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

The Starfall Myriad Manifestation Hammer consisted of twelve layers. To cultivate this method, one had to temper the bones, forge the meridians, and wash the flesh with vast torrents of Vitality.

The description within the manual was nothing short of terrifying: A giant hammer shaking the heavens, drawing down the power of the nine celestial stars.

When a strike fell, it carried the momentum of a falling star. Amidst the surging Vitality, it could manifest the might of a myriad of phenomena—howling gales, cascading waterfalls, city-incinerating fire rain—all unleashed within a single swing!

By the time Zhou Kai returned to his outer sect cave abode, the sky had turned completely dark.

Wang Qiaoqiao sat on a stone stool, one hand propping up her chin, the other rapidly flicking abacus beads. She muttered numbers under her breath, clearly calculating preparations for the new shop’s grand opening.

On the other side, Lin Zhiwei and Chen Ziyi stood shoulder to shoulder. Both women had their willow-leaf brows furrowed, their expressions etched with anxiety.

“Husband, you’re finally back!”

Spotting Zhou Kai, Chen Ziyi hurried over as if she had finally found her pillar of support.

Seeing their worried faces, Zhou Kai asked, “What’s wrong?”

Chen Ziyi’s tone was frantic. “Today, after we went to the Scripture Depository to select techniques, my younger sister asked Qiaoqiao for a large sum of Spirit Stones, claiming she needed to purchase cultivation resources. But when she returned, she locked herself in the alchemy room and hasn’t come out since.”

Wang Qiaoqiao paused her abacus calculations and chimed in, “That’s right. She didn’t look quite right earlier, and she wouldn’t say a word when I asked her.”

Lin Zhiwei took over, her voice lowering slightly. “I sensed that the Spirit Qi fluctuations inside the alchemy room were extremely intense. The aura is violent and chaotic, yet her cultivation realm is climbing rapidly. I fear Ziqing may have consumed a pill that forcibly extracts potential. I checked just a moment ago—she has already broken through to the fourth layer of Qi Condensation!”

Hearing this, Zhou Kai immediately released his Divine Sense, probing straight into the alchemy room.

Just as Lin Zhiwei had said, the Spirit Qi inside was so dense it was nearly tangible, yet it was wildly turbulent. Chen Ziqing’s aura, while climbing, was extremely unstable. Her foundation was floating and weak.

“Silly girl…” Zhou Kai frowned slightly.

This girl really knew how to cause trouble. But a moment later, his frown softened into a sigh.

He understood perfectly. Chen Ziqing was anxious to raise her cultivation. She wanted to share his burdens, not be a dead weight dragging him down.

She had most likely taken something like a “Qi Explosion Pill” or a “Blood-Burning Pill”—forbidden drugs that over-drafted one’s potential to forcibly elevate cultivation.

The consequences of such pills were endless. At best, her cultivation would stagnate forever. At worst, her foundation would crumble, or her lifespan would be permanently reduced.

Seeing the shifting expressions on Zhou Kai’s face, Chen Ziyi grew even more panicked. “Husband, my sister… she won’t be in danger, will she?”

Zhou Kai withdrew his Divine Sense and spoke gently. “Don’t worry. With me here, she won’t come to harm. Even if these low-grade pills extract some potential and burn a little lifespan, I have ways to make up for it.”

He looked toward the tightly sealed alchemy room, his voice turning solemn.

“When she comes out of seclusion, tell her she is absolutely forbidden from using this method again. If she wants to raise her cultivation quickly, her husband has plenty of means. Why resort to such a risky gamble?

“Let her know that the effort and resources I will have to expend to repair her foundation far exceed whatever she gained by recklessly experimenting. Tell her to be obedient from now on. She is not to make me worry or distract me with such matters again.”

Hearing the protective concern beneath Zhou Kai’s stern words, Chen Ziyi knew he was confident in resolving the issue. Her heart finally settled, and she nodded earnestly.

“En. When my sister comes out, I will definitely give her a good talking to. I’ll make sure she understands your intentions.”

The next day, as dawn was just breaking, Zhou Kai got up and headed straight for the Three Watches Market.

Yesterday at Naihe Tower, Fish Baibai’s gluttonous display had left a deep impression on him. If he wanted to conquer that loli, delicious food was the ultimate weapon.

He specifically sought out several time-honored shops in the market with excellent reputations. He bought a full Storage Bag’s worth of specialty pastries, spirit fruit preserves, and uniquely flavored dried meats and snacks.

Only after securing the goods did he return to Taiji Peak and head straight for Fish Baibai’s cave abode.

However, upon arriving, he found the main door tightly shut. The Restriction lights on the surface were flashing—the universal sign for “Do Not Disturb.”

Zhou Kai knocked and called out, “Senior Sister Fish, are you there? I’d like to discuss some details with you.”

After calling several times with no response, Zhou Kai shook his head. “Is she still obsessed with studying those materials?”

He had no choice but to turn back toward his own peak.

Unexpectedly, just outside his own cave abode, he saw Fish Baibai leaning against the stone wall by his door, arms crossed, looking like she had been waiting for quite some time.

Today, she wore a light pink outfit that was well-fitted and practical for combat. The rabbit-shaped Storage Bag at her waist swayed with her movements, adding a touch of playful cuteness to her vibe.

“Yo, Junior Brother Zhou. Ran off to the outer sect again last night?” Fish Baibai teased. “I thought you might have been knocked unconscious by the Young Miss’s commotion yesterday.”

“Senior Sister Fish, you jest.” Zhou Kai opened his Restriction and made an inviting gesture. “I was thinking about my hammer, so I went to find you first thing this morning, but your cave was locked down. Please, come in.”

Fish Baibai didn’t stand on ceremony. As soon as she stepped inside, she looked around and let out a surprised huh.

“Junior Brother Zhou, the array in your cave… why is it exactly the same as the one in the Young Miss’s cave?!”

Zhou Kai calmly brewed a cup of Spirit Tea. “Aren’t the arrays on Taiji Peak all uniformly set up by the sect?”

Fish Baibai took the teacup and rolled her eyes so hard it looked painful. “Cut the crap! Don’t I know what kind of trash the sect hands out? A Spirit Gathering Array of this grade boosts effectiveness by at least thirty percent, and it purifies the Spirit Qi, removing impurities!”

Her eyes sparkled with envy. “A Spirit Gathering Array like this would sell for tens of thousands of Low-grade Spirit Stones outside! If used long-term, it could sustain the prosperity of a small Foundation Establishment clan for centuries! This is the kind of stuff you pass down as a family heirloom!”

Seeing her drooling over the formation, Zhou Kai chuckled inwardly.

He spoke with deliberate casualness. “If Senior Sister Fish likes it, I can give you a set. To be honest, the one who crafted this Spirit Gathering Array for the Young Miss is my Dao Companion. She is somewhat skilled in the Dao of Arrays.”

“Give it to me?” Fish Baibai jumped, waving her hands frantically. “No way! That won’t do! I can’t take something that valuable for free.”

Her eyes darted around, calculating. “When I save enough Spirit Stones, I’ll buy a set from you!”

Zhou Kai laughed. “Senior Sister Fish, you’re being too formal. We both serve the Young Miss; helping each other is only natural. Besides, my hammer magic treasure will require your hard work to refine and upgrade in the future. Consider this Spirit Gathering Array as an advance payment and a token of my sincerity. With a better cultivation environment, your research into artifact forging will be twice as effective, right?”

Without waiting for her to refuse, he pulled out a stack of exquisitely packaged food boxes and shoved them into her arms.

“Here, here! Senior Sister, try these. I specially brought them back from the Three Watches Market for you. Just some snacks, they won’t fill you up.”

Faced with a wall of delicious food, Fish Baibai’s eyes instantly lit up like lightbulbs. Spirit Gathering Arrays? Formalities? All forgotten.

She pinched a piece of osmanthus cake, stuffed it into her mouth, and narrowed her eyes in bliss.

“Mmm… delicious! Junior Brother Zhou, remember, you forced this on me! I’m not paying Spirit Stones for this!”

As she spoke, she began eating with both hands, her cheeks puffing out like a squirrel, looking utterly satisfied.

Once she had eaten her fill, Zhou Kai cleared his throat and got to the point.

“Senior Sister Fish, since I plan to focus on hammer techniques, I will undoubtedly need your guidance in the future. I wonder if you could give me a few pointers?”

Fish Baibai swallowed the last bite of peach blossom pastry, licked the crumbs off her fingers, and looked at him. “Oh? What do you want me to guide you on? What hammer technique are you cultivating?”

Zhou Kai straightened his posture. “The technique I cultivate is the Starfall Myriad Manifestation Hammer.”

Cough!

Fish Baibai’s eyes widened into saucers. She nearly choked on the ghost of the pastry she just swallowed.

She looked Zhou Kai up and down, astonished. “Starfall Myriad Manifestation Hammer? Junior Brother Zhou… you cultivate that?”

Zhou Kai nodded. “Absolutely true.”

“Hah! Now that is a coincidence!”

Fish Baibai suddenly grinned, revealing rows of shining white teeth. Her eyes blazed with excitement.

She tossed the empty food box aside, jumped to her feet, and slapped her Storage Bag.

Vroom—!

A low hum resonated through the cave as a pitch-black giant hammer materialized in her grip.

Fish Baibai held the massive weapon with one hand, tapped the heavy head lightly against the ground, and then swung it effortlessly onto her shoulder. She jutted her chin out at Zhou Kai, her fighting spirit igniting like a bonfire.

“Junior Brother Zhou, it seems we really are fated! Today, I’ll let you see this Lady’s true skills!”

“Starfall Myriad Manifestation Hammer—I cultivate it too!”