Dual Cultivation God Returns-Chapter 873: The mysteries of fate

"By the way, what is your Family’s main business, Young Master Helian?", Wu Long asked as they were already cruising through the skies above the Emerald Falls Continent.

It was just a part of the small talk they had while Wu Long’s ladies were adjusting to their accommodations on the ship, thus leaving him alone with the Young Master of the Helian Family.

"Ah... haha, it is a bit embarrassing to admit...", Helian Muyang made a wry smile, scratching the back of his head with his hand, "We are a rural noble family... and it is a very humble business..."

"I may be speaking with royals and nobles, but I am not someone who is one of them", Wu Long chuckled, seeing that reaction, as now it became apparent their family business was something that the nobles of the Urban and affluent areas of the Wei Dynasty would scoff at, "You don’t have to worry about judging you"

"Ah, well, haha... it’s Beasts of Burden... we breed and keep them, selling them to the shipping companies, as well as providing the care for them as a service", Helian Muyang spoke with a slightly embarrassed look.

However, not receving a response from Wu Long right away, a look saying ’Ah... I knew it’ appeared in his eyes, as he knew this would be a reaction of most.

He still was hoping for a different one, but could understand. It was a business which many considered to be among the bottom ladder of cultivation society.

He hesitantly raised his eyes to Wu Long’s face, only to see a strange look in his eyes. Not at all the reaction he now resigned himself to seeing.

Wu Long, from his side, was pondering on the mysteries of how fate worked, and then a smile appeared on his face.

"It appears we have a lot more to discuss with your family than I initially thought, Young Master Helian", he chuckled.

"Eh? Ah... do you wish to purchase some Beasts of Burden?"

"Hmm, it depends on how the talks go, and what the situation in your family is like", Wu Long spoke.

Helian Muyang raised his eyebrows, not sure what Wu Long meant, but was at least relieved that he seemed to behave as usual, not changing his attitude. He then noticed the 9th prince approaching, and making a light nod to Wu Long went to join his lover since he felt slightly awkward in the presence of a member of the Imperial Family.

"Haha, interesting company you keep", Wei Yuanjie spoke, sending off Helian Muyang with his eyes.

"I am indebted to that man, and thus am partial to his well-being", Wu Long shrugged, giving the prince a subtle indication that Helian Muyang was not someone to be mistreated.

"Indebted? Now that’s certainly not something I expected to hear", Wei Yuanjie got the signal, but shifted the attention to the part that caught his attention.

"Hahaha, it’s not like I cannot incur debts. I just usually have the means to repay them almost immediately", Wu Long chuckled.

"And in this case it will take time?"

"The debt is quite big", Wu Long spoke in a neutral tone.

"Whatever, you got me out of that City on an adventure, so my debt to you is far bigger", Wei Yuanjie spoke, leaning on the same hand rails that Wu Long was leaning on, only facing in the opposite direction, inward to the boat deck.

"It was part of our deal, not something Your Highness needs to consider a debt"

Wei Yuanjie looked at Wu Long in silence for a moment, and then added, "You have been calling me that the whole time, can’t you call me something else? Like by name?"

Wu Long turned a slightly disturbed expression to the 9th prince, "I am not into men"

"That’s not-...! Y-you just had to ruin the serious friendship moment I was trying to make, didn’t you?!"

Wu Long lightly laughed.

"Laugh, laugh away! Laugh all you want, you heartless jerk", Wei Yuanjie grumbled while crossing his arms on his chest.

"Ah, sorry. I’ll play the part. Kh-khm", Wu Long made a serious expression after clearing his throat, and in a serious tone of voice spoke while looking outward to the scenery with a distant gaze, "I guess it is time to call you Yuanjie"

"Ugh", Wei Yuanjie lowered his head, now understanding why Wu Long didn’t go along this route from the start, "S-stop, I’m getting goosebumps"

"This is a moment, where a true friendship is born", Wu Long continued in a deadpan serious tone.

"Stop! I get it! Please stop!", Wei Yuanjie couldn’t stop shuddering.

"What? I thought you were building up for this?", Wu Long chuckled, turning off the ’serious friendship moment’ tone.

"Haa~, you seriously have no respect for royals...", the 9th prince lowered his head with a defeated tone.

"I thought you were the one who didn’t want to be called ’Your Highness’?", Wu Long smiled, and then continued in a more neutral tone, "Relax, it’s always awkward to build friendships when you are just starting out. You’ll get the hang of it"

Wei Yuanjie sighed, nodding as he turned to look to the outside of the boat, the same direction Wu Long was facing, with a more relaxed look.

---

Old Yen, Guanting, and Kwon Qianhong, having successfully made enormous money off the supplies of raw materials for the luxury goods that skyrocketed in price after the gift to the Emperor, already went ahead to Wu Long’s destination again, to collect more information directly at the location.

There was one more goal that Wu Long was after on the continent where the Helian Family was, the Deep Gorge Continent, since there were two separate Symbol Arts academies there, which were the actual main powerhouses of the continent, around which all of the life of cultivators of that continent revolved.

The continent itself was divided by a large, deep gorge which went along its center, taking up almost the entire length of the continent.

What was curious, was that even though the gorge itself was the largest Spiritual Land on the continent, or rather, the continent’s only Spiritual Land, it was impossible to fly over as it sucked in all of the Flight Qi directly above it.

And though over the years, countless attempts were made to explore the bottom of the gorge, they all ultimately failed with those climbing down the steep cliffs never returning.

It was rumored that there were high-tier Profound Grade Demonic Beasts at the bottom of the gorge, which rang true since it was a powerful Spiritual Land. However, even those in Essence Ignition Realm who went down there never returned, so if there indeed were such beasts, they would have to be at least of the 3rd tier Profound Grade, and very possibly even higher.

The ship that Wu Long’s group boarded flew undisturbed wherever they went.

It was certain that if they stopped at any sky port on the way they would be greeted with incredible hospitality, as the influence of the Wei Dynasty was high even if compared to the neighboring Dynasties, which was why it was the place where the regional headquarters of the Martial Alliance were placed.

But the beauty of private transport was in having no need to make frequent stops to offload and take onboard passengers. And there were plenty of Spatial Rings full of Spiritual Stones onboard to last them for quite a while, so they flew straight past any city to the Deep Gorge Continent, with a much higher speed than the Beast of Burden.

This, of course, also broke down any plans of the Dual Cultivation Sects who stayed in Worlds which were in the vicinity of the Emerald Falls City to ambush Wu Long on his way out, as none of them could attack an Imperial vessel.

All of this also meant that Old Yen’s group had less time before their arrival, but then again they already did a lot of their research on the two Symbol Arts Academies while in the Emerald Falls City. Not to mention, this time they arrived with large funds in their pockets, able to start working efficiently from the get-go.

Thus, when Wu Long’s group arrived at the Deep Gorge Continent two weeks after departing from the city, Old Yen’s group which arrived a few days earlier, was ready with results.