: Thoughts on Dual Cultivation

Red Flower Camp.

Ning Zhuo arrived at the camp entrance and presented his token.

"Young Master Ning Zhuo, please follow me." The guard, already familiar with Ning Zhuo, verified the token and assigned someone to lead the way.

This identity token had been given to Ning Zhuo by Zhang Zhongyi after his last treatment.

Ning Zhuo made his way to the physician's tent with practiced ease. Entering, he greeted, "Senior Zhang, I've come to trouble you again."

Seeing Ning Zhuo, Zhang Zhongyi stroked his beard and smiled. "No trouble at all, young friend. Please, have a seat."

Once seated, Ning Zhuo undid his belt.

He held up the shrunken Thousand-Mile Wandering Dragon for Zhang Zhongyi to see.

Zhang Zhongyi examined it closely, his expression shifting to surprise. "So it's the Thousand-Mile Wandering Dragon."

"Last time, when your friend suddenly appeared, I thought it might be something like a Hidden Soldier Talisman or an Army-Following Order."

"Young friend, your wealth is truly remarkable."

Ning Zhuo showed Zhang Zhongyi the damaged part of the dragon's body, explaining that it had been struck by the Blood Shadow Cave Lord's spell. Approaching the Thousand Peaks Forest would alert the Cave Lord.

"I'd like to ask for your help again, Senior, to remove this threat for us," Ning Zhuo stated directly.

Zhang Zhongyi took the Thousand-Mile Wandering Dragon, scrutinizing it closely. He occasionally formed hand seals, casting probing spells.

After a moment, his furrowed brow relaxed. "It is indeed the Blood Shadow Cave Lord's Blood Trace Tracking Art."

"Removing it isn't difficult."

"However..."

Zhang Zhongyi changed his tone, explaining that he was no longer at the Nascent Soul level but only at the Golden Core stage. To dispel the Blood Trace Tracking Art, he would need external aids.

"If we had a Nascent Soul-level alchemy furnace, along with some medicinal ingredients, and refined continuously for twelve days, we could remove the spell."

"Unfortunately, to my knowledge, there is no such furnace in all of Canglin Immortal City."

Alchemy furnaces, being crucial production tools, are extremely expensive. A high-quality Nascent Soul-level furnace could cost a Nascent Soul cultivator most of their lifetime savings.

Despite having served as a royal physician, Zhang Zhongyi had never accumulated enough wealth to own a Nascent Soul-level furnace himself.

"What can we do then?" Ning Zhuo sighed, his eyes shifting thoughtfully. "If not an alchemy furnace, would a refining furnace work?"

Zhang Zhongyi admired Ning Zhuo's quick thinking and nodded. "That's exactly what I was going to suggest. Currently, there is a Nascent Soul-level refining furnace in Canglin Immortal City, controlled by National Artisan Jin Li."

"Through him, we can also resolve this Blood Trace Tracking Art."

Ning Zhuo fell silent, hesitating.

He trusted Zhang Zhongyi relatively well but knew little about Jin Li.

Through the Life-Thread and My Buddha's Demonic Heart Seal, he could manage interactions with Zhang Zhongyi. However, Jin Li was a Nascent Soul expert. If something went wrong, the situation would be beyond his current ability to handle.

Seeing Ning Zhuo's hesitation, Zhang Zhongyi said, "I know Jin Li quite well."

"He is upright, straightforward, and his words are sharp as a blade."

"Moreover, we can draft a contract to ensure no one else learns about your possession of the Thousand-Mile Wandering Dragon."

"However, enlisting his help won't be cheap. You need to be prepared."

After all, Jin Li was a Nascent Soul expert and a National Artisan with heavy smelting responsibilities in Canglin Immortal City.

Asking him to take on private work required offering something that would genuinely interest him.

Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong discussed via spiritual sense transmission briefly before Ning Zhuo nodded to Zhang Zhongyi. "We'll follow your suggestion, Senior."

Zhang Zhongyi immediately wrote a flying message.

The message flew out of the tent, heading straight into Canglin Immortal City.

Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Zhongyi dismissed the attendants, speaking to Ning Zhuo alone. "I also have a matter to entrust to you, young friend Ning Zhuo."

"Of course, this is merely a suggestion. If you're unwilling, that's perfectly fine."

"Just ensure strict confidentiality regarding this matter."

This immediately piqued the curiosity of both Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong. Especially Sun Lingtong, who perked up his ears inside the mechanical dragon.

Ning Zhuo promptly assured that he would do his best within his capabilities.

Zhang Zhongyi smiled. "This matter is both difficult and easy—it might hinge on a single thought from you."

"However, it concerns military intelligence. Before I explain, let's establish a contract."

"Your friend as well, if they wish to listen, must also agree to the contract."

No sooner had he spoken than Sun Lingtong popped out of the mechanical dragon, looking very eager.

Seeing how seriously Zhang Zhongyi was taking this, Ning Zhuo's expression grew slightly more solemn.

Once the contract was established, Zhang Zhongyi looked at Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong and whispered his proposal regarding dual cultivation.

"Dual cultivation? With General Mu Lan?!" Ning Zhuo's eyes widened as he pointed at himself, utterly shocked.

To him, the leap was simply too great.

"Hehehe, Zhuo, this is a fantastic opportunity!" Sun Lingtong, upon hearing this, burst into laughter, rocking back and forth.

He absolutely loved drama like this.

Zhang Zhongyi sighed deeply and explained the details to the two of them.

"Mystical Gold Armor-Piercing Art?" Ning Zhuo frowned slightly. "Perhaps I could improve this technique to assist the General."

"There's no need for dual cultivation."

"Please don't misunderstand, Senior. This isn't arrogance on my part, but my Primordial Yang is extremely significant for my lifelong path of cultivation."

Zhang Zhongyi nodded. "Indeed, that's true, so it requires careful consideration."

Sun Lingtong stared at Ning Zhuo. "Zhuo, you're not practicing a Virgin Boy Skill like I am. I've seen the three superior methods you cultivate. Primordial Yang isn't that crucial for you."

"Besides, haven't you always complained to me about your slow cultivation progress? Dual cultivation now, with a Golden Core-level partner performing energy infusion on you? Your cultivation will advance by leaps and bounds!"

Zhang Zhongyi's eyes lit up slightly as he stroked his beard and smiled. "If both parties are willing, this would be a joyous occasion indeed, hahaha."

Ning Zhuo quickly waved his hands. "I'm merely a lowly Foundation Building junior cultivator, while General Mu Lan is a Golden Core expert commanding an army. For someone like me to engage in dual cultivation with her would be reaching far beyond my station."

"Moreover, dual cultivation is a significant matter. I must report it to my clan's ancestor and obtain the family's approval before such a major step can be taken."

Zhang Zhongyi detected Ning Zhuo's reluctance and let his smile fade, nodding. "Involving Primordial Yang and Primordial Yin makes dual cultivation a serious matter. It does require careful consideration."

Just then, a flying message entered the tent and landed before Zhang Zhongyi.

It was Jin Li's reply.

Zhang Zhongyi read it and showed slight surprise. "Brother Jin has agreed, but he requests the Nascent Soul-level treasure material in young friend Ning Zhuo's possession as payment..."

This wasn't unexpected for Ning Zhuo.

He smiled wryly and repeated his earlier explanation to Zhang Zhongyi about it being a clan mission to trade with a major faction.

After some thought, Ning Zhuo said, "The clan mission is important, but removing the Blood Trace Tracking Art is also crucial. I've decided to accept Artisan Jin Li's request and ask for his assistance!"

Immediately, Zhang Zhongyi, Ning Zhuo, and Sun Lingtong took the mechanical dragon to see Jin Li.

After discussing with Jin Li, the two experts devised several methods to eliminate the Blood Trace Tracking Art.

Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong deliberated briefly and quickly made a choice.

They opted for the fastest method, which required a greater cost. This cost wasn't more payment but meant the Thousand-Mile Wandering Dragon would sustain multiple injuries due to the aggressive procedure.

However, to quickly return to the Old Monster in the Stone and avoid complications, this decision was undoubtedly wise.

Ning Zhuo watched as the Thousand-Mile Wandering Dragon was placed into the refining furnace.

The furnace door closed, and flames roared to life, beginning the intense process.

According to Jin Li and Zhang Zhongyi's estimates, it would take a minimum of three days and three nights, up to four days and five nights.

Without the dragon coiled around his waist, Ning Zhuo felt unaccustomed and somewhat empty inside.

Despite the injury to his right arm, Sun Lingtong couldn't resist taking temporary leave from Ning Zhuo to go have fun in Canglin Immortal City.

Ning Zhuo returned alone to the Three Generals Camp and entered his own tent to begin his daily cultivation.

He first took out the meditation cushion.

This magical tool, distributed by the three families back in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, was still effective.

Ning Zhuo then activated the Floating Cloud Handkerchief.

Since using it in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, he seemed to have developed a habit. Not wrapping himself with the handkerchief felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Layer upon layer of clouds covered Ning Zhuo from head to toe, wrapping him into a large cotton ball.

Inside the ball, Ning Zhuo took out various spirit foods and consumed them one after another.

Spirit food has a shorter shelf life compared to pills but has the advantage of lacking residual medicinal properties, allowing cultivators to absorb it fully.

The spirit food in Canglin Immortal City mostly had sweet and spicy flavors. Ning Zhuo wasn't entirely used to it yet and choked once during his meal.

He first practiced the Demonic Blood Meridian Art.

A demonic glow illuminated his face, turning it crimson, with the outlines of meridians and membranes faintly visible.

In his lower dantian, a crimson field was crisscrossed with blood meridians, spreading and interweaving into a net that covered the entire area.

After digesting large amounts of spirit food, it was refined into essence blood, added to the blood field, strengthening the blood meridian network.

Ning Zhuo then practiced the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art.

He took out the magical tool Whirlwind Toy and pressed it against his middle dantian.

Inside the Five Qi Pivot Dantian, five-colored swirling currents resembled a whirlwind, connecting heaven and earth. The five-element energies were sometimes distinct, sometimes blended together. Aided by the Whirlwind Toy, the swirling currents accelerated their rotation, absorbing external spiritual energy and converting it more quickly into his own法力.

When practicing the Mirror Platform Spirit Communication Art, he used the Tranquil Mind Bell.

The ringing of the bell quickly helped him enter a meditative state, allowing him to delve deeper.

In the Bright Mirror Spirit Light Dantian, thoughts surged continuously. Distracting thoughts were eliminated or actively suppressed, while unique mirror-thoughts combined to form flat mirrors. At the upper and lower limits, two large mirror surfaces served as the heaven and earth within the dantian.

The most prominent features in the dantian were undoubtedly the My Buddha's Demonic Heart Seal.

Aside from that, there was the pink lotus and green leaf manifestation of the Life-Thread supernatural ability.

"According to common knowledge, the Foundation Building stage is mainly divided into six phases, corresponding to the early, middle, and late stages of Foundation Building."

"These are: Opening the Dantian Unobstructed, Treasured Medicine Generation, Dantian Radiating Light, Unusual Phenomena and Seed Runes, Inner Golden Light Illumination, and Transforming Void into Reality."

"The three superior methods are advanced techniques, and their Foundation Building s include these six phases."

Older techniques might not necessarily contain all six phases.

New methods are superior, compared to older techniques, as they better enhance a cultivator's foundation and more comprehensively develop their capabilities.

Throughout history, later-generation Foundation Building cultivators, due to practicing new methods, are often stronger than their predecessors from earlier eras.

Ning Zhuo possessed the Five Viscera Temple Divine Spirit Technique. This technique was too ancient, with hardly any distinction between the early, middle, and late Foundation Building stages.

If one were to force a comparison, it only had the final phase, "Transforming Void into Reality," and even that was intertwined with the final step of transcending tribulation to form the Golden Core.

Unlike modern techniques, which separate the two processes, allowing for greater refinement and precision.

"I invest three times the amount of time in cultivation compared to an average person."

"Typically, the daily cultivation cost for a Foundation Building cultivator, converted to spirit stones, is around fifteen hundred low-grade spirit stones."

"The cost of the various spirit foods I consume and the magical tools I use amounts to five thousand low-grade spirit stones per day."

"Even so, I haven't reached the 'Opening the Dantian Unobstructed' state, not even showing a hint of it."

"Sigh..."

As Ning Zhuo traveled the world, he encountered increasingly powerful experts.

Sometimes, he even faced threats at the Nascent Soul level!

The scenario where Foundation Building cultivators only encounter opponents of similar or slightly higher strength mostly exists only in stories.

Reality is harsh; it doesn't treat you kindly because you're weak. Quite the opposite is true.

Ning Zhuo desperately wanted his cultivation to advance rapidly.

He had once consulted Sun Lingtong about this, only to be advised against rushing.

Ning Zhuo knew Sun Lingtong's words held merit; his progress was actually quite fast. A sixteen-year-old Foundation Building cultivator—this achievement was outstanding even across the entire cultivation world.

But Ning Zhuo still longed for a rapid increase in power!

Especially this time, being suggested by Zhang Zhongyi to dual cultivate with Mu Lan further fueled this desire.

"I really want my cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds!"

"Being only at the early Foundation Building stage, there's so much I can't do. It's truly frustrating."

"Dual cultivation..."

Although Ning Zhuo had politely declined Zhang Zhongyi, he had to admit he was secretly tempted.

Dual cultivating with Mu Lan would not only cause his cultivation to surge due to the dual cultivation itself, but Mu Lan's special condition would also infuse him with a great deal of cultivation energy, doubling the boost!

"Losing my Primordial Yang isn't a big deal, but the significance of a dual cultivation partner is extremely important."

"Dual cultivation involving the exchange of Primordial Yang and Primordial Yin can only happen once in a lifetime. Therefore, the choice of a Dao companion is critical; there's only one opportunity."

"After dual cultivation, the relationship between the two becomes extremely close. Subsequent dual cultivation results are far more effective than with ordinary partners, making the bond even tighter than that of husband and wife."

"As the head of the Ning Clan branch family, should I form a Dao companion bond with the daughter of the Upper General's mansion from the Two Pillars Kingdom?"

Ning Zhuo was well aware of the disparity.

If Lin Shanshan's feelings for Ning Zhuo were based on affection, and Hua Guzi's liking stemmed from desire, then Mu Lan's consideration of Ning Zhuo was purely based on cold, hard利益.

Ning Zhuo wasn't averse to this; he had seen plenty of such arrangements in Fire Persimmon Immortal City and read about them in books.

"This is how the righteous path operates," Ning Zhuo thought. He just couldn't determine whether this dual cultivation transaction would be profitable or detrimental for him.

Would there be a better choice in the future?

(End of )