Chapter 20: Spirit Sword Talisman

Chen Lan smiled as she uncorked the vial. A rich, medicinal aroma immediately wafted out.

“Is this… a Mid-grade Foundation Pill?”

She was overjoyed. Obtaining a Foundation Pill was incredibly difficult for an Outer Disciple. Only the top ten in the sect’s grand competition, held once every decade, received one. The alternative was to complete missions issued by the sect to earn merit points. A thousand points were needed to exchange for a single pill, and even then, it would only be of Inferior quality.

Seeing Junior Sister Chen’s delighted expression, Li Meng chuckled inwardly. He naturally understood the principle of not flaunting one’s wealth. Junior Sister Chen’s Affection was still too low, only at 45 points. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so stingy; he would have given her a High-grade Foundation Pill from the start.

“Senior Brother!”

Chen Lan stored the Foundation Pill and cast a charming smile toward Senior Brother Li. She rose from her seat, gracefully circling around the tea table before her alluring figure nestled into Li Meng’s embrace.

“Senior Brother, thank you!”

[+20 Affection] [+100 Sub-profession XP]

Li Meng glanced at Junior Sister Chen’s Affection level. It had already reached 65 points.

“Junior Sister, this Senior Brother is truly an old fool!” Li Meng waved his hand, and another vial of pills flew from his storage pouch into his palm. “This is the Foundation Pill I originally prepared for you.”

Curious, Chen Lan took the jade vial and uncorked it.

“This is… a High-grade Foundation Pill?”

Senior Brother Li could actually refine High-grade pills?

“You can handle that Mid-grade Foundation Pill yourself, Junior Sister. Whether you give it to Junior Brother Lü or exchange it for cultivation resources is entirely up to you.”

Would Junior Sister Chen give the Foundation Pill to Senior Brother Lü? Li Meng didn’t know. Among Qi Condensation Outer Disciples, Dao Companions rarely shared deep emotional bonds. Many were merely partners for “Dao Exchange,” with true Dao Companions being a minority. Only those with exceptionally poor aptitudes would form such partnerships early on.

Junior Sister Chen possessed dual Metal and Water Spirit Roots—a superior aptitude. Logically, she shouldn’t have entered a Dao Companion relationship so soon.

“Senior Brother!”

Chen Lan let out an affectionate cry, her delicate jade-like arms wrapping around Senior Brother Li’s neck.

[+10 Affection] [+50 Sub-profession XP]

Junior Sister Chen’s Affection had now reached the same level as Senior Qu’s.

Knowing Senior Brother Li was advanced in years, Chen Lan didn’t tease him too outrageously. She simply nestled her lovely form against him.

“Junior Sister, who was your first Dao Companion?”

Junior Brother Lü? That seemed unlikely. Li Meng was fairly familiar with Junior Brother Lü. His Yang energy was restrained with no signs of leakage, indicating he still possessed a Pure Yang Body. With Dual Spirit Roots—a superior aptitude—a Qi Condensation disciple of such talent wouldn’t lose his Pure Yang Body during this stage.

A flicker of sorrow and melancholy passed through Chen Lan’s eyes.

“I came up the mountain with my young master from my family down below. His aptitude was poor, and his cultivation progressed slowly, so I assisted him early on in his cultivation…” Her voice softened. “Unfortunately, he perished during an external mission, leaving me alone. I had no one to rely on within the sect. Other Senior and Junior Brothers looked down on me for not having a Pure Yin Body and were unwilling to engage in ‘Dao Exchange’ with me. Only Senior Brother Lü didn’t disdain me, so we became partners for ‘Dao Exchange.'”

So that was how it was. Understanding dawned on Li Meng. Chen Lan had originally been a maidservant who accompanied her young master from a mortal family to cultivate on the mountain. Given that relationship, even if they weren’t formal Dao Companions, Junior Sister Chen would likely have willingly become her young master’s “Cauldron.”

Whether she could shed her identity as a servant depended entirely on whether she could overcome that psychological barrier herself. Once one became an immortal cultivator, all mortal ties dissipated like smoke.

Time flowed quietly as the night deepened.

Early the next morning, Chen Lan departed. Li Meng could tell Junior Sister Chen still cared deeply for Junior Brother Lü. That Mid-grade Foundation Pill would probably be given to him.

Three days later…

“Junior Brother Lü…”

In his study, Li Meng paused his talisman brush. He had only met this Junior Brother a few times. Though he appeared cold and taciturn, he was a kind-hearted person.

This kindness wasn’t judged solely by his relationship with Junior Sister Chen, but by an act Li Meng had witnessed on the Martial Arena. Once, while passing by, Li Meng saw Junior Brother Lü saving someone during a duel. Afterward, Junior Brother Lü nearly faced punishment from the Enforcement Hall. Only because his intentions were good and hadn’t affected the duel’s outcome did the Hall show leniency.

“If both of them successfully breakthrough to Foundation Establishment and remain together afterward… I’ll send them another opportunity then.”

Though he felt slightly sorry for Junior Brother Lü, Li Meng harbored no real guilt toward either of them. It was a matter of mutual consent; neither owed the other anything. While Junior Sister Chen had offered her body, she had also gained cultivation resources in return. Though unaware of the specifics, Junior Brother Lü also benefited through her.

Even if Junior Brother Lü discovered the truth, it would at most lead to a duel. For longevity and breakthrough, Li Meng feared no challenge.

With a wave of his hand, dozens of talismans flew out from his storage pouch with a rustling sound. Glimmering golden talismans arranged themselves neatly in the air before him.

“Five first-grade Divine Firmament Talisman Treasures: Earth Shrinking Talisman, Godspeed Talisman, Golden Shield Talisman, Wind Riding Talisman, Stealth Talisman.”

“Five second-grade Divine Firmament Shapeshifting Talismans, five Divine Firmament Spirit Gathering Talismans, five Divine Firmament Lightning Attraction Talismans, five Divine Firmament Spirit Sword Talismans.”

“Plus various first-grade High and Mid-grade talismans… This should be foolproof now. It should be impossible to die with these.”

Merely channeling Spiritual Power into the five first-grade Divine Firmament Talisman Treasures had taken Li Meng two full days, during which he also consumed several Spirit Gathering Talismans.

Another wave of his hand sent the talismans rustling back into his storage pouch.

A Talisman Treasure could be reused up to ten times. After exhausting its uses, it could be recharged with Spiritual Power to restore its charges. The maximum number of recharges depended on the quality of the talisman paper itself.

“Let’s test their power first!”

Li Meng stood up and walked outside. Leaving his room and entering the courtyard, he soared into the air—his aged form still carrying a touch of untrammeled grace.

He flew into the bamboo forest, landing in a clearing.

With a single-handed seal gesture, he pointed forward.

“Go!”

A Talisman Treasure shot out from the storage pouch at his waist. The moment it flew forth, it erupted in golden light, transforming into a hundred-zhang-long golden spirit sword that shot into the bamboo grove.

Wherever the golden spirit sword passed, green bamboo fell in great swathes. The spirit sword instantly flew out several kilometers.

Li Meng himself was startled by the enormous sword’s appearance. He hurriedly pointed toward the sky.

The massive spirit sword abruptly changed direction and soared upward.

He had meticulously cultivated this bamboo forest for decades. How could he let it be destroyed in an instant?

Watching the spirit sword circling in the sky, Li Meng gave an embarrassed chuckle.

An ordinary Low-grade Spirit Sword Talisman produced a mere three-foot small spirit sword. But this Divine Firmament Spirit Sword Talisman created a hundred-zhang greatsword. Moreover, the spirit sword emanated a faint pressure of heavenly might.

Li Meng could sense it continuously absorbing Spiritual Energy from Heaven and Earth to maintain its existence.