The Spirit Herb Garden’s External Affairs Hall.

Not just anyone could enter the Spirit Herb Garden itself. If a sect disciple wished to purchase spirit herbs, they had to go to the External Affairs Hall. This hall served as the designated marketplace for all transactions involving the garden’s produce.

In the plaza before the hall, Li Meng descended from his flight. His aged body landed steadily on the ground.

“Senior Brother Li!”

“Senior Brother Li!”

On his way to the main entrance, he encountered quite a few Outer Disciples. Many recognized him and bowed respectfully in greeting.

Li Meng didn’t react much; he merely nodded in acknowledgment.

“How dare a mere Qi Condensation seventh-layer Outer Disciple make Senior Brother Zhao bow to him?”

“Exactly, what gives?”

Seeing that Senior Brother Zhao, who was at Peak Qi Condensation, had actually taken the initiative to bow respectfully to a Qi Condensation seventh-layer Outer Disciple, the two Outer Disciples following Zhao Hu showed expressions of indignation.

Zhao Hu turned and glared at them. “Watch your words. What do you two know? Senior Brother Li is one of the very few first-grade Alchemists among the Outer Disciples. He is kind and benevolent, purchasing spirit herbs at market price but selling pills at only seventy percent of that. He’s even called the ‘Old Philanthropist.’ Countless Foundation Establishment Seniors within the Inner Sect owe their breakthrough and advancement to Senior Brother Li’s grace. Now that Senior Brother Li’s Lifespan Limit is approaching and he is about to face his Sitting Death, what would be wrong with me even kneeling and kowtowing to him?”

Zhao Hu’s words were spoken with righteous fervor, leaving his two underlings dumbfounded.

So that old… Senior Brother was that amazing?

The words from Zhao Hu behind him caused Li Meng to stumble, nearly falling over.

Good Heavens, I’m not dead yet! Are they already thinking about paying their respects? What a fine fellow this Zhao Hu is. Just you wait!

Li Meng unhurriedly walked through the main entrance of the External Affairs Hall.

“Senior Brother Li?”

Behind the counter sat an elderly man who seemed drowsy. Like Li Meng, his hair was white as snow. The sound of footsteps made him open his eyes for a glance.

At this sight, the old man’s eyes lit up. His aged face broke into a wide smile.

Li Meng chuckled softly, stroking his long beard. “You’re already an Inner Sect Deacon Elder, yet you still call me ‘Senior Brother’!”

Xue Lun laughed heartily as he stepped out from behind the counter. “I truly can’t bring myself to call you ‘Junior Nephew.’ My path has reached its end at the early Foundation Establishment stage. What do us two old fogies care about such formalities of seniority? Come, come, come, Senior Brother! We must have a proper drink today! Girl, watch the counter for me!”

Xue Lun called out toward the inner hall.

“Alright! I’m coming!” A clear, lively voice rang out from within.

A graceful figure clad in a deep purple rainbow dress came running out.

Looking at the young girl who ran out from the inner hall, a flash of admiration passed through Li Meng’s eyes.

She was too adorable. It was as if she were carved from immortal jade. Her face was like peach blossoms, her skin like congealed cream. Her eyes curved into crescents, appearing both well-behaved and gentle.

[Name: Xue Ruyu] [Age: 15] [Luck: 5000] [Cultivation: Peak Qi Condensation] [Aptitude: Water Heavenly Spirit Root] [Affection: 0]

Xue Ruyu? A name that truly suited its bearer. A fifteen-year-old Heavenly Spirit Root True Disciple at Peak Qi Condensation.

Xue Ruyu glanced at Li Meng. Seeing that the old man beside her great-grandfather was only at the seventh layer of Qi Condensation, a flicker of curiosity passed through her eyes.

How could a mere Outer Disciple at Qi Condensation possibly be Great-Grandfather’s Senior Brother?

“Senior Brother, please!”

Li Meng chuckled and followed Junior Brother Xue into the inner hall.

Behind the External Affairs Hall was another world entirely—a garden lush with greenery. Within a pavilion, hoarse, aged laughter rose and fell between the two men.

“Junior Brother, that little girl is no ordinary talent,” Li Meng remarked, glancing back toward the hall.

Xue Lun laughed proudly. “That girl is a descendant of my mortal family clan. I knew she had a Spirit Root when I brought her up the mountain, but I only discovered later that she actually possessed a Heavenly Spirit Root. For hundreds of years, our Xue Clan has only produced me as a cultivator. I thought there would be no successor after me. Who would have thought Heaven would show such favor? It was an unexpected joy. Her name is Xue Ruyu. She has now been accepted as a disciple under Supreme Elder Nangong Wan of Masked Moon Peak and has been taken in as a True Disciple.”

Masked Moon Peak?

A trace of surprise flashed in Li Meng’s eyes.

Masked Moon Peak was the cave abode of Supreme Elder “Nangong Wan.” He had heard that peak was perpetually shrouded in mist and clouds, making it impossible to see clearly within. Only the True Disciples of the Supreme Elder were permitted to enter. Masked Moon Peak was also considered one of the best spiritual lands within the Joyous Union Sect.

“Congratulations, Junior Brother, on having such a successor!”

“Hahaha…”

Xue Lun stroked his beard and laughed heartily. Xue Ruyu’s appearance was like a pie falling from the sky, stunning their entire Xue Clan senseless. Even now, Xue Lun hadn’t fully recovered from the shock.

As if remembering something, Xue Lun’s laughter abruptly ceased. He looked at Senior Brother Li with some sadness. “Senior Brother… how much longer?”

Li Meng smiled gently and picked up the teapot to refill his Junior Brother’s cup. “Junior Brother, don’t wear such an expression. Everyone has their own destiny decreed by Heaven. Though there is reluctance and unwillingness, what can one do? Defying fate is futile. Over sixty years of cultivation… often I think back to my mortal life. But they are just thoughts. If given another chance to start over, I would still choose to become one who walks upon this mountain.”

“Well said!”

Xue Lun laughed loudly and drained his teacup in one gulp. “We cultivators defy Heaven by our very nature! Once we make our move on this board, there should be no regrets!”

From time to time, hearty laughter echoed from within the pavilion.

Behind the counter in the External Affairs Hall, Xue Ruyu yawned. She could hear her Great-Grandfather and that seventh-layer Qi Condensation old man from the rear garden.

Time flowed on bit by bit as the sun gradually set in the west.

Before nightfall, Li Meng took his leave.

“Junior Brother, please stay your steps!”

At the entrance to the External Affairs Hall, Xue Lun stopped walking. He bowed respectfully, watching as Senior Brother Li departed into the distance.

From behind him inside the doorway, a small head peeked out.

Li Meng offered Xue Ruyu a kindly smile, then soared into the air on his sword and flew away.

“Great-Grandfather, who was he?”

Xue Ruyu stepped out of the doorway. She came to stand beside her Great-Grandfather, gazing at the sky alongside him.

“His name is Li Meng. When your Great-Grandfather was still an Outer Disciple, I received great kindness from him. If not for Senior Brother Li… your Great-Grandfather would be no more. And you… you might still be just a young lady from a prominent family in some mortal town.”

Xue Ruyu suddenly understood. No wonder Great-Grandfather was so familiar with that little old man. He was Great-Grandfather’s life-saving benefactor.

“I see… Well then, Great-Grandfather, I’m heading back now!”

“Go on then. Don’t dawdle on your way!”

“I won’t! If I’m late, Master will scold me.”

Xue Ruyu ran for a short distance, then her graceful figure soared up onto her sword and flew away into the distance.

Joyous Union Sect. Outer Sect. Little Bamboo Peak.

A thin figure in green robes descended from flight and landed within a courtyard. Li Meng flicked his sleeves and leisurely entered his house.

Inside his alchemy room, Li Meng sat down upon a meditation cushion. He popped several Spirit Recovery Pills into his mouth, then began meditating to regulate his breathing and restore his Spiritual Power.

Two hours later, Li Meng opened his eyes.

“Let’s begin.”

Li Meng extended his Divine Sense into his storage pouch. Using soul force manipulation, over ten different spirit herbs flew out from within, all pouring into his alchemy furnace in one go.

Li Meng formed seals with both hands; five-colored spiritual light emanated from his entire body. The alchemy furnace immediately burst into roaring flames. Soon after, the temperature within the entire alchemy room began to rise.