26 "Show Your Prowess And Prove Your Worth" (1/2)
Shin Sumi was almost sure of her theory. The Liquid Pellet was certainly a trap to steal her talent.
As she understood it, a normal Liquid Pellet had the capacity to attract a lot of ambient Shinsoo in the body of the cultivator that had ingested it. It was a genuine Immortal medecine giving a disciple more chance of success in their breakthrough.
It wasn't until the official announcement was made in the sect that Shin Sumi's suspicions gained more substance.
The day following her visit to the Affairs Pavilion, a loud crystalline sound rang in the entire sect, seemingly coming from everywhere at once. Shin Sumi who was at the North Cultivation Plaza lifted her head at the same time as everyone.
It sounded exactly like the plucking of a string on a zheng. Shin Sumi remembered her teacher from East Seaside Village displaying such an instrument once for a wedding ceremony. The only difference with now is that it almost seemed like she was standing inside the wooden cavity of the musical instrument.
The pure note resounded for an entire thirty breath cycle before it stopped. During the whole time, Shin Sumi couldn't help but close her eyes and smile.
Only the Liquid Realm disciples and the Honorary Disciples that had been in the Dark Sky Starry Sect recognized the treasured artefact of the sect leadership, the Star Zheng.
That special zheng had been one of the only mortal possessions that the founder of the sect brought with him when he entered the Immortal world.
Through all his life, he had been often seen meditating while playing heavenly music. His melodies were known all over the continent in the different cultivator sects that he had visited.
According to the legends that were passed down through each generation to the Liquid Realm disciples, after his passing, the founder's zheng gained a spirit of its own, turning from a mortal object into a magical artefact of incredible power.
Nowadays, it was said that the Star Zheng's sound was so powerful that it could make the disciples of the Dark Sky Starry Sect be twice as strong in battle while making the enemies of the sect cower in fear.
As Shin Sumi had felt it within her heart, even a single note lasting for a few seconds was powerful enough to ring through the entire sect and to raise everybody's the spirit.
Shouts from the eldest disciples could be heard everywhere, their effervescence proving the caliber of the call.
”It's the Star Zheng! The Patriarch is going to speak!”
”The Star Zheng! I never thought I would hear it twice in my life!”
”The Star Zheng is the protector spirit of the sect! My cousin Bai who is in the Liquid Realm told me. Something important is going to happen!”
Conversations were bubbling up everywhere around Shin Sumi. They only died when a warm and powerful voice started talking.
Using the Star Zheng and his own cultivation base as a medium the Core Development leader of the sect, Patriarch Sen, spoke.
”Honorary Disciples of the mighty Dark Sky Starry Sect, hear my words. Thirty days from now will begin the greatest event of your generation. A grand trial by fire will be held, every disciple who has at least reached the Shinsoo Gathering stage is free to participate. You will be transported to the special training grounds of the sect that is normally reserved for the Inner Disciples of the Liquid Realm.
”The goal of the trial by fire is to show your prowess before your peers and prove your worth! The first two hundred disciples to pass will be offered an Inner Disciple immortal cave in the upper valley. The first twenty will receive rewards from the sect reserve as well as a direct tutelage under a Core Development Elder.
”All disciples that wish to compete are required to stand on one of the two cultivation plazas thirty days from now. All of you should now resume cultivation. The sect expects great things from you.”
And just like that the voice stopped.
There was a lot to take in. The disciples around Shin Sumi kept silent for a few more seconds before the generic crowd burst with excitation!
”Waaaah! I knew something epic was going on!”
”A training session in the Inner Disciples training grounds?! Can you imagine how effective cultivating there would be!”
”After being stuck for years in Shinsoo Gathering, I, Yun Kei, will finally be able to achieve the Liquid Realm!”
”Forget about the Liquid Realm brother Yun, I will place in the top two hundred for sure!”
Shin Sumi looked around at the public excitement. Even she couldn't help but be a little excited although she already knew the general lines.
Something bothered her though. Patriarch Sen had omitted the fact that it was all in preparation for a war to come.
Sighing, she said to herself ”I guess that is the way of cultivation. That should be expected from every cultivator.”
Soon most disciples left the North Cultivation Plaza. From high up in the skies above the lower valley, lines of disciples could be seen on the stone paths leading to the different training grounds.
Everybody was on their way to prepare for the trial by fire to come.
***
”Rising Star Tournament... I bet she is the real rising star expected by the sect...”
In the abandoned courtyard that she and her followers frequently occupied, Chu Erlong was mumbling to herself.
”What did you say, Big Sister Chu?”
The three red robed followers had turned to look at their leader. Chu Erlong dispersed the long black hair that obscured her pretty face.
”Nevermind. You too should go into secluded meditation. You can occupy this place.”
”What about you Big Sister Chu? Are you not excited about this Rising Star Tournament? Had Great Elder Chu told you already? You didn't seem too surprised to hear the announcement.”
Chu Erlong smiled with a hidden sadness. She lifted her head towards the sky. The neverending white clouds reflected dazzlingly on her bright orange dress, making her look like a precious flower.
Liu Qing's eyes wandered for a second on Chu Erlong's colorful complexion. As her most confident follower, she already knew what she would answer to Fan Jue.
”My grandfather had indeed told me about the tournament. It is simply that I now realized something” she added. Jumping to her feet with grace, Chu Erlong stood up. When she looked back down, her face was an unreadable mask again.
What was on her mind, nobody knew but her.
***
High above the clouds, on the tallest peak of the Dark Sky Starry Sect, a lone figure all dressed in white was walking with slow steps up a long staircase.
Despite his apparent youth and vigor, each step was difficult for him and seemed to take every bit of mental focus he could muster.
The pressure on the Patriarch's mountain was hard to endure for a Liquid Realm Disciple, even for the Patriarch's direct disciple.
”Junior Fen Wudao reports to master Sen!” he announced with a voice amplified by Shinsoo.
”Come in and have tea with me” replied a voice from inside the building in front of him.
Fen Wudao quickly wiped the sweat from his brows with the back of his white sleeves.
”You wanted to see me, master?”
”Yes Wudao. I want to know what you think about that protegee of yours.”
Fen Wudao's eyes looked in the distance in confusion for a split second before coming back to the old man sitting at the tea table.
Every time Fen Wudao came here by orders of the Patriarch, he was caught in amazement by the place. The building in itself wasn't particularly impressive, but everything inside was.
A myriad of spirit plants exhumed a fragrance that was beneficial for cultivation. An oil painting on the wall seemed to come to life every time someone looked at it. Even the tea table was slightly pulsing with a shining light.
”Well?” the old man insisted with a warm but strict tone. Fen Wudao opened his mouth. This time he didn't lapse because of the Immortal paradise displayed in front of him but because he was deep in thoughts.
”This junior is confident that master if referring to Yan Yan.”
”Yan Yan, Shin Sumi, call her however you want. I see you have taken the liberty to give her that precious sword of yours” replied Patriarch Sen.
Fen Wudao was relieved to know that his master was aware of the double identity of the girl he had brought back to the sect himself.