AutonomousPen posts
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[MA] 195. Frame of Reference
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: Chapters this week: 2/3Late chapters: 3Next release: Saturday]Almost three months later—eleven months and thirteen days after the training started—Liya finally witnessed Feng Shen use his aura to thread nine needles, then work them simultaneously to produce a serviceable floor cloth. Fine aura control was challenging, but he had been much worse than she had expected.His Path was a blunt warrior's one."You pass," she said quickly before he could mess it up somehow. They...
[MA] 194. Wasted Potential
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: Another double-length chapter. Once more, I didn't want to cut Liya's exposition midway. This is the last info-dump in a while, probably.Chapters this week: 1/3Late chapters: 3Next release: Thursday ]"Willpower helps against the Void because of the Aspect of Will," Feng Shen guessed."Yes," Liya replied. "The Aspect of Will has always existed. It was always there, immutable, guaranteeing Space and Time can exist forever. Reality's existence depends on it...
[MA] 193. Two Reasons
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[ Chapters this week: 3/3Late chapters: 3Next release: Maybe on Saturday. More likely on Tuesday. I wanted to release a late chapter this week, but some stuff happened in my family. ]Liya had initially expected Feng Shen to take eight months to reach that point in his training. After witnessing his fast progress with the basic spear techniques, she had even believed he would be done within seven months total. However, learning how to fight with limited mental acuity took its toll.It had bee...
[MA] 192. Nothing More
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[ Chapters this week: 2/3Late chapters: 3Next release: In a few seconds ]"I've had many opportunities to learn different spear styles in my lifetime," Liya said, fine-tuning the pressure she exerted so that Feng Shen could understand her words. "Thirteen were good enough for me, and I mastered them. Of those, three are better compatible with your Path and can teach you valuable things. I'll impart all three onto you."Feng Shen was too early in his True Path to be abl...
[MA] 191. Today was Today
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: Merry Christmas!You all keep gifting me every week with your support, be it reading my novel or pledging on Patreon (or both, I guess =P).So, thank you, and God bless.This chapter is almost double the length of a normal one. I didn’t want to cut it midway. Another very dense chapter, though in a different manner from the previous one.Next chapter on Tuesday.And this time, it shall have grand revelations on how stuff works and why!Chapters this week: 3/3Late chapters: 3Next release: ...
[MA] 190. Paramount
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: I changed my mind about the big revelations in this chapter after thinking about the plot structure. The revelations make a lot more sense and let the story flow much better in chapter 192. Also, delaying them lets me flush out the Alliance and talents a little more and better address Liya's thinking process.So, sorry for the change. To make up for it, this chapter is about 60% longer than usual, and the next is almost double the average length. But be advised: they are pretty den...
[MA] 189. Kneel and Beg
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: Chapters this week: 1/3Late chapters: 3Next release: Thursday ]Feng Shen started reading, and soon enough, Liya could almost see a question form in his mind: how different was Guardian biology from everything he was reading? Understanding it would be essential.Yet, he never asked it.She bet it wasn't out of obedience—she hadn't let him ask any further questions—but wisdom. He wondered whether it was something she would tell him anyway and didn't want to play into her h...
[MA] 188. Freebie
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[ Chapters this week: 3/3Late chapters: 3Next release: Maybe on Saturday. More likely on Tuesday. I wanted to release a late chapter this week, but some stuff happened in my family. ]The drow unarmed style was Lawless and Conceptless. It wasn't easy to create a C-tier Lawless technique, much less a Conceptless one, but they had accomplished it.Therefore, Feng Shen had no trouble adapting it to his Path. Doing so helped Liya pinpoint where he still saw himself as a spear. When she did, s...
[MA] 187. Burden of Mentorship
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[ Chapters this week: 2/3Late chapters: 3Next release: In a few seconds ]The weeks went by while Shen overhauled his mentality.Due to cultural differences and Shen's personal difficulties, Liya had to adapt his training multiple times.The most significant change came when she recalled a fellow drow saying they had had similar trouble when training a young disciple. The foolish girl had grown up believing she was worthless and then found her identity as a genius swordswoman—except she ...
[MA]186. Not the Other Way Around
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: Chapters this week: 1/3Late chapters: 3Next release: Thursday]Liya had never seen someone cultivate. Now, as she looked a Feng Shen doing so, she couldn't decide if she found it fascinating or a needless time-sink when mana could strengthen someone much faster.Feng Shen sat down, and ambient qi was absorbed into his energy center. Once there, it obeyed the mystical symbols engraved on the center's walls—characters that didn't follow Alliance Standard Mana Script. Then Sh...
[MA] 185. As Expected
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: Chapters last week: 3/3Late chapters: 3Next release: In a few minutes ]Liya went against her orders not to interact with Shen before one Earth year had passed, but those orders came from an assumption that was no longer true: that she would lose her safety if she interfered with humanity.Observers couldn't interfere, but as with many rules that mainly had political consequences, it wasn't enforced by the Guardian System. Someone needed to witness her actions and make a formal ...
[MA] 184. Shame
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: I'm recovered from my friend's wedding. Let's get back on track.Chapters this week: 2/3Late chapters: 3Next release: Saturday ]The Queen of Spring and Autumn was lying comfortably on a giant red cushion as soft as a cloud nebula.Gold and silver dominated the most beautiful high elven terrace ever built. Intricate details filled every inch of the wooden floor and low walls, and the golden leaves of the World Tree surrounding it gave everything a comfortable atmosphere. The ...
[MA] 183. Training Tools
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: I'm recovered from my friend's wedding. Let's get back on track.Chapters this week: 1/3Late chapters: 3Next release: In a few seconds ]Everyone tried to talk at once, except Shen.He was still incapable of understanding how that strange liquid had been able to change his body without permission. It had simply bypassed all his defenses as if they weren't there. Then, everything went blank for an instant, and four notifications waited for him when he came back to himself....
[MA] 182. Pathetic
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: I almost delayed today's chapter but ended up finding the energy I needed.For those wondering, I will be a friend's best man this Sunday. Well, in my country, it's actually a wedding godfather, one of a few. Either way, it killed my routine.Things will return to normalcy on Tuesday (or Wednesday at the latest, depending on how tiring things get).Chapters this week: 3/3Late chapters: 3Next release: Tuesday/Wednesday ]Before Shen could even begin to think about the message h...
[MA] 181. Asking for Permission
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: Sorry for the delay. As I said in Discord, I wrote the chapter yesterday but was too tired to review it in time.Now, for some good news: I'll release one of the late chapters Saturday or, at the latest, next week! \o/Chapters this week: 2/3Late chapters: 3Next release: Saturday ]"Well done," the Void's uncaring-yet-fatherly voice said a moment before nothingness consumed the world.Shen's already battered mind couldn't even begin to comprehend what he was seeing...
[MA] 180. Denial
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: Chapters this week: 1/3Late chapters: 3Next release: Thursday ]Shen's improved defenses showed their worth as most of his knee's bones merely cracked. His kneecap didn't do so well, though. It shattered into countless pieces.Shen fell to the ground, rolled back, and stood back up in time to see the gnoll's liquid head revert into metal—undamaged metal. The gnoll's helmet didn't have even a scratch on it, and probably neither did the head beneath it.Shen was f...
[MA] 179. Echo of a Glimpse
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: Chapters this week: 3/3Late chapters: 3Next release: Tuesday]Shen's stamina reserves had been refilled, but he still felt no stamina coming from the system to replenish the little he used as he rushed forward. One of the last system messages he had received in the tutorial taught that mana wasn't freely available during Void invasions. He guessed he was one step beyond that, completely cut from the system.He was confident he was deep into the Void—if nothingness could even h...
[MA] 178. Embryo
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: When I said this arc is almost finished, I meant the Rift War sub-arc. Earth Arc shall continue for roughly a few dozen chapters more.Chapters this week: 2/3Late chapters: 3Next release: Saturday.]Shen's and the gnoll's aura slipped through the cracks of the unstable portal.They touched each other.Shen was instantly slammed by overwhelming willpower and instinctively stepped back midair. He could barely resist—if the prospect of losing his aura in a couple of seconds could b...
[MA] 177. Unhidden Glee
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: Chapters this week: 1/3Late chapters: 3Next release: Thursday.]The Supreme Leader's orders were clear: obliterate this race but avoid the Void-tainted youngling.So, Failtusk picked the second greatest offender as her target.The annoying bug was as strong as a D-rank, which irked any Guardian. Guardians had to haggle with the system and risk their lives for every bit of AP, yet some beings were beloved by the universe and grew stronger without system assistance.Failtustk instantly ...
[MA] 176. Basic Moves
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: Chapters this week: 3/3Late chapters: 1/4Next release: Tuesday ]Shen's already mixed foundational Concepts took in the other four, and everything turned into an indivisible mass.Each Concept became impossible to separate or distinguish from the other. In fact, they became so well glued together that he couldn't tell where one ended and the other began. He had had that knowledge an instant ago, yet now it was simply gone from his mind.When he thought of the words "war" ...
[MA] 175. ...It Was
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: We did it, Reddit! I'm now only three chapters behind schedule!Chapters this week: 2/3Late chapters: 1/4Next release: Saturday ]Who was Feng Shen?Beyond borrowing Concepts from the Laws of Reality and being led by honor, what else could be found in his Path?He didn't know, and although he believed he could kill Yinhu Shuzui, he still felt like he was the man's lesser.But how could he think about that now? He was in the middle of the battle. He had to focus on the here and ...
[MA] 174. Acceptance
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: Chapters this week: 2/3Late chapters: 0/4Next release: In a few minutes! \o/ ]| Rift Dweller (D) | +1,250 → 1,283,582 APShen frowned when he got the late notification. The gnoll tactic had worked; although aware of the ruse, he had been so worried about humanity that he hadn't noticed the help on the way or the fact that the system hadn't awarded him right when the gnoll died.He had been sure of his kill because the enemy's aura instantly disappeared, then he had felt th...
[MA] 173. Multilayered Strategy
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: 1/3 chapters this week. Next one on Thursday.]Shen reached the gnoll aura user less than two seconds after the explosion finished. That was long enough for him to see his enemy regenerate their entire body. Missing limbs and pelt grew anew at a quick speed while their armor also repaired itself.Shen had nowhere near such a fast regeneration speed and doubted someone would spend so many Alliance Points to reach that level, too. He guessed magic was involved.Only a few human Guardians s...
[MA] 172. Middle Ground
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: Sorry about the delay.I'm confident I'll release at least one late chapter next week. Look forward to it.Chapters this week: 3/3 (+1)Late chapters: 0/4Next release: Tuesday ]When Shen landed, the mana blast was still going. Back in the rift, it had lasted for 20 seconds. It should go on for longer this time, with three extra orbs fuelling the explosion.Some gnolls would survive it, and he wanted to get to them before they could recover. However, he couldn't just let humank...
[MA] 171. Even You
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: Chapters this week: 2/3Late chapters: 0/4Next release: Saturday]Earth's first line of defense, the tanks and humvees, had been five hundred yards away from the portal on all sides. Humanity's ground troops followed, organized in groups ranging from ten to ten thousand strong. A few dozen to hundreds of yards separated each group.The continued stream of corrosive mana swallowed a good chunk of the front lines.And yet, Shen didn't feel guilty. He hadn't seen Earth's ...
[MA] 170. Turbulent Chaos
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: As I said in Discord, rewriting the latest chapter and ADHD matters kept me from following my schedule. Sorry!My doctor increased my medicine dosage last Friday. Things should be okay now.Not sure when I'll release the late chapters, but I'll keep a counter.Chapters this week: 1/3Late chapters: 0/4Next release: Thursday.]Four enormous dark violet orbs of light suddenly revealed themselves floating inside the dome. They had also been invisible nearby and came to view while alre...
[MA] 169. Firm Resolve
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: 3/3 chapters this week. Next one on Tuesday.]Shen couldn't pay attention to the two thousand D-ranks that suddenly invaded Earth. He had his own issues to deal with.Five hundred new D-ranks had just appeared nearby, focusing solely on him. He could tell from their armor alone, which felt significantly more challenging to cut through than the ones from the previous gnolls, that these were stronger foes. The hundreds of domes were in place to slow him down if he attempted to escape ...
[MA] 168. Such Ignorance
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: 1/3 chapters this week. Next one on Thursday.]"This is humiliating," the invisible Supreme Leader complained as soon as the portal opened.Failtusk, also floating invisible beside him in the middle of the portal, agreed. Fort Steelrock had achieved grand victories in the past, from safeguarding the Shattered Horn of Sunsinger for five days against the hordes of Callkiller to slaying the Shadow of Life at the gates of Mount Firestone.And now, the unknown race in front of them da...
[MA] 167. Air Superiority
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: 3/3 chapters this week. Next one on Tuesday.]The Feng Clan's Hurricane Martial Arts truly shined against multiple enemies. Shen dodged most projectiles, pushed some away with his aura, deflected a few with his qi-filled body, and crushed the remaining with his spear.He focused more on not losing health points than killing enemies. He had three reasons for that.First, time was supposedly on his side as his army positioned itself to assist with the fight; they should be moving to en...
[MA] 166. That Good
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: 2/3 chapters this week. Next one on Saturday.]The hundreds of D-ranks moved faster than the speed of sound—by Shen's estimates, at around Mach 3. He doubted Marzia's crystal operators could target those gnolls or that the beams could even accompany the enemy at such speeds. Humanity's modern weaponry would fare no better because even hypersonic missiles didn't have enough maneuverability to chase such fast targets.And yet, that speed was way too slow for D-ranks.Pure...
