Dual Cultivation God Returns

"Hah, so how can you tell if you never met him?"

Old Man Zhao scoffed at the ridiculous remark from earlier.

"Have you ever thought why that man wants control over this continent?"

Wu Long asked instead of answering and both of them paused for a moment, before the old man brushed it off with a wave of his hand.

"As I said before, he never shared such things, and it is not like we talked all that much ever since what he did. How would I know what that crazy bastard wants? He is an intensely selfish, prideful egomaniac, so he probably wants more power or authority.

It was him who actively helped in systematic erosion of knowledge about the Seven Boundless Worlds and history from the minds of the general population, and at the same time gradually limited the distribution of higher quality techniques and pills which I can only guess was to retain control"

"Does he have children?"

As the old man spoke with increasing irritation, Wu Long calmly asked, causing the former to pause. Zhao Xieren narrowed his eyes as a suspicion started creeping in.

"... No, why?"

"Well, if he wanted to build his legacy he would have to think about progeny and how to build a lasting empire. After all, is that not the symbol of immortality in the limited means of a mortal?"

Wu Long calmly spoke as Zhao Xieren slowly nodded along. It could very well be that Gu Zhen was planning on having them later, but he was already approaching the age at which he should start procreating or he would not have much time left before his vigor died out. After all, Zhao Xieren lost his ability to procreate at around that age.

"But he could have children that I did not know of..."

The old man poined out to which Wu Long shook his head.

"If he is the man you describe, would he miss the chance to show off his progeny to you? And not at your final moments, but while you had long enough to brood over it"

As Wu Long spoke both Zhao Xieren and Liang Yuhan froze for a moment.

"More than that, I have gotten hold of a peculiar information that the slaves in territories he controls through the various means are periodically going missing in substantial groups"

Wu Long continued, to which Liang Yuhan nodded.

"That is correct, but is that not for the private army he is readying to combat the Azure Eagle Empire's military?"

"I am sure part of it is, but part of those who were taken away piqued my interest because there is a portion especially selected for high vitality..."

Wu Long recalled the miscellaneous reports Old Yen gave him, among which he noticed this alarming pattern.

"You mean...!!!"

Zhao Xieren's eyes opened up wide, his voice full of exasperation as he stood up from his seat while Madam Liang still looked confused as she also received this information before, merely finding it peculiar.

"Yes, I believe he is making Blood Vitality Pills"

"No, no that's impossible! That pill has been banned by none other than the Alchemy Association! It is a first degree offence for an alchemist to possess even part of its recipe or attempt to learn more about it!"

Wu Long nodded, to which the old man shook his head in denial while Liang Yuhan had a bad premonition from the name of the pill and the information Wu Long prefaced this statement with.

"Are you saying...?"

She hesitantly asked while Zhao Xieren, after staring the silent Wu Long in the eyes for a few moments powerlessly sat back down.

"Haa~ it is exactly as you think, it is a pill that can prolong the lifespan and vigor, as well as preserve strength of even a Seven Profound Realms cultivator, at times even higher, despite not requiring any rare medicinal plants.

It's main ingredient is a human cultivator in at the very minimum Qi Gathering Realm, and better vitality equals better effect. Of course, the higher the cultivation the better as well..."

He then sighed and explained in a low, monotonous voice. Disgust apparent on his face.

Liang Yuhan paled at the explanation as she turned to Wu Long, hoping to see that he did not really believe what he was insinuating.ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ ɴovᴇl(F)ɪre.ɴet

"It's existence in of itself was a closely guarded secret, and I only know of it because of my former position... but how could he get his hands on the method... hm!?"

As the old man continued in a hollow voice he suddenly looked up to see Wu Long nod.

"Yes, I believe those Corrupt Path cultivators on the Wood Spirit Continent have struck a deal with him. Though I am not sure what kind of deal it was"

"That crazy son of a-..."

"But does that not mean everyone who is ruthless enough has the ability to remain immortal if they have a mortal continent under control?"

Liang Yuhan found it hard to believe that this practice would not have been more well known if that was the case.

"Of course not, while it is truly potent, the effect each pill has lessens with time, and at a certain point the number of people required for a pill to be effective increases exponentially without end, from that point on it becomes unsustainable.

But Gu Zhen does not need to do it endlessly, he only has to do it until this world opens up and he could return to cultivating again, and with the rate at which this world is repairing, that time is not so long that he would run out or 'stock', at least theoretically"

"But how can you be sure?"

Liang Yuhan asked again, still hoping it was a wild guess that was as accurate as randomly pointing to a map to find the enemy camp.

"I cannot be. It was a theory that I did not put much weight under, but which became more realistic in this very conversation.

I just tend to believe that people have more grounded goals that benefit them when they do something. In this case, his obsession with immortality and his willingness to use the Child Eating Serpent in retribution for a report about price speculation is what leads me to think this theory is probable"

Wu Long explained, shrugging his shoulders and a heavy silence hung in the room after as each of them sank into their own thoughts.