Chapter 683 - Gold and Glitter (XI) (Patreon)

What to give Shufen? My first instinct was to just make her some art, but there was a major issue with it: I had literally no idea how she fought. Ever since joining us, I'd never actually seen the woman fight. Like, physically. In fairness, she's only in Qi Condensation Realm, so it's not like she could have fought, but that also means that I have no idea how she fights.

At all.

Not even whether she's a melee fighter or, like Light, prefers ranged. Not if she's more weapon-based, or movement based, or, well, anything. I mean, that's a bit of an exaggeration; I still do have her status window, which mentioned 'Formless Shadow Physique', so I'm guessing she's an assassin type.

... but, again. Bow assassin? Dagger assassin? Poison assassin? Who's to say?

Well, she is to say, I presume. So, I'll just wait--both for her to come storming in demanding things, and possibly for the system to give me some sort of a hint.

I spent the remainder of the day watching Xiu'er and Zhao'er and Lan'er spar with each other; ever since the two girls broke through, the three had weaned off of sparring quite a bit. It seems like they had a lot of catching up to do, as they kept beating each other up well into the night.

The night itself was uneventful, with me slowly exploring a bit options for creating art for Zhao'er. Honestly, I'm just looking at Single Severence and wondering if I can make an upgraded variant of that. Zhao'er's fighting style is extremely straightforward--it's rooted deeply in singular overpowering of his opponents. His attacks are about three major realms stronger, and if he goes all out, even I'm not sure what kind of bullshit he can conjure up.

Single Severance was like the first door into the path of Singular Annihilation. By now, however, the art's a bit outdated. It's 'only' middle-Jade tier, and has a value of 750 points. And, when I made it, I was still stumbling a bit like a man blind through the creator's window. I considered remaking it many times, but Zhao'er's progressed well into its mastery, and remaking it for 1,000 points and resetting that mastery just wasn't worth it.

Even with 5,000 points, it still might not be worth it to outright replace it. Thus, I considered upgrading it.

I'm not gonna commit to it, though, until I am well and certain that it's the right thing to do. So, for the night's length, besides taking a quick two-hour-long (and very forced) power nap, I played around with the system's options, looking for the best outcome.

Come dawn, the birds began to chirp--part of the transformation of the mountain was that we now had live critters living on it. Birds, deer, boars, the whole lot. They occupied the 'lesser' portions of the mountain, though the birds occasionally found their way to the top to share their song with me.

I was just about to have my morning cup of deep thoughts while staring at a beautiful sunrise when I felt Qi beginning to stir like a storm--a whirlpool formed underneath, centered at a small cave southwest of me. I immediately eyed it and saw milky-white streaks beginning to blur into dark-purple and black ones, spewing out like shadow and ink.

It was rather macabre, and had I not known it was Shufen breaking through, I'd have thought it was some demon come to destroy us. Conjuring up such an event, though, while breaking into the Foundation Establishment... sheesh.

Thinking about it, I don't remember what her talent is--all I can remember is that it was 'Mortal' when I inspected her as she was crippled, but now?

[Talent: peak-Myth]

Alright, alright, alright.

So, she immediately shot past everyone else. Damn. No wonder she's conjuring up shadows and darkness like it's no biggie.

Something did feel off, though; I can't quite put it into words, but 'vibes' were different than when other kids were breaking through. No, it wasn't even that so much as she seemed to invoke a different 'kind' of energy. I didn't even have the time to do some guesswork before the system just outright told me.

[One of your Disciples, Tuan Shufen, is attempting to break through into the Foundation Establishment; however, as she was Condemned by the Court, the buried seed of Condemnation is attempting to incur Lightning Tribulation. Host can block the interception (for this breakthrough) by spending 20,000 points.]
[Spend 20,000 points]
[Y / N]

I mean, yeah? Of course, why even ask, you damn bastard! If we're discovered, we're all properly fucked so, whatever, spend 20,000 points. It's not like I can't afford it.

As soon as I spent it, that strange 'energy' dissipated--it was also right then that Long Tao appeared by my side like a shadow, hurried and heaving, with a look of panic in his eyes. However, just before he said anything, he frowned, stopped, and stared at me.

"... what'd you do?" he asked.

"Hm? I had a really good nap. Why?"

"..." he trusted me about as much as parents trusted their toddler with cake, which is to say not at all, but he didn't push. "Hm. Good naps are really important for health."

"Oh, they're the best."

"I'm going to take one, too. A lengthy one."

"Oh?"

"Don't bother me for a month." oh, wow, look at this petty bitch.

"Just a month?" if there's a competition in being a petty bitch, if I'm getting second place, nobody's getting first. His eyelids twitched as his lips nearly curled up into a smile, but he managed to hold back.

"You can afford to forgo a few quips here and there, Master," he said.

"And miss that look on your face? I'd sooner die."

"Haah." he merely sighed and left. Just in time, too, as a pillar of darkness and shadow descended like ink spattering across the canvas, smearing across the entire mountain for a moment before disappearing as if it were never there.

At the same time, the window popped up--but I didn't even have the damn time to read it as that old thing just appeared like a ghost next to me. If I weren't already used to Long Tao popping from seemingly nowhere, I'd have likely yelped and fell down. Which, judging by her extremely disappointed expression, was exactly what she was going for.

"Are you three years old?" I asked before she had a chance to say anything.

"I keep my spirit young," she said. "So, Master, I've broken through."

"Hm. Congratulations."

"Where's my reward?" wow. Shameless. Utterly, completely shameless.

"Your reward? But I already gave it to you, though."

"Hm? You have?" she frowned.

"When you were breaking through," I said. "The seed of Condemned inside of you attempted to reach out to the Heavens and summon a Lightning Tribulation. Do you see any lightning around?"

"--e-eh? Wait, what?!" I thought that was her, but no, it was actually little old Tao who exclaimed. Goddammit, you little shit! I thought you left! "You... you blocked Seed of Condemnation?!!"

... oh, dear me. Looks like the system, once again, did something stupidly impossible. Aah, I don't have nearly enough ancestors to cover for all the crap it's pulling out...