Chapter 19: First Mission

After the intense internal tournament concluded, Seraphina stood before Elder Nyra, her hands clasped tightly around the precious Nebula Fruit she had received as her reward.

Elder Nyra smiled warmly at Seraphina, her eyes filled with pride and approval. "Congratulations, Seraphina. You've shown exceptional talent and determination in the tournament, and it is a pleasure to see you receive the Nebula Fruit. Use it wisely and continue to grow stronger."

Seraphina nodded, her heart pounding with excitement. The Nebula Fruit was a rare and potent cultivation resource that could greatly enhance her Qi and accelerate her progress toward the Core Creation Stage.

Finding a secluded spot in Elder Nyra's court, Seraphina took a deep breath and entered herself. She ate the fruit and then began to channel her Qi, allowing it to flow through her meridians.

As the Nebula Fruit's essence merged with her own Qi, she felt a surge of energy coursing through her body. It was like a torrent of power, filling every cell and fiber of her being. She closed her eyes and focused on the sensation, letting the potent energy wash over her.

With each passing moment, the power of the Fruit worked its magic, refining Seraphina's Qi and breaking through the barriers that had held her back. She could feel her cultivation realm expanding, her connection to Qi strengthening, and her body becoming more attuned to the forces of their world.

Hours passed, and Seraphina's meditation remained unwavering. She knew that this was a critical moment, and she didn't want to waste a single second of the Nebula Fruit's effects.

Finally, as the sun began to set, Seraphina felt a profound change within her. She could feel the vast reserves of Qi now flowing through her meridians, and a newfound clarity filled her mind. The Qi inside her body coursed around an amethyst-colored core that had been recently formed.

Eyes snapping open, she stood up, feeling the immense power now coursing within her. The transformations were undeniable. She had successfully ascended to the Core Creation Stage.

A sense of euphoria washed over her. She had worked tirelessly, trained diligently, and faced challenges to reach this milestone. As she looked up the night sky, adorned with countless stars, she couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for the Coven. They had played a crucial role in her growth and had supported her in every step of the way. Seraphina knew that this was not the case anywhere else in Aetheria. Most of the time, the other parts of the world were filled with 'geniuses, young masters, hypocrites, and lastly, the MC, whose mere presence dumbs down other people's IQs by at least 20 units. Thinking about Karl gave Seraphina a headache so she decided to retreat and get a good night's sleep. Before that, she set her clothes to show her cultivation level to be around Stage 9 of Essence Attainment for onlookers.

[The next day]

With the upcoming Grand Sect Tournament, Seraphina was granted a precious opportunity by Elder Nyra - a month of freedom to venture into the outside world and gain valuable experiences.

Well, since she showed good combat prowess, Elder Nyra decided to make an exception and allowed her on an outside mission to investigate a village villager's disappearance near the Coven. It was a mission that had been recently issued and the Mission Hall deemed it as easy. There are quite a lot of those missions, that are just a round-abound way of getting talented disciples to experience the outside world. Most disciples had been training nonstop at the Coven and while they may be talented in duels, the real world doesn't work like that. It is bloody and many use underhanded tricks to kill for resources and treasures. Especially female cultivators are targeted since they can be used as cultivation cauldrons. If Kael wasn't the protagonist of this world, he would be one of those people.

Regardless of that, most villages around the Coven do not possess cultivators above Early-Stage Core Creation, so there should be no danger.

After receiving the mission from her mentor, she got back to her room and started to carefully pack her bag. By that, she means stuffing food and drinks into her inventory. She also packed a sleeping bag and a few daily necessities. She didn't need clothes since her Villainess Clothing has a self-cleaning feature and can change into various styles throughout the day. The more important tools and supplies were a set of sealing paper, vials of healing elixirs, and some books on close-quarter combat.

Since she had been essentially granted a month of self-training to gain more experience, she better takes some useful stuff with her to improve in the meantime.

A while later, before leaving, Seraphina sought out Elder Nyra for some last-minute advice. The elder's wisdom and guidance had been instrumental in her growth as a close-quarter sealing expert, and she wanted to ensure she was fully prepared for the challenges ahead.

"Elder Nyra," Seraphina said respectfully as she approached the elder in her secluded study. "I'm about to set out on the mission to investigate the disappearance of the villagers at Serenity Hollow. I wanted to seek your counsel before I leave."

"Elder Nyra smiled warmly at her. "Seraphina, you have already come a long way in your training, and I do not doubt that you will handle this mission with both skill and grace. Remember to stay cautious and be mindful of your surroundings. The outside world can be unpredictable, and you must trust your instincts."

Seraphina nodded, taking in the elder's words. "Thank you, Elder Nyra. Your guidance means a lot to me."

With the elder's words echoing in her mind, Seraphina felt ready to embark on her first adventure in this world of cultivation.

As Seraphina stepped out of the Coven's front gates, she felt a rush of excitement at the prospect of exploring the world beyond the walls. The path was uncertain, but she knew that every challenge and obstacle would be an opportunity to grow and learn.