The Alchemy Furnace Couldn't Take It Anymore

It was hard to say whether Lin Shiyu had established her foundation by now. If she hadn't, she was probably no longer young.

Since he wasn't in a hurry to return to the deep sea, and he couldn't activate that formation for the time being, he decided he might as well visit Lin Shiyu.

After a series of twists and turns, Zhou Er arrived near the former Xiayun Sect.

The Xiayun Sect no longer existed.

To withstand the demonic forces' onslaught, the three sects of the Sunset Mountain Range had united as the Sunset Gate, becoming the region's dominant sect.

Zhou Er could no longer use his former identity as a disciple of the Xiayun Sect. He had no choice but to disguise himself and enter a market in the Sunset Mountain Range, cultivating while he asked around about the Sunset Sect's current situation.

Though the Sunset Sect had consolidated its strength, years of fighting the demonic forces had left it badly damaged.

Among those lost was the former Xiayun Sect's youngest Golden Core True Person, who had fallen at the hands of the Corpse Puppet Sect.

Zhou Er felt a pang of regret, but it didn't weigh heavily on him.

He was more concerned about Lin Shiyu.

Lin Shiyu had become an Elder of the Sunset Sect. Her alchemy skills were first-rate, and she was well known among second-tier alchemists. Because of her status as an alchemist, she hadn't been directly involved in the Righteous-Demonic War.

She had achieved her old dream of becoming an alchemist, and Zhou Er was happy for her.

The more he heard about Lin Shiyu, the stronger his desire to see her became.

But the Righteous-Demonic War was still raging. Though the fighting had subsided somewhat, the conflict continued, and getting into the Sunset Sect was no easy matter.

After half a year of preparation, Zhou Er finally got the chance to enter the Sunset Sect.

But Elder Liu wasn't someone he could simply go see. Her disciple stopped him at the gate.

"Our Elder Liu is busy refining pills. You can't just see her whenever you want."

The female disciple spoke firmly.

Lin Shiyu's standing in the Sunset Sect was now no less than that of the Golden Core Elders.

The Sunset Sect had more than one Nascent Soul True Lord, and Zhou Er didn't dare force his way in.

Fortunately, he still had the sachet Lin Shiyu had given him years ago.

"Give this to Elder Liu. She'll understand."

Zhou Er handed the sachet to the young disciple.

Though she didn't know what was going on, the disciple did as he asked.

Inside Lin Shiyu's Cave Mansion, a mature, voluptuous woman saw the sachet and murmured:

"He's finally come back."

Then she hurried outside.

When she saw that the man before her was younger than the Zhou Er in her memories, the hope in her heart immediately gave way to disappointment.

"Are you his son?"

Zhou Er was also startled by the curvaceous woman before him.

She had a full figure without looking heavy, rounded shoulders and back, and a soft waist. She possessed the gentle charm unique to a mature woman.

She looked nothing like the delicate young girl Zhou Er remembered, but he recognized Lin Shiyu in her features.

"Shiyu!"

Zhou Er managed only those two words.

At once, Lin Shiyu realized that the man before her wasn't Zhou Er's son. He was Zhou Er himself.

"Senior Brother!"

Lin Shiyu immediately brought Zhou Er into her alchemy room.

At first, they were both somewhat reserved, catching up on each other's lives. But soon, as their emotions deepened, Zhou Er couldn't help lifting Lin Shiyu into his arms and pressing her against the Alchemy Furnace.

The furnace rocked back and forth, as if it could barely bear the intensity of their passion.

Afterward, Lin Shiyu lay on Zhou Er's youthful body and said, somewhat self-consciously:

"Senior Brother is still so young, while I've grown this old."

Zhou Er gave her round, peach-shaped backside a firm squeeze and said:

"I like you just the way you are now."

"You're wicked!"

Lin Shiyu wrapped her arms around Zhou Er, and they began another passionate bout.

Afterward, Zhou Er held Lin Shiyu in one arm and said:

"This is the version of Shiyu I like best."

He wasn't just saying that. Lin Shiyu was over sixty, but with a Foundation Establishment cultivator's lifespan of more than two hundred years, she was now the equivalent of someone in their twenties or thirties.

She had also taken good care of her appearance. She looked like an ordinary woman in her early twenties—the most beautiful, mature, and delectable age.

"Shiyu, why haven't you found a Dao Companion all these years?" Zhou Er asked with a smile.

"Back then, I said I'd wait for you to come back, Senior Brother, so I never looked. Who knew you'd make me wait over forty years, you heartless man?" Lin Shiyu said coyly.

After Zhou Er left, Lin Shiyu had devoted herself wholeheartedly to alchemy. Even when people pursued her, she never responded.

"Shiyu, I've had a hard time too!" Zhou Er said helplessly.

Then he showed her the small scales on his body and spun a tale:

"On the way back to my hometown, I ran into demonic cultivators. They captured me and forced me to practice a Demonic Cultivation Method. These are the traces it left behind."

"Senior Brother, you've suffered so much. From now on, I'm here. No one will ever bully you again." Lin Shiyu held Zhou Er tightly, her voice full of concern.

As he caressed Lin Shiyu's lamb-fat skin, Zhou Er wondered how he should continue his story.

"Later, I escaped from the demonic sect and fled to the bottom of the East Sea. Since I'd fused with the Life-Bound Gu from the demonic cultivation method, a Demon King mistook me for one of the Demon Race. After I spent over a decade cultivating under the demons, the Thunder Demon King sent me ashore to investigate the situation on land."

Fondling the delicate hand in his arms, Zhou Er told her a story that was half true.

He didn't tell Lin Shiyu that he had married and had children in the East Sea.

If Lin Shiyu found out after waiting so long for him, she'd fight him to the death.

Of course, Lin Shiyu hadn't spent all those years merely waiting for Zhou Er to return. She also had a heart devoted to the Dao.

Zhou Er also kept quiet about having reached the Golden Core realm. He told Lin Shiyu only that he had established his foundation.

Lin Shiyu also told Zhou Er about her life. Thanks to the Purple Cloud Furnace he had left her, she'd saved years, perhaps even a decade, of time she would otherwise have spent accumulating Spirit Stones, allowing her to devote herself to alchemy.

Of course, she had also worked extremely hard. As a result, she had successfully established her foundation in her thirties. Later, an Elder took a liking to her and taught her how to refine second-tier pills, making her a second-tier alchemist.

With pills to aid her, her cultivation advanced swiftly. She was now at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment and on the verge of a breakthrough.

"While you were away, Senior Brother, there were plenty of rakes who had their eyes on me!" Lin Shiyu teased.

"Then why didn't you accept any of them, Shiyu? Why keep yourself alone all this time?" Zhou Er asked with a smile, lifting her chin.

"Because there's only room in my heart for you, Senior Brother." Lin Shiyu shyly buried her head in his arms.

"Then I'll have to reward you properly, Junior Sister."

With that, Zhou Er took several pigeon-egg-sized pearls from his Storage Ring.

Lin Shiyu stared at them in astonishment. "Are these three-hundred-year-old Jade Moon Pearls?"

"There are plenty of these pearls in the sea. I didn't know what they were; I just thought they were beautiful, and that only you were worthy of them, Junior Sister."

"Thank you, Senior Brother! Now I can refine Beauty Preserving Pills."

Lin Shiyu took the pearls and planted a hard kiss on Zhou Er's cheek.

The Beauty Preserving Pill was a second-tier pill. Once taken, it kept one young forever, with aging beginning only in the final moments of life.

Everyone loved beauty.

Everyone feared watching their youthful looks fade.

That was especially true for female cultivators like Lin Shiyu.

With a Beauty Preserving Pill, she wouldn't have to worry about growing old.

She could also improve her alchemy skills by refining Beauty Preserving Pills.

Zhou Er temporarily settled in Lin Shiyu's Cave Mansion, having completely forgotten the task Eight-Armed Heavenly King Youluoduo had given him.

The Cultivation World was so dangerous now; his life came first.

The Water Race had already waited thousands of years. Waiting a few more wouldn't matter.

Since Zhou Er couldn't use either his own name or Cang Er's, he began calling himself Lei Hao.

A few days later, Lin Shiyu successfully refined three Beauty Preserving Pills.

She called Zhou Er into her alchemy room, took out the pills, and said:

"Senior Brother, I only managed to make three. I wasted your precious pearls."

"It's fine as long as you succeeded. Go on and take one, Junior Sister!" Zhou Er said with a smile.

Those things weren't important to him; he didn't need one.

Still, out of habit, Zhou Er checked the attribute the Beauty Preserving Pill granted.

[Beauty Preserving Pill: A celestial pill that locks in one's appearance and preserves youth forever.]

[Equipped Attributes: Peerless Elegance (Green).]

[Peerless Elegance (Green): Increases charm and allure, making one more attractive to the opposite sex.]

[Solidification Condition: Win the hearts of ten beauties. (4/10)]

[Equip?]

The attribute was rather interesting, but to Zhou Er, it was optional.

After watching Lin Shiyu take a Beauty Preserving Pill, Zhou Er smiled and said:

"Junior Sister, you're even more beautiful now."

Unlike those girls who were so difficult to please, Lin Shiyu didn't deny it. She only replied shyly:

"Senior Brother, don't tease me. The Beauty Preserving Pill isn't that miraculous. It only keeps your appearance from aging."

Then Lin Shiyu handed Zhou Er one and said:

"Senior Brother, you should take one too!"

"I don't want it." Zhou Er smiled and shook his head.

Seeing this, Lin Shiyu held a Beauty Preserving Pill in her mouth, threw herself at Zhou Er, and fed it to him.

Zhou Er took the opportunity to lightly bite her soft lips and said:

"Sweet."

But he didn't swallow the pill. Before it could go down, he quietly placed it in his Equipment Slot.

After equipping the Peerless Elegance attribute, Zhou Er began to radiate an indescribable allure.

Lin Shiyu couldn't explain what it was, but it stirred a fire of desire inside her. She threw herself into Zhou Er's arms and said:

"Senior Brother, you smell so good."

After they rested, Lin Shiyu stayed pressed against Zhou Er's chest, unwilling to leave his side.

Just then, the alchemy room's wards alerted her that someone was looking for her.

"Shiyu, one of your disciples is here. It seems important. Get up," Zhou Er said gently.

"Senior Brother belongs to me alone. I don't want you to leave." Lin Shiyu pouted.

After pouting, Lin Shiyu still got up and straightened herself out.

They were adults, after all. They had to know where to draw the line and not let private matters interfere with what needed to be done.

Zhou Er went out with Lin Shiyu, composed and dignified, not the least bit frivolous.

"Master, Talisman Master Xu is here. He wants to ask you to refine a pill," Lin Shiyu's young disciple, Li Xiao, said nervously. She didn't dare look at Zhou Er for long.

She had always worried Zhou Er would hold it against her for stopping him at the gate back then.

She had no idea that Zhou Er and her master were so close.

Zhou Er had long since forgotten about it.

Besides, Li Xiao had only been doing her job. It was nothing.

"Xu Lifeng?"

At the mention of Talisman Master Xu, Lin Shiyu immediately frowned. He was one of the men who had been pestering her.

"Xu Lifeng is a promising Talisman Master who established his foundation ten years ago. He's quite skilled at making talismans and is always making excuses to come see me," Lin Shiyu explained when she noticed Zhou Er's confusion.

"I see." Zhou Er nodded.

He wasn't afraid of anyone pursuing Lin Shiyu. He trusted that what they shared could withstand the test.

"If Senior Brother doesn't want me to see him, I'll just send him away," Lin Shiyu said.

"No need. Maybe Talisman Master Xu really has something to discuss with you. Let's go meet him together," Zhou Er said with a smile.

"Senior Brother, how should I introduce you?"

Zhou Er didn't say much. He simply pulled Lin Shiyu into his arms.

Lin Shiyu understood at once, happiness filling her heart.

Li Xiao ushered Talisman Master Xu inside, and Lin Shiyu and her companion went together to meet Talisman Master Xu Lifeng.

Talisman Master Xu had a yellow face, long, unkempt hair and a scraggly beard. He was of medium height and wore a Black Elder Robe. A young woman who looked somewhat like him followed at his side.

He had been overjoyed to hear that Lin Shiyu was willing to meet him, but when he saw her come out with a handsome young male cultivator, his face darkened at once.

Especially when he saw how handsome the young man was, Xu Lifeng felt as if his heart were being clawed to shreds.

He wished more than anything that he were the one by Lin Shiyu's side.

"Alchemist Lin, who is this?"

Xu Lifeng still tried to fool himself into believing that the young man beside Lin Shiyu was one of his household's younger relatives.

Just like him, he had brought his younger sister, Xu Yuanyuan, along.

"This is my Dao Companion, Zhou... Lei Hao. Lei Hao."

Lin Shiyu introduced him, nearly letting the slip show.

Hearing the words "Dao Companion," Xu Lifeng felt as if struck by lightning.

"D-Dao Companion? Since when? I've been in the sect for decades, so why have I never heard of Fellow Daoist Lei?"

Xu Lifeng asked, unable to believe it.

"We became Dao Friends more than forty years ago. I just had to leave the sect because of certain circumstances."

Zhou Er explained with a smile.

Then he asked,

"Fellow Daoist Xu, what brings you here to see Shiyu?"

Xu Lifeng was still lost in the sorrow of learning that his goddess had long had a Dao Companion. His younger sister pinched him, and only then did he come to his senses. He hurriedly said,

"I didn't come to see Fellow Daoist Lin for my own sake. My younger sister has reached the Qi Refining Tenth Layer and is preparing for Foundation Establishment. I've gathered some materials and would like Alchemist Lin to refine a few batches of Foundation Establishment Pills."

Xu Lifeng pulled himself together and explained.

Though disappointed, his eyes still couldn't help drifting toward the fullness of Lin Shiyu's chest.

At that, Zhou Er would pull Lin Shiyu into his arms, blocking Xu Lifeng's view.

"Senior Brother, there are other people here."

Held in Zhou Er's arms, Lin Shiyu spoke with a hint of shyness.

Zhou Er's move had been far too bold.

"It's fine. Fellow Daoist Xu won't mind, will you?"

Zhou Er didn't take things any further; he had only been staking his claim.

"Yes! Fellow Daoist Lei is right. Let's discuss the matter at hand!"

Xu Lifeng hurriedly put away his lovestruck expression and got down to business.