The Oldest Disciple: Farming Intimacy to Become Immortal

Chapter 251: Returning to the Heaven-Reaching Spirit Boat

“Senior Brother, why do people die?”

Qi Wei’s voice was small and sullen. The concept of death—Dao vanishing, existence erased from the world and memory—troubled her deeply. She didn’t like it. She didn’t like it at all.

Li Meng smiled softly, rubbing his Junior Sister’s head.

“Yes, why do people die? Perhaps that is the answer all those who tread the Path of Longevity are seeking.”

Qi Wei glanced at him, unimpressed.

What’s this? So Senior Brother doesn’t know either.

Fine. He just kept saying things she didn’t understand anyway.

But it doesn’t matter.

As long as she and Senior Brother were still alive, right here, right now, that was enough.

Thinking of this, Qi Wei’s eyes curved into happy crescents. She nestled comfortably into his arms, watching the vast, magnificent scenery of Heaven and Earth rush by beneath them.

Tianlan Continent, Southern Martial Kingdom

The golden evening glow draped a layer of kasaya over the sea of clouds, transforming the sky into a boundless golden ocean.

Through the gaps in the clouds, a massive vessel cut through the air. The Heaven-Reaching Spirit Boat swept past, stirring up tides of spiritual light in its wake.

The sun dipped toward the western horizon. Night approached.

On the deck, disciples of the Joyous Union Sect scattered about, admiring the sunset. Some stood in pairs, whispering sweet nothings; others stood alone, lost in thought.

One figure stood apart by the ship’s railing.

She wore a pristine white dress that fluttered in the high-altitude wind. Her full, curvaceous waistline was faintly visible beneath the fabric, adding a layer of allure to her dignified presence.

She raised a hand to brush a stray lock of hair from her forehead. A trace of melancholy flashed in her eyes.

These past days, Liu Ruyu had been obsessed with the pill formula Li Meng left behind. She had tried to refine it again and again.

But the results were unacceptable.

Either she lost control of the violent spiritual power, causing an explosion, or she failed to condense the pill entirely. Even when she succeeded, the result was a pale imitation of the formula’s description.

“Junior Sister, I haven’t seen you come out to relax in days.”

A gentle voice interrupted her thoughts.

Su Meng walked over, stopping beside her. He cupped his hands in a polite salute, a faint, charming smile on his face.

Seeing it was Su Meng, Liu Ruyu returned the smile gracefully.

“Senior Brother Su. I have been in my room studying the Dao of Alchemy. Only today did I find time to breathe.”

Su Meng nodded understandingly. “No wonder there is a faint scent of medicinal herbs on you. I presume your skills have improved again?”

Liu Ruyu turned back to the golden sea of clouds, her delicate hands resting on the railing.

“Wouldn’t it be a pity not to enjoy such beautiful scenery alone?”

Her soft voice echoed on the deck, clear enough for Su Meng—and the nearby eavesdropping disciples—to hear.

A female disciple nearby covered her mouth to hide a giggle, whispering to her partner.

Su Meng’s expression stiffened. He understood the rejection in her words perfectly. I want to be alone.

He cupped his hands, preparing to excuse himself with some dignity, when two streaks of light suddenly shot out from the distant clouds.

Whoosh!

In the blink of an eye, they approached the Heaven-Reaching Spirit Boat and flew directly into a room on the upper pavilion.

The appearance of the Golden Core elders caught everyone’s attention.

“Huh? When did the two Seniors leave?”

“I don’t know. I thought they were on the ship this whole time.”

“It’s Senior Wen and Senior Han from Cloudsoar Peak, right?”

“Look over there! Someone else is coming!”

To the rear of the ship, a giant purple gourd broke through the cloud layer. Although slower than the Golden Core elders, it was still moving much faster than the Spirit Boat.

In less than ten breaths, it caught up.

Just as it reached a hundred zhang away, Li Meng stood up. He took Qi Wei’s hand.

They leaped.

One big, one small, they rode the wind toward the deck. The Sword Nurturing Gourd shrank rapidly, flying back to hang at Li Meng’s waist.

They landed lightly on the deck.

“Isn’t that Junior Sister Qi Wei and Junior Brother Li?”

“When did they leave?”

“Can we disembark midway?”

The disciples murmured in surprise.

Su Meng frowned tightly. He stared at Li Meng, who was wearing a white Daoist robe instead of the standard yellow sect uniform. This meant Li Meng had been operating independently for months.

“Senior Brother! It’s Senior Sister Liu!” Qi Wei tugged at Li Meng’s sleeve.

Li Meng followed her gaze.

Their eyes met.

Liu Ruyu smiled, a genuine, relieved expression breaking through her melancholy. She cupped her hands in a respectful salute from across the deck.

Li Meng gave her a meaningful look—a signal—but didn’t bow back. Instead, he pulled Qi Wei toward the pavilion, ignoring Su Meng entirely.

“Hmph. People from the Masked Moon Peak lineage are truly rude,” Su Meng muttered, his voice laced with indignation.

Liu Ruyu was a True Disciple of the Alchemy King Peak. Her status far outstripped Li Meng’s. For him to ignore her salute was a grave breach of etiquette.

Liu Ruyu glanced at the indignant Su Meng.

“Senior Brother, please excuse me.”

She turned and left the railing, heading straight for the pavilion. She didn’t care about etiquette. Li Meng was back, and she had a thousand questions about alchemy that only he could answer.

Su Meng stared at her retreating back, stunned.

She… she didn’t care?

The Alchemists of Alchemy King Peak were famous for their arrogance. If anyone else had slighted her like that, she would have demanded an apology. Why was Li Meng different?

Upper Pavilion, Ancestor’s Chamber

Wen Huanhuan and Han Li stood side by side outside the partition screen, bowing deeply.

“Senior,” Han Li’s cool voice echoed in the room. “During this trip to Lin’an City, Junior Nephew Li did something earth-shattering. Although it didn’t attract the attention of the Four Sects, he interfered directly in the power struggle of a mortal Imperial Court.”

He paused, letting the weight of the words sink in.

“He killed the Human Emperor. Whether he will be entangled in great karma in the future is unknown.”

Wen Huanhuan looked up nervously, trying to glimpse the figure behind the screen.

She hoped the Ancestor wouldn’t blame him. Killing a Human Emperor was a taboo among taboos. If the Ancestor decided to punish him, Li Meng was finished.