Xiao Yi [Firefly/Mentor]
Gently drumming his fingers on the table laid out in front of him, Parmenion gazed down at the Muster Grounds assigned to the Tatika Bureau for Research and Refinement of the Formations used by the clan. Picking up his teacup and taking a sip, his eyes focused on the way the myriad Qi patterns created within the grounds seemed to flow and shift in accordance with the practicing cultivators as they work at controlling and manipulating the formations they were in.
As he looked at the sight before him, a unfamiliar Qi Pattern caught his attention. Directing more of his attention to it, Parmenion found certain aspects of it familiar, as if it was based on something he knew. Intrigued by the mystery, Parmenion set his cup gently on the table and focused his full attention on the Qi Pattern, using his Core Formation Qi sense to scrutinize it from all directions.
" Hah! Knew i saw it before! It's the poison Qi formation that promising junior came up with! " Stroking his beard with pleasure and pleased with his analysis, Parmenion directed his gaze at the Formation generating the Qi Pattern, observing each and every member.
However, as he observed the formation, his face grew darker and darker. The Formation only succeeded in about 1 of 3 attempts, and each successful attempt was due to the Junior himself leading the formation. If only the creator could activate the Formation, then it was a flawed formation in Parmenion's book!
As the day drew to a close and the Formations in the mustering ground start to disband and leave, Parmenion split off a trace of his Qi and sent it to the Junior inviting him for a drink, smiling coldly at the very noticeable flinch as the Junior accepted his invitation and started making his way towards the Bureau Pavilion.
Just before the Junior could knock on his door, Parmenion decided to throw him even more off-balance by calling him in with a brisk " Enter "
Gazing at the cultivator before him, Parmenion gestured for him to take a seat as he poured wine into two cups, sliding one over with a brief wave of Qi.
" Take it. Drink. Do you know why i called you here ? "
" No Elder, but i will be very grateful for any advice senior is willing to fit to me. " So saying, the cultivator gulped his cup of wine and gave a slight bow to Parmenion.
" I observed your cohort today. You seem to be working on that Formation of yours. The Formation Of
Philoctetes , a formation that allows those involved Poison Qi arrows if i remember right. It isn't a hard or complicated formation once it's purpose is conveyed and yet, it only works when you are the anchor of the Formation. Do you know why ? "
" No Elder, please provide this Junior with your insight "
" Hrmph! The Problem Junior, is YOU. You're arrogant to assume that all your juniors have the same understanding towards Formations and Poison Qi as you. Most of your juniors are only in the 1st or 2nd Heavenstage, their exposure to poison is limited, how do you expect them to know how to turn the gathered Qi into poison ? "
" I... I see. Elder's words have enlightened me, i shall work on correcting things. " Raising a brow at the junior's easy acceptance, Parmenion decided to test if his advice was fully understood by the cultivator.
" I'll give you a week. Show me that you're able to resolve this issue in a week. You may leave. " So saying, he turned away from the Junior and gestured to the door. As the sounds of the cultivator's footsteps dwindled down the hallway, Parmenion spoke to himself in a soft mutter while stroking his beard.
" Let's see if you can rise to my expectations... "
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The given week passed in a blink of an eye, and Parmenion soon found himself once again looking out to the mustering ground. Unlike the past week, the mustering ground this time only had 1 cohort on display, showcasing the new Formation to both the Tatika Bureau and to curious clansmen.
Parmenion found himself nodding as he observed the Formation. Of all the attempts done so far, none of them were done by Xiao Yi with most of the attempts succeeding in launching the arrows filled with Poison Qi. His sharp eyes caught some of the Anchors using small pots of poison to add the poison to the arrows, but there were enough successful attempts done by Anchors using just Qi alone that he felt slightly satisfied with the Junior's efforts.
Gazing from above, Parmenion watched as interested Clansmen walked up to the Junior and tried their hands at both being a part of the Formation and being the Anchor for it. As more and more clansmen attempted the Formation, the major flaw within the Formation begun to make itself known. Cultivators of the 1st and 2nd Heavenstage had no issues with working or leading the Formation, but the moment any cultivator of a higher realm gave it a try, the Formation would dissipate. The sheer quality and quantity the Qi of those who had passed the Acupoint Awareness overpowering and disrupting the Formation pattern from taking shape.
" Well, for a week's worth of effort it's not bad, and the Formation is useful despite the Qi restrictions. I guess i should illuminate the way for him. " Pleased with his own magnanimity, Parmenion gave his beard a stroke and sent off another silver of Qi calling the Junior to attend to him once the Cohort was dismissed.
In a mirror of the past week, Parmenion soon found the Junior seated before him with the same tensed posture. Mentally sighing at the youth of today who lack the ability to take a stern lecture, he in another mirror of the past week sent over another cup of wine and gestured for the Junior to drink.
" Interesting that you were able to fix the issue i pointed out in a week.. " As the tension started to fade from the Junior's posture, Parmenion launched his barb. " Curious though that you left the major flaw that i choose to not point out. Is it a issue of you ignoring the flaw because you thought i didn't see it or is it a issue of you not even noticing the flaw ? "
Giving a pleased smile at the choking splutters and frantic denials from the Junior, he continued his attack. " Judging from your personality, i believed that you didn't notice the flaw. Some upcoming Formation Prodigy you are. "
" Elder forgive me, i honestly did not notice the flaw. Please enlighten me on it and how i can fix it. " Staring in mild surprise at the deep bow the Junior gave him, Parmenion couldn't help but cover it up with a gruff hrumph and a gesture for him to rise.
" The issue was that you being the Creator of the Formation and someone well-versed in the intricate details of the Art of Formations is able to control their Qi well enough so that it synergizes with the Qi of the other Formation members, lending them strength so that the quality of the Formation as a whole improves. That's not how our Clansmen are taught, on the battlefield Power is the only thing that matters. They're taught to channel their Qi without restraint, using the excess might to lend strength to the formation.
Something as ephemeral and fine-tuned as your Formation isn't able to handle all that power coming just 1 source. In fact, the fault of this lies with you. Ever since your encounter with the Foundation Building Cultivator forty years ago you have never felt the threat of death, of being powerless through no fault of your own. All your missions since then have been easy for you, you faced no foes you can't handle, you had the time and sheer ability to craft each formation so that their might is maximized.
Right now, you are a flower grown in a greenhouse. Protected from all threats and given resources to grow by the Clan. Look at your fellow talents! Each and everyone of them choose to seek their fortune. How many of them braved through danger to seize their treasures with bloodied hands ? Look at your Junior
Anastasios , he obtained his treasure from an ancient tomb. You obtained your resources via contribution points!
The Contribution Board is there for the Clan, but it shouldn't be the only source of resources! A Cultivator is meant to defy heaven, to make their own luck and fate! Do you not feel it ? That sense of envy, of greed at the treasures obtained by the others ? Is there no desire to be like Yan Steelfist ? Reaping the rewards of a secret realm and ascending with a single bound ? "
Taking pity at the shell-shocked expression on Xiao Yi's face, Parmenion poured another cup of wine out and handed it to him before speaking in a gentler tone.
" It is good that you choose to devote yourself to the Clan with your choice of missions and actions. The Clan will always shelter and support a cultivator like you who gives his all for the Clan. But remember, the Trials come in 4 decades. How can the Clan repay you for your dedication if it no longer exists ? If the Clan and it's resources were enough for us to survive the Trials, would the Trials last for as long ? If you truly seek to serve the clan, leave the Greenhouse and seek your own path. Explore, suffer and triumph! Bring back what you learnt and found to nurture your juniors. If each and every clansmen of ours does the same, eventually we will be able to overcome the Fate laid on us. "
As the look on Xiao Yi's face started to clear up, Parmenion reached into his robe and took out a Jade slip and handed it to Xiao Yi before continuing to speak.
" Despite my criticisms and the Formation's limitations, the utility it grants our 1st and 2nd Heavenstage cultivators is still of value to the Clan. Inscribe the Formation and how to practice it on this slip and i will submit it to the Clan Library so that all who are interested may peruse it. " Reaching out and grabbing Xiao Yi's winecup, Parmenion with the ease of long practice split off a silver of his will and bound it into the cup before handing it back.
" As recompense for the Formation, here is a silver of my will. Use it if you run into anything you cannot face. Now go, and think of what i just said. " Pulling his hand back, Parmenion gestured to the door, asking for Xiao Yi to leave.
" Elder, your words have caused the scales to fall from my eyes. My complacency has blinded me to the truth and the knife-edge we walk on as members of the Golden Devils. Now that i am awake, i'm ashamed at not noticing the tension and sense of dread for the upcoming Trials that are driving my peers to seek out opportunities. The Golden Devils have become the family that i lost, and now that they need me i will answer. I am no longer the powerless youth who lost his kin to something he cannot fight against!
The benevolence of the Clan has lead to this Xiao Yi being who i am today, and now with Elder's Gift and advice to this unworthy Junior, how can i not heed it ? I will like to seek out a spot in the Qiguai Secret Realm, I plead for Elder to lend me his aid in securing a spot. However, regardless of the result, this Xiao Yi would never forget the grace and care Elder has shown me! Please accept my bow! "
Acknowledging the bow and waving him on his way, Parmenion looked out once again at the mustering ground. Under the moonlight, the shadows on it bought to mind the image of spilled blood, reminding him of the many geniuses that once trod upon it. Gently muttering to himself, Parmenion couldn't help but voice out his thoughts
" So many geniuses have said the same thing to me over the years, what's one more ? Young Genius Cultivators are like fireflies, they burn bright but eventually fade... I wonder if you would be one of the rare few that prove different ? Would you once again stand before me on this grounds.... "
=========================================================================================================================================
And done! Not sure if anyone remembers, but here is a POV from Parmenion the Strategos i mentioned in my Formation Omake. Trying to stick to the alternate POV style once more and shaping Xiao Yi's character from an outside perspective.
I'm briefly expanding on my blurb in the Good Seed Report, since it also gives me the opportunity to show the process as well as flesh out the events. I have no idea how it came to me, but i'm pretty amazed that i was able to find a reasonable reason in-verse behind my inability to write decent adventuring lol.
And as mentioned, going to change my goal this turn for the secret realm! Even if i go kaput, i should have enough writing prompts to survive the trials (I hope... ) In any case, hope these omakes help keep Xiao Yi alive in the secret realm.
The last line is to hopefully give the impression that despite all the advice and help, this is nothing new and that there have been other cultivators who received the same help but fell all the same.
Also some feedback from anyone who very kindly reads this. Would Firefly or Mentor suit this piece better ? I'm kinda torn between the two.
If anyone is interested, i decided on the term Anchor to refer to the person that is at the heart of a formation, the one deciding who to attack and move, who controles the Qi provided by the others.
EDIT: Crap! i forgot to tag! Hope it still works...
@occipitallobe
EDITEDIT: Wow... The number of edits i'm making to this post
