Translator: CinderTL
Meng Lengyu led Song Wen to a wooden table and sat down.
"Fellow Daoist Gou Jun, my child has a fondness for the Pill Refinement Technique, but his talent in the Dao of Alchemy is mediocre. I apologize for the trouble."
Meng Lengyu's words were polite, but the frost on her face remained as unyielding as it had been for ten thousand years.
Song Wen replied, "Fellow Daoist Meng, you're being too modest. Little Friend Meng's cultivation talent is exceptional, and he is cautious in his actions. Coupled with your meticulous guidance, I believe that in time, he will undoubtedly become one of the leading young cultivators in the Chaotic Sea, bringing glory to your sect."
"You flatter him too much," Meng Lengyu said, her tone sincere rather than merely polite. "Cao is stubborn and fixated on the Pill Refinement Technique, wasting a great deal of time on alchemy, which does nothing to benefit his cultivation."
At that moment, Meng Cao suddenly interrupted.
"Mother, how can you belittle your own child like that?"
Meng Lengyu turned her head and gave him a cold glare.
"Get out! This is a private conversation between Fellow Daoist Gou Jun and me. You have no right to interrupt!"
"Fine, I'll leave!" Meng Cao muttered under his breath as he walked toward the door.
Meng Lengyu watched her son's retreating back, her eyes filled with a mixture of affection and worry.
Once Meng Cao had left the secret chamber and the stone door had closed, Meng Lengyu reverted to her previous icy demeanor.
Seeing this, Song Wen thought to himself that this woman was indeed difficult to approach.
He took the initiative to start a conversation, asking, "I've known Little Friend Meng for a month now. I've heard him mention you several times, Fellow Daoist, but he's never mentioned your husband. May I ask who he is?"
Meng Lengyu replied, "His father is dead."
"Fellow Daoist, my condolences," Song Wen said.
Meng Lengyu responded, "There's nothing to mourn. Though that man was Cao'er's father, he wasn't my husband. He was just a mortal from Sheep Island, a tool I used to conceive a child."
Song Wen was slightly taken aback, feeling somewhat surprised. But then Meng Lengyu continued, "As cultivators, especially those of us on the demonic path, it's rare to find a true companion to confide in. And since I wanted to continue my bloodline, I had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure."
Song Wen clasped his hands in a respectful bow. "Fellow Daoist Meng, your decisiveness is admirable. This is a private matter, and I shouldn't have pried so casually. I apologize for my intrusion."
Meng Lengyu said, "This matter is common knowledge within our sect. There's no secret to it. Besides..."
Her tone shifted, and she continued, "Fellow Daoist Gou Jun, just state your purpose for coming here!"
Song Wen said with a smile, "I came here solely to pay my respects to Fellow Daoist. I have no other intentions."
Meng Lengyu's lips curled into a cold smile.
"I have my own judgment regarding my child's talent for pill refinement. For a Late Golden Core cultivator like you to waste your time personally teaching him the Pill Refinement Technique... I don't believe you have no ulterior motive."
A slightly awkward smile appeared on Song Wen's face.
"As expected, nothing escapes Fellow Daoist's discerning eyes. I did come to seek your guidance on a matter."
"Feel free to speak your mind," Meng Lengyu said.
Song Wen replied, "I cultivate a special Cultivation Technique that requires the Bone-Melting Vine. I was wondering if Zhenbao Hall might have any."
The Bone-Melting Vine and the Dead Man's Vine of the Tianyuan Continent are actually the same plant.
While Song Wen still had a considerable supply of Spirit Herbs for refining the Blood Demon Pill, he naturally preferred to be prepared. Upon arriving in Four Symbols City of the Liangyi Sect, he had already begun inquiring about the Spirit Herbs needed to refine the Corpse Demon Pill.
Unlike the Tianyuan Continent, the major sects of the Chaotic Sea were not overly protective of their cultivation resources.
As a result, Song Wen had quickly gathered most of the Spirit Herbs listed in the Pill Formula. For those unique to the Tianyuan Continent, he had found suitable substitutes.
The Bone-Melting Vine was the only ingredient Song Wen had been unable to find.
After joining the Wu Ji Sect, he had once visited the Zhenbao Hall alone to inquire about it.
However, the steward who received him had never even heard of the Bone-Melting Vine, let alone offered to trade it.
Yet, the Wu Ji Sect was the most powerful Corpse Dao force in the Chaotic Sea, and the Bone-Melting Vine was a Corpse Dao spirit herb. Song Wen naturally didn't believe the sect didn't possess it.
He suspected the steward's low status prevented him from accessing such a treasure.
That's why Song Wen had been so enthusiastic upon learning that Meng Cao was Meng Lengyu's son.
Meng Lengyu said, "The Zhenbao Hall does have Bone-Melting Vine. However, this spirit herb is quite expensive. I wonder if you can afford it?"
Song Wen replied, "For the sake of cultivating this technique, I'll have to grit my teeth and buy some, no matter the cost. How much would a vine over two hundred years old cost?"
Meng Lengyu said, "A vine over two hundred years old costs ten High-Grade Spirit Stones per foot."
Song Wen frowned slightly at this.
Ten High-Grade Spirit Stones per foot.
That price was exorbitant.
Truly, a rare commodity was worth its weight in gold.
Each batch of Blood Demon Pills required one foot of Bone-Melting Vine.
This meant that Song Wen's monthly salary wasn't even enough to refine a single batch of Blood Demon Pills. After all, refining Blood Demon Pills required numerous Spirit Herbs, not just the Bone-Melting Vine.
Song Wen couldn't help but miss the Asura Sect. Back then, he never had to worry about cultivation resources.
He had originally possessed a complete Bone-Melting Vine, but it was planted on Qingluo Mountain. When he fled, he hadn't had time to return and harvest it.
"Fellow Daoist Meng, this price is a bit too steep, isn't it?" Song Wen said.
Meng Lengyu replied, "Fellow Daoist Gou Jun, this price was set by the Demon Sovereign himself. I wouldn't dare change it without authorization. Moreover, a rare spiritual object like the Bone-Melting Vine is rarely offered for sale by the sect, except in trades with other major powers. Even within the sect, only Golden Core elders are eligible to purchase it. There's no chance anyone else could buy even an inch from the sect."
Song Wen's face contorted with pain. After a long moment of hesitation, he finally produced twenty High-Grade Spirit Stones.
"Then I'll buy two feet for now."
Meng Lengyu watched the Spirit Stones float through the air. "Fellow Daoist, you're truly generous."
After receiving the Spirit Stones, she retrieved two jade boxes and tossed them to Song Wen.
After inspecting the Bone-Melting Vine in the jade box, Song Wen put it away.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Meng. I won't trouble you further. Farewell."
Meng Lengyu nodded slightly, saying nothing more.
She formed two magic seals, preparing to dispel the Restriction on the stone door of the cultivation chamber for Song Wen.
Just as Song Wen was about to reach the door, he suddenly stopped, turned back, and asked, "I wonder if Zhenbao Hall has any Corpse Fiend Essence?"
"Corpse Fiend Essence!"
A sharp glint flashed in Meng Lengyu's eyes, her gaze a mixture of suspicion and doubt.
"Fellow Daoist Gou Jun, you're only at the Late Golden Core stage, even weaker than me. Why are you asking about Corpse Fiend Essence?"
Corpse Fiend Essence is the essence of Corpse Fiend Qi, the ultimate ingredient for crafting Corpse Puppets. Even among Fourth-Tier spiritual objects, it's incredibly rare. Its most common use is in the creation of Fourth-Rank Corpse Puppets.
When Song Wen first requested to purchase the Fourth-Tier Spirit Herb, the Bone-Melting Vine, Meng Lengyu had already grown suspicious. However, Song Wen claimed he needed it to cultivate a secret technique, a matter of personal privacy that Meng Lengyu didn't press further.
Now, Song Wen's inquiry about Corpse Fiend Essence deepened her suspicions.
(End of the Chapter)
---
📖Read (RDC) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c1072. [+2]
🔑Early Access at $5.
✍Translated (6) Series, (4.1K+) Chapters, (5.8M+) Words.