Mira's smirk was as icy as her power, showing not a hint of remorse for her actions. Her gaze fixated on the man before her, analyzing him. He was tall and robust, with muscles rippling beneath his robes. The insignia on his chest identified him as a member of the famed Immortal Sword Sect.
The Immortal Sword Sect was not to be trifled with. Renowned throughout the Continent for their unparalleled swordsmanship, they had produced some of the most formidable warriors in history. This man, though young, radiated an aura of danger. His blade, even in its sheath, seemed to hum with energy.
Of course, he wasn't a threat to Mira, merely at the 7th Stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, but he was strong enough to make her cock an eyebrow.
Members of various sects who were present whispered amongst themselves. To them, it was evident that a grand showdown was imminent.
"Insolent fox!" he spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "You dare to mock me? I am Lu Shen of the Immortal Sword Sect, and I will not allow a thief like you to make a fool of our honored Sect!"
Mira's eyes flitted around, taking in the various reactions of those gathered. Some looked fearful for her, others eager for a good show. But most importantly, she noticed a few members of the Immortal Sword Sect, their eyes filled with a mix of curiosity, anger, and anticipation.
"I merely took what was unguarded," Mira replied calmly, her eyes never leaving Lu Shen's. "But if you feel wronged, draw your sword. Let's settle this. However, I won't show mercy. A duel with me is a battle to the death."
"...!"
A gasp went through the crowd. Though almost everyone here, aside from the beasts, knew how strong the Immortal Sword Sect disciples were, Mira's strength was even more impressive. Whether it be her feats of taking on an entire army with only a handful of people, killing Zehir, or being a contributing factor against the war with the Crimson Slayer Sect, she was definitely not to be trifled with.
There were even rumors going around that she killed a Rank 9 beast. Though, that was just speculation.
That being said, her words should be taken seriously.
Lu Shen's eyes twitched, a light of fear replacing his previous arrogance.
"Actually, never mind," Mira shook her head, grasping her scythe. Then, she disappeared from her position. "I'll just kill you now."
*CLANK!*
She appeared before Lu Shen, swinging her scythe at his neck, only to be stopped by another sword.
Lu Shen, however, stood there with his eyes rolled back and was foaming at the mouth, scared out of his mind as he felt death, true death, right at that moment. He then fainted and fell to the ground.
"Aren't you a bit too harsh, Mira?" A voice rang out from the side, causing her to smirk inwardly, "My junior brother might be a bit stupid, but he doesn't deserve to die. We're all on the same side here."
Mira's eyes shifted to the newcomer, taking a brief moment to size him up. He had long, flowing, jet-black hair and deep-set eyes that carried a weight of experience and wisdom. His robe was slightly different from Lu Shen's, more refined, indicating a higher rank within the sect. The aura he emanated was calm but imposing, hinting at his strength. A Core Disciple of the Immortal Sword Sect at the Soul Transformation Realm was not weak.
He stepped forward, his footfalls silent, yet every step seemed to resonate in the hearts of those watching. "I am Xian Feng," he said, his voice neutral, neither accusatory nor defensive. "I've heard of your prowess, Mira. But today, you've overstepped."
She shrugged nonchalantly, retrieving her scythe to her side. "I simply responded to a threat. If your junior can't handle the pressure, perhaps he shouldn't be so reckless with his accusations."
Xian Feng glanced at the unconscious Lu Shen and sighed. "Perhaps you're right. But now, you have the attention of the Immortal Sword Sect. As a Core Disciple, I cannot stand by and watch."
Mira smirked, her nine tails swaying behind her, tips glowing. "Then let's not waste time with words."
The atmosphere tensed as both fighters squared off. The onlookers watched with bated breath, many of them sensing the imminent release of staggering power.
Without warning, Xian Feng lunged forward, drawing his sword in one fluid motion. The blade shimmered, distorting the air around it. Mira, reacting with grace, sidestepped the strike and swung her scythe in retaliation. The clash of their weapons sent out sonic booms, causing several bystanders to shield their ears.
The two danced a deadly dance, Mira's scythe spinning and twirling while Xian Feng's sword sliced through the air, leaving arcs of energy in its wake. Their fight took them off the ground, their figures darting through the sky, colliding with explosive force, creating shockwaves that rattled the island.
Mira unleashed torrents of Qi combined with Primal Energy, attempting to freeze and shatter Xian Feng. In response, he countered with his profound sword techniques, each slash attempting to dissect the very air itself.
However, Xian Feng soon realized that while Mira was adept at using Primal Energy, she was still not entirely in sync with it. Sensing an opportunity, he focused his energy on disrupting her control over it.
For a brief moment, Mira faltered, her Primal Energy going wild. Xian Feng seized the chance, his sword cutting a brilliant arc aimed at her.
But Mira was not to be underestimated. Even in her destabilized state, her instincts and reflexes were razor-sharp. She managed to parry his strike, and using the momentum, she retaliated with a powerful burst of her own energy.
The two continued their fierce duel, neither willing to give an inch, their power and skills on full display. The landscape around them was getting reshaped, with craters forming and trees getting uprooted.
Glancing down at the ground, Mira noticed quite a few people losing interest and going their own way to look for opportunities.
'I guess I should end this.'
With a massive burst of speed, much faster than what she showed previously, she appeared in front of Xian Feng.
"WHAT?!" He yelled in surprise and moved to block her attack, but it was too late.
Mira's golden tail slammed into his back, sending him hurtling to the ground.
*BOOOOM!*
A large crater formed upon impact, and Mira swiftly made her way down. Grabbing his token, she said, "Since Aelina is in an alliance with your Sect, I'll spare you for now. However, the next time, I won't be so lenient."
With that, she walked away, leaving the Immortal Sword Sect disciples who stayed behind to watch dumbfounded.
They all made way as Mira walked past them, not wanting to catch her attention. They still wanted to use this Realm to get stronger, after all.
Lu Shen, who had finally woken up, ran over to Xian Feng and fed him a Mid-Stage Heaven-Grade Healing pill. Although it was still a little weak to heal all of his injuries, it was more than enough for now.
"Senior brother! Wake up! We have to get in that spire before everyone takes all the treasures!" Lu Shen shook him, trying to get Xian Feng to wake up.
"Ugh…" Xian Feng groaned, his back feeling like it was hit by a meteor, "D-Damn… I guess the rumors aren't false, after all…" He muttered, respect but also a competitive spirit shining within his eyes.
"Senior Brother…" Lu Shen said, trying to catch his attention.
"Ah. I'm fine, Junior Brother Shen." Xian Feng replied, struggling to stand up. He pushed Lu Shen's helping hand away and forced himself up. "It was just a friendly bout. She didn't hit me too hard." He chuckled.
'Don't bluff, Senior Brother. I heard that crack in the sky. It sounded as if your body was snapped in half.' Lu Shen commented inwardly but didn't dare to say it out loud. He still wanted to preserve his Senior Brother's dignity.
"Anyways, enough about me! Let's go see what this place has to offer!" Xian Feng exclaimed. He grabbed his sword and immediately dashed toward the spire, with a worried Lu Shen following soon after.
Meanwhile, Mira pushed her encounter with the Immortal Sword Sect to the back of her mind. She had gotten what she wanted, Xian Feng's token and the Immortal Sword Sect's animosity, and decided to move on to the Spire.
'Hopefully, word of his loss spreads, and more Core Disciples from other Sects will start to come at me. That way, I won't have to waste my time hunting them down myself.' Mira thought. She would much rather spend her time looting, plundering, and getting stronger than fighting other people for a competition.
Still, she couldn't let the Prime Disciple position go to anyone else. That was her ticket into the Central Continent.
Sure, there might be other ways there, and the FLDIL might be able to help her out, but she'd rather not put her faith in a 'maybe'.
Part of what she's already learned from here is that the FLDIL isn't perfect, nor does it have everything. She's already checked, but from what she found, there's no technique for harnessing Primal Energy, nothing about obtaining a beast form, and hardly any information about progenitors.
However, all that information, or at least some of it, seemed to be here. Proving to her that the FLDIL wasn't everything, just a means to an end.
The Central Continent was also a mystery. She doesn't know what barrier is surrounding it, who's on the other side, or how to reach the Immortal Realm from there.
"Tsk." She clicked her tongue, wishing she knew of another way to get there, but it was too much of a hassle.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Mira stepped into the Spire. But, as soon as she did, she felt the scrolls in her Storage Space thrum, shocking her.
'...Huh?'
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