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

The cursed power on Cui Xiu's body slowly faded. He stood up, leaning against the stone wall, looking down at Yu Luoning with disdain in his eyes.

"You really are a troublemaker."

Yu Luoning blinked: "Thank you for your kind words, Senior. But isn't 'Senior' missing two words? 'Beauty'?"

"Oh……"

Cui Xiu wiped the remaining blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with a sinister look.

This wasn't the scheme he originally planned.

He wanted to treat this woman like a poisonous thorn, piercing deeply into Yue Qi's hypocritical facade.

But before Yue Qi could do anything, Xing Qi, who resided in the Star-Picking Palace and was worshipped by the divine realm, was the first to go mad for this woman.

Cui Xiu looked at Yu Luoning.

The woman before him had the carefree air of someone who had survived a disaster.

Seemingly aware that he was not in immediate danger, the fear in his eyes vanished completely.

"One can escape the death penalty, but cannot escape punishment."

Yu Luoning felt a chill run down her spine and respectfully apologized to Cui Xiu: "I was indeed wrong in the turbulent vortex just now and offended you, senior. Whatever you want me to do next, senior, I will do it without hesitation, as long as it is within my ability."

Cui Xiu chuckled. She gestured with her chin towards the dark depths of the cave.

"At least you have some self-awareness. This cave doesn't know where it leads, so you'll go ahead and explore."

"..."

"I...I am of low cultivation level, and I am afraid I will turn to ashes before I even see the danger."

"What? You're refusing such a small matter? You were so righteous just now."

Yu Luoning frowned slightly, cursing inwardly.

The energy of the previous vortex was so enormous that even someone with Cui Xiu's cultivation level could be pulled in. This cave must be fraught with danger. Making me the vanguard would be like making her cannon fodder.

She didn't kill herself; it turns out this was what was waiting for her here.

If I were to contact Xing Qi again over such a trivial matter, I fear it would only provoke his resentment, and he might change his mind and kill me to silence me.

Even if Xingqi can seek justice for her afterward, death is death.

The cave was damp, cold, and slippery, with a maze of branching passages. The sound of dripping water was clearly audible, making Yu Luoning's heart leap into her throat.

Just as he had said, Cui Xiu had Yu Luoning lead the way while he stood behind, arms crossed, looking languid and carefree.

Yu Luoning had no choice but to release the rat.

"Senior, this is my little spirit beast, the Treasure-Seeking Rat. It has a keen sense of smell and can perceive its surroundings..."

Before she could finish speaking, the mouse was trembling like a sieve on her shoulder.

Cui Xiu casually glanced at him, and the aura and pressure unique to evil corpses instantly spread.

The mouse let out a strange cry, its eyes rolled back, and it fainted.

"..."

The earth's malevolent energy was too heavy, and the killing god rat behind him had completely crashed, fainting from fright.

Yu Luoning sighed and had no choice but to stuff the good-for-nothing into her spatial storage.

Without the help of the mouse, I can only rely on myself from now on. Fortunately, there are many magical treasures in the Qiankun Bag, and I have no shortage of small items like luminous stones.

Yu Luoning held up the glowing stone and scouted ahead. Actually, she was also afraid, so she could only use her substitute puppet to walk in front of her and clear the way.

Unfortunately, the puppet can only exist for three breaths, after which it must be summoned again using spiritual power.

Everything is fine except for the high cost of spiritual energy.

Yu Luoning took out spirit stones from her Qiankun bag to replenish her spiritual power. She stopped in her tracks only when the last spirit stone in her Qiankun bag turned into powder.

She turned around and glanced resentfully at the leisurely purple-clad man behind her.

"Senior, we've been traveling for so long, and we haven't encountered any danger along the way."

"With your cultivation level, can't you break through the barrier and take this junior up with you?"

Cui Xiu lifted her eyelids and glanced at her.

"The earth's veins are fluctuating, and above this cave is a layer of fierce winds that can grind even Nascent Soul cultivators into mincemeat. I barely managed to break through and get up, but as for you..."

Yu Luoning chuckled twice.

"Senior, I think it's best not to take any risks without being absolutely certain. I am deeply grateful for your mercy in sparing my life. I will serve you faithfully and do whatever it takes. It's just scouting the way, nothing more."

Cui Xiu chuckled softly.

He gave Yu Luoning a deep look.

The opponent then channeled their spiritual power to summon a puppet to scout ahead.

How many times has this happened?

This little girl's puppetry skills are quite amazing.

Logically speaking, an ordinary cultivator would expend a great deal of energy activating spells so frequently, and even if they replenished their spiritual power, they could not possibly do it as quickly as she did.

It took two hours to get here.

The spiritual energy within his body was indeed incredibly abundant.

Two more hours passed.

They weren't moving very fast, because they encountered some monsters along the way, large monsters from the deepest part of the earth.

Fortunately, Cui Xiu intervened and defeated the monster.

The two continued forward, and Yu Luoning's face gradually turned pale. She didn't know how long she had persevered.

But if this continues, her spiritual energy will be depleted, and she definitely won't be able to withstand the pressure here in this ley line.

Yu Luoning set her sights on the Aurora Spirit Stone on the Spirit Rhinoceros Conch. Legend has it that that thing can sustain the spiritual energy of a small sect for a whole year, but now she was using it as her power bank.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, the road ahead was blocked by a huge rock. The rock was made of an unknown material, dark and heavy, and spiritual energy was absorbed when it hit it.

Yu Luoning turned to look at Cui Xiu, her meaning clear.

But Cui Xiu found a clean, large rock by himself, lifted his purple robe, and sat down steadily, just like the Maitreya Buddha.

He placed his hands on his knees, palms facing up, and a purple aura enveloped his body.

"I was severely affected by the backlash from the curse just now, so I need to rest. You can handle the rest yourself."

"..."

His grandfather really didn't exert any effort at all.

Yu Luoning dared not speak her anger. She gritted her teeth, took out a long sword from her storage bag, and began to chisel at the crack in the stone.

Digging and digging in the little garden~

Damn it, she was so tired that she started hallucinating.

After countless chiseling strokes, a large hole was finally dug out of the rubble, and inside was a bead as red as blood.

Yu Luoning stared at the red bead for a long time, but still had no clue.

At this moment, the rat in the jade bracelet space suddenly spoke up: "Master, master, this is a good thing, a Phoenix Blood Source Stone."

"Bloodstone? What's wrong?"

"Legend has it that consuming it can reshape one's bones and muscles, awaken the true phoenix bloodline, and is a divine artifact that defies the heavens. The ancient phoenix clan has long since perished. If one can awaken the phoenix bloodline, perhaps one can find the legendary ancient phoenix city."

"Fenghuang Ancient Town? What kind of place is that?"

"It's said to be the place of rebirth for the ancient Phoenix clan. The ancient city isn't important; what's important is that, according to legend, the phoenix will only perch on the parasol tree. So there must be a forest of ancient parasol trees in that ancient city where one can attain enlightenment," Mouse introduced excitedly, eager to go and find the treasure right now.

Yu Luoning, however, fell into deep thought.

Enlightenment in the Ancient Paulownia Grove?

When reading cultivation novels, she had only heard of the Enlightened Ancient Tea Tree.

Effects such as enlightenment enhancement and Daoist blessing.

In short, it is a great treasure.

The Wudao Ancient Paulownia Forest sounds like it's bigger and more magnificent than the tea trees, so it must be even more impressive.

...This is the dividing line where you can't leave without seizing an opportunity...