This is the Ice Pulse Power

"How about we call it a day here?" Mei finally set down her spatula, seeing that everyone had gathered.

"..." Xina hesitated for a moment. Finding no empty dish left in the entire kitchen, she had no choice but to accept Mei's proposal.

Piling the layered dishes onto the table, Mei began serving rice for everyone.

"You two chefs have worked hard today. Let me help."

Beside her, Fu Hua, who had just changed clothes, stepped forward to set out the utensils.

Xina, who no longer needed to eat to replenish her energy, had originally planned to just take a few symbolic bites to avoid looking out of place among the feasting crowd.

But that simple thought vanished the moment she saw Fu Hua.

Those four words—stunting your growth—echoed relentlessly in her ears.

"..." Xina glanced sidelong at Theresa, then looked down at her own frail frame. Silently, she picked up her chopsticks and bowl, ready to eat properly.

"Hey, let's toast to Xina!"

With that, Kiana raised her drink.

"Cheers!"

Seeing this, the others lifted their cups too, leaving only a bewildered Xina sitting there, unsure what to do.

Feeling everyone staring at her with that very... very... special look, Xina felt her hands, resting on her thighs, begin to tremble.

They... they really seem to be welcoming me...

In the end, a smile she couldn't control tugged at the corners of her lips. Stiffly, she raised her cup and clinked it with the others.

"Even though... still, thank you..."

Amid the laughter, Xina muttered in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, then quietly dug into her meal.

Nearby, Kiana seemed intent on competing with Bronya at the dinner table. The two of them snatched food with their chopsticks at lightning speed, piling the stolen dishes into small mountains in their bowls.

In stark contrast to their wolfish devouring were Fu Hua and Mei, who ate with perfect grace.

Though Fu Hua's manners were elegant and proper, Xina couldn't shake the feeling that the word "ladylike" had nothing to do with her.

After the meal, a satisfied Himeko somehow produced a bottle of liquor from who-knows-where. Taking advantage of Theresa not watching, she popped the cap and started chugging straight from the bottle.

Meanwhile, Kiana and Bronya lay sprawled motionless on the living room sofa.

"So delicious... Bronya must be in heaven~"

"Burp~ Can't eat another bite. Not one more bite."

The two, evenly matched in appetite, glanced at each other and silently swore to settle the score next time.

"You two... fine, I'll go get you some digestive tablets."

Looking at these "Humanoid Gluttons," Mei shook her head helplessly, got up, and rummaged through the cabinet for the medicine.

Watching the drunk Himeko chase Theresa all over the house, Xina, curled up in a corner of the sofa, wore a look of utter shock.

Just then, Fu Hua came out of the kitchen after washing the dishes. She pointed outside and said, "Want to take a walk to help digest?"

"Sure!" Xina didn't refuse. She followed Fu Hua along the path winding around the lake.

"You seem to have something on your mind."

After walking a while, Fu Hua suddenly spoke.

"Huh?!" Xina's expression froze. She looked at Fu Hua in surprise.

Not only can you fight like that, but you can also read minds?!

Seeing she had guessed correctly, a gentle smile spread across Fu Hua's face. She walked to the lakeside and said, "Are you worried about tomorrow's Entrance Exam?"

What exam? What the hell is an Entrance Exam?!

Xina scratched her head in confusion, but her mouth obediently chimed in: "Oh, yeah, yeah, you caught me. I have no confidence in that exam at all..."

"You don't need to take this test too seriously. Every Valkyrie has different abilities. Tomorrow's test isn't just about gauging your level—it's more about seeing what your abilities and fighting style are like. That way, you can understand your own power and determine your future training direction."

"But unlike those preparatory Valkyries who've been through the Preparatory Class, you probably don't know how to manipulate the Honkai energy in your body to unleash your abilities yet, right?"

Hearing this, Xina nodded with feigned understanding.

Even though she... well... at times like this, it was better to pretend she didn't know.

"This must be an oversight by the academy. But don't worry—I can teach you right now."

"Right now?" Xina looked around at their surroundings, thinking Fu Hua was joking.

"Yes, right now." Fu Hua reached out and patted Xina's shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry. This kind of thing should be simple for us. After all, no one knows your own power better than you."

Before Xina could ask, Fu Hua had already begun her lesson: "First, close your eyes."

"Okay."

Under Fu Hua's gaze, Xina slowly shut her eyes.

"Now, carefully feel every part of your body. In Shenzhou, we call these channels 'meridians.' Inside them, you should feel something guiding you. Remember that feeling, follow it, and don't resist..."

Guided by Fu Hua, Xina sensed it. She felt two irregular crystals, glowing in different colors, shining in the boundless darkness.

One beam was a piercing, bone-chilling ice blue, while the other was a gloomy, eerie blue-violet.

The two colors intertwined, shimmering brilliantly before her eyes.

Xina slowly opened her eyes, glanced at Fu Hua beside her, and smiled. "I really did feel it."

"Oh! That's faster than I expected!" Fu Hua nodded, pointing at the calm lake and raising an eyebrow. "Come on, try it on the lake!"

"Alright."

As Xina's words faded, an ice-blue laser shot from the tip of her right index finger, freezing a large expanse of the lake into a thick platform of ice.

"Oh, so it's a Honkai energy specialization in the ice element? And judging by the intensity, it's already at the level of a B-Rank Valkyrie."

Fu Hua tested the thickness of the ice and nodded, unaware that Xina was also breathing a sigh of relief.

To avoid freezing the entire lake with a single careless gesture, Xina had deliberately suppressed her power to this almost feeble degree.

As it turned out, she had done exactly right—a newcomer with no foundation standing out too much wouldn't be a good thing. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to uncover the secrets hidden behind Mei's slack-off behavior.

"Now that you're starting to get familiar with your abilities, make sure you perform well in tomorrow's test."

With that, Fu Hua glanced at the sky, turned around, and strode back the way they came. "It's getting late. Let's head back!"

"Alright."