Kayden slowly approached the pavilion of the Thunder Clan, slowly he walked still reeling from the effects of the frostbite that had gotten to his fingers, he would do anything for a hot cup of wine about now.
Thane stood in front of him leading the way, we walked into the Pavilion, heading towards the pagoda looming ahead in the distance, the snow fell more lightly here but that didn't mean he was getting any warmer.
Eventually, he stood in front of the doors to the pagoda, the guards opened the doors for us to enter, but all the while they kept their eyes on me, unfortunately, I couldn't be more bothered, after all, I was the misfit of the clan.
Inside, an elderly man sat cross-legged sipping tea and seemed unperturbed by our arrival, his hair was long and white from old age with wrinkles etched all over his face, 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.
Thane and Kayden stood side by side in silence as we heard unnecessary slurping sounds while he drank his tea.
You would think drinking tea was as easy as drinking water, unfortunately, I was wrong.
"Mmm, tea is good" Grand Zenin's voice echoed through the nearly empty hall, Kayden shifted uncomfortably, the old man had a way of making him feel uncomfortable, although he seemed like an old geezer slurping on Chai Tea, he was a Grandmaster by his cultivation level.
If he wanted to, he could completely decimate the entire pavilion in the blink of an eye, the strength that Kayden craved so bad, he was the personification of it himself.
"We greet you Grandmaster Zenin" Thane and Kayden both bowed their heads in respect, a low chuckle escaped from his 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, Thane and Kayden both looked up and nodded in response
Thane stepped forward and handed over the sapphire gems to the Grandmaster, he took them while carefully observing them, turning them around, doing what he knew best.
"These seem to be of the purest quality, where did you find these Thane?" The Grandmaster asked, "Because I know Kayden... Didn't"
He said with a playful smile looking at Kayden, Kayden threw his face away in embarrassment.
"No Grandmaster, Kayden was the one who found the path, I merely had to pick them up, he couldn't because..." He stopped mid sentence, not sure how to continue.
"Because I couldn't withstand the cold" Kayden completed, he knew how pathetic he was but more than anything he hated being pitied about it.
"Aahh yes, any improvement on your cultivation child?" Grand Zenin asked, Kayden solemnly shook his head, he didn't like talking about the matter with anyone, except the Grandmaster and Thane, well 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?" The Grandmaster asked
Kayden's expression 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," Kayden said as he bowed his head in reverence.
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
"You may or may not die, you may even get an energy overflow but if you eventually do succeed then you will be a master amongst none if you survive" he said those last words with uncertainty but Kayden didn't care.
"As the master wishes," he said still bowed in respect.
"Raise your head child" the Grandmaster commanded
Kayden raised himself 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 for, 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 in his right hand, then he suddenly crushed it, 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, Kayden and Thane dared not say a single word, it was law to never distract a man while he meditated, they watched in silence as he meditated, suddenly the grandmaster's eyes shone a bright blue as he released his cultivation instantly.
The pagoda shook down to its foundations as Kayden and Thane were forced to the ground, Thane managed to remain on his knees but Kayden 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 words escaped him.
Suddenly the pressure was released, giving Kayden 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 looking back at the master, although Kayden was at the 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 could remain human.
"Stand Kayden, do not look weak before me" the master commanded, Kayden got up with some effort, still reeling from the pressure the master had emitted.
"I apologize master and congratulations on reaching a new level," Kayden said with an even deeper respect.
"Ooohhh you noticed, how observant of you, do you have anything to do as of now?" The master asked Kayden, Kayden shook his head
"Leave us Thane, I would like to show my child a few things," Grand Zenin said to Thane, Thane bowed his head and left in silence, his demeanor spelled only one thing, after feeling the master cultivation he also had been motivated to raise his cultivation.
After Thane had left the building, Grand Zenin turned to me, he observed me closer before standing up telling him to to follow after.
Kayden followed in anticipation and hesitation, he walked quietly behind the grandmaster till he got to a certain room, it was a room he had never been in before, and as such he didn't know what to expect.
"Take off your clothes boy" Grand Zenin waved at him.
Kayden took off his clothes and kept them folded by the side.
"Sit down in that circle and begin circulating your soul 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 Kayden
"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 Kayden.
"Boy, no matter what happens, do not stop circulating your soul essence or you will die, understood?"
Kayden 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 his core and released his cultivation base, then 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 master's rise as he placed both his hands against the base of his neck and the base of his spine.
The words that came from the master's lips were unlike anything Kayden had ever heard before, ancient texts, but he kept on at it, the master recited something then without warning.
The master poured his soul essence into him forcefully, the pain was blinding, unlike anything he had ever experienced before, he felt the organs in his body rupture.
"DO NOT STOP BOY"
The master's voice sounded over the blinding pain, Kayden gritted his teeth and kept circulating his essence, he felt the blood drip from his lips but he wouldn't give up.
Suddenly, lightning emerged from the circle he sat in, the master quickly moved away from it as if to avoid what would happen next.
Lightning emerged from the circle as it completely encompassed every single part of Kayden, he was nothing but a shadow bathed in an aura of lightning.