~~~
Feng Zhi allows them to enjoy the Bright Phantasm Sect’s hospitality for exactly one day. Liu Jin supposes it is his way of being kind. Unfortunately, it is not Liu Jin’s idea of a pleasant time. For one day, they are constantly fawned over by the servants, their every whim treated as an absolute command.
Liu Jin made exactly one offhand comment about the hot humidity of Night Phantasm City. That was enough for a servant to show up at this side moments later with a large, ...
2020-12-21 12:59:00 +0000 UTC
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~~~
Night Forest Nation did not earn its name lightly.
Mountains, grassy plains, and hills. All those have long since faded away, replaced by acres of forest that extend across the entire country. It is not like the Summer Forest, which awes people with its trees of all shapes, colors, and sizes. No, the Night Forest is completely submerged in mist instead, its color gradually changing from blue to purple depending on the time of the day. The sight is eerie, yet at the same time...
2020-12-14 12:58:59 +0000 UTC
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~~~
Their transport flies at least a mile above the ground. Its flaming wheels leave streaks of flame in its wake, soaring through the skies like a comet.
“Incredible!” Huang Shing says. He has his face firmly pressed up against the window. “Absolutely incredible! The Eternal Flame Clan is the best!”
His expression is alight with childish wonder. Out of the four, he’s by far the less composed one, but that doesn’t mean his feelings aren’t shared by the others. ...
2020-12-07 12:59:11 +0000 UTC
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~~~
"How could this happen?!"
The look on Bai Lianshi's face as she paces back and forth around the room is positively stormy. Frost creeps over the floor and windows like spider webs. It is a credit to her stalwart will that the drop in temperature is the only sign of her emotional state. As someone in the Ninth Level of the Emperor Realm, Bai Lianshi is a force of nature. She is the First among the Five. Her wrath unleashed could devastate a nation.
"An entire city! How co...
2020-12-04 13:00:04 +0000 UTC
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~~~
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Liu Jin closes his eyes and gently cycles Qi through his body. It flows through Nine-Headed Snake God’s Veins and passes through his dantian.
With every breath, the process repeats itself.
With every breath, his focus sharpens.
His lower dantian is in good condition. This comes as no surprise to Liu Jin. The lower dantian lays the foundation for all that follows, so it is easily the most important one at lower levels. Old Jian...
2020-11-30 12:59:00 +0000 UTC
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I am happy to announce Nine to Five Villainy has claimed victory with 62% of the votes. It will take its place alongside Ave Xia Rem Y as a new (monthly) story starting next month.
I also want to take the opportunity to address some concerns.
Why a new story? Why not more chapters of Ave Xia Rem Y instead? Won’t a new story cut into Ave Xia Rem Y’s time? I have gotten questions like that many times over the pa...
2020-11-24 03:11:29 +0000 UTC
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~~~
The Punishment House is easily the most humble-looking building within the Eternal Flame Clan. Barely two-stories tall, it only has five rooms and does not occupy much area. It is a simple, small house located in the northwestern sector of the compound.
That is how it looks from the outside.
Beneath the building, there are five different basement levels with five hundred and fifty-five cells in total. The first level is for disciples who have committed mild offenses. Mea...
2020-11-23 12:57:01 +0000 UTC
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This arc went through several changes.
There were chapters I’d merge with each other. There were chapters I’d cut in half. Scenes I deleted entirely, and others whose order I changed. It was a lot of work. Annoying too. Believing you’re five chapters ahead only think it over and choosing to turn those five chapters into three is disheartening.
However, I’m not here just to talk about those changes. Compared to all the changes I made to the arc in the outline stage, those a...
2020-11-21 13:00:04 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 92: I Can Safely Say
~~~
Huang Shing and Liu Jin run at top speed. Now that they no longer have to worry about accidentally damaging the crates, nothing stops them from using movement techniques. Multiple miles go by in seconds.
“I can’t believe Brother Jin foresaw this!”
Liu Jin snorts.
“Foresaw is a pretty strong word. Considered is a better alternative. Feared may be closer to the truth. In the end, it doesn’t matter. The herbs were still sto...
2020-11-18 13:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Last week, you had four choices. Now, there are only two! Nine to Five Villainy took an early lead and maintained it, taking first place with 35% of the vote. Meanwhile, The Villainess’ Second Chance came from behind and took second place with 28% of the vote.
Now, to make things interesting, I'm going to add an Extra detail about the setting this time.
1) Nine to Five Villainy
Summary: Who ever said guys ...
2020-11-17 04:01:00 +0000 UTC
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Hello everyone!
I see we have made it to over 100 patrons when I wasn't looking (105 as I type this). That's huge! Seriously, thank you for all your support.
It makes me wish this wasn't the announcement I was punctuating that with.
Unfortunately, I'm still not all that healthy. In fact, this week's been downright horrible (but I'm getting better now). Because of that, there'll be a slight delay. While the next chapter (next several chapters, really) are alr...
2020-11-13 13:00:06 +0000 UTC
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It's time!
Rules: There are four choices. The poll will be open till the end of the week. The two choices with the most votes by then will pass to the second round.
The titles of these stories are subject to change, because, let's face it, that's not my strong suit.
Your Choices are...
1) The Villainess’ Second Chance
Summary: In one reality, the evil archmage Grimhilde is defeated by a brave group ...
2020-11-10 02:01:00 +0000 UTC
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~~~
“What do you think is in here?”
“Something that will probably be spoiled if you keep shaking it like that. Remember, you are the one who wanted to do something different to earn points. At the very least, you should do it properly.”
“Right. Sorry. Sorry,” Huang Shing says. “I am not used to things like this. I never thought disciples of the Eternal Flame Clan would do things that are so...”
“Mundane?” supplies Liu Jin.
“Yes, that.”
...
2020-11-09 12:58:01 +0000 UTC
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Hello, everyone!
Just posting to remind you all there is a poll going on that will close Sunday night. The next poll, containing the four story choices, will be up Monday afternoon.
I wanted to accompany this with a writing blog post, but I've been sick all week. I always get horribly sick at some point in November for some reason. It's unreal. It's why I can't ever Nanowrimo. Oh, well, better now than later.
Take care!
2020-11-08 01:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Congratulations, everyone!
We have reached the next goal, and to be honest, I am still a little bit wowed by the whole thing. I knew we were close. We’ve been close for a while, but I still got a big surprise when I logged in and found we were already there.
Seriously, thank you!
I can’t say it enough. I mean it. This literally wouldn’t be possible without you.
Now, just to remind you all, reaching the $500 goal means the beginning of a new monthly story. More im...
2020-11-03 00:39:08 +0000 UTC
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~~~
“Please leave.”
Liu Jin’s eyebrow twitches.
It is not the words that annoy him. It is the way they are being said. Khong Hu speaks without malice or derision. His posture reflects nothing but straightforward honesty. He’s not looking down on Liu Jin in the slightest but instead speaking from the bottom of his heart.
He is even bowing his head to him!
“You and your companions have already caused trouble in the Sparring Hall and the Inner Disciple qua...
2020-11-02 12:58:00 +0000 UTC
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~~~
Huang Shing and Bei Hong drink freely and laugh. There is no trace of the hostility and imminent violence that had been so prominent in their interactions until just a few hours ago. Joining forces against a common foe, it seems, is a good way to put aside grudges.
Which really shouldn’t have come as a surprise to Liu Jin.
After all, the Eastern Port City Tournament was an important step in his and Xiao Fang’s relationship. Annoying as it may be to admit it, perhaps ...
2020-10-26 11:59:00 +0000 UTC
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One of the most annoying parts of writing Ave Xia Rem Y is coming up with new names.
Sometimes, I’ll put it off for as long as I possibly can, leading me to use placeholder names like “Sorta Clueless” or “Would Wear Glasses” for several chapters.
Inspired. I know.
For every new named character, I have to consult a list of Chinese first and last names and cross-reference it against the names I have already used in the story and the ones that are reserved for importa...
2020-10-23 04:08:22 +0000 UTC
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~~~
Left.
Right.
Left.
Thrust. Thrust. Slash.
The rhythm of a spear is different.
That is the thought that drifts through Liu Jin’s mind while fighting an Inner Disciple of the Eternal Flame Clan.
Taking up the spear had been a decision made without much thought put into it. Lei Kong knew how to use swords and spears, and it seemed foolish not to take advantage of that. Somewhere along the way, Liu Jin developed a preference for spears over blades, ...
2020-10-19 12:00:04 +0000 UTC
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~~~
“I hate that woman.”
Liu Jin sighs as he changes into his new robes. They are predominantly dark red with a white sash around the waist and patterns of the same color embroidered on the sleeves.
They are the robes worn by Outer Disciples of the Eternal Flame Clan.
After being defeated by the Elder, the two had been transported to the Eternal Flame Clan’s Medical Pavilion. There, an Elder, a different one, a stern-looking man with black hair and a thin mustach...
2020-10-12 12:00:04 +0000 UTC
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~~~
Fifty miles and thrice as many Spirit Beasts later, Liu Jin comes to a surprising conclusion.
Huang Shing is unexpectedly strong.
Saving him had been an unavoidable impulse. Offering to support each other during the exam, a spur of the moment decision. Both choices went against Liu Jin’s initial intentions. He had not wanted to call any undue to himself during the exam. Yet, as Liu Jin watches Huang Shing kill Spirit Beast after Spirit Beast with quick jabs and heavy p...
2020-10-05 12:01:02 +0000 UTC
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~~~
Qing Jin.
The spear on his back, he’s gotten used to. The red hair, he barely notices. The name, however, still feels foreign to him. No matter how many times he hears it, there will always be a pause, a moment in which he has to remind himself that is his name now. It is something he needs to fix. A clever person will almost certainly pick up on it.
Well, Liu Jin doubts he has to worry about that sort of thing when dealing with Huang Shing.
“Qing Jin! Look!”...
2020-09-30 12:00:05 +0000 UTC
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~~~
If you were to start the journey in the capital of the Crimson Cloud Empire, you’d need to travel west for many days and many nights. Cross the Red River, traverse the Yellow Swamp, and go far beyond the Hundred Caves. Brave the sweltering heat of the Great Red Plains and survive its many dangers.
Only then will you reach the Summer Forest.
It is a beautiful place with trees of all colors and shapes that stretches for countless miles. Some trees are barely taller than ...
2020-09-28 12:01:01 +0000 UTC
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Eastern Port City is now but a small dot on the horizon.
To Su An, it still doesn’t feel real. None of it does. Her memories of the battle are a blur of blood, violence, and flashing steel. For the first time in her life, Su An fought against multiple people who wanted her dead.
They hadn’t succeeded.
Su An fought proudly to defend her home and the dignity of the Xiao Sect, killing foe after foe. Alas, it hadn’t been enough. She was eventually overcome, her stren...
2020-09-25 12:00:04 +0000 UTC
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I write using an outline. That’s something I have mentioned a couple of times, I’m sure. I do outlines for individual arcs, and I also have one big outline that’s for the entire story. It’s one of the first things I wrote for Ave Xia Rem Y, and it’s only gotten bigger with time.
When I first learned about outlines in school, I never thought I’d end up using them this much. Back then, my thoughts were that outlines were pointless. I could just keep stuff all mapped out in my ...
2020-09-23 12:00:03 +0000 UTC
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~~~
Wise. Patient. Insightful.
Whenever he asks, that is how the Elders reply. Funny and full of wit, his mother once says. Yes, it is always something like that. Whenever people speak of the person his father had been before entering the Renegade Realm, it is always with glowing praise.
Yun Han has never once met that person.
His father entered the Renegade Realm before he was born. The Yun Peng Yun Han knows is ruthless and intolerant, cold yet always on the brink of...
2020-09-21 12:01:01 +0000 UTC
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~~~
Thousand Steps of the Thunder God is a blindingly fast technique. Liu Jin wishes he could order Lei Kong to take them out of Five Bats City at once. Alas, there is one last thing he needs to do—a letter he needs to deliver. Hopefully, before people realize that, for all intents and purposes, Branch Master Ruan no longer exists.
That is why, after ditching their disguises, they go straight to the Five Blessings Auction House. Branch Manager Bianfu is very surpris...
2020-09-14 12:01:03 +0000 UTC
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~~~
Liu Jin finishes all the preparations early in the morning. He spends the rest of his time cleaning his instruments, pacing around the room, and writing a letter he should have written from the start.
Ren He and Yan Chao arrive at the usual time. Their eyes keep drifting to the elixir on the way to the throne room. They look at it with hope and apprehension in equal measures. It is not hard to understand why. Certainly, they wish for things to return to normal, but will healin...
2020-09-11 12:00:03 +0000 UTC
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~~~
It is the third time Liu Jin enters Ruan Goutin’s throne room. It is the second time he is left alone with him.
He does not feel any safer.
Ruan Goutin is not in the Emperor Realm. However, it would be the height of foolishness to assume Ruan Goutin is somehow not a threat because of it. After all, Liu Jin is merely a cultivator in the Nascent Realm. The only person he can count on right now is Lei Kong, who is in the True Realm.
Ruan Goutin is in the Heave...
2020-09-07 12:00:04 +0000 UTC
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~~~
Liu Jin stares at the ceiling with a blank look on his face. His muscles do not so much as twitch. Even his chest rises and falls so slightly one could be forgiven for thinking he is not breathing. He just lies on the bed, unmoving. Some would say this is not the most productive use of his time, but it is all Liu Jin feels like doing right now.
Ruan Goutin has decided against killing him. For now, at least. The awed looks the disciples gave him when he walked out of the ...
2020-08-31 12:01:01 +0000 UTC
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