157: Chapter 157 One Year

Lei Yun was currently polishing his Dao foundation, preparing to consume a source fruit to attempt a Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment. The "Scarlet Flame True Art" of Tianhuo Peak was exceptionally domineering, and the "detoxification" before Foundation Establishment was crucial, requiring a Cauldron of extremely high quality.

"A Sword Cultivator with extremely strong combat power who is cold and unworldly..." Meng Si sneered. "Senior Brother Lei has always been most interested in such thorny roses. If I offer this woman to Senior Brother Lei as a Cauldron, not only will I remove this thorn in my side, but I can also make Senior Brother Lei owe me a favor."

"As for Lin Shuangwan..." A lecherous glint flashed in Meng Si's eyes. "By then, won't she be at my mercy? Killing two birds with one stone!"

He turned abruptly and walked toward the desk, preparing to send a message to Lei Yun.

A burst of hurried footsteps came from outside.

The courtyard gate was pushed open, and a middle-aged man walked in.

The man was in his early forties, his Face five or six parts similar to Meng Si's. He wore a cyan robe woven with hidden spiritual patterns, and his demeanor was steady; one look and it was clear he was a person accustomed to moving in upper-class circles.

Meng Xiangyun, Meng Si's father, a First-Grade High Grade Talisman Maker.

"What kind of madness are you throwing now?" Meng Xiangyun glanced at the broken porcelain on the ground and frowned.

"Dad, that Shen Qingluan..."

"I came specifically to talk to you about this." Meng Xiangyun raised his hand to interrupt him, walked straight to the only chair that hadn't been kicked over, and sat down. His tone turned colder. "Don't touch that woman."

Meng Si was stunned: "Why? Isn't she just a Loose Cultivator..."

"A Loose Cultivator?" Meng Xiangyun snorted coldly. "Have you ever seen a Loose Cultivator who Cultivates a Second-Grade High Grade sword technique? Have you ever seen a Loose Cultivator wearing inner armor woven from Thousand-Leaf Profound Silkworm Silk?"

Meng Si's expression changed.

Thousand-Leaf Profound Silkworm Silk was not something that could be bought with Spirit Stones. That material was produced in several special spirit silkworm Immortal Caves in the Southern Wilderness and was monopolized by a few large Families; Loose Cultivators outside had never even seen it.

Meng Si narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth: "Even if she has a background, can it be bigger than my Luoyun Sect?"

"The Luoyun Sect is the Luoyun Sect, and you are you!" Meng Xiangyun tapped the table, feeling frustrated that his son wouldn't improve. "Do you really think you can cover the sky with one hand in this Qingyue Market? Those two Foundation Establishment Revered Masters from the Zhao Family have long been dissatisfied with your actions over the past two years! If not for the sake of your Revered Master, the Zhao Family's law enforcement team would have already taken action against you!"

Meng Si's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he didn't say it.

He wasn't stupid.

He could be arrogant, but if he really angered the Zhao Family, his father's businesses would be the first to be affected.

"You are currently at a critical moment in competing for the position of true disciple, so you must not create extra complications." Meng Xiangyun's tone softened, revealing his cunning. "Furthermore, that Shen Qingluan came to the Ten Thousand Mountains obviously to search for an Opportunity to Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment. A disciple of a large Family like her will leave sooner or later if she cannot find her Opportunity. She can't just pack up and take Lin Shuangwan with her, can she?"

Meng Si's eyes lit up, and he understood his father's meaning.

"Father, you mean... drag it out?"

"Correct." Meng Xiangyun picked up the unbroken teapot on the table and poured himself a cup of tea. "She can protect Lin Shuangwan for a moment, but can she protect her for a lifetime? Once Shen Qingluan leaves, Lin Shuangwan will be helpless in this Qingyue Market. By then, won't she be meat on your chopping block?"

Meng Si lowered his head and cupped his hands: "I understand, Father."

After the door closed, Meng Si slowly straightened up, and his lips curled into a smirk again.

He called out toward the outside: "Someone come here."

A subordinate pushed the door and entered.

"Send ten Spirit Stones to Lin Shuangwan." Meng Si twirled the ring on his thumb, his tone as casual as if he were shooing away a beggar. "Just say... this matter, let bygones be bygones."

The subordinate was stunned for a moment, but didn't dare to ask more, nodded, and backed out.

Evening.

You were meditating in the west wing, and the courtyard gate was knocked on.

You opened your eyes, got up, and went to open the door.

Standing outside the door was an unfamiliar young male cultivator, dressed as an Early Stage Qi Refining practitioner; judging by his clothes, he should be a servant of the Meng Family.

Seeing you, his gaze involuntarily lingered for a moment on the eyes revealed beneath your veil, then quickly moved away. He cupped his hands and said: "Miss Lin, I have come to deliver a message on the orders of my Young Master."

"Speak."

"The Young Master says, the previous matter... was a misunderstanding." The servant took a cloth bag from his sleeve and handed it over with both hands. "These ten Spirit Stones are a small token of the Young Master's sincerity; I hope Miss Lin will not take it to heart."

You looked at the cloth bag without reaching out to take it.

Three breaths later, you took the cloth bag.

The servant was relieved, hurriedly bowed to excuse himself, and his footsteps quickly disappeared at the end of the alley.

Ten Spirit Stones.

Heh.

Cutting off your source of income for two months, ransacking your home, forcing you to the point of almost being kicked out of the market, and finally bestowing ten Spirit Stones, that's called "letting bygones be bygones"?

Just you wait.

You closed the courtyard gate and weighed the Spirit Stones in your hand.

"Might as well take them." You muttered to yourself, turned around, walked to the stone table, and placed the cloth bag in front of Shen Qingluan.

"Sister Shen, Meng Si has chickened out; this is hush money he sent."

Shen Qingluan glanced at the cloth bag, then looked at you.

"You keep these Spirit Stones; I have no use for them."

You didn't stand on ceremony and put the Spirit Stones away.

Late at night, the night was as cool as water.

You sat on the stone stool, watching Shen Qingluan drinking opposite you.

"Sister Qingluan, did you come to the Ten Thousand Mountains to find an Opportunity to Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment?" You asked tentatively.

Shen Qingluan's hand holding the wine pot paused slightly, and she tilted her head back to take a gulp of strong liquor.

"Yes, and no."

"What do you mean?"

"My Family actually arranged my path long ago. From the day my Spiritual Root was tested, what Cultivation Technique to practice, what grade of source fruit to consume, and even what wondrous items to use in the Purple Mansion stage were all set in stone."

Your heart shook.

Although source fruit is precious, what truly determines the upper limit is the Purple Mansion wondrous items. As finite objects, the reason large powers can monopolize high-level combat strength is because they control these Purple Mansion wondrous items, and then, based on the wondrous items, they reversely match the corresponding source fruit for the Geniuses in their Family.

This is the most cruel class barrier in the Cultivation World.

"But I don't like it." Shen Qingluan snorted coldly, sharp Sword Intent bursting from her eyes. "Those of us who are Sword Cultivators should be indomitable and unyielding! What kind of Sword Cultivator relies on the Divine Ability of beasts to reach Foundation Establishment? What I want to find is a variant source fruit nurtured by pure Geng Metal Qi. Only that kind of ultimate killing power is worthy of my sword!"

Watching the light in her eyes, a trace of admiration rose in your heart.

This is a true Prodigy, daring to say no to a predetermined fate.

"I wish you success in achieving your desire soon, Sister." You raised your teacup, using tea to replace wine.

Shen Qingluan looked at you, a faint smile curling at the corners of her lips, and clinked her cup against yours.

"However," Shen Qingluan withdrew her wine cup and tilted her head to look at you, "it's not that I don't have a deadline. I've already explored the Ten Thousand Mountains seven or eight times and haven't found a suitable Opportunity. I'll give myself one more year. If I can't find it within a year, I'll probably have to go back and follow the path the Family arranged. You should prepare early."