Stealing Immortal

Chapter 171: Chapter 170: Artifact Refining

Qi flowed through his Dantian as his Sword Intent flourished.

Whenever he absorbed nature’s spiritual energy, the Sword Embryo in his Dantian Spiritual Sea would release a trace of essence. As it circulated, his True Essence would strengthen by a fraction.

Cultivating like this, one circulation after another, his cultivation speed was several times faster than before. No wonder the Sect went to such great lengths to give this item to Li Qianxue.

She already had considerable talent in the Sword Dao. With this aid, one could only imagine the heights she would reach.

After reviewing the recent events, a Dharma Gate surfaced in Chen Qingyang’s mind—the Nine Refinements Forging Technique.

Nine is the ultimate number. This technique wasn’t particularly difficult; it involved summoning the Mingtang True Fire to continuously perform Sacrificial Refinement on a Magical Artifact. The longer the refinement, the more advanced the Magical Artifact would become.

The saying, ”After nine refinements, a Spiritual Rhythm is born,” spoke of this very principle.

He had obtained this Dharma Gate today at the Cloud Scripture Jade Pavilion on Cyan Bamboo Peak. It could be considered the foundation of the path of Artifact Refining. It was only after studying it in detail that Chen Qingyang gained a general understanding of the ”Artifact” among the Seven Arts of Immortal Cultivation.

All things called Magical Artifacts, once graded, were divided into the nine grades of Dust, Embryo, Bone, Blood, Soul, Meridian, Marrow, Aperture, and Profound.

Among them, Dust was the lowest, and Profound was the highest.

Just like the progression for a Cultivator—Refining Essence into Qi, Qi Refining and Divinity Transformation, Refining the Spirit and Returning to Void, and Refining Void and Merging with the Dao—the path of Artifact Refining also followed this pattern.

From tangible to intangible, from impure to pure, until finally reaching the supreme artifact, which was formless and shapeless, yet existed at all times.

One must understand that all intangible things in the world were the most profound, such as the Star Map, the Ming Pavilion, the changing of the seasons, and the laws of the Great Dao.

No matter which of the Seven Arts of Immortal Cultivation one pursued, they all ultimately led to this path. For Chen Qingyang, everything was just beginning.

He pondered the Artifact Refining Technique in his mind for a long while, then circulated it through his Meridians, summoning his Mingtang True Fire to make a few attempts.

Fortunately, his Divine Soul was powerful, giving him extremely high control over his own Qi Mechanism. After just a few tries, he became proficient. Then, he took out the Qiankun Mirror.

Although the two mirrors were identical, they differed in size. He had seen with his own eyes that day: the old woman held the larger one, which was Yin, while the old man held the opposite.

Chen Qingyang gripped the Yin mirror, tossed it high into the air, and then a gush of True Fire erupted from his body, causing the mirror to spin and levitate.

Although the old woman was now dead, her Qi Mechanism still remained within the mirror. He first spent a long time on Refinement, completely erasing it, before truly beginning the Sacrificial Refinement...

Artifact Refining consumed no less True Power than Alchemy. Fortunately, Chen Qingyang’s current Cultivation was formidable, and the True Essence within his body was inexhaustible. He persisted like this until dawn.

Afterward, he cultivated through meditation to enhance his Cultivation and replenish his depleted True Essence. Then he would resume Artifact Refining. The damaged Qi Mechanism of the Qiankun Mirror was gradually being restored.

In this way, Chen Qingyang worked day and night. After a full month of hard work, he finally managed to repair the Magical Artifact.

In terms of power, it now surpassed the Profound Wood Incense Burner he possessed. Gifting it to Liu Tao as a Protective Magical Artifact should be enough to save her life at a critical moment.

[Chen Qingyang]

[Essence Condensation Third Realm]

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

[Tai Xu Star Pivot Purple Micro True Skill (Starlight Body): (4,254/6,000)]

[Danxia Nourishing Truth Sword Manual: (14/24,000)]

[Tier Five Nameless Elixir: (1/10,000)]

[Nine Luminaries Array: (1/1,000)]

[Tier Four Earth Root Biochemical Pill: (468/1,000)]

[Tier Four Spirit Yang Breaking Yuan Pill: (142/1,000)]

[Nine Refinements Forging Technique: (1/200)]

[Available Immortal Seedlings: 1]

Looking at the small golden characters again, he saw the upper limit of this Artifact Forging Technique had changed from 100 to 200. This meant that within the past month, he had broken through the first stage.

As he continued to cultivate this Dharma Gate, his control over the Mingtang True Fire would grow stronger, and he would grasp more of Artifact Refining. In addition to repairs, he could even forge a brand-new Magical Artifact.

Conveniently, Chen Qingyang had the Profound Wood Incense Burner, which he could continue to sacrificially refine in his spare time. This would serve as a lifesaver in a critical moment.

Looking at his other Dharma Gates, whether it was the Danxia Nourishing Truth Sword Manual related to his Cultivation, the Elixirs, or the Astrology Skill, they all required a significant number of Immortal Seedlings.

He could take his time figuring out the Elixirs, but he truly couldn’t spare the time to study the Astrology Inference Skill. After all, most of his energy had to be focused on raising his Cultivation; he couldn’t have it both ways.

’I have to find a way to get more Immortal Seedlings,’ Chen Qingyang thought. ’This is something I can never stop pursuing.’

From his two trips outside the Sect, he had seen that the Immortal Path was virtually nonexistent, at least in the territories controlled by the Tai Xu Sect. Only those Immortal Mansion families with connections to the Tai Xu Sect could rely on Spiritual Qi for their cultivation.

’Therefore, in the long run, the best way to obtain Immortal Seedlings is still within the Tai Xu Sect. If I become an Inner Sect Disciple in the future, I can volunteer to serve under Xuanwei Master, in the areas where the Demon Sect often appears. Obtaining Immortal Seedlings that way would surely be extremely fast.’

After organizing his thoughts, Chen Qingyang brought out the Profound Wood Incense Burner and resumed his cultivation, practicing the Nine Refinements Forging Technique.

According to his understanding, once the Demon Sect Disciple’s Qi Mechanism was erased, it lost its so-called ”Artifact Embryo Spirit.” In other words, it had devolved from a so-called Soul Artifact into a mere Dust Artifact.

This item existed in the mortal world and was stained by the Red Dust, meaning it had not yet obtained a True Spirit. To unleash its full power, he first had to re-nurture this ”Artifact Embryo Spirit,” then use his own True Essence True Fire for Sacrificial Refinement to achieve a state of Unity of Man and Artifact. His control over the Magical Artifact would also improve.

「In the blink of an eye, day broke.」

Because of the light rain last night, a rainbow had formed by the cliffside.

Zhang Ping had just picked a couple of fresh vegetables from his garden and cooked a pot of noodles. The three of them were eating.

Chen Qingyang stood in the courtyard to compose himself, then changed his clothes and slowly walked up the mountain.

He recalled the Conscious Fish into his Spiritual Sea and didn’t release it, because his destination was Master Water Moon’s Dao Field.

Xu Wuji had visited once while he was away. A few days ago, he’d sent a messenger with a letter inviting Chen Qingyang to his Dao Field. When he received no response, Xu Wuji sent another messenger yesterday. The reason given was simply to ”taste tea.”

’If I don’t go, he’ll just keep coming,’ Chen Qingyang thought. ’If I go to him, I might even be able to find a way to get some Immortal Seedlings.’

Climbing the White Jade Steps, he soon came across the small path leading to Tian Jingzhao’s Cave Mansion. He glanced at it from a distance, curious.

There was no one at the entrance of the Cave Mansion. He sent his Conscious Fish inside and saw Tian Jingzhao meditating intently. The number of miscellaneous task disciples beside him had dwindled from four or five to just one.

’As for his cultivation... Qi Refining Sixth Realm, it seems. A drop in realm isn’t uncommon.’

Chen Qingyang guessed, ’Knowing Master Water Moon’s usual methods, the next step will probably be to expel him.’

’After all, every Foundation Establishment Master has a limited number of disciples, and the competition for the Earth Deity position is in less than two years. After that, Tian Jingzhao will probably be sent to a peak like Four Golden Peaks, or even dispatched outside the Sect with the title of Steward, just to wait for death.’

’He’ll never be able to catch up in cultivation in this lifetime. Even if some massive opportunity fell from the sky, it wouldn’t land on someone with no background and no talent.’

’This is enough. I don’t need to kill him. He only listened to Lu Jingzhang’s slander and schemed for my Separation Huo Dragon Pearl. And I’ve already stolen plenty of Immortal Seedlings from him with my elixirs, not to mention injuring him that one time.’

He left the area and continued upward. Since he didn’t know where Xu Wuji lived, he had to ask for directions.

He had just asked two miscellaneous task disciples and gotten his bearings when he turned and ran into an acquaintance—Hu Sheng.

By now, how could he not know that Chen Qingyang had been plotting against him back then? His cultivation falling to its current state was inextricably linked to Chen Qingyang.

He had expected another verbal spat, but Hu Sheng remained expressionless, seemingly trying to pretend he hadn’t seen Chen Qingyang as he walked past.

’Makes sense,’ Chen Qingyang thought. ’He wasn’t just less skilled; he’d tried to pull a fast one and ended up getting burned. Anyone would be too embarrassed to face me. It’s bound to be awkward.’

But Chen Qingyang took half a step to block him. ”Senior Brother Hu, running into an old friend and not even saying hello?”

”Hmph!” Hu Sheng seemed to have lost his fire; even his cold snort lacked its usual force. ”Don’t block my way. I have nothing to say to you.”

But Chen Qingyang said, ”I just wanted to ask for your guidance on a matter. Would Senior Brother Hu be so kind as to point me in the right direction?”

Perhaps out of curiosity, Hu Sheng replied, ”A man with a mind as venomous as yours still needs me to point the way?”

Chen Qingyang didn’t engage in this war of words. His principle in life was to focus on tangible benefits. ”Senior Brother Hu definitely knows the answer to my question. Do you know where Senior Brother Xu Wuji is? I’d like to pay him a visit.”

Hearing this, Hu Sheng looked astonished. ”You, a mere Qi Refining disciple, dare to seek him out on your own? Don’t tell me you actually think you can do whatever you want just because Master Jing Yuan supports you.”

Hearing himself called a ”mere Qi Refining disciple,” Chen Qingyang sized up the other man’s cultivation.

’Good,’ Chen Qingyang thought. ’After getting injured, Hu Sheng cut off all contact with me and never took any of the Poison Pills I offered. A cultivation breakthrough should be very difficult for him now, but at least his realm hasn’t dropped.’

”You don’t live up to your name, ’Tiger Born,’ Senior Brother Hu. Even if I knew my cultivation was inferior, I wouldn’t back down if someone came looking for me. But to hear such cowardly words from you... I must say I’m surprised.”

These words seemed to strike a nerve. Hu Sheng clutched his chest in anger. ”You... you silver-tongued devil! And to think we brothers regarded you so highly. You’re nothing but a treacherous snake.”

Chen Qingyang shook his head. ”I don’t think your name should be Hu Sheng, Senior Brother. Maybe ’Huli Sheng’—’Fox Born’—would be more fitting. To be able to twist the truth so shamelessly, even now...”

’I thought I’d just get directions and leave, but no, Hu Sheng just had to mock me,’ Chen Qingyang fumed internally. ’I’d love to make him cough up blood so I could snatch some more Immortal Seedlings.’

’I always have Poison Pills on hand, but without a pretext to give one away, I have to keep them hidden.’

Hu Sheng’s face just grew darker. He didn’t cough up blood as Chen Qingyang had hoped. After a long moment, he swallowed his anger and pointed upward. ”Keep going up, then take the path on your left. Go past a waterfall, and you’ll see a two-story building. That’s Senior Brother Xu’s Dao Field. I hope you and Senior Brother Xu have a pleasant chat.”

”Haha!” This was clearly meant sarcastically. Chen Qingyang replied with a loud laugh, ”Then I must thank you, Senior Brother Hu!”

’It seems this tiger has learned to behave after taking a loss,’ Chen Qingyang thought.