Immortal Ice Empress: Path to Vengeance

The Temple Master, whom Mira learned was named Master Shen Xian, intervened just in time to prevent further harm to Elder Shui. With a swift motion, he helped the elder out of the ice, his hands glowing with a soft, healing light.

Master Shen Xian gave Mira a light smile and nodded. "A deal's a deal. Now, come with me; there's much for you to see in our repository."

The trio made their way back to the Frozen Sangfroid Temple. Mira's mind was filled with questions as she completely forgot about the previous fights.

Elder Shui, now stable, was taken to her quarters to rest and recover.

Upon reaching the temple's repository, a grand structure that housed the sect's collective knowledge and techniques, Mira's eyes widened in awe. Rows upon rows of ancient scrolls, books, and artifacts lined the walls.

Master Shen Xian gestured towards the shelves. "Here lies the culmination of our sect's understanding of ice cultivation. You may peruse these texts to gain insight into our techniques, but as per our agreement, you cannot take or copy them. I'll give you a day to look over everything. Anything more, and you'd probably be able to memorize everything. Afterward, I'll show you one of our secret techniques."

Mira nodded, staring at everything with an intense gaze. "Mmhm. See you in a day."

Shen Xian chuckled and smiled wryly before he turned around and walked away.

'I wouldn't be surprised if she could learn and memorize most of the techniques in there at a glance, but I don't think that's her purpose.' He thought as he let her be.

Although part of him felt hurt that Mira didn't actually care about their–his–techniques, he also understood that with her raw power, something ordinary wouldn't do her any good. It'd be better just to use her fists.

As Mira walked through the aisles, her hands occasionally brushed against the spines of the ancient texts. She extended her Soul Sense and took in all the titles and the energy emanating from each scroll and tome, her mind piecing together everything about ice cultivation entering her mind.

The questions in her mind were like a puzzle waiting to be solved.

How did the cultivators of the Frozen Sangfroid Temple utilize their meridians and dantian in conjunction with their ice affinity?

What differentiated a mere imagination-driven technique from a profound, meticulously crafted one?

'What makes these some of the best ice techniques in the world? I haven't really studied much about the theory behind creating techniques before, but now I feel like I have to if I want to improve my power in a way other than my cultivation.' Mira thought as she grabbed a scroll called [Bone-Chilling Palm].

It described a basic ice technique that involved freezing the meridians in the user's hand, and then when the punch lands, you transfer all that potential energy into the opponent.

The meridian pathways were relatively simple and could be used by just about anyone with an affinity for ice.

However, it was through simple techniques like these that she learned why pure imagination can only get you so far.

If she were to encase her hand in ice, it wouldn't do much. She'd just be slamming a block of ice against someone rather than her fist. But, under careful application and through lots of practice, she could turn that block of ice into something that literally freezes her opponent's internals, including their meridians.

'The Battle Maiden Sect techniques are good, but they don't go into the intricacies of ice and how it plays into everything like the ones here. It's really just me channeling a bunch of energy and shaping it into something, then throwing that at people. Not much substance behind it.'

Though she thought that, Mira also realized that she didn't care to learn much about techniques, so there could be something in the Sect that she missed.

'I also don't like being under Aelina's watchful eye. She's just going to steal whatever I create!' She inwardly grumbled before putting the [Bone-Chilling Palm] away and picking up another scroll.

Hours passed as Mira delved deeper into the repository's secrets.

She read about the foundational principles of ice cultivation and the subtle ways in which practitioners manipulated their Qi to resonate with the element of ice.

She learned about the structure of meridians suited for ice Qi and how the dantian could be tuned to enhance the element's potency.

Some scrolls detailed the philosophical and spiritual aspects of ice cultivation – how it was not just a manipulation of cold but an embrace of stillness, clarity, and purity. Mira was fascinated by the depth of thought and experience that went into each line, each character.

She also discovered the reasons behind the power and difficulty of certain techniques.

The complexity of a technique often depended on how deeply it resonated with the natural laws of the world, how it aligned with the cultivator's own Qi, and how it interacted with the environment.

Ice techniques, she found, were unique in their ability to alter the state of matter, control temperature, and even influence the flow of time, albeit in very subtle ways.

Mira's respect for the Frozen Sangfroid Temple grew as she absorbed the knowledge. She realized that what made these techniques profound wasn't just their power but the wisdom and understanding of the world they encapsulated.

She began to see patterns and connections between the various techniques, understanding how each one was a piece of a larger puzzle.

She stumbled upon a technique called "Whispering Frost," which intrigued her. It was a technique that allowed the user to subtly manipulate the flow of Qi in the air, creating a silent but deadly frost that could incapacitate an enemy without them even realizing it.

The technique required immense control and a deep understanding of the nature of Qi and ice because to do so is to change the properties of ice to fit her needs.

Mira spent time studying "Whispering Frost" and others like it, intrigued by their subtlety and potential.

However, that wasn't the only technique she was caught up in. They were all interesting as long as she was willing to spend some time digging deeper to understand finesse.

Lost in her studies, Mira barely noticed the passage of time. It wasn't until Master Shen Xian returned that she realized a day had passed.

"You've been quite absorbed," Master Shen Xian observed, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Mira looked up, a bit disoriented from all the information she absorbed. "Yes. Your sect's understanding of ice cultivation is truly amazing."

Master Shen Xian nodded. "I'm glad you find it so. Now, as promised, I will show you one of our secret techniques. Follow me."

He led Mira to a secluded part of the repository, where a single scroll lay on a pedestal. It was encased in a thin layer of ice, glowing with a soft, blue light.

"This is the 'Eternal Winter's Embrace,'" Master Shen Xian said, his voice taking on a reverent tone. "It is a technique that embodies our sect's deepest understanding of ice. It shows the cultivator how to merge their Qi with the essence of winter, becoming one with the cold and gaining control over ice in its purest form."

After saying that, he began to move.

As Master Shen Xian moved, the temperature in the room began to drop perceptibly. Each of his motions was deliberate and graceful as if he were guiding the Qi around him to become frost and snow instead of forcing it.

"This technique," Master Shen Xian explained, his voice steady despite the increasing chill, "is not just about wielding ice. It's about understanding and becoming one with winter's soul. It allows you to attune your Qi to the coldest of elements, to control it with a thought, and to influence the very essence of coldness."

Mira watched intently, feeling the air grow colder with each word and movement. She could see the moisture in the air crystallizing, forming intricate patterns of frost that danced around Master Shen Xian. It was as if he was the center of a miniature winter, commanding the cold with an unseen, yet palpable, power.

"The 'Eternal Winter's Embrace' is beautiful but dangerous," Master Shen Xian continued, his movements causing the frost to swirl around him like a cloak. "It requires a balance of control and surrender. You must control your Qi precisely, but you also must surrender to the essence of winter, let it guide your energy."

As he demonstrated the technique, Mira could sense the profound connection between Master Shen Xian and the element of ice. It was as if he were communicating with the winter itself, borrowing its strength and making it his own.

Mira felt a sense of awe as she watched. The power of the technique was undeniable, but so was its potential for destruction. She realized that wielding such power could bring her strength to the next level–not just in understanding her Dao but in how she uses her various abilities.

"How do you feel, Mira?" Master Shen Xian asked, his eyes meeting hers. The room was now a small realm of winter, his presence the epicenter of a serene yet formidable cold.

"It's... quite the technique," Mira admitted, her breath visible in the cold air. "To control the winter like this... it's like holding a delicate yet powerful force in your hands."

Master Shen Xian nodded. "Precisely. The 'Eternal Winter's Embrace' is a reflection of our philosophy here at the Frozen Sangfroid Temple. Power, in harmony with wisdom. Strength, tempered with understanding."

He ceased his movements, and gradually, the cold receded, the frost melting away as the room returned to its normal state.