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

Cui Xiu had never felt so powerless, even though he possessed a magical artifact capable of forcibly detaining remnant souls.

However, without exception, all those magical artifacts require the remnant soul to be actively drawn into them.

But that old hag Lianfei clearly refused to leave.

If it is forcibly removed, Yu Luoning will be the one who suffers.

Just then, Cui Xiu seemed to feel the protective light outside Zhexue Peak tremble slightly.

His narrow purple eyes narrowed slightly as he probed with his divine sense, and he couldn't help but chuckle, "These two have arrived at just the right time."

Yu Luoning looked bewildered and asked, "Who's here?"

Cui Xiu said irritably, "Who else could it be but your lover, of course."

Yu Luoning's eyes lit up.

Could it be the time of year? Has he finally returned safely from the secret realm?

Her anxiety had eased somewhat, and she instinctively tugged at Cui Xiu's sleeve, saying happily, "Quick, quick, come with me to pick them up."

Cui Xiu pursed her lips, remaining silent, a chill emanating from her. She said, "He's back, and you're that happy?"

Yu Luoning felt a little guilty and uneasy under his gaze, so she quickly softened her tone and coaxed softly, "Xiuxiu, don't be so sarcastic. You are all the people I cherish the most, and I treat you all equally."

Cui Xiu scoffed, "Don't believe your nonsense. Don't be too surprised when you get there."

Yu Luoning was baffled and was about to ask when the two appeared in front of Zhexue Peak.

A cold wind howled past, lifting Yu Luoning's snow-white skirt, and her jet-black hair fluttered in the wind, making her face appear even more fair and delicate.

At that moment, when she saw the scene in front of the mountain gate, she was caught off guard and froze on the spot, her mind blank.

Shi Shangxu stood calmly on the left, dressed in a green robe like bamboo, while beside him was a man in red robes with a distinctive phoenix ornament in his hair.

Who else could this person be but Feng Qiguang?

How could the two of them appear in front of her at the same time? Could it be that today is Yu Luoning's trial day in a hellish arena?

Yu Luoning glanced at Feng Qiguang, then at Shi Shangxu, quickly observing their expressions.

Shi Shangxu remained calm, and Feng Qiguang showed no sarcasm. The two even stood quite close together, looking like good brothers.

Yu Luoning's heart skipped a beat, instinctively feeling that something must have happened between the two of them.

She felt utterly exhausted.

He wanted to tell Shi Shangxu about Feng Qiguang and the others in private, but he couldn't find a suitable opportunity.

This is what they call "what you fear most is what happens." She's completely doomed now; she doesn't even need to explain (or try to justify herself).

Yu Luoning hesitated, then asked, "Why...did you all come together?"

Feng Qiguang replied, "I accidentally stumbled into the secret realm and came out of it with him."

Shi Shangxu stepped forward, nodded to Cui Xiu, and then asked Yu Luoning, "I've heard about the siege by the seven families from the outer realms. Did they do anything to you?"

Yu Luoning shook her head. Cui Xiu crossed her arms, her long, dark purple eyes filled with mockery, and slowly said, "Ningning, why don't you prepare to introduce me?"

Yu Luoning suddenly looked at him, puffed out her cheeks, and said, "You clearly know them all."

Cui Xiu said calmly, "It's one thing for me to know you, but how you introduce me is another matter entirely."

Yu Luoning fell silent. How could she explain?

Could it be that this is the man I've cultivated with, and that is the man I've cultivated with, and you are all the men I've cultivated with?

Even if she were shameless, she wouldn't say something like that.

"We're all good brothers."

Cui Xiu immediately raised an eyebrow. "Good brother?"

Cui Xiu did it on purpose, deliberately bringing up this topic just to see her embarrass herself.

Yu Luoning glared at him and said angrily, "Are you bored? You always give me these kinds of difficult questions."

A cool smile flickered across Cui Xiu's thin lips. "Not bad."

Yu Luoning sighed. Things had already come to this point, so she decided to go all out. Her face turned bright red, she stomped her foot, and gritted her teeth.

"Now that you've all met, I have nothing to hide anymore. In short... you're all my men, brothers from the same womb. From now on, you'll be sharing the same bed, and no one is allowed to fight amongst themselves."

After he finished speaking, the air seemed to fall into an eerie silence.

Shi Shangxu's usually serene face instantly flushed red, and his ears burned.

Feng Qiguang was also slightly taken aback, and the tips of her ears turned red. Even Cui Xiu, who had been watching the show, froze with a smile.

The three people: "..."

Yu Luoning didn't care how petrified they were. Before they could recover, she used a teleportation technique to fly back to the ice palace at the top of Zhexue Peak.

That's terrifying. Luckily, Bai Rongling is still in seclusion recovering from her injuries. If she had run into that again, she wouldn't have been able to explain herself even if she had ten mouths.

Before long, a series of steady footsteps sounded, and the three of them entered the ice palace one after another.

The ice palace was chillingly cold, and the atmosphere inexplicably became eerie.

Feng Qiguang and Shi Shangxu were unusually calm, but the more calm they were, the more panicked Yu Luoning felt.

She took small steps closer to Feng Qiguang, reached out and squeezed his palm. "Little Phoenix, you've gotten so thin these past few days!"

Suddenly she exclaimed in surprise, "You've broken through to the Purple Mansion realm?"

Feng Qiguang took her fingers in his palm and laughed, "I have to thank the Phoenix Blood Stone you gave me for making such rapid progress."

While Yu Luoning was happy for him, she glanced at Shi Shangxu standing to the side.

Could it be that Shi Shangxu already knows? Oh dear, the worst thing you can do when trying to please someone is to show favoritism.

She quickly pulled her hand away and leaned closer to Shi Shangxu, "Cousin, what did you talk about on your journey through the secret realm?"

Feng Qiguang glanced at Shi Shangxu.

Shi Shangxu said, "It's nothing."

Feng Xiguang also said, "Some trivial matters."

Upon hearing the words "nothing special," Yu Luoning immediately became alert.

Previously, after Cui Xiu and Bai Rongling removed the soundproof light shield, they also said it was nothing.

If there's nothing, then there must be something.

A wave of guilt washed over her, and Yu Luoning's eyes reddened slightly. She said to the two of them, "Cousin, I didn't mean to keep it from you. I was just afraid you would feel bad. Don't worry, I will never favor one over the other in the future. Whatever Little Phoenix has, you will have too..."

Seeing her self-reproachful expression, Shi Shangxu felt sorry for her and said, "Do you think I'm the kind of person who would fuss over something like this? As long as you're safe and sound, I don't ask for anything else."

Yu Luoning: "..."

Yu Luoning felt even worse. No matter how eloquent she was, she didn't know what to say at this moment.

Just as the emotional atmosphere was about to reach its peak, Cui Xiu, who was standing to the side, finally couldn't stand it anymore.

Suddenly, he spoke up, "Alright, let's stop catching up after we deal with that old hag. We'll have time to talk behind closed doors."

Neither Shi Shangxu nor Feng Qiguang knew about Lianfei's situation.

Upon seeing this, Yu Luoning briefly explained why the seven families from the outer realms had besieged them and what Lian Fei had hidden in the inheritance jade slip.

After hearing her story, Feng Qiguang and Shi Shangxu's expressions immediately turned serious.

"You mean, if you forcibly separate her, she'll drag you down with her?"

Feng Qiguang frowned deeply and couldn't help but curse, "That old hag is truly despicable."

"Indeed, otherwise I would have smashed her to pieces long ago." Cui Xiuzi's eyes narrowed slightly, and her whole body surged with killing intent.

Shi Shangxu seemed to be deep in thought, then suddenly raised his hand and opened his palm.