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

Chapter 228: Return to the Sect

Zhou Kai looked at Gao Feihuang’s impatient, jittery demeanor and felt a wave of speechlessness.

“Senior Brother, you are a dignified Golden Core Great Cultivator. Can you not suppress even this little bit of desire?”

Hearing this, Gao Feihuang didn’t feel shame. Instead, he puffed out his chest, his voice rising three octaves.

“Junior Brother, you are mistaken! I spent a hundred years enduring hellish hardships to reach the Golden Core. Was it to purify my heart, sever my mortal roots, and become a living eunuch? That would be the joke of the century!”

He slapped Zhou Kai on the shoulder, speaking with the conviction of a sage sharing wisdom.

“Think about it. When the Young Master beat you, did he suppress his realm to fight you fairly? No! He used his higher cultivation to crush you! Why? For mental clarity! Cultivation is inherently defying the Heavens to follow one’s heart. If I suppress myself at every turn, what is the point of being a Cultivator?!”

Zhou Kai rubbed his temples. He decided to get rid of this pest quickly. An idea sparked.

“I heard there is a place called the Drunken Flower Pavilion in the northern district. The courtesans are top-tier in both beauty and talent. Most importantly… they sell their art, not their bodies. They have immense integrity.”

“Sell art, not bodies?”

Gao Feihuang’s eyes straightened. He licked his lips, a predatory grin spreading across his face.

“Challenging. I like it! The thornier the rose, the sweeter the pluck! Junior Brother, you are a true friend! Wait for my triumphant return, and we shall drink until dawn!”

Before the sentence finished, Gao Feihuang transformed into a streak of light, blasting toward the northern district. He moved with such frantic urgency, one would think the courtesans were fleeing Fated Chances.

Watching the desperate streak of light, Zhou Kai shook his head with a wry smile. The proprietress of the Drunken Flower Pavilion was about to have a headache.

Simultaneously, he chewed on Gao Feihuang’s words. “Crushing the weak with strength… Suppressing others with realm…”

He turned and returned to the Asking Star Restaurant, heading for the secluded backyard.

The night wind blew, dispersing his slight tipsiness. Zhou Kai’s eyes sharpened.

The expansion plan for Brilliance City had to be accelerated.

He summoned He Xinrou.

Moments later, she arrived with light steps, dressed in green. As she bowed, the jade hairpin in her bun swayed gently. “What are your orders, Senior?”

“At most, two months. I will be leaving Shangqing City,” Zhou Kai said directly. “I need a team of trustworthy personnel. How many sisters do you have in the Asking Star Sect?”

He Xinrou paused, surprised. “Reporting to Senior, including myself and Sun Qingli, there are 23.”

“Didn’t Senior say we had at least half a year?” she asked, unable to hide her surprise.

“Variables changed. The timeline has advanced.” Zhou Kai was concise.

“Among the remaining 21, select those who have entered the Novice stage in any of the Cultivation Arts, or those who are exceptionally diligent in their practice.”

Zhou Kai calculated internally. The Merchant Association needs its own production line. These women are the perfect workforce.

He Xinrou immediately began the mental tally. “Senior, we have two disciples proficient in Alchemy and two in Talismans; their skills are passable. We have no Artifact Refiners yet. As for Formations, they are too profound; no one has the aptitude.”

She thought for a moment longer. “They are all grateful for your grace and cultivate hard. If Senior intends to entrust them with heavy responsibilities, there are a few with steady temperaments and meticulous minds who would be excellent choices.”

“Good.” Zhou Kai nodded. “Select ten.”

He scanned his Storage Bag with his Divine Sense. In the previous auction, he had sold 20 Foundation Establishment slots. Chen Ziqing’s alchemy yield was high; she often produced two pills per batch. The surplus naturally went into Zhou Kai’s pocket.

He currently held 18 Foundation Establishment Pills.

He withdrew a jade bottle, poured out eight pills, and handed them to He Xinrou.

“Take these. If there are outstanding disciples, reward them. Help them build their Foundation early.”

He Xinrou stared at the fortune in her hands, dazed.

“Within six months, have those ten prepared to deploy to Brilliance City at a moment’s notice.”

“Yes! Xinrou obeys!” She bowed deeply, her voice trembling.

One month later.

The stone door of a secret chamber on Spirit Mountain ground open. Mo Qianyuan stepped out.

Her Spiritual Energy surged, her aura vastly more powerful than before. She had successfully reached the Late Foundation Establishment stage.

Another half-month passed.

Li Youci’s cave, sealed by layers of heavy Formations, finally stirred.

The ambient Spirit Qi of Heaven and Earth convulsed, drawn by a massive vortex into the cave.

Immediately after, a contradictory aura exploded outward—half scorching heat, half bone-chilling cold. Two extremes spiraled together, distinct yet unified.

BOOM!

The stone door rose.

A stunning figure stood at the threshold of light and shadow.

Li Youci wore a black dress. Her skin, illuminated by the ghostly light of the cave, was so pale it seemed translucent.

The light in her eyes brightened for a split second, then vanished the moment she saw who was waiting for her.

It wasn’t him.

Li Youci scanned the area. Finding no trace of the familiar figure, she frowned at Li Qiwen.

“Where is Zhou Kai?”

She paused, then added, a note of unconscious tension in her voice. “You didn’t beat him too badly, did you?”

Li Qiwen’s face went black. His mouth twitched violently.

His own sister exits seclusion, and her first words aren’t a greeting to her brother, but a status check on that brat? And she was worried he hurt him?

Do I look like a bully?

He stiffened, jealousy and annoyance warring in his chest. He squeezed the words through gritted teeth.

“He is fine. He won’t die.”

Facing his sister’s suspicious glare, Li Qiwen’s temples throbbed. He took a deep breath.

“Matters here are concluded. We return to the Sect.”

Zhou Kai carefully packed the Foundation Establishment spirit herbs he had cultivated. He then took two female disciples from the Asking Star Sect to see Li Yunmian.

“Yunmian, I found two clever maids for you. Let them attend to your needs.”

Li Yunmian glanced at the girls, then locked her gaze onto Zhou Kai’s face. Her eyes held depths of unsaid meaning.

Zhou Kai met her look. He reached out, smoothing the frown between her brows. “Wife, cultivate in peace. You will form your Nascent Soul within fifty years.”

“Fine.” Li Yunmian waved her hand lazily, though her eyes didn’t leave him. After a long silence, she sighed. “You were never one to stay settled. I will watch the Asking Star Sect for you. As for the Guardian role… be careful.”

Bidding farewell, the group boarded Li Qiwen’s treasure ship.

As the ship cut through the wind, Li Youci’s peripheral vision kept drifting toward Zhou Kai.

But the moment Zhou Kai noticed, her gaze would dart away like a startled rabbit, leaving him with a view of her cold, aloof profile.

Zhou Kai found the scorching yet evasive attention amusing. He turned his head, pretending to admire the clouds.

Finally, Li Youci couldn’t stand it. She snorted. “What are you looking at?”

Zhou Kai turned slowly, smiling. “Looking at you. I wonder how much more powerful our Fairy Youci has become after seclusion?”

“I don’t know.” The corner of her mouth quirked up imperceptibly. She forced a cool tone. “But within the same realm… I can press you to the ground and beat you.”

The treasure ship pierced the sea of clouds. The stars turned 15 times. The mountains and rivers below blurred into streaks of light. Finally, they docked at a major immortal city and used the teleportation array to return to Calamity Abyss Valley.

Upon arrival at Taiji Peak, Li Qiwen glanced at the flock of beauties trailing Zhou Kai. His jaw muscle jumped.

He turned to Li Youci, suppressing his temper. “If you suffer even a fraction of a grievance, message me immediately.”

He shot Zhou Kai a look that could peel paint, then flicked his sleeve and flew off in a streak of light.

Before departing for Yunmeng Residence on Yantian Peak, Mo Qianyuan stopped. Her gaze landed on Zhou Kai. She wasted no words.

“Two months. I will come once.”

She turned, her Daoist robes cutting a sharp arc in the air, and vanished.

The women were now all Foundation Establishment or higher. Their status had changed; living in a communal dorm was inappropriate.

Chen Ziqing grabbed her sister’s hand, chirping, “Sister! Let’s pick the courtyard with the medicine garden!”

Lin Zhiwei chose a secluded bamboo grove. She smiled shyly at Zhou Kai. “This humble woman wishes to build a bamboo tower here. It feels peaceful.”

Shen Hanyi said nothing. She selected the most remote, wind-swept cliff. Her Sword Intent soared, staking her claim on a place for solitary cultivation.

Li Youci and Fish Baibai returned to the mountainside and the foot of the mountain, respectively.

Zhou Kai kept Li Lanyin with him. Standing at the entrance of his cave, he looked back at the 15 maids lined up behind him. He rubbed his chin.

“The cave is a bit small… not enough room.”

Just as he finished assigning tasks, Wang Qiaoqiao approached, leading two women.

“Husband. I brought them.”

It was Chuntao and Xiahe.

More than ten years had passed. Their cultivation had progressed slowly, barely reaching the mid-Qi Condensation stage.

They were no longer the youthful girls of his memory. The liveliness in their eyes had been replaced by a heavy steadiness. Their figures had filled out, maturing into their thirties.

“Greetings, Master.”

Seeing Zhou Kai, they hurriedly bowed, their posture exuding a cautious, fearful restraint.

Zhou Kai offered a casual “Mm,” scanning their faces.

They kept their heads low, terrified of making a mistake.

Zhou Kai was silent for a moment. Then, his voice softened.

“In the past, I neglected you. From now on, stay by my side. You will not lack cultivation resources.”

The two women trembled, whispering their gratitude.

Seeing them relax slightly, Zhou Kai nodded. “Come with me. You will live in my cave and tend the spirit herbs.”

However, before the three could step across the threshold, the sky above them darkened violently.

Late Golden Core!

The instant Zhou Kai felt the pressure, two figures materialized at his flanks.

On his right, the air rippled. Shen Hanyi stood there, sword in hand. The blade wasn’t drawn, but the sharpness in her eyes cut the air.

On his left, a shadow slid from the darkness. Li Youci appeared, the Netherfire patterns on her dress flashing once. Only after identifying the intruder did the chill in her eyes fade.

In the sky, a middle-aged cultivator hovered. Seeing Li Youci, he retracted some of his Aura Pressure and bowed from a distance.

“Tang Fan pays respects to True Inheritor Li.”

He then turned his gaze to Zhou Kai and Shen Hanyi, his voice ringing like struck metal.

“May I ask if you are Junior Brother Zhou Kai and Junior Sister Shen Hanyi of Taiji Peak?”

Zhou Kai pulled Shen Hanyi half a step behind him. He returned the bow, neither humble nor arrogant.

“We are. May I ask why Senior Brother has graced us? What guidance do you have?”

Tang Fan’s gaze locked onto them.

“The Sect Leader has issued an Edict.”

“Zhou Kai and Shen Hanyi are ordered to proceed to Tongtian Peak for an audience immediately. Do not delay.”