Stealing Immortal

Chapter 34: Chapter 33: Good Fortune Arrives

The warm winter lasted but a single day.

The weather in the mountains was fickle. A sudden blizzard swept through overnight, and the world was plunged into a biting chill.

Back when Chen Qingyang had followed Li Qianxue and trained on Sun-piercing Peak, he had never encountered anything like this. The Peak Master of Sun-piercing Peak was a Golden Core True Monarch, capable of summoning wind and rain and shielding celestial secrets. Their abilities were truly formidable.

The entire peak was protected by their powerful Array, keeping it as warm as spring all year round. Disciples there had only to bask in its comfort and focus on their Cultivation. Even the Miscellaneous Task disciples chosen for that peak were more talented than the ones here on the Four Golden Peaks.

Scions of Immortal Cultivation Clans, recommendations from Dynasty Sacrificial Offerings... The list was endless!

The seven peaks—Sun-piercing, Feixian, Denglai, Xu Ling, Celestial Secret, Divine Craft, and Starlight—were the true Tai Xu Sect, the real Immortal Blessed Land.

Thinking back on it, the circumstances of his banishment to the Four Golden Peaks were strange. Li Qianxue had clearly arranged for him to be a Miscellaneous Task disciple on Sun-piercing Peak. But then something had gone wrong, and someone had sent him packing to this place.

From then on, he grew more distant from Li Qianxue, their connection fading. It was as if his profound Immortal Fate had vanished along with it.

If someone had orchestrated this, they must have been targeting Li Qianxue. After all, she was a genius; many were jealous but helpless against her. It was common for them to vent their frustrations on her attendants.

At this thought, Chen Qingyang felt that keeping a low profile was the right call.

The Tai Xu Sect’s path of Cultivation was pragmatic, but it also respected karma.

Because life was so long, anything could happen. If you showed mercy when you should have severed ties, you would only be setting yourself up for a fall, just like Tu Anjia!

A sliver of light appeared outside. Inside, Chen Qingyang ceased his Dharma Gate technique.

Since breaking through to the Fourth Realm yesterday, his sensitivity to the cold seemed to have diminished. The charcoal in the brazier had long since died out, but he didn’t bother to relight it. He simply freshened up with a splash of water and prepared to head out.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps outside. Judging by the aura alone, he knew it was Xu Yong.

”Greetings, Senior Brother Chen!”

He pulled open the door, and the young man immediately bowed.

Chen Qingyang hadn’t seen the youth in two days. He seemed less impetuous, his bearing now more composed.

”What is it?”

”I wanted to talk to you about something, Senior Brother. I was just wondering if now is a good time.”

”Well... come in, then.”

Work wasn’t so urgent that it couldn’t wait, so he let him in.

Xu Yong looked around as if it were his first time in the room, his eyes scanning every detail before settling on Chen Qingyang himself, sizing him up.

”What are you looking for?”

He seemed to snap out of it and gave an awkward chuckle. ”Heh, I noticed the charcoal in your brazier looks like it’s been out all night. Are you not afraid of the cold anymore, Senior Brother Chen?”

’He’s being strangely evasive today. Usually, if he wanted to ask about my Cultivation, he’d just ask.’ ”How would you know it’s been out all night? Perhaps it only died down this morning.”

”Heh, it’s just really cold in here. I suppose you haven’t noticed, Senior Brother Chen,” Xu Yong said with another smile.

”Just say it. What do you want?”

Xu Yong stood and bowed again. ”I’ve been following your lead in Cultivation ever since I joined the sect, Senior Brother Chen. It’s only right for me to be concerned. I believe it’s been two months since you started going to the Golden Summit, right? I wonder what you’ve gained, and when you might enter the Outer Sect.”

Chen Qingyang countered, ”And what about your Cultivation?”

”I received a favor from Senior Brother Hu, so my progress has been quite swift. I figure with another year or two of hard work, I’ll be able to surpass Lü Yunshen. What about you, Senior Brother?”

Chen Qingyang replied, ”I’ll be ahead of you.”

...

Xu Yong left, seemingly having gained nothing. Not long after he headed off to work, Lü Yunshen sidled up to Chen Qingyang.

”Senior Brother Chen, do you think he’s found out about you giving me Elixirs every day? He came specifically to question you today, didn’t he? I’m pretty sure I heard him say my name.”

’This one’s a cunning fellow with sharp ears.’

Chen Qingyang countered, ”And have you told him anything about it?”

”Of course not.” Lü Yunshen’s tone was firm, almost resentful of the suggestion. ”You know me. Why would I associate with a fickle-minded villain like him? He’s talked plenty of smack about you behind your back, only to put on a different face in public. And now that he’s mixed up with the Profound Light Association, he’s completely gone bad...”

Ignoring his rant, Chen Qingyang cut him off. ”What about the matter I asked you to look into?”

”I’m still asking around. I’ve asked a few of my peers in the Profound Light Association, and they all say they’ve never seen Gong Yueshu. I’ll ask a few more people.”

Chen Qingyang pondered for a moment. ”Yes, we have to be sure about this. Ask more people. And if you have time over the next two days, keep an eye on Xu Yong’s movements as well.”

Lü Yunshen was puzzled. ”Xu Yong? The Profound Light Association has been quiet for a month. What else could he be doing besides his daily work?”

”Just see if he’s been in contact with Gong Yueshu.”

Lü Yunshen was stunned for a moment, then a hint of glee appeared on his face.

In his eyes, following Hu Kai from the Profound Light Association was Xu Yong’s proper path; following Gong Yueshu would get him nowhere. The sight of the annoying youth once again straying onto the wrong path filled him with irrepressible joy.

”Understood. I’ll pay close attention to his movements.”

This time, he didn’t ask why.

”Good.” Chen Qingyang tossed him a Qi Gathering Pill. ”Take it and go. I need to get to work now.”

”Right away, Senior Brother Chen.”

When it came to shrewdness, how could a mere youth like Xu Yong compare to an old soul like Chen Qingyang? The moment Xu Yong had acted strangely, Chen Qingyang’s suspicions were raised.

After all, from Gong Yueshu’s perspective, Xu You had disappeared while investigating him. Unlike Xu You, Gong Yueshu had clearly chosen to win over Xu Yong first, then observe Chen Qingyang from a distance.

「Inside the Hongling Token.」

After completing three pieces of Dao Rhyme Text, Chen Qingyang began to bide his time, waiting for Qi Xiuyuan to appear in his mind and, hopefully, bring him a surprise.

...

In a dim room that seemed to repel any trace of light, Qi Xiuyuan sat before a single candle, its flame illuminating only half of his body.

He was weaker than yesterday, more gaunt than yesterday, bloodier than yesterday... but his eyes were open. There was a flicker of life in them, a trace of Essence Qi, and less of that deathly stillness!

Seeing his appearance, Chen Qingyang had a bad feeling. Then he saw the small, floating golden characters: the number of Immortal Seedlings obtained was only 136.

Among the numbers one through nine, five is unique, right in the middle. If a change were to occur now, it would fit the principle that when things hit rock bottom, they can only turn around; that when things reach an extreme, they reverse.

And today was the fifth day.

Chen Qingyang was deeply worried that Qi Xiuyuan would manage to endure, bit by bit. If his confidence and Dao Heart remained so firm, then as the Miscellaneous Task disciple who had caused his downfall, Chen Qingyang could well imagine the consequences.

In the worst-case scenario, the man would cast all else aside and rush over to deliver a fatal blow to this Miscellaneous Task disciple.

With no mood to create more Dao Rhyme Patterns in the Hongling Token, Chen Qingyang hurriedly made his way to the Golden Summit.

「In the Alchemy Room.」

When he saw Liu Tao, she was beaming. For the past two days, she had been basking in the joy of her growing Cultivation. Her hair had grown darker, her wrinkles had smoothed out, her posture was straighter, and her waist had slimmed. One could even catch a glimpse of her youthful charm.

’She must have been gorgeous in her youth,’ he thought. ’No doubt about it!’

”Senior Sister Liu, what do you think will happen if Qi Xiuyuan pulls through?”

The sudden question from beside her instantly shattered Liu Tao’s good mood. Her expression soured. ”Nonsense. I was in a perfectly good mood. Don’t talk to me about such things.”

Chen Qingyang was destined to be the bearer of bad news. ”But haven’t you considered it, Senior Sister? If Qi Xiuyuan pulls through, his Cultivation will soar. Will you still be able to keep him in check then?”

This time, Liu Tao’s expression finally turned serious. ”Where did you hear this?”

He couldn’t very well mention Stealing Immortal. ”It’s just a hypothetical. I’m saying it’s a possibility!”

”That’s impossible. Even I couldn’t have endured that, so how could Qi Xiuyuan...” She trailed off, then reconsidered. ”But for the sake of our own safety, I suppose we should entertain the hypothetical.”

After a moment of serious thought, Liu Tao turned her head back to him, a slight smile playing on her lips. ”Junior Brother, if someone with Qi Xiuyuan’s talent were to pull through, reaching the Essence Condensation Realm would be well within his grasp. However, his foundation is shallow. It won’t be so easy for him to surpass me. Even if he wanted to face me, he’d still be lacking. So...”

”Heh heh, the only real concern is your safety. If it really comes to that, just don’t leave the mountain. You can work here in my Alchemy Room every day. The two of us won’t even step out the door. We’ll see what he can do to you then. In two years, my Cultivation will have broken through, and we won’t have to fear him anymore. And won’t you be able to go to Cyan Bamboo Peak then?

If this had been proposed in the past, the cautious Chen Qingyang would have agreed immediately.

But now... doing so would sever him from countless opportunities in the outside world. He would have to rely solely on his own research for Elixirs and his own efforts for Cultivation. While his aptitude had improved, reaching his goals would take an eternity. His dream of going to Cyan Bamboo Peak would become just that—a dream.

Therefore, this was a last resort, at best. ”That plan won’t work. Think of something else, Senior Sister.”

Liu Tao grew angry at once. ”You old codger! I treat you so well, and you’re still being picky? What do you expect? Are we supposed to just go and eliminate Qi Xiuyuan?”

Chen Qingyang wasn’t flustered. He simply said slowly, ”I am merely thinking of your future, Senior Sister. Your breakthrough to Essence Condensation is inevitable, but if Qi Xiuyuan survives this, his own breakthrough will be just as inevitable. The road ahead as fellow disciples is long. I’m afraid a living Qi Xiuyuan could become another Xu Baoling. And if, one day, his Cultivation surpasses yours, Senior Sister Liu... well, that would be even more unbearable!”

Sure enough, at the mention of Xu Baoling’s name, Liu Tao’s temper flared. ”Hmph... There’s some truth to what you say. It was the same with that bitch—it all started with a small conflict. But we can’t get to Qi Xiuyuan right now. Whatever we plan to do, we have to wait until he gets out!”

Chen Qingyang nodded slightly. ”Senior Sister, it was only a hypothetical. I just wanted you to be prepared, so you won’t be caught off guard when the time comes.”

”Mm.”

...

During Alchemy today, Chen Qingyang added significantly more ingredients to the Pill Furnace than usual. Liu Tao watched from the side without a word, her face filled with anticipation.

When the batch of Elixirs was complete, it produced three Tier Two Qi-Introducing Pills. Their luster was brilliant; they were all Top Grade.

”My, my! You old codger, you’ve been practicing Alchemy for so long, and it seems you’ve never failed once... and now you’ve given your Senior Sister another surprise!” Liu Tao was beaming. ”It’s truly... unbelievable!”

Three Tier Two Qi-Introducing Pills were enough to keep her under the Elixirs’ effects from morning till night.

”Which is why having me around is very important to you, Senior Sister!”