Lu Jing's attempts to sow discord were exactly what Ye Chen had hoped for.

  After listening to Lu Jing, Ye Chen's expression grew increasingly somber.

  Seeing this, Lu Jing felt a surge of joy in her heart.

  However, she quickly put on a self-reproachful look and said, "Did I say too much?"

  "Fellow Daoist Ye, please don't overthink it."

  "Fellow Daoist Lin Ke'er is solely focused on cultivation and only wants to improve her skills. She's not interested in romance at all."

  "Most cultivators are like this; they aren't interested in anyone or anything, only their own cultivation."

  "So even if the team leader's brother is talented, it has nothing to do with her. She won't get involved with him."

  Ye Chen secretly chuckled to himself, realizing that Lu Jing was already hinting at Lin Ke'er's selfishness.

  Lu Jing had a keen eye for people.

  But Ye Chen's expression became even more desote: "Doesn't that mean she wouldn't be interested in me either?"

  Lu Jing secretly praised Ye Chen's perceptiveness.

  This was exactly what she wanted to imply to Ye Chen.

  However, she quickly shook her head and said, "It's not like that. Ke'er sees you differently, Fellow Daoist Ye."

  "You've helped Ke'er so much; she's definitely very grateful to you."

  "If you try a little harder, you might actually succeed."

  Yet, once the seed of doubt was pnted, any normal person would naturally think that Lin Ke'er treated them differently just because they gave her gifts.

  And when they had nothing left to give? Lin Ke'er would undoubtedly abandon them without hesitation.

  And indeed, that was the truth.

  Ye Chen had long seen through it all.

  But his expression still appeared increasingly pained.

  He couldn't sit still any longer and abruptly stood up: "I'm sorry, Fellow Daoist Lu, I'm not feeling well and need to rest..."

  Lu Jing hadn't expected Ye Chen to be so emotional, reacting so strongly after the truth was revealed.

  Her anticipation grew even more.

  Such a devoted lick spirit would soon be hers.

  She immediately put on an understanding look and said with concern, "Then please rest well, Fellow Daoist Lu..."

  "Oh, by the way, I have a low-grade Calming Heart Talisman here. It's the first talisman I ever crafted, and I've kept it as a memento."

  "Seeing that you're troubled, I'll give it to you..."

  This was also one of Lu Jing's tactics.

  Lin Ke'er always accepted benefits and verbally promised to repay but never took any action.

  But Lu Jing? She was not only generous and enthusiastic but also took the initiative to give Ye Chen something.

  Although the Calming Heart Talisman wasn't valuable, it was her first talisman, with significant sentimental value.

  In comparison, the difference was clear.

  It would undoubtedly make Ye Chen even more disappointed in Lin Ke'er.

  And sure enough, seeing the Calming Heart Talisman Lu Jing gave him, Ye Chen was somewhat surprised.

  As if realizing something, he shook his head inwardly.

  Then he took out a small pill bottle from his pocket: "It's impolite not to reciprocate."

  "I'll give you this bottle of pills. It contains ten medium-grade Essence Cultivation Pills."

  Upon hearing this, a hint of delight fshed in Lu Jing's eyes.

  She was all too familiar with this pill bottle.

  For two whole months, Ye Chen had given Lin Ke'er a bottle every week.

  Ten medium-grade Essence Cultivation Pills were worth about one and a half spirit stones.

  Forty pills a month equaled six low-grade spirit stones.

  It was almost the same as her income as an apprentice in a talisman shop.

  So Lu Jing had long been envious.

  This bottle of pills was clearly meant for Lin Ke'er.

  Now, because of his disappointment in Lin Ke'er and the need to reciprocate, he had decided to give it to her instead.

  This indicated that her words had already influenced Ye Chen.

  But Lu Jing didn't pn to accept it; she intended to py the long game.

  She wanted to completely outshine Lin Ke'er, crush her in every way, and take Ye Chen, this little lick spirit, for herself.

  Once Ye Chen belonged entirely to her, wouldn't she have whatever she wanted?

  So she immediately shook her head and said, "That Calming Heart Talisman is my heartfelt gift; no need for a return gift!"

  "Fellow Daoist, I'll take my leave..."

  Ye Chen watched Lu Jing feign indifference to the pills, amused.

  Those who initially refuse gifts usually want more in the future.

  In his past life, many women who wanted to snag rich men would set up this kind of persona.

  But once they felt confident they had you, they'd want to take everything from you.

  However, Ye Chen wasn't buying it at all.

  Giving gifts was serious business for Ye Chen.

  He could skip all the preceding steps and go straight to the gift-giving.

  But the gift-giving part was non-negotiable.

  So Ye Chen earnestly said, "It's no trouble; this is just a batch of pills I casually refined."

  "Compared to that, Fellow Daoist Lu's first time holds much more significance."

  "If you don't accept it, please take back the Calming Heart Talisman as well."

  Lu Jing felt something was off when Ye Chen said this.

  What first time?

  It was her first Calming Heart Talisman, okay?

  But Lu Jing didn't dwell on it.

  Instead, she thought Ye Chen's value was far greater than she had anticipated.

  An alchemist capable of refining medium-grade Essence Cultivation Pills represented a steady stream of wealth.

  Though this wasn't too uncommon.

  Even at the Silver Moon Market, there were many alchemists better than Ye Chen.

  But the problem was, no matter how much other alchemists earned, it was their own money.

  It had nothing to do with her, Lu Jing.

  But Ye Chen?

  He could reciprocate a Calming Heart Talisman with medium-grade Essence Cultivation Pills.

  Such generosity was unique at the Silver Moon Market.

  Lu Jing felt she was about to hit the jackpot.

  ...

  Seeing Ye Chen's firm stance, Lu Jing had no choice but to reluctantly accept the pills, slightly swaying her voluptuous figure as she thanked him, "In that case, I won't be polite. Thank you, Fellow Daoist Ye."

  "I'm currently learning to craft Exorcism Talismans and am close to succeeding. Once I make my first one, I'll give it to you..."

  "After all, it's impolite not to reciprocate."

  Ye Chen nodded at her words.

  But his mood remained low, and he wasn't interested in chatting.

  After a few words, he saw Lu Jing out.

  Leaving the back courtyard of the One Leaf Pill Shop, Lu Jing's face was filled with uncontrolble joy.

  This trip had been incredibly worthwhile.

  She had obtained a bottle of medium-grade Essence Cultivation Pills.

  But the pills were just the beginning.

  Ye Chen had also given Lin Ke'er gifts of magic, external martial arts, and other items valued in medium-grade spirit stones.

  Lu Jing wanted those too, and even more.

  So she made up her mind.

  She had to seize this opportunity while Lin Ke'er was away in the mountains to completely win over Ye Chen, this little lick spirit, and train him to be her exclusive lick spirit.

  In the future, everything Ye Chen had would be given only to her.

  Thinking of this, Lu Jing couldn't help but feel a bit giddy, walking with a spring in her step.

  Because of her exaggerated figure, even simple movements were quite noticeable, drawing attention.

  Many male cultivators couldn't take their eyes off her.

  Lu Jing quickly hurried away.

  It wasn't surprising that Lu Jing was so excited.

  Though she was luckier than Lin Ke'er, having a talent for talisman crafting, it wasn't by much.

  Talisman crafting, one of the Six Arts of Cultivation, had a promising future.

  But for a rogue cultivator like Lu Jing, learning talisman crafting was incredibly costly.

  Rogue cultivators wouldn't teach Lu Jing; otherwise, they'd be training a competitor.

  So she had to go to a shop and sign an apprentice contract.

  In the beginning, she spent five years just handling basic materials, earning only one low-grade spirit stone per month.

  If it weren't for the room and board, Lu Jing wouldn't have survived.

  Now, Lu Jing could make some basic talismans.

  But the talismans she made belonged to the shop, and she still earned a fixed sary, which had only increased to five low-grade spirit stones a month.

  And the apprenticeship contract sted thirty years.

  It was incredibly harsh, almost consuming her entire youth.

  But there was no choice; without learning, there was no future.

  At least learning gave her a skill.

  Most rogue cultivators in this cutthroat cultivation world had no choice.

  They had to jump into the pit, even knowing it was a trap.

  No wonder Lu Jing valued Ye Chen so much.

  After all, having Ye Chen would save her at least thirty years of struggle.

  CPDD