"Of course, I'm serious. Does Junior Brother think I would joke about such a thing?" Chu Mengyou's face was slightly flushed, as if she were speaking to a lover.
Yet, her demeanor showed no hint of shyness or awkwardness.
Seeing her so composed, Li Chuan was still in disbelief.
It was like walking down the street in his past life and suddenly having a famous actress stand in front of him saying, "Want to play with me?"
Oh my god, even if it meant selling everything and going into debt, he had to agree!
After calming himself, Li Chuan asked, "Senior Sister, what do you want?"
If he had exceptional looks or talent, he wouldn't have asked this question.
But he didn't, so what was Chu Mengyou after?
Surely she wasn't just here to do a good deed and help a single junior brother!
Or perhaps she had a thing for older men?
Chu Mengyou didn't immediately answer Li Chuan but instead asked, "Junior Brother, since joining, how many Spirit Stones have you contributed to the sect?"
Li Chuan replied, "Magical Treasures, Secret Manuals, Elixirs, Spirit Herbs, and Spirit Stones, all converted, they total 57,214 spirit stones."
Chu Mengyou's eyes brightened with surprise, "Over 50,000 Spirit Stones, Junior Brother, you're truly extraordinary!"
Anyone joining the Yin-Yang Sect midway had to contribute all their possessions, including the clothes they wore.
But this was just the basic requirement and didn't guarantee entry.
If the contribution didn't meet the standard, one wasn't qualified.
Besides contribution, aptitude was also considered; if one's aptitude was too poor, even a sufficient contribution wouldn't help.
Li Chuan, at his age, was only at the third level of Qi Refining, clearly indicating poor aptitude.
Even his appearance didn't meet the Yin-Yang Sect's standards.
Yet, since he managed to get in, it could only mean his contribution was substantial.
Though Chu Mengyou had guessed this, she was still taken aback by the over 50,000 Spirit Stones.
After all, the standard for those at the tenth level of Qi Refining was only 3,000 Spirit Stones.
As long as one's possessions totaled 3,000 Spirit Stones, along with a certain level of aptitude and appearance, one could join the Yin-Yang Sect.
Of course, Li Chuan wasn't the only exception. Like Su Yaoyue, known as the number one fairy of the Qi Refining Stage, who was forced into a corner while being pursued and only had over 1,000 Spirit Stones, was accepted into the sect because of her stunning beauty.
Li Chuan smiled bitterly, "Having many Spirit Stones is useless now; they no longer belong to me. Over the years, I've ended up like this because of them, a loss outweighing the gain!"
Only now did he understand the saying from his past life: no amount of money is worth more than a healthy body.
He worked himself to the bone, possessing treasures and wealth far beyond his peers, yet in the end, he couldn't exchange them for a higher cultivation realm!
So his efforts seemed like a joke.
Chu Mengyou praised, "Junior Brother, though your aptitude isn't great, being only at the third level of Qi Refining, you look about 70, and to have accumulated so much in just a few decades is quite remarkable."
Li Chuan's face twitched slightly, weakly defending, "Senior Sister, I'm actually only 49. It's just that I've encountered too many dangers, and each time I had to overexert myself, leading to this state."
"Ah!" Chu Mengyou's clear eyes brightened even more, "Then you're even more impressive, accumulating so much in just twenty or thirty years!"
She suddenly stepped forward, coming to Li Chuan's side, her stunning beauty unexpectedly close to his ear, the warm breath causing his heart to flutter.
Li Chuan felt his hand being gently held by a soft hand, then a slender finger slipped between his slightly clenched fingers.
An enticing voice whispered in his ear, "Junior Brother, forming a bond with Senior Sister is simple, just 1,000 Spirit Stones for a day.
Junior Brother, you must have come to the Yin-Yang Sect to break through, but without guidance, it's bound to be difficult. Senior Sister is at the tenth level of Qi Refining, more than capable of guiding you. You can ask me anything you don't understand."
Li Chuan was taken aback, not expecting Chu Mengyou's request to be so straightforward, only requiring Spirit Stones!
And it came with the added service of cultivation guidance!
Li Chuan had been wracking his brain, thinking Chu Mengyou wanted him to do something dangerous.
But then again, apart from the monthly stipend from the sect, he had no savings. Gathering 1,000 Spirit Stones in a short time was indeed risky.
Yet, even if it wasn't easy, he had to find a way.
Not for anything else, but because Chu Mengyou was one of the top ten beauties of the Qi Refining Stage.
He couldn't resist, he just couldn't!
"But Senior Sister, 1,000 Spirit Stones is a bit much," Li Chuan suddenly said.
Chu Mengyou's clear, beautiful eyes widened in disbelief, "You actually don't want to!"
She couldn't believe Li Chuan was haggling over the price.
However, since it concerned the number of times, Li Chuan didn't hesitate, saying, "Senior Sister, I'm not very bright, and one day of teaching might not be enough for me to comprehend, so naturally, I hope Senior Sister can teach me for a few more days."
Chu Mengyou looked at Li Chuan, both amused and exasperated, "Then how much do you suggest?"
Her smile remained pure and beautiful.
Li Chuan: "1,000 Spirit Stones for four days."
Chu Mengyou's face immediately darkened.
Though a few more days wouldn't matter, Li Chuan's offer greatly undervalued her worth.
Li Chuan feared she might get angry and leave, so he quickly added, "Senior Sister should know that for a cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining, saving 1,000 Spirit Stones takes many years.
At the Qi Refining Stage, those with lower realms can't produce that many Spirit Stones, while those with higher realms are preparing for Foundation Establishment.
I doubt Senior Sister can wait several years, so I'll find a way to gather 1,000 Spirit Stones within half a year and come to you."
After hearing Li Chuan's words, Chu Mengyou hesitated only slightly before saying, "1,000 Spirit Stones for two days, that's my bottom line."
Li Chuan smiled, "Deal. I'll come to you once I've saved 500 Spirit Stones, so you can use them as soon as possible."
Chu Mengyou was momentarily stunned, feeling like Li Chuan had outsmarted her.
She widened her eyes slightly, "Why not come to me with 100 Spirit Stones at a time?"
To be honest, Li Chuan was considering just that, but he feared saying it out loud might get him hit by Chu Mengyou, so he planned to go to her once he saved 100 Spirit Stones.
"I'll be waiting for you to come to me. Remember, don't tell anyone about this," Chu Mengyou said as she prepared to leave, but Li Chuan called out, "Wait, Senior Sister."
"What now?" Chu Mengyou crossed her arms, looking as if she was ready to see what trick he was up to.
Li Chuan said, "What you just said to me, Senior Sister, still feels like a dream. I'm afraid you're just teasing me."
"Oh, so what do you want? Surely you don't want to try it now, right?" Chu Mengyou looked at Li Chuan with a half-smile.
Li Chuan's eyelid twitched, almost blurting out that he wouldn't mind.
He said, "Senior Sister, just let me give you a kiss, and I'll know you're not joking."
Chu Mengyou didn't refuse. Instead, she playfully raised her jade-like hand, pointing to her fair face, "Do you want to kiss here or here?"
Her slender hand rested on her soft lips, her face a mix of innocence and allure, making it impossible for Li Chuan to resist. He reached out and cupped her delicate face.
"Of course, the lips."
Li Chuan leaned in.
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan