Dual Cultivation System: My Cultivation Was Crippled, So I Rely on Intimacy to Level Up

Chapter 267: A Sense of Deja Vu

Ten days later.

The radiance of the Dark Cloud Soul Chasing Sedan dimmed, and the sedan door opened silently.

Zhou Kai stepped out first. He stretched lazily, his joints popping satisfyingly. His entire body felt lighter, utterly refreshed.

The Mysterious Nether Precious Mirror was indeed miraculous. In just ten days, the injuries in his Consciousness Sea had completely healed, and his Divine Sense had become even more resilient than before.

Behind him, Li Youci emerged with graceful, fluid movements.

Her pretty face was slightly flushed. She glared daggers at Zhou Kai’s back, her eyes clearly screaming, “You just wait!”

Although she had technically been “on top” as demanded, Zhou Kai—a dual cultivator of body and technique—had endless stamina and a bag full of tricks. He had thoroughly subdued her, leaving her completely defeated in their “battle.”

As soon as they left the cave dwelling, they spotted a Transmission Talisman floating at the entrance.

Not far away stood Li Qiwen. His face was so dark it looked like it could drip ink.

“Big Brother!” Li Youci’s eyes lit up. She floated over to him, not forgetting to glance back at Zhou Kai with her chin raised high. Her expression was smug: See? This is my Big Brother! Even if I can’t beat you, he can!

Zhou Kai walked forward and cupped his hands in a respectful salute. “Greetings, Young Master.”

“Ten days of Secluded Cultivation. Quite fruitful, I assume?” Li Qiwen’s voice was flat, betraying no emotion, but Zhou Kai could sense the suppressed volcano of anger beneath the surface.

Li Youci, of course, understood her brother perfectly. She immediately chimed in, “Brother, you have no idea! We were competing with Divine Sense inside. He was no match for me at all! I suppressed him and beat him for a full ten days!”

“Shut up!” Li Qiwen snapped, though the shout lacked real heat. He ignored his sister and turned his solemn gaze back to Zhou Kai.

“An old acquaintance of my father—the Shu Family Patriarch—will soon celebrate his five hundredth birthday. He is an early Nascent Soul cultivator and has sent an invitation.”

Zhou Kai raised an eyebrow internally. Li Juefeng was a late Nascent Soul powerhouse. The Shu Patriarch was only at the early stage. If they were truly close friends, Li Qiwen or Li Youci would be going personally, bearing heavy gifts.

Instead, Li Qiwen wasn’t going. He was standing here with a dark face just to relay a message.

The term “old acquaintance” was clearly watered down. It was likely a mere nodding acquaintance—a formality that required a polite but minimal response.

Sure enough, Li Qiwen continued. “Before the birthday banquet, the Shu Family is holding an appreciation gathering for fellow cultivators to exchange treasures. There will be rare items, possibly even an auction. You can go take a look; you might find something useful.”

As he spoke, he flipped his wrist. An invitation covered in golden silk restrictions appeared in his palm, alongside a shimmering, watery pearl.

“This is the congratulatory gift. The Water Curtain Pearl.”

He handed both the invitation and the gift directly to Zhou Kai. The message was clear: You are leading the delegation.

“You decide the personnel yourself. You are now a Golden Core cultivator and considered a junior of the Li Family. Your status is sufficient.”

At this point, Li Qiwen glanced at his pouting sister.

Zhou Kai almost laughed. If we’re going by Li Yunmian’s seniority, you, Li Qiwen, are practically my grand-nephew.

Li Qiwen seemed to read his mind. He added irritably, “Besides, you are the disciple of our Li Family’s direct-line Young Lady. In terms of status and realm, you are qualified for this trip.”

The strange amusement in Zhou Kai’s eyes wasn’t completely hidden. Li Qiwen caught a glimpse of it, and his face darkened a few shades further. He quickly turned his head away, as if afraid that looking any longer would make him lose control and attack.

He shoved the invitation and the pearl into Zhou Kai’s hands and turned to leave.

“Pick whoever you want. Set off as soon as possible. Don’t delay!”

Zhou Kai returned to his cave dwelling and spread out the map of the Eastern Region.

The Shu Family’s ancestral land, Meixi Slope, was situated right at the northernmost edge of the Heavenly Spring Sect’s sphere of influence. The map indicated that Meixi Slope was independent, not a vassal.

Who should I take?

Zhou Kai quietly expanded his Divine Sense to scan his territory.

Xie Zhifei was busy. His blade aura surged, sharp and peerless. Having successfully broken through to the first layer of Golden Core, he was currently instructing Fang Lizhe.

Fang Lizhe, stubborn as ever, was drenched in sweat. He was being pressed into the dirt by Xie Zhifei’s Aura Pressure, yet he kept fighting, shouting between gasps.

“Brother Feiyang! Once my blade technique reaches Great Achievement… our ‘Fei-Zhe Combo’ will shake the Eastern Region! Invincible under heaven!”

“Naturally!” Gao Feiyang tossed his hair back, watching from the sidelines. “I’ll clear the way with Talismans, suppress the formation with puppets, and you’ll slaughter them left and right! Gaga!”

Zhou Kai moved his focus.

Chen Ziyi was feeding pellets to the Split-Back Katydid swarm. Nearby, Chen Ziqing was collecting spirit honey from the buzzing Quenching Spirit Bees. In the medicine garden, Xiahe was tending to the herbs.

Shen Hanyi sat in deep meditation in her own dojo. Lin Zhiwei and Fish Baibai were nowhere to be seen—likely in Secluded Cultivation. Li Lanyin and Chuntao were busy raising the demonic beasts.

Zhou Kai frowned. Xie Zhifei and Fang Lizhe were socially inept. The Chen sisters and Xiahe were tied down by their duties. Shen Hanyi was too cold, and the others were unavailable.

This trip represented the Li Family. He needed someone who understood etiquette, acted meticulously, and could uphold the family’s prestige.

After mentally eliminating everyone, one name popped into his mind.

Mo Qianyuan.

She lived between Yantian Peak’s Yunmeng Residence—where she stayed with Li Yunmian—her own shop, “Material Brilliance” at the Three Watches Market, and Zhou Kai’s cave dwelling.

Three points in a line. Regular as clockwork.

She was always cultivating, crafting Talismans, or managing the shop. She was never idle. Her meticulous, perfectionist nature was exactly what this occasion required.

She was at the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment and was Li Yunmian’s Personal Disciple. In terms of status, she was the perfect choice to accompany him.

It’s her.

Zhou Kai made up his mind, rose into the air, and flew toward Yantian Peak.

One month later.

A jade-green Spirit Boat parted the clouds, slowly descending toward a stretch of rolling hills.

The interior of the cabin was spotless. Every item was neatly arranged. Even the Jade Slips Zhou Kai had casually tossed onto the table were now categorized and labeled with elegant tags.

All this was Mo Qianyuan’s handiwork. Over the past month, Zhou Kai had truly experienced the depth of his Senior Sister’s obsessive-compulsive tendencies.

Before the Spirit Boat had even stopped, Mo Qianyuan stood up to adjust her appearance.

She cast a cleansing spell to brush away non-existent dust from her light cyan Daoist robe. Then, facing a water mirror, she meticulously re-combed her already perfect hair, ensuring not a single strand was out of place.

Only when she was satisfied did she turn to Zhou Kai.

He was leaning casually against the railing, watching the scenery below with interest.

“Husband.” Mo Qianyuan’s voice was clear and cool. “Straighten your collar.”

Zhou Kai looked down. His collar was slightly open—hardly improper.

Mo Qianyuan walked over without hesitation. She smoothed his collar and brushed an imaginary speck of dust from his shoulder. “When traveling abroad, one’s conduct, posture, and appearance must be flawless. We cannot disgrace the reputation of Yantian Peak.”

Zhou Kai was both amused and exasperated, but he let her fuss over him.

“Understood, Senior Sister.”

They disembarked, and Zhou Kai waved his hand, storing the Spirit Boat in his Storage Bag.

Before them lay a Mortal town. Cooking smoke curled upward into the sky, and footpaths crisscrossed the fields. Occasionally, they sensed the weak auras of low-level cultivators—mostly Qi Condensation first or second layer. These were likely peripheral clansmen of the Shu Family or their Mortal descendants.

They moved swiftly. After a quarter of an hour, the view opened up.

A bluish-grey stone wall rose from the ground. Runes carved into its surface shimmered faintly in the sunlight. Above the central gate, three large characters were inscribed:

Shu Family City

Seeing the city, Mo Qianyuan froze.

“What’s wrong?” Zhou Kai asked.

Mo Qianyuan’s delicate brows furrowed, confusion clouding her eyes. She stared at the walls and murmured, “The wind here… there’s a faint fragrance of plum blossoms. And an indescribable feeling. It’s… familiar. I feel like I’ve been here before.”

“Oh?” Zhou Kai was intrigued. “Has Qianyuan visited Meixi Slope in the past?”

“I’m not sure.” She shook her head slowly. “It feels inexplicably familiar, but the memory is blurry. Like looking through a veil.”

Zhou Kai pondered. “Cultivators have photographic memories. If you had been here, you wouldn’t have a vague impression. Could it be from when you were very young?”

Profound memories from before one started cultivation were rarely forgotten, but if they were from early childhood—or if they had been sealed—they would feel exactly as she described: faint and elusive.

Mo Qianyuan searched her memory but found only blanks. “I can’t remember,” she said finally. “Maybe it’s an illusion. If the feeling persists after we enter, I’ll send a message to ask Master.”

“Alright.” Zhou Kai didn’t push. If there was a connection, they could investigate inside.

He took out the invitation. Qi surged at his fingertips as he infused it into the gold-threaded paper.

The invitation hummed softly. The golden light on its surface flickered, then dimmed.

About the time it took for an incense stick to burn, two figures appeared in the distance, riding a broadsword like a flying surfboard. They stopped ten zhang away.

The leader was a youth in a moon-white brocade robe embroidered with silver plum blossoms. His cultivation was at the late Foundation Establishment stage. Behind him stood a younger cultivator at the mid-stage.

The leader sensed the Golden Core Aura Pressure radiating from Zhou Kai. A flash of reverence crossed his eyes, but his demeanor remained composed—neither humble nor arrogant.

The younger cultivator was far more nervous. His hand hovered subconsciously over his Storage Bag before he forced himself to follow his senior.

“Senior from the Li Family graces us with his presence!” the leader announced, bowing. “This Junior is Shu Mingxuan. I apologize for failing to welcome you from afar. Please forgive my negligence!”