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

Yu Luoning didn't know how long she had rested before she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She slowly raised her hand, and a jet-black longsword fell, landing steadily in her palm.

Hehe, Cui Xiu left, and forgot to put his sword away.

It was worth it for her humble, submissive, and obsequious behavior all the way.

They successfully extracted a treasure from this purple-robed ancestor.

Yu Luoning looked down at the black sword in her palm. The sword was as black as ink and felt heavy.

She carefully wiped the sword with her sleeve.

Cui Xiu didn't remember, so she pretended to be deaf and dumb.

If he mentions it, then return it.

Just as Yu Luoning was feeling smug, a hoarse voice suddenly came from not far away.

"Ningning, where are you?"

Yu Luoning suddenly looked up and saw that Shi Shangxu, who was always gentle and refined, was now covered in blood and his hair was messy, making him look like a madman.

He was in a bloodthirsty rage, and the long blade in his hand was still dripping blood.

Yu Luoning's pupils contracted.

That makes sense. She spent three or four days underground; Shi Shangxu must have been searching for her frantically.

Yu Luoning's heart sank, and she subconsciously touched the love bell at her waist.

The love bell had developed a thin crack at some point.

Yu Luoning frowned slightly, her mind must have resonated with him.

Unfortunately, I was underground at that time, and the strong winds and turbulent currents blocked my view, so I probably didn't hear it.

~

No! No! Still no.

Three days have passed since they parted ways that day. Shi Shangxu searched every secluded corner of the outer gate, but could not find Yu Luoning anywhere.

Subsequently, the earth's veins rippled, and the demons from underground surged to the surface. The sect urgently issued a dispatch order, and everyone went to Xiling to exorcise the demons.

"Brother Shi, we can't go any further!" Lu Feishuang reached out to stop him.

"The fissure ahead is the source of the monster's eruption; the gales inside can shred a person to pieces. With our cultivation levels, going there would only be suicide!"

Shi Shangxu's eyes were bloodshot as he gripped the love bell tightly.

He said, "This is the last place the Love Bell sensed. I have to find Ningning. With so many demonic beasts, she must be terrified..."

He passed Lu Feishuang and was about to plunge headlong into the ravine churning with black mist.

Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind.

"cousin."

Shi Shangxu's body stiffened abruptly, and when he turned around, he saw Yu Luoning, who was covered in dust and dirt.

The next moment, he rushed over, opened his arms, and hugged Yu Luoning tightly.

"Hmm~"

Shi Shangxu held her very tightly, and Yu Luoning almost felt like she was being strangled.

Fortunately, at this moment, he slowly loosened his grip, though his soft face was still buried in Yu Luoning's neck.

Suddenly, she felt something hot dripping onto the nape of her neck.

Tears?

He cried?

At that moment, Yu Luoning felt her heart melt.

"Sweetie, I'm fine, don't cry." Yu Luoning patted his back gently like she was patting a puppy, feeling a warm feeling in her heart.

Compared to that big devil Choi Soo, my cousin is truly a gentle angel.

cough!

Shi Shangxu blushed, suddenly remembering that there were still outer disciples and Lu Feishuang around.

Her fair cheeks flushed instantly.

He hastily let go, but held onto Yu Luoning's wrist tightly with one hand, as if afraid she would disappear again in the next second.

Lu Feishuang stepped forward, her expression awkward: "We've been looking for you for three days. If you're alright... then that's good."

Yu Luoning nodded, "It's nothing! Thank you."

He glanced again at the distant battlefield, where the sounds of battle shook the heavens.

"What on earth is going on?"

Lu Feishuang said, "The earth veins are fluctuating, causing all the demons buried at the bottom to emerge. These beasts are extremely ferocious and cannot be dealt with by ordinary outer disciples. The sect is in chaos now, and manpower is very scarce."

Yu Luoning's eyes twitched as he looked at the monsters in the distance that resembled giant lizards.

Sure enough, she wasn't on Earth.

Where on Earth could such a monster be found?

Shi Shangxu was called by his fellow disciples to assist in the defense.

He was worried, and before leaving, he turned back every three steps, giving instructions again and again.

Yu Luoning nodded obediently, vowing not to run away and to wait for him to return in a safe place.

After Shi Shangxu walked away, Lu Feishuang walked up to Yu Luoning as if by accident and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "The Shadow Stone has been given to Jiang Yuxing. He seems to be preparing to make a move against you, so be careful these days."

Upon hearing this, Yu Luoning remained expressionless.

After traveling underground with Cui Xiu, Yu Luoning felt that her strength had increased again.

Especially after the battle with the Great White Bone Demon, and with the assistance of the Undying and Immortal Coffin, she was just one step away from breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Yu Luoning said to Lu Feishuang, "Thank you for telling me this news."

Lu Feishuang shook her head, her gaze darkening slightly, tinged with hatred. "That bitch, I wish I could tear her to pieces. Helping you is helping myself too. What are your next steps?"

Yu Luoning raised her eyes: "Of course, I intend to ruin his reputation."

Lu Feishuang smiled and said, "Okay, just let me know if there's anything you need me to do."

After saying that, she was about to leave, but then she paused, turned around, and hesitantly asked, "Before joining the sect, did you live in Phoenix Perch Town?"

Yu Luoning's heart skipped a beat. She dropped her nonchalant expression, her eyes sharpening in that instant.

"Why are you suddenly asking that?"

Lu Feishuang knew the answer from her expression.

She pursed her lips, her expression growing even more somber than before: "Jiang Yuxing is a very cunning person. Sometimes your brothers protect you, and there are sect rules, so he can't easily make a move. He'll probably shift his target."

"He inquired about you before, and he might be planning to attack Phoenix Perch City. I heard it's a town under the Feng family's control, inhabited only by ordinary mortals and rogue cultivators. The Feng family probably doesn't stand a chance against the Northern Sword Alliance..."

Yu Luoning's face turned paler and paler.

Among the powerful families and sects, each has its own territory, and it is common for them to fight to the death over it.

With just a slight movement, some powerful families can turn a small town into a living hell.

Because of Yu Luoning, Fengqi Town is likely being targeted by the Northern Sword Alliance. If Jiang Yu makes a move, it will soon be reduced to ashes.

At this moment, Yu Luoning felt as if something in her brain had snapped.

She suddenly remembered Fengqi Town, Fengqi Guang, and Wenshu and Song Chi.

Although my time in town was short, the neighbors in the alley were very friendly.

Under Feng Qiguang's rule, the people of that city lived in peace and prosperity.

If I were to bring about the destruction of Phoenix Perch City because of my own actions, wouldn't I become a true jinx?

Yu Luoning lowered her eyes, a violent aura that even Cui Xiu had never shown her rose in her eyes.

Phoenix Perch Town was a place she cared about; anyone who dared to touch it would die.

Even if it means going all out, she will not back down in the slightest.

The lives of the people of this city cannot be ignored.

After a long while, Yu Luoning raised her head, gave Lu Feishuang a slight bow, and said, "I understand, thank you."

After Yu Luoning finished speaking, she took out a lightning-type Dao pattern stone from her spatial storage and handed it to Lu Feishuang.

"The information you gave me was very important; I don't like owing people things. This is for you."

Lu Feishuang was completely bewildered.

"What are you doing...giving me a rock?"

Yu Luoning blinked. Back underground, she had almost thrown away the Dao Pattern Stone because she was blind, mistaking it for trash.

Lu Feishuang, born into a prominent family, has far more knowledge and experience than ordinary people, yet she is completely unfamiliar with this object.

Yu Luoning asked in confusion, "This is a Dao-patterned stone. You... haven't seen it before?"

"Dao Pattern Stone? You're saying this is a Dao Pattern Stone? So this is what the legendary Dao Pattern Stone looks like?" Lu Feishuang's eyes widened, and after a long while, she struggled to raise her hand and carefully touched it with her fingertips.

Yu Luoning: "This is the Dao Pattern Stone, but it is still just a raw stone. The outer layer of stone skin needs to be removed using a secret method to reveal the true appearance of the Dao Pattern."

Lu Feishuang stared at Yu Luoning, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Yu Luoning: "..."

She was actually a little confused, not understanding why Lu Feishuang's reaction was so strong.

Cui Xiu had mentioned the origin of the Dao Pattern Stone, saying it was a rare treasure nurtured by the spiritual power of the laws of heaven and earth.

However, Cui Xiu didn't have any strong desire to get this thing, so Yu Luoning tacitly agreed that the treasure was just so-so.

In fact, Yu Luoning was completely wrong.

Such a rare treasure would still be coveted even by a powerful figure like Cui Xiu.

The reason Cui Xiu didn't try to snatch it was because, as an evil corpse, he was naturally repelled by treasures containing the essence of Daoist magic.

Since she couldn't force it, Cui Xiu naturally didn't bother to waste her energy.

Yu Luoning was immediately embarrassed.

He didn't have many treasures to give away, only thirty-two Dao-patterned stones he had dug out from the ground.

Seeing Lu Feishuang's reaction, Yu Luoning immediately felt a pang of sympathy.

Could she take back a gift she had already given away? She felt embarrassed.

Yu Luoning's expression remained calm, showing no sign of distress, but in reality, he was so heartbroken he wanted to slap his thigh.

But it was precisely because of her appearance that Lu Feishuang felt like a country bumpkin on the spot.

She recalled her initial disdain for Luo Ning, which was also due to his background.

But now the other party casually took out a Dao Pattern Stone, something that even the head of the Lu family had only heard of but never seen in his entire life.

Legend has it that the Biluo Sect possesses two such swords, one of which is embedded in the sect leader's natal sword, thus giving the sword the power of thunder.

The value of this Dao Pattern Stone is enough to cause a family to fight tooth and nail over it.

Yu Luoning, expressionless, casually gave her one.