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Salt and Blood - Chapter 157
<< Chapter 156| Table of Contents| Chapter 158>>2.63 - The Bluestone UnionUnions formed in times of war are often ones of tenuous circumstance, but they can often lead to monumental shifts on the world stage-Excerpt from an unnamed book of poetry found discarded in a Highbream tavernCommander Ackron hadn’t been exaggerating when he said they would be put up in the best accommodations Nirodas had to offer. The building itself resembled a palace more than an inn, with the lobby being bigger than Rose’s childhood home.She wasn’t used to such...
A note regarding iOS and membership
Recently I noticed a few members have joined through the apple app store rather than the patreon site itself. As pleased as I am every time a new member joins, I would recommend avoiding signing up via the app store. There are two reasons for this:1. Due to Apple's policies, you are actually spending almost 50% more for the same membership just by purchasing it through the app store. If you instead go to the patreon website via your browser, the prices will be standard. None of that extra money goes to me and is taken by apple. I love your ...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 156
<< Chapter 155| Table of Contents| Chapter 157>>2.62 - New AlliancesSometimes a random coincidence can change the course of history forever. The right person, in the right place, at the right time can make more difference than a million soldiers, a lethal weapon, or an innovative invention-Excerpt from ‘Silversea Saga’ by Norris Howell“I thought I was clear when I told you to remain on deck at all times,” Commander Greavis said, his frown deepening as he spoke.Rose suppressed the urge to giggle at his wrinkled face, reminding her of the...
Dao of Healing - Chapter 113
<< Chapter 112| Index| Chapter 114>>The sharp whistle was all the warning I had before an arrow whizzed through the air towards my face. I leapt backwards, watching as it buried itself in the stone, the shaft twanging a few times.“How did you miss, idiot!” I heard a rough male voice yelling from the top of a nearby wall. “Fuck it, attack!”At the man’s command, two dozen cultivators burst out of hiding, striking towards our group with a myriad of weapons and techniques. The archer fired another two arrows and each of us was faced with ...
Dao of Healing - Chapter 112
<< Chapter 111| Index| Chapter 113>>The skeletons charged at us in seemingly endless waves. I began to wonder if the ruins had some way of summoning or creating them.“We can’t stay here or they’ll overwhelm us,” I shouted out.“I clear path!” Meng Huo barked in response.The ape slammed his fists into a nearby skeleton, crushing it into dust with a single blow. Then, he bellowed while beating his chest before charging directly ahead.The skeletons swung their swords at him, but his momentum carried him through. Any of the undead unfort...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 155
<< Chapter 154| Table of Contents| Chapter 156>>2.61 - Nirodas, the Blue FactoryAll you can see for miles in every direction is smoke, sea, and hard working men and women. Truly Nirodas is the pinnacle of industry in Bluestone-Overheard in a tavern in HighbreamDespite her best efforts to investigate the barrier that surrounded the ship, Rose was unable to figure out how to break it. It was as though every time she drew near to figuring out part of the energy flow, it would suddenly shift to become something different.She had tasked Daniel with ...
Dao of Healing - Chapter 111
<< Chapter 110| Index| Chapter 112>>After waiting in the empty plains for a few seconds, we realised that the ghostly old sage wasn’t chasing us out. Apparently he’d truly decided to let us walk out with his treasures.It was rather surprising to me that a cultivator would be so generous. Especially after all his talk of trespassing on sacred grounds. Were my techniques really that impressive?Sure, they could be quite devastating with the proper application. Healing techniques were nigh unheard of, so they were certainly unique in that sense...
Dao of Healing - Chapter 110
<< Chapter 109| Index| Chapter 111>>As the spiritual energy condensed into the figure of a man around two metres tall, with wide shoulders and a stern visage, he raised a finger at me in accusation.“This is the sacred resting place of the Great Garden Sage! You dare to defile these grounds?” it roared, its mere voice blasting us backwards.The beasts immediately reared back, claws extending and fists at the ready. I jumped back to stand beside them. “I knew this was too easy,” I cursed.“There’s no such thing as a free meal in this wo...
Dao of Healing - Chapter 109
<< Chapter 108| Index| Chapter 110>>Shuanghu the white furred tiger received silence in response to her question. She sighed, scratching her chin with a razor sharp claw. “Seriously? What did your masters teach you all this time?”“Shen Yuan teach how to grow big and strong. How to fight food. All ape need is strength,” Meng Huo replied proudly, puffing out his chest and flexing his biceps.I had to suppress my laughter, not wanting to insult the monkey’s genuine enthusiasm. He was prodigiously strong, only it wasn’t those talents we ...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 154
<< Chapter 153| Table of Contents| Chapter 155>>2.60 - Enemies by Nature, Allies by CircumstanceOften we find ourselves working with people we despise due to the circumstances we find ourselves in. Such relationships lead to either disaster or greatness, but they always end with a bang-Excerpt from ‘Silversea Saga’ by Norris HowellThe deafening voice empowered by arcane energy broke the silence that followed the blast of the foghorn. “The Derridas High Command orders you to drop your weapons and surrender!”Rose had only just finished re...
Dao of Healing - Chapter 108
<< Chapter 107| Index| Chapter 109>>Whether it was because our group was unlucky or if it was by design, we travelled for almost four hours without finding anything worth keeping. It seemed that the trees weren’t the only part of the forest that were dead. Even its ability to nurture treasures was non-existent.We stopped when the white tiger began to growl at Meng Hou. I wasn’t privy to the contents of the conversation, but the occasional beating of his chest and the increasingly loud snarls told me it wasn’t friendly.The group never stop...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 153
<< Chapter 152| Table of Contents| Chapter 154>>2.59 - Late to the PartyHistory is written by the victors, but glory is claimed by those who arrive just in time to claim it-Quoted from Admiral Valynor, famed as the ‘Final Admiral’The commander of the nightsail’s third division was a crafty fellow. His division didn’t have the most successfully completed missions, but they had the least failures.The reason for that was his powerful self created technique, coined the death arena by his subordinates. He liked the name and had made it offic...
Dao of Healing - Chapter 107
<< Chapter 106| Index| Chapter 108>>I heard a cacophony of roars and screeches as the beasts came to a stumbling halt. The domino effect of my sudden stop passed down the line, causing much complaint.I was taking a big risk here, but I was confident in what I’d seen. We had decided that escape was our only option because we had no way to dispel the mists, leaving the trees free to attack us with impunity.Yet, while studying the energy around us, I realised the truth behind our unseen opponents. All of the trees around us were dead, so how cou...
Dao of Healing - Chapter 106
<< Chapter 105| Index| Chapter 107>>I wasn’t sure what I had expected to find beyond the gate of flowers and cherry blossoms, but it certainly wasn’t the environment we were currently in. The moment I stepped through, I felt as though I was being sucked through a vortex, whirled around as if caught in a crashing wave.My sense of smell and sight were overwhelmed, assaulted by floral aromas and bright colours that made it impossible to get a sense of direction. By the time my vision returned, we had been transported somewhere entirely differe...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 152
<< Chapter 151| Table of Contents| Chapter 153>>2.58 - All Hands on DeckWhat makes a man powerful? Is it the ability to command other men? Possessing enough wealth for a private army? Standing at the head of a nation or a fleet? No, what makes a man powerful is the strength of his fist in times of demand-Excerpt from ‘Power and Influence: How to Rule a Nation,’ by Sea-Emperor Vadaris NeptunaAs eight arcane bullets raced towards Rose’s vitals, she panicked. She hadn’t expected the midnight ambushers to be this strong.Or rather, they were...
Dao of Healing - Chapter 105
<< Chapter 104| Index| Chapter 106>>It took me a few seconds to get over my shock. I’d heard the beastman sage speaking, but I assumed that ability was a byproduct of him shapeshifting into a humanoid form.However, the tiger in front of us had just asked me a question with perfect intonation. It made me think back on all my interactions with various beasts, wondering which of them could understand me or talk. Had they simply hidden the ability from me, because I was human?“You can talk?” Wang Ren exclaimed, his jaw falling open.The tiger ...
Dao of Healing - Chapter 104
<< Chapter 103| Index| Chapter 105>>“Enough, you brats! The time has come,” the ancient sounding voice seemed to come from every direction at once, as if the heavens themselves had made a declaration.The crushing pressure that made my body want to implode on itself faded after a single breath, but even that momentary exposure had almost killed me. Or at least, it felt that way.That had to be a nascent soul sage. I had no doubt in my mind. At once, almost a dozen other presences which matched that first terrifying one appeared around the pla...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 151
<< Chapter 150| Table of Contents| Chapter 152>>2.57 - The NightsailPirates, brigands, and buccaneers, all ye who plunder treasure and strike fear in the hearts of honest men, listen close and listen well. In the dark of night, when you think it’s safe, that’s when the nightsail comes. With blackest cloth and sharpest blades, you’ll fall to the depths of hell in the blink of an eye. Beware ye who cross the shadow of Minenblum-Excerpt from an old pirate’s taleThey passed around the northern coast of Derridas on their way home without an ...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 150
<< Chapter 149| Table of Contents| Chapter 151>>2.56 - The Bluestone SwellA rising tide carries all ships with it, but it only takes a single act of divine providence to send them tumbling back to the depths-Quoted from The Dour Lord VaneJason, Daniel, and Everyn stood on the deck staring at Rose as she dripped seawater onto the deck from her soaked clothes. She’d leapt from the ocean like a flying fish on steroids, before slamming down in front of them with a beaming grin.When she’d leapt off the ship, her body had been marked with a dozen...
Dao of Healing - Chapter 103
<< Chapter 102| Index| Chapter 104>>The only saving grace of being under attack from three separate directions was that our enemies weren’t only aiming for us. They were also trying to kill each other in the chaos.I could’ve avoided all the attacks entirely, but that would leave me in a precarious position. The wood elves had yet to move. Either they thought getting involved in our scuffle was beneath them, or they were waiting for the right moment to strike.I had no desire to expose my back to them. A human man thrust at me with his sword....
Dao of Healing - Chapter 102
<< Chapter 101| Index| Chapter 103>>As it turned out, Wang Ren didn’t know any inns in the capital. He had visited when he was six years old and his father wasn’t much of a drinker. We ended up asking a random passerby for a recommendation instead.The man gave us directions to his favourite inn, telling us to ask for ‘Old Bao’ and to try their specialty noodles. I wasn’t sure I needed to eat, but I figured it was worth a shot.After passing through a series of twisting and winding streets and alleyways, all packed with people going abo...
Dao of Healing - Chapter 101
<< Chapter 100| Index| Chapter 102>>Even though treating Wang Ren would be a little gruesome, I couldn’t resist the excitement. The doctor in me relished the thought of another novel procedure.“Good news or bad?” I asked him.“Bad first, always,” he replied without hesitation.“This is going to hurt. A lot,” I told him, placing a hand on his shoulder.“That goes without saying,” he sighed. “Although that means you can cure it?”“That was the good news,” I chuckled.“How will you do it?”“I need to cut away all of the t...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 149
<< Chapter 148| Table of Contents| Chapter 150>>2.55 - A Step Too FarThere are moments in every war which define the outcome. Sometimes, winning a battle means losing the war.-Excerpt from ‘Power and Influence: How to Run a Nation’ by Sea-Emperor Vadaris NeptunaAs Rose predicted, the next few moments were agonising. Every bone in her body broke and then was mended by the divine energy surging from her core.After that it was the turn of her muscles and sinews. Tendons followed. Even her organs weren’t spared from the refinement.It felt lik...
Dao of Healing - Chapter 100
<< Chapter 99| Index| Chapter 101>>Zhu Jie was a crafty opponent. She had anticipated my opening strike. The instant I rushed towards her she raised a hand and tore it through the air.I suddenly felt as if I were running underwater, my movements lethargic. At first I believed she was using a martial technique, but something tingled in the back of my mind.Switching to energy senses, I gasped. Filling every inch of the room, which had previously been empty, was an intricate web of qi.It was as if a spider had spent a century weaving a masterpiece...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 148
<< Chapter 147| Table of Contents| Chapter 149>>2.54 - The Dark and The ColdNothing is darker or colder than the depths of the ocean. The creatures who have evolved to survive there are some of the most terrifying, eerie beasts to exist in this world. Those who can venture down and return to tell the tale are the hardest sons of bitches I know-Quoted from Kalamir IcefingerRose’s memory was splintered. One moment she was awake, acrid smoke and the clang of steel assaulting her. Then darkness.Ice and fire consumed her in alternating waves. Burn...
Dao of Healing - Chapter 99
<< Chapter 98| Index| Chapter 100>>After the explosion of dark qi filled the room, Zhu Lai had vanished from the spot. I hoped he hadn’t been able to purge my technique, or we would be in trouble.“Ren, is he still impaled on your glaive?”“No, he slipped away at that moment,” Wang Ren replied.“Damn. Stay close. Be on your guard.”Zhu Lai’s words had told me an important piece of information. We were dealing with a spider beast, not another cursed human.While I pivoted on my feet, trying to watch my surroundings for movement, I gri...
Dao of Healing - Chapter 98
<< Chapter 97| Index| Chapter 99>>As we entered the tower, I noticed it was covered in even more spider webs than the outside had been. It was creepy.By now I was almost certain that Zhu Jie was a spider beast. Whether she was an awakened beast or an enlightened beast remained to be seen.I hoped it was the former. If she was in the equivalent of the Foundation Building Realm, this would go from a difficult fight to an impossible one.Nonetheless, there was no other option. Escaping from the city was impossible. It had been my first suggestion af...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 147
<< Chapter 146| Table of Contents| Chapter 148>>2.53 - Blood and SteelTwisted perversions make a person unpredictable. I’d rather face Saltbeard himself than a weirdo with unknown intentions-Overheard from two gossiping pirates in Clissolt HarbourEven though she could afford a few flesh wounds in order to defeat the crazy rear admiral, Rose had no desire for her blood to be spilled. If she had to watch the weirdo taste her blood again, she would probably throw up for real.With the acrid taste of bile and the tang of blood on her tongue, she r...
Dao of Healing - Chapter 97
<< Chapter 96| Index| Chapter 98>>I had a violent, swirling mass of qi in my body, centred around my dantian. I had smashed through the bottleneck that separated eight and nine-star Qi Gathering.From one to eight-star I had opened one meridian after another, purging the impurities and improving the flow of qi through my spirit veins. I had assumed the final star would be the same, but once again this world left me in a panic.My knowledge of eastern medicine, the closest allegory for this whole cultivation nonsense I had, told me that there shou...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 146
<< Chapter 145| Table of Contents| Chapter 147>>2.52 - Stepping UpIt is only during hard times that we discover our true character. Those who rise to the challenge are forged in the flames of trial, while those who shy away from difficulty will crumble and lie broken on the path to greatness-Excerpt from ‘Silversea Saga’ by Norris HowellRose whipped her head back. The sudden movement strained her neck muscles and tendons. The dull ache was the least of her worries.A simple black dagger cut through the air where her head had been a moment be...
