Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation-Chapter 160 - 127: Fuyue Continent

「The outer seas of Changqing Continent.」

The Xingyun sun Commerce Association's fleet of Tianzhou Skyboats had arrived once again. The fleet consisted of over twenty magnificent Tower Boats, each more than a hundred zhang in length, accompanied by as many as a thousand Cultivators.

This merchant fleet had been traveling for more than three years, passing through nearly half of the Yuzhou Continent and the territories of hundreds of powers, both large and small. They conducted trade with these factions, buying and selling all manner of Cultivation Resources.

Moreover, they didn't refuse to trade with certain powerful Loose Cultivator groups, and they even dared to accept goods of dubious origin.

The Ling Family of the Feiyu Sea Region was the final stop on their journey. After concluding their business here, the fleet would return to the association's headquarters to report.

In the center of the fleet, the three-hundred-zhang-long Tower Boat flagship was enveloped in the thick Spiritual Light of an Array. Xue Qingtan, her Daoist robes as white as snow and her sleeves fluttering, arrived by riding the wind with two trusted aides.

After presenting the Jade Talisman that proved her identity and undergoing multiple checks by the escorting Elders along the way, she was finally granted permission to enter the flagship's inner cabins.

By now, the fleet of Tower Boats was fully laden with immense resources and wealth, all gained through three years of arduous travel. It was only natural for them to be cautious.

"…You're here?"

In a lavish and exquisite cabin, Shentu Hong sat at a table. Before him were several fine dishes and a pot of Spirit Wine, from which he was pouring and drinking by himself.

"Elder, it has been a long time!"

Xue Qingtan approached, bowed slightly in salute, and greeted him in a gentle voice.

The man before her was, in fact, the one who had guided her onto the path of Cultivation, so their relationship was anything but ordinary.

Many years ago, Xue Qingtan was still a princess of a certain mortal dynasty. Shentu Hong, who was occasionally traveling abroad, happened upon her and discovered that she possessed excellent Spirit Root Talent. He therefore brought her back to the organization to be trained.

Shentu Hong nodded, his gaze warm as he said:

"Sit and talk. You've been stationed in Changqing Continent for these past few years. Have you ever considered a change of assignment?"

Xue Qingtan took a graceful step and elegantly sat down to the side. Hearing his words, she replied:

"It's quite nice here. I don't wish to move for the time being."

Shentu Hong smiled. "A civil war recently broke out on the Fuyue Continent. Several of the old-guard Golden Core powers suffered heavy losses to their Primordial Qi, and a number of neutral factions were caught in the crossfire.

The organization's person-in-charge there was unexpectedly injured and plans to return to headquarters for secluded recuperation, so I was thinking of transferring you there to oversee things for a while."

The Fuyue Continent's territory is much larger than even Changqing Continent's. Because of the existence of a Grade Four Spirit Vein, it theoretically has the potential to produce a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

However, that auspicious land has been carved up by several old-guard Golden Core powers. It has not been unified for thousands of years and remains in a constant state of fragmentation and endless conflict.

Besides the fact that those powers themselves lack ambition, covert interference and obstruction from major external powers is another key reason. They do not wish to see a new Nascent Soul-level great power emerge here.

After ages of division and chaotic warfare, the overall strength of the Fuyue Continent has grown weaker and weaker, and its status in the eyes of outsiders has naturally become increasingly insignificant.

It has reached the point where even the Hanyue Continent, which is overseen by only three Golden Core Masters, has begun to have designs on the Fuyue Continent.

Xue Qingtan shook her head and said, "The Fuyue Continent? I have no interest in that place. I would rather stay here."

There was something she left unsaid. 'When Changqing Continent rises in the future, neither Hanyue Continent nor Fuyue Continent will likely have the power to stop it.'

'Perhaps in a few hundred years, I will personally witness the birth of a new great power, just like the Nine Great Cultivation Families on the Yuzhou Continent.'

Shentu Hong said, "If you don't want to go, then forget it.

Over the past few years, the Ling Family seems to have developed quite well. This Feiyu Sea Region will sooner or later become theirs for the taking, won't it?"

Xue Qingtan smiled. "That's a certainty. Their Female Patriarch has already reached Middle Stage Golden Core Cultivation. Within the family, a dozen or so new Foundation Establishment Cultivators have emerged, and several have even reached the Middle stage Foundation Establishment.

In contrast, the other three powers have performed much worse. As long as no external powers interfere, the Ling Family's dominance over the Feiyu Sea Region is inevitable..."

She then recounted in detail the various changes that had occurred on Changqing Continent over the years.

Shentu Hong was lost in thought. "This rate of development… it no longer resembles that of a Golden Core power. Perhaps this is a pace only a Nascent Soul-level great power could maintain?

By the way, how is that young friend of ours, Ling Changqing, doing recently?"

Compared to a Golden Core Master like Ling Qiyue, he was more concerned with Ling Changqing's situation.

According to some of the organization's special evaluation systems, Ling Changqing's value was clearly rated higher than Ling Qiyue's.

Xue Qingtan's expression became complicated. "He has already reached Middle stage Foundation Establishment, and he has taken a female Cultivator of the same Cultivation Level as his Dao Companion."

Shentu Hong's gaze sharpened. "Dual Cultivation? It can indeed accelerate one's Cultivation speed, but this is still somewhat beyond my expectations." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"..."

Xue Qingtan thought for a moment but decided not to voice her suspicions.

'Ling Changqing should have more than one Dao Companion. Any female Cultivator in the Ling Family who is close to him seems to have a Cultivation speed that defies common sense.'

'This conclusion is a bit frightening, though. If it's just baseless speculation, that's one thing, but if it's actually true...'

'If news of this spreads, I'm afraid Ling Changqing would be immediately taken away by one of the organization's great figures from behind the scenes.'

After some thought, Xue Qingtan decided to cover for him:

"I heard that he went on a trip with the Patriarch not long ago and obtained some fortunate encounters in a Daoist rite field in the Vast Sea Dark and Bright City. That's why his progress has been so extraordinary."