Haughtiness of the Ascetic | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monster(s) | Soul Cost |
Name | Attribute | Stamina | Rounds |
:50 :150 :300 :500 | |||||
I - Rage of the Cub | 20 | 3 | |||
II - Presage of the Taoist | 20 | 2 | |||
III - When the Fellows Met | 20 | 2 | |||
IV - Duel between Fellows - Dark | 20 | 3 | |||
Amelioration System — Investiture of the Gods | |||||
I - Rage of the Cub
20 | 3 | 0 |
Monster/Stats | Enemy Skill(s) | Wave | Monster | Attack | CD | HP | Defence | Loot | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wave 1 | ||||||||||
1 |
|
99,999 | 8(8) | HP: 100 ATK: 99,999 DEF: 10 CD: 8(8)100 |
10 | No | 5 Dark Rune Shield | |||
Wave 2 | ||||||||||
2 |
|
99,999 | 8(8) | HP: 100 ATK: 99,999 DEF: 10 CD: 8(8)100 |
10 | No | 6 Dark Rune Shield | |||
Wave 3 | ||||||||||
3 |
|
99,999 | 8(8) | HP: 100 ATK: 99,999 DEF: 10 CD: 8(8)100 |
10 | No | 9 Dark Rune Shield |
【Beginning】
The air was filled with the scent of blood. The young Shen Gongbao hid within the swamp of the forest, breathing through a halved branch of bamboo. As a new ascetic, Shen Gongbao listened to movements on the earth with his ascetic spells. He could hear the footsteps of the swordsman lingering around, but did not approach. Shen Gongbao did not even dare to use his spells to steal a glance in fear of detection by the swordsman.
- Young Shen Gongbao: ‘It wasn’t easy for the villagers to allow me, a man of unknown origin, to cultivate myself here in this abandoned house,’
- Young Shen Gongbao: ‘Who would have expected this lunatic coming in and ruining everything...’
After a long wait, the footsteps quieted down. As Shen Gongbao was about to get up, the bamboo was suddenly sliced to two by the pneuma of a sword. Shen Gongbao jumped in panic; but at the same time, a massive tiger leaped out from the bushes, its claws aimed at the swordsman who had slaughtered all in the village —
【Enemy Dialog】
- Young Shen Gongbao: Darn it! I can’t die yet...
- Young Shen Gongbao: I must survive! No matter how!
【End】
The swordsman’s attacks were brutal, and Shen Gongbao resisted with all his might, but his body already covered in injuries. The tiger was also grievously wounded. The duo was at the end of their stand; another strike from the swordsman would be their deaths.
Discontented with his potential defeat, Shen Gongbao stayed upright with difficulty. He tried thinking of some way to survive, but his mind remained blank. All that looped was the humiliation Demons had wrought upon him in the past —
- Ibarakidouji: ‘You are not suited for the Demon path, kid!’
- Ibarakidouji: ‘Go cultivate your asceticism elsewhere. From where I stand, you can’t even make it in the realm of man.’
- Young Shen Gongbao: ‘Can’t make it... I will show you!’
- Paladin King of Darkness: You... You are a demon!
- Young Shen Gongbao: So what?
The swordsman swung his blade down, decapitating the giant tiger. He then proceeded to cleanse his weapon in the blood of the tiger, before giving a few swings in the air.
The swordsman turned to go, leaving Shen Gongbao by the swamp. He looked towards the village only to see the streets awashed with corpses. None had survived.
- Young Shen Gongbao: ...Haha!
- Young Shen Gongbao: Luck must also be accounted for!
Shen Gongbao lifted the giant tiger planning to cook it by the nearby lake. As he headed into the bushes, he found a tiger cub; the reason behind the giant tiger’s aggression towards the swordsman was the protection of its young. Shen Gongbao wrapped the tiger cub in linen and carried it in his arms, while he carried the carcass of the tigress over his shoulder.
- Young Shen Gongbao: Living meat lasts longer. How fortunate!
The young Shen Gongbao continued drifting with the tiger cub in the realm of man.
II - Presage of the Taoist
20 | 2 | 0 |
Monster/Stats | Enemy Skill(s) | Wave | Monster | Attack | CD | HP | Defence | Loot | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wave 1 | ||||||||||
1 |
|
100 | 2 | HP: 2 ATK: 100 DEF: 100,000 CD: 22 |
100,000 | No | Symbiosis | |||
Wave | ||||||||||
|
100 | 2 | HP: 4 ATK: 100 DEF: 100,000 CD: 24 |
100,000 | No | Symbiosis | ||||
Wave | ||||||||||
|
100 | 2 | HP: 2 ATK: 100 DEF: 100,000 CD: 22 |
100,000 | No | Symbiosis | ||||
Wave | ||||||||||
|
100 | 2 | HP: 4 ATK: 100 DEF: 100,000 CD: 24 |
100,000 | No | Symbiosis | ||||
Wave 2 | ||||||||||
2 |
|
100 | 2 | HP: 4 ATK: 100 DEF: 100,000 CD: 24 |
100,000 | No | Symbiosis | |||
Wave | ||||||||||
|
100 | 2 | HP: 4 ATK: 100 DEF: 100,000 CD: 24 |
100,000 | No | Symbiosis |
【Beginning】
When he first started practicing asceticism, Shen Gongbao drifted through the realm but his gains in power was miniscule. Hence, he sought caves inundated with pneuma, and visited renowned masters to learn better ascetic cultivation techniques.
- Shen Gongbao the Tao Achiever: Hey you obsolete old fool, how do you learn to outlive a turtle?
- Hermit of the Vague Territory: Young man, arrogance would not help you train.
- Hermit of the Vague Territory: Practicing asceticism merely to lengthen your life is pointless.
- Hermit of the Vague Territory: Ascetics like me serve Xuanwu to help tame the waters for the well-being of all.
- Hermit of the Vague Territory: My asceticism is solely to keep up with Xuanwu’s stride.
- Shen Gongbao the Tao Achiever: My ascetic cultivation is not for anyone!
- Spotted Tiger Cub: Meow~
- Shen Gongbao the Tao Achiever: Don’t be clingy! Can’t you see us talking business?
- Hermit of the Vague Territory: Haha! It’s hungry!
- Hermit of the Vague Territory: Mortal beasts must eat to live,
- Hermit of the Vague Territory: like how you would consume pneuma to cultivate asceticism.
- Young Ascetic: Master! Another Demon attack!
【Before Battles】
- Hermit of the Vague Territory: Come young man, show me your ability.
- Shen Gongbao the Tao Achiever: Don’t get scared, old man!
【End】
- Hermit of the Vague Territory: Young man, the power in your body...
- Shen Gongbao the Tao Achiever: What? Shocked, huh?
- Hermit of the Vague Territory: You are not actually human...
- Hermit of the Vague Territory: It seems that the mystical pneuma is working wonders in your body.
- Hermit of the Vague Territory: Then, its no surprise that your power does not match up with others
- Hermit of the Vague Territory: who has also practiced asceticism for a century.
- Shen Gongbao the Tao Achiever: So my body is changing as well, huh?
- Shen Gongbao the Tao Achiever: Great! I never liked my identity as a Demon.
- Shen Gongbao the Tao Achiever: I have never liked how Demons acted; just turn me Human already!
- Hermit of the Vague Territory: You have started down a special path... Here, take this.
- Hermit of the Vague Territory: This gift is my thanks to you for driving back the Demon soldiers.
- Hermit of the Vague Territory: This whip is a treasure I have acquired during my travels.
- Hermit of the Vague Territory: I have no use of it while guarding the river shore.
- Shen Gongbao the Tao Achiever: Old guy, you —
- Hermit of the Vague Territory: You are very special, young man.
- Hermit of the Vague Territory: You do not act for good nor evil, moral nor immoral.
- Hermit of the Vague Territory: You crave not great achievements or fantasy...
- Shen Gongbao the Tao Achiever: Just give it here, old guy! I hate long-winded people!
After taking the thunder whip, Shen Gongbao left with a wave. The spotted tiger cub leaped onto his back and clung on to his shoulders. Under the blazing sun, Shen Gongbao roamed according to his own desire, with the whip guiding him to a path clearer than before.
III - When the Fellows Met
20 | 2 | 0 |
Monster/Stats | Enemy Skill(s) | Wave | Monster | Attack | CD | HP | Defence | Loot | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wave 1 | ||||||||||
1 |
|
1,251 | 1 | HP: 56,436 ATK: 1,251 DEF: 120 CD: 156,436 |
120 | No | Masked Board | |||
Wave 2 | ||||||||||
2 |
|
99,999 | 8(8) | HP: 100 ATK: 99,999 DEF: 10 CD: 8(8)100 |
10 | No | 12 Dark Rune Shield |
【Beginning】
Shen Gongbao lashed out with his thunder whip to counter the warrior’s fanning strikes; the pillars of lightning summoned waved like willow. The spotted tiger leaped with a roar which the warrior halted with his leg, and with a swing of elbow, the tiger was knocked unconscious. Shen Gongbao lunged for an attack, and the martial warrior fell back allowing Shen Gongbao to rescue the tiger.
- ???: Ascetic, this is the path of warriors.
- ???: The guiding principles for your cultivation is not here on the mountain.
- Shen Gongbao the Tao Achiever: I may have lost this round. But tomorrow, I —
- ???: Tomorrow,
- ???: students of my brother would descend from the mountain to hunt down elves.
- ???: Perhaps you can test your strength against him.
- Shen Gongbao the Tao Achiever: You would let me go onto the mountain of Astralists if I defeat him?
- ???: No, ascetic, there is an even better place...
The next day, Shen Gongbao spotted a Xian ascetic flying along on a mystical beast like the warrior had told him would happen. He could not contain his excitement and struck out at the ascetic with thunder without saying a word. His opponent defended himself with spells and although he was unharmed, he was forced to the ground. Moving with his spells, Shen Gongbao lunged towards the Xian ascetic, together with the spotted tiger leaping in the woods —
【Enemy Dialog】
- Jiang Shang the Tao Achiever: Who are you!
- Shen Gongbao the Tao Achiever: Ascetic Shen Gongbao. Tao achiever, let me test your strength!
【End】
Mountains quake and branches flew, and the Xian ascetic was in constant withdrawal from the fierce attack. Yet, Shen Gongbao knew his opponent did not use much of his pneuma. He angrily howled:
- Shen Gongbao the Tao Achiever: I am fighting as hard as I could; yet, all you do is dodge.
- Shen Gongbao the Tao Achiever: Do you think I am not worthy to fight you?
- Jiang Shang the Tao Achiever: You are not my enemy; there is no reason to fight to the death.
- Shen Gongbao the Tao Achiever: I struck out at you with thunder and placed you in peril.
- Shen Gongbao the Tao Achiever: You would still attempt to avoid a fight?
- Celestial Divinity - Yuanshi Tianzun: You attacked openly. The thunder strike was clearly a challenge to a duel.
- Jiang Shang the Tao Achiever: Master!
A Xian master radiating with blue light emerged from the clouds. His voice resounded through the air. Shen Gongbao treated this newcomer with caution, and readied his whip in defense.
- Celestial Divinity - Yuanshi Tianzun: Ascetic, your spells are aggressive, and your posture arrogant.
- Celestial Divinity - Yuanshi Tianzun: Yet, fortitude emanates from you.
- Celestial Divinity - Yuanshi Tianzun: You keep a tiger as a pet in kindness; you are aggressive but not beserk.
- Celestial Divinity - Yuanshi Tianzun: You are one special individual.
- Celestial Divinity - Yuanshi Tianzun: Ziya, test his powers on my behalf!
- Jiang Shang the Tao Achiever: Master, but —
- Shen Gongbao the Tao Achiever: Take this!
Shen Gongbao raised his thunder whip in the air and as pneuma amassed, the weather quickly changed. The Xian ascetic’s expression darkened, casting a spell directly into the storm clouds to counteract the power of the thunder whip. The spotted tiger leaped out from the bushes in attack, but the ascetic dodged gracefully as a white mystical beast transformed itself into a roll of fabric that wrapped around the tiger. Seeing the Xian ascetic’s attack, Shen Gongbao no longer held back and hammered down with his thunder —
Lightning flashed down disheveling the Xian ascetic, whose neatly tied hair now fell to his shoulders and wounds covered his body. The Xian ascetic’s hairpin was now shrinking; when Shen Gongbao attacked, the Xian ascetic enlarged the hairpin to serve as a lightning rod at the last instant which lessened the power of the lightning strike.
- Celestial Divinity - Yuanshi Tianzun: Sigh!
- Celestial Divinity - Yuanshi Tianzun: Ziya, you obstinately chose passiveness
- Celestial Divinity - Yuanshi Tianzun: which has resulted in your own injury.
- Celestial Divinity - Yuanshi Tianzun: This only shows that you have not truly reached enlightenment...
- Celestial Divinity - Yuanshi Tianzun: Ascetic Shen Gongbao,
- Celestial Divinity - Yuanshi Tianzun: I will make an exception and take you in as an apprentice! Come with me!
- Shen Gongbao the Tao Achiever: Thank you!
A watery sphere now carried the Xian ascetic away, as another appeared before Shen Gongbao. As he eagerly approached, he suddenly felt something moving behind his back as strands of his long hair started falling off. He fearfully noticed a cast Taoist spell on his back. It turns out the Xian ascetic had aimed a spell at his head, but had changed its direction, only damaging his hair and clothing.
IV - Duel between Fellows - Dark
20 | 3 | 0 |
Monster/Stats | Enemy Skill(s) | Wave | Monster | Attack | CD | HP | Defence | Loot | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wave 1 | ||||||||||
1 |
|
861 | 2 | HP: 64,895 ATK: 861 DEF: 160 CD: 264,895 |
160 | No | 4+ Combo Shield | |||
Wave 2 | ||||||||||
2 |
|
2,523 | 1(1) | HP: 57,286 ATK: 2,523 DEF: 110 CD: 1(1)57,286 |
110 | No | Healing Conversion (Dark) | |||
Wave 3 | ||||||||||
3 |
|
848 | 2(2) | HP: 18 ATK: 848 DEF: 52,315 CD: 2(2)18 |
52,315 | No | Trojan |
【Beginning】
After the end of the War of the Gods’ Investiture, Shen Gongbao had sought an opportunity to duel his brother. Finally, Shen Gongbao seized his chance to challenge Jiang Ziya while the latter was on his back to the realm of the Xian.
- Shen Gongbao the Roaring Tenacity: Brother, did you have fun at the Zodiac Courts?
- Jiang Ziya the Celestial General: Brother, hasn’t our fight been decided?
- Shen Gongbao the Roaring Tenacity: Yes, I am weaker than you. I have long admitted that.
- Jiang Ziya the Celestial General: Brother, the opposite is true, no?
Jiang Ziya had always pulled back from his provocations. It was not until the day of the Gods’ Investiture that he fought with his brother; using dozens of seals, he had stopped the strike of thunder and lightning, sapping all of Shen Gongbao’s pneuma. Yet, Jiang Ziya admitted defeat to ensure victory in the war. Shen Gongbao was angered in leaving, and returned alone to the realm of the Xian.
- Jiang Ziya the Celestial General: I was defeated because I had been influenced by mortal thoughts.
- Jiang Ziya the Celestial General: Aren’t you satisfied?
- Shen Gongbao the Roaring Tenacity: Doesn’t that equate to you not trying your best?
- Shen Gongbao the Roaring Tenacity: Your personal matters are now resolved. Let us see who will win!
As Shen Gongbao summoned lightning, Jiang Ziya also started his spell defense.
- Jiang Ziya the Celestial General: Brother, what is it that you actually want?
- Shen Gongbao the Roaring Tenacity: Brother, aren’t you fully aware?
【Enemy Dialog】
- Shen Gongbao the Roaring Tenacity: Did you achieve Xian-hood to suffer? Come on! Live a life of pleasure!
- Jiang Ziya the Celestial General: Brother, Xian cultivates themselves in order to have a clear...
- Shen Gongbao the Roaring Tenacity: Would a clear mind not let you a better understand what you actually want?
【End】
The thunder and lightning formed into a beam shattering Jiang Ziya. Yet, Shen Gongbao realized what he destroyed was just as a manifested double of the actual Jiang Ziya. Shen Gongbao angrily yelled from the barren plains of the realm of the Xian:
- Shen Gongbao the Roaring Tenacity: Brother, stop hiding! This time, there are no mortal affairs bothering you!
Suddenly, a Xian crane soared out from the clouds, chirping:
- Xian Crane: Grand Master Jiang, our lord wishes your presence.
- Shen Gongbao the Roaring Tenacity: The Xian master would not address my brother like so.
- Shen Gongbao the Roaring Tenacity: You have given yourself away!
With that, Shen Gongbao struck out a bolt of lightning that Ziya managed to block with a hurried spell. Yet, this led to him exposing his actual body.
- Shen Gongbao the Roaring Tenacity: Brother, let’s fight for real!
- Jiang Ziya the Celestial General: Daji, back off! Don’t get in the way!
The Xian crane returned to her fox elf appearance and watched the battle of the two Xian from a mountain. Since there was no way to escape, Jiang Ziya steeled himself for a decisive battle. He threw his magic artifact into the air and his golden seal materialized in the skies.
Shen Gongbao rejoiced at the sight and he amassed the Xian pneuma within himself. He had always been arrogant and aggressive, often acting according to his own will without the control of others. His cultivation in asceticism has turned himself from Demon to Human, and from Human to Xian...Shen Gongbao’s personality was unique, and the envy of all Xian.