Chapter 97: Why Are You Running?

Joyous Union Sect. Inner Sect, Masked Moon Peak.

The upper viewing platform of the main pavilion offered a commanding view of the surrounding mountains.

Two graceful figures sat beside an exquisite tea table.

Though both wore similar long, violet palace dresses, their auras were as different as day and night.

One wore a sheer veil over her face. Yet, even obscured, no one would doubt that beneath it lay a visage of peerless, devastating beauty.

The other appeared ancient. She looked like an elderly matron, her hair the color of spun silver, her face mapped with deep wrinkles and creases. Her posture was slightly stooped, as if burdened by the weight of centuries.

“A Spirit Gathering Array? It seems this boy’s talent in array formation is no less monstrous than his talent in alchemy and talisman crafting!”

The old matron turned her head to gaze at the sweeping landscape outside the window.

Any event occurring within the sect’s territory could be reached by a Nascent Soul cultivator’s Divine Sense in the blink of an eye. The unusual phenomenon over at Moon Gaze Peak naturally could not escape her notice.

A flicker of surprise passed through Nangong Wan’s beautiful eyes. She waved her sleeve lightly, the teapot lifting itself to pour a cup of tea for the elder woman.

“Senior Sister, don’t you think he might be learning too many things? Where does he find the energy for it all?”

The old matron glanced back at her Junior Sister, her eyes gleaming with wisdom.

“You worry too much, Junior Sister. True talent does not require excessive effort to learn! For a genius, comprehension is as natural as breathing.”

The old matron’s words left Nangong Wan speechless, though she knew they held truth.

Nangong Wan’s slender, jade-like fingers unconsciously toyed with the rim of her teacup.

“Senior Sister… what do you think?”

The old matron fell silent. A contemplative expression appeared on her weathered face, her gaze drifting into the distance. It was unclear what deep calculations she was running.

After a long moment, the old matron nodded slowly.

“It is worth a try. A mere hundred years is not long for beings like us.”

A Nascent Soul cultivator’s lifespan stretched for millennia. A mere century was a drop in the ocean, a small stake to risk for a potentially massive payout.

Nangong Wan smiled gracefully beneath her veil.

“Senior Sister, so it’s settled then?”

The old matron nodded again.

“As you wish, Junior Sister.”

Nangong Wan waved her sleeve once more. The two figures beside the tea table vanished into thin air, leaving no trace behind. Only the steam rising from the teacups on the table remained, curling into the silence.

Sect Main Hall. Archive Pavilion.

Li Meng descended gracefully from the sky, his sword retracting as his feet touched the stone walkway outside the pavilion.

He glanced up at the golden plaque above the entrance before stepping inside.

“Nephew Li, here are the archives you requested!”

The Golden Core Elder overseeing the Archive Pavilion was still on duty. He had not forgotten this Inner Disciple who possessed a Supreme Elder’s token. Seeing Li Meng return, his attitude was exceedingly courteous.

Li Meng accepted the jade slip from his Golden Core Senior. He injected his Divine Sense, scanning its contents briefly. Having confirmed he obtained the information he sought, he returned the jade slip with a respectful bow.

“My thanks, Senior. This disciple takes his leave.”

The Golden Core Elder hastily returned the courtesy with clasped hands. “Take care on your way, Nephew Li. This Senior will not see you out.”

Li Meng took two steps back before turning and walking out. Once outside the heavy doors, he summoned the wind and rose into the air, mounting his flying sword to leave the Main Peak.

“Senior Brother?”

Just as Li Meng flew out from the Main Peak’s airspace, two figures approached on flying swords from the distance. Yuan Baobao and Xuan Hao hadn’t expected to encounter Senior Brother Li here. Having spotted him, it was only natural to greet him.

“Senior Uncle Li!”

The three of them hovered on their swords in the open sky. Xuan Hao and Yuan Baobao bowed respectfully towards their Senior Uncle.

Li Meng chuckled softly, stroking his long beard, his youthful face radiating warmth. “Junior Brother Xuan, Junior Sister Yuan, I still prefer you calling me ‘Senior Brother.’ Don’t keep your Senior Brother waiting too long!”

Xuan Hao smiled with a hint of shame. He remembered when Senior Brother Li’s cultivation had been lower than his own. Who could have imagined so many changes in just two short years?

Senior Brother Li had actually reached Foundation Establishment before him. And this was despite having that supposedly hopeless Five Spirit Roots constitution. It made Xuan Hao feel deeply humbled.

“Yes… I… I definitely won’t keep Senior… Senior Brother waiting long!”

Li Meng then turned his gaze to Junior Sister Yuan. Facing her Senior Brother’s look, Yuan Baobao’s cheeks flushed slightly pink. She blinked at Li Meng. Their eyes met, and a silent understanding passed between them.

“Where are you two headed?” Li Meng asked.

This was Main Peak territory, after all. Usually, only disciples undertaking external missions came here to receive sect assignments.

Xuan Hao glanced toward the Main Peak not far away. “Junior Sister is approaching a Bottleneck in her cultivation. We plan to cultivate at the Main Peak for a while to see if the denser spiritual energy can help her achieve a breakthrough.”

Li Meng looked Junior Sister Yuan up and down appraisingly. Indeed, there were signs of Spiritual Power leaking from her aura—a clear indication she was nearing the Bottleneck of Peak Qi Condensation.

Li Meng chuckled again, stroking his beard. “Then you should hurry along. Remember to visit Moon Gaze Peak when you have time so we can ‘discuss the Dao’ together!”

Xuan Hao’s eyes lit up. He had heard rumors that Senior Brother Li had been accepted as a disciple under Elder Ruoshui. So it was true! Moon Gaze Peak was Elder Ruoshui’s abode.

“After you, Senior Brother!”

“After you, Junior Brother and Sister!”

The three then parted ways, steering their flying swords in opposite directions.

Yuan Baobao looked back over her shoulder just as Li Meng happened to glance back as well. She blinked at him playfully once more. Li Meng lowered his gaze briefly, sweeping over the hem of Junior Sister Yuan’s skirt in a knowing way.

Yuan Baobao seemed to notice her Senior Brother’s glance. Her cheeks flushed a deeper pink as she pressed her lips together, giving him a provocatively charming grin before turning away.

“That little minx…”

Li Meng chuckled inwardly as he stroked his beard.

Simultaneously, they both withdrew their gazes and continued flying off into the distance.

Cloud Peak.

While passing by Cloud Peak, Li Meng couldn’t resist making a large detour to approach it.

Hovering on his sword in the sky outside the peak, Li Meng gazed at the mountain shrouded in swirling mists and clouds.

Narrowing his eyes thoughtfully while stroking his long beard, he remembered that Senior Sister Qu was currently in seclusion attempting to form her Golden Core.

It would likely be ten years before they could meet again.

Even though only a few months had passed, to Li Meng, it felt like an eternity.

Just then, the mists and clouds surrounding the peak stirred.

They parted slowly, revealing a clear passage leading towards the summit—an invitation, or perhaps an acknowledgement.

Outside the peak, Li Meng’s expression shifted slightly. He raised his hands in a respectful salute towards the opening.

“This Junior Brother awaits the day Senior Sister emerges from seclusion!”

With that said, he turned around without looking back and flew away swiftly on his sword, fleeing as if he had done something wrong.

As he flew amidst the mountain ranges, a flicker of regret passed through Li Meng’s eyes.

He shouldn’t have come here today. He shouldn’t have risked disturbing Senior Sister Qu’s mental state during such a critical cultivation period.

Cloud Peak. Inside the main pavilion.

Qu Rou sat cross-legged upon her meditation bed.

A faint smile touched the corners of her mouth. Seeing how flustered that old man looked made her want to laugh.

Forming a Golden Core was a lengthy process, spanning years. What was a mere few months? She hadn’t even entered Deep Meditation for an Epiphany yet!

She really didn’t know what he was panicking about.

Thinking thusly, Qu Rou leaned sideways onto the bed, abandoning her meditative posture.

Today, being disturbed by Junior Brother Li like this meant she no longer felt like contemplating the Heavens. She might as well spend some time calming her mind instead.

Rolling onto her side, she stared absentmindedly at the empty space beside her as the room grew dark with nightfall.

Not long ago, there had been someone lying there.

With him present, she felt a confusing mix of like and dislike.

Liked what exactly? Qu Rou wasn’t sure herself.

Junior Brother Li was a bit of a lecher and really enjoyed those kinds of affairs between men and women. But sometimes, he acted quite proper, unlike a typical lecher at all.

Yet strangely enough, she didn’t dislike the lecherous side of him either.

If only he could be a bit more proper, it would be better though—stop giving those creepy grins towards her, maybe.

As for disliking what?

The answer was very clear indeed.

Qu Rou could feel that since getting entangled with that old man, subtle changes were occurring within her own mental state.

Whether it was a good thing or a bad thing was unknown.

She could only take it one step at a time and wait to see how things unfolded.