Cultivation Nerd-Chapter 322 - Extramarital Affairs

As my killing intent reached its peak, even the arrays around my home, which were meant to buff me in case of a fight, amplified it to downright unnatural levels. Soon, people across the sect would notice, despite the privacy arrays I’d set up.

I exhaled slowly, letting logic and reason return, dulling the hostile thoughts toward those I despised. The killing intent faded almost instantly.

Then I shut it down completely, making sure not a trace remained within me. I was not Song Song, and this shit was toxic. The thoughts needed to bring forth such killing intent were not normal, and it was easy to drown in them, since using Qi in the killing intent made those thoughts stick.

Wait... This could definitely be classified as a demonic technique.

“How did it feel?” I asked my disciples, smiling faintly.

Jiang Yeming was pale, though no longer frozen. She bent forward, breathing heavily with one hand braced on her knee. She looked confused.

“Even though I knew it was fake, my body filled my mind with fear, reacting without consent,” she admitted. Her voice was shaky, but the words came off as calm.

Tingfeng stood stiff, his face twisted into a pale scowl.

“Such overwhelming intent,” he muttered.

“This is still only a half-finished product. Even though I created the technique, Song Song is a far better user than I,” I said, watching Jiang Yeming’s expression. “Compared to her, my killing intent feels shallow. Hers presses down on you until you can barely breathe. Even I wouldn’t remain unaffected under her pressure. And her intent will only grow as her cultivation advances.”

At this point, Song Song could likely crush weaker minds with killing intent alone. However, I had yet to see her unleash it fully since she became a Core Formation Cultivator. Even when she fought Ye An. After all, the technique was useless against those with more or nearly equal strength and was only used to dominate those weaker.

The heavenly treasure her father gave her to break into Core Formation likely affected her too, strengthening that intent.

“Anyway, I’ll now explain how the technique works in detail. Please do not share it with anyone else, as it’s not yet ready for widespread use. It still carries drawbacks, and overuse would warp the user’s mind,” I warned, before breaking down the extremes of the technique and its workings.

Unless someone was like Song Song, forcing themselves to constantly think negative thoughts would twist their mentality. But for her, that was simply her natural state of mind and came as easily as snapping her fingers. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

We finished the lesson quickly; it wasn’t difficult to grasp. I dismissed my adorable disciples after the lesson and told them to return home and study on their own.

As they walked away, I eyed Jiang Yeming’s back. She walked straight, face unreadable, concealing her confusion.

I doubted that the future me would ever publish a technique like this since it was too dangerous for the public.

Despite Jiang Yeming’s origin, I didn’t hold it against her. I intended to keep her as my disciple as long as she wished. I’d already learned a lot by observing her. Things to do with better cultivation efficiency, subtle adjustments, and I knew she still had more to offer.

Fu Yating came to my side, slipping her arm through mine in a rare show of affection.

Excitement stirred in my chest, like I had just discovered something new to love.

Admittedly, this was beyond my current reach. But I couldn’t help but wonder how Jiang Yeming had achieved this. How had she regressed?

The best guess was an Immortal technique, one that sent the mind or memories back in time. Or a divination that awakened future memories, creating the illusion of regression.

I was almost sure it wasn’t her own doing. If it were, she’d have already conquered the world and trapped us in a loop.

Besides, the heavens would have smitten her a thousand times over. Records stated that even the time-traveling rabbit endured calamities of a terrifying scale. Any brush with time travel or future-reading drew heaven’s hammer.

The heavens worked tirelessly to keep the balance. I couldn't think of anything more balance-breaking than time travel.

For now, it was idle speculation. Perhaps Jiang Yeming was a random case or heaven's chosen one. Yet that, too, seemed unlikely. A regressor was the very definition of imbalance. Would the heavens use such methods and means?

I watched until she vanished behind the new buildings.

This was fascinating stuff. Since she was from the future, her cultivation knowledge should be light-years ahead of mine. I could learn so much!

“If I ever catch you cheating with your mediocre-looking student, I’ll try my best to destroy everything you’ve built. Even if it kills me,” Fu Yating said suddenly.

“What?” I turned to her, meeting her narrowed, suspicious eyes. Her harsh words instantly drew me out of my thoughts. “Really? Has jealousy blinded you? Can’t you read the situation?”

“Yes, jealousy has blinded me,” she admitted flatly. “But when your husband looks at another woman like that, what do you expect me to do?”

I couldn’t help but smile. I placed a hand atop Fu Yating's head, almost tempted to ruffle her hair just to tease... but perhaps not now.

“Don’t worry. Girls like Jiang Yeming aren’t my type,” I said. “She’s physically too young for me.”

People here married much earlier than in my old world. Cultivators often delayed it to focus on building their foundations. Still, even then, it didn’t change my perspective on the matter.

“Oh, really?" Fu Yating asked, steering the conversation back to us. "Then what do you like about me?”

“Your cooking…” I shrugged.

Fu Yating stared, waiting for more. When nothing came, she frowned.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

“That’s it?”

“Well, I do enjoy our arguments sometimes. And making up afterward is… kind of fun,” I admitted.

Fu Yating had been honest with me, and I saw no reason to lie. She was sharp enough to see through it anyway and would hate me more for trying to hide.

She brushed my hand from her head, turned, and slapped my shoulder.

“Asshole,” she muttered, walking away.

To most, it might look like she was still angry. But in reality, she had dropped the argument. She would never admit she was wrong for making baseless assumptions.

I was the opposite. I admitted when I was wrong, mostly because I didn’t care enough about her opinion of me, so long as she wasn’t trying to kill me.

I wasn’t sure which of us was less toxic in this scenario.

Our relationship wasn’t built on love, and maybe it never would be. But I found her tolerable, and she endured me. She stayed because she had no choice. I stayed because I felt guilty about how she’d ended up with me.

Relationships were complicated. I preferred studying something useful to wasting time on marital stuff.

As she left, my smile faded. Tomorrow was an elder meeting, and I planned to attend. Song Song had said it was just minor feuds between lower-ranking elders, nothing worth caring about. The meetings were always a waste of time.

…

The next day’s meeting came as expected. As always, it was held in some strange underground chamber. Secretive, though any Qi Gathering cultivator could sense the concentrated Qi of so many strong people assembled.

Zun Gon was absent, but several older-generation Core Formation cultivators maintained order in his place.

Toward the end, reports came in of monstrous beasts being culled. Song Song glanced at me, and soon Ye An, Song Song, the masked Song San, and I exchanged looks. Without a word, we agreed to meet after the gathering.

We walked together to an abandoned restaurant nearby, its doors shut since the war had gutted the sect’s population. Why eat here when the cafeteria served Core Formation beast meat?

Before anyone spoke, I cast a double-layered silencing array and a blurring array to hide our lips.

“I think we should have had this meeting in your library,” Song San said, meddling as always.

“I think we should get to the point. No reason to make the old timers nervous by lingering too long,” I replied.

Ye An’s eyes locked on mine, and she was the first to break the ice.

“I don’t want Zun Gon or anyone else advancing to Nascent Soul anytime soon. He’s already at peak Core Formation and could break through at any time,” she said.

I showed no reaction, though I knew her condition. Any cure would require vast amounts of Yang Qi, perhaps rare treasures like Yang Fruits. We both knew where the best place to get those was, and she would never succeed with a Nascent Soul cultivator guarding the sect’s stores.

“Hmm… interesting,” Song San said next. “I’m of the same opinion as Lady Ye An. If Zun Gon advanced, I fear he’d make an illogical choice as sect leader.”

Translation: he knew Zun Gon would never tolerate him. Not after he threatened to poison the entire sect. If Zun Gon broke through, the first thing he’d do would be to eliminate a cockroach like Song San.

As for Song Song, the murderous look in her eyes was answer enough. Zun Gon had become a thorn in her side. She wanted the leadership and couldn’t accept anyone else vying for it.

“Liu Feng, I want you to start planning how to kill Zun Gon,” she said flatly.

I didn’t agree. But decided not to voice my thoughts to Song Song with others around, so I just studied their faces carefully.

Song Song didn’t realize it yet, but Zun Gon wasn’t her biggest threat. He disliked her nature, yes, but he wouldn’t act against her unless she crossed him directly.

Her real dangers were her father and Ye An.

Zun Gon wasn’t an evil man. He’d kill Song San, of course, but who wouldn’t? Losing one of the world’s brightest minds was regrettable, but not worth a river of tears.

This wasn’t a game. It was survival. If Song San hadn’t been so dangerous, I might have tried to protect him. His knowledge of poisons was unmatched and borderline insane.

“Even if we kill him, Song Song, you’re nowhere near the top of the succession line,” I reminded her.

Perhaps it would be better if Zun Gon lived long enough to break into Nascent Soul, so we’d have a buffer against Ye An when she reached that realm too. I loved studying how her body worked, but I valued Song Song’s life more.

Another option to kill Ye An would be to intentionally sabotage the experiment. But I could never bring myself to do that.

I could plan it out in detail, yes. But to actually follow through, letting knowledge that never existed in this world slip through my fingers? The temptation might be too much.

Also, there were problems outside the sect to deal with.

“Explain,” Song Song insisted, staring at me.

“Let’s recount your real supporters. Not the ones who pretend loyalty but started keeping their distance the moment Zun Gon gained momentum,” I said, meeting her gaze. “Song San will support you, because ironically you’re his best option. If you die, he becomes the Song Clan heir and future leader. That gives him protection. But he will never dare step out of line for the rest of his life with Zun Gon watching.”

“That is true,” Song San admitted with a playful tone behind his mask.

“Ye An will agree, because I asked her,” I added.

“Yes,” Ye An nodded.

“Oho, what is this trust built on? Don't you feel jealous, my dear sister?” Song San teased, trying as always to stir the pot.

Song Song didn’t even acknowledge him. We’d risked our lives for each other too many times for something so childish to work.

“We can also count on the Liu Clan and my cousins. But they won’t contribute much. Realistically, they’ll reach Foundation Establishment in their late twenties or thirties,” I explained. “Every bit counts, but they won’t tip the balance.”

“I’m confident in swaying the Song Clan too,” I said, surprising Song San. “Or what remains of it after the calamity.”

Many in the clan still disapproved of Song Song for killing her cousin to save me. But I only needed to convince her father.

I dreaded that meeting, but he’d likely accept. It was convenient for him too.

Song Song understood and nodded.

“Cai Hu, my teacher, might accept as well. However, he is unlikely to get involved. He doesn’t care much for my opinions unless my life’s on the line,” I reminded her.

“What do you suggest?” Song Song asked.

“We avoid unnecessary bloodshed. Wait it out. Otherwise, the only blood spilled could be ours,” I said. “Also, being nice is free.”

“Being hateful is free too,” Song San shot back without missing a beat.

“So what does that mean?” Song Song asked, ignoring her eyesore of a brother.

“Nothing…” I murmured. “Anyway, Zun Gon’s supporters are few but real. Most of his backing comes from grifters who’ll switch to the winning side. But his true allies? They’re older and stronger. All of them at least five-star Core Formation. We can’t touch that.”

“Wow, you actually know their cultivation stages? Impressive. Even I had trouble finding that out,” Song San said. “Though here’s something you may not know. Zun Gon entered seclusion when spring began. He’s already trying to break through to Nascent Soul.”

Already? He might break through in a year or less. For him to do that so soon was not in our best interests.

“Who are your sources?” Ye An asked calmly.

She was already calculating, planning to strike while Zun Gon was in seclusion.

“Sorry, can’t reveal my sources,” Song San replied.

He likely heard it through his mother and uncle’s ties to the sect’s secret force, the ones assigned to guard the sect leader. They were probably tailing Zun Gon now. This meant they were compromised, regardless of whether they were close relatives to Song San or not.

If Song Song took leadership, we might have to get rid of them.