For the second time of the day, Shin Sumi enjoyed the busy streets of the market.

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 Fist 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."

The disciple smiled at Shin Sumi, his face containing the solemnity and pride of somebody instructing a junior. Another word of advice or two later, the disciple was gone, leaving Shin Sumi indecisive.

"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."

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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.

The answer to her questioning came from the girl next to her, talking with a friend in a low voice.

"He's become Master Cloud's direct dog, even before the start of the Cloud-Formation Pavilion's selection. Within the five Pavilion Masters, Master Cloud is the number two, ranking just after the Patriarch, the Great Elder and Master Sword. That's a lot of backing for a newbie, it must have gotten to his head."

The girl with a blue dress was providing a simple explanation to her friend and had not thought that Jun Qian could hear her with the distance separating them. Her face turned frighteningly white when the number two newcomer lifted his head in her direction.

He was going to at least rebuke her, or maybe even give her a lesson. It was too late to take back her words now.

But then Jun Qian's eyes spotted the red robed disciple that was standing still right behind the girl frozen with fear.

Shin Sumi had a warm smile on her face, the kind that was either welcoming an old friend or either taunting and ironic. It was obviously the latter that Shin Sumi wanted Jun Qian to see.

The boy that had once been completely defeated by her managed to keep himself steady despite his knees' wish to let him fall to the ground. Only his exorbitant eyes with a light of fear could be seen.

Shin Sumi had etched a mark so deep in his memory that for a second he was blinded once more by the sight of the sixty fourth bolt of terrifying heavenly lightning.

His jaw trembled a bit at the reminiscence of how she had ignored him, his magic broken by her breakthrough. At the time he wasn't even worth looking at for somebody like her.

And now that he himself was in the first step of the Liquid Realm, he knew that he was probably still no match. Shin Sumi had been blessed by sixty four bolts of lighting failing to obliterate her. A day later, Jun Qian had only received sixteen bolts and had almost died, like anybody else would have.

Anybody except the monster that was Shin Sumi.

Jun Qian snorted to keep some face before putting his hands in his sleeves and leaving the market street.

Only two people had understood what had just transpired. Shin Sumi left too, a devilish smile on her lips, looking like a small mischievous girl.

"Taunting Jun Qian is fun but I need to go back to my house and learn some magic!"

Like everyone, she had heard Patriarch Sen's voice and the Star Zheng. She had one week to prepare fully before attempting to enter a Pavilion.

Or rather enter three of them.

"Little nut, what am I going to do? Despite what Little Azu told me, I still haven't decided where to go..."

Thankfully there was an entire week left. That was more than enough time for Shin Sumi who didn't need to stabilize her perfect cultivation, backed up by sixty four Shinsoo Doors instead of a dozen like a normal disciple.

She decided to postpone her decision for now, concentrating solely on learning the techniques she had acquired.

By the time it took her to read the different scrolls, go back to her lonely house in the forest on the west side of the valley and send a divine sense message to Xiao Yue to ask when they could meet, the little nut had already done the job of refining the techniques.

The old looking wooden book in one hand, Shin Sumi slowly lost track of time, entranced in the making of spirit formations.

The protective formation she had gotten first took her about four hours to complete. Pouring energy out of her fingers into the dust on the ground, Shin Sumi quickly mastered the patterns needed to create an invisible barrier around her courtyard.

The alterations to the formation pattern that had appeared in the nut's book were not too different from the original pattern, and there was no clue as to how much better the new version was, but Shin Sumi knew in her heart that the protective formation was a bit stronger than originally intended.

"I almost wish that Jun Qian or someone would come and try to enter the house now, just to see if the formation works... Too bad the house is already invisible to the eyes of others."

Talking about invisibility, Shin Sumi then turned to the next page in her book. Hiding formation, the second scroll from the market.

After a day of hard work without rest, Shin Sumi had finally mastered all the spirit formations she had acquired. Being alone, she had no way to ascertain her success and the quality of her formations designed to shield her from any intruder or undesired observer.

Despite that, she knew with the ambient flow of Shinsoo that her magic worked. Compared to her previous failed attempts, the feeling around her was clear. The formations didn't need a lot of magical power, but had she pulled it off before reaching the Liquid Realm, she knew she wouldn't have been able to discern the energy signature of her barriers like that.

"When Yue answers me we will be able to try the third magic, the light transmitting formation! Projecting an image on a surface, that would be so amazing!"

Spirit formations like that were common practice for cultivators, but still had quite an impact on Shin Sumi, who hadn't been brought up in the cultivation world with as much knowledge as some others.

Although nobody would judge what she had done as a great achievement, the sheer fact that she had succeeded in mastering three formations in the short span of a single day when anybody else was seriously immersed in cultivation would make some heads turn.

Taking a bit of deserved rest, Shin Sumi left the training area of her courtyard for the bathing room. She was enjoying the fresh water when the medallion in her bag of holding received a divine sense message.

"Sumi, you won't believe what happened to me! I can meet you as soon as you want, I'll be at the Fourth Star Arena. You and I have a lot to talk about, so be there!"

As often, Xiao Yue was bubbling with energy, always having a good reason to be excited.

Without bothering to continue washing her hair, Shin Sumi left her house right after activating her newly created protective formation.

The twelve Star Arenas were arranged in a circle on the outskirts of the upper valley. According to their numbers, the fourth one was somewhat close to the Second Star Arena that was below Shin Sumi's forest house.

Shin Sumi heard the Fourth Star Arena before seeing it. Sounds of fighting resounded like in any proper training arena, but what caught her attention first was the discussion between two young men running by.

"I told you it was a bad idea! We need to get you fixed. I know someone from the Medicine branch that will help you, he owes me a favor" said the boy holding the other by the arm, pulling him along.

The man being pulled replied in a very low voice, obviously in a sorry state. His face was completely empty of blood contrarily to his flank where the white grey fabric of his daoist robes were tainted red.

"I just wanted to ask her out... I didn't know who she was, she just looked cute!

- Stop it, you're making it worse, what if she hears you?!

- I don't care anymore! Why is the blood not stopping?! My wound should have mended by now!! It's her devilish magic..."

"Devilish magic...?" that was enough for Shin Sumi to understand what had transpired. Her arms folded in her sleeves, she walked into the arena just in time to see Xiao Yue standing in the middle of one of the platforms just as she was putting away her Black Devil Spear.

"Sumi!"

When Xiao Yue saw her sworn sister, she instantly ignored the boys that had bothered her previously and the terrified faces of the people training around.

Solely in front of Shin Sumi did the Black Devil Maiden disappear to reveal the cheerful Yue.

"Oi, Yue, you did quite a number on the guy back there... Is he going to be okay?"

Xiao Yue laughed, her beautiful laughter echoing for a second.

"He'll be fine. It's only a scratch from the Black Devil Spear. It may look intimidating but I didn't use more power than necessary. Had I wanted, I could have made mincemeat out of him, hmpf."

Embarassed by seeing the faces around them, Shin Sumi proposed that they go for a walk to talk, rather than stay in the middle of the Fourth Star Arena, where people were definitely looking at them strangely.

Together, they left the trails until they found a nice clearing to sit down and talk.

"So what happened to you during my breakthrough?" Xiao Yue asked.

Taking a deep breath, Shin Sumi tried to hide her uneasiness as she blatantly lied to her closest friend.

"I left the trial. I did it in a way that would stay discreet so that people wouldn't know about me..." Shin Sumi started.