Fighting to be Kind in a Cultivation World

Even with my scan, I still have to take the understanding of my cultivation method rank by rank. Of course, there are aspects that I can get beforehand, such as tiers of strength and potential abilities, but there are others that are buried deep into the more esoteric avenues in it.

For a normal cultivator that practices it, who would already be considered a genius of geniuses, they might even miss the signs of such secrets.

In some ways, I find myself in a small state of pleasant shock.

And then intense researching.

Coming to one big conclusion.

… Of course, there’s a catch. It couldn’t be easy.

As it is incorporated into my Boundless Healing method, it must still abide by its rules.

No offensive or harmful techniques.

 And as I discovered earlier, my current cultivation method is one of the few kinds that won’t work with the OCS system.

So, this is the best chance I have to put in abilities and techniques outside my normal range.

But what would work best?

What am I missing most out of my skill set?

…

Teleportation/movement techniques.

Well, those can be replaced by formations and talismans. Not to mention independent techniques.

Offensive adjacent techniques.

Alchemy, formations, artifacts, and even my body should be able to replicate most things that I could do with other methods. There are of course, powerful exceptions, but I feel like there’s something else out there.

Defense techniques.

With my healing abilities, formations, and techniques, I should be able to out-live almost all battles. In a sense, I’m a heal/dodge tank…

…

Actually.

I do have a major gap. One that I hold dear.

Protecting others.

While I can heal others and bring them back from the dead (in the future), I can’t prevent them from being taken from me or injured in the first place.

That even includes me.

Many comic book fans in my world have discussed that infinite regeneration is powerful but can be stopped in several ways.

One of which was used in part against me by Ao Jin. Getting cut into pieces. If someone dismembered my body into chunks and locked it into an unmovable, tight space, I would have a lot of trouble. But that isn’t the worst thing possible.

My greatest fear is that someone I care about will be kidnapped from me… I can heal them, keep them alive, but they go through constant torture. And there’s nothing I can do to stop it.

But I know one method that has a variety of abilities and protection against attacks. It even can shield others, with enough qi input and proper utilization of techniques.

The Tortoise Swallows Dragon cultivation method.

The same one used by the Xing Family and the mysterious Xing Xun.

With its focus on three aspects, protection, turning power into qi/cultivation for the user, and hiding cultivation amount/realm, it could be an interesting addition to my current skill-set.

I mean, if I'm going to be a support tank/healer… I might as well embrace that role completely.

Especially since it will allow me to set up barriers anywhere, with only a minor formation aspect built into its techniques.

Usually, people can use these barriers offensively, but I'm going to just give up on that part.

I’ve already verified that the healing method reads both intent and results. I’ll only be able to use the defensive parts of this method.

Still worth it, in my opinion.

This also brings into mind my sudden ability to create vast amounts of wealth. As well as the two major merchant contacts I have.

Mei Lin’s family, as well as the Xing family.

Moreover, I have connections with several other merchant families, enabling me to potentially diversify my investments across different lucrative sectors.

This could lead to a greater societal change, if I do this right.

And the public answer of where the wealth comes from? My secret benefactor.

The actual answer, that some will already guess at, will be based on the amount of qi I have. Considering the fact that I will be open about my massive qi levels, it will be quite obvious.

The good and bad of that is that it will increase the power of my name to the public. So businesses and individuals I invest in will have a certain amount of protection and prestige as I continue to grow.

I also don’t plan on compromising my morals, so that will also add some credibility.

I just have to verify the integrity and success of those I invest in using the scan. As well as countermeasures to any actions taken against us and them.

Those I put in charge of investments should be able to handle it, though.

Hmm… I could imagine Shi Ji would be exceptional as such things.

Though she comes from a noble background and has some internal biases, I’ve seen a lot of personal and interpersonal growth from her.

… I'm not sure if I should be concerned about her potentially obsessive romantic interest, though.

I’m sure it will be fine.

Yeah.

I definitely don’t have to use the scan to find out the truth.

Totally safe.

Moving my mind away from the possible danger, I mull over my next steps with Xing Xun’s family. Mostly, involving heading over and dumping a large amount of spirit stones in their lap, and directing them on where to invest some of it. Letting Xing Xun handle the rest.

On this side, I can also distribute several stones to the merchant family members for the same purpose, as well as the Trauma Team experiments and my group as a whole.

Ahead of everything else, there is one promise I must honor.

I phone Sister Nuan to keep her updated, using the communication qi treasure she gave me. A ridiculously expensive, yet essential item for emergencies and updates. As it seems she’s busy with something, she rapidly approves of the changes and actions before hopping off the call.

There are a few other things, but this should work for now. Time to get to work.

I head downstairs and run over to an intercom system that reaches across the fortress. One benefit of the recent upgrades to the area.

“Attention. All fortress personnel, within the hour, please head to the Central Courtyard for an important announcement. Once again…”

I pick up a mass shuffle over to the central area, between the three towers at a crossroads. A perfect area for stage meetings. Well, except for the hospital staff, who have to travel past the East Tower to get there.

As the initiator of the announcement, I head over there a bit earlier after making some more preparations. Like last time, everyone seems to have gotten here earlier than the appointed time, so I start a bit earlier.

“This will be a brief announcement, but one that each of you should hear and know. Our group’s name shall be the Foundations of Heaven. For those who reach a certain level of trust in the organization, there is another name for those within: The Listeners of the Divine.”

If murmurs were the norm for announcements, now they are replaced with cheers and shouts. But I hush them to make some things clear.

“Just to be clear, these names are not regarding me, but are simply a representation of the guiding principles of our group. To do the right thing, lead and love others, and to actually be righteous, not faking it for face.”

I relax my voice a bit before continuing.

“We’ll talk about this more later, but just do what you can to help others and that will be enough.”

Of course, this leads to even more discussion, to which I dismiss everyone. There’ll be plenty of time to include more information throughout the rest of this week, after all.

With all the announcements complete and everyone dispersed, I head back to the tower to isolate myself for my wealth accumulation project.

Nevertheless, three people loitering in the building entrance seem to have different agendas. And with goals I’ve suspected since I came back to this area.

Ai, Lin, and Shi.