The sun hung high in the center of the bright blue sky, casting a warm, golden light over the world of Nexis. It was noon, and the heat was rising, baking the stone pathways and the tiled roofs of the Adex Sanctuary. The air was still and heavy, carrying the scent of warmed earth and blooming flowers from the gardens below.
In the high reaches of the Sanctuary, inside the exclusive area known as the Core Circle, the atmosphere was quiet and serious. Here, in a spacious and elegantly decorated room, sat Zenthia Velrith.
Zenthia was a striking young woman. Her hair was the color of pure snow, flowing down her back like a white waterfall. It was a sharp contrast to her eyes, which were a deep, vibrant purple—the color of royalty and mystery. She sat on a soft cushion in the middle of her room, her posture straight and elegant. Her focus was entirely on the object hovering in her hand.
It was a Jade Slip. The small, green rectangular stone glowed with a faint, soft light. It was not just a stone; it was a vessel for knowledge. Inside this slip was the detailed information for a powerful spear technique known as the *Lightning Cortex Art*.
Zenthia's fingers brushed over the smooth surface of the jade. She was currently at the Essence Draw stage, the very first step of the long journey of cultivation. Most cultivators at her level chose swords, which were elegant, or sabers, which were brutal. Some women in the sect preferred long whips or ribbons. But Zenthia was different. She loved the spear.
To her, the spear was the king of weapons. It had reach, power, and a dominant presence. It could stab like a snake and sweep like a dragon.
She placed the Jade Slip down on a low wooden table and reached for the weapon resting against the wall. It was not a flashy weapon made of gold or steel. It was a simple, dark wooden spear. The wood was smooth from years of handling, polished by the oils of human hands. This was a gift from her Master when she first joined the sect one year ago.
"The foundation is everything," her Master had told her. "A house built on sand will fall. A spear art built without strong hands will fail."
Zenthia respected those words deeply. She had spent the last year training her body, learning the weight of the wood, and understanding how to move with it. She had studied the *Lightning Cortex Art* thoroughly. She knew the theory. She knew where her feet should go and how her wrists should turn. Now, she just needed to make her body remember it. She estimated that she needed only one more week of intense hard work to fully master the foundation. After that, she could finally start channeling her spiritual energy into the spear.
She stood up, gripping the wooden shaft firmly. Her expression changed. The calm girl reading a book vanished, replaced by a focused warrior.
She walked out of her room through the sliding glass doors that led to her private backyard. This was one of the great benefits of being a Core Cadet. She did not have to share a training ground with hundreds of other students. She had her own private space, surrounded by tall bamboo walls that offered complete privacy. The ground here was covered in flat, smooth stones, perfect for footwork.
The heat of the noon sun hit her immediately, but she did not flinch. She walked to the center of the yard and took a deep breath. She closed her purple eyes for a moment, clearing her mind of everything—the heat, the birds singing, the distant sounds of the sect. When she opened them again, they were sharp and intense.
She began to move.
It started slowly. She stepped forward with her left foot and thrust the spear out. The movement was simple, but she repeated it. Again. And again. Then she added a twist. She stepped, thrust, and pulled the spear back, spinning the shaft around her body to block an imaginary attack from behind.
Zenthia was not using any spiritual energy. She did not call upon her Lightning attribute to make the spear fast. She did not use her Void attribute to move through space. She did not use her Moon attribute to create illusions. This was purely physical. It was about muscle, bone, and balance.
Her speed increased. The wooden spear made a *swish* sound as it cut through the air. She began to incorporate movements that looked like a dance. Her style was similar to an ancient art called Kalari. It was fluid and low to the ground. She crouched deep, her legs wide, and swept the spear in a wide circle near the floor, aiming for the legs of an invisible enemy. Then, in one smooth motion, she leaped into the air, kicking out with one leg while driving the spear downward.
For three hours, she did not stop.
Her white dress, which was loose and comfortable for training, whipped around her like a flag in a storm. Her white hair flew wildly, sometimes covering her face, but she shook it away without breaking her rhythm. Sweat began to form on her forehead. It rolled down her neck and soaked into her collar.
She looked like a War Goddess. Her movements were beautiful but deadly. She moved with the grace of a dancer but the intent of a killer. She practiced the "Coiling Dragon" strike, twisting her body like a screw to generate force. She practiced the "Falling Leaf" defense, using the softest touch to deflect a hard blow.
Even though it was just a wooden stick, in her hands, it looked dangerous. She lunged forward, her eyes locked on a specific spot in the air, her focus absolute. The heat of the sun seemed to fuel her rather than tire her. She was lost in the rhythm of the spear.
Finally, after three hours of continuous motion, she stopped.
She held the final pose for a long minute—knees bent, spear extended, chest heaving. Her breathing was loud in the quiet yard. Her heart was beating strong and fast against her ribs.
Slowly, she relaxed her stance. She stood up straight and exhaled a long, hot breath. Her body was completely drenched. Her beautiful white training dress was heavy with sweat. The fabric clung tightly to her skin, outlining her figure. Her hair was damp and stuck to her cheeks and neck.
She felt exhausted, but it was a good kind of exhaustion. It was the feeling of progress. Every muscle in her body felt warm and used.
"One week," she said to herself, her voice steady despite her heavy breathing. "Just one more week."
She turned and walked back toward her room. The cool shade of the indoors felt wonderful against her heated skin. As she entered the living area, a delicious smell hit her nose.
On a separate table near the window, several covered dishes were waiting. Zenthia smiled. This was another privilege of the Core Circle. Every Core Cadet had a private chef assigned to them. These chefs did not live in the Core area—they lived in the outer rings—but they prepared the meals and had servants deliver them right on time.
Zenthia walked over to the table and lifted the cover of the main dish. Steam rose up, carrying the savory scent of roasted meat and herbs. There was a bowl of fluffy white rice, a plate of stir-fried green vegetables, and a rich, dark soup.
Cultivators at the higher stages, like the Inner Pill Birth stage, did not need to eat regular food. They could survive on the energy of the world alone. But Zenthia was only at the Essence Draw stage. Her body was still mortal. She needed fuel to repair her muscles and replenish the energy she had just burned off.
But she felt too sticky to eat right now.
She walked past the food and went straight into her private bathroom. It was a luxurious space with a large stone tub. She turned on the water, and clear, cool water flowed out. She stripped off her sweaty, clinging dress and stepped into the water.
The feeling was heavenly. The sweat and dust washed away, leaving her skin feeling fresh and cool. She took her time, washing her long white hair and massaging her tired shoulders. This was her moment of peace. In the brutal world of cultivation, these small moments of comfort were rare and valuable.
After twenty minutes, she stepped out and dried herself with a soft towel. She walked to her wardrobe and selected a fresh set of robes. This time, she chose a simple, light blue dress with white embroidery on the sleeves. It was loose and airy, perfect for relaxing after a hard workout.
Feeling renewed, she went back to the table and sat down to eat. The food was still warm. She ate slowly, savoring the taste of the meat and the crisp crunch of the vegetables. She drank the soup, feeling the warmth spread through her stomach.
Once she finished eating, she did not immediately go to sleep or start reading again. Instead, she moved to a comfortable chair near the window and sat down.
This was her review time.
Training was not just about moving the body; it was about using the mind. Zenthia closed her purple eyes and replayed the last three hours in her head. She visualized her movements.
*My third strike was a little off-balance,* she thought critically. *When I transitioned from the sweep to the thrust, my grip was too tight. It slowed me down.*
She analyzed every mistake. She corrected them in her mind, imagining herself doing it perfectly. This mental practice was just as important as the physical practice. It was what separated a normal genius from a true master.
She thought about her own potential. Zenthia knew she was special, but she was not arrogant. In the world of cultivation, arrogance led to death.
She possessed three Attributes: Void, Lightning, and Moon.
Having one attribute was considered Normal. Having two made you a Genius. Having three... that was a Heaven Genius.
Zenthia was a Heaven Genius.
Her attributes were rare and powerful. Void gave her control over space and distance. Lightning gave her destructive power and incredible speed. Moon gave her control over illusions and the colder, yin aspects of energy.
There was a level above her—the Supreme Genius. That was for someone with three attributes plus a special soul or a special bone structure. Zenthia didn't have those extra gifts, but she was very close to that level. Because of her talent, the Sanctuary treated her with great care. Many people believed that in the future, she would not just be a student, but a high-ranking Elder of the sect.
She thought about the competition.
The Adex Sanctuary was huge. It was divided into four massive Peak Mountains. Each mountain was like a city of its own.
Despite the thousands of students in the sect, there were only 27 Core Cadets in total across all four mountains. These were the best of the best, the future leaders.
Zenthia lived on the Lightning Mountain. On her mountain, there were only 6 Core Cadets, including herself. It was a small, elite group. But even among them, there was a hierarchy.
Above the Core Cadets were the "True Cadets." These were the monsters of the younger generation. On Lightning Mountain, there were two True Cadets. They were older, stronger, and terrifyingly powerful. Zenthia respected them, but she also wanted to surpass them.
She opened her eyes and looked out the window at the other peaks in the distance. The mountains stood tall and proud against the blue sky, their tops covered in white clouds.
The Adex Sanctuary was a unique place. It was an organization composed entirely of women. From the lowest servant to the highest Matriarch, every single member was female. In some parts of the world, people might look down on an all-female group, thinking them weak or soft.
But in the Nexis World, nobody made that mistake.
The Adex Sanctuary was one of the most powerful teams in the entire world. Their influence stretched across continents. Their warriors were feared, their alchemy was sought after, and their strength was undeniable. To be a student here was a great honor, and to be a Core Cadet was a destiny most could only dream of.
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