The Silver Forest glowed under the fading light, its silver leaves shimmering like stars against the twilight. Kai and Aina walked side by side, their steps light despite the weight of their journey. The forest's beauty was haunting, its air thick with spiritual energy that prickled Kai's skin. He glanced at Aina, noting a subtle change in her aura—stronger, more refined. A breakthrough. Pride swelled in his chest, mingled with a pang of envy. She was moving forward, while he remained trapped in the Frost Ridge's icy grip.
"Congratulations on your breakthrough," Kai said, his smile genuine.
Aina's eyes lit up, and she threw her arms around him, ignoring the curious stares of nearby disciples. "Thank you! I did it!"
The other disciples whispered, their gazes judgmental, but Kai didn't care. "Want to take one last walk through the forest?" he asked.
"Absolutely," Aina replied, her smile radiant. "Let's go."
They ventured into the forest, the whispers of the disciples fading behind them. The trees seemed to lean closer, their branches forming a canopy that blocked the sky. Kai's senses stayed sharp, attuned to the forest's pulse. A familiar spiritual signature flickered nearby—the white owl from before. Its camouflage was uncanny, nearly invisible to his senses. He tensed, ready for an attack.
The owl screeched, launching a volley of icicles. Kai reacted instantly, raising a fiery barrier to deflect the shards. Aina flanked the creature, her hands weaving a formation that trapped it in a cage of icy runes. The owl struggled, its wings beating frantically, but Aina's control was flawless. Kai struck, his sword slicing through the cage, ending the threat. The owl dissolved into motes of Qi, leaving only silence.
"Persistent little thing," Aina said, brushing her hands. "Nice move, barbarian."
Kai grinned. "You're not bad yourself, rose of the Eternal Ice Fort."
She rolled her eyes, but her smile lingered. Their banter carried them through the forest, a fleeting moment of camaraderie before the return to the Fort. The journey back on the flying ship was quiet, save for So Yun's lectures on cultivation basics. Kai listened intently, soaking up knowledge he'd missed in the Shen Clan.
As the Eternal Ice Fort loomed into view, its massive walls of translucent ice gleamed under the moonlight. Unlike the ornate structures of the Phoenix Sect, it resembled a fortress from a forgotten era, its sharp angles and towering spires defying the landscape. Kai stood at the ship's bow, joined by Tiya and Ark, two fellow disciples.
"Why does the Fort look like this?" Kai asked. "It's not like the Phoenix Sect's style."
Ark shrugged, his voice thoughtful. "The sect found it like this. The masters decided rebuilding was pointless. No one knows who built it."
Kai nodded, intrigued. A lost civilization, perhaps? The Fort's ice seemed eternal, untouched by time. He filed the thought away, his mind drifting to the portal and the ice he needed to gather.
Upon landing, the disciples swarmed to unload baskets of spiritual berries, their haul impressive. Kai worked alongside them, his muscles aching but his resolve firm. He was one step closer to his goal. As he stepped toward the bathing pools, a figure blocked his path—a Qi Condensation disciple, his expression cold.
"Kai Shen?" the disciple said. "Master Lu demands your presence."
Kai's blood ran cold. Master Lu, the fire cultivator with a grudge. His glares had always carried malice, and now Kai faced him directly. What did he want? And why did Kai's instincts scream that this meeting would change everything?