Traditional cultivators believe that elixirs and talismans are mere side tracks, and that only rigorous cultivation constitutes the true path. Yet, throughout history, few have actually achieved transcendence through such cultivation—legend has it that Chang'e ascended after consuming an elixir, and the Marquis of Huai-nan likewise became a deity through the aid of an elixir, even leaving behind the beautiful tale of "one person attains enlightenment, and the chickens and dogs follow suit." Thus, within the cultivation world, despite being dismissed by the founding masters as secondary practices, these elements remain deeply appealing. Talismans enhance spellcasting, while elixirs contribute to cultivation progress—these are undeniable facts. When Lin Caiwei heard Qin Feng mention that he possessed such ancient texts, how could she possibly remain indifferent or unexcited? Yet she still made a concerted effort to keep her expression composed, lowering her voice to say, "The language and style of the texts are rather stiff, and they involve numerous specialized terms—reading them fluently is quite normal. By the way, what exactly does your manuscript contain?" Qin Da made a strong show, but in the end said nothing. He glanced around and said, "This isn't the right place to talk. Let's find a more suitable time and location, how about that?" His suggestion was flawless. Although Lin Nu remained slightly dissatisfied, she couldn't refute it and simply nodded, saying, "Very well. Shall I decide the time and place, or shall you?" Qin Da smiled and replied, "As a newcomer, I'm not yet familiar with which places are safe. I'd rather have you make the decision. The timing can be a bit later—what matters most is safety." "Don't worry, I'll take care of it," Lin Caiwei said seriously. After this exchange, her attitude toward Qin Feng had improved noticeably. She no longer remained indifferent, and whenever their eyes met by chance, she would unexpectedly smile. At noon, Qin Da decided to skip his afternoon classes. After all, it was still self-study in the afternoon. Staying here would be no different from just sitting idle. Why not go home and sleep soundly instead? Moreover, he was clear that before he could present something genuine, his relationship with Lin Caivéi wouldn’t advance any further—nobody was stupid, and no one would truly believe in you just because of a single sentence. It was essential to make good use of the time off from classes, to properly prepare himself. If his guess wasn’t wrong, Lin would arrange to meet him in the evening, and they’d already exchanged phone numbers. As soon as the school bell rang, Qin was the first to rush out of the classroom—being a new student, he certainly didn’t appear at all composed. While they exchanged phone numbers, Lin’s close friend and roommate had been listening intently. As soon as school ended, she turned around and asked, “Wait—is that really it? You’ve given him your number, haven’t you? As far as I know, this is the first time you’ve actively shared your number with a boy!” "There aren't many people in Ping Da Li who know Lin Meiren's phone number—most of them had to rely on various connections to get it. Yet, surprisingly, every single one of them managed to reach her, because the ice-cold beauty had set up call-blocking for spam. Only numbers saved in her phone could get through; all others were automatically rejected. Lin Meiren blushed slightly: "He's new here, you know. He doesn't know anyone at school. As his desk mate, I thought it was only fair to help him out!" Her close friend clearly didn't buy it: "Really?" "Of course! You wouldn't think I've been eyeing him, would you?" Lin Caiwei sniffed. This time, the friend believed her: "I've analyzed your zodiac signs—your personality is one that never believes in instant attraction. By afternoon, I'm going to have a proper chat with Qin Feng to find out how he managed to get my number!" Lin Meiren smiled wryly. Would I really tell you that it was actually I who first asked for his number? Sure enough, upon seeing that he had skipped class in the afternoon, Lin Beauty immediately sent a message: "Come to the small grove in the southeast of the campus at 10:30 p.m.—don’t miss it!" Qin, the young man, was delighted. In most universities, such small groves are traditional spots where couples gather, and 10:30 p.m. is precisely when young people are most affectionate. It was only students like Lin Caiwei—those who had never really explored the grove—that would choose such a location and time. He was certain it would be absolutely delightful. Lin Caiwei felt it was essential to keep the secret completely, and naturally didn’t consult her close friends or roommates, otherwise how could she have made such a basic mistake? At 10 p.m., he set off with a notebook in hand. Twenty-five minutes later, he arrived outside the grove and immediately spotted Lin Caiwei standing a little way off. Wearing a light beige coat dress, she had a yellow silk scarf draped around her neck. Her straight, elegant legs were tucked into pencil pants, and her feet were clad in black short boots. As the "Sorry to have kept you waiting," Qin Feng was as polite as he had been this morning. "It was I who came early," Lin Beauty naturally didn't want to dwell on such minor details. She pointed toward the small grove. "Let's go inside—this place is crowded with people, and it's not convenient!" She had only stood there for three minutes, and already five or six people had passed by, so she suggested moving inside. Outside the grove, one couldn't see what was going on inside. "Alright," Qin, the young nobleman, naturally agreed—he had been eager to watch the beauty make a fool of herself all along. As they walked together, although Lin Caiwei made every effort to maintain some distance between them, they were still moving as a pair, and one meter apart was already the limit. Already, someone had noticed them as soon as they started talking and had been quietly following them. Qin Feng, with his keen sixth sense, sensed someone was tailing them but didn't pay it much attention; Lin Beauty, however, was completely focused on the scroll she was about to study and hadn't noticed at all. "Have you been here before?" he asked with a smile. "How do you know?" Lin Caiwei lifted her head. "I can tell just from how unfamiliar you are with everything here," Qin Feng chuckled. "We don't have to make such a tense atmosphere, do we? It's not like we're doing anything wrong!" Lin Caiwei also felt the atmosphere had become a bit tense, especially since, strictly speaking, she was the one who would benefit—she had a responsibility to make the evening more enjoyable. "I've actually never been here before," she said, suddenly noticing a small pink flower swaying in the wind on the grass, which was otherwise covered with dry leaves. With the intention of brightening the mood, she softly praised, "It's so beautiful—seeing flowers in autumn is quite rare!" "Is it really beautiful?" Qin, the young noble, asked thoughtfully. "Absolutely—it's quite beautiful. Autumn flowers are naturally scarce. I'd like to pick it up," Lin said, and she hurried over, bending down to reach for the flower. Wait a minute—this can't be right. It's actually false. Moreover, it's elastic: the detached "flowers" have transformed into long, hollow strips, ending with a ring-like rubber band at one end and tapering to a nipple-like tip at the other. Lin Caivai, though she'd never eaten pork herself, had certainly seen pigs running—now her face turned deeply crimson, and she stammered, clearly flustered.