Stealing Immortal

Chapter 89: Chapter 88: Hong’Er

’First injure him, then win him over.’

’At the very least, Tian Jingzhao would be caught in a state of indecision. This would make Lu Jinzhang, the one backing him, even more unsure of the situation, clouding his judgment and slowing his schemes. I could also use this as a long-term way to acquire Immortal Seedlings, and Tian Jingzhao would have to suffer in silence. It truly kills two birds with one stone. Liu Pei was probably right. This Steward Lu had never been a magnanimous person. Full of the arrogance of a Foundation Establishment Master, how could he let a mere Outer Disciple who had disgusted him continue to run amok? In short, just thinking about it would make him uncomfortable, and when he’s uncomfortable, he’d want to cause some trouble for Chen Qingyang. There’s no need to consider logic in such matters; it’s all based on personal whim. After all, one never needs a reason to step on an ant in their path.’

Tian Jingzhao was very polite. As Chen Qingyang was leaving, he even specially instructed Hong’Er to see him out. ’But that guy is a crafty one,’ he thought. ’He’s probably thinking of using this Hong’Er to control me.’

At the entrance of the Cave Mansion, ”Senior Brother Chen, this is as far as I’ll go!”

Hong’Er bowed to him.

But Chen Qingyang asked, ”How old are you?”

Being asked her age so directly made the girl blush slightly. ”Sixteen.”

Chen Qingyang sighed with emotion. ”Ah, what a fine age. How long have you been in the Tai Xu Sect?”

”Exactly two years.”

”To be chosen for a Miscellaneous Task on Cyan Bamboo Peak, your innate talent must be a cut above those on the Four Golden Peaks. Keep up your Cultivation. If you can break through soon, you can become a disciple under a Foundation Establishment Master and won’t have to be pushed around by him anymore.”

The young woman didn’t understand what the person before her meant. Moreover, having just witnessed his insidious methods, she felt a little frightened and just stood there, unsure how to respond.

”What, you don’t want that?” Chen Qingyang’s gaze was gentle, and his voice was low, conveying a sense of sincerity.

The young woman couldn’t help but say, ”Of course I do.”

”Mm, I took a serious look. Your innate talent is quite good. You’re just a hair’s breadth from a breakthrough. If you could find a way to cross that line, you’d make it in a year or two.”

He thought, ’Perhaps this is how Lu Jinzhang enticed Tian Jingzhao. A few casual words from a superior can be treated as gospel by a subordinate.’

”But... but that’s very difficult, isn’t it?”

”Yes, it is. I was a miscellaneous task disciple for many years, so I know it’s like trying to reach the heavens for you. But from my current position, looking back, it seems like a trivial effort. If you take one Qi Gathering Pill every few days, you will definitely succeed!”

His tone was so certain that the young woman’s guard gradually lowered, and she began to open up to him.

”Senior Brother Chen is right. What’s a trivial effort for you is like reaching the heavens for me.” The young woman lowered her gaze, her expression full of sorrow as she lamented her unfair fate.

’Sometimes I think that being a miscellaneous task disciple for these Outer Sect senior brothers is worse than just working on a peak like Four Golden Peaks. If the senior brothers hate you, you’re in for a rough time. If they like you, you’re still in for a rough time.’

Chen Qingyang leaned in slightly, his voice gentle. ”Don’t worry, I’ll come see you often and bring you some Elixirs. Just don’t tell him.”

The young woman hesitated. ”But... but there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Senior Brother Chen, what is it that you see in me... Don’t tell me you really...”

Her bashful expression made it clear she was referring to herself.

Chen Qingyang smiled and shook his head. ”Don’t worry. I won’t ask you to do anything, and I certainly won’t ask you to betray Senior Brother Tian and bring trouble upon yourself. Seeing you, I’m just reminded of myself. You can definitely do it!”

He left, but the young woman remained, watching his departing figure for a long time, lost in thought.

Inside the Cave Mansion, Tian Jingzhao, who was lying on the bed, naturally had to ask, ”What took you so long?”

The young woman said, ”I’m not sure. He insisted on telling me that today was all a misunderstanding and that he’d bring the Yang Replacement Powder over to you in a few days. He also said you shouldn’t mind...”

Hearing this, Tian Jingzhao asked no more questions.

...

After all these days, he had still only met the eldest senior brother of his lineage; he still had no idea what his own Master looked like.

That was fine, too. Chen Qingyang would just do his own thing.

[Available Immortal Seedlings: 519]

He could put the Purple Star True Skill aside for now. He would study it properly once he reached the Essence Condensation Realm. Using it now wouldn’t be very effective and he could easily injure himself.

Other Elixirs and such could also be set aside. What was important was his agreement with Liu Tao to go down the mountain to gain experience.

Once outside the Tai Xu Sect, any problems could only be solved with force. Therefore, cultivating his Sword Formulas first was the most important thing.

With a single thought, he began focusing on the One-Origin Sword.

He sat in his room, and before he knew it, dawn had broken outside.

A window was half-open, and a cool breeze and the morning light poured in all at once.

He still hadn’t studied the Cultivation Technique and Wind Control Technique left by Master Jing Yuan. Instead, for the past two days, he had been carefully examining that Array.

To set up an Array, one naturally needed an Array Base. This was the foundation that allowed the Array to absorb Spiritual Qi on its own. For the Array to operate continuously, the Array Base was especially important.

Second, there had to be an Array Profound, which was the key to the Array’s function. For example, in this Gathering Yin Technique for Nourishing a Yin Spirit, the ”Gathering Yin” part is what produces the effect. This is called the Array Profound.

In addition, constructing an Array required Array Building components. These components also involved different attributes and qualities, resulting in different kinds of Arrays.

The functions they served within the Array also varied. Depending on the Array’s complexity, there were distinctions such as primary, general, orthodox, and auxiliary roles. To truly master this skill was no easier than mastering the art of Pill refinement.

Chen Qingyang had only gained these insights after studying the Liu Family Ancestral House Incense and Candle Prayer Skill for Gathering Blessings for a long time. He now had a clear idea of how to set up the Array; the only problem was that he had no leads on the five missing Array Building components. Although they weren’t particularly valuable, he still had to find them one by one.

It looked like he would have to find time to make a trip to the Merit Tower.

When he pushed the door open, the two young men were already busy in the courtyard.

Zhang Ping had collected quite a few things—pots, bowls, ladles, and even all sorts of seasonings were readily available. After more than ten days of their hard work, the courtyard now had a clean and elegant feel.

”Senior Brother Chen, there aren’t many of us, but we have a lot of things. I was planning to get Junior Brother Li to help me build another house here. We’ll make it look really nice, and then it can be your Alchemy Room. The current one is just too shabby.”

Chen Qingyang had noticed that compared to things like Immortal Cultivation, Zhang Ping much preferred tidying up the small courtyard. The current three rooms were indeed a bit cramped, and as he began to refine more Elixirs, they would take up more and more space. There might even be other miscellaneous task disciples joining them in the future.

”You even know how to build a house?”

Li Sheng praised him, ”If Senior Brother Zhang were in the mortal world, he probably would’ve gotten married long ago.”

Zhang Ping laughed. ”What’s the point of talking about that? I’m supposed to be focusing on Immortal Cultivation. Once the house is built, we’ll clear out the area next to it too. The climate in these mountains is great. I bet we could grow anything. It’ll be convenient to eat whatever we want...”

’He really does love farming,’ Chen Qingyang thought. ”Alright, that works. If you’re missing anything, just let me know, or take some Merit Copper Coins to trade for it. If that’s not enough, just take what you need from the Alchemy Room.”

Li Sheng said, ”Senior Brother Chen, we’re nowhere near that point yet. We can salvage plenty of materials from right here. There’s an abandoned courtyard nearby, just up the path, we can dismantle things from there... Oh, right! Our new gate is finished, but the space next to it is still empty. Senior Brother Chen, why don’t you inscribe a few words?”

That actually stumped Chen Qingyang for a moment. A great many thoughts flashed through his mind.

He thought back on all his years in the Tai Xu Sect. Aside from forbearance and caution, his most defining trait was his decisiveness when it was time to act.

”I have an idea. How about ’Great courage appears as timidity.’”

Li Sheng mulled it over. ”That’s a great phrase. Only by living that way can a person get ahead in an Immortal Sect.”

Not understanding their convoluted talk, Zhang Ping just kept his head down and worked.

After Chen Qingyang personally took up a brush and wrote down the phrase, he openly used the Void Step Introduction, confirmed the direction of the Four Golden Peaks, and headed straight there.

The journey here had been an arduous trek that took a full day, but the return trip took only a quarter of an hour. He landed at the entrance to the Pill Institute and took a moment to compose himself.

He knocked three times, but there was no reaction from Liu Tao inside. He pushed the door open and sat down at the round table to wait. Liu Tao was meditating in the back. The whole routine felt familiar.

At some point, Liu Tao opened her eyes and secretly watched his back for a long, long time.

”And what wind blew the great man from Cyan Bamboo Peak all the way here today?” Her tone was clearly complaining, resentful that he hadn’t come sooner.

”Senior Sister, it’s only been a little over ten days. I came to see you as soon as I got settled on Cyan Bamboo Peak!”

Liu Tao said again, ”A little over ten days? You’re well aware it’s been that long. But...”

She seemed to think of something, and her tone softened. ”But... it must take you a whole day to make the trip here. That’s certainly not easy.”

Her words made Chen Qingyang hesitate for a moment. She didn’t know that he had cultivated the Wind Control Skill. In the end, he simply replied, ”Mhm.”

Just as he expected, Liu Tao’s anger dissipated.

”Has Master Yun Ci been giving you any trouble lately?”

Liu Tao replied, ”Not at all. On the contrary, she spent a full day giving me guidance on my Cultivation and is paying more attention to me than ever before. Why do you think that is?”

’From a normal person’s perspective, losing a beloved disciple would naturally be heartbreaking. But from Master Yun Ci’s point of view, her scheme had been a resounding success. That made me, Chen Qingyang, a lucky star, and it was Liu Tao who had brought this lucky star to her. Perhaps that’s where this favoritism comes from!’

”The fact that Senior Sister is starting to receive more attention is a good thing. Besides coming to visit you, I also wanted to ask for something.”

Liu Tao wrinkled her nose. ”Hmph, I knew you never show up without a reason. You wouldn’t have come otherwise. Spit it out. What is it here that you’ve got your eye on?”

Chen Qingyang lowered his voice. ”I remember there’s still a large bottle of Star Meteor Powder left. Could you give it all to me?”

”You!” Liu Tao’s eyes went wide. She pointed a finger at him in agitation. ”Are you trying to get yourself killed?”