>>6192166 (OP)
???, Year ?????

Your consciousness is foggy, but it “is” so this should already be good enough.

“First things first”, You think to yourself
Determining if you have a physical body yet, and if so how it is.
….
….
“Only Qi Gathering? Aiya…”

Cultivation, the absorption of energy, and knowledge to sustain and elevate one’s existence.
It has always been part of “Your World”, or at least long enough to have had a clearly set and mostly unchanged categorization for ages.

Qi gathering, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Golden Core, Soul Dividing, Soul Nurturing, Soul Fusion, Immortality.

Your current “Body” and “Soul” seem to be at the very first level, and your abilities are severely limited even by the standards of a human in the Qi Gathering stage, either something went wrong with the body, the Gatekeeper did something you were not aware of, or the world has it against you this time around.

The good thing is that your consciousness is still the same, your knowledge is all accessible, this should prove useful… you hope.

You wake up and decide to face
>East
>West
>South
>North

Your name is
>Bai Hua
>Jusuf Soren
>Kahash
>Write in

You’ll run a more thorough check on your “Body” and “Soul”,
>roll a 2d20 for body and soul in that order.

You can ask yourself a question to refresh your knowledge about something (optional)
>write in

>>6192168
>South
>Bai Hua

Rolled 1, 3 = 4 (2d20)

>>6192168
>>6192182
>Questions
-Do we still have our penis
-Does the body have any peculiar constitutions, both good and bad?

>>6192184
Wow I rolled dogshit.

Rolled 19, 20 = 39 (2d20)

>>6192168
>South
>Bai Hua

>>6192168
>South
>Bai Hua (this means white flower. I think)

Based, another cultivation quest alongside heretic and normal. Love to see it!

Rolled 2, 7 = 9 (2d20)

>>6192189
Oh forgot the roll and write in my excitement

>do we recall our lowest and highest points in our life?

>>6192184
>>6192187
>>6192190
Wonderful rolls, locking in.

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>>6192194
>South
You face south, the sun is barely rising to your left, you’re in a slightly tall mountain from the looks of it, not tall enough to see the curve of the world, but just enough to have a wide view of the landscape, you see what appears to be a temple in the vicinity, and very few houses in the plains.

The weather is dry, and although it is a little cold, it is only to the extent of giving you goosebumps. You walk towards a flat rock that’s just started getting some sunlight and use it as a makeshift mat, your butt is warm enough to do a little self inspection.

You close your eyes and circulate a minuscule amount of energy through your body, it will take a little time to check every nook and cranny, so you ask yourself a few questions to confirm you’re still you.

>What was my lowest and highest point in life?
The lowest definitely has to be when that little vixen from Jianan’s All Embracing Love Palace bluffed you into a rigged bet and you became a Yang Furnace for the all women sect for 4 years. This caused you to miss out on the appearance of a hidden realm you had been preparing an entire decade for, and earned you the contempt and ridicule of your peers for the next 130 years… They weren’t even that pretty either.


Body inspection complete!
>19
Barring the loss of your cultivation, your body is almost exactly the same as it was in your previous life, with two exceptions.

One, your penis is still there and it looks to be even bigger than it used to be.
Two, your meridians, blood vessels, flesh and bones are perfectly suited towards the practice of the Extreme Yin/Extreme Yang/Golden Buddha paths

The highest… If you had to choose one then it’s probably when you fought against four immortals while in the Soul Fusion stage with a broken spear, that brought all types of people looking to do battle with you for about 90 years, never had a dull day back then.

Soul inspection complete!
>20
Your soul is way better this time around, you’re very unlikely to run into bottlenecks and Qi Deviation
Your compatibility with ancient Mystic Arts like the Spectral Master/Mistweaver/Star Emperor paths is a given.


What you initially thought had been something wrong turned out to just be a sense of discomfort at how fortunate you were.

With the inspections done, you get off the rock and begin to walk towards the temple-like structure, it will take a few minutes to get there so you continue to ask yourself questions to refresh your knowledge

>Write In

>>6192212
>Who are we, what is our past and what region are we in? Including the major powers in the region.

>>6192236
I mean who are we in the sense of who's body is this, not the reincarnated character himself.

>>6192212
>What was my notable skill, my previous art name, and pertinent reputation.
>What did I see beyond the gate.

Locking

The temple is empty, you can tell it has been a few years since anyone last passed by thanks to the amount of dust in the offering table.

You can see the mummified corpse of a buddhist monk sitting in the altar, and give it a light bow. You don’t agree with those who choose self annihilation to break the cycle of rebirth and suffering, but still respect their determination, not everyone is willing to give their life up for such an ideal, not you for sure.

With the due respects out of the way, you proceed to check the temple for something to put over your naked body.

Only some beige pants (likely white if you had water to wash out a decade’s worth of sand) and a deep red sash to be worn over one’s shoulder, yeah that’s the usual uniform you suppose.

You wanted to check the houses for food before starting your cultivation over, but your body and being THIS good takes precedence, you’re better off completely establishing your Qi Gathering and deciding on a style to follow as soon as possible

"Is this 'my' body or did I take over some poor son of a damn's fleshy bag?"
You ask yourself this while clearing a little space in the back of the temple and getting ready to cultivate.

"Well... There's no traces of a previous soul or consciousness... did I just "appear" here as I am, or did a body 'grow' out of thin air?"

"Who am I?".... I'm Bai Hua, abandoned bastard son of a small fry in the White Tiger clan, Bai Jin. I was cast aside when his legitimate daughter was born.

I left the White Tiger clan at a young age and became a rogue cultivator, was fortunate to be saved from dying like a dog by my master and younger (but still senior) brother. My master was the Crimson Tulip Sword, a Soul Dividing swordswoman who raised me and senior for a couple decades... We fell apart after master died because senior messed with a young master from The Seventeen Swords of Qin Mountain, I was just a weakling in the Core Formation stage back then. Brother rose through the cultivation stages like a soaring dragon and then disappeared, never heard from him again.

Time passed by and the world went to war, my only notable skill was that I refused to die, and that I knew my limits very well. I fought and lost, and lost, and lost again, I kept fighting and losing, running away, negotiating, prostrating myself, exchanging favors, all to keep living. I learned to use all sorts of weapons and mystic arts, and carved my own path and a spot at the summit.

The centuries piled up, as did the corpses, Qin Mountain became Qin Valley when I was done with the trash that killed my master, the fall of the Divine Huang Emperor, the unification of the Demonic Tribes, wherever there was war and conflict I would be there.

'The Crimson War God', 'The Annihilator’, ‘Dragon Devourer’ were some of the coolest names they gave me… well there is also ‘The Jianan Playboy’ too, I’ll never forgive myself for that one.

///
Hoping I didn't fuck the formatting here

You’re not sure where you are just yet, the energy flow is different from what you remember, so you might need to find a map or someone you can talk to.

On cultivation
Each stage up to Immortal has 3 stages based on the total required to breakthrough divided by 3
The first third is the early stage, second middle, last third.
Cultivation is done with a 1d20, this will be supplemented by any passive bonuses the character has and can be further added into by materials, special locations and certain events.


On Paths

“Normal” Paths:
>Sword
>Polearm
>Ranged weapons
>Mystical Arts
>Unarmed

Mystical Arts (Magics), Red are Yang polarity while Blue are Yin polarity.
Fire, Lightning, Light
Water, Earth, Dark

A cultivator can choose any two normal paths, one as their “main” and one as a “sub”
A cultivator can also choose two different “Mystical Arts” paths, same rules.

Special Paths:
Special paths are unlocked upon meeting certain conditions, be it an innate constitution, gaining access to certain knowledge, or having an epiphany during cultivation.

These paths have stronger techniques, but also limit the cultivator in certain aspects, special paths are single choice, no subs allowed.

Extreme Yin/Extreme Yang
The practitioner will excel in the use of a single Polarity of Mystical arts, but cannot use arts of the opposite polarity arts.
On the other hand, treasures and weapons of the opposite polarity will have a higher resonance, and those of the same polarity will be less effective.


Golden Buddha
The practitioner will excel in defensive, support oriented, and a few offense oriented light mystical arts.
Their physical body will be more resistant than that of an individual in the same stage, but their offensive capabilities will be very poor. Swords and Ranged weapons are forbidden, Polearms can only be used if they do not have a blade.


Spectral Master
The practitioner will be able to use their soul as a “weapon” directly affecting their targets’ mental resilience and soul, the creation of short lived “spectres” is possible for aid in combat.
Locks the practitioner to the use of a sword is less effective against opponents with a strong will and soul.


Mistweaver
The practitioner will be able to control the otherworldly mist as a substance, its properties can be changed at will, and the creation of “mist” constructs is possible. Constructs and techniques are not aligned with Yin or Yang techniques.
Locks the practitioner to the “Unarmed” weapon, The World will hate your existence and will make sure you know it.


Star Emperor
The practitioner is able to directly harness the energy from the sea of stars and use it to cultivate, this stellar energy can be infused on objects and people for all kinds of results. Techniques are not aligned with Yin or Yang techniques
Locks the practitioner to the “Unarmed” weapon, The World will hate your existence and will make sure you know it.

>>6192287
>What did I see beyond the gate.
A plane of infinite energy, unbound by the “rules” of this world, a higher state of being if you had to put it in simple terms.

>Choose 2 normal paths, 1 Normal path and leave the sub slot open, or 1 special path
>Roll 1d20 for 1 path, 2d20 for two paths.
>If you’re unsure, you can always ask yourself a few questions before choosing.

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>6192293
>>6192289
Oh, well, there’s my answer. Whoops. >>6192289
>Unarmed

I knew I forgot something, thank you for pointing it out.
If you pick a Normal Path and Mystic arts you can only pick 1 Mystic art, as each element counts as its own "Path"

>>6192287
Okay so if we picked Extreme Yang Lightning, we'll be incredibly powerful at channeling lightning through our body but Yang Based Weapons will not like us? But also Yin Based Weapons and Treasure like pills will be more powerful in our hands so for example we'll gain more power from a Thousand Year Snow Flower Herb compared to a Thousand Year Sun Ginseng if we picked YANG?

>>6192319
Ohh and if we picked Yang then things like Ice Iron and Nether Claw Daggers will be more powerful in our hands if they're Yin Based?

So basically if we pick Extreme Yang we'll max out our internal power for a single Yang Element while being incredibly at using Yin Weapons, Yin Treasures and Yin Pills?

>>6192289
Tentatively my choice is
>Extreme Yang: Lightning
Since we have the constitution to use this technique well. I want to use a lot of Yin Based equipment and rituals because they're cool though and I'm not sure I'm understanding Extreme Yang and Extreme Yin too well.

>>6192324
You got it right, you'd be doing/consuming/practicing Yin to nurture Yang.

Special paths are very strong in exchange for changing how you cultivate.

Extremes, will let you be a little cheating shit and eventually use all the elements in their respective polarity if you so wish to.

Buddha and Spectral are respectively Light and Dark only, while Mistweaver and Star Emperor are cultivation paths that do not "belong" to this plane, they are only available from the start thanks to Hua's experience beyond the Gate and that nasty nat 20 from the other anon.

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>6192289
>Extreme Yin

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Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>6192326 #
>>6192289 #
Ugghh this is a hard choice, either Extreme Yin or Extreme Yang seem powerful but personally I wanna do a Black Silence Build where we use all weapons.

Alright I change my vote to
>Extreme Yin

Locking in 20 min, this daoist has a mighty need for roasted bean water.

As for the deleted, now resposted vote, you could achieve something similar with Mistweaver, assuming that you change your mind and convince the other players, that is.

>>6192335
Nah the point of Black Silence is having amazing technique AND an entire armory of powerful and unique weapons. Summoning weapons out of nowhere is cheating, we can always just learn Yin Based body enhancements and martial arts then get attributeless or Lightning Weapons.

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>6192289
>Extreme Yin

>>6192338
Or Smoke Attribute Weapons. We can still use Yin Weapons and Treasures, it's just less effective so we could totally have an entire armory of both Polarity. It's just Extreme Yin might mean we get to grab Ice Muscles and Jade Bones Early or some other powerful body buff earlier.

Locking Extreme Yin, writing.

>>6192338
You have a point there, I was just associating smoke with mist, you might like some of the later stuff in this cultivation world considering you're posting PM stuff.

Once you’re done confirming your identity is still yours and not a stranger’s, sweep the room with an old broom and dust an old cushion to sit on.

”What to choose, what to choose. I can’t believe I have so many choices this time around, past me would cry tears of blood and curse me for eternity hahaha!”

You’re like a kid at a toy shop, and like any kid, you beeline for the biggest, coolest, baddest toys in the center.

You immediately think about the alien mist and the experts you fought beyond the gate, shaped into all variety of weapons and structures, the seemingly endless soldiers and monsters, and how they would communicate with each other, and you using it.

The problem is bringing the mist in without the world noticing, it would take too long and you’re currently too weak to consider a “wait and see” approach.

Same applies to the stellar energy, the starting location isn’t the best, pulling stellar energy will be very hard, and you’re not even sure if any artifact below soul separation could stand being infused with it, you can definitely tell someone would explode if you poked the right spots with a pinch of it though.

The path of the Golden Buddha will guarantee your body reaches the Immortal stage by virtue of being absurdly hard to kill, but the defensive and support focus assumes that you
1.Won’t fight that much
2.Find someone to capitalize from your support, sure “supporting” yourself is possible, but it’s just Light Path cultivation with extra steps.


Spectral Master would be a solid choice… If you didn’t already know just how strong souls and wills get in the later stages of cultivation.

This leaves the Extreme Polarities, “simple” enough, a wide variety of choices, you won’t have the realm hot on your ass for a while, and you can always reference your dumbass senior (but younger) brother’s progress at least up to Soul Dividing.

Since you’re brothers, you’ll simply be the Yin to his Yang, if he’s still alive that is.

Your body slowly cools down, and unwanted memories resurface, you’re back to the days in the streets of Zhen when you had just been scammed out of all your spirit stones and the Demons invaded all the way to the capital.

The air was damp and reeked of carrion and mold, you clearly recall the feeling of your clothes, soaked in rainwater and the blood of others as you hid in a pile of corpses, then a single hand reached out to you, and you… grasped it back then, but it is no longer with you as you open your eyes.

You’ve chosen to walk the path of Extreme Yin in this life, your energy will overshadow that of Yin aligned treasures and materials, turning them near useless in your hands; If there is to be Yin, it has to be YOUR Yin. Your body and soul will grow colder than other people’s, and your constitution will make you prone to seeking the warmth and light of Yang.

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Rolled 2 (1d12)

>>6192381
When you're back in the temple, you notice you’ve gathered a substantial amount of Qi in a single session, enough to push you all the way to the middle stage of Qi Gathering, not bad for using a dark room with no ventilation and full of death energy.

You scavenge the room a little more and find an old and dusty map, looks like the zone you’re in right now is the border between Owayabo and Xingtian, you only recognize Jianan, Zhen and Datong.

Looks like Shun and Zhong ate into it, and Zhong is all territory that used to belong to the Huang empire, this probably started happening after you helped kill the emperor.

The continent looks similar but a few things have changed, for one, the mountain range separating this Owayabo from the rest didn’t exist at all; Then there’s Datong which used to be an island. Either an absurd amount of time has passed, or some good stuff happened while you were gone.


On Events: At the start of each year, Decade, and Century an event will be determined for each, these events will affect the player and offer benefits or challenges, this post will roll for the century's event.

You choose to go towards
>Owayabo
>Xingtian

>>6192381
Neato Burrito.

>>6192385
>>Xingtian

>>6192385
>Xingtian
Going Owayabo means we can cultivate relatively isolated in the borders. But I wanna go nearer to the center where information, treasures and people are likelier to be gathering.

Rolled 6, 1, 5 = 12 (3d10)

Doing 1 roll for the decade's event, one for when it will occur and a third to determine when the century's will take place.
Locking at :27

>those rolls
Heh heh heh, that's pretty fucked up. Locking Xingtian, writing.

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Century’s Event (2, 5):
Golden Realm Appearance: Pocket realm full of treasures, all rolls will heavily favor high table results.
Happening in Year 50 (49 years to go)

Decade’s Event (6,1):
Alien Mist: Unknown mist threatens to consume everything, Qi accumulation and recovery rates are reduced (-3 to cultivation and rest rolls), Mistweavers are able to cultivate without restrictions (+3 to Mistweaver cultivation and rest rolls)
Happening in year 1 (RIGHT NOW!)

Seeing how you barely recognize anything, it would be best to drop by a central location where information flows through, you can probably make your way to the capital of Xingtian, Jianyang and see what’s up. South Zhong would be optimal but your Qi Gathering body would take too long to get there for what it's worth.

You fold the map very carefully and put it in a tiny bag of cloth that was sitting on top of the same table, to the side there was an empty gourd that you’ll be able to use for water (or liquor, the better water), which you tied to your pants. With your “starter” equipment ready, it is time to walk down the mountain.

The plan is to follow the river to Heipinghua, get some spirit stones for real clothes and some lowly mortal food, maybe a weapon and survey the terrain. If it looks easy go straight south to Jianyang, if not just go to Xuzhou and then Jianyang.

With your plan laid out, the rest is just moving. You start to walk down the mountain and face the south west, the river is sparkling a little with the sun’s light so it is easy to follow.

Not even two incense sticks into your first travel in who knows how long, a very familiar sensation assails your body. The warmth of the sun you had felt when leaving the building is obstructed… and not in a normal way. You have a faint feeling of what it is, and try to pretend it is not there until you’re a couple hours on your walk. The river bank is visible, but the river itself can’t be seen.

It’s that mist, the one you fought against outside this world. How it made it all the way to the surface is beyond you, but you understand that it will attempt to absorb this world into itself. It will sap people's energy and the energy around them, which is a pain because you’ll have to clear it out in order to cultivate in peace.

It doesn’t seem to be doing that to you, perhaps because you fought against and even had the chance to control it a little during your travels beyond the gate, it feels as if it were caressing you, but half a wrong does not make a right.

“Really? You couldn’t have happened an hour ago?”

>>6192420
Introducing Causality Denial: Bai Hua exclusive, you start the game with 1 point, then get another upon breaking through to Golden Core, and a third at Immortal.

These points can be used to:
>Bring another character back from the dead or completely reforge their body to Hua’s liking
>Guarantee the highest success possible in a single roll
>Reroll your cultivation path
>Reroll another character's cultivation path
Be sure to use them wisely

>If you want to use a Causality Denial point to reroll your path, roll a 1d6 and choose the path you want to follow.
>No buyers remorse, no asking for refunds, say hello to the mist and keep walking towards Heipinghua, roll a 1d20

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>6192423
>>No buyers remorse, no asking for refunds, say hello to the mist and keep walking towards Heipinghua, roll a 1d20

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>6192423
>No buyers remorse, no asking for refunds, say hello to the mist and keep walking towards Heipinghua, roll a 1d20

I'd rather use the points for Legendary Gear or useful Minions.

>>6192443
“I could always use THAT… but… No no, there’s no telling how long this will last, let’s just go to Heipinghua.

Hey, Itztli… if this makes it to you all the way out there, I’m still alive… I hope you and your people are doing well.”

You put the idea of messing with causality for a headstart to rest, sit on your hands in a figurative sense and wait for a better opportunity to present itself.

>17
The walk down the riverside is quieter than what you would be comfortable with, another of the mist’s properties is its ability to also absorb sound, in combination with its energy absorption it makes a great deterrent against annoying weakling cultivators and beasts. You even took a little time to give the clothes you were wearing a wash, fill your gourd with water and find some fruit to eat on the way, nothing really happened.


Heipinghua, Xingyuan
The small city is as quiet as it could be, no doubt because of the mist, you go straight for the nearest street stall, it’s a young woman selling second hand trinkets with mystical properties.

”Say, young lady, do you know where a broke fellow in the Qi Gathering stage can get a few spirit stones to his name?

”Young lady? Little brats these days… I’ll be 78 in a few days I’ll tell you right now so don’t get any funny ideas… but if it’s work you’re looking for then you might want to check the Buddhist Temple in the center.”

A few minutes more and you find yourself before a well maintained temple, there are a few priests rushing in and out, they’re placing things outside the building rather urgently.

You pose the same question (minus the young lady part) to the elderly priest looking over the young ones running, and his answer is simple.

”“When the young ones are done bringing everything out, just follow my instructions and I’ll make sure you get some payment for helping”

You do as the priest says and place a few charms in a couple inconspicuous locations around the temple, then draw some lines along with the young priests to create a very rudimentary array.

”Here you go young man… and you’re no priest, so please do not dress like one if you’re not willing to follow our teachings” Says the priest, his breathing becoming a little erratic, he’s circulating his Qi into the array to activate it.

The activated array repels the mist in a small area around the temple, and everyone’s complexion improves in a few moments.

You
>find a restaurant, get yourself some food and ask where you can buy new clothes.
>suggest the elder a way to improve the array in the temple.
>explain to the elder that a larger array can be made using the temple as the centerpiece.
Write ins welcome!

>>6192453
>Explain to the priest that you're a traveling scholar who was robbed by bandits and suggest ways for him to improve the arrays in exchange for food, shelter and some spirit stones.

>>6192453
>Suggest the elder a way to improve the array in the temple and help around the temple for some Spirit Stones..

>>6192453
Do we know anything about this temple or the religion of the temple these monks are a part off?

>>6192453
>Suggest the elder a way to improve the array in the temple and help around the temple for some Spirit Stones.

>>6192453
>find a restaurant, get yourself some food and ask where you can buy new clothes.

>>6192420
Do we know when the Mist will end or we just gonna have to tough it out? Also how common are Cultivators and Martial Artists in this world, is it full weird wacky Xiaxia or closer to a more grounded Wuxia?

>>6192453
>Explain to the priest that you're a traveling scholar who was robbed by bandits and suggest ways for him to improve the arrays in exchange for food, shelter and some spirit stones.
>Suggest the elder a way to improve the array in the temple and help around the temple for some Spirit Stones..

Locking in.

>>6192510
Wanna make a guess?

>>6192517
Well so far it sounds like it'll be the weird alien Xianxia, especially because of the Mist and the right off the bat knowing about at least two martial arts using energies that cause reality to hate us.

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The priest’s payment was enough for you to eat for a day assuming the economy didn’t change much, but it was just that, 10 Spirit Stones.

”You’re right sir, I’m just a destitute scholar travelling for greener pastures from Kase. I was robbed by bandits, and had the mist not showed up at all, I’d be vulture food right now!

I chanced upon an abandoned temple in the mountains and managed to get these clothes, at least the heavens smiled upon me for once!”

Whether the elder bought it, or is just giving some face, you can’t really tell, but he does invite you in for a meal.

Soup, rice, boiled vegetables and pickles, all served in moderate portions so nothing is wasted. It has been millenia since you ate anything, and you can’t help but tear up a little after tasting food for so long.

The meal is eaten in absolute silence, and once finished, a few priests remain behind, likely because they had nothing to do right after eating, naturally you’re included in this group.

”Sir, I couldn’t help but notice that this array forcefully repels the mist away… This approach requires a large amount of energy… Ahem… to activate, and while the upkeep is lower, it always needs someone supplying it with their own… Qi, am I correct?”

”Correct.” Said the elder, he could add something else, but he’s clearly sounding you out with his silence.

”There’s a way to alleviate those two issues, if you can spare me a piece of paper I can show you how”

”Hmm… Zopa? ”Yes sir.”
One of the idle priests, Zopa you suppose, leaves for a moment a returns with a parchment of paper.

You quickly scribble a rough outline of the adjustments to be made and turn the paper around.

”Please excuse my drawing skills, I’m nowhere near an architect… That said, rather than pushing the mist out, we can use its invasive properties to guide it around the structure and into the sky, as it tends to dissipate when a certain altitude above the ground is reached. All the array would be doing at this point is creating a tunnel or path of sorts for it to travel with no resistance.”

This is of course, the very basics of what you know about the mist. If you wanted to be fancy then you could show him a way to use the mist as the fuel for the array itself or a way to create a shelter for the homeless with it, but you’re not sure how widely accepted the use of the mist is here, if anyone’s ever figured out how to use it before you that is.

The elder looks back and forth between the horrible scribble and your face, he signals Zopa over and the man rouses the other two priests next to him and rushes out.

In an incense stick’s worth of time, you feel the flow of the mist change to match that outlined by your design.

”Esteemed expert, is it okay if this information is shared with the rest of the city?” The elder asks.

”Didn’t I show it to you already? Of course it’s okay, but I’ll need your help getting compensation from the city’s Lord if that’s okay with you, and what’s up with this whole ‘Esteemed Expert’ thing, wasn’t I just a young man a meal ago?”

”Your speech betrays you, once one lives enough, travels enough, and learns enough, does one start to refer to Qi as Energy, and not just ‘Qi’. I’m good friends with the city’s Lord, so I will arrange a meeting with him.

In the meantime, our humble Heipinghua temple would appreciate it if you could rest in it. We might not have a very large library, but you’re invited to look if you so feel inclined to.”

You’ll gladly take up his offer, so you choose one
>Try to talk with some of the priests (about what, roll a 1d6)
>Go to the library (what are we looking for, roll a 1d6)
>Sleep

>>6192519
Yes, this is weird alien xianxia territory. We're on our baby steps but it will powerscale appropriately in due time.
>Do we know when the Mist will end or we just gonna have to tough it out?
There's a reason it is the decade's event.

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>6192561
>>Go to the library (what are we looking for, roll a 1d6)
>>Look to see if the temple has any basic Fist or Staff Martial Arts that outsiders are allowed to learn, try to get a feel of the Martial Arts of this age. Even if we know better martial arts, it might be a good idea to learn some more basic and common martial arts so that we can defend ourselves without casting too much suspicion.

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>6192561
>Try to talk with some of the priests (about what, roll a 1d6)
>Ask around if there are any ploothooks like Bandits or Mythical Creature Sightings that we can help out with to either earn some Spirit Stones or use as Elixirs.

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>6192561
>>Try to talk with some of the priests (about what, roll a 1d6)
>Ask whether any great changes in religion or spirituality have happened.

Locking in talk option. Writing

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>6192561
>Try to talk with some of the priests (about what, roll a 1d6)
>Ask the nearby priests if there have been any sightings of Mythical Creatures or Herbs after the sudden mist appearing. Maybe it agitated some creatures or plants out of hiding.

>>6192566
The only real question is, are the aliens hot. Or, can we bang the mist?

Buddhism from your time was mostly composed of two temples, the Golden Buddha and the Silver Buddha temples, they had a very heartwarming story to them.

Back in your early days, Buddhism wasn’t very widespread and mostly kept itself to the region between Owayabo and Xingtian now occupied by the mountain range. They were being persecuted by the Huang empire to near extermination. All the monks and practitioners ran away to that region, at the time called Hujin. There were many believers, and not enough space, so part of them began to live at night and rest during the day.

The temples were still always full, but it was at a manageable level.

In about a decade or so, the orders of the Golden and Silver Buddha’s were “formally” established, and when Huang Mengzhou was slain four hundred years later, the religion and practices spread like wildfire, taking over many locations that had been abandoned by the Daoists.
You approach one of the idle priests and make small talk, his name is Tashi, he didn’t ask for your name once, possibly out of politeness.

>5 on mythical creatures of herbs
He’s not sure about creatures, but there is a very peculiar species of flowers that only grows when an area is exposed to the mist, and any magical or mythical herbs that grow during this time are “Polluted” and can’t be consumed without risking severe side effects. You can probably figure a workaround to it if you can get your hands in a few herbs, but you’ll have to find one to begin with.

>2 on religion and spirituality
You ask him if there have been any changes on the religious landscape of this continent, and he answers that everything has been this way for thousands of years, you ask another priest and his answer is the same. You have to go all the way and give them a short lesson in history to give your question context, but the conversation doesn’t go anywhere, they didn’t even know about the origin of the temples or who Huang Mengzhou even was.

What you did get out of that was that it has been at least a few thousand years, and that the Silver and Golden temples are still a thing.

File: 1727361535103842.png (7.76 MB, 2432x1743)

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>>6192606
A few hours later, the elder, who you’re now aware is named Dakpa, comes looking for you. He leads you through the mist filled city for a few minutes, and a fancy building pops into view.

”The city’s lord, Xia Yan is ready to meet you… I do not think he might give you trouble considering the weight of this information, but please have mercy on the people of this city.

”I’ll keep that in mind… And sir Dakpa, I’d like to apologize for lying earlier. My name is Bai Hua and… I don’t really know how old I am today, I don’t know if my previous titles even carry any weight either so I won’t mention them. Thank you for your generosity entertaining this fool’s lousy acting.”


With those words you leave the priest behind, and enter the building. An old looking steward welcomes you in and guides you to the second story, a long line of maids of all ages are present and give you a deep bow as you make your way past them. After going up the staircase, you’re led to the right wing, where a younger man is waiting for you at a table with two cups of tea ready.


”Welcome, Esteemed Expert. I’m Xia Yan, Heipinghua’s new lord. I took over after my father disappeared in the last mist incident and I’m still kind of wet behind the ears in this whole business, so please cut me some slack.

Ah! What am I doing, come in come in, the tea will grow cold!”

There’s no need to lie… that much, so you introduce yourself as Bai hua, a rogue cultivator who used to be at the Soul Nurturing stage and went into seclusion after a brutal injury, you survived at the cost of your cultivation being completely lost… that’s the story you decide to go with this time.
”Aah that’s saddening to hear, and excuse my rudeness but I’m glad you got injured, otherwise my small city might just have been sucked dry this time around!

Please name your price, I will spare no effort in seeing you compensated for your knowledge!
Should you desire, I can bring you every maiden in the city, every spirit stone in the region, or even give you the land itself!”


Huh? Is this because he’s young or is he just trying to make you humbly decline?

While you’re fond of the idea of trying our son out, doing so right now would be too rash, someone can kill you, or even worse, cut your son off.

Every spirit stone in the region will clearly cut into the people’s wellbeing, and even then they’re worthless if you can’t buy anything with them, the quality of spirit stones for direct cultivation has not been suitable in at least four hundred thousand years from YOUR era, you don’t even know how much has passed so it’s likely worse nowadays, it’s simply a currency at this point.

On the other hand, accepting land will tie you to it unless you find someone to manage things for you, and you’re too weak to protect anything anyways, at least if you play by the book.

>>6192607
You feel like a compromise can be made
>Rather than a specific sum of stones, you want cultivation materials of Yin Polarity, then you can be on your way to Jianyang
>Rather than accepting land, you’d like to borrow a plot of land outside the city, this will delay your travel to Jianyang, but you can set up an area suited for cultivation within the mist, and perhaps run a few tests on vegetation and animal life.
Or
>Write in!

And roll me a 1d20 for the results.

>>6192578
We can explore the hotness of the aliens eventually, as for the mist, who knows? Where there's a will there's a way.

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>6192608
I thought since we're Extreme Yin, we need Yang Polarity Elixirs?

>Ask for for a decent amount of spirit stones and Yang Polarity Materials.
>Also ask if for a weapon we can have to protect ourselves, either a knife that's easy to conceal or a staff we can use as a walking stick.

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>6192608
>Ask for for a decent amount of spirit stones and Yang Polarity cultivation materials.
>Also ask if for a weapon we can have to protect ourselves, either a knife that's easy to conceal or a staff we can use as a walking stick.

>>6192612
Wow the dice for this quest have been real fucking hit or miss.

Aiya you're right. Please treat my words as if I had farted, it wil be Yang Polarity materials.
Also I fucking love the dice for this quest so far, didn't even need to pick an alien path to get bent and fucked over.

Locking votes at :45

>>6192615
>>6192618
>the dice: Did you say you wanted to live in INTERESTING TIMES?
Not again!

Rolled 6, 3 = 9 (2d6)

Rolling for the yearly event, will little Hua get fucked over again? We'll find out soon!

Wew lad.
Locking in decent amount of spirit stones and Yang Polarity Materials, as well as a weapon.

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>6192608
Rollin just to see the dice

>>6192638
zoz

>>6192638
The dice are just messing with us now

Yearly event (6, 3):
Traces of the Tower: The world senses the appearance of the tower and prepares its inhabitants, all cultivation rolls are boosted (+3)

>5

>Ask for for a decent amount of spirit stones and Yang Polarity cultivation materials.
>Also ask if for a weapon we can have to protect ourselves, either a knife that's easy to conceal or a staff we can use as a walking stick.


”Let’s not be hasty, young master, all these old bones really want is some spirit stones and Yang Polarity Materials.
Does seven thousand spirit stones and a Hundred Year Sun Ginseng sound good?”

Color drains from the young man’s face, the hand that held the cup almost spilled its contents
”E-esteemed elder… were I to sell every house, every woman and every artifact in this city… I would still be short from seven thousand stones, let alone being able to find you a Hundred Year Sun Ginseng…

I could get you seven hundred spirit stones or a Ten Year Sun Ginseng at best, any more than that and I will have to increase taxes”


It is your turn in the face draining chair, seven hundred stones is NOTHING, you gave him a way to deal with the mist, you can see it in his eyes he KNOWS how valuable this is, he so knows this will fill his pockets in a year’s time.

You lowballed yourself and even named a price, now you pay for it. Are you really the Crimson War God?

”But if Elder Bai, no Patriarch Xia Hua were to remain in Heipinghua, all the gains could be completely yours! Just think of it! Owayabo is sure to pay big, fat coin for this method. They’ve had it the worst amongst all countries in the continent you know!?

Lord Hua of Heipinghua at the head, the white flower hailing from the “smooth flower” the poetic defeat of the mist! The glory! The riches! The tourism! A trade route outside the city over there, a red light district over here, two, no THREE new Inns!

Huahuahuahuahuahua! Liao Wen! Call Cui’er over we’re getting her married this year!”

What? Remaining in Heipinghua is an option, sure. But Patriarch? He wants you to manage a damn city? Who’s Xia Hua!? WHO’S CUI’ER? Don’t use that name to laugh, you destitute bastard!

This man is broke, this city is broke, you would rather be sucked dry by the mist and die than have your fortune stolen by this man for even a minute longer! You refuse, You’re unwilling!

”Young master, my faith requires me to go on a pilgrimage to thank the heavens for their favor keeping me alive, so I have to regretfully decline your offer.
What do you say if we just leave it at a Yang Polarity weapon? It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, maybe a knife or a dagger, perhaps a staff to double as a walking stick… and your word that I will get a fifth of whatever you earn with this information.

Xia Yan’s eyes pop wide open, and he shakes your hand while showing you the creepiest, most disgusting, greasy, money grubby smile you’ve seen in a thousand years. ”Deal!”

File: 1725978508052225.png (320 KB, 346x555)

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You do some small paperwork, both parties sign with their blood and seal a small “dao pact” to keep the promise in place. If this doesn’t pay off it’s no big deal, you can rake it big later. If it does pay off you’ll probably see good results by the end of the decade.

By the time you’re done the steward, Liao Wen, brings a staff over, clearly from the Golden Buddha temple you were in earlier in the day.

The Yang energy can be felt, but it is very faint, nothing to write home about… Should be good enough to kill someone in early Core formation before it breaks, but that’s just because you’re the one wielding it. And the design, well there’s no design, you really can use it as a walking stick, to poke the coals in a furnace or as a row if you need to.

You need to get out of here as soon as possible but it is late and you’d rather move during the day to try and get some Yang energy from the sunlight.

You decide to spend the night in lord Xia’s house, locking the door… just in case… you trust he wouldn’t send his daughter to baby trap you… surely not, right? Let’s put a cupboard against the door, yeah.

Cultivation time! Roll a 1d20, +3 from “Traces of the Tower”, +1 from your new staff.
Qi Gathering progress: 15/60

You're still broke, but at least broke with a weapon, once you're out of Heipinghua you will roll a d20 and
>Follow the river to Xuzhou
>Beeline to Jianyang

/////
Yes, youll know more about the tower in due time, but first I'll drop some weapon related stuff.

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>6192673
>Follow the river to Xuzhou
>Go look for the flower growing inside the mist along the way.

>>6192673
>Follow the river to Xuzhou
Our fucking rolls man

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>6192675
>>6192673

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>6192673
>Follow the river to Xuzhou
These Buddhists are ruthless, kek

File: 6418616955b17507b50214f85(...).gif (4.75 MB, 400x226)

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>>6192674
>>6192678
>>6192679

File: 1715372037903225.jpg (53 KB, 720x720)

53 KB JPG

Rolled 5 (1d6)

Weapon Nurturing
Extended usage of a single weapon infuses it with the wielder's "will" or "intent", cultivating multiple times while using the weapon creates a loop where the resonance between both wielder and weapon increases.
Weapon resonance can only be positive, and will increase both cultivation and combat rolls by the resonance level, resonance can increase up to a maximum of 4.
Breaking through while using a weapon has a chance of increasing its realm, as does infusing the weapon with materials of the same Polarity... Assuming you roll well that is.

>Rolled 3+3+1 (-3 from the Mist)
>1

Your new staff has no name, no feats, and no resonance. It's stage is "Foundation".
Rolling for weapon resonance

Well, at least you didn't go into Qi deviation?
Writing.

File: 1731335967490021.png (121 KB, 1055x754)

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Rolled 6, 2 = 8 (2d20)

Qi Gathering progress: 16/60

A horrible night, you were unable to focus on cultivating out of fear you’d get your bones jumped by any female, the mist is still seeping in to a certain extent even though Lord Xia was able to understand the principles behind your little trick, he’ll get the hang of it in a few days for sure.

You were thinking “Heh heh, I’ll just outgrow this stick in no time” but in hindsight, your fortune seems to have been all used up on your body and soul, you hope this isn’t the case but it might be better to simply prepare for the worst at all times.

The stick kept you from deviating, you’ve seen it happen and have had to deal with it before, but never really experienced it yourself. What will happen when someone with boundless knowledge from outside this realm loses all control? Better not find out!

Your staff obtained 1 point of weapon resonance!

The sun is starting to rise, and you’re already out of the small mansion, your steps are light, and the mist, despite messing with your cultivation attempt last night, seems to be cooperating right now and “guiding you” outside the city.

Your next stop is Xuzhou, so you make your way to the riverbank and follow the beaten path downstream, it seems like this river is the Xu river.

The journey is almost uneventful, no beasts, no mist flowers, no mist whispers or illusions, no draining, no sound, absolutely NOTHING.

Until you reach somewhere around the halfway point, there is a small cabin, clearly made for people to take a break or spend the night if it is too late. You’re not tired so you planned to ignore it, until the door opens and two men exit.

“Ay uncle, run yo’ pockets if you don’t want no trouble” Says one of the two, he’s holding a dull axe, might as well be a hammer at this point.
The other man doesn’t speak, but he’s holding a butcher knife.

He dares? He dares! They dare!
”How about YOU run them pockets huh ‘nephew’? What if I want trouble, you keepin’ me company, punk?”

The two seem dumbfounded, and you begin to approach them.

Bandit A: Early Qi Gathering | Weapon: Axe | No treasures.
Bandit B: Early Qi Gathering | Weapon: Knife | No treasures.

On combat
Characters have 1 action per turn, but certain traits allow for more actions, or repetition of the same action.

Bai Hua’s innate trait is Crimson War God’s Dance : +1 Action in combat, +2 on combat rolls +1 on failure rolls.
Combat and failure rolls increase linearly per turn, an extra action is gained every odd turn.

Difference in cultivation adds +1 to the stronger side per sub stage. As Hua is in the middle stage he will get a +1 bonus in this fight.

Objective: Make these little brats kowtow.
If you meet specific requirements when ending the battle, you’ll get an extra reward, the requirement this time will be kept a secret.

You have two actions, use them wisely:
>Choose a bandit and then
>Use your staff
>Use one of the Mystical Arts (Water, Earth, Dark), the simplest art is making a projectile and chucking it at your opponent.
>Write in

And roll a 2d20!

>>6192703
>“Ay uncle, run yo’ pockets if you don’t want no trouble”
Even so far away, we can never relax.

Rolled 7, 4 = 11 (2d20)

>>6192705
>Hit Bandit 1 With the Dog Beating Staff Technique.
>Hit Bandit 2 with the Ball Crushing Staff Technique

Rolled 1, 16 = 17 (2d20)

>>6192705
>Beat Bandit 1 with your staff
>Beat Bandit 1 again with your staff

Locking at :40, doing a tiebreaker roll if it's still 1-1

Rolled 19, 10 = 29 (2d20)

>>6192707
This

I don't know anything about cultivation op but you have enthralled me

Locking, hit bandit 1 with the dog beating staff technique and bandit 2 with the ball crusher.

>>6192713
It's just a fancy "number go up" genre nowadays, just add a little lao gan ma and some msg and you got a cualtivation story.

>>6192714
What if I want to add rampant xenophobia and horse people? Not to be confused with sea people, a different empire ending threat for a different part of the world.

Bandit A starts running toward you, his axe held up high and ready to descend. You’re moving faster, your staff is held up higher, and descends faster.

You’ll give him a taste of one of the Star Academy’s corrective staff techniques, the academy burned down to the ground when the Huang emperor died in your time, but the corrective spirit remains to this day. It used to have a fancy name, the “Mountain toppling strike”, but students, teachers and outsiders alike simply called it the Dog Beater, and that one stuck over the centuries.

Bai Hua: 19+2+1+1 =23 | Bandit A = 6


“Sit!” your hit connects right on the crown with a muffled crackling sound, a thin layer of dust rises from the ground, the mist roils and the man’s head bounces back up. The light in his eyes fades out and he falls forward, never to rise again.

Bandit B watches in horror as his lifelong friend leaves his mortal coil behind, by the time his fury starts taking over, you’ve already completed two full rotations of the staff, switched hands and thrust it towards his crotch.

This move has no ancestry, no fancy history, it is a simple jabbing motion, but everyone can agree it is a ball buster when aimed at the right angle.

Bai Hua: 10+2+1+1 =14 | Bandit B = 2

Your hit connects and all the built up speed, as well as your frustration, is released on the man’s crotch. The mist is pushed away by a few meters around you. He flies into the house and crashes through the door and the wall on the other side, you hear a loud cracking sound, it looks like there was a rock behind the house.

Extra reward requirement: Survival of the bandits, Failed.

The mist once again surrounds everything, and seems to be a tiny bit lighter than you're used to in your proximity.

Take a moment to asses the situation (write in), and Roll a 1d20 to see if you can find something useful on them.

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>6192731
Meh, we needed to destress by beating somebody to death I feel like.

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>6192731

Locking, last update for the night.

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>>6192753

>Rolled 14

Neither of the bandits had anything spectacular on them, but the spirit stones in their bags amount to one hundred, which seems to be a decent amount all things considered. Likely the spoils from a few days of robbery. And you did get some Yang infused tea leaves from the former ball haver too, these will at least help you keep from going into deviation when you cultivate.

The rest of the trip is also uneventful, and your steps are even lighter than before, just a little lighter and you’ll be hopping and skipping like a kid.

The dry and arid fog desert slowly becomes a lush forest, and within this forest is Xuazhou, as you approach the city, you can hear the screams of people, the clashing of blades and a few mystical arts being used here and there.

////////
And that will be it for this session! I'll be back in 10-12 ish hours, maybe earlier if I can get my sunday things done quickly.

Any thoughts so far, questions you want to ask, opinions, suggestions, etc?

>>6192774
I like it and I love all Xia stories. I know this is the first thread and you're still setting things up but it feels kinda slow, I'd appriciate some clearer plothooks and goals that we can do instead of just wandering aimlessly.

I do enjoy the random dice rolls for events but yeah at the same time I'd prefer if we have goals we could work towards even if it's just like finding Mythical Herbs, Looting Ancient Treasures or Building up our arsenal of gear.

I'd appriciate getting involved directly in a plothook instead of just wandering around in part so we can also figure out what we're capable of and to build up our character's skills and gear.

Hmm it's honestly kinda hard to for me to also understand how strong and smart the MC is supposed to be, as far as I can tell he can basically destroy anybody on the similar realm but does he basically have an entire library's worth of martials arts in his head? The city lord seemed to be begging towards us so are we effectively strong enough to destroy smaller cities?

Personaly I enjoy the mindless wandering while we cultivate

>>6192785
>how strong and smart the MC is supposed to be
With the starter rolls for body/soul and cultivation he'll have to be at a disadvantage of at least 2 sub stages to start having trouble for a few turns (i.e someone in early qi gathering vs someone in late qi gathering).

>are we effectively strong enough to destroy smaller cities?
Not yet, though you could spend a few turns setting up an array that uses the mist to kill everyone but you'd have to go out of your way to set it up, and get good non combat rolls throughout the process.

Near the outer wall of the city are two stone platforms decorated with Qilin statues on the corners, one of each side of the road.

You see that there are people engaged in combat on each platform, as well as a small crowd cheering and yelling in response to each side’s moves.

Well that’s pretty inoffensive, looks like a small daoist sect’s inner tournament, you continue to approach the city and are brought to a halt by what seems to be a guard in the gate.

”Fellow monk, the entrance fee is 1 spirit stone” says the man, you part with the stone and are allowed entry, the city is a little larger than Heipinghua and doesn’t look as desolate, perhaps not being in the middle of nowhere helps with that. Still, the mist is making

Most of the people you run into as you make your way to the square are in the Foundation stage, very few are in core formation. With this you can deduce that the strongest people should be in the Golden Core stage.

After a couple questions to some people passing by, you find the way to the nearest inn and get the waitress to find you a table, you order tea and some wonton noodles... for 3 spirit stones.

There’s a lot to do if you want to bring the world beyond the gate, so you organize it in a mental list:

1.The physical manifestation of the gate, you’ll need at least 6 people at the Immortal stage to force its appearance.
2. A way to deal with the Gatekeeper, this will require you to figure out what it did during your battle and come up with countermeasures.
2.A way for the world to resist the strain from crossing the gate
3.A way for the world to adjust to the Mist

None of this means anything if you can’t get to the Immortal stage anyways, so you decide to work on a smaller time scale.

1.Get to early Goden Core: This will let you enter any hidden realm up to Soul Dividing, and put your name in the map again.
2.Look into how the mist is “leaking in”, because that shouldn’t be happening in the first place.
3.Look for an apprentice or successor, you’re not quite sure if there are enough Immortals in the world right now, so working to raise an additional ally is going to go a long way.


Your most pressing matters right now are (choose one to continue):
>A lack of understanding on the value of spirit stones, you’re not sure what those 100 stones can even buy you besides food.
>A lack of an environment to cultivate in, the mist will keep getting in your way every single time if you don’t do something about it.
>A lack of information on how the mist is affecting the cultivation scene as a whole, as well as its effects on wildlife and vegetation.

Write ins on how you think you could approach the issue are welcome, no rolls this turn.

>>6193096
>A lack of an environment to cultivate in, the mist will keep getting in your way every single time if you don’t do something about it.
We need to get to Foundation Establishment. Everything else is secondary.

>>6193096
>A lack of an environment to cultivate in, the mist will keep getting in your way every single time if you don’t do something about it.

>>6193096
>A lack of an environment to cultivate in, the mist will keep getting in your way every single time if you don’t do something about it.

>>6193096
>LAck for enviroment.
>We can barter for shelter as an array expert.

Forgot to post, locked and writing!

>>6193184
Well seems like everybody just woke up a little bit ago.

If the mist is going to be constant then you’ll have to work out a solution, you can’t really justify spending fifty years getting to Foundation Establishment, your teacher would hang you by the balls, your brother would hang you by the balls, you yourself would do it before they got the chance to.

You finish your meal, and before leaving, ask the waitress where you can get some decent quality Foundation Establishment talismans and herbs. She names 3 different shops, two of which she rambles about being “too stinky” and “too expensive but good” and then gives you her personal recommendation… ”The goods there are cheaper if you get them in a large volume, personally? I think it’s just a spirit stone laundering front and that’s how they can justify giving things for pennies… Just mind that the quality won’t be the best”

Oh yeah… good old spirit stone laundering, you go straight for the cheap shop, as you reminisce back to how one of your associates from a demonic path sect would run a weapons shop for cultivators “Golden Core and above” in paper, then use the earnings to fund a “luxury inn” in the middle of Datong’s inhospitable deserts. The Datong officials only caught on because someone gave them a lead.

Anyways, you enter the shop, aptly named “Honest Xu” and check the goods.

For your solution you’ll just use arrays, they’re one of the best immediate solutions for almost anything, after Violence and “Pumping more Qi into it” and “Just pump more money into it”.

You will require a few things for the array:
1.Talismans to inscribe instructions into
2. A medium to transfer the energy from talisman to talisman (the easiest, cheapest and most accessible is ink)
3. A treasure, artifact, weapon or cultivation material to serve as the centerpiece for the array so it can be easily operated.


Fondation talismans are 1 spirit stone each, ten for 7 stones, fifty for 25!? Yeah they’re laundering for sure.

Inkstones go for 5 stones each, two for 7, ten for 35.

Second hand foundation artifacts are going for 15 each, while second hand weapons are going for 45, new goods cost about 50 for artifacts and 115 for weapons on average.


You’ll also need to find a place to settle down for a bit. You can simply use a location close to this city and do the same as Heipinghua, but this will limit the capabilities of the array. Or you can find a more isolated area to set up a sophisticated array.

>>6193228
>You can set up an array like the one you left at Heipinghua to redirect the mist so it does not sap your energy during cultivation
>>You’ll use 30 stones on materials (twenty talismans, one inkstone and one second hand artifact). You will roll a 1d6 for the suitable location results. (The -3 penalty will be removed)

Or

>Look for a more isolated area to set up a sophisticated array.
>>You’ll use 77 stones on materials, (fifty talismans, two inkstones and a second hand weapon), The weapon choice will be up to you, and the polarity will be Yang.You can choose a direction to look for your location based on the map and will roll for a 2d6 for the suitable location results and the weapon’s condition. (The -3 penalty will be removed, and depending on the location and weapon results you’ll get a bonus to cultivation rolls)

>>6193230
I forgot to add, you currently have 96 spirit stones and 3 meals a day cost 10.
Do with this information what you will.

Rolled 6, 1 = 7 (2d6)

>>6193230
>Look for a more isolated area to set up a sophisticated array.
>Just wander around and let the dice decide our luck.

Rolled 5, 3 = 8 (2d6)

>>6193230
>Look for a more isolated area to set up a sophisticated array

Locking at :40

I'll still need you to decide what kind of weapon you're buying, you can post a picture of it if you want.

>>6193245
I vote Hidden Weapons, Wires, Needles and Smalls Knives.

>>6193251
>>6193238
Same person btw, just outside using Data.

>>6193251
>>6193230
I don't mind Assassination Tools and Hidden Weapons

Rolled 1, 5 = 6 (2d6)

>>6193230
>Look for a more isolated area to set up a sophisticated array.

The duality of dice.
Writing, isolated area, hidden weapons.

File: 1717516865518325.png (27 KB, 391x523)

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You decide to try your luck away from the city, so you get fifty talismans and two inkstones, then go towards the weapons section, amongst the used swords and spears, clearly worn out bows and gauntlets, a few cracked shields you spot a small knife with tiny little a black stone embedded to the handle.

“Is that what I think it is?”

You suppress the urge of checking it out immediately and simply grab the thing, then add in a simple black hanfu, if you’re getting a hidden weapon it will be hard to use if all you have is a piece of cloth covering one half of your torso.

You take the items to the clerk, who sums everything at 82 spirit stones, the cheap hanfu was 5 stones, and gives you a stick of candied hawthorn because you spent over 50 stones in your purchase.

You’re left with 14 stones, of which you spend 10 in consumables like salted fish and normal tea leaves, then wait for night to come while eating the little extra you got.

You storm out of the city before the sun rises, bags on your shoulder, and just leave it to fortune and follow the wind… which is flowing west.

After what seems to be a few hours, the moon is now falling down, and you feel like you should set up “camp” here. It’s a clearing with a few robust trees in the surrounding area, the river is a couple minutes away so water will not be an issue and like always, the mist is keeping everyone nice and scared.

Time to work.


Your trick in Heipinghua was simply moving the mist out of the way, what you’ll do here is use the mist to bring in and keep the Yang energy around you while staying out of the way.

You prepare Eight talismans to guide the flow of the mist in a circular pattern, sixteen to create the vortex effect you’re looking for, another sixteen to create a Yang vacuum, and keep ten spare for replacement or repairs just in case, lay down the ink work and do a double check of everything to make sure it will work.

Most of the energy will be coming in from the sun, and the rest you’ll likely absorb from the soil around you.

>>6193307
The centerpiece for the array would have been the knife you got, if it didn’t have the black “Stone”

You take the knife apart and extract the stone, then circulate a little energy into the tip of your finger, and the “Stone” begins to melt and reach towards your finger.

”It really was! How did this end up in such a dingy place! It’s the Sunspot! Ahahahahaha!”

Sunspot, a divine Yang weapon crafted by the Primordial Dragon Shama for Demon Emperor Jusuf back in your day.

The weapon’s true form is a liquid that changes its form when infused with energy, its raw destructive power is not the highest, but it is the most versatile divine armament of your era, you can increase the total “liquid” but it’s honestly impossible below Soul Fusion.

The thing gets incredibly hot despite its black color, so you’ll be better off shaping it into small projectiles to control its explosive power and keep yourself out of harm’s way… Being able to shape it at will also means you can make the perfect centerpiece for your needs, assuming the medium can resist the “charge” the Sunspot has.

The sun rises, and it’s time to cultivate.

The array has removed the mist’s -3 penalty!
The vacuum effect of the array will bring in more Yang energy than normal! +2
You’ve found a great location! +6
The unnamed buddhist temple’s staff resonates with you! +1
With the Sunspot as the centerpiece you probably won’t run into any issues! +5

Roll a 1d20 for cultivation and
>choose how you want to cultivate (sitting, practicing combat, physically exercising, dancing, write in), this choice is entirely for flavor, you can go wild if you want.

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>6193309
>Cultivate in the Horse Stance to train up your body alongside your mind

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>6193309

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>6193315
>>6193316
kek, check how it's done.

>>6193309
Do the 30x5 exercise. Truly advanced.

1 for Horse Stance
1 for 5x30
Closing at :50

Rolled 1 (1d2)

Locking, lets see what the dice have to say.

>12+2+6+1+5= 26

You infuse the sunspot with a little Yin Qi, and the array starts doing its thing.
In a few moments the area is cleared from the mist, and the Yang Qi starts to flow in, the air starts getting warm and you assume the horse stance for the first time in this body.

And isn't this body fresh, despite your blessed constitution, you still get cramps and can feel pain.

You keep the stance for a few minutes, stop for a breather and drink some water, then repeat. This process takes up most of the day, in your eagerness to begin, you forgot to prepare your lunch, but you didn’t feel like stopping to cook, so you skipped eating during the day.

”Huff… To be… young again… huff…”[i/]. You stop the array and lift the sunspot, head towards the river with your bag in hand, and wash the salt off one of your fishes.

Shape the sunspot into a flat disk, drop the fish on it and infuse it with a tiny little bit of Qi, just enough to fill the tip of a cat’s hair.

That brings you back to the day Jusuf got it from Shama, everyone had been expecting the tyrannical emperor to shape the divine armament into his signature giant sword, take off and subjugate the last independent tribes.

What he did instead was shape it into a grill and make Shama, and the other immortals present, his prided braised emerald jingwei wings with hundred year yin ginseng. It was all fun and games until Shama noticed and kicked his ass.

You did ask her to make you a weapon on a few occasions, but she would always decline, saying ”Your dumb ass has no care or appreciation for a blacksmith’s craft. I can picture it, you’ll get in trouble and blow it up or give it away to save your skin.”.

It would always sting, but not enough for you to change your ways…

The fish was good, it had a bit of a metallic taste to it, but it might be the lack of oil. You then wash the Sunspot with a little water and shape it back into a stone.

”Thank you Shama.”

It is night time, you’re back at the array site, drinking some water to pass the time.

You
>Reminisce some more (you’ll learn more about Bai Hua, choose about what)
>Get some sleep, you’ll cultivate more tomorrow
>Get some sleep, you’ll explore the surrounding areas in detail (What are you looking for)

Qi Gathering progress: 41/60

>>6193366
>Get some sleep, you’ll explore the surrounding areas in detail (What are you looking for)
>Look for the Flowers that only grow in The Mist.

>>6193366
>Get some sleep, you’ll cultivate more tomorrow

1 in favor of looking for mist flowers, 1 in favor of cultivating again
Locking at :00

>>6193366
>Get some sleep, you’ll explore the surrounding areas in detail (What are you looking for)
>Look for the Flowers that only grow in The Mist.

Rolled 6 (1d6)

Locking

>>6193373
>>6193382
Give me a 1d6

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>6193388

>>6193388

>>6193388
It didn't roll been a bit.

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>6193388

File: 1712363189911592.png (1.41 MB, 1000x620)

1.41 MB PNG

Rolled 15 (1d20)

You walked for a couple hours, but couldn’t find any traces of these Mist Flowers.

”Well, so much for that..” Just as you’re about to turn around and head back to the array zone, a Lightning Horned Ram appears through the mist, horns crackling with electricity, its chest puffed to look larger and one eye locked on you.

Doesn’t look like it will let you fall back.


Lightning Horned Ram: Middle Foundation | Lightning element | 1 Action

Objective: Subjugate the Lightning Horned Ram
Extra reward requirement: Do not damage the horns or the liver.

You have two actions, use them wisely.

>Attack the goat with your staff (Choose the attack angle) and roll a d20
>Attempt to use a Mystical Art (What element?) and roll a d20
>Use the Sunspot (how are you shaping it?) and roll a d100
>Evade and roll a d10

Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>6193421
>Use the Sunspot (how are you shaping it?) and roll a d100
>Shape some of the Sunspot into tiny needles then fire a swarm of needles into the Goat's Eyes.
>Use Mythical Arts to cause the earth beneath the Ram to buckle and tear trying to cause the Ram to lose its footing so that it can't use its speed.

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>6193427
>>6193421

Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>6193421
I'll support >>6193428 >>6193427
Rolling 1d20 and 1d100.

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>6193430
>>6193421

As expected of the Crimson War God, locking.

>>6193436
At least our combat rolls have been decent.

Your instinctual thought is rushing it down and bashing its skull in with the staff, or exsanguinating it by attacking its inner hind legs with your new knife, but there’s not much point in engaging on close combat when you have a divine weapon that can be used from afar.

”Let’s see what this baby can do when used at the Qi Gathering stage”

You casually open your left hand and point the stone towards the ram, and circulate a fraction of your energy into it visualize the form you want, and command the weapon. The horns will be useful, so you’ll try to avoid damaging them…

”Shoot a few needles into its eyes, disrupt its movement so it doesn’t rush me down while it is blinded, then shoot it again or bash it when it’s down”

If there's something you got beaten into you then it has to be that a methodical approach to fighting is always good.

Bai Hua: 92+2+0+0= 94 | Lightning Horned Ram= 15

Fweep

The needles shoot out at a speed your (currently untrained) eye can barely register, the ram attempted to move but was unable to. They enter the eye, pass through it and pierce the skull, the brain, and exit the beast's cranial bone before coming to a stop in the hill behind it, about 200 meters away, you can tell because there is a red colored smoke trail coming out of the ram's head and a small shockwave all the way back there.

The ram spasms in place and falls over, there are no cries, no rushing you down, the residual heat from the needles boiled its brain in an instant.

>Use Mythical Arts to cause the earth beneath the Ram to buckle and tear trying to cause the Ram to lose its footing so that it can't use its speed.

The Ram's corpse simply shakes to the sides.

"...Heh heh."

What was the purpose of this? The thing is already clearly dead, but you just wanted to make sure from a distance... just in case.

Extra reward requirement: Do not damage the horns or the liver | Met!
You have obtained a Lightning Horned Ram's horns, as well as it liver.

>The horns are Yang Polarity material that can be held during cultivation for an immediate boost on cultivation rolls, or as an array centerpiece to free the sunspot for use during cultivation.

>The liver is a Yang Polarity material that can be used in cooking to obtain a temporary boost to cultivation rolls, or dried and ground into a fine powder, the powder has a variety of uses, but you'll need an apothecary or an alchemist to process it for you.

Roll a d20 to see if you can get anything else from the goat (What do you think would also be useful?)


///
Sunspot rolls before Golden Core will be to mitigate the collateral damage caused by it, use it wisely.
Also, action order is important.

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>6193453
Well we couldn't be sure if the Ram would have died or not, we the readers can't really tell what will happen.

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>6193453

>>6193458
Of course the Heavens hate us.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>6193453
Behold, a natty, for funsies

I figure the kidneys would probably be useful. Based on what? I have no idea.

>>6193465
Sell the lightning balls as an aphrodisiac.

>>6193453
>We should be able to sell the fur

As expected of the Crimson War God!
Writing.

File: 7636543654.gif (561 KB, 500x263)

561 KB GIF

>>6193470

File: 1728857808605450.png (177 KB, 960x931)

177 KB PNG

You recall the needles, making sure to do so without the intent to harm (A safety measure put in place by Shama and explained to all Immortals). And walk towards the ram, the horns are a given so you chop them off, and you also remember being in an auction once where the liver was being sold, so you open its belly with your new knife and gut the thing. The stench of boiled brains is replaced by the stench of blood and guts, nothing new.

And then there’s the rest of the body… there’s no way there isn’t anything else you can’t sell or use for cultivation.

You rack your brains for an answer, despite living for thousands of years, having an absurd amount of battle experience, knowing more battle techniques than you would realistically use in a fight, and being knowledgeable in (now old) religion and politics, you have shit for brains when it comes to wildlife, medicine, and alchemy.

You can work your way around creating and tinkering with artifacts, but that’s more by virtue of reaching Immortality and understanding “how things work” on a more granular level than being the results of research and study.

You know how to kill things, you’re very good at figuring out how to kill something effectively, but you’re not good at the next part. You always left it to “The guy” or “The lass” to pick out the spoils from beast hunting, if you needed medicines you’d buy them with the spoils from battle, if you wanted custom pills you’d contact your nearest alchemist, fork over some stones or treasures and let them care of the rest.

”The fur looks good, you can probably make something with it… the kidneys? I have no idea, I might as well take the balls too while I’m at it.”

Kidneys: 9

The removal of the kidneys proves difficult, you have no idea if you’re supposed to remove just the kidneys, or if you should remove them with the veins and the duct, so you settle on just the veins.

///
Using the 11 roll for the balls, because the heavens find it funny
///

You chop the ram’s balls off with a clean slice, grabbing the whole package penis included, and muse about how this is your first time grabbing balls that are not your own as you place everything in the piece of cloth you got from the buddhist temple, and neatly wrap it keeping the organs from touching each other.

You already sliced the thing open before skinning it, so you’ll be paid less, that much you know at least. You roll up the skin and tuck it under your arm, then head straight for Xuzhou. Nothing worth noting happened thanks to the mist, and you’re back in the city by dusk.

The entrance fee is paid, and after asking a few passing people, you find your way to the apothecary’s shop. A smaller and even darker place than “Honest Xu”, the apothecary is a tired old lady full of wrinkles, who takes her time checking your spoils.

”Middle Foundation is pretty good for this time of the year… what with the mist and all.

The horns are in a perfect state, I can give you 75 for one, 150 stones for both.

The liver I can buy for 120, or you give me 20 stones and I process it for you.

The kidneys… you’ll want to remove the veins next time boy, they will degrade faster and mess with the quality… a good pair goes for 70, but since these got messed up I can give you 30.

Same for the skin, if you’re going to get the skin then do it before slicing the thing open… I can give you 50 because you brought the whole thing.. Will have to do something about those burnt spots in the back of the head though.

Been a couple decades since I saw Lightning Horned Ram's of this quality, it was definitely in rut… Nice clean cut, I guess you’re a swordsman… The testicles can be processed into a paste or powder to give cohesion to some mixtures, they’re not too useful by themselves… The penis though, we can dry it and use it to help stimulate blood circulation, it’s mostly sold as a premium ingredient to gentlemen.

I can buy the testicles for 35, and the penis for 315 stones, or if you’re having trouble I can process it for 20.

>How will you sell the goods? Are you going to keep something? Need anything processed?
>What will you do with the earnings?

Rolled 63 (1d100)

>>6193511
Wow the balls were actually an Aphrodisiac lol.

>Sell the Kidneys, the Skin, the Balls and the Penis for 430.
>Have the Liver Processed for 20 Stones.
>Buy a set of Qi Recovery and Blood Recover/Healing Pills. 80 Stones for a set of each.
>Buy 80 Stones worth of lesser Yang Polarity Pills.
>That should give us 300 Stones left over.

>Haggle to get the best pills we can get, rolling 1d100 since we've had better luck with 1d100s I feel.

Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>6193511
Supporting >>6193515 but also ask if she sells any spatial/treasure rings or bags so we can store our items in the future.

>>6193511
>Sell one of the horns, the kidneys, the skin, the testicles and penis
>Proces the liver
>Buy 80 stones worth of lesser Ying Polarity Pills.
Unless I'm wrong those work better with our Extreme Yang
>Buy a set of Qi Recovery and Blood Recover/Healing Pills. 80 Stones for a set of each.

>>6193518
We're Extreme Yin not Extreme Yang. So our Weapons and Pills need to be Yang Based but we can use Yin Abilities through our body pretty well. Not that we've been taking too much advantage of this fact.

>>6193520
Ahh in that case I'm changing >>6193518
to
>Buy 80 stones worth of lesser Yang Polarity Pills.

>>6193515
>>6193516
I'll take the preemptive haggling roll just this time. Writing

///
Last update for the night, will be back in 12 hours or so.
>>6193516
You'll need way more than what you have right now for a spatial treasure.
///

”I’m fortunate to have no trouble down there, thank you.
The horns I’m keeping, help me process the liver and I’ll sell you the rest…
Give me a set of Qi Recovery and Blood Recovery pills, and what can 80 stones get me if I want Lesser Yang Polarity pills?”

”About five or so.” Answers the apothecary, already

”About five or so of your best?”
”About five or so of my only ones, when you do this long enough, the only way to get ‘better’ results is with better materials. I’ll give you three more if you shut up and let me process the liver in silence.”

”Fair enough.” You let the woman work her magic, rather than using mystical arts, she rubs some acrid liquid on the liver and it is dried in a matter of minutes, the liquid becoming crystals that are wiped off with a dry piece of cloth. She then uses mortar and pestle to grind it into a fine powder, packs it in a small cloth pouch, and gives you the purchased items as well as the spirit stones.

You obtained 430 spirit stones, of which you used 180 for supplies, leaving you with a total of 250.
Each recovery set you purchased has 10 pills neatly packed into two color coded pouches (blue for Qi, Red for Blood), you instinctively switch the contents of the pouches.

It is late into the night, you can stay at an inn for 10 spirit stones and roll a 1d6, or you can rush back to the array and arrive in time to start cultivating with the first rays of sunlight.

>Stay at an inn (roll a 1d6)

or

>Go back to the array to cultivate
>>Decide how you will use the Ram's horn, the liver powder, the lesser pills, Sunspot, and the knife and staff
>>Roll a d20

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>6193547
>>Go back to the array to cultivate

>>6193547
>>Go back to the array to cultivate with our new pills

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>6193547
>Stay at an inn (roll a 1d6)

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>6193547
Forgot the Dice

>>6193547
Hey can we use Casaulity Denial to bring Honest Xu through body reformation/revitalization so that we can have a sexy pocket alchemist?

>>6193573
>first girling a literal hag
damn dude

>>6193685
My fetish is when actual decrepit hags turn into beautiful women then having intense animalistic breeding sex with them.

I forgot about the +3 bonus to cultivation rolls from the tower event in >>6192672, so I will add it to the results we get this time around.

Tables organized, this won't happen again.


>>6193573
You'll run into better Causality Denial candidates, yes there will be hags I promise.

>>6193705
Maybe paste the current happening events on the top of the post, the Tower, The Mist and the Opening Grand Treasure Place.

>>6193705
Also I'm just memeing about the hag thing but once we reach Qi Foundation Establishment we gotta go groom a small child or regress an elderly person to be our assistant.

You’ll just return to the array site, there should be enough time to start cultivation right as you get there, at this point you’re almost glad the mist is around to keep things free from nosy beasts and people.

You fiddle a little with the horns so they can be used as your array’s centerpiece, it will not be as effective as the Sunspot, but you’ll be able to keep it on you and raise its resonance, Shama would understand.

The array is activated, and then you consume a single Lesser Yang Polarity pill… you might be able to take more but it’s best to be cautious. Then dip your pinky in the Lightning Horned Ram Liver powder and tap your forehead, right in the third eye’s location.

The array has removed the mist’s -3 penalty!
The world senses the appearance of the tower and prepares its inhabitants! +3 (Time dilation is a bitch, +3!)
The vacuum effect of the array will bring in more Yang energy than normal! +2
You’ve found a great location! +6
The unnamed buddhist temple’s staff resonates with you! +1
You’re confident the Ram’s Horns will be a good enough centerpiece! +2
The Lesser Yang Polarity pill stimulates your meridians! +2
Your Third Eye is more receptive because of the liver powder! +2


16+6+2+2+1+4+3(+3)=37!

The Yang Qi flows in unimpeded, your body has no problems accepting it and refining it into Yin Qi, you would feel chilly were it not for the fact that the vortex of yang energy is hot enough to cause a mortal to pass out.

The process of cultivation is made up of three parts, the nurturing of the Body, the nurturing of the Soul and the nurturing of the Mind.

A nurtured body allows for a strong soul, A nurtured soul allows the mind one to perceive and understand the principles of the world, and a nurtured mind allows one to control their own destiny.

In order to successfully break through to a higher stage three things are necessary:

First is having a body strong enough to support the soul, exercise and physical training are required for this.

Second is a soul strong enough to grasp at the concept of the next stage, meditation and practice of mystical arts will help with this strengthening.

Third is the understanding and use of the next realm’s concept. A nurtured mind is needed for this, the stronger the mind the less risk of deviation there is, but should deviation happen, the stronger it will be.

>>6193739
Qi Gathering is the very first stage, where the cultivator begins to project their body and mind into the soul, this projection is called the “Sea of Consciousness”. And as one progresses, this sea of consciousness is transformed.

Foundation requires the individual to “Solidify” this sea into a landmass, many people will not make it past Qi Gathering, because they’re unable to complete the first transformation.

As a former Immortal, Bai Hua’s Mind already has a deep understanding of all cultivation stages, so he is exempt from Breakthrough dice checks. Other characters will be subject to them, but they can be mitigated in various ways by using Bai Hua’s expertise.

You contract the sea of consciousness into a drop of water with the might of your “Body” and compress it with your Immortal mind until it is no longer visible to the naked eye.

The land that you want to form is:
>A vast plain (Earth related trait)
>An mountain range (Water/Ice related trait)
>A deep trench (Dark related trait)
>A tower of strange architecture (???? related trait)

What you think about while doing this is
>A positive memory
>A negative memory

You’ll use this opportunity to
>Temper your eyes
>Temper your bones
>Temper your veins

Roll a 1d6

>>6193741
>A tower of strange architecture (???? related trait)
Mystery Box!
>A negative memory
Fuck the Gatekeeper
>Temper your eyes
Well our biggest benefit seems to be our intelligence more than anything

>>6193741
>A tower of strange architecture (???? related trait)
>A positive memory
>Temper your eyes

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>6193741
>A tower of strange architecture (???? related trait)
>A negative memory
>Temper your veins

Rolled 3 (1d6)

Rolling for post breakthrough event, don't mind me.

Locking at :40.

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>6193741
>A tower of strange architecture (???? related trait)
>A positive memory
>Temper your eyes

Rolled 2 (1d2)

Memory tie breaker.
Writing!

>>6193758
Just wanted to clarify if this is basically our inventory or if we're missing anything. So we get a better idea of what we have.

>[Bai Hua]

>Cultivation Level: Lower Qi Gathering | Progress 41/60
[Qi Gathering] -> Foundation Establishment -> Core Formation -> Golden Core -> Soul Dividing -> Soul Nurturing -> Soul Fusion -> Immortality

>Cultivation Path:
[Extreme Yin]
The practitioner will excel in the use of a single Polarity of Mystical arts, but cannot use arts of the opposite polarity arts.
On the other hand, treasures and weapons of the opposite polarity will have a higher resonance, and those of the same polarity will be less effective.

>Inventory

[Weapons]

Nameless Yang Energy Staff | Weapon Resonance 1

A random staff that Bai Hua got as a reward from some Buddhist monks so that he could protect himself after his rebirth. Helped him recover from almost Qi deviation when a city official kept trying to throw woman at him in an attempt to honey trap him.

The Sunspot | Yang Attributed Liquid |

A malleable liquid totaling the volume of a small palm-sized gem. It can be shaped into whatever the user wants and burns incredibly hot. It was originally a Divine Yang Weapon created for an ancient Demon Emperor but was left rotting in a backstreets store.

[Pills]
Lesser Yang Polarity Pills: 7
Some lesser Yang Polarity Pills can help a cultivator build up their cultivation level.

Qi Recovery Pills: 10
Some Qi recovery pills which can help a cultivator quickly build up their Qi so that they can keep using mythical arts or powerful martial arts.

Blood Recovery Pills: 10
Some alchemical pills which can help heal external injuries around the body while replenishing a person's blood caused by said injuries.

[Misc]
Minor Spirit Stones: 250
Spirit stones are used as currency by cultivators and can help a person with their cultivation by absorbing the energy inside.

Lightning Ram Liver Powder: 1 Liver's worth
??? No Idea, it's a Yang Polarity Material that could probably be turned into a greater Foundation Establishment Cultivation Pill or something.

Lightning Ram Horns: 2 Horns
A Yang Polarity Materials taken from a Lightning Horned Ram. Can be used as a material for cultivation or turned into any number of treasures.

>>6193760
Correct

File: 1708393579852678.png (5.07 MB, 1920x1080)

5.07 MB PNG

You made a big, imposing volcano In your past “life” because you thought it was the strongest most imposing kind of landmass... ah to be young. You then learned that in this world trenches are way more imposing simply because of the depth they hold.

This part is best done instinctively, so you’ll think about something and let your subconscious do its thing.


The first time you ran into The Gatekeeper was when your astral projection let you outside of this world, the the gate was full of mist, and beyond the mist was the infinite, with landmasses you hadn’t even dreamt about, colors you didn’t think existed and stars that defied all rationality, each landmass held buildings of incomprehensible designs and purposes.

You are currently seeing yourself wandering in that endless sea of mist.

”Oh? I wasn’t expecting someone to show up… Greetings, I am °!#%&... Your name is?” There was no source for the voice, it simply spoke into your mind.

”Bai Hua, Esteemed °!#%&. May I know where I am?”


”Hmm… One could refer to this as a bridge, or a gate of sorts. Being here means you’re apt to cross over, why don’t you check what awaits on the other side?”

”This is just my mind, I don’t feel prepared yet. Will I be able to return?”

”That will depend on a few things, Oh?”

A pair of eyes stares at you, and it is not the “You” in the memory.

”...You will definitely return, I can guarantee that.”

…

You panic and snap out of your trance, take a moment to get yourself together and then use a small amount of spirit sense to do self inspection… You didn’t botch anything, that’s a relief.

The “Landmass” you created is a large tower of strange design, it mirrors that of the strange structures beyond the gate but is currently a poor imitation, your soul and body are not strong enough to stand the real deal, nothing that can’t be fixed as you cultivate.

You focused on your eyes during this process, and it has paid off very well. The colors of this world outside of the array somehow feel… less vivid than before, you can see beyond the swirling mist.

Bai Hua: Early Foundation Establishment | 18/120
Special Traits:
Crimson War God’s Dance: +1 Action in combat, +2 on combat rolls +1 on failure rolls. Roll bonus increases by 1 per turn, an extra action is gained every odd turn.
Eyes of the Unshackled: Hua is able to see the differences in the flow of energy around him instead of needing to perceive it with his Qi, the mist no longer affects his visibility.

[Weapons]
Nameless Yang Energy Staff (Foundation) | Weapon Resonance 1 - No Breakthrough
The Sunspot | Weapon resonance 0 -> +1

”Are they conscious even in a memory or did I somehow end ‘back there’... Interesting…”

You deactivate the array and get ready to leave, you might be able to keep using this setup to cultivate, but it will take longer to break through as opposed to finding a better location.

As you’re packing everything up, a lone figure walks out of the forest.
A young man, a little thin, long hair tied high up, face on the normal side but you can see the appeal to sheltered young ladies. White Hanfu, a piece of jade with very rich Yin Qi hanging from his hip and a rather long sword on his back.

He looks to be in the early Foundation stage just like you, and the quality of his Qi is very, very good.


“I don’t mean to pry but how did you do that? ” he asks.

“Just an array, seven thousand spirit stones and it’s yours.”

He reaches for the sword “And if I beat you blue and black?”

“Oh? You want to try?”

You will
>He dares? Beat him up (Combat)
>Talk him down, he’s just a brat (Roll a 1d100)

What is this guy? A bandit? Some common cur? Shameful. No wonder he gets no bitches. He doesn't even have that villain pizzazz. No style. No flourish. Just boring threats. BACK IN OUR DAY, EVILDOERS WERE COOL

Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>6193787
>He dares? Beat him up (Combat)
Ahh a young master courting death, classic.

>Throw up a hasty Darkness Spell to cover the area and rob him of his sight. (1d100)

>>6193795
It's an arrogant young master probably from some noble clan. There's about a few hundred of those guys running around causing trouble for everybody.

>>6193797
Getting mixed signals here, the dice check is to talk him down.
If you choose combat we'll have a turn where you can plan your approach and do combat rolls.

>>6193787
>He dares? Beat him up (Combat)
>Charge forward before he has a chance to draw his sword and start fighting him unarmed aiming to incapacitate.

>>6193799
Ahh I misremembered I thought martial arts was 1d20 and mythical arts were 1d100. Turns out that was just the sunspot.

I was aiming for a quick spell before he had a chance to act rip. Just Combat's fine then.

Post Breakthrough event: Ren Luoyang

He dares? He dares! He doesn’t talk like a lowlife so he’s either a little young master or an overconfident kid.

Very well, you’ll just beat some respect for others into him.

Ren Luoyang | Early Foundation Establishment | Sword | Jade infused with Yin Qi | 1 Action
Extra reward requirement: Ren Luoyang survives for 3 turns

You have two actions, remember that order is important.

>Throw up a hasty Darkness Spell to cover the area and rob him of his sight. (Roll a d20)
>Charge at him, what good is a sword if you can’t use it (Roll a d20)
>Grab your staff, he will unsheathe his sword, but it will give you time to see his stance
>Use the sunspot (What form? Roll a d100)

Rolled 10, 13 = 23 (2d20)

>>6193810
>Throw up a hasty Darkness Spell to cover the area and rob him of his sight. (Roll a d20)
>Charge at him, what good is a sword if you can’t use it (Roll a d20)

Rolled 10, 13 = 23 (2d20)

>>6193810
>Throw up a hasty Darkness Spell to cover the area and rob him of his sight. (Roll a d20)
>Charge at him, what good is a sword if you can’t use it (Roll a d20)

Ohh hey we actually rolled decent. Make sure not to beat him down too hard so we can teach him a lesson.

Rolled 13 (1d20)

Locking, Rolling for Ren Luoyang's reaction.

Rolled 9, 10 = 19 (2d20)

>>6193810
>Charge at him, what good is a sword if you can’t use it (Roll a d20)
>Start targeting punching and targeting the man's non vital areas, trying to inflict pain on him while keeping him conscious.

>>6193814
>>6193815
huh

>>6193822
huh

Rolled 15 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>12
You circulate your Qi into the palm of your hand and aim it at him, releasing a “Cone” of darkness that covers the area directly in front, then charge at him from the side and throw a high kick.

>15
The kick hits the kid's hand and prevents him from pulling his sword out, but he pulls himself together and manages to barely meet your follow up punches and kicks with some of his own… Not bad, you’re not using any real techniques though.

You exchange a few blows, neither side taking any damage and he jumps back to create distance while unsheathing his sword.

”Heh… You're not bad for someone who only broke through! Let’s see if you can deal with this!”

The sword is exposed to the air and strong Yin Qi pushes the mist around, you can “see” that he’s channeling his Qi from the Dantian towards his right arm and the blade.

“You’re pretty bad if someone who only broke through is giving you trouble heh heh” The mocking tone of your reply seems to have ticked him off a little, and the Qi intensifies.

Assuming he’s strong enough, he can unsheathe his blade with a downward motion to shoot a wave of sword intent at you, or he can finish unsheathing it, land and rush you.

You will
>Wait and evade (1 action), roll a 1d10
>Focus solely on evasion (2 actions), roll a 2d10
>Charge at him again and try to keep the fight unarmed. (Left or Right), roll a d20
>Throw something at him (Where? What will you throw?) roll a d20
>Prepare your staff
>Prepare the knife
>Use the Sunspot (What form? Roll a d100)

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>6193833
>Charge at him again and try to keep the fight unarmed. His Right, keep beating right sword hand where he's channeling his Qi.
>Wait and evade (1 action), roll a 1d10

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>6193844

Rolled 6, 8 = 14 (2d20)

>>6193833
>Charge him to keep the fight unarmed
>The focus on evading his blows.

1 of 3 turns down.

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>6193833
>>6193833
>>Prepare your staff
>>Meet his attack with one of our own using the Nameless Staff.

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>6193833
>>Prepare your staff
>>Meet his attack with one of our own using the Nameless Staff. 1d20

2 for charging in and evading
2 for using the staff to meet his attack.
Closing at :20

Rolled 1 (1d2)

Tie breaker roll.
Writing!

>>6193860
Shame that I don't think the rolls will transfer over.

>>6193874
Yeah, I'm only using the rolls that voted for the decision that wins. It's still the first thread so I could change it if there's enough feedback, I wouldn't mind.
/////

Bai Hua: 8+2 =10 | Ren Luoyang: 15+1 =16

You kick off the ground to charge at him with the intention of keeping the fight unarmed, but the Jade in his hip glows for an instant and the speed of his Qi’s circulation increases, he’s able to complete infusing the sword and unsheathe it by the time you’re close enough to reach him, all you can do is smack it to your left side.

(”Tch… I can only change the angle of the slash, I’ll have to evade it!”)

Bai Hua: 1+2 =3

You try your best to move out of the way, and barely manage to avoid being sliced in two, in exchange your left arm is left with a long cut from shoulder to elbow. Not a life threatening injury, but it will make beating this dumbass up more difficult.


The brat lands and starts walking towards you, sword in hand. “You were saying?”


Your left arm is injured, if you use the staff, you’ll have to roll at a -2 penalty.

You have two actions
>Use Mystical Arts (What element, how will you use it) and roll a d20 (1 action)
>Prepare the knife (1 action)
>Use the Sunspot (What form?) Roll a d100 (1 action)
>Evade with a d10 (1 action)

Turn 2 out of 3

Rolled 1, 8 = 9 (2d20)

>>6193880
>>Use Mystical Arts to Freeze his legs or slow him down
>Use Mythical Arts to launch a large boulder at him

Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>6193880
>Use the Sunspot to patch our wound
>Attack him again using the staff.

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>6193887
Rolling 1d20 for the staff.

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>6193880
>Support >>6193887

A liquid perhaps acting like a cast/gauntlet?

>>6193880
>Yeah, I'm only using the rolls that voted for the decision that wins. It's still the first thread so I could change it if there's enough feedback, I wouldn't mind.
Knowing that people will probably just bait rolls and change their vote to fit whichever roll is higher. Probably better to just share the rolls.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>6193889
Staff time, use it to.disarm him of his sword, maybe that him on the elbows.

Locking at :20

>>6193890
Might as well yeah

Rolled 7 (1d20)

Locked, writing, let's see how well Ren Luoyang does this turn.