Kirin slowly approached the pavilion of the Thunder Clan, he walked slowly through the thicket of snow, still reeling from the effects of the frostbite that had eventually gotten to his fingers, he would've given anything up for a hot cup of wine.
Seth stood in front of him leading the way, they walked into the Pavilion, heading towards the pagoda looming ahead in the distance, the snow fell more lightly here but that didn't mean it got any warmer.
Eventually, they stood in front of the doors to the pagoda, the guards opened the doors for them to enter, all the while they kept their eyes on Kirin, unfortunately, he couldn't be more bothered, after all, he was the misfit of the clan.
Inside, an elderly man sat cross-legged sipping tea and seemed unperturbed by their sudden arrival, his hair was long and white from old age with wrinkles etched over his face, he looked to be beyond hundred if using the mundane human years of counting, but underneath his garment was a well-toned body that had years of experience and battles, with scars that held the truth of his victories.
Kirin and Seth stood side by side in silence as they heard the slurping sounds while he drank his tea. Kirin shifted his weight from one foot to the other, feeling slightly uncomfortable.
"Mmm, tea is good" Grand Zenin's voice echoed through the nearly empty hall, Kirin shifted uncomfortably, the old man had a way of making him feel anxious, although he seemed like an old geezer calmly drinking tea, his cultivation level was that of a grandmaster.
If he wanted to, he could completely decimate the entire pavilion in the blink of an eye, the strength that Kirin craved so bad, Grand Zenin was the personification of it himself.
"We greet you Grandmaster Zenin" Kirin and Seth both bowed their heads in respect. A low chuckle escaped from the Grandmaster's lips as he placed the ceramic cup down on the stool beside him.
"I'm hoping you were able to find what you went looking for?" The Grandmaster asked, Kirin and Seth both looked up and nodded in response.
Seth stepped forward and handed over the sapphire gems to the Grandmaster. Grand Zenin reached out with a palm, the sapphire essence stones floated towards him, then twirled about in a spiral.
"These seem to be of the purest quality, where did you find these Seth?" The Grandmaster asked, "Because I know Kirin didn't."
He said with a calm smile looking at Kirin, Kirin quickly threw his face away in embarrassment.
"No Grandmaster, Kirin was the one who found the path, I merely had to pick them up, he couldn't because..." Seth stopped mid sentence, not sure how to continue.
"Because I couldn't withstand the cold" Kirin finished, he knew how pathetic he was but more than anything he hated being pitied about it.
"Aahh yes. Has there been any improvement on your cultivation child?" Grand Zenin asked, Kirin solemnly shook his head, he didn't like talking about the matter with anyone, except the Grandmaster and Seth, considering that the Grandmaster was the one who adopted him into the clan.
"In that case, I have an idea for you, although it may be difficult and painful, it may not even work but are you willing to give it a try, child?" The Grandmaster asked, his gaze dimmed as he sized Kirin up.
Kirin's face lit up, renewed with hope, he knew whenever the Grandmaster had an idea, it's because he had recently made a discovery.
"Yes Grandmaster, I'll give it my all, I won't disappoint you, master," Kirin said as he bowed his head in reverence, his hands stretched forward in salutations.
The Grandmaster chuckled lightly, "I know what you're thinking but no I haven't made any discoveries, but I think it's time for you to try this method" he said with a sigh.
"You may or may not die, you may even get energy deviation or your cultivation could be crippled for life. But if you eventually do succeed then you will be a master of renown... If you survive", he said those last words with uncertainty but Kirin didn't care.
"As the master wishes," Kirin responded, still bowing in respect.
"Raise your head child" the Grandmaster commanded.
Kirin raised his head in relief, a heavy stone had finally been set aside, he could find a way to get stronger, he was excited, about the things he would do, the adventures he would go on, the cultivation levels he would reach, the thoughts of these made him itch in excitement.
Before him, the Grandmaster turned his attention back to the Sapphire crystals, he watched them for a moment longer as they floated above his right hand, then he suddenly crushed them, and the essence of the soul stone leaked out.
But before it could dissipate into nothingness, the Grandmaster breathed it in, completely absorbing its essence, raising his cultivation even further.
Grandmaster Zenin closed his eyes and entered meditation, Kirin and Seth dared not say a single word, it was known to never distract a man while he meditated, they watched in silence as he meditated, after some moments, The Grandmaster's eyes shone a bright blue as he released his cultivation instantly.
The pagoda shook down to its foundations as Kirin and Seth were forced to the ground, Seth managed to remain on his knees but Kirin was forced with his face to the ground, unable to move and even breathe, it was an agonizing experience, he struggled his best to turn his head and say something, but the unyielding pressure from The Grandmaster was too overwhelming.
Suddenly the pressure was released, giving Kirin the ability to breathe again, he sucked in as much air as was needed trying his best to calm down, his chest heaved up and down heavily before he looked back at The Grandmaster in awe, although Kirin was at the lowest base of cultivation, it also made him painfully aware of just how much stronger everyone was around him.
And now the aura the Grandmaster emitted was completely inhumane, he absolutely couldn't believe that a human capable of such, couldn't still remain within the confines of this realm.
"Stand Kirin, do not look so weak before me" The Grandmaster commanded, Kirin got up with some effort, still reeling from the pressure The Grandmaster had emitted.
"I apologize master and congratulations on reaching a new level," Kirin said with an even deeper respect.
"Bah! It is merely for my core's nourishment, think nothing of it" The Grandmaster said with a flick of his hand, then he looked at Kirin. "You aren't busy, are you?" The Grandmaster asked Kirin, Kirin shook his head.
"Leave us Seth, I would like to show my child a few things," Grand Zenin said to Seth, Seth bowed his head and left in silence, his demeanor spelled only one thing, after feeling The Grandmaster's cultivation, he also had been motivated to raise his cultivation.
After Seth had left the building, Grand Zenin turned to Kirin, he observed me closer before standing up, telling him to follow.
Kirin followed in anticipation and hesitation, he walked quietly behind The Grandmaster, further into the Pagoda, down the stairs to levels Kirin had never been to before, he followed till he got to a certain room, it was a room he had never seen, and as such he didn't know what to expect.
"Take off your clothes, child" Grand Zenin waved at him.
Kirin took off his clothes and kept them folded by the side.
"Sit down in that circle and begin circulating your soul's essence, if I remember correctly you can't wield any element unlike your peers with the exception of lightning, is that still the case?" He asked Kirin.
"Yes master"
"Good, then you just might not die, I shall use an ancient binding ritual, it was common before this era." As he spoke Grand Zenin used a knife to cut himself and poured his blood into a bowl.
He healed himself and took a light brush then picked up an ancient scroll and sat directly behind Kirin.
"Child, no matter what happens, do not stop circulating your soul's essence or you will die, understood?"
Kirin wasn't sure what was going on but he didn't care anymore, so long as it gave him strength, he would survive it.
He felt at his sole's core and released his cultivation base, a weak insignificant turbulence pressed on him, it couldn't be compared to The Grandmaster's, then he began circulating his soul essence around his body, while he did this he could feel a wet paintbrush draw symbols across his back in a straight line along his spine.
He didn't stop and kept at it until the master was done, suddenly, he could feel the energy from The Grandmaster rise as he placed both his hands against the base of Kirin's neck and the base of his spine.
The words that came from The Grandmaster's lips were unlike anything Kirin had ever heard before, ancient words that bore no meaning to Kirin, but he kept on at it, The Grandmaster recited a certain phrase and then...
Insurmountable energy poured into Kirin's soul, changing its nature into soul's essence. Kirin gritted his teeth, the pain caused by forcing pouring such raw energy into him was blinding, unlike anything he had ever experienced before, he felt his organ burn crisp, then heal, no doubt by The Grandmaster. Kirin coughed out enough blood to soak his garments, yet he kept on, he controlled his essence with practiced precision.
"DO NOT STOP CHILD!"
The Grandmaster's voice thundered over the blinding pain, Kirin felt his bones snap, break apart and heal, his felt his organs burst when the energy increased even further, his eyes blackened as his arms turned dark as coal, but still he held on.
Suddenly, lightning emerged from the circle Kirin sat in, The Grandmaster quickly dashed away from it as if avoiding a calamity.
At the same time, lightning from the heavens struck down, connecting with the lightning that emerged from the circle. Kirin, in between screamed as much as he could, he was going through the constant death and rebirth cycle, and Grand Zenin could do nothing but watch.