Even Further Beyond [Complete]

Alright, it looks like [X] Direct Investigation with [X] Scam and [X] Free Mastermind Point Expenditure have won. You are now free of Mastermind Point debt.

You manage to scam the local Cultivators with a mix of illusions and good old fashioned con artistry. While the funds accrued aren't enormous, you have enough wealth enough to comport yourself with dignity for the next couple of months, and have also undermined the less virtuous sects in the area by a substantial margin. With much of the Bleak Ravens leadership out of town, you weren't able to efficiently target them while in Deplian, but did manage to gather some additional information.

In addition, you have acquired a modest supply of Cultivation materials appropriate for those under the Dao Cleaving stage, as well as a Pearl of Fathomless Blue. These concentrations of purified spirit essence are found in certain well-developed beasts of the Kong jungles. Such beasts very rarely venture outside the Deep Overgrowth, filled with monstrosities of the Reality Forming and Grand Solipsism-equivalent stages. It is believed that creatures who form such Pearls act as a sort of continent-spanning refinement factory for Zang Kong and his underlings. The neutrally aspected essence within this Pearl is as close to the Energy of All and Nothingness as can be manifested in discrete form.

This particular Pearl is especially large and lustrous and would provide noticable Cultivation gains for even an expert of the Reality Forming stage. It can be used inefficiently towards the advancement of lower stages as well: a full quarter-stage for Dao Cleaving, a full half-stage for Soul Chrysalis, and a full Stage (including breakthrough) for those of lower Cultivation.

Since the Pearl is a treasure that may be ingested for immediate power, you may choose how it is employed:

[ ] Save It - Hold off on using the Pearl; while these concentrated energy sources have been used regularly by Cultivators throughout the Empire with no side effects, one can never be entirely certain that they are utterly free of Zang Kong's influence. Even Suizhen doesn't seem worried, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be. Better to trade or sell it as a bargaining chip for later. Or maybe you'll decide to consume it when it would be more efficient to do so. Time burns, however. Power now may well mean more power later.

*As tangible Cultivation progress in neutrally-aspected and transportable form, the Pearl is a highly versatile bargaining chip
*Could save you theoretical objective months of Cultivation if applied later
*Why take the risk, even a minuscule one, of ingestion and possible compromise? Best just not to worry about it.

[ ] Consume Personally - A full half-stage would be very relevant to your combat abilities at this juncture, and you need all the power you can get going into the negotiation with the Bleak Ravens. The first half of any Cultivation stage always proceeds faster than the latter, but even saving a month or two of objective time will have made your scamming efforts worthwhile.

*Stage improved to Mid Soul Chrysalis, 3.5.
*Combat Strength improved to High Dao Cleaving, 4.75, plus x6 Time Dilation
*You could instead forge a half-strength Artifact that would be roughly at the peak of Reality Forming if so desired
*Forging is fast due to your Grand Diagram of Fate

[ ] Give to Xiaoling - Xiaoling is currently the weakest member of your party and requires the most defense. It makes sense to strengthen the weakest link, as you are not willing to lose any party members. Xiaoling naturally cultivates slower; rocketing her immediately to the peak of Organ Refining will increase her power substantially and help her keep up in the future. [Xiaoling Loyalty+]

*Benefits you give Lieutenants are factored independently of their Lieutenant buff (the buff itself can only ensure they remain no more than a full stage below you in combat power given enough time for Fate to act; if you grow slower their power level will be closer to yours).
*Xiaoling will take seriously your request to be nicer to Suizhen, and fully apply herself to restraining her competitive impulses around your bodyguard.

[ ] Give to Suizhen - Suizhen is already in early Soul Chrysalis, boosting her to Mid-Soul Chrysalis would help short-circuit her feelings of inadequacy and give her more latitude as an independent operator. In addition, Pearls of Fathomless Blue are said to help awaken the similarly neutral-aspected Eyes of Kong to their innate abilities. Who knows what benefits she might derive from a locus of energy engineered by and for her bloodline? [Suizhen Loyalty+]

*Xiaoling is still happy about the Absolute Ego Barrier you helped her implement and will not overmuch resent Suizhen for your favoring her in this, but you would be wise not to make a pattern of it. Xiaoling actually helps in scams, after all, while Suizhen cannot be trusted to play more than a bit part
*Possibility of Suizhen awakening more of her unique powers from the Eyes of Kong.
*Suizhen seems confident that there is nothing even Zang Kong can do to compromise the Pearls; by their very nature they are 100% pure.

In addition, you have discovered the following information about the Bleak Ravens Sect:

*Immediately after breaking through to the Reality Forming Stage, the Sect Leader slew two of his major rivals and then departed. Some described him as 'fleeing,' while others claim he merely demonstrated the prodigious speed of the early Reality Forming stage.
*Since then he has not been seen outside the large subterranean complex that he fled to. The Bleak Ravens took up residence in the complex short after and have patrolled it diligently. They have sustained some losses, and a few of their lower-ranked officers seem to suffer from bizarre afflictions consistent with possible Diagram effects.
*The Bleak Ravens practice a path of Heterodox Cultivation invented by their leader. It is unknown what Reality effects he may possess after breaking through into a new Stage, but their Dao Cleaving experts are able to perform cryptic auguries and manipulate shadows. Peak Dao Cleaving officers have been seen merging into and teleporting from shadow to shadow.
*Prior to their Sect Leader's ascension, the Ravens were the second most powerful faction in the area. Now that they have all but abandoned Deplian, their influence has waned.
*Rival sects are marshaling forces to attack the Ravens and are preparing to strike within three months.

Xiaoling has picked up the following rumors:

*The Bleak Raven Leader critically damaged his personal foundation when breaking through to Reality Forming. Something about the dungeon he is inhabiting allows him to stabilize his foundation, and he is slowly repairing the injury. When he emerges, he'll be powerful enough to seize unilateral control of the Deplian region. Source: Cousin of a friend of the Bleak Ravens' Third Grand Elder.
*The Lich arch-terrorist Xylitemmeral the Destroyer has launched an all-out assault on a Ruby Court fortress some twenty thousand miles away. He has laid siege to the walls from a floating tower of emerald-hued orichalcum conjured from thin air. The Dao Cleaving-lead garrison of the area has been unable to repel him despite inflicting colossal losses to his army of constructs and undead. All the hoarded resources of a millennia-old elder lich are being unleashed in a single titanic onslaught. Upon his brow burns the Archstar of Xytl-Teloch, its viridian flame lending him the desperate strength and fury of its maker, the Fellborn**. The battle is not likely to be resolved until Peak Dao Cleaving reinforcements arrive from other Ruby Court encampments. Source: intercepted Vane intelligence reports headed for Eastern Kong.
*Several members of the Bleak Ravens have been found exsanguinated in remote portions of the Border Zone, thousands of kilometers from the complex they are purportedly guarding. Source: Owner of your hotel

**An infamous Elven eccentric who crafted so many Artifacts of enormous power that he descended into madness and eventually turned to evil. Murdered billions in his swath of destruction before the Diagram Nations temporarily set aside their internal bickering to put him down. The Fellborn was rumored to possess the capability to sacrifice the essence of others in the construction of his Artifacts, though this exacted a toll of sanity even more grievous than standard diminishment.

Overall, it's been a fairly productive two weeks, though less profitable than you'd hoped for in the way of general materials. You've gained much in the way of potentially actionable information. Now that you have a better lay of the land, what are your intentions?

Tactics and relevant omakes will improve your chances.

[ ] Confront the Bleak Ravens - Diplomatically, of course. If rumors of their Patriarch's self-crippling are true, that should be confirmable with manipulation or - if necessary - kidnapping and interrogation. If it turns out you were mislead, still you don't get the impression that the Patriarch would leave his secluded meditation merely for the sake of some junior officers. Once you have gauged their strength you can make them an offer they can't refuse, or break them piecemeal.

[ ] Assault the Bleak Ravens - It's too risky to enter a contest of maneuver against a Sect of diviners. Even if their auguries are nowhere near as reliable as the surveillance and foresight spells of the Diagram Schools, they are practiced with their abilities and have spent much more time developing them than you. Against an opponent with superior information, only superior force will suffice. The Bleak Ravens' rivals are reeling and fearful, but experienced in contending successfully against their centuries-old foes. They will make adequate allies for you to empower in bringing the Ravens down. And if the Reality Forming Patriarch should actually be uninjured and emerge from his cell - why, you'll take the opportunity to slip into the chamber and the Vault connected to it.

*Xiaoling and Suizhen will stay behind.

[ ] Investigate Xylitemmerral - Xiaoling's contacts picked up this information, it would be a shame not to exploit it. Your window of opportunity is limited. The risks are not inconsiderable, of course; Xylitemmerral has the Dao Cleaving garrison opposing him on the back foot. His power is greater than that of any ordinary lich, but perhaps the opportunities for plunder are greater as well...?

*Several days' travel time to go there and come back. If you leave now you should make it before the situation is resolved, but on the off chance you don't, you may waste time for little benefit.
*You're not sure you would be immune to Xylitemmerral's array of esoteric attacks. Who knows what the Archstar of Xytl-Teloch can actually accomplish?