"Gao...is she really your Grandmother?" Chen's voice cut through the stillness, dripping with disbelief.

They stood at the precipice of the void, darkness folding around them like a shroud. The crone before them was akin to a silhouette, veiled in shadow as if the light dared not touch her. Yuyan moved forward, a quiver running through her frame, her voice a fragile thread of sound in the vast silence.

"Are you here to train us?" Her question hung in the air, a blend of reverence and fear.

"Yes. It is time."

At her words, Gao’s visage drained of color, his eyes dilating into vast pools of shock. "W-what do you mean?" His voice faltered, stammered like the heartbeat of a frightened bird.

The crone's head tilted, a faint smile playing about her lips—a crescent moon hidden in a cloudy night. "It is time for you to begin the next phase of your training. You will learn how to manipulate the world around you, to mold it as you will."

The students exchanged glances, their expressions painted with strokes of curiosity and skepticism. "Have you never wondered how Lingqi was able to cultivate his Prana to such an extent, that he could command the very elements to his will?" Her voice was a tapestry of knowing, threads of wisdom interwoven with challenge.

"He's... he's the exception. Not like us," Chen countered, his voice trembling like a leaf in the wind.

"You echo the words of your master, young one. Of peace, he knows much. Of Prana, he knows nothing," she scoffed, her tone scathing as a winter gale. "All of you possess the capacity to wield your Prana in profound ways. But you must learn to harness your emotions; let them fuel your power."

"But wouldn't we lose control like Lingqi did?" Li Bie interjected, his voice thick with doubt.

"The boy cannot. Not yet," she replied sharply. "But with the proper guidance, you will learn to temper your passions, to channel them as a smith channels fire to forge steel. Your power will mirror your inner essence; you must master it, or be consumed."

Silence fell like a heavy curtain. "Wait, how are you doing this? How are you here?" Yuyan's voice was sharp, a knife slicing through the quiet.

"It is an application of Yana. The natural progression of expanding one's consciousness to touch another," the crone answered with endless patience.

"So...you're just... in our minds?" Li Bie's brows knitted in effort, his mind grappling with the concept.

"Grandmother... I never knew you possessed such abilities," Gao whispered, his voice a mixture of awe and disbelief.

Her laughter filled the void, rich and resonant. "There is much about me you do not know, my dear grandson," she spoke warmly. "And now, I shall teach you. You will learn to tap into your Prana, to shape and manipulate it. You will need it for what's to come."

"What's to come?" Yuyan's voice was small, the words barely escaping her lips.

The elderly woman’s eyes darkened, the shadows around her deepening. "You shall learn soon enough. But for now, heed my words. I shall show you how to unleash the true potential of your Prana."

The students looked at one another, uncertainty flickering in their eyes. "What will we need to do?" Chen’s voice barely broke the silence.

"Let your emotions flow," she commanded, her voice carrying the weight of ancient mountains. "Close your eyes and focus. Let the Prana surge through your veins."

They obeyed, their hearts pounding, hands trembling, their bodies a cauldron of simmering heat ready to burst. "Focus. Feel the Prana weaving through your being, filling you to the brim."

Energy built within them like a tempest, threatening to overflow its bounds. "Now, take a deep breath and release your Prana."

They inhaled, deeply, sharply, and on the exhale, their bodies began to radiate light, a corona of brilliant white encircling them. "Good. Now open your eyes."

When they did, they saw each other in a new light—literally. The warm glow that surrounded them was a palette of yellow and red, the intensity varying among them.

"You are beginning to manifest your Prana," the crone observed, her voice tinged with pride. "The next step is to learn to wield it, to bend it to your will."

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"How do we do that?" Li Bie’s voice trembled with uncertainty.

"By embracing your emotions," she instructed, her words carving deep into their souls. "Contrary to what your master has taught, emotions can be a gateway to immense power. Focus on your feelings, let it shape your Prana. That is how Lingqi has been able to manipulate his Prana so easily."

Her words struck a chord with the students, and she could see their faces shiver at the thought of Lingqi.

"Your Master has taught you to repress your emotions. But I will teach you to embrace them."

The elderly woman's words hung heavy in the air, and the five students remained silent, their gazes downcast.

"You have all taken the first steps down a much harder path," she said. "But there is no turning back. You must persevere. Now, continue your cultivation."

The crone's body dissipated into the darkness, leaving the students alone. They stared at the space where she once stood. The curtain of black lifted from their consciousness, and the sun shone down upon them in the courtyard once more, as if the academy had been repainted before their very eyes.

"I can't believe it..." Chen whispered, his mouth agape.

"She's...she's our teacher..." Gao's voice was full of wonder, his eyes glistening with adoration.

"What did we get ourselves into?" Li Bie sighed, covering his face with his hand, apprehension etched into his features.

"She seemed...intense..." Yi Ming mumbled, his voice barely audible.

"We'll just have to get used to it," Yuyan said firmly. "This was what we wanted, right? To learn how to use our Prana, to become better cultivators?"

"She seemed at odds with Master Zhang," Li Bie observed, his brows furrowed in contemplation. "It honestly makes it hard for me to fully trust her."

"Hey, she is my grandmother, after all," Gao spoke up sharply. "She's trustworthy, but I think Master Zhang would disagree with her methods."

"She seems a bit odd," Chen admitted. "But if she's willing to teach us, then I'm willing to learn."

"Same here," Yuyan added determinedly.

"I...suppose it wouldn't hurt to try," Yi Ming said hesitantly.

Li Bie's lips pressed into a thin line before he sighed. "Alright. Let's give her a shot."

"That's the spirit!" Chen grinned brightly.

"Come on, let's go," Yuyan urged resolutely.

The students took their positions once more, closing their eyes. They took deep breaths, focusing on the Prana within their bodies.

Slowly, their auras began to appear. A faint, flickering aura, much like a candle's flame, radiated from each of them.

As the students continued to cultivate, their auras grew brighter, the energy around them intensifying.

Yuyan drew on the pain from her brother's passing—the unfairness, the injustice. She allowed it to fill her, fueling her Prana. It burst forth, a brilliant red, like a blazing inferno.

Chen drew on his fear of letting his family down, of disappointing them. His Prana responded in kind, emanating in waves of golden light, its hue reflecting the sunlight like the star itself.

Li Bie drew on his doubt and fear of failure. This nourished his Prana in a way he had never felt before. He had never known it to be so volatile, yet he managed to temper it, bending it to his will. In turn, a wave of silver seeped through his pores, slow and controlled.

Gao drew on his adoration, his desire to be praised and acknowledged. He allowed it to fill him, fueling his Prana. It shot out of him like a tempest, encasing his body in an azure light, shades of indigo and tourmaline buffeting the courtyard in gusts of wind.

Yi Ming was different. His source was contentment, his emotions not as intense as his peers. Yet still, his Prana responded—a dull spark, a dim candle.

As the five students continued to cultivate, their auras grew brighter, the energy around them intensifying.

Yuyan struggled to maintain control, her fingers digging into her palms as she clenched her fists. Her face scrunched up in concentration, sweat rolling down her forehead, her breathing ragged. How long had it been since she felt such raw emotion? Such anger, such sadness. She had buried those emotions deep inside, and now they threatened to consume her.

Chen sensed his power waning, his Prana not responding as strongly as before. He focused on his fear, thinking of all the times his parents scolded him, how they would be disappointed in him.

Gao's Prana stabilized, his aura constant—a small, warm flame. But he felt drained, the effort of controlling his emotions taxing.

Yi Ming managed to maintain control over his Prana, but his emotions were still muted, and he struggled to direct his power. His Prana was a dull glow, a weak and weeping flame.

Li Bie couldn't hold the storm at bay forever. The hurricane of chaos petered out in a flash, leaving only exhaustion in its wake. His Prana was spent, and he could no longer maintain the intensity of his aura.

Yuyan's Prana did the same. She had pushed herself far beyond her limits, and exhaustion caught up with her. She began to pant, her breathing labored, and she lurched forward.

As the students struggled to regain their composure, they looked at each other. Their eyes were filled with weariness, but also a sense of accomplishment. They had pushed themselves, and they had made progress.

"That was..." Chen began, his voice trailing off.

"Intense," Yuyan finished.

"Yeah," Li Bie breathed. "It was."

"We're going to need to work on our control," Yi Ming murmured quietly.

"Yeah, but we made some progress today, didn't we?" Chen grinned, his voice laced with optimism.

"Yeah," Yuyan smiled, her eyes bright. "We did."

"At this rate, we'll graduate in no time," Gao chuckled, his voice filled with self-assurance.

"Speaking of which," Yuyan interjected, "if we graduate before Lingqi gets back, are we going to wait for him?"

The students exchanged glances, uncertainty and trepidation in their faces.

"I don't know," Chen said unsurely. "It'll take about a month for him to get to the Opal Palace, and another month to get back here," he pointed out.

"We could always just send him a letter," Gao suggested.

"That's true," Li Bie conceded. "We could explain everything that's happened and where we're going."

"It's better than just disappearing," Yi Ming added. "Lingqi would understand."

"I guess that's what we'll have to do then," Chen said, resigned. "We can't stay here and wait for him forever."

"I guess we can't," Yuyan echoed somberly.