As they walked, the first question Aelina asked was, "How's the Prime Disciple Competition going? I know this Realm is probably a bit different than you–than we all expected, but you still should've had plenty of chances to obtain some tokens, right?"
Mira didn't answer and instead just showed her everything she collected so far.
Aelina, seeing the relatively low amount, shook her head in disappointment. "Too little. Much less first place, you probably aren't even in the top 100 with that amount! What've you been doing?"
Although she said that, she wasn't all that worried. She could sense that Mira wasn't the same from before they entered. Catching back up shouldn't be a problem.
Mira just shrugged, "Most of the islands I went on didn't have very many people."
What could Aelina say against that? Mira was a rather unlucky person, so that wasn't much of a surprise.
Still, she couldn't allow Mira to be so far behind her fellow disciples, who happened to be weaker than her. Perhaps only a few could actually contend with her.
"...I see." She nodded before suddenly an idea struck her, and she gave a slight, amused smile, "Then, I guess it's time to find some victims…ahem, disciples."
Mira looked at Aelina weirdly but didn't say anything. Hunting down other people was rather bothersome, especially in a place like this that's full of opportunities. If she had Aelina's help, it would go by much quicker, and she could focus on more important things.
Without asking for Mira's opinion, Aelina grabbed her, opened up a small hole in the void, and teleported.
As soon as they landed, Mira stared at the woman in shock!
'That wasn't just pure speed! What the hell happened?!' She didn't know Aelina had the ability to cross through space!
Aelina noticed her bewildered look and chuckled. "There aren't many things in this place that can help me, or the others at my strength for that matter. Sure, I can consume elixirs, absorb all the energy here, or find some natural treasure to boost my cultivation and power, but none of those are really all that helpful in the long run. However, the first island I went to gave me a choice." She paused, her playfulness gone.
"I can either boost my cultivation, possibly to the peak of the Divine Sea Realm by following a certain set of islands and their specific trials or merge with a beast bloodline that'll give me a new affinity that suits me. As you can guess, I chose the latter. With my talent, I'll eventually reach the peak, and if we work together, I'll go beyond that. However, what I received was a Common-Grade Void Worm bloodline."
"..."
"Fufu~ Don't look at me like that. This was my choice, you know?" Aelina giggled at Mira's surprised expression when she said, "Common-Grade".
Common-grade bloodlines were the weakest, bottom-of-the-barrel beasts. They had no future and weren't much stronger than mortals. Some didn't even have that much power.
'For one of the strongest people on the continent to accept such trash as their bloodline…' Mira wasn't sure whether she should call her an idiot or a moron. Even with her technique that could refine Bloodlines, she didn't think she was capable of bringing it to the heights that Aelina needed.
"I know what you're thinking," Aelina said, interrupting her thoughts, "And no, I didn't make this decision on a whim."
Mira looked at her curiously, waiting for Aelina to explain.
"From what I learned, the Void Worm was a unique beast. In terms of potential, it didn't lose out to some of the progenitors back when they were active, but unfortunately, it was a worm. Its intelligence was low, strength almost nonexistent, and the only abilities it had was being able to store more dirt in its stomach and something akin to teleportation. Due to so many limitations, it got weaker over time until it ended up in this state."
That's great and all, but it was still a Common-Grade beast, Mira thought.
Aelina noted Mira's skeptical gaze but continued unperturbed, "However, its ability to manipulate space is what piqued my interest. Though it's in a weakened state, with my cultivation and some refinements, it can be evolved and developed into something truly extraordinary."
She smiled with a confidence that was infectious, "Potential is a tricky thing, Mira. Sometimes, the seemingly weakest can possess a latent power that far surpasses the apparent strongest. It's all about nurturing and development."
Mira considered her words silently, her eyes thoughtful. The world of cultivation was indeed filled with endless mysteries and opportunities, where the conventional could often be overturned by the unexpected. Perhaps Aelina's gamble wasn't as foolish as it seemed on the surface.
"Besides," Aelina added with a playful wink, "It'll be interesting, right? To bring a unique little worm's bloodline to the peak?" She glanced at the clouds blocking the tip of the mountain.
However, what she didn't tell Mira was that she had already broken through one of the Void Worm's bloodline limitations, bringing it to the Mortal Grade. There was a reason she went with the bloodline and not immediate strength, and it wasn't just because the affinity was too enticing.
'I wasn't watching Mira experiment on those beasts and disciples for nothing.' Aelina thought. She had done some experiments on the side and learned several things about the relationship between human and beast bloodlines. It was through this that she learned if she wanted to improve a bloodline, not by force but naturally, she had to achieve a state similar to Mira's hybrid form.
The islands that she went through helped her through this process, which, in part, required her to refine the Void Worm bloodline with her own Divine Sea Realm-infused flesh.
Mira couldn't help but crack a small smile at her Sect Master's unyielding spirit and whimsicality.
Indeed, the path they tread was one of constant challenges and breakthroughs, and adhering strictly to conventions would only limit their horizons.
"Now, let's not dwell on this," Aelina waved her hand dismissively, her gaze sharpening as she scanned their surroundings. "We have disciples to find and tokens to collect."
With a nod of agreement, Mira followed suit, activating her senses to perceive the subtle flows of energy within their vicinity.
It didn't take long before they stumbled upon a group of disciples engaged in a fierce battle over tokens, their energies clashing and sparking in the tense atmosphere. Aelina and Mira exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them before Mira sprung into action.
Like a mirage, she flickered through the battlefield, her presence unsettling to those locked in combat. Eyes darted her way, confusion and apprehension flashing within their depths as they recognized Mira.
Yet, as they hesitated, it was already too late. With an almost incomprehensible swiftness, Mira was upon them. Hands extended, she deftly snatched the tokens from their bodies, her motions so fluid and rapid that the disciples could barely register their loss before she was gone.
Amidst the shadows, Aelina observed with an amused smile playing upon her lips. With a subtle manipulation of the space around her, Aelina opened rifts within the void.
As Mira retreated, tokens in hand, Aelina gestured towards one of the rifts. Without hesitation, Mira stepped through, the fabric of space bending around her as she was transported to a different locale, another skirmish unfolding with intensity.
Upon arrival, Mira wasted no time. Like a storm, she swept through the unsuspecting disciples, her form a blur of motion and power. Tokens were plucked from bodies, leaving cries of outrage and confusion rising in her wake, yet she was indifferent to their shouts.
As Mira accumulated more tokens, the rift opened once again. Each time she emerged, it was to a different scene, yet her actions remained consistent.
Whoever she faced didn't even have a chance to catch a glimpse of the thief before their tokens were already gone.
In the void, Aelina monitored with satisfaction gleaming within her eyes.
'I'm sorry, everyone, but this is the best way to do things. Mira's going to beat you up anyway. I might as well save you the pain and allow you to keep climbing this mountain.' Aelina thought, feeling a hint of pity for her disciples, but she didn't stop her actions.
With the strength Mira had now, as well as her cultivation, she was more than worthy of the Prime Disciple position. That's not including everything she's provided for the Sect in the dark.
Now that she had this Void Worm bloodline, the need for Mira's presence has decreased significantly. Over time, she should be able to increase the grade of her bloodline enough to where she can sneak into the Central Continent herself.
However, after they leave this Realm, it would be a slow, time-consuming process. One that didn't guarantee results, either.
Thus, she still needed a backup plan, which was Mira dominating those pompous assholes! That was much quicker, and she didn't have to do any work! All she had to do was be a pillar to support Mira.
Hours passed, the sky shifting above as time marched inexorably forward.
Finally, as the sun dipped below the clouds, casting long shadows on the ground, Aelina came to a halt. With a flick of her wrist, a rift opened beside Mira, the Sect Master stepping through with grace. Her gaze fell upon the amassed tokens, a smile of satisfaction curling her lips.
"Well done, Mira," Aelina commended, her eyes twinkling with approval. "With this, you should be well within the top ranks."
Mira nodded, glancing at the tokens indifferently. Aelina hadn't sent her to any of the truly powerful people from each Sect, as that would be too time-consuming, but she was still able to gather so many.
'I guess I'll meet them further up the mountain.' Mira pondered, looking forward to her encounter with some of the other Sects' geniuses.
