Dual Cultivation God Returns

Chapter 692  The Visitors

Wu Long's expression was focused and somber as he felt his Root of VItality in his heart pump out fresh blood, with a trace of a powerful Mythical Beast's bloodline in it, into his bloodstream.

His cultivation realm has not yet reached the point of this bloodlines being truly awakened, but as someone closely familiar with mighty bloodlines and experienced in using them he could already feel the underlying latent power of the blood coursing through his veins now.

It was not the first time he had received a rare bloodline, after all, he even had a Dragon Race's bloodline, although quite late in his past life.

However, the blood coursing through his veins now was something else entirely, unlike anything he ever experienced.

'Mythical Beasts' was a very funny term, as it sought to lump together and categorize those beings that did not fit into any other category, but in truth did not have anything to do with each other, and yet usually so singular and few in quantities, they could not hold up separate categories of their own.

There were, like Fen Baihu, those who were the only known individual, with the knowledge about them coming from ancient records. There were also those like the Great Celestial Whales, a small tribe, isolated and shrouded by mystery. For the most part, Mythical Beasts did not share anything beyond their rarity and irregularity, and there was no way to draw lines of comparison between them. The ranges of their existences were simply too varied and unique.

However, there was one thing that was very clear.

The Grand Void Eagle was an absolutely exceptional existence if taken on its own, whose abilities went far beyond the normal conventions of what constituted power.

The only bloodline Wu Long previously held that he could at least somehow compare was the Dragon Race's bloodline. But even then, it was still fundamentally different.

The Dragon Race's bloodline held in it that quintessential raw power of the Dragons, the raging potential and vitality of which were almost unmatched. And which strengthened every aspect of one's being, whether that was Physical Form, Energy Potential or Soul Integrity.

The bloodline of a Grand Void Eagle in comparison felt serene, almost passive and devoid of the tyrannical violence, or the aggressiveness of the bloodlines he had experienced before. 'How strange…', a thought ran through his mind.

The nature of the power he perceived in this bloodline felt completely foreign to his earlier comprehensions of the Concept of Space, or even what he imagined the bloodline of a Mythical Beast would feel like.

'It is… like echo…', a word came to his mind that finally somewhat captured what he felt, or at least part of it.

There wasn't an overwhelming, overpowering feeling that he expected and was bracing himself for, which left him a bit dumbfounded. Instead it was like something distant, a trace, of power he could not perceive calling out from behind a veil he could not peer through, only its shadows and bleak reverberations reaching him.

He spent some time still prepared to bear that crushing oppressive feeling that never came, before he eventually finally lowered his guard, still feeling a bit apprehensive.

But as underwhelming the experience was in terms of hardship, he could still vividly feel the change taking place, as the new bloodline was filling his whole body with a new latent power, and changing his very physique by reacting with his Body Tempering technique.

It was the process that Song Lingfei lacked because of the differences between her human physiology and her bloodline, and that she had to go through once she obtained this very technique from Wu Long.

And as with any change, he too, had to adapt to it.

What was quite consistent with his expectations unlike his first impression of the bloodline, were the physiological changes taking place, as the blood coursing through him was evolving the base durability and potential of his muscles, bones and nervous system through the Body Tempering technique far beyond previous capabilities and expanding the potential for future growth as well.

After spending time adjusting, he was finally ready to proceed with cultivating the Pure Yin Qi and Yin Qi that he got from Song Lingfei.

—

A loud explosive sound resounded, as Wu Long finished the 2nd reformation of his Crystal Core, being perhaps the first person to experience this process for the second time in one lifetime and third if counting his previous one.

"Any more and the amount of Spiritual Qi that I use will be too conspicuous" he breathed out with a smile on his face, as a bead of sweat was coming down the side of his face.

After all, at the moment, all of the Spiritual Qi filling this Mystic Realm came from outside. And while the way it was absorbed was ambiguous, as well as hard to trace, if the amount Wu Long used up was too great, it could affect the overall density of the Spiritual Qi in the region of the outside world, which could draw attention of the gathering powers.

The Core Reformations that the Crystal Core in the ring of Spiritual Qi around his Grandmist Core was going through were as he expected not as dangerous or volatile as when he made his first Core.

It was, however, as taxing on the resources, if not more, because he did not simply replicate but perfect this Crystal Core even more.

Not to mention that while this time a failure in the reformation of a Core might not result in a fatal outcome, he had no doubt in it leading to serious internal injury and, perhaps, even more aggrievedly to the loss of all the progress with that Core.

Thus the lessened inherent danger of this process did not translate into a more relaxed attitude toward it.

Wu Long stood up, turning toward the main terrace of the mansion where his ladies usually gathered.

He still had some Yin Qi that he did not refine, and there were much things he could ponder on, but he had already spent a lot of time in the process of adjusting to his new bloodline.

In this period, the majority of those who advanced should have adapted, and the outside world was not standing still either.

'Time waits for no one', he chuckled to his thought, and then with a light step disappeared from the spot.

—

The Soft Meadow Continent saw a very subtle increase in the number of cultivators coming through the World Stone controlled by the Iron Claw Group.

There was no sudden uproar, but rather a quiet increase in activity.

And yet the change in the atmosphere on the continent was palpable among the cultivators. The vast majority of the small powers on the continent were anticipating some kind of shift in the power dynamics, as well as a growing conflict. Some welcoming it, some dreading its arrival. And there were agents of various outside forces approaching the local ones, stoking those flames of uncertainty, instability, and expanding possibilities in the minds of those with ambition.

"Haa~", Yu Zhen, an Elder of the Three Pillars Sect whom Wu Long had seen at the World Stone leading to the Battle God's Cradle, heavily sighed as he looked from the balcony over the Sect.

"I told you that it wasn't wise to antagonize Huo Bai, at that time Elder Yu, especially over the matter of the World Stone", a man that was beside him on that day at the World Stone spoke from behind him.

"What do you suppose I should have done then?", Yu Zhen turned with a grim look at his subordinate, "If we don't draw a line in the sand the Iron Claw Group will just continue getting bolder, while we shrink back more and more. Look at us now! Our Sect is nothing like it was 500 years before. Each decade we continue to decline, and the number of new disciples continues to dwindle. Another thousand years and we will cease to exist!"

A deep frustration surfaced in the voice of the Elder.

"Hah, I did not hear you voicing that complaint when you were reprimanded by the council of Grand Elders before", a voice came from behind them, causing Yu Zhen to swallow the continuation of his tirade.

""Grand Elder Ro"", both Yu Zhen and his subordinate bowed toward a slightly older looking man who appeared on the balcony.

Grand Elder Ro raised his hand for them to relax, turning his questioning gaze toward Yu Zhen.

"They won't listen… they never have", the Elder replied with a deep exhale.

"Isn't this exactly the same behavior in which you so readily accuse us of toward the Iron Claw Group?", Grand Elder Ro spoke while stroking his beard.

"I know", Yu Zhen lowered his head, covering his face, "But what have my complaints accomplished after decades?"

"You have those supporting you", Grand Elder Ro answered with the same calm tone coming closer and turning toward the scenery that Yu Zhen was looking at before, "It was because you voiced your beliefs that your subordinates follow you. And also why I supported you despite many in the council believing you should be stripped of your position as the Senior Elder of the Sect Protectors Hall"

"And I am grateful for your support", Yu Zhen spoke in a humble tone.

"Haa~, I hoped you would be able to change our path", the Grand Elder spoke in a slightly more tired tone, "When I first saw you address the council as a Disciple, I thought there is a passionate soul! Now, I am afraid you are turning into what you hated back then. A bitter but inactive man in a position to enact change but refusing to do so, who can only complain about where our Sect is going"

Yu Zhen lowered his head again, unable to counter these words.

His subordinate who was silent up until that point, raised his voice, "With all due respect, Grand Elder Ro, I believe it has not gone that far yet. Elder Yu certainly may have lost some of his initial spark of enthusiasm, but I could not blame him. Seeing that all of his efforts were frustrated by failure it is not strange if he was already completely apathetic"

"Weren't you the one who said he made a mistake in antagonizing Huo Bai, Yi Pong?", Grand Elder Ro chuckled, a hint of amusement appearing in his eyes.

"I certainly did, but that is only in that circumstance. The World Stone is too big of an affair for a small Sect like us to profit off. And it is not because of the Iron Claw Group at all. Thus arguing over it wasn't the best choice at the time, in my humble opinion" the subordinate named by Grand Elder Ro as Yi Pong answered with a calm demeanor, a light smile on his face.

"Always the pragmatic man", Grand Elder Ro chuckled once more.

"You flatter me", Yi Pong replied with a humble short bow. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"The point wasn't about the World Stone", Yu Zhen raised his gaze, "it was to take a stance toward the Iron Claw Group"

"Perhaps you are right, but what Yi Pong meant was that you should pick your battles, Elder Yu. Perhaps then the Council of Elders would not be as displeased, as we would have at least gained something from taking that stance", Grand Elder Ro said in a soft tone.

"But isn't the World Stone in our territory?", Yu Zhen asked as Yi Pong and the Grand Elder exchanged glances.

The latter sighed, "It is only so because it was useless until now. We cannot maintain control over it now that it may be active again"

"But if we did, would we not rise to the position equal or even higher than the Iron Claw Group who control the only other active World Stone?", Yu Zhen spoke with a spark in his eyes, revealing his aspirations toward the World Stone.

The two he was speaking to widened their eyes, finally understanding that it was not simply a matter of taking a stance toward the Iron Claw Group that Yu Zhen spoke of before.

'This youngster… he really sees the World Stone reawakening as a chance we could take advantage of…', Grand Elder Ro thought, not sure if he should be impressed by that boldness or dumbfounded by the stupidity and naivety.

"In order to do that, the Iron Claw Group is the least of our problems", Yi Pong made a sigh, shaking his head.

"You mean… outside forces?", it was Yu Zhen's time to be surprised.

"You may not realize it, because it was always a useless lump of stone during your lifetime, but the World Stone connecting with the Boundless Mortal World is a far bigger deal. The World Stone that the Iron Claw Group controls is a pebble in comparison", Grand Elder Ro nodded with a complicated look on his face.

"But…", Yu Zhen struggled to accept the warnings of the two, still taken by the breath of inspiration he felt when he first heard of a disturbance at the World Stone.

And at this moment, a Sect Protector under Yu Zhen arrived on the terrace, first shocked by the presence of the Grand Elder, but nonetheless reporting his duty first.

"Elder Yu, there are visitors at the Sect's main gate, who requested for you by name", the Sect Protector spoke as the eyes of all three people on the terrace showed surprise.

"Excuse me for a while, Grand Elder Ro, it seems I have visitors. I am sure it is nothing important, so I should be back soon", Yu Zhen then sighed as the discussion he was invested in was interrupted.

"Go on", Grand Elder Ro nodded calmly, implying that they would continue this conversation when Yu Zhen went back.

The Elder nodded back and went after the Sect Protector, followed by Yi Pong.

"Did they at least say who they were?", Yu Zhen asked with a bit of irritation, his mind still lingering on the conversation before.

"Hmm, they only said that the man who wanted to talk to you was named Wu Long"

'Tch, great, now I have to waste time on someone I don't even know', Yu Zhen thought as he did not recognize anyone by that name, not even suspecting that fate itself knocked on his door.