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

As sunlight streamed through the window into the bed, Shi Shangxu slightly opened his eyes.

Yu Luoning was still asleep, her head resting on his arm, her long hair cascading down her face, her sleeping expression serene.

Shi Shangxu gently wrapped his arm around the person beside him, his movements soft, as if afraid of disturbing her.

Seemingly sensing the movement, Yu Luoning shifted uneasily, muttering, "Sleep a little longer..."

Shi Shangxu raised the corners of his lips, his eyes full of doting affection.

After she had dozed off for about half a cup of tea's time...

Seeing that it was getting late, Shi Shangxu used a little force to half-pull and half-carry the person out of the bed.

"Alright, Ningning, it's time to get up and cultivate."

Yu Luoning opened her sleepy eyes and rubbed her aching back.

Last night, the two of them, having been apart for a short while, were like newlyweds, and they were so busy that she was exhausted.

Improving one's own cultivation is also of utmost urgency.

Yu Luoning was constantly thinking about Cui Xiu.

She had a feeling that this matter was definitely not that simple.

What if that guy beats the cleaner and manages to escape back?

Given Cui Xiu's vicious nature, the first thing he'll probably do after escaping is hunt him down.

Even if Cui Xiu had some physical attraction to her before, now that they were sworn enemies, there was absolutely no way they could get over it.

The bad luck of karma is still clinging to him, and he will have no way to seek revenge for at least the next two months.

Yu Luoning could only pray in her heart that this overwhelming bad luck and the lightning tribulation that had previously struck Cui Xiu and severely injured her would kill Cui Xiu in the mouth of the Cleaner and eliminate any future troubles.

With her mind at ease, Yu Luoning's confusion faded, and her eyes regained their clarity.

Seeing that she moved at the slightest call and was very obedient, Shang Xu couldn't help but lean down and kiss her forehead.

"You have only just begun your foundational studies, so you must not forget to solidify your foundation."

"To cultivate foundation-building spiritual energy, it is best to practice basic body-refining methods for half an hour every day. This is the only way to avoid the common problem of weak physical bodies among magic cultivators."

"When I come back next time, let's take some time to go to Danfeng together and find some pills to strengthen our foundation."

Yu Luoning asked, puzzled, "Going to Dan Peak? Isn't it the sect's treasure pavilion? I remember you can exchange points there, right?"

Shi Shangxu chuckled and patiently explained, "Ordinary disciples can indeed only exchange for universal pills at the Treasure Pavilion."

However, there is a place called Xia Dan Pavilion on Dan Peak. Not only can you buy rare and top-grade pills there, but you might also be able to ask an elder to personally diagnose your pulse, check your true essence, and identify your spiritual energy.

"Only by tailoring the elixir to the individual's foundation-building stage can the residual erysipelas in the body be most effectively prevented."

"You can't even do that?"

Yu Luoning found this statement novel when she first heard it.

"Yes, so be a good girl and wait for me to come back."

Yu Luoning nodded with a smile.

Shi Shangxu gave a few more instructions.

Finally, his expression turned serious, and with a solemn look in his eyes, he headed towards Sword Peak.

After seeing Shang Xu off, Yu Luoning took a deep breath and began to sit cross-legged in meditation.

She closed her eyes, circulated her internal energy, and a faint spiritual light flowed around her.

As strands of spiritual energy from heaven and earth seeped into his meridians, Yu Luoning felt his foundation-building aura becoming increasingly stable.

Then, following Shi Shangxu's instructions, she practiced a set of boxing techniques to strengthen her body.

I only rubbed my shoulders to relax after finishing my morning exercise.

These days, things have piled up, and she has many trivial matters that she hasn't dealt with yet.

For example, the previous sect missions.

Obtain the essence and blood of the Crimson Flame Golden-Eyed Tiger.

She completed the task, but hasn't redeemed the reward yet.

With that in mind, she didn't delay any longer.

After quickly tidying up, I went out and headed straight for the mission hall.

Before long, Yu Luoning arrived at the mission pavilion.

The main hall was as busy as ever, with disciples lining up to hand over tasks, and the noise was constant.

Yu Luoning walked through the crowd in the hall and went straight to a counter where task settlement was handled.

She took out an exquisite jade bottle from her storage bag and handed it over.

The elder took the jade bottle, uncorked it, and smelled it. His eyes widened in astonishment: "This is... the essence blood of the Crimson Flame Golden-Eyed Tiger."

You actually managed to get a whole bottle full? That beast is incredibly fast and cunning; it's extremely difficult to catch!

Yu Luoning smiled, without offering any further explanation.

He simply asked, "Elder, I remember the mission description mentioned that this mission could earn 300 contribution points?"

The elder steward stroked his long beard and chuckled, "That's true. Please wait a moment, I'll transfer the contribution points to you right away."

The elder deacon gathered a warm, spiritual light at his fingertips and gently pressed it onto the surface of an ancient stone seal on the counter.

He said to Yu Luoning, "Take out your identity jade talisman and touch it here."

Yu Luoning's eyes lit up, and she quickly took out her jade talisman and brought it closer.

The two talismans were placed together, and a flash of light disappeared in an instant.

The next moment, the balance of the jade talisman in her hand became 1,168 points.

Yu Luoning, beaming with joy, thanked them and prepared to leave.

Just then, a commotion came from outside the hall.

A beautiful woman walked in, dressed in red. The fabric was made of an extremely rare water-shimmering silk, which shimmered as she moved, like water rippling in mid-air.

Behind her followed closely were three young men, each with a different appearance but all of whom were quite handsome.

"Look, it's Senior Sister Su Man'er and her three relatives."

"How lucky those three are to become Senior Sister Man'er's Daoist partners."

"Su Man'er is a heartless bastard. How can she find three Daoist partners at the same time? She's promiscuous and shameless. And her taste in Daoist partners is terrible. Look at her, the last one is actually a mortal, a good-for-nothing who can't even cultivate to immortality."

"Keep your voice down, or your senior sister will hear you and cripple your leg on the spot."

In a corner of the hall, Yu Luoning listened to these discussions in silence, her eyebrows twitching slightly.

If one person has three Daoist companions, could they be fellow Daoists?

Before I could think about it, something strange happened inside the hall.

The male disciple who had criticized Su Man'er was suddenly caught by a long red whip and sent flying.

Seeing this, the people in the lobby all crowded outside to watch the drama unfold.

Yu Luoning did the same; she stood on tiptoe in the middle of the crowd, peeking through the gaps between the people's shoulders.

But then, in the large square outside the mission hall, the talkative disciple fell heavily to the ground, smashing a large crater into the hard stone slab.

At this moment, the woman in red slowly walked over.

Upon seeing the woman's face, Yu Luoning was momentarily stunned.

It must be said that this woman was the most beautiful she had ever seen in this world.

Her eyes were slightly upturned at the corners, exuding a natural charm, yet the curve of her jawline was sharp and aloof.

Amidst its captivating charm, there's also a sense of distance that keeps people at arm's length—a paradoxical yet harmonious beauty with immense tension.

At this moment, Su Man'er, wearing a pair of flowing cloud boots, stomped hard on the male disciple's chest.

"I thought it was some stinking toad gossiping about me, but it turns out it's someone like you, looking like a ghost."

"Senior sister, spare me! Senior sister, spare me!" the man cried, tears and snot streaming down his face.

Su Man'er looked down at him, her voice icy.

"Say what you just said again. What's wrong with my mortal husband? Let me tell you, my man is none of your business to talk about."

As soon as she finished speaking, Su Man'er pressed down harder with her feet, and the male disciple's chest seemed to cave in an inch.

Yu Luoning gasped in shock.

That kick would probably kill that gossipy disciple.

"Manman, let it go. It's better to be forgiving," a refined-looking man advised from behind Su Man'er.

The speaker was one of the three men, who was extremely handsome. However, upon closer inspection, it could be seen that there was not a trace of spiritual energy emanating from him; clearly, he was a mortal without spiritual apertures.

Upon hearing her beloved speak, Su Man'er changed her previous violent tone and pouted, "Fine, I'll listen to you and spare his life."

After saying that, Su Man'er slowly raised her foot, and the man coughed up several mouthfuls of blood and fled in a sorry state.

Soon, the crowd slowly dispersed, and no one dared to gossip behind their backs anymore.

Su Man'er swaggered back into the mission hall and said to the elder at the settlement point, "Elder, I sense that the bounty mission I posted has already been completed."

The elder in charge of settlements, his serious expression replaced by a friendly one, smiled and said, "Exactly. Oh, what a coincidence, that person hasn't left yet. Look, he's right at the door."

Upon hearing this, Su Man'er turned around and her gaze met Yu Luoning in the crowd.

To make it easier for her to travel, Yu Luoning had already disguised herself using the Mirror Flower Water Moon technique.

At this moment, she was dressed in a drab, coarse blue cloth dress, her hair was casually tied up with a wooden hairpin, and she looked like an ordinary middle-aged man.

Su Man'er only glanced at it before her interest vanished, and her original intention to give a large tip also gave up.

There's no way around it, people who are obsessed with looks are just unreasonable.

Su Man'er counted the essence blood of the Crimson Flame Golden-Eyed Tiger, then turned and left with her male concubines. As a matter of politeness, she nodded to the dusty-looking Yu Luoning as a farewell.

If Yu Luoning knew that he had missed out on a large tip because of his disguise, he would be extremely regretful and kick himself.

Yu Luoning didn't think much of it and turned to leave.

Soon after, Lu Feishuang, Lu Mingyu, and Mo Fei arrived at her courtyard to congratulate her on her safe return.

The group sat around a stone table in the courtyard, exchanging pleasantries for a long time. Somehow, the conversation turned to the relatives of the forestry workers.