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

Bai Rongling casually looked around, her gaze soon drawn to a sea of ​​purple flowers within a constant-temperature array.

In the vibrant little garden, purple flowers and plants are particularly abundant.

Bai Rongling raised an eyebrow, her gaze involuntarily falling on Cui Xiu's dark purple robe.

Purple stamens sway in the wind, the delicate beauty of the flowers intertwined with the proud and noble strength, creating a harmonious blend.

He didn't believe the purple sea of ​​flowers before him was just a coincidence; he figured it must be Yu Luoning's doing.

Bai Rongling slightly raised her eyes, her deep gaze fixed on Cui Xiu.

He didn't understand why Cui Xiu insisted on keeping him here, given their deep friendship.

They neither humiliated him by sealing his cultivation nor forced him to reveal the secrets of the Bai family.

If it were merely for humiliation, why would a Mahayana cultivator go to such lengths? What is Cui Xiu's true purpose?

Seemingly sensing his scrutiny, Cui Xiu stood before the flowers and asked, "Aren't these flowers and plants beautiful?"

Bai Rongling replied calmly, "Maintaining this constant-temperature array on a mountain peak amidst fierce winds and snow requires considerable effort."

"You spotted the key point right away."

Bai Rongling: "I do have that much insight."

Cui Xiu: "These flowers were personally selected by me and Ningning after searching all over the place."

"She said purple has a lot of charm and suits me well, so she picked out a lot of purple flowers and plants in one go."

Bai Rongling: "..."

So it's related to him?

"Your Excellency and Your Excellency share a deep and enviable affection. May you two be forever united in heart and live a long and happy life together."

"You don't need to worry about that. I and she will naturally be united in heart forever."

Cui Xiuzhi's eyes flickered slightly, and his tone rose slightly as he added, "However, what I said earlier still stands. I am very magnanimous and will allow you to stay as Ningning's concubine."

Bai Rongling laughed in exasperation.

It's not just funny, it's also incredibly unbelievable.

How could a powerful being like Cui Xiu, who was only one step away from ascending to immortality, be willing to go to such lengths for a mortal female cultivator?

What about the dignity of the strong ruling over the weak?

"No need. I reaped what I sowed in the secret realm. I am extremely lucky that Your Excellency spared my life. Now that I am in Your Excellency's hands, my life and death are in your hands."

Cui Xiu frowned slightly, thinking to herself that this person knew when to advance and retreat.

If it weren't for the fact that the person before him was also likely to have a Dao seed, Cui Xiu would have killed him without hesitation.

Thinking of this, he could only silently suppress his frustration and swallow his resentment.

He wasn't acting out of sudden kindness; he was simply thinking of Yu Luoning's best interests.

He knew better than anyone that if Bai Rongling was truly pregnant with the Dao Seed, then this child would definitely become Yu Luoning's greatest karmic burden in the future. Whether she acknowledged it or not, it would become a shackle that would hinder her cultivation.

The matter of the Abortion Spring is still unknown, so we can only keep the person under our watchful eye.

If the person has a child, he will spare their life; otherwise, he will consider whether to kill them.

Cui Xiu didn't say anything more, standing quietly on one side of the steps, looking at Bai Rongling. His gaze lingered briefly on her abdomen.

"If you experience any unusual symptoms in the next few days, please inform me."

Bai Rongling: "..."

/

Yu Luoning's dog sneakily ran out of the purple garden.

She jogged along, her feet barely touching the ground, completely oblivious to the commotion behind her.

Yu Luoning couldn't understand it more and more. She wanted to ask Cui Xiu what he was thinking, but she happened to witness that scene.

He actually cared about whether Bai Rongling's body was alright?

Her gentle yet awkward tone was completely different from the arrogant, sarcastic, and sharp-tongued manner she had when they first met.

That wretched girl has an upset stomach and keeps dry heaving.

Who was it that served him faithfully every day, rubbing his stomach without complaint?

But he's so shameless; in the blink of an eye, he's gone and started caring about some other pretty boy.

Even though Yu Luoning guessed that Cui Xiu's feelings of affection and admiration for Bai Rongling stemmed from seeing her true appearance, she still felt uncomfortable.

She looked at the other person's face, so why didn't she fall for him enough to do anything unusual?

The more I think about it, the angrier I get.

Yu Luoning took a deep breath, forcing herself to clear her mind of all the random thoughts.

He found a secluded spot on the snow-capped peak, drew his black sword with a backhand, and began to swing it wildly.

Cui Xiu arrived at some unknown time. He stood in the raging snowstorm not far away, his purple robe fluttering in the wind. As usual, he quietly watched Yu Luoning, occasionally offering a few cold words of guidance.

The training continued until nightfall, when the majestic Zhexue Peak fell into solitude.

Yu Luoning swung her sword to the side, the sword energy like a rainbow, but the next moment, the sword was firmly held by two slender fingers.

Yu Luoning paused, and Cui Xiu looked down at her, a hint of doubt in her deep eyes. "Why the change in your attitude today? Why are you so serious and hardworking?"

Yu Luoning slowly sheathed her sword. "Because... the harder you work, the happier you are!"

As he spoke, he subtly took a half-step back, creating some distance between them.

"Um, Your Majesty... please don't worry about it, go back quickly, I want to practice a little longer."

Your Excellency?

Cui Xiu was slightly taken aback, keenly sensing that something was amiss.

This nobody usually calls me Cui Yaojing or Cui Xiu, when did he ever address me so politely as "Your Excellency"?

Even his tone was distant, carrying a hint of politeness.

"Are you angry?" Cui Xiu looked at Yu Luoning in confusion.

Yu Luoning remained expressionless. "No, I'm perfectly fine. Your Excellency, you're acting strangely today. Aren't you always criticizing me for being useless and practically urging me to study and practice diligently every day? Why are you stopping me now that I'm working so hard?"

It's Your Majesty again...

Cui Xiu looked at her quietly, her strange purple eyes now shrouded in a melancholy.

In the past, whenever she got tired from practicing, she would whine and call out "Cui Yaojing" and ask to rest for a while. Today, however, she was acting strangely, calling him "Your Excellency" repeatedly, and even her smile seemed forced and deliberate.

Cui Xiu slowly stepped forward, while Yu Luoning took a step back.

Cui Xiu stopped in her tracks, watching the fine snowflakes fall onto her long eyelashes.

"Come here," Cui Xiu called softly.

Yu Luoning blinked, still acting coy, "No need, I'm fine standing here."

As she spoke, she swung her arms up and down, striking a relaxed and lively pose.

Cui Xiu felt a tightness in her chest and asked, "What's wrong with you today?"

Yu Luoning waved her hands repeatedly, looking innocent. "It's nothing. I just suddenly realized something. For cultivators, cultivation is the most important thing. What's love and romance anyway? They're just fleeting clouds."

Cui Xiu listened, her brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

He suddenly reached out his hand and said, "Give me your hand."

Yu Luoning shook her head vigorously, "No need, no need, I'm perfectly healthy, no need for a checkup. It's so late already, has Bai Rongling settled in yet?"

Cui Xiu: "No."

"Your Excellency, why don't you hurry up and settle them in? You can't just bring them back to the peak and leave them outside to fend for themselves."

Just then, as if on cue, a tall, white figure, straight as a pine tree, appeared not far away.