the girl a few pats on the head before falling silent.

The two sat there in silence for a while before Mira abruptly stood up and grabbed Dominique by the waist.

"Mother?!" She exclaimed, but Mira ignored her and shot into the air.

BOOOOM!

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