65 Training Alone (1/2)
The loud voices of sellers, the constant fighting amongst disciples wanting the same artefact and offering higher prices, every sound was very indicative of the livelihood of the market area.
”You there, fellow sister, I can offer you this dagger for only five spirit stones! It's made from real Horned Serpent scales!
- Thank you but I'm looking for something else. Can you tell me who has the biggest collection of Spirit Formations scrolls here?
- Ah, I see, you're a newcomer. If you go over there to the left, you'll see Brother Ulong's shop. You'll recognize it easily, there are always dozens of people in front of it. But if you're looking for weapons, come back here to my shop, Po Yan's Magical Weapons Gallery!”
Shin Sumi thanked Po Yan and followed his instructions, at the same time drawing a mental map of the market and how it was arranged. Just like in the lower valley, shops specialized in a certain type of resources were packed close to each other, allowing a client to find them more easily.
Just like Po Yan said, Ulong's Mystery Shop was densely populated by all sorts of disciples. His motto was written on the large banner above his store, ”For any Liquid Realm step, there's a scroll for you”.
”Exactly what I needed!”
Contrarily to her expectations, Shin Sumi found that most of the scrolls containing spirit formations were really cheap. For only one or two middle grade spirit stones per jade slip or scroll, she was able to get quite a good amount of them.
”Protective formation, hiding formation, light transmitting formation... I think it's good enough for now!”
Shin Sumi's objective in finding spirit formations was complete. Now if she learned to use them properly she could set up a few measures of preventing herself from being seen, for example when she used the Copper Bell's powers to change appearance.
She was about to leave Ulong's Mystery Shop when a particular scroll attracted her attention.
”Shinsoo Fist of Thunder!”
Now that was an impressive name, something that caught her attention enough to make her want to stay.
She was about to pick it up from the rack it was laid on when a male disciple stopped her hand.
”Hi fellow disciple, can I give you a word of advice?”
Shin Sumi nodded, unsure of what was going on.
”That technique... The Shinsoo First of Thunder, don't spend your precious spirit stones uselessly on something like that. I know that it sounds powerful but it's absolutely impossible to get the technique right. From everybody I know who have tried, nobody has been able to master it. Five spirit stones for a flawed technique, it's not worth it.”
”How come it's a flawed technique? Now I want to take a look at it even more! If I can see it and then have the nut refine it, maybe I can even understand how it was flawed.”
After a bit more thinking, Shin Sumi came up with the conclusion that with the rare opportunity provided by the nut she had an incredible chance to get more knowledge on how techniques worked. And knowledge was power.
Because she had only broken through recently, she still didn't have any magical techniques at hand, those being rare below the Liquid Realm, especially when one didn't have any Master providing for them.
”Such an incredible name too... It's really a win-win for me!”
When Shin Sumi called out to Brother Ulong to buy the scroll, she realized that quite a few people were looking her way, many smiling.
”Ah, another junior that got owned by the Shinsoo Fist of Thunder...”
”How many spirit stones do you reckon Ulong had gained over the years with that one scroll? He sells it for five and when the buyer understands that the technique is flawed, Ulong buys it back for two stones. It's like an endless supply for him over the years!”
Shin Sumi ignored the talk around her, feeling quite smug about the fact that all the disciples of the crowd would drop dead with shock if they knew she had a way to make the technique work.
After her questionable acquisition, Shin Sumi asked Ulong if he had any other great techniques. But as expected these were not easy to find.
Each branch of the Dark Sky Starry Sect had their own techniques and disciples could only learn them when they joined the corresponding Pavilion. The only other techniques were the ones that were flawed or that had been clumsily created by disciples themselves.
The latter were usually nothing great and only served small purposes, like lighting a fire under a stove but not fighting in a war.
”All of the techniques passed down in the sect have been refined over the years by countless generations before becoming what they are... I guess creating a technique is not an easy feat.”
Ever since she had learned of the existence of magical techniques, Shin Sumi had wanted to try her hand at creating a technique suited for her.
Before even thinking about that though she needed experience and to study already existing techniques.
Shin Sumi had been roaming around the market, familiarizing herself with it quite well and even asking for tips to set up a new shop when a high-pitched pure note resounded through the air.
”It's the Star Zheng again! The Patriarch is going to speak.”
The strange properties of the singular note propagated at the speed of sound across the entire upper valley. Shin Sumi who was quite excited by her findings suddenly found herself calm and composed.
”Newcomers, congratulations on reaching the Liquid Realm. The Pavilions selection process will be starting in seven days and will last for two months. For now, only twenty two of you have made it through the Rising Star Tournament. We expect you to be numbering in the hundreds by the end of the selection process. The number of places in each Pavilion is limited, so prepare yourself quickly and act soon.”
Around Shin Sumi, quite a few of the disciples who had stopped to listen to the old serene voice made strange faces.
She knew instantly they were part of her generation, the ones who had just entered the upper valley.
”Oh man... I thought the hardships were over after the end of the tournament...”
An older Liquid Realm cultivator on the side snickered after hearing the youth who had commented.
”It's never over Brother. It's to keep us on edge or something” he said before continuing in a much louder voice, ”Attention to all newcomers, you should go stabilize your cultivation quickly. Wait until it's completely stable and then go immediately to the selections.”
Another older cultivator joined in, laughing at the first one.
”Oi Brother Fei, you're giving out tips now? I thought you missed your entry to the Star-Sword Pavilion and went instead to the Light-Breaker... Are you really someone the newbies should listen to?”
”I dare you to repeat that, Luo Shen! I won't take any comments from a Cloud-Formation kid who can't reach the third step!”
”Oh, really?”
Some cheering could be heard. A fight was quickly escalating between the two disciples. As Shin Sumi had guessed earlier, the competition between the different Pavilions was strong.
The two disciples, Luo Shen and the one surnamed Fei were definitely having a go at it, when suddenly an ethereal shape appeared between the two of them.
The shape shone with a silvery light that pierced the eyes but Shin Sumi could make out the appearance of a candle before it split into two. Each half of the wax figure ran into a disciples who found themselves stuck in whatever positions they were in.
The wax magic had dissipated, leaving its targets still immobilized when a gentle but manly voice was heard before the crowd could even be amazed.
”I don't want any fighting in my sight. You two trash should scram before I get angry.”
Shin Sumi had been about to leave the area discreetly but the familiar voice and technique suddenly made her want to stay and observe.
Jun Qian had appeared out of nowhere.
”Looks like going from first under the Liquid Realm to second in the newbie ranking didn't make him more humble” Shin Sumi thought.
”Br- Brother Jun, this is just a game between us. Luo Shen and I are good friends.”
Shin Sumi could not believe her eyes. Were these two Liquid Realm practitioners being intimidated by a newcomer? Even if it was Jun Qian, it seemed a bit much.