Chapter 163: Year-End

Having finally successfully completed the goal of dual cultivation with Susu, Liu Xiaolou was in a great mood.

Sometimes he would also fantasize that one day, if Susu encountered some misfortune in the Su family, he would break away from the Su family with fearless courage and rescue Susu. Perhaps this heroic feat of saving a beauty would win the heart of this cute and beautiful little maid, and from then on, she would follow him to wander the world.

But the fact was, there weren't that many heroic rescues of beauties in the world; beauties mostly didn't need heroes to rescue them. In reality, most of them lived very well.

So all of this was currently just Liu Xiaolou's daydream. He could only use the last year of protection provided by the Su family to find a way to improve his cultivation, welcome the upcoming precariousness, and return to the days of eating one spirit stone and trying hard to think about the next one.

Perhaps one day in the future, he would have the ability to take care of Susu, but this required him to work hard continuously.

He cultivated diligently, trying not to waste a single hour, continuously impacting the Xingjian acupoint, but he would also be interrupted from time to time by the young masters of the "Impotent Circle." In order to keep his promise and also to have spirit stones to convert in the future, he had to continuously open the Lin Yuan Xuanshi Array, letting this bunch of young masters come with hungry eyes and leave with glowing eyes.

By the end of the year, Liu Xiaolou had continuously opened the Xingjian and Taichong acupoints, breaking through three acupoints in the Foot Jueyin Meridian, which also allowed him to thoroughly consolidate his cultivation at the fifth level of Qi Refinement.

The more he cultivated, the more grateful he was to Qingzhu. Because of dual cultivation with her, cultivation became much easier than before. For those stubborn acupoint barriers, he could always choose various ways to respond based on the feedback received, rather than brute-forcing them like in the past.

On New Year's Eve, it was once again the most festive and lively day on Mount Shenwu. Su Wuniang's status was gradually consolidating. As the next master of the Mount Shenwu Manor, her status had been accepted and become a consensus among the various families of the Danxia Sect, meaning the Su family would not lose her. Having reached a new agreement on business with the Yin family meant that the spirit pet raising on Mount Shenwu would no longer be troubled by spirit incense.

After overcoming two major crises and eliminating the internal estrangement between the three sects, the Su family's status within the Danxia Sect was re-consolidated, so Su Zhi and Su Xun were both in a good mood. Both branches of the Su family were preparing to have a good year, with lanterns and streamers everywhere and everyone beaming with joy.

And in the Qingyu Furong Garden, it was also much livelier than usual. Yun Ao, Xiong Xi, and a group of young masters from the "Impotent Circle" all arrived on this day to pay Liu Xiaolou a New Year's visit.

At the same time, it was also so they could have a good New Year tonight.

Liu Xiaolou pulled himself together and performed the array with all his might, dividing them into four batches, each batch entering two to three people at a time depending on their different cultivation levels.

"Brother Xiong, you and Young Master Tie only have one time left. Do you want to renew for next year?"

"Let's wait until after watching before deciding. I didn't bring spirit stones today."

"Alright, Young Master Tie, do you want to renew? It's the year-end; one spirit stone for twelve times in the array. If you miss today, there won't be another chance."

"Twelve times? Then I'll renew for one spirit stone."

"Many thanks, Young Master Tie. Thank you... Um? Brother Xiong, didn't you say you didn't bring spirit stones? This is..."

"I just felt it on my body and found one, haha! Twelve times?"

"Twelve times."

"Brother Liu! How many times do I have left?"

"Brother Yun still has three times left."

"Then I'll renew for one spirit stone."

"Received... What about Brother Jiayin? Really no spirit stones? It's not that I'm lecturing you, Brother Jiayin, but spirit stones are something you should keep a few of on hand. Most of the problems you have are related to this. You give all your spirit stones to your wives; it's a wonder you can even get hard in front of them!"

"Liu, I'll renew for one spirit stone. This illusion array of yours is really good. I like winter, it's cool..."

"Brother Qingcheng, hold on. We'll chat again later, otherwise it will be another hour..."

"Daoist Lei Ming, are you renewing too? You really can't do this three-month thing anymore... More than twelve times? You've had twenty times... Daoist, you have to understand my difficulties. This isn't an ordinary illusion array; it has consumption. I have to add to it every so often... Hehe... Alright, alright, I'll renew for another three months for the sake of the year-end, but I won't do monthly packages ever again. It's a huge loss!"

This was the day Liu Xiaolou demonstrated the most intensively. By the time he sent all the guests away, he was so tired he could barely move a finger and was carried back to bed by Susu.

"Young Master, why push yourself so hard?"

"It's not easy for anyone. It's the New Year; who doesn't want to have a good New Year?"

"They had a good New Year, but Young Master didn't! The Gualu Hall is very lively. Just now, the Master sent word saying Young Master could go over and have a New Year's Eve dinner together."

"What is 'good'? Only what one feels is good is truly good! What does it matter whether I eat this New Year's Eve dinner or not? What if I go to Gualu Hall? Who am I squeezing out a smile for? That's what's truly tiring—heart-tiring."

"It's a pity the Mistress and Xiaohuan are still in the back mountain. The Mistress also doesn't like liveliness, otherwise, it would be great if our Furong Garden closed its doors and we spent the New Year ourselves, harmonious and beautiful..."

"By the way, Susu, don't forget to feed Dabai and Xiaohei. They should also have a good New Year."

"Young Master, I saw Dabai take Xiaohei to the back mountain."

"Ah? When?"

"When Young Master was demonstrating the array to that bunch of people."

"Alright, I really don't need to worry about Dabai..."

"Young Master, is someone knocking on the door?"

"It's not knocking, it's kicking..."

"Ah, Jiuniang is here. This servant greets Jiuniang."

Su Jiuniang stood before the bed, frowning at Liu Xiaolou on the bed, holding Dabai by the neck. Dabai had no resistance in her hands, only calling out weakly: "Ga..."

Liu Xiaolou struggled to climb up, leaning against the bedding, and asked, "What's wrong with this?"

Su Jiuniang threw Dabai onto the ground and snorted: "This goose you raised stole and ate spirit toads in the back mountain! It ate quite a few! If I hadn't discovered it early, the spirit toads in the Yuekong Pool would probably have been eaten clean by it!"

Dabai flapped its wings a few times, stumbled a few steps on the ground, then recovered, took off running, hid in the dripping pool, and tucked its head and neck into its wings, not daring to look this way again.

Liu Xiaolou smiled awkwardly: "Yes, yes, it's my fault. I didn't discipline it well... I'll beat it later to vent your anger, Jiuniang."

Su Jiuniang said: "It's not about venting my anger. You'd better manage it well. This time it met me; next time it meets someone else, it will probably be caught and slaughtered!"

Liu Xiaolou nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, I will definitely manage it well. Many thanks, Jiuniang."

Su Jiuniang glanced at Susu, Susu tactfully withdrew. In the Yiling Hall, only she and Liu Xiaolou remained.

Ever since the unpleasantness at the Yunhai Pavilion last time, the two hadn't met for more than half a year, and for a while, both were silent.

After a long time, Su Jiuniang spoke again: "I heard that when you returned to Wulong Mountain, Qingzhu went to find you?"

Liu Xiaolou's heart jumped: "Ah, she wanted to see my illusion array, saying she wanted to learn from it, which would be beneficial for breaking through to Foundation Establishment."

Su Jiuniang asked, "And?"

Liu Xiaolou said, "It was alright. After watching it a few times, she said she had gained some insights and had long since returned to Yuezhou."

Su Jiuniang said, "She is not a good person; you'd better be careful."

Liu Xiaolou touched his nose: "Er, it's alright..."

After another while, Su Jiuniang said, "The Zhao family of the Jinting Sect wants to refine a set of mountain-protecting arrays and invited array masters from various families to visit Fanghe Peak. I recommended you to them. If you are interested, go in two days." ===== CHAPTER 164 =====