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

When I woke up again, an hour had passed.

In this hour, Yu Luoning still had not successfully copied the Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains.

Yu Luoning frowned, a hint of resentment showing between her brows.

Shi Shangxu took in her expression and lowered his clear eyes.

He thought to himself that his performance this morning should have been better than yesterday's.

Unfortunately, there was no specific reference point for Shi Shangxu, so he had no idea that he was exceptionally gifted in that area.

He secretly recalled the words of his philandering senior brothers and couldn't help but wonder if there was something wrong with him.

Perhaps it wasn't long enough, or perhaps the posture was incorrect...

He pursed his lips but didn't speak.

Meanwhile, Yu Luoning had no idea that her unintentional actions had once again struck a blow to someone.

She stopped thinking about it and stood up. She spoke softly, then thought of Mo Fei and Lu Mingyu, who were traveling with her. She wondered if the two of them had already left the valley.

Yu Luoning sighed softly, breaking the silence.

"Let's go back first. We came out to do a mission. After working for half a day, we only managed to dig up two spirit herbs. It's really embarrassing."

Shi Shangxu nodded obediently, his gaze gentle: "We still have some time. Shall I accompany you to find some more?"

Yu Luoning responded, and the two exchanged a glance. The lingering warmth of their previous lovemaking inevitably surfaced in their minds, and their hearts skipped a beat. They silently put on their clothes to cover up the lingering lingering passion.

Sometimes, with Shang Xu around, Yu Luoning couldn't freely use her teleportation technique to hunt monsters and provide extra food for the Cleaners.

She could only watch as Shi Shangxu skillfully dodged the demonic beasts and searched for spiritual plants for her in the forest.

Before long, Yu Luoning was somewhat surprised to see that Shi Shangxu was holding a top-grade spiritual herb in his hand, its entire body crystal clear and its light restrained.

Its rank is clearly extraordinary.

Although the sect has rules, the spoils obtained from the secret realm must be handed over and then distributed by the stewards.

Yu Luoning chose Cloud Valley because it was poorly managed. If there were any extra gains, he could easily smuggle them out.

She just didn't expect Shi Shangxu to do this.

Yu Luoning couldn't help but tease him, "Cousin, I caught you red-handed! My task was just to find ordinary Dewdrop Grass, how did you end up digging up such a rare treasure for me?"

Upon hearing this, a slight blush appeared on Shi Shangxu's handsome face.

He lowered his head and explained, "These spiritual herbs replenish qi and blood. Even if you don't complete any tasks, you can still exchange them for spirit stones by refining them into pills. Haven't you been worried about those 10 contribution points? If we work together, we'll definitely accumulate enough in less than two years. Then, you can enter the inner sect without any problem."

"You're so confident in me?" Yu Luoning looked at him with a smile, then added, "There are strict tests to enter the inner sect. What if I don't pass?"

Shi Shangxu coughed lightly, his gaze firm: "No..."

Shi Shangxu didn't say anything more, but he had other plans in mind.

Two years is enough time for him to establish himself in Sword Peak. With his talent, he will surely gain the respect of the elders.

At that time, he will have a say in the matter, and when Ningning takes the assessment, he will have some room to maneuver and negotiate in private.

Ningning is highly talented; she just lacks time.

Shi Shangxu was very confident that Yu Luoning would be able to enter the inner sect.

He simply didn't intend for her to know these thoughts.

In his view, this was not favoritism or corruption. As long as it did not harm others, and within the scope of the rules, he did not feel that seeking a better future for his loved one violated the principles of a gentleman.

Shi Shangxu dug very carefully. He was meticulous and preserved the roots of all the spiritual herbs intact, then carefully placed them into two spirit-sealing boxes.

Yu Luoning glimpsed that one of them was a spirit-sealing box issued for the mission, and the other was a white jade box with a warm and smooth texture and a bright, precious light, which was obviously Shi Shangxu's private collection.

This jade box is quite valuable. Yu Luoning met Shi Shangxu's gentle eyes and asked half-jokingly, "Are you planning to give me this precious box as well?"

Shi Shangxu's lips curved into a very shallow yet extremely alluring smile, but he did not answer.

He thought to himself: I am already Ningning, what is a mere white jade box?

The monster corpses couldn't be wasted either. Yu Luoning picked through the pile of remains, searching for valuable spirit horns and monster hides and bones.

Of course, she didn't need to do these bloody chores herself; Shi Shangxu had taken over them very naturally and handled everything.

By the time all the materials were processed, dusk had fallen and the setting sun was blood-red.

Yu Luoning sat leisurely on the grass, leaning against a thick tree trunk, a blade of grass dangling from her mouth, her toes occasionally twitching.

She squinted at Shi Shangxu, who was washing snakeskin for her in the twilight stream, and felt a surge of emotions.

What incredible luck! A disciple of Sword Peak is so virtuous and considerate.

If she were a man, she would marry Shi Shangxu and make him her first wife.

Shi Shangxu was like a hardworking ox, diligently working for Yu Luoning.

Only after wiping the splatter of blood from his forehead and washing his hands did he walk up to Yu Luoning and speak in a clear voice, "Ningning, it's getting late, we should leave the valley. Should you handle these things, or should I take care of them?"

Without hesitation, Yu Luoning dusted off her clothes and stood up: "I'll go sell them myself!"

It's not that I'm afraid Shi Shangxu will line his own pockets.

Instead, if someone as aloof and detached as him were to go to the market to sell animal meat and furs, he would surely be ripped off by those unscrupulous merchants.

This kind of work still depends on her.

After storing the items in their storage bags, the two headed straight for the exit of Cloud Valley.

The exit at this point.

The old leader, his face ashen, snapped, "Why are you looking for me if someone's lost? Demonic beasts roam Cloud Valley; casualties during missions are perfectly normal. Get out of here and go home!"

Even the usually flamboyant and unrestrained Mo Fei had to bow his head before the elder, pleading humbly, "Elder, the three of us are like brothers. My younger sister has been missing for a day and a night. I've heard that you possess a tracking device; could you please use your magic to search for her?"

"How can such a magical artifact be used so casually?" The elder said arrogantly, completely unmoved.

The two had no choice but to continue waiting.

At this moment, the valley entrance was crowded with people, a scene of all walks of life.

Some looked dejected and utterly hopeless, while others argued heatedly with their stewards over the grade of the herbs.

Just then, Lu Mingyu's gaze sharpened as he saw that familiar figure.

He hurriedly tugged at Mo Fei, who was still about to pester the elder, and excitedly shouted, "She's out! Miss Luo Ning is out!"

Mo Fei suddenly turned around, and the two of them rushed to greet him in surprise.

But when he actually stood before Yu Luoning, Mo Fei's worry vanished. His face darkened, and he angrily shouted, "Where have you been? Do you know how long we've been waiting? We thought you'd been carried off by a monster!"

Yu Luoning touched her nose guiltily.

Last night, I had a beautiful woman by my side, and we were extremely tender and affectionate.

Two companions? Heh, I'd completely forgotten about them.

However, she dared not say that.

At this moment, Mo Fei's gaze passed over Yu Luoning and landed on the man behind him, and he couldn't help but be surprised: "Brother Shi? You... what are you doing here?"

Shi Shangxu's Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly, and his eyes darted away, a rare occurrence for him.

He turned his head to look at the distant mountains, his voice hoarse: "I... was just passing by."

"Just passing by?" Mo Fei looked him over suspiciously.

"Aren't the inner disciples' missions supposed to be near the forbidden area? That's quite far from here. These outer missions are like child's play for you, aren't they?"

Shi Shangxu: "I just happened to need a medicinal herb, so I took this opportunity to come here and happened to run into Ningning."

Upon hearing this, the air fell into an eerie silence for a moment.

Mo Fei and Lu Mingyu were both stunned.

Shi Shangxu is the most self-disciplined and respectful of etiquette. Although they are related by marriage, he always calls his cousin or Luo Ning in a distant manner. How come he calls her so intimately after only one day apart?

Mo Fei narrowed his eyes, his face instantly lighting up with gossip, and teased, "Oh? You're not calling me 'cousin' anymore, you're calling me 'Ningning' now? Tsk tsk tsk... What a coincidence that you're going the same way!"

Mo Fei raised an eyebrow at the two of them, his gaze sweeping between them, a smile playing on his lips.

This affair is getting out of hand. Do they really think he's blind?

Lu Mingyu, standing to the side, was speechless. He looked at the subtle, ambiguous atmosphere between the two of them and felt a bitter feeling welling up in his heart.

Lu Mingyu collected his thoughts and said gently with a smile, "It's good that you're back. Let's go back then!"