Forge of Destiny(Xianxia Quest)

[Arkeus]

I don't think so, and that's why I like the option more than any others.

It's not about helping our friends soar the sky. It's about having the ability to soar the sky wherever we wish, with whomever we may take.

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It IS about helping our friends going to the sky. There is two actual friend option: one is about making them grow, that one, and one is about making them able to kill people.

So do we have to reach Silver before adding a 3rd stone for the 4th stone bonuses? Or is Yellow enough? I can't recall how that works.

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I suspect we had to reach Yellow in order to use the Yellow stone at the vent, so we are going to get a significant bonus from there. @yrsillar might also have the +2 success to spiritual cultivation apply to meridians, unsure.

ALSO WHAT DID I TELL YOU huang da isn't as bad as some of you made him out to be and even helped li suyin

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We already thought he was going to help them. It doesn't change anything about how bad he is.

 

[mrttao]

Third one is kind of hard to interpret; being so free/powerful so as to support her friends despite whatever circumstances she faces? That seems kind of wildly optimistic and a bad mindset to before military service.

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I think you are misinterpreting it. have wings that are strong enough to carry weight. Be strong enough to carry our friends. It is actually the most straightforward of options I think.

I don't see why you would say it is foolishly optimistic. We have obscenely high talent and are an immortal cultivator with a speciality in support. It is supremely possible for us to do this

Fun stuff here. My top priority is breaking through into Silver to get on everyone's level, so that's definitely something to have. Got to spend some time cultivating AS5 so we can finally dump the garbage one for the eight phase ceremony and start moving places in ernest

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Garbage? AS is the most powerful art we have

We already thought he was going to help them. It doesn't change anything about how bad he is.

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Well, it kinda does. He is not nearly as bad as people made him out to be.
Still a creeper and I don't see this changing though

 

[Arkeus]

And seriously, I don't feel that option two is "Rain hellfire and damnation on any who would hurt our friends", so much as it is "Be strong enough that I can have friends without needing to fear them slowing me down"

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That would be option one, the selfish option. Option 4 would be 'to both us and our friends be that strong'. Option 2/3 are the more nuanced ones, I think.

Honestly? That will probably be a serious help to her.

Because she finally woke the fuck up. She was relying on people being nice to not steal her shit and beat her opprosed friend.

[snip]
This will allow her to flourish.

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Or, you know, she could have gotten all the good sides without getting the bad sides had we gotten there a bit faster. But I guess accepting our responsibility is a no go.

 

[Arbit]

[][breakthrough] To ensure that none would shackle her unwillingly

This isn't about not caring about friends, since the shackles made by forming friendships are made willingly. Qi would still be just as bound to Meizhen, for example, but Hunag Da would find it harder to place shackles on her.

It's the option that says she can only be bound by things she wants to be bound by.

 

[FixerUpper]

[][breakthrough] To ensure that none would shackle her unwillingly

[][breakthrough] To ensure that any who brought harm to her roots would be punished

[][breakthrough] To ensure that her wings could carry as much weight as she wished

[][breakthrough] To ensure that none would dare strike at her or her roots in the first place

I think there's a distinct possibility that this choice does more than just shape Ling Qi's actions and psyche, it will 'flavor' her qi. Like how Bai Meizhen scares the shit out of everyone, she clearly chose the last option. The vindictive option number two probably suits Gu Xiulan more and might make it easier to learn offensive techniques. Starter Ling Qi (no character development) would take option number one and it might make it easier to run or some such.

Option number three is the most heroic one, but I think it'll also bring with it the least immediately tangible benefits because there's no obvious 'flavor' to simply helping people. Maybe people will feel more comfortable around her? Idk. I'm still choosing it, of course.

 

[Lacrimosa]

I find it kinda funny that we assumed Bai Meizhen would get a new house by beating up the previous owners when its kinda obvious in hindsight that shes not the type of person to get in random fights. Also I think things turned out pretty well for Li Suyin all things considered. This is a Xianxia world you either have to toughen up or you won't make it and Li Suyin is now not gonna take people's shit anymore and seems fine with hurting people.

 

[mrttao]

That would be option one, the selfish option. Option 4 would be 'to both us and our friends be that strong'. Option 2/3 are the more nuanced ones, I think.

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I think option 4 is "we made them learn fear, so they won't touch our friends".
Option 3 is clearly the "we help make our friends strong" as we carry them
Option 2 is not "they will fear to attack our friends" but one of those "they touch my friends and i get revenge!"

2 and 4 are very similar, but the difference in the mindset. 4 sets out to create terror in the public of the idea of harming our friends. 2 is not setting out to do that, but setting our goal to be very serious about revenge.

i think the main difference is in the publicity aspect. with 2 we will silently disappear them. with 4 we will make it publically known we tortured them

I think there's a distinct possibility that this choice does more than just shape Ling Qi's actions and psyche, it will 'flavor' her qi. Like how Bai Meizhen scares the shit out of everyone, she clearly chose the last option. The vindictive option number two probably suits Gu Xiulan more and might make it easier to learn offensive techniques. Starter Ling Qi (no character development) would take option number one and it might make it easier to run or some such.

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Oh yea, good point. Elder su did explicitly inform us about Qi flavoring and why it is important to interact with the world instead of meditating in seclusion

 

[Thor's Twin]

This is a Xianxia world you either have to toughen up or you won't make it and Li Suyin is now not gonna take people's shit anymore and seems fine with hurting people.

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There was a reason why her grandfather's cultivation family was destroyed. Let's hope that Li Suyin does not choose to go down the path of her ancestors though. I will not feel pity for those girls when a motivated Li Suyin gets her hands on them.

 

[Alectai]

Yeah, truthfully, aiming for the top means that even if you don't actually reach it, you'll still be stronger for the striving.

Well, or dead because some jerk killed you first, but that's not something that lack of ambition will help you with.

Yeah though, hopefully we can make it up to Li Suyin, or at least make sure that she doesn't become a mad doctor out of rage

 

[Mr.rodent]

There was a reason why her grandfather's cultivation family was destroyed. Let's hope that Li Suyin does not choose to go down the path of her ancestors though. I will not feel pity for those girls when a motivated Li Suyin gets her hands on them.

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You make a very good point here that I don't think we've talked about.

Her mother's side of family was completely destroyed for whatever reason , and most oftheir stuff "lost" we also know she doesn't cultivate normally like us for the technique.


Her healing art might be dangerous as fuck, or maybe possibly even detrimental to the wielder in the long run . Who knows all theories as this point.

Anyway the next plan that wins should be called mysterious as the dark side of the moon. Since you know raging fire won last time

 

[tricholysis]

I disagree heavily with the people trying to make this choice about 'self vs others'—Ling Qi is explicit about it both being her path of cultivation, and how she wants to treat others. All choices are related to her self and others, and it's not a binary this one that one. It's designed to be paradoxical and 'self vs others' is overly simplistic.

I also think people are very quick to try painting the options they do or don't like with such words as 'torture' or 'heroic' or 'most ambitious' when any of the options are equally capable of those things...

For example, freedom, the all-consuming ideal of Western civilisation, is all well and good but it requires restrictions. A person bestowed with absolute choice is a tyrant unless they restrict themselves.

So please think in a way a little bit more nuanced than 'freedom==good' or 'fear==bad'.

The question is very Derrida, though.

 

[Raron]

Reminder that it would also be nice to start advancing with spiritual cultivation. There is a long road ahead.

 

[Thor's Twin]

There is no bad answer here, and all of them are equally valid. Choose the one that connects to you on a more personal level and that would be the one you would naturally choose, to begin with.

 

[Alectai]

Anyway, as promised, here's what I came up with after my raid.

[X][breakthrough] To ensure that her wings could carry as much weight as she wished
[X] Manipulation

[X] Plan: Break On Through to the Other Side
-[X] Resources Used: 2 Red Stones, Buy an Argent Accumulation Pill (2 Red Stones) and use it. Equip Hawk Talon Armguards
-[X] Breakthrough to Silver
--[X] Breakthrough Again if successful: Else, buy an Argent Elixir (10 stones) and Cultivate Physical
-[X] Help Suyin train and cultivate at the vent
--[X] Argent Soul
-[X] Go along with Meizhen to this meeting Cai Renxiang is calling.
-[X] Spend some time with Gu Xiulan, to celebrate your breakthrough, and see if she might be willing to tone things down in regards to Li Suyin
-[X] If Breakthrough Fails, Cultivate Physical on your own
--[X]If Breakthrough Succeeds: Cultivate Argent Soul on your own

There. A Breakthrough to Silver attempt (Get your prayers to the RNG rolling folks), we get our time sensitive stuff out of the way, and if we succeed at our Breakthroughs, we contact Su Ling and see if she can give us some hunting advice for the missions that are going on.

 

[Thor's Twin]

There. A Breakthrough to Silver attempt (Get your prayers to the RNG rolling folks), we get our time sensitive stuff out of the way, and if we succeed at our Breakthroughs, we contact Su Ling and see if she can give us some hunting advice for the missions that are going on.

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Breakthroughs require two actions, so I don't know if your plan would actually breakthrough. And don't forget we have a 6th action to use. As for the actions chosen, I am not sold on the action to attend the Cai Renxiang meeting, I think we can use our actions in a better way.

 

[tricholysis]

There is no bad answer here, and all of them are equally valid. Choose the one that connects to you on a more personal level and that would be the one you would naturally choose, to begin with.

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Is the instinctive answer the best one? Is the first the most correct? Probably not...You could argue that this is a choice of ideals and therefore it's best to go with the most idealised, but that's just encouraging continual spinning in a rut. Choices and cultures and educations have to move constantly to stay vital. Choices that make us uncomfortable are necessary.

 

[Alectai]

Which is why I only have five actions committed out of our six! Because the breakthrough counts for 2!

 

[mc2rpg]

I wonder if spending time with Su Ling would give us a chance to find an appropriate tier 1 spirit beast to bind. I know it won't be anywhere near Cai, but clearly being able to whip out a second combatant at will is a huge deal.

 

[TheLastOne]

I disagree heavily with the people trying to make this choice about 'self vs others'—Ling Qi is explicit about it both being her path of cultivation, and how she wants to treat others. All choices are related to her self and others, and it's not a binary this one that one. It's designed to be paradoxical and 'self vs others' is overly simplistic.

I also think people are very quick to try painting the options they do or don't like with such words as 'torture' or 'heroic' or 'most ambitious' when any of the options are equally capable of those things...

For example, freedom, the all-consuming ideal of Western civilisation, is all well and good but it requires restrictions. A person bestowed with absolute choice is a tyrant unless they restrict themselves.

So please think in a way a little bit more nuanced than 'freedom==good' or 'fear==bad'.

The question is very Derrida, though.

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This is very much a genre question. And yes, freedom without restriction does have an element of tyranny - there's a reason so many feel Xianxia heroes are villain protagonists.

Edit: By a genre question I mean something that's important for understanding the genre. Freedom is up there with immortality as a common cultivator goal, and it very much has negative expressions the stories revel in. I'll pursue it, but only so long as it's tempered with something else. In this case, carrying our roots.

 

[Arkeus]

@TheLastOne I had actually talked quite a bit about how mastering arts before breakthroughs would give us some benefits, though I was expecting something a bit different. If the push for breakthrough had been a bit less I would have tried to get FVM mastered

[][breakthrough] To ensure that her wings could carry as much weight as she wished
So, this one really seems the "We accept our responsibility and need strength for it" one, but isn't focused on retribution so much as growth. I'm probably going to vote for it.
[]Manipulation
Because it's our main attack stat.
[]2 Red Spirit Stone, Argent Accumulation.
[] Spend some time with Gu Xiulan, to celebrate your breakthrough, and see if she might be willing to tone things down in regards to Li Suyin
OK, I guess it's still an important one.
[] Help Suyin train and cultivate at the vent
-[] Argent Soul
I really like Argent Soul, but I'm also tempted by FVM with a single spiritual cultivation action as our 'cultivate alone', as we can then use some pills for both.
[] Go along with Meizhen to this meeting Cai Renxiang is calling.
[] Breakthrough to Silver
[] Breakthrough to Silver x2
-[]If not at peak Gold, cultivate physical
[] Cultivate on your own
-[] Spiritual

The more I think about it, the more tempted I am for FVM instead of Argent Soul... but we need that marathon

I think there's a distinct possibility that this choice does more than just shape Ling Qi's actions and psyche, it will 'flavor' her qi. Like how Bai Meizhen scares the shit out of everyone, she clearly chose the last option. The vindictive option number two probably suits Gu Xiulan more and might make it easier to learn offensive techniques. Starter Ling Qi (no character development) would take option number one and it might make it easier to run or some such.

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I thought that went without saying

 

[FixerUpper]

Did anyone else notice this? Sorry if I'm retreading someone's talking points I gotta leave in a sec:

When we leveled up, we got bonuses depending on how many elemental arts we had taken to their limit in red (did we not do this for FVM?). There's... now a pretty compelling reason as to why you should master as many techniques of differing elements as possible.

Or maybe if we had mastered two wind techniques we could have gotten +2 initiative. I suspect that any bonuses we gain for going from yellow to green will depend on arts that require yellow/must be mastered in yellow.

 

[Mr.rodent]

Hmm I like your plan alectai but I'd if I agree with the last part with su ling. I really think we should do mom vote or tokens just to get that out of way or unlock the next portion of that side mission before we cant. I don't know how much longer our mom can hold out , the last time we saw her was several months ago ( half a year) and she was extremely thin looking and guant. So she could either be sick (maybe even an std if she's a prostitute ) or just is getting old and losing customers .

 

[TheLastOne]

Did anyone else notice this? Sorry if I'm retreading someone's talking points I gotta leave in a sec:

When we leveled up, we got bonuses depending on how many elemental arts we had taken to their limit in red (did we not do this for FVM?). There's... now a pretty compelling reason as to why you should master as many techniques of differing elements as possible.

Or maybe if we had mastered two wind techniques we could have gotten +2 initiative. I suspect that any bonuses we gain for going from yellow to green will depend on arts that require yellow/must be mastered in yellow.

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I have - I think it's a back and forth pull. The more different arts you learn, the more different elements you obtain, the more power you seize as you break through. But you require more and more talisman as you level up to offset the costs of your arts, which encourage people to focus even though focusing limits them and makes their breakthroughs weaker.

 

[Alectai]

Did anyone else notice this? Sorry if I'm retreading someone's talking points I gotta leave in a sec:

When we leveled up, we got bonuses depending on how many elemental arts we had taken to their limit in red (did we not do this for FVM?). There's... now a pretty compelling reason as to why you should master as many techniques of differing elements as possible.

Or maybe if we had mastered two wind techniques we could have gotten +2 initiative. I suspect that any bonuses we gain for going from yellow to green will depend on arts that require yellow/must be mastered in yellow.

Click to shrink...

To be fair, we'd be hard pressed getting more techniques without remaining too far behind the curve.

We were almost as strong as we were capable of being by the time we broke through, the only thing we could have potentially pushed up a bit more was FVM, and there was too much heat on us to not be at our best.

It's a balancing act. You want to be as strong as possible before breaking through, but you can't spend too much time grinding your foundation when the world is progressing around you.

EDIT: Oh hey, can't we equip a second Accessory now? We've still got our bracers, are we going to start using those automatically now as well as the ribbon?

 

[TheLastOne]

[X] Plan Solidify Place
-[X] Train with Han Jian and his group
-[X] Look into sending some money to mother
-[X] Go along with Meizhen to this meeting Cai Renxiang is calling.
-[X] Breakthrough to Silver
--[X] if successful, breakthrough again. If not, have a self indulgent pity party with Gu Xiulan, and maybe talk about the Li Suyin issue.
-[X] Help Suyin train and cultivate at the vent
--[X] Forgotten Vale Melody