Chapter 18: Senior Qu’s Cloud Peak Abode

“Senior Brother Su, rest assured. Once these ten years pass, I will certainly vent your anger for you.”

“That woman Qu Rou truly doesn’t know what’s good for her. Being noticed by Senior Brother Su is an honor. With the resources of Senior Brother’s family supporting her, breaking through to the Golden Core stage wouldn’t be difficult at all. To fail to grasp such an opportunity shows she lacks the fortune for it. Senior Brother, there’s no need for you to be upset.”

The conversation among the four men at the neighboring table caught Li Meng’s attention.

Li Meng glanced over the four of them. Foundation Establishment mid-stage, late-stage, early-stage, early-stage.

So that was Su Can?

Li Meng’s gaze paused on an Inner Disciple with an ashen-pale face. His aura was chaotic, a clear sign of depleted vitality and blood essence.

[Name: Su Can] [Age: 157 years] [Luck: 400] [Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Late-Stage] [Aptitude: Dual Spirit Roots (Metal, Wood)] [Affection: 0]

“With luck that low, his hopes of breaking through to Golden Core are probably slim.”

A Foundation Establishment cultivator only had a lifespan of two hundred years. If Su Can didn’t break through to Golden Core soon, his Lifespan Limit would arrive. But breaking through to Golden Core required at least twenty years in Death Seclusion. That meant Su Can had to reach the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment late-stage within twenty years. Otherwise, the possibility of a successful breakthrough was almost zero.

“A mere Qi Condensation eighth layer dares to come to the second floor? An old fossil about to enter the ground, what an eyesore!”

Su Can had noticed Li Meng’s gaze. Having been defeated by Qu Rou and feeling displeased, he needed a punching bag. And Li Meng, this old fossil nearing his end, was undoubtedly the best target.

Su Can let out a cold snort and flicked his sleeve. A torrent of golden Spiritual Power surged forth, sweeping toward Li Meng.

Just as the golden torrent was about to crash into Li Meng, a stream of azure Spiritual Power suddenly swept in from the side, dispersing the golden flood.

“No fighting within the Thousand Treasure Pavilion!”

A weathered voice rang out. The old man guarding the pavilion hadn’t even glanced in their direction from start to finish.

“Senior Brother, don’t cause trouble. I’ve heard the Thousand Treasure Pavilion is backed by a certain Supreme Elder!”

The Inner Disciple beside Su Can hurriedly advised.

Su Can gave Li Meng a cold look. “Old man, don’t let me see you again. Hmph, let’s go!”

Su Can stood up and walked away. The expression on his face could be summed up in two words: “displeased.”

“Li… Senior Brother Li!”

The two Foundation Establishment early-stage Inner Disciples following Su Can looked at Li Meng with stunned expressions. They hadn’t expected the one Senior Brother Su would pick on to be Senior Brother Li.

The two of them bowed with clasped fists, their faces filled with shame. Then they hurried away in embarrassment.

From beginning to end, Li Meng hadn’t uttered a single word. He was merely an Outer Disciple on the verge of decay. Facing a higher-level cultivator, he had to endure any humiliation that came his way.

Li Meng smiled amiably and poured himself another cup of tea.

“Excellent. Another reason to deal with him later. I hope he lives a long life.”

A gentleman’s revenge can wait a century. Reaching Foundation Establishment was urgent, but Li Meng was in no hurry.

“Senior Brother, here is the Mystic Yin Grass you requested. That will be 1,500 spirit stones!”

Soon, the Junior Brother attending him brought over the Mystic Yin Grass. Li Meng stored it away. After paying the spirit stones, he stood up and headed downstairs.

“Senior Brother Li!”

Just as Li Meng stepped out of the Thousand Treasure Pavilion’s main entrance, an Inner Disciple at the Foundation Establishment stage hurried up to him. He bowed toward Li Meng with clasped fists.

Li Meng looked him up and down. He recognized him; he was one of the Foundation Establishment early-stage Inner Disciples who had been following Su Can.

“Senior Brother Li, Senior Brother Su is ruthless and vindictive. He ordered me to keep an eye on you here. After you return to the sect, Senior Brother Li, please avoid going out for some time. I am ashamed for today’s display. My apologies. This Junior Brother takes his leave!”

He came in a hurry and left in a hurry. Just like that, he vanished into the bustling crowd.

Standing outside the Thousand Treasure Pavilion entrance, Li Meng narrowed his eyes and stroked his beard. Then he unhurriedly walked toward the outskirts of the Market City.

This was one benefit of having connections and favors owed.

This Su Can was indeed arrogant and overbearing. He had merely glanced at him a moment too long, and already he’d earned his enmity. How did someone like this even cultivate to Foundation Establishment late-stage? Who knew how many people he had offended within the Inner Sect?

No wonder Senior Qu was unwilling to become his Dao Companion. Becoming that kind of person’s companion would be purely self-degradation.

Joyous Union Sect, Outer Sect. Little Bamboo Peak.

The journey back to Little Bamboo Peak proceeded without incident. After leaving the Market City and flying north on his sword for less than a hundred li, he entered the Joyous Union Sect’s mountain gate territory. Once within sect territory, he didn’t need to worry too much about his personal safety anymore.

While the cultivation world operated on survival of the fittest, the sect maintained a relatively comprehensive system of order. Though sometimes it proved useless, most of the time it functioned well. Situations like those in stories where disciples casually killed each other within the sect absolutely would not occur here. A sect without order wanting to develop and grow strong was a joke. Assassinations or similar plots were fundamentally impossible. The entire sect territory lay within the Divine Sense coverage of the Nascent Soul Ancestors. Nothing that happened within the sect could escape their eyes.

Upon returning to Little Bamboo Peak, Li Meng immediately holed up in his alchemy room. It wasn’t until late morning the next day that he emerged from his room with dark circles under his eyes.

Entering his courtyard, Li Meng soared into the air on his sword and flew away. He first went to the External Affairs Hall located near the main sect hall.

“The Inner Disciple ‘Qu Rou’s’ abode is on Cloud Peak!”

“Many thanks for informing me, Senior!”

Watching Li Meng’s aged figure hurry away, the Deacon Elder in charge of External Affairs shook his head. A mere Outer Sect Qi Condensation disciple actually dared to pay a visit to Senior Sister Qu? That Outer Disciple was clearly nearing his Lifespan Limit. Could he be a relative of Senior Sister Qu? But if he were family, how could he not know where her abode was located?

After leaving the External Affairs Hall near the main hall, Li Meng proceeded toward Inner Sect territory. Compared to the Outer Sect areas, the spiritual energy within Inner Sect territory was noticeably denser.

Flying on his sword among large and small mountain peaks, Li Meng navigated through misty landscapes. Many steep peaks were shrouded in swirling clouds and mist. Those were Maze Formations used by abodes to prevent unauthorized entry. Peaks encircled by mist were generally abodes belonging to Foundation Establishment disciples.

Following directions from an Inner Sect map, Li Meng arrived outside one particularly steep mountain peak.

“Outer Disciple Li Meng pays his respects to Senior Qu!”

Hovering in mid-air on his sword, Li Meng bowed with clasped fists. His aged voice echoed between Heaven and Earth.

Li Meng looked up at the motionless sea of clouds surrounding the peak. He was paying an unsolicited visit here, after all. He didn’t know if Senior Qu would be willing to see him.

“Why is an Outer Disciple appearing here?”

“What? Don’t you have any relatives among Outer Disciples?”

“Senior Sister Qu was injured dueling with Senior Brother Su last night; news spread quickly. How dare he come disturb her now?”

Inner Disciples passing by stopped to watch curiously. Ever since news spread yesterday about Senior Sister Qu being injured during her duel with Senior Brother Su, a steady stream of visitors had come calling. Senior Qu belonged to that group among Inner Disciples considered most likely to achieve a Golden Core breakthrough soon. There were plenty of people wanting to deliver medicines or curry favor.

But all those who came to pay their respects left empty-handed.

“Eh? The Maze Formation opened!”

“I told you! Must be a relative of Senior Qu!”

Just then, movement stirred within the clouds encircling the peak. An opening appeared, forming a pathway leading toward the mountaintop.

Seeing the Maze Formation open, Li Meng flew inward on his sword. Cloud Peak’s Spiritual Energy was far richer than Little Bamboo Peak’s.