Boots

3.21 - Winter

A light dusting of snow fell over the summit where Li Heng worked through his forms for the ten thousandth time. He’d been at it for the better part of a month, now. Days were spent practicing his sword forms, and nights were spent in cultivation. He’d gone through a pile of spirit stones, and half as many elixirs.

Still he stood at the threshold of late Body Refining. Still he was no closer to forming a Wayborn Seed. As he turned over the thoughts of his failure, of his falling beh...

3.20 - The Sunset Empress

He Yu swallowed down the last of his wine. Looking up from the jar, he asked the question he’d wanted an answer to for a long time now.

“Who is she? The Sunset Empress?”

Zhang Lifen put down her half-finished wine on the step next to her. “Her name is Jin Xifeng. From what I’m told, she was an unrivaled talent from a ducal family in the north of the empire. When she was finally sealed within the Dawn Palace array, she was at the peak of the Eighth Realm. Upon breaking in...

3.19 - Debriefing

When the light faded, He Yu found himself standing in Elder Cai’s courtyard once again. At the far end of the courtyard stood the elder himself. The alabaster tower rose to a tempestuous sky above, flickering with heaven’s light. The air around them felt charged as though it were ready to snap.

The five disciples saluted the elder by pressing fist to palm. They each had to flex their spirits to remain standing, and it was clear that no charm would be forthcoming. While Elder Cai’s...

3.18 - Stand and Fight

The wave of beasts slammed into the barrier. Tan Xiaoling and Yan Shirong both used their ranged techniques to thin the initial assault. Tan Xiaoling’s spear took aim at the larger and stronger Third Realm beasts, while Yan Shirong sandblasted away the weaker foes with his spray of black thorns.

He Yu, Li Heng, and Chen Fei stood just inside the barrier, manning it like the wall of a fortress. He Yu had the most advantageous position because of his weapon’s reach, but Chen Fei and L...

3.17 - Relentless

A fist nearly as big as he was rushed towards He Yu. Despite the risks, he activated both the Sky Dragon’s Flight and the Empyrean Ninefold Body Tempering. He managed to get out of the way in time but slammed into a nearby tree thanks to his frantic use of techniques.

The ape picked up a log and used it like a club to swing it. Li Heng appeared before him in a flash of moonlight, catching the log on his jian. He Yu had to close his eyes to avoid the blinding light as a torrent of silv...

3.16 - Will of the Empress

The fog rolled over them, grasping like a living thing. Yan Shirong continued to scream. He had covered his face with his hands as he rolled on the ground, his qi raging out from him in uncontrolled contortions of his spirit. All around him, the fog had taken on an appearance like grasping hands, though they yet remained poorly defined.

He Yu’s guandao fell into his hands, its weight serving at the very least a comfort. To either side, Tan Xiaoling and Li Heng had summoned their weapo...

3.15 - From All Sides

Over the next several days their steps were dogged by more beasts as they pressed ever further west. At first, it was much like it had been the first day. The beasts stayed close, but out of sight, as they pushed their way through the mountains, passes, and valleys. Each morning when they broke camp they would find that beasts had gathered outside the formation during the night, and then a fight would ensue.

On the third day, the beasts started attacking them as they traveled. At some u...

3.14 - Golden Tiger Cultivation Law

The tiger let out another near-deafening roar. Its haunches tensed. It pounced. The beast covered a distance of more than fifty feet in an instant. He Yu couldn’t tell if it was just shock, or some technique in the roar, but he found himself rooted to the spot, staring dumbly up at an awakened beast. Staring at the razor-sharp claws extended from paws larger than his head.

Chen Fei stepped into the beast’s path, her hands rapidly working incantation gestures. A formation barrier app...

3.13 - The Western Wilds

It took He Yu and the others a little more than a day to reach the edge of the sect’s territory that inner disciples were normally permitted to explore. They traveled quickly, using their Third Realm speed and stamina to good effect. Despite the far denser vegetation, rougher terrain, and lack of a road, He Yu guessed that they covered a distance that would have taken them a week or more had they all been mortal.

 On the way, He Yu occasionally sensed awakened beasts and even a s...

3.12 - Mo Zhiqiang

In the weeks since his duel with that upstart, Mo Zhiqiang had spent nearly half of his accumulated wealth on sending other disciples after him. At least half the wealth the craven bandit hadn’t stolen from him. He Yu. The mere thought of the name caused heat to rush up his neck. Mo Zhiqiang clenched his fist, crushing the jar of wine in his hand. At least it had been empty.

Late Body Refining. He’d been a full stage ahead of that peasant when he issued his challenge. Not only had H...

3.11 - Resolve and Departure

Elder Cai ushered He Yu into the interior courtyard of his palatial home. A central garden dominated the space and was clearly maintained by a master gardener. He Yu was mildly surprised when Elder Cai knelt down and began tending to the plants himself.

While the talisman He Yu held protected him from the elder’s overwhelming presence, it did not mute his sense for qi. Elder Cai cared for his garden with wholly mortal techniques, using none of his cultivation base. Of course, being a ...

3.10 - Assignment

In the days that followed the meeting at Li Heng’s home, He Yu threw himself into cultivation. If they were going to venture into the dangerous wild, he wanted to pack as much qi into his cultivation base as he could before they left. He may not be able to reach the Fourth Realm in such a short time, or even reach the peak of the Third, but every little bit would help.

He made sure not to lose himself too much, however, emerging at least once a day to check whether Yan Shirong had sen...

3.9 - Investigation

A soft rain fell over Lenghu city. Zhang Lifen twirled her parasol as raindrops pattered against the waxed paper. It was good fortune that the weather had favored her so. Since manifesting her Nascent Soul, it had become nearly impossible to suppress her qi enough that she could pass unnoticed. The rain would mask some of that, while also keeping most mortals off the streets despite being the middle of the day.

A particularly observant mortal might notice how her steps seemed to leave n...

3.8 - Response

As yet another defeated challenger emptied out their storage treasure at He Yu’s feet, he couldn’t help but think this was getting more than a bit ridiculous. At this point, he’d lost track of how many people had challenged him over the past weeks. He’d won them all.

He Yu scooped the pile of spirit stones and medicines into his new, larger storage treasure. He very pointedly ignored Chen Fei’s scowl.

“Couldn’t you leave him with at least a little?” she asked.

3.7 - Settling In

With a tired sigh, He Yu sent his guandao back to his storage treasure. The other disciple knelt before him, head bowed. He was bloody, battered, and bruised, but his posture—even kneeling—showed that he still had some pride. Pride that would no doubt cause more trouble for He Yu if the past few weeks had been any indication.

“Empty your storage treasure,” He Yu said. The words sounded tired to his own ears, and they’d become rote at this point. He was sick of saying them by n...

3.6 - Gathering Strength

Since the tournament, Sha Xiang had stalked the inner sect. For once, the demon core seemed to agree with her about a course other than unbridled violence. It knew, just as she did, that they were small fish in a very large pond. Or rather, easy prey. The core did not like being prey.

For the time being, at least, it was content to remain beneath notice. To gather knowledge of the inner sect’s lower ranks, and to take this time to gather strength.

Sha Xiang had spent much of her...

3.5 - Duels, Talents, Techniques

He Yu exploded into motion. Wind and heaven howled along his weapon, and surged over his body. With the Sky Dragon’s Flight, he surged across the space separating him from Mo Zhiqiang. Forming the Rushing Wind, he fell upon his opponent.

To Mo Zhiqiang’s credit, he not only stood firm but also advanced on He Yu. The tip of the spear blurred with some wind-aspected art, and He Yu could feel a dampness like he was walking through clouds. Their weapons met with a metallic clash, and He...

3.4 - A Challenger Comes

Zhang Lifen released He Yu from his training shortly after their talk of the Sunset Court. He Yu made directly for Li Heng’s new home.

The Li scion had mentioned his family’s extensive historical records several times previously. Although He Yu had spent some time searching the sect archives for information on this Sunset Empress, he’d never found anything. Perhaps the Li family archives would yield better results.

As He Yu made his way through the paths and gardens of the i...

3.3 - Training Continues

He Yu’s guandao passed through emptiness. Again. Winds curled, and heaven flashed. He launched another series of attacks but to no avail. His teacher simply slipped out of the way, avoiding his strikes as if they weren’t even enough to qualify as an inconvenience. As Zhang Lifen effortlessly shifted from his attacks, she lectured.

Whether it was more frustrating that he wasn’t any closer to landing a blow, or that he had to also pay attention to Zhang Lifen’s lessons, He Yu coul...

3.2 - Wayborn Seed

“Come,” Zhang Lifen said. “There are more pleasant places to talk than a training arena.”

He Yu was more than happy to fall in behind her as they left the training area together. As they made their way through the inner sect common areas, he noticed a good number of disciples shooting less-than-friendly looks their way. He recalled what Zhang Lifen had said about her reputation within the inner sect, and Fang Yingjie’s reluctance to speak on it.

The sum of the reactions ...

3.1 - Welcome to the Inner Sect

The first few days He Yu spent in the inner sect were spent in convalescence and cultivation. His wounds had all healed thanks to the Qi Alignment pill Zhang Lifen had given him, but he still needed rest.

On the third day, he received a surprise visit from Li Heng and Princess Tan.

“Welcome to the inner sect,” Li Heng said as they stepped into He Yu’s courtyard.

His courtyard. It wasn’t something he’d gotten used to yet, having not only a whole house to himself but...

Prologue - Simulacrum

First Elder Cai Weizhe cast his awareness to the far-flung corners of the Dragon Empire, and into his projections. The Thousand Hands of the Emperor technique was his own contribution to the Cloud Emperor’s Heavenly Palace and had become a vital tool over the centuries in monitoring the world outside the sect.

In the imperial palace, the child emperor had managed to reach late Qi Gathering with the aid of potent pills and elixirs. Cai Weizhe had sent messages—and had been ignored. T...

Arc 3

Hey everyone!

Just a quick update. Arc 2 is now complete. I just finished writing Arc 3 as of today, which concludes Volume 1 of Legend of Ascension. Arc 3 will begin on Saturday, April 13 at the usual time, with a bonus prologue coming in a touch before that. Enjoy!

-Boots

Epilogue - The Price of Failure

Once again, Sha Xiang found herself standing before Kong Huizhong with her head bowed. They were well outside the sect territory this time, and as soon as the emissary of the Sunset Court had arrived, Sha Xiang knew why. The anger of the Nascent Soul cultivator was a physical presence. Hot and heavy, it weighed on the gathered servants of the Court—for that was what they all were, Sha Xiang to herself. Whether they liked it or not.

Cui Bao didn’t seem to mind. He was like her that w...

2.47 - Promotions and Beyond

He Yu awoke in the medicine hall for the second time in as many days. As he opened his eyes, he was greeted by an unexpected sight. Chen Fei sat next to the bed, worry plain on her features. In one corner, Tan Xiaoling and Li Heng spoke softly to one another. Yan Shirong sat near the door, reading.

“He’s awake,” Chen Fei said, her voice filled with relief.

Tan Xiaoling moved to the side of the bed and bowed far lower than was strictly appropriate over a salute. “Sect Broth...

2.46 - Final Round Pt. 2

He Yu held his guandao at the ready. His only response was to nod in return. Words failed him. How was he supposed to beat someone like this? Not even when he’d been training with Old Guo had he encountered such overwhelming strength. The old cultivator had limited his advancement to the late Third Realm, so He Yu had never come close to matching him, but even that hadn’t felt as horrifically one-sided as this.

When she came at him again, she did so with a certainty that went beyond...

2.45 - Final Round

When they took the stage on the final day of the tournament, the only acknowledgment of their conversation that Tan Xiaoling gave was a brief nod. She had to know that he wouldn’t concede the match. When she saluted him, the only words she had were, “It will be an honor to exchange pointers, Sect Brother He.” While Tan Xiaoling’s features were hard, he could hear the sincerity in her words.

“Likewise, Princess Tan.” It was the least he could do, to show her proper respect. 2024-04-04 22:00:01 +0000 UTC View Post

2.44 - Semifinals Pt. 2

Sha Xiang took a step forward. She crossed a distance of more than ten feet in an instant, slamming a burning stone fist into the center of He Yu’s chest. A blast of qi accompanied the blow, and the next thing he knew he was sailing back, struggling to take even the shallowest of panicked panting gulps of air.

She’d gotten faster and shockingly stronger. Zhang Lifen had said that Sha Xiang had damaged her cultivation the last time she’d used this technique. There was no way that c...

2.43 - Inner Sect Tournament: Semifinals

When the remaining four contestants assembled the following day, Leader Zhou called them onto the arena floor. Sha Xiang, thanks to the availability of the inner sect’s healers, appeared to have fully recovered from her fight the previous day. Both she and Cui Bao looked eager and ready to fight. A tiny part of He Yu hoped they would have to face each other. That would have been poetic justice.

The rest of him wanted nothing more than to face Sha Xiang now. The four of them were arran...

2.42 - Quarterfinals Pt. 2

As the two girls went through the motions before the match began, He Yu looked to Zhang Lifen. Her features were unreadable. Was this another of her concessions? Rather than obsess, he turned his attention back to the arena.

“S’pose I should thank you,” Sha Xiang said. “Always knew Qiao Xia was weak. Now I don’t have to put up with her until next year.”

“You shouldn’t be so mean to people, Sect Sister Sha,” Chen Fei said. It was something anyone who knew her well...