31 Challenges, Trials And Confusion (2/2)

”The Five Veins of Hell Fire” she repeated a few times. ”I have no idea what it is and where to find it but it sure sounds terrifying...”

Focusing her mind, Shin Sumi's eyes stopped their listlessness and turned more resolute than ever.

”I will definitely succeed!”

A painful grumbling from her stomach broke through her unwavering will.

”But first... let's eat!”

The tortoise meat was finally cooked. That night, Shin Sumi fested like rarely before. The flavor of the meat filled her with warmth and seemed to replenish her Shinsoo levels almost as fast as meditating with high grade spirit stones would.

The tortoise had lived for almost fifty years according to the nut's new page acquisition, and was at the green core level, of course it was filled with Shinsoo.

Shin Sumi knew she could eat like a rich aristocrat for more than a month with all the meat she possessed in her bag of holding.

At the same time as she used the Copper Bell on herself to prepare for the next Shinsoo Door opening, a brief thought flashed into her mind.

Her eyes showed a flash of nostalgia and she wished she could have her family back in East Seaside Village taste such succulent Immortal food.

Her line of thinking broke before Shin Sumi could start reminiscing about her family too much. She had given up on this kind of life already to become an Immortal anyway.

A vibration in her bag of holding luckily interrupted the thought.

It was Xiao Yue sending her a message. It had almost been a month since Shin Sumi had seen her sworn sister and she wondered how Xiao Yue's training had made her improve. Shin Sumi rejoiced about the fact that a few days from now she could see her friend again, while scanning the identification medallion with her Divine Sense.

”Sumi, are you still outside the sect? The Rising Star Tournament starts tomorrow morning when the sun rises and I wanted to bathe in your pond one last time with you...”

Wait... WHAT ?!

Shin Sumi erupted with panic. She jumped to her feet.

”Tomorrow?! Isn't there four days left?!! How long did I sleep for after the fight with the tortoise?”

This changed everything. Shin Sumi was still quite far away from the lower valley. Even with her recent improvements and her cultivation base with forty-six Shinsoo Doors opened, the walk back would still take two hours at least.

She had wanted to use the green beast core to open a few more apertures, maybe reach the Spirit Doors or more before the beginning of the trial.

But now Shin Sumi realized she had only around four hours and then the training month would be over.

Gathering all of her possessions from the chasm, Shin Sumi even when as far as putting a lot of bones in her bag of holding. The sudden rush kept her from being able to think straight.

Only twenty minutes had passed since she finished eating and she received Xiao Yue's message and Shin Sumi was on her way.

It had become so common for her to borrow the powers of the Copper Bell that she didn't even think about retracting it from her dantian.

Her internal Shinsoo bubbled up with a red tinge as she sped along the trees. Soon enough she had crossed the borders restricting the orange robed disciples.

”I better eat a Confusion Pill now” she said to herself as she hears distant sounds of human activity.

She hadn't seen another disciple in a month and the last thing Shin Sumi wanted was for someone to know about her physical abilities.

”Everybody knows that Yan Yan has received the appraisal of Senior Brother Fen, whereas I would prefer to be a nobody!”

She felt the familiar effects of the Confusion Pill on her body right as she was about to surpass a group of three red robed youths.

Fwooosh.

A gentle looking kid who seemed even younger than Shin Sumi saw a red blur as his hair flowed with the speed of Shin Sumi.

”Who... who was that?!” he exclaimed out loud. He barely had the time to make out the facial features of the person passing by before they were gone.

”What are you saying Han Gu? Hurry up or we will be late for the tournament” replied one of his friends who had not even seen Shin Sumi due to her speed.

”No-Nothing... Hey guys, wait up!”

Shin Sumi slowed down right before the Western gate appeared in her sight. The journey had taken only about an hour and a half, which was a record for her.

Shin Sumi patted her thigh, suddenly impressed at herself at the thought of having made more progress than she expected.

She was lost in thoughts about how she would have been much stronger, had she had enough time to use the green beast core to open more Shinsoo Doors. Silently, she blended in with the excited crowd on their way to the closest Cultivation Plaza.

Nobody seemed to be looking at her which surprised her for an instant.

”Why doesn't Yan Yan's face attract attention today?”

She dismissed the thought quickly. Considering the excitement that was the Rising Star Tournament it was no wonder everyone was stressed and focused solely on themselves.

Shin Sumi fell into the same line of thinking, trying to concentrate before she reached the North Cultivation Plaza.

Unlike everybody else Shin Sumi had a lot of expectations dotted onto her, and it was only now that she realized that the burden was heavy on her shoulders.

”I can't deceive Senior Brother Fen, or even the higher ups of the sect...”

Even Elder Zhu, the despicable man who didn't think twice about stealing one of his disciple's talent leaving them buried in the jungle, was counting on her on behalf of the administration of the Dark Sky Starry Sect.

The North Cultivation Plaza was crowded. Shin Sumi was lucky enough to find a spot to sit cross-legged, fitting behind a burly man.

She closed her eyes, her hands resting on her knees palms facing upwards, meditating.

The burly man whose back was to her was shaking, disturbing her internal concentration. Shin Sumi opened one eye, looking intensely at the figure.

The man who seemed to be more than twice her age was repeating encouraging words to himself. His hand was shaking quite strongly with stress even making him drop his gourd as he was about to drink refreshing water.

Shin Sumi sighed, wondering for a moment if she should try to move, reassure the red robed man or simply do nothing.

The gourd fell on the stone tile that made the immense platform, splashing a few drops on Shin Sumi's lap.

”Excuse me Brother, I tend to be quite clumsy when I'm stressed and... are you okay?”

The man looked into Shin Sumi's eyes, incomprehension on his face. He had simply tried to apologize to the youth behind him but... why was this kid's face so unsightly?

Shin Sumi couldn't believe her ears.

”Brother?!” she thought she heard him say. He was looking confused, and so was she but he didn't seem to realize his mistake.

Opening her eyes wide with realization, Shin Sumi bowed slightly to look at the reflection on the water spilling out from the gourd.

”Who is... Why am I... A man?!”

The moment she understood why the Confusion Pill had turned her appearance into that of a boy, a high pitched pure note resonated through the air.

The Star Zheng interrupted every one in the sect, even dissipating Shin Sumi's thoughts for now.

Everybody gathered on the North Cultivation Plaza platform dropped silent at once.

A powerful voice sprung up from nowhere and everywhere at the same time. To every disciple's shock, the tiles of the platform suddenly started glowing with a moving blue light.

”Honorary Disciples of the Dark Sky Starry Sect, you have all gathered in this place for one reason. Be your robes red or green colors, every one of you has a chance of participating in this grand Rising Star Tournament. Your mind has been made up the moment you stepped on those platform so I will keep it concise.”

The glowing platform was rapidly gaining in intensity. A strange feeling of spinning around started rising in Shin Sumi's abdomen as in everyone else's. In an instant, right before Shin Sumi felt as if she would pass out, the platform suddenly grew insanely bright. It was blinding like a sun.

”Let the trial begin!”