The higher one’s cultivation realm, the more difficult a breakthrough became.

Although the Joyous Union Sect had two thousand Outer Disciples at the Qi Condensation stage, the number of Inner Disciples who had reached Foundation Establishment was less than three hundred. Golden Core Elders were even fewer, numbering only slightly over twenty.

The fate of most Foundation Establishment disciples was a Sitting Death or a violent end. The sect could only produce one new Golden Core Grandmaster per century. This illustrated just how cruel the path of cultivation truly was.

“Hah!”

Li Meng, bathed in moonlight, opened his eyes and exhaled a turbid breath. His Spiritual Power had finally recovered to about eighty percent.

While the Market City was just outside the sect’s main gate, the distance from that gate to Little Bamboo Peak was not short at all.

Li Meng collapsed onto his bed and rolled over. As he did, a face of breathtaking beauty filled his vision.

The two stared at each other, wide-eyed. Qu Rou’s expression was impassive, her gaze cool and clear.

“Se… Senior Qu!”

Li Meng offered an awkward smile.

It was getting late. It was about time for Senior Qu to arrive.

…

“Senior Brother! Senior Brother!”

Early the next morning, Li Meng was startled awake by a coquettish cry.

He knew who it was just from the voice. It was definitely Junior Sister Chen Lan, without a doubt.

Li Meng got up and climbed out of bed. He lazily pulled on his green robe, then left the bedroom and walked toward the outer room.

With a creak, Li Meng opened the door.

As expected, Junior Sister Chen Lan stood outside.

“Junior Sister, what brings you to your Senior Brother so early in the morning?”

Li Meng walked past Chen Lan and slumped languidly into his reclining chair.

Chen Lan pursed her lips into a smile. “Senior Brother, look at the time. Can you really call this ‘early morning’?”

Li Meng squinted up at the sky. The sun’s position was already nearing its zenith. Alright, it really wasn’t early anymore.

“Junior Sister, what is it you need?”

Chen Lan gave a bewitching smile as her graceful figure settled into a seat beside the tea table.

“Senior Brother, although my cultivation has reached Peak Qi Condensation, I’m still just shy of touching my bottleneck. I’ve heard many Outer Disciples have been purchasing exceptionally high-quality pills from you these past days. If I had some Spirit Tempering Pills to cleanse my Spiritual Power, I’m sure I could finally feel the threshold of Foundation Establishment.”

Li Meng glanced at Junior Sister Chen.

So she had come seeking pills. The quality of the pills he gave her last time indeed hadn’t been the best.

“‘Just shy’ in what way? Is your Mana not robust enough? Or is your soul not strong enough?”

“This… a bit of both, I suppose!”

Li Meng sent his Divine Sense into his storage pouch. Four jade vials flew out and landed on the tea table.

“These are four vials of Top-grade first-tier pills: Prime Solidifying Pills, Prime Nurturing Pills, Soul Nourishing Pills, and Spirit Tempering Pills. Remember this: take only one Spirit Tempering Pill every six months. You must enter seclusion for at least half a month to refine it each time. Do not take more. Overuse will damage your dantian and meridians. Damaging your Dao Foundation is no trivial matter; you must not be careless.”

Soul Nourishing Pills?

Chen Lan’s heart leaped with joy. She beamed as she collected the vials.

“Mmm, I understand, Senior Brother!”

Her eyes curved into crescents like moons. With these four vials of pills, her cultivation would surely return to its bottleneck state. Only upon touching that bottleneck was one truly in the peak state of Great Perfection.

Her failed attempt to break through to Foundation Establishment last time had caused her cultivation to regress. Five years had passed without her regaining that former peak.

“Junior Sister, come find me again in a few days. I’ll have a Foundation Pill prepared for you by then. If you come too late, this Senior Brother might not be here.”

A Foundation Pill?

Chen Lan’s eyes sparkled.

[+30 Affection] [+150 Sub-profession XP]

Excellent. More affection gained.

Facing the deeply grateful Junior Sister Chen, Li Meng chuckled softly. He reached out and gently stroked her cheek.

Chen Lan didn’t pull away. Instead, she leaned into his touch with a look of shyness.

“Senior Brother, are you going on a long journey?”

If he weren’t leaving for some time, he wouldn’t have said he “might not be here.”

“Yes. The ‘Scarlet Forbidden Ground’ is about to open. This Senior Brother plans to venture inside.”

Senior Brother Li is going to the Scarlet Forbidden Ground?

Chen Lan looked at her elderly Senior Brother with confusion. “Senior Brother, there are no Longevity Fruits in the Scarlet Forbidden Ground. Why risk going to such a dangerous place?”

Li Meng chuckled and withdrew his hand.

The Scarlet Forbidden Ground was a treasury. It held countless heavenly materials and earthly treasures over a thousand years old. Spiritual plants required for refining “Dustfall Pills,” for example, were simply unavailable outside, monopolized by the five great sects of the State of Zhao.

Li Meng possessed the trash physique of Five Spirit Roots—the trash among trash. To raise his cultivation, he could only rely on frantically consuming pills. Without spirit plants, where would the pills come from? No matter what, he had to make this trip to the Scarlet Forbidden Ground.

“This Senior Brother doesn’t have many years left to live. There are some places one simply must see before the end. The Scarlet Forbidden Ground isn’t a bad final resting place. Dying there wouldn’t be a loss.”

Chen Lan fell silent.

On the Great Dao of Longevity, there were no true companions. Whether it was Senior Brother Li or Senior Brother Lü, they were all merely passing travelers. Heavenly Dao was heartless; cultivators were heartless, too.

“Senior Brother… let me accompany you tonight.”

Li Meng chuckled again, stroking his beard. “Come during the day instead. Morning would be best.”

“Alright. Then, Senior Brother… what about now…”

A flush spread across Chen Lan’s cheeks, and an aura of vixen-like allure emanated from her entire being.

“Come on, let’s talk inside.”

Li Meng stood up, taking Junior Sister Chen’s hand and leading her into the house.

Chen Lan smiled with pursed lips. She decided she would spend a little time each day visiting Little Bamboo Peak before Senior Brother departed for the Scarlet Forbidden Ground.

…

Half an hour later.

…

With a soft click, the bedroom door opened from within.

Chen Lan’s graceful figure emerged. As she closed the door behind her, a teasing smile played on her lips.