Ling Mei smiled lightly seeing her determined look.
...
Back inside the Grand Hall, Mei Hua stood before a large, detailed map depicting the surrounding regions known Sects, Clans, Kingdoms, etc. Markers indicated the position of allied and rival sects.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts as she looked towards the door and said, "Enter."
An Inner Sect Elder stepped in, bowing respectfully, "Sect Leader, letters have arrived from the Azure Sky Sect and the Ironwood Mountain Clan."
Mei Hua raised an eyebrow, and asked lightly, "Oh? What do they have to say?"
"They propose a meeting to discuss the cooperation between our Sects and Clan within the Mystique Realm," the Elder reported. "They suggest that we come up with some ground rules for the realm and our disciples can benefit more from working together rather than working against each other."
Mei Hua's eyes narrowed slightly, "Quite a tempting offer. Considering that our sect's young disciples are weaker compared to their peers due to our cultivation manuals. But we can't trust them fully as well."
She tapped her fingers on the table, thinking for a second before answering, "Send polite replies expressing our gratitude for their approach. We will consider their offer and respond before the Mystique Realm opens."
"Yes, Sect Leader," the elder said before retreating.
After the elder left, Mei Hua pondered the situation, "Cooperation or thinly veiled competition? We must tread carefully, otherwise our feet will get dirty in these muddy waters."
Her gaze landed on the map once again, "The Mystique Realm may hold many opportunities for the young ones, but the dangers will be equally great. The rest will depend on the disciples fortune and what choice the sect made regarding the cooperation."
...
Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the entire sect, the air became filled with youthful energy.
All the disciples trained ardously to reach thier peak state before going for the Mystique Realm.
In his closed-door cultivation, Shen Yuan also got wind of the news as his lips curled into a smile. He stood at the edge of his plum blossom tree, enjoying wine while looking at the falling petals
Yue Lan's eyes flashed mischievously.
[You're about to stroll back into a sect full of disciples who have been training relentlessly, desperate to prove themselves in the Mystique Realm. Imagine their faces when you show up, casually mastering a level of intent that most Inner Sect disciples struggle with. It's bound to cause a stir.]
Shen Yuan shrugged, finishing the last of his wine and placing the gourd back. "I'll only be joining them after I've wrapped up here. No point in letting my training go to waste. Besides, I still have other intents to refine."
[Speaking of which, how do you plan to handle them all? You've already pushed your Sword Intent and Saber Intent to the second level, and you've been playing with others as well. What's next on the list?]
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Shen Yuan glanced at the petals swirling around him, his expression thoughtful. "Bow Intent, perhaps. It's always been a close companion to Sword Intent, taking care of both long-range and short-range battles. But I would need to carefully balance both of them, it might take me a while to do that."
Yue Lan smirked, her feline form flicking her tail playfully. [Careful balance, huh? You mean you'll master it in half the time and then start learning a different intent?]
Shen Yuan chuckled but didn't deny it. "We'll see. I'm not in a rush. The Mystique Realm isn't going anywhere, and I have time before the sect truly gets moving. Or the worst case, I just won't join in on the fun."
He soon took a deep breath and sat down beneath the plum blossom tree to meditate.
Soon, time passed as the petals drifted gently around him. His eyes were closed, and his breath steady as he delved deeper into meditation. Focusing on other weapons such as Bow, Spear, Axe, Pole, Sycthe, and more.
The air around him vibrated subtly as he visualized each weapon in his mind. He imagined the weight of a spear in his hand, the tension on the string while drawing a bow...
Each intent required not just a high comprehension level but a will to learn the essence of a weapon. For this reason, it is easier for those who love their weapons to master an Intent.
Days turned into weeks as Shen Yuan immersed himself in this intense cultivation. With each passing day, he made more progress and mastered various intents. The Spear Intent flowed like a river—direct and piercing. The Bow Intent is fast and precise. The Scythe being deadly and sneaky.
...
News soon spread around the Radiant Lotus Sacred Sect that a competition would be held among the outer sect disciples to select ten representatives for the Mystique Realm.
The announcement sent the disciples into a frenzy as they cultivated with all they had for the competition, none wanted to lose in such an important tournament.
The training grounds buzzed with activity as Wan Ling practiced her sword techniques with unwavering focus. Her movements and improved so much that if someone who knew her saw her current mastery, they would doubt whether if its the same person or not.