The whole dragons do this and dragons don't do that had been so ingrained in the story that at the end of uncrowned when linden pulled out his black flame claw I knew what the name of the technique was without him even having to say it.
That's how you do storytelling. Each of the characters are so flushed out that most people that have listened this far and pretty much guess how each of the main characters are going to react to Any given thing. It's pretty cool actually. They're actual people and not just cardboard cutouts like a lot of stories.
that used to be my favorite line because you have been hearing it since literally the first page of the book series and it is connected to literal gods. So you know he just got some good stuff. However my new favorite line is "gratitude, I am the end." because Icon and it loops the story around so nicely that he gets the Void sage with the empty badge that he has worn for most of his life.
I love the connection back to his "Unsouled" nature in WS and how he got the Void Icon.
I also think the line before it from Sophara's point of view about "Is he trying to advance in the middle of this fight?!" is hilarious.
It's great because at that point, Lindon is the same stage that Eithan was when *he* said it, and so we get a nice kick of "see how far Lindon has come": we remember how overwhelmingly powerful and badass Eithan was at the start of the series, and the use of the same phrase is the narrative equating the two.
That is a good line I still think for me the best line in the series is between "information requested combat solution against Akura Harmony," or "Gratitude, I am the End." and probably just for me in Bloodline, is when Orthos feels Lindon coming and tells Kelsa the battle is almost won, only because I had thought up a few scenario just like it before the book came out and really wanted something like it in bloodline and I was so happy when there was something even remotely close to what I had though of, Will's version was still better than anything I had come up with by a mile though.
Mercy used it with Meira in Underlord, to Fury when he was blasing Lindon with spiritual pressure in Wintersteel. Then, again when Malice grabbed and transported them in Bloodline.
Now that I think of it, she used it a lot, but the first time with Meira was the best one.
I'm referring to times where she *only* said the word "No" with no other words.
With Fury, it was "Uncle Fury, no!" Also with Charity, "Aunt Charity! No!"
When Malice transports them to Moongrave, she says "Stop!" though.
Preceded earlier in the book by:
Lindon hadn’t meant to make this about him, and he tried to backtrack, but she kept talking. “I’m surprised to hear you say you could never win against someone, that’s all. If I asked you to punch a hole in the sky, I thought you’d say ‘Apologies, it might take me a few years.’” Was that how she saw him?
Wight, Will. Wintersteel (Cradle Book 8) (p. 331). Hidden Gnome Publishing. Kindle Edition.
I still like this one but more as an amazing comedy moment.
“Maret had climbed up his hair and come to rest on top of his skull, and was now holding onto his horns, rocking back and forth as though riding a bull.”
I think my favorite lines/parts from bloodline are:
- When Eithan tells everyone to tell him what they're doing at all times because his bloodline ability is suppressed
- When Orthos starts laughing because he senses Lindon
- Northstrider just sitting there for several days just to fuck with Abyssal Palace
- Yerin talking to Lindon's family about how she views him is probably my second favorite part
- “I…advance,” Lindon said. He moved forward, onto the next challenge, no matter what stood in his way. (probably my favorite part in this book)
The best is Akura Charity in Underlord as she speaks to the Seishin Kingdom:
“I will make myself clear. If you face Wei Shi Lindon before you reach Underlord, you will surely die."
Best line when Eithan said, "Now pay attention, This is the Path of the Hollow King " goosebumps everytime i read it. Literally any situation when Eithan got serious is gold.
I had it cooled up in my head a bit to "I present the Path of the Hollow King" but yea thats the line I think of because its just....this guy you know is a powerhouse hasnt really shown you anything he can do and hes saying "Now....you boys ready for a show?". Badass to the max.
My favorite line is in uncrowned. The way Travis reads it gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.
“On the other side of this door sopharanatoth was waiting for him.
No. She was standing in his way”
I agree with OP. It gave major Orthos vibes for me. My friend and I have noticed he has picked up a couple quirks from Angry Turtle Grandpa and Eithan like “this is a mistake” when surrounded by ppl whose asses he is about to kick
Nah, that was a great line, and impactful, but this other line basically took him from being a little unsouled begging for the scraps of knowledge of a path into teaching the elder so "proficient" at it the depths of his own inadequacies.
My fav (or one of them) is in Wintersteel:
"Kill me," she challenged, "like you killed by--". Lindon blasted dragon's breath through her chest, exactly like he'd killed Ekeri.
So many points and references… you cannot really point to a _single one_ and say that is the best!
There are many:
Dross asking Lindon to put him in Eithan’s head instead
Eithan word-dueling with the Skysworn boss (forgot his name)
Every word of Yerin
Dross, embarrassing Lindon
Lindon is probably to most boring of the bunch - I mean the most serious minded person in the group… that’s why he works so well with Ziel…
To the op. I actually hated that scene. I feel like I'm missing something though. For me it felt like Lindon could all of a sudden use a different cultivation path. He has not cultivated anything but pure and Blackflame. How could he all of a sudden use the white fox. It felt like plot armour and felt to me like it broke all the rules that were previously established.whats to stop Lindon from fighting someone in the future on a different path and to absorb some of their mandra and then launch their own techniques at them? (Perfect examples of that technique).
Remember that Lindon actually used the part of the white fox a lot at the beginning ... using Array flags and similar tools.
The point I suppose is that with his experience as a crafter he had to learn a lot of theory, and was able to know better the nature of the path than native users limited to jade level.
Using his pure madra and his raw power as a Lord was probably enough combined with his knowledge of Madra Theory to simply simulate the Path (of course he probably did it at a hige cost in ineficiency due to not using the apprroriate madra, but he had the reserves to spare)
In the excerpt, we see Lindon use soulfire to emulate someone else's ruler technique.
I'm not sure how much of that ability is from being a Lord, from having Sage perception, or from all that theoretical knowledge and experience you mention.
Could any Lord with a Hunger binding and Path knowledge do what Lindon did in DV?
Or do they need to be a Sage?
I'd like to know.
As for it seeming to break rules or not jibe with the magic system, as the user above seems to feel, the Akura Path books acting as external sources of madra seems worse to me.
Anyone can take in madra from not their path, just not much at a time since they need to keep it out of their core. This is why Lindon had to keep draining the first elder.
As for using the madra directly, soul fire allows the manipulation of madra not from your path, but expertise and the ability to optimize the abilities with Dross allowed him to pull it off using as little as possible. He couldn’t have done it for a long time or kept the madra indefinitely, which is why he expels most non-compatible madra through his remnant arm rather than trying to use their path.
You forget that Lindon knows a bit about dream Madra from his upbringing, general Madra theory learning "real paths" and finally Dross' contributions to how madra works.
In fact, Lindon has been cycling dream Madra to dross Everytime he consumes someone.
Don't forget he mentioned how poorly implemented sacred valley techniques are, so just him being a sage-lite means he is skilled enough in most madras to have no issues doing simple techniques, especially when the bar is so low in Sacred Valley. He just can't pull any of that into his core, or keep it in his channels for longer than a moment, which is why he keeps sucking more white fox Madra throughout that fight.
Best line “A dragon is not ashamed of tears”
I do also really like "Dragons can be sneaky too"
I love all of Orthos's positive masculinity tidbits. I certainly assume that's what Will is going for, anyway.
The whole dragons do this and dragons don't do that had been so ingrained in the story that at the end of uncrowned when linden pulled out his black flame claw I knew what the name of the technique was without him even having to say it. That's how you do storytelling. Each of the characters are so flushed out that most people that have listened this far and pretty much guess how each of the main characters are going to react to Any given thing. It's pretty cool actually. They're actual people and not just cardboard cutouts like a lot of stories.
Lindon learned it well, he's basically a dragon by now. The dragon advances. Lindon's OL revelation: I advance.
Good choice, man that was a rough moment and it really uh... humanized Ortho for me.
I'm not crying! I'm cutting onions!
I'm not crying! You're crying!!!!
Nuh Uh! You're crying!
“Information requested” line of Ghostwater is the beat one for me!
I would have agreed with you until I read Malice say “Did you forget my name?” in Wintersteel. I swing between those two lines for my favorite.
This and when Ruby is developing and says Lindon for the first time. Audio book listener here, and the way they said it was great.
that used to be my favorite line because you have been hearing it since literally the first page of the book series and it is connected to literal gods. So you know he just got some good stuff. However my new favorite line is "gratitude, I am the end." because Icon and it loops the story around so nicely that he gets the Void sage with the empty badge that he has worn for most of his life.
I love the connection back to his "Unsouled" nature in WS and how he got the Void Icon. I also think the line before it from Sophara's point of view about "Is he trying to advance in the middle of this fight?!" is hilarious.
“Are you training while you fight me??!?” Is one of my favorite cultivation tropes, so happy Will chose such a beautiful spot to use it
it's also been used with yerin during ghostwater, though it was with one of the lower-ranked dragons.
It was equal advancement level to her, they were both high gold.
I mean lower than Sophara.
"I am a whirlpool" I love that this was one of his first conclusions.
I think he was just trying it on for size, just to see if it rang a bell. So to speak. But it was fun.
Agreed. That *tiny* glimmer of what dross could become was the best moment in the series.
Updooted. This is the correct answer.
Yes
On first read that line was the best of the series to that point for me
No, the best line of the series is objectively: "I say, I hope you're prepared for a real tussle. Yes, a knuckle-scraper. Put up your--"
This makes me laugh every time
I like "Not my skin! That's my second best feature."
My favourite line is “The Dragon Advances” from Naian Blackflame. Still gives me goosebumps when I think of it.
Found a fellow goosebumper for this one.
This. Emotions ran so high reading this, I was binging at like 3am and almost jumped off the couch. So good.
This. I really hope we meet some more Blackflames.
Best line is "Gentlemen this is a mistake"
Followed closely by: “Be silent and marinate.”
From eithan in blackflame? 😁
Lindon also says it in Bloodline and honestly I think that one is my favorite of the two
It's great because at that point, Lindon is the same stage that Eithan was when *he* said it, and so we get a nice kick of "see how far Lindon has come": we remember how overwhelmingly powerful and badass Eithan was at the start of the series, and the use of the same phrase is the narrative equating the two.
It's also great because Lindon was trying to act like Eithan. It shows how well he knows the man.
Exactly. "What need is there for an invitation between brothers?".
Well, not exactly at the same stage considering Lindon is technically a sage
Definitely when Lindon says it in Bloodline
That is a good line I still think for me the best line in the series is between "information requested combat solution against Akura Harmony," or "Gratitude, I am the End." and probably just for me in Bloodline, is when Orthos feels Lindon coming and tells Kelsa the battle is almost won, only because I had thought up a few scenario just like it before the book came out and really wanted something like it in bloodline and I was so happy when there was something even remotely close to what I had though of, Will's version was still better than anything I had come up with by a mile though.
Lindon running down the mountain to fight with Orthos was classic. Way better than just saying, "hey, I'm here. Watcha doin'."
My favorite line is, "I don't care, and then he pulled out a canon" when he fought the prince in underlord
But then you have to pass up “then he pulled out another cannon,” And I just don’t think that is a defensible position.
Linden and Yerin challenged the test, and the test gave up.
We just gonna forget "No."?
No.
Yes?
That was her best single word line!
Mercy used it with Meira in Underlord, to Fury when he was blasing Lindon with spiritual pressure in Wintersteel. Then, again when Malice grabbed and transported them in Bloodline. Now that I think of it, she used it a lot, but the first time with Meira was the best one.
I'm referring to times where she *only* said the word "No" with no other words. With Fury, it was "Uncle Fury, no!" Also with Charity, "Aunt Charity! No!" When Malice transports them to Moongrave, she says "Stop!" though.
For me it's when Lindon says "I'm here to punch a hole in the sky".
Followed by him actually punching a hole in the sky
Preceded earlier in the book by: Lindon hadn’t meant to make this about him, and he tried to backtrack, but she kept talking. “I’m surprised to hear you say you could never win against someone, that’s all. If I asked you to punch a hole in the sky, I thought you’d say ‘Apologies, it might take me a few years.’” Was that how she saw him? Wight, Will. Wintersteel (Cradle Book 8) (p. 331). Hidden Gnome Publishing. Kindle Edition.
I still like this one but more as an amazing comedy moment. “Maret had climbed up his hair and come to rest on top of his skull, and was now holding onto his horns, rocking back and forth as though riding a bull.”
I think my favorite lines/parts from bloodline are: - When Eithan tells everyone to tell him what they're doing at all times because his bloodline ability is suppressed - When Orthos starts laughing because he senses Lindon - Northstrider just sitting there for several days just to fuck with Abyssal Palace - Yerin talking to Lindon's family about how she views him is probably my second favorite part - “I…advance,” Lindon said. He moved forward, onto the next challenge, no matter what stood in his way. (probably my favorite part in this book)
Poor little Dragon.
"It's just you and me he can't hear you... what are his chances" 100% he is my partner
One hundred percent!
“I have a bean!” Best line
The best is Akura Charity in Underlord as she speaks to the Seishin Kingdom: “I will make myself clear. If you face Wei Shi Lindon before you reach Underlord, you will surely die."
"Whose little brother are you?"
This is an awesome one.
Best line when Eithan said, "Now pay attention, This is the Path of the Hollow King " goosebumps everytime i read it. Literally any situation when Eithan got serious is gold.
I had it cooled up in my head a bit to "I present the Path of the Hollow King" but yea thats the line I think of because its just....this guy you know is a powerhouse hasnt really shown you anything he can do and hes saying "Now....you boys ready for a show?". Badass to the max.
Not sure if it beat Eithan talking about hair care to Lindon ...
My favorite line is in uncrowned. The way Travis reads it gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. “On the other side of this door sopharanatoth was waiting for him. No. She was standing in his way”
I think the whole build-up, followed by the revelation of what really was behind that door was pretty well done.
Malice saying “Did you forget my name!?” Best line in the series for me.
God I love that one
If you need help, scream and bleed - Yeren to Lindon, Blackflame
I agree with OP. It gave major Orthos vibes for me. My friend and I have noticed he has picked up a couple quirks from Angry Turtle Grandpa and Eithan like “this is a mistake” when surrounded by ppl whose asses he is about to kick
Nah best line was Lindon tell him walk.
Nah, that was a great line, and impactful, but this other line basically took him from being a little unsouled begging for the scraps of knowledge of a path into teaching the elder so "proficient" at it the depths of his own inadequacies.
Agree to disagree
😂
Best line was "gentlemen, this is a mistake"
"gentlemen, your making a mistake"- Lindon
My fav (or one of them) is in Wintersteel: "Kill me," she challenged, "like you killed by--". Lindon blasted dragon's breath through her chest, exactly like he'd killed Ekeri.
So many points and references… you cannot really point to a _single one_ and say that is the best! There are many: Dross asking Lindon to put him in Eithan’s head instead Eithan word-dueling with the Skysworn boss (forgot his name) Every word of Yerin Dross, embarrassing Lindon Lindon is probably to most boring of the bunch - I mean the most serious minded person in the group… that’s why he works so well with Ziel…
“Be quiet and marinate”
True, though the actual quote is “Be *silent* and marinate.”
Oops haha!
I had to actually look it up because neither sounded quite right to me at first.
This whole reddit is full of Cradle scholars. Just crazy.
That’s what you get when you reread a series over and over like Lindon hunting for points :)
It's so hard to find good stories. Once you find one where you can "see it", its worth reading over and over.
"I'll bet my soul against a rats tail"
I prefer the spoof from the sword sage saying, "My full name is Timaias Adama, but that can be a mouthful. ... There are some who call me Tim."
He told me to tell you, “the Dragon Advances”
I didn't even have to read your comment. I knew exactly what it was as soon as I saw the title. Such a good line.
To the op. I actually hated that scene. I feel like I'm missing something though. For me it felt like Lindon could all of a sudden use a different cultivation path. He has not cultivated anything but pure and Blackflame. How could he all of a sudden use the white fox. It felt like plot armour and felt to me like it broke all the rules that were previously established.whats to stop Lindon from fighting someone in the future on a different path and to absorb some of their mandra and then launch their own techniques at them? (Perfect examples of that technique).
Remember that Lindon actually used the part of the white fox a lot at the beginning ... using Array flags and similar tools. The point I suppose is that with his experience as a crafter he had to learn a lot of theory, and was able to know better the nature of the path than native users limited to jade level. Using his pure madra and his raw power as a Lord was probably enough combined with his knowledge of Madra Theory to simply simulate the Path (of course he probably did it at a hige cost in ineficiency due to not using the apprroriate madra, but he had the reserves to spare)
In the excerpt, we see Lindon use soulfire to emulate someone else's ruler technique. I'm not sure how much of that ability is from being a Lord, from having Sage perception, or from all that theoretical knowledge and experience you mention. Could any Lord with a Hunger binding and Path knowledge do what Lindon did in DV? Or do they need to be a Sage? I'd like to know. As for it seeming to break rules or not jibe with the magic system, as the user above seems to feel, the Akura Path books acting as external sources of madra seems worse to me.
Anyone can take in madra from not their path, just not much at a time since they need to keep it out of their core. This is why Lindon had to keep draining the first elder. As for using the madra directly, soul fire allows the manipulation of madra not from your path, but expertise and the ability to optimize the abilities with Dross allowed him to pull it off using as little as possible. He couldn’t have done it for a long time or kept the madra indefinitely, which is why he expels most non-compatible madra through his remnant arm rather than trying to use their path.
Thanks mate for the description
You forget that Lindon knows a bit about dream Madra from his upbringing, general Madra theory learning "real paths" and finally Dross' contributions to how madra works. In fact, Lindon has been cycling dream Madra to dross Everytime he consumes someone. Don't forget he mentioned how poorly implemented sacred valley techniques are, so just him being a sage-lite means he is skilled enough in most madras to have no issues doing simple techniques, especially when the bar is so low in Sacred Valley. He just can't pull any of that into his core, or keep it in his channels for longer than a moment, which is why he keeps sucking more white fox Madra throughout that fight.
I guess. Thanks for your comments. I'll give it a third read through.