Log Entry 1 - Day 17, Cycle 3, Year 121
The jade gleam of the formation core hums beneath my palm. My mobile fortress, the ''Iron Tortoise,'' is nearly complete. The final offensive array, the ''Wrath of the Storm,'' is proving... temperamental. It channels the gathered Qi through an unstable conduit, threatening to overload the entire system. Today, the conduit shattered again. A minor explosion, singed my eyebrows, nothing serious. Still, progress is being made. I''ve managed to refine the control matrix further, allowing for more precise channeling of energy. The Iron Tortoise is more than just a shell now; it''s becoming a weapon. Once the Wrath of the Storm is operational, I''ll be ready. The whispers of Nascent Soul resources echo in my mind. That power… that breakthrough… It''s within grasp. My practice has given me a strong foundation, and my battle experience, although limited, has proven my ability to punch above my weight. I’ve dealt with several Core Formation cultivators, only a couple of encounters were truly dangerous. They underestimated me, and they paid the price.
Log Entry 2 - Day 23, Cycle 3, Year 121
Success! The Wrath of the Storm is stable, for now at least. I tested a portion of its power on a nearby mountain, and the results were… satisfying. The mountain was sheared in half, leaving a smoking, blackened scar. The power is immense. My Iron Tortoise is no longer just a mobile fortress, it is a battering ram. It can generate a vortex of raw Qi power that can tear apart anything in its path. Now, for the plan. I need a Nascent Soul cultivator who is known for being overconfident, perhaps someone complacent in their strength. Someone who relies more on their title than their true power. The ''Jade Serpent Sect'' comes to mind, their elder, Li Mei, known for her arrogance. She’s rumored to possess a wealth of spirit stones and rare herbs, precisely what I need. I''ve been tracking her movements for the past few weeks – she’s predictable in her patrol routes. I will lure her into a location I have scouted beforehand, a large, desolate valley where my formation will give me a massive advantage.
Log Entry 3 - Day 28, Cycle 3, Year 121
The preparations are complete. The valley is wreathed in subtle layers of camouflage formations, disguising the powerful Qi conduits I’ve laid beneath the earth. The Iron Tortoise is fully charged, its energy core humming like a restless beast. I’ve laid out the plan meticulously:
Initial Engagement: A decoy attack, drawing her attention. I''ll use a series of illusion formations to confuse, and keep her far from Iron Tortoise
Positioning: While she deals with the illusions and the decoy, I will maneuver the Iron Tortoise into position, surrounding the area with my energy shield array.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.The Storm: Once she''s within my web, I unleash the Wrath of the Storm. It''s a risk, the power is immense and can destabilize my formation, but it’s necessary if I am to overwhelm her.
Finishing Blow: If the Wrath fails to deal with her, I will use the Iron Tortoise''s hardened outer shell as a physical barrier. While constantly draining her Qi.
I’ve accounted for her known abilities – her affinity for venomous qi, her speed, her reliance on close-quarters combat. I’ve crafted counter-formations for each. This isn''t a reckless gamble; it''s a calculated risk. My breakthrough hinges on this.
Log Entry 4 - Day 30, Cycle 3, Year 121 - The Fight
The plan worked, at least initially. The illusions held her for a few precious moments as I maneuvered the Iron Tortoise. Li Mei arrived in a burst of violet energy, her face contorted with rage. The decoy formations slowed her, but her attacks were powerful, shaking the very earth. She underestimated me, letting her arrogance get the better of her. She called me "a pathetic worm" and "an ant, unworthy of her time." I smiled. And then I unleashed the Wrath of the Storm.
The valley warped, the air crackling with raw Qi. She recoiled, her venomous energy struggling against the sheer force of the attack. It was glorious. Her jade robes tore, her meticulously coiffed hair was thrown about by the vortex. She took damage, but not enough. She unleashed a torrent of venomous qi, a sickly green cloud that threatened to corrode the Iron Tortoise. She was relentless, a predator backed into a corner. My shield formation held, but it was weakening.
She recovered quickly and started attacking Iron Tortoise''s formation matrix, targeting my weakest points. I had to disengage the Wrath of the Storm to preserve my formation core. The Iron Tortoise shifted, becoming a massive shield, absorbing blow after blow. I felt the energy core strain, each impact a hammer blow to my inner organs. I knew I couldn’t keep this up.
I activated a secondary formation, a siphon, that began absorbing her venomous qi, converting it into usable energy. She seemed surprised by the move. She launched a powerful attack, venomous claws aimed at the control room of the Iron Tortoise, but I was faster. She had given me and opening. This time her attack was absorbed by the Iron Tortoise with no damage delivered to the shield. I used that moment to unleash a final, concentrated burst of fire qi at her, the type of energy that counteracts her venom.
I felt the surge of power, both from my own core and from the absorbed toxin. Finally, she faltered. I moved quickly.
Log Entry 5 - Day 30, Cycle 3, Year 121. Late.
Victory. The valley is a ruin, scorched and scarred. Li Mei’s storage ring rests in my palm, heavy with the spoils of victory, a Nascent Soul cultivator’s fortune. I suffered injuries, both internal and external, but I am alive. More than that, I have what I need. The resources, the spiritual herbs, the refined spirit stones… they are all here. The Iron Tortoise is heavily damaged, and I am exhausted, but my core is vibrating with anticipation. This victory, this calculated risk, will allow me to break through. Once I recover, with this new found power and knowledge, I will reach the Nascent Soul realm myself. My journey is not done. It has only just begun.