Mortal Alchemy

For more than a decade, in Chen Ping's eyes, Mu Luofei had always been aloof, confident, elegant, and beautiful.

But today, when she sought out Chen Ping, her face was pale, and her breathing was somewhat unstable.

The smile on Mu Luofei's face was a little forced:

“Junior Brother Chen, you're home. May I, your Senior Sister, come in for a cup of tea?”

Chen Ping nodded with a smile: “Anytime.”

Chen Ping took out green bamboo leaves to boil tea for Mu Luofei.

A faint fragrance quickly spread out.

The two sat under the eaves, Mu Luofei's eyes slowly surveying Chen Ping's Daoist sanctum, silently sipping tea.

Chen Ping didn't say anything.

It was the first time he had seen Mu Luofei so haggard and delicate.

After a long while, Mu Luofei finally spoke: “Junior Brother Chen, I failed to break through to the twelfth level of Qi Refining.”

Chen Ping was stunned for a moment, then remembered that the last time he asked Mu Luofei how long it would take to break through to the twelfth level of Qi Refining, she said within half a year.

Now, ten months had passed, but the breakthrough had failed.

Chen Ping smiled calmly: “Senior Sister Luofei, don't be discouraged. I also failed to break through.”

“This breakthrough attempt has given me many insights.”

“Immortality cannot be begged for; we can only proceed step by step, cultivate diligently, and enhance our foundation. Only then can we see a glimmer of hope.”

“You see, Junior Brother, my aptitude is poor. I encountered the bottleneck of the tenth level of Qi Refining at the eighth level. Looking back now…”

“It's just that my physical body is weak, my spiritual sense is poor, and my mana is not pure enough.”

“So, I need to further cultivate a body refinement technique.”

“Body refinement technique?” Mu Luofei gazed at Chen Ping with her beautiful eyes, thoughtfully:

“…No wonder Junior Brother has changed so much in recent years. It's because you've been cultivating a body refinement technique.”

Chen Ping nodded:

“The early bird catches the worm. One can't just suffocate oneself to death.”

For some reason, Mu Luofei felt much better. She had met many people over the years, but being with Chen Ping always gave her a sense of peace and comfort.

Mu Luofei stood up, gave Chen Ping a graceful bow, and said in a much better mood:

“I used to lecture Junior Brother Chen, but today Junior Brother Chen is lecturing me. I am grateful for the lesson.”

This was the first time Mu Luofei had bowed to Chen Ping.

Chen Ping hurriedly got up and returned the bow:

“Senior Sister Luofei is too polite. I've just bumped into walls a lot and have some experiences to share.”

Mu Luofei smiled sweetly: “Junior Brother Chen, you are always so humble and courteous.”

Chen Ping gave a wry smile. He wasn't humble and courteous, but rather insecure and dared not overstep.

As a country boy who came to the world of cultivation, with no one to look after him, he had to be careful in everything he did to survive.

Mu Luofei said: “I won't leave today. How about I stay at Junior Brother Chen's place?”

“You are most welcome.” Chen Ping said with a smile: “In the future, Senior Sister Luofei can come here anytime. I'll give you a token to control the restrictions.”

“I don't want it.” A blush crept onto Mu Luofei's pale face, and she said with a slightly reproachful tone:

“That would be too improper.”

Chen Ping laughed heartily. Hasn't Mu Luofei done many improper things?

Mu Luofei felt comfortable and happy. Junior Brother Chen trusted her so much that he was willing to give her the token to control the Daoist sanctum's restrictions.

Chen Ping said with a smile:

“Senior Sister Luofei, you still have the Mu family to rely on, but I don't have such good fortune. Next, I plan to go out and look for opportunities to break through and establish my foundation.”

Mu Luofei also perked up and said:

“I will also work hard to break through to the twelfth level of Qi Refining and plan for foundation establishment!”

As Chen Ping said, her starting conditions were much better than Chen Ping's. Chen Ping was not discouraged by his failed breakthrough and wanted to travel and seek opportunities.

Then she should not be even more discouraged.

Immediately, Mu Luofei got up and walked to the kitchen:

“Junior Brother Chen, Senior Sister will cook for you today.”

Chen Ping was stunned: “Senior Sister Luofei, you can cook?”

Mu Luofei said as a matter of course: “Women need to nourish their skin. It's not good to take Bigu Pills every day. You have to cook occasionally.”

Chen Ping was speechless and smiled.

Looking at Mu Luofei's busy figure in the kitchen, Chen Ping's eyes couldn't help but become a little dazed.

The unattainable Mu Luofei was actually cooking for him.

That night, the two of them sat under the eaves, eating, drinking, and chatting idly until late at night, when Mu Luofei drunkenly entered Chen Ping's bedroom to sleep.

Although she fell asleep, a tear streaked across her eyes.

Chen Ping sighed softly, stepped forward to cover her with the quilt, and then closed the door.

He sat under the eaves, took a few sips of spiritual wine, and looked up at the full moon in the sky.

Mu Luofei was worried about the future, whether she could break through to the Foundation Establishment stage. This was a huge mountain pressing on the hearts of every Qi Refining cultivator.

It constantly made people afraid to let their guard down and take a deep breath. Mu Luofei was like this, and so was Chen Ping.

Perhaps sometimes, cultivating slowly, not reaching the tenth level of Qi Refining by the age of thirty, might also be a good thing. At least, you don't have to worry about Foundation Establishment in this life.

Marrying, having children, and establishing a small cultivation family, living comfortably for the rest of your life, would also be pretty good.

At least, it wouldn't be a wasted trip to this world.

Chen Ping thought for a long time. After dawn, he left the restrictions of the Daoist sanctum, as well as a bottle of pills and a note, under the eaves.

Immediately, he went to the Pill Hall to hand in this year's and next year's tasks.

This matter had to be applied to Hall Master Zuo, to see if she was willing to accommodate him.

Chen Ping had been in the Pill Hall for eleven years, and Hall Master Zuo's appearance had not changed at all. This was not only the power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, with a long lifespan, but also the support of strong financial resources.

“Hall Master, this subordinate is going on a long trip to seek opportunities to break through and establish my foundation, so I want to hand in the tasks for this year and next year.” Chen Ping saluted and reported to Hall Master Zuo.

Chen Ping didn't really want to see Hall Master Zuo. He didn't know if the Turtle Breath Technique could hide him from Hall Master Zuo.

But to Chen Ping's relief, Hall Master Zuo was sitting cross-legged in her Daoist sanctum and didn't even open her eyes to look at Chen Ping. She just moved her lips slightly and uttered a pleasant but cold word:

“Granted.”

If she had opened her eyes to look at Chen Ping at this time, she would have been surprised to find that the twenty-five-year-old Chen Ping had already reached the peak of the twelfth level of Qi Refining.

“Thank you, Hall Master. This subordinate will take his leave.” Chen Ping breathed a great sigh of relief.

Leaving the Pill Hall, Chen Ping summoned his flying gourd and slowly headed to White Sand Market.

Landing outside White Sand Market, Chen Ping stepped into White Sand Market, looking with interest at the various shops in White Sand Market.

“The entire White Sand Market mostly sells things for the early and middle stages of Qi Refining. There are very few things that can be used in the later stages of Qi Refining…”

But most cultivators are in the middle stage of Qi Refining, and there are not many cultivators who break through to the later stage of Qi Refining.

Chen Ping came to Myriad Treasures Pavilion and found Zhou Ying.

“Fellow Daoist Chen.” As soon as Zhou Ying saw Chen Ping, she greeted him with a smile: “Please, Fellow Daoist Chen, come to the private room for a chat.”

Chen Ping nodded and followed behind Zhou Ying.

In the half year since they last met, Zhou Ying had matured a lot, and her whole person was radiant and even more seductive and charming.

She gave people a feeling of being sophisticated and worldly, making people feel good and coveted when they were with her.

“It can only be said that they are worthy of being a mother and daughter of the same lineage.” Chen Ping couldn't help but think.

The current Zhou Ying already had three points of Madam Guo's alluring feeling.

He didn't think about it in a bad way. If a woman wants to do business, she must have changes, so that she won't be eaten until there are no dregs left.