Pendulum of fate part.., p.48
Pendulum of Fate - Part 1, page 48
part #14 of Painting the Mists Series
Some bags, he opened. One bag contained a pillow, which he pulled out and dusted off. He then tied off the bag and put it back into the trash can—he was a homeless beggar, but even he saw no sense in dirtying an otherwise clean alley.
The beggar eventually managed to set up a small shelter, complete with a pillow, a fluffy garbage-bag bed, and a small sheet of plastic propped up by an assortment of sticks he carried around with him. He was about to sleep when he saw a streak of gold pass through the alley, dart around, then double back to stop in front of the shocked beggar.
Not good, the beggar thought. This man was undoubtedly a high ranker. As a bronze-ranked beggar, he had strong survival instincts and could pull himself through even natural disasters. It was these instincts that told him that upsetting this person would not be a wise course of action.
To his relief, the ranker did not seem aggressive. The man had long blond hair. A golden bow was slung over his shoulder. He walked over to a spot in the alley’s broken pavement, touched the ground, then smelled the residue.
“Did you see anyone in this alley three hours ago?” the ranker suddenly asked.
The words hit the beggar like a blizzard in the winter, and his entire body shivered and nearly shut down from the pressure. The beggar shook his head. “No, sir. I didn’t see anything. I was out for a meal. You see, a pair of gentlemen…” He proceeded to explain everything that had transpired over the past twelve hours. Then, frightened that the man might not be satisfied, began to recount the entire week. Fortunately, he didn’t seem too interested in his petty act of thievery five days ago.
“Thank you for your assistance,” the man finally said. “I’ll be off now.”
“Anything to serve,” the beggar said. He blinked, and the man had vanished.
On the ground where the man had been standing lay a few silver coins. It wasn’t a large sum of money, but it was enough for a month out of the cold with two hot meals a day. A godsend for someone like him.
“An angel,” the man whispered. “He was definitely an angel.” He rushed off excitedly. He did not see the ranker, who hadn’t actually vanished, but was standing on the rooftops, scrutinizing the alley.
The man was indeed an angel, with two pairs of wings to his name. His name was Petros Sullivan, and he was closing in on his quarry.
– End Part Book 14 Part 1 –
Author’s Note
Nothing is more satisfying than that moment when a novel takes your heart and heals it. You walk into the book wanting an escape from reality and find something that broke and remade you.
That’s what I look for when I read. It’s also what I strive for when I write. Every piece of my life is something I weave into my stories, trying to take you and my characters beyond just another cultivation or fantasy novel and into something that touches your heart and soul.
In my stories, you will see my past. You will see my seven years as an engineer and my experience as part of a soul-sucking corporation. You’ll see true love. You’ll see true heartbreak. You’ll see my time as a martial artist. You’ll see moments that boil your blood and make you want to pound a wall in frustration. You’ll also see the actions of people who are just trying to do the right thing. Because that’s what most people do in the end—and nothing in the world can make me believe otherwise.
—Patrick Laplante
A Note to Readers
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Further Reading
If you enjoy litRPG and xianxia, make sure to check out Endless Online, as well as Silver Fox & the Western Hero. Both are written by M. H. Johnson. The first is a fantastic blend of sword, sorcery, and science fiction. The second is a xianxia novel with a litRPG twist.
If you’re interested in joining a community of likeminded readers, I suggest the following Facebook groups:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/WesternWuxia/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/cultivationnovels/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LitRPGsociety/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LitRPG.books
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LitRPGReleases
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wrgph (Wuxia Readers Group)
The Cultivation Systems
This record is a summary of the cultivation systems on the Inkwell Plane. Note that cultivation systems can change depending on the type of plane or the stability of the plane.
Qi Cultivation (Human Path: Transcendent)
Rune Carving Realm – Carve your core with runes of enlightenment. Form a base with which to gain enlightenment on the Dao. Transcendent cultivators gain a domain, which lets them mobilize heaven and earth energy. Opposing domains compete for energy, and the battle depends on the strength and concepts of each cultivator.
Rune Gathering Realm – Gather the power of law runes and enforce your will upon the world. From now on, the Dao is everything—the strength of a cultivator’s runes varies greatly. Rune Gathering cultivators now control a small world projection, in which they can teleport at will and lock down opponents in a spatial cage.
Law Stitching Realm – Create a personal set of heavenly laws to subvert the authority of the heavens. Only when a complete law is stitched will a Daoist become timeless and immortal.
Body Cultivation (Human Path: Demigod)
Blood Awakening Realm – Awaken the divinity in your blood. By exhausting their stored divine power, deities can use divine abilities. Their bodies are powerful, resistant, and nigh unkillable.
Muscle Empowering Realm – Infuse your divine blood into your muscles and ligaments. Gain strength that transcends mortal limitations.
Shell Marking Realm – ???
Soul Cultivation (Human, Secondary Path)
Human soul cultivation is flexible. It is divided into initial, middle, and upper transcendent-soul realms. Angels advance by deepening their virtues and acquiring merit. Devils pursue their vices and acquire sin. Buddhists strive to sever karma. Evil spirits increase their karmic ties to the world.
To deepen a vice, one must cultivate their soul and absorb soul energy until it reaches a critical point. Neutrally, it would then break through. Angels and devils have shackles, the requirement for a deepening of their virtue, growing more wings. Lower transcendence gives a pair of wings, middle a second pair, and upper a third. To break form a heavenly soul realm or infernal soul, or immortal soul, one needs sufficient energy and an immortal reason.
Demonic Cultivation
Initiation Realm – Gain the acknowledgment of your demonic alignment and create a demon weapon by locking away a portion of your power. Demons collect demonic energy via consumption and by performing quests for their faction.
Initiation-realm demons have strong bodies and powerful natural weapons. They are strengthened and weakened by their surroundings, and they exert power over natural energies in their dominions.
Demons must continuously consume, or their strength will wither away.
Investiture Realm – Become a champion of your alignment and unlock the authority to change your surroundings. Lock away a portion of your power into your demon armor.
Investiture-realm demons are better, faster, and stronger. Their terrain-manipulation abilities are without peer, and they can permanently alter the landscape.
Fusion Realm – Fuse with your territory. Fuse your armor, your body, and your power into your manifestation.
A fusion-realm demon’s power grows with their kingdom. Only by completely fusing with their dense power can they ascend and attain true immortality.
Terminology:
Rune-carving cultivators are known as Daoists. Cultivators who are both Daoists and demigods are known as Dao Gods. Demonic cultivators are referred to as lords and ladies. Humans and demons who manage the difficult feat of cultivating Daoist and demonic paths are known as Dao Lords.
Patrick Laplante, Pendulum of Fate - Part 1
