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

On the other side, there is the Azure Sea Fairy Island.

Held high in the clouds, the Star-Picking Palace floats above the heavens, surrounded by ancient star formations that flow slowly around it.

Xing Qi stood obediently on the Xingluo Stone Platform.

The ground beneath his feet was carved from a single, massive piece of star-patterned stone.

His eyes were clear and pure as he gazed intently at the vast trajectories of the stars in the sky.

"Why?... We still can't find Ningning's star trail map?"

Xingqi lowered his eyes, his gaze filled with disappointment.

If he could find Ningning's star chart, he might be able to predict her future destiny and help her turn misfortune into good fortune.

Unfortunately, the sky was woven with countless stars, and despite his long search, he was unable to find even a trace of Yu Luoning's aura.

Of course he didn't know, because Yu Luoning didn't belong to this world at all, and naturally there was no trace of her on the star chart that recorded her destiny.

Dejected after failing to find the answer to astrology, Xing Qi left the astrology hall and walked to the white jade platform outside the palace.

A myriad of stars cascaded down, and beneath the stone platform were layers upon layers of white jade steps inlaid with gold and jade, an unparalleled display of luxury.

Xingqi sat blankly on the steps, his hands obediently resting on his knees, tilting his head to look into the distance.

A small, exquisite conch shell floated in front of him, emitting a soft, shimmering light.

A beautiful star pendant hangs from the bottom of the conch shell.

Xing Qi stretched out a finger and fiddled with the star pendant, his voice muffled: "What is Ningning doing right now?"

"Little Star, do you think Ningning will be angry if I call her?"

He learned the word "make a phone call" from Yu Luoning.

Ningning is really interesting. Every time we talk on the phone, she can tell us a lot of new things that he has never heard of before.

She could always easily make him blush.

But Ningning wouldn't let him call her first; he had to wait for her to call him first.

Ningning said that because she is very busy, if you call her often, she might not be able to answer because she is busy, and she is afraid that if she misses the call, she will feel disappointed.

She's always like that, considerately taking care of other people's feelings.

However, for three whole days, she didn't call herself once.

What is she doing? Is she in danger again?

Xingqi's world is too small.

He found that besides cultivating, he thought about Ningning every day.

He became more and more adept at thinking about her.

Meanwhile, in the temple directly above the Star-Picking Palace, Yue Qi, who had just severed his connection with Cui Xiu's consciousness, was sitting cross-legged on a white jade lotus platform.

A faint blush appeared on his spotless skin.

The terrifying sensations transmitted by Cui Xiu inside the coffin were still haunting him.

He was almost swallowed up by the fervor.

idiot!

He was repeatedly manipulated by a female cultivator from the mortal realm.

Yue Qi gritted his teeth. He really didn't want to admit that Cui Xiu, that shameful thing, had split off from him.

He took a deep breath to suppress the strange sensation in his body.

When his divine sense inadvertently swept across the entire Star Palace, he saw Xing Qi staring blankly at the conch shell again.

When Yue Qi heard the name Ning Ning, he froze.

An indescribable sense of absurdity overwhelmed him like a tidal wave.

The lingering warmth of Cui Xiu's passionate kiss with that woman strangely intertwined with Xing Qi's clear voice.

The color drained from Yue Qi's face instantly, and an intense sense of self-loathing welled up inside her.

Dirty!

The next moment, Yue Qi had already flashed in front of Xing Qi.

"elder brother?"

Xing Qi was startled. Her pure and innocent face went blank as she looked up at him, blinking in bewilderment.

"Has your brother finished his seclusion?"

Yue Qi slowly stepped forward, suppressing her agitation, and gently stroked Xing Qi's soft hair with a hand.

He said, "Xing'er, don't think about her anymore, okay?"

Xing Qi was taken aback, then retorted with a hint of grievance, "Why? I promised you I wouldn't go out anymore, so why do you have to interfere with what I think?"

"She...may not be as good as you think. If you want friends, how about I catch a few high-level spirit beasts for you to keep you company?"

"They were living peacefully on Spirit Beast Mountain, why capture them and confine them to this small space? Brother, this is wrong."

Yue Qi was speechless for a moment.

Yue Qi silently withdrew his hand, his fingers clenched tightly under his wide sleeves, and a hint of killing intent flashed subtly in his eyes.

Yu Luoning...

Perhaps he was too kind from the beginning; a short pain is worse than a long one.

He shouldn't have let this variable live in the world in the first place.

"What if she has other loved ones in the mortal world?"

Yueqi asked.

Xing Qi lowered his head slightly, looking dejected, and said, "Although I'll be very sad, it's good that another person likes her and protects her. After all, I can't always be by Ningning's side..."

Upon hearing this, Yue Qi's heart skipped a beat.

I suddenly experienced a feeling of disappointment and frustration.

He really doesn't understand anything...

"Xing'er, go and cultivate." Yue Qi closed his eyes and said no more.

Xing Qi nodded obediently. He stood up, turned around and walked a few steps, but then turned back.

"Brother, I really miss Ningning. Once Xing'er has mastered the Divine Oracle Array, could you let Xing'er go out to see her?"

Yueqi remained silent.

Seeing his reaction, Xingqi's starry eyes instantly went dark.

He paused, then said, "Then... could we invite Ningning over to play?"

"The Star Palace has set up an ancient formation, so she can't get in."

"Then let me go to... my brother's palace. Just borrow it for a bit. Anyway, my brother's palace is very close to mine. Going to my brother's palace doesn't count as leaving the divine realm."

"No," Yue Qi replied coldly.

Xingqi was still unwilling to give up, his eyes pleading, "Then brother, could you temporarily shield me from the array for a few breaths? Just so they won't know Ningning was here!"

Yue Qi's long eyelashes drooped slightly, and after a moment, her voice was so soft it was almost ethereal, "...Alright. Only half an hour."

Before he finished speaking, Xing Qi's face lit up with a bright smile.

He was very excited. He had thought he could only ask for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, but his brother had taken pity on him and agreed to grant him half an hour.

He had to make a call and quickly share this good news with Ningning.

Xingqi barely cared about anything else and started tapping the conch shell.

A flash of inspiration struck, and the connection was established at the other end of the conch shell.

"Hello~ Hello~ Moshi~ Moshi~" came the familiar and unique greeting from the other end of the phone, clearly indicating that the other party was in a very good mood.

Xing Qi chuckled, her eyes curving into crescent moons: "Ning Ning."

"Missed me?" Yu Luoning, who had just escaped death, teased in a lighthearted tone.

Xingqi obediently admitted, "...Yeah, I missed you."

"Was it a sudden, whimsical idea, or something you've been longing for?"

He heard a woman teasing him with a smile, and for some reason, Xingqi felt his face burning.

He replied, "I long for it day and night."

A clear, crisp female voice came from the other end of the conch shell.

"What a coincidence, I've been longing for it day and night too."

Yue Qi, who was standing half a step away from Xing Qi, frowned slightly.

This woman is all talk and no action; she truly has a different face for different people.

He suddenly understood Cui Xiu a little.

Meanwhile, Xing Qi couldn't wait to share the good news with Yu Luoning.

Upon hearing this, Yu Luoning's eyebrows curved into a smile, unable to believe it.

"You...your brother really agreed?"

"Yes, brother has agreed, as long as I cultivate the Divine Oracle Array."

"That's wonderful. Xing'er, I'll be waiting for your good news, waiting for the day we meet again."

"Okay, Ningning, wait for me."

Xing Qiyi reluctantly cut off the telepathic transmission, and the spiritual light on the conch gradually dimmed.

He was still immersed in the joy of the phone call he had just had, as well as the disappointment of having to part ways temporarily.

A lingering smile played on his lips, but when he subconsciously looked up, the smile froze on his face, and he looked somewhat embarrassed.

Yue Qi was still standing to the side.

She looked down at him, her eyes as cold and deep as a still pool.

Xing Qi was startled and felt incredibly guilty for some reason.

He blurted out, "Brother, why are you still here?"

Upon hearing this, the coldness in Yue Qi's eyes almost overflowed.

Why are you still here?

If he weren't there, how could he have personally heard how that mortal female cultivator used flirtatious tones to seduce his innocent younger brother?

In his mind, the absurd scene of Cui Xiu and that woman passionately kissing and entangled resurfaced once again.

Without uttering a word, Yue Qi, his face ashen, vanished into thin air, leaving behind a completely bewildered Xing Qi.

Xing Qi puffed out his cheeks, looking rather helpless.

My brother is even jealous of Ningning.

They will each have their own partners in the future, and they will all need to learn to be independent.

If my brother had a lover, he wouldn't be jealous.