Immortal Ice Empress: Path to Vengeance

Chapter 796 Prime Disciple Competition: Light And Dark

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"You're a new presence," the ethereal woman spoke, her voice a harmonic blend that seemed to resonate with the pulsating energies of the Meditative Zone itself. "I am Luna, a guardian spirit of this realm. You've done well to resonate with the Grove of Lumina. Not many manage to understand its essence, let alone connect with it."

Mira raised an eyebrow at the woman, raising her vigilance just in case she was an enemy. "A guardian spirit? Is it your role to oversee the trials here?"

Luna nodded her gaze as deep as a starlit sky. "Among other responsibilities, yes. You can think of me more as a guide or manager of the Meditative Zone. This place isn't for everyone." Her voice became somewhat cold there at the end, but Mira paid no mind to it.

Mira glanced at the bioluminescent grove behind her, still resonating with her Primal Energy heart. "These trees, this entire zone—it's designed for more than just meditation and Qi cultivation, isn't it?"

Luna's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Astute observation, but not entirely correct. Meditation can mean many things. Some people refer to it when they cultivate, others when they try to clear their minds. There is even a minority that uses it as a way to channel their creativity. So, in a sense, this zone is all about meditation, but it's more than just sitting down cross-legged and closing your eyes."

Mira listened intently to Luna's explanation, appreciating the guardian spirit's nuanced understanding of meditation. It was a term that encapsulated a host of practices and philosophies, each uniquely tailored to an individual's needs and experiences.

"So, does this zone also have specific areas designed to aid cultivators in different facets of meditation?" Mira inquired, intrigued by the potential this realm had to offer.

"Exactly," Luna affirmed. "You've already encountered the Grove of Lumina, which is an intricate network of energies. But there are other places equally complex, designed to deepen different aspects of meditation. Your recent resonance with Light affinity, for instance, would find a perfect catalyst here."

Mira looked at Luna with surprise. "How did you—"

"I sensed it," Luna interrupted, her eyes twinkling like twin stars. "Your aura carries the unmistakable shimmer of Light affinity, and it's a recent addition, one not yet fully integrated. Would you like me to guide you to a place where you can work on this new aspect of yourself?"

"Definitely," Mira answered without hesitation. This was a chance she couldn't afford to miss, a unique opportunity to strengthen her recently acquired Light affinity and integrate it into her broader cultivation practices.

Luna nodded and beckoned for Mira to follow. They walked in silence, crossing through fields of glowing flora and past murmuring streams suffused with multicolored Qi. 

Mira gave one last look at the tree that seemed to connect with her meridians before catching up to the woman.

Eventually, they reached a large clearing where the sky opened up, exposing a vibrant tapestry of celestial bodies. Yet, the most striking feature was a pool of liquid light at the clearing's center, radiant and ethereal.

'Whoever made this really likes pools, huh.' Mira noted as she seemed to always come across ponds and rivers. However, she understood why. 

The energy here was so potent that it was essentially forced to coalesce into liquid form.

"This is the Pool of Lustrae, a repository of pure light energy," Luna explained. "It's far more than just a body of water; it's a crucible where Light affinity can be refined and deepened."

Mira felt a natural pull towards the pool. It wasn't just the new Light affinity resonating within her; her entire being felt inexplicably drawn to the luminous expanse. "How does it work?"

"You'll need to immerse yourself in it, allowing the Pool of Lustrae to interact with your Light affinity," Luna guided. "It will be an intense experience, and it will take time. The light will scrutinize every part of you, seeking complete integration. You must be open to it, offering no resistance."

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Mira stepped closer to the pool. As she touched the liquid light, a warmth spread up her arm, a precursor to the transformative experience that awaited her. With a final nod at Luna, she stepped into the pool.

The immediate sensation was overwhelming, a torrent of light energy surging through her. It scrutinized her aura, her meridians, and her Primal Energy heart, seeking gaps and imperfections where it could embed itself. 

Her recent merging with the Radiant Crystal Essence acted as a catalyst, magnetically drawing the light towards it.

It wasn't just an infusion; it was a sublimation. Mira could feel the light reshaping her inner structure, aligning itself with her Qi pathways and harmonizing with her existing affinities. 

Even her physique wasn't spared. The light suffused her muscles, bones, and blood, reinforcing them while imbuing them with its radiant qualities.

Mira's consciousness floated within this nexus of transformation. She was aware but not in control, an observer in her own meditation. And yet, she wasn't passive. Every fiber of her being was actively participating in this, a co-creation between her and the light.

Her human form, already optimal for energy control, felt enhanced. But it wasn't just her body; her emotions, thoughts—even her latent potential seemed to awaken, coalescing into a more potent, unified force.

Minutes turned into hours, hours into an indeterminate span of time where only the interplay between light and self mattered. Eventually, the intensity waned, the transformative energies reaching a point of equilibrium.

Feeling a newfound balance and power within her, Mira opened her eyes and stepped out of the Pool of Lustrae, forever changed yet fundamentally still herself. 

For the first time, she felt like she had fully integrated with an affinity instead of just having access to it. It felt a part of her power, something that is uniquely hers. 

Luna stood at the pool's edge, her gaze reflecting pride and a hint of awe. "You've done well. Your Light affinity is now a part of you, not just an external attachment. How do you feel?"

Mira took a moment to scan herself, observing the profound changes. "It's like… I've embodied an element. I don't know how to explain it, but I feel much more in tune with this element. Perhaps more than my ice affinity."

Luna's lips curled into a serene smile. "That's the power of the Meditative Zone and, more importantly, the power of understanding oneself. You are ready to move forward, Mira. Your path, full of light and shadows, awaits you."

As Luna's form began to dissolve into radiant motes of light, merging back into the Meditative Zone, Mira took one last look at the Pool of Lustrae. She thought about plundering it, but she sensed numerous powerful gazes on her from the void. They were telling her that she should just move on.

With a sigh, Mira reluctantly reigned in her impulses and turned away.

As she moved deeper into the Meditative Zone, Mira continued to feel the resonance of this realm with her newly integrated Light affinity. Her senses expanded, alert for any fluctuations in the ambient Qi that could provide her with further insights or challenges.

The scenery shifted subtly as she walked. Gone were the shimmering plants and luminous pools. Instead, Mira found herself in a dimly lit forest, the foliage consisting of shadows and ethereal shapes.

'So there's a darker side to this zone as well,' she mused, keeping her senses alert for any hidden dangers or opportunities for growth. 'Balance, in all things.'

Her thoughts were interrupted when she noticed a peculiar phenomenon: her shadow, which until now had been a passive silhouette, started moving independently. It detached itself from her feet and began to dance around her.

Mira wasn't alarmed; rather, she felt intrigued. Her Light affinity may have been strengthened, but shadows were born of light, and the presence of one implied the existence of the other. She extended her Soul Sense toward her animated shadow, attempting to establish some form of contact or understanding.

The shadow seemed to pause as if acknowledging her effort before merging back into a dark puddle on the forest floor. From it rose a figure that looked exactly like her but was entirely formed of shadow.

"Who are you?" Mira inquired, intrigued yet vigilant.

"I am your Shadow Self," the figure replied, its voice an eerie echo of Mira's own. "In this realm of meditation and introspection, I am the balance to your light, the hidden aspects of yourself that you might not yet fully understand or have accepted."

Mira assessed her shadowy doppelganger with a contemplative gaze. "And what purpose do you serve? Are you here to challenge me?"

The Shadow Self laughed softly, a sound that seemed to come from both everywhere and nowhere. "Challenge, enlighten, or perhaps simply reflect. It's up to you how you interact with me. You can fight me, embrace me, or learn from me."

Mira considered her options. She could either try and kill it or see what it has to offer; both sounded reasonable to her. She hated annoying crap like this. 

However, maybe this was another form of meditation, another trial designed to deepen her understanding of herself and her powers.

Opting for a dialogue over confrontation, she asked, "What can you teach me?"

The Shadow Self smiled and answered.