Mortal Alchemy

After a night and a day, Mu Luofei was still asleep in Chen Ping's bed.

That evening, Chen Ping was preparing to go to the Spirit Cuisine Hall for dinner when he found a middle-aged couple standing outside his courtyard.

This middle-aged couple was none other than Mu Luofei's parents.

Chen Ping had met them once before.

The couple sized Chen Ping up with unkind expressions. Mu's father spoke first, "Has my daughter come looking for you?"

Chen Ping vaguely guessed what was happening. After a moment of thought, he replied:

"Uncle, Senior Sister Luofei did come to me after her breakthrough attempt."

"Then do you know where she is?" Mu's father questioned Chen Ping in a commanding tone, as if giving orders.

This made Chen Ping frown slightly. He cupped his hands and replied:

"Two days ago, Senior Sister Luofei came to me for a cup of tea. We talked about her failure to establish her foundation. After drinking the tea, she left. I don't know where Senior Sister Luofei went."

Mu's father and mother exchanged a look. Mu's father then said:

"If you see her, tell her that Uncle Li Erniu from the Eastern Xuan Sect knows about this and hasn't forgotten her."

"She was headstrong and insisted on establishing her foundation on her own, rejecting Uncle Li Erniu's marriage proposal. Now that her breakthrough has failed, Uncle Li Erniu still remembers her. Although the status of his primary wife is no longer available, Uncle Li Erniu is willing to take her as a concubine and provide foundation establishment spiritual items to help her establish her foundation."

Chen Ping frowned deeply, but said:

"Alright, I'll keep that in mind. If I run into Senior Sister Luofei, I'll pass it on to her."

Is this Li Erniu still not giving up on Mu Luofei and has been paying attention to her?

Or is this a suggestion from Mu Luofei's parents?

...Actively suggesting she become Li Erniu's concubine, not only to marry into a good family, but also to gain another chance to establish her foundation in a very short time.

"Good." Mu's father and mother turned and left.

Watching them leave, Chen Ping couldn't help but feel concerned for Mu Luofei.

Once a foundation establishment breakthrough fails, pressure comes from all sides, and her own parents are eager for her to become someone else's concubine.

They are making such decisions without even asking for Mu Luofei's opinion.

Chen Ping felt that this was not good.

Mu Luofei failed at the third stage of foundation establishment, and the required foundation establishment spiritual item changed from Century Spiritual Milk to Heavenly Spirit Fruit.

And of the three major foundation establishment spiritual items that Chen Ping had collected, only the Heavenly Spirit Fruit and a Second-Order Demon Core remained.

"Once a foundation establishment fails, the confidence and Dao heart built in the past are completely destroyed." Chen Ping had cultivated cautiously for twenty years and still didn't have much confidence in foundation establishment:

"Heh, can I make it to the other shore?"

Chen Ping shook his head and went to the Spirit Cuisine Hall for dinner.

Xu Fengshan and Junior Brother Du happened to be eating together. Chen Ping carried his tray and sat down next to them.

When Xu Fengshan saw Chen Ping, he smiled and said, "Junior Brother Chen, you've come at the right time."

Chen Ping asked, "What's going on?"

"Just chatting about gossip." Xu Fengshan grinned and said, "Do you know that Mu Luofei's foundation establishment breakthrough failed?"

Chen Ping was surprised, "How do you know, Senior Brother Xu?"

Xu Fengshan chuckled, "We've been dealing with her for almost ten years. How could we not know about this?"

Junior Brother Du clicked his tongue and said, "Mu Luofei's figure and appearance are even more outstanding than the Mu family's direct descendants. Now that she has failed to break through and establish her foundation, she owes quite a bit of debt."

Chen Ping's eyes flickered, "She owes debt?"

"That's right, she also borrowed spirit stones to advance her cultivation." Junior Brother Du clicked his tongue and laughed, somewhat gloating:

"With a failed breakthrough and a lot of debt, even if she wants to marry, few people would be willing to marry her."

"The best outcome would probably be to become a concubine for a big shot."

Xu Fengshan said:

"Ahem, Junior Brother Du, that's not right. Don't say things like that."

"Now that Mu Luofei's breakthrough has failed, the deal between the Pill Hall and her shouldn't stop."

Junior Brother Du nodded and said, "The deal with her can't stop, but the price can't be determined by her."

As soon as he said this, Xu Fengshan's face changed, realizing that something bad was about to happen.

His eyes fell on Chen Ping.

Chen Ping said, "In that case, it would be better for Senior Sister Luofei not to do business with the Pill Hall in the future."

Junior Brother Du's face turned pale, realizing that he had messed up. He quickly tried to remedy the situation, "Senior Brother Chen, that's not what I meant."

Chen Ping looked at him with indifferent and cold eyes:

"Then what do you mean?"

Chen Ping didn't wait for him to continue explaining. He finished eating, turned around, and left the Spirit Cuisine Hall.

This Junior Brother Du was a petty person who was not only ungrateful but also wanted to kick someone when they were down.

Xu Fengshan caught up with Chen Ping and explained:

"Junior Brother Chen, don't blame Junior Brother Du. You have to know that we failed little people are like that."

"We little people have nothing and are mixed in the lowest level of the cultivation world. No matter where we go, we can only look up to others."

"You are one of our own in the Pill Hall, the first person to attempt foundation establishment in two hundred years. The Pill Hall is fine, but the people outside are eager for Junior Brother Chen to fail and fall into the abyss with us, living muddleheaded."

"Moreover, Mu Luofei is a descendant of the Mu family. There are too many people who don't want to see her succeed in foundation establishment. Junior Brother Du is just one of them."

Chen Ping's expression was calm, and he sighed, "I understand. I can also understand this kind of mentality."

Besides the people who are truly close to you, who wants to see you doing well?

They flatter you to your face, but behind your back, they all wish you would fall into the abyss and live miserably.

Therefore, even if Mu Luofei has a second chance to establish her foundation, people like Junior Brother Du will take action to stop her, wanting to drag Mu Luofei down and even pull her into the abyss.

The business between Mu Luofei and the Pill Hall is not big, but she earns four or five spirit stones a month from the Pill Hall.

If only the Pill Hall is like this, then Mu Luofei's access to other aspects of interest and resources is probably even more so.

Everyone wants to kick her when she's down.

Xu Fengshan chuckled, "That's right. Don't take Junior Brother Du's words to heart."

Chen Ping coldly said, "Senior Brother Xu, do you know that I also just failed my breakthrough?"

Xu Fengshan's face stiffened.

Chen Ping cupped his hands and said, "Senior Brother Xu, you will be able to regain your freedom in less than two months. Will you be holding a farewell banquet then? Be sure to let me know when the time comes..."

Xu Fengshan sighed deeply.

Chen Ping returned to his courtyard and continued to meditate and cultivate his body. After another day, Mu Luofei finally woke up.

She first went to the hot spring pool in Chen Ping's courtyard to bathe and wash up. Then, she put on her Daoist robe, socks, and shoes, and came to the eaves of the house.

Chen Ping was meditating and cultivating here.

Chen Ping looked at her with a smile: "Senior Sister Luofei, you have had a good sleep this time."

Mu Luofei gave a graceful bow: "Thank you for taking care of me, Junior Brother."

Chen Ping said, "Li Erniu wants to marry you as a concubine. It's your parents' idea."

The two looked at each other. Mu Luofei's beautiful eyes were very calm, without any ripples:

"I won't agree. If I don't establish my foundation, I will never marry."

Chen Ping continued, "The people in the Pill Hall want to kick you when you're down in business. I took the liberty of canceling this business deal for you in the future."

A gentle smile appeared on Mu Luofei's pretty face: "That's good too."

"How many spirit stones do you owe?"