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

Shi Shangxu got angry.

During the rest of the journey, he did not speak a word to Yu Luoning. Even when Yu Luoning tried to talk to him, Shi Shangxu would only give a brief reply, touching on the point and then stopping.

The two walked side by side through the woods. Yu Luoning deliberately walked sideways, and her shoulder accidentally bumped into his arm.

Shi Shangxu dodged as if he had been electrocuted and continued walking forward without stopping.

Yu Luoning watched his retreating figure and stopped teasing him.

As evening fell, we set up camp and lit a campfire, its dim light warming the forest.

Yu Luoning unbuttoned her outer garment, revealing her slender back, and remained silent.

Shi Shangxu silently opened the ointment, sat down, and carefully applied it to her with a very gentle touch, without making a sound.

After applying the ointment, he whispered "All done," then closed the ointment and retreated to the other side of the campfire.

The two were separated by almost the greatest distance.

Yu Luoning stared at the flames for a while before finally speaking:

"Are you angry because of the quota?"

Shi Shangxu remained silent.

"I know these spots are precious, and countless people are vying for this one family member spot. I won't let you suffer a loss. How about this, how many spirit stones do you want? I'll find a way to get them for you."

Shi Shangxu suddenly looked up at her, and the suppressed spark in his eyes could no longer be hidden.

"What I care about has never been the number of spots, but rather, young lady, do you know what the words 'dual cultivation' truly mean?"

Yu Luoning felt a little intimidated by his question: "What? Isn't it enough for just two...two people to be happy?"

Shi Shangxu's voice trembled slightly: "Dual cultivation is the surrender of one's soul, the giving of one's life force to the other. To me, it is sacred and cannot be treated as a transaction."

"If you meet someone who truly cares for you in the future, don't say such things so easily, or they will be hurt. And these things shouldn't be used as bargaining chips."

"..."

The campfire crackled.

Yu Luoning remained silent.

She sat there, staring at the flames, thinking for a long time.

Was the order of the times wrong? No. He was simply stating what he truly believed.

Was she wrong? She didn't think so either.

They are just two different viewpoints; it's not a matter of who is right or wrong.

She can become stronger through dual cultivation, and the men in the illustrations are all of high quality. She's more than willing, okay?

But after hearing Shi Shangxu's answer, Yu Luoning's desire to sleep with him was no longer so urgent.

When an honest person gets serious, the consequences can be dire.

It's best not to provoke them; the future costs will be too high.

She fastened her clothes again, lay down on the cushion, and closed her eyes.

"Understood, Young Master Shi, I won't say anything carelessly again."

Shi Shangxu looked at her, remained silent for a while, and then closed his eyes to meditate again.

The campfire gradually died down, and the night breeze blew by, gently rustling the leaves in the forest.

Neither of them spoke again.

The next evening, the two walked out of the forest.

As we traveled westward, the number of our companions gradually increased; they were all outstanding talents from various regions.

They converged towards the Heavenly Book Mountain Range, where the Eastern Treasure Upper Sect was located deep within the range. The journey was long, and the towns along the way served as resting places for cultivators from all directions.

Upon entering a massive city at the foot of the Heavenly Book Mountain Range, the two stopped to rest.

Yu Luoning stood on the street watching the cultivators coming and going, listening to the voice of the encyclopedia from time to time, and her heart was filled with joy.

A walking copy library!

Ah, she was like a fish returning to the sea, surrounded by fresh and precious treasures.

Back in Phoenix City, only a little phoenix was qualified to light up the encyclopedia.

Therefore, to find a good partner, you need to be excellent yourself and also enter the right circle.

And she is now slowly walking in.

Yu Luoning wasn't in a hurry; she believed there was something even better to come.

Especially the sects, I wonder what kind of situation they will be in.

"Young Master Shi, I didn't expect to run into you here."

A voice came from ahead, and Yu Luoning looked up to see someone squeezing through the crowd to come over.

Her gaze fell on the speaker, and her eyes paused slightly.

This person was none other than Lu Feishuang.

Almost at the same moment, Yu Luoning turned her head to the side and quietly moved half a step behind Shi Shangxu.

She gently made a hand seal, and the Illusionary Breath Technique quietly activated, instantly changing her aura.

Two men followed behind Lu Feishuang. One was Mo Fei, and she didn't recognize the other, but judging from his clothes and demeanor, he should be from the Lu family.

If Luffy is there, is Lu Wanying also nearby?

Thinking of the ambush he was about to commit in the secret realm, a hint of killing intent flashed in Yu Luoning's eyes.

But don't rush, let's see how things go first.

Yu Luoning was also worried that her face would be recognized.

Now the purple marks on her face have completely faded, and her aura has changed entirely. She no longer has the wildness that Yu Xiaoguai had, but instead resembles a well-behaved young lady from a respectable family.

However, Yu Luoning was clearly worrying unnecessarily, because Lu Feishuang on the other side hadn't noticed her at all.

Their attention was all focused on Shi Shangxu.

This is the selection process for new disciples.

The newcomers were all powerful individuals, and to successfully pass the selection, one should naturally team up with a strong person. Shi Shangxu was the target that Lu Feishuang had her eye on, as he belonged to the Shi family, one of the major families in the Sichuan region.

Shi Shangxu was a child prodigy; he built his foundation through his own abilities.

Lu Feishuang stepped forward and said with a smile, "This time, the selection of new disciples for the Dongbao Upper Sect has attracted many powerful individuals from various regions. We both come from the Sichuan region, so it would be safer to join forces. What does Young Master Shi think?"

Shi Shangxu nodded slightly, "Since we both come from Sichuan, it would be best if we could help each other out."

He turned to the side, revealing Yu Luoning, and said calmly, "This is my...cousin. If she is fortunate enough to be selected for the inner sect, she will stay in the sect as a relative."

Several gazes fell upon them at the same time.

A hint of amazement flashed across everyone's eyes.

The purple marks on Yu Luoning's face have completely disappeared. After dual cultivation, her complexion is even better than before. Her skin is like solidified cream, and her eyebrows and eyes are bright. She stands there without making a sound, but naturally becomes the most eye-catching one in the crowd.

Lu Feishuang's eyes flickered slightly, and a knowing smile appeared on her lips.

cousin?

She'd heard that kind of talk countless times.

Candidates for inner sect are sought after by various forces, and it is perfectly normal for them to be bound to each other before they even rise to prominence.

Just like myself, after securing the candidate status, one marriage proposal after another was offered to me.

However, she rejected them all. She originally had her eye on Li Yunyu, but unfortunately, that love-struck fool ruined his future and caused her plans to fall through.

Relying on a man is ultimately not as good as relying on yourself.

Now that she has the resources, of course she wants to do it herself.