Chapter 512 - 512: An Enviable Cultivation Method

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?" Ying Ji asked curiously, noticing something was off with Zhao Yuan.

"Oh, it's nothing. I was just wondering, aren't Cultivators supposed to live in quiet, simple places? Why do you all seem to like living in villas?"

Zhao Yuan couldn't tell her the truth, or he would certainly raise suspicion. 'How do you know he has Dixiu and Ghost Grass at his house? Have you been secretly investigating him?' Such a thing was taboo, whether for Cultivators or ordinary people. As for his Tracking Technique, that was something he absolutely could not expose. So, he could only make up an excuse.

Hao Li protested, "Hey, don't lump us all in together. I don't live in a villa."

Ying Ji shot him a look and retorted irritably, "Your Lakefront House is built inside the Wetland Park. It's more impressive than any villa—it's practically a grand estate!"

She then explained, "We're not practicing Asceticism, so why should we torture ourselves and not live in a nice house if we can? Besides, many high-end villa districts are built in places with excellent feng shui. For instance, my villa in Rongcheng City is on a geomantic treasure trove. While it can't compare to a legendary Grotto Heaven Blessed Land, cultivating in a place like that can yield twice the results with half the effort. Plus, villa districts are much quieter than regular residential areas, so you don't have to worry about being disturbed during Cultivation."

"I see." Zhao Yuan nodded. He hadn't expected such a detailed answer to an offhand comment.

Wealth, technique, companionship, and location—the four great elements of cultivation. A proper residence and place for Cultivation were indeed incredibly important.

Thinking back to the apartment complex he was renting near his school, he suddenly felt he hadn't paid nearly enough attention to the 'location' element. 'Once I get back to Rongcheng City,' he thought, 'I'll have to look around and see if I can buy a place with good feng shui. With my current assets, buying a property in Rongcheng City shouldn't be too much of a problem.'

As they chatted and laughed, Ying Ji entered the address into the car's navigation system and started driving toward the Peninsula Villa Area, following the directions.

On the way, Zhao Yuan found an opportunity to ask, "What Cultivation School is this Cheng Haoyu from? Is he a Pill Master?"

Even Ying Ji had never heard of Dixiu and Ghost Grass. And despite the Ying Family's vast resources, they didn't possess these two Spirit Medicinal Materials. Yet, Cheng Haoyu did. It was no wonder Zhao Yuan suspected he might be a Pill Master.

He never expected that the moment the words left his mouth, both Ying Ji and Hao Li would burst out laughing.

"What are you laughing at?" Zhao Yuan asked, completely baffled.

Hao Li was laughing so hard his stomach hurt. Clutching his belly, he said, "Zhao Yuan, how could you possibly connect Cheng Haoyu with being a Pill Master? The two are worlds apart!"

Ying Ji smiled and corrected him, "Well, you can't exactly say that. In a way, Cheng Haoyu's Cultivation method does have some similarities to Alchemy and Medicine Making. But he refines an Inner Pill and cultivates his Essence, Qi, and Spirit."

Zhao Yuan only grew more confused. "So what exactly is his path?"

Hao Li stopped beating around the bush. He waggled his eyebrows suggestively and said, "Dual Cultivation! How about that? Surprised? Let me tell you, that guy is always surrounded by a flock of women. He's constantly taking them out to sea for parties, and he has the nerve to call it 'secluded Cultivation.' Tsk, tsk. How can such a shameless person exist in this world?"

Zhao Yuan glanced at him. "You sound pretty envious."

"Of course I am! Aren't you?" Hao Li sighed dramatically. "Sigh, why wasn't I born so lucky? I had to go and walk the path of Tripod Food, straying ever further down the road of a foodie and glutton! I spend my days surrounded by pots and pans, while he's surrounded by beautiful women... Aigh, we're both Cultivators, so why don't I get the same treatment? It's blatant discrimination between Cultivation Schools!"

Zhao Yuan knew Hao Li was just joking. If he really wanted to party and live it up, would he have any trouble finding women? Sure, he was fat, but not ugly-fat—more like adorably chubby. Besides, he was loaded.

Ying Ji said, "Actually, every time I see Cheng Haoyu, I can't help but wonder if his effeminate demeanor is a result of spending too much time in a nest of women."

Hao Li thought about it seriously for a moment and nodded. "I think that's very likely."

While the two of them gossiped about Cheng Haoyu, Zhao Yuan was looking up the Dual Cultivation school in his Information Leaf.

Dual Cultivation focused on refining the Inner Pill, treating the body's own Essence, Qi, and Spirit as medicinal ingredients to be cultivated.

In this respect, it was indeed somewhat similar to the Elixir School.

Dual Cultivation was divided into two major stages. The first stage, called Yin Yang Dual Cultivation, was exactly what most people imagined: achieving Yin Yang Harmony through sexual intercourse, either via Yang Replenishment by Yin or Absorbing Yang to Supplement Yin. The second stage was one of self-cultivation, focused on the principle of refining one's own essence and blood internally, finding a "wondrous union" within one's own body. Upon reaching this stage, one no longer needed a partner of the opposite sex and could cultivate alone.

From what Ying Ji and Hao Li had described, Cheng Haoyu was still in the first stage of Yin Yang Dual Cultivation. That's why he needed to be around women at all times—whenever he cultivated, he had to absorb their Primordial Yin.

There was also a reason for the large number of women around him.

If a Dual Cultivator were to only draw from a single woman, she would rapidly age or even die within days from the severe loss of her Primordial Qi. Only by drawing a moderate amount would it not harm the woman; in fact, it could even nourish her, strengthening her body and enhancing her beauty.

Now that he understood the Dao Cheng Haoyu cultivated, Zhao Yuan found himself puzzled again.

'If this guy isn't a Pill Master, why does he have Dixiu and Ghost Grass? Is there some way I can convince him to sell these two Spirit Medicinal Materials to me?'

Lost in his wild thoughts, he didn't notice they had arrived until Ying Ji pulled up to the entrance of the Peninsula Villa District.

After a security guard called Cheng Haoyu to confirm their identities, the barrier arm lifted. The guard then dispatched someone to lead the way in an electric sightseeing cart.

Upon reaching Villa 15, Ying Ji parked in the space out front, and the three of them—plus a cat—all got out.

The villa Cheng Haoyu lived in was much larger than Ying Ji's in Rongcheng City. The garden alone was over a thousand square meters; it was a true mansion.

Just as they got out of the car, the villa's courtyard gate opened. A beautiful woman in professional attire, possessing a refined air, walked out. She smiled and said, "You must be the Young Master's guests, correct? Please, follow me. The Young Master has been waiting for you."

"Well, damn. Even the guide is a 90-point beauty," Hao Li said, shaking his head with an envious look on his face.

Zhao Yuan chuckled, and Ying Ji smacked Hao Li on the forehead. "Stop being so embarrassing," she chided. "Let's go."

The three of them walked through the garden and entered the villa.

The moment he stepped inside, Zhao Yuan's eyes lit up.

He was astonished to see several potted plants in the villa's living room. Two of them were growing the very things he was looking for: Dixiu and Ghost Grass!