Dual Cultivation God Returns Chapter 1064: It’s too early for that

A crimson wasteland stretched out, beneath skies the color of blood where a sun perpetually dipped below the horizon.

Repeated detonations echoed across a section of this desolate landscape, a place already scarred by countless previous explosions, leaving behind scorched earth and devastated terrain.

"I still don’t grasp the purpose behind all this," Fen Baihu murmured, her small fox head shaking as she perched on Wu Long’s shoulder. "You keep initiating these water, wind, and lightning explosions. While it’s fascinating how water can achieve such violent detonations, after performing this feat nearly a million times... and you yourself mentioned they aren't particularly effective for combat after ascending to the Boundless Profound World."

Her voice carried an air of encouragement, yet having witnessed him refine the same process through subtle variations countless times, the initial novelty of this peculiar phenomenon had somewhat faded.

"Heh, to be entirely candid, I'm not entirely certain what I'm searching for either," Wu Long chuckled, commencing the creation of another series of water vortexes, drawn from oceans or seas. He contained these within spheres of compressed wind for isolation, then channeled lightning through them.

He had become adept at producing these 'lightning water' bombs, meticulously refining the process involving wind and experimenting with the electrical charges.

The moment he discovered it wasn't truly the water exploding, but rather a special, invisible gas he had previously mistaken for common air – a gas generated when lightning interacted with water rich in salts and minerals – the process became stable and repeatable for him.

He even attempted to extract this gas from ordinary air, but inexplicably, the explosive force diminished with each attempt. When he finally succeeded in creating a pure concentration of the gas, it failed to explode entirely. This led him to deduce that the explosion occurred only when this gas encountered normal air at the precise moment of ignition. Furthermore, he surmised that a specific balance of gas concentration and ambient air was necessary to achieve more potent explosions, a hypothesis he pursued through experiments on their mixing for maximum effect.

Wu Long continued his explanation, addressing Fen Baihu intermittently while seemingly organizing his own thoughts. "It’s true these are quite impractical for combat, as explosive paper talismans offer comparable results and are more versatile than these water-gas bombs. I mean, certainly, much like Steel Hand’s techniques, there's a method to contain, compress, and then channel that energy more effectively into a single point..."

Several spheres he began constructing were now prepared for detonation. He initiated an effect similar to manipulating shockwaves using Jin Shenzhi’s fist techniques, aiming to direct the explosive power into various forms and focus it more precisely.

"...but that’s not the reason I persist with these experiments. I am conducting research," he added. "Primarily, however, I simply cannot forget the sensation from that initial incident..."

He recalled the sharp sense of danger when he accidentally caused water to 'explode' for the very first time. It felt as though some reaction had occurred, as if he had nearly unleashed something devastatingly powerful.

Yet, despite his every effort to recreate that anomalous event, the feeling eluded him. Nevertheless, it felt as though he had stumbled upon something significant back then, compelling him to continue his experiments in an attempt to recapture it.

He chose to conduct these trials within his personal Mystic Realm, as he was uncertain about the true extent of the danger in his pursuit.

Moreover, within this realm – with Fen Baihu’s assistance for the time being, but increasingly on his own as he grew accustomed to the abilities of a Celestial Fox – he could instantaneously retreat to a secure distance or even withdraw into a secluded, intermediary space. From there, he could observe the outcomes, thereby ensuring his own safety.

"Ah, you did mention there was something special about it~" she acknowledged with a nod, not entirely grasping his meaning as she hadn't perceived anything unusual at the time. Consequently, she couldn't even hazard a guess as to whether it justified such extensive experimentation. She could only assume its importance, given Wu Long’s intense focus on it.

There were periods when he appeared somewhat disheartened by the lack of desired results. This was discernible from the drastic reduction in his experimentation time; he would simply trigger a few explosions and proceed with his day.

However, at other times, he would discover fresh inspiration, leading him to engage in more extensive experiments than usual, much like the current situation where he dedicated slightly more time to it each morning.

Fresh detonations rocked the crimson plain, yet they were reflected in Wu Long’s eyes, which were filled with a sense of disappointment. "Alright, one more attempt, and that concludes today’s experiments."

He began conjuring additional spheres, and as he formed the water gas, he experimented with various detonation methods, intently observing every minute detail. Suddenly, his vision flickered, and a faint, fragmented 'memory,' peculiar in its content and structure, flooded his mind. Fen Baihu watched in astonishment as Wu Long slipped into a light, trance-like state.

Unlike previous instances, no mysterious phenomena occurred, nor did it exude a sense of enlightenment, though it felt close.

The trance lasted only a few minutes before his eyes cleared, regaining their focus. Initially, shock and confusion filled them, followed by inspiration, excitement, and burgeoning ambition. Finally, a whirlwind of thought overtook him, causing him to halt his experiments.

Aware that he shouldn't be disturbed, Fen Baihu remained silent and still, awaiting his emergence from his reverie.

"I understand now..." Wu Long finally broke the silence after nearly an hour, his eyes alight with the clarity of a solved mystery. "So that's what it was... no wonder..."

He then turned to Fen Baihu, his eyes blazing with excitement. "I believe I can replicate it now. It may take time and further attempts, but I have a lead."

"Did you receive some kind of vision?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"It was a small fragment of what Yuanfen bestowed upon me – that 'memory' of the World," Wu Long confirmed with a nod. "Here, you can glimpse it through my own recollection."

As the little fox closed her eyes, a portion of her consciousness focused on perceiving what he intended to show her.

Her vision blurred momentarily, giving way to a cold, desolate darkness dotted with distant lights. She recognized the familiar sensation of the Great Void that lies between Worlds.

However, the experience felt odd and disorienting, not as if she were present, but as if she perceived everything from the perspective of all that existed, without a distinct observer. Wu Long had somehow re-envisioned the experience into a visual perception for her, reconstructing the viewpoint of a living being 'present' to witness the event, instead of the formless, sensory mass he had received as a 'memory' – an experience incredibly difficult to comprehend or interpret.

Then, everything dissolved into a blur as she appeared to move forward in a certain direction. A tiny point of light in the distance rapidly expanded until she found herself standing before a crimson sun, witnessing its vibrant pulsations, radiating immense energy, and exploding countless times.

The vision ceased abruptly, and she opened her eyes in bewilderment. "A... a sun?"

It was undeniably a captivating vision, remarkably vivid and lifelike, yet she couldn't grasp its potential usefulness.

And she wasn't alone in this; most individuals would perceive nothing more than a profound sense of awe at the grand spectacle. Perhaps the only person who could discern deeper meaning within it, beyond the magnificent scene, was Wu Long.

Initially, he too had seen only a vision of a sun.

But as he commenced analysis, concentrating on the vision's intricate details, he began to realize the profound knowledge it contained, provided it was examined from the correct vantage point and with the appropriate mindset.

His mind stirred as the realization dawned upon him: he had acquired a true treasure. For the entire hour he had spent in contemplation, Wu Long had dedicated all his mental power to this singular task.

"It's that explosion, Baihu... the very phenomenon I've been searching for occurs innumerable times on the surface of every sun, every star in the cosmos, every second. That's why I recognized something," Wu Long chuckled.

"W-... Wait... you aren't attempting to create a sun, are you?" Fen Baihu stammered, swallowing hard.

"Hehe, of course not..." he replied, shaking his head. But he paused, causing her heart to leap, before adding, "...not at this stage... it's far too early for that. For now, I must at least succeed in generating a single one of those explosions."

"I... I truly don't know how to respond to that," she sighed, shaking her head. Once again, she realized, or perhaps reaffirmed, that she was infatuated with a madman for whom the words 'impossible' and 'unattainable' seemed to be mere nonsensical sounds.

Meanwhile, Wu Long was already re-evaluating his methodology, his eyes gleaming with renewed inspiration.

And within Fen Baihu's dream realm, through pathways leading to a hidden garden atop Wei Lan's peak, nestled within the branches of the tree that provided her sanctuary, Yuanfen smiled in her slumber.