Immortal Ice Empress: Path to Vengeance

Elenei couldn't contain her excitement. It's been so long since she started this journey of trying to fuse her bloodlines. Who would've guessed that her entire life would change just because of a chance encounter with a weak, human girl who had a unique affinity?

'Who knew someone with such garbage luck like yourself would unknowingly be my lucky star? Hahahaha! Contracting with you was the best decision I ever made, Mira!' Elenei circled around Mira, laughing with joy.

Not only had she managed to fuse her bloodline, but she also managed to evolve into an entirely new species and acquire a few new powers.

'Now, I can finally return to my parents and clan with my head held high!' Elenei clenched her teeth, her eyes shining with determination.

However, there was a slight problem: she was no longer close to ascending to the Immortal Realm.

No, saying she wasn't close was too much of an understatement.

'I lost every ounce of my previous power!' Elenei thought inwardly, but she wasn't complaining.

For this opportunity, Elenei would give up all of her power 100 times over. Her forming a contract with Mira was proof of her resolve to see her journey through to the end.

However, that doesn't mean she felt good about going from a Phoenix that could kill Ascension Realm experts to a tiny animal that wasn't even Rank 1. That was a power she had gained over hundreds of years!

Still, more than anything, she was just shocked that even after using her cultivation as fuel and absorbing all that Qi a few minutes ago, she hadn't managed to break through a minor stage.

'Oh well,' Elenei shrugged her wings, 'Perhaps it's for the best if it's like this. I am a new species, after all. It would make sense for me to start at the bottom and work my way up.'

"So, you look different." Mira interrupted Elenei's thoughts as the beautiful fox woman examined her serpentine body. "That's a good thing, right?"

Elenei nodded her cute little head and spoke straight into Mira's mind, 'Of course! Not only did I fuse my bloodlines, but I even evolved my race because of it!'

"Oh?" Mira raised an eyebrow, "What race did you evolve into, and what are your powers?"

Elenei raised her body in the air and said proudly, 'I'm what's called a Frozen Ash Dracophoenix! My affinities are Fire, Ice, a combination of the two, Yin Fire, and I also have some control over death. As for my abilities… I'm not sure. I'll probably have to break through to  Rank 2, at the minimum, to find out."

Mira nodded, unsurprised that Elenei would have to cultivate a little to unlock her racial abilities. She was, however, interested in her new race.

''Frozen Ash Dracophoenix, huh? Sounds powerful, but how do you already know that's what you are? Or did you just make that name up yourself?"

Elenei smirked, her wings fluttering excitedly, 'The name entered my mind as soon as I completed my Nirvana. You might not know this, but beasts have what we call 'bloodline inheritances' in our bloodlines. Not all beasts have them, as they usually depend on the purity and grade of the bloodline, but these 'inheritances' generally contain abilities, memories, a boost in strength, etc. It really just depends. The name of my species was an inheritance that I'd received.'

Mira frowned slightly, "Really? Then why haven't I received something like that? My bloodline purity and grade should be extremely high."

'Hmph! What do you mean you haven't received something like that?' Elenei snorted, 'Is nine not enough for you?'

"Hmm?" Mira's eyes widened slightly, "My tails count as inheritances?"

'If they were just normal tails, they wouldn't, but each one has a unique ability! If that's not an inheritance, then I don't know what is.'

Mira nodded in understanding as Elenei's words made sense. She knew that the uniqueness of her tails was due to her bloodline, but she didn't know that they were inheritances.

"Do you think I'll obtain more bloodline inheritances?" Mira asked.

'I don't know.' Elenei shook her head.

'You might, but you also might just see an increase in your tails' abilities. Though, as a 9-tailed fox, I highly doubt that to be the case.'

Mira agreed with Elenei on that. By now, she had researched foxes and 9-tailed foxes more in-depth and knew that much of their power came from their illusions, charm, and mental/soul attacks.

Rather than receiving enhancements to her tails, she was more likely to gain a new ability.

As she pondered, Mira suddenly raised her head and stared at the cave exit.

"It seems we have a few unwanted visitors," Mira muttered, a grin slowly creeping up on her face. Rhydian sensed the people outside and stood up along with Mira.

"Would you like to go back in my Soul Sea, or-" Mira asked Elenei, but the latter cut her off.

'No! I'll stay out here with you! I'm tired of sleeping in that cramped space!'

"Your presence could cause trouble for you and me, you know? These people are here because of the commotion you made, after all."

Elenei snorted in disdain but hopped onto Mira's shoulder and coiled around her neck like a scarf. Mira thought Elenei's wings and scales would feel rough and bothersome, but they were actually silky smooth.

'I guess I'll have to rely on you to protect little ol' me. That shouldn't be too much trouble for a brute like you, right?'

Mira shook her head with a sigh and walked over to the boulder blocking the entrance.

"You do you. Just try not to die before you become useful. I'd hate to lose a valuable resource, after all."

Elenei kept quiet, not taking Mira's words to heart. She refused to believe that Mira had no feelings of camaraderie toward her after everything they'd been through.

Proof of that was how long their conversation was! If Mira didn't care about her, she would never have said a word to her.

'It seems you've improved in more ways than one during my slumber, Mira.' Elenei secretly thought.

Mira raised her fist and punched the boulder, causing it to burst into a million pieces! She walked out of the cave, followed by Rhydian, and looked around indifferently.

Mira found herself surrounded by a group of cultivators in the Nascent Soul Realms and Soul Transformation Realms, each wielding different weapons. Their eyes were fixed on both Rhydian and Elenei, and she could feel their hostile energy pulsating around her.

But it wasn't just the cultivators that she had to worry about. Mira could make out the forms of several fierce beasts in the shadows behind them. They, too, were eyeing her warily as if waiting for the right moment to pounce.

However, as soon as they looked at Mira's face, it was as if the world froze. Men and women alike couldn't help but audibly gulp at the sight of her beautiful face as they fell into a trance.

'A goddess!' They all thought simultaneously. With her cold aura and expression, combined with that face, she was exactly what they imagined a goddess to look like.

Now that Mira reached the Nascent Soul Realm, she felt like she finally had enough strength to stand tall in this world. There was no need to go out of her way to hide her face, especially since her beauty was a very effective weapon.

"State your purpose! Why have you disturbed me?" Mira's indifferent voice echoed through the mountains, but when the people heard it, they snapped out of their trance, feeling a chill run down their spines.

For some reason, their instincts told them not to answer that question.

Unfortunately, there will always be one idiot in such a large group.

"Miss, we came in search of a treasure. Do you happen to-"

Mira lazily stretched and yawned. She raised her fist, and before anyone could react, she attacked the man who had just spoken.

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

He didn't even have a chance to finish his question before his body and soul were obliterated, leaving nothing behind. Not even a drop of blood.

The cultivators and beasts went aghast when they realized that Mira had just killed someone right before their eyes. The worst part was that they didn't know how she did it! All they saw was Mira stretching, and then, BOOM! Dead!

Although that man was only an average Stage 1 Nascent Soul Realm expert, he was still someone in the Nascent Soul Realm. For him to die in such a manner… How strong was the woman in front of them?!?

"Nevermind. I don't really care why you're here. Since you dare to covet my things, you naturally have to face the consequences." Mira said as if it was the most normal thing in the world, scaring the people more.

'Fuck! She's not a goddess but a psychopathic demon!' They all screamed internally but didn't dare to move.

"Ahh~ But it wouldn't be any fun if I just slaughtered you all for no reason. So, I'll give you a chance to live." Mira said, pointing at Elenei wrapped around her neck, "This little beast is the treasure you came here for. If any of you can land an attack on me or the wolf behind me, I'll hand her over to you and walk away."

A large, sadistic grin formed on Mira's face, and a bloody aura slowly exuded from her body.

"So, what'll it be? Will you leave and die, or fight and… well, probably still die?"

"...!!!"