Dual Cultivation God Returns Chapter 1065: Proving the Dao

Emerging from the shadowy mist, Wu Long found himself at the Silver Wing City branch of the Soaring Feather Trading Company. His mind raced with excitement and rapid calculations, even though his experiments for the day hadn't yet yielded the results he sought.

Fen Baihu, observing his seamless arrival facilitated by the Nightmare Fox powers, expressed her delight. "Your bloodline's adaptation has clearly improved significantly since your ascension," she remarked.

"After all, I did attain enlightenment during the breakthrough," Wu Long replied with a smile. "While my focus wasn't on the bloodline's abilities, I did gain some advantages in that regard as well."

"So, how is it? Do you feel the urge to play some pranks on humans to gauge their reactions yet?" she inquired with a grin. "Surely the bloodline's call is strong, no?"

"Hahaha, I suspect you're fabricating that to justify your own little diversions," he chuckled, shaking his head. "I feel no calling from the bloodline, not even remotely, let alone this one."

"Hmph, you're simply not attuned to the bloodline sufficiently yet~" She averted her small fox head with a proud demeanor, refusing to yield the point, which only made him laugh harder.

As usual, the first individuals Wu Long encountered were Butler Bang and Song Minfu. Both expressed surprise at his late arrival, especially since he had no scheduled activities in Emerald Falls City. They also detected a faint scent of fire and explosions lingering on his attire.

The reality was that his schedule would have been further delayed, had it not been for the timely arrival of one of his beloved companions for the day – right after breakfast in the Dream Realm.

This time, it was Cai Yin who appeared. After their customary greeting kiss, she added, "Sister Hong Ye and Fairy Hong Yue arrived for breakfast with slightly red eyes today, but I sensed a greater sense of peace and stability from both."

"That is wonderful to hear," Wu Long responded, visibly relieved that their discussion had gone smoothly. As a Soul Cultivator, Cai Yin would have detected any lingering issues, so her words served as a significant reassurance.

His reaction prompted a flicker of surprise on her face. "You knew?"

"I wasn't certain it would transpire today, but a serious conversation was inevitable for them sooner rather than later," Wu Long replied with a soft chuckle, nodding.

"Hmm~" she hummed, acknowledging his words. Yet, she sensed that Wu Long was not entirely uninvolved. She then pivoted the conversation, "In any case, Sister Zhiqiu asked me to inform you to visit her later today. She mentioned being close to a breakthrough in deciphering and analyzing the Formation."

"Zhiqiu was at breakfast?" Wu Long raised an eyebrow, then chuckled. "It seems her excitement for that Formation is so potent that she rose early enough to make it to breakfast."

"Hehehe," Cai Yin covered her mouth with her hand, giggling. "As if~ Sister Ziyan mentioned she had to practically drag her out of bed. Sister Zhiqiu had simply instructed Sister Ziyan to wake her up no matter what."

"Ah, I should have anticipated that," he joined in the laughter, empathizing with Hua Ziyan's predicament.

Among his consorts, Lian Zhiqiu was undeniably the heaviest sleeper. She wasn't alone in this regard, as Wu Mengqi and Luo Mingyu also belonged to this category, though admittedly not to the same extreme as Lian Zhiqiu.

Gong Cui was not far behind these two. Gong Liwei was consistently responsible for waking her and assisting the half-asleep beauty in dressing appropriately.

Yu Huan typically slept in as well, but for a different reason. She retired late, often engrossed in texts and jade slips concerning Alchemy, thus frequently skipping breakfast altogether, much like Lian Zhiqiu.

Then there was Wei Lan, who, in the mornings, lacked her usual kindness and gentleness. She would often wake up in a grumpy mood, her wavy, voluminous brown hair in a state of disarray, her sleepy eyes holding a vacant stare. This occurred despite her being among the first to retire for the night and adhering to a strict personal schedule, unless she was with Wu Long. Yet, inexplicably, she would force herself to wake early and revert to her usual appearance and demeanor within about forty minutes after retreating to a bathroom, before proceeding to prepare breakfast for everyone.

As they discussed these matters, they entered the meeting room, where Wu Long dedicated a considerable amount of time to reviewing the reports from Butler Bang and Song Minfu.

It was the day preceding the auction. Approximately a week prior, the anticipated attendee count seemed to have stabilized. However, a continuous influx of newcomers from outside the city had intensified throughout the week, culminating in an explosive surge in numbers during the final days leading up to the event.

It remained uncertain if these newcomers were rushing to the auction from distant locations, or if their interest was piqued only as the buzz surrounding the event intensified. Alternatively, it could be a consequence of the arena tournament announcement, having no direct correlation with the auction itself.

What was evident, however, was the increased activity for both the Thousand Eyes Palace and the Soaring Feather Trading Company, presenting Sowing Karma with numerous unforeseen opportunities.

While the tournament might have been a contributing factor, the primary objective was Wu Long's strategy to retain the restless crowd after the auction concluded, especially since many were anticipated to depart with nothing further to pursue.

Following his discussions with Butler Bang and Song Minfu, Wu Long found a moment to converse with Cai Yin about her upcoming infiltration into the Wei Dynasty's noble society, with her seated on his lap.

"Just keep in mind what I've advised: be cautious about revealing your Soul Cultivation," Wu Long cautioned her. "It could impede your ability to build trust if they are wary of you employing Soul Techniques."

"I understand. I had no intention of using Soul Techniques on the noble ladies in the first place – though the thought did cross my mind, high nobles and Imperial Royals invariably equip Soul Protection Spiritual Treasures," she confirmed with a nod.

"I mentioned refraining from revealing your identity as a Soul Cultivator, not from using Soul Techniques," Wu Long chuckled. "Employing them could certainly make your life in the capital considerably easier."

"But wouldn't their Spiritual Treasures immediately detect the use of Soul Power?" Cai Yin tilted her head, her eyes looking up at him.

"If that were the case, true Soul Cultivators like yourself, though exceptionally rare, wouldn't inspire such fear. And if individuals with your particular talents weren't so extraordinarily scarce, perhaps Soul Cultivators would have dominated the entirety of the Seven Boundless Worlds. At the very least, they would stand on par in prestige and status with Dao Cultivators," Wu Long mused, exaggerating slightly but not by much. He continued to gently stroke the back of her head and down her back, his hand moving through her long hair. "Perhaps if you hadn't already possessed Soul Power Manifestation, it would have been difficult for you to utilize your abilities in Emerald Falls City. However, your power now, having embarked on the path of true Soul Cultivation, far surpasses what most common Soul Protection Spiritual Treasures can counter. Those artifacts primarily guard against Soul Cultivators like your former teacher or the individual who erased my memory. Naturally, it requires skill and specialized techniques to wield such powers discreetly, making this an excellent training ground for you."

"But you only instructed me to focus on enhancing my Soul Power Manifestation until now, and that's been my sole concentration. I haven't yet acquired any techniques to employ it..."

"Because the foundation is paramount. You must continue to devote the majority of your training time and effort to Soul Power Manifestation if you aspire to become a formidable Soul Cultivator. Consider it akin to a cultivation base for Spiritual Cultivators or a body for Body Tempering Cultivators – it is the essence of your cultivation. Soul Techniques are comparable to battle skills for those two disciplines; they are necessary but only as effective as the underlying cultivation base and physique permit. By this point, I believe you've reached a satisfactory threshold to begin training in a few Soul Techniques, though that might necessitate some assistance from Mingyu."

"Hehe, then it won't be an issue. Sister Mingyu will assist me in Emerald Falls City from time to time anyway," Cai Yin giggled. "That Cyclic Burning Cauldron technique, while essential for female cultivators, is exceedingly difficult to master, so Sister Mingyu would have to lend her support – naturally, without revealing her Dao Intent, maintaining her persona as a Dao Cultivator."

"I see you've already devised a sound strategy even without specific Soul Techniques," Wu Long laughed lightly. "And it will indeed work favorably. With Mingyu's aid, you can not only rapidly learn to manipulate your Soul Power, but her influence as a talented Dao Cultivator will be substantial. Furthermore, being the sole conduit granting noble ladies access to such a Dao Cultivator will bestow upon you a unique standing."

"Mm, not only Sister Mingyu but Sister Cui will help as well. She mentioned she was anticipating it, as she could offer a performance to the noble ladies as a 'mysterious veiled musician'; she was quite enthusiastic about crafting an enigmatic persona," Cai Yin chuckled.

"Mm, that would be beneficial," Wu Long concurred. "It would also aid her Music Dao, as I had been contemplating ways for her to provide performances."

"With her Music Dao?", Cai Yin’s eyes widened slightly as she sat up straighter on his lap, disentangling herself from his embrace to gaze at him with curiosity.

"She is a Dao Practicing Cultivator, after all", Wu Long explained. "The most crucial aspect for Dao Practicing Cultivators, unlike regular Dao Cultivators, is the active practice of their Dao, not merely contemplating it. For Music Daoists like Cui’er, this means playing music. For a Wine Daoist like Zhao Biren, it’s brewing wine. For a Painting Daoist, such as the painter accompanying Duan Feng, it’s creating paintings. And for a Theft Daoist like Qian Ying, it’s the act of stealing."

"So, similar to Armament Cultivators? Like honing sword skills for Sword Cultivators, or mastering the spear for Spear Cultivators, and so on?", Cai Yin inquired, noting the parallels.

Wu Long nodded with a smile, gently brushing a stray lock of Cai Yin’s hair aside. "Indeed. However, there’s another dimension to Dao Practicing Cultivation that distinguishes it from Armament Cultivation, beyond the latter’s focus on weapon proficiency. Dao Practicing Cultivation is intrinsically tied to what is termed ’proving their Dao to the Heavens’ – in essence, tangible accomplishments in the world, a performative act. And like any performance, it necessitates an audience for appreciation. For someone practicing the Theft Dao, this might involve pilfering a notoriously difficult target against all odds while leaving an unmistakable signature. For a Wine Daoist, it’s sharing their brewed wine and having others savor its complexities. And for Music Dao..."

"...it means performing for an audience," Cai Yin finished his thought, her understanding dawning as she nodded thoughtfully. Her hands instinctively smoothed his robes, a habitual gesture. "But... does this imply their cultivation is influenced by external factors, like the Heavenly Daos? And... doesn’t Sister Gong Cui perform for us constantly?"

"While it may appear that ’proving their Dao to the Heavens’ involves seeking approval from some higher power, they are, in fact, proving it to themselves. This creates a sense of accomplishment that fuels their cultivation advancement", Wu Long chuckled. "This could be achieved through practice alone, by simply sensing the improvement in their skills and understanding of their Dao. This is why they can advance in cultivation even in strict seclusion. However, the act of practicing their Dao openly and showcasing those results to others provides concrete, undeniable proof, thereby greatly benefiting their cultivation."

He then addressed her second query with a wry smile. "And yes, performing for us does grant Cui’er a sense of accomplishment. Why do you think her cultivation progresses almost as rapidly as Mingyu’s? While talent plays a role, her cultivation, much like Mingyu’s, is also linked to internal mental factors rather than solely relying on Spiritual Qi or more material elements. But as with all achievements, forging a new one is far more significant than reaffirming a previously established success."

"Hmm~, I see~...", understanding flickered in Cai Yin’s eyes. "So, performing for the same audience isn’t entirely without merit, but inevitably, one begins to question if their achievements hold sway only before that specific audience. The heart then yearns for definitive confirmation of having truly reached a higher level."

"Precisely," Wu Long affirmed, drawing her back into his embrace. She closed her eyes, savoring the moment.