Lost and found, then lost again.
Jiang Ningshu felt like she wanted to die right now.
Of course, that was just an expression—she wouldn’t actually do it.
If Su Luo hadn’t assured her that her cultivation could be restored, her Dao Heart would have shattered completely.
Right now, Jiang Ningshu’s dejection was plain to see.
"Don’t worry, I’ll stay with you," Su Luo said to her.
"I know, but I can’t help dwelling on it."
"Even if I tell you not to, it won’t make a difference. So, I won’t leave your side for a single step."
"Mm."
Seeing Su Luo’s earnest expression, Jiang Ningshu felt a warmth in her heart.
Maybe losing her cultivation once in a while wasn’t such a bad thing.
...No, never mind. It was definitely better to keep her cultivation.
Meanwhile, Nangong Xiyun circled Jiang Ningshu, studying her with great interest.
"Did you really lose all your cultivation? Let me see."
Nangong Xiyun was genuinely curious.
For such formidable power to vanish just like that—it was nothing short of miraculous.
She claimed she’d never face such a situation, but that was just bravado. Even she couldn’t be certain about surviving the upcoming Heavenly Tribulation.
It wouldn’t hurt to learn more in advance.
"Go away, stop bothering me." Jiang Ningshu was no match for Nangong Xiyun now.
But Su Luo was here.
"Even without cultivation, you’re still so bold."
"Su Luo, she’s trying to kill me."
Nangong Xiyun: "......"
Hey, hey, I was just talking normally. Who’s trying to kill you?
"Su Luo, do you believe her?"
Jiang Ningshu had already ducked behind Su Luo, as if Nangong Xiyun truly intended to strike her down.
"Jiang Ningshu, you’re really overdoing it. I have a strong suspicion you’re faking this."
"Just wait till I recover my strength. I’ll beat you up."
"Oh? Why not try right now?"
Su Luo stepped in. "Enough, both of you. Once Ningshu recovers, you can fight until the heavens and earth collapse for all I care."
Nangong Xiyun finally eased up—but only slightly. "Fine, fine. So, to avoid getting beaten up, should I work harder on my cultivation?"
According to Su Luo, Jiang Ningshu’s power would grow even stronger after this ordeal.
But Nangong Xiyun wasn’t intimidated. She had full confidence in herself.
"Exactly. Shouldn’t you go into seclusion?"
"Who are you to tell me what to do? I’m not going."
With that, Nangong Xiyun dropped the argument, giving Su Luo face by not provoking Jiang Ningshu further.
Su Luo comforted her. "Don’t be afraid. It’ll only last a few days. You endured much longer before—you’ll get through this too."
Hearing Su Luo’s reassurance, Jiang Ningshu’s expression softened slightly.
Just then, Little Yu brought out a tray of delicious food.
"Since you’ve lost your cultivation, you must be hungry. Have something to eat."
Little Yu had already prepared a full table of dishes.
The aroma was irresistible.
Not because Little Yu was an exceptional cook, but because the ingredients were of the highest quality.
High-end ingredients required only the simplest preparation.
Now that it was mentioned, Jiang Ningshu did feel a pang of hunger.
"Then I won’t hold back."
She began eating with refined grace.
But being watched by so many people didn’t exactly whet her appetite.
"Ahem, let’s all eat," Su Luo suggested, adding more food to his plate to spare Jiang Ningshu the awkwardness of dining alone.
Little Yu agreed. "Right, I’m hungry too."
Nangong Xiyun shrugged. "If you’re all eating, I might as well join."
And so, they all enjoyed the feast together.
Occasionally, lighthearted conversations sparked laughter around the table.
For a fleeting moment, even Jiang Ningshu forgot she had lost her cultivation.
But only for a moment. Once the meal ended, reality returned.
A hollow feeling settled in her chest.
And as time passed, that emptiness only grew.
Jiang Ningshu couldn’t help but feel a creeping dread.
She tried her best to hide it.
......
Su Luo and the others set out, though not in any hurry.
They strolled leisurely, moving forward at a relaxed pace.
With Jiang Ningshu powerless, they could have carried her swiftly if needed.
But moving slowly helped ease the panic in her heart.
Before long, however, Jiang Ningshu grew tired.
The fatigue only reinforced the stark realization—she was no different from a mortal now.
The thought filled her with unease. What if her cultivation never returned?
But seeing Su Luo beside her, she regained a sliver of confidence. It wouldn’t come to that.
Night fell. Su Luo casually conjured a room—such tasks were effortless for someone of his cultivation.
Nangong Xiyun cheerfully went to find Su Luo, only to discover Jiang Ningshu already lying on his left side.
"Oh? I thought you weren’t interested?"
Nangong Xiyun couldn’t resist gloating. Who was it that claimed to have no interest in Su Luo’s body?
Talk about a slap in the face.
Jiang Ningshu understood her implication.
"Don’t get the wrong idea. I just want to stay close to Su Luo."
It made her feel safe.
Right now, she was holding Su Luo’s hand—only then could she fall asleep peacefully.
"Then you should sleep quickly," Nangong Xiyun said with exaggerated seriousness.
But the more composed she looked, the more Jiang Ningshu sensed something amiss.
Suddenly, it hit her.
"What do you mean? Don’t you dare pull anything while I’m asleep!"
Jiang Ningshu felt like she was about to explode.
In her current state, all she wanted was a good night’s rest beside Su Luo.
And now Nangong Xiyun was scheming?
How utterly shameless.
"What are you talking about? I’d never do such a thing," Nangong Xiyun insisted, keeping her tone deadpan.
No way she’d admit it.
"You think I don’t know you?"
"And what makes you think you know me?"
Meanwhile, Little Yu quietly settled on Su Luo’s right side.
Without a word.
Soon, drowsiness overtook Jiang Ningshu, and she fell asleep—though even in slumber, her grip on Su Luo’s hand remained firm.
Su Luo and Little Yu had already closed their eyes, tuning out the other two.
Their bickering was just background noise—nothing that could disrupt their ability to sleep at will.
Now, only Nangong Xiyun remained awake. She gazed at the three sleeping figures.
Each holding one of Su Luo’s hands, nestled close.
Nangong Xiyun realized—there was no space left for her.
But that didn’t stop her.
She’d just sleep on top of Su Luo.
Nangong Xiyun levitated slightly before gently settling onto Su Luo, wrapping her arms around him casually as she drifted off.
She gave him no chance to refuse.
Not that Su Luo could—he was already deep in sleep.
Only a vague, blissful sensation lingered in his dreams, pulling him deeper into unconsciousness.
The next morning, Little Yu and Nangong Xiyun woke early and stepped outside to wander, leaving Su Luo and Jiang Ningshu to sleep undisturbed.
But soon, Jiang Ningshu stirred awake.
Her first instinct was to search frantically for Su Luo.
Finding him beside her, she exhaled in relief.
Then she checked herself—still no sign of her restored cultivation.
Disappointment crept in again.
And with it, the endless spiral of anxious thoughts.
his freshman year, Su Bai accidentally bound the "Indulgence Tycoon System." 【Sleeping in? Reward: +$1,000】 【Spent $288 at a street barbecue stall? Cashback: +$2,880】 【Dropped $14,396 on in-game skins? Special reward unlocked: A brand-new Porsche Panamera!】 Luxury cars, penthouses, corporate shares, financial empires… College life was all about living freely and doing whatever he pleased! … When the adorably naive academic genius faced family medical bills and financial struggles, Su Bai waved his hand dismissively: "Your future is on me." "Wuwu~ Big Brother is so good to me! I’ll become a scientist to repay you!" When the genius girl got bullied by a shady professor? Su Bai casually dropped a billion-dollar investment, forcing the university to grovel and beg for her return. A company’s funding chain collapsing? Su Bai smirked—cash was the one thing he’d never run out of. Years later, when people traced the rise of the AI prodigy beauty, who was the man behind her success? Not just that—Su Bai also became the tsundere campus belle’s unattainable dream, the contrast senior’s daily necessity, and the beautiful counselor’s emotional anchor…
For the sake of his unrequited love, his ex-girlfriend abandoned him at the altar, indirectly causing the death of his parents. Just when he thought his life was plunged into darkness, a clueless yet beautiful girl unexpectedly took him in. Looking back, he realized how many hidden gems had always been by his side. A childhood friend who had secretly loved him for over a decade, a stunning but socially clueless school beauty, a mischievous and playful girl who lived for chaos... His ex, filled with regret, pleaded: "I was wrong—can we go back to how things were?" Before he could respond, the girl stepped in front of Ye Shuang and coldly declared, "If you didn’t cherish him, then he’s mine now." Also known as: "After Losing My Job, I Was Picked Up by a Hidden Gem," "The School Beauty I Raised," and "Oh No, I’m Surrounded by Rich Girls."
world slacker. But a genius female disciple just had to get clingy, insisting that he take her as a disciple. Not only that, she was always making advances on him, thoroughly disrupting his peaceful slacker life...
lities. One day, Qi Yuan was buying groceries when he unfortunately came face-to-face with a monster. Just when he thought he was going to die on the spot, he suddenly heard the monster's thoughts... "This aura, he's definitely not an ordinary master!" "So terrifying, so terrifying." "A fight with my back against the wall, I can't take it anymore." Qi Yuan: Ah, no one told me that my awakened ability isn't telepathy, but rather the stronger my enemies imagine me to be, the stronger I truly become. PS: Zhou Hai in the first chapter is not the protagonist.