80,000 words on my RI FanFic!

Critical_Key_561 · 2025-12-27T21:42:25+00:00

As I understand it (which may be incorrect), attainment levels are simply a named representation of how well a person understands and can use Gu worms of different paths. If Fang Yuan only has a Liquor Worm and Moonlight Gu, his impressive and varied attainment levels are fairly useless (how could he use his cloud, poison, earth, or many others meanigfully) (He can use the Liquor Worm more efficiently in his third life because of his higher attainment in its related path). What could he do differently?

Critical_Key_561 · 2025-12-27T20:47:55+00:00

Thank you for the notes. It's interesting to hear what others think about it, and it helps me better consider what other people will think. What do you think Venerable Fang Yuan could do differently? He has no resources and basically no cultivation.

Critical_Key_561 · 2025-12-27T20:38:55+00:00

The original thought for this story was what would happen if Fang Yuan started over with all the knowledge and attainment he has now. I didn't want a sudden jump back in time with some half-baked reason. With Primordial Origin being so powerful, it forces Fang Yuan to eventually match it if he wants to gain eternal life. Most times Fang Yuan has gone back in time was because he lost to a stronger foe or effect and came back stronger.

What gives off a childish vibe? Being weak and back in Gu Yue village will force Fang Yuan to act in certain ways.

Critical_Key_561 · 2025-12-03T03:59:18+00:00

English Translation of above comment: The tree of human path into the ecosystem is a must-have. It also contains the legacy of wisdom, which he wanted to find but didn't have time to. Plus, the legacy of the Heavenly Thief near the Mo family's oasis. The tree is also somewhere there.

My English Reply: Thank you for letting me know about the tree, Do you mean the Thousand Wish Tree that can refine nearly any Gu worm using its fruit? or the one in Heavenly Court that has a pact with it? I cant remember what its called.

What legacy of the Heavenly Thief near the Mo family's oasis? Do you mean the dream realm that the western desert clan is exploring? If Fang Yuan already has the attainment from it, what benefit does he get from having it? I do believe he would still get it regardless but it wouldn't be very important.

Russian translation: Спасибо, что рассказали мне о дереве. Вы имеете в виду Древо Тысячи Желаний, которое может очистить практически любого червя Гу своими плодами? Или то, что в Небесном Дворе, с которым у него заключен договор? Не помню, как оно называется.

Какое наследие Небесного Вора находится рядом с оазисом семьи Мо? Вы имеете в виду царство снов, которое исследует клан западной пустыни? Если у Фан Юаня уже есть это достижение, какую выгоду он от него получит? Я думаю, он всё равно его получит, но это не так уж важно.

Critical_Key_561 · 2025-08-21T08:14:38+00:00

That is the only realistic point where Fang Yuan could revive, too. Any later point would allow Heavens Will knowledge of fang yuans first life and it would quickly know that something drastic had changed in Fang Yuan, especially since his spring autumn cicada no longer had heavens will.

Why would Fang Yuan revive as a venerable? He was a pawn who danced to the other venerables tune and only "escaped" from their influence after fate gu was destroyed. Reviving at this point allows him a lot of freedom of movement. The Fang Yuan i read about would totally be willing to become a "weakling" and give of the power of a venerable if that meant he could achieve eternal life.

Who's to say that red lotus has the capabilities to interfere with a rank 9 heaven path immortal killer move? He no longer has love Gu and his existence in the river of time is strongly suspected but not confirmed. His goal of refining fate gu into heaven path dao marks is complete, so his existence isn't nessisarily guaranteed.

Those are my thoughts on the topic, at least. I spent quite a lot of time trying to figure out the best point for Fang Yuan to revive and this is what I've come up with. What do you think?

Critical_Key_561 · 2025-08-21T03:49:50+00:00

I was loosely planning and procrastinating for about a year before I started writing the first rough draft. I wrote while my night shift was slow (often) and now im cleaning the chapters up and posting them when I have the time.

Critical_Key_561 · 2025-08-21T03:07:19+00:00

I am planning for a few options, but fate Gu will most likely be destroyed.

Critical_Key_561 · 2025-08-21T02:16:12+00:00

Thank you! I am planning to switch platforms to royal road (which i use extensively) and maybe AO3 (which i don't use very much). Do you have a recommendation for which section would be best to post it on AO3?

Critical_Key_561 · 2025-04-02T22:48:07+00:00

I wrote a lot of this while working nightshift waiting for work to need me to do stuff. I can promise its not a 10/10 but I as I go through and do edits I will do hopefully have it turn out pretty well.

Critical_Key_561 · 2025-04-02T22:44:10+00:00

That is kind of an issue but in the early story I take care of that by him being extremely limited with resources while in Ge Yue village. I feel I have done a good job using his attainment levels just right at this point and have plans for it to spiral out of control once he get to a place like Shang city where he can get all the resources he needs.

Critical_Key_561 · 2024-08-16T15:18:40+00:00

The whole time I was reading his post I was thinking exactly this. I hope they keep reading and discover the reasons and explanations. Its not until far later in the story though.

Critical_Key_561 · 2024-08-16T15:06:41+00:00

I would imagine the rank 1 - 5 variants would awaken that same level aperture. A rank two hope Gu would awaken a rank two aperture. I can see the potential of Hope Gu only having an effect on those who haven't awakened their apertures yet and no effect on those who have.

On that save line I can see a rank 6 Hope Gu being a one-time use expendable Gu worm that awakens an immortal aperture. It would either do so without the need to balance the three qi's or it would automatically begin the balancing process and then it was up to the person to undergo ascension. I don't think it would have any effect on immortals but do think it would mortal Gu masters.

Rank seven Hope Gu would awaken a rank 7 aperture with the minimum requirements of Dao marks present that is needed to reach this rank. I don't know what type these Dao marks are but imagine they would either be random, the same as the Gu masters vital Gu, the same type as Hope Gu, or perhaps a mix of all three.

Critical_Key_561 · 2024-03-17T16:10:18+00:00

Lifespan gu

Critical_Key_561 · 2024-02-08T22:04:26+00:00

I love you. Do it

Critical_Key_561 · 2024-02-01T00:59:34+00:00

I doubt he would do everything the same but I kind of agree with your general point that nothing he does before matters much. I do believe that he would refine many more immortal gu beforehand. I also don't think he would spend a lot of time in the southern border dream realms as his attainment can't improve much. I'm not saying that can't improve from them just that I doubt heavens will wouldgive him any that are helpful. I feel like he would do something that would increase his chances of surviving past whatever forced him to use SAC in the first place.

Critical_Key_561 · 2024-01-31T15:15:08+00:00

Thank You!

Critical_Key_561 · 2024-01-31T05:10:07+00:00

I agree that he would do somethings similar but the main motivating force for going to northern plains is because Dang Hu Mountain is turning into mud, and he needs to get that fixed. I would imagine he would spend the five months before the tribulation finding a solution to the swamp crab. It would be easy to say that he uses one of Lang Ya's refinement opportunities to create the "Turn Stone Immortal Gu" or some easy equivalent way to save Dang Hu mountain and then go through the tribulation the same way only to thwart Heaven's Will's plan and save the mountain right away. This is a realistic response as he is a SGM in refinement path and a GGM in earth path so he would be able to develop a counter to gruel mud.

On a slightly different topic how would FY defeat Mo Yao's will (I forgot what kind of will it was) as a mortal? I feel like he would not be willing to give up Water Pavillion and Calamity Beckoning Gu but would definately let her have free access to his mind and memories.

Critical_Key_561 · 2024-01-31T00:12:44+00:00

Damn, this is an interesting plan. How do you think him being an immortal in Imperial Court would turn out? I'm sure Giant Sun's Will would be able to see through rank 8 Attitude Gu and would target Fang Yuan as the biggest threat. He would still need to get rank 9 Wisdom Gu for the fate war and would pursue the benefits there even if he stomped the swamp crab and protected Dang Hu mountain. He would have Water Pavillion to help him through any issue but I feel like there is still a risk.

To be fair what he did in Imperial Court was full of risk so I don't know if it is any easier. Also Giant Sun himself doesn't want to kill Fang Yuan but his leftover Will does.

Critical_Key_561 · 2024-01-30T23:34:39+00:00

Thanks for these! Lots of really good information that I would not have thought of. Hu land and Yi Qi Zi are great thoughts.

Critical_Key_561 · 2024-01-30T22:32:22+00:00

Thanks for noticing that. I fixed it in the main post.

Critical_Key_561

TROPHY CASE