Xuan Yun, the Alchemist

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingyue's eyes were filled with disappointment.

She never imagined that her sister, in order to climb the social ladder by becoming a member of the Ye family, would actually make her humble herself and submit to become a concubine.

"Enough!" Wang Mengde snapped, standing in front of Shen Qingyue and looking down at Shen Qingxue.

"You crazy woman! You're Qingyue's sister, how could you say such things?"

Shen Qingxue was stunned by the sudden rebuke, and then her anger intensified:

"How can I say it? Every word I've said is true!"

"The truth?" Wang Mengde's voice suddenly rose. "You keep saying it's for Qingyue's good, but in the end, isn't it just that you want to get on the good side of the Ye family?"

Shen Qingxue's face flushed red. "Yes, I have selfish motives, but Qingyue is my only family in this world, and I really did it for her own good."

"For her own good?" Wang Mengde interrupted her:

"Ye Wushuang has dozens of wives and concubines. You want Qingyue to become a concubine, to have to watch people's faces, to be subservient, to compromise, and to be someone's cultivation tool."

Shen Qingxue's voice suddenly rose. "Others use Qingyue as a cultivation tool, aren't you one too?"

You've been bewitching Qingyue just so you can cultivate every now and then and boost your cultivation level.

You selfish, self-serving beast, what right do you have to talk to me like that?

Wang Mengde looked directly into her eyes, his gaze open and resolute.

I truly love Qingyue.

Shen Qingyue peeked out from behind Wang Mengde: "I do."

Looking at the two despicable people, Shen Qingxue felt a surge of anger that threatened to consume her entirely.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down:

"Qingyue possesses a mid-grade Spirit Root with three attributes. Without sufficient resources, she will definitely miss the optimal timeframe for Foundation Establishment."

She stared intently at Wang Mengde, her gaze sharp as knives. "What are you going to give her? You're a useless person with Five-Element Spirit Root, what are you going to provide for her cultivation?"

Wang Mengde met her gaze without flinching.

"I will absolutely not let Qingyue miss the optimal time for Foundation Establishment."

Shen Qingyue said, "I don't care whether I can achieve Foundation Establishment or not. Being with the person I love and living a simple, ordinary life is perfectly fine."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingxue trembled with anger.

"Foolish!" she scolded sharply, her voice filled with disappointment and heartache. "You're utterly foolish!"

With your qualifications, you clearly have the potential to Foundation Establishment.

Now you've been misled by Wang Mengde and think that love and romance are the most important things.

You missed the opportunity to Foundation Establishment; you will definitely regret it in the future.

Her emotions grew increasingly agitated, and her voice rose higher and higher:

"Do you know that once you miss the chance to Foundation Establishment, it's gone forever?" she practically shouted.

"Your master, Alchemist Xuan Yun, has such a strong talent for alchemy, but because he missed the Foundation Establishment age, he has been stuck at the Peak Qi Refinement for eighty years without making any progress."

Eighty years ago, if someone had helped her back then, she would have been Foundation Establishment cultivator by now, instead of...

Before he could finish speaking...

A voice drifted into the courtyard, neither too loud nor too soft, yet as clear as a whisper in someone's ear.

"That's right."

The voice was gentle and calm.

But Shen Qingxue and Shen Qingyue's expressions changed slightly at the same time.

They all recognized it.

The owner of that voice was none other than Qingyue's master, Alchemist Xuan Yun.

Shen Qingyue's heart tightened, and she instinctively grabbed Wang Mengde's wrist, whispering, "My master is here."

There was a hint of nervousness in her voice.

Wang Mengde gently patted the back of her hand, signaling her not to panic.

The three of them emerged from the quiet room.

Shen Qingyue led the way, holding Wang Mengde's hand.

Shen Qingxue followed behind with a sullen face. Although her anger had not subsided, she dared not act rashly in front of Alchemist Xuan Yun.

Upon leaving the quiet room, Wang Mengde saw the person standing in the courtyard.

She was a middle-aged woman who looked to be in her forties, wearing a plain-colored Daoist robe, with her long hair casually tied up with a wooden hairpin.

Her cheekbones were high, and her face looked somewhat harsh.

Her aura was restrained, yet there was a subtle sense of oppression, the unique imposing presence of Peak Qi Refinement.

Shen Qingyue quickly stepped forward and respectfully bowed. "Master."

Shen Qingxue also toned down her earlier arrogance and gave a slight bow. "Senior Xuan."

Wang Mengde stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Senior Xuan."

Alchemist Xuan Yun's gaze swept over the three of them, finally settling on Shen Qingyue.

She looked her disciple up and down, her gaze moving from her slightly flushed cheeks to the faint marks on her neck.

Her face gradually darkened.

"Foolish."

The two words, though not heavy, struck Shen Qingyue's heart like a dull thud.

Shen Qingyue's face paled instantly, her lips tightened slightly, and her fingers unconsciously gripped the hem of her clothes.

Alchemist Xuan Yun stopped looking at her and turned his gaze to Wang Mengde.

Those eyes, though not large, were as sharp as two knives.

The next instant, a powerful pressure suddenly emanated from her body, her Peak Qi Refinement aura was so tangible that it pressed down hard on Wang Mengde.

The oppressive aura was as imposing as a mountain. Under such pressure, ordinary cultivators at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement would either turn pale and breathe rapidly, or their knees would buckle and they would collapse to their knees.

But Wang Mengde merely narrowed his eyes slightly.

His body tensed slightly, revealing his fourth-level Body Refinement physique.

His back was ramrod straight, his legs were motionless, his face was normal, and even his breathing was perfectly steady.

Facing that oppressive aura, he bowed respectfully without being servile or arrogant.

"Qingyue and I are mutually in love."

The chill in Alchemist Xuan Yun's eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by a hint of surprise.

She withdrew her oppressive aura and looked Wang Mengde up and down again, her tone tinged with surprise. "You're actually a fourth-level Body Refinement cultivator."

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise appeared in the eyes of both Shen Qingxue and Shen Qingyue.

Body cultivation.

That's a cultivation path that consumes even more resources than spiritual cultivation.

The medicinal herbs, elixirs, and Secret Method required for body tempering are all astronomical in number.

Wang Mengde actually managed to raise his Physical Body Cultivation to the fourth level of Body Refinement?

Shen Qingyue turned to look at Wang Mengde, a hint of pride in her eyes that she herself didn't realize.

Shen Qingxue frowned, looking at her former good-for-nothing ex-husband with a complicated expression, her thoughts unreadable.

Wang Mengde bowed slightly, neither humble nor arrogant. "Senior has keen insight."

Alchemist Xuan Yun looked at him and remained silent for a moment.

Then, a smile actually appeared on her harsh face.

She turned to look at Shen Qingyue, her tone much gentler. "Your lover isn't bad."

Shen Qingyue felt relieved and was about to express her gratitude when she heard her master change the subject.

"However," Alchemist Xuan Yun's smile faded slightly, "That brat Ye Wushuang is narrow-minded and has already seen you as meat in his bowl."

"Knowing that you and your lover are practicing dual cultivation will definitely be detrimental to your lover. Quickly send your lover back, or he won't be able to return."

Shen Qingyue's expression changed slightly, and she subconsciously grabbed Wang Mengde's arm.

Wang Mengde's heart skipped a beat.

Alchemist Xuan Yun stopped looking at Wang Mengde and turned his gaze to Shen Qingxue.

He transmitted his voice, "Go tell Ye Wushuang that Wang Mengde drugged Qingyue and took away her Qingyue pill."

And he was told not to come looking for Qingyue again, and never to mention being drugged in front of Qingyue.