Dual Cultivation In Martial Peak

Chapter 74: You Are?

"Except for the Soul Warming Lotus and the Demon Eye of Annihilation, everything seems just as it should be."

Looking around, Su Mu observed how the once-empty void had now been filled with silky threads of soft light, reaching as far as the eye could see, illuminating the sea created by a seemingly endless stream of crystal clear water.

The Soul Warming Lotus was quietly suspended above the ocean, levitating mid-air as it constantly emitted a soft five-coloured radiance which shone over the entire sea.

Within the sea, many strange fishes started to appear, followed by birds which flew through the sky.

After only a few moments of his arrival, the empty void had transformed into a world brimming with life.

Naturally, this was Su Mu's Knowledge Sea.

Su Mu's soul avatar quietly stood mid-air, and as thesea breeze blew past him, a pure and natural feeling washed over his consciousness.

"Let's see…"

Su Mu waved his hand, causing the floating Soul Warming Lotus to slowly descend towards the sea before transforming into an island, resting at the centre of his Knowledge Sea.

Above the island was the Demon Eye of Annihilation that he had inherited from the Demon Mystic Tome, but for now, the thing that piqued his interest was the Soul Warming Lotus.

Everything within his knowledge sea was created by his Divine Soul Strength, allowing him to manipulate this place at will.

Su Mu moved closer to the Soul-Warming Lotus, examining it with an intrigued expression. However, regardless of what he did, his cultivation base was far too low to gain any inside regarding the Heavenly Treasure.

"But since I have the Soul Warming Lotus, cultivating a Divine Soul Secret Art is more or less pointless."

That was unless he could create a Divine Soul Secret Art by observing the Soul Warming Lotus to enhance the effects even further, but something like that would take several centuries if not millenniums.

And since that was the case, Su Mu turned towards the sea beneath his feet.

Contained within his Knowledge Sea were all of his life experiences and memories. Everything he had encountered and learned throughout his life was here, including his secret arts, martial skills, and even his pain and suffering.

Looking through the water, Su Mu saw some past events as if watching a replay, with the entire scene presenting itself in front of his eyes as if he was experiencing it once again.

He saw his life before he became a cultivator, followed by the death of his family and the day he held a sword for the first time.

He saw the scene where he got abducted by a female Dual Cultivator who took him to the Outer Universe, which was also the most fortunate encounter he had in his previous life.

The memories of his first encounter with the Dragon Emperor played next, followed by his introduction to the Phoenix Empress.

"Man, that incident was something…"

A small smile appeared on his face when he saw the scene of the Phoenix Empress chasing after him through the Outer Universe after he had unknowingly seduced her mother when he was at the Ancestral Land.

The fact that he had no idea how she was her mother made it more entertaining.

What followed next was the toast he and the Dragon Emperor shared before declaring each other as sworn brothers.

His previous self no longer existed in this world, and the only proof he had of his existence were these memories, something that he could never let another being witness.

A cultivator's Knowledge Sea contained all their secrets, so no one would allow another to intrude into the Knowledge Sea unless there was no other choice.

Doing so was tantamount to presenting oneself naked in front of another.

"For now, cultivating a Secret Technique to hide my memories in case someone invades my Knowledge Sea would be the best."

It was impossible to completely block those stronger than him from invading his Knowledge Sea, at least for his current self, but he could hide his memories from them.

If measured solely based on value, his memories would rank even above the Soul Warming Lotus, which made protecting them the most important thing.

From what the coachman had previously said, the carriage would arrive at the Medicine King's Valley in two days, so until then, Su Mu decided to cultivate a soul-based Secret Technique to hide his memories from anyone other than him.

---

"Little Brother, we've arrived at the Medicine King's Valley!"

After hearing the coachman's loud shout, Su Mu slowly opened his eyes.

"I'd say that the Medicine King's Valley is about forty kilometres ahead." Su Mu opened the curtain ahead of him, looking around the empty place surrounding them.

The coachman smiled at his words.

"Little Brother might not know, but the area around the Medicine King's Valley is dangerous for most, so normal people dare not approach too close. Whenever someone wants to travel to Medicine King's Valley, I can only bring them to this point. If I go any further, it would mean certain death for me."

The coachman wasn't lying.

Even without using his Divine Sense, Su Mu could see the numerous ongoing battles on the way to the Medicine King's Valley.

"I see." Su Mu had already completed the Secret Technique to protect his memories in case someone invaded his Knowledge Sea, so going alone would only make things faster, and he got out of the carriage. "But why are so many people fighting outside the Medicine King's Valley?"

"If they were to fight within the Medicine King's Valley, regardless of who the criminal was, both sides would get slaughtered mercilessly. That's why people would settle their grudges on the outside rather than inside."

Su Mu nodded at the coachman's explanation before handing over two silver coins to him.

"Little Brother, you must be vigilant until you step inside the Medicine King's Valley."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Su Mu activated the Seven Divine Steps and disappeared from the coachman's vision, moving towards the Medicine King's Valley.

"So this is the place where Alchemists from this world gather, huh?"

When he finally entered the town, a variety of medicinal smells wafted about, which caused him to feel a little relaxed and refreshed.

Places related to alchemy tend to create a more calm and relaxing atmosphere than other places, so a feeling like that was nothing unusual.

Su Mu casually strolled around the town, noticing that in addition to the inns and restaurants, every other shop was related to herbs or pills. However, rather than belonging to the Medicine King's Valley, they were managed by various forces throughout the Great Han Dynasty.

There were also many Alchemists doing business, offering to help cultivators refine pills.

Alchemists were graded based on the pills they could refine, starting from Common Grade, Earth Grade, Heaven Grade, and Mysterious Grade, with each grade being further divided into Low, Mid, and High ranks.

Most of the Alchemists on the streets were around Earth Grade.

Heaven Grade Alchemists were a very rare sight, and as for the infamous Mysterious Grade Alchemists, they were none to be seen.

Only the Elders of Medicine King's Valley were Mysterious Grade Alchemists, and they would rarely appear in the public eye.

It was a bit underwhelming for Su Mu since Meng Wuya, a 3rd Order Saint, talked so highly of the Medicine King's Valley.

But that didn't matter much.

After all, his main purpose for visiting this place was completely different.

'Now, let's inquire about the whereabouts of the Myriad Drug Pond before looking for a place to stay.'

"It's you!"

Out of nowhere, Su Mu heard a loud exclamation behind him, and he turned around, only to find an unrecognisable individual looking at him with wide eyes.

From his attire and cultivation base, which was at the 2nd Stage True Element Realm, it was easy to tell that the brown-haired young man belonged to some great force, despite his obese and unhealthy physique.

Although the young man seemed fine physically, Su Mu could tell that he was in great pain by looking into his eyes.

'It seems like someone has injured his Divine Soul intending to give him a slow, painful death. And whoever did this knew that no one would be able to heal him, at least not with normal methods, much less recognise the cause of his pain and suffering.'

Whoever did this was a truly vicious individual.

"You are?"

The young man flinched under Su Mu's gaze, and with trembling hands, he cupped his fists before bowing.

"Y-Young Master Su! This one is Dong Qing Han from the Dong Family. We met a few months ago at the High Heaven Pavilion where I was lucky enough to exchange pointers with Young Master Su. I tried contacting the High Heaven Pavilion on several occasions, but Young Master Su hadn't appeared there in a long time."

Su Mu had always been bad at remembering unremarkable individuals.

From how it looked, Dong Qing Han was aware that his abnormal state of mind had something to do with Su Mu, which would explain his timidity.

After thinking about it for a second, a smile appeared on Su Mu's face.

"Your mind must be in great pain for you to contact the High Heaven Pavilion on multiple occasions, Brother Dong."

Dong Qing Han's body trembled at Su Mu's words, confirming his suspicion that the latter was to blame for the pain he had been suffering for the past few months.

No matter who he asked, from the Immortal Ascension Realm Cultivators of the Dong Family to the Alchemists of the Medicine King's Valley, everyone told him that there was nothing wrong with his body, but Su Mu's words confirmed that the pain he had been feeling wasn't his imagination.

"Y-Young Master Su! Is there any cure for my condition?"

"There is." Hearing Su Mu's words, Dong Qing Han brightened up instantly, but without paying any mind to that, the former continued with a smile. "But I can't help you with that since I have to find lodgings."

"The Dong Family will be more than happy to accommodate Young Master Su! If there's anything you need, please feel free to ask me."

Although it wasn't difficult for Su Mu to go around and collect information about the Myriad Drug Pond, it was still better to as Dong Qing Han about it since it was easier.

"How convenient."

***

***

A/N:

A small chapter (1800 words).