Chapter 174: Chapter 0174: Another Call with Gao Si_1
Zhang Bin’s heart ached inexplicably. He spoke softly, "I’ll work hard so you can have a long life, just like me."
If he were an ordinary cultivator, that would be absolutely impossible. After all, setting an ordinary person on the path of cultivation and having them achieve success was harder than climbing to the heavens. A cultivator’s path was a lonely one, destined to be filled with the trials of life, aging, sickness, and death. By the time a cultivator achieved great success, it was likely that none of their family would still be alive.
Take Master Tianlong, for example. He might look young, but he was actually 180 years old. His parents, his wife, even his children and grandchildren, had all passed away. Their graves were a testament to all he had lost.
However, Zhang Bin practiced the Qingmu Longevity Technique from Xuanwu Star. If he cultivated it to a profound level, such as reaching the Minor Tree Realm, he could concoct the miraculous Wisdom Pill. With the Wisdom Pill, even an ordinary person like Liu Ruolan could embark on the path of cultivation. After all, he himself had started as an ordinary person, and he hadn’t even been cultivating for a full year yet.
So, there was still a glimmer of hope.
Of course, Liu Ruolan didn’t take his words to heart. It was obvious how difficult that would be; his words were clearly meant to comfort her.
She said tenderly, "Honey, don’t worry. I’ve pulled myself together. I’ll work even harder to make money so you can become stronger faster. I’m perfectly content with just this one lifetime together."
Then she asked with anticipation, "Honey, you said you’d take care of the advertising for our Network Language School, didn’t you? How’s that coming along?"
Zhang Bin’s mind reeled. A single thought blared in his head in blood-red letters: Thirty billion.
He stammered, "Don’t worry, I’m working on it."
"Honey, don’t be afraid to spend the money." Perceiving what was on his mind, Liu Ruolan added with a hint of coquettishness, "I guarantee that once we place the ads, our Network Language School will make a lot of money, more than you can possibly believe."
She had clearly recovered completely from the setback. Full of fighting spirit, she had transformed back into a formidable businesswoman.
"Mhm, I know," Zhang Bin replied, though his heart was bleeding. Thirty billion... It seems I can’t keep it after all.
"Honey, just one more question," Liu Ruolan asked seriously, still a bit worried. "Is your Sect really powerful? Can it protect you? Can it deter all those hungry wolves?"
Zhang Bin thought of the Flying Sword in his Space Ring and the many Spiritual Medicines he had obtained from the Iron Sword Sect. His confidence surged, and he said proudly, "Honey, don’t you worry. My Sect is incredibly powerful and getting stronger all the time. It can handle any enemy."
"Okay, then I’m completely at ease."
A smile as radiant as a hundred blossoming flowers bloomed on Liu Ruolan’s face, so captivating that Zhang Bin was instantly lost in her beauty. He rolled over, pressing her down beneath him.
"Honey, I’m sorry..." Liu Ruolan apologized sheepishly. "My period started..."
"Time to get up for breakfast..." Xiao Fang pushed the door open and poked her head in, her voice teasing. When she saw Zhang Bin’s frustrated expression as he climbed off of Liu Ruolan, a playful look danced across her face. She had known all along that Liu Ruolan was on her period and that Zhang Bin was out of luck.
Zhang Bin and Liu Ruolan quickly got out of bed. After washing up, the family ate a warm breakfast together.
Seeing the two jade-like beauties getting along so harmoniously, their affection for one another so clear, Zhang Bin felt immensely satisfied. A brilliant smile spread across his face.
After breakfast, a re-energized Liu Ruolan went back to the company.
Xiao Fang, however, couldn’t get away. Zhang Bin pulled her into the room to make love. Only afterward, her body feeling like it might fall apart, did she muster her strength and head down the mountain for work. A shy blush covered her cheeks, and her beautiful eyes shone with an alluring, satisfied glow.
By now, it was almost ten o’clock. The employees working on the mountain saw her walking out of the villa, and their faces showed knowing amusement.
Zhang Bin, however, sat cross-legged on the bed, deep in thought.
Do I really have the ability to protect my wealth and my loved ones? Not necessarily. I might be able to protect myself, but protecting my family is much harder. I can’t be with them every moment of every day. If an expert went after Ruolan at her company right now, I couldn’t get there in time to save her. If a large group of enemies attacked my parents and Xiao Fang in Sanchahe Village, I might not be able to save everyone.
My personal strength is already quite formidable, enough to kill any expert below the Golden Core Realm, but only one at a time, Zhang Bin calculated. I need to get stronger, faster. At the same time, I must cultivate a powerful force loyal to me. It would be best to establish my own, true Sect—the Taiqing Sect. Only then will I be truly powerful and invincible, enough to deter any covetous villains.
But how can I cultivate a powerful and loyal force? Zhang Bin asked himself.
He mulled it over for a while before a spark of inspiration flashed through his mind. His face lit up with excitement, and he immediately called Gao Si.
Soon, the call connected, and Gao Si’s image appeared on the phone screen.
Gao Si looked more prosperous and even younger than before. He radiated a robust vitality.
"Gao Si, you look like you’ve changed a lot," Zhang Bin asked curiously. "Did your cultivation level increase?"
"My cultivation level is the same. I’ve only reached the Rushing Pulse Realm by opening a single meridian. Without any Spiritual Energy here, my cultivation has barely progressed," Gao Si said. "However, I recently underwent Genetic Enhancement, which extended my lifespan by a hundred years. I can live up to 250 now. That’s why I look so different."
"What? Genetic Enhancement can extend your lifespan?" Zhang Bin’s eyes nearly popped out of his head, his face a mask of disbelief.
"Genetic Enhancement has two development paths: one to enhance strength, and the other to extend life. The latter doesn’t have high requirements for spiritual power, so on Xuanwu Star, anyone with money gets Genetic Enhancement to extend their life. You can live up to 20,000 years, and it’s believed that with advancing technology, that number will only increase. But if you don’t have money, you can’t get the enhancement and can only live for about a century. Therefore, only the wealthy, the powerful, scientists, and those who have made significant contributions to the Empire are eligible for Genetic Enhancement and its gift of a long life."
"Damn, a lifespan of 20,000 years?" Zhang Bin was so shocked he leaped to his feet, overwhelmed with envy.
"Why are you envious of me? You have no idea how much I envy you! Do you know how lucky you are to live on a planet covered in grass and trees?" Gao Si said. "Once you achieve success with the Qingmu Longevity Technique, do you really think you’ll only live for a mere 20,000 years?"
"Alright, alright, I’m not envious," Zhang Bin finally calmed down. He asked expectantly, "Gao Si, back on your world, did you ever have any cultivation techniques for beasts?"