Abyssal Awakening

The first target of Alyss's long route of sects to fight was the Order of Dreams sect.

Located just a little further from Jejin Port, the Order of Dreams sect was one that focused on fluid movements and a lucid dream like state during a fight. They weren't very renowned considering the weak strength of their disciples but they couldn't be considered weak either.

They were located in a valley of two waterfalls but Alice wasn't there to admire the scenery.

"Stay close Jin but not too close. Wouldn't want a stray attack to blow you to piece now okay?" Alice smirked as Jin nodded his head in fear.

He was the one who insisted on staying close since he wanted to observe her fight. If she wasn't going to teach him, he'd study the fights himself.

Taking a deep breath, Alice closed her eye as her aura burst out, warning the sect of her presence.

'You're up now twinnie. Have fun.'

Golden chains appeared around the waist as Alyss switched her outfit to the one that suited her.

Seeing Alyss change into something so revealing, Jin couldn't help but cover his eyes and peak through the fingers.

"If you're gonna look do so without pretending that you're not." Alyss rolled her eye while Jin was a little taken aback by her sudden change in tone.

Taking a step forward, two whips crackled towards Alyss as her lips curved up into a grin.

Since she had just recently stolen the martial art from the chick that attacked her, she might as well put it to good use.

Instant Draw – Soul Chaser!

Expanding her zone, Alyss released two slashes to shred apart the whips before her body began to flicker.

The disciples that launched the attack froze up in shock as an overwhelming amount of killing intent appeared behind them.

There was only one thought in their mind.

'I'm dead.'

*BANG!!!

Knocking out both disciples with a kick, Alyss landed on the arc leading toward the sect building and gave her body a stretch.

Unlike the sect at the port, it seemed like this place was going to put up more of a fight since she could already see all of the disciples reacting to her presence and being ready for a fight.

Naturally, Alyss could see through this false bravery as fear gripped their hearts.

What use is numbers if they're all cowering in fear? This was going to be an easy hunt for Alyss as she jumped towards them.

###

Gritting her teeth, the sect master could feel cold sweat down her back as she watched the intruder flicker through her disciples and take them out like it's nothing.

The only thing that could help track the intruder's location was the screams of those who were taken out.

The rope dart was trembling in her hands as her eyes scanned the battlefield.

Occasionally, she would see a flicker of purple before it disappeared again.

"S-Sect master!" A disciple cried out before her cries were cut short.

Standing above her, Alyss could be seen massaging her neck before disappearing again.

'There!!" Turning to her right, the sect master spun the rope dart around herself and launched it towards Alyss.

*CLANG!!!

However, her dart was parried as two more disciples were taken out.

"All disciples! To me!" The sect master shouted out as she activated her second resonance.

Second Resonance – Realm of Lucidity.

Dragging the intruder with herself into her realm, the sect master furrowed her brows.

"You know, you should've done this in the first place. At least then, you would've spared the pain your disciples felt. Why wait so long?" Alyss asked, transforming her sword into a rope dart.

However, the sect master didn't respond as she twisted her body and began launching attack after attack.

The constant sound of parrying rang out with the sect master mixing her attacks with elemental spells weaved in the middle.

There was a bored expression on Alyss's face.

"I think that's enough now." She shook her head.

Summoning a singularity, she slammed it into the ground.

*CRACK!!! Enjoy more content from empire

Fractures appeared across the realm before it was forcefully shattered, causing the sect master to widen her eyes in shock.

Before she could react, Alyss had already rushed forward, grabbing her by the face.

Twisting her body, the sect master was thrown into the waterfall in the distance before turning to the sign of the sect.

Once again, Alyss released a slash and destroyed the sign before leaving.

###

Taking over her body once more, Alice could see that her twin was rather disappointed.

However, it was only natural considering the fact that she was essentially scammed.

According to what Jin said, this sect was supposed to be all about fluid movements and so on. However, the reality of the situation was that they were 'cheating' by using Sigil abilities rather than actual movements.

Hallucinations to make their movements seem harder to track than what they actually are.

"That was amazing!" Jin ran over with an impressed glint in his eyes.

"Amazing my ass, that was sh*t." Alice shrugged, confusing the lad as he tilted his head.

"It wasn't martial arts at all. They were taking a shortcut and the sect master was no different. No wonder this place is a lesser sect."

Seeing how Alice was speaking about the sect in such a manner, Jin realised that she was already very strong and experienced without fighting sects. Instead, she was fighting them to get a grasp on eastern martial arts!

"If you give me some time, I can track down the sects that have actual martial arts and heritage. The Order of Dreams Sect could be considered to be a young sect so maybe that's why it disappointed you." Jin stood up straight as Alice smirked

"Perceptive little sh*t aren't you? If you do well, I'll see if I can teach you something called the Zone." Alice patted him on the shoulders before walking away.

She wasn't sure if mastery over zone was needed for all martial arts. But at least for the Instant Draw, it was necessary. Even with her limited knowledge, she understood that it was a strong martial arts.

Therefore, if the Zone was needed for the foundation of a strong martial art, it would certainly make Jin's life a lot easier.

"Zone?" Jin followed behind Alice as he wasn't sure what she meant.

"Yep. I'm not sure what you call it in the east but the Zone is an area of control around you. There are three forms, offensive, passive and absolute. Offensive is an aggressive form of Zone that increases your attack in the area around you. But it lacks in defence.

"Passive zone is a mix of both offence and defence. Either way, you can just think of it as a circle of control around your body where you focus your senses in perceiving as much detail as you can." Alice explained loosely.

Folding his arms, Jin tried to think of what people in the east called it but he couldn't find an exact match.

Instead, he'll see if he has time to do some research and gather information about this Zone.

###

In a courtyard, Qiu Qiu could be seen in training clothes as she held a wooden blade on her waist.

Her eyes were closed while a wooden target dummy stood in front of her.

She wanted to recall that sense of death. The boundary where life was ever so fleeting.

The moment of focus that she reached and that final strike.

But before she could reach that, she needed to perfect the killing arc.

Expanding her Zone, Qiu Qiu rushed forward for a strike before frowning.

"This is wrong." She muttered, returning back to where she stood.

Her Zone was still incomplete and without its final version, she'll never be able to unleash the perfected killing arc.

The killing arc was one of the most lethal attacks in the Instant Draw style martial arts. It lacked the flair and impressiveness of most martial arts that are used nowadays but in exchange, it has high practicality and lethality.

However, the power generated by this attack is also determined by the skill of the user. Namely, their mastery and control over the zone.

Without perfecting this step, she'll never be able to unleash the full power of her martial arts.

And the fact that an outsider not only stole it from her but also mastered it before her, was akin to a slap to her face.

She had believed that she was strong and more talented than most, being able to use the Instant Draw but that was not the case.

Her vision was simply clouded.

"It's not often I see Captain Qiu train so fervently. Did something happen on your holiday?" A voice called out as Qiu Qiu didn't even turn around.

"What do you want?" Qiu Qiu asked as she stood in front of the dummy once more.

She took a deep breath and focused her mind.

"There's been a new report that matched the attack on the port. A lone split haired woman attacking a sect by herself, not killing anyone and breaking the sign."

Hearing this, Qiu Qiu's eyebrow twitched before expanding her Zone.

"They were seen making their way to the south west. According to their predicted route, they're probably going to go after another sect."

*BANG!!!

Unleashing an incomplete killing arc, Qiu Qiu frowned as the sword in her hands broke apart.

"And you're telling me this because?"

"Because it doesn't match the movements of the Cult. You know how they are, they leave corpses wherever they go. But the fact that this lady is not killing anyone is raising some confusions and concerns on whether or not they're truly part of the Cult." The man clarified.

"There's no doubting it. Her body contains the unique energy of the Cult that can't be found elsewhere. Even if she's not a part of it, she definitely has a connection." Qiu Qiu answered, grabbing another sword to resume her practice.

"Are you going to join the hunting squad then?"

"No, going wouldn't benefit me at all. I'm still too weak." Qiu Qiu shook her head.

She wanted to master the Zone before seeing the woman again. Otherwise, she'll simply be inviting death. She got lucky once and survived by chance. She doubted that'll happen again.