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One day, while tending to your plant garden, you suddenly hear a presence and look overhead just in time to see an immortal fly past!

Standing on an ancient blade and with his emerald dragon-skin cloak fluttering in the breeze, you are blown away by this power and prestige of this peerless immortal. He flies overhead without a second though; your own worldview suddenly shattered as you feel a new emotion for the first time.

Envy. Jealously.

You know this is what you need to become now- for the first time ever, one of your people has experience ambition. You have the distinct urge to grow in power and prestige- perhaps some day even become an immortal!

However, in order to become an immortal, one must cultivate. Cultivation is an ancient art, somewhat kept secret by the Sects. Most cultivators belong to a sect, who gives them access to training, wealth, and resources that allow people to cultivate to become stronger. Near where you live, there is a secluded group known as the Five Hundred Eagles Sect who take new disciples. You don't know much about them, but you do know that they "test" new applicants rigorously. Soon will be the time when you can try your hand to join the sect- until then, you must have time to train yourself! What do you think you can practice before the test?

>Train your Body
>Train your Mind
>Train your Spirit

>>4957074
Is our first name Gordon?
>Train your Body
FIST ALL THE CULTIVATORS.

>>4957165
This seems to be the most apt idea. I mean, the mind is more powerful in most cases but a basic body to start with is all but required.

>>4957230
The body is the vessel for the soul.

But more importantly, I WANT TO FIST.

>>4957074
>Train your Body
Let's fucking do this

REACH HEAVEN THROUGH VIOLENCE

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You decide to train your body. You make sure to get plenty of sleep, spend some time doing stretches and lifting heavy stones near your family farm, and eat as many leafy greens as you can. As a herbivore, it's hard to get protein, so you have to really focus your diet to grow muscle.

You arrive at the entrance to the mountainous Sect. You're overwhelmed at how nice it looks- the distant peaks within the sect's lands look enchanted, but even this entrance looks special and unique. Just being near this kind of place gets you a little giddy. You feel ready for your test!

You also see a lot of people here are young- you're probably the same age as them, but sheep people mature faster then humans. There's at least two dozen people who aren't wearing sect robes- they're probably applicants just like you.

"...I'm hoping to become a one leap outer disciple."
"Shooting for something humble, eh? I know I'll become an inner disciple."
"What?! No way. The Five Hundred Eagles are an exclusive, renowned sect. Most people who get in are two leap outer disciples- one leap is plenty ambitious!"
"I hear the outer disciples here barely get any time to cultivate; might as well spend time traveling to a less exclusive sect..."

Inner and outer disciples? Leaps? You have no idea what these people are talking about. Maybe you should try making small talk- maybe you could make a friend or two? Other people are whispering- the sect elder will be here soon to administer the test.

>Talk to the boys
>Ignore them and prepare for the test
>Eavesdrop some more

>>4957550
>Eavesdrop some more
Silence of the Lambs

>>4957550
>Ignore them and prepare for the test
Fuck the sheeple, as a glorious sheepman we care not for the humdrum concerns of such lesser beings. Like a magnificent mountain goat, we shall ascend to the highest peaks of cultivation--and then we shall go even further beyond.

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You decide to mostly ignore the boys- stretching your body and preparing for your great test, you feel confident in yourself. Though you aren't sure how "competitive" it might be with all these others here.

You seem to pick up a few more things though while mostly ignoring the others- you hear that the Sect is ruled by Elders, who are advanced cultivators, nigh-immortals, who decide who get to enter the Sect to study under them. You also learn of a key difference between Inner and Outer disciples- you seem to hear that Outer disciples do all the work for the Sect, where as Inner disciples are taken care of so they can focus all their efforts on cultivation. With that in mind, you'd better try hard to become an inner disciple!

Soon, you hear a gong sound. Everybody lines up- you can hear the shuffling of feet as members of the sect flood the square right beyond the Sect gate- many young people line up with you. You also see that almost all the Sect members are humans, though a few other races from distant lands are here, you feel quite alone.

To begin with the ceremonies- two young disciples from the temple stand across from each other and perform a daring scene of martial arts and acrobatics. The display is mesmerizing, and only further your interest into the world of martial arts.

"Now- it is time to test the new supplicants!"

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You stand in a line with the other juniors, before you finally met a Sect-Elder face to face.

He looks old, but just from his presence you can feel a sort of power beneath his old skin and white beard. It isn't as powerful as that first immortal you saw flying on a magic sword, but this one is still very powerful compared to you- and you can almost feel how old and wise he is too! You stiffen up and stand up straight.

"Hold out your hand."

You do so, and he places a silver ring on your ringfinger.

"Wait until the signal, and then open your hand, palm downwards."

Soon, every young man in the line has a ring. You wait, and then everyone opens their hand out at once. You feel something drop- a short silver thread and a small lead weight at the bottom, which looks like a very small looking sword or arrowhead of some kind.

The elder goes to each student and explains the test-

"This ring measures your three base attributes of interest to a cultivation sect- the ring glows based on your chi reserve, the amount of chi your body produces naturally without training. The thread is your natural lifespan, both its length and quality, and finally the weight at the bottom is your killing instinct. The measure of your qualities will determine your placement in the sect."

He goes to each student in a row, before finally reaching you. He stares closely at the ring on your finger, having to bend over and cup his hands around it to see its glow- you feel very embarrassed. Your heart sinks further when he measures your threat, and finally reaches the weight at the bottom. He pushes it hard against his palm and shakes his head.

"No no... Very little chi. Your lifespan is short- you will live 60, maybe 70 years, but it is frayed near the end, so the last five years of your life will be degenerative from your old age. Finally, your instinct is far too dull- almost totally useless."

He seems to think for a second.

"Outer Disciple. Four Leaps."

You hear a whisper nearby. "Four leap years of an outer disciple- might as well go home."

Wait- leaps mean leap years? You'd have to be an outer disciple and work without a chance to cultivate for twelve years!?

>Demand a recount
>Go home
>Other (write in)

>>4957877
We are the glorious wolfsheep! We know not failure, acknowledging only that there are more trials to surpass.

Mm, dunno if we should suck it up and keep going or if we should try our hand at lucking out shitty-xianxia style and stumbling upon some master cultivator in need of mortal aid or what have you

>>4957877

>Write in. "I accept, esteemed Elder. One's journey begins with a single step, and I shall train diligently with what I am given."

I think it's important to give favourable first impressions, especially to someone high ranking in the sect and one way to do that in Xianxia is through showing unwavering character. Nevermind what others may say, this is our own path and we will carve out our own destiny. Opportunities present themselves in the most unexpected of places.

>>4957877
Listen to the conversations of other rejected aplicants to determine what other sects are nearby. This one gave much weight to killing and chi, an uneasy fit to both our aspiration and character. There could be other, more suitable options for us.

AT FUCKING LAST! ANOTHER CULTIVATOR QUEST

>>4957902
+1, supporting this

>>4957902
This, but also the fact that this is the closest place where we can find any leads on how to cultivate

i don't know shit about cultivation apart from what sseth explained in his "amazing cultivator" video but if there is one thing i want to do is go apeshit with fists only, no artifacts no false godhood just straight up punching somone's knidneys out of their body

>>4957957
You know only half of the great glory of cultivation novels. Seek knowledge and one day you shall recognize Mount Tai.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xianxia_(genre)
https://immortalmountain.wordpress.com/glossary/wuxia-xianxia-xuanhuan-terms/

And for a surprisingly accurate idea of what most (trash) xianxia novels are like, look no further than the 2nd review on this page:
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/i-shall-seal-the-heavens/
You're on the right path if you see something about a McDonalds.

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You decide to play it cool.

"I accept, esteemed Elder. One's journey begins with a single step, and I shall train diligently with what I am given."

The elder looks at you with a curious expression. Of course, on the outside you appear as a calm ocean, but on the inside you are fuming.

You can't believe this! This "test" wasn't a test a merit at all- only talent! Those without strong roots simply aren't "worth" accepting into the sect then? You feel a ting of despair at the elder words- "Very little... short... almost totally useless." How cruel one can toss away a young sheep's hopes and dreams over no fault of his own!

The truth hurts, you guess. You don't know much about cultivation yet, but you know that spending twelve years working as an outer disciple would almost certainly ruin any chance you may have at becoming an immortal- one must achieve breakthroughs to extend ones lifespan faster then one ages, or else one will never be able to become immortal. Based on the elder's words, you don't think even with a full life of cultivation you can make it in time...

But you can't give up just yet. You have joined the Five Hundred Eagles sect, though your status is very low and humble. In the following days, you become an Outer Disciple.

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You are given a set of bland robes, a very small cell and a wooden slate with no cushion to sleep on, and are tasked with cleaning the various training grounds and other buildings of the sect.

You'd think they would give early joiners an easier time- but no! You are worked very hard for the first few days. You're used to hard labor from your life on the farm, but this is almost designed to be brutal and mean-spirited in how they delegate tasks- probably to get weak disciples out of the sect early. Strangely enough, you find this work much less of a problem then the human children at the sect- you always were told that sheep people have more endurance then humans, perhaps this is proof?

It is very clear that you will not be taught any cultivation or martial arts techniques at all, at least not until you graduate into an inner disciple. But that would twelve years from now...

All you know is that whatever you do, you have to do something to graduate to inner disciple! Every day you spend as an outer disciple just feels like a waste of valuable time. What are you going to do?

>Shirk your duties and explore the sect's grounds (Find Cheat Item)
>Work extra hard and try to impress a sect elder (Favored Disciple Route)
>Find a way to bribe or blackmail your way into becoming an Inner Disciple (Loss of Face)
>Screw authority! Steal something valuable and become a loose cultivator (Renegade Route)

>>4958218
>>4958218
>>Work extra hard and try to impress a sect elder (Favored Disciple Route)
we will get SWOLE and use PHYSICAL CULTIVATION

>>4958218
>Work extra hard and try to impress a sect elder (Favored Disciple Route)

>>4958218
>Extra hard

You only get one chance and all

>>4958218
>Work extra hard and try to impress a sect elder (Favored Disciple Route)
TALE OF THE BUFF SHEEP
WE MUST MEET OUR SHREDDED MASTERS

>>4958354
AYAYAYAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

>>4958218
>Work extra by never stoping training

>>4958218

>Find cheat item AND work hard.

They aren't mutually exclusive after all, and those that have read ISSTH know what I'm talking about.

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As a sheep person, you find adapting to life in the clean, fresh air of the mountainous sect's various lodges and peaks rather fitting and refreshing. You take to it like a fish to water; though you are only allowed in the outer most areas of territory where the chi isn't very thick, you still find yourself uniquely suited to this place.

Very soon you begin to take on all the duties of an outer disciple; including the duties of other disciples as well. You find that the humans here simply don't have the same level of endurance and stamina that you do- you guess it has to do with your race. Moreso, you also learn that the outer disciples are apparently only fed table scraps from the meals of the inner disciples- leading to many losing their energy and complaining about hunger- but you can eat the grass and plants on the mountain, meaning you have plenty of energy.

Pretty soon, you've made a small name for yourself among the outer disciples. You don't want to be known as someone who will do everyone else's work for free, but you are generous and always upbeat. This, plus your natural novelty at being a sheep person gives you a small amount of popularity among the outer disciples. Unfortunately, outer disciples are rarely allowed to mingle with inner disciples...

While it is still exhausting and you have learned very little about cultivation, you find yourself finding it easier then you thought to work hard to get attention and try to move up. Perhaps even enjoyable. But there is a bit of a problem; you are still assigned to work here for twelve whole years before you will be allowed to become an inner disciple, and even your chipper attitude can't last that long. You're working hard but there are none to see it- simply keeping your head down and doing a good job isn't enough, that's what is expected of an outer disciple. You learn that in the first year alone, over half of the outer disciples will leave once accepted. You don't want that to be you, but neither do you want to waste so many years of your lifespan working without getting any closer to true immortality.

>Try to do duties near Sect Elders
>Spread rumors about yourself to further your popularity
>Spread rumors about other outer disciples to try and make them look bad
>Wait until a really bad task comes up to volunteer for it without hestitation

>>4958591
>Write in

>Use your increased popularity among the outer disciples and natural affinity with labor, to more efficiently organize their chores and make sure those with natural skill in certain areas, such as cooking, cleaning, hauling or construction, spend more time doing those tasks than not
>After all, it'd be a shame to lose your new comrades simply because their wills were ground down by mindnumbing labor

>>4958604
that's not a bad idea actually

>>4958604
This works.

We could probably take on other shifts in exchange for favours/other novelties.
Or we could use our spare time to hone our mind.

I wander what kinds of techniques and teachings the Five Hundred Eagles Sect has

>>4958604
>>4958591
Muscular stewardsheep go! +1

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Meanwhile, in the personal chamber of an Inner Sect student-

"I do not like this new outer disciple- the sheep. He has been organizing the outer disciples and they've started to get big heads about it. It is supposed to be us inner disciples who run the show."

"Now now-" The Sect Elder said, "You have only been here for a single leap and yet you talk as though you are already an immortal. I like this sheep- he's polite, cordial, and hard working. You became an Inner disciple purely based on your golden life-thread and cultivation talent. Perhaps you are the one being arrogant here?"

The young master blustered and said nothing. His fellow, a nonhuman, spoke next.

"But elder sect-brother; it is true that the outer disciples are accomplishing their labors much faster now. Before they worked constantly, now they have enough free time to question why they aren't allowed to cultivate too. If that happens, none of us inner disciples will have the vital resources we need for our own cultivation! Our progress will be stalled!"

The sect elder nodded.

"I understand your concerns- but this is purely a good thing. We can accomplish two tasks at once; outer disciples will make the sect like new again, and at the same time, we will run communal classes to showcase the strength of the inner disciples. Doing so will also increase the respect the outer disciples for you as well."

The two youths looked at each other, unsure of the Elders plan, though he's never steered them wrong before...

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You put your plan into action. By assigning the outer disciples to tasks better suited to them, having well organized shifts, and delegating as many tasks as you can to yourself- you manage to coordinate your fellow outer disciples into finishing all of the work in the sect after a few months of hard work. It's actually amazing- you are told that the sect has always been behind on its basic duties, cleaning, and renovations like that for centuries, which is one of the reasons why the outer disciples were always worked so hard.

With free time- the outer disciples are almost at a lost for what to do. That is until a Sect Elder comes down from a higher peak on the mountain to announce a new change.

"While we cannot yet teach you true cultivation techniques, we can begin to teach outer disciples some basic martial arts techniques. These will be public demonstrations, once per week, in the central courtyard."

Wow! You might finally get to learn something cool after being here for months- while it's not quite the same as grasping for immortality, it's enough to get you motivated to show up bright and early for it.

The Sect members kneel by the courtyard as two inner disciples come down. Each demonstrates body motions- these are Qinggong techniques! By using body motions and breathing, one can change their body's weight and lightness. You can almost see the air around them changing as they change their body weights and densities.

"While nowhere near as impressive as an immortal in flight, nor as fast as one trained in instant transmission, body lightening can allow its user to perform many acrobatic stunts. The opposite can also be used to increase the weight and density of the user, granting defense against attack and making them immobile."

It seems that these teachings are minor tricks- nothing compared to true cultivation, but still fascinating! You want to learn them, but given that both of these inner disciples are demonstrating these techniques at the same time, you should probably focus on one of them to make sure you get everything just right and learn the technique for real.

>Learn Body-Lightening Technique
>Learn Body-Weighing Technique

>>4959045
>Learn Body-Weighing Technique

If we can learn to time it right, we can turn this shield into a marvelous spear!

>>4959048
An astute observation. E=(mc)(mc). We can influence m or c. Here, m modification also gives us the advantage of not being anihilated like our target.

>>4959052
Maybe we'll make a new technique/ sub technique through that equation.

>>4959045
>Learn Body-Weighing Technique
Our fluffy fur protects! Our cloven hooves crush! Our (currently nonexistent) curved horns will pierce the skies!
Verily, there is no greater creature on heaven or earth than the Ram.

Anyone want to guess what the non human inner disciple is? from the shape of the ears, Ima guess bat

>>4959045
>Learn Body-Lightening Technique

Body-weighing may be good early on, but once we actually start learning more skills, lightening will be significantly more versatile, and it still gives good defense on its own via dodge tanking.

>>4959147
I doubt it'll be locked off forever. Hell since it's a basic martial art technique we're pretty much guaranteed to pick it up eventually unless we get really proud about being THE WALL

>>4959045
>Body lightening

Being able to dodge and leap is much more useful.

>>4959038
I don't see the reason for their ire either. I mean, the obvious solution is to move that the sheep be promoted to some manner of manager position under one of you, allowing you to take credit for his actions while satisfying the sect's needs for effecient work.

But then, I suppose being chosen for birth qualities rather than intelligence or skill leaves you rather lacking.

>>4959045
>>Learn Body-Weighing Technique
ARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCKARMORLOCK

>>4959048
+1

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You decide to learn the Body-Weighing technique. You watch the inner disciple closely, seeing his movements. Though you are still a bit sore from your physical training, you spend the night in your tiny cramped outer disciple cell working on the technique while it is fresh in your memory.

The first thing you notice is the need for breathing- breathing in and holding in air seems to be required for this technique, as does a great degree of lower body strength- especially your thighs and core. It takes a bit of time to figure it out without advanced instruction, but by the end of the week you were able to achieve a tiny bit of the newfound power!

This technique, the Body-Weighing technique, is the opposite of the Body-Lightening technique. Using it, you can make yourself denser and more stable. With a wide stance you feel like you become heavier, harder to move. There is no loss of motion in yourself though, meaning that each footstep or strike with your arm is about the same speed as normal, but carries with it a heavier force from the increased body weight. Currently you can make yourself about as heavy as though you were a fat sheep- making you harder to push over, and your skin and flesh feel about as dense as hard muscle even at the softer parts of your body.

However- while it took you a week to learn this technique, that was all the time you got. Almost as soon as it came, it was announced that the Outer Disciples of the Five Hundred Eagles Sect would no longer be receiving martial arts lessons of any kind. Instead, you hear that you have new duties- carrying all the stones in a field to a river to be washed, before putting them back. Counting grains of sand in the meditation gardens, or plucking one leaf from each tree in the tea grove.

"What is this bullshit?" You hear a fellow outer disciple ask- "These chores are clearly just to make us waste time! And just as soon as we got so good at the normal chores- Why are they doing this?!"

You feel eyes on you as some of the outer disciples murmur- some seem to think that you are to blame for the new labors by being so diligent and attracting so much attention to yourself. Uh oh.

>See a Sect Elder and ask why
>Keep your head down and do your duties diligently
>Other (Write in)

>>4959515
>Bullshit as hard as you can. "Among my people, there is a saying; idle hooves lead the lamb to stray from the righteous path. Though you have hands, the sentiment is the same. This is a test of our resilience, dedication, and determination. See this for the opportunity it is; an introduction to meditation, that we might make full use of our cultivation. It is our duty as disciples not to question, but to excel. Come now, brothers. Our new tasks await." Pray they take the bait and are suitably inspired. If any think you're full of shit, tell them that their inability to control their emotions shall lead to flawed technique; if you cannot control the soul, then the body shall fall.

Random bullshit go!

>>4959515
>See a Sect Elder and ask why
I don't think the other disciples will buy any BS we try to put out. Better to just see if we can win over the elders.

>>4959717
Support. The elders, or at least the one that talk good about us can be more open to think and reconsider, or even explain why they came with something like this.

If we can't make better all of this, then I think we should tell our partners that they should start to practice the techniques they can remember in private when going to wash the stones, or if they're interested, a small group of 3 can go to do the stone-washing and then we can show them the body-weighing

>>4959539
Support

>>4959539
Suporte

>>4959717
+1

>>4959731
+1 i support this

>>4959539
>>4959717
I'll back these.

>>4959717
>>4959539
Bullshitting and then going to ask the elder for the actual reason seems like our best shot.

We are quite obviously still displaying our capacity for leadership here, which I don't think they will like.

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You decide to first calm the other outer disciples by saying it is all a test, and then you decide to go straight to the Elder. You find the nicer old one who first tested you when you got here. He takes you away into a side garden.

"Your name was... Ramsy, correct?"
"Yes, Sensai."
"Well Ramsy, is life as an outer disciple treating you well?"
"Hmm, well it can be hard work but..."

The elder stiffens, clearly he knew what you were asking here about.

"Let me give you some advice, young sheep. The martial arts world is a brutal, cutthroat place. The truth is the reason it is so difficult to join a sect and cultivate is not simply for elitism or the arrogance of those on top. The reason is because resources are very limited- time to study new martial arts. Pills and medicines. Artifacts. Even chi itself, depending on where it flows. Paradoxically, if you allowed everyone to cultivate, nobody would be able to achieve even a first or second breakthrough- much less achieve immortality."

You look down at the ground. This conversation makes you feel sad... but you can't find faults in the logic.

"But is it really necessary to torture the outer disciples like this?" You ask, "We did all the work needed around the Sect and we were just given more."

The Elder nods, giving you an understanding, but still firm tone.

"Half or more of those new disciples will be gone in the first year. And then a half more of those left will be gone before the first leap-year. The heavier a burden put on them, the more it weeds out those who can't make it in cultivation. I understand your desire to help others but the truth is that a single powerful cultivator or immortal can defend an entire nation from outside threats- where as a nation of barely cultivated novices has nothing, if you understand my meaning. Instead of trying to help others by lifting them up along with you, lift yourself up and help from the top. Do you understand what I am telling you?"

"Yes."

The Elder nods- but he doesn't seem finished. Like he has more to tell you...

"...I suppose I might as well tell you. There is a martial arts contest coming in about six months from now."

"Hmm?"

"Normally- Outer Disciples are not told until a week in advance, much to short to prepare for anything. They are not expected to enter."

"Why tell me?"

"Well- it's mostly a thing for inner disciples. The winner is rewarded with a rare reagent for cultivation- but outer disciples were always allowed to join. The tradition began because if an outer disciple wins the contest, then that means they must be a martial arts genius and are instantly elevated to an Inner Disciple."

You feel a sudden surge of optimism from his words- and a bit of a frightened sense of insider knowledge. Why is he telling you this to begin with?

"I just figured you deserved a reward for handling all the work around the sect so well even as just an outer disciple. Anyway, goodbye for now~" The sect elder says, practically giving you a wink as he walks away.

This is incredible news! Why you only have one martial arts skill to your name, the thought of winning the contest and being elevated to an Inner Disciple so early seems like your ticket to the stars... but actually winning the contest would be a huge challenge. Still, having this knowledge at all could be just the break you need.

Note: Enough time will pass before the contest that you will get at least one more turn to prepare besides this one.
>Prepare for the contest by mastering the Body-Weighing technique
>Prepare for the contest by learning the Body-Lightening technique (asking the Outer Disciples who learned that one instead)
>Try to sneak away and study what the Inner Disciples are doing
>Attempt to invent your own martial art to display in the contest

>>4960296
>Master the body weighing technique
We should enter with a mastered point.

>>4960296
>Prepare for the contest by mastering the Body-Weighing technique
ARMOR LOCK

>>4960305
THE INVIOLABLE LAW OF BODY

>>4960296
>Prepare for the contest by mastering the Body-Weighing technique, and if it is possible to train without specific movements, try to use it all the time
>Complement the Body-Weighing with some basic martial arts
We are learning a technique to become physically heavier, but we too need to train at least some kind of martial art techniques, so...

>>4960296
Note: Enough time will pass before the contest that you will get at least one more turn to prepare besides this one.

>>4960456
Support

We are a farmer first and foremost, then we are a Outer Disciple of the Sect. We should learn martial arts so we close the gap between the two.

>>4960456
Support, but make sure to tailor our chosen martial arts to our bodies' strength. Namely our endurance

>>4960296
Supporting >>4960456

>>4960456
+1
also nice quest op
I hope this goes for a long time

>>4961292
Same. It's off to a fantastic start

>>4960456
+1

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You decide to focus on perfecting your Body-Weighing technique. Being able to make yourself denser seems like a great ability for both defense and offense- but it doesn't actually give you an edge in combat.

...The martial arts contest won't be a fighting tournament, would it? The old man didn't say it was. Now you're worried. You take a brisk walk through the gardens around the inner sect the next chance you get some time to yourself- perhaps you can peak in a window or courtyard and learn a few new moves. These inner-sect gardens look incredibly lush, even from outside the walls- your outer disciple garden side looking sparse in comparison. But then you see it.

One of the trees in the inner-disciple garden. Its branch with a juicy plum was hanging over the wall- and judging by the state of all the other branches, this one was never harvested. They must have missed it. Now it is true this plum could just be a normal, everyday plum, but it could also be a piece of spirit fruit- useful cultivation reagent eaten by cultivators to increase their power!

It is likely this fruit will just fall onto the ground and rot away- or more likely fall into the mouth of another outer disciple looking for an edge. You have an opportunity here. If only you would have learned Body-Lightening you could probably reach it with ease. But for now, you need a plan. You could leave and come back, but leave the fruit to be found by someone else. You could also offer to split it with another outer disciple if you worked together and boosted each other up, but then you'd only get half...

>Go get a ladder or stick to reach the fruit
>Enlist the help of an outer disciple
>Something else (Write in?)

>>4961363
>>Go get a ladder or stick to reach the fruit

>>4961363
>Find an inner disciple and point out the plum to them.

Honesty is a virtue. By the rules of the sect, it should go to one of them. Even if its a chance to gain power, is the road we wish to walk fraught with duplicity and swindling?

>>4961363
Hmm. . .
>Climb up the small tree to our right, then pull outselves up onto the wall.

>>4961366
I disagree with you. By the words of the elder, the game is zero sum, so taking the plum gets us food and possibly an increase in power which cannot be removed from us.
Besides, the only sin is getting caught.

>>4961396
That sounds awfully apostate of you. What next, practice heretical arts? Practice Caibu Turn a sheep woman into a cultivation cauldron?

If we can get permission to eat the plum , I'd be fine with eating it. But as It stands we've so far been respectful and humble, especially in terms of our sect's hierarchy. We were only told of the tournament because we did good work.

I'd rather take the loss at the tournament but keep the reputation as a dependable worker than take it and risk losing face.

>>4961435
And I mean the "only sin is getting caught part" sounds like something an apostate or other variety of villain would say, and meant it as a joke.

The zero sum, concentrating power into a few cultivators is entirely accurate and not just in the quest. However, I'd like to try to keep Ramsay moral, and sure stealing what may be a cultivation reagent isn't very high on the horrendous things you can do in a cultivator world I still feel it'd be best to not take the plum without asking first.

>>4961366
Fuggit, +1. Maybe we'll get a friend.

>>4961366
eh i'm changing my vot to dis den

>>4958066
Not the anon you replied to, but thanks! This made me go from mild interest in this quest to wanting to explore the genre. Got any recommendations that aren't extremely long like the one whose review you linked? Read that shit (the review) all the way through and the story doesn't seem to be worth the effort. Thanks in advance, anon!

>>4961552
Cultivation stories tend to be really fucking long.

>>4961552
It's written by a Westerner, but Ave Xia Rem Y is a pretty good one to start with if you're unfamiliar with the genre. You can read it on Royal Road. The title and generic synopsis are a complete bait-and-switch on a surprisingly well-written story. You can dig through mountains of trash on NovelUpdates for Eastern shit like the rest of us do, too.
Forge of Destiny (also written by a Westerner) is generally considered to be quality, as well.

>>4961438
>>4961435
Morality born of a people completely lacking in ambition and unsuited to the cut throat world of martial arts.

But when I said, the only sin is getting caught, I'd meant it truthfully. Every cultivator in the sect would have done the same thing, take the plum, and only scorns us for it because we found it before they did.
Hence, not being caught equals being completely scott free and on the road of a true cultivator.

I personally think being given this knowledge of how the world really works, Ramsay would change to accept this truth. Because we wish to become immortals, our time is incredibly limited and self sacrifice is apparently the play of fools and the ignorant. Of which we are not, and no longer.

>>4961601
That may be the case, but establishing a reputation is valuable at all levels of cultivation, especially for a cultivator without a background like us. A single spirit plum is in itself unlikely to be worth much in the long run, but the acknowledgement of our seniors and other inner disciples is invaluable so long as we are green.

>>4961658
My thoughts exactly, you have eyes to see mount tai

>>4961363
I want you all to think the next thing, its definitive that this is not the last tourney that we can have in this sect, we should put our efforts into winning, but it's not the end of the world
By the by, to increase our general fighting skills, we should try to fight animals, raising our abilities and survival instinct

>>4961363
>Go get a ladder or stick to reach the fruit

>>4961795
I don't know why, but when I read fighting animals I imagined Ramsay beating the shit out of chickens

>>4961601
>Not knowing the ultimate power up is enlightenment
If you want power anon you don't cultivate. You live and let live. Wandering around and experiencing the world in the hope that something will trigger that switch. That sudden OP enlightment that crushes everything else in comparison.

The sheep must be a sheep to thrive and understand. For that is the true path to power is being enlightened.

>>4961835
>The sheep must be a sheep
When we eventually become an elder, we should use that as one of the mysterious wise sayings we spout to our juniors

>>4961839
Not to mention being an elder who for some reason despite never actually cultivating is really strong and behaves strangely. Like always going on long walks, enjoying the sun/rain with drinks/snacks, and tending to the garden like a humble farmhand or found sweeping the stairs.

>>4961852
Rather than a cultivator, have we discovered the path of a Sage?

>>4961363
Fuck this
>Find an inner disciple and point out the plum to them.

I'm sold with what >>4961366 and I want to see what does that path takes us to.

>>4961868
Talent, personality, intelligence, strength and luck. None can compare with the enlightenment. So yes.

>>4961817
>Local sheep furry beats chicken to dead with his tae-sheep-do

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You end up deciding to not take the plum for yourself, and going to find an inner disciple to point it out. To one with such status, such a trifle may be worth next to nothing- and your good deed will be rewarded with the plum, or maybe something more!

However, it just so happens you end up bumping into not just any Inner Disciple- but THE favored Inner Disciple! His name is Kniff, a human cultivator who is said to be a genius of cultivation. Incredibly talented, you've heard rumors about he was instantly made an Inner Disciple and given a gift of a jade braclet- the braclet of jade is said to block his body's naturally unbalanced red chi. You know very little about it, but that's what you've heard from the other outer disciples.

"Oh- H-Hello there, Inner Disciple Brother." You say nervously. "I f-found something..."

The way he looks at you makes you nervous. It's like being stared at by a hungry wolf. Your prey instincts don't do well in these kinds of intense situations.

"Oh? Show me, Outer Disciple Brother."

You end up showing him the plum. Explaining that it must have missed being harvested, you declare that you had no intentions of eating it without permission- as you though to report it to a worthy inner disciple first.

With very little effort, Kniff floats upwards using the Body-Lightening technique and grabs the plum, before returning to earth.

"...You know, to us Inner Disciples, especially a favored, talented one like me, we are given these like candy. But to an Outer Disciple, they would be a great treasure."

You nod, starting to get excited at the thought he'd give it to you... right before he pops it into his mouth. Crunching, the precious juices squirt out onto his chin, wasting some of the heavenly snack.

"Ohhh~! So good~" He murmurs to himself, loudly, on purpose, so you can hear. In a huff, you turn around and stomp away. What childish behavior! You'd think he'd act more his age... though then again, you're probably similar ages and sheep just mature faster...

...After losing the prize of the plum to a greedy inner disciple, just to rub it in your face, you still have some time to prepare before the martial arts competition. After having gained as much as you can from the Body-Weighing technique, now you could learn a new technique instead- or find some other way of boosting your chances of winning the contest and being made into an Inner Disciple!

>Study the Body-Lightening Technique
>Ask around for new techniques among the Outer Disciples
>Sneak into the scroll-library to find something interesting
>Ask the kind Elder for advice

>>4962267
Damn, with a name like Kniff I almost feel bad for him.
>Study the Body-Lightening Technique
Almost.

>>4962267
>Sneak into the scroll-library to find something interesting
We have to learn some actual martial arts, guys. We aren't going to find them anywhere else but here. Come on.

>>4962267
>Sneak into the scroll-library to find something interesting

>>4962267
>Sneak into the scroll-library to find something interesting, while grasping the very basics of the
Body-Lightening Technique after finding at least a decent plan to enter

>>4962383
>>4962459
>>4962532
Yall realize that they will KNOW we snuck in right? We literally have no other way to learn something like that, so showing off what we learn outs us instantly.

>>4962267
>Study the Body-Lightening Technique

They showed us both techniques for a reason.

>>4962383
>>4962459
>>4962532
>>4962548

I had to agreed that it is not good idea, if we learn from the library and later use the techniques in martial art tournament. Only exception if we learn techniques from outside the sect.

>>4962267
>Study the Body-Lightening Technique

We could combine the both techniques to deliver powerful. Make us light so that it increase our velocity and then make our strikes heavy when connected our blow against our target.

>>4962267
>Ask around for new techniques among the Outer Disciples

>>4962267
>Study the Body-Lightening Technique

Prideful young master spotted

>>4962267
>>4962383
>>4962548
Fine. But learning lightening is still gonna put us back where we started, two techniques, no actual martial arts. Changing my vote to:
>Ask the kind Elder for advice
>>4962459
>>4962532
>>4962675
>>4962577
Please change your votes if you see this in time.
>>4962603
Other Outer Disciples aren't going to know about actual martial arts.

>>4962692
Sure

Changing from >>4962675
to >Ask the kind Elder for advice

>>4962267

Posting from phone.
Change vote >4962577 to>>4962692

>Ask the kind Elder for advice

>>4962267
>Ask the kind Elder for advice

>>4962267
>Study the body lightening.

Leap up high, SLAM DOWN HARD!

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You decide to go to the kindly elder for help.

"Elder-" you say. "-Ever since the, urgh, helpful hint you gave me, I've been preparing to compete in the martial arts competition. But I feel woefully under prepared. I managed to master the Body-Weighing technique in the meantime, but haven't had any progress anywhere else."

The elder turns to you, giving you a once over.

"Hmm, well, when you put it that way- that outer disciples are not invited until there is short notice, and learning new martial arts moves or cultivation is forbidden to outer disciples- it really makes one consider that perhaps the system is rigged against them."

You feel heavy hearted at is words- rigged! You felt like you had a bad enough time as is, but yes this entire concept does indeed seem like the odds are stacked against you.

"Well in that case.. what can I do?"

The elder shrugs his shoulders and turns around, about to walk off, he turns his head just slightly and speaks lowly, without turning to look at you.

"Perhaps, if the system is set up in such a way that it is impossible to win within its rules, that means that the point of the game is not to play within the rules." He practically mumbles, before wandering off without a single glance backwards.

Well then... now what do you do?
>Write in

>>4962772
We were a farmer. That means we have an intimate knowledge of herbs and other plantlife that others do not possess, even cultivators overlook the mundane reagents of the world to focus on what can fuel their cultivation.

We've probably heard stories of fighters who utilize poisons, and cultivators take all manner of pills and elixirs.

So it wouldn't be "Unfair" if we use this knowledge to our advantage, and gather poisonous plants, ones that cause irritants, and ones that can be used as stimulants of the body, the overlooked herbs that are considered useless by proper cultivators. And wholly unexpected from a "mere" Outer disciple

So, in short

>Gather poisons and stimulants from the natural world, refine them, and work a basic style around their use. The Body Weighing technique shall be our fleece, but our poison will be our horns

>>4962772

I agreed on this >>4962776

By the way, can we use body weight to make our wool heavy?

>>4962776
Fair enough.
Time to coat our hoofs in poison and be nasty.

>>4962783
You just made me think about one way we could utilize any poisons we produce. In particular contact poisons.

We could soak our wool in poison, so we have a dangerous coat alongside the many other uses we could get out of poisons, and the many methods we could wield it.

Of course this would probably be dangerous to do at the start, and would have to wait until we have more resistance to our own poison so it doesn't hilariously backfire

HOWEVER, we could shear our wool, fashion it into a coat and soak that in poison, and disguise the coat as our natural hide.

>>4962786
Spy on the Inner Disciples and copy some of their moves

>>4962772
>Sneak into the scroll-library to find something interesting
Sounds like this was supposed to happen then.

>>4962776
We're just gonna do cocaine, aren't we?

>support

>>4963014
They call him the Opium Ram

>>4963017
The Opiram.

Fun fact! In Asia, people make tea out of coca leaves or just chew them raw which has similar (though MUCH subdued) effects to more refined forms of cocaine. So there is a real possibility that we know about it.

>>4962776
I'll back this.

Another thing to point out is we can use our coat to grow plants and fungus in. Which we can than manipulate or use directly like a natural armor. Getting punched by spikes or having toxic spores blow up in your face by hitting us isn't fun. Not to mention irritating plants or mushrooms that are toxic upon touch.

So its not just poison we can limit ourselves to. We can even grow food and medicine to heal up in the middle of battle. Not to mention the many stimulating and debilitating stuff we can grow as well. Basically lots of fun stuff we can do if we go that direction. Not to mention confusing the ever living daylights out of anyone who wants to fight us.

>>4963036
Just wait till we start munching tons of rice/beans(form a whole protein when eaten together), nuts, and superfoods. We will get buff as fuck.

>>4963052
That's sounds epic

>>4962776
>support

>>4963052

That idea sound very interesting. Maybe become very swole plant sheep.

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You decide to focus on a new, unusual route to gain more power before your contest... using your natural skills.

About two months before the competition, you return home to your family farm to visit. While you don't tell them how long you'll be an outer disciple for, you do regale them with stories of your adventures and training. But the real reason you came was to collect a sampling of seeds, mushrooms, and grasses to dry and use for your own purposes.

Unfortunately, your active imagination of using your own coat as a growing platform, or covering yourself in poisons or magical seeds are still much too far fetched for someone of your level. With no magical abilities learnt through cultivation, and without any NUMEN with which to command inanimate objects to obey your will, you are stuck with a handful of very basic, mundane seeds and grasses. But that's alright, you can take some hearth knowledge instead- the knowledge of the herbs and their uses is good enough.

One week before the martial arts contest is to begin; it is finally publicly announced to the Outer Disciples. Just as the elder told you- nobody of such low status was given time to prepare, and so nobody volunteered to join. Except for you. There is a murmer through the crowd.

But then something jumps out at you; they ask you for your act.

Your... act?

Oh no. This isn't a martial arts tournament, this is a martial arts demonstration. Like a cultivator talent show. You realize that this actually makes a lot of sense; not everything related to cultivation is directly about power- and using a contest with judges means that nobody will get hurt and there is less inherent unfairness between cultivators of different stages and ranks.

But... you had no idea that this was what was going to happen! You guess you should be thankful, since at your level you'd get your ass handed to you by any inner disciple- still, this throws a wrench in your plans. Instead of focusing on fighting, you should be focusing on display and mastery. You've certainly never performed in front of a large group of people before.

You have enough time to produce one medicine just before the contest. What should you make?
>Calming Elixir
>Stimulant Elixir
>Smoke Bomb

>>4963362
>Calming elixir

Meditation

>>4963368
Actually on second thought, I'll change to >Stimulant elixir

It'd be more impressive to meditate while our senses, and such our distractions, are heightened

>>4963362
>Stimulant Elixir

>>4963362

>Stimulant Elixir

>>4963362
>Stimulant Elixir

>>4963362
>>Stimulant Elixir
While it might not be for a fight, I want it for the meme and what >>4963371
said.

>>4963362
>Stimulant Elixir
WOOOOO

>>4963362
>Various elixirs of different effects, focused in knowledge of vegetation and visual entertainment
Test it in animals, and use the ones with the most unique properties, that used a deep knowledge of all that your experience achieved about vegetation in general, and that too, at least look kinda cool
Like for example, a elixir that makes a (normal) sheep behave like he was a thunder when moving, with maybe another elixir that throws to the air particles of... something so that it looks cooler
And of course we will use our martial techniques combined with other elixirs, like coating a plank of wood with an elixir that makes a "CRACK" onomatopoeia when broken that appears bigger the more mass is behind the damage (demonstrating our dominion of the Body-Weighing technique)
The ideas that I gave are very farfetched and stupid, and I think it would be only possible after MUCH longer and with other materials, but the general idea is there, what you guys suggest?

>>4963362
>Stimulant Elixir
WE DO COCAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE

>>4963362
>>Stimulant Elixir

>>4963881

Damn it Captain Morgan! You can't solve everything with cocaine!

>>4964083
FUKEN WATCH ME
>proceeds to snorts coke agressively

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Update is being worked on shortly.

Just a heads up, I will be returning to my wage-cuck full time job tomorrow, meaning I will have less time to update the quest. I'd still like to shoot for once or twice a day, depending on how long it takes to produce art for the updates. Thank you for your patience.

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It's the big day. Carrying with you nothing but the skills you've learned and a small dose of stimulants to help you with your challenge, you arrive at the martial arts competition.

First to go is Kniff- as one might expect. The star of this sect- he throws up several wooden boards and turns them into chopsticks with two cleaving motions with his hands. The audience gives a polite clap. That ability to cut things with ones hands- you've heard of that martial art! It's a powerful weapon, the "blades" of ones own hands only getting sharper the more one cultivates, but it is not an unthinkably difficult or rare martial art.

Next up is the secondary star-pupil of the Five Hundred Eagles sect, and you're surprised to see he is a nonhuman. His name is Bolu and his race are called the "Little Horned Men of the Hills and Valleys", or just little horned men for short. They are smaller then most other races, but put even the respectful constitution of the sheep people to shame. They actually have several talents that one would assume mean they make excellent cultivators- able to drink spirit wines and powerful alchoholic brews that would kill a lesser man with no ill effects, incredible innate physical strength with no training, and a long natural lifespan. You'd suspect he's probably the oldest student at this Sect, despite his apparent height and age. The average horned man is said to live for one hundred and sixty years of age!

However, the little horned men are stereotyped as being quick to anger, with poor impulse control, and a lack of long attention span- all deathtolls for cultivators. As such, cultivators of their kind are rare, and most are found in the hills and valleys drinking away wine made from the bark of trees. But Bolu here seems to defied the odds to become a cultivator; and moreso, using a racial advantage in the form of crafting magical artifacts in combination with his martial art.

The sword he wields is a Dao. As he moves it through the air, it ignites with his motions- the speed and strength of his moves translating to the heat and size of the flames. You realize that in the hands of an even more powerful cultviator, that sword could create pillars of flame or singe entire battalions with its fire.

Finally, with the star students done with their performances, you anxiously await your turn...

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...It is only once your turn draws nearer and nearer do you start to feel the stress. Wait a moment- you have to go up there on that stage and perform, in front of all these people?!. You suddenly start feeling very sick. Oh no, this is stagefright! You didn't realize how hard this would be.

Why did you bring a stimulant drug! You should have brought something to calm your nerves...

Even worse yet, your inner sheep instincts are acting up too. The thought of being isolated and watched by many eyes at once gives you an uncomfortable sensation of fear. You are a sheep, you like being a part of the crowd, not being the center of it.

You honestly want to call off the whole thing; and your name is about to be called. What should you do?
>Force yourself to go up there
>Excuse yourself
>Ask a few outer disciple friends to stand with you, with no practice beforehand.

>>4964879
>Ask a few outer disciple friends to stand with you, with no practice beforehand.
Everybody was Cocaine Hufffing.
HAH!

>>4964879
>Force yourself to go up there
There's no real expectation on us. After all, it's just the elder who knows when we've started preparing.

Then again, we could ask a couple of other outer disciples to help in our demonstration by whacking us with sticks or something similar while we try to meditate under the effects of definitely not cocaine.
By weighing ourselves down their blows will move us far less than they would otherwise.

Can we handle that though?

>>4964879
>Ask a few outer disciple friends to stand with you, with no practice beforehand.

>>4964879
>>4964934
I support the kung pow write in

>>4964879

>Practice a few movements to calm yourself, then go up there and rely on muscle memory to go through the motions. You've trained for months. For the finale, use the Stimulant drug to unleash a flurry of devastating, Weightened attacks! Show your ingenuity by using a defensive art as an offensive one!

A lot of martial arts relies on rote memorization to ensure your body can act smoothly.

>>4965077
Support

>>4965077
+1

>>4961460
Why is your name TravelAnon, fag?

>>4965077
Support.

Maybe make it like a Haka. A war dance as much as a "KILL THE THING!"
With our hooves, we would be better served breaking wood than fingers.

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You only have one option, you have to focus on what you know and swallow your nerves.

You feel unintentional shivers and sweat as you get up on the platform, but mange to control yourself enough to begin your routine. You use the Body-Weighing Technique along with slow, flowing movements to demonstrate your ability. While not as visually impressive as the Body-Lightening ability to novices, you have a strong feeling that the judges of the competition are more advanced cultivators and have better senses and a higher state of being, meaning they can probably tell how you are controlling your weight and density. Because you spent a significant amount of time mastering this technique, you feel like you did something quite impressive given your limited skills and level of cultivation, though you certainly made a few mistakes during your performance due to nerves.

Afterwards, you go to the bulletin board as the winners are announced and you see that... you lost. No! This was your chance to move into the inner sect!

Then again, you know the judges don't get extra points to outer disciple members out of pity- you had to stand your own ground. Maybe you should be happy about this instead. You didn't even make the top 5. Though you did make the top 10.. out of almost twenty five sect members who joined the competition, you managed to make the upper half.

>This is cause for celebration!
>Become motivated to work harder
>Realize you're wasting your time at this shitty sect

>>4966677
>Become motivated to work harder

if we meet Kniff while we train and work, thank him for being an inspiration.

it isn't a lie. He has inspired us in a way, by providing a hurdle to overcome and one day best

Don't tell him that though. I'd prefer if our sheep head stays on our body

>>4966677
>Become motivated to work harder

>>4966677
>Become motivated to work harder

>>4966677
>Become motivated to work harder
NEVER STOP IMPROVING. THIS IS THE RAM THAT SHALL SURPASS THE HEAVENS.

Did we at least beat out the other Outer Disciples?

>>4966677
>Become motivated to work harder

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After your defeat at the competition- you vow to work even harder!

Then again, you're not really sure what that entails. You spent so much training already. You're still feeling on the brink of depression even when approached by the friendly sect elder.

"Hello Ramsy. Nice job at the martial arts competition this year."
"..?"
"You did considerably better then the only other Outer sect disciple who entered- and considering that, you did better then several inner sect disciples as well."

Well, you guess that makes you feel a little better.

"Because of your performance, I have decided to ask you to perform a small task for me. You see, most of the inner disciple members are too busy with their own cultivation, and the other outer disciples I can't trust with a task of this level of importance and danger- though I feel it should be within the limits of your ability."

The sect elder explains that he requires a bit of help picking certain rare mountain flowers on a faraway peak. The mountain dew there apparently acts as a kind of poison to the sect elder's cultivation style; making him unable to go himself, but you could go without harm. He says that the other outer disciple members are either too work-shy or incompetent to trust with this task, so this could be your chance to get out of the sect and stretch your legs. However, he doesn't speak of any specific reward and seems to wish you to do it simply by nature of your rank in the sect.

>Agree to the task
>Ask for a reward first
>Wait for proof that the mountain won't harm you as well
>Decline

>>4968028
>>Agree to the task
picking flowers is merely the first step to becoming a mobile sheep growing platform, surely!

>>4968028
>Agree to the task

>>4968028
>Agree to the task.
We are the ram that shall surpass the heavens!

>>4968028
>Agree to the task

Even if the task is simply what it seems to be which I doubt, keeping the Elder on our side is a good thing.

>>4968028
>Agree to the task
The reward not asked for is always greater than the reward requested in situations like these. We have the elder on our good side already, let's keep that up.

>>4968028
>>Agree to the task
Prepare some stuff for camping, may be a bit far or take sometime to find it, and train the Body-Lightening technique

>>4968028
>>Agree to the task

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You decide to agree to the task for the elder. Since you aren't busy cultivating as an outer disciple, you suppose gaining some clout with the elder is a more valuable use of your time. Plus it will let you stretch your legs and see the world a bit.

However, going on a journey outside of the sect can be a little dangerous. Before you leave, you are given a few camping supplies and a few days of food. But you may also request one other item to take. You know the Sect won't spare much, especially for an outer disciple like yourself, so you won't be able to get any high grade magic artifacts or martial arts books or anything like that- and especially nothing useful for cultivation. They may be able to give you something by request; but it will have to be cheap and barely fit for a rice farming peasant, anything more will be surely declined. What will you take along?

>Dagger for protection
>Low-grade expired healing elixir
>Another Outer Disciple so you won't be alone
>Other (Write In)

>>4969451
>>Another Outer Disciple so you won't be alone

Nothing wrong having another outer disciple who could help us. Prefer somebody who have lightness body skill.

>>4969451
>Dagger

>>4969451
>>Another Outer Disciple so you won't be alone
Get a bud! being alone is the most dangerous thing in the wild.

>>4969451
Supporting >>4969658

>>4969451
>An outer disciple

>>4969451
>Dagger for protection

>>4969451
>>Another Outer Disciple so you won't be alone

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You decide to take another member of the Outer Disciples along- and the one who volunteers for the task is named Jin. Just great.

Jin is well known around the sect for being first recruited as an inner disciple for his, apparent, talents in cultivation. However after less then a year in the Sect, he was demoted. This was something that only happened very rarely, and most disciples who are demoted simply leave the sect instead of feel the humiliation of being dropped and being now unable to continue their cultivation. Jin didn't have that problem though; because Jin is an idiot. Too trusting and too clueless- perhaps a mirror to yourself.

Jin quickly gets on your nerves halfway along the journey. He doesn't seem to mind you taking most of the burden as you walk into the uninhabited mountains.

"Ahh! Smell that air!" He says, beaming away. You don't know why you don't like him so much, you just kind of don't like him. He's seriously getting on your nerves.

"Ever been this high up before?" He asks you. You have to resist the urge to sigh; of COURSE you have, you're a sheep. You came from the mountain villages!

>Tell him to shut up
>Give him a riddle to keep him quiet
>Just ignore him as best you can
>Ditch him at the first opportunity

>>4970616
>Give him a riddle to keep him quiet

>>4970616
>Too trusting and too clueless- perhaps a mirror to yourself.

Hmmm is that what other people thought about us? Jin seems to be annoying but... are we also annoying too...?

>Give him a riddle to keep him quiet

>>4970616
>Give him a riddle to keep him quiet

How can a flower guide you home?

>>4970616
>Give him a riddle to keep him quiet

>>4970616
WAIT A SECOND, he was before an inner disciple, so he know at least, something of cultivation,
>Ask him how he cultivated, and what did they teach him

>>4970760
I think just a bit, but we are very useful for the other outer disciples, look how we gave to the disciples the Body-Weighing and Lightening Technique thanks to our organization

>>4971122
support, we must learn all we can

>>4971122
support

>>4971122
>Ask him about his time as an inner disciple.

>>4971122 has a good point, changing my vote (>>4970815) to this

>>4971122
+1

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You suddenly remember something and turn to Jin with a smile on your face.

"You were an Inner Disciple right? You must have begun cultivation then!"

Jin looks away, a bit glum.

"Yes- I did. I didn't make much progress though. After a year of not making any breakthroughs, I was kicked out. I don't really like to talk about it."

You aren't exactly sure what he means- wasn't he elevated to Inner Secthood because of his talents? Shouldn't have cultivating be easy for him?

"Yes but- what was it like? What did you do to cultivate?" You ask excitedly. You want to know what he knows- after a whole year you'd think he'd know something useful. Perhaps something to get yourself started on your way.

"Well," Jin begins, looking off into space, "You do breathing exercises at first, and learn how to control chi inside your body. Then you can sense it in the world, and finally draw it inside yourself. For me though, once I learned how to do it my body didn't condense or "store" any of the chi for later. People are like cups or vases- they have a small amount of chi- in this case the water- inside them and slowly fill up as they cultivate. Once they are full, they can't hold any more no matter how much more chi they pull in. My "cup" was more like a thimble. I couldn't hold more then a tiny amount of spiritual energy, and as such I would never be able to cultivate to immortality. Once they learned that, I was kicked out. I haven't let that stop me though; there are so many friendly people in the sect- and I am hoping soon they'll start teaching us outer disciples more martial arts! I really wanted to learn the Body-Lightening technique. I'm sure they'll give us a few more lessons soon!"

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Wow. You feel bad for Jin, but you also feel bad for yourself. Is cultivation really that bad and unfair? He had talent unlike you and yet another thing forced him out. Who can say you wouldn't join the Inner Disciple after more then a decade of hard work and just found to have a "small cup"? With a full year and he wasn't able to force any more chi into his body. What a waste of time. Once again, you feel discouraged.

"Hey Ramsy! I think this is near the cliff where the elder wants us to collect the dew." You hear Jin say. As soon as you turn around, you see him starting to climb up a cliff all by himself! If he falls down, he'll seriously hurt himself! You're way too far away from the sect to run and get help now- what is this fool doing!

>Try to shout him down
>Run underneath and catch him
>Hold your breath and see if he makes it up the cliff

>>4973509
>Run underneath and catch him


Must protect the idiot

>>4973509
>Run underneath to catch him.

Idiot, must protect. Lamb instinct activated.

>>4973509
>Run underneath and catch him

>>4973509
>While running underneath him to catch him, take all the nearby plants that you can find to make a cushion in the ground in the case that he falls, and to make the the fall less painful for both, if there is no time for it, then just catch him

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Apologies for the slowness. Would like to return to a more brisk and reliable update speed here.

You run as fast as you can to the bottom of the cliff underneath the idiot Jin. Startled by your movement, Jin's grip seems to slip- he accidentally pulls at a small flower which can't hold his body weight, and he tumbles down directly on top of you.

When Jin lands on you you feel, besides the wind getting knocked out of you, a sudden sensation of energy just underneath the surface. For some strange reason, you get the indication that Jin's body is "full" of chi energy. But unlike what he told you, it's full of a LOT of energy. Based on what little you know of cultivation at his level, it seems hard to believe, but could it be possible that Jin stopped progressing in the chi condensing stage because his body was already full? And not a full thimble, but a massive tankard?

Your thoughts are interrupted shortly after when you recover from Jin landing on you. He apologizes, but you're too busy staring at something rising from the flowers. Nearby, a strange looking predatory creature rises from the endless flower-fields, as though awakened by Jin accidentally pulling a flower from this place. Whatever this creature is, it seems dangerous and aggressive- a loud hiss that sounds like the wind through the trees echoes from the beast. It is starting to move towards you now, Jin only just now being startled by it.

>Run away
>Fight it
>Make Jin fight it
>Try to replant the flower Jin pulled up
>Other? (Write in)

>>4976691
>try to placate the beast with songs and mantras

>>4976691
>try to placate the beast with songs and mantras
>Try to replant the flower Jin pulled up
>Do it SLOWLY

>>4976784
Supporting >>4976784
but with this addition
>> If the creature stays aggressive prepare it to fight it with Jin's help

>>4976691
>try to replant the flower Jin pulled

we are sheep, friend to all living things

>>4976749
Supporting

>>4976891
>>4977703
Uhh, no. This is our flower, guys. We need it.

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You have to think fast.

"Good beast... nice beast..." You say impotently as the monster bounds towards you. You notice its stride; so very graceful- not a single flower trampled upon in its wake.

"Jin- gimmie the flower! Quick!"

You don't trust him to do this. As soon as you get hold of the flower, you kneel on the ground, selecting a small spot free of other flowers, and start digging a hole.

"Wait! Wait. Look, I'm putting it back. See?"

The monster, surprisingly, slows down. It could now leap over and disembowel you within a moment if it chose, but instead it just eyes you suspiciously. You hum a calming song and see it start to get drowsy as you plant the flower back in the ground. For a moment, you worry about the fact you'll need to bring some of these flowers back and attract the attention of this beast or maybe more... but then you remember the elder only needed one thing- the DEW from the flowers at the top of this mountain. That was the objective of your quest.

With the flower planted again, the beast sinks to the ground and starts to sleep. You see roots begin to crawl onto it, as if reclaiming it to the earth. You breathe a sigh of relief- it seems this land is in touch with itself, guardians rising to defend it. You guess you're glad you weren't hungry enough to eat any flowers on the way up...

You go over to Jin and give him a piece of your mind for trying to climb up by himself. But in the meantime, you have other problems. In order to collect the mountain flower dew, you need to camp overnight and be up in the morning to collect it. However, this flower beast has changed some things. Now you are unsure what will be safe up here. It seems like this land rejects those who destroy this place, but you've trampled a few flowers on the way up on accident, and you know Jin has bumbled around many. You aren't exactly sure what this means, perhaps only trying to take the flowers is what is forbidden?

>Camp on open ground
>Try to find a cave to camp in
>Camp without tents, and just sleep among the flowers
>Other (Write in)

>>4977895
>Camp without tents, and just sleep among the flowers

Light some incense sticks, just in case it will ward away any beasties

>>4977895
>Try to talk to the spirits of this place and say sorry for disturbing the peace, and ask if we can sleep safetly in this earth until the morning where you will come back home.after collecting the flower's dew

>>4977919
Actually swapping to support this, since incense would be an offering to any native spirits

>>4977919
This.

>>4977895
>Camp without tents, and just sleep among the flowers

>>4977919
First this
>>4977919
And later this if there is no response

I will add something:
>Promise to the place that you are, that you may comeback from time to time to plant flowers, fruits, etc

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While finding a good place to rest for the night, you kneel down and begin to commune with the spirit of this place.

While you've never been an especially spiritual person, never gifted in any art of the sage or cultivation of any form, sheep people were said to be the closet to the spirits of the land. You feel the earth between your hands and feel connection to the life within this place.

You ask this place for safety in the night- even considering offering to take care of it at a later time, but don't hear a response. You guess there are no spirits here- or perhaps they subtly agreed without saying anything. The calm breeze that flows through the flower fields as the sun begins to wane is, you feel, invitation enough.

"Why can't we sleep in a tent?" Jin grumbles.

You decide to spare telling him about the spirits or rites with the earth- "So we will wake up as soon as the sun comes up- if we oversleep in a dark tent we won't be able to collect the dew."

He grumbles a bit, but relents as you both lay down for some much needed rest after this long day. You feel right at home among the flowers, but Jin seems a little uncomfortable. It's about time to sleep- but you have just enough time to talk. You wonder if you should tell Jin about his mistaken "disability" have believed he had. Perhaps revealing that would allow him to return to the Inner Sect.

>Tell Jin that his chi problems aren't real and he actually has quite a lot of chi
>Go to sleep without saying anything

>>4978884
>Tell Jin that his chi problems aren't real and he actually has quite a lot of chi
Having a friend in the Inner Sect will be good for us.

>>4978884
>Tell Jin that his chi problems aren't real and he actually has quite a lot of chi

>>4978884
>>Tell Jin that his chi problems aren't real and he actually has quite a lot of chi
Also make him understand that he should not tell them it was a mistake, as the whole "misunderstanding" about his chi could have been a scheme by others, which he would then be calling either incompetent or liers. Instead to avoid antagonizing the schemers by making them look bad, have him come up with a convincing story like, having a breakthrough or just training his chi or luck, i'm not an expert on cultivation so I'm not sure what they would believe.

>>4978884
>Tell Jin that his chi problems aren't real and he actually has quite a lot of chi
We could maybe ask the elder that we were asked to get the dew if he could at least check well to him

>>4979285
I was about to say this, but instead of telling Jin directly about the chi problem he has, maybe first we should tell to the elder first. Maybe there can be another side to this story that we can learn, or maybe there is something hidden from Jin for his own good... I mean, we already now he is quite dumb, so maybe he was casted as an Outer Disciple so he can mature and learn so he can be ready once his real training begin

>>4979455
Ok, that sounds better

>>4979455
Yeah changing my vote (>>4979074) to that

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You decide to tell the truth about what you discovered with Jin's abilities... just not to him. You'll keep it a secret until you can bring it up with the sect elder. Maybe there was a reason he was dropped out of the Inner Sect- but it wouldn't be right to keep it to yourself.

The next morning, you wake up and draw the dew. The magic gourd you were given for this special dew magically sucks it up like a great wind across the secluded flower patch. You tell Jin to pack up the camp as you fill the gourd to the top; and say a silent prayer to the land before you leave.

On the way back, you have to deal with Jin again. He seems so very pleased with himself for this trip; even though his screwup almost got both of you killed! Though you suppose it did all work out. Worst yet, you can't help feel jealous. Not at his apparent happiness, but how he had a chance for Inner Disciplehood and threw it away due to apparent incompetence. How does he not know this own abilities? Or was it a scheme to kick him out of the inner sect?

Eventually, you return to the Five Hundred Eagles sect. You approach the Elder with the gourd of mountain dew and he tells you to wait a moment; much to your surprise he returns with a few incense sticks.

"Elder?"
"What? Did you expect to being doing a job for nothing? That's not how the martial arts world works my boy! Nobody does anything for free- a fact you should learn as soon as possible."

While a little put off by that; you can't refuse the trade. You give him the gourd of spiritual dew in exchange for a few sticks of incense. You can tell just by touching them that they are of the cheaper variety- but any sort of cultivation medicine is a great treasure to you. You also get the feeling you should probably keep it a bit of a secret...

"Oh hold on Elder, one more thing..."

You explain what happened with Jin- and how you sensed he actually had quite a well of chi energy inside him. The Elder takes the information and nods sagely.

"Yes... those in the inner disciple are treated with a bit more autonomy- random tests and probes to determine ones spiritual fitness are not exactly welcomed to those who have already "proved" they belong. As for Jin, he was demoted after complaining that he made no progress in a whole year. It could be that his body had already reached its limit naturally and he was ready for the next stage- but unaware of it, he floundered. I see. Thank you for telling me this."

With that done; you are now back in the sect and ready to return to the routine. But you now have a bit of spiritual incense. You also have more knowledge of cultivation from what you learned from Jin. Truthfully, you may have all you need to start cultivating! Even though you aren't technically an Inner Disciple yet- maybe you could get a headstart?

>Attempt to Cultivate during the Night, when everyone is asleep
>Attempt to Cultivate during the Day, whenever you slip away to be alone in nature

>>4982124
So I figure this will determine whether we cultivate off of yin or yang energy.

So we should >Attempt to Cultivate during the Day, whenever you slip away to be alone in nature

Not because we're a man, but because I think Wood Qi is closest to our nature and it is Yang derived. However water qi tends to empower wood qi sooo

Write in
>Cultivate in a water place

>>4982253
+1
>Try to get favors from others so that you get more time for cultivating
A bit risky, but can be worthwhile

>>4982124
Supporting>>4982343

>>4982253
also if any of you young masters wish to study the five elements https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuxing_(Chinese_philosophy)

Also I should mention that earth also really fits Ramsay by personality, maybe more so

Buuut it is associated with transient times and is usually defined as Yin and Yang in brief balance, so in our current position we just don't have the time free to utilize it

Also you know, its empowered by fire and that's a little more dangerous to be around than water.

>>4982124
>>Attempt to Cultivate during the Day, whenever you slip away to be alone in nature
I don't like either of the write-ins. the meta-gaming of the five elements is, well, meta, and Ramsay's hardworking and straightforward nature is what has gotten him here

>>4982735
>>4982124
I agree with this anon. Let's not get metagamey.

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You decide to cultivate during the day, whenever you get a chance to slip away by yourself. You could try staying up late and cultivating, but your sleep is valuable to you, and you don't like going out alone at night much anyway.

You hide away your incense and wait for your chances. You luckily get a few; water carrying and cleaning duty, a few low-chore days, and even some time you get from cashing in favors from your fellow disciples. You find a quiet, secluded spot away from the sect among the trees and grasses.

The first time is the most awkward; though you quickly get used to it. You aren't sure if you're doing it right at first; you use breathing exercises to try and suck in and hold spiritual energy, or cultivate your chi to a higher level. You're not 100% sure what exactly you're supposed to be doing, but you feel like the medicine you're burning is helping. It fills the air with a clean, strong scent that makes your body feel good, much like when you're about to undertake a journey. That's a good sign.

The first few days nothing much seems to happen, but then you begin to feel warmer and warmer whenever you cultivate. Perhaps its because you're cultivating in the direct sunlight- could it have something to do with Yin energy?

While you don't feel any more powerful or "immortal", you can't give up just because you feel a little frustrated. Progress may be slow, but you feel like something important is going to happen soon...

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After about three weeks of this new cultivation method, you have another day of unsure success. You wonder if you're doing something wrong when, to your surprise, you can't stand back up.

Why can't you stand back up? Are your muscles so sore from just a few hours of labor earlier in the morning? Did you sit down too fast in the meditative pose?

No... That's not it. Something much worse. You realize something has happened to your body. You can feel... yourself, growing, reaching into the soil beneath you. You've grown roots out the part of you touching the ground. You shiver in fear. Why is this happening? Is this a breakthrough? Or is this divine retribution from reaching to where mortals should not go? To be honest, you're terrified that you made a huge mistake. Are you cultivating into a tree? Are you going to die, or be stuck at this exact spot for the rest of your life? Will you need to cut part of your body off to escape? And what will the others at the sect think?! You've been out here for about half an hour, if you're going for too much longer some people might get suspicious or accuse you of slacking off- but then again this may be a bigger problem. What are you going to do?!

>Calm down and wait
>Try to pull yourself up
>Try to mentally control the roots to retract
>Scream for help
>Cover your body with your robe to hide from the sun as much as you can
>Other (Write in)

>>4986017
>Calm down and wait
>Try to absorb qi from the sun and from the earth, and maybe circulate it a little if you can.
>If things seem to go wrong, keep the calm and try to control the roots, and if you can't, pull yourself out by using the weighting technique to be denser and more resistent than the ground, and thus not rip yourself appart.

>>4986017
>Try to calm down
>Try to mentally control the roots to retract
>Try to understand why happened
Maybe this is a effect of trying to connect with the

>>4986181
Yep, maybe we are connecting with the earth. But whatever we do, we should be careful

>>4985108
I think now that we should stop being meta gamey, so yeah

>>4986179
+1, plus add mine if possible

>>4986185
Yep, we NEVER want to fuck up a minimal thing about cultivation, every fucking thing must be perfect if we even want to achieve being stronger than average, so we should try to be connected with the earth

>>4986017
supporting >>4986181

>>4986181
+1

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You decide to wait. You calm yourself down, feeling the "roots" that have grown out of your body. You can feel them pulse with your blood and chi. You can feel them grip the soil seeking strength from the Earth- and you can feel them resist your tests to see if you can pull them up.

It's starting to get hotter again. So you concentrate. You lay on the grass and pull of your robe; laying in the midmorning sun. You feel really good, in all honesty, it's just a bit too hot. So very hot...

Soon, the heat becomes almost unbearable. You are sweating and your roots are digging in deeper. You want so badly to crawl to the shade but now your roots are flexing their muscles- they're using body weighing against you to prevent you from moving away! It's like a hot sauna!

And just as it comes, it passes. You find the heat dispelled and you sit back up. Looking at your legs, you find the roots have retracted into your body totally, not a single scar or blemish of any kind. You squeeze your muscles to see if you've gained any strength or power but it seems like you're mostly the same... you just feel fresh. You're unsure if that is because of how much you just sweat or if it was actually caused by the roots themselves.

You feel rushed as well- you've been out here way too long and are certainly missed by now. You'll have to explain this to someone and come up with a convincing lie...

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As you return to the sect's grounds, you find most of the morning chores done without your help- probably due to all the expert supervision. But you are stopped by a younger outer disciple who points to you.

"Hey Ramsy... You sure do look different today!"

What could he possibly mean? You can't get a good answer out of him. In fact, a lot of people are giving you weird looks. You storm off the nearest pond to look at yourself, and suddenly see the problem.

You're GOLD! Or rather, your wool is. You're the sheep with the golden fleece! The earlier thing that happened with the roots and the sun- it must have triggered some kind of transformation!

Hiding this is out of the question. Unless you sheared yourself all the way down which doesn't sound very fun- and people have already seen your newfound golden fleece. What are you going to do now?

>Go to the Elder immediately
>Continue your daily cultivation and ignore any questions
>Try to find any medical books in the scroll library that might document this phenomena

>>4990896
>Go to the Elder immediately
And then
>Continue daily cultivation

>>4990896
>>Try to find any medical books in the scroll library that might document this phenomena
INteresting

>>4990896
>Try to find any medical books in the scroll library that might document this phenomena
>Then go to the Elder

>>4990896
>Go to Elder immediately

Filial piety is weak here >:(

>>4990896
>Go to the Elder immediately

>>4990896
>Go to the Elder immediately
Damn we missed out on being the literal black sheep by not cultivating at night huh

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You decide to go to the Master first- after all, he's been there for you for everything else.

"Ahh- look at you Ramsy! You're practically glowing in the daylight."

"Hmm? Master, do you know what happened to me?"

You tell him the story from the top, he seems very pleased, even excited.

"Fascinating; a Yang-Aspect transformation at the beginning of cultivation. You know, Ramsy, most of our Inner Disciples don't reach a Yin or Yang Aspect transformation until after the chi gathering phase- and it usually comes during or after the chi prism phase too."

Is he saying that you've... advanced past an early inner disciple? As an outer disciple?

"Of course- it isn't all a walk in the park. You know about the perilous nature of a breakthrough firsthand, but breakthroughs become only harder and harder." The elder says, subtly hinting at your experience of growing roots and nearly being boiled alive by the sun- it seemed that was your breakthrough moment. It was scary but, not SO bad now that it's just a memory. If later breakthroughs only get harder, then cultivation isn't as easy and fun as you thought it might be...

"But what does it mean, Elder? Have I cultivated strength or wisdom or...?"

"You've cultivated Yang energy. You see, there are many types of energy that make up the cosmos- and you've aligned yourself with one of the two most primordial forces; Yin and Yang. Yang is heat, light, and order. It is also the creative force. In practical terms, at your level of cultivation, it means little directly. Those of a higher level of cultivation would better appreciate and use such growth."

Hmm. Interesting. You guess you'll have to take his word for it. You don't feel too much different- not especially more powerful or strong but... you guess you do feel a little more centered. Perhaps even sure of yourself in a chaotic world.

"But enough about that, let's talk about your advancement into the Inner Sect."

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---------
Hey everybody, QM here. I'd like to take a moment to talk OOC about the quest for a minute.

Everything going the way you like? Are there any significant things that could be improved?

Two things; I want to apologize for the slowness of updates. I don't have much of an excuse, but just know it has secondary priority over my work and other hobbies too, so I feel a bit bad about the sporadic updates, especially after promising to try harder.

Second; we are getting a bit low in the catalog. I wasn't sure if I was going to continue this in short term past the first thread. Cultivator stories are, at the very least, a perfect excuse to extend things basically forever, so I'd like to know how disappointed you'd be if we just stopped here?

Anyway, feed me your thoughts and feedback. Thank you.

>>4994408
I adore this quest. Love the art, can't think of anything I'd like improved besides that no one has called them our grandfather or said we court death

And frequency and speed don't matter. Quality and good times do

And please continue. Ramsay must become the sheep that surmounts the heavens

>>4994408
Qm, I really love this quest, i'm having fun and really like the MC and have curiosity about all of this.

Don't worry about the time you take for making the updates. I would be lying if I say that I don't care if you take those updates slow, i really want to see more frecuent updates, but still I get excited when I see there's a new update, so if still you can get me hooked to the quest even with that, then you're doing a good work. so please continue.

Btw, I would really like some posts or updates explaining the Cultivation system in this world, because desu I know nothing about Cultivation or even the novels of Wuxia or Xianxia. Idk if this was a plan for later until Ramsay get to finally be part of the Inner Sect, but yeah, i'm a little confused.

>>4994408
I am enjoying this and say if you want to continue continue

>>4994408
I have been enjoying it. I would love it if you continued. I don't mind ultra slow updates at all. I would be disappointed if you stopped now, but if you must you must.

>>4994408
I really, REALLY like this quest. I hope you'll continue!

>>4994408
I enjoy fast threads, but I too really like slow every once in a while, I feel that the rhythm that we have right now is perfect for the class of thing that we are doing, that is cultivation
And yes, I will feel sad if there wasn't more

Oh, and remember to archive the threads when we are already close to the thread being purged automatically

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Thanks for all the kind words and feedback guys. We can continue here.

"W-wait! My advancement...?"

"Yes! Did you really think your breakthrough would go unnoticed? You skipped a fundamental step of cultivation with very little outside help, and achieved a Yang-Aspect Transformation. That is quite a feat! While most of our Inner Sect members and students are further along then you in the fundamentals and it will take you a long time to catch up to them, you have essentially gained a potent boon which you have not grasped the true importance of it yet. The Five Hundred Eagles is a sect primarily based around achievement moreso then politics or money. You've proven you have merit- either as a cultivation genius or with natural talent, though neither of those things will demean your hard work. You've earned this, Ramsy. Make sure to enjoy it."

You honestly can't believe the elder for a short while. It seems too good to be true. But it is. Within the next few weeks, both you AND Jin are officially instated as Inner Sect members.

You've been in the sect for about a year at this point, and already you have been promoted into the Inner Sect. You would have had to, otherwise, slave away for over a decade as an outer disciple to get here otherwise. You are given new yellowish robes as is the dress of the inner sect- and while not the bright sunshine yellow of the favored disciple, it's still a marked step up and makes you feel proud to wear it.

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In the next few days, you are assigned an Inner Sect's quarters.

Interestingly- you learn a few things. You didn't realize how much of the sect's grounds were segregated. The vast majority of the sect's grounds are only for inner sect members- with further areas quartered off for special quests, the sect elders, the favored disciple, and the mysterious sect leaders who you have never met and know nothing about. Still, you notice an immediate improvement to the quality of your dwellings. Your room is much nicer then the cramped communal quarters of the outer sect- you have space to yourself, a window, mat, and can decorate and adorn your room as you wish- unlike the forced spartan lifestyle of the outer sect members. You notice a scroll on the wall with a caligraphed characters- it means "Calm Midnights", a nice peaceful message. Though your room is a little bare, it's still a huge improvement. You also find the air up here smells "fresher" then from down in the Outer Sect- perhaps since you're farther up the mountain?

You also learn a bit more about the lifestyle of the Inner Sect. Instantly, you find yourself with so much more time on your hands. With all the heavy labor assigned to the Outer Sect disciples; you can focus on the only thing that matters in the martial arts world- cultivation. Inner Sect members are by no means lazy however- you learn that those in the Inner Sect must show marked improvement every year or so in at least one aspect of cultivation- roadblocks and failing breakthroughts can mean being demoted. The same thing that happened to Jin. You also learn that Inner Sect members are not all created equally- different members qualify for different amounts of resources. Much is jealously hoarded, and much is based on both seniority and is based on "council votes", which you know nothing about. All you know is that since you're new, you probably won't be getting too many special medicines or help with your cultivation. Competition is probably still fierce though- you should count on that.

Finally- the scroll library and several training rooms are now open to you. While the most advanced cultivation techniques are still unknown and probably jealously hoarded by the Inner Sect members; martial arts are very common there. You can now choose to learn martial arts at your own leisure.

With your sudden influx of new time and freedom, you have to be careful not to waste it or become complacent. What should you do for the first few days as a real cultivator?
>Focus on standard cultivation
>Meet some Inner Sect members and try to make a good first impression
>Go check out the scroll library
>Ask around to find out how you can learn more advanced cultivation techniques

>>4996337
>Focus on standard cultivation, but oriented in your yang aspect and in the most mountainous place in the temple to connect with the earth
At the very least there should be standard cultivation oriented to different aspects/elements

>>4994408

I think you did it fine and having sheep as cultivatior hero is unique.

>>4996337
>Try to go and meet Jin.

>>4996337
>Focus on standard cultivation, but oriented in your yang aspect

Not in a mountain though

>>4996337
>Meet some Inner Sect members and try to make a good first impression

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As you settle into your life as an Inner Sect Disciple- you learn more about the people here.

Most Inner Disciples are about what you expected; a bit arrogant, but talented and driven. You also learn about a few individuals;

Beyond Jin, who you know, some of the main faces in the Inner Sect are Bolu, a little horned man known to be crotchety but skilled with magical item artifice, Kniff, the favored disciple, and a mysterious Te Dan, who you have not met but have heard a bit about here and there. He could be a useful ally, maybe even a friend.

As for the Elders who help guide and teach the Inner Disciples- you learn the name of your benefactor. The kindly Sect Elders name is Redbead. But there is another, more strict elder known as Xiao, who is said to be a very effective but cruel teacher, and not a fan of slackers!

However, you decide to focus your efforts on why you came here in the first place- Cultivation. That's what matters. You skip the pleasant greetings and sucking up to focus on your craft.

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...And finally, you think you're starting to gain an understanding. So much that didn't make sense before is now clear.

From the sect elders and what little instruction you can gather; you understand the point of cultivation. Cultivation is primarily about the search for immortality and power. Those who seek only immortality, the geriatric or "pure" cultivators, have no power and can have their lives taken from them, or worse yet end up as a slave for all eternity without the ability to fight back. The other, the slavish pursuit of power is useless without life- as all things crumble with time and in one lifetime, all the wealth and power in the world is meaningless. As such, cultivation is the path to both with the weaknesses of neither- it is the Dao.

You also learn about the basics of the simplest form of cultivation; that of meditation and breathing. To control ones chi is the core of cultivation. You have learned from the sect elders the truth- people are born into this world and slowly decay. With each injury, sickness, or even negative emotion that is strong enough people's bodies gain "leaks" where chi leaks out. This is what causes aging. To fill ones body with chi keeps you young and prevents further wear and tear, while also giving you more time to figure out a way to fix the problem permanently. The mortal body you were born with isn't enough to prevent yourself from dying some day- you have to ascend into something greater.

...You also question why, then, that the kindly sect elder gave you some strong medicine related to transformation instead of chi gathering, which would make more sense for someone of your starting position. You had to look up the red spice sticks after you gained access to the scroll library- were you experimented on? Or did he know you were near a breakthrough and wanted to get you into the inner sect?

Anyway; the basics of cultivation. By controlling your breathing, you can control the flow of chi. Meditation and breathing exercises lets one draw in more chi then you expel out through living; thus leading to a net gain of your chi. Eventually, you can fill your body to its limit, which becomes your first real bottleneck on the path of immortality. As of now, you are stuck in the very first stage of cultivation- the chi gathering stage.

However- a small snag. While practicing your cultivation methods in a small enclosed garden for privacy and concentration; your mind tends to wander. About your family back home and what they're up to, about the other inner sect members, about all the delicious grass around you...

How should you keep your focus while cultivating?
>Focus on the sensations in your body (Absolute Body Expert)
>Mentally practice martial arts techniques (Passive Kung-Fu Training)
>Knot your nervous energy into your core (Pseudo-Core Generation)
>Count sheep (Meditation Trance Expert)

>>4997686
>Count sheep (Meditation Trance Expert)

>>4998026
I will admit, I was stuck between that and absolute body expert. But the idea of progressing by counting sheep while being a sheep, was just too novel to resist

>>4997686
>>Focus on the sensations in your body (Absolute Body Expert)
Swole Sheep

>>4997686
>>Focus on the sensations in your body (Absolute Body Expert)

Fluffy swole sheep.

>>4997686
>Knot your nervous energy into your core (Pseudo-Core Generation)

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While cultivating, you have started to focus on your own body. The flow of your blood and chi through your meridians. You become aware of every tensed muscle, and the strength of each limb, you feel the pulse of your heart and flow of your intestines. You have achieved Absolute Body Expert!

This ability is a simple one; though invaluable to cultivators. Your body is incredibly well known to you, letting you read it like an open book. You can tell if you're about to get sick or if you've been poisoned before the symptoms appear, though a true cultivator master could stop the poison blood in their veins before it reaches their heart. You also have an excellent sense of your spatial dimensions and range of motion, giving you impeccable balance and flexibility, as well as passive defense against attacks and being knocked down. You also feel as though your basic senses, especially smell and touch, have been improved; but it is hard to tell if this is from your new techniques or from simple gains in cultivation.

Speaking of cultivation; progress is very slow. And very frustrating! You can see now why people stress the improtance of time. Every day you cultivate in a natural place, always during daylight hours and in nature, to better touch your inner self and Yang-Aspect, but you find that of all the chi you manage to pull in through your breathing techniques, most leaves you and you're left with only a tiny surplus at the end of each day. It's like filling your bowl with water, but most evaporates back out before you can drink it. You figure this is probably why cultivation talent is so important; you could probably fill yourself to bursting with chi in this foundation stage if your body would just keep hold of the damn energy! But knowing this; medicines and pills can be used to great effect to boost your rate of cultivation. You learned this first hand with your first breakthrough; and now that you're an inner disciple, you can finally have access to it. You've heard of a voting council that meets every so often to determine what is distributed to who, so you decide to go for a meeting to try your hand at getting some useful medicines. You won't ask for the highest grade pills, just something to help you with this basic stage and speed up the process.

As you survey the situation; you see several valuable medicines and pills being offered up to be voted on. But the entire event is being coordinated by none other then the favored disciple of the sect- Kniff!

"Let's see- we are voting on all the high grade elixirs, chi stones, medicine pastes, and holy incense at once. Who should receive this?"
"You should Kniff!"
"My vote is for Kniff!"
"Kniff!"

??? What the hell? Everyone is just voting for Kniff! He quickly gains a majority and takes the entire pool of the best stuff; leaving basically scraps for the rest of you to vote on. You look at the familiar bald head in front of you and see he was one of the ones who voted for Kniff to win too!

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"Jin!? What the hell? Why did you vote for that total jerk?"

"Ramsy- oh man. I'm so sorry you had to see this... but you don't understand. This is how it was when I was in the inner sect before too. We're just small fish compared to him and the sect leaders, Ramsy. Kniff has a system- if we don't let him get the good stuff every time, he'll make sure we don't get anything at all! He's too strong- both as a cultivator and in the politics of the inner sect. Please don't fight him, Ramsy, I beg you- he'll make sure you regret it."

...Well, things weren't as peachy around here as you thought. With the trickle-down of seniority and popularity here- especially when you consider that the sect elders and sect leaders got the best pick of this stuff first- you finally are able to go at the very end. The only things that are left are pitiful, barely better then the herbs you picked and brought home to help you in your martial arts competition last year!

The first is an ointment in a small jar. It's made of rare turtlewax with some honey and herbal mixture. It apparently boosts ones natural healing and helps fix muscle soreness as well as burns. Basic healing remedy for rough training or sparring. It's probably the most directly useful of the three, but will go bad in a few years since it has ingredients that spoil and isn't made from immortal or devil beast cores.

The second is a bundle of incense sticks, similar to the ones the elder brought you. But where as the ones the elder brought you were bright red and very potent, these ones are a chalky off-white, barely any potential in them at all. Breathing in their scents while cultivating will probably help you through the qi gathering and foundational phase of cultivation, though the gains will be minimal.

The third and final is a small length of cord, and is apparently a very, very minor magical artifact. Unlike the other two, it is not medicine and won't spoil, so its a permanent item, but its effects are so minimal it may not even be worth it. The item is a magic thread which grants a very small effect if sown into an item. If you thread it into your robe, you'll gain a small amount of magic defense while wearing it, or if sown into a belt it might grant improved physical strength.

Which one will you pick?
>Paste
>Incense
>Thread

>>4998671
>Incense

>>4998671
>Thread

Because we already have knowledge about herbs and we should study alchemy to make own pills.

>>4998671
Incense

>>4998671
>Thread

Also, why do I get the feeling Kniff is going to fuck up a crucial stage of his cultivation and have a weak foundation? Ya know besides him being a smug prick

>>4998671
>Thread
I wonder what would happen if we were to sew it into our fleece?

>>4998671
>Thread

Guys, I think I have an idea to use the Chi that we gain while training so it doesn't go to waste. Before Ramsay go to train he shouldn't drink water for one or two hours, so while we gather Chi, he uses it to hydrate himself.

This is so we can figure out some other way to use the Chi and not only gathering it. If that doesn't work we can take a little break and drink water, but this either give us a good use in the way we use Chi, or either to advance in our Yang aspect

>>4999628
I like the idea, but let's first ask our master about it, because it can actually be useful, or just be a waste of time