The Oldest Disciple: Farming Intimacy to Become Immortal

Chapter 224: Discussing the Dao Over Tea with Senior Sister Liu

She had miscalculated. She had severely underestimated him.

Aside from a momentary flicker of appreciation upon first seeing her true appearance, his heart had remained as calm as a stagnant well. He treated her peerless beauty as if it were nothing more than a passing cloud.

“Senior Sister, why must you be like this?”

A Divine Sense transmission echoed in the mind of the Old Matron, Liu Ruyan. It was Nangong Wan.

“If you treat him with sincerity, he will return that sincerity ten-fold. But if you regard him as a chess piece, you will only forge a formidable enemy. My grand-disciple is a free spirit—carefree about life, death, and even women. But precisely because of this detachment, his loyalty is precious. If you could become someone he truly trusts, he wouldn’t frown even if he had to die for you. Why must you walk a path of no return?”

Liu Ruyan sighed softly, her gaze lost in the sea of clouds.

Does such a man truly exist in this cultivation world?

Junior Sister Nangong had observed Li Meng far longer than she had. Perhaps Nangong was right.

“Junior Sister,” Liu Ruyan transmitted back, her voice weary. “I was wrong. I was too impatient.”

“Your logic is sound—as a woman, using one’s vessel is a natural advantage,” Nangong Wan replied, her tone gentle but firm. “But remember: going too far is as bad as not going far enough. Being overly utilitarian will only provoke my grand-disciple’s aversion.”

Masked Moon Peak, Joyous Union Sect

On the viewing platform, Nangong Wan sat by the tea table and let out a long sigh.

Senior Sister actually thought of targeting a Junior…

With the return to the Upper Sect imminent, Liu Ruyan was truly anxious. If she didn’t care about her own preservation, why would she—a dignified Supreme Elder—hide in this spiritual wasteland of the Tianlan Continent for so long?

Nangong Wan shook her head.

Women have never been my grand-disciple’s weakness.

One shouldn’t be fooled by his lazy demeanor or his feigned lecherousness. He seemed indifferent to most things, but people like him often harbored the most extreme personalities. Once provoked, or once betrayed, it would become a fight to the death.

Above the Clouds, The Heaven-Reaching Spirit Boat

Life on the boat was somewhat dull.

Even the most magnificent sea of clouds became tiresome after staring at it for days on end. Once the novelty wore off, there was little to do but meditate in one’s room.

Knock, knock, knock.

On this particular day, a rhythmic knocking broke the silence of Li Meng’s quarters.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Li Meng opened his eyes.

The aura emanating from the person outside was unfamiliar—it certainly wasn’t one of his Junior Sisters.

He rose from the bed and walked to the door.

Click.

The door opened to reveal a woman in a pristine white robe. She wore a gentle, graceful smile that seemed practiced yet inviting.

It was Liu Ruyu.

“Junior Brother, am I disturbing you?”

Li Meng stepped aside, gesturing for her to enter. Since he had promised the Ancestor to look after her, he naturally wouldn’t turn her away.

“Senior Sister Liu, please.”

Liu Ruyu entered with a soft rustle of silk.

Click. The door closed behind them.

They sat facing each other at the tea table. Li Meng picked up the teapot, the steam curling between them as he poured a cup for her.

“Senior Sister,” Li Meng began, his tone casual. “You should know the three essential elements for an Alchemist, correct?”

Liu Ruyu nodded lightly, lifting the teacup with elegant fingers.

“Spiritual Power, Mental State, and Soul Strength.”

Li Meng raised his own cup, taking a slow sip as his gaze swept over her.

[Name: Liu Ruyu] [Age: 66] [Luck: 2500] [Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Middle Stage] [Aptitude: Fire Spirit Root (Heavenly)] [Favorability: 0]

“Senior Sister possesses a Heavenly Spirit Root,” Li Meng observed. “Although cultivators with such aptitude progress rapidly, their spiritual power tends to be less dense if not tempered correctly. Since you have embarked on the Path of Alchemy, you should be cultivating a technique that builds a vast, deep reservoir of mana. Why did you choose a technique that prioritizes speed over substance?”

Her aura was faint—too airy. It indicated she practiced a ‘quick-success’ method. While the speed of advancement was astonishing, the foundation was brittle. It was like an embroidered pillow: beautiful on the outside, but hollow and easily punctured.

“Alchemists need to refine pills in one continuous, uninterrupted flow,” Li Meng continued, his voice taking on a lecturing cadence. “Insufficient spiritual power leads to instability and failure. A deep reservoir is the first requirement. Furthermore, a powerful Soul is critical for controlling the flame and the fusion. Senior Sister, have you ever cultivated a Soul Refining Art?”

Liu Ruyu lowered her gaze, nodding slightly.

“The results were minimal,” she admitted with a soft sigh, placing her cup down. “It is notoriously difficult to cultivate.”

She looked up at him, her expression tinged with helplessness.

“Junior Brother, I understand these principles. It is not that I ignore the importance of a solid foundation, but I have no choice. I must form my Golden Core as soon as possible. The Path of Alchemy… it has to be put on hold. I plan to switch to a more stable technique after I form the Core.”

Li Meng’s face showed understanding.

The “Three Essentials” were common knowledge. There was no reason a talent like her wouldn’t know them. Clearly, external factors—perhaps pressure from her clan or Master—were forcing her to rush.

He chuckled and set down his cup.

“In that case, I can only discuss the Dao with Senior Sister Liu on a theoretical level. Just empty talk on paper.”

Liu Ruyu smiled gently, her beautiful eyes fixing on him.

“Junior Brother, please give me your guidance.”

For the rest of the day, the room was filled with the aroma of tea and the murmur of discussion. Both were Alchemists, and despite her rushed foundation, Liu Ruyu was knowledgeable. With her company, the monotony of the voyage became bearable.

A few days later, the Heaven-Reaching Spirit Boat had left the Sect’s territory and was flying southwest.

In Li Meng’s room, Qi Wei lay draped over the windowsill, bored out of her mind as she watched the passing clouds.

Behind her, Li Meng was chatting happily with Liu Ruyu again.

Listening to Liu Ruyu’s soft, gentle voice, Qi Wei pouted. The Senior Sister Liu in her memories wasn’t like this. She was usually cold, maintaining a polite but icy distance from everyone. Why was she so different in front of Senior Brother?

“Senior Brother,” Liu Ruyu asked, frowning at a parchment on the table. “Where did this pill formula come from? Why is it different from the standard recording? It lacks several medicinal herbs and includes common substitutes.”

Li Meng chuckled, stroking his beard.

“Senior Sister, the medicinal effects of many spiritual plants overlap, differing only in potency or elemental alignment. The distinction between a high-level Alchemist and a low-level one lies in the formula itself. A novice follows the recipe; a master rewrites it. By understanding the fundamental nature of the herbs, one can optimize the formula—lowering the cost while maintaining, or even enhancing, the efficacy.”

Liu Ruyu stared blankly at the paper in her hand.

Optimize the formula? Create unique recipes?

A flicker of genuine astonishment passed through her eyes.

Could it be that Junior Brother Li had already reached that stage?

He was only at the Early Foundation Establishment stage. In the grand world of Alchemy, he should be considered a novice. Yet, he spoke of rewriting the laws of medicinal fusion with the casual confidence of a Grandmaster.

She recalled what her Master had told her: Li Meng’s talent in the Alchemy Path is monstrous. Even in the Upper Continent, he would be a dazzling prodigy.

A trace of bitterness tugged at the corner of Liu Ruyu’s mouth.

“Junior Brother’s talent… is truly breathtaking.”

Li Meng picked up the teapot and poured her another cup, the amber liquid swirling perfectly in the porcelain.

“Senior Sister, how many true geniuses exist in this world?”

He looked at her, his expression turning serious.

“The effort behind the genius is what people overlook. As the saying goes, where there is a will, there is a way. Do not let the achievements of others shake your mental state. We cultivators have many fellow travelers on this road, but how many can climb to the peak? Regardless of aptitude, as long as one possesses an unwavering Dao Heart, the future is never set in stone.”