Share the 104 experience points together.

They decided to remain within the array for a while, primarily to recuperate, though they also took a few minor risks along the way. In their spare time, they cross-referenced their findings with the *Qimen Dunjia* texts. After careful analysis, they concluded that the array was far more expansive than what they had initially perceived.

Based on the patterns of *Qimen Dunjia* and the Eight Trigrams, the entire Heavenly Court was a single, comprehensive formation consisting of eighteen concentric layers. They were currently situated in the outermost layer—the palace of the Twenty-Eight Mansions—and what they had witnessed was barely a thousandth of the whole.

"If that’s the case, how could anyone possibly break through? It’s terrifying!" Luo Li exclaimed.

Qin Yue replied, "As long as we are careful not to trigger the formation, we will be fine. There are palaces deep within the Heavenly Court; there must be mechanisms and arrays beneath them, or else how could they be inhabited?"

Luo Yu nodded in agreement. "When Gu Huo broke into the Heavenly Court, he managed to get inside. He said it was quite beautiful and not particularly dangerous... though, given his Great Ascension stage cultivation, those gatekeeper puppets would have been nothing to him. Still, if he were to go now, he’d likely be in for a rough time. No wonder he wouldn’t agree to lead the way; he was definitely afraid of losing face!"

Luo Li blinked, then threw herself into Luo Yu’s arms, giggling. "And you say that—your eyes were all puffy from crying! Give me a bribe, or I’ll tell Mommy you were a crybaby!"

Luo Yu blushed instantly, stammering, "That was only because I was worried about you! You’re not allowed to tell anyone!" He then touched his tattered clothes. "Will my feathers grow back before I have to molt? I heard that phoenixes don't molt for the first time until after a century... am I going to have to wear these rags forever?" And what about his flock of feathered followers at the Anti-Heaven Palace? Would they still recognize him as their leader? The thought of those days of being obeyed by everyone disappearing forever was deeply melancholy.

Qin Yue couldn't help but tap him on the head. "Have you never heard the legend of the 'bald phoenix'? Set your mind at ease."

After staying in the array for a few days, Qin Yue’s internal injuries had mostly healed. The holes in Luo Yu’s clothes had merged into a singular mess, but at least he was covered. Finally, the three of them activated the array to head home.

Returning home, they all felt their lack of cultivation and insufficient mystical techniques. Thinking of the sheer scale of the Heavenly Court made them envious—that was true wealth! The very material of the floors was unlike anything they had ever seen; compared to it, the diamond-paved paths in their parents' castle were nothing but worthless rubble. They were determined to return and explore further as soon as possible.

They had reached the Golden Core stage several years ago. Qin Yue and Mao'er had already entered the mid-stage, while Luo Yu still lingered at the early stage, though he was nearing a breakthrough. Qin Yue decided to wait until Luo Yu advanced before their next adventure. Furthermore, ignoring Luo Yu’s protests, he retrieved those "evil" books from the vampires and forced Luo Yu to practice dual cultivation.

That evening, in their room, the couple began to wrangle again.

Luo Yu sat in the corner of the bed, wrapped in a quilt, looking vigilant. "Why do I have to be the one on the bottom for dual cultivation?"

Qin Yue maintained a businesslike tone. "Since your cultivation is lower, it is only natural that I guide you. Do you expect me to rewrite the technique just to humor you?"

Luo Yu pulled the quilt over his head. "I’m not practicing these deviant, evil books! Who knows if there’s something strange about them!" He wasn't stupid; if the one with lower cultivation always had to be on the bottom, when would he ever get to flip the script? Only an idiot would listen to him!

Qin Yue said calmly, "Although these books were seized from that Daoist, the technique itself is not inherently evil. I have already vetted it. If we cultivate this way, we can combine our strengths to draw more spiritual energy into our bodies, benefiting both. There is a method of internal circulation that allows the one with higher cultivation to transfer a portion of their absorbed energy to the one with lower cultivation—it is much like 'power transmission.' And this method requires you to be on the bottom."

Luo Yu’s eyes lit up. He threw off the quilt. "You’re lying to me! That’s just like stealing Yang to replenish Yin! If the energy is all transferred to me, you’ll be the one losing out! I’m not a succubus or a fox spirit; I’m not practicing this garbage!"

Qin Yue’s eye twitched. "Utter ignorance. How can there be good or evil in a technique? It is merely a label imposed by subjective emotion." He glanced at Luo Yu and said nonchalantly, "You often say we should support each other, yet you are content to remain a step behind me in cultivation? Or perhaps you fear that once your cultivation matches or surpasses mine, you won't have an excuse to complain about being bullied?"

Luo Yu had a flash of insight. He grasped the key: once his cultivation matched or surpassed Qin Yue's, wouldn't he be able to bully him instead? It meant he could finally turn the tables! Why was Qin Yue always on top? Simply because he was stronger. Luo Yu had never been able to do anything about it because his spiritual roots were inferior. But if he could actually catch up to him... Hehe! This beauty was digging his own grave. Even if heaven didn't punish him, he wouldn't let him off! ...Of course, to realize this wonderful dream, he first had to offer himself up.

Qin Yue watched as Luo Yu’s expression shifted: joy, resentment, craftiness, and then, burying his head in the quilt, writhing in deep conflict. Qin Yue’s lips curled upward. "If you truly don't trust this technique, then forget it. It makes no difference, as I am here to protect you."

Luo Yu steeled his heart—one must risk the bait to catch the fish! A man must know when to yield and when to stand tall. As long as there was hope, he would charge toward his goal!

"I'll practice, I'll practice! What's the big deal?" Luo Yu ripped the quilt off and lay back on the bed. "Come... come on then!"

Qin Yue narrowed his eyes, his gaze locking onto the delicacy before him. This was the first time Luo Yu had actively cooperated. Even though he knew about Luo Yu’s little schemes, it would be a lie to say he wasn't excited—the first step of his long-term battle plan had finally succeeded.

Luo Yu was blushing, shy under Qin Yue’s intense stare. "Just... be quick! What are you looking at..."

Qin Yue chuckled, reached out to stroke Luo Yu’s face, and then leaned down to kiss him. Luo Yu narrowed his watery eyes to welcome the caress, his small hands climbing up Qin Yue’s strong waist. Their movements were gentle, fitting together with perfect synergy. As their pajamas slipped away, the atmosphere in the room grew sultry, filled with long, deep breaths and soft, fragmented moans, like a spring breeze rippling across water, shimmering with light.

Morning sunlight spilled into the small room upstairs at the Luo residence. A strikingly handsome man lay in bed, his shoulders and chest exposed, his arms wrapped around a large lump under the quilt, seemingly still fast asleep. Suddenly, the lump moved, a head poked out, rubbed against the man’s chest, checked the time, and then opened its mouth to take a bite of the handsome man’s chest.

"Hiss!" Qin Yue woke up with a start, frowning. "What are you doing?"

The one who had bitten him said righteously, "What time is it? You're still sleeping."

Qin Yue lazily narrowed his eyes, and after a while, he let out a cold snort. "You have plenty of energy. Has your cultivation improved?"

Luo Yu performed an internal inspection, smiling smugly. "The effect is good! How about you? You haven't regressed, have you?"

Qin Yue said calmly, "Do you think spiritual energy can be conjured out of thin air? A slight drop in the beginning is inevitable. Once our cultivation levels are closer, they will improve in sync."

Luo Yu’s face froze. "It really dropped? No wonder you woke up later than me today..."

Qin Yue replied, "If you are moved, then you should practice more diligently."

Luo Yu muttered, "Idiot, you're so eager to do the work and take the loss."

Qin Yue rolled over, stretched like a cat on the bed, and said faintly, "Who else but you is my partner?"

Luo Yu’s face turned bright red. Feeling both indignant and sweet, he clicked his tongue and whispered, "I finally understand why S and M are a couple—one is willing to hit, and the other is willing to take it."

Luo Yu didn't bother Qin Yue to get up with him; he grabbed the technique book and headed downstairs with an awkward gait.

Chu Senior had just woken up and was planning to make breakfast. Seeing Luo Yu’s posture, he frowned. "What’s wrong with you?"

Luo Yu’s brain didn't shift gears in time. He leaned in, acting spoiled. "Ache in my waist, back, and leg cramps~"

Chu Senior’s expression changed drastically upon hearing this, and he raised his hand to deliver a slap to Luo Yu’s bottom. "That’s for your lack of discretion!"

Luo Yu jumped high with an "Ouch!" and wailed, "Dad, you can’t hit my bottom! It hurts! And you were the one who asked!"

Chu Senior yelled, "And you actually answered? What book is that in your hand!?"

Luo Yu immediately learned his lesson and hid the book behind his back. "It’s a serious cultivation technique!"

Chu Senior was immediately suspicious. "Let me see it."

Luo Yu explained with a mournful face, "Even if the name doesn't sound like much, it really is a proper cultivation technique."

Chu Senior said coldly, "Bring it out."

Luo Yu carefully brought out the book and gave it a shake: *The Twin Dragon Dual Cultivation Technique*.

Chu Senior’s face turned black instantly.

Luo Yu hurried to put on a flattering smile. "It’s all my fault! Qin Yue is still lying in bed! I’ll definitely be more restrained next time we practice!" He bowed repeatedly and scrambled away.

Luo Yu ran back to the living room and poked his head out to look downstairs. Seeing that his father hadn't followed, he sat on the sofa and carefully studied the "evil" book in his hand.

After reading for a while, he concluded that this dual cultivation technique wasn't actually suitable for him and Qin Yue. Ordinary cultivators could indeed benefit more from this method, but no matter how they circulated their energy, it was nowhere near as efficient as the direct energy infusion they were used to. However, the technique did contain an interactive mode that allowed the one with higher cultivation to transfer energy to the one with lower cultivation, aiming to synchronize their levels so that they could better support each other in the future.

Luo Yu closed the book, his heart filled with mixed emotions. For someone like him, who leveled up through direct infusion, the energy gained from dual cultivation was negligible. The portion Qin Yue transferred to him was far greater than what the technique provided. Dual cultivation was just an excuse for Qin Yue; aside from the "other" activities, his goal was simply to compensate for Luo Yu’s subpar spiritual roots by sharing his own power. He didn't need the spiritual energy in a hurry, but he could not bring himself to reject such affection.