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

Chapter 209: Soul Formation Ancestors Emerge, The Battlefield Shifts Drastically!

Stepping outside the quiet room, Zhou Kai summoned Wang Daishan and Wang Xu’er.

He pointed at the pair of sisters and turned to He Xinrou. “These two both possess Middle Grade Spirit Roots. With the right nurturing, they will become a powerful support for you.”

He Xinrou nodded slightly. Zhou Kai continued, “As for your own aptitude, do not worry. I will find a way to help you elevate your Spirit Root.”

He Xinrou’s heart hammered against her ribs.

Elevating one’s Spirit Root aptitude? That was an act defying the very heavens! Yet, coming from Zhou Kai’s lips, she found herself believing it without hesitation.

Zhou Kai then turned his gaze to the two Wang sisters. “If you can wholeheartedly assist Headmaster He, it might not be impossible to sever your Death Contracts in the future.”

Hearing this, Wang Daishan and Wang Xu’er exchanged a sharp look. They saw the wild, desperate joy and absolute determination reflected in each other’s eyes. They immediately fell to their knees, their voices trembling with emotion. “We sisters are willing to walk through boiling water and tread on fire for Senior Zhou and Headmaster He! We will not hesitate even in the face of ten thousand deaths!”

Zhou Kai calmly accepted their bow. He then retrieved a bound manual and tossed it to He Xinrou. “This is a handwritten copy of the Meridian Guiding Array Formation. It is an excellent method for guiding and nurturing meridians. Manage the Sect well. Cast a wide net for talented and loyal disciples. If any disciple wishes to advance to the upper Sect, Calamity Abyss Valley, they must seek my permission first.”

He Xinrou solemnly tucked the secret manual away, a flash of shrewdness dancing in her eyes. She leaned in close to Zhou Kai, lowering her voice.

“Senior, please rest assured. I will keep my eyes sharp and recruit only those with outstanding talent and unyielding character. If any female disciples with peerless beauty and exceptional aptitude appear, Xinrou will personally deliver them to you at the very first opportunity. I will hold nothing back.”

Zhou Kai’s mouth twitched. He knew exactly what this woman was scheming.

He waved his hand in exasperation. “Put away those crooked ideas. The Asking Star Sect is not a beauty pageant for my benefit. Recruit disciples according to genuine Sect standards—both male and female. Build a real Sect.”

With that, he turned, ready to depart.

“Is Senior leaving already? Won’t you stay the night to rest?” He Xinrou asked, a hint of genuine disappointment in her voice.

“No, the Spirit Herb Garden matter is urgent.” Zhou Kai’s voice drifted back from the distance. He had already transformed into a streak of light, vanishing over the horizon.

The moment Zhou Kai’s aura faded, a young girl came bounding over. It was Qiu Yue.

She threw herself in front of He Xinrou, presenting her cupped hands like a grand treasure, her small face glowing with pride. “Master, Master! Look! Look what Senior Zhou just rewarded me with!”

She flipped her small hands open. Resting in her palms were two radiant, High Grade Magical Artifacts, gleaming with spiritual light. Beside them lay a small mountain of sparkling Spirit Stones. A quick glance revealed there were at least 500.

“Senior Zhou is far too generous! He even praised me for being clever!” Qiu Yue was so excited her little face was flushed beet red.

He Xinrou looked at her disciple’s naive, unsophisticated reaction and rolled her eyes, though a genuine warmth blossomed in her heart.

…

Three days remained until the Shangqing Spirit Herb Garden officially opened.

Zhou Kai was resting with his eyes closed inside his cave abode when a seven-colored streak of light tore through the sky, crashing down directly in front of his entrance.

“Senior Brother Zhou! Junior Brother Gao Feiyang has come to pay a visit!” That distinct tone of arrogance and self-satisfaction could belong to no one but Gao Feiyang.

Zhou Kai stepped out of the cave. “Junior Brother Gao, a rare guest. You actually came to find me here instead of the council hall.”

Gao Feiyang snapped his folding fan shut and got straight to the point. “Senior Brother Zhou, for this upcoming trip to the Spirit Herb Garden, I ask that you take good care of the Qian Family.”

“Even if Junior Brother hadn’t asked, I would still look after them,” Zhou Kai smiled. “After all, the Qian Family practically functions as half of the City Lord’s Mansion now. Many matters in Shangqing City, including the collection of our tax money, rely entirely on them. They are practically family.”

“Senior Brother is truly straightforward!” Gao Feiyang laughed heartily. Then, his tone shifted, his expression turning grave. “My eldest brother just sent urgent news from the front lines. A major catastrophe has occurred over at Crouching Tiger Mountain.”

Zhou Kai’s heart skipped a beat. “What happened?”

“A few days ago, a shocking pillar of radiant light suddenly erupted from the depths of Crouching Tiger Mountain, illuminating the sky for a thousand miles! Both the righteous and demonic factions went absolutely mad. They fought until the sky darkened and the earth grew dim. Rivers of blood are flowing! Even the Nascent Soul Great Cultivators have joined the bloody fray!”

Zhou Kai’s eyelids twitched. On one hand, he secretly rejoiced that he had run away so quickly—otherwise, his ashes would likely be scattered to the wind by now. On the other hand, he urgently asked about the safety of his ‘golden thighs’.

“Were the Eldest Miss and the Young Master injured? What about Patriarch Li?” Zhou Kai pressed. “Who won the battle?”

“They are all safe and sound,” Gao Feiyang waved his hand dismissively. “As for victory or defeat, that is no longer up to the Nascent Souls to decide. The Soul Formation Ancestors from both sides have been alerted. Right now, there are over thirty Soul Formation experts locked in a standoff on the battlefield.”

“Soul Formation?!” Zhou Kai’s pupils constricted violently. “Our Ten Sects of the Eastern Region still have Soul Formation experts garrisoning them?”

This news exploded in his mind like a thunderclap, completely overturning his long-held worldview. He had always assumed that Nascent Soul was the absolute peak of the Eastern Region!

Gao Feiyang spoke as if stating the obvious. “Senior Brother, you may not know this, but our Ten Sects possess incredibly long histories. On the surface, Nascent Soul Great Powers are in charge, but which Sect doesn’t have reclusive Ancestors buried away to suppress and protect the Sect’s Providence? Patriarch Li is a Nascent Soul, so naturally, there is a Soul Formation Ancestor standing behind him.”

Hearing this, Zhou Kai’s gaze sharpened. Suppressing his shock, he nodded calmly. “So that is how the Soul Formation realm operates.”

Gao Feiyang continued, “But Senior Brother, rest assured. At the Soul Formation level, they won’t easily fight to the death. The destructive power is too great. They will likely be forced to sit down and negotiate in the end. The specific outcome will be known in due time.”

Zhou Kai nodded, feeling slightly reassured. “So it seems the war at Crouching Tiger Mountain has nothing to do with us juniors for the time being.”

But the moment the words left his mouth, his heart lurched.

An uncontrollable thought surfaced in his mind: What if those Soul Formation old monsters don’t reach an agreement and keep fighting? The Nascent Souls are already involved. When I cultivate to the Nascent Soul realm in a few decades, wouldn’t I arrive just in time to be dragged to the front lines as cannon fodder?

Thinking of this, Zhou Kai felt an imaginary toothache flare up, utterly speechless at his own luck.

…

After seeing Gao Feiyang off, Zhou Kai spent the next month living a lazy, slacker life.

Finally, the day of the Spirit Herb Garden’s opening arrived.

In the eastern outskirts of Shangqing City, a massive valley was shrouded in dense, swirling Spirit Qi mist. At the valley’s entrance, an inexplicable, heart-palpitating Aura Pressure crushed down on the surroundings.

This was the Shangqing Spirit Herb Garden.

The inner Restrictions were similar to the Lin Family’s treasure vault; the core area was designed to self-destruct if breached. However, the periphery was layered with countless protective and warning Formations, specifically designed to vaporize any sneaky thieves trying to enter during the off-season.

At this moment, a sea of people had gathered outside the valley. No fewer than a thousand Cultivators were packed together, standing in clearly defined groups separated by their respective factions.

High in the sky, a graceful figure stood suspended in the air. It was Li Yunmian.

She wore a thin veil that obscured her features, but the oppressive weight of her Golden Core Aura made every single person below bow their heads in awe.

At the very front of the massive crowd stood Gao Feiyang, Mo Qianyuan, and Shen Hanyi. They represented the Calamity Abyss Valley.

The appointed hour arrived. Gao Feiyang stepped forward. He infused his voice with Spirit Qi, projecting it across the entire valley.

“Everyone, the rules for the Spirit Herb Garden remain the same as previous years! First: No storage Magical Artifacts of any kind are allowed inside! Second: When picking Spirit Herbs, do not uproot them! Leave the roots intact! Third: Spirit Herbs below three hundred years of age are strictly forbidden from being picked! Fourth: Only the North Garden is open this time! Trespassing into the South Garden is an absolute taboo! Fifth: The time limit is exactly one month! You must leave immediately when the time expires! Finally, disciples from our Sect will be patrolling the grounds. Anyone found breaking the rules will be executed on the spot!”

His voice was icy, thick with surging Killing Intent, instantly silencing the previously rowdy crowd.

Zhou Kai stood hidden among the masses. He had completely restrained his aura, making himself look like an utterly unremarkable Qi Condensation Cultivator.

His Divine Sense swept across the area like an invisible net.

In the entire field, Qi Condensation Cultivators made up ninety-five percent of the participants. The remaining group consisted of over forty Foundation Establishment Cultivators, representing nearly half the elite strength of Shangqing City.

As Gao Feiyang’s words faded, Li Yunmian produced a glowing blue cube. She chanted a rapid incantation, initiating the sequence to open the Restriction.

With a resonant hum, a colossal dome of blue light materialized over the entire valley. Down on the ground, a massive tear silently opened in the energy barrier.

“Charge!”

Someone screamed the command. Instantly, the vast majority of the Cultivators rushed forward in a frenzied stampede. The clashing waves of Spirit Qi and Mana whipped up a fierce gale, and the scene descended into absolute chaos.

Amidst the mad scramble, the Qian Family Patriarch squeezed his way to the front of the Asking Star Sect group. He looked at He Xinrou and said, “Headmaster He, would you be willing to travel with our Qian Family? It would be good for our two groups to support each other.”

He Xinrou stood her ground. Though she was somewhat intimidated by the violent tide of bodies, she maintained her composure.

“Thank you for your kindness, Senior,” she replied smoothly. “However, our Guest Elder instructed me to tell you that the Qian Family only needs to enter normally. He will naturally keep an eye on your people from the shadows, so there is no need to worry.”

The Qian Family Patriarch was momentarily stunned, but realization quickly dawned on him.