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

Chapter 208: Zero Combat Power Boost? No Matter, I’ll Let the Women Take Action!

Within the quiet room, absolute silence reigned.

Zhou Kai’s mind quietly sank into the vast, internal ocean known as the Dantian.

There were no towering waves here, no churning Spirit Qi. All the miraculous changes were taking place in the absolute center of this inner world.

“System, activate the Creation Spirit Yang Body!”

The moment the command was issued, a spark of chaotic light exploded at the core of Zhou Kai’s Dantian, rapidly solidifying into a circular base.

Unlike the violent, flamboyant spectacle of Li Lanyin’s Awakening, Zhou Kai’s transformation was an act of creation restrained to the extreme.

Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth—five-colored spiritual lights rose from the base, each condensing into a crystal-clear lotus petal, forming a nascent bud.

Sharp, vibrant, profound, blazing, and heavy.

This was the initial form of the Creation Lotus Platform.

Without warning, a mysterious rune cracked open at the center of each petal, gleaming like the very first ray of light at the dawn of heaven and earth.

With a soft pop, the runes expanded. One petal transformed into three. Three petals of the same origin clustered together, and their aura instantly magnified!

Zhou Kai quietly watched, acutely feeling the bond between his Spirit Root and his physical body growing tighter by the second.

The petals divided again, becoming nine!

Representing the Five Elements, the nine lotus petals encircled the center, forming a modestly sized, five-colored lotus platform. Spiritual light flowed across its surface, brimming with profound mysteries.

Yet, the transformation did not stop there.

The nine petals differentiated once more, finally settling at twenty-seven. The entire Five Elements lotus platform shook with a violent boom!

An ancient bell seemed to toll deep within his soul. An indescribably profound aura emanated from the lotus, turning into wisps of mist that slowly nourished the walls of his Dantian.

Twenty-seven petals—the absolute zenith of a Heaven-grade Spirit Root! A wild thought flashed through Zhou Kai’s mind: If it were an Immortal-grade Spirit Root, wouldn’t that mean eighty-one petals for each attribute? What kind of majestic, heaven-defying sight would that be?

He silently examined the mist radiating from the platform.

Creation Qi.

The name sounded overwhelmingly domineering, but what exactly was it?

Even with his comprehension maxed out for the second realm, Zhou Kai couldn’t pierce its ultimate mystery. Experiencing it personally, he could only grasp a fraction of its true nature. He vaguely sensed that this aura was superior to any Spirit Qi in the world—even Spirit Rhyme. It was a foundational power, the bedrock of reality itself.

He tried to channel his Qi. Poof. A tangerine-sized fireball appeared at his fingertip.

Power… completely unchanged.

He withdrew his Qi and stirred his Vitality instead. His tendons and bones cracked in unison as he threw a punch, the fist wind howling through the quiet room.

Strength… exactly the same as before.

Zhou Kai was momentarily stunned, then he chuckled aloud.

After all that buildup, this “Creation Spirit Yang Body” offered absolutely zero direct combat power boost.

Its only use seemed to be the Creation Qi emitted by the lotus platform, which would cause his Dual Cultivation efficiency to skyrocket.

An individual’s personal strength ultimately has its limits. But if I can cultivate a force fiercely loyal to me, with extraordinary strength? That is true invincibility.

He opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through his pupils.

Rumble…

The heavy stone door slowly ground open. Light flooded his vision, followed immediately by a fragrant breeze and the concerned gazes of a bevy of beauties.

Lin Zhiwei, the Chen Ziyi sisters, Wang Qiaoqiao, Fish Baibai… all the familiar, lovely faces were gathered outside.

Even Senior Sister Mo Qianyuan, who usually kept to herself to focus on the Dao of Talismans, was present. Dressed in a plain, light-colored Daoist robe, she stood at the very back of the crowd, her arms crossed.

“Husband!”

Lin Zhiwei was the first to rush forward, her voice laced with worry. “During your Secluded Cultivation this time, there wasn’t the slightest fluctuation of Spirit Qi inside the cave abode. We were all terribly worried, so we took turns guarding outside every day. Fortunately, we sensed movement today, so we gathered everyone together.”

Warmth bloomed in Zhou Kai’s chest. The feeling of having so many people genuinely care for him was… nice.

He smoothly told a lie. “Your husband is perfectly fine. I was just analyzing Hanyi’s sword path, which emphasizes accumulating strength over time. I tried to settle my own energy the same way, but my ambitions outpaced my talent. I ended up with a botched imitation.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Shen Hanyi, clad in pure white, spoke up. Her voice was as crisp and cold as winter snow.

“The accumulation of strength for a pure sword cultivator lies in the heart, not in the form,” she corrected faintly. “It is the accumulation of mental state, not the piling up of sword essence. Once the mental state reaches the threshold, breaking through realms is as natural as water flowing downhill.”

Zhou Kai seized the opening and looked at her. “So, you’re still at the Spirit Shaping fifth layer? Your mental state hasn’t reached it yet?”

Shen Hanyi shook her head. A rare flicker of fighting spirit ignited in her icy eyes. “No. My sword path seeks not speed, but purity and Perfection. I feel the final barrier is already within reach.”

Zhou Kai raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “So, you think you’ll reach the third realm before me?”

“Perhaps.” Shen Hanyi’s gaze dropped to her sword, her tone unwavering. “My heart tells me it won’t be long.”

“Oh? How long exactly?”

“Within 30 years, I will definitely break through,” she declared with absolute certainty.

30 years…

Zhou Kai chuckled and shook his head.

For ordinary Cultivators, forming a Golden Core before the age of fifty was considered a sign of heavenly talent. It was frighteningly fast.

But for him? 30 years? By that time, the opportunity would be long gone! By the time she formed her Golden Core, he estimated he’d already be at the late Golden Core stage, figuring out how to assail the Nascent Soul realm.

No, he couldn’t let her be so passive about this.

Waiting for a breakthrough to happen “naturally” was nonsense. Absolute strength was the only hard truth in this world. Unfortunately, he didn’t have any sword essence points, otherwise he’d max out her stats right now and let her experience the thrill of skyrocketing to the top.

He composed his thoughts and looked seriously at Shen Hanyi, enunciating each word clearly. “Hanyi, 30 years is far too long. I believe in seizing the day. How about we make a bet?”

“Husband, please speak.”

“Whether I form my Golden Core first or refine my viscera first, the moment I begin to push for the third realm, you must enter Secluded Cultivation with me! If you are even one day later than me, you lose.”

Shen Hanyi was slightly taken aback, but she nodded without hesitation. “Agreed. I still haven’t consumed those three Enlightenment Pills. If Husband makes a breakthrough attempt, I will use the pills as a catalyst to break through with you.”

Seeing their conversation conclude, Mo Qianyuan finally walked forward from the back of the group. Her trademark sharp tongue was as active as ever. “Since Junior Brother has emerged alive and kicking, stop with the lovey-dovey nonsense. It’s time to prepare for the serious matter of the Spirit Medicine Garden.”

She paused, her expression turning strictly professional.

“This is no small affair. Master… she will personally oversee the perimeter to guard against any petty thieves. Junior Brother, you are the strongest among us and possess top-tier concealment arts. You will be responsible for monitoring the interior of the garden and suppressing any unexpected variables.”

Standing beside her, Li Yunmian casually reached out and flicked a finger against Mo Qianyuan’s forehead, leaving a red mark. “From now on, in front of my husband, you are not allowed to refer to my Master with the word ‘she’.”

…

After spending a joyous night chatting with everyone, Zhou Kai left the Spirit Mountain at dawn.

His destination: the Asking Star Sect.

Zhou Kai looked at He Xinrou and got straight to the point.

“For this upcoming Spirit Medicine Garden trial, only the North Garden is officially open for the various factions to gather herbs.”

He Xinrou listened intently. For Zhou Kai to seek her out personally, there had to be secret orders.

Sure enough, Zhou Kai’s tone shifted. “After you enter, do not waste a single second in the North Garden. I want you to bypass the guards and infiltrate the South Garden.”

He leaned in, his gaze piercing. “Remember, I want the primary ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill. The older the herbs, the better. When you harvest them, be extremely careful. I want them brought to me completely intact—roots, soil, and all.”

Building his own force required more than empty promises.

Pills were the lifeblood of Cultivators. As long as he controlled the herbs needed for the Foundation Establishment Pill and successfully cultivated them in his own territory, he would hold the lifeline of every Qi Condensation Cultivator who followed him.

From then on, the disciples of the Asking Star Sect wouldn’t have to bow and scrape before the major Sects just to break into the second realm!

He Xinrou’s eyes blazed. She instantly understood the sheer magnitude of Zhou Kai’s plan.

This wasn’t just simple herb gathering. This was digging up the very foundation of the major Sects, severing their monopoly, and paving a golden path to the heavens for their own faction!

She felt absolutely no fear. Instead, a fire of ambition burned in her chest. She nodded vigorously. “Senior, rest assured! Xinrou understands!”