Hua Biying smiled gracefully and stood beside Senior Brother Li.

“Senior Brother, without the talismans you gifted us, Brother Qian and I might not have returned from this expedition. This debt of gratitude, this junior sister can only hold in her heart. In the future, if there is anything you need from me, please do not hesitate to ask. I will never refuse.”

As she spoke, Hua Biying turned and bowed respectfully.

Li Meng quickly stepped forward and grasped Junior Sister Hua’s delicate, jade-like hand. “Your sentiment is more than enough, Junior Sister!”

Junior Sister Hua’s hand is truly smooth.

Feeling Senior Brother Li’s subtle movements on her hand, Hua Biying withdrew it without any change in expression. The two exchanged a smile and continued admiring the moon.

“Junior Sister Hua, how were the gains from this trip to the Scarlet Forbidden Ground?”

Hua Biying looked up at the full moon in the sky and sighed softly. “Although we encountered many setbacks, the harvest was quite good. After returning to the sect, Brother Qian and I plan to enter closed-door cultivation to attempt a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment. Brother Qian possesses dual spiritual roots; his aptitude is quite good, so he has hope. Unfortunately, my aptitude lies with three spiritual roots. It seems this attempt at Foundation Establishment will likely be hopeless.”

If she couldn’t keep up with Brother Qian’s cultivation level, their connection would end there. Both Li Meng and Hua Biying understood this perfectly.

Li Meng gave Junior Sister Hua a once-over.

【Name: Hua Biying】 【Age: 41】 【Luck: 300】 【Cultivation: Peak Qi Condensation】 【Aptitude: Wood, Water, Earth Triple Spiritual Roots】 【Favorability: 30】

Luck of only 300. The possibility of reaching Foundation Establishment was practically zero.

“Senior Brother!” Seeing Senior Brother Li staring directly at her chest, Hua Biying blushed and protested coyly.

Li Meng chuckled and withdrew his gaze. “Do not blame this old man, Junior Sister. Who asked you to be so beautiful that it stirred worldly desires in this senior brother’s heart?”

Senior Brother Li has developed worldly desires for me?

Hua Biying looked Senior Brother Li up and down. A seductive smile played on her lips as she gave him a flirtatious glance. “Senior Brother, are you… capable?”

Li Meng felt a flash of irritation. Although he was already halfway into the coffin, he was still a normal man at heart.

Li Meng looked at Junior Sister Hua with a beaming smile. “Does Junior Sister Hua wish to test that theory?”

Hua Biying’s face flushed crimson in an instant. She shot Senior Brother Li a reproachful glare. “L-Li… Senior Brother Li, please stop teasing this junior sister!”

Li Meng stroked his beard, his face not reddening in the slightest, his heart steady. “If Junior Sister could assist this senior brother in his cultivation… this senior brother could help you achieve Foundation Establishment.”

Hua Biying looked at the senior brother beside her with astonishment. Her graceful figure instinctively took a few steps back. S-Senior Brother Li… actually has designs on me?

“If Junior Sister is unwilling, this senior brother would naturally never force the matter.”

It was merely a transaction of mutual consent. If Junior Sister Hua was unwilling, Li Meng would certainly not compel her.

A complex series of emotions flickered across Hua Biying’s face. Her relationship with Brother Qian was merely that of fellow Daoists practicing “Dao Exchange.” Although she had mentally prepared herself for “Yin-Yang Union” with Brother Qian someday, Hua Biying knew Brother Qian would not lose his Pure Yang body during the Qi Condensation stage.

Once she gave herself to Senior Brother Li, her connection with Brother Qian would be severed forever. But even if she didn’t give herself to Senior Brother Li… would her connection with Brother Qian remain unbroken?

It would break. The outcome would not change. Brother Qian would not wait for her at the Foundation Establishment stage for too long. He certainly wouldn’t use his own Pure Yang to help her achieve Foundation Establishment. By then, Brother Qian would have better options available. This was the result she feared most, yet also one she had no choice but to accept.

“It seems Junior Sister is quite fond of Junior Brother Qian!” Li Meng chuckled softly. His aged body turned and began walking away.

Standing by the ship’s railing, Hua Biying silently watched Senior Brother Li’s retreating back until he disappeared into the cabin tower. Only then did she withdraw her gaze. Frowning deeply, Hua Biying stood by the railing. She didn’t know what to do. She needed to think carefully, very carefully.

On the other side, within the corridor of the cabin tower, Li Meng’s aged form walked at an unhurried pace.

“I wonder what choice Junior Sister Hua will make?”

A faint smile touched Li Meng’s lips. Although curious about the outcome, he truly felt indifferent in his heart. In a place like the Joyous Union Sect, “Primordial Yin” was hardly scarce. As long as one could afford the price, anything could be discussed.

Walking on, he soon reached his room. Pushing the door open, Li Meng entered. Returning to his quarters, he climbed onto the bed. Sitting cross-legged, he began browsing through the Treasure Pavilion catalog.

After reaching Foundation Establishment, he could finally refine some magical artifacts for combat. Although he didn’t plan on venturing out for adventures after his breakthrough, Foundation Establishment disciples were sometimes forcibly assigned missions by the sect. By then, it would be too late to start crafting life-preserving artifacts.

Talismans were excellent—usable for both offense and defense—but one could never have too many skills. Talismans, magical artifacts, arrays… he needed them all.

“Azure Dragon Banner? Not bad.” “Treasure-Condensing Mirror is good too.” “Cosmic Bag is acceptable.” “Golden Light Alms Bowl… isn’t this an artifact used by monks? Not quite suitable.”

The artifacts themselves were fine; it was the rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures required for their refinement that were troublesome. Just looking at the list of materials needed made Li Meng’s head ache. One had to refine artifacts based on whatever materials they could acquire; otherwise, searching for refinement materials alone was a headache-inducing task.

Knock knock knock!

Just as Li Meng was becoming dazzled by the items in the Treasure Pavilion catalog, his door suddenly sounded with knocking. Curious, Li Meng looked towards the door. Could it be Junior Sister Hua?

He got off the bed and walked towards the door. With a soft click, he opened it. A petite figure stood outside.

“Little Junior Sister?” A flicker of surprise passed through Li Meng’s eyes. What could Little Junior Sister want with me so late at night?

The purple gourd on Little Junior Sister’s back was gone. Qi Wei strode into the room with her head held high and chest out. She closed the door behind her.

After shutting it, Qi Wei turned and surveyed the room. Her eyes darted around mischievously; who knew what schemes were brewing in her mind? After looking around, she pursed her lips into a smile and turned her gaze towards the little old man senior brother beside her.

“Senior Brother, Master told me to deliver something to you!”

Little Junior Sister’s master is on this ship? Li Meng narrowed his eyes slightly as countless thoughts raced through his mind. Could Little Martial Aunt’s master be Supreme Elder Nangong Wan?

“Little Junior Sister, your master is…”

Qi Wei stood on her tiptoes; Li Meng bent down at the waist. Qi Wei leaned close to her senior brother’s ear and whispered softly.

Li Meng chuckled and nodded in understanding.

“Senior Brother must keep it a secret! Here!” Qi Wei pulled out a token engraved with “Masked Moon Peak” from within her robes and handed it to her senior brother.

Li Meng accepted the token from Little Junior Sister’s hand. “From today onwards, Senior Brother is a Registered Disciple of Masked Moon Peak.”

A Registered Disciple of Masked Moon Peak? An odd expression crossed Li Meng’s face. Doesn’t Masked Moon Peak refuse male disciples?

“Little Junior Sister… doesn’t Masked Moon Peak refuse male disciples?”

Qi Wei waved her small hand dismissively. She blinked cutely at her senior brother. “Senior Brother is only a Registered Disciple under Senior Sister Ruoshui! You’re not a True Disciple of Masked Moon Peak!”