Wooden Root: Barbara's Journey

The creeping mist shrouded the ancient trees, making the forest near the sect a place where few disciples dared to wander. The dark and dense environment, while ideal for those wishing to escape the watchful eyes of the elders, was also the perfect setting for ambushes. Barbara, with her sharp senses, sensed the malice permeating the air long before she spotted her enemies.

When he reached the clearing, there they were: Bai Qiu and his followers. Their eyes shone with a mixture of defiance and contempt. The rivalry between Barbara and Bai Qiu had reached a new height ever since she had advanced to the Qi Condensation Realm. While she had ascended, he had remained stuck in the Body Refinement Realm, harboring an increasingly palpable hatred.

“So the great prodigy has finally decided to descend from her mountain of glory to give us the pleasure of her presence,” Bai Qiu sneered, a sarcastic smile shaping his lips. He crossed his arms, displaying excessive confidence. “Will your luck save you today, Barbara?”

Barbara stared at him, cold and unwavering. The wooden spear she held seemed to vibrate in tune with her spiritual root, a constant reminder of her connection to nature and the power she had earned through hard work. The implication that her rise was a fluke irritated her, but she would not allow Bai Qiu’s provocation to destabilize her. The sect had its rules, and she respected them.

“If you have something to say, Bai Qiu, say it right away. I don’t have time for your childishness.”

Her voice, firm and icy, cut through the air like a sword blade. She was tired of the veiled threats and the constant power plays. Bai Qiu took a step forward, raising his chin like a fearless leader.

“Do you think you can continue to climb unchallenged? I won’t let you steal what is rightfully mine!” He gestured, and his sword-wielding followers charged forward with clear intentions.

The first disciple barely had time to get close before Barbara swung her spear with surprising dexterity, disarming him and sending him back in panic. The second disciple was met with a blow that cut through the air, so precise that his sword fell to the ground with a metallic clang. The difference in power between cultivation levels was clear; Barbara, at the Qi Condensation Realm, had mastered life energy with fluidity and control, while Bai Qiu and his cronies still relied on brute force.

With the two followers lying in shame, Bai Qiu gritted his teeth in frustration and humiliation. He raised his sword, determined to regain some semblance of dignity. “You may have defeated those weaklings, but I am different! I will not bow down to you!”

He attacked with unbridled fury, his sword glowing with the Qi he was desperately accumulating. Barbara effortlessly dodged the blow, and in one precise movement, disarmed Bai Qiu, causing his sword to fall to the ground with a clang. He staggered back in shock as the tip of Barbara’s spear hovered inches from his chest.

For a brief moment, the urge to end this rivalry once and for all flashed through Barbara’s mind. She could feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins, her heart racing, and victory within her grasp. It would be so easy… a single strike, and Bai Qiu would no longer be a threat.

But she backed away.

The Sect Code was clear: murder between disciples was strictly forbidden, a fundamental rule that preserved the order and progress of the sect. Killing Bai Qiu, no matter how tempting, would mean her own downfall. She would be expelled, or worse, executed. All the hard work she had done up until this point would be erased in an instant.

"You're not worth my expulsion," he murmured, his voice as cold as the mist that surrounded them. "If you want to fight for your place in the sect, do it honorably, not with jealousy and cheap tricks."

Bai Qiu, kneeling on the ground, his face red with anger and humiliation, saw his defeat reflected in the eyes of his followers. Barbara’s spear had not only pierced his physical defense, but had also struck his pride, destroying any illusion of superiority he still held.

Barbara turned around, leaving the metallic sound of the fallen sword and Bai Qiu’s heavy breathing behind her. Every step she took back to the sect was firm, as if the ground itself acknowledged her victory and strength. She knew that this would not be the last confrontation between them. Bai Qiu, with his pride wounded, would surely return, more spiteful and determined to exact revenge.

Still, Barbara was ready. Every challenge she faced, every enemy she defeated, made her stronger and more prepared for what lay ahead. Her path of cultivation was arduous and full of obstacles, but her determination and respect for the sect’s rules would always guide her forward. True strength came not just from raw power, but from the wisdom of knowing when to fight and when to retreat. Barbara understood this, and this was the difference that made her an exceptional cultivator.

Liang, an outer disciple at the Body Refinement Realm, had observed every detail of Bai Qiu and Barbara’s fight from a safe distance, hidden by the thin mist that enveloped the forest. He was only 13 years old, but his mind was always working, analyzing, calculating. Barbara, now at the Qi Condensation Realm, was at a much higher level than him and Bai Qiu, but Liang knew that cultivating brute force alone was not the only way to achieve power within the sect. Cunning was required.

He watched, his eyes narrowed, as Bai Qiu fell to his knees, defeated in both body and spirit. His rival’s humiliation was evident, and Liang knew that the only thing that surpassed Bai Qiu’s pride was his thirst for revenge. Liang also felt a pang of envy as he saw Barbara, who had advanced so much in such a short amount of time, while he and the other outer disciples seemed to be stagnant. He couldn’t defeat her directly. But an idea began to form in his mind as she walked away, leaving Bai Qiu behind.

As soon as Barbara disappeared into the forest, Liang approached Bai Qiu, who was still on his knees, trying to control his anger. Liang, always careful with his words, spoke in a calm and controlled tone, which contrasted with the boiling frustration radiating from Bai Qiu.

"She's stronger than both of us. That's a fact. But strength isn't everything."

Bai Qiu looked up, still panting, sweat dripping down his forehead. His eyes narrowed as he saw Liang approaching, but he didn’t say anything. He just stared at him, still processing his humiliation.

Liang continued, crossing his arms thoughtfully. “You want revenge, and I understand that. I also feel that something needs to be done about Barbara. But going against her alone… will only end in more defeats. She is on a higher level, we cannot deny it. However, if we combine our strengths… we can find a way to take her down.”

Bai Qiu clenched his fists tightly, the veins on his neck pulsing as his conflicting emotions bubbled within him. “Do you think an alliance would solve this? She… humiliated me.”

Liang lowered himself a little, getting to Bai Qiu’s level. “This isn’t about now. It’s about what we can achieve together. I know it hurts your pride, but you have to think strategically. If we join forces, we can find your weaknesses. Everyone has a weak point. And if we work together, we won’t have to face you directly. We can manipulate you, expose you. Or even make you a threat in the eyes of the sect, turning your rise into something dangerous for everyone.”

Bai Qiu’s eyes narrowed. Liang spoke with a cold logic that somehow touched the dark parts of his heart. An alliance… perhaps it was the only path he had at this moment. He knew that he could do nothing alone, but with the help of Liang, who had always been cunning and strategic, perhaps there was a chance to turn the tide.

“Do you already have a plan?” Bai Qiu asked, his voice thick with resentment.

Liang smiled almost imperceptibly. “Not yet. But I can guarantee that if we observe Barbara enough, we will find a loophole. We can’t attack her strength directly. But what if she makes a mistake? A slip-up? We will be ready to seize the opportunity when that happens.”

Bai Qiu slowly stood up, shaking the dust off his robes. Anger still burned in his eyes, but now there was something more. A flame of dark determination, fueled by the idea that with Liang by his side, he could avenge the humiliation he had suffered.

"You have my attention," Bai Qiu replied, finally controlling his tone of voice. "Let's see what we can do together."

Liang nodded, satisfied. "Perfect. Strength may win a fight, but intelligence wins wars. And we're starting ours."

As the two disciples walked away from the site of the fight, the creeping mist continued to envelop the forest, hiding their whispers and the first steps of an alliance that, though shadowy, was destined to bring trouble to Barbara. She had won the battle today, but in the shadows, a new game was just beginning.