Drake had told her to cultivate here, but honestly, it felt like a death sentence.

  She couldn’t stand to sit on the bed of ice for even a breath before the cold gnawed through her bones.

  And yet… there was something else. A strange spiritual current emanated from the ten-thousand-year-old ice, something she hadn’t sensed in her own room. It was sharp, immense, overwhelming—an icy aura so pure it made her spiritual roots hum.

  Maybe… if she could endure it, she could refine it.

  Lauren drew in a deep breath and sat cross-legged once more, forcing herself not to flinch as the frost bit into her skin. She sank into meditation, teeth gritted, and pulled at the cold energy with her Immortal Root.

  At once, the icy aura and surrounding spiritual energy swirled together, flowing into her body like twisted strands of dough. The spiritual energy softened the sharpness, wrapping the cold so it no longer felt like knives stabbing into her. Slowly, the strands of ice nourished her core, strengthening her roots.

  Even the little four-legged creature inside her stirred. It blinked, eyes hazy, glanced around as if in surprise, then sank back into slumber.

  ......

  Three days later, Lauren finally came down the mountain to watch the finals.

  Nash’s voice reached her through a sound transmission talisman, practically buzzing with excitement. He was waiting in the same corner as before.

  “Finally! You made it. It’s about to start.”

  The final showdown was held on the sect’s largest stage. The sect leader was present, along with the peak masters of every major peak, elders seated in rows of honor, and below them, a sea of disciples pressing in from all directions.

  Nash guided her through the crowd, winding past shoulders and robes until they carved out a decent view.

  “Look up there!” he whispered eagerly. “That’s almost everyone who matters in Thunder Sect—well, except your master. You know who they all are, right?”

  Lauren shook her head, honest as always. “I’ve seen most of them… but I don’t know many names.”

  “Who do you recognize, then?”

  “The headmaster.”

  Nash stared. “…That’s it?”

  Lauren thought, then pointed discreetly. “That woman. Her name’s Dorothy.”

  Nash brightened. “Yeah, Senior Elder Dorothy of Sky-Curtain Peak. Anyone seated in the main seats today survived the elite competition in their generation. Same goes for everyone standing here—you fight well enough, someday you’ll be the one sitting up there.”

  Lauren’s gaze flicked back toward the high seats, silent. She wondered if she’d ever make it that far.

  Nash continued proudly, “That’s Elder Cornelius from Ashenreach, and Elder Logan from Rain Peak. Sitting next to him is Elder Jade—she’s my master.”

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  He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Don’t underestimate her just because she’s not a Peak Master. She doesn’t want the hassle. She’s obsessed with formations, that’s all. If she cared about status, Sky-Curtain’s Peak Master wouldn’t be Senior Elder Dorothy—it’d be my master.”

  Lauren gave him a sharp look. “Careful. If disciples from Sky-Curtain Peak hear you mouthing off and report it, Ms.Dorothy will have your ass.”

  Nash snapped his mouth shut instantly.

  Above, the sect’s great figures had all gathered—every one of them, except Drake. The air vibrated with anticipation as the ultimate showdown began.

  The first match ended in a five-to-five draw.

  Lauren hadn’t even realized until Nash stepped up to draw his lot that he’d made it into the top ten.

  Tch. Some people were like top students who, when asked how they did, just shrugged and said they “passed.” Misleading everyone else into thinking they’d barely scraped by.

  Nash came jogging back, grinning. “I pulled number six. My opponent’s number five. Don’t know who they are yet, but let’s hope I don’t run into Dante right away. That’d be a nightmare.”

  Lauren smiled. “What about Sebastian?”

  Nash froze. “…”

  “It’d be best if Dante and Sebastian ended up against each other. Then my odds of making top five would go way up.”

  It wasn’t exactly fair—if Sebastian really was the second-best, running into Dante early would just be bad luck. He’d get knocked out before he ever reached the top five.

  But luck, it seemed, wasn’t that cruel today.

  Dante’s opponent turned out to be a woman. The moment she saw who she was facing, her expression soured.

  “Mr.Dante, please be gentle,” she pleaded, bowing.

  Dante inclined his head, ready to reply politely—

  —and then she lunged, sword flashing straight at his throat.

  His words died in his mouth as he barely deflected the strike.

  From below, Nash spat. “Bah, Eliseo is shameless! Begging him to go easy, then going straight for the kill.”

  “Eliseo?” Lauren tilted her head. “Any relation to Eloise?”

  “Eloise? Oh, you mean the little girl Senior Sister Dorothy just took in this year. They’re both from the same dynasty, but beyond that, no idea.”

  The cultivation world was thick with great clans and royal bloodlines, always sending their brightest to the major sects. And the sects, in turn, protected them. Like Cornelius of Ashenreach—Sharpe family through and through. With his standing, of course he shielded his clan.

  But families that failed to produce talents… they withered. Competition was everywhere, from sect to sect, house to house.

  On stage, Eliseo managed to hold her own for a few exchanges, but Dante cut through her defenses effortlessly. She surrendered before things turned ugly.

  The second match featured two strangers—at least to Lauren.

  Luckily, Nash was a walking commentator.

  “Left side, that’s Senior Sister Veronica from Cloud Peak. Ring a bell? She’s from the same family as Senior Brother Vernon—the one who carried you up the mountain.”

  Lauren frowned slightly. It seemed like all the so-called geniuses belonged to a handful of bloodlines. Maybe spiritual roots really were hereditary. If so, what did that make her? A genetic fluke?

  “And the one on the right,” Nash continued, “that’s Westin from Sky-Curtain Peak. He’s a monster—started in the Outer Sect and clawed his way up.”

  Lauren’s eyes sharpened. “From the Outer Sect?”

  “Yeah. He’s got twin roots—water and wood—but not the purest quality, so they stuck him outside at first. But after grinding for years, he exploded in last year’s tournament. Ms.Dorothy spotted him and snatched him up immediately. He’s been the Outer Sect legend ever since.”

  Sounded like a legend indeed.

  “How did he stand out?”

  “By pushing his dual roots to perfection. Water generates wood, right? He’s mastered the cycle. Just watch.”

  The two bowed, and the arena shifted instantly.

  The barren stone ground bloomed into a field of vibrant green, tall grass and trees sprouting in seconds. Westin’s figure vanished into the lush growth.

  Veronica didn’t move recklessly. She knew better than to underestimate someone wielding both water and wood. Eyes scanning the terrain, she searched the vegetation carefully.

  Lauren’s breath caught. One word surfaced in her mind.

  “A domain?”

  Nash shook his head. “Not quite—but close. It can’t suppress the enemy’s cultivation like a true domain. What it does is boost his perception to the max in this terrain. Inside this forest, his tenth-level Foundation Establishment is pushed right to the brink of perfection. He’s clearly making wood his main offense. With water constantly feeding his wood root, his spiritual power reserves actually outstrip those with a single pure wood root.”