63 New House, New Technique! (2/2)
Shin Sumi acted a little bit surprised but not too much. Just enough so that Fen Wudao looked proud of his trick.
”This small mansion doesn't appear on the Dark Sky Starry Sect records. Because unlike me you will not appear as a genius despite your true ranking, you can keep a low profile. That place is the perfect opportunity for that.”
With just a glance, Shin Sumi could tell that Fen Wudao had at some point in time longed for a situation similar to hers. Because he had been acknowledged publicly as unrivaled amongst his peers, he could not live discreetly in the forest, focusing on cultivation.
”Brother Fen wished he could have been the same as me... Keeping the existence of the Ghost Pavilion a secret while being in the spotlight at all times must be hard to do.”
The two cultivators entered through the doors at the same time, stepping on the stone tiles that ran across the garden.
”This house initially belonged to our brother, the Fifth Ghost”, Fen Wudao explained, ”Because of it I could not disappear from the records like you, Sister Shin. Instead the Patriarch had to take in a direct disciple, somebody who would keep a public front for the sect.
When the Fifth Ghost left for a mission outside the sect, it was already too late for me. Luckily, a genius like you appeared only two years after. So this place is now yours.”
”Where is the Fifth Ghost now?” enquired Shin Sumi.
Fen Wudao sighed, ”That, I do not know. The intrigues in which the Ghost Pavilion takes part run deep and wide. I am unaware of most of what is going on.”
”Don't worry about it, though. For now, concentrate on stabilizing your cultivation base after your breakthrough. In two days' time you will be able to reappear in the upper valley. You will then be able to go and claim your rewards, my Master has arranged for you to officially finish in the fifteenth position in the Rising Star Tournament.
Then you will be able to start cultivating the techniques of the different Pavilions and I will call you when it is time to make your proper entrance in the Ghost Pavilion.”
Fen Wudao stayed with Shin Sumi for a couple of hours, sharing tea and talking about the house, the Ghost Pavilion and cultivation in general. For the first time, Shin Sumi was able to peer into her mysterious senior's personality, understanding the hardships that came with his status.
He looked relieved to be able to enjoy himself for a couple of hours before returning to the upper valley.
After months of trial, Shin Sumi enjoyed the company, although she would have prefered to be with Xiao Yue, and even felt a bit saddened when the white robed young man left her alone in her new home.
Walking around the mansion, Shin Sumi absentmindedly lost herself in her thoughts before her feet stopped in front of the spring at the back of her building.
The clear sound of the spring coming out from a crevice in between two rocks was music to her ears.
”It feels like forever since I've taken a relaxing bath” she realized.
Following the water with her divine sense, Shin Sumi entered the two story house. From what Fen Wudao had told her, the second level was a simple room with mats on the floor. It was an ideal place to cultivate in all serenity.
Most people would use a room like this to focus on spiritual techniques and to comprehend things about their own cultivation. After reaching the Liquid Realm, one's need for sleep was basically nonexistent, cultivator preferring meditation instead.
But what Shin Sumi was currently interested in was the bottom level. There was a small kitchen, although it was probably more of a place to craft medicine, given that the only furniture on the furnace was a large cauldron.
Checking the pots and recipients, Shin Sumi sadly came to the conclusion that the place had been thoroughly cleaned by her predecessor. Not a single pill remained, not a leaf or seeds, nothing.
”I'll have to take a trip to the dark chasm at some point if I'm allowed to do so. I left so many different Yin type plants, I could probably start a second market in the upper valley!”
Another room of the base level was completely empty except for magnificent tapestries. There was nothing magical about them but they were pleasing to the eye.
Shin Sumi didn't bother checking the entire place. She would have all the time to do so in the future. After the kitchen and the empty room, she directly went to where her divine sense was leading her.
From behind the house, the spring water entered into a bathing room! It was large and cozy, rocks forming an indoor pond. Candles and crystals lit the mirror-like surface of the pool in such a way that the walls and ceiling seemed to ondulate in rhythm.
Shin Sumi furrowed her brows slightly, ”Hmm not bad, but I would rather feel the outside breeze... I will have to do something about that later.”
At least she had some place to bathe, in the comfort and the security of her own home.
Gently, Shin Sumi loosened her silk belt and the leather cord that tied her bag of holding to her slender waist. The green robes flowed down her smooth skin, forming a soft pile on the wooden floor without the slightest sound.
Shin Sumi ignored the heating furnace next to the bath, instead using the Copper Bell to adjust herself to the water. With magic, the cold spring water was the perfect temperature.
Running her hands through her hair, Shin Sumi slowly washed her long black locks before cleaning her body.
Once she was done, she let herself slump down until the water was up to her shoulders. Her developing breasts were the only thing still above the surface besides her head. Nestled in between them was a small greyish ball.
”I didn't even feel the little nut come out of my wrist” she laughed. ”Is it the same when people from the Divine-Beast Pavilion summon their fighting spirit beasts?”
”Hey, little nut, can you turn into a book?”
The familiar small vortex appeared, the old bark cover falling onto Shin Sumi's open hands.
”Moon Severing Ephemeral Shadow, a fitting name if I'll get to wear the same insignia as Brother Fen.”
She referred of course to the ghost shadow over the moon that symbolized the Ghost Pavilion.
”I wonder if the techniques are linked in any way...”
The Moon Severing Ephemeral Shadow was a cultivation technique that she had acquired during the trial. She had already partially read it but without trying to comprehend anything.
From what she had learned, it was useless to decipher a new technique before handing it to the little nut. After it had done its trick, the technique was guaranteed to be upgraded, only then would it maximize its utility.
Under the light of the crystals, Shin Sumi read carefully the small inscriptions on the page of the book. The Moon Severing Ephemeral Shadow scroll showed her a new way to channel her inner Shinsoo.
From her dantian, she would have to guide the Shinsoo along a carefully chosen path, linking meridians in a specific order.
The technique came in three different steps, from which she could only read the first.
”Materialize an illusory shadow, harnessing the darkness and stealing the light. Once I've cultivated the first step fully, the second step will probably unlock itself. Or maybe I need a higher cultivation level...”
Shin Sumi was puzzled but excited. Letting the nut go float around leisurely, Shin Sumi concentrated.
Gathering her Shinsoo, Shin Sumi forced its path along her body.
It wasn't an easy thing to do. Sometimes the path required the Shinsoo to flow unnaturally inside her body and the concentration needed was incredible.
Sweat beads rolled along Shin Sumi's cheeks, mixing with the clear water surrounding her.
”Gaaah another failure! I've tried maybe a hundred times but I can't even make a full cycle!” she gasped after two full hours had passed.
”The Liquid Realm... It is something else. How can it be so hard controlling my own energy?!”
Frustrated but also somewhat glad to have found a good challenge, Shin Sumi left the bathing room.
After meditating for a few hours, she tried again to circulate her Shinsoo in the way of the Moon Severing Ephemeral Shadow, not making any further progress, being stuck before completing a single cycle leaving her empty and tired.
For once Shin Sumi understood what it meant to cultivate normally. No matter how she thought of it she couldn't find a shortcut this time. Neither the little nut nor the Copper Bell could help her.
”Even fighting spirit beasts is easier than sitting down and cultivating that technique” she pouted.
For the two days indicated by Fen Wudao before she could get out to the upper valley, Shin Sumi alternated between trying to cultivate the Moon Severing Ephemeral Shadow technique, getting angry about it, resting and trying again.
She had made a little bit of progress but not enough to get her to be satisfied with herself.
”Two days! Now I can leave and claim my rewards. Maybe I will find inspiration in the upper valley, I've been dying to roam around and explore a bit more!”