Dual Cultivation God Returns Chapter 1046: One is logical, one is passion

"Ah! Precisely, as you stated earlier, a fresh start!" Jin Shenzhi agreed, gratefully accepting the face-saving suggestion from Wu Long.

"However, you should still consume the pill immediately; I will assist you in concealing the dissipation of the death aura," Wu Long added.

Jin Shenzhi's eyes widened, but he nodded. If this individual could so readily produce a Longevity Pill effective for an Essence Gathering Realm cultivator at the twilight of their lifespan, he undoubtedly possessed the means for such a deception.

He composed himself and ingested the pill. Contrary to his expectations, there was no need to circulate its effects, nor was any adjustment to his condition required, as it dissolved autonomously, distributing its benefits to his Root of Longevity.

"What an astonishing pill..." he couldn't refrain from murmuring as the palpable aura of death surrounding him began to recede.

It was at this juncture that Wu Long, having already positioned several talismans, executed hand seals, causing intricate patterns to illuminate around Jin Shenzhi, effectively containing and sustaining the death aura.

"This will suffice to deceive them when we depart. We can then discreetly spirit you away after a few hours. Simply maintain a meditative posture if you are observed, and we will substitute you with an illusion in the same pose until its staged 'demise.' The timing of this can be adjusted for our convenience," Wu Long remarked with evident satisfaction as he examined the death aura. "I require some time to prepare a corporeal illusion capable of lasting and fooling everyone."

"Understood. Ah, the moniker I previously assigned you, 'Steel Fist,' was something I was known by in my youth... I doubt many would recall it, but one never knows... May I suggest a change?" Jin Shenzhi inquired.

"What did you have in mind?" Wu Long inquired, raising an eyebrow, not particularly concerned but merely curious.

—

The trio, led by Zhao Xieren, departed the Ancestral Peak of the Three Pillars Sect without incident, while the Sect Ancestor remained within the cave.

However, from that day onward, a masked individual joined Wu Long's retinue, known as Steel Hand. This figure employed contact-based fist techniques and physical hardening in combat, bearing no resemblance to the Steel Fist Jin Shenzhi, the former Sect Ancestor of the Three Pillars Sect.

—

During their egress, Zhao Xieren observed, "Ah, that conniving youngster Ko Fuan appears to be deliberately delaying the investigation with his brother. While his pretexts align with reports suggesting the eldest Young Master of the City Lord Manor is less active and perhaps has lost interest in Silver Wing City's affairs."

Wu Long's eyes narrowed upon hearing this, followed by a chuckle. "Hmm, then let it be. Or rather, perhaps it is for the best. Redirect your focus to the second brother instead; leave the eldest one alone."

"Eh? You mean..." Zhao Xieren's eyes widened.

"Indeed, we will not involve the eldest son as a pawn in our dealings with the City Lord. More accurately, we will explicitly exclude him from any further interference. I am far more intrigued by his internal development, or perhaps, I simply wish to foster it and observe the outcome," Wu Long affirmed. "We can simply utilize the second son."

"Understood," Zhao Xieren nodded, inwardly considering that Ko Gunwen had possibly become the most fortunate member of the family. He then shifted the subject. "We finally have some headway regarding the two external Sects. It seems the Northern Ridge Sect and Pale River Hall were part of a larger coalition of groups from both Sects. They moved separately but all headed towards the Wei Dynasty, seemingly as diversionary tactics. The Disciples and Sect Protectors were not even informed of the other cohorts. Multiple such groups arrived at various locations; some were intercepted en route, but one remains unaccounted for."

"Haa~, just as I suspected," Wu Long sighed. "We will likely receive news from the Wei Dynasty soon. Further investigation at this stage is premature; we would merely expend resources on something we will probably confirm within a day or two. Your efforts in that regard have been sufficient. You may scale back most of the resources dedicated to that direction now; this is adequate."

"Understood."

—

Several hours after their official departure from the Three Pillars Sect, Steel Hand stood upon a training field within the Oak Fortress, marveling at a Spiritual Land on the continent previously unknown to all.

By this time, due to the Formation confining the Spiritual Land and limiting its territorial expansion, the density of Spiritual Qi within surpassed that of any other Spiritual Land on the Soft Meadow Continent. Over the past year alone, the land had gradually become covered with low-level spiritual flora and common natural treasures of Heaven and Earth.

"Now, display your techniques for me. It would be best to provide you with cultivation methods that align with your combat style. Perhaps we can even implement some immediate enhancements to your fighting methods and skills as well," Wu Long stated, standing alongside Hua Ziyan at the edge of the Training Field.

"Yes, Valley Master," Steel Hand, who was definitely not Jin Shenzhi, responded with a fist and hand salute. Profound Qi began to swirl around his hands, wrists, and lower arms, accumulating into dense vortexes as both his hands gradually darkened in hue.

He then executed a few movements and fist forms, which substantiated Wu Long's initial assumptions about the defensive nature of his technique.

"Um... Wu Long, may I...?" Hua Ziyan inquired, her gaze filled with curiosity. Wu Long offered a smile.

"That would be excellent, Ziyan. It will also serve as valuable experience for you," he affirmed with a nod. He then turned towards the field, "Ji-... Steel Hand, how about a spar with Ziyan? She wields Spiritual Qi fist and palm techniques, so it should be a fitting match. It will also allow me to observe your techniques more closely, making it a win-win situation."

"Haha... you must be joking, Valley Master. I may have become somewhat rusty and less potent with age, but I remain a cultivator of the Essence Gathering Realm. After you administered that pill, I feel as vigorous as in my prime. I fear harming such a delicate young la-..." Steel Hand chuckled lightly, genuinely believing they were jesting, as Hua Ziyan's petite figure gracefully leaped onto the training field.

However, his words abruptly ceased as Hua Ziyan began by politely offering a fist and hand salute to him. This smoothly transitioned into a hand seal, after which she assumed a fighting stance. Thirty Spiritual Qi fists, each one comparable in size to a human head, materialized around her, appearing one by one.

Steel Hand's eyes widened in astonishment as he felt an immense pressure emanating from the delicate-looking lady. She had exhibited a seemingly mild, good-natured, and amicable demeanor throughout their entire interaction. He immediately realized she was by no means a harmless, fragile blossom.

His gaze grew serious as the currents of Profound Qi surrounding his arms intensified. He rendered a fist and hand salute to her, subsequently adopting a fighting stance as well.

In the very next moment, the two individuals surged towards each other. Hua Ziyan initiated with a rapid volley of strikes, her opening move, as always, meticulously calculated. Instead of deploying all her fists simultaneously, she released them in a manner that kept about half dispersed around her, ensuring her preparedness to react swiftly to threats and shifts in the combat dynamics, while also sustaining the torrent-like continuity of her assault.

Jin Shenzhi, in the interim, commenced by punching at the first incoming fist.

He successfully obliterated the Spiritual Qi fist but swiftly discovered that this was not the most effective strategy due to the Integral Avalanche Structure Art. Fragments and remnants of the shattered Spiritual Qi fist retained their momentum and lethal capacity.

Jin Shenzhi amplified his shockwave defense, deflecting the dispersed fragments outwards. He then adapted his approach for the second strike, generating a shockwave that propelled forward, pushing any debris from the Spiritual Qi fist back. Subsequently, he unleashed a rapid succession of punches, each carrying the same defensive effect.

This swift adjustment and countermeasure somewhat surprised Hua Ziyan, who had anticipated maintaining a slight advantage for the initial few exchanges owing to the rarity of her technique. Nevertheless, she still possessed the upper hand in terms of sheer numbers, as new Spiritual Qi fists formed around her, replenishing those that had been destroyed.

She was also utilizing a broader area to the sides, her fists tracing long arcs to target what appeared to be the exposed flanks of the close-combat fighter. However, the trailing shockwave defense proved more formidable than it initially seemed. The fists veered off course, striking the ground or impacting the area around the man, repelled by the torrents of Profound Qi that carried the backlash from his punches, as well as the jet propulsion generated by accelerating his punches with Profound Qi. This imparted approximately half the force of each incoming strike.

His compact physique initially appeared to be a disadvantage against such a large-scale offensive. Yet, it soon became evident that it was Hua Ziyan who was compelled to take a step back, and then rapidly retreat. Jin Shenzhi, with singular focus, pushed through the center of her attacks, almost disregarding the assaults originating from the sides, thereby rapidly depleting her Spiritual Qi fists in the central engagement zone.

Each of his blows carried increasing weight and intensity. His practiced form and extensive experience enabled him to accurately counter two or three of her attacks with just one of his own, as he enhanced the explosive power of every shockwave he generated.

Despite Hua Ziyan's precision in movement and superior volume of attacks, she was still less experienced in close-quarters fist combat and fell short in terms of pure tactical execution.

However, she quickly reorganized her defenses, halting his advance with a slightly more potent barrage while minimizing the ineffective assaults from the flanks. This allowed her to cease her retreat.

Jin Shenzhi instantly recognized that the flanking assaults were escalating in danger. He surmised that she wouldn't persist with ineffective tactics merely to harass him; it was far more probable that these were calculated maneuvers to subdue his vigilance and conceal a potent strike. Precisely as this thought formed, his acute instincts compelled him to narrowly dodge an incoming side-attack.

In this particular assault, two streams of Spiritual Qi coalesced into a single, more forceful fist, imbuing it with greater magnitude.

Observing that if landed, this strike would prove successful, Hua Ziyan merged ten other outer-layer fists into five, thereby preserving six enhanced fists on the flanks and eighteen concentrated towards the center. These six side fists also began to diminish in size, reverting to a more human scale, which increased their density and impact.

"I must confess, I was mistaken. My apologies for underestimating you," Jin Shenzhi stated with genuine sincerity, realizing this was proving to be a formidable challenge despite her being an entire Major Realm beneath him.

He calculated that she could easily overwhelm the Grand Elders of his Sect, who shared the same Cultivation Realm as her, perhaps even engaging two simultaneously.

Both combatants took a moment to recalibrate their strategies and resumed their engagement. This time, the exchange remained remarkably balanced. Jin Shenzhi found himself contending with the denser fists, which resisted shattering, yet he was still capable of exerting pressure on Hua Ziyan, as his body tempering techniques afforded him superior speed.

Furthermore, the increased density of the six side fists slightly diminished their velocity.

Jin Shenzhi's combat methodology was remarkably straightforward, eschewing intricate new techniques. His approach was characterized by clean, efficient boxing—a style that many cultivators favoring flamboyant maneuvers would likely deem uninspired.

It also swiftly became evident that he was an endurance-focused fighter, specializing in prolonging battles to wear down his opponents.

His expenditure of Spiritual Qi was remarkably minimal, as he channeled a significant portion of his power into physical stamina honed through dedicated body tempering.

Indeed, this was the primary objective of the Three Pillars Sect's body tempering discipline: to cultivate enduring stamina, speed, and resilience. Enhancing skin and muscle defenses, along with pure strength, were merely secondary benefits.

Conversely, his application of Spiritual Qi provided explosive power and disruptive shockwaves with economical use. He meticulously calibrated the precise amount needed for each specific strike.

However, in Hua Ziyan, he encountered an adversary who was, in essence, an endurance fighter herself. More accurately, she represented the pinnacle of endurance combat.

She possessed the capacity to sustain this elevated level of intensity and her considerably greater Spiritual Qi expenditure for extended durations, while her relentless barrage of attacks placed immense strain on her adversaries.

Moreover, she demonstrated rapid improvement directly amidst their clash. Jin Shenzhi began to observe her adapting to his fighting style and even integrating his fist techniques into her own repertoire. The complexity of her attack patterns started to evolve—a progression she was only beginning to internalize from Wu Long but which proved indispensable against an opponent like Jin Shenzhi, thereby becoming the catalyst for her accelerated development.

Yet, after a period, their battle entered a phase of complete stalemate. Hua Ziyan had reached a plateau where the current engagement offered diminishing returns for her advancement, while Jin Shenzhi maintained his ground due to his seasoned experience and the refined nature of his combat style, augmented by his sharp instincts. The confrontation devolved into a contest of sheer endurance, and Wu Long understood that Hua Ziyan would ultimately prevail in such a test.

Having witnessed all that he intended to observe, he concluded the battle, offering his commendations to both participants before providing his critique.

Jin Shenzhi was taken aback to discover that Wu Long had extensive feedback for both, meticulously detailing every single move that could have been improved. While it was apparent that Wu Long addressed Hua Ziyan with considerably more gentleness, she listened intently, her expression alight with excitement.

"Hmm, that covers it," Wu Long affirmed with a nod. He then shifted his focus to Jin Shenzhi, stating, "I have a fairly comprehensive understanding of your techniques now."

A nod of affirmation he gave, then proceeded to elaborate for the beauty's eager ears, "As I mentioned earlier, my descendants have been tasked with monitoring the Sect. The reason I refrained from enlisting their aid to follow you was not due to a lack of numbers, but because I myself am a part of this ancestral lineage. Our family's destiny has been intrinsically woven into the very fabric of this Sect's history for ages. At a certain juncture, one of my forefathers, who embarked on a journey from beyond this continent to explore the vast Great Wilderness, became affiliated with this Sect. It's quite ancient, you know, despite its current modest size... As you're aware, our bloodline possesses unique qualities, making it exceptionally well-suited for the cultivation of this particular fighting style, which was our ancestor’s initial motivation for joining. However, during his tutelage, he found himself captivated by the secret daughter of the Sect's Founder."

"How utterly romantic," Hua Ziyan murmured, leaning against Wu Long. He responded with a smile, his arm encircling her shoulder as he held her close, simultaneously offering Jin Shenzhi an approving glance.

Perceiving this signal, Jin Shenzhi became more forthright in his narration, "The existence of the Founder's daughter was deliberately concealed to circumvent political upheaval within the Sect, as his wish was for her to find personal happiness – he himself, once a mortal who ascended through cultivation, still held onto traditional values and cherished the notion of a conventional life. Naturally, this secrecy also served as a protective shield against external adversaries, particularly given the nascent state of the Sect and its ongoing struggle for recognition among other established powers. The predicament that arose when my ancestor became the lover, and subsequently the husband, of this hidden daughter, presented a significant challenge for the Founder. Should he adhere to tradition and pass leadership to his Prime Disciple, risking internal discord, or entrust it to his secret son-in-law, who would undoubtedly offer unwavering loyalty and safeguard the Sect's future? It was at this critical juncture that my ancestor proposed the establishment of a secret lineage, tasked with protecting the Sect and preserving the Founder's intended vision for millennia. This family adopted my ancestor's surname, Yi, integrating seamlessly into the Sect's structure. Periodically, a descendant would be positioned as Sect Master to guide the Sect through periods of turmoil. These chosen descendants would join the Sect from the 'outside,' adopting the surname of the Sect Founder, Jin."

"Such profound devotion..." Hua Ziyan sighed, a wistful expression gracing her features, which caused Wu Long's heart to swell with adoration. She then recalled that her curiosity had led her to interrupt Wu Long's conversation with Jin Shenzhi, derailing it into a historical discourse. With a hint of guilt, she looked up at Wu Long, who met her gaze with a smile and gently patted her head.

As she drew away from him, he reluctantly released her. Then, employing the technique Jin Shenzhi had demonstrated, Wu Long inquired, "As I stated, while this style is adept in both offensive and defensive capabilities, rendering it effective, it lacks a decisive strike to break a stalemate, seize an opportunity, or directly counter a formidable opponent's technique. Ziyan, how would you have resolved the deadlock at the conclusion?"

"Um, perhaps like this?" she responded, forming a one-handed seal with her left hand, then extending her right hand with an open palm towards the training grounds. "Great Wall Palm!"

Three human-sized palms, forged from Spiritual Qi, materialized before her, standing side-by-side like a formidable barrier. They launched forward with immense force, stirring up dust and impacting a distant reinforced wall with a resounding boom.

"Or perhaps like this," she added, altering the hand seal in her left hand. She raised her right hand, tilting it slightly forward with a spread palm facing downwards. "Sky Dome Palm!"

An immense projection of her palm appeared overhead, dwarfing the previous manifestations.

As she pressed her right hand downwards, the colossal palm descended, impacting the ground and shattering into slivers...