She finally reached the Foundation Establishment mountain and noticed a few homes—not simple huts, but actual houses. Each could easily fit at least two people and had two stories. Kaida moved toward an empty one. It wasn't just unoccupied—it was completely bare inside, which suggested it had no owner. Still, she had to be sure.
Her eyes turned to another person nearby, but seeing him in a meditative state, she found it inappropriate to disturb him. She sat down next to him with her legs crossed, still expressionless as always.
While she found this place good enough to live in—or at least stay for a bit—her eyes drifted back to the man. His eyes were still shut, and from his deep meditative stance, she doubted he'd even notice her.
{"Disturbing him won't be good right now. I don't wanna risk making him mad or hurting himself."}
She sat for a few minutes. When he finally opened his eyes, he turned to her, noticing a stream of Qi flowing toward her—subtle, but clear.
His eyes lit up in surprise, though he didn't move. Breaking his focus abruptly might damage his state. But there was no doubt about it: Qi was flowing into her without her cultivating, fighting, or even consciously absorbing it.
He blinked—and just like that, the flow vanished. Still, he knew what he saw.
"Something wrong with my face?" Kaida asked, deadpan, tilting her head slightly.
"No, nothing's wrong. I just... your face reminded me of my mother," he said solemnly, though still with an energetic tone.
She nodded but didn't apologize. She already knew from how he acted that he wouldn't want her to.
"I must ask—what were you doing there?" she asked, her voice curious.
"Meditation. I'm trying to calm myself down—I just finished ascending to Foundation Establishment."
"I see. Good job. But also, does anyone live in that house?" Her hand pointed toward the empty home. It could've belonged to someone who simply didn't have furniture.
"Ah, not yet. No one lives there right now. There were a few more homes made by one of the elders due to the expectation of new disciples," he replied calmly, smiling.
"I see. May I get your name?" Her voice was now back to its deadpan tone, unlike the little bit of curiosity she'd shown before.
"Please call me Li. Or Wenxu." His smile radiated off his face like the sun's warmth.
She nodded and stood up. Turning away, she waved—though before she could reach the house—
"Also... how'd you have Qi enter you without meditation? The only people I've ever seen do that are Soul Formation cultivators or the Sect Leader!"
She looked somewhat confused but gave a soft nod. Wenxu could see she wasn't going to say right now since she needed to get settled in. He wouldn't disturb that, it wasn't good manners especially for someone clearly new. He got up and stretched, sitting in the same position was straining and it caused him to feel a little annoyed but he got over it.
"Mmmm. Maybe I could finally see what that system does... But I don't want to. If it's going to force me to attack someone I'll just ignore it or slap it instead."
Kaida walked around the rooms, seeing a kitchen with plates, utensils and what looks like a machine powered by Qi to clean the plates. Going into the upstairs she noticed a bedroom and another room for clothing allowing a lot of space for storage and also privacy. She noticed the final door other than the bathroom led to something else which she didn't fully recognize so it was truly something different.
She went inside, it was more like a pure void, empty and without sound, the silence was deafening to the point it was ringing in her ear. She blinked and suddenly the place changed, four pedestals with books on them, she walked up to the closest one and opened it. Of which she found instructions and a guide on how to use this room and how it even works.
[Cinder asks if she wants a summary]
Normally she'd read it, but Cinder's help with summarization would be good enough, though reluctant to use a system she'd find it useful at least this time.
{"Sure."}
[Cinder nods and shall begin her explanation. "This room is meant to be a training ground to use information from your mind which you decide to include, while it can create entities to fight which are certain levels. In this you can give techniques or even take time to create techniques, or even refine techniques. Other than that, this can also allow you to shape how you want your house's inner workings to look like. You can design your own furniture and then send it directly to the elders. But payment from Spirit Stones is required"]
["Spirit Stones are made of Qi or even Mana, those made of Mana are more valuable, A single Spirit Stone is equivalent to a single silver coin. Which are used to buy items or food from others. Mana Stones or Superior Stones are used similar to Gold, which is for large purchases like land or Mines."]
{"Mhm... Maybe I could make some for myself."}
["Qi or Mana stones are unable to be made by humans, they are to be naturally found, while Qi stones are abundant Mana stones are not since their made of extra Mana inside them since the planet is made of it., Simply Injecting Qi into stones is not possible. Qi is used to refine bodies and items which a person has. Qi while a fundamental force in the air can be harnessed within the body."]
She moved her hand opening her mouth first, she took out the four pills in her mouth, coated in Qi so her Saliva doesn't melt it into her. While their boost was permanent she wasn't going to use them right now. She moved them into her pocket though still coated in Qi so nothing gets onto them. She made sure her cheeks didn't get damaged since she'd kept it in her mouth for a day by now.
"Guess it's time to Train, I could use that technique now."
Her mind focused into the room, it changed into the second location she fought at, now against Vairo's Brother once more.
["Would you like to keep the name Vairo's brother or change it to his actual name ma'am?"]
{"...Ma'am? Yeah sure go ahead."}
She saw the name change, now it was Ryuken. Fitting, Sword of the Dragon as their name for someone so arrogant. But she wasted no time. Her hand moved, the same movement to create the flying Palm, but this time as the fight initiated the palm wasn't a literal palm, no it formed into a thin string, she held it between two fingers and flicked right at him. She wanted it to keep his personality. She saw him move his hand which is now coated with Qi to block it, though- As it flew to him she redirected it down towards his leg.
He reacted quickly, able to move back and dodge, his face lit up annoyed.
"You think that trick's going to work on me again!?"
He moved closer, a blade pulled out from his waist, It looked refined and clean, a true blade which didn't look like it was some toy or unconventional. He swung it getting close to her sending out a slash of Qi directly at her while shouting.
"Soaring Sky Cleave!"
To which she responded by moving to the side and launching herself off a tree enhancing her leg with Qi for the second she launched herself and then removing it releasing the thread once more to slam down on him. Yet since he went to block it with his blade upwards, she split it into two threads like a pincer. She went right for the sword held hand and shoulder. He staggers to the left side, Letting go of the Qi threads she adjusts her movements, And her hand now held like a blade coated in a thin layer of Qi, as she slashes right against his jaw.
She doesn't say anything, but he's standing there staggered and scared due to her being able to kill him. And with that he disappears with it returning back to the white void. She blinks for a second and sighs moving her Qi back into her body.
"I forgot to put the pills back in my cheek just in case." She walked downstairs to the outside. She fell flat against the ground lying down staring at the sky, the sun slowly setting.
["Cinder asks-"]
{"Don't say you ask, just speak normally and ask if I want something done or need something."}
["...Alright, Well do you mind if I check through your body and clothing to remind you what to do before you begin a battle?"]
{"You can do that?"}
["Indeed ████"]
{"...Still how do you know that name- Oh wait yeah I filled it out."}
Her alone time wouldn't last too long, what looked like a girl standing above her bending down to look at her. Her face and hair looked familiar and her clothing though normal for the sect had a golden tint with light blue on it. Almost royal, Kaida would've sighed moving her body to stand up and turn towards the girl, who was a little bit taller than her. But Kaida didn't speak, she waited for the girl too. She wasn't going to risk starting a conversation with someone she didn't know or at least felt like she couldn't trust.
"You're not going to say something missus?" Her voice was serene and flowed like water.
"I don't have anything to say, you came to me." Still deadpan but her face showed a hint of curiosity.
The girl stood quiet and then, she turned away a little embarrassed forgetting that she was the one who approached, not the one who had someone approach. Her hand moved covering her face with a fan blowing the wind towards her. Kaida knew the temperature was pretty high so it felt like the summer or late spring.
"I apol-"
"No need, just tell me what you need." She spoke bluntly, a little rude by cutting her off but she made sure it wasn't going to be a monologue about apologizing or something else.
"Well, I was wondering who you were, I know you're new but you look or at least sound like someone my brother described." She spoke slightly nervously but also curiously as well.
"Is his name Vairo?" She sighed hoping this wasn't another fight.
"Well, no but that's my youngest brother, I'm talking about Ryuken, if you know that name. But I need to clarify I'm not here to fight." Her voice was beautiful to say the least, but her words staggered a bit.
"I see, Yeah I know them, I didn't know their name but I've fought them. And that's good, i'd rather not get into another fight." Kaida found it amusing how she spoke. It was elegant yet still nervous.
"Well- I'm here to apologize in his behalf-" She looked down clearly not wanting to but Ryuken probably told her too.
"No need. I'll hear it from him in person when he's able too. What's youre name by the way?" She spoke curiously, now softer with the girl, she could see the fact this girl wasn't normal.
"I-I I'm just being considerate, But my names Amaris."
"Last name?" Kaida was asking since she knew this girl was a royal but she didn't know how to refer to her when asked about them. Could be useful information.
"Uhm, Same as all my family, Zarahushtra."
{"Something Familiar to work with, I guess that's a bonus."}
"Names Kaida, No last name, just Kaida." She walked over to a tree and grabbed a peach plucking it and starting to eat it. Turning towards Amaris she waited for a response.