The Oldest Disciple: Farming Intimacy to Become Immortal

Chapter 268: Outer Sea Jiang Family

Men and women crowded the ship’s railing, their curious gazes fixed on the island emerging from the sea mist.

Meanwhile, in a mid-level cabin of the pavilion, Li Meng lifted Qi Wei’s small frame onto the windowsill. The clamor outside had disturbed them, signaling the end of their Secluded Cultivation.

“Senior Brother, is that Sleeping Dragon Island?”

From their elevated vantage point, the entire island sprawled before them. Li Meng gazed out at the approaching landmass. He had never visited Sleeping Dragon Island and knew nothing of its layout. He reached out, gently ruffling his Junior Sister’s hair.

“Junior Sister, your Senior Brother is just as clueless about this place as you are,” he chuckled.

Qi Wei pursed her lips into a smile and hugged his arm. “I was just asking, Senior Brother!”

“Master, this concubine actually knows a little about Sleeping Dragon Island!” The Five Elements Ring on Li Meng’s wrist pulsed with a faint spiritual light. The sudden Divine Sense transmission from the Dragon Spirit made Li Meng raise an eyebrow.

“Tell me everything you know,” he replied inwardly.

“Legend states that Sleeping Dragon Island is where a true dragon Perished. Whether that is true or false remains unknown, but the island undeniably possesses incredibly dense true dragon Luck. As a member of the flood dragon lineage, this concubine is highly sensitive to it. There is no mistake. I can already sense the Luck here; it is so thick it borders on physical manifestation.

You need not waste effort studying it, Master. Thousands of years ago, a group of demon-hunting Cultivators discovered this place. Recognizing its abundant spiritual essence, they claimed it, named it ‘Sleeping Dragon Island,’ and slowly established a local power. This is the origin of the Outer Sea Jiang Family.

The island is merely a temporary stopover for you. Compared to the major Sects of the Tianlan Continent, the Jiang Family’s strength is completely negligible. As long as you do not actively provoke them, you can ignore the local Cultivators entirely.”

Outer Sea Jiang Family? Li Meng immediately thought of Senior Sister Jiang Ping.

Surely, there was no connection. ‘Jiang’ was a common surname on the Tianlan Continent. If she hailed from the Outer Sea Jiang Family, she never would have traveled all the way to the State of Zhao to join the Joyous Union Sect. The distance was simply too vast.

“Senior Brother? What are you daydreaming about?” Seeing him staring blankly out the window, Qi Wei tugged on his sleeve.

Li Meng looked down at her, his signature serene smile returning. “In a little while, I’ll take you for a stroll through the Market City.”

“How do you know there’s a Market City down there?”

Li Meng raised his wrist, letting the Five Elements Ring catch the light. “The Dragon Spirit told me.”

Qi Wei eyed the ring. She knew, of course, that he had subdued a flood dragon spirit during the inner sect competition and refined it into the ring’s artifact spirit.

“Oh! When are we going?”

Li Meng patted her head again. “Patience. We should be stationed here for a while.”

They could visit the Market City whenever they pleased. But now that he was out of Secluded Cultivation, there were a few people he needed to see. Senior Wen Huanhuan was at the top of the list. He had finally managed to fully conquer her, but a woman with her volatile personality might very well be the first target whose Affection reached maximum value only to plummet if neglected.

The massive Tongtian Spirit Boat did not dock directly at the island. Instead, it dropped anchor on the sea surface roughly ten miles out.

Looking toward Dragon Head Bay, dozens of ferries of varying sizes dotted the water. Each vessel flew a distinct banner, representing the major Sects of the Tianlan Continent and various prominent Cultivation families.

“Disciples aboard may disembark and visit the Market City for leisure. Remember: do not stir up trouble!” a hoarse, authoritative voice suddenly echoed from the upper echelons of the pavilion.

Joy washed over the Joyous Union Sect disciples gathered on the deck. Moving as one, they bowed deeply toward the upper floors. “Yes, Ancestor!”

Dragon Head Bay and its bustling Market City were tantalizingly close. Being forced to stare at it from afar without stepping ashore would have been absolute torture.

“Senior Sister, would you do me the honor of accompanying me for a stroll ashore?” Across the deck, disciples eagerly extended invitations to the objects of their affections.

Soon, pairs of men and women leapt from the deck. Skimming just above the rolling waves, they rode the wind toward the island.

By the ship’s railing, Su Meng shot a dark glance up at the pavilion’s upper levels. A cold scoff escaped his lips, a flicker of morbid pity flashing in his eyes.

What a pitiful fool. The moment you set foot on this ship, your life ceased to be your own. Without another word, Su Meng launched himself from the deck, riding the wind toward the Market City. Four of the five major Sects from the State of Zhao had already gathered. Su Meng easily spotted the distinctive vessels of Giant Sword Mountain, Jinshan Temple, and Thousand Crane Valley. Only the Qingxu Sect’s ferry was conspicuously absent.

Deep within the pavilion’s upper corridors, Li Meng strolled unhurriedly. Just as he rounded a corner, a soft, graceful figure slammed directly into his chest.

“Ah! I’m sorry, I…”

A deeply familiar, alluring fragrance drifted to his nose. Jiang Ping scrambled backward, hastily cupping her hands in a flustered salute.

“Careful, Senior Sister. What could possibly have you in such a rush?”

The smooth, unbothered voice made Jiang Ping freeze. She snapped her head up, shock washing over her features. “Li… Junior Brother Li?”

Li Meng chuckled, maintaining his serene facade. “The very same.”

Jiang Ping let out a soft breath of laughter, a faint flush warming her cheeks. A natural, sultry charm danced in her eyes as she reached up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I didn’t expect to run into you here, Junior Brother. What a coincidence.”

Li Meng’s gaze swept over her in a slow, appraising manner. “It seems you’ve successfully resolved that troublesome little ailment of yours.”

The last time he had seen her—right before entering Secluded Cultivation—her aura had been utterly chaotic. Her yin energy had been leaking dangerously, showing clear signs of fundamental vitality damage. Now, her aura was perfectly contained. While her yin energy was still slightly deficient, the fatal crisis had passed.

A bitter smile touched Jiang Ping’s lips. “More or less. Thanks entirely to the Pills you gave me. Without them, I never would have recovered so quickly.”

Genuine gratitude softened her features. If she had been forced to rely solely on meditation to regulate her breath, it would have taken her years—perhaps decades—to undo the damage. She bowed deeply once more. “Thank you, Junior Brother.”

Li Meng chuckled dismissively, waving a hand. “You’re too polite, Senior Sister. Just take better care of yourself moving forward. Do not risk your own Great Dao for fleeting gains again.”

Jiang Ping stared at the man before her, a tempest of complex emotions churning in her chest. She had never met anyone like Li Meng. Did people who handed out supreme treasures with zero expectation of a Return truly exist? Or was he playing a much longer, deeper game?

But what could he possibly want from her? By Cultivation standards, her looks were merely above average. True, her mastery of Charm Techniques made her highly coveted as a Dual Cultivation Dao Companion among the ordinary male disciples. But a man like Li Meng? Did he lack beautiful women? Absolutely not.

During the inner sect competition, he had been surrounded by women of peerless beauty and terrifying talent. In both status and raw physical allure, she couldn’t even begin to compare to them. She possessed absolutely nothing worthy of a grand scheme.

Submitting to her own perceived inferiority, Jiang Ping bowed respectfully once more. “Yes. I will carve your words into my heart.”