Firstly, if you have questions about Good Seeds and the like please read here. If that doesn't answer your question please ping me in thread, or on Discord.
If you write a new Good Seed, or write an omake, please update the spreadsheet if you have access.
If you do not have access, please ping a collaborator (Swordomatic, Alectai, Quest, TehChron, Insane-Not-Crazy, Humbaba, ReaderOfFate, Kaboomatic, no., BungieONI) letting them know what you want and they will update the spreadsheet here. To gain access, you will need a gmail account of some kind. Throwaway emails are fine (I'm using one for the spreadsheet), but to gain access it's as simple as sending me either your email via PM, via DM in Discord, or just in Discord's #spreadsheet-requests channel.
This is mandatory. If a Good Seed does not record their omake by pinging collabs (or just requesting access and editing things themselves - this is the preferred option), I won't give out awards. If a new Good Seed is not recorded here, they won't advance. By doing this it makes the whole thing manageable for me - it's gotten pretty unwieldy!
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Omake Writer Instructions:
There are four fields you need to fill out.
Omake Link, which is just a link to your first omake for the turn. This makes it easier for me to read them as I do the update - without this it's tough to know off the bat which omake were written this turn, and to properly
Requested Bonus, which is your requested bonus for your omake. You can leave it up to me if you like. You can see more info in the Good Seed infopost here.
Cultivation Aims. For those following unorthodox paths - higher than 9th Heavenstage or later than 7th Dao Pillar paths. Please put in what you are aiming for before you break through. I have left it as 'default'. If you do not edit it, I'll go with that.
Turn Notes - Do you want to do something specific? Enter a Secret Realm? Help the Clan out in some way? If you have something specific you want to accomplish on this turn, put it in turn notes so I can adjust your Fate around it.
All other fields are for QM use to record character information to properly run the flow of the game.
Run your own Xianxia faction! Offend old monsters! Raise good seeds! Face heavenly tribulations! And remember, always support your Young Masters, no matter who they offend.
Run your own Xianxia faction! Offend old monsters! Raise good seeds! Face heavenly tribulations! And remember, always support your Young Masters, no matter who they offend.
Minervina cackled, and clouds of golden mist rose up, combined with a sickly green.
"You there, scribe."
Tisamenos froze.
"Yes, you."
As she spoke, tokens began shattering, and people began teleporting out. First one, then ten, then hundreds, then thousands, an entire army melting away like snow in summer.
"Write, write. I have notes for you"
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Minervina Barda
Omake reward - Sentient Venom
Fate - Held Pleuron against all odds. Brewed the ShatterDao Four-Step Poison, killing a Core Formation cultivator and forcing tens of thousands of others to retreat. Due to a lack of time, brewed this poison in her own body to allow it to be used, allowing the Indomitable Thirteen to complete their impossible strike. At the moment has the strength, speed, and vitality of an old mortal woman, though her touch is still death to any who oppose her. Cultivation - Early FB (Second Pillar) Health - Crippled. Dantian has become a Poison Cauldron, meridians now only flow with Poison Qi. Minervina exists but a step away from death at all times until this is resolved.
Hahahahahahhahahahhahaaha. Glorious. I am tempted to write an Omake where she returns to the humble Barda fishing community for a decade while she heals and act as resident Granny Weatherwax expy.
My only regret is that she didn't make it to the 3rd Pillar already somehow before being crippled. This situation would be fantastic narrative fodder for her breakthrough to mid-foundation establishment and the creation of her Death Dao Pillar.
Also I can stop hitting refresh every 10 minutes and start writing new Omake! What an excellent start to the day.
Only thing I really need to know is whether her Life Saving Treasure was used or not? Considering the narrative I suspect it wasn't. After all it was a self inflicted crippling, and the way I wrote the Sap of a Thousand Bloom Oak it only did anything if she actually died. Either way, it will effect what I write next.
I like the shape of the new rules a fair bit, the only slight downer is Starting Cool Things not having a mechanical bonus anymore. I totally understand why though. I might need to spend a future turn bonus on making the Scarlet Crow Scroll an Impact Bonus since its powerful techniques were such a big part of the early Omake.
The Jiang Family, Passing the Torch. {Chrysanthos Good Seed, Turn 6 Omake}
Year 99
Stefania - 23 years old, married to Liu Zedong.
Liu Zedong - 23 years old
Rhea - 20 years old
Aristeidis - 16 years old
Chrysanthos - 7 years old
PoV - Rhea
Rhea watched as her youngest brother Chrysanthos practiced his forms in the courtyard just like he did every day, the hard strikes still ill fitting to her dark eyes. The only thing different to a usual day was that Aristeidis, her other younger brother, was also present; although he was pretending to read a book, the same bronze hair everyone in their family had not quite long enough to disguise the direction of his gaze.
As such the only sounds in the courtyard were Chrys' breathing in time with his strikes and the fountain, yet to Rhea it felt like a sand devil was sitting right on top of them howling their doom. This morning she had heard the bells, and what she had dreaded for most of her life had finally occurred.
The Hundred Years Trial.
Would she be an orphan tomorrow? Would she still have older brothers? Maybe she wouldn't even have younger brothers. What if one of the Hunters decided to attack them, aiming for easier prey.
So here she was, watching as Chrys trained, hoping to cultivate just like their parents and elder brothers, still unaware of the suffering such a life would bring. Watching as Aristeidis tried to escape into his books, pretending that he hadn't been waking up screaming most nights for the last month.
Rhea cursed the Old Gold, the Hunters, and whoever brought this plague upon her family all those years ago. Why should they have to suffer like this? What crime was so great that deserved this.
Rhea was so focused on her hatred that she didn't even notice Steph arriving in the courtyard until her sister kicked her in the shins.
"Oi, stop brooding and give me a hand in the kitchen, with Zedong out checking the caravan your tall ass is the only one who can reach the top shelf" she snipped, one hand resting on her abdomen while the other reached up for Rhea's ear.
Stepping quickly to the side Rhea glared at her older sister.
"How can you be thinking of food at a time like now? While Mother, Father, Raphail, and Kon are out there fighting." she asked, only just managing to keep her voice low.
"Hmm" was all Steph said, glaring right back at her with those dark eyes so like mother's, before turning towards the courtyard. "Don't lie, it's not them you're tying yourself into knots over." Steph said, her words so cool that Rhea almost believed her. Until she noticed Steph's hands tighten, both now pressed close to her abdomen.
"You can't keep babying him, hiding the world from his eyes. Even if Chrys never chooses to cultivate like us he's still going to grow up soon."
Incensed Rhea turned her back to her sister and stomped into the house, only just managing to not slam the first door to appear in her way. Although in hindsight maybe she should have, that way she wouldn't have heard Steph's parting words.
"And so will you"
Two years later - Year 101
Stefania - 25 years old, married to Liu Zedong.
Liu Zedong - 25 years old
Liu Achilles - 1 year old
Rhea - 22 years old
Aristeidis - 18 years old
Chrysanthos - 9 years old
PoV Aristeidis
Aristeidis gently lifted his nephew back up and away from the book he had been reaching for, thanking the river gods that the boy was still too short to reach anything beyond the bottom shelf. Honestly, even if Chrys was still too young and Rhea too Rhea to look after a toddler, did it have to be him? There were the perfect number of clouds today for reading, yet Steph was always very clear he wasn't to leave little Achilles in the sun. As such the pair of them were held up in the family library, and Aristedidis had to stop every other paragraph to pull Achilles away from the newest book he was planning to ruin or a stray lock of hair he wanted to tug; Chrys' really was lucky he didn't have long hair like the rest of them, no matter how much he whined about wanting to look like Rhea.
Sitting Achilles in his lap once more Aristeidis resumed reading his biography of Alexios, the previous head of the Golden Devils. It was a common topic for books within the Clan, even among mortals, although the version he was reading was certainly not one normally found outside Cultivator families. Then again this one probably wasn't found outside of forgotten archives, seeing as it referred to The Old Gold as the prankster Manuel. Man, if it wasn't for his grandfather's annotations he would have probably assumed this Manuel was someone who had died before his family even joined the Clan.
Catching Achilles' curious hand just before it grabbed his current page Aristeidis couldn't hold back his shudder. Cultivators were insane, and he included his parent's in that category.
Before he could return to reading again however another distraction appeared, this time in the form of a dusty and sweaty Chrys slamming the door to the library open, clearly coming right from the middle of his training.
"Ari come quick! They're back!" he shouted, loud enough to shake a few of the older shelves, before turning around and running towards the front gate while calling for Rhea.
Blinking in confusion Aristeidis looked down to Achilles, and shared his confusion with his equally confused nephew before sighing and putting his book away. He couldn't really think of anyone whom's arrival would cause Chrys so much excitement that he would skip training. Steph and Ze were out certainly, but that was just a shopping date, and they would be back soon. Their Parents had written last week to tell them that they wouldn't be returning for another month, still busy with repairing the irrigation arrays in the cities and Raphail and Konstantinos were with them. Maybe Xiong Yan had come back early with news?
Growing more curious by the second Aristeidis held Achilles a little tighter and hurried his pace. As such he was breathing a little heavier than usual when the front gate came into view and he discovered the reason for Chrys' excitement. There was his family, Steph and Ze standing to the side, Rhea just coming around a corner, Chrys jumping up and down before the open gate, and standing in a line before him were their father, mother, Raphael, and Konstantinos.
Seeing them all together was like a puzzle finally being fixed, Dad's curly hair which matched Steph's and Achilles. Raphail's height which Rhea matched and Chrys obviously planned to exceed, Kon's too big ears, which he didn't hide unlike Mum and himself with long hair. And those dark eyes that glittered like pools of water among them all.
Chrys was already chatting away at their father, by the sound of it telling him everything that had happened since Steph's wedding 3 years ago and gesturing every which way in his usual over excited self. Mother on the other hand was being penned in by Rhea who was checking over every inch of her, probably looking for any hidden injuries.
Raphail and Konstantinos on the other hand had approached Step and Ze and the four of them were now deep in conversation, although they were quiet and discrete enough that Aristeidis could not tell what it was about from where he was.
Frozen in shock Aristeidis watched his family, his eyes flicking from his father, to his mother, to Raphail, to Konstantinos, and back again. It was somehow unbelievable even though he had known for months now that they were all fine, having spent most of the trials safe behind the walls of Pleuron.
It was obviously Chrys who knocked him out of his frozen thoughts, his little brother bouncing over to him and making a grabbing motion at little Achilles.
"No" Aristeidis said almost unconsciously, beginning a well practiced routine now more by habit than intent. "You know the rules, not hugs after training. Not everyone enjoys being covered in dust and sweat constantly"
"EHHHHH, But I wanted to show Aeyki to Dad! Did you know they've never met? That's not fair at all!'' Chrys whined. His customary grin shifting into a well practiced pout backed up by a painfully nostalgic chuckle. Only for the first time ever in Ariseidis's life it came from below rather than above.
He was taller than Dad.
He was taller than Dad.
Aristeidis must have given into Chrys' pouts. Or maybe Steph could secretly teleport babies. Because in the next moment Achilles was gone and he was hugging his father and brawling his eyes out.
"I. I. I din't believe you would come back!! He somehow manages to say in between the sobs. Wishing for the first time in years he had kept up his training like Chrys, because maybe that way he could hold Dad close enough, tight enough, that he would never leave again.
Six years later - Year 107
Raphail - 45 years old, 2nd Heavenstage
Konstantinos - 41 years old, 4th Heavenstage
Chrysanthos - 15 years old
Fere & Ranth - 7 years old
PoV Raphail
As Raphail watched Chrys lead Fere and Ranth through the introductory forms of The Bronze Fist he could not understand where the years had gone. It felt like only yesterday that he had left home to begin his own cultivation journey and yet before him stood his brother over 30 years younger than him and about to start his journey as well.
It was times like these that almost he found himself regretting his inability to truly defy the heavens, trapped as he was it was 2nd heavenstage he knew that despite all the pain and suffering he had experienced he only had a couple of decades of extra life, and less than that before his body started to degrade.
Yet despite that he was happy, watching on the sideline as Konstantinos passed him by 20 years ago, and watching now as Chrys laid down foundations that would hopefully raise him higher than any of the previous generation. Perhaps it was unsurprising that Chrys was already showing such potential, but 6 years ago when he returned from Pleuron it had quickly become clear that his brother's constitution was ill suited to the The Bronze Fist for all he dedicated himself to training.
Yet where they had all despaired, Konstantinos had acted; searching the family records, the cultivation boards, and further for a technique that would aid their brother. And it had worked, while The Empty Palm of Ascending Turtles might not be a perfect fit for their brother he was already finding ways to connect the two styles together into a more complete whole.
Honestly it was almost inspiring, to watch what should have been a weakness turn into a strength by pure will and effort. Maybe that was what the Legate meant when she said you could find your Dao anywhere. Well assuming you had the ability to find one in the first place.
So lost in his meditations Raphail missed Konstantinos approaching until the last moment, his brother easily strolling into the courtyard with the confidence of a cultivator who had just progressed to a new stage. Heh, the Legate would be dragging Raphail into more remedial training if she knew he had missed that, not that he would tell her.
Focusing properly on his brothers Raphail saw that Konstantinos had taken Chrys aside while Fere and Ranth practiced and was handing him something. Curious Raphail learned a little to the side and saw it was a familiar old pouch, woven with red and blue thread and tied by golden wire. Of Cause, with Chrys due to head off soon it would make sense that Konstantinos would want to hand that off to him. It even made sense that he was doing it now, as Rhea would clearly throw up a fuss, taking it as more justification that Cultivating was far too dangerous for her baby brother.
The Memory of the River was certainly a Life Saving Treasure, perhaps one of the best a Heavenstage Cultivator could own in fact, considering it would recharge after 100 years of gathering Qi from the air. Yet passing it on to Chrys wasn't a sign of the danger of Cultivation, it was just a tradition. Passing one of their only relics from before their family joined the Clan, letting each member of the family feel connected in some small way to that mighty river they once knew.
Man, it was so strange. Here he was happy his brother was growing up, set to explore and conquer his own life, yet at the same time he couldn't stop thinking about all the tragedies that had shaped him. From his own inability to advance, the disappointment he knew he was to those above him, to the life his family had lost over a thousand years ago.
Maybe Steph was right that he should have some children, being busy seemed to keep her happy after all. Although Rhea and Aristeidis would be mad, they still seemed to think him and Konstantinos being single protected them. Well, they were right to a degree. Their parents had agreed not to push any marriages for their kids almost 20 years ago, but that was all thanks to Konstantinos explaining that he was utterly discusted by sex in perhapse the second most awquard descusion Raphail had ever taken part in and he hadn't even said anything.
Still kids would be nice. They would have bronze hair of course and maybe they would even have those copper green eyes he loved so much. Hmm, if Old Gold really could walk in people's dreams he hoped he would forgive this foolish Heavenstage Cultivator's dreams. After all for some people the oasis would only ever be in reach in dreams.
Content once more Raphail returned to watching his family train, preparing for a future he would probably never see but already knew. One where they were happy and free and their eyes were dark not from grief but joy.
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Omake reward request - LST (The Memory of the River, when the pouch is opened it washes the owner to safety on a phantasmal river )
Hahahahahahhahahahhahaaha. Glorious. I am tempted to write an Omake where she returns to the humble Barda fishing community for a decade while she heals and act as resident Granny Weatherwax expy.
My only regret is that she didn't make it to the 3rd Pillar already somehow before being healed. This situation would be fantastic narrative fodder for her breakthrough to mid-foundation establishment and the creation of her Death Dao Pillar.
Also I can stop hitting refresh every 10 minutes and start writing new Omake! What an excellent start to the day.
Only thing I really need to know is whether her Life Saving Treasure was used or not? Considering the narrative I suspect it wasn't. After all it was a self inflicted crippling, and the way I wrote the Sap of a Thousand Bloom Oak it only did anything if she actually died. Either way, it will effect what I write next.
I like the shape of the new rules a fair bit, the only slight downer is Starting Cool Things not having a mechanical bonus anymore. I totally understand why though. I might need to spend a future turn bonus on making the Scarlet Crow Scroll an Impact Bonus since its powerful techniques were such a big part of the early Omake.
I think it should still be there since Minervina was rolled before the new system was done. So she should still have that LST.
Also, congrats on the body naturally emanating poison Qi and the Death Touch! I can very easily see her reforging a Poison Dantian! Any interest in joining Muyi and Ferenike in the Monster Club? Embrace the crippling and be reborn in cool and monstrous ways!
Pretty impressive that her LST lasted for so long, it is a bit surprising that as far as i can tell Minervina has no Impact Items at all. Which means she's super orthodox and wrecks havoc with her cultivation.
Considering the Omakes and her achievements on poisoning those above her, i feel like that deserves a Impact bonus. I mean to be fair, most of her achievements were awesome Fate Rolls which were played out in the form of KILLS instead of gear. So taking into account the 2 she took down in Qi, it should be worth + 2 Impact.
I can help you ask in the discord if you like?
EDIT: Sentient Venom is probably worth at least 1 impact
Wei Feng literally killed a guy with his teeth while missing significant portions of his limbs and followed it up by stabbing someone with one of his protruding bones. That was amazing.
Everyone did an absolutely amazing job there, and I think this has provided the rest of the pieces to round out my first omake of turn 6.
Anyway, updating the spreadsheet and threadmarks:
@RyubosJ I've changed your threadmark name to Jiang Chrysanthos to avoid confusion with Chrysanthos Krimta. @wrecksalot As you've written your first omake did you have a requested bonus for turn 6 yet? I wasn't sure from your good seed/omake. @Academia Nut Same question as wrecksalot. I think you might have wanted a cultivation boost (going by the crazy stuff part of your good seed profile)?
Wei Feng literally killed a guy with his teeth while missing significant portions of his limbs and followed it up by stabbing someone with one of his protruding bones. That was amazing.
That determination to go out with a Bite and just tanking hits sure feels like how Druss fights to me! Snaga when?? You gotta go hunt for the Blades of No Return to make it's prophecy true for the 5th Sea!
So behind the scenes, it looks like we rolled really well for saving juniors (ending major sieges, leading convoys out of fallening towns) but the fate rolls took a harsh toll on the Thirteen for doing so - if they hadn't all retreated after the Core Formation Healer died they'd all be dead.
So behind the scenes, it looks like we rolled really well for saving juniors (ending major sieges, leading convoys out of fallening towns) but the fate rolls took a harsh toll on the Thirteen for doing so - if they hadn't all retreated after the Core Formation Healer died they'd all be dead.
Yeah, the biggest loss we sustained was the roll for Core which was shown as the Bhirgu wrecking them. But the Saving Juniors roll for Qi and FB helped that i think we didn't lose as much.
But we'll probably have to see the Council Turn 6 info, since that's usually the most comprehensive summary
That determination to go out with a Bite and just tanking hits sure feels like how Druss fights to me! Snaga when?? You gotta go hunt for the Blades of No Return to make it's prophecy true for the 5th Sea!
Sadly not for a little while, probably in foundation building. I really, really want it but I'm feeling pressed for time.
Next omake has to go to healing. After that I kind of want to visit the other qi condensation secret realm in the hopes of finally getting a good fate roll so I need to work out if I need another LST for that. From there it will depend on his progress. I'm very tempted to go for 12 heaven stage but that is dependant on rolls.
At the end of turn 7 Wei Feng will be 136, so if he's ahead then I can go for something impactful, but if he's too far behind on cultivation I'll have to start pushing hard on getting him ready for FB.
I think it should still be there since Minervina was rolled before the new system was done. So she should still have that LST.
Also, congrats on the body naturally emanating poison Qi and the Death Touch! I can very easily see her reforging a Poison Dantian! Any interest in joining Muyi and Ferenike in the Monster Club? Embrace the crippling and be reborn in cool and monstrous ways!
Pretty impressive that her LST lasted for so long, it is a bit surprising that as far as i can tell Minervina has no Impact Items at all. Which means she's super orthodox and wrecks havoc with her cultivation.
Considering the Omakes and her achievements on poisoning those above her, i feel like that deserves a Impact bonus. I mean to be fair, most of her achievements were awesome Fate Rolls which were played out in the form of KILLS instead of gear. So taking into account the 2 she took down in Qi, it should be worth + 2 Impact.
I can help you ask in the discord if you like?
EDIT: Sentient Venom is probably worth at least 1 impact
Keeping the LST in reserve works for me, as it means I can pursue a Healing Treasure next turn without worry. Though I would have loved it if we had both had managed to get turned into plants on the same turn.
I don't think I want to totally join the monster club yet, I enjoy touching on and fleshing out Min's human side too much. Though this whole incident is definitely going to have a lasting effect on her. I have plans for her to craft a sort of Poison Enlightenment Pill, a Healing Treasure that will give her a chance to master the poison in her system and organise then into a proper Poison Constitution.
On Impact Bonuses as I understand them I would say Min has 3. Going backwards through time we have.
1. Emilia the sentient venom from this turn.
2. Her big Bag of Holding from the very first turn. Excellent for transporting her gear and getting valuable venoms behind enemy lines.
3. The Scarlet Crow Scroll, a family compendium of cultivation methods and poison arts that still has many secrets in its pages.
That third one was my starting Cool Thing and might not count anymore, which is a shame because its a fairly big part of the character. It was a 'Powerful Techniques' bonus in the first incarnation of the system. If I was going to ask for something, it would be to have that recognised as an Impact Bonus, rather than trading on her reputation (though that is a very awesome idea in itself)
Keeping the LST in reserve works for me, as it means I can pursue a Healing Treasure next turn without worry. Though I would have loved it if we had both had managed to get turned into plants on the same turn.
@Academia Nut Same question as wrecksalot. I think you might have wanted a cultivation boost (going by the crazy stuff part of your good seed profile)?
I'll put you down for a cultivation boost for now, but you can change your mind up until the fates are actually rolled.
Essentially, how the new system works is that a new "cool thing" would be fluffed however you want (new weapon, new technique etc.) but would just be mechanically represented as an impact boost. So if you want a new cool thing for storytelling you should absolutely still go for it!
It was early morning when shiro stirred from slumber within the cave he stayed for the night, the river running through the canyon below heard as pleasant background noise. The chattering shrieker bats returning from their nightly feast and perching on the walls of the cavern was what awoke him.
Shiro was making his way for Acrocorinth, that was his destination since setting foot out of the great cavern that was his home. Every cultivator was needed and now more than ever since the call for aid was heard he intended to provide his own as well for the Golden ones who've provided shelter and safety for his kinsmen from those who would seek harm upon them.
A little yawn escaped from a tiny form that nestled against him. He didn't want to disturb the little one's slumber, even if the smallest liked to cuddle, him being there at all attracted insects drawn towards the light emitted by his fabulous cap for the young to dine on before they could go out soon on their own.
Gently shiro rose and made his way to the mouth of the cave, an adult bat landing nearby returning from the hunt and only a tad shorter than yourself eyed you and detached the children from yourself, making a plaintive cry before being shushed, making their way towards the roost where a small reflective pool was located.
With a final puff from his cap shiro turned to leave the cave his future spawn would grow from, they would have such a rich source of food upon maturing. Outside with the newly risen sun growing his namesake to anchor his footing shiro made his way to ground level on the winding path through the canyon. After a brief detour for a morning snack from a now wilted cactus the bridge that connected to the other side he would finally be able to join the rebuilding effort.
The bridge was made from stone and the entrance had a nice fancy roof overhead to cover against the element's. Looking down towards the river below see's the still raging river smashing against the rock's waiting for any unlucky traveler to miss their footing and sweep them away to their near certain doom.
You take your eyes away from there and begin to cross, about halfway across you spot a figure waiting at the other end of the bridge.. joined by other's dropping from the rafter's from above, a quick look behind sees yourself surrounded. There were mostly first and second heavenstage's with a single third stage you assume tube their leader.
"Well well well, look's like we have a real treat today! Ya hear that boy's mushroom's on the menu!!" Say's the man in the center wearing a poofy white hat while whooping and cheer's could be heard following that statement.
"But boss I thought we were having mushroom beer?" Asked another voice.
"Ah don't worry about it well have plenty left over, just look at it! We'll be feasting like king's tonight!"
"Kitchen-hand's" you think while tapping on your staff eyeing them, on the surface there was supposedly a peace with the Simmering Soup Sect and Cursed Mushroom Clan but there were alway's rumors from the more rural area's. You actually feel a little flattered they brought so many.
They held a variety of kitchen tool's in their hand's, from knives, cleaver's and ladles to giant chopsticks that look more like spear's. What caught your eye the most were the cauldron's strapped to their back's when one in thee far back dropped their's and suddenly grew thrice it's size filled with freshly waiting soup.
"Now come on fella's let's think about this. Do you really want me in your all's dish? I'd probably spoil the whole thing." Shiro drawl's with a lilt in his voice.
"Hah! is that a challenge I hear? We'll now it'd be a damn shame not to at least try yea?"
With a resounding "AYE!!" from well over two dozen mouth's they converged on you.
"Ah well- can't say I didn't try" you think before a strike from the left with a cleaver is dodged and you trip them with your staff hitting them behind the head with a solid THUMP from your fist sending the poor sod careening end over end his cauldron clattering to the ground before sliding to a stop with their ass in the air.
Raising your staff block's a ladle about to hit your magnificent cap and the two weapon's lock against each for a moment, while fighting for dominance another seizes your lapse in focus to throw a half dozen sharpened chopsticks that sink's in your back. Two more close in bearing a pair of knives' and a giant mallet.
That was a mistake. You inhale and suddenly theres a blast of spores' obscuring your immediate area and, more importantly, their faces which start hacking and coughing. Ducking under the swing of the mallet you charge and tackle him to the ground bowling him under before hoisting him up by the leg and then proceeded to bodily throw to the ladle wielding chef.
Despite being blinded the knives wielder manage's to gouge a few grooves on your back before retreating, then yet another chef charges into the spore cloud yelling a cry before with a grunt you pivot, spin your staff and slam it into the groin of the man with a crunch who can no longer be called such any longer.
A chunk of your leg is torn when the chopstick abomination rips threw it and another cleaver takes a sizable bite of your now tattered cap leaving it with what a generous person would call well loved.
There was laughter in the air as the fresh second stage's moved in to pull back their injured, "Do you really think you can still win?" pulling out a bowl of soup they poured it in their banged up comrades mouth's. When they woke it was with new vitality and awareness thrumming threw them.
"We can do this all day, can you say the same?"
With stinging pain you take a breath, look the leader in the eye's, and give them wide ear splitting grin.
Irritated the leader say's "What's so funny?"
"Ah well its just, I could alway's continue to fight while you whittle me down leaving me at your mercy. But why should I when you've left such an obvious way out?"
So saying you dash towards the edge of the bridge that's less crowded and punch the nearest kitchen-hand in the stomach causing him to bend over with a wheeze, you then grab and quickly stuff him into your gaping maw. Your newly acquired passenger scream's in vain with his still showing leg's thrashing around wildly for escape. While everyone is shocked by the display you grab the cauldron left behind previously and jump out the side of the bridge, while in freewill you angle the cauldron below you and with some relief it expand's to accommodate yourself.
... "well he got you there boss, it was kinda obvious".
Smacking the foolish minion upside the head the leader roar's
" What're you lot waiting for? AFTER THAT MUSHROOM!!!"
Splashing in the raging current you hear shout's and turn back seeing more cauldrons dropping from the bridge like meteor's splashing in the current with angry chef's paddling towards you with fire in their eye's, some but not all of the more sensible one's stay on the bridge following your path from the safety of land.
After deciding to spit out your passenger when they continue to make their displeasure known you hold him up as he sputters in and about too say something unkind, right before dunking him face first in the torrential water's using as an improvised paddle.
Using your newly acquired pilfered goods you speed up with following the current to further distance yourself from the chef's from hell, another peek behind shows a giant chopstick thrown at you. Tipping one corner of the floating vessel reward's with a low GooOOooNG sound and a now leaking cauldron. Another shout heralds more death spear chopsticks are thrown your way forcing you to maneuver between the murderous kitchen tool's while muffled screaming and gurgle's bubble from your paddle, often now scratched and torn meeting the sharp rock's below.
More rocky outcropping's start showing themselves ahead and after showing what might be called mercy pull out your paddle that has a dazed look behind it's mangled face setting it inside whilst plugging the still leaking hole with your paddles foot. Luckily you have a spare with your staff but not really meant for such purpose's, alas the leak needed to be dealt with. It was starting to get soggy in there.
By now the chef's in hot pursuit began to have second thought's and cut their losses pulling closer to the edge's of the river to stop their mad chase. Some even succeeded when their friends following on the proper path start hauling those closest out of the still raging river with mixed results, often there was much swearing and the really unfortunate even managed to bungle that and pull the land dweller's splashing into the drink with them sending both caught into the current!
By now there were only those going for an unwanted swim and the truly determined, you believe one such individual had a ladle cursing a storm at you.
Starting to relax you pat your paddle on the back and say "Whelp I think we're just about home free. Lovely chaps you soup cultivator's, we should really try this again sometime."
There was only a murmur for a reply.
"I'm sorry you have to speak up friend, the river's quite loud today"
turtle's...
With a furrowing of your brows you lean in further. "Say again? I didn't quite catch that."
Your paddle turn's towards you and see's face's and hand's writhing and twisting in the thing's form, the glowing red portal covered in whisper thin growths speak's unholy word's in your ear while around you chopped up bit's of turtle flow around the food that was not, focused as it was. Ahead a giant demonic visage is visible in the horizon frothing water flowing endlessly in it's gullet.
With no more word's coming out of the paddle's mouth, besides a slack jaw no doubt at how resplendent your cap is despite being a bit weathered. It's at this time you realize only one assailant is still chasing after yourself, which just so happen's to be the leader of whatever group they called themselves, you didn't really ask anyway.
Regardless he was foaming at the mouth in apocalyptic rage at this point still drawing closer to you. Whilst his compatriot's plead with him following from the safety of the rocky path to 'let the shroom go' and 'don't risk your life saving Shui' whoever that is.
"Hmm you know I think he might be a bit mad."
The paddle stare's at you.
Snapping your finger's you exclaim "Oh I know! You should talk to him to see what's bugging him, you know him better than I do."
And with that you grab the paddle that start's whimpering and throw for the angry chef to catch, which he actually does to his credit before tossing it aside into the raging river.
"Tsk tsk tsk no respect to paddle's these day's, for shame."
With that done you turn your attention to the rapidly increasing falls approaching "Huh so this is where the river lead's" Saying that and waving a final goodbye to the very angry chef with no hat, you plug the cauldron with your cap waiting within.
As shiro is swept down the fall's, angry swearing turn's into terrified screaming drowned out by the fall's as their both swept away below the torrential water.
Shiro spent his time within the cauldron drifting on the current lazily, after an indeterminate amount of time passed he peeked out scanning his surroundings. After confirming there were no crazy chef's about to turn him into stew he got out still drifting as it were, using still aching and bruised shroom muscle to paddle his way to shore. Sadly without an actual paddle.
After collapsing on the bank all he wanted to do was sleep for a month and damn anyone who say's otherwise. After a few minute's of silent suffering there was a silent squeak, debating whether or not to let whatever scavenger that came across eat him he slowly tiredly and very reluctantly opened them to find a little bat perched on the branch just above him.
"...if your gonna eat me now's the perfect time for it, otherwise quit chattering I'm tryin to sleep."
The bat startled that you were able to speak with how banged up the mushroom looked hopped side to side before crawling closer and nestling under you're frayed cap.
"..Well at least you have good taste."
Sleep took shiro shortly after that.
Gaahh.. this omake didn't want to be written. I swear it was fighten me the whole time. But it's finally finished! Enjoy! @BungieONI@Kaboomatic@Alectai
Rina had been all gung-ho and eager to push back--to work with the best and brightest of her generation in hopes of making up the difference with the lack of added preparation. From the perspective they had at the time, all they needed to do was pass out a miracle and overcome a foe so far beyond them that opposition should have been ludicrous.
It was ludicrous even--though her Cultivation had vastly outstripped the ordinary limits of Qi Condensation--indeed, if she were to simply stop here and make her way to Nascent Soul ordinarily, she would still be a peak expert. The plan would have supported this even--Qi Condensation couldn't possibly oppose Core Formation, but using the Purified Blood she had been granted to temporarily touch Foundation Establishment, she would have the power to strike back. So the other fighters of the Thirteen ensured she and Magnus made it to the enemy--and in the space of a single heartbeat, she triggered the injection. Molten flame filled her veins, her power swelling far beyond its traditional limits.
The plan then was also simple. Challenge the Core Formation Expert to a duel, create an opening for Magnus to act, she would probably die or be crippled, but it would give the best shot they had at winning. But when the heat burned and she stared at the expert, something changed. Just the... Arrogance of it all.
"You're a healer" She asked there, at the fulcrum of the age. "And yet you're standing here, doing nothing but aid a massacre. Even now, you're bragging about your power, and how we're all going to die when your followers get through." She shook her head then, her power swelling--and something beyond that rising up. "I think..."
She looked forward, almost confused. "I think that I'll actually win against a fake like you."
"You really think so?" She laughed, seeming to find amusement in the act--but Rina knew what was going on now--what she was facing.
"I do" She nodded, not even taking up a stance. She had forgotten the battle, the clash--all she felt was the flow of power and the Words she was to speak.
"You're on the wrong path, you've betrayed even yourself... And you don't even realize it. You don't even have anything to gain from it and yet you're standing here. What kind of healer are you?" Her face screwed up, indignation filling her voice. "You're a hollow shell, you stand for nothing, and have just convinced yourself otherwise. I won't stand for it. I'm just a weakling right now, a disciple. But I know this much--if the Heavens won't judge you for your hypocrisy, Then the World I long for will stand in their stead. I have spoken, and So It Will Be"
The power within her veins swelled as her Words became Law for that moment--a divine pressure descending on the world--a holy mirror that reflected the viewer's ideals back upon them.
How could she resist? Having the fundamental compromise in her Dao Heart revealed to her here?
And that heartbeat of hesitation was all that was needed to bring a Miracle into the world
It is a feat of legend for one to surmount a single Great Realm, ordinarily reserved only for the most terrible Poison Masters or the most fearsome Secret Arts. What then of surmounting two? It was unthinkable--impossible. Yet they had done it--with courage, with words, and by daring to act when none could even comprehend the presence of danger.
On that day, Thirty Thousand Qi Condensation Juniors survived when they should have died--it should have been a defining miracle.
It was barely a week later, as the Trial came to its final conclusion, that the the direction of the Hammer of Heaven was revealed. Never had it turned its gaze upon the disciples of Qi Condensation--though many died regardless, avoiding complete disaster only by the heroic efforts at Pleuron--even the experts of Foundation Establishment endured the trial intact merely injured.
No
The true aim of Heaven's hammerblow was to the Elders. Two Nascent Soul experts descended upon the Trials--one was rapidly outwitted and banished by the Grand Elder's cunning--and the second was led on a terrific chase through the wilderness, all to lead him into a trap where the field was finally in the Grand Elder's favor.
By the words of the scant few surviving witnesses--when the Hoplite Formation rose up to hem the fellow in--he laughed, drew a blade of unthinkable might, and cut them down.
For the first time in the Trial's history, since the first invasion of the Outsiders, it was permitted for a Nascent Soul to slay their lessers with impunity. The terrible demigods who ordinarily enforce the rules conveniently remaining silent as virtually all of the Elders who could be spared for the battle were put to the sword. Total disaster was averted only through the sacrifice of Elder Sarantapechos calling down Nascent Soul Tribulation upon the battleground, distracting the attacker long enough for his Token to be struck.
The Elder Council--nigh decapitated. Grand Elder Konstantinos wounded, nigh three quarters of every Core Formation Elder slain or wounded beyond all hope of recovery. If it were not for the assistance of the Flood Dragons in the most critical recovery period, the Clan would be torn apart by the jackals before they could even hope to mend these wounds.
It was darkly ironic in a sense--all of the effort fearing the devastating on the juniors, and it was the elders who suffered the greatest hurts, in a fashion that... Honestly would not have been helped much even if the Clan had bent its resources to aiding them.
Rina still felt that the gamble they took was correct--while the Clan was wounded, they had time to heal. The benefits of the Technique Palace would ensure more aspirants and juniors would rise to become proper Centurions and other assorted Experts--and if it could be mended further? It was an advantage that could very well change the fate of the Clan.
And yet...
"Can I really afford to be taking my time like this?" Rina wondered out loud, staring up into the night sky--always a staggering vista. She was back home at the Callista Estate--fearful that her family had been devastated in the conflict... Mercifully, they had done well enough--even her parents managed to slip out of danger! And there was... Honestly no Callista in Spirit Seed at the moment, not since Lady Aikaterine's death.
But the manor walls themselves were battered in from passing vandals in the crossfire--while the Fifth Sea's thugs were forbidden from turning their malice on mortals--they were capable of destroying property... And if that rendered the mortals vulnerable to the predations of beasts? Well, that was on them for being weak.
Of course, few of them present were a match--and the emergency formations had held long enough to preserve the population until experts could arrive to suppress their incursion. Rebuilding would be some time still.
"If I were to try to break through now, it would be difficult--but I would still be stronger than my peers." She added. "I would have time enough to potentially establish three Pillars, and the Blood of Gold might begin to manifest." She looks at her unadorned wrist, the still glimmering injection point where the Purified Blood of Bronze had been injected during that assault--some of its power lingered even after the immediate power high had faded. "Core Formation by the next trial is unreasonable, but I would have a hope of achieving it by the one after that."
"You're second guessing yourself after That?" Muqin Guo's voice chimed in--Rina jumping in surprise at the interjection--it had been some time since the Cauldron and spoken up. "Your words and heart alone allowed the destruction of someone two great realms above you and your friends! You yourself are virtually unscathed despite impossible odds! I've not seen the like even in the golden age!"
"And yet for all of that, the impact was on our most expendable Cultivators." Rina scowled. "It was an excellent morale effort--and I've no doubt the remaining Elders will portray it as a great victory... And yet..."
"And yet you saved Thirty Thousand Lives"
Rina stopped short.
"I do not enjoy fighting, it's a scary thing." Muqin Guo spoke. "I'm a cauldron, my purpose is to be a vessel to refine the treasures of the world into a new and more wonderful shape. That I am very sturdy and can be manipulated by the will of my wielder are convienence tools and nothing more--have you even looked at the sorts of things that go into your medicines and elixirs?"
"I don't think so..." Rina mused.
"Don't find out, it's enough to shake the spirit of anyone." Muqin Guo shakes. "Needless to say, combat is not what I like to do... And yet if it must be done--to do it for the sake of saving lives? That's not such a bad thing now, is it?"
"No, it isn't... I just wish I could have done more." She sighs, and leans back--far enough that she's more lying on the battered ramparts of the Manor Wall. "I'm not charismatic like Ferenike, I can't just walk into a crowd of Legionnaires and see them swear loyalty. I just... I don't really know how to deal with it?"
"So you're an introvert, nothing wrong with that" Muqin Guo chimed in. "Do you still care for them?"
"Of course I do! But it's all..." She wiggles her hands. "It's abstract, you know? Not personal... Numbers on a grid. I don't... Connect well with people, you know?"
"So what? If your feelings are real, and your actions are real--what's the issue?" The cauldron rattled, the tiny charm-sized version of it patting against the side of her leg. "You're not on the wrong path--and for all that you're speaking of your inability to connect to others--You are still the one who brought them all together"
Rina didn't respond.
"If you didn't invite them to your pavilion that way--they would have still been glorious no doubt--thirteen heroes fighting thirteen great battles, turning the tide wherever they moved. You would have saved many--but there would be no tale of the Indomitable Thirteen, champions who overcame Two Great Realms and turned aside a tremendous host of experts. Your Elders would have died, your juniors would have suffered--and there would have been nothing to bring hope to your Clan afterwards." Rina shifted uncomfortably, and the Cauldron continued. "You brought them into your orbit, you invited them to talk, to speak with one another, to pool your strengths and talents together. And you made a Miracle happen and even made a believer out of this old pot."
Muqin Guo settled back into place. "You should take some pride in that! Do you really think it would honor the sacrifices they made for you to simply content yourself with being ordinary? Walk the rest of your path to wherever it goes--if you fall before then? So what! As long as you did your best."
"... Then there's nothing to feel bad about, right?" Rina wondered out loud. She let the silence fill the air, the sounds of the desert night clashing with the chirping of insects in the fields behind her. "Sixty years to the Thirteenth Heavenstage..." She said after a further moment's though. "Presuming I maintain my average pace... No secret Realms left to enter, but I still have Mother's Rope--so I'm not in immediate risk of danger from my exploits."
She closed her eyes, letting the numbers flash before her eyes. "Time enough to meditate on the matter, to master the rudiments of my Path. At Body, Essence, and Soul Purification, I won't experience any symptoms of aging for another eighty years, time enough to seek out insights and refine my Cultivation. The Lifespan limit though..."
"Oh, you shouldn't need to concern yourself with that" Muqin Guo smugly added. "My previous Master made regular use of me to brew up a special elixir she used to make her fortune off of--a simple life extension agent, but reliable enough to use as long as you use it quickly. If you can secure the materials, I can get Little Flame's help to brew you up a dose or so when you're feeling like time is running short."
"... Which theoretically buys me up to three hundred years of additional lifespan if I can find the materials." Rina added, pushing her timeline forward. "Does it scale?"
"Up through Core Formation, but yes"
"Then I should be on track to enter Foundation Establishment by the time of the next Hundred Year Trials--fortune willing." Rina continued her calculation. "Provided my meditations are correct--and provided there is no great misadventures to be had... It can be done still."
She takes a steady, stabilizing breath, and slowly opens her eyes.
"The current great threat to the Clan lies in our weakened Elders... But even optimistically speaking, I will be in no position to provide relevant aid for sixty years." She concludes. "Rushing my Cultivation now, when I've come so close... It wouldn't sit right with me, I'd have to throw out everything I've worked out so far to settle on."
And that moment of glory...
That moment where the world was right, if only for an instant. Where the hypocritical and the wicked met justice for their deeds, instead of merely embraced by the Celestial Machine's cold calculations.
"I'll make it happen." She finds new resolve in this. "I won't let their work and sacrifices be in vain--not if I can do something to stop it."
Rina Callista Supplemental: The Creation of the World
Once, the cosmos was as dust, forces clashed among one another without beginning or end. A place where all possibility was real, but nothing endured beyond the twinkling of an eye. The rise of Stone changed that--a gathering of some of the hardier, slower motes of chaos--they clung together, and in that unity found strength enough to endure the tides of Chaos for a time. Past ages immemorial, Stone gathered strength and allies to its banner--and while few endured the weight of the deep time for long, the survivors grew ever more hardened, growing a calloused crust even as their numbers grew wide. Perhaps Stone may have grown to encompass the world--but the Chaos is always shifting, and Water emerged from the forever crucible.
Vain beyond measure, Water gazed upon Stone and saw opportunity there--eldest among the shaped, its great mass and size were adequate shelter for the fluid entity. It sought to make a home upon Stone, carving great channels with its flowing might into the external crust of Stone's shell. The ancient force briefly took note of its new tenant, relegated it as yet another danger to endure, and disregarded it. Water was briefly offended by this lack of notice, but took comfort in the shelter it found in Stone's shell, and was content to carve it into a beautiful shape.
The arrival of Flame set everything into flux. An impetuous force, Flame saw the lovely shapes being carved by Water, and hurled itself with wild abandon into Water's form. Water was not amused, and smote Flame across the brow--their powers were inimical to one another. Water's gown was burned in parts, as Flame found itself lessened in the interaction--but the short sighted creature saw this as a mere opportunity, grinned, and moved back in chase, the fluid Water fleeing at the overly affectionate suitor. Stone rolled over in his sleep, its shell twisting and shifting in great cataclysms as the two invading powers began their merry chase.
Such interactions between solid forces in the time of Chaos though have consequences--the mingled essence of Water and Flame gathered together, finding kinship in each other. They grew in size and intellect as ages passed, eventually taking the name Wind for itself. While its parents continued their grand chase, Wind instead turned its attentions to the firmament that these games echoed on.
It placed an ear upon Stone's crust, and listened to its beating heart. It knocked a tune back in turn--and in this, Stone's attention was fully roused.
"Who are you?" Stone questioned, recognizing a fellow mind in the darkness.
"I am Wind, child of Water and Flame" It spoke in turn. "I would bring apology for the disruption to your form by my progenitors, they know not what they do."
Stone shifted in its slumber, noticing the antics of Water and Flame. It grumbled in its ancient way, and the great shell twisted up and bound the two invader spirits.
"Your ways are strange, and your chase loud." It spoke words in the ancient tongue of all great spirits. "You even left a child unattended in this place."
Water and Flame turned their attention to Wind, and were embarrassed by the consequences of their game.
"Nonetheless, while your chase was loud, it was not harmful" Stone allowed. "You may remain upon my body if you wish, but limit your games so as to not rouse me further."
"It is dangerous to remain in small places though!" Water gave protest. "Should we be in one place for long, the great Chaos may devour us! We do not hold your strength great Stone!"
Stone did not have an answer for this--clever Wind though had a plan.
"If the Chaos would seek to undo us, then let us create a great spell to limit its touch upon this place!" Wind suggested.
"But how can this be?" Flame asked. "Chaos can change and warp all substances!"
"Then let us create a shield of no-substance!" Wind suggested, and spoke of a great warding--anchored upon Stone's shell, shaped by Water's guiding hand, and empowered with Flame's purifying touch. Wind itself would serve as the intermediary to maintain the great spell.
By their machinations was born Void--the liminal barrier between the great spirits and the Chaos that had forged them. A stoic spirit, it stood sentinel at the border of the realm, warding off the encroaching Chaos with its immutable power. The four great spirits rejoiced in their freedom from the pressures of Chaos, and found themselves satisfied with binding their power to the working, and laying down their labors to relax.
Many ages passed, and the sacred land of the Five Spirits calcified, a place that could endure the march of eons upon eons. Many incursions by the ancient Chaos were met by tireless Void, their power cast asunder and made to adorn its great mantle. However, while Void was wrought well--energy can only be transformed, not destroyed. Void's mantle grew in resplendence and power, beyond even the great guardian's ability to control.
Then, upon a clash with the outriders of Chaos--it burst, power discharging and striking the surface of the realm below. Water stirred in their sleep as they were struck with the purified force of creation, and Lightning manifest for the first time.
The seas bubbled, the short lived spirit's power suffusing them. Strange reactions occured within. First simple--tiny particles of mass moving and growing on their own. These forces built on one another, iterating over many ages before halting until Lightning was reborn again. They grew larger, more complex, mightier as time went on.
And eventually, the first of these new things left Water's embrace, treading upon Stone's shell for the first time, gazing upon the greater scope of the world with wonder. Life had been born in earnest, manifest by the new beings that wandered the sacred realm of the five spirits.
Lightning continued to strike from time to time, the friction generated by Void's eternal vigil. The individuals of Life gazed upon it, and sought higher meaning in Lightning's manifestations. Creative forces one and all, they grew strong from the power released over time, and learned to reshape the form of the Sacred Realm for their own causes.
Many divided into great camps, seeking further evolution under Lightning's tutelage. Some sought that evolution in giving battle with one another, others sought evolution by rising to Stone's greatest heights and contemplating the interaction of the great spirits. Lightning never did linger for long.
But the contemplation of Life was not without cause--a new spirit slowly rose under the weight of those thoughts. Fate was a calculating force, seeking to make sense of a nonsense world.
But it was young, and its elders were either too distracted with their own responsibilities, or too complacent in their own repose to respond to its inquiries. So it began to explore the world of the Great Spirits, experimenting and exploring with things, and gradually sorting the beings of Life out--guiding the most successful to capitalize on their success, and ensuring the less successful were not too unsightly in their failure. Things were good, orderly, stable--sense was emerging, and though it was perhaps the sense of a child, few could gainsay the force of an awakened Spirit.
In the end though, one piece of Life stood up--weak of body and shallow of mind, it gazed up into the heavens, witnessing the strikes of Lightning and Fate's great machinations and sought to ask why.
Fate heard this, and whispered that it is the nature of the world, to enrich the strong, as is their right.
But Man looked upon Fate, and shook its head. "That is not as things should be. The Strong have enough as it is, why must others suffer so they can have more?"
Fate did not understand this. "Because that is how it has always been."
"Just because something has always been does not make it the best form things can take though, does it not?" Man asked.
Fate's brow furrowed, and it sought a better response to this. But as it turned the situation over--indeed--it could not refute the statement.
But to suggest that its work all this time was in error sat poorly with Fate as well. It struck down Man and shrugged this off, writing it off as an anomaly.
But Man rose again--burned by the blow of the greater spirit--and it was enlightened by the experience. "I will get Fate to understand me" It spoke, and dusted himself off. "All I must do is become strong enough to speak to it as an equal first."
And so began the great clash between Fate and Man.
Ulysses Nemo 2- Burrowing Root Escape Pill
Ulysses finished another day of patching up his fellow legionnaires. He was always grateful for the task, as it gave him more knowledge of various maladies, but today was an especially nice day, je had earned enough Contribution Points to buy a small pill furnace. Renting one would have been much, much cheaper but he doubted that the clan would have approved of what he had planned for this pill furnace. He got the idea after reading a very insightful essay written by a senior. He grabbed the materials he would need, the root from Senior Jin Muyi, which was apparently his real name, much to Ulysses's embarrassment, the eye of a Thunder Frog elder, won on an adventure with several seniors.
He took them, the pill furnace, and a shovel out into the desert with him, having determined that the winds in that section would be almost still for a few days, so he diligently began digging a pit, making it wider near the top so he wouldn't be immediately buried. Eventually he found what he had sought, his shovel bouncing off of sandstone. Carefully chiseling around a small pillar of sandstone he put in the Thunder Toad's Eye first, which had seen heavenly lightning once and felt fear, Ulysses activated the heating function of the pill furnace, causing the eye to begin melting, Before the process could go too far, Ulysses took out two pieces of cloth and rubbed them against one another creating the slightest of imbalances before touching the metal cauldron and releasing the slightest bit of a shock that Ulysses had ever seen, but it was still enough to evoke the desired reaction from the eye, the memory of a heartfelt fear of death.
Next came the root tip, as expected, rather than burning as wood would do it began to char like some of the burns he'd treated on fellow legionnaires , so he had to use a pestle on the charred regions to cause the essence of the plant to leak from the weakened skin. The sludge from the toad's eye grabbed onto this new substance as though for dear life, and the two began mixing vigorously, Ulysses engaged the anti-spill array on the furnace, as otherwise he would lose it all before he was finished. The purpose of this was twofold. Firstly when mixed with the previous ingredient, it would cause a heartfelt fear of death to cause long, vinelike roots to sprout. Secondly, and more importantly, was the human element. This particular root had been sprouting from his Senior for a decade and had tasted the blood of 51 Foundation Establishment Experts after all. This element should make it so that the roots that emerged wouldn't be too harmful to the users body, though obviously Ulysses cannot confirm this until the pill is actually used.
Next came the ingredient Ulysses always carried with him. He took his spear and made a small cut on his palm, allowing several drops of his blood to drip into the medicinal liquid. This was the only way Ulysses could see to make the pill workable. By imbuing it with a part of him, it would speed up the deployment time immensely, as it would keep his own qi from trying to suppress it unconsciously, and should, Ulysses hoped, make it even less risky to take. It would also help further connect the existing medicinal liquid and the final ingredient.
The final ingredient was tricky. He maneuvered the furnace such that the end of the pillar was inside, straining the anti-spill array to a degree that the designer had clearly not intended, but bit by bit, the edges of the pillar were worn away by the medicinal liquid, joining it. The Qi-Draining Sandstone was needed because it exerted a pull on the other ingredients, and it was sandstone which had been undisturbed for quite some time, so the bits that were absorbed into the liquid still remembered where they came from. The fear of death being drawn in a certain direction clarified the purpose of the pill, Escape. This was further reinforced because this sandstone was from nearby clan grounds, and therefore was part of Ulysses's home.
His concoction finally assembled, he allowed the medicinal liquid to dry out and condense, stirring occasionally to keep it from being stuck to the pillar and to help it form into a pill rather than a powder. He had finally finished his masterpiece to date, the Burrowing Root Escape Pill, but when he grabbed the furnace to leave the pit, he found it was stuck fast. The Qi Draining Sandstone which had sat here for an unknown length of time had interacted strangely with the anti spill array of the furnace, and with Ulysses's current abilities, it simply would not come loose. After several days of trying the best he had managed was rotating it so that the pillar was stuck to the outside rather than the inside of the pill furnace. This was certainly inconvenient as the winds had picked up by this point and the bottom of the pit was now waist deep in sand, but at the same time Ulysses was grateful, as this would be an excellent way to gauge how much he improved in the future, if he could remember this spot. Not even the gust of wind which buried him several feet deep in sand could ruin his anticipation.
A.N. yeah, so I know I talked with a collaborator earlier today, but now that I've actually made it I want my omake reward for turn 6 to be the Burrowing Root Escape Pill, a Life Saving Treasure.
Aurelius stared about at the nearly empty courtyard. He had just begun to consider cultivating when the trial hit. His parents had told him about it of course. Warned him of the dangers, the loss of life the terror of it all. But they left the mortals alone, and being mortals his parents and their family hadn't actually lived through it, only hearing stories. But here, now? Looking out at a courtyard that was once full of life, filled with members of his clan going about their days. Now empty, what few cultivators that had survived the Trial had either yet to return from hiding, or were yet to be fully healed. Seeing this, knowing that his clan was just weaker than their enemies, even in the same realm. The knowledge of it burned at him. Shame burned within him, despair gnawed at him, fear curdled his stomach. How could he think to do anything about this? He was still so young, so weak, and his foundation was weaker than those of the other seas. Severing Soul experts were their enemies! Facing such titans simply wasn't possible. Tears of rage at the heavens, at the state of the clan, at himself flowed from his eyes and ran down his cheeks.
He stood there for hours, before he heard a noise, he couldn't tell what it was at first, but it seemed to grow from all around him. A susurration of sound as many people began to speak at once. Quickly the sound came from everywhere in the city around him. He couldn't tell what was going on at first, but soon it became a roar of sound, as if the whole city cried out at once, Indomitable thirteen, unparalleled under heaven! The cheer resounded again and again, and he had no idea what it was about, but it had broken the cycle of negative emotions within him, and he wondered out to find out just what was going on.
Leaving the empty courtyard behind, he walked back towards home, hearing and seeing people jubilant and cheering about these Indomitable Thirteen. He overheard bits and pieces as he traveled, each story different than the last, yet all of them had one thing in common. Something impossible. Qi Condensation beating Core Formation? Could never happen, and yet that one story was on everyone's mouths. It seemed as if everyone else believed it, and yet how could he? If the clan was capable of such as this, then surely they would not be suffering as they were. These trials would be easy, nearly impossible to fail, especially with the formations their clan specialized in. Nothing about this situation made sense to him.
Eventually he managed to make it back home. Inside his parents were chatting animatedly about these thirteen, their door was left open, so he could hear them from outside. The joy and pride in their voices brought a smile to his lips, it was always a pleasure to see his family happy. But curiosity filled him now, he knew his parents would have been sure to get the information from the official channels instead of simply listening to the gossip, and was looking forward to finding out what really happened. It was here that his path to cultivation truly started. Hearing about his fellow clan members, achieving impossible things, two great realms! It was unheard of. Impossible, and yet it was so. At the heart of it all, was Rina Callista and at the heart of Rina was her blood, a version of the Blood of Bronze stronger than any other within the clan, at least for her level, and likely to grow stronger still as her cultivation continued.
In the empty courtyard he found an empty future before him, a barren wasteland with no hope. Yet was he not the child of builders? He knew what to do when given a field with no better use. Build upon it something useful, and he would build a great future for himself and his clan. To do that though, would take time. Time he would never have as a mortal. He would bring the future he saw into reality, a future where every member of the clan had a bloodline as strong as Rina's. Yet to do so he would need to build up the foundation of his life, he would need to cultivate. He could not afford to be weak. He knew that he would grow stronger faster if he simply kept to the orthodox path and grew straight from 9th heavenstage to foundation building, but that would leave his foundation weak. To see his dream completed might take longer than even a nascent soul lived. No he would have to build his foundation solidly from the beginning. He would reach the 13th heavenstage, nothing less was acceptable. Of course, he needed to live long enough to do so. Perhaps searching for something to save his life in an emergency would be worth his time...
Shiro was making his way for Acrocorinth, that was his destination since setting foot out of the great cavern that was his home. Every cultivator was needed and now more than ever since the call for aid was heard he intended to provide his own as well for the Golden ones who've provided shelter and safety for his kinsmen from those who would seek harm upon them.
A little yawn escaped from a tiny form that nestled against him. He didn't want to disturb the little one's slumber, even if the smallest liked to cuddle, him being there at all attracted insects drawn towards the light emitted by his fabulous cap for the young to dine on before they could go out soon on their own.
Gently shiro rose and made his way to the mouth of the cave, an adult bat landing nearby returning from the hunt and only a tad shorter than yourself eyed you and detached the children from yourself, making a plaintive cry before being shushed, making their way towards the roost where a small reflective pool was located.
With a final puff from his cap shiro turned to leave the cave his future spawn would grow from, they would have such a rich source of food upon maturing. Outside with the newly risen sun growing his namesake to anchor his footing shiro made his way to ground level on the winding path through the canyon. After a brief detour for a morning snack from a now wilted cactus the bridge that connected to the other side he would finally be able to join the rebuilding effort.
"Well well well, look's like we have a real treat today! Ya hear that boy's mushroom's on the menu!!" Say's the man in the center wearing a poofy white hat while whooping and cheer's could be heard following that statement.
"But boss I thought we were having mushroom beer?" Asked another voice.
"Ah don't worry about it well have plenty left over, just look at it! We'll be feasting like king's tonight!"
"Kitchen-hand's" you think while tapping on your staff eyeing them, on the surface there was supposedly a peace with the Simmering Soup Sect and Cursed Mushroom Clan but there were alway's rumors from the more rural area's. You actually feel a little flattered they brought so many.
They held a variety of kitchen tool's in their hand's, from knives, cleaver's and ladles to giant chopsticks that look more like spear's. What caught your eye the most were the cauldron's strapped to their back's when one in thee far back dropped their's and suddenly grew thrice it's size filled with freshly waiting soup.
This is both comical and serious. The idea of Chefs wielding oversized cooking equipment as weapon is so Xianxia and yet perfectly possible. Kudos on making it not come across as stupid.
Raising your staff block's a ladle about to hit your magnificent cap and the two weapon's lock against each for a moment, while fighting for dominance another seizes your lapse in focus to throw a half dozen sharpened chopsticks that sink's in your back. Two more close in bearing a pair of knives' and a giant mallet.
That was a mistake. You inhale and suddenly theres a blast of spores' obscuring your immediate area and, more importantly, their faces which start hacking and coughing. Ducking under the swing of the mallet you charge and tackle him to the ground bowling him under before hoisting him up by the leg and then proceeded to bodily throw to the ladle wielding chef.
Despite being blinded the knives wielder manage's to gouge a few grooves on your back before retreating, then yet another chef charges into the spore cloud yelling a cry before with a grunt you pivot, spin your staff and slam it into the groin of the man with a crunch who can no longer be called such any longer.
A chunk of your leg is torn when the chopstick abomination rips threw it and another cleaver takes a sizable bite of your now tattered cap leaving it with what a generous person would call well loved.
He took them, the pill furnace, and a shovel out into the desert with him, having determined that the winds in that section would be almost still for a few days, so he diligently began digging a pit, making it wider near the top so he wouldn't be immediately buried. Eventually he found what he had sought, his shovel bouncing off of sandstone. Carefully chiseling around a small pillar of sandstone he put in the Thunder Toad's Eye first, which had seen heavenly lightning once and felt fear, Ulysses activated the heating function of the pill furnace, causing the eye to begin melting, Before the process could go too far, Ulysses took out two pieces of cloth and rubbed them against one another creating the slightest of imbalances before touching the metal cauldron and releasing the slightest bit of a shock that Ulysses had ever seen, but it was still enough to evoke the desired reaction from the eye, the memory of a heartfelt fear of death.
Next came the root tip, as expected, rather than burning as wood would do it began to char like some of the burns he'd treated on fellow legionnaires , so he had to use a pestle on the charred regions to cause the essence of the plant to leak from the weakened skin. The sludge from the toad's eye grabbed onto this new substance as though for dear life, and the two began mixing vigorously, Ulysses engaged the anti-spill array on the furnace, as otherwise he would lose it all before he was finished. The purpose of this was twofold. Firstly when mixed with the previous ingredient, it would cause a heartfelt fear of death to cause long, vinelike roots to sprout. Secondly, and more importantly, was the human element. This particular root had been sprouting from his Senior for a decade and had tasted the blood of 51 Foundation Establishment Experts after all. This element should make it so that the roots that emerged wouldn't be too harmful to the users body, though obviously Ulysses cannot confirm this until the pill is actually used.
Very Cool! Definitely the most Xianxia Alchemical stuff we had so far! If this is going to be how all his future pills are being described, i can't wait to read more. The details + symbolism of the materials was GREAT
Hoping for Pills that call forth Tribulation Lightning! Also, is there no chance of Ulysses doing the Pills as weapon route? It would be cool for him to like use a shard of a Sword Cultivator's blade and refine it into a pill filled with Sword Intent that he launches at his enemies.
His concoction finally assembled, he allowed the medicinal liquid to dry out and condense, stirring occasionally to keep it from being stuck to the pillar and to help it form into a pill rather than a powder. He had finally finished his masterpiece to date, the Burrowing Root Escape Pill, but when he grabbed the furnace to leave the pit, he found it was stuck fast. The Qi Draining Sandstone which had sat here for an unknown length of time had interacted strangely with the anit spill array of the furnace, and with Ulysses's current abilities, it simply would not come loose. After several days of trying the best he had managed was rotating it so that the pillar was stuck to the outside rather than the inside of the pill furnace. This was certainly inconvenient as the winds had picked up by this point and the bottom of the pit was now waist deep in sand, but at the same time Ulysses was grateful, as this would be an excellent way to gauge how much he improved in the future, if he could remember this spot. Not even the gust of wind which buried him several feet deep in sand could ruin his anticipation.
Aurelius stared about at the nearly empty courtyard. He had just begun to consider cultivating when the trial hit. His parents had told him about it of course. Warned him of the dangers, the loss of life the terror of it all. But they left the mortals alone, and being mortals his parents and their family hadn't actually lived through it, only hearing stories. But here, now? Looking out at a courtyard that was once full of life, filled with members of his clan going about their days. Now empty, what few cultivators that had survived the Trial had either yet to return from hiding, or were yet to be fully healed. Seeing this, knowing that his clan was just weaker than their enemies, even in the same realm. The knowledge of it burned at him. Shame burned within him, despair gnawed at him, fear curdled his stomach. How could he think to do anything about this? He was still so young, so weak, and his foundation was weaker than those of the other seas. Severing Soul experts were their enemies! Facing such titans simply wasn't possible. Tears of rage at the heavens, at the state of the clan, at himself flowed from his eyes and ran down his cheeks.
Getting the POV of someone who is affected in a indirect fashion by the Trials is interesting. Really shows that for all the targeting of Cultivators only, collateral damage is still a thing and just as bad for the mortals.
He stood there for hours, before he heard a noise, he couldn't tell what it was at first, but it seemed to grow from all around him. A susurration of sound as many people began to speak at once. Quickly the sound came from everywhere in the city around him. He couldn't tell what was going on at first, but soon it became a roar of sound, as if the whole city cried out at once, Indomitable thirteen, unparalleled under heaven! The cheer resounded again and again, and he had no idea what it was about, but it had broken the cycle of negative emotions within him, and he wondered out to find out just what was going on.
Leaving the empty courtyard behind, he walked back towards home, hearing and seeing people jubilant and cheering about these Indomitable Thirteen. He overheard bits and pieces as he traveled, each story different than the last, yet all of them had one thing in common. Something impossible. Qi Condensation beating Core Formation? Could never happen, and yet that one story was on everyone's mouths. It seemed as if everyone else believed it, and yet how could he? If the clan was capable of such as this, then surely they would not be suffering as they were. These trials would be easy, nearly impossible to fail, especially with the formations their clan specialized in. Nothing about this situation made sense to him.
Oh i like this! The skeptical way he's behaving is exactly what most people reacted when the news first got out. It also underlines just how impactful the Stand At Pleuron is.
I'm hoping that it will lead to a influx of cultivators in Turn 6 from those who got inspired by the stand.
In the empty courtyard he found an empty future before him, a barren wasteland with no hope. Yet was he not the child of builders? He knew what to do when given a field with no better use. Build upon it something useful, and he would build a great future for himself and his clan. To do that though, would take time. Time he would never have as a mortal. He would bring the future he saw into reality, a future where every member of the clan had a bloodline as strong as Rina's. Yet to do so he would need to build up the foundation of his life, he would need to cultivate. He could not afford to be weak. He knew that he would grow stronger faster if he simply kept to the orthodox path and grew straight from 9th heavenstage to foundation building, but that would leave his foundation weak. To see his dream completed might take longer than even a nascent soul lived. No he would have to build his foundation solidly from the beginning. He would reach the 13th heavenstage, nothing less was acceptable. Of course, he needed to live long enough to do so. Perhaps searching for something to save his life in an emergency would be worth his time...
I am thinking of doing a Omake for a MacGyvering alchemist competition. All the crafters are given the same simple ingredients and asked to make the most useful result they can. Would any other good seed crafters be interested in participating/collaborating?
Hoping for Pills that call forth Tribulation Lightning! Also, is there no chance of Ulysses doing the Pills as weapon route? It would be cool for him to like use a shard of a Sword Cultivator's blade and refine it into a pill filled with Sword Intent that he launches at his enemies.
that's the plan, but I really wanted to make an LST first lol. my first idea for a combat pill was a pill which converts to a large amount of water when eaten, then when the user opens their mouth, it expels it like a waterjet.
I am thinking of doing a Omake for a MacGyvering alchemist competition. All the crafters are give the same simple ingredients and asked to make the most useful result they can. Would any other good seed crafters be interested in participating/collaborating?
