[ ] Journey to the West
Brokering peace works directly towards our survival condition. There may be another heroine of the Age of Glory around, summoned by the elves. We could probably figure out who it is by searching for the summoner(s). There's also the possibility of contacting other worlds to find an advantage. Opportunity to learn more about Naturalism and Artifice. Finally, Xiaoling loyalty, and her heritage is likely to be important here.
[ ] Journey to the Center
Takes more time than the other options. Guaranteed rewards, bad for our reputation. Is looting our future subjects contributing to the stability of the Empire? Improves combat skills in addition to providing more Cultivation multipliers. Zang Kong is likely to have already learned everything that can be found on this route.
[ ] Tomb of the Netherine
Locating it uses up a Cerebration. The potential Cultivation-negating arts inside are valuable on their own, and there is potential for finding Cultivation-revolutionizing lore inside. However, rewards are not guaranteed. It's also a very dangerous dungeon, so Mastermind points should be generated. It's also too dangerous for Suizhen and Xiaoling.
[ ] Vault of the Ur-Pharao
Very useful for travelling, as well as priceless-treasure spawner, empire phylactery, or garden.
-[ ] Go Further Beyond
4 additional design points (24/25), better Sign Augmentation, and the we no longer need to know the relevant spells for Sign Augmentation, which could be very important. Also better time acceleration than Quickening, but this might be detrimental in some situations - phylactery empire having some internal collapse/revolution at 10x the normal speed? Yikes.
-[ ] Go Even Further Beyond
It's unlocked by taking this as our Liminal spell. Not much else to say.
[ ] Palimpsest of the Nameless One
*Form of Balance
No downsides, be pretty and gain a x1.4 Cultivation modifier. For a Beyonded spell. Meh.
*Form of the Elder Beast
Heterodoxy, better Eyes of Kong development, small malus to complex physical actions - fighting? - and a juicy x2.2 Cultivation multiplier. Attractive option. We have Seeming illusions to minimize appearance drawbacks.
*Form of the Warmain
Be part dragon! Fighty bonus, around 0.7 or 0.8 at Titan level. Good in its niche, but not particularly convincing.
-[ ] Go Further Beyond
+0.5 Stage combat boost to existing benefits. Basically a cost of 1 BP per +0.25, like going Beyond in Cultivation Stages.
-[ ] Go Even Further Beyond
Negates our respawning from phylactery, making us easier to permanently defeat? Sounds like it.
*Form of Virtuosity
+1 Cultivation Stage, x3 Cultivation speed, dampens Fate effects, automatic free Mastermind-enhancement for all plans. The improvement to Cultivation stage from FB is worth 2 BP, the Cultivation speed increase from x2.2 to x3 is possibly worth another one, so the Mastermind thing is around 4? Pays for itself after enhancing 8 plans.
*Form of Vehemence
3 Stages combat boost, 2 steps enhancement to Potentiation boost for a x8 Quickening at 100% (2 steps + 2 steps). It's probably best to take this only after having already gotten a lot of faster growth out of the earlier Beyond Stages, as they are much better for it.
[ ] Elvegekere's Protector
It's a golem. I suppose a strong, loyal, expendable minion would synergize well with dangerous dungeons?
*Jade
This golem does Ming's job. It's probably no longer so expendable if it's doing important administrative tasks.
*Mythril
Speedy fight golem.
*Orichalcum
Esoteric bullshit dampening mobile bunker.
-[ ] Go Further Beyond
Hybridize with a Grand Diagram of Blood, Flesh, or Essence? Behold the mighty Extirpation Golem
-[ ] Go Even Further Beyond
It's unlocked by taking this as our Liminal spell. Not much else to say.
