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

Chapter 230: Sect Leader, Care to Explain the Grudge of Stealing My Wife?

Stepping out of the Tongtian Hall, the mountain wind met them head-on. Its chill seeped into the marrow, yet it couldn’t extinguish the burning sensation on Zhou Kai and Shen Hanyi’s backs.

The hall doors were sealed, but those starry eyes seemed branded on their spines, scrutinizing every step they took.

Tang Fan approached briskly, extending two jade tablets.

“Elder Zhou, Elder Shen. These are your Identity Tokens. The Sect Leader has authorized you to establish your own dojos and recruit disciples at will.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother Tang.”

Zhou Kai accepted the tokens.

One side bore the ancient seal of Calamity Abyss Valley. The other was engraved with their respective surnames.

He exchanged a glance with Shen Hanyi. Simultaneously, they forced a drop of Essence Blood from their fingertips, letting it fall onto the jade.

The blood vanished into the stone like water into a sponge. A moment later, their souls trembled, forging a mystic, unbreakable link with the artifact.

When Zhou Kai gripped the token again, the cold jade felt warm, pulsing in sync with his own heartbeat.

Tokens secured, they launched into the sky, transforming into streaks of light that shot directly toward Taiji Peak.

Taiji Peak, outside Zhou Kai’s cave abode.

Li Youci stood waiting. Seeing the two lights descend, the tension in her shoulders finally eased.

“How did it go?”

Shen Hanyi landed lightly. She summarized the meeting in three concise sentences before cutting to the chase.

“Youci. How much do you know about Old Devil Qu of the Heart Corroding Gate?”

At the mention of the name, Shen Hanyi’s gaze sharpened. Sword Intent condensed deep in her pupils, radiating a chilling, lethal cold.

Li Youci’s delicate brows furrowed.

“Old Devil Qu. A Soul Formation Great Cultivator. His reputation is forged in blood.”

“When the Lone Goose Palace was destroyed, his lineage was the vanguard. He has seven Nascent Soul cultivators serving directly under him. In a war of that scale, interrogating a low-level Foundation Establishment disciple won’t yield actionable intel.”

Zhou Kai placed a hand on Shen Hanyi’s shoulder.

“Hanyi. This debt will be paid. But not today.”

“A Soul Formation cultivator could extinguish us with a sneeze. To settle accounts, we must reach that realm ourselves. Only then do we earn the right to sit at the table.”

“I know.” Shen Hanyi’s voice was flat, but her hand rested unconsciously on her hilt.

Seeing her eyes remain clear despite the killing intent, Zhou Kai relaxed slightly. Her Dao Heart was stable.

He turned to Li Youci.

“The Sect Leader asked me a strange question. He seemed overly invested in my private life—specifically my relationship with Li Yunmian.”

Li Youci blinked, then smirked. A look of pure schadenfreude lit up her face.

“It is just like what you encountered before,” she said, her tone mocking.

Zhou Kai was confused. “Meaning?”

Li Youci crossed her arms, looking entirely too pleased.

“Our esteemed Sect Leader… back when he was merely Song Buran, the Young Master of the Song Family… he had quite the interest in my Aunt.”

“The result? My father found out. He stormed the Song estate and beat him.”

Zhou Kai froze. His brain buzzed.

What the hell? The Sect Leader is my lazy Yunmian’s ex-suitor?

The same Yunmian who threw herself at me and clings to me like a koala?

“And then?” Zhou Kai pressed, his breath hitching.

“And then?” Amusement danced in Li Youci’s eyes. “And then my father suffered a catastrophic loss.”

“The details are murky, but the family rumor is that the Sect Leader was… shameless. His methods were treacherous. I heard elders whisper that after that fight, Father went into Secluded Cultivation for a long time to heal.”

“Since then, he has hated the Sect Leader with a passion.”

Zhou Kai felt his scalp tingle. He coughed dryly.

“So… between the Sect Leader and my Father-in-Law—slash—Brother-in-Law… whose fist is harder?”

“Unknown,” Li Youci shrugged. “They haven’t fought in decades. Besides, what is a little romantic rivalry from their youth?”

Hearing her relaxed tone, Zhou Kai felt reassured. He stroked his chin.

“From what you say, although the Li, Song, and Yang families compete, their relationship is actually quite… functional?”

“Otherwise?” Li Youci retorted. “Should we fight a civil war with real steel? That would make us a Demonic Sect. We fight the external Demonic Sects while negotiating; we fight internally to distribute resources.”

She paused. “However, there is a difference. True Disciples spar with restraint. But the external Protectors? They fight to the death.”

“Calamity Abyss Valley is interesting,” Zhou Kai clicked his tongue. “The True Disciples are treasured pets, while the outsiders are pit dogs.”

Shen Hanyi shook her head. “Major Sects have their rules. In the Lone Goose Palace, fellow disciples fought to the death. Here, you cannot damage a rival’s foundation. That is mercy.”

Zhou Kai and Li Youci fell silent. Compared to the brutal meritocracy of the Lone Goose Palace, this place was indeed a greenhouse.

Zhou Kai changed the subject, his gaze burning.

“Youci. Now that you have Awakened your physique, does it aid in refining the Cicada Shell Body?”

As he spoke, Li Youci’s aura became elusive, fluctuating between solid and ethereal. A point of cold, dark light swirled deep in her pupils.

“I sense it,” she said slowly. “This physique places me… between life and death. I am both living and a specter.”

“If my instincts are correct, I do not need to rush the Ghost Body refinement. I might be able to enter Secluded Cultivation immediately and charge toward the Golden Core.”

The group dispersed.

Zhou Kai returned to his cave abode. As he pushed open the stone door, two fragrant breezes rushed to meet him.

Chuntao and Xiahe stood there, heads bowed, radiating shy anticipation.

“Master!”

Zhou Kai looked at them. A wave of heat surged in his chest.

He hadn’t touched them in over a decade. They had matured into ripe, alluring women. With Li Yunmian and He Xinrou absent, today was the day.

He chuckled low in his throat, extending his long arms to hook both warm, soft bodies into his embrace. He pinched their waists, grinning mischievously.

“You have grown taller. And fuller. Let Master give you a thorough inspection.”

“Master…” The women let out delicate cries, blushes flooding their cheeks. They leaned into him, their bones seemingly melting.

Just as Zhou Kai prepared to escalate, the Restriction outside the cave trembled violently.

Someone was knocking.

“…”

Zhou Kai froze. The mood instantly shattered.

What is going on? Why is it impossible to bed these two? Is the universe conspiring against me?

Suppressing his desire, he patted their shoulders with a sigh and marched to the entrance, his face dark as a thundercloud.

Outside stood a man and a woman.

The man was a tower of iron muscle, his aura wild and unrestrained. He wore only a tiger-skin loincloth, a roaring tiger head tied at his waist—ferocious, yet slightly ridiculous.

His hair stood straight up, streaked with crimson. A necklace of massive beast teeth rattled against his chest. On his shoulder, he hefted a giant blade the size of a door, the tip dragging on the stone with a grating screech.

The woman beside him was shorter but equally broad-shouldered, her bronze skin gleaming with metallic luster under the sun. Her eyes were identical to the man’s—filled with an unquestionable conviction to solve all problems with violence.

Zhou Kai stared at the strangers. Who are these savages?

The iron tower of a man saw him and grinned, his voice booming like a temple bell.

“BIG BROTHER!”

That voice…

Zhou Kai frowned. It sounded familiar, but it didn’t match the face.

Then, the giant spoke again. This time, the tone perfectly overlapped with a memory of a tearful, pleading voice begging for mercy.

Zhou Kai’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull. He pointed a trembling finger.

“Holy shit! Fang Lizhe?! How did you turn into this… this monstrosity?!”