Cultivation: Being Immortal Chapter 775
Previously on Cultivation: Being Immortal...
Year 6700 of the Xia Calendar, Ying Continent
Li Qing emerged from her seclusion and sensed that her cultivation had advanced even more, filling her with great delight.
She had only achieved Tao Achieving a couple of hundred years ago. Such a span is truly brief in the cultivation world, yet she had already covered nearly half the journey in that realm.
Once she stepped out of her cave abode, she transmitted a message to Zheng Yi, who soon made his way to Li Qing’s residence.
"Master, you’ve finally emerged!"
"Indeed, after thirty years in retreat, my cultivation has grown stronger."
"That’s wonderful news!"
"Not entirely; I’m eager to soon advance to the Transmigration Stage and outpace Lin Jiang."
Li Qing declared, having faced humiliation repeatedly, she harbored a deep resolve to one day eclipse him and demonstrate her true power.
"Understood, Master."
"What’s the current state of the Ying Continent? I’m hoping for positive updates."
"The Ying Continent is thriving in every aspect. Our population, economy, military strength, and technological research have all seen tremendous growth, far outstripping Qingyun and Zhou Liao…"
Zheng Yi reported, noting that the Ying Continent’s landmass exceeded that of Qingyun and Zhou Liao, and with robust birth rates, their populace had already overtaken those nations. A large population served as a key strength.
Across various domains, the Ying Continent kept advancing, and even in research—once their shortfall—they now matched or exceeded Qingyun’s capabilities.
"Outdoing Qingyun and Zhou Liao holds little significance anymore. How about Huaxia? After centuries of pursuit, what progress have we made?"
"Well…"
"Be straightforward."
"Yes, Master. Truthfully, we remain far from catching up, particularly in technology. We lag several eras behind, especially in aerospace advancements. Long ago, they announced discovering livable planets. Their exploratory vessels have been en route for over a century, and rumors say in roughly seventy years, they’ll arrive for an actual survey."
"Can we reach it?"
"Master, that world lies eight light-years distant. Even at full speed in flight, it would demand thousands of years."
Zheng Yi explained. Though Li Qing held keen interest in technological matters, her knowledge was limited. Traversing eight light-years proved utterly infeasible; their power sources would deplete midway.
"Damn it, after hundreds of years, we’re still unable to close the gap with them."
"Master, stay calm. National rivalries unfold over centuries and millennia. We’re actually drawing nearer now. We also nurture several genius talents akin to Huaxia’s prodigies, safeguarding them so they won’t be poached."
Zheng Yi added, a hint of fury in his tone. Countless brilliant minds from the Ying Continent had been tempted away by Huaxia’s lavish incentives, essentially rearing talents for their rivals at no cost, which was utterly maddening.
"Excellent, we must shield these individuals closely."
"Yes, Master."
"And the cultivators?"
"Things are progressing well there too; our cultivator count has exceeded five hundred million. Eight fresh breakthroughs to Soul Changing have occurred, with two reaching the late stage. They’re poised to attain Void Achieving in under a century. This pace is rapidly nearing Huaxia’s numbers."
"You’ve performed admirably over these years. Soon, you ought to enter seclusion to ready yourself for Tao Achieving. Times have changed; the road to the Great Dao makes breaking through to Tao Achieving far simpler than in the past."
Li Qing commented, as Zheng Yi possessed late-stage Void Achieving cultivation and fine aptitude, rendering Tao Achieving a realistic prospect for him.
"My gratitude, Master."
"Provide more details—which fields have we overtaken Huaxia in?"
Li Qing nodded and pressed further. She remained intensely invested in such topics; even surpassing Huaxia in minor areas would spark her joy.
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"Have Qingyun and Zhou Liao lost their minds? Impossible!"
In Haigang City, Lin Jiang stared at a news article and exclaimed.
The article claimed that Qingyun and Zhou Liao aimed to unite with Huaxia into a single entity. It argued logically that the trio shared deep cultural ties, a common core language, and seamless citizen interactions. Economically, their bonds ran deep, with Qingyun and Zhou Liao’s systems largely dominated by Huaxia—or more precisely, by Lin Jiang himself.
To grasp this, one must recall the pre-spiritual energy revival era. After an assault on Lin Jiang in Qingyun, he subtly penetrated both nations’ economies. Over time, he secured dominance over their vital financial arteries, forging exceptionally tight economic interdependence.
On the military front, the three had endured as steadfast allies for one to two millennia, dating back to the eras when Demon Humans terrorized the lands.
With such profound unity in economy, culture, and defense, unification wasn’t a far-fetched notion. Indeed, numerous citizens in those nations favored it, drawn to the prosperity Huaxia offered.
"Calm down, Uncle. This piece is merely a trial balloon; Huaxia’s leadership won’t approve."
"They absolutely won’t. Together, Qingyun and Zhou Liao boast a hundred billion people, at least thirty percent mired in poverty. Such a load would cripple us."
"The issue stems from their economies. Over the past fifty years, Qingyun and Zhou Liao’s growth has stagnated, even declining. Their foreign trade has been steadily eroded by Ying Continent, while domestic strife intensifies. They’re banking on our aid to pull them through."
Cao Ying noted that, through years of study, she had mastered global dynamics and grasped the internal woes of both countries; their finances were in dire straits.
"Exactly, so we must squash any illusions promptly."
"Precisely; sustaining Huaxia’s billion souls strains us enough. Adding another hundred billion would overwhelm. Still, we could enlist their aid against Ying Continent. That land has flourished for centuries, amassing considerable might."
"That could work. Regarding Ying Continent, they’re not formidable enough to concern us, but Li Qing buzzes around like a persistent pest. Handing them an opponent might keep them occupied."
Lin Jiang remarked that Li Qing, that irksome agitator, had pestered him on multiple occasions, grating on his nerves. Supplying them with a foe seemed harmless.
"Then it’s settled. Oh, and Small Shadiao has returned."
"Tired of his adventures?"
"Yeah, he’s conquered every perilous spot across the globe. He leads in extreme sports and has indulged for decades; he’s grown weary of it."
"I sometimes envy him—he bears no burdens and simply revels in life."
Lin Jiang confessed he occasionally yearned for his brother’s carefree existence, free from worries, just embracing daily bliss.
"We could enjoy that someday too."
"True enough. Alright, I’m off to grab a drink with Small Shadiao—joining me?"
"Of course, though I suspect when I’m away, you lot will be carousing with ladies again."
"Ahem, I’m not like that."
Lin Jiang coughed and mused inwardly, what did she mean? Was he truly that sort? He hadn’t entangled with other women in centuries!
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Spiritual Energy Research Institute Main Office
Liang Long departed from Cao Wang’s office in a stupor, having just absorbed a classified revelation from Cao Wang: that Blue Star’s history included encounters with extraterrestrials.
"Aliens truly exist! During the immortal era, too bad I never witnessed one."
Liang Long felt a twinge of regret; in this modern age, he already sensed near-invincibility, with few figures he revered. Instead, he yearned deeply for the immortal era that Cao Wang and his peers had lived through.
Through extended companionship, Liang Long had gleaned numerous legends of the immortal age from Cao Wang. He cherished those sagas of legendary figures, fantasizing about the thrill of clashing with them.
"I must redefine my ambitions. Dominating Blue Star bores me now. Henceforth, I’ll become a space buccaneer, venturing to subjugate alien realms!"
Liang Long swiftly reshaped his aspirations. His former dream of reigning as Blue Star’s supreme expert and sage now struck him as bland and empty.
Thus, he sought a grander pursuit, such as pillaging as a space pirate across distant galaxies and claiming new worlds, which promised far greater excitement and purpose.