The cold wind grew heavier as the Frost blade Sect's presence drew closer.
Alina stood beside Elder Mira at the village entrance, her heart thumping in her chest. She tried to calm herself, but the frost circling her feet made it clear—her earlier breakthrough had not completely settled.
Elder Mira placed a hand on her shoulder."Stay calm, child. Do not show fear. Big sects smell it faster than spirit beasts."
Alina nodded shakily.
I didn't mean to attract anyone… I only wanted to survive.
The ground trembled lightly as several figures emerged from the forest path. Snowflakes followed behind them, though there was no snow falling today.
The Frost blade Envoys had arrived.
Their robes were white and blue, swirling like frost in the air. The leader walked at the front—a tall man with silver hair and sharp blue eyes. Frost energy rolled off him in waves.
His presence alone made the villagers step back.
Alina felt like she was standing in front of a glacier.
The man stopped ten steps away, eyes sweeping across the village… then locking onto her.
"You," he said. His voice was calm, but filled with authority. "The source of the Ice Qi surge."
Alina's throat tightened."Yes… it was me."
A soft murmur ran through the envoys behind him.
"So young…""Not even fifteen?""And she caused that amount of energy?"
The leader took one step forward.
"I am Elder Kael, Third Elder of the Frostblade Sect," he said. "Our sect sensed a sudden, powerful burst of Ice Qi last night. It shook the frost veins that run beneath this entire valley."
Alina blinked in confusion."The… what?"
Kael narrowed his eyes slightly.
"For someone to shake the frost veins, they must possess talent on a level rarely seen in a hundred years."
He studied her carefully.
"What is your spiritual root?"
Alina hesitated. She didn't know how to explain the system.
Elder Mira quickly stepped in."She awakened a… Frost Mark."
Kael's eyes widened.
The envoys behind him gasped.
"A Frost Mark?!""Heavens… that's a divine omen…""Impossible—those only appear in legends…"
Kael slowly walked toward Alina, stopping only a meter away.
"Show me."
Alina swallowed hard.She pulled her collar slightly aside, revealing the glowing snowflake-shaped mark on her chest.
Kael's expression finally changed. For the first time, true shock crossed his face.
"This… is the Frost Star Mark."
The envoys stirred nervously.
Kael whispered, almost to himself:"A mark said to belong only to those chosen by heaven to control the deepest laws of ice."
He turned to Alina fully.
"What is your name?"
"Alina Frost," she answered softly.
Kael nodded once.
"Alina. I must test your true capability."
Her breath caught."A… test?"
He nodded."It is necessary. If someone with your potential appears, the sect must confirm you are not a threat—and whether you are fit to enter our ranks."
Villagers whispered nervously.
Elder Mira frowned. "Elder Kael, she is only a child—"
Kael raised one hand."I will not harm her. But talent like this must not be ignored."
He stepped back and drew a small jade crystal from his sleeve. It glowed faintly with light blue energy.
"This is a Frost Resonance Crystal. It reacts to the purity of one's ice affinity."
He extended it toward Alina.
"When you touch it, it will show your potential."
Alina's hands trembled.What if it doesn't react? What if the system is the only reason I have power? What if—
A soft ding echoed in her mind.
[Note: You may touch the crystal.][This will not reveal the system.][Your affinity will naturally surpass normal limits.]
Alina exhaled slowly and stepped forward.
Kael watched her silently as she reached out.
Her fingertips brushed the crystal.
For one moment, there was silence.
Then—
FWOOOM.
A powerful burst of cold erupted from the crystal, sending a gust of icy wind in all directions. Several envoys staggered back, covering their eyes.
The entire crystal turned bright white—then cracked.
CRACK.
Then shattered completely.
A gasp rippled through the group.
"She broke it…""No—she overloaded it! That crystal measures up to the highest grade!""Her affinity is… beyond the jade scale…"
Elder Kael stared at Alina with a level of seriousness that made her freeze.
"Alina Frost," he said quietly, "your talent… is beyond extraordinary. You are not simply gifted. You are—"
He paused.
Then spoke the words that changed everything:
"A once-in-a-century prodigy. The Frostblade Sect will accept you as an inner disciple immediately."
The entire village gasped.
Alina blinked in shock.
"M-me? An inner disciple?"
Elder Mira covered her mouth, her eyes shining with tears.
Kael stepped closer, his gaze firm.
"Pack your things. You will leave with us at sunrise."
Alina's breath caught.
Leave…?Everything she knew?Her home?Her old life?
But then she remembered the night before.The monster.Her helplessness.The fear.Her wish for strength.
And the system's cold voice:
[Rise, Alina Frost.]
She looked at her hands.
She was no longer the girl who couldn't gather Qi.
Alina nodded slowly.
"I… will go."
Kael inclined his head.
"Good. From this day onward, your destiny changes."
But the system chimed softly in her mind.
[Warning.][The Frostblade Sect is not as simple as they appear.][Be cautious.]
Alina's heart tightened.
Even with her new path in front of her… danger was already waiting.