Soul Land/Douluo Dalu was my introduction to the genre, though I think that was a Wuxia. It was solid for an introduction and avoids the Bigger Stronger Nation Next Door trope fairly well, but gets weird post-time-skip.
And yeah, I've just been assuming Yan Reshu has been our secret arch nemesis from Day 1. It can't be Sun since she has Bai and Cai, and we can't get in on that since we don't have a three letter name.
On a more pertinent topic, it's always nice to have someone new without context for old Quest controversies that doesn't immediately bring them up again. Check 'Cultivation Memes' under the Media threadmarks; that should get you up to speed with everything you need to know.
The first art vote... Beatstick vs Support... Shopping... ASA vs FSA... Lakegate... Caigate... *Shudder*
Heh, just pulled that up to look at it. Yeah, reading through a quest without seeing much of the actual detail that goes into plans beyond what gets summarized in the new post is interesting. I thought about what kinds of plans I'd suggest going through the story as I read the options at the end of each post and there were a lot of times that options were flagged that I wouldn't have chosen, although I think that has to do with me only skimming the mechanics and focusing more on the interpersonal/informational stuff.
Checking the list of controversies,
I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised when Ling Qi ended up being/staying straight, given the normal trends for these kinds of stories. Even if she were bi, given her reactions earlier she'd have to be at least muscle-sexual, something that Bai is not... but, well, that's true for Taylor from Worm too and I've seen how those fanfics tend to go.
As for Ji Rong, I'll say again that I don't think he was framed. I think he was caught doing something he didn't think was a big deal and that he was entitled to do ("What's wrong with me as a cop skimming off the top and extorting citizens? Every cop I've ever met does that!")
Considering the puppet frame job on Ling Qi, it could very well be doing something he was already doing similar to.
So, imagine, what would Ji Rong do if Gan confronted him and talked about assaults?
Ling Qi's association with Meizhen protected her from cruder accusations. Cai had to give 'face' for a resolution to avoid ticking off Meizhen.
But if Ji Rong was faced with a less diplomatic accusation he'd assume it was because they were out to get him. He'd open with an "Oh yeah? Fuck you.", which meant that the NEXT fraud would be taken as an outright insult.
Considering the puppet frame job on Ling Qi, it could very well be doing something he was already doing similar to.
So, imagine, what would Ji Rong do if Gan confronted him and talked about assaults?
Ling Qi's association with Meizhen protected her from cruder accusations. Cai had to give 'face' for a resolution to avoid ticking off Meizhen.
But if Ji Rong was faced with a less diplomatic accusation he'd assume it was because they were out to get him. He'd open with an "Oh yeah? Fuck you.", which meant that the NEXT fraud would be taken as an outright insult.
Seconding Ze Tian Ji, Cultivation Chat Group, My Disciple Died Yet Again, and A Will Eternal. I Shall Seal The Heavens has the problem that the shenanigans-to-murderhoboing ratio eventually tips solidly towards murderhoboing and stays there, although I don't think it ever becomes as actively offensive as the vast majority of xianxia.
Other than that, this thread is actually one of the only examples of xianxia where the main character isn't an unlikable monster who the narrative bends over backward to fellate. And one of the only ones that isn't deeply misogynistic to boot.
Yeah, looking at his MO, I wouldn't be surprised if he was trying to isolate the two most talented commoners with no backing (And thus, no consequences for his actions if he did so), so he could offer us a way to compete, while just getting us to sign a little contract in return.
We know that at least some of the contracts were legitimate, High Talent commoners who had some Good Fortune being bagged while they're young and weak is exactly what you use that on. Get them tied into your network before they grow too strong to be held, and by the time you have to release them, they're already invested in it.
I will point out that there are a fair number of memes and 'controversial' votes not included in that due to lack of space/me forgetting about them.
-Shopping vote during Thunderdome instead of seeing friends
-15 minutes on discord
-Support Vs Facepuncher
-Are we the baddies?
-Ji Rong true Xianxia protagonist
-Spirits: to catch 'em all, or not to catch 'em all
Also, we don't actually know if we were suspected by Cai/others before she gave us the job to investigate the puppet attacking disciples, though it seems more likely that she didn't know beforehand, and was just testing our abilities considering we were 'known' to be with Meizhen'.
I will point out that there are a fair number of memes and 'controversial' votes not included in that due to lack of space/me forgetting about them.
-Shopping vote during Thunderdome instead of seeing friends
-15 minutes on discord
-Support Vs Facepuncher
-Are we the baddies?
-Ji Rong true Xianxia protagonist
-Spirits: to catch 'em all, or not to catch 'em all
Also, we don't actually know if we were suspected by Cai/others before she gave us the job to investigate the puppet attacking disciples, though it seems more likely that she didn't know beforehand, and was just testing our abilities considering we were 'known' to be with Meizhen'.
I think the easiest explanation for why she chose us is that we were the only girl council member beside Meizhen, and iirc the people attacked were in the girl house wards.
I think the easiest explanation for why she chose us is that we were the only girl council member beside Meizhen, and iirc the people attacked were in the girl house wards.
Basically everyone would also have noticed that the attacks were performed by a high stealth, music playing and mist using attacker, so...unless she's not actually paying attention Ling Qi is the top suspect to anyone with two brain cells.
Eh. Only flute was mentioned, this was before LQ was well known as a sneaky bastard, and paralyzing blow also isn't LQs thing.
It seemed the attacker only struck in the outermost two streets, and on the road leading into the area, and even then only after midnight, and if the target was alone. Everything else was as Cai said, the attacker struck from out of sight and took them down with a single paralyzing blow. They were either using their fists or a blunt weapon, because the victims had no cuts or puncture wounds. A couple of the ones she spoke too noted something else that Cai hadn't mentioned though. They remembered hearing flute music before they blacked out.
There was little detail to be had further than that though
-[X] Overflow to Spiritual, Grinning Moon bonus to EPC, Vent bonus to Argent Current
-[X] Use max Yellow stones and relevant market pills for physical cultivation or meridian use, as appropriate
-[X] (MAJOR) Breakthrough attempt 1
-[X] (MAJOR) Breakthrough attempt 2
-[X] (MAJOR) Breakthrough attempt 3 if possible, Lost and Found sect job otherwise
-[X] Train at the vent with Su Ling
--[X] (MAJOR) Eight Phase Ceremony
--[X] (attached minor) Look in on Su Ling and the Ma Sisters, see how they're getting along
-[X] Cultivate in the White Room
--[X] (MAJOR) Do Physical Cultivation if we fail a breakthrough roll, open Leg Meridian otherwise
--[X] With Li Suyin
--[X] (attached minor) It's probably time to talk to Li Suyin about yourself, your afraid the girl might have some wrong ideas about you
-[X] (minor) You haven't just... talked or spent time with Meizhen lately what has she been up to? Invite her out, you've thought of some songs she might like
-[X] (minor) Speak with Han Jian, about Argent Storm and the Golden Fields. What is his home like?
-[X] (minor) Explore your new access to the inner market
Her bed was much lumpier than she remembered, Ling Qi thought fuzzily. She winced as she made to open her eyes, only to let out a hiss of pain at the glimpse of early morning sunlight. Her head felt like it was going to split in half and her mouth felt painfully dry. What… what had happened exactly?
She tried to ignore the pounding in her skull as she recalled her impromptu performance on the stage, a hastily thrown together composition drawing on elements from her mothers work and her own idle thoughts. Everything else was fuzzier, she recalled dancing and lights, a blur of inhuman faces….
The light shining through her eyelids dimmed, and then faded entirely. It was soothing for a moment, but then Ling Qi felt a chill down her spine and a cold prickling on her skin.
"I see my lessons have been entirely wasted," Meizhen's cold voice cut through her pounding headache like a knife of ice.
Ling Qi winced, cracking her eyes open to peer up at the white blur of her housemate. "...Meizhen? What are you doing in my bedroom?"
Her friends unamused face swam into proper view… and so did the open window of the dining room. "We are note in your chambers Ling Qi. Perhaps you should attend to your surroundings," she sounded… pretty mad.
Then the bed under her squirmed, and Ling Qi looked down, only to freeze. Disheveled hair that shimmered in the colors of a rainbow were pooled behind a pretty slightly androgynous face with blue tinged skin and elfin features. They were on the table, and she could feel the spirit girls lithe limbs shifting under her. Ling Qi was suddenly all to aware of the fact that her gown was hiked up to her knees, and the spirits had fallen off her shoulder.
Ling Qi yelped in surprise, pushing herself off the tabletop in shock… only to slam painfully into the ceiling, the back of her head cracking against the stone. She fell back to the floor in a tangle of confused limbs in time to see Meizhen's back as her friend all but stomped out, her shadow pooling beneath her like a pitch black puddle of ink.
Ling Qi squeezed her eyes shut in frustration, letting her forehead thunk against the floor, and groaned. Well wasn't that just great.
"Mm, she was pretty scary for a human, wasn't she?" A musical voice cut of her budding self recriminations, causing Ling Qi to lift up her head and glare at the source.
The girl she had been sleeping on had pushed herself up into a seated position, and was looking down at her with an bemused expression. Her eyes were black and multifaceted like an insects, and her gown still hung from her shoulder, exposing a pale shoulder and part of her slim chest.
She should have been more alarmed by her position, Ling Qi knew, but memories were slowly coming back to her. She remembered talking to this girl after her performance, and dragging her out onto the dance floor, chattering like an excited child. "...You were never actually asleep were you?" She accused. "Why did you let me pass out on the table?" And on you, she left unsaid.
The moon spirit hummed thoughtfully, pressing a finger to her cheek just below the little beauty mark there. "Well, isn't this how humans do this kind of thing? I thought it would be more authentic," she replied with an enthusiastic nod, clapping her hands to punctuate the words.
Ling Qi groaned, forcing herself to rise off the floor, trying not to wobble as her vision spun. "I… don't have any response to that," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes. "Fix your dress..." she added, glancing away and trailing off, grimacing when she found the memory she was searching for still missing. "...I don't remember your name."
"Most don't, as a rule," the spirit replied cheerfully, the rustle of cloth indicating that she was doing as Ling Qi asked. "Then again, most don't leave grandmothers galas either. You can call me Sixiang!" Ling Qi looked back up to see that her… guests clothes were at least not falling off anymore, though the shimmering pink gown was as low cut as the most risque of Xiulan's.
Well unlike her friend, at least Sixiang didn't have anything to be jealous of, Ling Qi thought grumpily.
"Hm, should you really be chatting with me though? Your lover seemed pretty mad. You shouldn't just let that kind of misunderstanding fester!" Ling Qi blinked as the spirit on her table scolded her.
"We're not… that," Ling Qi replied immediately, only to grimace again. "I mean, we're friends, but…"
"Huh," Sixiang seemed nonplussed, cocking her head to the side in thought. "Are you sure?" she asked dubiously. "Her feelings seemed pretty clear, and you talked about her a lot. Didn't you dedicate your whole second song to her?" She leaned forward, staring hard at Ling Qi. "...Wow, what a thornbush, you don't even know what you think."
"We're both women, and I don't..." Ling Qi rubbed her forehead in frustration and horror. By her nonexistent ancestors, she had, hadn't she. She remembered swaying on the stage, announcing her second melody for the night. She really didn't want this conversation right now.
"I don't follow," the spirit replied sounding confused, "Why doesn't one of you change if that's a problem?" Sixiang frowned, swinging her legs off the edge of the table, the lacey hem of her gown fluttering up over bare feet. "You didn't mind when I turned into a girl for our dance."
"...Things don't work like that for humans," Ling Qi replied dryly. "And… what?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. "I… when did you change, are you really a boy or a girl?" Had she just actually slept on top of a man?
"I don't understand the question," the spirits hair fluttered in a phantom wind and something about her(?) form subtly changed. "Why would I just be one or the other? You were taking the lead last night, so I felt more like a woman," The spirits voice was a little deeper, and the lines of her… his face slightly more masculine, and was her chest flatter now?. "But now you need a push! Your distracting yourself! Why are you chatting with me when your friend is upset? Go talk to her you silly human."
"I really shouldn't bother her when she's upset," Ling Qi hedged. "We can…"
"Nope," Sixiang interrupted her, hopping down from the tabletop. "Excuses are no good!" the moon spirit declared, poking her in the shoulder as if to prod Ling Qi toward the door. "If you leave her to stew on it, things are just going to get worse!"
The most annoying thing was that she knew the spirit was right, despite the questions she still had floating around. She really wished she could recall last night more clearly. She batted Sixiang's finger away with a huff. "Alright, stop that," she replied, trying to gather her thoughts. She could feel Zhengui asleep in the garden, so she didn't need to worry about him, but… "And what are you going to do? Why did you follow me home?"
Placated by Ling Qi's agreement the spirit, which she thought was a girl again, hopped back a step, leaving her personal space. "Well," she said, drawing out the word. "You seemed pretty fun, so I figured I'd come take a look around for awhile. Don't worry," she added waving a hand. "I won't impose. I'm just going to have a look around the mountain,"
"Wait, what do you…" Ling Qi began, but by the time the words were out of her mouth Sixiang had already dissolved before her eyes into a mass of psychedelic mist and butterflies, which flowed rapidly out of the open window. LIng Qi sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. She could worry about the spirit later, she… or he was a third stage third realm, she would be fine regardless.
Meizhen on the other hand....
Ling Qi winced as she made her way outside, noting the emptiness of the street and… yes, there was a crying first realm girl being consoled by a friend. Ling Qi was glad the Ma Sisters hadn't been guarding the door, Meizhen was obviously pretty unhappy. At least it made her easy to follow. A single light jump carried her to the rooftop, and soon the residential district blurred around her as she followed Meizhen's trail.
She finally caught up to her just outside the district on the road to the market, and landed with a flutter of cloth a few steps behind. "Meizhen, look, I'm sorry…"
She winced as the other girl ignored her, only picking her pace up imperceptibly in response to Ling Qi's words. She hurried after her, but her next call was ignored as well, as was the one after that. Finally, frustrated Ling Qi took a blurring step forward, letting her qi flow through her legs, and caught Meizhen by the hand. "Please listen for a minute," Ling Qi pleaded, still talking to the back of her friends head.
Meizhen had the sort of small dainty hands a proper beauty would have, but her skin was cool, and felt oddly sleek to the touch. Ling Qi wasn't entirely certain why she noticed that when her friends stiff posture and the prickling feeling on the back of her neck that she suspected would be atavistic terror to anyone else was more important. "Ling Qi, release me now," her friends words were sharp and clipped, but at least she had finally stopped walking.
"Sorry," she apologized again, letting go of the girls hand. "Look, you know that was just a misunderstanding right? I met the dreaming moon last night and…"
"You allowed yourself to become intoxicated on Delusion Nectar," Meizhen replied without turning her head. "The smell is rather obvious. You require a bath."
Ling Qi winced holding up a hand in front of her face, letting out a breath, she could only grimace. There was definitely a strongly sweet scent clinging to her. "Yes, that. Is that what its called?"
"Grandfather as well as my aunts and uncles partook during feast days," Meizhen replied stiffly.
Ling Qi paused, trying to imagine a drunk Bai, then shook her head. Still she guessed that explained why she remembered drinking out of a cup that was practically a thimble. "So… that, back there was just a spirit doing spirit things. Nothing…"
"Obviously not," Meizhen replied, finally turning to look at her, golden eyes cold. "Nor have I any right to be upset even so. You made that quite clear."
That was fair, even if the venom in her friends tone hurt a little. "Alright," Ling Qi replied. "Then… why are you so upset?"
Meizhen bit her lip, a stronger display of emotion than she was used too from the reticent girl. "How can you be so… dense?" Meizhen said, frustration leaking into her tone. "I am upset with you because you put yourself in such a position, with no thought for your safety or reputation." She glanced around at the empty road. "Even in this, you…"
"Ah, this isn't really an appropriate venue," Ling Qi admitted. Then again, Meizhen's aura was… a pretty strong deterrent, she was pretty sure she had seen a bird dropping out of the sky out of the corner of her eye. "But, I was safe. I just had to perform music for the Moon spirits. It was embarrassing, but…"
"Do you imagine that such revels are not dangerous?" Meizhen replied incredulously. "Greater cultivators than you or I have failed to leave them with an intact mind. You are lucky the Dreamers whims were benevolent."
...She didn't regret it, and going by the harsh breath her friend released, Meizhen could tell. "Enough, I have tasks to accomplish, and…"
"You're right that this isn't a good place to talk," Ling Qi admitted. "So… later, can we? It's been awhile since we've just spent time together and talked, hasn't it? I heard you got another spirit?"
Meizhen paused in the midst of turning away, a defeated glimmer in her eyes. "I did. Grandfather is pleased with my progress, and wished to ensure my continued success."
"He wants you to embarrass Sun Liling, you mean," Ling Qi pointed out, managing a smile.
"That would be a pleasant side effect," Bai Meizhen replied without expression. "I… suppose I might have time to talk later, it is not good to become entirely consumed by cultivation. I will let you know when I have decided upon a time."
Ling Qi let out a quiet sigh of relief. "Sounds good. I'd like to explain myself… and there's a new song or two I'd like to hear your thoughts on."
Meizhen closed her eyes for a moment, then finished turning away. "I think I would like that."
They parted ways after that, but Ling Qi felt significantly lighter. She had just worried her friend again, that was a much less alarming problem than what she thought she would have to deal with.
She returned home to clean herself up, and then headed to her meditation room. If Meizhen was going to set a date later in the week, she didn't want to be busy breaking through.
Target Number 55
36-5=31.
Pass
85
Fail
30 Physical lost.
The rest of the day and much of the next had passed by the she awoke, once again having fallen short of her goal, leaving her muscles cramped and wracked with pain. Ling Qi was truly beginning to feel bad for those who could be caught in doing this for months or years at a time. She was thoroughly sick of it after only a few weeks.
It did give her reason to seek out Li Suyin though.
"Are you sure you want me to do this?" Li Suyin asked worriedly from beside her. "Surely simply going to the White Room would be superior to my paltry skills…"
Ling Qi raised her head from the fluffy towel it had been laid on to meet her friends eyes. She was once again resting on the table in Li Suyin's workroom, which was coming to resemble the inside of a silk cocoon more and more. "But I would have to wobble my way down the mountain to do that," Ling Qi pointed out, she had done it over the past couple of weeks, it hadn't been fun, she'd needed support from Xiulan once or twice for the trip. "...And Bai Meizhen reminded me that I should take more care with my reputation," she added with a sigh, letting her head hit the table with a soft thump. She still felt uncomfortable, laying here stripped to the waist, but Li Suyin was the least threatening person she knew, and she trusted her besides.
"Well, I won't object," Li Suyin said quietly, her voice fading as her footfalls took her to the shelves lining the room, and soon padded back. "I owe you too much after all. I am glad to help however I can."
Ling Qi felt some of the tension leave her horribly cramped muscles as Suyin poured just a little of something cool and sweet smelling onto her back and began to spread it across her prickling skin, slowly numbing the pain of her failed breakthrough. "You don't though," she said, turning her head so that she could see her friend out of the corner of her eye.
Suyin had changed, she decided, while the melancholy that had taken her after she had lost her eye was still there, hanging over her like a shroud, her shoulders were no longer hunched with fear. Li Suyin had the buds of quiet confidence growing in her now. She was even beginning to let her hair grow out again. Perhaps that was why she felt like she could have this conversation now.
"I don't what?" Li Suyin asked glancing at her curiously as her hands worked small circles on Ling Qi's shoulders, slowly easing the knots of pain that festered under her skin.
"You don't owe me," she replied quietly. "I haven't done all that much for you, you've more than paid me back by now."
She frowned, her one eyed gaze falling back to Ling Qi's shoulders. "I haven't though, without you I would not be here. I was…. Very fragile, in those days. I would have given up without you."
"In those days," Ling Qi mused. "Was it really less than a year ago, when we were both excited to open one meridian?"
"It does not seem like it," Li Suyin admitted, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "I… it feels like looking back at a different person entirely."
"Yeah," Ling Qi replied, letting out a soft breath as the pain continued to flee her body. "But you still don't owe me. I only did what any friend might have. What did I really offer you besides words?"
"You showed me that a cultivator could be more than a thug and a bully and still be successful," she replied a bit of emotion coloring her voice. Her hands remained steady in their motions though. "That you could be kind without being weak, despite suffering from cruelty yourself. Virtue is so easy when it is never challenged. I am not sure that I am strong enough to be a good person."
"I'm not a good person though," Ling Qi replied, laying her head back down and closing her eyes. "Li Suyin, I don't know what you imagine I'm like but… After I ran away from my mother, I was a thief. I've hurt more people than I can remember. I've probably even caused some to die, who never did me a wrong. You shouldn't treat a selfish girl like me as a role model," it was easy to suppress the memories of her time before the sect, life as a mortal was so much less vibrant… so much less real seeming now, like a dull dream. Yet she could still remember the gnawing feeling of hunger and the bite of the bite of the cold. She could still remember when she had stopped feeling sympathy for the other street children, and the base animal urge for survival that overrode everything else.
For the first time, Li Suyin's hands stilled, and Ling Qi smiled. It was fine, at least she wasn't deceiving the girl anymore. "You are right, I cannot really imagine it," the girls words were quiet but firm. "I can't imagine living without a home or parents to care for me, yet how many people suffer that?"
"It's not really an excuse," Ling Qi replied with a mirthless chuckle. She hadn't really changed after all. She just had the resources to avoid doing some of things she disliked now.
"I think it is," Suyin replied firmly. "Only the ascended can be said to be an ideal, Senior Sister Bao taught me that. Whatever you were, you've grown beyond it, haven't you? A selfish person would not have supported me when I was weak and useless. I think you are being too hard on yourself."
"I'm not sure I have," Ling Qi replied, remembering the two people whose chances she had ruined. "I think I've just expanded my selfishness to include a few other people."
"Then you have an odd definition of selfishness," Li Suyin huffed, resuming her work on Ling Qi's tingling back, working her hands down lower. "I… you are my friend, Ling Qi, and I think you have the most important part of being a good person. You regret doing wrong, and want to be better."
"That doesn't help the people who I've already hurt," Ling Qi replied, just a bit mulishly.
"It doesn't, so carve those regrets into your heart so that you don't err again," Li Suyin replied primly.
"Hmph, when did you start sounding like a grandmother? Your hair is going to go grey Li Suyin," Ling Qi replied with a laugh. Had she really been worried about this girl? Suyin had grown, and she had barely noticed.
"Eh! I was just quoting Senior Sister Bao, I thought it sounded very wise," Suyin said sounding put out. "I did not mean to sound condescending. My apologies Ling Qi."
Well, maybe she wasn't quite as mature as all that Ling Qi supposed. "Your fine, I was only teasing," she said, turning head to smile at the flustered girl. "Would you like to come down to the White Room with me after this?"
"I would not want to impose," her friend hedged.
"Suyin," she said, catching the girls attention. "I do mean it. You don't owe me anything… so please accept my thanks for helping me today," she then glanced away.
"...I'll accept then," Li Suyin sighed. "Please don't hesitate to come to me in the future though, even without debt… I will always find time to help you. Now please lie still, or we will be here all afternoon."
"Sorry doctor, I'll try to be good," still smiling, Ling Qi closed her eyes. That had gone better than she could have hoped, she still wasn't sure she bought Suyin's words, not completely, but she was glad her friend knew enough to not treat her as perfect.
Rerolling 8
2 8 4 2 8 6 3 7. 4 succesess. 8 auto 49 total
19 overflow to Spiritual
154/1200
1/3 of successes to Qi
35/59
Breakthrough 3
23-5=18
Pass
Breakthrough Complete
When she returned to the meditation room, it was with a refreshed body and mind, despite a slight nervous feeling as she overheard some of the girls in the residential district talking about a strange spirit wandering around, asking strange questions. It seemed like some people were thinking it some odd test from the Elders, like a wandering trial… Sixiang wouldn't cause too much trouble hopefully.
She let even that worry go as she sealed the meditation chamber and sat down, ready to finish her breakthrough.
...This time, there was no recoil, only the smooth melding of her qi with her body and a feeling of lightness, as if she had just taken off a dress that was three sizes too small. When she opened her eyes, she found herself caked in impurity of course, a stinking mess of black gunk that needed to be scrubbed from her skin with the cloth and water she had prepared for just that.
If her second realm breakthrough had left her unblemished, this one had simply made her… more. Looking at herself in the mirror, it was hard to pin down exact changes. Her skin remained just as dusky as ever, and she remained tall and thin, without much in the way of feminine charm. Yet… her eyes burned an icy blue, like chips of glacial rime, and she thought her features looked a little more mature, stripped of their last vestiges of childish softness.
Her hair, wet from washing and mostly unstyled was still wild and curly, but it no longer seemed quite so frayed or frizzy, seeming instead sleek and dark, drinking in the dim light of the meditation room and reflection nothing, despite now hanging down to the middle of her back. In fact… toying with the ends of her bangs… did it seem a little blue-ish? It was more of a midnight blue than Suyin's lighter shade. With a bit of rising suspicion, she began to cycle her qi, letting cool darkness flow through her meridians… and sure enough, she caught faint twinkling sparkles like dim stars in her hair.
...She wasn't sure if that was embarrassing or cool.
Some part of her lamented the fact that she still wasn't really beautiful, but at least she could now qualify for striking? She had even gained another centimeter or two in height.
Shaking her head, Ling Qi turned away from the mirror and began to get dressed, that was enough vanity for the moment. She had still lost another day to breakthrough, and she wanted to visit the market before weeks end… she didn;t want to be busy when Meizhen invited her out after all.
General Bonuses
Attribute, Skill and Mastery Caps raised to 7, Dexterity raised to 8
Domain Cultivation unlocked
Auto Successes to Physical and Meridians increase to 5
Additional Health Box added
Elemental Bonuses
Heaven: Heaven specialty added to archery
Water: Ling Qi gains a two die bonus on all defenses while she has a water technique activated.
Violet Lotus Gown upgrades due to increased wearer parameters
A many layered gown of water smooth black silk with white highlights and a dark blue mantle split down the center like a pair of wings and embroidered with white lotus petals. Made by an apprentice of the Duchess Cai, it's craftsmanship is near unparalleled. Armor 3. Reduces the cost of Darkness and Water arts by 3 to a minimum of one. Provides an additional four die to defense in low light and darkness, and two under normal light. Provides a four die bonus on intimidate and stealth tests. Self Repairs. Durability 10
-Wings in Shadow: At the cost of three qi per turn, provides flight at the user's speed, or negates any damage from a fall of one hundred meters or less
-Twilight Beauty: For one qi per turn, the user may reduce light levels to low within fifty meters
Inner market Changes
The functions of the market will be changing, reflecting how it is likely to be handled in the future. I will no longer be creating individual 'common' pills instead, you will have the opportunity to purchase the dice effects you want for varying amounts. Rare pills will remain individualized, but this should make things easier for me and for planmakers.
Green Stone purchases:
First stone per 4 week period: 200 red stones
Standard price: 500 Red Stones
Elemental Boosts:
-Imperial Eight and Traditional Five(cost per element boosted)
5 dice: 10 red stones
10 dice: 30 red stones
15 dice: 70 red stones
-Exotic Elements
5 dice: 15 red stones
10 dice: 40 red stones
Spiritual or Physical Cultivation
5 dice: 15 red stones
10 dice: 35 red stones
15 dice: 60 red stones
20 dice: 90 Red stones
Spiritual and Physical Cultivation
5 dice: 20 red stones
10 dice: 45 red stones
15 dice: 75 red stones
Meridians
5 dice: 25 red stones
10 dice: 60 Red stones
Qi
5 dice: 5 red stones
10 dice: 20 red stones
15 dice: 45 red stones
20 dice: 60 Red Stones
Consumables
Heavenly Bliss Salve: Instantly heals up to three lethal or nonlethal damage. In addition reduces the healing time for up to two points of aggravated damage to one week. Cannot be used in combat. User receives a five die penalty on all actions for two hours after use. 75 Red Stones
Dragon's Endurance Pill: Restores fifteen qi to the user. Usable five times per day at third realm, or once at second. 40 Red Stones
Bountiful Earth's Blessing: This elixir restores up to forty qi to the user. Usable once per day. Do not use if below third realm. 100 Red stones
Qi Card: Stores a single technique of three dots or lower indefinitely. Techniques stored use only the casters base stats in clashes. 10 Charges. 40 red Stones
Greater Qi Card: Stores a single technique of three dots or lower indefinitely. Techniques stored are used as with the casters full baseline dice pool. Talisman bonuses and auto successes are not included. The user must be within the same cultivation realm as the caster. 3 charges. 120 red Stones.
Talismans:
All Talismans at third realm and above must be custom ordered. However delivery time is immediate for any talisman costing two hundred red stones or less which do not include any personal resource additions, due to pulling from sect storage.
Immediate orders may request up to two different effects in a single talisman
Flying Swords:
Temporarily Locked, due to lack of character knowledge
[] Purchase Plans
Please note what if anything you would like Ling Qi to purchase if anything please vote
"I don't follow," the spirit replied sounding confused, "Why doesn't one of you change if that's a problem?" Sixiang frowned, swinging her legs off the edge of the table, the lacey hem of her gown fluttering up over bare feet. "You didn't mind when I turned into a girl for our dance."
"...Things don't work like that for humans," Ling Qi replied dryly. "And… what?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. "I… when did you change, are you really a boy or a girl?" Had she just actually slept on top of a man?
"I don't understand the question," the spirits hair fluttered in a phantom wind and something about her(?) form subtly changed. "Why would I just be one or the other? You were taking the lead last night, so I felt more like a woman," The spirits voice was a little deeper, and the lines of her… his face slightly more masculine, and was her chest flatter now?. "But now you need a push! Your distracting yourself! Why are you chatting with me when your friend is upset? Go talk to her you silly human."
We can finally now have fun making plans instead of doing "Breakthrough x3; physical cultivation; epc." Flexibility is ours! Opportunities abound! Now we can be on the road to having fun weeks filled with action, exploration, cultivation, and relaxation!
Honestly, I'm more happy about us being able to sit down and talk with Meizhen. We need to resolve things with Best Snek-girl. I don't know how, but we need too. We made the situation the way it is, and it'll be up to us to resolve it, permanently.
