Chapter 277

Chapter 277: This Woman Absorbs Too Much! And the Lucky Card!

“Damn!” Meng Changqing cursed for the first time and quickly withdrew his palms.

This woman absorbs too much!

She wasn’t just absorbing the medicinal effects of the pills, even his true energy was being drawn in!

Had he not been vigilant the entire time, guarding against such a possibility, she would have drained him dry, leaving nothing behind!

“Master, good thing you didn’t act on impulse earlier. You’d have ended up a dried husk,” Crimson Sky quipped again.

Meng Changqing didn’t bother refuting. That outcome… might have been possible.

“Mm~” The woman let out a soft, alluring moan, her face gaining a touch of rosy hue.

Thanks to Meng Changqing’s help, her condition had visibly improved, no longer worsening.

Her eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes. At the same time, she became aware of the person behind her.

“Thank you,” she said.

Her voice was cold yet carried an innate sense of nobility and authority — not something she intentionally displayed but rather a result of her long-standing position and identity.

Meng Changqing wasn’t fazed.

As a Royal Path-level cultivator of the human race, practically standing at the pinnacle of the cultivation world, such a demeanor was to be expected.

“It was just a small effort,” he replied with a faint smile.

“I repay kindness. Tell me, what do you want?” The woman turned to face him, but her gaze lingered momentarily on Meng Changqing, appearing slightly stunned.

It wasn’t because of his handsome appearance but rather an inexplicable sense of familiarity she felt, though she couldn’t immediately place it.

“How straightforward,” Meng Changqing thought to himself, surprised by her directness.

There was no beating around the bush — straight to the point. This attitude of hers exuded decisiveness and efficiency.

“Junior doesn’t have any particular desires,” Meng Changqing said, “but I’ve always enjoyed befriending strong individuals, especially someone as exceptional as Senior. May we be friends?”

“Friends?” The woman raised an eyebrow, this time taking a closer look at the young man before her.

She had expected him to ask for resources or treasures, yet his request was merely to be friends?

“Is this setting the stage for a long-term plan?” she mused.

He certainly had foresight and discernment.

“Yes,” Meng Changqing said, still smiling.

“I suggest you choose something more realistic,” the woman replied coldly. “Being friends with me is just a verbal agreement at best. It holds no real meaning.”

Despite her words and the lingering pressure of her Royal Path-level aura, Meng Changqing remained unaffected, thanks to his Unyielding Will.

“Senior only needs to agree. All I ask is that verbal acknowledgment,” he responded with a calm grin.

The woman was even more intrigued.

She had made it clear, yet this young man remained insistent, even stating that a verbal promise was enough.

How peculiar.

“Fine. If you insist, I’ll agree,” she said at last.

Ding!

【Successfully added Feng Laiyi as a friend!】

【Current favorability: One Star!】

【Attributes selectable!】

【Bonus triggered: Lucky Card x1!】

The system’s voice echoed in Meng Changqing’s mind, momentarily startling him.

A Lucky Card?

This was a new reward. Though based on the name, it seemed self-explanatory: something to enhance luck.

Curious, he asked, “What’s the effect of the Lucky Card?”

【Using the Lucky Card increases your luck tenfold for one hour!】

The system explained.

Hearing this, Meng Changqing’s eyes lit up.

This was a fantastic item.

After receiving the Heavenly Dao’s blessing, his fortune was already comparable to that of a fated protagonist. With the Lucky Card’s boost, it would be extraordinary.

Anything he wished for might just fall into his lap!

“Impressive,” he murmured, nodding to himself.

This item had to be saved for a critical moment. Wasting it casually would be foolish.

It also reaffirmed the value of befriending someone of her stature. Had he left her behind earlier, he’d have missed out on such a significant bonus.

“What are Senior’s plans now?” Meng Changqing asked, redirecting his focus.

“Is that your way of asking me to leave?” the woman questioned, glancing at him.

“Not at all,” he replied calmly. “However, I’m heading to the Black-White Academy. If our destinations don’t align, I’d hate to delay Senior’s journey.”

Meng Changqing’s words were steady and composed, neither submissive nor overbearing.

From their brief interaction, he had gauged much of her character. He knew that raising her favorability would be challenging, so he decided to leave it be for now.

After all, he still had two Attribute Acquisition Cards in hand. If he ever needed something specific, he could use those instead. They weren’t affected by favorability.

“The Black-White Academy, is it?” the woman murmured, seemingly lost in thought. “Help me with something.”

“Will it take long?” he asked.

“A bit,” she admitted.

“Then I won’t help.”

The woman was momentarily speechless. “Aren’t we friends?”

“Just verbally,” he replied.

She took a deep breath.

Well, that response backfired on her.

“Rest assured, it’ll be worth your while,” she said, relenting slightly.

“Details first,” Meng Changqing replied curtly.

Having already added her as a friend, he saw no need to act overly eager. Winning her over as a close ally would take time and effort anyway, so there was no point in overextending now.

“Escort me to a specific place,” the woman explained. “It’s not dangerous. It’s not difficult. The reward will be generous. And I’m being completely honest.”

She enunciated each sentence clearly, her gaze fixed on him.

“Swear on it,” Meng Changqing demanded, the Void Mirror discreetly appearing in his hand, hidden beneath his sleeve.

While it wasn’t strictly necessary, as the mirror’s built-in detection would automatically activate in the face of overwhelming danger, holding it gave him peace of mind, especially when dealing with a Royal-level cultivator, even one in a weakened state.

“I swear,” she said with a sigh.

A moment ago, he was so eager to help, yet now he treated her like a potential threat. How did becoming “friends” actually worsen his attitude?

“What can you offer me in return?” Meng Changqing asked after some thought.

“What do you want?” she asked in a calmer tone, her stance softening as she had a favor to request.

“Do you have any spiritual items capable of repairing root bones?”

The woman’s eyes flickered with surprise.

“Your bones are damaged?”

“Not mine,” Meng Changqing clarified. “It’s for an elder of mine. Well… sort of an elder.”

His thoughts turned to his aunt. Though three years wasn’t a long time for a Marquis-level cultivator, it held significant meaning for her.

The sooner he could obtain a cure, the better.

“You’re in luck,” the woman said. “I happen to have two stalks of Ten-Thousand-Year Weeping Blood Branches from the Demon Abyss. They can repair innate bones and even rebuild physical bodies.”

Hearing this, Meng Changqing felt a wave of emotion.

Was this the effect of his extraordinary fortune?

He’d encountered someone who just so happened to possess exactly what he needed — and in just the right quantity to help both his aunt and Senior Brother Yun!

At this moment, Meng Changqing was reminded of Bai Suxi’s words: this is the blessing of destiny.