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Savage Divinity - Chapter 445

Published at 3rd of May 2024 05:57:38 AM


Chapter 445

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Chapter 445


There's been triaaaaaals and triii-bulations,

You know I've had my share,

But I've climbed a mountain,

I've crossed a river,

and Im al-most there.

Im allllllllllll

mostttttttttt

thereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

As the last note fades into nothingness, I stand in the void with arms outstretched, ending my impromptu song and dance with the gusto it deserves. Its a catchy little tune which fit my current situation and I needed the break from meditative contemplation, but I should really stop fooling around and get back to work. The imagined spotlights and instruments disappear the moment I stop thinking about them, and Im returned to my bedroom within my Natal Palace, seated on the bed as if Id never left. This is my throne from which I do all my best thinking and oversee my personal Domain, though truth be told, its not exactly a great viewpoint. My Keystones and their respective areas are situated lower than my bedroom so I can watch over them from above, but while sitting on the bed away from the windows, all I can see is the darkness of the void. Besides, theres nothing directly in front of me because its still empty real estate for my next Keystone, whenever my Core gets large (or whatever) enough to fit it.Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

Should I plan things out and remodel? Ugh, it takes so much effort though. Sure, its mostly mentally imagining things, but its not as simple as it sounds. Id have to re-imagine everything from every angle and keep the new perspective in mind at all times instead of slipping back to the old one. Itd be like walking into a house with the same layout and decor, then looking out the window and seeing a whole new view. The similarities make it harder to keep the differences in mind, and since the view isnt too important, I might as well keep things as they are. Then theres all the Chi shenanigans happening in the background, being that everything in my Natal Palace isnt merely a mental construct, but have a specific tie to my Core and Chi, meaning it really isnt as simple as imagining things. I wish I could ask the Legate about it, but his price is too high.

Besides, I enjoy looking out into the void. When the Spectres are there, they remind me of the stakes at hand, and when its empty, it tells me my thoughts are my own and I have no one to blame for the fucked up shit passing through my brain.

Taking a deep breath, I clap my hands and unleash my Aura in the standard, inspirational variety. Its limited to inside my Natal Palace and not out in the real world, as Id hate to sit through another of Guan Suos lectures about disturbing his sleep, but for these purposes, its more than enough. Since I have complete control, I confer colour to my Aura, steeping it with a warm, red glow to signify courage and determination. The glowing Aura adds a crimson tinge to my Natal Palace as it sweeps out into the far reaches of the void, an all-encompassing shroud of presence and influence. My presence. My influence. As Yan so aptly explained, Chi is only one half of the Aura equation, with the other half being my emotions, and when mixed together, I unleash the resulting product into the world.

Kyung said Aura wasnt an External usage of Chi, but rather it was using Chi Internally to do something Externally. It sounds silly at first, but theres a kernel of truth there, one which thankfully wedged itself between my teeth and refused to dislodge itself until I thought things through. Ive been too fixated on results, but like Yan said, Chi is Chi whether its Internal or External, so instead of trying to turn the former into the latter, I should instead look at what makes Chi, Chi. I take Heavenly Energy into my Core and turn it into Chi. When Chi leaves my Core, it turns back into Heavenly Energy, but why? Ive said it before, Heavenly Energy is borrowed, not owned, so what differentiates Heavenly Energy from Chi?

In short, I do. Me. I am the defining factor. Chi is me plus Heavenly Energy, so remove me from the equation and Chi goes back to being Heavenly Energy. When I said Martial Warriors seize Heavenly Energy to use for ourselves, it was more of a tongue in cheek comment, but it turns out I was closer to the truth than I thought. For Chi to remain Chi whilst outside my Core, I must make it truly mine, brand and chain it to my existence. Defy Heaven and seize power, but how? Well, probably the same way I do everything else: become one with the Chi, and the Chi must become me. Thats how Aura works, I think. I take my passions, my fears, my sentiments, and sorrows, use them as a vessel and infuse them with Chi, which then manifests as Aura. The supplied emotions are a part of what makes me, me, and keep Chi from dissipating into Heavenly Energy.

...

Okay.

This is fine. I can do this. Lemme think. Why didnt it work? While I havent gotten to the emotion part yet, theoretically, I should at least see a bit of Water Chi before it dissipates. Hmm... Maybe Im overstepping the limits of the Blessing of Water. I would assume air falls under the domain of Wind, and temperature control probably belongs to Fire, so I need to find a concept which belongs to Water and Water alone. I suppose this is why people bind physical water to use instead, because of strict limitations over what one can do, though why it matters for Water Chi more than the other Elements, I still dont know. Hmm... What if I used something which was naturally cold? Drawing Peace from its scabbard, I lay it across my knees and return to the void, where its spiritual equivalent sits waiting for me to take in hand. Ive tried this before in the real world, but never from my Natal Palace. Besides, it was a long time ago before my second Awakening, so maybe things will be different this time around.

With Peace in hand, I envision its cool metal surface drawing moisture from the warm air around us, forming a shifting pattern of transparent droplets which adhere to the flat of its blade. Thats all it needs to do, stay on the sword, so holding this image in mind, I return to reality and see the tell-tale beads of water fade away into nothingness before my eyes, my Chi returning to the Heavens and leaving no trace behind. Giddy with success, I stifle a giggle and summon the water again to familiarize myself with the process, all the while celebrating this momentous step forward which will save me from so much humiliation. Spitting or vomiting water is fine and all for turtles, but I am a human man and would rather not be seen spewing internal fluids all about the battlefield, not to mention how this is the first step towards making an awesome Water Blade like Elder Ming.

It worked! This is going to be so awesome...

Energized by my progress, I move on to the next step after about an hour of practice. Visualization: Check. Intent: Check. Now all thats left is emotion, but what emotion do I instill into water? What is water? No, better question: what emotions does the thought of water evoke from my subconscious? How do I feel when I think about water? Disregarding all outside factors, water is... peace. Its the calm, silent serenity out on Nan Ping Bay, so grand and reassuring it makes my fears and worries seem minor in comparison. Its also dark and foreboding, with countless dangers hidden within it dark depths, a duality I often see in this strange and dangerous world I live in.

Struck by the sheer coincidence of it all, I sit in the void and stare at my sword covered in a sheen of dewdrops, reflecting on the steps which have brought me to this very moment. Years ago, I named this weapon Peace, because it represented the peace of the sword, a peace found in strength and death. Now, this same sword is the key to using my Blessing of Water, a power which I associate with peace. Is this merely a coincidence or have I been moving towards this goal ever since I first stepped foot on the Martial Path? The Peace of the Sword, the Shield of Tranquility, and Unity through Purpose, these are my weapons, physically and metaphorically. I fight to find peace, whether it be peace from my enemies or the peace in death. I hide from my friends, family, and even myself to keep my mind tranquil and untroubled. Lastly, without purpose, I would fall to pieces pondering who I am and what purpose my existence serves, so I keep busy and work myself to exhaustion so I have no time to worry.

The coincidence is so uncanny its almost enough to make me believe in a higher power. Almost.

Correlation doesn't equal causation, so regardless of how eerily things line up, I push past it and move on. What is water, emotionally? Water is Peaceful, Water is Tranquil, and above all, Water is United, connected not only by raging rivers and flowing streams, but also in a never ending cycle of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. Physically, water can take many forms and is utilized in a myriad of ways, but it always returns to water as one part of a whole, regardless of the path it takes to get there. This is how I think of water, and it is this emotion, this all encompassing serenity and unity, which I instill into my Chi.

Visualization, Intent, and Emotion. I am one with the Chi, and the Chi is Me. I am One with the Water, and the Water is Me. Water is life. Water is death. Water is sustaining. Water is smothering. We cannot live with too much, nor can we survive with too little, which means it all comes back to Balance.

Opening my eyes, I blink as the glaring sun reflects off of my swords shiny, reflective surface, the light broken apart into a thousand shimmering rainbows by the beads of water sitting atop it. No, not water, but Water Chi, firmly affixed to the cold metal by my will and Intent. Counting beneath my breath, my heart swells with pride with each passing second as the water remains in existence, the Chi tethered by Emotion and unable to return to the Heavens. This Chi is mine to wield until I allow it to return, a tyrannical way of going about things which fits with my new outlook on life, my Dao if you will. No surrender and no embrace, I make demands and my Water Chi will carry them out until completion, making it as reliable as any of my Spiritual Weapons.

Well... its about fucking time. I thought I was gonna be stuck here forever...

Chapter Meme

Rains Song: https://youtu.be/irEBOfv4Ug4?t=110



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