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

Yu Luoning tensed up. She turned around abruptly, only to find that Shen Shui Shu Peng had appeared behind her at some point.

This person was dressed in flashy clothes, and his fox-like eyes were narrowed into slits as he stared at her with a smile.

This person's cultivation level was as unfathomable as Bai Rongling's; Yu Luoning couldn't fathom its depth at all.

Appearing in front of her at this moment is definitely not a good thing.

Shenshui Shupeng laughed and said, "You really surprised me. You can actually control birds? Little kid, that scene just now looked pretty impressive."

A cold sweat broke out on Yu Luoning's back. She had dared to use it openly when facing Pan Maoxin earlier.

It was because Pan Maoxin, this spoiled brat, was only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and there was no way to tell that she was anything unusual.

But who knows how long this person has been lurking around? What if he notices something?

Yu Luoning's heart was in her throat, but she forced a smile.

Seeing her wary expression, Shenshui Shupeng feigned innocence: "Don't be nervous, little one. I'm not interested in your secrets. I'm here on the orders of the Palace Master to ask you to come."

Bai Rongling?

Yu Luoning frowned: "What does he want with me?"

Shenshui Shupeng shrugged and said, "I don't know. He didn't say, and I didn't ask."

Yu Luoning had no choice but to leave with Shenshui Shupeng, leaving with him.

Shenshui Shupeng was a restless person. While hovering in the air and riding the wind, he turned his head to glance at Yu Luoning.

"Little friend, we've been chatting for so long, and I still don't know your name. What's your name?"

Yu Luoning obediently replied, "Junior Luoning."

"Oh~ Ningning." Shenshui Shupeng drawled out the sound.

Yu Luoning: "..."

No, are we that close?

Shenshui Shupeng completely ignored Yu Luoning's changing expression, and sighed resentfully, "But why didn't you just ask my name?"

Yu Luoning rolled her eyes inwardly, but remained outwardly respectful: "How dare someone like me, a nobody, inquire about the name of a senior like you?"

Shenshui Shupeng said, "Alas, you are mistaken, you are mistaken."

"I have always been a kind person, and I never consider the level of cultivation or spiritual attainment when making friends."

Yu Luoning's lips twitched slightly. "Then... how should I address you, senior?"

Shen Shui Shu Peng composed himself, paused for a moment, and said, "Shu... Peng."

Yu Luoning was taken aback and blinked.

Even Shu Peng's smile isn't as sweet as yours.

Yu Luoning's face went blank. Oh no, this song is going to be playing on repeat in her head all day.

Yu Luoning forced a smile, "What a... nice name, sparkling like a star... haha."

Two streaks of light left long tails in the air as Yu Luoning followed Shenshui Shupeng through the dense jungle, eventually arriving at the edge of a secluded deep pool.

The water there was extremely clear and transparent.

In the center of the pool, a circle of spiritual springs tirelessly gushes upwards, the bubbles gurgling and rolling, and wisps of spiritual mist rising from them.

Yu Luoning's gaze fell on the misty spring water, where she could clearly feel the endless vitality that seemed to be contained within it.

She secretly released a wisp of her divine sense, which bounced back as if it had hit an invisible wall when it approached the spring.

Array formation or barrier?

She didn't have time to think, because she saw a young man standing by the green pool.

The man still wore his signature veil, the light white gauze fluttering in the wind, like a celestial being who had mistakenly descended to the mortal world.

Amidst the swirling white aura, it possesses an air of aloofness that captivates at first glance.

Bai Rongling?

Yu Luoning's heart skipped a beat.

Meeting this person was definitely not a good thing. She toned down her usual joking and instantly transformed into an obedient and docile little lamb.

Shenshui Shupeng stepped forward and said with a smile, "Young master, I've brought you a little beauty."

Bai Rongling glanced sideways, her clear eyes revealing an unfathomable depth.

Yu Luoning lowered his head respectfully and said, "May I ask what brings you here, young master?"

Bai Rongling slowly turned around, her clothes fluttering in the wind.

With a slight lift of her sculpted white fingers, she pointed to the spiritual spring in the center of the pool.

"I know you possess spatial magic; you teleported Cui Xiu to a strange space. Now, I need you to activate your spatial abilities and release that person."

Yu Luoning suddenly raised her head, her heart skipping a beat.

The soul-searching technique from last time failed after all. Did this person notice the portraits of handsome men in his sea of ​​consciousness?

Yu Luoning felt a little flustered, but then she remembered that the "Handsome Men's Compendium" was produced by the system, and she didn't believe that this person was so powerful that he even knew about the existence of the system.

The air was silent for a moment. Yu Luoning did not rush to speak, but instead kept trying to figure out Bai Rongling's intentions.

It's obvious that the other party is after Choi Soo.

She couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Yu Luoning coughed lightly and smiled, "Of course, that's no problem. I'll do as you say, young master. Will you let me leave afterwards?"

Bai Rongling looked at Yu Luoning.

The female cultivator in front of me wore a light blue dress and stood by the pool, looking like a magnolia shivering in the wind—she was incredibly beautiful.

Unfortunately, he saw through the other person's anxiety with just one glance.

Bai Rongling said softly, "If you can lure Cui Xiu out, I naturally won't mind sparing your life. But if anything goes wrong with you, I can't guarantee what will happen."

Bai Rongling's exquisite mask, hidden beneath a veil, reflected a cool light, exuding a chilling aura even through layers of disguise.

Yu Luoning thought to herself that she and Cui Xiu had become mortal enemies, and if she really let Cui Xiu out, she would definitely be in deep trouble.

But if she doesn't listen to Bai Rongling, she'll also be in danger.

Yu Luoning was in a state of turmoil, her mind torn between two conflicting thoughts.

She kept weighing the pros and cons: was it more likely to escape from Cui Xiu's clutches, or from the clutches of this man surnamed Bai?

A second later, Yu Luoning decisively backed down, deciding to get through this hurdle first. Anyway, she could get Cui Xiuer into the palace, so she could just send him in for a third time if necessary.

Yu Luoning lightly tapped the pebbles under her feet, and her whole body floated in the air. She formed a hand seal, and a purple magic seal appeared out of thin air above the spring.

As expected, when a gap appeared in the space, a figure gradually emerged in the blinding light. A man in purple stepped out, exuding overwhelming rage and pressure, like a demon lord descending to earth.

"Ningning, I said I'd see you again, and I'd make you beg for mercy while you cry..."

Cui Xiu spoke through gritted teeth, but before he could finish, his gaze fell on Bai Rongling by the pool. He paused slightly, and his expression softened.

"Oh, so that's why you dared to let me out. So... Ningning found a gigolo to help her?"

Yu Luoning sneered and said, "Pah! Let me tell you! He's not some helper, he's my newly recognized boss. You bullied me like that before. Even my boss couldn't stand it anymore, so he's here today to deal with you, you vixen."

An eerie, deathly silence fell over the air.

Bai Rongling tilted her head, her gaze slowly falling on Yu Luoning, as if she were looking at an idiot.

Yu Luoning coughed lightly, his expression unchanged and his heart unmoved. "Young master, I have done all I can. Now, it is up to you to show your great power."

As she spoke, Yu Luoning took a small step away.

Bai Rongling took in her every move and her lips twitched.