Chapter 534: Acid Cultivators, Acid Relationships

For the most part, returning to Deadwaste had not been engaging for Zae Zin Nim. The only ones who really interested her were the elites, and there were internal sect politics getting in the way of that, so she had focused on her own advancement. Easy enough, since she had everything she needed and little to distract her.

Now, however, she had a second exception: acid cultivation.

The cultivator she had been years ago would have dismissed it entirely as a bastard offspring of pure cultivation, and her view of it had expanded even from the begrudging respect she had given it during the Krysali revolution. In fact, acid cultivation represented a sophisticated, if overly narrow, path to power.

Once she accepted that it involved more fleshly body development, similar to a chakra art or essence abilities, it fell into place. The highly advanced acid cultivators had bodies that were attuned to the acid, first being immune to it, then absorbing it into themselves. It wasn't so different from her own Blackblood Physique, which did have some limits via its focus but was ultimately a perfectly valid path for cultivation.

In her absence, the acid cultivators had developed a few more abilities. Notably, they were better at drawing on qi than before, which they could use to produce large amounts of acid. Gundle also demonstrated how they had developed a technique for an acid qi bolt, though he was bitter about not being able to use it himself.

As far as she could tell, the bolt was perfectly viable as a technique. Most of the other developments impressed her less. For example, she saw some acid cultivators who used the acid to form crystal-like structures, which was completely ignoring its potential for liquid movements, just copying the old crystalliers.

Gundle would be more inventive, when he was old enough. His mother was dutiful and reasonably talented, but she didn't have his genius... and there were other complications there.

When the officials came, their husband asked if they wanted to come along, but both Zae Zin Nim and Omilaena were happy to remain and explore acid cultivation further. Omilaena especially seemed to be making progress, keeping her goggles on at all times and eagerly diving into her analysis. Their acidic bodies definitely seemed to be the most developed portion of their art, which is why it was a shame that so few had strong Physiques.

No, let Kai take care of the politics. Zae Zin Nim had finally found something else to occupy her.

Eventually they had Yurwa engaged in a sort of cultivation, sitting with a sphere of acid circulating in front of her, stirred by her qi. It was similar to circulating qi, making this a sort of external dantian similar to crystal cultivation's gemstones. This one, however, would not be a limitation to growth because it could be reabsorbed.

That was the best method they had come up with so far, given their limitations. The most generic method would be to continually absorb more qi-charged acid, which seemed likely to run into the same problem of diminishing returns as crystal cultivation. If they treated it like a chakra ability, then it would require seeking out new sources of acid to absorb. This was a sort of middle ground, letting the user intensify their own acid before reabsorbing it.

This was unlikely to lead to a new breakthrough, but Zae Zin Nim thought that it would help a cultivator reach the full strength of a given tier, which would be a major step to turning acid cultivation into a proper discipline.

"Well, you're lost in thought." Omilaena came to sit on the bench beside her, intentionally thigh-to-thigh. "It's not often that we get to work together like this."

"It is interesting," Zae Zin Nim answered. "Unfortunately, we will soon have to wait for Yurwa, or I suppose others, to advance so that we can test the results."

"I think she's underestimated, honestly. If I can figure out a way to boost her Physique a little, she might shed the last of her illness and be a decent fighter. Honestly, there are plenty of miners out there who think they're big hotshots with less total strength."

Zae Zin Nim nodded approvingly. "I concur. We should also see if we might be able to arrange a relationship for her. She would do better with support."

Instantly she knew she had made a mistake, from the way Omilaena's eyebrows rose and she then gave a savage grin. "Oh really? We work with Yurwa for a few hours and you're already trying to hook her up with someone? Interested in helping her out with some dual cultivation tips?"

"You know that is not the case."

"Oh, but you are focused on her personally, whether you want to or not." Omilaena leaned in, resting her hand on Zae Zin Nim's thigh. As they were married, this was perfectly acceptable, but Zae Zin Nim still bristled at the teasing.

"I am simply concerned for-"

"Nonsense. You're thinking about the fact that she had a relationship with Kai, aren't you?"

"Do not be absurd," Zae Zin Nim snapped. "Kai was clear about that, and knows his duty as a husband, and Yurwa is not an unreasonable woman."

Omilaena smirked. "So you aren't going to be terrorizing her like you did with Nirka?"

"Nirka was selfish and annoying. Yurwa did nothing wrong. She would not be the first woman to be used, given a child, and then abandoned."

"Ah." Omilaena shifted against her, and even though this put them more in contact, her touch somehow became less sexual, more comforting. "So this isn't insecurity, you feel sympathy for her."

"I... suppose so." Zae Zin Nim sighed and leaned against her wife. "So many things have changed in Krysal, but she hasn't received the good fortune from the revolution. She deserves our help."

"I'm not going to argue with you there. I need to go to Irun and get a lot of things in motion, but we can't neglect Krysal... what do you think, are you planning to stay?"

In that moment, even though she hadn't been thinking about it, Zae Zin Nim realized that she did want to stay. All the jumping around teleporting was beginning to annoy her, especially since every new location brought new politics and new headaches. Krysal was familiar, and they had reasonable flying vehicles. Her standards for cultivation locations had risen vastly since her last visit to Deadwaste, but she was more likely to find an appropriate location here than in any of the other nations.

"So I guess you made up your mind?" Omilaena asked, reading her clearly.

"Yes, I will stay and prepare a groundwork for us here," Zae Zin Nim said. "We should discuss some of the details of the later work we have planned. Should we encourage them to develop an acidic Physique as a chakra-based ability, or more like qi's fleshly cultivation?"

"Oh, we can worry about that later. I'm much more concerned about you being here, all on your lonesome."

"I will be fine, and the two of you are only one teleportation portal away."

"Are you sure?" Omilaena's hand on her thigh went back from comforting to teasing, and though Zae Zin Nim squirmed in response, this time it wasn't unpleasant.

"Do your lusts never end?" she asked, not so crossly.

"Not when it comes to you." Omilaena kissed her on the cheek, but then finally pulled back, just leaving an arm wrapped around her waist. "You're actually right: we'll probably be jumping around the continent repeatedly, especially in these early phases. I have to focus on Irun, but I also need to check in with Juray, and to make a few other arrangements. So having you based in a consistent location will be easier on both of us."

"Very good, I will create and defend a home."

"Yes, yes, you're a master of the feminine arts." Omilaena snickered and pulled her a little closer.

This was also teasing, yet the old words no longer carried any venom. Zae Zin Nim smiled and breathed in the acid floating around her.

.

..

.

After being invited to meet with Krainuun, Kai hadn't been sure exactly where they would go. Their ship didn't remain in the parts of the city that had been wealthiest, instead turning toward a central location. Even from the air, he could see that people were moving about busily here, with far more porters and messengers than he'd seen elsewhere.

No, there had been plenty of movement elsewhere in Yulthens, he realized that the difference was that here it was all organized. The city might no longer be a center of trade in exactly the same way, but it administered even more of the nation than before, and it seemed Krainuun had scaled things up to match.

Near the center, there was a building that was a bit taller than average, but no fancier - if anything, it was plainer than the older buildings nearby, many of them legacies of old merchant families. One of them was the place where they first landed, so it was time to finally get his meeting with Krainuun.

Kai was looking forward to hearing from the old man, especially after getting so many different perspectives. He had a few connections in Goralia or Irun, but Krysal was the one place on the continent where he could speak directly with those in charge, and as a result he also had a responsibility to the nation.

When he walked in, he saw that there were only a few guards near the exterior of the plain building. A few officials looked at him and immediately moved on, everyone here too busy to fawn over him. At the center of the hive's activities there was a small desk, where an old man in rumpled robes was working steadily.

At least until Kai arrived, when Krainuun made a subtle gesture. Immediately the other officials moved away, leaving them isolated amid the work.

"Kai Clanless," Krainuun said mildly. "It's past time that we talk."