Chapter 793 - 796 Too Fond of Boasting

"What can I help you with? Are you here to consult me on some matter of knowledge? Please, feel free to ask." Song Shuiping, jumping to conclusions, assumed the Ancestor of Blood Refinement and Peony were like the many others who came seeking his wisdom.

"Ahem." Mrs. Song coughed, her expression one of utter embarrassment as she tried to signal for her husband to stop talking. You might not find this mortifying, but I certainly do! This man is the Ancestor of Blood Refinement. He deciphered the Art of Blood Refinement, something Blood Refiners haven’t managed for thousands of years. Isn’t his knowledge far more profound than yours? The way you’re speaking is so humiliating! Mrs. Song simply couldn’t bear to watch any longer.

But Song Shuiping, failing to understand his wife’s distress, immediately asked, "My dear, have you caught a cold? You should see a doctor."

Unable to tolerate the potential for further embarrassment, Mrs. Song quickly made the introduction. "My lord, allow me to introduce you. This is the president of the Blood Refiners Guild, the very creator of the Art of Blood Refinement."

"The Art of Blood Refinement? It’s been created?" Song Shuiping, who had been completely absorbed in cultivating his seeds, was hearing this for the first time. He was stunned for a moment, and as the reality of her words sank in, his face grew pale with utter shock. How difficult is the Art of Blood Refinement? Everyone knows it’s nearly impossible! And yet, someone actually figured it out? He was completely astounded. Recalling what he had just said, he was overcome with shame. I wish I could find a hole to crawl into and hide.

Mrs. Song continued, "It is said that even the Great General, Ling Tian, has become his disciple."

She was reminding her husband that this man was not to be trifled with. The Art of Blood Refinement had only just been created, and the Blood Refiners Guild had only just been established, with no branches yet. Nevertheless, its founder was already a formidable figure.

"This..." Song Shuiping was dumbstruck. Great General Ling Tian? Of course, he knew who that was. Song Shuiping and Ling Tian were from the same generation. In their youth, Ling Tian had single-handedly overshadowed all his peers.

"He is he, and I am I. Let’s get back to the matter at hand," the Ancestor of Blood Refinement said. To everyone else, Ling Tian is my backer. What a joke. In truth, I am Ling Tian’s backer. Besides, do I even need Ling Tian’s power? Not at all. As the Wutian Celestial Emperor, I established the Heavenless Immortal Domain. Although it has since been seized by the Undead Martial Sovereign and is now called the Endless Divine Realm, my former pets, friends, and disciples have all matured. Even the weakest of them, a little dog from back then, is now the Great Heavenly King of Dogs, an invincible master within the Heavenly King Realm.

"Indeed, the Ancestor of Blood Refinement is here on important business," Mrs. Song nodded. "That’s why, my lord, we must trouble you with this. Only you can make the decision."

"What is it?" Song Shuiping asked, taken aback.

"Well," Mrs. Song began, "the Ancestor of Blood Refinement wants to become the president of our Cultivators Guild branch. In other words... he wants you to relinquish your position to him."

The Ancestor of Blood Refinement, Peony, and even Mrs. Song all expected Song Shuiping to become furious. After all, he had managed the Cultivators Guild branch for many years; how could he not be angry if someone else tried to take it?

Unexpectedly, however, Song Shuiping’s eyes lit up with excitement. "Oh? Does this mean the Ancestor of Blood Refinement is also knowledgeable in the art of cultivation? That’s wonderful!"

Ever since his physical vitality had declined, leaving him unable to find pleasure with his wife, he had poured all his energy into his craft. He was currently studying a particular seed and had run into some trouble. If he could discuss it with other Cultivators, he might find a breakthrough. As for who led the guild? He no longer cared. For him, cultivating and researching seeds was his one true love.

"No, I have never learned the skills of a Cultivator. I don’t know the first thing about any of it." Seeing Song Shuiping’s fervent gaze, the Ancestor of Blood Refinement’s eyes twitched, and he quickly shook his head. That look reminded him of a man who hadn’t seen a woman in forty years, his eyes glowing with a predatory green light upon spotting his prey. It made the Ancestor of Blood Refinement feel an urgent need to clarify.

"You don’t know how?" Song Shuiping was stunned. If you don’t know, then what is there for us to discuss?

Beside him, Mrs. Song also wore a peculiar expression. The Ancestor of Blood Refinement wants our Cultivators Guild branch? I assumed he must be knowledgeable and possess some skill in cultivation to dare make such a request. But he doesn’t know anything about it? This is ridiculous. You don’t know anything about cultivation, yet you want to be the president of the Cultivators Guild branch? Is this some kind of joke?

"Although I don’t know how now, the world’s number one Cultivator of the future is destined to be me," the Ancestor of Blood Refinement—Wu Tian in his mask—stated his thoughts without reservation.

"You, the number one?" Song Shuiping was dumbfounded, feeling that this Ancestor of Blood Refinement was entirely unreliable. You don’t know a single thing about cultivation, yet you want to be the world’s greatest Cultivator? How? In your dreams? The title of ’Number One Cultivator in the World’ is the dream countless Cultivators strive for! I’ve studied the way of cultivation since I was a child, and I’m nowhere near that status. I don’t even dare to dream of it. Yet this man, who knows nothing, not only dreams of it but dares to say it out loud!

If it weren’t for the man’s identity as the Ancestor of Blood Refinement, Song Shuiping would have already lost his temper. Swallowing his anger, he said, "Ancestor of Blood Refinement, the Art of Blood Refinement is difficult, I’m sure. But our profession as Cultivators is not so simple, either. Becoming the world’s number one Cultivator is an arduous task. You shouldn’t make such bold claims, and please do not underestimate us." His tone was already laced with displeasure.

Wu Tian’s brow furrowed slightly. Are the Cultivators of this world truly that formidable? Even with the seeds of the ten major Spirit Roots, would it be impossible for me to succeed?

Truthfully, Wu Tian’s understanding of Cultivators was lacking. He needed to learn that a Cultivator’s strength was directly proportional to the quality of the seeds and animals they raised. If you could cultivate the world’s number one plant, you would be the world’s number one Cultivator. He felt it was necessary to learn more. Perhaps, as Song Shuiping said, becoming the world’s number one was far more difficult than he had imagined.

"Perhaps I don’t understand your profession. Do you have any books on cultivation?" the Ancestor of Blood Refinement inquired.

"I do." Seeing that he wanted to read up on the subject, Song Shuiping smiled. "That’s more like it. Once you understand us Cultivators, you’ll know what is and isn’t appropriate to say. You must not boast so recklessly."

Song Shuiping led the Ancestor of Blood Refinement into the forest, stopping before a massive tree with a trunk three meters in radius. Piled within a hollow of the tree were stacks of green-covered books.

"This is my study. It’s a room inside a room! Haha!" Song Shuiping said, gesturing to the books. "These are all about Cultivators. Once you read about the magnificent plants and animals they have brought into being, you will understand how formidable our profession is. You’ll see that becoming the number one Cultivator in the world is incredibly, incredibly difficult."

The books all contained introductions to historically famous Cultivators and the amazing lifeforms they had cultivated. The descriptions of the miraculous plants and fruit trees within were jaw-dropping. To Song Shuiping, the idea of cultivating plants, fruits, or animals more amazing than those seemed utterly impossible. He was certain that after reading these books, the Ancestor of Blood Refinement would realize just how ludicrous his claim of becoming the world’s greatest Cultivator truly was.