White Fire is the strongest known type of fire. If red and orange flames were the normal. Blue fire would be twice as strong, and white fire would be eight times as strong. However, it had the same problems. It was still fire. There were enemies that were strong against fire like the wolf she had fought in the Immortal Realm. Akiza could only use up to blue at best.

The earth element of the two headed turtle was still very weak. All Akiza could do was create a ball of dirt so far. It was shortly after this that Akiza met with Cixi again.

"You had to learn to give form to your fire," said Cixi.

"Give form?" Akiza said in a confused voice.

"Like my sword of water becoming a whip, it is possible to change the shape of the elements," explained Cixi.

Cixi demonstrated. The sword of water could become a whip or a longer sword. It could also change into something like a spear or a hammer. With this, it could overcome the normal physical resistance of enemies like the golem that was strong against cutting attacks.

That was when Akira realized something. "I got it!" said Akira. "Use the earth element as a core and wrap your fire around it, then you can make it into any shape you want!"

Akiza tried it. A spear made of earth, but wrapped around fire. The result was underwhelming. It lacked explosive power, and the earth could not even pierce the ground. It might as well have just been fire.

"Good try though," said Cixi. "But that is not the same as elemental manipulation."

The problem was Akiza's impatience. She had always been direct, but this was not a simple problem that could be solved through force. It required her to learn something new and use it properly.

"Master?" said Akiza.

"Yes?" Cixi replied.

"Will you fight me?" asked Akiza.

"Why? You can't win," Cixi answered.

"I want to see how you use it in a real fight, it might help me," Akiza explained.

"Very well," said Cixi.

Cixi drew her sword. Her sword turned into water. A black turtle shell appeared in front of her. Akiza drew her sword and deployed her wings.

Akiza charged forward. "Rising Phoenix Strike!" she shouted as she launched herself towards Cixi's shield.

BOOM. The sound resonated throughout the Training Ground. But, there was not a single crack in Cixi's shield. She had been holding back during the entrance test. It was then that Akiza felt pain in her back.

"A direct attack is predictable," said Cixi. Her water sword had curved around an slashed Akiza in the back. Cixi could attack and defend at the same time!

Cixi then swung her sword, splashing water all over the ground. "What is she doing?" Akiza thought.

Cixi then went into full Armatization and stabbed her sword in the ground. She kept one hand on the sword as her entire body became covered in a bright blue ice like a suit of armor.

"You're an ice elemental too?!?" Akiza said with shock.

"Ice is merely an extension of water," said Cixi. "Just like how metal is an extension of earth."

Cixi's attacks became unpredictable. She was manipulating the water she had spread on the ground. As long as her hand was on the sword, she could manipulate all of the water. Akiza could barely keep up as each puddle of water suddenly became a deadly weapon. If she got near one, a puddle of water would turn into a whip and lash out her. If she stepped on one, a pillar of ice would rise up and pierce her body.

"What's the matter?" asked Cixi. "Am I not leaving you any openings?"

Akiza's attacks almost all required her to get close. Even though she had a few techniques of the Shinmei-ryu, they would not be able to pierce Cixi's turtle shell unless she got up close again. It was then that everything changed. Akiza felt the release of a even greater power.

"This is my Domain," said Cixi. The Armatization on Cixi changed again. Some parts of it became transparent and it was possible to see through parts of the Armatization her shoulder and legs. The result was that the entire temperature of the area reduced into a cold chill. The ice in her Armatization had been released into the environment. "All of the Masters can do this, can you?" she asked.

Akiza took this chance while Cixi was talking to dash towards Cixi with an attack meant to counter a Spirit. With her sword, she detonated one of her wings to give her the push. "Exploding First Wing! Rising Phoenix Strike!" she shouted. "I got you," Akiza thought.

"Very good," said Cixi. "When I gave you an opening, you took it, but..."

Akiza watched as the turtle shell shield in front of her became rounded. "This is the power of manipulation," said Cixi. She was able to change the shape of her Spirit too!

The sword merely slid off because Akiza was unable to hit dead center with the sword. "It didn't work!" Akiza thought.

"You must remember that Master Saki can do this as well," Cixi said.

This was the power of a Master at West Wind Academy. This was the power of Elemental Manipulation. And, this was the power that Akiza must defeat.

"Endless Nine White Heavens!" shouted Cixi. A blizzard swept outwards from Cixi, freezing the entire arena including Akiza. She walked up to Akiza and flicked her forehead. Akiza had crumbled like the griffon had against the wolf. For the first time in a long time, Akiza experienced the pain of death.