Tianlan Continent. State of Zhao, Joyous Union Sect. Outer Sect, Little Bamboo Peak.
Inside a dilapidated courtyard house, an old man sitting cross-legged on a bed opened his eyes. They were filled with desolation.
"Failed again!"
Li Meng turned his head to gaze at the bamboo forest outside the window. His gaunt, white-haired figure appeared utterly bleak.
Sixty years of cultivation, yet he had achieved nothing.
With his Lifespan Limit fast approaching, his cultivation was stuck at the sixth layer of Qi Condensation. Even this level had been forcibly achieved by swallowing pills. Now, Pill Poison had invaded his body, and before he had even reached eighty, his end was near.
Li Meng revealed a bitter smile and sighed toward the sky. The bitterness in his heart left a sour taste in his mouth.
Why?
A flash of unwillingness passed through Li Meng's eyes.
Other transmigrators received heaven-defying cheats. But him? Not only did he have nothing, but his aptitude was also the worst kind: Waste Spirit Roots.
His cultivation speed was as slow as a thousand-year-old turtle. His comprehension was even more absurdly poor. The simplest cultivation techniques looked like blank heavenly scriptures to him. What others could comprehend in a few days took him years.
"Damn the Heavens! I f*ck your ancestors!"
Li Meng thrust his hand out the window and flipped a middle finger at the sky. After venting his frustration, he leisurely got out of bed.
"Forget it. This life is just like this."
Li Meng shook his head and walked out of the room. Although the courtyard was somewhat dilapidated, in this godforsaken corner of the Outer Sect, it was still a decent residence. He sat down on a rocking chair in the yard, appearing to sunbathe quite contentedly.
Since he was about to die anyway, he might as well slack off. Screw immortality. Screw cultivation.
Knock, knock!
Suddenly, there was a knock at the courtyard's fence gate. Outside stood a graceful figure wearing a cyan rainbow dress. A pair of beautiful eyes peeked through the crack in the gate.
"Senior Brother? Senior Brother!"
The charming voice alone was enough to make one's heart tingle.
"Come in, the gate isn't locked!" A slightly hoarse voice echoed from the yard.
The graceful figure pushed the gate open and entered. With light steps, she arrived before Li Meng.
"Senior Brother, these are spirit plants I gathered during an outside mission. Could you take a look at them for me?"
Li Meng glanced at her.
Female cultivators capable of cultivation generally possessed decent looks, but this Junior Sister before him was outstanding even among them. If not for her relatively poor aptitude, she would likely be the perfect Dao Companion in the eyes of many male cultivators.
Her name was Chen Lan, an Outer Sect disciple of the Joyous Union Sect. Her cultivation was at Peak Qi Condensation, only one step away from Foundation Establishment. However, that single step was an insurmountable chasm for many cultivators throughout their entire lives.
Chen Lan had attempted Foundation Establishment once and failed. If a cultivator failed to break through to Foundation Establishment twice, they basically lost any possibility of ever establishing their foundation again.
Chen Lan patted the storage pouch at her waist. Various colored spiritual lights flashed as a large number of spirit herbs flew out, arranging themselves neatly on the ground.
Li Meng swept his eyes over the harvest and shook his head.
"Only spirit herbs over fifty years old can be used as alchemy materials. Junior Sister, what is the use of gathering herbs with insufficient age? What a waste!"
Sixty years of cultivation weren't entirely without achievement. At least on the path of alchemy, Li Meng had some minor accomplishments. He could barely be considered a first-grade Alchemist, capable of refining first-grade pills. It was something of a marvel, really; while all cultivation techniques were obscure and difficult for him to understand, he had managed to become a first-grade Alchemist through self-exploration.
Chen Lan cast a flirtatious glance at Li Meng.
"Senior Brother, although their age is insufficient, there's no problem using them to refine some pills that consolidate foundations and nourish vitality, is there?"
Chen Lan's coquettish tone made Li Meng's heart tremble.
This was, after all, the Joyous Union Sect. The female disciples all cultivated Charm Techniques. At this moment, Junior Sister Chen was utilizing hers, exuding a fox-like allure that stirred feelings even in old Li Meng.
Li Meng narrowed his eyes and looked Junior Sister Chen up and down.
Since joining the Joyous Union Sect, he had never sought a Dao Companion. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but simply that he couldn't cultivate the sect's "Yellow Emperor Inner Canon Fragment." Possessing the Five Spirit Roots—known as the Waste Spirit Roots—made him utterly incompatible with Dual Cultivation.
Because he possessed all five elements, the Spiritual Powers within his body existed in a state of mutual generation and restraint. His internal Yin and Yang energies were at a perfect equilibrium. Any external energy would disrupt this internal balance.
To this day, Li Meng remained an old virgin.
He rose slightly and reached out to grab Junior Sister Chen's slender, jade-like hand.
Chen Lan's expression froze for a moment, and a flash of disgust passed through her eyes. This old lecher actually dared to take advantage of her! If not for him being an Alchemist, she would have slapped him long ago.
Li Meng smiled as he stroked her hand.
"Junior Sister, ah, Senior Brother's Lifespan Limit is approaching. I don't have many years left to live. Although you've been here less than ten years, your natural talent is outstanding. Your cultivation has already reached Peak Qi Condensation. You're only one step away from Foundation Establishment. Even though your first attempt at breaking through failed, I believe with your aptitude, you can definitely cross that chasm and ascend to heaven in a single step."
He paused, his eyes gleaming. "As for me, Senior Brother is willing to lend you a helping hand. If Junior Sister can find a Golden Sun Mushroom over five hundred years old, Senior Brother will risk this old life to refine a second-grade Foundation Pill for you!"
"Foundation Pill?"
Chen Lan covered her mouth with a gasp of surprise.
The Foundation Pill was the supreme medicine for breaking through the bottleneck of Qi Condensation! Even among second-grade pills, it was top quality. Could Senior Brother Li really refine second-grade pills?
"Senior Brother... is that true?"
Chen Lan tightly grasped Li Meng's hand with both of hers. At this moment, she only felt her heartbeat quicken. That was a Foundation Pill! A pill that could let her ascend to the heavens in one step! Only by successfully establishing her foundation would she truly step onto the path of immortal cultivation.
How could she not be overjoyed? How could she not seize this opportunity?
Li Meng patted her slender hands gently. "It's true! It's true! However... Senior Brother has always been alone. As my end approaches... I'd like to find someone to accompany me. I wonder if Junior Sister would be willing?"
He was about to face Sitting Death soon anyway; who cared about immortal cultivation rules? It was better to be a ghost under the peony flowers—to die happy in the arms of a beauty! Having lived another life, it wouldn't be a loss.
Chen Lan's face stiffened, her expression shifting repeatedly.
This old lecher really had designs on her after all!
She forced a charming smile and withdrew her hand. "Senior Brother... aren't you afraid Senior Brother Lü will cause trouble for you?"
Junior Sister Chen was Senior Brother Lü's Dual Cultivation Dao Companion—at least, that was how it appeared to outsiders. As to whether they were truly fellow travelers on the Great Dao or actual lovers, only they knew. Lü Meng was also a Peak Qi Condensation cultivator. Both had attempted Foundation Establishment together and failed. They could be considered a pair of star-crossed lovers.
Li Meng chuckled lightly and stroked his long beard. "I don't need Junior Sister by my side all the time. If Junior Sister is unwilling... then forget it! As for these spirit herbs... I'll give you twenty spirit stones for them."
Should she really give up like this?
A flash of struggle passed through Chen Lan's eyes. The opportunity for a breakthrough lay right before her.
"No... I can't give up!"
Chen Lan clenched her fists tightly, her expression becoming resolute. Senior Brother Li's Lifespan Limit was approaching; she wouldn't have to accompany him for many years anyway. As long as she was careful, Senior Brother Lü wouldn't find out.
"Senior Brother... Junior Sister is willing!"
Chen Lan extended both hands and tightly grasped Li Meng's hands again. Her face flushed red, and infinite charm flickered between her brows.
Li Meng smiled as he looked at the enchanting woman before him. "No reluctance?"
The corner of Chen Lan's mouth twitched slightly.
One foot was already in his coffin, while she was still in full bloom like a flower. Could she not feel reluctant?
But she gave an enchanting smile and shook her head. "Junior Sister is willing! Willing from the bottom of my heart!"
"My good Junior Sister! Let's talk inside! Quick... help me up, quickly!"
A flash of mockery passed through Chen Lan's eyes. He could barely walk anymore, yet he was still thinking about that...
Chen Lan stepped forward and helped the Senior Brother up. Li Meng reached out and embraced her warm, soft body.
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