“Yes, I understand, Senior Brother.”

Yuan Baobao didn’t ask further about the relationship between Senior Sister Chen and her Senior Brother. She turned her head, glancing at the pavilion atop the peak.

A flicker of shyness passed through her eyes.

Turning back, she looked at Li Meng with a charming, almost teasing expression.

“Senior Brother… are you no longer interested in that?”

Senior Brother Li was old. His energy was limited. It made sense if he had grown tired of physical intimacy.

Li Meng looked at Junior Sister Yuan in his arms with a knowing smile.

“What exactly do you mean by that?”

A blush spread across Yuan Baobao’s cheeks. With a coquettish pout, she lightly thumped his chest.

“Senior Brother, you’re so bad!”

“Haha!”

Li Meng laughed heartily and tightened his embrace around the beauty in his arms.

“Let your Senior Brother wait until after he establishes his Foundation before bullying you again. When that time comes, I’ll definitely show you my full prowess!”

Yuan Baobao’s eyes went soft, like silken threads full of allure. She wrapped her arms completely around him, resting her chin on his shoulder.

“Senior Brother, you must keep your word. I’ll be waiting for you.”

[System Message: +4 Affection] [System Message: +20 Sub-profession XP]

The system prompt caused Li Meng’s eyes to narrow slightly. He mentally swept a glance at her stats.

[Name: Yuan Baobao] [Age: 24] [Luck: 2600] [Cultivation: Qi Condensation – Eighth Layer] [Aptitude: Water, Metal, Wood – Triple Spirit Roots] [Affection: 99]

Her Luck had unknowingly skyrocketed several times over. It was likely related to him. He had given her so many pills that, for her, it was akin to a heaven-sent blessing. Naturally, her Luck would surge.

But why is the Affection stuck at 99?

A trace of confusion flashed in Li Meng’s eyes. The number 99 felt like an insurmountable wall.

Could it be related to Junior Brother Xuan?

Junior Brother Xuan was her Dao Companion for Dual Cultivation. They shared deep feelings for each other. But in the Joyous Union Sect, even the deepest affection could be shattered by the harsh truth that “the Dao is heartless.”

For cultivators, the pursuit of the Great Dao of Longevity was paramount. Everything else had to make way. Even the deepest feelings had their price.

But Junior Sister Yuan clearly wasn’t that kind of heartless woman.

Let nature take its course.

Li Meng reached out and gently stroked her waist-length silken hair.

His blood wasn’t cold. No matter how ruthless he could be, he wouldn’t harm Junior Brother Xuan just for a single point of Affection.

It wasn’t until two hours later that Yuan Baobao finally prepared to leave.

“Senior Brother, I’ll be going now.”

She turned reluctantly, looking at Li Meng who had walked her to the edge.

Once they parted this time, who knew if there would be another chance to meet? The Dao was heartless; life, death, and separation were common occurrences on the mountain path. In a moment of carelessness, those by your side could vanish without a sound.

Li Meng chuckled softly and smoothed his beard.

“Go on, Junior Sister. Remember to cultivate diligently and establish your Foundation soon.”

Looking at the little old man before her, Yuan Baobao’s emotions nearly overwhelmed her.

“Senior Brother!”

Her cry carried a tremulous note as she threw herself into his embrace once more.

Li Meng’s expression froze for a moment before a faint smile touched his lips. His arms wrapped tightly around her delicate form.

After a long while, Yuan Baobao finally pulled away. She walked toward the edge of the peak, looking back every few steps.

“Senior Brother, once I establish my Foundation, I will come visit again!”

She fought hard to keep the tears from falling. She didn’t understand this feeling. The mere thought that she might never see him again filled her heart with an inexplicable panic. But she couldn’t lose composure; he was on the verge of a life-or-death trial. She couldn’t burden his mental state.

Yuan Baobao glanced back one final time, as if etching the image of the little old man into her soul. Then, she soared into the air, riding the wind into the distance.

Li Meng stood outside the pavilion, watching until she vanished into the clouds. Only when she was completely out of sight did he turn back to the pavilion.

Li Meng sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion.

With a flick of his sleeve, three jade pill bottles appeared on the ground before him. Inside each were ten Flawless Foundation Pills.

“Then let’s begin my seclusion for Foundation Establishment!”

He took a deep breath. Whether he could cross this step determined his future.

The Five Spirit Roots waste body was a mountain difficult to surmount. Even though he wasn’t an ordinary cultivator and possessed the “Heavenly Dao System,” he didn’t dare claim absolute certainty.

Li Meng formed hand seals. Five-colored spiritual light erupted from his body, forming a radiant glow that enveloped the pavilion.

A single Flawless Foundation Pill flew out from a bottle. Li Meng opened his mouth and swallowed it.

“So this is Marrow Cleansing?”

As soon as the pill entered his body, a violent surge of spiritual power erupted in his dantian, scouring through every limb and bone. An intense numbness spread, accompanied by sharp stinging sensations.

Li Meng activated his Qi Refining Art, circulating his energy through his meridians to absorb the medicinal efficacy.

Three days later.

Li Meng opened his eyes.

“Too mild. Not enough. Far from enough!”

With a sharp gesture, three more Flawless Foundation Pills flew out, straight into his mouth. He swallowed all three at once.

As they slid down his throat into his dantian, an even more violent wave of medicinal power erupted.

Li Meng’s withered body instantly flushed scarlet, as if roasted over a fire. Thick steam billowed from his pores as he closed his eyes, sinking deep into meditation to tame the potent force raging within him.

Joyous Union Sect. Inner Sect, Masked Moon Peak.

Atop the peak stood magnificent jade towers and pavilions, resplendent buildings dotting the mountaintop amidst artificial mountains and streams—a world unto itself. Immortal cranes occasionally flew across the sky, painting a scene worthy of celestial beings.

On an observation deck attached to one such pavilion, two graceful figures were engaged in a game of Go.

Both wore long palace dresses in shades of purple. The hairpins adorning their heads emitted faint traces of Dao Rhyme, making them appear like immortal fairies untouched by mortal dust.

Nangong Wan extended a slender, jade-like hand to place a white stone upon the board.

“A single man has left you so disheartened that you would willingly abandon an opportunity to form your Nascent Soul? How regrettable…”

She looked at her eldest disciple. In this lifetime, she had only taken three disciples: Ruoshui before her; Qiwei, who shared her unique constitution; and Xue Ruyu, whom she’d accepted recently under heaven’s mandate.

“The Great Dao is heartless; only those without sentiment can walk further upon its path.”

Ruoshui remained silent for some time. She reached out with delicate fingers, placing down a black piece.

“Is what cannot be obtained truly the best? Is that not so, Master?”

Nangong Wan’s words seemed both a question and a lamentation.

Was what remained unattainable truly superior?

Ruoshui’s expression shifted subtly as she pondered the meaning behind her master’s words.

After what felt like an eternity, her soft voice finally broke the stillness.

“Master… this disciple has been enlightened.”