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

Chapter 256: A Proper Family

Zhou Kai’s tone was inquisitive, but his heart held absolute certainty.

With the System by his side, his comprehension had long surpassed that of a mere Mortal. Creating his own cultivation technique was no longer an unreachable dream.

A cultivation technique might be a fleeting spark of brilliance from a peerless genius, or it could be like the Lawless No Word Heavenly Scripture—the crystallized wisdom of the Li, Song, and Yang ancestors over generations, finally completed by a great power from Tongtian Peak.

The Delusional Dao Cicada Scripture came from Senior Lingchan. It had taken only a century to create, yet it still held flaws.

Zhou Kai’s thoughts raced. If the opportunity arose, he would voyage to the Northern Demon Domain, visit that Senior, and exchange insights on the Dao.

“The art of deceiving heaven…” Li Youci repeated softly. The exhaustion in her eyes vanished, replaced by a blazing, intensifying brilliance.

To deceive the heavens and cross the sea—to stage a true resurrection!

Seeing her interest ignited, Zhou Kai struck while the iron was hot. He sourced several scrolls regarding illusion and disguise arts. Comparing them against their current knowledge, a bold plan began to take shape in his mind.

They delayed no longer and returned directly to Taiji Peak.

With a sweep of his Divine Sense, Zhou Kai located Lin Zhiwei and Wang Qiaoqiao. They were in the Chen sisters’ courtyard; the women appeared to be chatting.

He took Li Youci’s hand and led her in their direction.

Li Youci’s steps faltered. She tugged at her hand, trying to pull free.

“Why are we going there?”

She glanced at Zhou Kai, her tone turning icy. “I have nothing to say to them.”

Before Zhou Kai could answer, a surge of annoyance rose in Li Youci’s chest. The memory of her earlier humiliation—serving tea like a common concubine—fueled her anger. She put up a fierce front to mask her inner apprehension.

“Zhou Kai! Do you intend to make me kneel before them again? This young mistress isn’t afraid of you right now. At worst, we’ll fight!”

Zhou Kai didn’t break his stride, but his expression turned terrifyingly serious. “Youci, the cultivation techniques those four practice are low-grade, and their foundations are unstable. I want you to teach them the Lawless No Word Heavenly Scripture.”

Li Youci almost screamed her refusal. “Impossible! The Heavenly Scripture is priceless! How can it be casually taught to outsiders, especially those—”

Before she could finish, she met Zhou Kai’s suddenly calm gaze. He released her hand.

“Did you say… outsiders?”

Zhou Kai’s voice was soft, light as a feather. Yet, when it landed, it carried the crushing weight of a thousand jun, slamming into her chest and stifling her breath.

Li Youci’s heart trembled. The rest of her words died in her throat.

Her imposing aura collapsed instantly. She turned her head away, not daring to meet his eyes, her voice shrinking to a mosquito’s hum. “Husband… it is only right that Husband thinks of his elder sisters.”

A faint smile touched Zhou Kai’s lips. He reclaimed her slightly cold hand and led her into the courtyard.

Inside, Chen Ziyi, Chen Ziqing, Wang Qiaoqiao, and Lin Zhiwei were savoring tea by the stone table. Seeing Zhou Kai and Li Youci arrive hand-in-hand, they all stood to greet them.

“Husband.”

“Brother Zhou.”

“My Love.”

“Master.”

The four women used different titles, but their gazes all locked onto Li Youci.

Li Youci felt their stares like needles. Forcing herself to maintain her cold, queenly demeanor, she gave a stiff nod and squeezed out a single word: “Sisters.”

Zhou Kai didn’t waste time on pleasantries. He stated his purpose immediately.

The courtyard fell into a dead silence. Chen Ziyi’s hand froze, her teacup suspended in mid-air. Wang Qiaoqiao’s calculating gaze shifted to pure shock, while Lin Zhiwei covered her mouth in disbelief.

They understood the gravity of this gift. This was a supreme art—the foundation of a great clan’s power!

Li Youci kept her face expressionless. She produced a jade slip, pressed two fingers against her forehead, and guided a stream of spiritual light into it.

Once the transfer was complete, she refused to stay a second longer. She turned on her heel to leave.

“Sister Youci, please wait.”

Chen Ziyi’s gentle voice drifted from behind.

Li Youci’s steps halted. Reluctantly, she turned back.

Chen Ziyi walked forward slowly. She raised her hand and, with practiced naturalness, smoothed a strand of hair at Li Youci’s temple that the wind had tousled. Her movements were tender, maternal.

“Sister, we are a family. As wives, it is our duty to share our husband’s burdens, not to add to his worries with discord between sisters.”

Her voice was soft, but every word was anchored with steel.

“We sisters possess low cultivation. In the future, I fear we must rely on you for many things. We are all our husband’s women; we are one family. Only when we are harmonious can our husband be at ease. Don’t you agree, Sister?”

Li Youci remained silent, her gaze instinctively darting to Zhou Kai.

Zhou Kai merely watched her with a faint smile, offering no rescue.

She looked at Wang Qiaoqiao and the others, then finally returned her gaze to Chen Ziyi’s sincere, gentle face.

After a long silence, a low hum of acknowledgement escaped her throat. Her voice remained cool. “Thank you for the guidance, Elder Sister. I will remember it. I must return to my family for a period of Secluded Cultivation to break through to Golden Core.”

With that, she transformed into a streak of flowing light and vanished.

Zhou Kai watched the direction of her departure, laughing inwardly.

Well done, Ziyi, he thought. Her words were a perfect blend of hardness and softness. She gave Youci a way out while firmly establishing her status as the principal wife. To tame a cat as prickly as Youci, it really requires someone like her.

“Brother Zhou…”

A fragrant breeze washed over him. Chen Ziqing had somehow sidled up to him, leaning her soft body against his chest. She looked up with watery, doe-like eyes, her tone dripping with grievance and worry.

“Does Sister Li dislike us? She seems so fierce… Ziqing will try harder to be close to Sister in the future. I promise not to let Brother Zhou worry about us.”

While her mouth spoke words of considerate submission, her body was restless, subtly rubbing against Zhou Kai’s arm.

Zhou Kai scooped her up and settled her onto his lap. He felt the warm, fragrant weight of her in his arms and listened to her words—so rich with the scent of manipulative innocence—but his mind remained clear.

He pinched Chen Ziqing’s cheek, thinking, They are still a bit wary of Youci.

Just then, a Transmission Talisman streaked into the courtyard and hovered before Zhou Kai.

It was from Gao Feiyang.

Zhou Kai probed it with his Divine Sense. Gao Feiyang’s voice echoed out, filled with barely suppressed excitement and a newfound respect.

“Senior Uncle Zhou! The matter of the shop is settled!”

This time, it better be a proper establishment, not that gaudy mess he showed me before, Zhou Kai mused.

His plan was set. He would settle in Brilliance City for a few months.

He would spend time with Wang Qiaoqiao, raise all his Five Elements Spirit Roots to Immortal Grade, and then return to the sect for Secluded Cultivation.

For this trip to Brilliance City, he took Wang Qiaoqiao. After a moment’s thought, he also selected Chuntao and Xiahe, along with five other maidservants, to manage the shop.

Before departing, Zhou Kai glanced at Chuntao and Xiahe, a smirk forming in his heart. Going to Brilliance City, far from the prying eyes of the sect… taking down these two little girls should be uninterrupted business.

Following the coordinates provided by Gao Feiyang, Zhou Kai quickly located his new property.

The shop was situated in the Eastern District of Brilliance City. This area lay outside the direct jurisdiction of the three great families—Li, Song, and Yang. Instead, it was a nexus where various forces intersected, creating a delicate, chaotic balance.

The building was a four-story pavilion with blue tiles and upturned eaves, unassuming amidst the surrounding commercial structures. Pushing open the door, Zhou Kai found the interior simple and austere, devoid of any unnecessary extravagance.

Gao Feiyang was already waiting at the entrance. Today, he had shed his flamboyant magic robes and removed the jingling accessories he usually favored. He appeared far more steady and capable.

Upon seeing Zhou Kai, he immediately rushed forward and bowed respectfully, his past frivolity completely gone.

“Senior Uncle Zhou, are you satisfied?”

He gestured to the shop. “Brilliance City’s waters run deep. Many shops that appear ordinary are backed by Nascent Soul old monsters. My elder brother advised that since you are new here, Senior Uncle, it is unwise to be too conspicuous. Developing with a low profile—steady and sure—is the best strategy.”

Zhou Kai patted him on the shoulder, laughing. “Feiyang, if you keep calling me Senior Uncle, I’ll start thinking you’re mocking my age. Let’s treat each other as peers. Call me Senior Brother.”

Gao Feiyang scratched his head and grinned. “Alright, Senior Brother Zhou!”

“How is your elder brother, Gao Feihuang?” Zhou Kai asked. “I heard he is recuperating at the Li family estate?”

Gao Feiyang’s expression turned solemn. “Senior Brother is perceptive. My elder brother has been recovering for over half a month. Thanks to the miraculous Spirit Pills provided by the Li family, he can walk again, but his depleted Vitality has not yet been replenished.”

Zhou Kai narrowed his eyes. “Senior Brother Feihuang is a spell cultivator. To clash head-on with a body cultivator is already extraordinary, but why would his injury deplete his Vitality rather than his Qi?”

Gao Feiyang looked genuinely puzzled. “To be honest, I don’t even know what cultivation technique my elder brother practices. He’s always been mysterious about it.”

The two chatted briefly before entering the shop.

Wang Qiaoqiao was already dragging the maidservants up and down the stairs. She pointed here, ordering a display for Pills; she pointed there, demanding a private booth be installed. Her eyes shone with golden light, her energy boundless.

Zhou Kai watched her—a little money-grubber in her element—and couldn’t help but smile.

Once Wang Qiaoqiao and the maids were fully immersed in the renovation chaos, Zhou Kai found a quiet corner. He sat at a desk, facing the breeze of Brilliance City, picked up a brush, and began to write a letter.