I doubt it's a matter of just impurities since that would be something high noble houses would be able to eliminate of the environment of their most talented offsprings, hence would allow for a insane difference between commoners + low nobles and high nobles houses.
Which, again with Meizhen & Co as exemples, doesn't seem to be the case.
Pure things are not things that mortals can deal with, by definition. Check out Elder Ying's story of the Nameless/origins of humanity: humans are impure from the beginning because they're made of mixed elements. It's like original sin. You're born with those impurities. Everything that you can eat as a mortal is filled with those impurities. Su Ling can eat spirit cores and things, because she's very directly part spirit, but to everyone else the energy in those is toxic. So of course a young mortal child has to eat mortal food. Rimefruit wine like Zeqing's or Dream Nectar or whatever Ling Qi got drunk on would all almost certainly kill a mortal, as would any other ingredients produced for cultivators. It would be the same as eating a pill made for a higher realm than you, like a second or first realm trying to take a Bountiful Earth Pill. The impurities keep the mortal safe.
Pure things are not things that mortals can deal with, by definition. Check out Elder Ying's story of the Nameless/origins of humanity: humans are impure from the beginning because they're made of mixed elements. It's like original sin. You're born with those impurities. Everything that you can eat as a mortal is filled with those impurities. Su Ling can eat spirit cores and things, because she's very directly part spirit, but to everyone else the energy in those is toxic. So of course a young mortal child has to eat mortal food. Rimefruit wine like Zeqing's or Dream Nectar or whatever Ling Qi got drunk on would all almost certainly kill a mortal, as would any other ingredients produced for cultivators. It would be the same as eating a pill made for a higher realm than you, like a second or first realm trying to take a Bountiful Earth Pill. The impurities keep the mortal safe.
The whole world and everything in it is made of the elements.
There isn't a "impurity element".
Hence impurity is a misnomer and most likely simply refers to elements, or ratio of elements, that aren't aligned with a particular cultivator.
Since cultivation being impacted by impurities accumulated by ones mortal lifestyle would have results that are opposite to what we see in-quest, the reason people don't start cultivating earlier isn't "impurities".
The whole world and everything in it is made of the elements.
There isn't a "impurity element".
Hence impurity is a misnomer and most likely simply refers to elements, or ratio of elements, that aren't aligned with a particular cultivator.
Since cultivation being impacted by impurities accumulated by ones mortal lifestyle would have results that are opposite to what we see in-quest, the reason people don't start cultivating earlier isn't "impurities".
The elements in general are a post-facto classification imposed onto various patterns of qi, just like energy/matter IRL physically settles into patterns we call iron and helium. There's no such thing as 'impurity' but I never said that there was. What I said was that high-density spiritual fuel is toxic to mortal machinery.
As an analogy: you could breathe pure oxygen and function at a higher standard while breathing it. The increased free radicals might cause you to age faster unless you ate a lot of vitamin C (which might eventually become toxic itself...) and other antioxidants to balance the oxygen out. At that point you're balancing various "elements" of metabolism against one another and taking many different "impurities." Humans are, in the end, calibrated for a certain atmosphere and our understanding of how the body works assumes that atmosphere's presence. We're born breathing an impure atmosphere and are used to functioning with that.
Obviously breathing pure oxygen isn't immediately fatal or outright toxic the way that parts of high-realm spirits are. If you were an Oxygen cultivator, with a Way of Oxygen, then you could better handle the oxygen free radicals and not need those supplements to survive your unusual diet...or something like that. Replace oxygen with any spiritual element of qi and it's no different, with the exception that it's more lethal to screw up.
Cultivation is a fractional distillation of mortals, enacted on a broad scale, with the various realms being the different outputs of the process.
The elimination of impurity is cultivation, by definition: refining yourself. You've basically suggested that a sufficiently motivated group could cultivate for someone else, which is, uh, kind of nuts? By the nature of the process, eliminating impurity's something you need to do yourself (as you've sort of said, by saying that impurity is the mix of elements that the cultivator personally rejects). Cai Renxiang is about as close as you can get to your suggestion, in that she's built to refine herself into a particular direction, but she still needs to do it herself. And you can't define what is an impurity to you until you've begun to cultivate, which requires a developed sense of self, which doesn't really develop until puberty. Until then, you've gotta eat mortal food.
Ooh we could have a snake named ling gui and nickname it danger noodle.
When reading the word pure you can also read extreme in its place. Pure cold, extreme cold; pure oxygen, extreme(excess) oxygen; pure sour, extreme sour. Etc.
Assuming the world's origin story we got told is true then everything, including what is called impurites, whatever they manifest as, are made from the elements.
I don't think your oxygen exemple really is a problem when you consider than even relatively modest level of cultivation allows humans to do things like flying under their own power...
As for the latter point, yes technically someone's impurities could be perfect for someone else assuming the second one happens to use the exact same elements (and ratio?) as the other one expulses.
IRL see it happening all the time: excrements are used as fertilizer. Heck, even beyond plants, theres some animals that consume others' excrements and/or unwanted/unconsumable food.
Cai Renxiang is about as close as you can get to your suggestion, in that she's built to refine herself into a particular direction, but she still needs to do it herself. And you can't define what is an impurity to you until you've begun to cultivate, which requires a developed sense of self, which doesn't really develop until puberty. Until then, you've gotta eat mortal food.
two things:
-my original point was that "impurities" aren't what limits cultivation at a young age. At least not exclusively and arguably not even primarily. Because if it were it could "easily" be worked around by high nobles. Which the quest shows is not the case.
-to argue that everyone only ever develop a sense of self at puberty is kind of... very wrong. Remember that the system needs to work for everyone. Not only the average person, but also the once in a generation genius and the inbreed noble borderline retarded.
Honestly I didn't know what to think of this Quest. A female protagonist in a Xianxia setting? I feared the worst, or at least, a painful attempt at subversion. What little I saw of the Character Sheet only seemed to confirm my fears, so I stayed away, for a while actually. Until one day I was bored, and tired, and had a lot of free time on my hands... and just happened to be in the mood for a Xianxia Quest, so I bit the bullet and I started binging. It's several days later and I can honestly say that I'm glad I gave this Quest a chance.
Ling Qi isn't some wilting noble flower, nor is she a 'Strong Female Character' with no other defining traits or characteristics, she's just... Ling Qi. A beggar, a thief, a regretful opportunist that wants to be a better person even as her own Cultivation reveals many uncomfortable truths about both herself and her character. What I thought were the abilities of a classic female Cultivator (I.E. a focus on speed, agility, and misdirection over strength, classically 'feminine' weapons such as knives, bows, and musical instruments) instead turned out to be the very much patched-together skill-set of a budding skirmisher, and one uniquely suited to her very peculiar way of fighting as well as her personality.
And throughout it all, this Quest has continued to surprise me at every turn. As I read along, I began to notice just how opportunistic Ling was, in how she spent her time, in who she chose to befriend, etc. Usually this kind of behavior goes unremarked, but not only does Ling flat out admit it, she doesn't even think to excuse her actions, if anything she's her own biggest critic. Even her occasionally ham-fisted attempts at gathering friends and allies (so very different from other protagonists, who seem to just accrue insanely loyal followers naturally) had a very reasonable and interesting explanation behind it that linked back both to her character and overall motivation. She doesn't have perfect courtly manners, but she doesn't outright reject them either, she just finds them to be alien and uncomfortable. Perhaps my biggest surprise was learning that she doesn't blame the Cultivators at all for her childhood, for not taking care of and/or treating mortals better, if anything she's actually somewhat baffled that they bother with mortals and mortal concerns at all, which is something I never really thought about before.
I thought I had the shape of plot with the creepy blind stalker figured out... and I turned out to be completely wrong. I figured I knew what would happen with our friends... and I turned out to be wrong, again. I thought I knew what would happen with Ling being the classic 'commoner prodigy', and was proven wrong yet again. And don't even get me started on Ling's mom, I've already been wrong about her several times. Even relationships never seem to turn out the way I expected them to, such as seeing the character that had 'WAIFU' and 'SENPAI CRUSH' written all over her get awkwardly turned down because, yeah, turns the protagonist isn't gay, and that kind of shit is really complicated. The girl whom I figured would be the first to leave us at the drop of a hat is determinedly sticking by our side even as her other friends drift away, the one or two people that I figured would become Nakama-for-sure are drifting away largely of their own volition, and people whom I figured either wouldn't get along with us or wouldn't even bother trying have become friends and comrades. It's all been very confusing for me.
So... yeah, in short, this Quest has been a wild ride. Just a few hours ago I was practically yelling at the screen for Ling Qi to accept Lady Cai's offer, and now I find myself sad and melancholy that she won't be staying at the Sect, despite the fact that not even a day ago I actively hated the Sect for the way it was treating it's aspirants. Talk about your emotional whiplash, eh? And I can only credit that to your skill as a writer. So I just wanted to say thank you for creating this Quest, because even though I'm a little late joining I've had an absolute blast so far.
Honestly I didn't know what to think of this Quest.... Just a few hours ago I was practically yelling at the screen for Ling Qi to accept Lady Cai's offer...
I still really don't like the idea of being a vassal. I would have much preferred we were a mercenary/independent house rather than allied and subservient to another regardless how great of a house it may be. But whatever, it is how it is, and so goes life.
I still really don't like the idea of being a vassal. I would have much preferred we were a mercenary/independent house rather than allied and subservient to another regardless how great of a house it may be. But whatever, it is how it is, and so goes life.
Not possible, this isn't a setting that's terribly kind to people who go it alone, and ultimately, you're someone's vassal unless you decide to park outside of the borders--which means now you're dealing with even newer and more terrible problems!
I still really don't like the idea of being a vassal. I would have much preferred we were a mercenary/independent house rather than allied and subservient to another regardless how great of a house it may be. But whatever, it is how it is, and so goes life.
I was under the impression that is not actually possible in the Empire. I assume you are not counting the imperial house since unless we leave the Empire entirely we are under it anyway, but if we are landed then we will be subservient to the ruler of the province if no one below that, if we aren't landed then we pick hierarchies like Sects or Ministries to be subservient to.
At best we could spend a few years going around before questions started being asked.
Honestly, this was debated to death. Weeks leading into the vote, countless pages of fear mongering and misconceptions. Weeks spent raging about this one choice.
I just wish it would stop coming up at this point. I've had all I can stomach.
Honestly, this was debated to death. Weeks leading into the vote, countless pages of fear mongering and misconceptions. Weeks spent raging about this one choice.
I just wish it would stop coming up at this point. I've had all I can stomach.
-[X] EPC: FVM; Vent: AM; Overflow: Qi
-[X] White Room Access: w49: Lanlan+Su Ling; w50: Lanlan+Li Suyin
-[X] If it hasn't been done already, buy the monthly GSS for 200 RSS and sell it for 500 RSS.
-[X] Week 49: 1YSS (+3 Virtual), dark/mountain/lake 10, music/water/earth/wood 5 (Net 10+40+30*2+15+10*3=155 RSS)
--[X] Train Music arts with Zeqing: FVM (w49)
--[X] Cultivate with Cai Renxiang: AE (w49)
--[X] Train at the vent with Su Ling: TRF (w49)
--[X] Train with Meizhen: AM (w49)
--[X] Take a Job: Planting (w49)
-[X] Week 50: 1YSS (+3 Virtual), dark 10, moon/music/water/earth/wood 5 (Net 10+40+15*2+10*3=110 RSS)
--[X] Train Music arts with Zeqing: FVM (w50)
--[X] Tutoring: FVM/AE: Domain & Art Modification (Into Music, if possible) (w50)
--[X] Cultivate with Cai Renxiang: PLR (w50)
--[X] Train at the vent with Su Ling: TRF (w50)
--[X] Take a Job: Camp Overseer (w50)
"You're a precocious one, aren't you, junior Sister?" Ruan Shen laughed, from his seat on the stone bench.
"Is it impossible for me to alter an art then?" Ling Qi asked with a frown, she had been pleased to see the handsome boy again, but if he couldn't help her...
"As if you would regret getting him again anyway," Sixiang laughed.
"You still need to do a little growing, yeah," the older boy admitted, strumming a cheerful phrase that sent the flowers in the clearing they were in swaying. "You'll need to settle your foundation at least before you can think about shaping arts in your image, and that would be an accomplishment."
Ling Qi let out an annoyed huff, taking a seat herself on one of the benches circling the clearing. The third stage of the third realm then, that was quite a ways. She had heard it said that the distance between levels of the third realm was greater than the entirety of the lower realms, and her experience so far didn't contradict that. "That's disappointing," she grumbled. "I guess I'll have to wait then."
"Don't despair too much Junior Sister," Ruan Shen replied lightly. "My father once said to me… To make an art into music, one must be able to hear the melody of heaven and feel the beat of the earth. You are farther along than most. Why, I can feel the chill of a winter morn in your every note."
Ling Qi glanced away, feeling a little embarrassed. She did have a habit of leaving a layer of frost over things when practicing, if she wasn't careful. Zeqing's influence on her as a musician was quite strong. "Why the third level though?" She asked, changing the subject.
Her Senior Brother considered her words, leaning back in his seat to look up at the clouds for a moment, before turning back to consider her. "To alter an art, let alone create one, you must have a solid mold in which to shape it. The domain of one below that level lacks the stability to serve as a framework for such things. It is not something even I can easily put into words. The meaning and shape of your cultivation is unique to you."
Ling Qi had a feeling it as so, what few texts she could find on the matter had indicated much the same. From the start of the third realm, the value of tutors and standardized methods would grow less and less. She was not from some ancient family, with a nature so well worn that it had become ingrained in the world. She would have to find her own path. "I'll just have to be patient then. What will the lesson be for today?"
"I think we shall focus on expanding your range, since your signature melody is growing beyond my ability to aid you in," the boy mused, plucking at the strings of his intsrument. "For today, close your eyes, and focus on my song, listen and feel, and perhaps you might hear the chorus of tree and flower which supports it."
Ling Qi nodded sharply and closed her eyes. Even if if she was stymied for now, she would be ready to advance when the time came.
1/10th to domain (though that should cap fairly fast)
203/200. New Dot Gained!
3/600
3 domain slots gained. Foundation ability upgrades too…
Allies with whom Ling Qi has at least four dots of positive relation receive a four die bonus to spiritual defense, and a two die bonus to resolve and composure tests when within one hundred meters
Rerolling 10
3 9 10 10 3 8 2 1 7 4. 5 successes. 52 total
309/300 Art Mastered
9 to qi
86/87
1/10th to domain
13/600
Between further tutoring, cultivation, and the Sect job overseeing construction at the outskirts of the village, Ling Qi found her free time somewhat limited, and so she did not often find time to stop at home during the week. In what time she did have though, she was sure to offer her congratulations to Cui on her breakthrough, along with a small gift. The second grade rabbit had been caught by Zhengui, but the young spirit was simply too embarrassed to make the gift himself. Ling Qi thought it rather cute.
In the end, though it was still clear that the younger Bai didn't like her much, some of the ill feeling between them had faded. Then again, Ling Qi was perhaps biased, she would be willing to take a great deal of time with a passive aggressive serpent over the mind numbing duties of the job she had accepted. There was no challenge in it. These lands were too tame for anything really dangerous to come out, so she was left to simply scare away minor spirits and deal with accidents for hours on end. The best she could do was at least cultivate a little by sneaking about to spook the spooks, as it were. Still, jobs were drying up in the lead up to the years end, and points were points.
Of course, she was still excited to see the end of her shift and head up to the vent to train with Su Ling. She was on the very cusp of mastering the art of the Thousand Ring Fortress after all, and the other girls help would allow her to reach an understanding of the arts final technique.
Although, Ling Qi did have other reasons to be interested in meeting Su Ling.
"What an adorable little guy!" Sixiang gushed, as her friends new spirit popped his head up out of her hair. The spirit, a black furred bat with red markings, it's whole body no bigger than her hand, had apparently taken a liking to clinging to the back of his binders neck, hidden underneath the vulpine girls somewhat untidy tresses.
"Is that why you've been growing out your hair?" Ling Qi asked, amused at the picture that had been presented to her.
"No, he's just a stubborn little fuzzball," Su Ling grumbled. "He doesn't like staying in spiritual form, and he won't go off on his own either," she continued. A moment later, her ears twitched, and she sighed. "Yeah, yeah, I know. You want to watch my back."
"Avenging Crescent Bats are paranoid little guys," Sixiang mused. "Your friend must have a pretty strong sense of justice to snag one."
Ling Qi supposed so. Her smile faltered a bit when she leaned closer and the little bat gave a little hiss and burrowed back into Su Ling's hair. What was with her friends spirits not liking her? At least she could probably put this one down to general demeanor. "Can he not talk yet, or is he just being shy?" She asked, recovering swiftly.
"I'm not sure," Su Ling replied. "I can understand him, but he won't talk to anybody else," she added with a huff. "Thanks again for the info on moon spirits, by the way. I never would have thought to go that far on my own."
"You're welcome," Ling Qi replied, taking a step away. "I'm glad to help you out when I can. I know I haven't been the most sociable, but…"
"You've got a lot on your plate, I understand," Su Ling interrupted, holding up a hand to halt whatever else Ling Qi was going to say. "So do I. It's not like we don't keep in contact, you know?"
Ling Qi relaxed, a bit of tension leaving her shoulders. "You're right," she said, smiling. They still trained together regularly, perhaps that wasn't enough to stay close to Han Jian, but for Su Ling, it was enough. "Shall we get started then?"
"I suppose," Su Ling grumbled good naturedly. "You're lucky I'm not the one who has to re-sharpen the training swords after I blunt them on you, or I wouldn't do this."
Ling Qi laughed. "I'm glad the Sect takes care of it then."
Passive Effects
-User adds two dice to all expression tests
-User adds two dice to all socialize tests
- Users speed increases by five
-User gains a four die bonus on all physical defenses
-User gains a three die bonus on all spiritual defenses
-User gains a five die bonus on all rolls to escape grapple or confinement
-User receives a two die bonus on all rolls to begin or maintain a grapple on others
-This Art uses Expression as mastery for all techniques
Illustrious Phantasmal Festival: oooo
Cost: 10 Qi
The foundational technique from which all others in the art arise. The user gathers their qi and the memories of their night of revelry and expels them through every available channel in a rush of power and gleaming many colored mist. In an area eighty meters around centered on the user, ghostly dancers ever shifting in form coalesce from the midst in a riot of color, laughter, music and movement. When attempting to target the user, an enemy must succeed at a seven success perception test. On success they suffer a three die penalty on the clash. On failure their attack automatically fails and the threshold for the next perception test is reduced by one(stacking). Area of effect attacks which cover at least half of the area require only a four success test for hit. Effects which cover the whole area of the technique do not require a test. This effect persists for five turns, and may be renewed as an instant on the final turn for three qi. This technique is an illusion effect, affecting all senses.
Lunatic Whirl: ooo
Cost: 5 qi
Usable only while Illustrious Phantasmal Festival is active. The ghostly dancers gather around an intruder in the festival, laughing, singing and demanding a dance, forcing them to join the revelry. The user clashes with the opponent, and on success, they are grappled, and moved to a random location within the area of effect. Though the dancers will do no harm to their captive, the frenetic pace of the revelry is highly draining, and targets lose five qi each round in which they remain grappled. In addition, the target suffers a five die penalty on all attempts to escape. While grappled, targets may not activate any technique which requires arm meridians, or would carry them outside of the revel.
Third Beat Locked until Green Appraisal
Attributes: Wood, Yang
Current Meridians: Spine(x3), Heart
Needed Meridians: Heart(6)
Max Level: 6
An old and well polished art developed by a once powerful but defunct family within the Emerald Sea province. The user joins themselves to the qi of the land, becomes as one of the mighty trees which stand in the deepest forests of the province, vital and sturdy. Yet one tree is not a forest, and so the user may extend their vitality to their allies.
Passives
+4 die to physical defense pools of the user and all allies within eighty meters
+3 dice to stamina and resolve tests of the user and allies within eighty meters
User gains a four die bonus vs poison and disease effects
The user negates one damage from poison or disease effects each turn
User and all allies within eighty meters have their armor ratings improved by two
Deepwood Vitality: oo
Cost 7 qi
Instant, response
The user channels their qi into the earth, spreading like a great tangle of roots to link with up to ten allies. On activation the user and each target are granted two temporary health boxes and a four die bonus to physical defense for three turns. On use the user may attempt to dispel an effect on themselves and each ally, with a five die bonus. Temporary health boxes receive damage first, and disappear upon being used. Temporary Health boxes do not stack
Ten Ring Defense: oo
Cost: 4 Qi (initial)
Instant, response
This user fills themselves with the vital qi of the great forests to protect themselves and their allies from harm. Grants the user a four die bonus to physical defense for five turns. In addition the first two points of damage the user suffers each round is downgraded one stage. Aggravated becomes lethal, lethal becomes nonlethal, nonlethal is negated. The user may expend two qi to gain one point of semi perfect defense. This effect may be used on allies within range. If the user is not damaged in a turn in which this art is active, they recover two qi.
Hundred Ring Armament: ooo
Cost: 7 qi(initial)
Instant
The user armors themselves and their allies with the iron bark of primeval forests. The user gains two points of perfect defense. This effect may be extended to as many as five allies, for an additional three qi each time. In addition, the user and all allies affected have their armor increased by two. This effect lasts 3 turns.
Thousand Rings Unbreaking
Cost 10 qi
The eldest trees of the Emerald Seas are mighty things, ancient and nigh invulnerable, akin to living mountains. By calling upon the image of their power, the user gains some measure of their resilience. On activation, the user and up to three allies becomes immune to effects which would move them involuntarily and cannot be grappled, unless the enemy's cultivation exceeds theirs by two levels or one realm. In addition, the user and allies gains a four die bonus to all defenses, and negates, for free, the first point of damage they would take each round, regardless of source or quality. While this technique is active damage to armor durability is reduced by two(Min 1)
Locked until Green Appraisal
Ling Qi whirled among the phantom dancers, her steps carrying her from one narrow pillar to another. Amidst the smoky mist and pulsing beat of lunatic song though, a foreign element danced. A searing line of light cut through the air above her, forcing Ling Qi to snap backwards, bending until her back was nearly parallel to the ground as the blinding line cut through the air above her like a burning wire. A twisting pirouette carried her around a second line, her hair fanning out behind her with the motion as it cut diagonally through the revelling crowd. Ling Qi's phantoms laughed and danced amidst an ever shifting web of light, whose brightness cast their half human features in sharp relief with each brightened strobe.
Cai Renxiang's stern voice cut through all the noise though, as clear as day. "The six count clans of Emerald Sea. Minimum profile," the heiress stated tersely, some degree of strain showing from her control of so many vectors of light.
Ling Qi grimaced as a trailing leap and a midair spin carried her through a rapidly narrowing gap in the shifting grid of light, and her mind raced, putting together the answers to the question. "Meng clan, controls the western marshes. Staunch Weilu conservatives. Former ties with the Bai, backed Sun Shao. Neutral and distant at court. Isolanist"
The dance continued unabated as she strained to speak quickly and concisely, without allowing a single rapidly shifting light to touch her. "Wang and Jia, smallest clans, territories in the southern hills, between the Sects. Nominally Imperial conservatives. Mining interests. Elevated by the Duchess. Loyal and supportive at court. Pushing aggressive moves against the Cloud Tribes."
"Very good," Cai Renxiang hung overhead like a miniature star, tendrils of light snapping and crawling through the air behind her, the sleeves of her gown very slowly unraveling with the qi put into maintaining this regiment breaker of a technique.
Ling Qi lacked the time to acknowledge the praise, though some part of her noticed the movements of her phantoms growing smoother and more natural, the edges of the revel creeping outward with each step. She was coming closer to her goal. "Bao clan, wealthiest of the seven, controls the northern trade cities and the routes into Celestial peaks. Imperial conservatives. Mercantile inclinations, heavy production focus. Neutral at court. Opposes further military expansion in the south."
The lights began to move faster, and Ling Qi grimaced as she danced the steps of the Lunatic Festival faster than ever before to keep up. "Luo clan, keepers of the eastern marches. Ties to Golden Fields, on the rise due to recovery in neighbors and increased trade. Nominal Weilu conservatives. Did not support the Duchess, did not oppose, found loyal. Warrior clan, large presence in military. Aggressive in general."
"And the last?" Cai Renxiang asked from on high.
"Diao, rules a portion of the central region. Ambitious, but the Cai clans greatest supporters. Only count clan with active seventh realm cultivator. Young clan, heavy clashes with more conservative factions on various matters. Expansionist interests, aligned with Jia."
The heiress lowered her hand, and the ever shifting lines of light began to fade. "I am pleased with your recall, that will be sufficient for the moment."
Ling Qi grimaced as she allowed the phantoms to fade at last, that had merely been the last of the questions, they had been at this for hours now, and her meridians burned with the strain of keeping the festival active… but she had done it. She had refined her control enough that the cost of keeping the Festival active had dropped to a relative trickle. "I'm not sure I'm a fan of this style of exercise," LIng Qi joked as she caught her breath.
"Is that so?" Cai Renxiang asked as she drifted down amidst the dissolving revel, her arms bare to the shoulder. The heiress' muscle tone was surprisingly sharp, Ling Qi mused. Most female cultivators she had seen maintained a softer look. "You seem to retain information much more efficiently under stress."
Ling Qi huffed, blowing a strand of her escaped hair out of her eyes. "I have no defense against that," she admitted sheepishly. It was easy for her attention to wander in more scholastic settings, but the threat of searing beams of light had a way of focusing ones attention. "Well, I suppose I can't complain. I've definitely mastered this art as far as it can go at the moment."
"I am pleased to hear it," she replied. "Though the source is a troublesome one, a mastery of such an art will grant you a degree of esteem amongst certain clans."
"Of course that's how she sees it," Sixiang murmured, a sulking touch to her voice. "Weft and Weave, all in its place."
Ling Qi paused a moment, shooting a questioning thought toward her spirit, but received no reply. That was odd, Sixiang was usually silent in Renxiang's presence. "The Weilu conservatives, right?"
The heiress nodded sharply. "Those clans still make heavy use of the spirits and arts of Sun and Moon, compared to more imperial clans. You seem to have a talent for dealing with such entities, so I expect you to make use of it in the future."
"No point wasting talent," Ling Qi replied agreeably, glancing down at herself. She as mildly disheveled and more than a bit sweaty.
Seeming to read her thoughts, Cai Renxiang turned away. "Come, let us refresh ourselves, this has been sufficient exercise for the day."
"I suppose so," Ling Qi said, stretching her arms overhead as she moved to follow the heiress, hopping from pillar to pillar as they headed for the exit. "Where has Gan Guangli been this week anyway?" She couldn;t say she minded the boy joining them, particularly when they were doing exercises that necessitated leaving heavier armor out.
"Mastering his primary art further in seclusion," her liege replied, and Ling Qi caught a touch of the dry amusement that passed for humor in the heiress tone. "You may have your distraction back soon enough."
Ling Qi frowned playfully at the long haired girls back. She could never tell if the heiress was genuine when it came to the little bits of casual behavior she let slip in her presence.
"Ten million threads to weave a doll, and still it is incomplete," Sixiang sighed. "Just because she knows how to speak to you, doesn't mean she understands."
Well, wasn't that a cheerful thought, Ling Qi mused, hurrying to catch back up.
Dodge 20/30
Unarmed 12/12 New dot gained
Resilience 24/21 New dot gained
Power 11/9 New dot gained
+30 successes to qi
+10 successes to Argent Mirror
+30 Successes to FVM(stealth)
+20 successes to FVM(learning)
Income 100 Red Stones
Alright guys, we're here, the final week of cultivation before we hit the tournament and the sequel quest after. You have five actions to cultivate with and three minors to pick. We'll stick with leaving minor selection separate from cultivation though.
[] Train at the vent with Su Ling
-[] Any
[] Train Music arts with Zeqing
[] Take a job
-[] Specify
[] Visit the Archive
-[] Search for a technique
-[] Study another subject
[] Study Formations with Li Suyin
-[] Select up to two formations
[] Train with Meizhen
-[] Any
[] Cultivate with Cai Renxiang
-[] Any
[] Cultivate in the White Room
-[] What?
-[] With who?
[] Cultivate on your own
-[] Any
Now this time, the minor actions will be voted for separately from the training plan, and will operate off approval voting. Cai Renxiang will not be included, since she will be getting some automatic scenes due to the chosen path. As before with the weapons, you may vote for up to three minor options.
[] Heizui has, for all his ill temper, been a decent host. Thank him for the time you've spent in the Vale
[] It's been nearly a year since you first met Meizhen, set aside an evening to spend with her as your closest friend.
[] Gu Xiulan has done all she could to prepare herself and train, coax her out of the training field for one more night on the town
[] You need to unwind, take a morning and spend it on the slopes with Zhengui and Hanyi, a little childish fun can be nice from time to time
[] Han Jian might not be your closest friend, but he was still one of your first, even if you've drifted apart. See if he has some free time to chat
[] Cai Renxiang might have given you leave to see to other interests this week, but you don't need too. Meet the heiress for tea and politics.
[X] Heizui has, for all his ill temper, been a decent host. Thank him for the time you've spent in the Vale
[X] It's been nearly a year since you first met Meizhen, set aside an evening to spend with her as your closest friend.
[X] Gu Xiulan has done all she could to prepare herself and train, coax her out of the training field for one more night on the town
[X] It's been nearly a year since you first met Meizhen, set aside an evening to spend with her as your closest friend.
[X] Gu Xiulan has done all she could to prepare herself and train, coax her out of the training field for one more night on the town
[X] You need to unwind, take a morning and spend it on the slopes with Zhengui and Hanyi, a little childish fun can be nice from time to time
[X] Heizui has, for all his ill temper, been a decent host. Thank him for the time you've spent in the Vale
[X] It's been nearly a year since you first met Meizhen, set aside an evening to spend with her as your closest friend.
[X] Gu Xiulan has done all she could to prepare herself and train, coax her out of the training field for one more night on the town
I think I still have three points left over. If so, I'd like it if they were put into Expression, please.
[X] It's been nearly a year since you first met Meizhen, set aside an evening to spend with her as your closest friend.
[X] Gu Xiulan has done all she could to prepare herself and train, coax her out of the training field for one more night on the town
[X] Han Jian might not be your closest friend, but he was still one of your first, even if you've drifted apart. See if he has some free time to chat
Absolute Musts for me, Meizhen and Xiulan are the closest people we have to best friends. A bit of a shame that there isn't a Su Ling and Li Suyin option, but I guess that makes it easier to pick if nothing else.
I honestly feel bad for Han Jian, and I still think ignoring him was among the worst choices we ever made, but what's done is done. I think we need to repay him for that first meeting, even if it's just a small chat. Ling Qi resolved to drag her friends with her, and Han Jian is absolutely among them, even if they have drifted apart with time.
Alternatively, I'm also willing to switch the Han Jian or Gu Xiulan option with Hanyi and Zhengui. Let Ling Qi be a bit selfish and rediscover the childhood she never had a chance to indulge in. It feels poetic, in a way, and relaxation is always good.
[X] You need to unwind, take a morning and spend it on the slopes with Zhengui and Hanyi, a little childish fun can be nice from time to time
[X] It's been nearly a year since you first met Meizhen, set aside an evening to spend with her as your closest friend.
[X] Gu Xiulan has done all she could to prepare herself and train, coax her out of the training field for one more night on the town
[X] It's been nearly a year since you first met Meizhen, set aside an evening to spend with her as your closest friend.
[X] Gu Xiulan has done all she could to prepare herself and train, coax her out of the training field for one more night on the town
[X] Han Jian might not be your closest friend, but he was still one of your first, even if you've drifted apart. See if he has some free time to chat
Aren't we just be at TRF5, not 6? It shouldn't be mastered yet unless you've changed the number of levels...
[x] It's been nearly a year since you first met Meizhen, set aside an evening to spend with her as your closest friend.
[x] Gu Xiulan has done all she could to prepare herself and train, coax her out of the training field for one more night on the town
[x] Han Jian might not be your closest friend, but he was still one of your first, even if you've drifted apart. See if he has some free time to chat
