Shen Yu held the letter over the flame of a spirit lamp. He watched impassively as the paper curled, blackened, and finally turned to ash, destroying the evidence of his scheduled rendezvous.
He dusted his hands and headed straight for the Herb Hall.
The Shen Clan's primary source of wealth had always been the trade of Spirit Pills and medicinal herbs. This was largely due to Mei Yilan, who was not only a powerful cultivator but also a distinguished Early-Stage Tier 3 Alchemist.
In the cultivation world, "Life Professions" were revered because they provided value that pure martial strength could not. Whether it was an Artifact Master forging swords, a Talisman Master scribing wards, or an Alchemist brewing elixirs, their ranks were strictly classified by the level of cultivator they could assist:
Tier 0: Corresponds to the Body Refining Realm
Tier 1: Corresponds to the Qi Condensation Realm.
Tier 2: Corresponds to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Tier 3: Corresponds to the Golden Core Realm.
Tier 4: Corresponds to the Nascent Soul Realm.
Tier 5: Corresponds to the Spirit Severing Realm.
And further.
Since Mei Yilan could refine pills useful for Golden Core cultivators, her status in the city was unshakeable. However, she had no idea that the "crippled" nephew living under her roof was, in his previous life, a Tier 4 Grandmaster Alchemist, a height reached through sheer willpower and a desperate, centuries-long search for a cure to his own condition.
Shen Yu entered the Herb Hall, his golden eyes scanning the shelves.
He wasn't here to brew a cure, but a weapon.
He needed to prepare a massage oil for Meng Yan. While his Crimson Nectar Touch, the technique that secreted aphrodisiacs through his skin, was potent, using it directly would be suspicious. If Meng Yan felt a strange heat coming solely from his dry fingers, she might suspect a demonic art. But if he used a "special essential oil," any strange sensations could be blamed on the medicinal properties of the mixture.
It was the perfect cover.
He quickly gathered thirty different types of Yang-invigorating and nerve-stimulating herbs.
Carrying the basket, he walked to a secluded stone chamber at the back of the estate, the Furnace Room.
Years ago, seeing the original Shen Yu's depression over his inability to cultivate, Mei Yilan had built this room for him. She had patiently taught him how to make basic mortal concoctions that didn't require Qi fire. To the original Shen Yu, this was a hobby.
To the current Shen Yu, it was a laboratory.
He lit the furnace using mundane charcoal and spirit-wood. Without the ability to manipulate Qi fire yet, he had to rely on manual temperature control.
He began to roast the thirty herbs one by one. It was a tedious, time-consuming process. He had to dry them perfectly to preserve their essence without burning them. He worked with the precision of a machine, his hands moving with a grace that belied the simple task.
By the time he finished roasting the final stalk of Dragon Whisker Grass, night had fallen.
He left the roasted herbs to cool and exited the room, heading to the main dining hall.
Dinner was a warm affair. He sat with Mei Yilan and Lixue, the atmosphere domestic and peaceful.
"Tang Wei," Mei Yilan asked, placing a piece of braised pork in his bowl. "How is your body holding up? I sensed a fluctuation in your energy earlier."
"It is improving rapidly, Aunt Mei," Shen Yu replied. "I checked my meridians before dinner. They are 12% repaired."
Mei Yilan dropped her chopsticks. "Twelve percent? But... it was only nine percent yesterday!"
"The treatment is effective," Shen Yu smiled, though internally, he was calculating.
The jump from 9% to 12% was a 3% increase from their morning session. To Yilan, this was a miracle. To Shen Yu, it was a disappointment.
'It is slowing down,' he noted. 'Lixue's Maiden Yin is gone. Her regular Yin Qi, while pure, lacks the density to fill the abyss of my congenital defect. It is like trying to fill an ocean with a garden hose.'
After dinner, the trio dispersed. However, Shen Yu did not go to a guest room. He walked hand-in-hand with Lixue to her bedroom, which was now their bedroom.
The moment the door closed, the pretense dropped.
Their night was filled with sweat, heat, and unbridled passion. They devoured each other until the moon was high in the sky, Shen Yu circulating the Primordial Yin-Yang Scripture with every thrust, squeezing every drop of essence he could from his devoted wife.
By the time they collapsed, his meridian repair had crawled up to 15%.
The next morning, they woke and immediately engaged in an early morning session, followed by a shared bath where they joined bodies once more.
By the time Lixue dressed to leave for the store with Mei Yilan, Shen Yu checked his body again.
17%.
'Two percent increase for a whole morning's work,' Shen Yu thought, drying his hair. 'The returns are diminishing fast. I need high-grade fuel. I need Meng Yan.'
Once the women were gone, Shen Yu returned to the Furnace Room.
He took the herbs he had roasted the night before and placed them into a jade grinding bowl. He began to crush them, the rhythmic thump-thump-thump of the pestle echoing in the room.
Once the herbs were reduced to a fine, fragrant powder, Shen Yu stopped.
He closed his eyes and activated the Crimson Nectar Touch.
He focused on his fingertips. His blood essence began to burn, transmuting into the potent, clear aphrodisiac fluid.
Drip.
A heavy drop of concentrated pheromones fell onto the powder.
Drip. Drip.
He continued the process, forcing his body to produce more and more of the nectar. After fifty drops, his face turned pale, and his knees buckled. Producing this much essence without a high cultivation base was draining his vitality.
He reached into his robe and pulled out a small jade bottle. He shook out a red pill, a Blood Vitality Pill. It was a common medicine usable by mortals to replenish blood. He swallowed it dry.
Warmth returned to his limbs.
He resumed the process.
He worked for another hour, alternating between dripping his essence and taking pills to stay conscious.
Finally, it was done.
He poured a neutral base oil into the mixture of pheromones and herb powder, stirring it slowly. He let it sit for two hours to marinate, allowing the chemical properties of the herbs to fuse with the magical properties of his blood essence.
When he strained the mixture through a silk cloth, the result was a glistening, amber-colored liquid.
Quantity: 2 Liters.
It was a massive amount.
'This is far stronger than the raw technique,' Shen Yu analyzed, sniffing the oil. 'The herbs will dilate the pores and stimulate the nerves, allowing the pheromones to enter the bloodstream instantly. This isn't just massage oil. It's liquid submission.'
He poured a portion into a small, exquisite jade bottle for tonight and stored the rest in a large jar for future use with Lixue.
Job done, he returned to his room to prepare.
He took a long, thorough shower, scrubbing the smell of smoke and herbs from his skin until he smelled only of fresh soap and masculinity.
He stood before the mirror and dressed with calculated intent.
He chose a set of flowing white robes embroidered with subtle golden lining. The fabric was expensive but not gaudy, giving him an ethereal, scholarly air. With his hair half-tied and his golden eyes shimmering, he didn't look like a cripple or a schemer.
He looked like a Fallen Immortal, handsome, harmless, and utterly captivating.
Shen Yu tucked the jade bottle of oil into his sleeve.
"4:30 PM," he whispered.
It was time for the Matriarch's Massage.