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Hmmph... this junior is a good seed [Cultivation Management Quest]

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    • Good Seed and Omake Spreadsheet Rules:

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    • Also... the Jingshen do still have two Nascent Souls to our one. Also, we've invested a fair bit into this whole "getting along with the righteous sects" thing, and it's just starting to bear fruit. Setting that on fire in order to take a poke at the Jingshen now would be seizing defeat from the jaws of victory.
     
    I don't think that going against the rightius powers is the beast move right now and i probebly wont actually consider it until after the next triels but if the demonic allienc keeps winning and offers enughe I'm not against strangeling the spirit stone supply.
     
    I'm actually wondering if it wasn't something scary/tempting that the Strength Purity Sect had, which forced the Noble Devil alliance to coalesce... But rather, if there was something scary/tempting that the Demonic Altar Sect had which made the Altars and rest of the Blood Path go "Whoa, holy shit, with this we can win! Let's try it!"

    ... Although if I had to approach it as a "What did SPS had that spooked the DAS?" scenario, I'd probably go for: "They had something they thought could allow them to break the big scary Demonic Altar itself, which would have ended the Demonic Altar Sect and thus torn the heart out of the Demonic Sects in the Plains region or at least credibly split the Demonic Sect territory in half due to the center Sect collapsing; but their push failed, and the Demonic Sects rallied and pushed them back." Alternatively, the Demonic Altar Sect baited them into thinking that they had glimpsed an Achilles Heel in the Demonic Altar?

    EDIT:

    ... Oh man, imagine if Old Cannibal manages to wrangle the Abyssal Devil Bees and then direct them towards the Battle in the Plains.

    Under the dual reasons/motivations of: "There's a great big alliance of Demonic Path Nascent Souls fighting it out in the Plains right now; what if I could get some of that, and get them to help me with revenge later, too?" + "There is tons of wealth in the Plains. And now, I'm close enough to loot it."

    We may have to engage in the Plains just to make sure that Old Cannibal does not profit economically or politically (Nascent Soul allies or Huge Favors Owed to him) and circle around to crush us in revenge 200 years from now.
     
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    The problem with attacking Jingshen isn't that we can't beat them in a straight fight or that the RP would send vast armies to their defense.

    Its that they don't need to.

    All the RP needs to do is shake one or two extra Nascent Souls loose from one of the Sects that aren't on the frontlines of the war, and suddenly Manuel is in an unwinable situation and forced into an embarrassing retreat at best. I am pretty sure the Saber Palace would spare a few for the effort.

    So yeah, even as a fully paid up member of the 'Screw Jingshen, become Desert Hegemon' lobby, I can't see us launching a full scale invasion any time soon.

    What the Demon War might allow us to do is pressure and screw with Jingshen in all manner of small and subtle ways that would be beneath SPS's notice. Subvert their vassals, undermine their good seeds progression, sabotage their economy etc. Basically make their lives as unpleasant and expensive as possible.

    I would like to see a plan in turn 10 or 11 that makes space for a Intrigue Vs Jingshen Action, to see if we can't shake loose a few opportunities like this.
     
    Katana1515 said:
    The problem with attacking Jingshen isn't that we can't beat them in a straight fight or that the RP would send vast armies to their defense.
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    The thing is if the demonic allince offers to lend us a necsent soul or two and offers to distract the the rightiuos powers by ramping up offensive in return for strangeling the spirit stone supply it might be worth it
     
    uri said:
    The thing is if the demonic allince offers to lend us a necsent soul or two and offers to distract the the rightiuos powers by ramping up offensive in return for strangeling the spirit stone supply it might be worth it
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    Working with the demonic cultivators is a dangerous game though, because they will backstab us at the earliest opportunity, and they'd happily go ahead an slaughter us all to make themselves stronger. It just seems like the kind of thing that wouldn't work out well for us long term.
     
    You know, if the demon sects send 1 or 2 NS to help us on the down low, we can cut trade saying they are wiping out caravans and we can send them stones, or they can raid the Jingshen for us, they keep the mortals, we keep the loot, we offer a hidden safe base
     
    uri said:
    The thing is if the demonic allince offers to lend us a necsent soul or two and offers to distract the the rightiuos powers by ramping up offensive in return for strangeling the spirit stone supply it might be worth it
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    I think your getting distracted by the fact we have the same colour on the map! We publically despise Blood Path. We just fought three major wars against Blood Path artists in the last century, in the last one destroying one of the most powerful Blood Path sects. The Altar sect knows that.

    Moreover tipping the war in the Blood Paths favour is a losing proposition to us in the medium to long term. I don't know if you noticed, but they don't make the best neighbours, and they are already perilously close to pushing SCP back past the mountain passes. We could quickly find ourselves in a situation where ravening hordes of blood starved monsters come down the Scorpion Road rather than merchants.
     
    Goddamn. I can't help but feel like we're missing out, fucking around in the desert like this. Some really obscene battles are happening up North.

    Edit: Also, if Digging In Heels wins, we should really have Manuel do some lecturing on turn 10 as well, to synergize with other anti-Trials measures and come out of it completely intact. If we do that, we'll be able to send guys to help in the Great Battlefield right away, and that'll win even more brownie points with SPS.
     
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    no. said:
    Goddamn. I can't help but feel like we're missing out, fucking around in the desert like this. Some really obscene battles are happening up North.

    Edit: Also, if Digging In Heels wins, we should really have Manuel do some lecturing on turn 10 as well, to synergize with other anti-Trials measures and come out of it completely intact. If we do that, we'll be able to send guys to help in the Great Battlefield right away, and that'll win even more brownie points with SPS.
    Click to expand...
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    No option let us start in the Great Battlefield.
     
    Katana1515 said:
    I think your getting distracted by the fact we have the same colour on the map! We publically despise Blood Path. We just fought three major wars against Blood Path artists in the last century, in the last one destroying one of the most powerful Blood Path sects. The Altar sect knows that.
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    Most of the demonic powers in the allienc are not actually blood path.
     
    uri said:
    Most of the demonic powers in the allienc are not actually blood path.
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    No, though they are all considerably more Demonic than we are. Remember our Demonic status is mostly political and a sign of Heavens disfavour. Noble Knowledge kill mortals in the millions with chemical WMDs.

    The question of how DAS has managed to pull them in is very interesting. I suspect this Noble Devil Alliance isn't going to last for too long. A century tops.

    Furthermore that doesn't change that the Optimatoi specifically are known hostile's of Blood Path and that we really don't want DAS to seize the other end of the Scorpion road.
     
    TehChron said:
    ...holy shit what?

    With what and how
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    Anything, really. Deniable assets, heightening tariffs, monkeying around with sabotage, sending in seeds for 'friendly' duels. Stuff they'd object to, but don't have the strength to do anything about. Not necessarily right now, as we've got the harrowing in two turns, but if we could set up bases that we could use against Jingshen, or send in sleeper agents that can be activated in half a century, that would be good.
     
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    Diomedes cestus 8 - A step taken
  • Sidestory
    • Diomedes cestus 8:A step taken

    ----------------------------------------------------------------
    The caravan was under siege.
    The caravan master looks were grim as he poured over reports, and scrolls received from the guards.

    The last few days the caravan came repeatedly under attacks from a group of cannibals.
    each attack costing dozens of cultivators lives.

    Diomedes thought of his own foe, a cannibal who crushed him no less than three times
    with deadly soul attacks, they were attacked from a distance, being pushed back barely each time
    by the threat of the more experienced cultivators in the caravan.

    This time Diomedes decided he and several others using a treasure
    one of them possessed would ambush the demonic tuneist cannibal
    and slay her with the combined weight of numbers.

    They were three of them at the tenth stage and seven at the ninth
    with Diomedes being the strongest at the peak of the eleventh

    Surely with their combined strength vengeance shall be theirs.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------

    The world was burning.
    "well the caravan was burning at the very least," Diomedes thought to himself since his blurry vision could not see more than a few meters ahead.
    he blinked the blood out from his eyes and saw a severed head lying near him.

    "well Augustus is dead," thought Diomedes to himself "never liked him anyway, he always cheated in cards the bastard".
    Diomedes was on his knees, his body unresponsive to his attempts to stand up, his soul cracking and chipping under the strain.

    In the distance, he could see The caravan foundation establishment experts clashing against several cannibals at the same time with grim faces.
    Turning his face to the more immediate problem he could see the reason for his predicament

    Standing at four feet tall with a hair literally on flames stood his foe the burning lily.
    An early foundation establishment cannibal that has mastered myriad deadly soul arts
    And used them against Diomedes repeatedly with immense effectiveness.

    Also from what he could see she was in the middle of eating one of his friends.
    The bitch.

    The sun's light was hidden behind the darkened clouds on his mind.
    Diomedes tried to grab for his blade only to wince as the cackling of the lily sent immense
    pain through his soul.

    "There goes my sword," thought Diomedes as his hands stopped working from the lily tunes
    his blade falling and clanging against the ground.

    The sound of metal striking the earth ringed throughout the camp and Diomedes winced as at that the head
    of the cannibal swiveled towards him, A toothy bloody smile growing on the bitch face.

    As she began to approach him Diomedes vision began the swim again with the pain on his soul growing exponentially,
    with each step she took.

    rays of light began to pierce through the clouds moving toward his soul.
    Now if only his ears would fail too Diomedes thought to himself then he wouldn't have to hear the bitch cackles
    and spoke about how he is a weakling and how the caravan is doomed.

    Honestly, it was barely intimidating the first time, at this point, it was getting rather tiresome, he would welcome death if it meant that he
    would finally get some peace and quiet.
    now if only she would SHUT UP.

    And the sun shone upon him once more.
    A dull thud sound reached Diomedes ears, and as he felt the soul wracking pain disappear he could see
    a dagger spurting out of the now blessedly silent burning lily, a shocked look on her bloodied face.

    A dagger that has been thrown from his formerly disabled hand.

    As Diomedes staggered to his feet grabbing a fallen sword in the movement, Diomedes saw the burning lily face change
    rapidly passing through a mix of fear and shock before settling on rage.


    As she began to rant and scream again Diomedes noted the various survivors and wounded
    strewn behind him, and his own apparent newfound resistance and did what came naturally.

    He raised his blade and charged the lily.

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Diomedes was sitting near the medical tent clutching a piece of jade in his hands.
    During the battle he had ascended towards the twelve-stage, allowing him to stand against the attacks of the burning lily.

    As her main method of attack have been rendered useless he had managed to trick her
    chasing her away from the camp even when he only had dregs remaining in his reserves.

    The feeling in his chest was probably pride, he mused to himself fighting across realms and achieving a victory is
    a feat wordy of song, or so that one overexcited scribe told him a few hours back.

    For so long he spent chasing legends, even though he was of the same generation he was always several steps behind them.
    finally, he felt like that he has taken a step forward and shortened the distance between him and the like of the thirteen.
    Though it could also be the drugs that the medic put him on.


    Pocketing the jade given to him by the caravan master Diomedes shook off his thoughts before standing up.
    lazing about would not help anyone he decided, he should probably find something to do.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Here is the omake for turn 9
    for a reward, I will be picking another tribulation treasure for the stack.
    @Alectai, @TehChron is it possible to threadmark this one?
     
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  • Sidestory
    • Xiao Yingzi 8 - [Turn 6] [Dear Diary]
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    • First omake for her of this turn. I might change the bonus later but for now let's go with a life-saving treasure.

    Xiao Yingzi 7
    [Turn 6]
    [Dear Diary]​

    Dear diary,

    I wonder whether it would be advisable to label you with the moniker of 'diary'. The purpose of this document is to catalogue my daily life as regularly as possible. I suppose while a journal may fit the technical description of the document, it fails to meet the true purpose of it. The primary focus of this will be not only on the events that I am a part of but on the emotional responses that I may have to them.

    In that sense, a diary would seem to be appropriate. Would the cultural connotations associated with a 'diary' be things I want associated with this document? Perhaps I should say 'you' rather than 'this document'. The latter is impersonal and implies that you are a simple mindless object. That is true for you now, but you may see use for hundreds if not thousands of years. It is possible that you would develop a spirit of your own, which means I must do things properly.

    Names and descriptions are important. I am named Xiao Yingzi which means 'Little Shadow'. It was just a moniker placed upon me because I was a quiet child but I consider it no coincidence that I attracted the attention of a shadow spirit and developed similar abilities of my own. I must think up a name for you - a proper one but until then I believe a simple 'you' should suffice.

    Now, a physical description should be appropriate. You are a book bound in bronze in the same fashion as my own blood. The Taurus Clan have perfected many methods of using bronze and I believe the association with the clan's bloodline will hopefully tilt you towards its general views and beliefs. While your pages have edges dipped in bronze, they are primarily made using a sapling of a wisdom tree grown in an isolated environment.

    I am given to understand that wisdom trees naturally grow by taking in information from their surroundings. A young tree could stay unchanged for a thousand years in the same environment but one exposed to new acts and ideas could grow to a towering size in a single year. Such trees grown in the right places can apparently have many alchemical applications.

    For you, the exposure of knowledge was limited so that you may retain the pure nature of endlessly imbibing knowledge when you were transformed into a book. This should in theory allow you to be used continuously regardless of the amount of paper at least so long as the book physically lasts. It is hard to say how that will function as the method is supposedly different for each book.

    I look forward to seeing how you grow. It would be an interesting experiment and should you develop into a full spirit, you would also be a boon to my cultivation as a spirit designed to have a more intellectual relationship to my emotional responses. You should pair well with the more instinctual responses of my shadow and should heaven overlook my fortune, even be able to aid me in countering it.

    However, more things in the vein can be considered in more depth at another time. Today, it is enough to speak to you of your origins and to give you a degree of clarification for your purpose. Of course, that is not to say that it will be your only purpose or that you would not be allowed to shift to something else if it would better suit your capabilities, but it is a fair estimate of my predictions of your future.

    Oh, I should also perhaps tell you why you came to be. It was a suggestion by Senior Corvina after one of our man training sessions. Recent developments go to show that at least to some extent, my shadow has been influenced by the emotions I feed into it. Specifically the emotions it absorbs from me. As such it is imperative that I keep a record of events and any plausible emotional responses I might have to them so that I may best understand how it may act.

    This could grant me an advantage in our fights against my shadow during breakthroughs as well as find patterns in its habits to better understand its nature. So far I have been able to arrange the battleground to my choosing but I cannot be sure that this will always remain the case in the future. Even if I am overlooked by heaven, that is no guarantee this will remain the case.

    In fact, I may have already caught it's attention. I have recently hit my first bottleneck - the Acu-point Awareness stage reached after the third heavenstage. It is not considered a true bottleneck to the talented but I still find my progress slowed. I believe this is because most talented cultivators often have an inherent sense of the way qi flows through their body. This is something I have turned out to be deficient in.

    The issue seems to lie with my shadow, as it always does. I am certainly aware of the qi flowing through my body but my connection with my shadow makes it hard to grasp even for me and the smooth flow encouraged by expelling my emotions allow it to flow naturally through my body without me needing to be consciously aware of it. The issue lies in that I need to be consciously aware of it in order to get past my block.

    There is a large amount of information available on this topic to the point where it seems like every cultivator has their own minor tweaks and opinions on it. I have discovered no less than seventeen accurate anatomical diagrams for acu-points of my body type alone, that still have enough distinction that they are stored separately.

    The orthodox methodology when facing the particular block I am facing is to slowly channel qi through my body while referring to the models until I gain a habitual grasp of which acupoint lies where. Unfortunately, the time taken for this can supposedly vary greatly from anywhere to an hour to a hundred years. I have failed to succeed in a matter of hours and have thus begun to look into faster methods of achieving my goals.

    That however was easier said than done. In the slow but reliable orthodox paths, the many differences only helped better identify the truth hidden in them. Once I began to stray from them, it seemed like every document I reviewed outlined a different possibility. Powerful pills, mythical beasts, ancient ruins and even titillating rituals under the moonlight. It was hard to tell what was the truth and what was merely an excuse to write an erotica. There are so many outlandish and conflicting stories that it is impossible to find something accurate.

    It was far too much to sort through in the short time I had before I left for the Qiguai Secret Realm. Finally, I tried to consult my seniors in the hopes that they might help me chart a path forward. They were all prodigies in their own right, after all. At least one of them must have faced the same issue or known someone who did.

    In hindsight, it was a terrible idea.

    Senior Corvina never had any trouble at all, her gift of sight giving her an intuitive grasp of her qi. While she did offer advice, It was a technical understanding that I had already gotten out of the textbook. Senior Yahwen was worse. As far as I could tell, she wasn't even aware the acupoint awareness bottleneck even existed.

    Senior Antonius was a more measured experience in comparison to the others. He had no troubles as I had expected but he had still been instructed on it and offered to help where he could. Of course, then he happened to mention that his instructor had been a Nascent Soul who had intimate knowledge of his unique bloodline. I took his instructions gladly but somehow, I found him the most vexing out of all three.

    It still wasn't enough for me to break through my block but I will continue cultivating on the journey and continue updating you as I progress. I hope that I am able to gain the insight needed to step into the fourth heavenstage before we arrive. It was strange writing down my thoughts like this and I'm not certain how effective it will be, but I look forward to working with you in order to find out.

    Regards,
    Xiao Yingzi
     
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