Dual cultivation makes you stronger, everyone else is a prodigy, and I'm the only one slacking

Yu Luoning successfully stayed in Li Yunyu's courtyard.

Unfortunately, her wanted posters are now plastered all over the Li family's territory.

The Li family's ancestral home is protected by a clan-protecting array, which is why Feng Qiguang and others cannot locate her using pursuit spells.

She had no other choice but to keep the tortoise in the Li residence.

The more this was the case, the less Yu Luoning dared to relax.

Now she only has two things to do: first, find an opportunity to win over Li Yunyu and replicate the new immortal technique.

Second, cultivate and master basic spiritual power so that you can use the teleportation technique to escape at any time.

In the past few days, she has finally figured out the rules of the Li family.

Maids who can stay and serve the young master are generally qualified to have their spiritual abilities tested.

Everyone possesses spiritual roots; there are ten roots in Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, and everyone can cultivate them, regardless of their quantity.

But what truly determines whether you can step into the threshold of spiritual cultivation is the spiritual aperture.

In short, spiritual roots determine the upper limit, spiritual apertures determine the entry level, and resources determine the speed.

Yu Luoning carried the tray through the corridor, her heart pounding with anxiety.

Just because Li Yunyu isn't handing her over now doesn't mean he won't in the future.

If Feng Qiguang captures her and takes her back, she will only face death.

Just then, four people, two men and two women, walked towards them from the front.

The head maid slightly raised her chin, her eyes scanning her from bottom to top.

She raised her hand, blocking his path:

"stop."

Yu Luoning: "Is there anything you need? I'm waiting to bring tea to the young master."

The maid snorted coldly:

"All those who serve by the young master's side are people with spiritual apertures and the ability to cultivate. Although you were brought back by the young master, if you don't have spiritual apertures, you should go to the outer courtyard to do odd jobs."

Yu Luoning raised an eyebrow: "Who said I don't have a spiritual aperture?"

"If you have a spiritual concierge, why hasn't he taken you to get tested yet? Why hasn't he even given you the most basic 'Qi-Inducing Technique'?"

Qi-guiding technique?

Yu Luoning's heart skipped a beat. Could it be the introductory cultivation method?

She had been planning to ask this anyway, and now that someone had come to her, it was a perfect opportunity to get some information out of them.

"What my sister says is true. But how exactly does the 'Qi-Inducing Technique' work?"

The maid laughed in exasperation: "You have no spiritual insight, so what if you know? You can't draw in the energy, you can't let it enter your body, you're still just a mortal."

Several people nearby echoed this sentiment, scoffing:

"There is a difference between immortals and mortals. What right do you, a mere mortal, have to occupy a position in the inner courtyard?"

"Mortals eat spirit rice and drink spirit tea, yet they can't cultivate. Isn't this just a waste of resources?"

Yu Luoning understood.

It turns out it wasn't that I looked down on her.

They were afraid she would steal their resources.

Yu Luoning suddenly smiled.

"I've only been in the manor for three days."

"I'm here. Did you receive less than your monthly salary?"

The group choked on their words, their voices unconsciously lowering: "...No, that's not true."

"If that's the case, then why are you in such a hurry?"

"You're worried there won't be as many in the future, right?"

She took a step forward, carrying the tray, and smiled:

"Don't worry, sisters and brothers, I'm not here to steal your jobs."

Was she there to sleep with Li Yunyu, or the kind who would sleep with him and then run away?

This world places great importance on family lineage. Every magical technique and skill is kept secret like a treasure, for fear that others might steal even a half of it.

It's just like how powerful families in my past life monopolized academies and forbade commoners from learning to read.

It's just that they're afraid the common people at the bottom are too smart and will take away their opportunities for upward mobility.

Just like the Feng family.

She merely copied the Feng family's secret technique, yet Feng Qiguang relentlessly pursued her for thousands of miles without yielding.

If she were to replicate Li Yunyu's family's secret techniques, the consequences would be unimaginable.

So she wasn't sure how long she could stay at the Li family's house.

Thinking of this, Yu Luoning suddenly smiled.

"How about this?"

She took a half-step forward, carrying the tray, and said, "If in the future you find your cultivation resources reduced because of my presence in the courtyard, then I'll take out my share and distribute it to everyone, how about that?"

The group of people froze, somewhat incredulous: "You really want to? Divide the rations?"

Yu Luoning nodded, "It's just some spirit rice and spirit stones, isn't it?"

"It would be so wrong to cause discord among my sisters over something so small, to fight and snatch it from each other."

The group immediately changed their attitude and became friendly and amiable towards Yu Luoning.

The reason these people came to cause trouble today was simply because they were afraid that the new maid would steal their dignity and job.

However, seeing that the newcomer was quite clever in his dealings with people, my displeasure dissipated considerably.

Yu Luoning remained silent.

point?

Let's split the ghost.

She hasn't even had her spiritual aperture tested yet, nor has she obtained the "Qi-Guiding Technique," and her so-called share of the eight characters is still nowhere in sight.

The important thing is to appease them and prevent them from causing trouble.

After speaking, Yu Luoning, carrying the tray, walked through the group and went straight into the house.

Whispers came from behind me.

"Does she even know what cultivating immortality means? Immortality, eternal youth!"

"I think she's all talk and no action. When it really comes down to breaking up, who would be willing to let her go?"

"Forget it, let's wait and see. If our share is really less than expected, then we can settle accounts with her later."

/

When Yu Luoning brought the tea into the room, she walked very quietly.

She put the teacup down, but didn't leave immediately. She stood there, hesitating for a long time.

Li Yunyu leaned against the edge of the tatami mat and looked at her: "Is something the matter?"

Yu Luoning nodded.

She flashed what she thought was her most beautiful smile, but unfortunately, her face was so plain that no matter what expression she made, it didn't reveal any brilliance.

"Young master, I have a small matter to ask you."

Li Yunyu hummed in agreement.

Yu Luoning said:

"After I entered the courtyard a few days ago, I found that most of the people serving in the young master's courtyard had their spiritual apertures tested and had also received the 'Qi-Inducing Technique'."

"I am the only one who doesn't have it."

She paused.

"Young master left me in the courtyard; outsiders were already watching."

"If I never test my spiritual aperture or learn the basic techniques... others will easily make wild guesses."

Li Yunyu raised his head slightly. "Are you very concerned about what other people think?"

Yu Luoning nodded, then quickly shook her head.

"I don't care about what others think of me, I care about what they say about you."

Even though Li Yunyu's eyes were covered with white silk, for some reason, Yu Luoning felt that those eyes could see through people's hearts.

Yu Luoning laughed: "Wouldn't it be terrible if people said that you, young master, broke the rules and undermined the fairness of the courtyard?"

Li Yunyu chuckled lightly and cut straight to the point: "You want to test your spiritual cultivation?"

Yu Luoning blinked: "Is it okay?"

Li Yunyu leaned casually against the cushion, propping his chin up with his hand, his eyes covered with a white silk scarf, his expression languid.

Yu Luoning then said:

"If you think I shouldn't have asked, then I'll pretend I didn't."

"I just want to make sure that since I'm staying here to work, I can become someone useful to you as soon as possible."

After saying that, she lowered her head, looking as if she was leaving it to the young master to decide.

After a short while, the person on the soft couch asked, "Is that all?"

Yu Luoning was taken aback, not understanding why Li Yunyu asked that question. She blinked, looking bewildered and innocent.

"Does my lord doubt my loyalty to you?"

Li Yunyu's lips curved slightly. "Didn't you plan to use the teleportation technique to escape once you've gained spiritual power by drawing in Qi into your body?"

Yu Luoning's mind jolted, and a chill ran down her spine.

How did he know?!

Perhaps it was her appearance that pleased Li Yunyu.

His smile grew even brighter. "That day I saw you in the forest, and you came through the air using magic. But you had no spiritual energy... The Feng family made such a big fuss to capture you, it's hard not to have something to think about."

"Little darling, you have many secrets."

Yu Luoning felt a chill run down her spine. "You're blind, how do you know so much?"

By the way, "Xiao Guai" is the new name Li Yunyu gave Yu Luoning.

She strongly suspected that the two words were sarcastic.

Dealing with smart people can be really tiring sometimes.

Only three words were on her mind.

Destroy it.

Li Yunyu chuckled softly, "I guessed right?"

Yu Luoning took a slow breath, forcibly suppressing her heartbeat.

The next second, she looked up, her expression wounded, and said:

"Young master, how could you doubt my intentions towards you?"

"Ever since the day you saved me, I... have fallen hopelessly in love with you."

Li Yunyu: "..."

Yu Luoning's story became more and more coherent and believable as she spoke:

"But I know I'm ugly, so I don't dare to even dream about it."

"But I've heard that cultivating qi can expel impurities from the body, leading to a slender figure and improved appearance..."

At this point, Yu Luoning's voice softened slightly.

She was genuinely a little wronged.

No one can resist becoming beautiful.

She continued, "I'm not trying to run away."

"I did it so that I could be worthy of you, young master."

Li Yunyu didn't speak, but his fingertips paused for a moment.

Hearing her say:

"I don't like Feng Qiguang at all."

"The reason I ate myself into a very fat person was to disgust him, so that he would want to vomit just looking at me."

"But after meeting you, young master, I feel a little inferior about myself in this state."

"Young master, have you ever heard this saying?"

"A woman adorns herself for the one she loves."

Yu Luoning clenched the hem of her clothes, her voice soft, and her cheeks flushed.

"I...I also want to look better."

"Please, young master... take a second look at me."

The room fell silent.

Li Yunyu raised his head.

Even though there was a white silk veil between them, Yu Luoning still felt that the gaze on her face seemed to see her clearly from the inside out.

After a while, he suddenly laughed.

"Your mouth... it really can save lives."

Hearing him say that, Yu Luoning did not relax; instead, she became more wary.

"Daddy, he wouldn't still want to kill her, would he?"