Chapter 13: The Shapeshifting Talisman
Li Meng had no desire for his peaceful daily life to be disturbed. The very reason he cultivated the reputation of a generous benefactor was to distance himself from the petty squabbles and power struggles among the sect's disciples. Being targeted by a high-level cultivator within the sect was definitely not a good thing.
While the sect had its rules and regulations, for many, rules existed only to be broken. The Joyous Union Sect had nearly two thousand Outer Disciples. Wherever there were people, there would be conflict, and those known to mortals as 'mountain-dwelling' cultivators were no exception.
Li Meng began examining the items within his treasure vault. If only he could find something capable of altering one's appearance...
"Something that can freely change one's form? That's the one—the Shapeshifting Talisman!"
"Senior Brother Li!"
A charming, coquettish voice suddenly rang out from above. Two graceful figures swept over the bamboo forest, descending lightly into the courtyard. Both wore elegant cyan gowns, their hair pinned up with hairpins, waist-length tresses flowing behind them. Their beautiful faces bore a striking resemblance, about seventy percent similar.
Li Meng recognized them—a pair of sisters. The elder was named Sheng Shuier, the younger Sheng Zi'er. The sisters hailed from the royal family of the State of Zhao, said to be daughters of a prince.
"Rare guests, truly rare guests! Junior Sisters Shuier, Zi'er, what brings you here?"
Li Meng naturally knew these two junior sisters, though their interactions had been few. The sisters came from a mortal royal family, daughters of a prince, holding the status of princesses. Mortal dynasties always maintained some connections with the mountain-dwelling cultivators, so they certainly lacked no cultivation resources. Their status also meant they had no reason to come to him for cheap pills.
The sisters offered identical, graceful smiles and bowed in unison.
[Name: Sheng Shuier] [Age: 24] [Luck: 6000] [Cultivation: Qi Condensation Ninth Layer] [Aptitude: Gold-Water Dual Spirit Roots] [Affection: 5]
Li Meng's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of surprise passing through them. Truly descendants of a Human Emperor blessed by the Heavenly Dao. Her luck far surpassed even Senior Qu's.
[Name: Sheng Zi'er] [Age: 21] [Luck: 5000] [Cultivation: Qi Condensation Seventh Layer] [Aptitude: Gold-Water-Wood Triple Spirit Roots] [Affection: 10]
The younger sister's aptitude was considerably poorer.
"Senior Brother Li, we heard you have Top-grade first-grade pills for sale here. Is this true?"
Li Meng chuckled softly, stroking his beard. "Indeed, it is no falsehood."
It seemed news of him having medium and Top-grade first-grade pills had already spread.
Delight bloomed on the sisters' faces. Sheng Shuier even took an excited step forward. "Senior Brother Li, do you have Top-grade Prime Solidifying Pills and Prime Nurturing Pills?"
With a wave of his hand, Li Meng sent five porcelain bottles flying from his storage pouch to land upon the tea table. Sheng Shuier stepped forward, picked up one bottle, and uncorked it. A rich, concentrated medicinal aroma wafted out. Merely smelling it caused a faint stirring within her Spiritual Power.
Her eyes lit up. They were indeed Top-grade pills, and of exceptionally high purity at that. They were likely only a step away from Flawless quality.
"Senior Brother, we'll take them all!"
"Fifteen hundred spirit stones."
Sheng Shuier did not haggle; it wasn't her habit. Moreover, she knew the price of Top-grade pills. With Top-grade pills, it wasn't merely a matter of price—they were often priceless and unavailable on the market. Top-grade pills produced by the Alchemy Hall would be divided among the True Disciples as soon as they were finished; they never reached Outer Disciples like them.
"Senior Brother, if you refine more Top-grade pills in the future, could you possibly reserve them for us sisters? We are willing to pay a premium!"
Li Meng glanced at the two sisters. "Do you two Junior Sisters believe I have a future?"
The sisters were momentarily speechless. They could naturally see that Senior Brother Li was approaching his Lifespan Limit; his days were numbered. The aura of death surrounding him was intensely thick.
"Whether you can purchase Top-grade pills depends on your luck. If I have them, I will naturally sell them. If not, then there are none."
Li Meng's meaning was clear: he would not open a backdoor for them. Acquiring Top-grade pills would depend entirely on their fortune.
Li Meng waved a dismissive hand. "I won't see you out, Junior Sisters."
Those blessed with profound fortune... it was better to keep one's distance from such individuals if one's own fortune was shallow. Li Meng had no desire to one day find himself dead without a whole corpse to his name. It was best not to provoke what one shouldn't.
"You... what kind of attitude is that?"
Li Meng's cold demeanor greatly displeased Sheng Zi'er. She simply couldn't hold back any longer.
Sheng Shuier quickly grasped her sister's hand and bowed toward Li Meng on his recliner. "We take our leave, Senior Brother Li! Come, sister!"
Holding her sister's hand, she soared into the air. Their graceful figures swept over the bamboo forest once more, only summoning their flying swords and departing after leaving Little Bamboo Peak.
"Sister, we didn't even offend Senior Brother Li! What was with his attitude?"
Hearing her sister's resentful words, Sheng Shuier shook her head.
"Little Sister, mountain-dwelling people are not like those below the mountain. Here, our status holds no power. The reason those Outer Disciples flatter and fawn over you isn't out of genuine respect; it's for the sake of their mortal families. By befriending you, their mortal clans gain the protection of the royal family. If you lacked this status layer, you would merely be an ordinary Outer Disciple."
Her younger sister was simply accustomed to being flattered; encountering someone who didn't indulge her felt uncomfortable. This discomfort made her feel targeted by Senior Brother Li when, in truth, he was merely treating them as ordinary people.
"The elder sister is quite perceptive," Li Meng on his recliner chuckled softly with narrowed eyes. "The breakthrough should happen today."
Li Meng appeared to be lounging comfortably on his recliner, but in truth, he had been continuously circulating the common cultivation art Qi Refining Art through his meridians, absorbing the medicinal efficacy of the pills he had taken. He did not cultivate the Joyous Union Sect's Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon. A trash body with Five Spirit Roots was unsuited for Dual Cultivation techniques. The more Spirit Roots one possessed, the greater the amount of elemental Spiritual Power within the body. The greater that elemental power, the more volatile it became. Dual Cultivation could disrupt the delicate balance of this Five Elements Spiritual Power within him; a single misstep could lead to Qi Deviation.
Time flowed on bit by bit until nightfall arrived.
Tonight, Senior Qu did not break her promise.
Little Bamboo Peak Courtyard. Within the bedroom.
Having reached the door, Qu Rou turned back to glance at her Junior Nephew Li upon the bed. A hint of a teasing smile touched her lips.
Serves you right for pushing yourself so hard.
Qu Rou turned and opened the door to step outside. The sound of her footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
Face down on the bed, Li Meng turned his head.
Two words escaped his lips: "Foundation Establishment."
Time continued its steady passage. The night grew deep.
...
The next day, morning.
With a soft creak, the main door to the house opened from within.
Li Meng walked out... one hand pressed against his lower back.
Today's sunlight felt particularly glaring. Squinting slightly against it as he gazed up at the vast blue sky, the aura emanating from his body had grown noticeably stronger once more.
"It's not like it's my first time losing face," he consoled himself internally. If he didn't offer himself this small comfort... that fragile heart of his would surely shatter completely.
"A mere Qi Condensation Eighth Layer... handled with ease."
A wide grin spread across Li Meng's face as he chuckled softly to himself in satisfaction under that bright morning sun.