The Oldest Disciple: Farming Intimacy to Become Immortal

Chapter 223: The Day of Departure

Li Meng silently approved of the Ancestor’s decision.

That massive gourd Qi Wei usually carried was clearly an extraordinary artifact, far surpassing the Mortal Grade at a glance. If his little Junior Sister were to carry such a treasure on her back into the treacherous world outside, it would be strange if it didn’t arouse the covetous gaze of every rogue cultivator they passed. Low profile meant long life.

“What? Is Senior Brother not as useful as a gourd?”

Qi Wei gave him a sweet, teasing smile. She tugged on his hand, swaying her body coquettishly.

“Of course not! That gourd is so cumbersome to carry around. I don’t want it at all. Having Senior Brother is enough for me!”

Li Meng chuckled and reached out to ruffle her hair, messing up her bangs.

“You little rascal.”

Qi Wei giggled, her eyes curving into happy crescents.

“Junior Sister, let’s set off!”

“Mm, okay!”

Qi Wei nodded her little head vigorously.

They soared into the air one after the other, riding the wind straight up from the peak. In the blink of an eye, two figures—one tall and imposing, one small and energetic—plunged into the clouds and mist, leaving their home behind.

Joyous Union Sect, Inner Sect Territory Main Peak

Early morning, when all things awaken.

Today, the main peak plaza was even more bustling than usual. Streaks of sword light arrived from all directions, cutting through the dawn sky like falling stars. More and more Inner and Outer Disciples gathered on the vast stone plaza in front of the Sect’s main hall, their faces a mix of envy and apprehension.

Hovering silently above the clouds outside the peak was a massive vessel—the Heaven-Reaching Spirit Boat.

Bathed in the golden morning light, its hull shimmered with runic arrays, looking every bit like a divine immortal vessel descending from the heavens. Its sheer scale was breathtaking, a floating fortress designed to cross continents.

Several streaks of sword light shot up from the plaza, flying toward the waiting ship.

“Look! It’s about to set sail!”

“I wonder when they’ll return…”

“I remember the last time Kongming Hall opened, the expedition team took over a decade to return to the Sect.”

“Where is Kongming Hall, anyway?”

“I heard it’s in the Outer Sea!”

“The Outer Sea? That’s terrifyingly far.”

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the Heaven-Reaching Spirit Boat began to move.

It seemed slow, like a leviathan waking from slumber, but in reality, it was incredibly fast. To the naked eye, it shrank rapidly, turning from a fortress into a tiny black dot before vanishing into the horizon.

Above the Clouds

The hundred-zhang-long Heaven-Reaching Spirit Boat cut through the sea of clouds, its protective barriers humming softly.

There were very few figures on the spacious deck.

“Senior Brother! I can’t catch it!”

On the bow deck, Qi Wei leaned dangerously far over the ship’s railing. One small hand stretched out into the slipstream, swiping futilely at the wisps of cloud and mist rushing past.

The Spirit Boat flew close to the cloud layer, its hull occasionally dipping into the white expanse like a ship plowing through ocean waves. From afar, the cloud layer looked like a boundless, roiling sea.

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Li Meng’s mouth. Imitating his Junior Sister, he stretched one hand out beyond the railing.

A strange scene occurred.

The surrounding clouds and mist didn’t rush past his hand; instead, they seemed to answer a call. They swirled and converged toward his palm, forming a small vortex of white vapor.

The phenomenon lasted for ten breaths before the swirling ceased.

In Li Meng’s hand sat a small, crystalline bead, swirling with trapped mist—a Mist Bead.

“Junior Sister, look. Didn’t I catch it?”

Qi Wei’s eyes went wide. She snatched the Mist Bead from his hand, holding it up to the sun to examine it carefully.

“Senior Brother, how… how did you do that?”

How could intangible mist turn into a solid bead?

Li Meng reached out and patted her head. “Take it to play with, but don’t lose it.”

It was just a little trick of condensation and spatial compression. The bead was a container; the mist was just mist. He had merely stuffed the clouds into the bead with a bit of spiritual force.

Qi Wei nodded vigorously, clutching the treasure. “Mm! I won’t lose it!”

On the deck, it wasn’t just Li Meng and his Junior Sister. There were two others: Su Meng and Cai Xiaowei.

Su Meng leaned against a mast, glancing at the pair chatting and laughing by the railing. A cold sneer curled his lip. He turned his gaze to Cai Xiaowei, who stood alone near the stern, gazing at the clouds.

A flicker of hesitation passed through his eyes. He wasn’t familiar with this Junior Sister. Before the Inner Sect Competition, she had been a ghost—invisible and unknown. Although the number of Inner Disciples was small, it was unrealistic to claim to know every single one, especially those who cultivated in seclusion.

Su Meng straightened his robes and walked toward her.

“Junior Sister Cai.”

Arriving beside her, Su Meng cupped his hands in a polite salute.

Cai Xiaowei turned her head slightly. Her gaze swept over him indifferently before returning to the magnificent sea of clouds. She did not return the salute.

“Senior Brother Su,” she said, her voice cool and clear. “The grudges between you and Senior Brother Li have nothing to do with me. Kongming Hall is extremely perilous. If Senior Brother Su wishes to leave there alive, it would be better to foster fewer conflicts among fellow Sect members.”

A trace of disgust flashed in her eyes.

What time is it to still be dwelling on petty personal grudges?

Although she didn’t know Su Meng personally, she knew his lineage. She knew exactly what kind of person his relative, Su Can, was.

Years ago, Su Can had harassed her relentlessly. He had used underhanded means to drive away her Dual Cultivation partners, one after another, trying to isolate her until she had no choice but to turn to him. In her anger, she had sealed her mountain and entered Secluded Cultivation for ten years, forcing him to forget her existence.

If the upper beam is not straight, the lower ones will go aslant. Cai Xiaowei had absolutely no favorable impression of anyone from the Broken Cliff Peak lineage.

The expression on Su Meng’s face stiffened.

He hadn’t even stated his purpose yet, and here he was, being lectured by a junior sister he barely knew.

Since when were Inner Disciples of Broken Cliff Peak looked down upon like this?

Just as Su Meng opened his mouth to retort, Cai Xiaowei cut him off again.

“Senior Brother can go find Senior Brother Chen over there. He might be interested in your grudges.”

Su Meng’s mouth twitched.

It was an unequivocal dismissal.

A forced smile plastered itself onto Su Meng’s face. He cupped his hands again, stiffly.

“Junior Sister… my apologies for disturbing you.”

Su Meng turned and walked away. The moment his back was to her, the smile vanished completely, replaced by a ferocious, twisted grin.

You bitch. Just you wait.

If I get a chance in Kongming Hall… I’ll refine you into a puppet and play with you until your soul shatters.

Su Meng naturally wouldn’t go find Chen Sheng. That guy already didn’t get along with him. He certainly wasn’t going to offer his face up to be slapped a second time.