- Location
- California
When did this happen?
Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny)
- Thread starter yrsillar
- Start date
- Original Users' Choice!
Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
When did this happen?
- Location
- United States of America
Maybe. There is some twisted logic to putting the clues to access a cultivation prize location in books that are meant for non-cultivators. But if the trial was for cultivators, then the ease by which we bypassed the barriers wouldn't make sense because they would be designed with the powers of cultivators in mind.
There's something weird going on here about this temple and why it was constructed, and I can't wait to find out what it might be.
I mean, from the start it wasnt meant to be found that easily, you know?
- Location
- Cali
Funnily enough, the temple guardian seems to have about the same stats as Xuan Shi does:
Speed: C
Phys Hit: B Phys Pen B
Phys Armor: S
Spiritual Armor: A
We have no idea how big its health pool is, but I'm not sure we have the qi reserves to spend on breaking the guardian, even factoring our armor ignore. That's also assuming that the unliving object is vulnerable to our cold and doesn't have countermeasures built in.
Also, if we were to try to train perception on this, what would we be looking for? Ling Qi hasn't read the book series, so if the key is a story element she'd never be able to tell. Ling Qi's formation skills aren't amazing, so if the key is a high formation skill she'd run into issues. If the key is to find something out of place, would Ling Qi even know what's supposed to be there? Ling Qi also lacks pin-point arts or anything that's focused on targeting, so if the key is to hit/steal a specific thing, she'd lack the need to use perception on it, also she'd have no idea what to target in the first place given points 1 and 2.
As much as I'd like to see more turtle bonding, I'll have to go with
[X] Be the Defense: Stay down here along with Zhengui and draw the guardians attention, while Xuan Shi seeks a method to disable it
Let the book nerd do his nerd thing.
Speed: C
Phys Hit: B Phys Pen B
Phys Armor: S
Spiritual Armor: A
We have no idea how big its health pool is, but I'm not sure we have the qi reserves to spend on breaking the guardian, even factoring our armor ignore. That's also assuming that the unliving object is vulnerable to our cold and doesn't have countermeasures built in.
Also, if we were to try to train perception on this, what would we be looking for? Ling Qi hasn't read the book series, so if the key is a story element she'd never be able to tell. Ling Qi's formation skills aren't amazing, so if the key is a high formation skill she'd run into issues. If the key is to find something out of place, would Ling Qi even know what's supposed to be there? Ling Qi also lacks pin-point arts or anything that's focused on targeting, so if the key is to hit/steal a specific thing, she'd lack the need to use perception on it, also she'd have no idea what to target in the first place given points 1 and 2.
As much as I'd like to see more turtle bonding, I'll have to go with
[X] Be the Defense: Stay down here along with Zhengui and draw the guardians attention, while Xuan Shi seeks a method to disable it
Let the book nerd do his nerd thing.
Thunderdome. Liling AOE nuked the field.
He wasn't even mussed
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
[X] Be the Offense: Use your superior mobility to to seek weakness in the guardians frame while Xuan Shi and Zhengui keep it's attention on them.
- Location
- Computer Desk
[X] Be the Offense: Use your superior mobility to to seek weakness in the guardians frame while Xuan Shi and Zhengui keep it's attention on them.
If we uncap perception as several people are theorizing by going on the offense, I feel as if that would be one of the best rewards we could get out of this place. Minus rolling a crit on our loot search and finding an amazing art of course.
If we uncap perception as several people are theorizing by going on the offense, I feel as if that would be one of the best rewards we could get out of this place. Minus rolling a crit on our loot search and finding an amazing art of course.
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- Location
- Earth
[X] Be the Defense: Stay down here along with Zhengui and draw the guardians attention, while Xuan Shi seeks a method to disable it
- Location
- United States of America
[X] Be the Offense: Use your superior mobility to to seek weakness in the guardians frame while Xuan Shi and Zhengui keep it's attention on them.
I was initially for Ling Qi being the defense, but I've come around to this option. I think that being the offensive is the best use of Ling Qi's skills and being the defense is the best use of Xuan Shi's skills.
Either option has the Zhengui and his partner (either Ling Qi or Xuan Shi) draw the guardian's attention on to them. The problem I'm having with Ling Qi being on the defensive, in this case, is that we have limited options for drawing the guardian's attention to us other than by dint of being annoying. Xuan Shi is not stealthy nor, it seems, is he very mobile. In fact, the prompt says we have superior mobility. Which means it will be difficult for Xuan Shi to get in a situation where he is outside of the Guardian's notice while he searches for the weak point.
What Xuan Shi does have, though, is a very potent defense. A defense that should be able to handle what the Guardian can dish out. The problem, however, is again Xuan Shi's and Zhengui's ability to draw the Guardian's notice. However, we have superior mobility and likely superior stealth which means we have a better chance at slipping past the Guardian's notice leaving Xuan Shi and Zhengui as the only things the Guardian notices. If we can slip beneath the Guardian's notice, Xuan Shi and Zhengui will have a much easier time drawing the Guardian's attention.
So I see this situation as a means to push our stealth as well as our perception. Which, to me, is quite valuable.
I was initially for Ling Qi being the defense, but I've come around to this option. I think that being the offensive is the best use of Ling Qi's skills and being the defense is the best use of Xuan Shi's skills.
Either option has the Zhengui and his partner (either Ling Qi or Xuan Shi) draw the guardian's attention on to them. The problem I'm having with Ling Qi being on the defensive, in this case, is that we have limited options for drawing the guardian's attention to us other than by dint of being annoying. Xuan Shi is not stealthy nor, it seems, is he very mobile. In fact, the prompt says we have superior mobility. Which means it will be difficult for Xuan Shi to get in a situation where he is outside of the Guardian's notice while he searches for the weak point.
What Xuan Shi does have, though, is a very potent defense. A defense that should be able to handle what the Guardian can dish out. The problem, however, is again Xuan Shi's and Zhengui's ability to draw the Guardian's notice. However, we have superior mobility and likely superior stealth which means we have a better chance at slipping past the Guardian's notice leaving Xuan Shi and Zhengui as the only things the Guardian notices. If we can slip beneath the Guardian's notice, Xuan Shi and Zhengui will have a much easier time drawing the Guardian's attention.
So I see this situation as a means to push our stealth as well as our perception. Which, to me, is quite valuable.
1337Procrast
Fire Emblem Enjoyer
- Location
- Australia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Be the Offense: Use your superior mobility to to seek weakness in the guardians frame while Xuan Shi and Zhengui keep it's attention on them.
I think this is a good idea to put Ling Qi's new perception/precognition arts to the test. And while she is tanky, her defensive arts for the most part help her allies as well. So:
[X] Be the Offense: Use your superior mobility to to seek weakness in the guardians frame while Xuan Shi and Zhengui keep it's attention on them.
[X] Be the Offense: Use your superior mobility to to seek weakness in the guardians frame while Xuan Shi and Zhengui keep it's attention on them.
Arkeus
Crazy cat guy
- Location
- France
We aren't that badly off for spiritual dammage penetration:
enemy s.armour said:
FSS penetration said:
It's not Ideal, but we do have A23 s.pen once we set up Echoes, and while our perception isn't the best, we still have:Echoes of Absolute Winter said:
Not to say Xuan Shi won't be better at finding the golem's weakness than Ling Qi, but he will also be better at Tanking than Ling Qi.... and we can make do in either case. In fact, I'd say that we are very likely to be much worse at tanking given the Golem has B hit to our B Dodge (pre-techs).
- Location
- The Temple of the Winds
Hanyi seems pretty damn good at "drawing the guardian's attention" so i don't thing aggro will be a problem.
Hanyi has B rank offense vs the A rank armor of the golem.
It's unclear how high sp. Armor interact with taunts, but I wouldn't be so sure of hee managing to aggro the golem.
We have literally an art that help with both formation and pinpointing weakness. That's CDE.
Also our formation skill is C rank, which is the best one can get without a formation trial, so we are pretty good at formation.
Arkeus
Crazy cat guy
- Location
- France
It's not armour itself that's the problem (Taunt should flat out bypass armour and only care about s.avoid). The problem is that armour people can have ways to deal with status effects:
Obviously though, as a golem it's likely it doesn't have half a dozen arts powering it up.
Sundancer
Always drifting~
- Location
- Germany
Two young souls, delving into the Temple of Love. Doom. Doom, I meant! Honest!... Yeah, this how this reads to me and I like it XD
It's a very amusing arc so far, Yrs, and fits very well after the high stakes, mortal danger arc around Zeqing. Besides, I just like low pressure scenes where the characters get to show off some and banter in not-too-deadly situation. Feels a lot less edgy and more natural to me.
Xuan S... I mean, Lover Boy, is doing pretty well in this scene. I guess not everyone likes the calm or quiet ones, but I like him and he shows some great qualities here. Competent, collected, pretty reasonable and showing concern for more than just the readiness of his teammates if I am interpreting him correctly. Well, and he is an adorable dork and nerd and right awkward. He is endearing, and more! I hope we keep in contact with him, and get to see more of him. And how he plays off of Ling Qi, and especially Sixiang.
Let me take a closer look at this...
potential loot boys.
Don't worry, lover boy. These two normies are just boring, they'll soon learn to appreciate the superiority of true animu. Erm, smutty romance novels. I mean, rare and valuable, ciphered Cultivation Manuals, of course!
Hotene... Hot-ene. I know we are using different languages here, but... really? What was the hero's name? Biggus Dantianus?
Also, I see your struggle to not go all out and explain the full depth of the storyline and how it ties in into the side franchise. And the three alternate sequels. And the several alternate prequels. And the comparison to the alternate storylines. And the... yeah, okay. I see your sacrifice there, and I really, really appreciate it.
That's my girl! Hanyi is awesome! … When she grows older, we might need to have a conversation about consent with her sometime, but ehh. I am sure it'll be fine.
So, a novel written from the perspective of mortals. Or maybe lower Realm Cultivators. Mortals would be a bit strange; they could hardly travel around, given the local flora and fauna. Or the Spirits. Or the... you get the picture.
Also, theprize hot waifu was called a storm sorceress. Doesn't sound very mortal to me. But then, it's a work of fiction and who knows how those look in the Empire and if they stick to the terms of Cultivation. Really, if this were lover boy quest, I'd love to study the Empire's fiction and literature and find out what genres they have, how they work and what is popular. How they see the world, and what motivates them. (Please don't let me be eaten by spirits. Please don't let me be eaten by spirits. Please don't let me be eaten by spirits.
That counts as skill practice for our scout training! It's right there in the text!
... Can we revisit this place with Moon Sempai? To, uhhhhm... get his professional opinion on this scouting challenge... yeah, that!
I mean, come on. This is the perfect opportunity. And he has *abs*!
What a spoilsport. We learned this Arts for a reason! Bypassing any and all content is a totally valid use of our abilities and the reason why they were given to us! I am sure of it!
Yeah, what could be more boring then that?
Thanks for the answer, Zhengui.
Nice use of our new Art. It will likely get more opportunity to shine a light on our future.
I'll note here that Ling Qi isn't sounding all that troubled or challenged. She sounds mostly exasperated or annoyed. She really isn't feeling the pressure here. Is she just not getting the mood of the setting?
Or is she overlevelled? Maybe; this hints again that this place wasn't setup or regulated by the Sect. Inner Sect encounters should feel more like a challenge to two Disciples in the earlier Stages of Green. So this place is either pre-Sect, or Xuan Shi really did built it by himself to lure Ling Qi in and into a conversation. It was also the project that let him jump so many ranks last time. The Elder grading it just took one look at it, one at Xuan Shi, one at the plan and then said 'Whatever, dude. Here, have some dozen Ranks. And never, ever call me again to rate your stuff.'
Yeah, Ling Qi really isn't feeling the pressure here. Careful, arrogance doesn't suit you and we should stay grounded. Even if it's justified, it's good not to develop any bad habits.
Lover boy doesn't feel to pressured either. And he came prepared. Well, it only makes sense, given that he built this place. (No, I am not going to let this go.)
Pretty cool and evocative way to break a lightning barrier, though. And it wasn't even in the book! Darn unfaithful adaptions...
Someone didn't like being punched in the face by some random street thug. Guess the baron will not have a fun time when he tries again. Xuan Shi is loaded for lightning bruiser, and Ji Rong will have trouble working around that.
Still, it shows how dangerous the baron is, that lover boy feels the need to make talismans to guard against his favoured element.
Water, our vile enemy shows itself again. But we prevail! Well done, Ling Qi, Hanyi.
I am a bit surprised that freezing the water worked. Guess they just powered through it. Is this some kind of elemental hierarchy thing? Or 'cold beats motion'? Maybe. I wouldn't know. Still, well done. And pretty casually, too.
… Although this wasn't in the book, either.
See? Not in the book!
Our spirits are really pulling their weight here, aren't they? I love it. And the peanut gallery.
They are definitely earning their upkeep today.
We are bypassing loot? Please tell me when aren't bypassing loot. … We can't bypass loot.
Ling Qi! Young lady, turn around and go down these passages! All of them! I don't care if you already bypassed all the barriers and defeated the guardian.
Won't no one think of the loot? ;_;
Aside from that, I am not sure it's a good reaction to have. 'I am not pressed to the very edge and tethering on the edge of defeat and death. … Something is wrong.' … But I guess that is a trained response from any Sect Disciple, given how the Sect pushes Trials on them.
Well, of course lover boy wouldn't try to kill or maim his love interest in the lover's tunnel he built with his own hands...
Serious talk, though. Ling Qi says she hasn't seen anything genuinely deadly. Maybe she is just going by the abilities of a Green. But maybe this Site really has no actually *deadly* effects, even for lowly Yellows. It would make sense for some kind of training or adventure site from pre-Sect days. Maybe some kind of rite of passage or marriage/relationship 'Trial' from the Clan who lived on these lands back then? It likely was the clan of the Sect Head… Yuan He, are you the waifu?
High collars are pretty good at hiding a blush, aren't they? … Yeah, Ling Qi has probably picked up on the 'theme' surrounding this Site, but she isn't putting it into words. Or even thoughts. Xuan Shi certainly also knows what the game is, but he is still turtling. (Even if he didn't build this place for his Challenge last month.) (He totally did.)
Xuan Shi-building-lovers-nest-to-pass-his-challenge-and-woe-Ling-Qi … confirmed! Totally confirmed. There can't be *that* many coincidences!
Sixiang! I expected better of you! That was too obvious. Even Ling Qi picked up on it. Now getting them into lip-lock to pass the final barrier will be all the more work ;-/
A little new, huh... close together. Yeaaaah. Raising all the flags, here.
I do wonder what Xuan Shi, and other people, think of the coterie of Ling Qi's spirits. It doesn't seem exactly *normal* for a Green to enter bonds with so many spirits, powerful or not. Bai Meizhen has two, but well, she is Bai Meizhen and three is like 50% more than two!
Also, interesting to see that Hanyi doesn't like hanging around in Ling Qi's Dantian. How Wind element of her. But it makes sense, even without any elements. Hanyi is fairly headstrong and independent-minded, the most so of all our Spirits. I hope she keeps that, without it developing into a major problem along the road. Having someone snarky, and with their own opinion so close around herself will be good for Ling Qi, too.
And of course, Ling Qi dodges all lewd attempts on her persona! Good girl! What a nice young lady. So dignified and chaste. Hand-holding is just beyond the pale, really.
Abs holding on the other hand...
Nice move, Sixiang. Seems you are indeed working hard and trying to Cultivate. I approve. Also, worked out pretty well.
I'll note, again, that this wasn't in the book, though!
Cool of Xuan Shi to show concern for Sixiang here. Maybe I am reading too much into it, but it sounds like more than mere professional concern about the status of a teammate. It's certainly not something Bai Meizhen would have asked, and probably Gu Xiulan not either. Lover boy gets a point for that.
Stupid dungeon. I hate these kind of Gms... (Well, not really, but hey. I am allowed to be grumpy once a day!)
As expected, the dungeon was meant to belooted explored fully, and not doing so makes it cranky. Well, people have said that it's fine, going hardmode in Xianxia is totally accepted and gives you hardmode rewards if you can take it. Let's hope they are correct. Wouldn't want Lover Boy to not get his unpublished sequel, after all.
Yeaaah. Hard mode engaged. It has arms. All the arms!
… Nice that we have super eyes now. Whom do we need to kill to unlock their full potential, though? (Yeah, I know, it's just our new Perception Art, but did it *say* killing our friends won't improve it? Huh? Huh? Did it?)
Hmm. Useful information and enough to make some educated guesses, but I was hoping from a bit more from our new Art. Did it not use it's +30 twice a scene power here? Still, not bad. We can work with this.
Orrrrr we just let Lover Boy face tank it and grind it into dust. Ducal-envy intensifies.
… Now imagine how a Talent 5 Cultivator feels about that. Or one of these hilarious people who get to Late Red during their whole life. Which are like 90% of all Cultivators.
I am a bit surprised, though. Does Xuan Shi have no Spirit at all? Does he keep it close to his chest? Seems weird, in such a shared challenge. But then, Shen Hu didn't explain his sleepy-summer-nap spirit either when we went exploring with him.
… Sorry about that :3 It's perfectly fine and I even like it! I hate it when every encounter is at the edge of your ability and no matter how hard you level, everything just scales with you and nothing changes except maybe numbers. So, having an 'easier' or lower leveled encounter at times to see how far you have come or how strong you are is really neat.
Ling Qi a few months ago would have hard a very different attitude to an enemy with such stats. Now, it's more like tuesday for her. And the reaction is entirely justified.
I'll probably write down some thoughts on the options later, don't want to mix it in here. Might be too late for the vote, but see if I care!
I really should keep my reactions shorter... Oh, well. Next time!
TL;DR:
Either Xuan Shi built this whole site as his project for his last Sect Challenge that let him rise through the ranks so much, or it is an old haunt of Yuan He and he went through it in a dress!
It's a very amusing arc so far, Yrs, and fits very well after the high stakes, mortal danger arc around Zeqing. Besides, I just like low pressure scenes where the characters get to show off some and banter in not-too-deadly situation. Feels a lot less edgy and more natural to me.
Xuan S... I mean, Lover Boy, is doing pretty well in this scene. I guess not everyone likes the calm or quiet ones, but I like him and he shows some great qualities here. Competent, collected, pretty reasonable and showing concern for more than just the readiness of his teammates if I am interpreting him correctly. Well, and he is an adorable dork and nerd and right awkward. He is endearing, and more! I hope we keep in contact with him, and get to see more of him. And how he plays off of Ling Qi, and especially Sixiang.
Let me take a closer look at this...
That's a strong descriptor! A bit bland, but then, I guess Xuan Shi is no poet and pretty down to earth. Let's see how a true artists voices it.
- 'Meh, I have seen better.' ... Yeah, we gonna need like half a dozen Insights before Ling Qi can call herself an artist, it seems.
Well, to vote the super-human artist in the group 'pretty impressive'. The number eight shows up again. The Moon has eight phases, but is this really connected to the Moon? Eight is a relatively popular mystical number; well, I guess our two lovebirds will find out soon. Sorry, Xuan Shi. I meant, our two entirely chaste adventurers who only have a purely work related relationship. Like in these books you read. You know, the smu... the ciphered Cultivation manuals and treasure maps. Those ones.
Yeah, always ask the smutty romance lov... The Formations Expert first when encountering strange barriers. Makes sense. Note, this is the first time Ling Qi ponders about a relative lack of challenge and the possibility of a trap or hidden consequences.
Boys will be boys. Still, nice to hear Zhengui speak up of his own volition. And it's not even related to food. … At least I hope he isn't considering the temple as food. But given what we fed him with, aka 'spiritual infused wood' and building materials I am... not sure he doesn't. … Note to self: Paint the Clan home danger-red so the Xuan Wu doesn't eat it.
Awww, I feel you sister. Always so hard to keep the boys in check. Really, as we see later Hanyi is so reasonable and mature for her age, especially regarding
Don't worry, lover boy. These two normies are just boring, they'll soon learn to appreciate the superiority of true animu. Erm, smutty romance novels. I mean, rare and valuable, ciphered Cultivation Manuals, of course!
Hotene... Hot-ene. I know we are using different languages here, but... really? What was the hero's name? Biggus Dantianus?
Also, I see your struggle to not go all out and explain the full depth of the storyline and how it ties in into the side franchise. And the three alternate sequels. And the several alternate prequels. And the comparison to the alternate storylines. And the... yeah, okay. I see your sacrifice there, and I really, really appreciate it.
That's my girl! Hanyi is awesome! … When she grows older, we might need to have a conversation about consent with her sometime, but ehh. I am sure it'll be fine.
"Of course I know that, dummy! Who do you think I am, a hungry, sleepy dummy?" - "Nom?" A confused Gui looks up, half a temple pillar in his maw. - "I know perfectly well what consents are. Speech would be stupid with out them, and words would sound all weird!" - *sounds of hilarious laughter from the pillow fort*
So, a novel written from the perspective of mortals. Or maybe lower Realm Cultivators. Mortals would be a bit strange; they could hardly travel around, given the local flora and fauna. Or the Spirits. Or the... you get the picture.
Also, the
That counts as skill practice for our scout training! It's right there in the text!
... Can we revisit this place with Moon Sempai? To, uhhhhm... get his professional opinion on this scouting challenge... yeah, that!
I mean, come on. This is the perfect opportunity. And he has *abs*!
What a spoilsport. We learned this Arts for a reason! Bypassing any and all content is a totally valid use of our abilities and the reason why they were given to us! I am sure of it!
Yeah, what could be more boring then that?
Thanks for the answer, Zhengui.
Nice use of our new Art. It will likely get more opportunity to shine a light on our future.
I'll note here that Ling Qi isn't sounding all that troubled or challenged. She sounds mostly exasperated or annoyed. She really isn't feeling the pressure here. Is she just not getting the mood of the setting?
Or is she overlevelled? Maybe; this hints again that this place wasn't setup or regulated by the Sect. Inner Sect encounters should feel more like a challenge to two Disciples in the earlier Stages of Green. So this place is either pre-Sect, or Xuan Shi really did built it by himself to lure Ling Qi in and into a conversation. It was also the project that let him jump so many ranks last time. The Elder grading it just took one look at it, one at Xuan Shi, one at the plan and then said 'Whatever, dude. Here, have some dozen Ranks. And never, ever call me again to rate your stuff.'
Yeah, Ling Qi really isn't feeling the pressure here. Careful, arrogance doesn't suit you and we should stay grounded. Even if it's justified, it's good not to develop any bad habits.
Lover boy doesn't feel to pressured either. And he came prepared. Well, it only makes sense, given that he built this place. (No, I am not going to let this go.)
Pretty cool and evocative way to break a lightning barrier, though. And it wasn't even in the book! Darn unfaithful adaptions...
Someone didn't like being punched in the face by some random street thug. Guess the baron will not have a fun time when he tries again. Xuan Shi is loaded for lightning bruiser, and Ji Rong will have trouble working around that.
Still, it shows how dangerous the baron is, that lover boy feels the need to make talismans to guard against his favoured element.
Water, our vile enemy shows itself again. But we prevail! Well done, Ling Qi, Hanyi.
I am a bit surprised that freezing the water worked. Guess they just powered through it. Is this some kind of elemental hierarchy thing? Or 'cold beats motion'? Maybe. I wouldn't know. Still, well done. And pretty casually, too.
… Although this wasn't in the book, either.
See? Not in the book!
Our spirits are really pulling their weight here, aren't they? I love it. And the peanut gallery.
They are definitely earning their upkeep today.
We are bypassing loot? Please tell me when aren't bypassing loot. … We can't bypass loot.
Ling Qi! Young lady, turn around and go down these passages! All of them! I don't care if you already bypassed all the barriers and defeated the guardian.
Won't no one think of the loot? ;_;
Aside from that, I am not sure it's a good reaction to have. 'I am not pressed to the very edge and tethering on the edge of defeat and death. … Something is wrong.' … But I guess that is a trained response from any Sect Disciple, given how the Sect pushes Trials on them.
"I am concerned, Elder Brother. This task seems far below our ability. We need to be on our guard, things can't be as easy as they appear." - *Sighs* "I know that you just came home from your stay at the Sect, little brother, but trust your Senior. Sometime, things aren't life and death and tasks are simple tasks and can be done with nothing but a reasonable amount of effort." - "But..." - "No! Put it back! We will not raid the clan armoury for ancient treasures and talismans for our trip of grocery shopping at the market! Put it all back!"
Well, of course lover boy wouldn't try to kill or maim his love interest in the lover's tunnel he built with his own hands...
Serious talk, though. Ling Qi says she hasn't seen anything genuinely deadly. Maybe she is just going by the abilities of a Green. But maybe this Site really has no actually *deadly* effects, even for lowly Yellows. It would make sense for some kind of training or adventure site from pre-Sect days. Maybe some kind of rite of passage or marriage/relationship 'Trial' from the Clan who lived on these lands back then? It likely was the clan of the Sect Head… Yuan He, are you the waifu?
High collars are pretty good at hiding a blush, aren't they? … Yeah, Ling Qi has probably picked up on the 'theme' surrounding this Site, but she isn't putting it into words. Or even thoughts. Xuan Shi certainly also knows what the game is, but he is still turtling. (Even if he didn't build this place for his Challenge last month.) (He totally did.)
Xuan Shi-building-lovers-nest-to-pass-his-challenge-and-woe-Ling-Qi … confirmed! Totally confirmed. There can't be *that* many coincidences!
Sixiang! I expected better of you! That was too obvious. Even Ling Qi picked up on it. Now getting them into lip-lock to pass the final barrier will be all the more work ;-/
A little new, huh... close together. Yeaaaah. Raising all the flags, here.
I do wonder what Xuan Shi, and other people, think of the coterie of Ling Qi's spirits. It doesn't seem exactly *normal* for a Green to enter bonds with so many spirits, powerful or not. Bai Meizhen has two, but well, she is Bai Meizhen and three is like 50% more than two!
Also, interesting to see that Hanyi doesn't like hanging around in Ling Qi's Dantian. How Wind element of her. But it makes sense, even without any elements. Hanyi is fairly headstrong and independent-minded, the most so of all our Spirits. I hope she keeps that, without it developing into a major problem along the road. Having someone snarky, and with their own opinion so close around herself will be good for Ling Qi, too.
And of course, Ling Qi dodges all lewd attempts on her persona! Good girl! What a nice young lady. So dignified and chaste. Hand-holding is just beyond the pale, really.
Abs holding on the other hand...
Nice move, Sixiang. Seems you are indeed working hard and trying to Cultivate. I approve. Also, worked out pretty well.
I'll note, again, that this wasn't in the book, though!
Cool of Xuan Shi to show concern for Sixiang here. Maybe I am reading too much into it, but it sounds like more than mere professional concern about the status of a teammate. It's certainly not something Bai Meizhen would have asked, and probably Gu Xiulan not either. Lover boy gets a point for that.
Stupid dungeon. I hate these kind of Gms... (Well, not really, but hey. I am allowed to be grumpy once a day!)
As expected, the dungeon was meant to be
Yeaaah. Hard mode engaged. It has arms. All the arms!
… Nice that we have super eyes now. Whom do we need to kill to unlock their full potential, though? (Yeah, I know, it's just our new Perception Art, but did it *say* killing our friends won't improve it? Huh? Huh? Did it?)
Hmm. Useful information and enough to make some educated guesses, but I was hoping from a bit more from our new Art. Did it not use it's +30 twice a scene power here? Still, not bad. We can work with this.
Orrrrr we just let Lover Boy face tank it and grind it into dust. Ducal-envy intensifies.
… Now imagine how a Talent 5 Cultivator feels about that. Or one of these hilarious people who get to Late Red during their whole life. Which are like 90% of all Cultivators.
I am a bit surprised, though. Does Xuan Shi have no Spirit at all? Does he keep it close to his chest? Seems weird, in such a shared challenge. But then, Shen Hu didn't explain his sleepy-summer-nap spirit either when we went exploring with him.
Yeaaah, I am feeling your panic there, guys. Nerve-wrecking, how you are both feeling pushed to your very limits and on the verge of death. No, really. I am shaking here.
… Sorry about that :3 It's perfectly fine and I even like it! I hate it when every encounter is at the edge of your ability and no matter how hard you level, everything just scales with you and nothing changes except maybe numbers. So, having an 'easier' or lower leveled encounter at times to see how far you have come or how strong you are is really neat.
Ling Qi a few months ago would have hard a very different attitude to an enemy with such stats. Now, it's more like tuesday for her. And the reaction is entirely justified.
I'll probably write down some thoughts on the options later, don't want to mix it in here. Might be too late for the vote, but see if I care!
I really should keep my reactions shorter... Oh, well. Next time!
TL;DR:
Either Xuan Shi built this whole site as his project for his last Sect Challenge that let him rise through the ranks so much, or it is an old haunt of Yuan He and he went through it in a dress!