Chapter 353 - Changes (X)
Chapter 353
Changes (X)
All else aside, I'm a bit worried about achieving the 'perfect path'.
Though the system made it sound simple--prep these few innocent things, go to this totally normal-sounding place, and soak in a nice, warm bath... I have the sensibilities of a cynic, and those sensibilities are currently screaming at me.
Even if the system mentioned that, in consideration of my circumstances, it had prepared 'simpler' pills, I still couldn't see their grade. Forgetting for a moment ingredients and the fact that, even if technically possible, they'll probably be a pain in the ass to gather, can Lao Shun even... concoct them?
I'm already not that well-versed in the art of alchemy, so now that the '???' recipes started popping up... the hell do I know?
Plus, I'm fairly certain that even if I somehow am allowed to just go up to the random tortoise in the secret realm, it wouldn't just give me whatever I need.
... haaah.
Forget it, forget it.
I'll share one of the recipes with Lao Shun, see his reaction, and calculate then and there just how many decades it will take me to achieve this 'perfect path'. In addition, I'm pretty sure that even Long Tao is aiming for it, so just getting one batch isn't enough. But... where the hell are we going to find the second turtle heart?
No, I already said to forget it. This is a future me problem.
Good luck, future me. Don't hate me too much.
Okay, now that Dai Xiu's art is done with... time to move to the last three.
Xing Feng can wait for a while longer, as I'm not really sure what to even make for him.
The other two requests... Light's easier, no?
I mean, at least conceptually. All she wants to do is fly. Why? I don't know. Maybe because she's seven? I, too, wanted to do many dumb things (including fly) when I was seven. I guess she's just impatient.
The question is... can it even be done? And will the system tell me I'm a moron for even trying?
As for Wan Lan, though it's harder to come up with an art for her, all she wants is an offensive one. I already have a broad idea for it, to utilize her near-indestructible meridians (and body going that direction, too), but no specifics in mind just yet.
... so, let's see if we can make a seven-year-old girl fly... but not too much.
Alright.
So, that was kind of... easy?
All I had to do was tinker a bit with the type of Qi, energy, and a small modification to add a trace of Wind. Ended up costing just shy of 300 points.
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Am I some sort of a genius at stitching things together?
Hah!
... dammit, I forgot to name the goddamn thing yet again!!
[Congratulations, Host, on creating the 'Windborne Steps' Movement Art]
[...]
[Windborne Steps]
[Type: Movement Art]
[Rank: low-Sky]
[Host Comprehension: Intermediate]
[...]
[A rather simple, if redundant, art that allows even those of lower realms to step through the air itself. Due to its simplicity and limited purpose, it is difficult to utilize in actual combat and is better suited for entertaining children]
[Creation Points Value: 285/400]
[Comprehension Difficulty: Easy]
[...]
[Creation Bonus: None]
... what?
None?
That can actually happen?!
... alright. So, maybe the system really was extremely generous thus far. I figured that, even if I just make something pointless, I'd still get, I don't know, a few points back, maybe? But yeah. I guess that if the art is underwhelming, the reward would be, too. Or nonexistent in this case.
Oh well.
I stepped outside the tent, making sure not to disturb anyone as it was late at night, and tried using it. For a few moments, I literally could step on air--but it wasn't really flying. Each consecutive step consumed more and more Qi, and I kind of understood why the system said it was best suited for entertaining children.
It required a lot of focus to continue stepping on air, and standing still was as difficult as balancing yourself on a fork-sized wooden beam. I only managed to get up about fifteen feet before I lost my footing and fell, though I landed solidly on my feet, looking up with a frown.
Will Light be satisfied with this? It's kind of fun, I suppose, but... nah, she needs to be. Let her play around with it and learn to fly with the rest of the cultivation world.
Forget it.
"Master, what are you doing out?" I turned around and saw Wan Lan crawl out of the tent.
"Just testing something," I said. "What about you?"
"Haah, I can't cultivate," she said. "Xiu is spattering about what kind of an art you will reward her with."
"Ha ha. And you're not?"
"I know that, whatever you give me, it will be precisely what I need."
"... that's an awful lot of faith to put into me." She merely smiled as she stepped up and stopped beside me. We continued traveling along the lake's shoreline, though the other end of the landscape did change a bit; it went from a forested area to open plains.
"None of us have anything short of that," she said.
"Wonderful," I chuckled. "Have you gotten used to your new realm?"
"Mostly," she nodded, extending her right arm as a twine of twilight-colored energy tangled up around her fingers. "I feel like my body's become even sturdier than before. And just as I thought I could finally endure a round or two against Senior Brother Tao... he breaks through. It's frustrating."
"..."
"Not in a bad way, though," she quickly added as the energy faded. "At least, I do finally understand why Madame was so insistent on me leaving that place."
"Yes?"
"I'd have never known the world beyond it," she said. "And would have never realized just how difficult it will be to achieve my dream. And, perhaps most of all, I never would achieve it. With you, and Senior Brother, and even the other little rats," her lips stretched into a smile. "I... find myself believing. Believing that, in spite of my lacking talents, one day... I will remake the Cult and clear its name."
"... when I was your age," I said. "I was an utter mess."
"Master?"
"Forget working toward my dream... I didn't even have one to begin with. All I had in me was anger. Anger at the world, at my parents, at others. Never, not in a million years, would I think that one day I'd be standing here, traveling with a bunch of kids, each of whom has the talent even the Heavens envy."
"Master...!" I chuckled at her reddened cheeks.
"Ha ha, it's nothing to be embarrassed about; every day I find myself more and more astonished that, somehow, little old me got saddled with such amazing Disciples. That's why, just like you, I have to work hard. Alright. It's late; you should go back inside."
"But Dai Xiu--"
"--give her this." I procured the tome for the Heavenly Speed Steps (I'm beginning to regret the name a bit) and handed it over. "It ought to keep her quiet until dawn, no."
"Yes, Master." She smiled and bowed. "Thank you."
She sprinted off back to the tent as I sighed; they really are just kids, at the end of the day. Yes, kids that were armies unto themselves, sure, but kids nonetheless. I can't--no, I won't forget that.
Ever.