Consolidating

The notion of participating in the Great Spirit Arena had crossed my mind several times during those early days. The competition would provide valuable combat experience and testing grounds for my abilities. However, looking down at my single soul ring—I had to acknowledge that it is not a priority for now.

I haven't yet hunted for 2nd soul ring, in truth, my actual power was far greater—level 26 with Xiao Wu's 100,000-year spirit ring hidden within me. And if I went to absorb another spirit ring it might cause me trouble. I needed at least one year to properly consolidate the tremendous energy I'd absorbed from Xiao Wu's ring—rushing the process would be not only foolish but potentially catastrophic. It's better to be cautious than suffering it. 

Instead of seeking glory in the Arena, I dedicated myself wholly to mastering my sword skills. Day after day, from the first light of dawn until well past dusk, I practiced with single-minded determination. My routine became a meditation unto itself—wake at first light, running and some exercises for warm up, then hours upon hours of technique refinement.

The quick-draw techniques of the Frost Moon style became my primary focus as it is the core of the whole sword technique. There was something deeply satisfying about the clean, efficient motion—the perfect balance between stillness and explosive action. I would stand motionless for minutes at a time, then draw and strike in a movement so swift that the blade seemed to materialize directly at its target.

My days blurred together, marking time only by the gradual refinement of my techniques. The local villagers had grown accustomed to the sight of me—the serious young "ten-year-old" who spoke little and practiced endlessly with her frost-blue sword. Some whispered that I was an orphan of noble birth, others that I was the secret disciple of some reclusive master. I neither confirmed nor denied these rumors—the mystery served as a useful buffer against unwanted scrutiny.

On a particularly warm afternoon about two months into my training, Xiao Wu's consciousness stirred from the deep sleep she'd settled into. Her emergence into my mind space felt like ripples across a still pond.

"You're still swinging that sword?" her voice echoed in my thoughts, a mixture of disbelief and boredom. "It's been... how long?"

"A months, two weeks, and four days," I replied mentally without breaking the rhythm of my practice.

"Heavens have mercy," she sighed. "I sleep for what feels like a moment and wake to find you doing exactly the same thing."

I completed my current set before acknowledging her further. Setting Ice Blade aside momentarily, I settled into a meditative position, allowing my consciousness to sink deeper inward where communication with Xiao Wu would be clearer.

I don't know what happened but Xiao Wu enter deep hibernation due to some thing she didn't explain to me, which lead her to disappear for quiet a time. I was too worried first but as I can always check on her I was relieved to find that she was okay just mentally exhausted. As Xiao Wu jumped toward me examining my pseudo martial soul with unconcealed fascination.

"This is truly remarkable," she admitted, turning her attention to Ice Blade's manifestation in our shared consciousness. "A martial soul created through inspiration and understanding... I've never heard of such a thing being possible."

"It's not a true martial soul," I corrected. "It's still psuedo-Martial Soul."

"Still, it's a miracle by any reasonable standard." Her expression turned speculative, eyes narrowing with a new thought. "If you can create this, could you perhaps... create artificial spirit rings as well?"

The question gave me pause. "I don't know," I answered honestly. "Spirit rings are fundamentally different—they're connected to the soul of a spirit beast. The Herrscher Eye of Truth grants understanding and creation capabilities, and I'm certain that its ability doesn't extends to creating something as complex as a soul."

"Hmm." Xiao Wu floated closer, her expression thoughtful. "What a pity."

Xiao Wu changed positions, lying horizontally in the air as though on an invisible couch, her expression shifting to one of profound boredom. "Is it really necessary to spend every waking moment training? Even the most dedicated cultivators allow themselves some diversion."

I raised an eyebrow. "Unlike you, I have to work hard to become a Titled Douluo faster and prepare for becoming a god. And I don't think there's any benefit in wasting time elsewhere."

"You could search for allies, you know. Build your own force. Even the strongest need supporters sometimes."

My response was immediate and dismissive. "I don't have time for those... responsibilities. What use is strength if I must rely on others to become the strongest?"

Xiao Wu rolled her eyes dramatically. "It doesn't hurt to forge some connections."

"I don't have time for that," I repeated firmly. "And if I ever decide I need connections, I'll deal with that when the time comes."

"You are so boring," she sighed, floating onto her back and staring up into the infinite darkness of our shared mental space.

"And yet you chose to stick with a boring person like me."

"You literally forced me to!" she protested, sitting upright with an indignant expression.

"I asked for it," I corrected her, "but you could have refused. That's not forcing. The fact that I would have killed you after rejection is simply different matter—I had revealed many things to you and couldn't leave such an unstable factor in play."

"See! THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!" Xiao Wu threw her hands up in exasperation. "You humans are truly an evil race."

"That's actually half true," I replied calmly. "Everyone has their own freedom and can choose to do anything they want. What we do defines our goals, personality, and karma."

"Stop with your long philosophical speeches," she groaned. "You're just changing the subject."

"Tch." The sound escaped me before I could suppress it.

"You just clicked your tongue," she pointed out, a small victorious smile playing on her lips.

"Anyway," she said, "What with your chosen name, Xiao Qingxue?"

"Did you really want to become my little sister so badly that you chose it?" she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

I maintained my composure. "Don't think your childish provocations can irritate me. You can take it as a token of goodwill for your sacrifice."

"Aggghh!" she threw up her hands again. "Why can't I even tease you? You are so boring!"

"Try using your energy for cultivation rather than wasting it on pointless banter."

"Yeah, yeah, I got it, future god, the strongest in the world," she replied with exaggerated deference.

I narrowed my eyes. "Was that sarcasm?"

"I don't know," she replied with false innocence.

"Aghh, just keep quiet," I said, my patience finally wearing thin.

Our conversations often followed this pattern over the months that followed—her attempts to provoke an emotional response, my steadfast focus on the path ahead. Despite her complaints about my single-minded dedication, I occasionally caught glimpses of respect in her eyes when she thought I wasn't looking.

I think, Xiao Wu is not that bad as my friend described, as Everyone is just like a clay they are shaped into what they are influenced with. Its because she didn't have a proper guardian to teach her about manners which lead her to become this much worse character. And expect that you can see that Xiao Wu is the most loyal to the person she completely acknowledge.

The seasons changed, bringing first the chill of autumn, then the bite of winter, followed by the renewal of spring, and finally the heat of summer once more. Through it all, my practice continued unabated, each day building upon the last in an unbroken chain of refinement and growth.

By the six-month mark, I had mastered the basic forms of the Frost Moon style and begun developing advance variations. The sword no longer felt like a separate entity in my hand but rather an extension of my will. When I moved, it moved; when I intended, it acted—the delay between thought and action shrinking to imperceptible lengths.

At eight months, I discovered something unexpected—the intensive sword practice was having profound effects beyond mere physical technique. My mental acuity had sharpened considerably, concentration deepening to levels I hadn't thought possible. In moments of perfect focus during practice, I could perceive the world with startling clarity—individual dust motes dancing in sunbeams, the subtle shifts in air pressure preceding a change in weather, the minuscule delays between heartbeats.

"The sword shapes the mind as much as the mind shapes the sword," I realized one day, performing a particularly complex sequence of movements that required perfect balance between aggressive forward momentum and defensive awareness.

By the tenth month, I had begun integrating principles from ancient kendo traditions into my practice—not just the physical techniques, but the philosophical underpinnings that emphasized the unity of practitioner and weapon, the importance of perfect timing, and the paradoxical strength found in yielding.

And then, in the eleventh month, something remarkable happened. During a particularly intense training session, pushing my limits beyond what I'd attempted before, I experienced a breakthrough. Time seemed to slow around me, my perception expanding to encompass not just my immediate surroundings but the subtle connections between all things. For a brief, transcendent moment, I could see the patterns of energy flowing through everything—the air, the ground, my own body, Ice Blade—as though they were visible currents of light.

When the moment passed, I found myself standing perfectly still, sword extended in the completion of a draw-cut so clean it had severed a falling leaf cleanly in two without disturbing either half's trajectory.

[Silver rank Achievement: Mind-Sword Unity || Reward: Mind's Eye (False) ]

The notification appeared in my consciousness, confirming what I had felt—this was no ordinary breakthrough but a fundamental shift in my capabilities. Mind-sword unity is just the starting point and I was only able to reach here not only because of Sword technique but it severely dependent over the ability of Herrscher's eye of truth. Which made me understand that Herrscher of Truth is not about creation but understanding one thing, which pushed me this far to reach Mind-Sword unity in just 1 year. Not only I understood true meaning of sword but also got an amazing reward which awakened my 6th sense, Mind's Eye is a true gem, even it is False but it still provide me heigthened 6th sense. I still got to explore true capabilities of Mind's Eye.

The final month of my year-long training brought another unexpected development—a spontaneous increase in my soul power level. Without actively pursuing soul power cultivation, I found my reserves deepening and expanding, my control growing more precise. By the time the full year had passed, internal assessment revealed I had gained two additional levels, pushing me to approximately level 30, possibly higher.

On the mark of one year, I stood beside a mountain stream at dawn, Ice Blade held before me. The past year had transformed not just my skills but my understanding of power itself. With Ice Blade alone, I now possessed the capability to defeat a three-ringed soul master—though I had never tested this directly. My body had grown slightly taller, my features marginally more mature, though still recognizable as the person who had registered at the Martial Soul Hall a year prior.

"One year," I whispered to the rising sun. "Now that my body have developed well, I can move on."

Xiao Wu's presence stirred in my mind, having grown accustomed to longer periods of dormancy punctuated by brief conversations. "So what now, oh dedicated one? More sword practice until the mountains crumble?"

"Now," I replied, sheathing Ice Blade with a smooth motion, "we begin the next phase. The consolidation is complete. It's time to hunt for second spirit ring."

"Finally, something different," she replied, but I detected genuine interest beneath her flippant tone. "Will you at least consider some human interaction along the way? A year of watching you swing a sword has not been the most stimulating existence."

"Perhaps," I conceded, surprising even myself with the admission. "Effective use of your spirit ring may require testing against worthy opponents."

"F*ck, Did you gain any new mental disease." she declared dramatically. "Acting an expert who dedicated her life time for sword."

I ignored her theatrics, but a small smile tugged at the corner of my mouth—quickly suppressed, but not before she noticed.

"Was that... almost a smile?" she gasped in mock astonishment. "Ohh, I am now blessed that I got to see the great master smiling, I could now die peacefully."

"Just die, and stop with you sarcasm" I said, turning away from the stream and beginning the walk back to the village. "And anyway thanks for your day night cultivation."

"Hmphh, At least you noticed my hard work." she replied sarcastically, but I sensed a certain warmth behind her words.

"So, where are we going for second soul ring?"

"Star-Dou forest."

"Ohh, Star-Dou forest. WHAT?? STAR-DOU FOREST??"