---
As Su Yang turned, he saw Lu Ying, her figure encased in glowing lines of ancient ice scripture. Her arms moved gracefully, but her expression was tense. Bit by bit, frost crept outward, slowly freezing the ground beneath her feet.
> "She's cultivating the martial art from the source orb..." Su Yang thought, his eyes narrowing.
But moments later, her complexion paled, and her breath became shallow. Ice began forming unnaturally on her skin. Her lips turned blue.
Alarmed, Su Yang immediately used Appraisal.
---
[Lu Ying]
Condition: [Qi Deviation – Ice Energy Reversal]
Explanation: Lu Ying's control over the ice technique is unstable. The world energy is backfiring, freezing her own meridians. If not resolved quickly, her cultivation will be crippled—or worse.
---
Without hesitation, Su Yang rushed to her and gently placed his hand over her back.
> "Hang in there…"
He activated his karma Fire Art, and from his palm, red-gold flames began to flow into Lu Ying's body. The moment the fire entered her, the unnatural ice began to melt.
Steam hissed into the air as the fire and frost clashed—but the Heavenly Fire didn't harm her. Instead, it carefully melted the out-of-control ice energy, like the sun embracing a frozen lake.
Gradually, the frost on the ground vanished, and Lu Ying's color returned.
Su Yang wiped sweat from his brow.
> "You really need to be careful with these Heaven-grade arts..." he murmured, watching over her.
---
Elsewhere – In the Sect
In a courtyard, a young girl was striking a wooden training dummy. Her fists bled, yet she didn't stop.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
Each punch sent tremors through the wooden figure. Her breathing grew ragged. Sweat drenched her clothes. But she continued—because if she stopped, she felt like she'd break.
Her hands were raw, knuckles cut open. But her face showed only one thing—defiance.
Behind her, an old woman approached.
> "Miss… you're working hard, as always," the elder said softly, sadness in her eyes. "But… the sect master has accepted a new disciple."
The girl stopped.
> "Who?"
The elder hesitated.
> "She's younger than you by four years… and she has a rare physique perfectly suited to the sect's cultivation path. The elders have decided—she will now live here."
> "And what about me?" the girl asked, her voice trembling.
> "The sect master said… you're not useful to the sect anymore. You… you are to leave."
The girl stood still for a long moment. Then her knees gave out, and she collapsed onto the ground.
> "Why…?" Her voice cracked. "Why am I not born with a special physique? Why don't I have talent? I've practiced… so hard… why does no one see me?"
> "Am I truly just… a waste?"
Tears poured from her eyes. As her despair deepened, the temperature dropped. Her emotions turned into ice—freezing the earth around her.
And then… a voice.
> "So you're giving up?"
The girl flinched. "Who's there?"
> "You trained every day, broke your body, shed blood… and now you want to quit? Is that what your effort means to you?"
> "But… I'm not a genius… no one respects me."
> "This world is unfair," the voice said firmly. "The strong rise, the weak are discarded. If you want justice—you have to become stronger than anyone else."
> "You're not a failure until you give up."
> "Now tell me… are you a waste?"
The girl's eyes widened.
Her heart pounded lik
e a war drum. A frozen tear fell from her cheek.
Then she screamed, not in despair—but in defiance.
> "I'm NOT a waste!"