A few hours later, Mira was on the peak of the mountain in a large ornate building, preparing for what's to come.
On a chair in front of her was a set of neatly folded clothes that emitted a strange aura. Mira couldn't quite understand what it was, but she felt a faint pressure on her mind like she was looking at something majestic.
'Hmm~ This is good stuff.' She thought as she carelessly grabbed the clothes and examined them. 'Late-Stage Mystical-Grade, huh? It seems Aelina's going all out for my new position.'
She tried tearing the clothes apart but to no avail. Whatever materials were used to craft the clothes were top-notch.
'Well, at least I won't have to waste any points on armor now. Though, I could look into something to wear underneath all this.' She stared at the clothes and sighed. Although it was high-quality material, there were too many parts!
Releasing one last sigh, she reluctantly took off her clothes and put the new ones on. However, much to her surprise, as soon as they touched her skin, they drew a portion of her blood and immediately wrapped it around her body.
Neither her tails nor her size got in the way, revealing a stunning purple hanfu with a light, transparent robe that hung over her dress. It fit tight around her body but was elastic enough that it allowed for a full range of movement.
Twirling her tails, Mira nodded in appreciation. 'Whoever made this clearly took into account my new body.'
She jumped around a few times and even took out her scythe to swing, ensuring that nothing got in her way when she moved. Fortunately, there was no such thing. Rather, Mira found it to feel better than the one she bought from the Firmament Store.
'Custom-made really is the best.' She nodded a few times and considered attempting to learn how to make her own clothes. But it seems every time she has that thought, something else takes her attention away.
'Whatever.' She shrugged. 'If I have time to learn those auxiliary occupations, then I will. If not, then I'll just focus on getting stronger. Perhaps when I've reached a bottleneck, I can focus on that stuff.'
Pushing that thought to the back of her mind, she heard a knock at the door. Knowing who it was, she frowned for a moment before sighing.
"Come in."
As soon as her words fell, Aelina burst through the door and stared at her with a growing smile.
"How do you like your new outfit? I think it suits you perfectly." She asked, sitting down on the chair.
Mira nodded, "It's not bad."
"Not bad?" Aelina scoffed. "Do you know just how many rare materials I gathered to make those clothes?"
Mira didn't bother responding, but it seemed the Sect Master wasn't through. "Now that I think about it, shouldn't you provide the Sect some of those plants and herbs I gave you? With what I have in mind, we're going to need every bit of help we can get."
Mira just grunted in annoyance that she had to give up some of her loot but still nodded. Sending her consciousness into the Infinite Garden, she harvested half of all the herbs, plants, fruits, roots, etc that had grown over the last few years and tossed them into a Spatial Ring.
"Here's half of everything. I'll hold onto the rest so production doesn't slow." Mira said and flicked the ring over to Aelina.
The woman caught it and sent her Divine Sense inside, only for her eyes to nearly bulge out of their sockets.
'Holy hell!' The ring was practically filled to the brim with precious resources. Even the Divine and Mystic-Grade herbs, which normally took thousands of years to mature, were available in bulk. And this was only half!
'I think… with this, I can finally make some notable progress.' A genuine smile bloomed on Aelina's face. 'My plans will also be a lot easier and… less bloody.'
At first, she was planning to go to war, maybe eradicate a few more Sects, for their resources, but now things were different. Instead of being the invader, she might have to start planning to be the defender.
'People will eventually catch wind of our meteoric rise. They'll definitely think we have some sort of treasure, and well… they wouldn't be wrong. Looks like I'll have to reassess our current situation.'
Still, despite having to scrap some of her plans, a smile never left her face.
Feeling Mira's stare, Aelina coughed and turned around. "Ahem! I'll come back to you when I need more." Then, she started walking out the door. "Now, follow me." Aelina motioned.
Mira sighed and began walking until she was right next to Aelina.
"Is this really necessary?" Mira asked, wanting nothing more than to go back home and do something, anything, other than this.
"No." Aelina shook her head with a giggle. "But yes."
Mira frowned, but before she could say anything, Aelina interrupted. "The coronation of the Sect's Prime Disciple is a monumental moment! It shows not just the rest of the disciples, but the world, that you're the face of the Sect! This might not mean much to the older generations, but to this one and the next, it's a big deal. So, try not to get us into too much trouble, okay?"
Aelina winked before she snapped her fingers and teleported Mira outside a large, golden door. The Sect Master wasn't next to her, but Mira still heard her voice in her head. "Open the door whenever you're ready. The coronation will begin as soon as you start walking."
Mira took a moment to compose herself. Despite her nonchalance, she couldn't deny the significance of what was about to happen. With a light shrug, she pushed the doors open and stepped into the grand hall.
The room was vast, with towering ceilings and a majestic ambiance. A long red carpet stretched before her, leading to a raised dais where Aelina sat on her throne surrounded by the Sect's Elders behind and around her.
The rest of the hall was filled with Direct and Core Disciples, along with selected Inner and Outer Disciples who had shown exceptional talent. Their eyes were fixed on Mira, filled with a mixture of awe and anticipation.
The battles that she had shown earlier had proved her strength. Now, there was no doubt in everyone's eyes that she, as the strongest of this generation, should be the Sect's Prime Disciple.
There were a few who looked at her with unwilling eyes, mainly Nova, Rayna, and quite a few more, but they weren't jealous. Mira had fought and earned this position, regardless of their feelings.
As Mira walked steadily down the carpet, translucent screens flickered to life throughout the Sect and Snow Maiden City, broadcasting her every step. Everyone, young or old, stopped what they were doing and watched the scene before them.
Reaching the end of the carpet, Mira stood beside Aelina. Without a word, she sat on a throne next to the Sect Master's, which immediately turned to ice upon her touch, conforming to her presence and power.
Aelina stood, her gaze sweeping over the assembled crowd. She began her speech, her voice resonating with authority and pride.
"Today marks a pivotal moment in the history of our Sect. We gather to witness the rise of a new Prime Disciple, one who has shown extraordinary strength, talent, and resolve. Mira has not only triumphed in the fiercest of battles but has also exemplified the spirit and values that define our Sect. Strength and unity!"
She paused, allowing her words to sink in. "Her journey to this day is a testament to what can be achieved through hard work and dedication. She, who was once at the bottom, a mere village girl, now stands as an inspiration to us all, a symbol of the heights we can reach when we strive for excellence!"
Aelina turned to Mira, her expression brightening. "Mira, you have earned not just the title of Prime Disciple but also our respect and admiration. You represent the best of us, and I have no doubt that you will lead us to all future victories!"
The Elders and the other disciples nodded in agreement.
Aelina then presented Mira with a golden badge emblazoned with the Battle Maiden Sect's logo. The badge shimmered in the light as she stared at it. As Mira accepted the badge, the hall erupted in applause, the sound thunderous in the vast space.
"On this day, I hereby declare that Mira is the Battle Maiden Sect's Prime Disciple! May you fight with pride and destroy everything that gets in our way!"
Mira pinned the badge onto her dress. She stood, her eyes sweeping over the crowd, as a sense of growing responsibility settled into her heart. While she wouldn't die for the Sect, she might as well help it grow while she was here.
"I accept this title with honor," Mira said, her voice strong and clear. "I will do my utmost to slay all our enemies and pave our way to the Immortal Realm. Together, we will rise beyond this world's power structure and trample all beneath our feet!"
