Void Flame (2)

Although it was incomplete, the void flame could even affect space so if he was attacked by it, Shui would have definitely been turned to ash. However, as it was made with his own energy and blood essence, the only thing he needed to endure was the pure heat from the flame. Unfortunately, that was still enough to melt his flesh that had been unharmed since touching on the divine body boundary. 

Shui had even started refining a piece of incarnate metal, but before the void flame, nothing was safe. The destruction forced out the transcendent force that had remained idle and healed him fast enough to maintain his life, but that did nothing to relieve the pain. Eventually, he stopped screaming, but he gritted his teeth and clenched his fist to the point that his fingernails dug into his palms and drew blood.

Anyone who knew what he was doing to himself would question his sanity, but Shui had a clear goal for doing this. He knew that with his current cultivation, refining his quasi-divine body further could only be done through the right opportunity. If he waited, then perhaps he would stumble upon such an opportunity, but rather than depend on chance Shui preferred taking action himself. Although the void flame seared his flesh without mercy, Shui could still feel that his body was also being refined and growing stronger. If his will faltered for even a moment then that would be the end, but as long as he held on, he was certain that he would grow stronger from this struggle. 

A few weeks later, Serina sighed with a cup of tea between her hands. She had finished stabilizing her cultivation, but she still lacked a new cultivation method so she couldn't cultivate as much. She believed that Shui would certainly get her a cultivation method like he said he would, but as Fatty had also gone into seclusion to make a breakthrough, she hadn't seen either of them lately. She could still get along with two out of her three roommates, but she couldn't deny that she was feeling a little lonely without the two guys.

"Why are you sighing? Did something happen?"

"No, everything is fine. I just miss, huh?"

Serina responded without thinking about it, but once he realized whose voice it was, she hastily turned around and showed a bright smile to the one behind her.

"Shui!"

"Did you miss me?"

"Yes!"

As Serina jumped into his arms, Shui smiled and patted her head. Being burnt alive was certainly an experience he wanted to forget, but physical pain wasn't enough to make him surrender. In fact, he could have simply cut off his sense of pain, but he took the chance to temper his will as well.

The void flame was created to be eternal so it never extinguished, he simply refined it into his body so that he could summon it at any time. After being burnt by the void flame, Shui could sense that he was now 50% away from attaining a divine body. Thanks to this, his divinity had increased so he wouldn't be able to move like a ghost for the time being, but with the experience from last time he knew he could reach that level again soon.

The incarnate metal was also now completely one with his body. By becoming one with the perfect relic, Shui was literally one with the blade though he still hadn't reached that state of technique. Even without Mutation Control, he could change any part of his body into metal and shape it however he liked. Furthermore, his affinity to the metal attribute had also increased to the same level as his wood affinity. Based on the tests he did, he could sense the properties of metals much better and was also able to find them easier. Since he was a forge master this was an especially good ability, but he couldn't stay giddy for too long once he recalled a detail that he found after searching the memories of that young man from the Darino Gang.

"Serina, I brought a cultivation method for you, but there's something I need to ask first."

With her face still stuck to his chest, she cheerfully gave her permission.

"Sure, what is it?"

"Do you know about the 'Ore Seeking Art'?"

Once she heard that name come from Shui's mouth, Serina froze. She recalled the constant warnings from her brother as well as the trouble they went through because of that term. Her mouth went dry as she clenched her fist, but she looked up at Shui after biting her lip.

"Um, what's that?"

"It's fine if you don't want to say anything, but I found out that the Darino Gang's still targeting your brother because of it."

"Really?! But didn't you defeat them?"

"Apparently, they were only a small part of a bigger group that's taken root in this city. I encountered them while I was shopping for your cultivation method."

"Oh..."

Even though he mentioned her cultivation method again, Serina was still distraught by the other piece of news. She backed out of Shui's arms with her eyes shaking like a boat on a stormy wave. Her faint suspicion toward him were gone, but she still felt immense worry for her brother. She hadn't heard from him since he left, so although no news was good news, she couldn't be sure in this case.

'No, I won't let him sacrifice himself again!'

"Shui, do you know how strong the Darino Gang is?"

"I'm not sure, but since they can compete with the underground guild I wouldn't be surprised if they had a Sky Realm expert in their ranks."

For a city as big as Silver City, the underground guild usually had experts in late Sky Realm to serve as supervisors, so the Darino Gang should have similar combat power since they weren't already crushed. 

Once Serina heard Shui's analysis, the faint hope that she had tried to build was easily snuffed. Even if she readied all her courage, a mere Soul Realm cultivator like her couldn't fight against a force with a Sky Realm expert. She didn't think even Shui would be able to defeat them.

'Is he truly doomed? Is there nothing I can do to save my brother?'

While Serina seemed to be sinking in a pool of despair, Shui laid his hand on her shoulder.

"Serina, look at me."

At his gentle request, Serina slowly raised her head, with tears budding in her eyes.

"I admit that defeating the organization might be difficult, but we can at least guarantee that they won't get Sef by hiding his whereabouts."

Some light returned to Serina's eyes, but she remained uncertain. 

"Are you sure you can hide him?"

"Of course. It might be impossible if it was the underground guild, but the Darino Gang's information network is still premature. As long as I help him out of the five cities' region, they won't be able to find him."

Serina could tell that Shui wasn't just trying to comfort her so she nodded with a slightly relieved expression. Shui could have destroyed the Darino Gang itself, but he knew she wouldn't believe him easily and he didn't want to cause too much of a mess so he chose this instead.

"Okay, I'll tell you about the Ore Seeking Art, but on one condition."

"What is it?"

"I want to come with you."