“This Senior Brother can refine a batch of Soul Return Pills for you, Junior Sister. I will take full responsibility for procuring the necessary spirit plants myself, and I guarantee the quality will be no lower than Mid-grade.”

Li Meng actually possessed the rare herbs required for the Soul Return Pill?

A look of shocked delight washed over Sheng Shui’er’s face. It was like finding an oasis in a parched desert—a sudden, miraculous turn of fortune. Senior Brother Li truly held the key to her salvation.

Sheng Shui’er moved to rise and express her gratitude, but Li Meng’s next words froze her in place.

“Does Junior Sister truly believe there is such a thing as a free lunch in this world?”

Sheng Shui’er’s expression stiffened. The joy vanished instantly, replaced by a guarded, composed demeanor. She should have known it wouldn’t be that simple; she wasn’t particularly close to Li Meng, and he had no reason to help her out of pure benevolence.

“What is it that Senior Brother desires?”

Li Meng chuckled softly, stroking his beard. He produced a sheet of talisman paper and a brush, then began to write. It took him a considerable amount of time to finish before he slid the paper toward her.

Sheng Shui’er accepted the note. One glance was all it took for her face to flush a deep, burning crimson. She glared at him, her eyes a storm of shame and indignation.

“Senior Brother Li, your Lifespan Limit is approaching… you… you shouldn’t be thinking of such things.”

Li Meng had only a few years left. By the time she achieved Foundation Establishment, he would have long since met his Sitting Death.

Li Meng watched her blush with an amused smile. “If this Senior Brother has already passed away by the time you reach Foundation Establishment, then you naturally suffer no loss. But if I am still alive by then, Junior Sister must not refuse my request.”

The implication hung heavy in the air. What if that impossible “what if” actually came to pass? Sheng Shui’er’s face shifted through a kaleidoscope of emotions. She looked at him, her expression turning blank with disillusionment. She had never imagined that Li Meng was such a hypocritical old scoundrel—taking advantage of her desperation to kick her while she was down, making an indecent proposal that was agonizingly hard to refuse.

[-30 Affection]

Li Meng glanced at her stats. Go ahead and deduct a hundred points if you like; the terms remain the same.

Seeing her look of utter humiliation, Li Meng narrowed his eyes and stroked his beard once more. “Has this Senior Brother forced you in any way? This is a business transaction; you should maintain a proper perspective. If I manage to achieve Foundation Establishment, given my talent in the Alchemic path, wouldn’t that be a monumental opportunity for both you and your sister? If you cannot grasp the chance placed before your eyes, then please, feel free to leave.”

Sheng Shui’er’s mind raced. If anyone else had said it, it would have been dismissed as empty boasting. But Li Meng’s talent in Alchemy was undeniable. If he truly established his Dao Foundation, he would soar within the sect, perhaps even becoming a major figure. Following him could mean a century of prosperity for her and her sister.

But did she truly have to go this far? Her mother had so little time left. Sheng Shui’er raised her head, her gaze hardening with resolution. There was no other choice.

“If Senior Brother Li can achieve Foundation Establishment, this Junior Sister is willing to become your Dao Companion!”

The tea in Li Meng’s mouth nearly sprayed across the table. What nonsense is this? You’re willing, but I’m certainly not!

Li Meng set down his cup and looked at her with a wry smile. “Junior Sister Shui’er, you shouldn’t indulge in such wishful thinking.”

“You… what did you say?” Sheng Shui’er glared at him, incensed. What did he mean? She was a royal princess of the State of Zhao. Was she somehow unworthy of an old man with one foot in the grave?

Li Meng laughed. “Junior Sister, do not be angry. This Senior Brother has no plans to seek a Dao Companion!”

Trying to get the pills for free by tying yourself to me? You think far too highly of your charms, Junior Sister.

Sheng Shui’er took a deep breath. Today, she had finally seen Li Meng’s true colors. Though she hadn’t expected charity, his cold opportunism chilled her to the bone. It was a harsh lesson in the frigid reality of the cultivation world.

She stood up abruptly. “Senior Brother, I need time to consider. Farewell.”

With that, she mounted her flying sword and sped into the distance. Li Meng watched her receding figure with a satisfied smile. The human heart was not a straight line; it required twists, turns, and emotional pressure to yield the best results.

The world of cultivation was, at its core, a marketplace of benefits and the survival of the fittest. Li Meng was happy to sell pills to his fellow disciples at a discount, but he would never give them away for free. He would always recoup his costs through other avenues. In this damned world, one couldn’t be purely mercenary, but one certainly couldn’t afford to be a saint.

“It’s time to refine!”

Li Meng flicked his sleeve, stowing the teacups. He walked unhurriedly back into the house and entered his alchemy chamber. He sat upon his meditation mat, and with another wave of his hand, hundreds of jade bottles flew from his Storage Bag. They circled the room in a mesmerizing, spectacular display before settling neatly in concentric circles around the furnace.

Looking at the orderly rows, Li Meng’s smile widened. His haul from the Scarlet Forbidden Ground was immense; he had likely gathered more than the rest of the Outer Disciples combined.

He formed a series of hand seals, and a five-colored spiritual light radiated from his aged frame. The formations within the furnace roared to life, and fierce flames erupted. Soon, the chamber was filled with an unbearable heat and a rich, potent aroma.

The scent of pills quickly drifted across the entirety of Little Bamboo Peak.

“Such a powerful fragrance! Is Senior Brother Li at it again?”

Passing disciples paused at the foot of the peak, lured by the scent. “When he emerges, I must buy several bottles of his Mid-grade Essence Nourishing Pills!”

Everyone on the peak knew the rule: when the furnace was lit, Li Meng’s door remained closed to all the world.