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

"Ningning?"

Yu Luoning rolled over and lay on the bed, crossed her legs, and smiled slightly: "It's me."

"What have you been busy with lately? I've tried to contact you several times, but you haven't responded."

The boy's voice sounded aggrieved, with a slight nasal tone at the end, making it sound like he was pouting.

Yu Luoning is absolutely smitten with this kitten-like boy.

Her heart softened, and she played with her hair, coaxing, "Don't be sad, don't be sad, it's my fault."

Meanwhile, far away in the Star-Picking Palace.

Xing Qi's previously tense shoulders slumped, and his ears burned bright red.

Yu Luoning: "I accompanied my cousin to the Dongbao Upper Sect to take the entrance disciple assessment. The journey was thrilling, and I didn't contact you because I didn't want you to worry."

"Dongbao Upper Sect? You're in danger?"

"It wasn't a big deal. In the end, it was a close call, and my cousin even got first place in the assessment."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the conch shell, then Xingqi's voice came through again, filled with genuine joy.

"That's great, Ningning. Are you getting used to it there? The spiritual energy at Dongbao Shangzong should be much denser than outside, which will be good for your cultivation."

"It's just a habit. I'm in the outer gate now, and it's a bit chaotic there. I ran into some trouble, but I've resolved it all."

"Trouble? What kind of trouble? How serious is it?"

Yu Luoning fiddled with the star pendant on the conch shell. "It's nothing serious. I sent that troublemaker to feed the fish. Don't worry about me. How are you? Did your brother give you any trouble?"

"My brother didn't make things difficult for me, he just wouldn't let me go out."

Yu Luoning comforted him, "Your brother did this to protect you."

The two chatted for a few more minutes, and Xingqi asked Yu Luoning if she was eating and sleeping well.

Yu Luoning agreed to everything, and then casually said, "Don't worry, my cousin is very good to me. He stayed in my room last night."

Suddenly, it became quiet over there.

The boy's voice suddenly turned serious, "The cousin you're talking about, is he the one who sounded a bit older than before?"

Yu Luoning suppressed a laugh.

"No, my cousin is the one who brought me into the sect. He was worried about me, so he stayed and slept in my room. He only went back to the inner sect in the morning."

Another long silence followed, even longer than before.

"Ningning, do you really like... your cousin?"

Xing Qi's voice gradually lowered, carrying a hint of something indescribable.

Yu Luoning swung her crossed leg. "It's alright."

"It's alright. Does it mean they like it... or don't? Is it as much as I like it? Or... more?"

Yu Luoning fell silent, wishing she could slap herself.

She understood Xingqi's feelings for her, but unfortunately, the boy was too naive and couldn't bring himself to do it.

Okay, actually she's a rich and beautiful woman from a prominent family with a powerful background that's not to be trifled with.

Do you think she's greedy? Of course she is!

Who wouldn't want to marry a beautiful, rich, and successful woman and reach the pinnacle of life?

This is not only the wish of the Bros, but also her wish.

But more than that, she was afraid of being hammered to death.

Xingqi's brother is terrifying!

My life is more important.

But Yu Luoning was reluctant to completely sever ties with Xing Qi.

This is a rare and top-tier network; it would be a great pity to lose it.

After several contacts through the Spirit Conch, nothing happened. Yu Luoning guessed that the other party tacitly allowed her to contact Xing Qi, and that was probably all.

Yu Luoning was also very self-aware, and only contacted him once in a long while.

There was a long silence on the other end, as they waited for Yu Luoning's answer.

What's our strategy when faced with difficult questions?

Either don't answer, or change the subject.

Yu Luoning smiled. "Alright, I'm going to cultivate now. Let's talk another day."

Xing Qi's voice tightened, "Ningning...why won't you answer me?"

Yu Luoning remained silent.

After a long silence, Xing Qi said in a heavy nasal voice, "I understand, Ningning, goodbye."

"Good girl, I'm hanging up now. Xing'er, take good care of yourself, sleep well, and cultivate diligently."

"Ningning too."

The halo faded, and the conch shell darkened again.

Yu Luoning put the conch shell away, stared at the ceiling, and stretched.

My little Xing'er is such a good girl! I miss you sometimes.

Meanwhile, in the Moon Purity Palace, Yue Qi put down the mother conch shell, his expression solemn, and remained silent for a while.

Meanwhile, in the distant Dongbao Shangzong, atop Zhexue Peak.

A handsome, otherworldly-looking man sat cross-legged, his long, jet-black hair flowing like a waterfall and disheveled in the wind.

Dressed in purple with a wide-open collar, revealing a section of her sculpted, snow-white neck, on which golden binding runes shimmered faintly, emitting an eerie glow.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes, silently looked at the sea of ​​snow, and said nothing.

A sensation traveled along the divine markings on his neck and exploded in his mind.

"Ningning?"

...This is the dividing line where I stay silent when faced with difficult questions...

Yu Luoning set up several restrictions on the door, and after doing everything, she sat down cross-legged.

The mouse jumped onto her shoulder, its little paws gripping her clothes tightly.

Yu Luoning instructed, "I have already set up a restriction on the door, but I still need you to protect me to prevent me from being disturbed."

The mouse clenched its fists, adopting a "don't be afraid, I'm here" attitude, and said fiercely, "Master, don't worry, with me here, anyone who tries to break in, I... I'll fight them to the death!"

Yu Luoning chuckled.

The mouse jumped off the bed and onto the table, its eyes scanning the surroundings intently.

Yu Luoning withdrew her gaze, took out the items Shi Shangxu had given her from the Qiankun bag, and laid them out one by one.

Foundation Building Pills are not needed now, but Mind Concentration Pills are.

This is a pill that can assist in cultivation and help break through bottlenecks.

It's been so long, she should have made a breakthrough by now.

Yu Luoning held the pill in her mouth, closed her eyes, and began to guide the flow of spiritual energy.

The medicinal power of the Spirit Elixir quickly dissolved in her mouth, and a cool sensation soothed her throat and reached her lungs.

Immediately afterwards, a warm current emanated from her dantian, permeating her limbs and bones along her spiritual meridians.

The barrier of the sixth level of Qi Refining began to gradually crumble under the influence of this medicinal power.

Yu Luoning didn't force her way in; she was very patient and guided her step by step.

Time passed by, minute by minute, and no one knew how much time had gone by.

The barrier in the dantian of the body cracked open with a small fissure and then split open with a "ding".

The next moment, an overwhelming surge of spiritual energy rushed in and poured into his dantian.

She felt her spiritual meridians expand even further, and the feeling of being filled with power made her feel indescribably comfortable.

Qi Refining Level 6!

It's still not enough.

Yu Luoning opened her eyes, but there was no joy in them after the breakthrough.

The outer sect is full of Qi Refining cultivators, and there are quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators as well.

She had no chance of winning against Liu Qian head-on; if it weren't for the many magical treasures she possessed, she would have suffered a great loss long ago.

The Dongbao Sect is so large; we will only encounter stronger people in the future.

She needs to be faster.

Yu Luoning laid out all two thousand high-grade spirit stones from her Qiankun bag.

In an instant, the terrifying energy contained within the spirit stone hill almost swallowed her whole.

She closed her eyes and slowly guided the torrent into the spiritual vein.

But there are too many.

This massive torrent of spiritual energy surged wildly within his body, unable to find an outlet, and began to overflow.

The next moment, purple cracks appeared on Yu Luoning's skin, spreading from her arms to her neck and eventually covering her entire body.

The mouse watched in terror, but its vast experience had already revealed the problem.

The master was too impatient, absorbing the energy of two thousand high-grade spirit stones at once; her body simply couldn't handle that intensity.

What to do! What to do! The mouse was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck it.

The inner gate was sealed off by a restriction, making it inaccessible to ordinary people. However, since Rat Rat had been living secretly in the Eastern Treasure Sect for thirty years, it knew exactly where the loopholes were.

It leaped out of the door, ran along the base of the wall, and disappeared into a crack in the stone that no one else could see.

The crack was so narrow that only it could pass through. It twisted and turned, passing through many restricted and blind spots, and finally arrived at Dongbao Peak.

At this moment, Yu Luoning was still struggling to hold on, giving this spiritual power no chance to resist.

At this moment, the spiritual energy in the Qi Sea liquefied under extreme compression and rushed fiercely towards the barrier.

In an instant, an overwhelming surge of spiritual power flooded into his sea of ​​consciousness.

One or two golden lines shattered completely.

Seventh level of Qi Refining!

Eighth level of Qi Refining!

No, it hasn't stopped yet.

The remaining spiritual energy had not dissipated; instead, it searched everywhere for an opening.

The purple cracks on Yu Luoning's skin were getting deeper and deeper, and blood was beginning to seep out.

Under the impact, his consciousness began to dissipate, and his awareness became increasingly blurred.

Just as her consciousness was about to collapse.

The restrictions inside the room did not react, but a strange figure appeared out of nowhere.