“Senior Brother, the great path leads to the heavens, each walks their own side. Don’t cause trouble!”

The burly man grinned at his Junior Sister, his teeth stark white against his sun-beaten skin. “Junior Sister, rest assured! Your Senior Brother is not a troublemaker!”

The young girl gave him a skeptical sidelong glance. She understood this Senior Brother of hers all too well。

The team of riders swept past the lone traveler with a rush of wind。

The young girl cast a curious glance at the figure on foot。

“What an ethereal, immortal-like old Daoist!”

The juxtaposition of childlike hair and a crane-like visage sparked a flash of surprise in her eyes。

The riders galloped past, kicking up billowing clouds of yellow dust。

The ethereal Daoist was, of course, Li Meng。

With a casual flick of his sleeve, the choking dust was swept aside as if by an invisible hand。

Li Meng narrowed his eyes, watching the team recede into the distance。

Thirteen riders. Cultivation isn’t high—all Qi Condensation. The burly leader is at the ninth layer.

Li Meng withdrew a topographic map from his sleeve。

Ahead on the Ancient Gorge Path lay Xiakou Lake. It was the only water source within a ten-thousand-li radius and one of the few entrances to the underground rivers of the Western Desert。

In a barren land like this, water sources naturally gathered water-based Luck。

Xiakou Lake was an inevitable resting point for all cultivators。

About an hour later, the narrow gorge opened up。

A shimmering, sparkling lake surface stretched out before Li Meng。

On the lakeshore, cultivators were gathered in small groups. The horse team that had passed him earlier was among them。

The burly leader spotted Li Meng emerging from the gorge. His eyes lit up, and he strode over with a hearty laugh。

“Senior! We were rude earlier—please do not hold it against us common folk!”

He cupped his hands in a respectful salute, his voice booming。

His eyes narrowed slightly as he sized up the Daoist。

His aura is completely introverted. I can’t sense his cultivation level at all. He must be at Foundation Establishment!

Li Meng chuckled, stroking his beard. “No matter, no matter!”

When traveling, formalities were flexible. An apology offered was an apology accepted. Attitude was everything。

The burly man bowed again. “I am Bu Shun. Senior, might I borrow a look at your map?”

Bu Shun? Strange name.

Li Meng’s gaze swept over the man。

Luck: 500.

In a hellhole like the Western Desert, 500 Luck was nothing. Without a stroke of fortune, this was a nine-deaths-one-life scenario。

Li Meng glanced at Bu Shun’s companions. Their Luck values were uniformly 500。

A thoughtful expression crossed his face。

It seems this team is heading straight for a calamity.

With a flick of his sleeve, the map flew out and hovered toward Bu Shun。

Bu Shun’s face lit up. He caught it reverently. “Thank you, Senior!”

He studied the map for just five breaths before returning it with both hands. “Many thanks, Senior!”

Li Meng stowed the map away。

“Senior, we have some simple wine to relieve fatigue. If you do not disdain us, please join us!”

Li Meng looked past Bu Shun to the group. The female cultivator he had noticed earlier offered him a graceful smile。

Li Meng turned back to Bu Shun. “Then I’ll impose.”

Bu Shun beamed. “Senior, please!”

Befriending a Foundation Establishment expert was a massive boon for their journey。

Li Meng followed Bu Shun to the group。

“We pay our respects to Senior!”

The group bowed in unison。

Li Meng nodded in acknowledgment。

“Senior, here!”

The female cultivator walked over, offering a water skin。

Li Meng appraised her。

She wore a fitted brown dress that outlined an enticing curve at her waist. Her walk had a subtle, pleasing sway—heroic yet graceful。

He took the skin。

Normally, accepting food from strangers was taboo, but as an Alchemist, Li Meng feared no poison. One sniff told him everything。

He took a swig。

Hmm, sweet.

Seeing him drink without hesitation, the woman smiled. It was a sign of trust。

Li Meng walked to the water’s edge, and she followed。

“You aren’t Sect disciples, are you?”

Sect disciples usually wore uniforms—a banner of identity and a warning to others。

The woman smiled gracefully. “We are Tianshi from the Tianshi Mansion of the Qi Kingdom!”

Qi Kingdom? Tianshi Mansion?

Li Meng knew nothing of them。

With a wave of his hand, two meditation cushions flew out from his storage bag, landing on the sand. He sat down。

After a brief hesitation, she joined him。

Together, they watched the sparkling lake. The beauty of water in the desert was a striking contrast。

They drank in silence until half the skin was gone。

Li Meng turned to her with a smile. “I know a bit of divination. Would you like me to calculate the fortune of your journey?”

Surprise flashed in Xia Qian’s eyes. Divination was a rare talent。

“H-how is it done?”

Li Meng chuckled, stroking his beard. “A small calculation only requires reading the palm!”

Xia Qian extended her slender, jade-like hand。

Li Meng grasped it。

He put on a show of studying her palm lines, frowning occasionally, then sighing。

Xia Qian grew nervous。

Li Meng laughed inwardly。

Her hand is so smooth!

He couldn’t resist a subtle caress。

His action didn’t escape her. A faint blush colored her cheeks。

She looked at the slightly lecherous “Senior” with a teasing smile。

“Senior… you aren’t using palm reading as an excuse to take liberties with me, are you?”

Li Meng released her hand, his expression shifting to one of righteous indignation。

“This is a necessary process! This humble Daoist has absolutely no such intentions!”

“Really?” Xia Qian eyed him suspiciously。

Li Meng nodded firmly. “Not a word of falsehood!”

“Then… alright. Senior, you can continue!”

She extended her hand again. This time, she offered both。

Her action drew the attention of her companions。

“What is Senior Sister doing?”

“She wouldn’t be asking that Senior to divine her marriage prospects, would she?”

“Don’t be stupid. If Senior Sister wanted marriage, she’d only have to say the word!”

“True…”