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

Chapter 259: Drunken Enlightenment Conceals Heaven’s Secrets (Part 1)

Zhou Kai stood with a placid expression. With a subtle pulse of Qi, two drops of Essence Blood shot from his fingertip and flew into the gaping maws of the two captive ferocious demons.

As the Essence Blood hit their tongues, the creatures trembled violently, thrashing against their chains.

Their heavy, ragged breathing filled the damp chamber. When they looked at Zhou Kai, the pure chaos and bloodlust in their eyes seemed to recede slightly, replaced by a flicker of something else. Intelligence.

The red-haired demon’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Its cracked lips parted, emitting a series of garbled, guttural roars.

Immediately after, the blue-haired demon joined in, its voice sharper, piercing the air.

Zhou Kai listened quietly, his eyebrows raising slightly.

From the chaotic mess of syllables, he isolated two distorted words. Hoarse, twisted, and barely human, yet unmistakable.

“Kill…”

“Die…”

Freed from the constant suppression of the Divine Sense in Tongming Valley, these beasts—who previously knew only slaughter—were beginning to regain their cognitive faculties.

Zhou Kai spoke, his voice echoing in the stone room. It was a challenge to them, and a reminder to himself.

“Very good.”

“Let’s see who grows faster. Will you break these shackles to kill me first? Or will I completely refine you into tools before that happens?”

The two demons seemed to understand the provocation. They struggled with renewed ferocity, their intermittent roars coalescing into a single, rhythmic chant.

“Kill! Kill!”

Zhou Kai paid them no further mind. He turned on his heel and walked out of the secret chamber.

For the next few days, Zhou Kai lived in seclusion.

Aside from cultivating the True Insight Eye and feeding the demons in the secret chamber, he did little else. The Edge Transformation Art required open space to control the insect swarm, so he couldn’t practice it within the confines of the Heavenly Craft Tower.

Today, Wang Qiaoqiao had taken Chuntao and Xiahe to the outer sect to annul their Death Contracts.

Only five maidservants remained in the tower.

Zhou Kai, however, had no mind for leisure.

“All my Spirit Roots can now be elevated to Immortal Grade.”

Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth. The Five Elements, all at Immortal Grade. This was a foundation of terrifying potential.

Everything was ready; he only lacked the final wind to push the sails.

He was waiting for Wu Hongxiao.

Once she arrived safely, he could finalize the Spirit Root exchange points and enter Secluded Cultivation to seek an Epiphany.

But what should he comprehend?

Should he focus on the laws of Heaven and Earth? Should he delve deeper into the Lawless No Word Heavenly Scripture?

Or perhaps… that heaven-deceiving technique that existed only as a concept in his mind?

Zhou Kai slowly opened his eyes. A flash of light appeared in his palm, and the Chaotic Sky Hammer, pitch-black and pulsing with a dark red luster, materialized in his grip.

He stroked the cold, heavy metal, sinking into deep thought.

“My foundation is solid, my realm advancement is rapid, and I dual cultivate both body and magic. I possess high-grade Dharma Treasures… Crushing ordinary cultivators of the same level is simple.”

“But if I encounter true prodigies—like the current Shen Hanyi, or Li Youci now that she has reached the Golden Core realm—I fear my victories would be few.”

At that moment, a transmission jade token in his Storage Bag vibrated, interrupting his thoughts.

Zhou Kai picked it up. It was a message from Chen Ziyi: Wu Hongxiao had been successfully escorted back to the Sect.

He stowed the Chaotic Sky Hammer, stood up, and left the Heavenly Craft Tower. transforming into a streak of light, he shot straight toward Taiji Peak.

Taiji Peak, Summit.

As soon as Zhou Kai landed, a fiery red silhouette charged at him like a storm.

Wu Hongxiao. She wore a dashing, form-fitting martial outfit that outlined her powerful, alluring curves. Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail that whipped freely with her movements.

“Zhou Kai!”

She rushed him, closing the distance in a few strides, and unceremoniously slapped his arm.

Pa!

The sound was crisp and loud.

The force behind it wasn’t small, but Zhou Kai stood like a statue, merely looking at her with amusement. “Is this how you greet your husband?”

“You! Why did you pick such a lousy mountain?” Wu Hongxiao planted her hands on her hips, looking around with a face full of disdain. “It’s cold, desolate, and quiet as a grave! There’s no life here at all!”

To the side, Chen Ziyi covered her mouth to hide a smile. She walked over gracefully, her voice soft. “Husband, you and Hongxiao must have much to discuss. I have some sect matters to attend to, so I will take my leave first.”

She winked at Wu Hongxiao, then turned and departed, leaving the space to the reunited pair.

Zhou Kai looked at Wu Hongxiao. “I’ve finally got you here. Was the journey smooth? I was worried something might happen on your end.”

“Something happen?” Wu Hongxiao scoffed, raising her chin with characteristic arrogance. “Your woman is at the Grand Perfection of Bone Forging, half a step into Viscera Refining. What kind of trouble could stop me?”

She paused, then added, “Leaving the Sect wasn’t easy, though. Those old fogies tried to block me, whining about how ‘hard it is to nurture a disciple.’ It took some effort to grease the wheels and break through the red tape.”

“Come on,” Zhou Kai smiled. “Let me show you around Taiji Peak.”

“No!”

Wu Hongxiao refused instantly.

“Ziyi already gave me the tour. Your Taiji Peak has nothing! It’s boring!” She looked at him with gleaming eyes. “I heard your Calamity Abyss Valley has a place called Three Watches Market? A good place for drinking?”

Zhou Kai was taken aback, then chuckled. “You want to go drinking?”

“Obviously!” Wu Hongxiao slapped his shoulder hard. “Hurry up, lead the way! I’m happy today. If I don’t drink to my heart’s content, I’ll tear down your cave dwelling!”

Zhou Kai laughed. Her brash, straightforward nature hadn’t changed a bit.

“Alright, as you wish. I’ll accompany you. But I must remind you—if you want to tear down my cave dwelling, you’ll have to ask my fists first.”

He clenched his fist, the knuckles emitting a series of faint, threatening cracks.

Wu Hongxiao’s beautiful eyes lit up, battle intent surging. “Good! After the wine, we spar!”

Three Watches Market was teeming with life. Even after nightfall, the noise was deafening, a sea of lights and figures.

“Hey, now this is much more interesting than your desolate peak!” Wu Hongxiao’s bright eyes darted around, drinking in the novelty.

Zhou Kai walked beside her, smiling silently.

Wu Hongxiao stopped, pointing toward a massive three-story restaurant. The plaque on the roof bore three vigorous characters: Cloud Summit Pavilion.

“That one!” She pointed with heroic flair. “We’re going there!”

The two stepped into the Cloud Summit Pavilion. A sharp-eyed Clerk immediately hurried over to greet them.

“Senior Brother, Senior Sister! The private rooms upstairs are quiet and offer a panoramic view of the market’s night scenery…”

“Private room? Stifling!” Wu Hongxiao waved her hand dismissively, cutting him off. Her gaze swept over the bustling main hall. “Right here! It’s lively, spacious, and bright!”

She marched to a square table near the central stage, which offered an excellent view, and flopped down.

“Clerk!” Her voice was clear and loud, drawing sidelong glances from the neighboring tables. “Bring two jars of your strongest liquor! Then slice twenty jin of your most expensive Demon Beast meat!”

The Clerk’s face fell slightly. He leaned in, whispering cautiously, “Senior Brother, Senior Sister… our strongest liquor is the ‘Heart-Burner Wine’. It’s brewed with the heart of earth fire magma. Its potency is fierce. Even late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators struggle to refine the drunkenness. One jar costs three hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones.”

“And the best meat is the tendon of the Snow Mountain Red Bull… fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones per jin…”

Before he could finish, Zhou Kai casually tossed a handful of gleaming stones.

Clatter.

Sixteen Middle Grade Spirit Stones landed on the table. The pure, swirling Spirit Qi instantly dazzled the Clerk’s eyes.

“Bring what she said,” Zhou Kai said indifferently. “The price is not an issue.”

The Clerk’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

He quickly did the math. Middle Grade Spirit Stones contained pure Spirit Qi and were extremely versatile. On the black market, a single one could spark a bidding war for one hundred and ten Low-grade stones.

And this man had just tossed sixteen of them for a single drinking session!

Which peak’s disciple is this? What a spendthrift!

The Clerk deftly swept up the stones, bowing so low his head nearly touched his knees. He then straightened up and shouted toward the kitchen with all his might.

“Table Ding-Three, Distinguished Guests! Two jars of top-grade Heart-Burner Wine! Twenty jin of Snow Mountain Red Bull tendon meat!”

The shout was full of vigor, echoing through half the hall and attracting even more gazes.

The smell of alcohol and meat mixed with the scent of rouge from the female cultivators at nearby tables, creating a wave of mundane, vibrant life.

On the central stage, a troupe was performing the “Phantom Butterfly Dance.”

Dozens of dancers moved with ethereal steps. Their colorful silk garments, driven by Qi, fluttered and transformed into phantom butterfly wings. The dance contained simple illusion techniques; every step landed on the rhythm of a mesmerizing melody, dazzling the eyes and swaying the heart.

The wine and meat arrived quickly.

The Heart-Burner Wine came in coarse black pottery jars. Once the seal was broken, a wave of scorching alcoholic fumes rushed out.

Wu Hongxiao’s eyes shone. She ignored the cups entirely, hefting the jar and pouring a full bowl for herself.

“Good wine!”

She gulped down half the bowl in one go. Her face flushed an intoxicating red, and she exhaled a breath of hot, alcohol-laden air, her eyes burning bright.

She tore off a large chunk of the roasted, golden-brown Red Bull tendon, chewing heartily, grease staining her lips. She didn’t care about her image in the slightest.

“Zhou Kai, drink! This wine has a kick!”

Excited by the atmosphere, she slapped the table and began humming along with the tune from the stage, standing out starkly against the reserved cultivators around them.

Infected by her carefree joy, Zhou Kai raised his bowl and drained it.

The liquor hit his throat like a line of fire dragons, burning straight down to his Dantian. A vast warmth exploded, rushing through his limbs and bones.

He didn’t use Qi to dispel the alcohol. He let the tipsiness swirl in his mind.

The Heart-Burner Wine lived up to its name. Even with his Golden Core cultivation, a few bowls left him feeling light-headed.

Bowl after bowl, the two of them finished the first jar. Wu Hongxiao slapped open the second, her enthusiasm undiminished.

After three rounds, the night outside had deepened.

The Phantom Butterfly Dance concluded, and the finale began.

Outside, thick clouds had blocked the moon and stars. The air was heavy and stifling; distant thunder rumbled on the horizon.

“Burp…” Wu Hongxiao let out a long, unladylike belch. She glanced out the window with bleary eyes. “Tsk. It’s going to rain. Damn weather, so stuffy!”

She turned back to the stage, her interest piqued again. “Look, look! The fireworks are starting! Watching this before the rain hits is the best!”

The dancers had retreated. A slightly chubby middle-aged cultivator walked to the center of the stage. His cultivation was only early Foundation Establishment, but his expression was focused.

He formed hand seals, and fingertip-sized balls of light floated up from his palms. Carrying faint fire Spirit Qi, they drifted like a swarm of fireflies toward the ceiling.

They didn’t explode. Instead, they traced mysterious trajectories, weaving through the lanterns and drilling into the shadows of the rafters.

Some light balls would fly at a certain angle and vanish into thin air, as if turning invisible.

A moment later, they would emerge from another patch of shadow, re-lighting under the candlelight.

Bright, then dark. Hidden, then revealed.

The entire hall’s interplay of light and shadow became a playground for these orbs.

Zhou Kai narrowed his eyes. The alcohol had loosened his mind, stripping away his usual analytical rigidity. He didn’t analyze the Qi fluctuations. Instead, a purer, more intuitive thought emerged.

These light balls are not truly invisible.

They were merely utilizing the boundary between light and shadow—the visual blind spots of the observers.

That alternating space of brightness and darkness created a natural “gap.”

As long as the speed and angle were perfect, they could “disappear” from the human eye for an instant.

This…

Zhou Kai’s pupils contracted. The wine bowl in his hand froze in mid-air.

Isn’t this a crude application of the aura-concealing, trace-hiding principles from the Cicada Raiment Art?