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Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny)

Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
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[x] Power III: Without Power one can hold nothing and accomplish nothing, but power grants no meaning of its own.

I read this a different way, I think, than the thread up to here. To me, this is a question of what can be discarded.

With the first choice, the idea that power can come from many sources, we are affirming that in pursuit of power, there are many paths, and losing one of those paths just means we need to look elsewhere for more power. It enshrines power as a good in and of itself, a thing for which other parts of us can and should be sacrificed for. It is power without limit.

The second one forces us to confront the fact that having power means we are the decision maker for many others- power is to have and to hold, but that means that they more power we have the more we hold, and this *necessarily* means we are making decisions for more and more people as we become more powerful. Simple gathering this power without purpose is, ultimately, oppressing others for our own glorification and sense of security.

We've seen a lot of cultivators do this. I don't think it is a good thing. It conflicts with the growth to white and beyond, ultimately: if you do not have a clear idea what power is going to be *for*, what change you desire to inscribe on the world, then you will not be able to progress to inscribing that change.
 
[x] Power III: Without Power one can hold nothing and accomplish nothing, but power grants no meaning of its own.
 
[X] Power III: Without Power one can hold nothing and accomplish nothing, but power may spring from many sources.
 
[X] Power III: Without Power one can hold nothing and accomplish nothing, but power grants no meaning of its own.

this one definitely feels better to me. Power needs an end, or it is useless
 
One thing I really enjoyed about this chapter is the description of the song. I don't know if it was intentional, but it matches Zhengui's themes really well. Consider.

At the start is a song about the hardship everyone endures. A fact that life is hard. Once Zhengui joins though the beat and message changes to that of work rewarded and the hope of better things to come. The song literally uses the memories of their previous life as fuel to bring emphasize the meaning of better days to come, and the focal point of this change is Zhengui. Zhengui is using what came before to grow an image of a better future. Renewal and growth. The song is using the themes of renewal and growth in the context of life and personal history. That is really cool.

I can easily see that idea being key to the future Zhengui cult, everyone is welcomed, everyone is encouraged to use their past life as motivation, everyone is encouraged to build better futures. This festival showcases, quite clearly I might add, the ability of Zhengui to use his themes in an entirely social context, not just environmental lordship. That's really important for a religion, or a cult.

Religions are important to many people because they give guidelines and advice on how to live life. Here in this festival we see the beginnings of those guidelines that the cult of Zhengui will espouse: acceptance of the past, grow towards the future. I have full confidence that there will be more to it than just these inklings, but these are good inklings. I am very excited to see how this cult changes and grows in the future.
 
[X] Power III: Without Power one can hold nothing and accomplish nothing, but power may spring from many sources.

There are many ways to power LQ, cultivation is only one of them, you nerd...
 
[X] Power III: Without Power one can hold nothing and accomplish nothing, but power may spring from many sources.
 
[X] Power III: Without Power one can hold nothing and accomplish nothing, but power may spring from many sources.
 
Anyone else notice and think it ironic that, in a reverse of the usual pattern, it is Ling Qi's spirits who reach out and mediate between the cultivator and the common people?
 
[X] Power III: Without Power one can hold nothing and accomplish nothing, but power may spring from many sources.
 
[X] Power III: Without Power one can hold nothing and accomplish nothing, but power may spring from many sources.
 
[X] Power III: Without Power one can hold nothing and accomplish nothing, but power may spring from many sources.
 
[X] Power III: Without Power one can hold nothing and accomplish nothing, but power may spring from many sources.

It makes more sense to try to expand LQ's idea of power (it comes in many forms) rather than reduce it (it does not provide meaning) given her age and limited perspective.

That's not to say that it isn't important to learn that power isn't everything, just that I don't think its an appropriate lesson for a 16 year old who is still experiencing a meteoric rise. Maybe in another decade.
 
[X] Power III: Without Power one can hold nothing and accomplish nothing, but power may spring from many sources.

Personally I don't agree with the idea that power itself is worthless so I'm not voting for that one.

Otherwise, I think this ties really well into Ling Qi's themes. There has been the push-pull between personal power and community themes (also, greed vs valuing others accomplishments). The Heart Demon came out this conflict of course. I think that this ties into and helps resolve that dichotomy that is so core to Ling Qi's character.

Also, this is an idea that I really agree with. Power (also known as the ability to influence things) can come in so many different forms, I think it is important in acknowledge this if Power is a core theme for Ling Qi. Also, if we are going to be a political advisor/player later on understanding the idea of soft (social/political) power or economic power is important.
 
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