A Miracle

Shui eventually showed signs of awakening a week after the qilin had completely died. His eyelids twitched, but instead of opening them, he began making mudras with his hands. After stopping at the fifth mudra, Shui focused on the long clump of dirt that quietly rose around him. Controlling this dirt should have been no trouble for him, but soon his body started trembling as the dirt hovered by his head. He gritted his teeth and tightened his grip, but he couldn't sustain the dirt for more than a few seconds. 

"Ha, ha... I guess this is my limit."

Whether it was through mental control or the Four Elements Technique, Shui could easily keep the dirt hovering over him for as long as he liked, but not when trying to use this new ability he learnt from the qilin, known as Nature's Eternity during its time. Based on his understanding, this ability could be considered a miracle, which was a power on par with a god's Authority, without the need for dominion over the required laws. Generally, miracles were inherent so it was exceptionally rare to have a chance at learning one, but mastering it was another issue entirely.

If it had simply been about transforming from any state to another then Shui could have probably reached at least the wood stage, but the qilin's miracle had an additional set of effects. Each element actually provided a support benefit that would boost a corresponding attribute of the user. Fire boosted life, wood boosted flesh, earth boosted stamina, metal boosted resistance and water boosted purity. If the cycle could be completed then he could revive from dust and always be in perfect condition during battle, but Shui currently lacked the ability to use even one element. Furthermore, this wasn't a matter of cultivation, but of comprehension of the natural way. Still, this was nothing to be ashamed of as a miracle was far out of his current limits, but he wished that he could learn it as soon as possible since his current strength wasn't the limiting factor.

After his attempt at the qilin's miracle, Shui examined himself and was surprised to find great improvement in both his soul and energy cultivation. Although he hadn't reached nebula five-stars, Shui was now able to detect the area around much more precisely even without using spiritual sense. If before he could count rain drops as they fell around him, now he would be able to tell the differences in their speeds and sizes as well. He could no longer have his soul escape his body, but he had a feeling that would change once he reached the Earth Realm.

As for his energy cultivation, Shui was now at the sixth level of the Soul Realm, two levels greater than before. Fatty had always possessed the same cultivation as him so Shui wondered how he would feel about this development. Once Shui thought of Fatty, he then quickly checked the conditions of the sleeping three. Though they had been asleep for a week, their states hadn't changed for the most part since it was more like hibernation than regular sleep, but Sef had already been in a bad condition so Shui tended to him first.

Sef wasn't injured much, but he hadn't eaten or drunk any water in a long time so rather than a healing pill, Shui used a water spell to directly give water to his body and then feed him a fasting pill. He would still need some time before he could wake up but with that there should be no danger of his condition worsening so Shui removed the 'Seal' on his soul. 

Next, he went for Fatty and Serina. However, before that, Shui took all of the precious ores that still remained in the vicinity. Due to the qilin's miracle balancing the five elements, these were probably the last precious ores in the mountain. He couldn't use them now but there was no reason to leave them for someone else. With Sef on his back he had to limit his speed, but it still didn't take more than a few minutes to return to them. There were a few plants outside the protection array, but no signs of anything else. The two who had been pursuing Sef were gone, so they were the only ones in the mountain. Shui removed the array and then the 'Seal', before waiting for the two to wake up.

"Ugh... My head... Huh?"

"Hmm...!"

Fatty was the first to get up groggily, followed shortly by Serina. Fatty quickly noticed Shui, but Serina saw the one on his back first.

"Brother!"

He knew she would be strong enough to support his weight, so Shui let Serina hold her brother.

"He hasn't eaten anything for a while so he needs more time to wake up, but he's fine otherwise."

"Thank you. Thank you so much. Brother..."

Although Sef didn't appear to be in a life-threatening condition, Serina cried passionately as she held him. Both of them understood why she was like this, so Shui and Fatty stepped aside and allowed them some time alone.

"By the way Boss, what happened? I remember hearing a voice and having a terrible headache, but nothing after that."

"Yes, as for that, I'll tell you later."

Since it was something he would have to repeat otherwise, Shui chose to hold the details from Fatty for the time being. Sef had likely encountered the qilin and Shui didn't want to tamper with his memories, so he planned on telling the truth for the most part. Whether or not they believed him mattered little.

"Okay Boss. So, are we safe now?"

"That's what I would hope but, we'll have to see wait and see."

As those two pursuers had left, it was likely that they would find the devastation Shui left and send their reports back to the Darino Gang. As for what the Darino Gang would do in response, Shui knew far too little to make a proper guess.

Although it didn't look like she had used up her tears yet, Serina stopped crying not long after they reunited.

"Are you feeling better now?" Shui asked.

"Yes, we still haven't gotten to safety yet, so I can't keep crying. Do you know when he'll wake up?"

"I'm not sure, but it shouldn't take longer than a day or two."

Serina nodded before asking another question.

"By the way, do you know what that voice we heard was about?"

Shui then explained the events that happened while they were asleep. Bringing up the qilin's origins and the Divine Uprising would make the explanation take too long, so instead he told them the circumstances surrounding the qilin's condition and how it caused the unique features of Stonefield, but said that it killed itself after gaining awareness due to Sef's presence. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable about qilins would have doubts about Shui's story, but Fatty and Serina only felt shock.

"To think that such a sacred beast would exist and that we would find it. I'm sure my brother won't be able to forget that scene."

"Damn it! If only I had stayed awake! When am I ever gonna see a sacred beast again?!"

Fatty lamented the fact that he fell unconscious and Shui didn't bother to tell him that he might have gone insane if he stayed awake. He had shared his memory of the qilin's image with them, but Fatty regretted not being able to see it in person.

"Such things are simply up to fate. Oh, but we should probably keep this a secret. I doubt anyone will believe us but the changes Stonefield's about to experience will add some unwanted attention to the story and the ones who spread it."

Serina and Fatty solemnly agreed to Shui's warning.