899 Extended
After they all returned to their rooms, Mira sat down on her bed alone, thinking about her future plans. Her decision to stay here wasn't random, after all. However, it wasn't for any grand reason of trying to catch her stalkers, either.
Everyone seemed to like it here, and they didn't have anywhere they needed to be. All she had planned for the next few months was more training, meditation, and relaxation. She wanted to dedicate this time to Dominique and make up for being a shitty guardian.
'Well, there's also a number of things I want to do that don't involve fighting or killing. So, staying in a place like this for a while is the optimal choice.' Mira thought as she lay down, making a mental note of everything she wanted to accomplish.
As for whether such a decision made her an easier target to spy on, she didn't think much of it. The privacy in this resort was better than almost any other place they could stay, and if anything dared to get too close, she'd notice.
In her opinion, there wouldn't be much spying, just waiting for her to leave.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Mira nodded as if expecting this and got up to answer.
Mira opened the door to find not only Jarek, the manager she had met earlier but also a woman who exuded an aura of authority and elegance. Her presence suggested she was someone of significant importance within the resort.
"Miss Mira," Jarek began with a respectful nod, "this is Ms. Liora, the co-owner of Celestial Springs. We'd like to discuss the recent events and the implications for your continued stay."
Mira raised an eyebrow but gestured for them to enter. "Come in."
As they sat down, Liora, a woman with a commanding presence dressed in a sophisticated outfit that reflected her status, spoke up. "Miss Mira, we understand that your group has been involved in several... incidents since your arrival. First, we'd like to sincerely apologize for not being able to take care of these problems for you. However, you must understand that this has happened multiple times now in the span of a few days. While we value the privacy and safety of all our guests, we must also consider the well-being of our staff and other visitors."
Jarek added, "Any future damages caused by you or your companions will need to be compensated for. And, if there are injuries or worse, to our staff or guests, we will have no choice but to ask you to leave the resort."
Mira listened, her expression unreadable. After a brief pause, she nodded in understanding. "That's fine. If I do happen to get into any fights in the future, I'll be sure to drag them far enough away from the resort so as not to cause any more damages."
However, she was inwardly thinking, 'I'm not sure, even with the herbs I've collected from Aelina, that I'd be able to afford a destroyed volcano.' If possible, she really didn't want to have to make enemies with the Celestial Resort or simply destroy the place to begin with.
Both Jarek and Liora seemed slightly taken aback by her calm acceptance, but they continued. "We're pleased to hear that. Is there anything else you'd like to discuss?"
Mira leaned back, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "Actually, yes. I'd like to extend our stay here for a couple of months, at least."
Jarek and Liora exchanged a look of surprise, but it quickly turned to understanding. Liora replied, "That can certainly be arranged. Many of our guests find Celestial Springs to be a place of unparalleled tranquility and choose to extend their stays."
"Indeed," Jarek added, "this resort is a natural wonder of the world. It has a unique ability to calm the minds of virtually anyone, regardless of their strength, gender, psyche, or age."
Mira nodded with a faint smile on her lips. "That's precisely why we wish to stay longer. This place... it has a certain charm to it."
Liora smiled. "We're glad to hear that. We'll make the necessary arrangements for your extended stay. If there's anything else you need, please don't hesitate to let us know."
As the conversation came to a close, Jarek and Liora stood up to leave. Mira escorted them to the door, her mind already planning for the weeks ahead.
Once they were gone, Mira returned to her contemplation, her thoughts drifting to the training and relaxation that awaited her and her companions.
***
The following morning at Celestial Springs Resort, Mira and Dominique were at the training ground. However, far from relaxation, it was more like torture.
Dominique was encapsulated in a block of ice, positioned over a fire made from Mira's Yin Flames. The unique combination of extreme cold and searing heat was both freezing and burning Dominique alive, creating excruciating pain.
The girl had her eyes closed shut as she gritted her teeth in an attempt to dull the pain.
"A cultivator should be able to meditate under any circumstance," Mira declared. She watched Dominique intently, noting every reaction, every tremble.
Dominique struggled to focus. Her face contorted in pain as she attempted to meditate, her mind desperately trying to block out the sensations ravaging her body.
She attempted to use her Blood Qi to heal the injuries being done, but Mira's ice was too unique. It not only slowed down all bodily functions, putting her in a state of shock, but it turned her Qi into something akin to molasses.
Infusing her muscles and bones with it was like trying to mix water and oil. It only took more time, effort, and concentration to do so; thus, she was forced to give up and focus simply on cultivating.
Still, her 'teacher' wasn't someone ordinary and could even slow down the rate at which Qi was drawn into her body using her Dao.
'Mmhm~' Mira nodded inwardly. 'She's adapting quite quickly, understanding what she can and can't do. What's the least and most efficient. And she's taking the pain well. But she hasn't reached her limit yet.'
Mira wanted to push her daughter to the brink of collapse. So, she sent tendrils of ice and fire into Dominique's arm and wrapped them around every tendon, muscle fiber, bone, marrow, nerve, and everything, then made a twisting motion.
Dominique couldn't help but scream in agony, feeling like her arm was being ripped from her body.
"The mind is the foundation of strength," Mira continued, her tone as cold as the ice encasing her daughter. "To prevent cultivation deviation, you must be able to withstand even death itself. Even if you are in the midst of war and your friends are dying all around you, you should be able to remain steady."
There was also the fact that Mira wasn't sure how she was going to teach Dominique the Harmonic Trinity Cultivation Technique. The girl didn't have access to her Soul, and if she did, it was most likely a very faint connection.
Trying to link her Body, Qi, and Soul together as one cultivation system while still in the Foundation Realm, or even the Core Formation Realm would undoubtedly either cause literal soul-
ripping pain or simply wouldn't work.
Dominique had to be prepared for that level of intensity. Anything done to the soul, in most cases, was multiple magnitudes worse than anything physical.
Yet, Mira wanted to not only open up Dominique's soul, making it accessible, but also manipulate it.
'If it's possible and she can make it through that, I have no doubt that she'll have one of the strongest foundations in history, even better than mine. But, she has to be ready.' Mira thought as if all of this was just preparation. Who knows? Maybe it won't hurt at all, and Dominique will be able to incorporate the Harmonic Trinity Cultivation Technique without any issues.
This was new territory for everyone.
Sweat and tears mixed on Dominique's face, but her determination was evident. She very faintly nodded in Mira's direction and focused all of her being on just cultivation and surviving.
Mira observed silently with an indifferent expression. She knew the brutal nature of this training but also understood its necessity. Dominique needed to be prepared for the cruel realities of their world, where strength was paramount and mercy was often a luxury.
'...This is what she wanted.' She thought, feeling a little worried that the girl might hate her after the months of training she was about to personally receive. 'She said she wanted to stand next to me, to help me… to be the best. And this is all I know how to do.'
Hopefully, she won't die in the process… Mira muttered in her heart.
As the hours passed, Dominique's screams lessened, her breathing steadied, and her focus deepened. The excruciating pain became a background noise to her meditation, a testament to her growing mental fortitude.
Mira finally extinguished the flames and melted the ice. Dominique collapsed onto the ground and fell unconscious. She was literally on the brink of collapse before Mira ended the 'training' session.
"Good," Mira said, a hint of approval in her voice. She helped Dominique up, supporting her as they walked back to the resort. "Keep this up, and I have no doubt you may end up stronger than me one day."
Dominique's body trembled at her words, but she remained unconscious in Mira's arms.
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