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The Path Unending (A Cultivation Quest)

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Vesvius said:
The first school we visit is not accepting visitors. They seem occupied with an enormous hole in the front of their training hall and greet our approach with hostile silence. The second is not quite as unwelcoming, but they too make it clear that they've no interest in aiding our search. All of their focus is on reclaiming recently lost glory; bare snippets of their grumbling reach my ears as they complain of unfair fights and uppity disciples. The third school we come to appears entirely abandoned, and the fourth is barred from the inside. It isn't until the fifth school that we find some notion of what's become of Zhuan Kun.
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Kun... the fuck were you even trying to accomplish here?

[X] Zhuan Kun. The Resolute March deserves everything that's about to happen to them.

Let him loose, I say. If they are ready to fuck around then they are ready to have their face caved in.
 
[X] Zhuan Kun. The Resolute March deserves everything that's about to happen to them.

Wasn't expecting a funeral this soon, but I'm always down to see more of this place's customs :)
 
Vesvius said:
I glance down to see it pulling itself back into its nice, safe, owl-free gemstone head first, small stumpy pseudo legs waving wildly as it flees faster than its body allows.
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Owlet, the dread of Kukuni everywhere!

Vesvius said:
Only the untrained Artist would walk with anam so… weak."
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Utter blasphemy, that's what I'm hearing. Take your words and repent before your Emperor-in-Muscle


[X] Zhuan Kun. The Resolute March deserves everything that's about to happen to them.

Although I'm pretty sure Zhuan



Kun is gonna grate their meat on his abs first before any grovelling is to take place.
 
EldritchObserver said:
Kun... the fuck were you even trying to accomplish here?
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踢馆 （"kicking the hall") is a common trope in martial arts movies, wherein the "kicker" will go to all the martial arts schools in a city / town / region and challenge the disciples / masters of each school to a fight. If no one at the school is able to defeat the kicker, the kicker will then claim and seize the name-plate / signboard of that school as a personal trophy and as a mark of public shame and disgrace to the defeated school.

Sometimes the "kicker" is the antagonist, and they kill or humiliatingly defeat the protagonist's master while the protagonist is out of town on an errand and not present at the school, thus "kick"-starting the revenge plot of the movie.

Sometimes the "kicker" is the protagonist, and they go around kicking in all the antagonist's schools sub-branches to showcase the protagonist's strength after completing a training montage.

I think Zhuan Kun is playing the "antagonist" role and trying to build up a reserve of worthy opponents to fight in future by creating scrappy underdog protagonist(s) to challenge him in 29 years' time. It's very far-sighted of him, in my view.
 
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[X] Zhuan Kun. The Resolute March deserves everything that's about to happen to them.

Trade a single pointer, why not. Ain't like they'll get less annoying until we demonstrate strength.
 
[X] Zhuan Kun. The Resolute March deserves everything that's about to happen to them.

I don't normally go for the violence route but fuck these guys
 
Sister Xiong said that we need to prioritize keeping the treasure safe not avoiding incidents so...
[X] Zhuan Kun. The Resolute March deserves everything that's about to happen to them.
 
Mathematicae said:
Sister Xiong said that we need to prioritize keeping the treasure safe not avoiding incidents so...
[X] Zhuan Kun. The Resolute March deserves everything that's about to happen to them.
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Our priorities according to Sister Xiong (Hail her name, and praise her with all praise!) in descending order of importance are:

1. Safeguard the testing treasure.

2. Safeguard Kong Zhi and Kong Zhi's teammates.

3. Keep our eyes and ears open.

4. Make a good impression on the incoming new Ninth Circle disciples.









5. Safeguard the tester (if it does not conflict with our other priorities).

Vesvius said:
After a moment's pause to savor the tea's flavor, Sister Xiong's eyes lock onto you once more. "The testing treasure is an imperial relic that dates all the way back to the Emperor-In-Tears. It, and the function it provides, is worth more than any single village in the entire Empire. Safeguarding it is your highest priority."

You nod, committing your senior's words to memory. "I see. What are my other priorities for this assignment?"

"Past safeguarding the treasure?" Sister Xiong muses. "Safeguarding yourself and your fellows, of course. Save for the treasure, there is no greater asset committed to this task than our disciples. We have high hopes for your Circle, Kong Zhi, and it would be a shame for them to fade because you were smeared beneath a boulder. And of course, keep your eyes and ears open. You are a Caretaker, after all."

You nod sharply. Xiong Eryu meets your gaze for a moment, before turning her attention back to her paperwork. "Beyond that, making a good impression on our new Ninth Circle is paramount. These neophytes will become your juniors in due time. They must come to the Heart with a drive to succeed planted deep within their soul, and there is nothing that implants such a drive quite like a respected Senior."

Your senior lapses into silence, savoring another sip of tea. When the quiet drags on for too long, you speak up once more. "Um… what about Tester Ni Weiyan?" you ask. "This assignment is to accompany him, no? Should… should I strive to ensure his well being?"

A half-shrug is the response. "Should it not conflict with your other priorities, I do not see why not," Sister Xiong states.
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Here are my guesses on the aspect compositions for these new cores:
Vesvius said:
Core of Heaven's Heartbeat
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(Heaven or Light)/Blood
Vesvius said:
Core of the Least Wind
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Just Wind because he's a loser.
Vesvius said:
Core of Manifest Might
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Force/Steel
Vesvius said:
Core of Quiet Darkness
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Night/Wind (Not sure if we're aware of any other elements she has.)
Vesvius said:
Core of the Forge Eternal
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:)
Vesvius said:
Core of Impact Evergrowing
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Force/(Earth? Wood? Life?? Growth???)
 
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[X] Zhuan Kun. The Resolute March deserves everything that's about to happen to them.

If they want the strongest they can get it, and we don't really have the resources to heal Zhi and Mei just gave Zhi part of her resources...

If it causes an international incident it will do so I suppose. I wonder if these disciples are part of the Resolute March's gambit of selling Natural Treasures -> buy pills to make Soldiers

Vesvius said:
there's something about contemplating a smith wielding a forging hammer that brings a bare wisp of inspiration to mind. I reach out for it…

…and find only smoke. The inspiration dances away from my understanding. It will, perhaps, require more contemplation.
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Neat! Inspiration for upgrading HBD perhaps?

Chui Dao seemed pretty excited about armor maybe make some with it when we have the chance?

Also @Vesvius the first person narrative felt more natural now. Maybe it's due to it not being a surprise? I also felt that Kong Zhi was written slightly more like Kong Ves last update, especially the humour parts, but I didn't get that feeling at all now. Well done and good luck with job hunting!
 
[X] Me. They don't seem to know what to expect from me, and that means they cannot properly guard themselves.
 
[X] Zhuan Kun. The Resolute March deserves everything that's about to happen to them.
-[X] Remind Zhuan Kun not to maim or kill his opponent
 
Reread the terms and if it's only one tech usage Zhi can probably handle it.

[X] Me. They don't seem to know what to expect from me, and that means they cannot properly guard themselves.
 
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