Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 57: The Elixir of Tranquility

At the foot of the waterfall, Zora raised her head and stared into the roaring silver torrent high above.

Dozens of feet of falling force.

The impact would be brutal. The pain would be unforgiving.

But her current body was far too weak.

"Master, this waterfall is far too violent. With your current strength, forcing it like this is extremely risky."

White’s anxious voice echoed in her mind, carrying a rare hint of unease. Cultivation required hardship, yes, but hardship within reason. To charge headfirst into something that could easily cripple her was no longer training. It was gambling with her life.

Zora paused for only a brief moment.

Years of experience told her clearly that this waterfall lay right at the edge of what she could endure. It was dangerous, yes, but not truly fatal. As for injuries... since she had chosen the path of cultivation, pain had long ceased to be something she feared.

After making her decision, she stepped forward without hesitation.

The thunderous roar of falling water swallowed all sound instantly.

In the next breath, icy river water drenched her from head to toe. The chill pierced through her skin like countless fine needles, and her body shuddered uncontrollably from the cold.

"Master, can’t we go back into the Ring of Chaos?" Black wailed pitifully as he was tossed about by the raging current, his once sleek fur now plastered to his body in a miserable, dripping mess.

Zora shook her head slightly, her voice steady despite the chaos.

"You two avoid hardship far too easily. If strength is to grow, pain must be endured. If you want to stay, then train with me."

Black let out a heartbroken whimper. His perfect, glossy fur... ruined in an instant. The proud, majestic image he had cherished was utterly destroyed by these merciless waters.

The rocks beneath the waterfall were slick with moss, and the crushing force of the torrent made every step treacherous.

Before she could even steady herself, the full weight of the cascading water slammed into her body, hurling her backward like a broken leaf.

She crashed hard against the rocks several meters away. A sharp pain exploded through her chest as her breath was violently knocked out of her lungs.

Yet she did not cry out.

She pushed herself up again.

Step by step, she advanced back toward the heart of the waterfall.

Once more, the torrent struck.

Once more, she was thrown aside.

Again. And again.

Each impact stole more warmth from her body. Her muscles screamed from strain, her bones ached from repeated collisions, and her lips slowly turned a deep, chilling purple. Blood seeped faintly from her knuckles where the rocks had torn her skin.

Still, she advanced.

Black and White, who had been grumbling moments before, gradually fell completely silent. Watching this scene, even they felt their hearts tighten. Faced with such unbearable pain, their master uttered not a single word of complaint.

Her eyes, though pale with exhaustion, burned brighter with every fall.

She wanted to grow stronger.

For the humiliation she had endured.

For the truth buried in her past.

For her unknown parents.

For the pride in her bones that refused to bow.

Time and again, she was battered into the water, only to rise again with gritted teeth. From beginning to end, not a single trace of hesitation appeared in her movements.

Not far away, Elm watched in stunned silence, his heart filled with indescribable shock and admiration.

"Princess Consort’s will... It’s terrifying," he murmured. "She is just like Milord."

He alone knew how much suffering Prince Kael had endured to reach where he stood today. Others saw only glory and power. Only he had witnessed the blood and agony behind it.

To see the same ruthless determination now reflected in Zora left him shaken.

Prince Kael stood quietly, his gaze fixed on the slender figure beneath the roaring waterfall. A faint glimmer of emotion stirred deep within his eyes.

From her unyielding posture, he saw his own reflection.

They were the same kind of people.

People who would tear their way through thorns with bare hands if that was what it took to ascend.

"She’s already injured badly," Alder then said softly, unable to bear it any longer. "Should we... help her?"

Prince Kael lifted his hand slightly. "Even if you went over there now, what could you truly help her with?"

Alder fell silent at once.

After a moment of hesitation, he had to admit the truth. Cultivation was never something others could shoulder on one’s behalf.

Guidance could be given, protection could exist at the margins, but when it came to breaking through one’s limits, the only person who could endure the suffering was the cultivator themself.

"The road of cultivation is walked with one’s own bones and blood," Prince Kael said quietly. "Though others may point the way, each step must be taken alone. Besides..."

His gaze returned to the distant waterfall, where the roar still echoed faintly through the valley.

"Zora already has her own path in her heart."

Night gradually descended.

By the time the moon climbed high into the sky, Zora finally emerged from beneath the waterfall.

Her entire body was numb with cold. The moment she stepped onto dry ground, a wave of searing pain surged up from every joint and muscle.

The stiffness in her limbs made even standing feel difficult, and she could not stop herself from frowning deeply.

Not far from the waterfall was a shallow stone cave. It had once been the den of a low-level demonic beast, but it now stood abandoned. The interior was dry and wide enough for rest. Without hesitating, she made her way inside.

Under the faint moonlight filtering in from the entrance, she carefully examined her injuries.

Her shoulders were badly bruised, dark purple marks spreading beneath the skin. Her arms and legs were covered with small cuts and abrasions from repeated collisions with the rocks, and in some places, blood still oozed slowly. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

In just a single day, she had reduced herself to a mess of wounds.

"This body really is far too weak," Zora murmured with a bitter smile. If she wanted to raise this fragile vessel to its true potential, the road ahead would only grow more demanding.

Just as she was about to sit down and begin circulating her spiritual energy to stabilize her injuries, a familiar voice sounded from outside the cave.

"Zora."

She turned and walked out to the entrance, only to see Prince Kael standing quietly under the moonlight. A faint smile rested on his lips, but Alder was nowhere in sight.

"When did you come?" she asked.

She clearly remembered that they had agreed not to disturb one another during cultivation.

Instead of answering directly, Prince Kael stepped forward and handed her a small white porcelain bottle.

"This is for you. Once your body has been pushed to its limit, take this potion. It will greatly aid both physical strengthening and cultivation."

Zora took the bottle, her fingers tightening slightly around it.

"Thank you."

This gratitude was sincere.

"Rest properly tonight," Prince Kael said calmly. "Do not force yourself."

With just that one sentence, he turned and left, disappearing into the darkness without another word.

Not far away, he and Alder found another cave and settled down. If anything happened on her side, they would sense it immediately.

Watching his figure fade into the night, Zora felt an inexplicable warmth spread quietly through her chest.

With his status, there was no need for him to endure this wilderness at all. Remaining in the Prince’s Manor would have been infinitely more comfortable. Yet he had chosen to stay here, simply to ensure her safety.

So far, he was the only one who had ever done something like this for her.

Returning to the cave, she opened the porcelain bottle and sniffed the scent. It felt intoxicating...

At a single sniff, her expression shifted slightly.

"This Elixir of Tranquility is just..."