Chapter 271

  Enduring Eternity (III)

  We continued navigating the dark scape of the forest without light, all while one of us always had to also navigate the damn alchemist because he would not lift his head off the recipe. He must have read the damned thing a billion times by now, but he just kept staring at it--no doubt running simulations in his head.

  As such, the kids took turns guiding him--making sure he didn't ram into a tree or slip against the root.

  I mean, they tried their best--but the man was on his seventh change of robes in the span of two days, so they weren't doing a particularly good job.

  In the meantime, I've been busy trying to sew together a cultivation method that I won't replace quickly and that can be a founding block for if I ever want to start an actual sect.

  I mean, even without it, I'm already at, like, what, six--no, seven disciples--now... well, no, six, 'cause I really shouldn't count Long Tao. Still, that's only really in the span of around nine months of living in this world.

  Yes, I was a bit accelerated initially, but Rayce and Xing Feng were relatively recent additions to the roster.

  All the same, I do want the created method to be fundamental, first and foremost, and I can then create more specialized ones based on individual disciples.

  On the fourth day, I started doing some experiments with the system--namely, I wanted to know whether I can create 'linked' arts, in that one is a prerequisite to another.

  My idea was to create a central, core art that other, more specialized arts can inherit the base logic from, sort of like how systems in the games are linked together.

  And--to my shock and awe--it was actually possible. I sacked about 180 points by creating two absolutely lowest-tier methods to test it, and it actually worked.

  The second art required the first and then built on top of it by specializing it further.

  ... wow.

  Okay.

  This actually kind of changes the nature of the 'game', as it were; the system never really gave me a rundown tutorial of its functions beyond just stating its general purpose. I've mostly been using it rather rigidly (because points weren't exactly falling from the sky, to be fair), but if something like this is possible... then just how many other possibilities are there?

  Is it possible to create a long-chain method that slowly stacks benefits from the start and is completely 'broken' by the 'end game'? Or create something like a central movement art by investing a lot of points into it, ensuring that it's as perfect as possible, but then throw some less-than-perfect addendums on top of it whose flaws are hidden due to the original art?

  Though I'm tempted to test, I don't go through it. Though I've gotten quite a lot of creation points, I'm fairly certain I'm going to run through them just as quickly--kids are growing up, approaching the next path of their journey, and will probably need more sophisticated arts and methods soon enough.

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  Forget it.

  For now, I just need to create one central method that will be the future foundational block for everything.

  As such, I didn't spare any points wherever I could, but I also intentionally didn't really add anything special to it--so, it's rudimentary, shorn of any external concepts, but it's also extremely complex and, most importantly, stable. That's where I invested most of the points--adding the resistance to anything going wrong during a breakthrough, ensuring that it was extremely difficult to get a backlash while cultivating, and prioritizing stability over incessant speed.

  Was it going to work? Honestly, I don't know. My understanding of cultivation in this world is still fundamentally rather flawed--perhaps, in some small capacity, that's a benefit, as I also don't have any inherent biases, but it's also a major shortcoming since I don't have literal millions of years of foundational knowledge that's been tried and tested throughout generations.

  I'm sort of like a consultant brought in to evaluate a company--sure, I can more easily spot 'redundancies' and some flaws in operation, but I also don't have intimate knowledge of how the entire thing works, and by maybe twisting that one gear to fix something, I break sixteen other things in the process.

  But... I have the system, at least. Whatever it created--or, well, whatever I created through it--thus far has all been rather phenomenal and useful.

  Hopefully, this will be, too.

  Click create.

  Nah! Stop! Phew, just in time.

  I almost forgot to name the fundamental cultivation method of my future sect. I would have literally redone the entire thing one-for-one and spent an extra 400 points just so I can name it, no joke.

  Create, now.

  [Congratulations, Host, on creating the 'Enduring Eternity' cultivation method]

  [...]

  [Enduring Eternity]

  [Type: Cultivation Method]

  [Rank: low-Myth]

  [Host Comprehension: Minor]

  [...]

  [A principal method meant as the starting point of all those who struggle against the decrees of fate; though simple on the surface, its enduring nature ensures that it can be molded into practically anything else. Its steadiness ensures that the most turbulent parts of one's journey towards immortality, the very beginnings, aren't as rife with flaws and shortcomings as they tend to be; it naturally prevents those who use it from making critical errors and causing irreparable damage to their foundations in the process. It is neither particularly fast nor slow; due to its nature and its innate stabilization, it doubles the lifespan gains on each breakthrough, up to the Void Transformation Realm. Though there exist many methods that are vastly better on the whole, only a few can match it in its particulars and versatility. Its lack of restrictions ensures that practically everyone can cultivate with it. It also allows for natural extensions once its natural well has been exhausted, building on top of extremely solid foundations and forging ahead toward excessive perfection. Due to its inherent nature, its comprehension difficulty is rather high, though even those with no comprehension can still learn it--it will only take a bit longer than the rest. Despite only being categorized as low-Myth tier, it would comfortably sit at the very top of the Myth-tier cultivation methods, heavens crossed, too]

  [...]

  [Creation Points Value: 400/400]

  [Comprehension Difficulty: ???]

  [...]

  [Creation Bonus: a special effect has been triggered, and the cultivation method has been further refined]

  [New Effect: for each person practicing Enduring Eternity, gain 20% to your cultivation speed and 20% to your Qi Recovery. This effect ends once your Disciples graduate to extension methods. It stacks infinitely, but Disciples must cultivate on a daily basis with it; otherwise, the bonus from them is temporarily paused]

  [New Effect: when first learning it, all your Disciples will gain initial comprehension with relative ease, though mastering the rest of the method will be up to their capabilities]

  [New Effect: achieving Perfect Comprehension will immediately raise one's cultivation by a minor realm; this includes breaking through if they are at the Peak. The outcome of their breakthrough will be as if they themselves had undergone it under optimal conditions, but no better than they themselves could have naturally achieved]

  [...]

  [Creation Bonus: Reanimating Talisman (Unique)]

  [Reanimating Talisman (Unique): temporarily breathe sentience into a mindless spirit. Lasts for 3 hours. Can only be used on spirits that yet retain a semblance of their soul, at the very least]