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

"I'm going to a spiritual vein area. I've just broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, and my foundation isn't very stable yet. I accidentally found a spiritual vein area that's perfect for consolidating my early Foundation Establishment cultivation. I'd like to go there and go into seclusion for a while."

Yu Luoning ultimately couldn't figure out how to explain it to Shi Shangxu.

He had just experienced the grief of losing his fellow disciple, and if he were to be told about Feng Qiguang's existence now, it would probably be too much of a blow to him.

Yu Luoning felt uneasy.

Shi Shangxu looked at her quietly, a hint of red slowly welling up in his eyes. After a few moments of silence, he said, "I'll go with you."

Yu Luoning paused, having already anticipated his response.

But I wasn't prepared for things to go wrong, so I couldn't let them run into each other.

She lowered her eyelashes, forcing herself to keep her voice steady, "Cousin, I hope you can stay in the sect."

Why?

Yu Luoning held his hand in her hands, placing it against her cheek, and looked at him earnestly with her clear eyes, saying, "Of course I don't want to be separated from you either, but the sect has only just ended this catastrophe, and the seal on the earth's veins has only just been sealed. Who knows if there are still any demonic beasts that have escaped?"

"As an inner disciple of Sword Peak, you have your responsibilities. Besides, Senior Brother Lin has just passed away; it wouldn't be good for you to leave at this time."

Shi Shangxu slowed his breathing by an inch and remained silent for a moment.

Yu Luoning continued, "Besides, you've already endured so much suffering for so many days. You can't keep up with me, and most importantly, it would break my heart."

"I'm fine..." Shi Shangxu's voice trembled slightly.

Yu Luoning said softly, "I understand your feelings. I'll only be gone for a few days; it's just a period of seclusion. I'll be back soon."

Shi Shangxu gripped her hand tightly, his gaze darkening as he looked at her.

After a long silence, he swallowed hard, his voice hoarse and strained, filled with suppressed sorrow.

"Ningning, are you really going into seclusion this time?"

"Of course! How could you doubt me?"

Yu Luoning stared at him with a wronged expression.

After a long silence, Shi Shangxu lowered his eyes and believed him.

Because the Mind-Understanding Formula does not lie.

However, the trace of worry in his eyes did not dissipate.

He was naturally handsome and gentle, but now he looked worried, his brows furrowed, and he seemed fragile and vulnerable.

Yu Luoning's heart melted.

He took something out of his Qiankun bag; it was a dusty, gray stone.

That's right, this is an ice-type Dao pattern stone.

Yu Luoning wanted to see if the ownership of the ice-type Dao pattern stone could be refreshed on Shi Shangxu after the change of ownership.

She placed the Dao-patterned stone in Shi Shangxu's palm and said solemnly, "Cousin, this is for you."

Shi Shangxu paused for a moment, then looked down at the stone in his hand, puzzled.

Yu Luoning sighed inwardly; this thing was truly precious.

None of them know?

Yu Luoning explained, "This is called a Dao Pattern Stone, and it has the attribute of ice."

Dao Pattern Stone? Shi Shangxu's pupils contracted on the spot. He remembered reading in the book that Dao Pattern Stone was a rare treasure nurtured by the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

The patriarch of the Shi family had a Dao-patterned stone in his possession. Although he had heard of it, he had never seen it before.

So this is the Dao Pattern Stone! Shi Shangxu was completely stunned.

Ningning gave him something so precious without any reservation?

"Ningning, where did you get this?"

Yu Luoning blinked and mumbled, "I found it by chance a few days ago. I don't need it anyway, so I'm giving it to you."

"Give me?"

Without hesitation, Shi Shangxu stuffed the Dao Pattern Stone into Yu Luoning's palm, saying solemnly, "I can't accept something so precious. I've heard that Dao Pattern Stones can be used on magic artifacts or talismans to greatly increase their grade. Keep it; you'll need it for crafting magic artifacts in the future."

Yu Luoning was still wondering if the Dao Pattern Stone could be refreshed.

If ownership is not changed, she will not be able to see the updated information of the Shishangxu encyclopedia.

"No, you have to accept it. You're the person I care about most."

"Senior Brother Lin has fallen, I'm afraid... You have Dao Pattern Stones, you can upgrade your weapon, and you'll have a better chance of survival in the future. The missions you inner disciples undertake are always dangerous and difficult. You need them more than I do."

"Ningning..."

"I don't care, you have to accept it. If you don't, do you want to die before me and leave me a widow?"

Shi Shangxu's eyes immediately welled up with tears.

At the same moment that Shi Shangxu received it.

In Yu Luoning's sea of ​​consciousness, his page in the illustrated guide had been updated again.

……

[Ice-type Dao Pattern Stones can be upgraded to Ice-type Dao Essence Essence]

Originally, Dao pattern stones could only be embedded in magic weapons to increase defense and upgrade item rank.

After the upgrade, not only are the basic attributes greatly enhanced, but it can also be combined with the speed of the flow of the magic weapon's freezing spiritual power, and even release a rain of arrows in a radius of 100 meters centered on the Dao Yuan Divine Essence.

Yu Luoning took a deep breath, her heart pounding.

Her guess was right; these kinds of treasures can indeed be refreshed.

Wouldn't the Phoenix Blood Crystal also be able to refresh it?

The little phoenix will one day become a real phoenix.

Yu Luoning was in a good mood.

She added, "This Dao-patterned stone has an outer layer of raw stone, which needs to be peeled off with special magic to see the core inside, which can then be inlaid into a magical artifact."

"Cousin, you'll need to look up this skinning spell yourself."

Shi Shangxu nodded. "Okay."

Yu Luoning continued, "Once you get the raw stone, you can embed it into your natal sword. The Dao pattern stone is compatible with your natal sword, and the sword's level will definitely be upgraded."

Shi Shangxu nodded, looking at her with a slight moisture in his eyes.

He didn't say anything, but reached out and pulled the person into his arms, holding them tightly.

His nose tingled, and his voice choked with emotion: "Ningning, thank you. Thank you for thinking of me so much. Your affection for me surpasses all the treasures in the world. If I ever betray you in this life, may I die a horrible death."

"I act with the heart of the Tao..."

Yu Luoning's mind went blank.

Dao Heart? He wants to swear an oath with his Dao Heart? Oh no!

Startled, she covered his mouth without thinking.

If one truly swears an oath to the Dao, then Heaven and Earth shall bear witness.

If the person who made the oath does not break the oath, nothing will happen.

But what if one party breaches the contract? The party that suffers the backlash will have their Dao heart shattered.

Yu Luoning wasn't sure about the scope of this breach of contract, but she was certain that Shi Shangxu would never betray her in this lifetime, but she herself would.

If one day he discovers that she has one more person, two more people, three more people by her side...

In short, she felt extremely guilty.

I finally managed to nurture the previous Dao Heart, but this one is about to shatter. What should I do?

"Cousin, I won't allow you to make such a vow!"

Shi Shangxu looked puzzled.

Yu Luoning coughed lightly, quickly finding an excuse, "That kind of oath of faith is so bad for one's luck. I don't need such an oath. I believe in you. Because you're such a good person, how could you betray me?"

Shi Shangxu frowned slightly and gently removed her hand from his mouth.

A pair of gentle eyes were fixed on her.

"Ningning, what were you afraid of just now?"

"I'm not afraid of anything. I just feel there's no need to make such a solemn oath. We don't need oaths to maintain our relationship," Yu Luoning tilted her head innocently.

Shi Shangxu's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, then he lowered his eyes.

"Alright, since you don't want to, then I won't make the vow. But I know in my heart, Ningning, I will only love you in this life and I will never let you down."

Yu Luoning's nose tingled with emotion again.

She took the initiative to put her arm around Shi Shangxu's neck and kissed his thin lips.

Their breaths mingled, and the kiss deepened.

The lotus-shaped gold hook on the bed slowly fell down, and the bed curtains hung down.

The room was silent. After an unknown amount of time, Yu Luoning's mind rang with a "ding".

[Ice-type Daoist Essence successfully copied]

Yu Luoning lay in Shi Shangxu's arms, listening to his gradually steady breathing, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

She reached out and gently stroked his troubled brow, then kissed his lips.

She watched him silently, without moving, afraid of disturbing him.

After an unknown amount of time, Shi Shangxu's steady breathing gradually became rapid.

Yu Luoning paused for a moment, then leaned down to look at him closely. She saw that Shi Shangxu had his eyes closed, and he was making suppressed sounds in his throat, as if he wanted to shout something but couldn't.

Oh no, he's having a nightmare.