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

"Choi Soo?"

Even if Yu Luoning was oblivious, she could sense that something was amiss.

She slowed her pace and looked cautiously at Cui Xiu, at his eyes which held a hint of melancholy.

Could it be that he went mad after going into seclusion? Why do I feel like I'm in a bad mood?

Moreover, the way he looked at her carried a hint of inexplicable resentment.

Yu Luoning immediately wanted to shrink herself countless times and hide in a corner.

She slowly withdrew her movement, which was about to pounce, and finally gently hooked the belt around his waist and swayed it.

Are you unhappy?

Cui Xiu lowered his eyes, looking at her slender, swaying wrist. A strange sense of irritation welled up in his heart, but it subsided a little as if something had tugged at him.

He took a deep breath and gave a soft "hmm".

"no."

Did she think she was blind? Those resentful eyes made it seem as if Yu Luoning had done something utterly despicable, something that would incur the wrath of heaven and man.

During the time Cui Xiu was in seclusion, she was very well-behaved, okay? Apart from going to the main peak, she didn't pay any attention to any of the prodigies.

The encyclopedia entries are all lit up like light bulbs; even the Queen of the Sea is going out of character and her personality is being reversed.

She's having such a hard time!

Suddenly, as if remembering something, Yu Luoning's eyes lit up, and she said, "Cui Xiu, come with me."

After saying that, he grabbed Cui Xiu and ran towards the mountain peak without further ado.

Cui Xiu pursed her lips, letting that hand lead her.

The two walked through the wind and snow until Yu Luoning stopped.

Cui Xiu raised her head blankly, completely stunned.

But then he saw a huge ice sculpture lying across the wind and snow, its face and features exactly like his own.

"Every time I miss you, I carve a stroke, and before I knew it, I had carved so many!" Yu Luoning turned her head, her eyes gazing at him tenderly.

Cui Xiu stood there, silent for a long time. He felt that all the irritation he had felt these past few days because of that Dao Embryo had become somewhat ridiculous.

Cui Xiu's Adam's apple bobbed slightly; he was unsettled, and the words he wanted to say rolled between his lips and teeth several times.

"Ningning, do you like...?" Do you like children?

Before the words were finished, a loud crash of ice collapsing rang out.

The two looked at the same time and saw that the ice sculpture opposite them seemed to be unstable internally, and several cracks had appeared. In just a few breaths, the majestic statue collapsed into small pieces of ice.

Yu Luoning was shocked and quickly flew away on her sword, desperately using water escape techniques to forcibly freeze the remaining ice shards together.

Oh no, I used to complain about shoddy construction projects all my life, but I didn't expect I'd be any better off.

A broken ice sculpture of a human figure carries a very bad omen.

Yu Luoning was in a state of agitation. While rapidly freezing the ice shards with cold water in the low temperature, her mind raced.

Looking at the now unrecognizable ice sculpture, Yu Luoning's beautiful eyes furrowed.

Suddenly, something sparked in her mind.

She smiled and said to Cui Xiu, "I have calculated that you are destined to face a calamity, but fortunately, this ice sculpture of mine has taken the calamity for you. Rest assured, you will be safe and well in the future, and all misfortunes will stay away from you."

Cui Xiu slightly tugged at the corner of her mouth.

He gave an "oh," and said with a casual smile, "So, I should thank you properly?"

Yu Luoning dared not let him thank her properly, and quickly raised her hand and said, "You're welcome, you're welcome."

After letting out a sigh of relief, she suddenly blinked, as if remembering something, and asked with a puzzled look, "But... just now, before the ice sculpture shattered, weren't you trying to say something to me?"

Cui Xiu lowered her eyes and looked away indifferently, her Adam's apple bobbing. After a long while, she squeezed out a few words, "It's nothing."

Yu Luoning responded with an "oh" and didn't press the matter further.

Snowflakes drifted down onto Cui Xiu's shoulders, making his purple robes look even more beautiful than those of this world.

"Have you left Zhexue Peak during this time?" Cui Xiu asked casually.

Yu Luoning was taken aback for a moment, "Not these days."

Cui Xiu remained silent for a while, then spoke somewhat awkwardly, "...So you didn't go looking for him either?"

Yu Luoning instantly understood what he meant and laughed heartily.

"No, my cousin went on an adventure in the secret realm with them, and even asked me if I wanted to join them."

Cui Xiu's eyelashes fluttered slightly.

Yu Luoning paused deliberately, then said with a grin, "Oh, I want to go too, but unfortunately, I'm a person of my word. I promised you that I would be the first person you see after you come out of seclusion."

"So? Did I keep my word?"

A secret joy involuntarily rose in Cui Xiu's narrow phoenix eyes.

He looked at her, his heart fluttering slightly, and unconsciously took her soft hand in his own and pulled it towards him.

He reached out and ruffled her hair again, then suddenly, Cui Xiu's fingers paused.

In that instant, he realized something was wrong.

Cui Xiu swept her spiritual power over him, and after a moment, her expression gradually turned cold, carrying a hint of oppression. "Who injured your soul?"

Yu Luoning stammered, her voice trailing off, "It's nothing, actually I went to the sect and ran into some trouble..."

"I almost didn't make it back..."

Cui Xiu angrily said, "You're usually so eloquent, why are you being so hesitant now? Tell me, who was the fool who messed with you?"

Yu Luoning remained silent. "The Pan family."

She ultimately didn't reveal that Cheng Min had plotted against her.

Back then, when she was trying to reach the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, Cheng Min arrived at the crucial moment to protect her and stabilize her foundation.

He is still the mouse's old friend.

Yu Luoning felt that she wasn't exactly a good person either. She was able to retaliate in a good-natured manner after being schemed against, but she had to repay the life-saving favor, so she decided to let bygones be bygones.

Meanwhile, Cui Xiu's terrifying pressure almost got out of control, the surrounding temperature plummeted, and snowflakes froze in the air.

Yu Luoning was suddenly startled by his posture.

However, seeing Cui Xiu's supportive attitude, Yu Luoning felt a warmth in her heart, and a gentle light shone in her eyes.

"Let's go." Cui Xiu's voice was cold.

Yu Luoning: "Where to?"

Cui Xiu gritted her teeth: "Settle the score!"

/

When Elder Pan died, the Pan family, a large clan-like family, was in complete panic.

At this moment, all the core leaders of Dongbao Shangzong were present in the Enforcement Hall.

On either side of the main hall stood the peak masters of Sword Peak, Beast Taming Peak, and other peaks, as well as the law enforcement elders of the Law Enforcement Hall.

The one sitting in the main seat was still the sect leader, Cheng Min.

The atmosphere in the entire hall was oppressive, and everyone's face was solemn.

The Pan family members turned pale. The leader of the Pan family, the first generation of the family, spoke in a cold and solemn voice, "How could my father have suddenly perished? He was a Nascent Soul cultivator."

"My Pan family has made numerous contributions to the Dongbao Sect, and we have worked diligently all these years. You must give us an explanation."

Cheng Min rubbed her temples, opened her eyes, and said in a deep voice, "Seek justice? How many prodigies have perished on the top floor of the library over the years? You want me to give you an explanation, but how do you plan to explain yourself to your sect?"

The Pan family patriarch still wanted to try, saying, "You're just listening to the nonsense of a rat. That newly initiated inner disciple was unharmed. He even stole the Supreme Sword Intent of the Primordial Desolation and killed my father. How do you intend to settle this score?"

"She is Zhe Xuefeng's disciple," an elder whispered a reminder.

The Pan family patriarch's voice weakened slightly, "That person possesses extraordinary strength; naturally, I cannot cause her trouble."

"But my father died and his cultivation vanished. Even if he had a thousand faults, he still deserves credit for his hard work over the years. My Pan family has lost a Nascent Soul cultivator, which has severely weakened us. Doesn't the sect have any intention of showing any concern?"

At this moment, the Pan family elders and other members below began to echo each other.

"Yes, Sect Master, if the sect doesn't offer any response, I'm afraid it will discourage everyone. Who will be willing to fight and risk their lives for the sect in the future?"

"My Pan family doesn't ask for much. We only ask that the sect open an inner sect passage for my Pan family in the future, so that our Pan family disciples can enter the sect to cultivate."

"Furthermore, my son Pan Maoxin has excellent potential and will be a pillar of the Pan family in the future. He should at least be granted a position as a true disciple..."

One demand after another bombarded Cheng Min's head, and he frowned slightly, remaining silent.

Just then, the air grew increasingly oppressive.

A few snowflakes suddenly drifted into the main peak area, which is usually spring-like all year round.

Everyone felt a chill run through their bodies and couldn't help but shrink back.

Looking back, two figures had already torn through the void and descended upon the place outside the Hall of Law Enforcement.