The Oldest Disciple: Farming Intimacy to Become Immortal

Chapter 193: Senior Sister Leng Returns

Zhang Tianhua turned and walked out of the courtyard.

Her steps were light, her posture effortlessly graceful. The subtle sway of her slender waist was faintly visible beneath the folds of her white Daoist robe. Rising into the air, she rode the wind, flying away like a celestial maiden soaring through the heavens.

“Senior Brother, I shall return to Masked Moon Peak as well!” Yao Ning announced, standing up.

When she practiced her martial stances and fist techniques, she required the violent force of heavenly thunder to temper her body. The deafening rumbles would easily disturb her Senior Brother’s peace.

She waved a hand toward him. “Senior Brother, I’m leaving!”

Riding the wind, Yao Ning summoned her flying sword. Her heroic and graceful figure swiftly disappeared into the distance under Li Meng’s tranquil gaze.

With both Junior Sisters gone, Moon Gaze Peak returned to a state of quiet desolation.

Li Meng flicked his sleeve, casually sweeping the porcelain tea set into his Storage Bag. He turned and strolled toward the pavilion’s main door.

Click. He pushed the door open and stepped inside, heading straight for the artifact refining room.

At the center of the chamber, the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul-Nurturing Wood was still suspended within the scorching heat of the Five Elements Li-Fire Array.

“It seems it will still take another two or three years,” Li Meng murmured.

Standing at the threshold, a rare flicker of heartache passed through his usually indifferent eyes. Powering the Five Elements Li-Fire Array required an astronomical amount of Spiritual Power. To fully refine the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul-Nurturing Wood, the array would burn through no fewer than 100,000 Spirit Stones.

“Artifact refining truly burns through wealth.”

Despite the complaint, Li Meng’s expression remained calm. He flicked his sleeve, and a torrent of Spirit Stones clattered out from the Sword Nurturing Gourd at his waist. The stones flew through the air like a glittering river, embedding themselves directly into the five Formation Cores.

Having suppressed the array’s depletion with sheer opulence, Li Meng turned and left the room.

Back in the pavilion’s study, he sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion. His Divine Sense slipped inside the Sword Nurturing Gourd.

What a pity. If I had Demon Beast skeletons of Level 5 or higher, I could refine a few Dharma Treasures for protection. Although Foundation Establishment cultivators found it incredibly difficult to wield true Dharma Treasures, Li Meng was different. With his immense Spiritual Power reserves and terrifyingly strong Divine Sense, control was not an issue. Even if he couldn’t manipulate them as effortlessly as a Golden Core cultivator, he could still force them to obey.

Forget it. Zenith Artifacts are more than enough for now. Refining Dharma Treasures was no easy task. The material requirements were exorbitant; mere Demon Beast skeletons were insufficient without the addition of ultra-rare Five Elements metals.

Magical Artifacts were essentially consumables, easily damaged in high-level battles. Dharma Treasures, on the other hand, were indestructible. Even a Nascent Soul monster could not easily shatter one.

Should I refine another Five Elements Ring? He still had a massive haul of Demon Beast skeletons from the Storage Bag gifted by the Yellow Sand King. That demon had ruled the Western Desert for centuries, slaughtering countless Level 3 and 4 Demon Beasts. With nearly 100 skeletons at his disposal, Li Meng could easily mass-produce dozens of Zenith Artifacts.

I’ll refine two more Five Elements Rings then. Junior Sister Hua was currently in Secluded Cultivation, on the very verge of Foundation Establishment. She possessed a three-attribute Spirit Root of Wood, Water, and Earth. This meant she could inscribe Dao pattern divine abilities corresponding to those three elements, while using Metal and Fire for auxiliary support. A specialized Five Elements Ring would allow her to unleash five distinct Dao patterns at once.

Li Meng flicked his sleeve.

Five golden array talismans shot out from his cuff. Immediately after, a swarm of Demon Beast skeletons flew out from the Sword Nurturing Gourd, hovering in the air before him.

His fingers blurred into a one-handed seal.

The talismans slammed onto the floor, erupting with brilliant, five-colored Spiritual Power. In a heartbeat, they linked together, outlining a complex formation. The Five Elements Li-Fire surged from the cores, forming colossal pillars of multicolored flame that completely engulfed the beast skeletons.

Li Meng exhaled a mouthful of turbid air, closed his eyes, and entered meditation.

Half a year later. Moon Gaze Peak.

The mists guarding the peak swirled as a streak of sword light shot through the opened passage.

Leng Yixue descended, landing lightly in the courtyard in front of the pavilion.

The area beside the stone tea table was empty. The reclining chair sat vacant.

Looking visibly exhausted, Leng Yixue glanced toward the pavilion. Her Divine Sense swept the building—there were only two people inside. Her Master, Senior Leng, was on the upper floor, while Junior Brother Li was on the lower floor.

Intense waves of Spiritual Power were radiating from Li Meng’s room.

Riding the wind, Leng Yixue floated upward. A second-floor window opened with a bang, and she slipped inside.

Landing silently, she immediately checked the wooden bathtub.

Her Master’s complexion had recovered significantly. Her cheeks were rosy, and her breathing had stabilized.

Relieved, Leng Yixue walked over to the bed, sat cross-legged, and began meditating to regulate her own chaotic breathing.

At the exact same moment, in the first-floor study.

Li Meng opened his eyes on the meditation cushion.

Senior Sister Leng has returned? He looked up at the Five Elements Ring, which was just now taking shape in the air above him. He was at the absolute most critical juncture of the refining process. He could not afford a single distraction, nor could he stop.

Li Meng’s hands blurred into a series of rapid seals. Dense, five-colored Spiritual Power radiated from his body.

Extending his right hand, he used his index finger as a brush, writing directly into the empty air.

Golden characters materialized wherever his fingertip passed. As the characters took form, they transformed into pure Dao patterns. With a final flick of his wrist, the intricate, pictographic script was completed in one flawless breath, exuding a profound Dao charm.

Li Meng snapped his fingers.

The golden Dao patterns shot toward the Five Elements Ring, sinking directly into the metal. Immediately, a radiant seal branded itself onto the artifact’s surface.

One, two, three…

Three days later.

Click. The study door unlatched. Li Meng, dressed in a fresh yellow robe, stepped out.

He walked straight upstairs and pushed open the door to Senior Leng’s room.

Inside, Leng Yixue was still sitting on the bed, meditating. The sound of the door startled her, and she opened her eyes.

“Senior Sister, how did you get injured so severely?” Li Meng asked, his tone flat but observant.

Although there were no visible wounds on her body, her internal Qi was in total disarray, and her face was deathly pale.

Without asking for permission, Li Meng sat on the edge of her bed. He produced several Top Grade pills and unceremoniously shoved them into her mouth.

He didn’t give her a chance to refuse. By the time Leng Yixue reacted, the potent medicine was already melting down her throat.

“Senior Sister, whatever you want to say can wait,” Li Meng ordered. “Calm your breath, concentrate your spirit, and absorb the medicinal efficacy.”

Leng Yixue looked at him with an intensely complicated expression before closing her eyes to obey.

Li Meng didn’t leave. He stood up and walked over to the medicinal bathtub. Reaching out, he pressed his index finger against the unconscious Senior Leng’s forehead.

After a long moment, he withdrew his hand with an internal sigh.

He shook his head. The Sea of Consciousness of a Golden Core cultivator was a fortress; a Foundation Establishment cultivator like him could not easily breach it. Trying to peel back the damage layer by layer wasn’t entirely useless, but the effects were negligible.

For now, he could only use medicinal baths to nurture her body and prevent further deterioration. He would have to wait until he formed his own Golden Core to truly heal her.

Li Meng turned and left the room, returning to his study.

Half a month later. Moon Gaze Peak.

The sun hung high in the sky, bathing the quiet courtyard in golden light.

Suddenly, the pavilion’s main door clicked open.

Dressed in a flowing purple rainbow dress, Leng Yixue stepped outside. Her eyes immediately found the courtyard’s reclining chair, where Li Meng was already waiting.

With her usual cold composure, she walked over and sat at the tea table.

Li Meng, who had been resting his eyes under the sun, opened them. He swept a casual glance over her. Her Qi was much more stable than it had been two weeks ago.

He flicked his sleeve. A pristine tea set materialized on the table. The teapot floated up on the wind, effortlessly pouring a stream of fragrant tea into her cup.

“Did you find the person?” Li Meng asked, his voice gentle.

Leng Yixue’s expression shifted. She shot him a look of surprise. It seemed her Junior Brother knew exactly where she had gone.

She picked up the cup and took a sip. The warm tea slipped into her stomach, leaving a rich, lingering fragrance on her lips and teeth.

“No,” she admitted softly. “I got entangled with demonic path cultivators. The Yin Soul Ghost Technique is truly troublesome to deal with.”

Yin Soul Ghost Technique? A calculating look flashed in Li Meng’s eyes. It seemed Senior Sister Leng had crossed paths with the Ghost Spirit Sect.

Leng Yixue stared blankly into her teacup. “The Sect has officially listed him as a traitor. He fled to the Thousand Cloud Mountain Range, where his trail vanished. The soul lamp in the Ancestral Hall has extinguished. He was likely killed by demonic cultivators who used some secret method to erase his soul blood imprint.”

Li Meng narrowed his eyes. It was Senior Brother Zhao, just as I suspected. “Why would Senior Brother Zhao do this? It makes no sense,” Li Meng prodded.

Leng Yixue shook her head. “I don’t know. I never tried to understand him.”

If her Master hadn’t been forced to take disciples, Leng Yixue would never have joined the Sect, nor would she have ever become fellow disciples with Zhao. Their relationship had been purely based on cultivation.

“Senior Sister, do you want revenge?”

A flicker of confusion disrupted the icy calm in her eyes. Did she want revenge? Revenge for what? She knew absolutely nothing about what her Senior Brother had actually done.

Her face turned slightly cold. “I just want to know the truth. What happens afterward can be decided later.”

Li Meng gazed up at the azure sky. Learning the truth would be nearly impossible now. Zhao had defected, likely becoming a demonic cultivator in the Yue Kingdom. With his soul lamp dead, finding him in that vast wasteland was a fool’s errand.

“Senior Sister, perhaps when Senior Leng wakes up, she can give you the answers you seek.”

Leng Yixue’s beautiful eyes locked onto him. “Junior Brother… can Master truly wake up?”

Li Meng chuckled, stroking his beard with a sage-like air. “It seems Senior Sister has never truly believed in this Junior Brother’s abilities.”

Leng Yixue froze. She opened her mouth to speak, hesitated, and ultimately swallowed her words in silence.

She lifted her teacup, staring at the rippling liquid for a long time. Finally, she downed the rest of the tea in a single gulp.

“Junior Brother, I’m sorry.”

Li Meng just smiled, his eyes crinkling. “It’s fine, it’s fine. As the mortals say, time reveals a person’s heart. When Senior Leng finally wakes up, I just hope Senior Sister will protect me a little. I really don’t want to be slapped to death by her!”

It was a very real problem. Who knew how the Senior would react upon waking? Her first instinct might be to lash out, and a casual slap from a Golden Core cultivator was enough to vaporize him.

Leng Yixue naturally understood his meaning. For the first time, a genuine smile broke through her icy facade.

It was a breathtaking sight, like winter plum blossoms blooming in the snow.

“Senior Sister, you look truly beautiful when you smile,” Li Meng praised without hesitation.

But Leng Yixue wasn’t buying the flattery. The smile vanished instantly, replaced by her usual frosty demeanor. She fixed him with an intensely oppressive gaze.

Li Meng gave an awkward chuckle. “If Senior Sister dislikes hearing it, I won’t say it again.”

Silence fell between them. Leng Yixue picked up her empty cup, a flicker of hesitation passing through her eyes.

After a long moment, she sighed softly.

“Junior Brother, I apologize,” she said, her voice unusually sincere. “I’m simply not used to dealing with men. I… I actually do not dislike you.”

It was the truth. Despite his earlier disrespect, she felt no revulsion toward him. Since then, Li Meng had treated her with nothing but impeccable courtesy and respect. That was exactly what made her feel so uncomfortable. She just didn’t know how to express it.

Li Meng’s eyes lit up. He stroked his beard, a predatory glint flashing in his gaze.

So that’s how it is with Senior Sister Leng. Without warning, Li Meng reached out and firmly grasped her slender, jade-like hand.

Leng Yixue’s delicate body trembled violently. She struggled for a brief second, then froze, her internal conflict palpable.

She looked at him with a highly complex expression. “Junior Brother, I cultivate the Path of Emotionlessness. For me, emotional entanglements are merely a form of tempering—a whetstone. Any ’emotion’ I might feel for you is nothing more than an illusory dream. There may be a process, but the outcome will never be what you desire.”

Li Meng smiled, his thumb gently caressing the back of her hand. “Although Senior Sister is emotionless, I have enough emotions for the both of us. If I can walk the Great Dao alongside you, that is enough for me.”

Knowing the limits of the game, Li Meng didn’t push too far. He casually released her hand.

Walk the Great Dao together? Leng Yixue looked deeply at him. Perhaps Junior Brother Li would make an excellent whetstone for her cultivation. But was this too dangerous? A good whetstone could also shatter the blade.

“Senior Sister, some things are better left to follow their natural course,” Li Meng said, his voice a hypnotic purr. “Don’t overthink it. Whether it is the Path of Many Emotions or the Path of Emotionlessness, nothing in this world remains unchanged forever. Reaching Perfection in one’s Dao heart is nothing more than seeking a state where one’s Thoughts are clear. Emotions or lack thereof are not the endpoint; clarity of thought is the ultimate goal!”

Of course, Li Meng didn’t believe a single word of that. Internally, he scoffed at the very idea of a “Perfected Dao Heart.” Stripping oneself of all desires to merge with the heavens? What was the point of immortality if you couldn’t enjoy it?

“Thoughts are clear?” Leng Yixue repeated the phrase in her mind, a thoughtful expression gracing her features.

Seeing her lost in thought once again, a flicker of helplessness passed through Li Meng’s eyes. He drank his tea with a sigh of mock melancholy.

What is so great about the Path of Emotionlessness anyway? A mental state shouldn’t be forced. Suddenly, a playful idea struck him. Li Meng chuckled and stood up.

He walked around the stone table to her side, sitting down so close their robes brushed together. Boldly, he reached out and wrapped his arm around her slender waist.

“For example, right now…” Li Meng whispered. “…my Thoughts are exceptionally clear.”

Leng Yixue snapped out of her daze. A jolt of electricity shot through her body, and she trembled in his grasp. Flustered, she shot him a speechless glare.

“Senior Sister, you wouldn’t hit me, would you?” Li Meng teased, gazing down at the breathtakingly beautiful woman trapped in his embrace.

Leng Yixue didn’t answer. She lowered her head, staring intensely at the teacup. Her heart hammered against her ribs. What should she do? Should she give him a shy, sidelong glance? Or should she blast him through the pavilion wall?

“Junior Brother…” she stammered, her voice shaking with flustered warmth. “You… you should be more proper!”

He was truly too lecherous. She vastly preferred the serious, distant Junior Brother Li.

Li Meng chuckled, savoring the intoxicating proximity before smoothly withdrawing his arm. He couldn’t be too hasty. Spooking her into genuine revulsion would ruin the game.

“Alright, alright,” Li Meng laughed indifferently. “This Junior Brother will be more proper.”