"Don't move so much. I'm trying to extract some more samples," the cold voice of a woman said, stabbing her feelers into Shuren's forearm.
Shuren was biting into a towel rag in his mouth. He wanted to scream at every moment, at the sensation of his arm being cut open by the elder. Every moment she sliced her scalpel at the mark where the devilish creature bit into him, it brought back that cursed pain. As if the devil was still there, devouring that part of his arm.
Even if Shuren himself had gotten rid of it.
He also didn't dare to scream. This woman was supposedly an elder of the sect, though she looked at most a few years older than him. She was definitely the youngest one he had seen yet.
She had brown hair tied into a ponytail, and she took out glasses to wear specifically on this impromptu surgery. She was Elder Harmony of the Seven Clouds Sect.
When Shuren and his team had arrived at the Even Clouds, at the base of the Seven Clouds Sect, he immediately was sent to the highest level of their emergency hall.
Everyone else only had some bruises and burns at most.
Shuren at least sighed that he just needed to do a verbal report. The moment he mentioned the devilish creature, an elder specialising as a healer came personally to look after him.
Another purple piece of flesh was extracted from Shuren, wriggling around like a parasitic worm. The moment he saw that, he didn't know whether to cry from despair or laugh from madness. If he left it unattended, who knew what it could've done to his body.
But, even though this surgery with not even a single bit of pain killing substance had lasted for an hour, Shuren seemed to see no end to it.
The sensation of your skin being peeled over. Of a wriggling worm being dragged out. Of burning Qi melting his skin to burn those worms, or tweezers dragging out the bits of murky flesh.
But he didn't dare complain verbally. He had to keep up a face, an image in front of the elder. To look strong and tough.
It would've been humiliating to beg for it to end, or ask how long it will take. But every thought in Shuren's mind was for the pain to stop.
Why hasn't she at least given me some anaesthetic effects before this surgery?! What kind of surgery is this?! I feel like a damned lab rat, just to satisfy her curiosity!
"Okay, it's done." The words of relief had come, like a message from the heavens.
Elder Harmony raised her palm over Shuren's forearm, and a mist had covered it entirely.
Shuren's aggravated eyes could finally ease up, his body relaxing once more. Whatever that technique was, it was rapidly healing his external wounds at a high rate, alongside acting as an anaesthetic. The hundreds of small wounds were closed, though the bruised skin was only fading away gradually.
And out of nothing, a thin pink ribbon came out, wrapping around Shuren's right arm, until not even a speck of skin could be revealed. Elder Harmony's own special technique, acting as a cast.
"I've healed most of the wounds. But let your body naturally heal the large bruises, at least. So long as you cycle Qi the entire time, it'll improve your natural regeneration as well," Elder Harmony said, putting away her surgical tools in her spatial storage, and taking off her glasses as well.
"Don't do anything strenuous. This arm also has gone through Qi Reversal recently as well. No training as well. Just give your body a day to rest and heal. Do you understand?" She enunciated her last words, a sign of many people not heeding her advice.
Shuren could afford to skip training for a day. He bowed his head. "I do. My gratitudes, Elder Harmony."
She walked away without a response, but when she reached the door, she stopped for a moment. "How's your mother been, by the way?"
Shuren's eyes shook for a moment. But realisation dawned on him right after. I see. She must be the friend that mother told me about. Offering to put a word in to become her Core Disciple. But, there's no use for me being one to a healer.
"She has been well, albeit busy nowadays. I can let you know the next time she's in the city if you wish to catch up with her."
Elder Harmony didn't respond, leaving the place on the spot.
Alone in the room, Shuren raised his head to stare at the ceiling. He let out a sigh.
A weary and exhausted sigh.
"I went through a life and death battle. My mastery of Qi should've advanced, and reaching Stage 8 shouldn't take as long. I've been promised great rewards as well from the sect for this, and gained Elder Spiritweaver's recognition. So far, everything is going as great as could be."
Shuren put any other thoughts at the back of his head.
There was no use meandering in self doubt.
The strong talk with results. That is all.
"I don't need any other medical treatment aside from rest. For today, I'll just go back home."
***
"For someone who just entered the sect, you sure are returning back home a lot. Homesick maybe?" Hebi teased.
"Don't talk and just let me in," Shuren said, tired of even entertaining Hebi's banter.
"Alright, alright." Hebi waved his palms, and the doors opened to the manor. "Tell me about your arm later over a drink, yeah?"
"I'll see if I have time. I'm going to go rest." With a dry and exhausted voice, Shuren replied. The moment he stepped foot back in his home, he finally slouched and got rid of his stoic façade.
The exhaustion filled every inch of his body. He still needed to have at least a nice and deep shower, but after that, he would collapse on to his bed straight away.
With a change of clothes and after a deep and clean shower on his own, Shuren wore sleeping robes as he headed to his room.
His eyes were droopy, begging to be closed in the darkness's warmth. But right before he could open the doorknob to his room, a yell from across the hallway distracted him.
"Big brother! You're already back home for a visit?" Liu Jing yelled, running to catch up with him.
Shuren composed himself, facing towards his younger brother. A head shorter than him, Shuren almost rubbed the head of his brother out of habit. He stopped himself from that. "Is it such a surprise, Jing?"
"I thought you'd be spending your time training in the sect. Everyone I know says when their older sibling goes to a sect, they don't even return for years. Oh, what's that thing on your right hand?" Liu Jing pointed out, noticing the pink dressing on his wounds.
"Just wounds from training. The healer decided to put this pink-coloured dressing on me for some reason." Shuren didn't even stretch his hands to show it, leaving it resting on his side.
Liu Jing had a stupid-looking smirk on his face, teasing Shuren. "Reaaaally? It looks like a girl wanted to be cute just for you. You already bee-"
"Don't be stupid. How's training going?" Shuren pinched his brother's cheeks without even letting go. You think I'd have the gall to question an Elder on this? It's probably some unique material of some kind.
"Itsh goin goodsh," Liu Jing barely said out loud, grabbing on Shuren's left hand to let go.
"Good enough if a pinch isn't making you cry anymore." Shuren let go. "So what did mother say?"
Liu Jing rubbed his aching cheeks. "She said she'll try to get me mentored by an Electricity Path cultivator. She thinks I'm most suitable for it."
"So you won't be training for the Sword Path?" Shuren asked.
His brother only had a confused expression, tilting his head slightly as he crossed his arms. "I mean, the sword will be my main weapon. It's not like I have grandfather's teachings. I never even got to speak with him, only you did."
Only very few in the Liu Clan actually pursued purely the Sword Path. All of them would use a sword as their main weapon, but everyone would reach upon different paths in Rank 2. Some would be more attuned to fire, or water, or wind. But, Immortal Cultivators; those beyond Rank 5, would be able to meld two paths together. If they had used a sword as their main weapon the entire time until ascension, then they would naturally be adept in say a Fire Path and an attainment in the Sword Path, combining them both to become a Fire Sword Path cultivator.
But Shuren's grandfather and uncle had only pursued the Sword Path. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Grandfather… Why did you never meet my other siblings, let alone teach them? Even on your deathbed, you died with just me there…
Shuren patted his brother's head. "Grandfather loved you, as he did the same to me. He was just sick the last decade of his life, so he was… closed off. Don't think too much about it. When you're a bit stronger, I can teach you some of his inheritance."
Liu Jing pumped his fists up in the sky. "Of course you will. If not you, who else?!"
The Electricity Path… If he can evolve it into the Lightning Path, and reach Rank 6, he would become insanely strong. Work hard, my little brother.
***
After sleeping all afternoon throughout even the night, he had finally woken up the next day.
Shuren had left on the eve of morning, Heaven's Eye just rousing up. He expected to be back within an hour at full speed on his flying nimbus.
He left the Residential District and crossed over the Commercial District, the land of goods and coins. It was the main entryway for merchants and travellers through a large metal gate, plain at sight but undoubtedly filled with immense amounts of formations and runes.
An extravagant and gaudy caravan was traveling through the main highway of the district, large to the point even Shuren himself shot a glance.
That was his mistake.
Young sir, forgive me for this, but may you please come down?
Goosebumps traversed his entire body, sensations of thin needles stabbing his mind as words forced themselves into his head. The altitude and speed of his nimbus tumbled. "What the hell?" Shuren exclaimed with tensed eyes, sweat forming on his neck. This pressure of Qi was almost at the level of Grand Elder Wanshang. Shuren looked back towards where the Qi came from, seeing the incredulous carriage ornate and painted in streaks of red and gold, akin to auroras that glistened. At its front, a cultivator lay bowing down towards Shuren, beckoning him to come down.
"That man forced a mind transmission on me?"
Shuren took a sharp breath to calm down. This is the Cloud City, no foreigner would dare to do anything. They're banned from even using flying ships. Nevertheless, Shuren made his way down, not hiding the glare in his face. Until he realised the person bowing to him was someone at an incomprehensible realm, the one who sent him a message through that forceful sense of Qi.
Shuren clenched his jaw, thoughts circling in his head forming conjectures. No rest for the wise! Why are there problems popping up out of nowhere?
After stepping off his nimbus in front of the luxurious carriage, Shuren forcefully ignored the prickly sensations throughout his body, clasping his hands in front of him for a deep bow. He had even revealed his neck bare and eyes closed, expressing the deepest respect. The man in front of him was at least someone at Rank 3; the Core Genesis realm, and even if they were in Cloud City, he had to remain cautious.
"Please forgive me young cultivator, I had to bring your attention. As you know, us foreign delegates are banned from flying in any way." The young heroic cultivator, long flowing dark hair and a white robe with streaks of red, said in a soft voice.
Delegates… Is it time then?
Shuren eased up. He had never expected the Rank 3 cultivator to give him, a Rank 1 cultivator, such respect. It was almost unheard of.
"Please, if you grant us some of your time, we will reward you heavily." He used his Qi to levitate a bag of spirit stones towards Shuren. "And this is an apology for my offence."
Shuren had reached his conjecture. Whatever, or whoever, was inside that carriage, signified a status far outshining a Rank 3 cultivator, even using them as guards. He remained steadfast.
And you had to choose me. What a farce.
"There is no need for esteemed senior brother to apologise." Shuren drummed up his performance. "Please, there is no need to give me such a gift. I completely understand your pleas and that it was certainly your last resort. As a representative of the Seven Clouds, let this humble junior assist you." Even though Shuren lowered his position as much as possible, he enunciated the words of his sect.
The Rank 3 guard eased up, releasing his bow, and the bag of spirit stones vanished. He clearly didn't feel comfortable speaking so humbly to a Rank 1 cultivator, but he had to ensure there would be no risk of trouble in the Cloud City. Anyone here could have an immense status and backing, and the Seven Clouds was the meeting point for many power houses vested interests.
"Our lady wishes to enquire you about life at the Seven Clouds. She is a delegate set to join for the year, and she desires to gain first hand knowledge from a fellow disciple."
Shuren almost groaned. What sort of menial task was he called over for, to be a tour guide for some spoilt brat?
He had just returned from a major expedition for the sect, facing off against a devilish creature of unknown origins, and yet he has to play the tour guide?
Is this some sort of twisted joke?!