“You may leave now, Junior Sister.”

Leave?

Hua Biying looked at Senior Brother Li, her face a mask of confusion. “What does Senior Brother mean by this?”

Li Meng chuckled softly, stroking his long beard. “Let us wait until this Senior Brother has established his Foundation before asking Junior Sister Hua to assist in my cultivation.”

Hua Biying stared blankly at the little old man before her. So, that was Senior Brother Li’s true intent. He was fast approaching his Lifespan Limit; there was simply no physical possibility of him achieving Foundation Establishment.

She realized then that Senior Brother Li was doing this solely to allow her to accept the pills with a clear conscience. That was the only reason he had proposed such an impossible “condition.” The disgust in Hua Biying’s eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a gaze filled with nothing but profound gratitude. She never imagined Senior Brother Li would go so far as to tarnish his own reputation just to help her.

[+80 Affection] [+400 Sub-profession XP]

“Senior Brother…” Hua Biying whispered, lost for words. She didn’t know how to possibly express the depth of her thanks.

Li Meng gave another soft chuckle and waved his hand dismissively. “Junior Sister Hua, go on. This old Senior Brother is tired and needs a good rest.”

Hua Biying rose to her feet. She bowed deeply toward Li Meng, performing a formal, solemn salute. Senior Brother Li truly was the man she had always known—the kindly, benevolent elder respected by so many Outer Disciples.

“This Junior Sister takes her leave!” Hua Biying turned and departed, her slender waist swaying gracefully as she walked away.

Watching her alluring silhouette vanish into the corridor, a faint smile touched the corner of Li Meng’s mouth. Playing with the human heart was truly fascinating.

On the other side of the vessel, Hua Biying returned to her room in a daze. Looking at Qian Wen seated cross-legged on the bed, meditating to regulate his breath, she found herself unable to speak.

“Junior Sister, what’s wrong? You seem distracted,” Qian Wen said, opening his eyes from his cultivation.

“It’s nothing. I just met with Senior Brother Li and spoke with him for a while.”

She decided it was better to keep the gift of the pills a secret for now. She would produce them only when the two of them entered seclusion to attempt their Foundation Establishment breakthrough. By then, Qian Wen wouldn’t be able to say much about it. If she showed them now, he would surely grow suspicious, wondering what kind of transaction she had made with Li Meng.

While she had technically made a transaction, it was one that could fundamentally never be fulfilled, given that Li Meng’s breakthrough was an impossibility in the eyes of the world.

Time flowed on, and the night deepened.

The next morning, it wasn’t until the sun was high in the sky that Li Meng lazily emerged from his room. The aura around him had grown noticeably stronger once more. Last night, during his meditation, Li Meng had successfully broken through to the ninth layer of Qi Condensation. Flawless pills were truly formidable; his cultivation base was shooting upward with alarming speed.

“A Registered Disciple, huh?” Walking along the corridor, Li Meng narrowed his eyes slightly. That Golden Core Grandmaster probably didn’t take the title seriously at all. But even if Grandmaster Ruoshui didn’t, he, as her disciple, had to play the part.

At the entrance to the upper pavilion corridor, two female Inner Disciples at the Foundation Establishment stage blocked his path. “Halt! State your business!”

Li Meng swept a glance over the two Seniors. He bowed respectfully. “Your Junior, Li Meng, pays his respects to both Seniors!”

With practiced humility, Li Meng presented the Supreme Elder token engraved with the insignia of Masked Moon Peak. Seeing the jade plaque, the expressions of the two women changed dramatically. They hurriedly returned the salute with deep bows of their own.

“Junior… please proceed!” The two Foundation Establishment cultivators hastily stepped aside to clear the path.

Li Meng chuckled softly and walked into the corridor. Watching his retreating back, the two Inner Disciples exchanged a look of mutual shock.

“That was a Supreme Elder token, right?” “Without a doubt. Absolutely certain!” “Who is he?” “I don’t know. I’ve never seen him before.”

After taking only a few steps, Li Meng paused and turned back. He bowed once more, and the two Inner Disciples promptly returned the courtesy. “Might these two Seniors know where Grandmaster Ruoshui’s room is located?”

“Junior Nephew, allow me to show you,” the Inner Disciple on the left offered with a charming smile. This earned her a subtle eye-roll from her companion on the right for moving so quickly to curry favor.

“Junior Nephew, this way.” The Inner Disciple led the way, and Li Meng followed close behind.