Chương 55: The Immortal God, Cherry Blossoms of My Hometown

Deep within the Cang Mansion lies a standalone building that blends the elegance of a Chinese courtyard with the luxury of a Western-style mansion.

The air was filled with a faint aroma of coffee mixed with sandalwood.

In front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, Cang Hong stood side by side with a middle-aged man who had a refined demeanor but whose eyes could not hide a sharp glint, looking down at the meticulously manicured courtyard outside the window.

The winter sun shone on the two of them, yet they seemed to be kept out by some invisible aura.

On the leather sofa behind them, the first wife, Shen Peiyu, was holding hands with a lady in a cheongsam. The two were chatting happily, occasionally letting out low, intimate laughter, like sisters who hadn't seen each other for many years.

"Brother Wang!" Cang Hong took a sip of his tea, turned to look at the person beside him, and exclaimed, "I never expected that you also studied in Japan in your early years. We have the same educational experience and so many things in common. It's truly a pity we haven't met sooner."

Wang Wentao smiled slightly and said gently, "If it weren't for the private banquet hosted by Mr. Tanaka Takeo a few months ago, how would I have had the opportunity to get to know Brother Cang? I would also not have known that in this vast Eastern country, there is someone who shares such a compatible philosophy of governance with me."

At this point, Wang Wentao seemed to remember something, his expression darkened slightly, and he lowered his voice: "By the way, Brother Cang! I originally wanted to prepare a big gift for you this time, but I just received news that something has happened at the National Martial Hall, and it seems that we may not be able to get our hands on the Blood God Pearl."

He sighed, "What a pity. In this chaotic era, if such a treasure had fallen into our hands, it would surely have become a powerful tool to stabilize the world."

"It's alright."

Cang Hong seemed unsurprised by this, his expression remaining calm and composed, as if it were nothing more than a trivial matter.

He put down his teacup and gazed intently into the distance: "The Blood God Pearl, in the end, is nothing more than an acquired 'divine artifact.' As long as I can find the Blood Demon Dragon and take its eyes, I have my own means to reforge the Blood God Pearl."

Upon hearing this, Wang Wentao's pupils shrank slightly: "The Blood Demon Dragon... that is an ancient beast recorded in ancient books. It has been extremely rare since ancient times, and in this world, it is unheard of. It is probably harder to find than ascending to heaven."

"Difficult to find doesn't mean it doesn't exist." Cang Hong's lips curled into a confident smile, his voice calm and undisturbed.

"I've already gathered some clues about the Blood Demon Dragon's whereabouts. Slaying a dragon is indeed an earth-shattering feat, but for me, it's merely a hunt that I find slightly interesting. Once I've killed that beast and refined its eyes into two brand-new Blood God Pearls, I'll certainly give one to Brother Wang."

Upon hearing this, Wang Wentao exclaimed sincerely, "Slaying a dragon... such an earth-shattering event, only Brother Cang could describe it so lightly. Brother Cang's martial arts skills have indeed reached a state of perfection, transcending the mortal realm. Looking across the world, there are probably only a handful of people who can rival Brother Cang."

"Brother Wang, you flatter me. There are always people more capable than you, and there's always something beyond your understanding."

Cang Hong waved his hand, his gaze becoming deep and distant, as if piercing through the scenery before him and looking into some indescribable void.

"The world is vast, full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. In ancient times, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was abundant, precious medicines were everywhere, and martial arts flourished. Once one's cultivation reached the 'Dan Jin' stage, one could lock down the pores of the entire body, becoming immune to all poisons, free from illness and disaster, with blood and qi as vigorous as a furnace, and lifespan would be greatly extended."

He extended a hand, gave it a light squeeze, and his voice became deep and powerful: "It is not difficult for an ordinary master of internal energy to live to be over 150 years old. If one understands the way of health preservation, and can lock in one's own essence and maintain the vitality of the internal organs before the decline of qi and blood, and keep that sliver of life alive, then one's lifespan will be even longer, and living past 200 years is entirely possible."

At this point, Cang Hong's eyes became unfathomable: "If even the Dan Jin realm is like this, let alone the Gang Jin realm, the Land Immortal realm, and the legendary—Human Immortal and Martial Immortal."

"Although no one can truly achieve the same brilliance as the sun and moon, or the same lifespan as heaven and earth, even martial immortals have an end. But if they, like hibernating snakes and insects, tightly lock their vital energy within their bodies and reduce all consumption... then living for a thousand years, or even longer, is by no means a fantasy."

Cang Hong's voice was deep and magnetic as he looked up at the sky: "I believe that in those unknown, hidden corners of this world, there must be many immortal beings and martial immortals lurking. They are like giant beasts hiding in the abyss, silently watching the development of this world. They have restrained their qi and blood to the extreme, and in order to reduce the loss of their lifespan, they will never make a move easily."

"They might be the kind-faced, wealthy neighbor in the bustling city, the reclusive Taoist priest in the deep mountains, the fisherman fishing alone on the snowy river, or even a hermit on a celestial island. We have no way of knowing."

He turned to look at Wang Wentao, his gaze sharp: "But as a martial artist who has cultivated to my level, I can glimpse many secrets of the world from my own perspective. However, although they possess profound realms and great supernatural powers, their era has ultimately passed. Once they make a move, their vital energy will inevitably leak out. Every ultimate sublimation is an overdraft of their lifespan, and may even lead to death. No one dares to easily risk their life against those ancient beings."

"After listening to Brother Cang's profound insights today, I have truly broadened my horizons." Wang Wentao murmured after a long while, finally coming to his senses, "Could they be the legendary... immortal gods?"

"Gods?" Cang Hong scoffed, his eyes filled with disdain and ambition.

"They are nothing but kings of the old era, the fading glow of history! Brother Wang, remember this: the future world belongs to us!"

This last sentence carries an undeniable air of dominance.

"Yes, with Brother Cang's help, we will surely dominate this land in the future."

Deeply moved, Wang Wentao's eyes gleamed with ambition. He turned to look at the cherry blossom trees swaying in the cold wind outside the window and sighed, "Seeing those cherry blossom trees reminds me of what Madam said before: what a beautiful sight it would be if this vast land could be filled with cherry blossoms."

Just then, Shen Peiyu's clear laughter came from behind.

She smiled and gently tugged at Mrs. Chen's hand beside her, saying softly, "I think Mrs. Chen is just missing her hometown. In a few days, the cherry blossoms in our hometown will surely be in bloom. At that time, it will be a breathtakingly beautiful pink glow."

"Yes, I can't help but miss my days in Japan. It's... my second home!" Mrs. Chen said softly, a hint of longing in her eyes.

"Don't worry," Shen Peiyu patted her hand, saying meaningfully, "Sister, don't be anxious. The day of 'co-prosperity' will come sooner or later. When that time comes, we'll plant cherry blossoms all over this land, making this whole city a shower of cherry blossoms. Then, this place will also be our hometown!"

"Yes, I'm really looking forward to it!" Upon hearing this, Madam Chen's eyes lit up with hope.