57 Golden Thunder Inside (1/2)
”A c... I got brought here by a massive white crane” Shin Sumi realized.
She knew she was next to the last Vein of Hell Fire, the white one. The feeling of the gentle but terrifyingly strong energy source was unmistakable.
Despite being looked down upon by a very large animalistic creature, Shin Sumi didn't react like she would have done otherwise.
Her first instinct had been to try and fight, her survival mentality taking over but she forced herself to remain calm.
The creature hadn't done her any harm and even decided to bring her to her goal. At this point, Shin Sumi was also certain that this white crane was the blur she had seen a few months ago for the first time.
A strong wave of pressure emitted by the Vein of Hell Fire itself prompted Shin Sumi to sit down and meditate, or else she would be unable to physically process the quantity of energy being washed over her.
Nevertheless, she forced herself to stand on her knees, lowering her gaze and bowing to the giant bird.
”Thank you, Senior White Crane” she called softly.
The beak of the crane pushed her head aside and the flap of a white wing with golden lines intermingled with the feathers forced her into a sitting position.
Whatever Shin Sumi felt like doing, the simple pressure that the white crane had conjured with a casual move had forced her into submission.
”It wants me to meditate” was the only thing she could understand from the bird's actions.
A cry that was more akin to a loud chirping was the only answer Shin Sumi had before lapsing into a deep meditative state.
Over her head, the white crane reached a large rock crevice, nesting comfortably. The white head turned soundlessly, the unreadable white eyes gazing at the hilt of the Gold Tyrant Flying Sword protruding from the white source of Shinsoo.
***
”Wudao, can you guess why I have called you here?”
Patriarch Sen was standing away from the white robed young man, his hands clasped behind his back.
”I think Master has some news about the green talented girl, Shin Sumi.”
Patriarch Sen turned to face Fen Wudao, his old eyes looking as deep as the sea.
”Old man Crane assured that she found the fifth Vein of Hell Fire.”
Fen Wudao involuntarily took half a step back. He had obviously been shaken by the Patriarch's words.
”You mean... The white crane that is... He...”
”Yes. I don't think there is any worries to be had though. The focus point is that with Shin Sumi, that makes a total of eleven. The refinement of the golden blade is complete. You did well in choosing that girl.”
Fen Wudao was gradually coming back to his senses, bowing deeply to his Master's words of approval.
”Pardon me for being out of place for asking but... does Master intend on taking her as a direct disciple?”
***
Shin Sumi woke up peacefully from her meditation.
Although it had been completely subconscious, she had immersed herself deeper than ever before in her cultivation.
Was it the effect of having the white crane in the surroundings, protecting her?
The bird that brought her to the final Vein indeed did not have any bad intentions towards her, that was certain. Or else she would have already died a thousand times.
The first thing Shin Sumi did after opening her eyes and feeling the presence of the white crane was to turn and bow to the creature a second time.
”This humble one thanks Senior White Crane again for taking me to the Vein of Hell Fire. This disciple owes Senior a great debt.”
The crane looked at her with empty eyes and Shin Sumi saw the beak move a little bit. Was it a response? Shin Sumi had no idea.
Whatever or whoever the White Crane was, Shin Sumi knew it was sentient, at least to an extent.
The creature was too strong to evaluate it's cultivation level properly but the feeling that the bird gave off was somewhat similar to that of the Silver Blood Wolf that had bonded with her back at the third Vein of Hell Fire.
But there was also another feeling that Shin Sumi couldn't shake off. Something more... human, even though it looked no different than the many spirit creatures Shin Sumi had met and fought.
Shin Sumi couldn't finish off her thoughts as a white wall suddenly appeared right in front of her eyes.
A stifling pressure assailed her just from the force of the wind due to the approach of the crane.
A second later, Shin Sumi was trapped in the beast's talons, moving faster than what would have been comfortable for her at her cultivation level.
”I didn't have the time to properly assert my strength and the results of cultivating next to the last Vein! And here we are blurring out of space again.”
The transportation in the crane's talons only lasted a blink or two. When finally the disorientation and the high speed stopped, the white crane was gone and Shin Sumi was standing in front of a monolith.
Out of reflex, Shin Sumi was about to bow for the third time but a Shinsoo wave forced her thoughts to connect to the monolith, sending her immediately inside.
Shin Sumi stumbled in the arena and touched the ground at the same time as thunder rumbled.
”No, it's not thunder...” she thought, closing her fist and at last inspecting her body with her own divine sense.
”My entire body... My muscles, my bones... They are completely different from before!!”
The rumble Shin Sumi was hearing didn't come from the outside world but from inside her body!
It was like nothing she had ever felt before. And nothing she had ever seen either.
Her entire body had gained a golden hue from the inside. Her bones, her muscles, every fiber of her being radiated a profound light.
That was the effect of opening all Sixty-Four Shinsoo Doors.
Shin Sumi had entered the great circle of the Shinsoo Gathering Stage.
After repeatedly gathering the energy of nature and breaking open each Door in succession, following the circulating path from her dantian to all the apertures, Shin Sumi had broken open the barriers that were thought to have been lost forever.
A single probe had revealed all of that as well as the fact that she would need a bit of time to adjust.
The crackling thunder inside her body that couldn't be heard from the outside meant that her body was being remodeled, right here and then!
After each breakthrough it was an unavoidable process, fine tuning the newly-found strength and the energy levels of an individual.
Usually it was very gradual and didn't impact the disciple too much, but what was happening to Shin Sumi was very different.
But as fate would have it, Shin Sumi didn't have the luxury to sit down and acclimate to her new state.
”You...!” a female voice had spoken from the other side of the arena.
Shin Sumi gritted her teeth and looked up. Because of what was happening with her body, even spreading her divine sense was difficult and only a second had passed since her arrival in the monolith's arena.
She had been unable to feel the girl's presence!
And in fact there was not one person in there with her but two.
In a single glance, Shin Sumi recognized the two disciples. One of them was wearing an orange robe, the girl, and the boy was dressed in beautiful shining yellow robes.
”Ch-Chu Erlong and Jun Qian !”
There was no mistaking it. Shin Sumi could not forget the two faces that looked at her.
Without waiting for them to come over, Shin Sumi summoned the Gold Tyrant Flying Sword but to no avail.
Her bag of holding vibrated slightly but the sword didn't come out.
The mental link between Shin Sumi and her sword was intact, but she could tell that something was happening to the sword.
An orb of invisible energy was wrapped around the Gold Tyrant Flying Sword. Much like herself, the blade had finally undertook the last refining of the five Veins of Hell Fire.
”What the %$£#??!”
Shin Sumi was looking in pain, cold sweat dripping from her brows.
”Senior Brother Qian, look, Bai Fulong is hurt. What a pity.”
Jun Qian snickered.