Stealing Immortal

Chapter 14: Chapter 13: Jade Scroll

「The next day.」

At the Hongling Token exchange.

”Senior Brother Wu, you’re looking well. It seems that elixir is working wonders?”

He observed him carefully; Wu Boyou’s complexion was normal, with nothing out of place.

Considering Wu Boyou’s Third Realm of Qi Refining cultivation, the fact that it only stole five of his Immortal Seedlings was enough to confirm that the poison he was giving Xu Baoling was indeed a slow-acting one.

”It really is great. I feel like I’m a bit closer to a breakthrough. Don’t worry, I’m the kind of person who repays a drop of kindness with a gushing spring. Even if I go to the Golden Summit in the future, I’ll have someone look after you.”

He was a master of changing faces in an instant. Chen Qingyang didn’t believe a word of it.

”Then I must thank you, Senior Brother Wu. If I get any more Qi Gathering Pills in the future, I’ll be sure to bring them to you. After all, in my hundred years as a Miscellaneous Task disciple, you’re one of the only people I can talk to.”

Wu Boyou’s fleshy face broke into a wide smile. ”Of course, of course! Anything can be discussed!”

’As long as I don’t feed him the elixirs too frequently,’ Chen Qingyang thought, ’it will only affect his cultivation while I steal his Immortal Seedlings. Not bad at all.’

”Senior Brother Wu, I’ll get back to my work now.”

’No need to rush. I just have to slowly complete the four Dao Rhyme Patterns.’

「At noon, he went up to the Golden Summit.」

Liu Tao was waiting. Chen Qingyang made some small talk, refined the elixir, and then waited until dark to go feed it to Xu Baoling.

This went on for five consecutive days. In total, he had stolen 142 Immortal Seedlings. His Tier One Qi-Introducing Pill was only 10 points away from breaking through to Tier Two.

Once it broke through, its duration would double, and the amount of Spiritual Qi it absorbed would be several times greater. This would elevate Chen Qingyang’s Alchemy Dao and Fire Control skills to a new level. In a place like the Four Golden Peaks, he would finally be considered a talent!

He used the remaining Immortal Seedlings on his Tai Xu Energy-Introducing Technique. At this rate, he would definitely break through to the Qi Refining Second Realm within two or three days.

Sometimes, Chen Qingyang couldn’t help but mutter to himself: ’Xu Baoling, oh, Xu Baoling. Even many years from now, I will never forget the first great ”benefactor” of my life!’

...

”Senior Sister Xu, I’m heading back now.”

Under the brilliant lamplight, Xu Baoling looked ethereal in her sacred green robes.

She hadn’t been paying much attention to people lately, being busy trying to break through in her cultivation.

”Senior Sister... I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

”Mm.”

He descended to his small courtyard on the mountainside.

The wind and snow had been relentless yesterday, and now they had returned tonight.

In the small courtyard, both the stone table and the hundred-year-old locust tree were covered in a blanket of white.

Chen Qingyang lit the brazier, filling the small cabin with light and warmth.

The light was also on in the cabin across from his. He could see Lü Yunshen meditating on his bed.

Perhaps Xu Yong’s words had gotten to him. He had been acting a bit crazed lately, muttering to himself in everything he said and did. The spirited, scholarly air he once had was completely gone.

Chen Qingyang had no particular friendship with him, so there was no need to dwell on his affairs.

RUSTLE RUSTLE RUSTLE!

Hearing someone approaching through the snow, he withdrew his Dharma Gate.

”Senior Brother Chen, you haven’t rested yet, have you?”

It was Xu Yong, whom he hadn’t seen for several days, standing outside his door.

”Could you trouble yourself to open the door? I’d like to speak with you about something.”

His voice startled Lü Yunshen, who pushed open his window and peeked his head out to look over.

Chen Qingyang opened the door and welcomed Xu Yong inside. Seeing this, Lü Yunshen stared blankly for a long time before pulling his head back in. The light in his room quickly went out.

Xu Yong boiled water, washed up, and changed into some homely clothes. He then sat by the brazier and began speaking to Chen Qingyang, as if to himself: ”Senior Brother Chen, how was that Qi Gathering Pill from last time? Did you take it?”

After thinking about it seriously, Chen Qingyang nodded.

”It’s good that you took it. Senior Brother Hu Kai said you have an extraordinary disposition. Your cultivation being stuck right now is just a case of not seeing the forest for the trees. Eventually, you’ll push through the clouds and see the sun... In less than a month, I’ve already seen two senior brothers break through with my own eyes.”

The envy in his voice was impossible to hide.

”Are you here as a spokesman for Hu Kai?”

Xu Yong didn’t deny it. ”Senior Brother Chen is truly perceptive. Senior Brother Hu Kai wants to invite you to observe a senior brother breaking through in his Qi Refining. He also said that as long as you go, a Qi Gathering Pill will be yours!”

’I really can’t figure it out,’ Chen Qingyang thought. ’What value do I possibly have that makes them try so hard to recruit me?’

Chen Qingyang asked another question, ”Those junior brothers who broke through with the help of the Profound Light Association, where did they all go afterward?”

”They all went to the Golden Summit to cultivate. I personally saw a senior brother break through in his forties and find a good master.”

”Then... what do you think this Profound Light Association is really after?”

Xu Yong became completely serious. ”The Immortal Path is long and fraught with hardship. How can one achieve the Dao alone? Only by supporting each other as brothers and sisters can we advance. That is what the Profound Light Association is after.”

’How can one achieve the Dao alone?’

But all the Dao achievers Chen Qingyang had seen were lone wolves, all of them relying on their own talent to forge ahead. He had never seen anyone team up to crawl their way out of the Miscellaneous Task division.

”There’s one more thing I don’t understand. What’s the deal with that Hu Kai? Since he’s already in the Qi Refining realm, why is he still a Miscellaneous Task disciple?”

Xu Yong had his own explanation. ”That’s how Senior Brother Hu is different from others. He has great ambitions. He’s one of the Stewards for the Profound Light Association at the Four Golden Peaks. He voluntarily stays here to help more...”

After listening for a while, Chen Qingyang learned nothing useful, except that Xu Yong had been thoroughly ”enlightened.”

Refusing to go would be a rejection. Even if Hu Kai let the matter drop, Chen Qingyang would miss out on the chance to meet more people and find more opportunities for Immortal Seedlings.

”Tell Hu Kai I will definitely be there tomorrow.”

Seeing his persuasion succeed, Xu Yong’s face lit up with joy. ”Then it’s settled, Senior Brother Chen! I’ll come pick you up at this time tomorrow night.”

”Alright.”

Hearing the affirmative answer, he finally left, satisfied.

「Another day, on the Golden Summit.」

Liu Tao was busy by the shelves in the Alchemy Room, neatly arranging the newly acquired Alchemy Raw Materials.

The Miscellaneous Task disciple from the Spirit Plant Institute, also white-haired and elderly, slowly backed out after checking and tallying everything.

Meanwhile, Chen Qingyang, also a Miscellaneous Task disciple, was making himself at home, sipping tea slowly behind the round table.

”Is today the ninth day that bitch has taken the elixir?”

”Yes, Senior Sister.”

Liu Tao patted the raw materials on the shelf. ”Soon, very soon. I prepared all of this for that bitch. It’s enough for her to have many, many Qi-Introducing Pills.”

After moistening his throat, Chen Qingyang didn’t rush to begin alchemy. Instead, he asked Liu Tao, who was across from him, ”Senior Sister, if you were to fight Xu Baoling, how confident are you that you could kill her in a single strike?”

Liu Tao sneered, ”What, you still don’t trust me?”

”I wouldn’t dare. I’m just a little worried. After all, Xu Baoling has the cultivation of the Qi Refining Eighth Realm. I have no power to resist her at all. My life could be forfeit at her slightest whim.”

”Last time, I asked Senior Sister for a life-preserving method, but that Great Soul Scripture can’t actually save my life. I was wondering if Senior Sister could think of something else?”

Hearing this, Liu Tao mocked him, ”Oh, Junior Brother, you can’t blame me for this. I gave you the cultivation technique. Who’s to blame if you don’t have the ability to practice it?”

Chen Qingyang remained calm. ”My Alchemy Dao has been improving rapidly recently. I might even be able to start making Tier Two Qi-Introducing Pills soon. At that time, I can help Senior Sister break through to Essence Condensation. But if something were to happen to me, then Senior Sister would...”

Tier Two Qi-Introducing Pills. The benefit was simply too great. Just as he expected, Liu Tao first scratched her head, then became annoyed, and finally, surprised.

”Tier Two! How could you...” Liu Tao was suspicious. ”Does this mean your cultivation is also about to break through?”

Chen Qingyang wore a serious expression. ”When have I ever lied to you, Senior Sister?”

Liu Tao fell completely silent. There was no envy, no jealousy, just calm calculation.

”Hah, you angered me so much the first time we met. It’s a good thing you actually have some real skill. And then your Alchemy Dao progressed so miraculously fast, truly a rare sight... I originally thought you were relying on me, but now I see that it’s me who’s relying on you... Forget it. Take this.”

Fumbling around, she pulled an object from her sleeve. Looking closely, it was a flame-colored jade pendant.

It was over two inches long, shaped like a jade scroll, with an exquisitely carved cluster of flames on it.

”This Warm Jade Scroll was originally an ordinary item, but I’ve tempered it for many years with my Fire Control Three Acupoints. Infusing it with True Essence not only allows you to defend yourself, but you can also refine and seal things like Divine Souls. I haven’t fought anyone in years, so I’ll give it to you today to protect yourself. Consider it me forming a good karmic bond with you.”

As she said this, Chen Qingyang’s status in her mind had already changed.

Taking it in his hand, there seemed to be nothing unusual about it other than waves of warmth.

But when he channeled his True Essence into it, he instantly felt a jet of flame rush out at him. Its Qi Mechanism was so powerful that it was far beyond what someone at his level—the First Realm of Qi Refining—could withstand.

Instantly, his palm was searing hot.

Liu Tao chuckled. ”You brute. Use it on others next time, not yourself. What level of cultivation do you have, and what level do I have!”

Chen Qingyang quickly tucked the Warm Jade Scroll into his sleeve. ”Thank you, Senior Sister! I wish you a swift breakthrough into the Realm of Essence Condensation!”

”Hehe, you little rascal, your mouth has gotten sweeter.”

...

「The night had deepened.」

As Chen Qingyang approached Xu Baoling’s Alchemy Room, he found a spot to hide the jade pendant before going inside.

Xu Baoling was still busy as ever and didn’t say much. As Chen Qingyang handed her the Qi-Introducing Pill, he said, ”Senior Sister Xu, I’ll be heading back now.”

It was as if her bottom were glued to the floor. She only grunted, ”Mm.”

Afterward, he headed down the mountain. He had only just reached the halfway point when the image of Xu Baoling appeared in his mind once again.

[Chen Qingyang]

[First Realm of Qi Refining]

[Tai Xu Energy-Introducing Technique: (97/200)]

[Tier One Qi-Introducing Pill: (91/100)]

[Great Soul Scripture (Incomplete): (2/300)]

[Available Immortal Seedlings: 43]

The number of Immortal Seedlings he had stolen recently had increased. As the Star Meteor Powder gradually accumulated in her body, Xu Baoling’s Dao Foundation was also being destroyed more and more.

Chen Qingyang used all of them on his Tai Xu Energy-Introducing Technique. Refining a Tier Two Qi-Introducing Pill would consume a great deal of True Essence in the future, something that was impossible for someone in the First Realm of Qi Refining.