Mystique Soul: A Cultivator's Flame
Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Chapter 24

The winds howled as the leaves danced with it. The night was young yet not a single person was out.

It has been two days since then and people have started recovering, their energy once again picking up. Yet at night, the silence was glaring death howers all of them. No one knows what is watching behind the shadows.

Unlike the first night, people no longer dare to walk out of the barrier set around the camp to find more profit.

The mountain was dangerous then but now, it was even more so.

It was peaceful tonight. Groups change shifts to patrol and Feng Jiao Xue is not excepted having decided to join in the Chen Feng’s group.

If people check her tenth however, they will see it empty.

In another space, "Boom!" the ground shakes, dust covered everywhere as the calm water rippled and the grass swayed as an explosion shaked the realm.

Unlike the outside, the sky was brightly lit with no sun. Blue and clear with no clouds, no bird, no nothing.

"You put too much Qi in it Xiao Xue" Huang Jin De remarked as red wisps of energy wipes away the sands covering their sight to reveal a makeshift training ground in the mystique realm.

"Yeah, I think I got it this time," Feng Jiao Xue replied, sweat covering her forehead as her hair was tied up in a bum.

She raised her right arm and tried to feel the energy on the ground, her hand quivering, fingers stiff as she concentrated and slowly, the ground moved and rose to form what appears to be the shape of a man.

"Again" Determined, she told Huang Jin De who was sitting crossed legged by a rock nearby. The realm had enough space for them to build this training ground at the corner. Away from the bodies of water and the herbs Huang Jin De was taking care of.

Nodding, Huang Jin De used his Qi to form blades coming towards Feng Jiao Xue with no hesitation. The Qi Blades being crescent shaped, sharp attacks forming everywhere to attack her.

Feng Jiao Xue dodged and parried using her own Qi, Red Qi blades met silver ones causing sharp ripples in the air.

At this point, various cuts already marked her entire body, the most prominent being the deep cut on her cheek. Dirt covering her entire body and even her hair was dusted by them.

"F@ck!" She cursed as a red Qi blade cut her thigh yet still she didn’t falter.

She twisted her shoulder to the side as a red blade passed her side there, her right feet immediately moving to stabilize her as she raised her left hand swiftly making a cutting motion with it.

A Qi forming a slash by her motion cutting through an incoming Qi Blade.

Despite the ache on her thigh, Feng Jiao Xue continued to make way towards the "Sand Man".

From the corner of her eyes, A Qi Blade formed and swiftly made its way to her.

Easily, she bent her knees sliding on the ground as the Qi Blade was inches away from her face and immediately standing back up moving from one side to another as Qi Blades after Qi Blades flew towards her. Occasionally sending her own Qi Blades to ones she can’t dodge until she neared the ’sand man’.

Her eyes became even more focused as she drew her fist, coating it with Qi and punching right through the chest of the ’sand man’ forming a hole where its heart is supposed to be.

She waited with bated breath, eyes looking straight at her creation before she slowly let out a breath.

"You did it!" Huang Jin De cheered as he swooped in and grabbed her waist, spinning her around. His action caused Feng Jiao Xue to lose her concentration and the ’sand man’ crumbled down to the ground.

"Jin De, let me down." She sighed rolling her eyes at his antics despite how soft she looked at him.

"Hahahu" Huang Jin De laughed before slowly setting her back down, ruffling her head.

They have been at it for a few hours now.

Huang Jin De was helping her train. She had to avoid his Qi Blades while trying to get to the ’sand man’. Then the true test was for her to converge her Qi around her fist and control it to avoid making her Qi, for the lack of better term, explode the sands everywhere.

The purpose of the training this time was for her concentration and control over her Qi. And, by forming that puppet multiple times, it had helped her a little bit with her magic.

At first, all she could do was dodge the Qi Blade and forming that puppet took tens of minutes. Getting faster and faster over time. Until she also accidentally created a weak barrier made out of magic. Her eyes had lit up and Huang Jin De understood what she had in mind. Intensifying the speed and amount of his attack as Feng Jiao Xue tried to make her own Qi Blade.

"To create one, she had to envision the shape and will her qi just like how she had used her magic to wield the sand to form the shape of a man" he had instructed.

At first, it barely formed and some failed to hold, earning herself a cut but Huang Jin De patiently encouraged her until she could confidently make her own.

They were supposed to work on making her Qi like an armor on her body before moving to shaping weapons but this was a pleasant surprise.

"I need to take a bath before leaving" She brushed her clothes off.

"Sure, I just finished making the pond. Maybe you can ask Yin Xiao to go catch some fish to put there" Huang Jin De advised and Feng Jiao Xue nodded in agreement as they walked back to the center of the realm.

Aside from the picturesque environment of the realm a small herbal garden was forming off on the other side. It was organized to make sure that the herbs have the correct environment. Even small holes filled with water were made for herbs that thrive more on water. The Qi in here making sure they survive even if it’s not the correct habitat.

"Jin De... thanks" Feng Jiao Xue sincerely thanked the man that had been supporting her from the start.

With a bright grin he replied. "My pleasure little Xue."

Huang Jin De stopped as he said that and frowned. "You might have to put that bath on hold though. Somethings going on outside." He informed her gravely.

Without another world, Feng Jiao Xue left the ring and was greeted with screams of terror and fighting, vines as thick as trees slither on the ground dragging people away, holding them up on a strangling hold or outright killing them while mages and cultivators fight them off.