After her intense morning practice, Mei Wei stepped into the cool, luxurious interior of her villa, leaving the sunlit garden behind. The marble floors felt pleasantly cool under her feet, and the soft rustling of silk drapes in the light breeze added a tranquil atmosphere to the open, elegant spaces around her.

She made her way to the bathroom, a spacious, gleaming room filled with polished stone and intricate fixtures. Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, casting a gentle glow across the room. She filled a large porcelain basin with cool water, then splashed her face, feeling the refreshing chill ease the heat and exertion of her practice. The water trickled down her skin, each drop sparkling in the light, creating a quiet moment of relief.

Next, she moved to her dressing room, a large, ornate space lined with mirrors and filled with an array of fine garments. She chose a soft, flowing robe, its fabric light against her skin as she tied it around her waist, enjoying the elegance and comfort it provided.

As the late morning turned to noon, she headed to the villa’s kitchen, a spacious room with marble countertops and polished wood. She prepared her meal, selecting fresh ingredients with care, slicing vegetables and arranging them with practiced hands. The rhythmic chopping, the scent of spices, and the sound of a sizzling pan filled the kitchen, creating a sense of calm. When her meal was ready, she plated it neatly, appreciating the quiet art in her preparation.

With her lunch in hand, Mei Wei moved to the open terrace overlooking her lush garden. Sitting down, she allowed herself to unwind as the gentle noon breeze brushed against her face, embracing the peaceful simplicity of the moment.

After she ate, she cleaned up and washed the dishes. She glanced at her phone once again, but there was still no new information about the strange sky phenomenon. It had been a week since her near-death experience and the sky splitting open, and anxiety and fear were gnawing at everyone. Finding nothing particularly interesting on her phone, she decided to check an anime site and began watching a series.

Time passed, and night came. Sitting on her balcony, she calmed her mind and took a deep breath, guiding the fresh air toward her mind. At first, there was no pain, but as time passed, the pain became increasingly unbearable. She stopped, but noticed that her mind felt clearer than the day before, as if more space had opened up in her mental landscape. She had an idea: if she could create a "core" in her brain, she might be able to store this air more efficiently. Right now, the air in her mind was so sparse she could barely feel it, but the thought of forming a core-like space in her brain intrigued her.

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But she knew there was no time to waste. Strange events had engulfed her world—her body felt different, the sky had split open, and red stars now burned in that rift. She could feel the clock ticking, each moment precious, her time limited.

Determined to create a core in her mind, she finished her breathing practice for the day. Exhausted but resolute, she got up and headed to bed. Tomorrow, she'd try again.

*************

A week passed once again, yet nothing further happened with the sky rift. However, scientists announced that the phenomenon might be a precursor to an alien arrival. The government had initially withheld this information, but after two weeks, growing public unrest forced them to release the news.

Throughout the week, she trained rigorously, practicing the Arirasta Sword Art and working on body tempering exercises. Her body gradually adapted to the sword art, and she mastered the basics, now ready to move on to more advanced techniques. The Arirasta Sword Art had laid a foundation, helping her understand fundamental sword techniques, essential for someone who had started as an ordinary human. Building this base was crucial; without mastery of fundamental techniques, one could never progress to the powerful, complex arts.

Her mind space had also expanded significantly, allowing her to form a core about half the size of her palm. Her control over the new energy had improved too, enabling her to store a quarter of the air within this core.

That night, as she sat on the balcony, she began her breathing exercise, inhaling and exhaling the special energy. Slowly, the air moved along pathways to her brain. After about five minutes, the familiar pain returned. This time, however, it was sharper, as if something was carving a crater into her mind. Her mind core was expanding rapidly, growing denser and more solid.

The intense pain persisted for another five hours before it finally began to subside. She felt a newfound clarity and sensed that her core could now hold even more of the energy. The core had expanded to the size of an adult’s palm, and just then, she heard a distinct "ding"sound, followed by a glowing panel that appeared before her:

The panel appeared, directly within her line of sight, displayed clearly on her retina.