Immortal Ice Empress: Path to Vengeance

Nova, Rayna, and the others flew through the mountains, carrying Mira and Maria behind them with their Qi. Since time was of the essence, they couldn't slow down to travel at Mira's speed.

Although it was a little humiliating for them to drag Mira around like a rag doll, she understood the reason and agreed, so she could only bury her grievances.

'Sigh… Should I have woken up Rhydian?' Mira thought but shook her head.

'No. She and Vulcan are on the verge of breaking through and becoming Rank 7 beasts. However, the next time I come down the mountain, I'm taking Rhydian with me!'

When she returned to the Sect after being teleported away by Number Two from the Crimson Slayer Sect, she was a bit shocked at the speed at which Rhydian cultivated. Though, she should have expected it. The Qi density around the Battle Maiden Sect was incredibly high, and there were tons of beasts to eat, even around the Outer Court.

If Rhydian couldn't reach Peak-Stage Rank 6 in half a year, Mira would be somewhat disappointed.

Once she breaks through to Rank 7… Mira couldn't even guess how powerful Rhydian would be. With her bloodline and strength, she might even be able to take down Rank 8 beasts!

'Maybe when I get back, Rhydian will have completed her breakthrough, and we can dominate the other younger generation disciples together!' Mira imagined her and Rhydian soaring through the sky, slaughtering her way through the Sects, and grew a little excited.

Within a day, Mira's group had reached the area of their first target. They stopped about 50 kilometers away so as not to attract the attention of the Mortal Shedding Realm Elder immediately. Although they didn't know the Elder's Soul Sensing Range, it shouldn't reach 50 kilometers.

Once they found a nice secluded area with natural cover, Mira glanced at her teammates and said, "Let's begin the preparations."

She took out the [Blood Burst Technique] Manuel and handed it to them.

"This is a technique I obtained that allows you to increase your strength at the cost of your own blood. However, as long as you don't use the last stage of the Technique, you won't face permanent side effects." Mira briefly explained, then left to set down her Late Heaven-Grade Suppression Array.

The [Blood Burst Technique] is rather simple, so it shouldn't take them long to learn it. At least, she didn't believe that the Sect's top disciples wouldn't have the comprehensive abilities to learn it quickly.

Nova, Eden, and the others were shocked that Mira just gave away such a precious technique for free!

"Ummm… Isn't this technique too extraordinary to be handed to us for free? From what you described, it's basically the perfect trump card!" Seraphine asked. She didn't feel right taking something so precious without giving anything in return, and the others felt the same.

However, Mira just shook her head and waved her hand in dismissal, "The technique would be useless if we all ended up dead."

Her meaning with this statement was clear: She wasn't doing this for them. She was doing it for the mission and to survive.

There's no way Mira could do this by herself. She had to rely on them to take on the stronger opponents. If they died because they were too weak, then Mira could kiss her life goodbye as well.

"...I see. Well, thank you. I'll be sure to put it to good use." Seraphine said, doing her best to prevent a smile from appearing on her face.

Meanwhile, Rayna's eyes shone like stars as she read the manual's contents! She could already imagine numerous ways to incorporate this technique into her fighting style!

Maria had already read the manual, so she took this time to set up the things she had prepared for this mission. She set down an Earth-Grade Sound Silencing Array, which could isolate the sound around them and prevent it from leaking out into the surroundings.

She also set up an Earth-Grade Illusion Array. Although the grade for this one was low, she planned on using it in tandem with Mira's Illusion Tail. She and Mira had tested out the effects over the last month and learned when they used the Illusion Array in conjunction with Mira's tail, the array's abilities would significantly increase.

After Maria finished her preparations, she went a ways away from the other disciples to hide. Suddenly, her presence and aura disappeared as if she was never here, to begin with.

Since she'd be useless against a Mortal Shedding Realm expert, she might as well hide so as not to be a burden.

Mira was the same. Once she finished setting up the Suppression Array, she found a nice hiding spot behind a large tree with a direct view of the Spirit Stone Mine. Her presence also melded into her surroundings, but she stayed visible to converse with the rest of her team.

She then released all the energy from within her Illusion Tail, merged it with the Array, and created an illusion that nobody was in the surrounding area. After many hours of practice, Mira now had no problem using her Illusion Tail, or any of her tails, for that matter.

After around half an hour of waiting, Nova, Rayna, and the others had finished comprehending the first three stages of the [Blood Burst Technique].

"Wow! This technique is quite remarkable, no? Each stage gives me effectively boosts my strength by another Minor Realm! How crazy is that?!" Everly commented with wide eyes! Like Nova, she was also at the 3rd Stage of the Soul Transformation Realm. So, if she used the third stage of the technique, she'd have the strength of someone in the 6th Stage!

How insane was that?!

"You're right, but the side effects are just as harsh. I'd be a shriveled corpse after a dozen seconds of using the third stage of this technique!" Nova pouted, but she wasn't dissatisfied. A dozen seconds was more than enough time to deal with an opponent.

"Hmph! That's just because you have a pitiful human bloodline. Maybe if your blood was purer or of higher quality, you could last longer like me." Eden said, proud of her Elven nature.

"Tsk." Nova clicked her tongue, but Eden was right. The effects of this technique are dependent on one's bloodline.

While a normal human would still become several times stronger after using the Blood Burst Technique, the effects were limited.

However, the effects on an Elf like Eden, who had a bloodline that granted her longevity and a higher affinity toward nature, were boosted. The side effects were also probably less severe for her as well.

Listening to them arguing, Mira decided to step in and stop them, "Since you guys are in the mood to bicker, you must be ready to fight, right?"

They quickly shut up and gave Mira a nod.

"Alright, then, be prepared, as I'm going to attract the attention of the Mortal Shedding Realm Elder," Mira said while looking off into the distance.

Nova and the other's eyes narrowed as the atmosphere became heavy. They'd be lying if they said they weren't scared, but acting on those emotions would only get them killed in this situation.

The five of them gathered around in a circle and held hands. Then, they used the 2nd Stage of the Blood Burst Technique, Heart Ignition, and released all the Qi within their bodies and merged it with one another's.

Usually, this would be nearly impossible as everybody's Qi has slightly different properties that don't blend.

However, Sect Master Aelina had given them a pretty unique technique a month ago, and now it was time to see it in action!

Soon, their Qi shifted into the form of a silhouette of a woman carrying a large greatsword, radiating a dreadful yet valiant aura!

"Do it, Mira!" Nova shouted, to which Mira nodded.

She gathered all her killing intent into her eyes and shot it straight toward the Spirit Stone Mine!

***

50 Kilometers away from Mira's position, in a large building on the side of a mountain above a small Mid-Grade Spirit Stone Mine, a middle-aged looking man was sitting in a lotus position cultivating.

Suddenly, his eyes shot open as he felt a terrifying killing intent lock onto him, disturbing his cultivation and causing the Qi in his meridians to nearly run amok.

Fortunately, he reacted in time, and nothing happened, but that could've been dangerous.

"Who is it?! Which bastard dared to disturb me?!" He roared in anger and leaped up from his position.

He wasn't the least bit scared by the dense killing intent, but he was extremely annoyed that someone abruptly disrupted his cultivation. One must know that as someone from the Unorthodox Faction, his foundation is already fairly unstable, to begin with. If he's unexpectedly shaken out of his cultivation, he might experience Qi deviation and face a severe backlash!

Hell, he might even go berserk and start killing everything around him!

So, how could he not be angry?!

The man turned in the direction he felt the killing intent and soared out of the building!