Chapter 157: Winter's Embrace
The winter’s breath clawed at my cheeks the moment I stepped outside, biting through the heavy layers of the Iron Boar cloak and bracers crafted by Wang Jun. The thick, insulated leather felt sturdy, a shield against the season’s fury, but their weight was something I was still getting used to.
The wind howled, its sharpness carrying an unnatural chill. By all rights, the worst of winter should have been behind us. Instead, it clung tighter, thickening the air and layering the landscape in snow so deep my boots sank with every step. It wasn’t just the cold it was the weight of it, pressing down on everything like a silent warning.
I paused at the edge of my porch, scanning the village. Gentle Wind Village had weathered the month well, all things considered. The preparations were coming along steadily, with new structures rising on foundations Li Wei had designed and laid before the first heavy snow. The extra supplies and seeds sent by Feng Wu’s sect were a blessing, easing the strain of rebuilding after Narrow Stone Peak. Still, their absence lingered in my mind, a shadow that refused to leave.
The Heavenly Flame Mantra had been another focus of my days. Training in its movements, channeling qi through my palms, and being forbidden from utilizing the Rooted Banyan Stance or the Bamboo Reprisal Counter made it difficult. Yet, there were victories, small sparks of progress that kept me going, like the moment I first felt the searing heat manifest without trembling, steady and controlled, instead of a fleeting flicker of warmth.
Heavenly Flame Mantra (Level 1):
A martial style that channels the essence of fire into the cultivator’s attacks. The Heavenly Flame Mantra infuses the cultivator's strikes with searing heat, generating flames that radiate outward from their body. Each movement embodies the principles of fire: aggressive, adaptable, and consuming.
Next Stage: Radiant Flame Mantra
Requirements:
Heavenly Flame Mantra Proficiency - Level 10