Chapter 6: Li Meng’s Bitter Resentment

Half an hour later.

With a soft click, the door to the room opened from within.

Li Meng and Qu Rou emerged, one after the other. Qu Rou, her expression as cold as frost, took a seat by the tea table. Li Meng sat down opposite her.

“How do you intend to resolve the fire poison within me?” Qu Rou asked coldly, her icy gaze fixed on her leisurely tea-sipping Junior Nephew Li.

A flicker of humiliation and killing intent passed through her eyes. If Li Meng claimed he couldn’t solve it, he would likely find himself headless the next moment. While the Joyous Union Sect forbade death duels between disciples, conflicts could be settled on the Martial Arena. Shattering Li Meng’s spiritual roots and stripping him of his chance at immortality was entirely within her power. Even the Enforcement Hall wouldn’t risk offending an Inner Disciple at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment for the sake of a mere Outer Disciple at the sixth layer of Qi Condensation.

With a wave of his hand, Li Meng summoned a white demon core from the storage bag by the bed. Qu Rou reached out and caught it.

“This is… an Ice Fiend Flood Dragon core?” Qu Rou stared down at the demon core in her hand, then looked up at Junior Nephew Li with astonishment. “An Ice Fiend Flood Dragon is a third-tier demon beast. You’re merely at the sixth layer of Qi Condensation. How did you obtain such a treasure?”

Li Meng chuckled softly and took a sip of tea. “Senior Qu, how this Junior Nephew obtained the core is not important. During the day, I will refine a batch of Spirit Tempering Pills to help cleanse the impurities and Pill Poison from your body. You may use the Ice Fiend Flood Dragon core with confidence. High-grade Spirit Tempering Pills will be sufficient to purify any residual demonic energy within you.”

Qu Rou watched her Junior Nephew in silent contemplation. While he was somewhat lecherous, his skill in alchemy was undeniably impressive.

However…

Recalling his earlier comical struggle—his will being strong but his flesh weak—

“Pfft!”

Qu Rou couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. The icy expression on her face vanished without a trace. A hint of spring warmth flashed in her eyes, and her cheeks flushed a rosy pink, like a peony in full bloom.

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

Li Meng looked at Senior Qu, who had suddenly burst into laughter, with complete bewilderment. Yet, the increase in Affection brought a faint smile to his lips. It seemed his understanding of human nature was on the right track.

Senior Qu was a cultivator at the Great Perfection of late-stage Foundation Establishment. Even if he had gifted her the Ice Fiend Flood Dragon core for free, it wouldn’t have raised her Affection by much. She would have merely considered it a favor owed, something to be repaid when an opportunity arose.

But once a relationship had been established between them, everything was different.

Now, all he needed to do was gradually increase that Affection.

“Senior Qu is truly beautiful,” Li Meng said with a smile, admiring the breathtaking sight before him. Her face was like peach blossoms, her skin like congealed cream—this was probably what an immortal fairy truly looked like.

Seeing Junior Nephew Li gazing at her with that lustful look again, Qu Rou’s expression turned cold once more. With a flick of her sleeve, she stored away the Ice Fiend Flood Dragon core. She stood up and walked out.

Her graceful figure rose on the wind, mounting her flying sword and soaring into the distance.

All that remained for Li Meng was her receding silhouette against the sky.

“Time to cultivate,” Li Meng muttered, setting down his teacup.

With another sweep of his sleeve, he stored the tea set from the table into his storage bag. He stood up and walked toward the main door of his house.

Returning to his bedroom, Li Meng sat cross-legged on his bed. He took out a vial of Flawless first-grade Spirit Gathering Pills. With a flick of his finger, one pill flew out of the vial and into his mouth.

Closing his eyes and placing his hands on his knees, Li Meng began circulating his Qi according to the Qi Refining Art. A faint five-colored spiritual light emanated from his body.

Time flowed by, bit by bit, as the night deepened.

Not long after Qu Rou’s departure, another graceful figure descended from above and landed in the courtyard.

Chen Lan swept her Divine Sense around before focusing on the house, finding only Senior Brother Li inside. With a soft sigh, she walked toward his door and knocked gently.

“Senior Brother? Senior Brother, are you there?”

Soon, Li Meng’s somewhat weary voice sounded from within. “I’m rather tired from refining pills all day today, Junior Sister. Please come back another time.”

Now that he had Senior Qu’s… attention… Li Meng naturally looked down upon Chen Lan’s meager cultivation level. He was an old man with limited stamina and energy. If he couldn’t even handle one woman properly, adding another would surely be the death of him. It was best to set Junior Sister Chen aside for now.

Right now, focusing on taking pills to boost his cultivation was far more important.

Outside the door, a flicker of mockery passed through Chen Lan’s eyes. As expected, she thought, Senior Brother Li is truly at his end. Look at how withered and frail he’s become. He probably needs to rest for half a month just to recover. Well, that’s fine. It means I won’t have to spend every night accompanying a man who already has one foot in the grave.

“In that case, this Junior Sister will take her leave and return another day!”

“Come back in a few days,” Li Meng’s voice came again from inside. “I’ll prepare some High-grade pills for you.”

High-grade pills?

Chen Lan’s eyes lit up instantly. A charming smile graced her lips as she bowed gracefully toward the door.

“Rest well then, Senior Brother! This Junior Sister will come to keep you company another day!”

Chen Lan hadn’t expected that Senior Brother Li, despite being so close to his Lifespan Limit, could actually refine High-grade pills! Even second-grade Alchemists found it difficult to produce first-grade High-grade pills consistently!

Her mood buoyant, Chen Lan rose into the air on light steps. Her graceful figure vanished into the night sky like an immortal fairy flying toward the moon.

“Li Meng! You useless waste!”

Not long after Chen Lan left, an infuriated roar suddenly erupted from within the house.

The next morning.

With a creak, the door opened.

Li Meng emerged dressed in blue robes and stood outside his doorway, basking in the sunlight. He squinted slightly as he enjoyed its warmth.

“I’ve finally broken through!”

Stuck at the sixth layer of Qi Condensation for decades… finally breaking through to reach the seventh layer felt like waking from a long dream!

Yet when he remembered turning away Junior Sister Chen empty-handed last night…

The contentment on Li Meng’s face vanished completely.

“I must reach Foundation Establishment!” he ground out through gritted teeth with fierce determination.

Last night… it had only been about half an hour total! After meditating for just a short while afterward… he’d actually fallen asleep! He’d slept straight through until nearly noon!

While waking up to find himself having broken through was certainly pleasant… he was supposed to be an immortal cultivator! Cultivators didn’t need sleep!

After collecting himself mentally…

Li Meng soared into flight with newfound vigor—looking rather dashing indeed!