Chapter 694 - A True Leader

historical

"Everyone ready?" Kana asked as she looked around the group. She was in the lead of the group since she was able to use her dragon flames to create a kind of barrier against the cold. To the sides surrounding the group were other hopeful disciples with fire techniques. Each one would use their fire-type techniques to ward off as much cold as they could. With the information Fei and Fan Sengya had brought back, this was the best option and really the only way they would be able to survive the cold.

Kana looked over the group and saw that everyone was ready and signaled to move out. They made their way down the tunnel at a slow pace making sure their formation did not break. When they got halfway, Kana started to feel the cold air coming from the other end of the tunnel. She waited until it was starting to really get cold before spitting out a large amount of her dragon flames into her hand and holding it like a massive fireball in front of her. But even with her flames dancing close to her, she could still feel the cold seeping in, which told her the room in front of them was very dangerous.

"Everyone, yell out if you can not go on anymore. My flames are only able to do so much. Stay in a tight group. Girls at the center, men on the outer edge. If any of you boys takes this chance to cop a feel, I will toss you straight into the room ahead naked and let you freeze to death." Kana had a big distrust for these young men who she did not know. She did not want any of them to take advantage of the situation. But the current circumstances required them to all be closely huddled together. "Squeeze in and help each other. Those with fire techniques, if you need to rest, fall back towards the middle to warm up before retaking your place outside the group."

As Kana gave out orders and the group reached the entrance of the next room, from a spot at the end of the trial looking into a pool of water Elder Ning watched with an approving gaze. "She is a natural leader."

"That is true. The field of ice is one of the harshest environments within the trial, all except the last stage. But here she is using the best method available. She actually has every one of these young cultivators working together. Each one comes from different backgrounds, but yet here they are working together as one. It is truly commendable." Elder Shaun really had to hand it to Kana for being able to bring so many together so easily.

"It is all due to her efforts and strength. She was the only one to figure out each trial and has gained the trust of these young cultivators by being the one who tests everything first. There is an old saying. If one is not willing to show they are willing to jump in first, then the rest will not follow. But if one is willing, they would gain the trust of those around them. She has become their pillar of support and hope for joining the sect. I think this year we will have many new disciples." The sect master seemed very pleased. This was the best turnout for disciples in many years.

"We have held this recruitment every year, and at most, we get around ten disciples, but this year is really a blessing. We have had many occasions where some led through fear and used the young cultivators to their advantage, making them run out and test the fields for them. But Kana is much different. She has yet to use anyone as a tool, and this makes her much different." Elder Ning was glad they had found someone like Kana, she had such a good head on her shoulders, but he worried her kindness was not right for the cultivation world.

As the elders discussed the matters going on in the trial, Kana was regretting not wearing a robe as she felt ice building upon her skin. "Kana, you should rest." Fei's voice came from behind her. She had pushed her way to the front of the group to check on Kana.

"If I were to rest, all of you would be frozen into blocks of ice. I can not allow that to happen. Even if I were by myself, this would still happen. We can only keep going and reach the other side." Kana replied. She knew if she took back her dragon flame now, not only would she freeze, but so would the rest. She had no choice but to keep pushing on and gritting her teeth as she felt the cold invade her body through her bare feet.

Fei looked at Kana's feet, which were purple, and knew Kana was enduring a lot. She raised her hands and let a stream of green spiritual qi flow into Kana's feet. The purple color slowly began to fade away, and Kana felt the chill that was welling up within her slowly dissipating. "Thank you, Fei."

"No thanks needed. You are the reason we are all going to make it through this trial. Without you leading us, this would be survival of the fittest. There is no telling how many would have turned on each other." Fei hated to think about it, but she was sure she would be singled out for being a half-breed. She had feared that the most when coming here.

"You think too much. This trial is all about working together. It is only normal for us to work together. I am sure if I was not here, someone else might have been able to figure out this point." Kana replied without much thought. She was not trying to do anything extraordinary. She just wanted to pass the test and enter the sect so she could have a place to cultivate.

"But would that person put themselves in front of everyone else and take the brunt of the cold like you are? They would have surely stood in the middle while they walked over the frozen bodies of those who were in the front." Fei knew that things would not have been as easy as this if not for Kana.. She knew that whoever led them in Kana's place, if she was not here, would only have cared about themselves while acting like they do care.