I drew a talisman to save the sun from its bleeding state.

Chapter 48 I want spiritual roots, so I can do whatever I want.

They only stopped playing when the game became so laggy they could barely move. The hedonistic style of game design suffers from a significant numerical gap.

The two sat on the edge of the bed, with the table pushed together.

Xiaoxue, tired from playing, leaned on Zhou Zheng's shoulder, enjoying the moment, her eyes and lips smiling sweetly: "You're so amazing, how do you know so much?"

Zhou Zheng simply lay down on the bed: "Let's just open Bilibili and copy the answers."

Xiaoxue lay down on the bed with her, looking at the ceiling together: "You're different from others, really different."

Zhou Zheng smiled but didn't reply.

Xiaoxue turned her head and looked at her boyfriend who was so close to her. She was captivated by his calm and smiling profile, feeling a mix of longing and pain.

Zhou Zheng turned around, looked at Xiaoxue, and raised an eyebrow: "What are you heartbroken about?"

Xiaoxue blushed and quickly turned away, saying, "I'm not heartbroken."

Zhou Zheng wanted to pretend he didn't know, but the health bar and status bar on his face were hard to ignore: "Tell me in detail, they can't hear you." The door was closed so as not to disturb others—Xiao Zhengjun hadn't returned, so he couldn't object.

Aunt Xue Ting was pleased with this and asked everyone not to come and disturb them.

Xiaoxue stared at the ceiling, her words stuck in her throat, unable to come out. She was afraid that if she spoke, everything she had done before would be in vain.

Zhou Zheng: "Life doesn't mean you lose something because you made a mistake, nor does it mean you gain something because you did something right. It just means that when the conditions are right, you get what you want. What I mean is, I won't leave you just because you said something wrong."

His tone was very calm.

Xiaoxue gradually calmed down, secretly grabbed Zhou Zheng's sleeve, turned slightly, looked nervously into Zhou Zheng's eyes, and mustered her courage: "I'm afraid I can't have you, your world is very different from mine."

Only after trying did I realize how different the two of us were. I was only attracted to Zhou Zheng's firm and strong sense of conviction, I liked Zhou Zheng who shared the same hobbies, and I liked his strong self-confidence... But I was different. I didn't have that kind of confidence, nor that kind of determination, and I didn't have the courage to face the cruel darkness. I could only hide in the background and play music to create an atmosphere.

Zhou Zheng is like a mountain, a calm lake, a cloud far away in the sky. He is a mountain that cannot be grasped, a lake that cannot be held, and a cloud that cannot be reached.

Zhou Zheng looked at the flashing status description in her status bar, thought for a moment, got up and pulled Xiaoxue up as well, then took off his shoes and hers, and sat cross-legged.

Xiaoxue: "?"

Zhou Zheng: "Sit cross-legged, palms facing each other."

Xiaoxue, completely bewildered, did as she was told, handing it over with both hands: "What for?"

Zhou Zheng: "Dual cultivation."

Xiaoxue's face flushed bright red: "So fast? Brother Zhou, should we...?"

Zhou Zheng: "Quiet."

Xiaoxue: "...Oh, you clueless idiot."

Zhou Zheng stopped what he was doing, took out his phone, and opened the Baiyun Temple APP to start browsing.

Xiaoxue leaned closer, her head touching Zhou Zheng's: "Do I need to learn too?"

Zhou Zheng: "No need, let me finish reading these sixteen martial arts manuals first."

The attributes of cultivation techniques are divided into three types: Yin, Yang, and Harmony.

The five elements are: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.

There are fifteen manuals in total, belonging to the five elements and three categories.

By learning just fifteen low-level cultivation techniques, one can master the foundation of the Five Elements cultivation techniques in the world, and can grow in any direction one wishes. First-level low-grade cultivation techniques are not difficult to learn.

Zhou Zheng always believed that the gap should be bridged through the joint efforts of both sides, rather than having one party work hard alone. Of course, this didn't stop Zhou Zheng from not understanding why Xiaoxue, whose family was so well-off, would lack confidence... It must be Xiao Zhengjun's fault for raising the child wrong.

Having a foundation in cultivation, Zhou Zheng knew what to do after reading all fifteen cultivation manuals.

Zhou Zheng sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and crossed his arms: "Wait for me for 70 minutes. I'll lay a foundation and then teach you."

Xiaoxue sat up obediently: "Okay."

After waiting for a while, Xiaoxue felt numb from sitting. She slowly spread her legs and pulled back, leaning down and supporting her chin with her hands, quietly watching Zhou Zheng, who was breathing silently like a mountain.

Silent as a mountain, yet possessing a powerful inner drive, a strength I've never had in my life.

Xiaoxue stared intently, a slight tingling sensation running through her body. She lost track of time, wanting only to watch like this forever.

Zhou Zheng opened his eyes, looked at the barrage of information, and chose to ignore it.

It simply activated the cultivation technique, granting the corresponding five elements attribute, but no attribute points were gained. However, that's enough; it allows for many new and innovative approaches.

Zhou Zheng helped Xiaoxue up and continued to help her cross her legs, palms to palms: "Just sit quietly and feel the breath."

Xiaoxue sat up obediently and said, "Okay."

Zhou Zheng closed his eyes, began to circulate his qi to sense Xiao Xue's attributes, and then began to nurture and cultivate together.

【Name: Five Elements Source Body Dual Cultivation Method】

[Level: 1]

[Rank: Lower First Rank]

[Effect: Gain a 20% cultivation speed boost during dual cultivation and randomly enhance the other person's spiritual root until the spiritual root reaches its maximum of 10 points.]

[Introduction: "I am a genius, I can do whatever I want." — This is what Zhou Tianshi, who created the Five Elements Source Body to solve a problem, said.]

Please select features.

[Rose Love: When cultivating with your partner, both of you receive a 40% increase in cultivation speed]

[Sympathetic Cultivation: Increases the cultivation speed of all allied units within a certain range by 10%]

[Domineering Solo Cultivation: You are very domineering, so you can not only gain cultivation buffs for yourself, but also monopolize the cultivation buffs of dual cultivation partners]

Fellow practitioners can be ignored. Zhou Zhengxin has great love in his heart, but not quite that great yet. Solitary cultivation with a domineering approach has very powerful effects, but it's not the effect he wants.

[I have chosen Rose Love]

Based on this calculation, dual cultivation will result in a 60% increase in cultivation speed, which is quite good.

[Lightning-elemental energy environment detected; cultivation speed boost increased by 10%]

[Current cultivation speed boost: 70%]

Zhou Zheng diverted some of his attention and "saw" the waist pouch placed on the bedside table. Inside, the thunderstone was slowly releasing blue light and condensing thunder-attribute spiritual energy.

I regained my composure and continued my cultivation.

Xiaoxue felt her hands being "sucked" by Zhou Zheng, and then streams of warm current flowed out from his left hand, circulating through her body before flowing back. It felt as if her "qi" from head to toe had been unblocked, making her feel very comfortable, and all the slight fatigue and discomfort disappeared.

Zhou Zheng felt that things were starting to get on the right track, and he activated the Blood Burning Technique to enhance the effects of his cultivation.

……

Xiao Zhengjun sat in his study, watching the images Tang Ying was projecting on the screen. Frustrated, he pulled out a cigarette and held it in his hand, muttering, "Liu Zhen is that strong?"

The iron gate that nearly killed Zhou Zheng stopped in mid-air at Liu Zhen's glance, and only fell into the pit after the lightning dissipated.

The lightning that filled the sky failed to harm anyone around Liu Zhen from beginning to end.

Tang Ying nodded: "Yes, boss. I saw it with my own eyes."

Xiao Zhengjun was worried: "How could my daughter fall for this kind of person? This kid didn't even flinch when he was breaking people's fingers." His ruthlessness is far beyond that of ordinary people.

Tang Ying: "Boss, the enemy targeting Project 427 is very strong. Should we report this?"

Xiao Zhengjun composed himself and reverted to his usual demeanor: "Report it. It's time to give the higher-ups a headache."

After a pause, Xiao Zhengjun put down his cigarette, his expression softening slightly: "How was Xue'er when she was with him?"

Tang Ying: "I'm very happy, boss."

Xiao Zhengjun sighed softly, resigned to the situation. Perhaps this was a father's intuition; the guy he disliked the most was his daughter's destined partner. He knew from the first glance that his daughter couldn't resist him; he possessed a fatal attraction right in front of her.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The next morning at eight o'clock.

Zhou Zheng stopped cultivating, opened his eyes, and saw Xiaoxue sitting cross-legged, fast asleep. He couldn't help but smile. Cultivation requires closing one's eyes and concentrating, and Xiaoxue had fallen asleep while doing so.

Zhou Zheng gently released his hands, reached out and slowly laid Xiaoxue flat on the bed, checking the results of her cultivation that night.

Congratulations on acquiring the character trait: Five Elements Source Body

[Five Elements Source Body: Can switch between the five elements at will, with endless uses. It can be used to subdue enemies, or to heal internal injuries, etc.]

[Effect: +15% cultivation speed]

Problems are obstacles, but they are also stepping stones to progress. Because of Xiaoxue, I have had a very interesting experience and have grown a lot.

[Five Elements Source Body Dual Cultivation Method: Zhou Zheng gains 1 point of Water Spiritual Root and 2 points of Wood Spiritual Root]

[Five Elements Source Body Dual Cultivation Method: Xiaoxue gained 1 point of Wood Spiritual Root and 1 point of Water Spiritual Root]

[Water Spiritual Root (1 point): Increases cultivation speed by 1% and spell power by 1%]

[Wood Spirit Root (2 points): Increases cultivation speed by 2% and spell power by 2%]

【…】

[Rejuvenation Technique: Maximum Energy +35 points, Defense +33 points]

[Rejuvenation Technique upgraded to level 3]

[Rejuvenation Technique Enhancement Reward: 1 point of health regeneration per second → 2 points of health regeneration per second]

It has to be said that compared to cultivating alone, the benefits of dual cultivation are simply amazing. Character traits, self-created cultivation techniques, spiritual root harvest, and a 170% increase in cultivation gains.

Who says rich, beautiful, and successful women aren't appealing? This is just too good to be true—they can play games together, play music to create atmosphere during fights, and even cultivate together to get bonuses.

Zhou Zheng smiled, wanting to check Xiaoxue's increased attributes, and blinked.

"Huh? I can't view other people's profiles?"

I can see my own health bar and status bar, but I can't see other players' stats. Do I need to learn some abilities or spells to see them?

Zhou Zheng quietly got out of bed, opened the door, and gently closed it.

In the lobby, Xuan Yizi was sitting on the sofa as usual, scrolling through... Hmm? He wasn't actually playing on his phone.

Zhou Zheng leaned closer: "Master Xuan, what are you copying?"

Xuan Yizi raised his head, his face contorted in a grimace: "I had to copy the scriptures until they reached my state of mind, until my senior brother was satisfied. He came over yesterday and found out I hadn't done anything these past two days, so he gave me a good scolding and made me copy them again."

Zhou Zheng smiled and looked at Liu Zhen, who was sitting at the other end holding his phone and eating: "Brother Liu, I have a question for you. How can I find out someone's physical qualities and attributes? Is there any kind of detection magic?"

Liu Zhen rescued me yesterday, and our relationship has improved since then, and the awkwardness between us is gone.

Liu Zhen thought for a moment, then tossed his phone to Xuan Yizi to make the call, explaining earnestly, "Yes, but it requires the Foundation Establishment stage to master divine sense. You're only at the Qi Refining stage... Hmm? Why is your spiritual energy so chaotic?"

Liu Zhen was taken aback, then quickly stood up, strode over, and grabbed Zhou Zheng's wrist, his head filled with question marks: "You don't have a lightning spiritual root? Wait, what's with your mixed water and wood spiritual root? And what's with your fifteen kinds of five elemental spiritual power?"

"A jumbled mess, yet functioning normally"—normal my foot! What kind of cultivator could possess fifteen different spiritual energies within their body?!

Zhou Zheng: "Oh, don't worry. Didn't Master Zhang say yesterday that there are fifteen types of Five Elements Kung Fu? The Nine Schools can do it, so I wanted to try it out. The results are quite good and very interesting."

Xuan Yizi put down his phone and looked up, dumbfounded. What did he mean by "tested fifteen kinds of spiritual power"? I wouldn't even dare to dream of something that big.

Liu Zhen stared blankly at Zhou Zheng. "If they can do it, why should you? You think you can just fix whatever you want?"

Zhou Zheng: "...? Why are you two looking at me like that?"

After carefully examining the area and confirming that he hadn't gone mad with his cultivation, Liu Zhen withdrew his hand. He had a lot of questions but didn't know where to begin, so he chose the most basic one: "How do you cultivate lightning magic if you don't have a lightning spiritual root?"

Zhou Zheng was surprised: "Relying on your upright character, I suppose."

Liu Zhen: "..." I don't know what to say. Little brother, you really rely solely on your strength to cultivate, right?

Xuan Yizi looked completely bewildered: "What do you mean by fifteen kinds of spiritual power? Daoist Zhou, what kind of spiritual root do you have?"

Because Zhou Zheng's lightning magic was progressing rapidly, everyone assumed he had a lightning spiritual root and didn't ask any further questions. At this moment, everyone realized that things were not as simple as they had imagined.

Zhou Zheng glanced at his status bar and casually said, "Maybe he's thinking about spiritual roots."

Liu Zhen asked in surprise, "A sound-based spiritual root? A variant of a lightning spiritual root?"

Zhou Zheng: "I want a spiritual root, I want to cultivate whatever I want." I don't know where the obstacle is, but I just cultivated it as I wanted, and I even got a Five Elements Source Body characteristic for free.

Xuan Yizi clapped his hands: "666!"

Since you've said that, what can I say? Maybe that's what genius is all about—doing whatever you want without any real barriers; it's just a matter of whether you want to or not.

With such high talent and such hard work, I don't want to play anymore. God gave me too little talent.

Liu Zhen pondered for a moment, then said seriously, "Brother, do you need me to find you a fruit to replenish your spiritual root? I know you don't like receiving favors, but I really want to know what you would be like if you had a normal lightning spiritual root. I'll give it to you for free."

If you're this powerful without a lightning spiritual root, how powerful would you be if you did? Bro, if you're this awesome, I'd really like to see if you can get even more awesome.

Zhou Zheng stroked his chin: "If it were last night, I would have refused you because it wasn't a reward for my arduous training. But I've been training all night, so... let me give it a try. I'm curious too."

Liu Zhen swiftly pulled out a medicine box crackling with lightning from his spatial ring, opened it, and took out a pill that emitted lightning and had bright blue patterns on its surface: "Eat this, and you will obtain the Lightning Spirit Root."

Zhou Zheng glanced at the item description.

[Heavenly Thunder Pill: After consumption and digestion, one can obtain a Thunder Spirit Root, with a very small chance of evolving into a Heavenly Thunder Spirit Root (exclusively supplied to the Thunder Department)]