Stealing Immortal

Chapter 77: Chapter 76: Rebirth

So, this was Master Yun Ci.

Her slender back made her look like a young girl, which was quite unexpected!

’It makes sense, though. She was once Master Xuan Gui’s disciple, so she’s probably quite young for a Foundation Establishment cultivator.’

She went up with just a sword on her back. Her title as the strongest fighter of the Four Golden Peaks was truly well-deserved.

”If you have nothing else to do, you might as well sit here and wait with me. My Master is very efficient. After putting in so much effort, you deserve to know the outcome!”

The body on the ground had long since been dealt with, and all traces of Shao Jichun’s existence were gone. Leng Yueru was not the least bit bothered by this. On the contrary, she sat behind the long table, calmly sipping her tea.

”Yes, Senior Sister.”

Chen Qingyang remained seated across from her. He watched as his Senior Sister closed her eyes and began to meditate. From this angle, she looked quite captivating.

Of course, he didn’t dare to stare. He lowered his head, pretending to meditate as well, while small golden characters floated before his eyes.

[Chen Qingyang]

[Qi Refining Sixth Realm]

[One-Origin Sword: (19/1200)]

[Great Soul Scripture (Fragmented Technique): (1/999,999)]

[Tai Xu Star Pivot Purple Micro True Skill (Starlight Body): (2/3000)]

[Dragon and Tiger Fighting Calamity Pill: (0/50)]

[Liu Family Ancestral House Incense and Candle Prayer Skill for Gathering Blessings: (0/100)]

[Available Immortal Seedlings: 1571]

’Shao Jichun just died, and I stole over three hundred Immortal Seedlings from her. Added to what I already had, I’ve saved up quite a bit. I’ll just wait until I enter Cyan Bamboo Peak to break through all at once.’

’The Great Soul Scripture is just a fragmented scroll, but I’ve been using it for the past few days, so it has 1 point of progress. My One-Origin Sword has increased by 15 since last time, all through Cultivation. As for the Array and the Elixir at the end of the list, I haven’t had time to study them yet.’

After reviewing this, Chen Qingyang glanced at the Copper Mirror again. It still showed no reaction. He closed his eyes and began to ponder the books he had read recently. Unsurprisingly, as his knowledge of astrology grew, his Cultivation in that area also showed a slight increase.

An unknown amount of time passed. Just as his mind settled into a state of calm, he suddenly felt the ground shake.

CLANG!

The door was pushed open.

When he opened his eyes, Leng Yueru was already standing in the courtyard. By the time Chen Qingyang went outside, several other Law Enforcement Hall disciples had also emerged from their rooms, all of them looking toward the Golden Summit.

A magnificent longsword had appeared high in the sky, its presence absolutely breathtaking!

Below it, a silvery light flashed, resembling a chessboard, as specks of starlight rained down. The two forces were clashing head-on.

”Now that she has the evidence, Master won’t hesitate!” Leng Yueru muttered beside him.

The stalemate in the sky lasted only a moment. The longsword broke through like a hot knife through butter, shattering the square chessboard and plunging its tip toward the ground.

RUMBLE!

With another deafening roar, the ground suddenly exploded, and countless specks of starlight shot into the air, scattering in all directions.

A massive, phantom-like figure appeared in the sky. It was the faint, blurry image of a Daoist nun—it had to be Master Yun Ci.

She condensed a giant hand from the clouds and mist, trying to grab the specks of starlight!

Unfortunately, far more starlight escaped than what she caught in her hand. This strange phenomenon triggered the appearance of the Circulation of Stars Demon Suppression Array.

Dark clouds gathered and pressed down, layer upon layer, crackling with lightning. As thunderbolts struck at the specks of starlight, half of them were extinguished at once. Unfortunately, a small number still managed to fly beyond the horizon.

Chen Qingyang was puzzled. He saw Leng Yueru beside him, her brow furrowed and her expression grim. ”Senior Sister, what is that?”

Leng Yueru didn’t answer right away. Instead, she pulled Chen Qingyang back into the room and shut the door. ”I suspect... it’s a technique for rebirth through death. Master Xuan Gui used Lin Qingxuan’s body to escape, but he could only escape as a wisp of his Divine Soul. He couldn’t take his Magical Power with him.”

”So, he deliberately waited here for my Master’s sword strike. That way, he could transform his entire Cultivation into these specks of starlight, gather them after escaping, and integrate them into a new body. Even if less than a tenth of it remains, at least he achieved rebirth... What a scheme!”

Leng Yueru couldn’t help but grit her teeth as she spoke.

The image of Lin Qingxuan from last night reappeared in Chen Qingyang’s mind. Back then, she still possessed a sliver of her own consciousness. ’Now that Master Xuan Gui has regained some Magical Power, he can probably take full control of the body. The next time I see Lin Qingxuan, will she still be that same girl?’

”Sigh. That Master truly is a brilliant schemer. Although he paid a price, it was undoubtedly the best possible outcome for him under the circumstances!”

’Actually, Master Yun Ci’s scheme wasn’t bad either,’ Chen Qingyang thought, holding back the second half of his sentence. ’She was the one who gained the most from this ordeal, at least.’

It was no wonder Lin Qingxuan had asked him last night if Leng Yueru was secretly helping him.

From Master Xuan Gui’s perspective, everything from the Profound Light Association to the Nine Nether Mechanic Divine Palace, from the dead servant at the beginning to the dead Outer Disciple later on, must have seemed like a trap set by Leng Yueru in collaboration with him.

”Well, this matter is settled, and you have your result. I need to go up the mountain to see my Master now, so I won’t keep you any longer.”

After speaking, Leng Yueru paused. ”There’s one more thing. You need to return something to me, Junior Brother!”

Chen Qingyang understood immediately. He took the Gold Coin Sword from his robes. ”Thank you, Senior Sister, for protecting my life with this little sword.”

A faint glimmer of light, unnoticed by either of them, flashed across the blade.

...

Back in his small courtyard, Chen Qingyang resumed his meditation and Cultivation.

When he heard a noise, he realized the two younger boys had returned.

Pushing open the window, Chen Qingyang glanced outside. The evening glow was beautiful today. The clouds were illuminated layer by layer, and halos of light scattered across the sky.

The entire world was bathed in a golden light.

”Senior Brother Chen, did you see the commotion during the day?” Zhang Ping asked, seeing him standing in the courtyard.

”I did.”

”What do you think happened at the Golden Summit? It feels like things have been pretty unsettled lately.”

Li Sheng stood beside him. He didn’t ask a question, but he pricked up his ears to listen intently.

Chen Qingyang simply said, ”I think... things will be peaceful from now on.”

”Then...” Li Sheng hesitated. ”This doesn’t have anything to do with Junior Sister Lin’s disappearance, does it?”

He certainly had a strong imagination, connecting even the wildest guesses.

”Who can say for sure? I think you two should just focus on your Cultivation!”

Chen Qingyang had no intention of telling anyone he had seen Lin Qingxuan last night.

Hearing this, both of them nodded.

And so, Chen Qingyang spent three days on the mountainside. He would meditate and cultivate diligently, and when he got bored, he would go out for a walk.

It wasn’t until noon on the fourth day that he headed for the Golden Summit.

In the Alchemy Room, Liu Tao had already finished her seclusion. When Chen Qingyang arrived, she was just opening a furnace of Warm Sun Pills, so he sat down to wait. He ended up waiting until nightfall.

Once the Elixirs were finished, Liu Tao walked over. ”Senior Sister,” Chen Qingyang asked, ”did you succeed in the Sacrificial Refinement of your Flying Sword?”

”Of course!” She formed a hand seal, and the Cyan Simurgh shot up from the long table in a burst of fiery light. At Liu Tao’s command, it performed several beautiful flourishes in the air. ”What do you think?”

’It’s a truly formidable technique, especially for killing people!’

Chen Qingyang thought about his own One-Origin Sword. If he could obtain a Flying Sword like this after reaching Foundation Establishment, his Sword Dao Cultivation would become even more powerful!

”It’s incredible. It seems you’ve finally gotten your wish, Senior Sister.”

Liu Tao handed him an Elixir. ”Hardly. Nothing in this world ever goes exactly as you wish. News of the elixir competition is out. Everyone is to gather at the Separation Dragon Pill Institute in five days. I’ve already recommended you.”

”You know how it is. In a barren place like ours, no one was going to fight you for the spot. After I told them you could refine a Tier Three Qi-Introducing Pill, the matter was settled quickly. Of course, this will also draw a lot of attention to you, so you need to be careful!”

’I’ve been dreaming of this for half a year, and the day is finally coming. This miscellaneous task identity has trapped me for so long.’

”Senior Sister, I have one last question.”

Liu Tao leaned in close. ”Go ahead. I’ve probably already guessed what you’re going to ask.”

Chen Qingyang was confused. ”I just want to know how to get to the Separation Dragon Pill Institute.”

Liu Tao grinned. ”See? I was right, wasn’t I? You have to understand, our Tai Xu Sect is a colossal power. The Sect’s territory is much larger than just a few mountain peaks. The Separation Dragon Pill Institute is at least two hundred li from here. Do you have any idea what that means?”

Chen Qingyang was stunned into silence. Liu Tao continued, ”It’s all mountains and ridges. If you planned to walk, you might not even make it in five days if you left now. But since I, Liu Tao, am so kindhearted... I’ve decided to personally escort you there. What do you think?”

’She went through all that just to say this? She really went to a lot of trouble.’ The Separation Dragon Pill Institute had held numerous elixir competitions, but they probably never expected a miscellaneous task disciple to attend.

”That would be wonderful, of course. With you there, Senior Sister, I’m sure the journey will be much safer.”

Liu Tao said smugly, ”As long as you understand.”

Dragon and Tiger Fighting Calamity Pill.

This elixir could reach up to Tier Three. Its main function was to make the ’dragon’ and ’tiger’ qi within the body fight each other, using the medicinal power as a flame to purge toxins and achieve a detoxification effect.

The elixir didn’t require many ingredients. Its only unique feature was that it had two King Medicines: Dragon Scale Flower and Tiger Claw Grass. Besides those, only three other ingredients were needed.

As for how to refine it, Chen Qingyang had already studied the process in detail. Whether it was preparing the ingredients or Fire Control, he was adept. After just one attempt, he had completely mastered the elixir, reaching Tier One proficiency.

Heeding Liu Tao’s advice, he decided it was unnecessary to stir up more trouble at such a critical time. He stayed in the Alchemy Room for five days without leaving, immersing himself in the study of this pill.

Within a few days, he easily broke through to Tier Two with the elixir.

The Tier Three Qi-Introducing Pill and the Tier Four Yang Replacement Powder had given him a great deal of experience. He no longer needed to waste Immortal Seedlings; he could break through to Tier Three on his own.

「Morning.」

A chorus of noisy birds interrupted Chen Qingyang’s Cultivation. He saw that the sky outside his window had brightened. Liu Tao was meditating not far away.

He called out softly, ”Senior Sister, we’re leaving today.”