To gather the spiritual plants required for refining the “Dao Yang Pill,” Liu Siyue had spent spirit stones amounting to several times the pill’s market value.

In the end, she discovered her efforts had been entirely superfluous. Junior Brother Li already possessed the finished pills right here.

Liu Siyue flicked her sleeve, sweeping the pill bottle from the tea table into her storage. A wave of frustration washed over her, and she grabbed her teacup, downing the contents in a single, unladylike gulp.

She set the cup down with a sharp clack and shot Junior Brother Li a sidelong glance.

“You certainly know how to amass wealth, Junior Brother!”

Li Meng chuckled softly, his hand rising to stroke his beard. His face, now smooth and ruddy with the vitality of a youthful sage, showed no sign of offense.

“I possess but a superficial understanding of mercantile ways,” Li Meng replied warmly. “I hope Senior Sister does not mock me.”

Liu Siyue stood up, smoothing her robes.

“Junior Brother, I shall not disturb your cultivation any longer.”

Li Meng rose as well, cupping his hands in a respectful salute. “Farewell, Senior Sister. This junior will not see you off.”

Liu Siyue offered a graceful, professional smile and turned to leave.

However, after taking only a few steps, she paused.

She turned back to look at Junior Brother Li. A faint, rare blush crept up her neck and settled on her cheeks.

“If… if Junior Brother can break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment…” She stammered slightly, her gaze darting away. “Then this… this Senior Sister will accept your proposal!”

With those words hanging in the air, she spun around and fled.

She summoned her flying sword, riding the wind and soaring away as if escaping a pursuing demon.

High in the air, her cheeks burned crimson. A flicker of shyness and confusion swam in her eyes.

Why had she said that to Junior Brother Li?

Was it a momentary whim? A sudden impulse born of the allure of flawless pills?

Back on the peak, Li Meng watched with a smile as Senior Sister Liu’s graceful, fairy-like silhouette vanished into the clouds. He leisurely stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming with wisdom.

So, Senior Sister Liu was still observing him. She was hedging her bets.

If he could reach the late stage of Foundation Establishment, there would be at least a sliver of hope for him to attempt the breakthrough to Core Formation. Even if that hope was minuscule, it was still hope.

For a woman like Liu Siyue, the prospect of Core Formation was everything. Naturally, she would be unwilling to entrust her Primordial Yin to someone with no future on the path of Dao.

This indicated she placed immense importance on her chastity. Such women were a rarity within the Joyous Union Sect.

“Senior Sister, you said it yourself,” Li Meng murmured to the wind. “Just you wait and see.”

He turned and walked back toward the pavilion’s main doors.

Merely late-stage Foundation Establishment?

With sufficient cultivation resources, not only was that achievable, but even Core Formation was simply a matter of time.

Three days later.

Moon Gaze Peak.

In the courtyard before the summit pavilion, Li Meng reclined on his lounge chair, his gaze drifting toward the sea of clouds beyond the peak.

“Well then, it seems there is no business coming today either.”

It appeared that operating without agents was unsustainable. He could only hope that once Senior Brother Chen delivered the first order, word of mouth would bring about a change.

Li Meng retrieved a pill bottle and casually poured three flawless True Spirit Pills into his mouth like candied beans.

The Qi Refining Art automatically engaged, beginning its circulation cycles. A faint, five-colored spiritual light emanated from his robust body, highlighting his silver hair and youthful features.

“Li… Junior Nephew? Li Senior? Li Senior Brother? Senior Brother! Is Senior Brother there?!”

Just as Li Meng was about to sink into meditative cultivation, a somewhat youthful, frantic voice rang out from beyond the protective formation.

Li Meng opened his eyes.

“Could it be Little Junior Sister?”

No, it couldn’t be Yuan Baobao. This voice was even more childish, yet carried a strange mix of authority and confusion.

One moment calling him ‘Senior,’ another ‘Junior Nephew,’ and then ‘Senior Brother’… none of his usual acquaintances would address him in such a chaotic manner.

Li Meng looked toward the barrier. A flicker of surprise passed through his eyes as his Spiritual Sense caught a glimpse of the visitor.

“Huh? What is that girl doing here?”

He flicked his sleeve, sending a stream of mana into the formation controls.

Meanwhile, in the sky outside the peak…

Xue Ruyu hovered unsteadily on her sword. Her jade-like cheeks were flushed pink. She glanced nervously at her surroundings, her hands gripping her robes.

She had never shouted so loudly in public before. How utterly embarrassing!

Just then, the misty clouds surrounding the peak stirred. The fog parted, revealing a clear passageway leading directly to the summit.

Xue Ruyu’s eyes lit up. She hastily guided her sword into the passage.

Moments later, she arrived in the courtyard before the pavilion. She alighted gracefully, her fairy-like figure landing softly on the stone pavement.

Li Meng rose from his lounge chair. His tall, broad-shouldered frame cast a shadow as he bowed respectfully toward Xue Ruyu.

“Junior Sister… or should I address you as ‘Senior’?”

Xue Ruyu was the Ancestor’s True Disciple. By status alone, calling her ‘Senior’ would not be technically inappropriate.

Xue Ruyu’s face instantly flushed an even deeper red, as if she had been scalded. She took a sharp step back, waving her hands frantically.

“N-no! You can’t call me that! It’s not proper!”

Li Meng looked at the thoroughly flustered girl with kindly eyes. A trace of puzzlement flashed within them.

Had it only been two years? The girl’s transformation was startling.

The little child from before had bloomed into a young woman. Her figure had developed soft curves, becoming slender and graceful. She had lost some of her childish restlessness, gaining a touch of feminine charm in its place.

The purple rainbow dress she wore suited her perfectly, adding a unique, noble allure to her appearance.

Li Meng chuckled softly, the sound deep and resonant, and stroked his white beard.

“Then let us compromise. How about we address each other as Senior and Junior Brother and Sister?”

Strictly speaking, their relationship was a tangled mess of hierarchy.

If addressing by cultivation achievement, Li Meng was the Senior.

If addressing by Master-Disciple seniority, Li Meng would be the Junior Nephew—because Xue Ruyu was his Master’s Junior Sister.

Yet, if following Senior Brother Xue’s generation… then Li Meng would be Xue Ruyu’s Grand-Uncle.

Xue Ruyu stopped her retreat and nodded hurriedly, eager to end the confusion.

“Alright! Sen… Junior Sister is fine!”

Li Meng smiled warmly and gestured toward the stone table.

“Junior Sister, come. Share some tea and discuss the Dao with this Senior Brother.”

Xue Ruyu inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

On her way here, she had rehearsed a thousand ways to thank Senior Brother Li. She had prepared speeches, drafted polite greetings, and practiced her demeanor.

Why did her mind go blank the moment she saw him?

All that remained was nervousness and bewilderment.

Every prepared word had evaporated.

With a somewhat troubled expression, Xue Ruyu sat down at the tea table.

Li Meng personally poured a cup of tea for her, the steam curling between them.

“Senior Brother… that… um… ow!”

Xue Ruyu winced, tears pricking her eyes as she clamped a hand over her mouth.

In her haste, she had bitten her tongue.

Watching his Junior Sister become so nervous she injured herself while speaking, a faint, amused smile touched Li Meng’s lips.

This was not the time to burst out laughing. He was no greenhorn who would mock a girl’s embarrassment.

What Junior Sister Xue needed now was reassurance.

“Junior Sister, does this Senior Brother look very frightening?” Li Meng asked, his tone gentle and amiable.

Xue Ruyu blushed furiously and lowered her hand.

She stole a glance at Senior Brother Li’s face.

With his snowy white hair and unwrinkled, handsome features, Senior Brother Li was much more attractive than her Grandfather. There was a dignified elegance about him, a sense of calm that felt like a safe harbor.

Xue Ruyu shook her head.

“Then Junior Sister need not fear this Senior Brother,” Li Meng said softly. “Relax here with me. Say whatever you wish to say.”

He pushed the teacup closer to her.

“Whether you speak pleasant or unpleasant words, this Senior Brother will find them pleasant to hear. Right or wrong—Junior Sister could never be wrong.”

“Pfft!”

Xue Ruyu was caught off guard by the blatant flattery and couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

Realizing she might be acting improperly, she quickly tried to compose her expression into one of seriousness.

“Giggle…”

It was futile. In less than three breaths, the facade crumbled. She couldn’t hold it in.

She clutched her stomach, giggling uncontrollably, her shoulders shaking.

Watching his somewhat uncomposed Junior Sister, Li Meng smiled warmly. He picked up his own teacup and took a slow sip of the fragrant brew.

Whether people came from below the mountain or lived upon it, some things did not change.

At least at Junior Sister Xue’s age, she had not yet been tainted by the stale, calculating aura so common among mountain cultivators.

“Junior Sister,” he asked gently, “are you still nervous?”