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

Chapter 263: Ziqing Gets Anxious: Brother Zhou, Be Gentler!

Zhou Kai examined his System Panel.

[Zhou Kai]

Spirit Root: Metal (Immortal Grade — 230 / 8,100,000) …

“Eight million, one hundred thousand Interaction Points just to max out a single Immortal Grade Spirit Root?”

Zhou Kai frowned slightly. “Is there a realm even higher than Immortal Grade?”

The thought was too distant to entertain for now. He shook his head, casting the astronomical numbers to the back of his mind.

With a wave of his hand, the heavy stone door slid open silently.

The moment a crack appeared, a wisp of fragrant, cool breeze slipped into the stale air of the chamber.

A figure drifted in like a ghost—Li Lanyin.

She wore a pale cyan gown that flowed like water, and her small, snow-white feet were bare against the cold stone floor. Living in the cave dwelling with the maidservants Chuntao and Xiahe, she had adopted the habit of never wearing shoes unless she left the abode.

Zhou Kai’s gaze involuntarily slid downward. Her jade-like feet were petite, the toes rounded and delicate, the pristine white skin flushed with a lovely, tender pink.

“Husband, congratulations on leaving Secluded Cultivation.” Li Lanyin bowed gracefully, her movements fluid. “Your aura seems to have refined significantly.”

Zhou Kai’s eyes lingered on her exquisite feet for a moment longer before he reached out, pulling her into his embrace with a smile. “I gained some insights. Did anything of note happen while I was away?”

Li Lanyin nestled into his arms, retrieving a small booklet from her sleeve.

“Replying to Husband: The Heavenly Craft Tower in Shangqing City has remained consistently profitable. As for Brilliance City… we operated at a loss for the first year, but we have just turned a profit this year.”

“Oh? Why was the start in Brilliance City so rough?”

“Most shops in Brilliance City are backed by Nascent Soul Patriarchs and have deep, established roots,” Li Lanyin explained softly. “We were newcomers. Sister Qiaoqiao had to adopt a strategy of ‘small profits, quick turnover’ just to gain a foothold. Only now are we seeing the returns.”

“Anything else?”

“The Sect sent three Transmission Talismans—one each year. I have kept them safe for you.”

Zhou Kai took the talismans and activated them with a pulse of Qi. The messages projected into his mind.

They were largely identical, sent by an unfamiliar Deacon Elder. The gist was simple: the Outer Sect selection had concluded, new Inner Sect disciples had been chosen, and the Elders were being asked if they intended to take on apprentices.

“Has Hanyi taken any disciples?” Zhou Kai asked.

“Sister Hanyi established a dojo, so it seems she has the intention,” Li Lanyin replied. “But I haven’t heard of her selecting anyone specific yet.”

Zhou Kai nodded. Still holding Li Lanyin, he walked out of the quiet room and stepped into the main cavern. The scene before him made him pause.

The originally bare, desolate stone platform had been completely transformed.

Lush vegetation flourished everywhere. Green trees provided shade, and a crystal-clear stream meandered through the rock, feeding into a small, purpose-built pond where vibrant koi swam lazily.

Beside the pond stood an elegant pavilion, connected to the rest of the dwelling by covered corridors and winding pebble paths.

Inside the pavilion, Mo Qianyuan and Lin Zhiwei sat facing each other at a stone table. Several ancient texts on Formation arts were spread out between them, accompanied by a pot of steaming spirit tea.

“Husband!”

“Master!”

Seeing Zhou Kai emerge, the two women immediately rose to their feet.

Zhou Kai walked over and sat in the pavilion, looking around at the renovated courtyard with amusement. “I was in Secluded Cultivation within the Sect, studying techniques. I wasn’t in any danger. Why did you feel the need to stand guard for me?”

“Master need not worry about us,” Lin Zhiwei explained softly. “It was Sister Ziyi’s arrangement. She said that while Husband cultivates, we sisters should do our part. We took turns on duty in pairs so we could keep each other company and not delay our own cultivation.”

Mo Qianyuan moved behind Zhou Kai. She reached out to smooth the wrinkles on his robe, her tone carrying a familiar, scolding affection. “You come out of seclusion and don’t even change into clean clothes. Look at this mess.”

After a brief chat, Zhou Kai learned that this courtyard was indeed Chen Ziyi’s project. She had noted that during his first year of seclusion, colleagues and Deacons often came to visit, yet there was no proper place to receive them. She had personally designed and commissioned this garden to save him face.

Mo Qianyuan sat for a moment longer, scrutinizing Zhou Kai with her sharp eyes. Seeing that his aura was steady and condensed—showing no signs of a rushed or unstable foundation—she finally relaxed.

She stood up abruptly. “Seeing that your foundation is solid puts my mind at ease. I had prepared a ‘Spirit Stabilizing Talisman’ in case you ran into trouble, but it seems unnecessary now. Take care of your body. Don’t do anything reckless right after coming out.”

Before Zhou Kai could thank her, she had already turned and walked away, crisp and decisive as always.

Zhou Kai took Lin Zhiwei’s small hand. They walked side by side along the new stone path, heading slowly toward her bamboo lodge.

Silence stretched between them, but Zhou Kai could sense the turbulence in Lin Zhiwei’s heart.

She glanced at him several times, her lips parting as if to speak, only to swallow the words. Her fingertips unconsciously traced nervous patterns against his palm.

“What is it, Zhiwei?” Zhou Kai stopped and turned to face her.

Lin Zhiwei looked up, her clear eyes filled with a hidden, trembling unease.

“Master… the Spirit Contract… there is less than a year left before it expires.” Her voice was whisper-soft, as if afraid to break a spell. “This humble woman… doesn’t know what will happen… after it expires.”

Zhou Kai instantly understood.

This girl believed that her place by his side, the life she enjoyed now, was entirely dependent on that magical binding. She feared that once the contract dissolved, she would be discarded.

His heart softened. He reached out, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

“Between us, we have long since transcended the need for a Spirit Contract. Zhiwei, you belong to me. You will be by my side, forever.”

Lin Zhiwei’s eyes reddened. The dam broke, and she threw herself into his arms, hugging his waist tightly as if trying to merge her body with his.

“Master…”

…

Three months later.

In the Chen sisters’ courtyard, the air buzzed with a cacophony of insect cries.

High above, two massive, dark clouds clashed violently. They ground against each other, tearing and ripping like living millstones.

It was a swarm of tens of thousands of Split-Back Katydids.

Zhou Kai stood to the side, hands clasped behind his back. He was controlling the swarm using only the Divine Sense split from his Cicada Raiment body.

Since advancing his Spirit Root to Immortal Grade, the Qi he infused into the swarm had fundamentally changed.

Now, the jet-black wing covers of every Split-Back Katydid shimmered with a flowing, five-colored spiritual light. This light was not just armor—it was a weapon.

BZZZZZT—!

One insect cloud suddenly condensed, transforming into a titanic, multi-colored drill. It spun at high speed, tearing through the air with a high-pitched shriek as it slammed toward the opposing swarm.

The second cloud reacted instantly, spreading out to form a massive, rotating millstone of five-colored light to meet the impact.

CLANG— SCREECH—!

The sound of grinding metal echoed through the valley as countless sparks rained down.

The drill and the millstone collided with earth-shaking force. At the point of contact, the five-colored lights didn’t just explode; they eroded and countered one another.

This was not just a battle of insects, but a clash of the Five Elements.

The sharp Metal energy on the drill tip sought to pierce the defense, but it was largely deflected by the fluid Water energy churning within the millstone. The flames rising from the millstone attempted to engulf the attackers, only to be smothered by the heavy Earth light wrapping the drill.

The insect formations constantly collapsed and reformed. Countless Split-Back Katydids rained from the sky, stunned by the impact. Yet, under Zhou Kai’s precise control, the two sides maintained a delicate, brutal balance of offense and defense.

However, there was collateral damage.

The local Quenching Spirit Bees were caught in the violent aftershocks. Blown about by the chaotic winds, many couldn’t stabilize their flight and fell from the sky, buzzing mournfully.

“Brother Zhou…”

Chen Ziqing, dressed in a water-green gown, walked gracefully to Zhou Kai’s side. She looked at her falling bees with watery, heartbroken eyes, her voice soft and pleading.

“My bees… look how pitiful they are. They’re all getting knocked around by your big black katydids.”

These Quenching Spirit Bees were not Chen Ziyi’s livestock; they were Ziqing’s cherished pets. They fed exclusively on spirit herbs, and the honey they produced was a treasure for both cultivation and alchemy.

Zhou Kai withdrew his Divine Sense. The two warring clouds instantly merged into one, hovering obediently in mid-air.

He turned to her with a smile. “Does it hurt your heart?”

“Mmm…” Chen Ziqing nodded, leaning her soft body against him. She sounded like she was about to cry. “Brother Zhou, look at them… they can’t even fly straight. If your fierce bugs keep practicing like this, Ziqing won’t have any good honey to make Pills for you anymore.”

Zhou Kai laughed and pulled her into his arms. “Don’t worry. Qiaoqiao is already purchasing high-grade resources to help the Quenching Spirit Bees advance their bloodline.”

“I’ll compensate you with a better swarm.”

He had already consulted the ancient texts. There was a powerful evolution for the Quenching Spirit Bee bloodline known as the Spirit Devouring Bee.

These bees delighted in consuming raw spiritual power. They could even devour a cultivator’s protective spirit light and spells directly.

Once cultivated, they would be the natural nemesis of spell casters.

Spirit Devouring Bees to break spells. Split-Back Katydids to break armor.

Now that… is an interesting combination.