Alex and the rest got to challenge a dozen-odd groups of cultivators by the time night fell. By that time, Helen and the rest were tired, their Qi running low.
Alex too felt drained after the day-long training on Intent. The group gathered around a small rock and decided to spend the night there to collect Qi. Collecting Qi alone didn't take more than the whole night, so it was the only proper choice they had here.
As they stayed there, Ronron counted her stars.
"I lost 12 stars today," she said. "So I lost 12 more times than I won a challenge."
"12 is not bad," Alex said. "12 is less than the 100 you would have to spend to not get challenged all day."
"I suppose so," Ronron said. "But the challenges are only starting, and surely they will get harsher as time goes on. And I won't be able to win as much."
"You still have tens of thousands of stars. That's more than enough," Alex said.
Ronron sighed. "I just don't want to lose."
