Stealing Immortal

Chapter 271 -258: Hidden in the Sleeve

But if you asked Chen Qingyang to go out now, he wouldn’t dare move. He estimated that with a True Monarch’s methods, he would be instantly restrained the moment he was discovered.

He didn’t know which peak this True Monarch was from, and there was no way to ask. Otherwise, knowing the monarch’s movements might have helped him judge whether they would continue to stand guard there.

These Golden Core True Monarchs had lifespans of thousands of years. After a disturbance occurred in the area, it would be easy for them to stand guard for a decade.

In this way, it was as if one of Chen Qingyang’s arms had been cut off. Even his alchemy efficiency was affected without the aid of his Conscious Fish.

For now, this was how things had to be.

Returning to his small courtyard, he once again threw himself into alchemy. It was the life of a drudge, and he still owed Fulu Workshop a considerable sum.

The Pill Furnace flared to life again, releasing a wave of warmth. The ingredients he put in could produce three Elixirs; without the help of his Conscious Fish, he had to be more conservative.

Under Xu Baoling’s instruction, the three youths could now process some of the raw materials, and they were growing more and more proficient. This saved him some more time.

He worked until midnight, then began to meditate and cultivate.

Ever since entering the Realm of Dongming, Chen Qingyang’s True Essence had become immense. Whenever it was consumed during alchemy, he felt as if only a tiny fraction had been used.

Then, when he performed his breathing exercises, Spiritual Qi entered his body at least ten times faster, as if he had taken a Qi-Introducing Pill on Four Golden Peaks.

According to what his Master had said in her sermon that day, within Essence Condensation there were still the Three Acupoints of Jade Capital, Gui Cang, and Taichu to come. Before the Six Acupoints, the focus was on accumulation. After the Six Acupoints, the emphasis shifted to achieving a sudden breakthrough—a carp leaping over the dragon gate.

This meant that cultivating the first Six Acupoints required repeated breathing exercises to enhance one’s True Essence and refine one’s own core vitality, reaching the point where all six were open through this gradual accumulation.

But once past those Six Acupoints, everything depended on comprehension. Even if one’s accumulation was sufficient, they would still be stuck if they could not perceive the mysteries of the final Three Acupoints.

This was the reason why so many cultivators were trapped in the Essence Condensation Six Realms for their entire lives.

…

On Cyan Bamboo Peak, the morning mist drifted over the mountainside, and a cool, gentle breeze steeped the small courtyard.

The east gradually brightened as the red sun broke through the clouds, its golden brilliance sprinkling over the grass and trees. Dew condensed on the eaves, mountain sparrows chirped softly, and a tranquil peace filled the world.

After days of light rain, the sky was now a clear, vast blue.

Just as Chen Qingyang was performing his breathing exercises, Hong’Er appeared at the door. “Senior Brother Chen, a Senior Sister calling herself Leng Yueru is here to see you.”

She had come once before but hadn’t met him. This time, she was also here to deliver Immortal Grass.

Hearing the voice, Xu Baoling had already slipped away. Though whether she showed herself or not no longer had any effect on Chen Qingyang, she still didn’t want to see anyone she used to know.

“Yes, prepare some tea,” he instructed. After changing his clothes, he walked to the courtyard gate. Clad in black, she cut a heroic and dashing figure, with thick brows, sharp Phoenix Eyes, and a vibrant spirit. Who else could it be but Leng Yueru?

When they had first met, Chen Qingyang had been a mere cultivator of the Essence Condensation First Realm. Now that their cultivation levels were comparable, he naturally took a moment to size her up.

He could clearly perceive her Qi Mechanism and the depth of her power.

“Senior Sister Leng, please, come in!”

They settled in the Alchemy Room and brewed tea by the furnace. Hong’Er had even prepared some fruits and vegetables.

Practitioners of cultivation had long surpassed the need for Fasting, but eating a few simple fruits now and then was still acceptable.

“Master sent me to deliver more elixir ingredients to you. I’m very curious, what exactly is the relationship between you and Master now?”

Chen Qingyang gave a slight, bitter smile. “It’s better not to talk about it. Senior Sister just needs to know that I’m a man with a bitter fate, toiling away to refine Elixirs for the Master without getting a single benefit.”

“Heh heh!” He had used this excuse on Leng Yueru before, and she hadn’t pressed him then. This time, holding her teacup, she chuckled lightly.

“With Master’s temperament, why would she make you do this for no reason? You must have offended her in some way. How exactly did you do it?”

As expected of Leng Yueru, she had gotten right to the heart of the matter.

But Chen Qingyang had a ready excuse. “Senior Sister, please don’t make things difficult for me. The Master has forbidden me from telling anyone. If you want to know, you’re better off asking her.”

“Heh, I knew from that incident with Xuan Gui that you’re a cunning one. If you don’t want to say, I won’t be able to get it out of you.”

“Sigh!” At the mention of her master, she couldn’t help but sigh. “Now that Master is injured and her cultivation has been affected, the Sect, which has always been pragmatic, will surely shortchange her during the annual apportionment of Earth Deities. The impact this time will be significant.”

After the incident, all three people he had seen from Four Golden Peaks had shown their concern. “Senior Sister, don’t be so pessimistic. Maybe this is actually a good thing!”

Leng Yueru knew him well enough to know he wasn’t just making flippant remarks, so she asked curiously, “How could this be a good thing?”

“Back when I was on Four Golden Peaks, I suffered many setbacks. The experience is still fresh in my mind, and because of it, I’m able to face crises with a steady mind. My mentality has become extremely stable, and I rarely make major errors in judgment…”

This wasn’t Chen Qingyang boasting; it was how he truly felt.

“From what I know, the Master is quite talented in cultivation and has advanced very quickly. Suffering a small setback now and slowing down a little will only allow her to walk a more stable path in the future. If you think of it that way, Senior Sister, doesn’t it become a good thing?”

Leng Yueru laughed. “I never would have guessed you had such insight. That’s incredible, Junior Brother.”

Chen Qingyang showed the appropriate humility. “Senior Sister is too kind. I heard that our Tai Xu Sect has eleven Golden Core True Monarchs. I wonder how much Senior Sister knows about them?”

Leng Yueru replied, “The True Monarchs don’t meddle in worldly affairs. Plus, I cultivate on Four Golden Peaks, not Cyan Bamboo Peak like you, so what opportunity would I have to interact with a Golden Core True Monarch? The only one I’ve ever seen is Xuan Jun True Monarch, who presides over the Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall.”

Chen Qingyang then asked, “And what does this True Monarch look like?”

Leng Yueru was naturally curious. “He has a tall, slender figure, a fair face with no beard, and looks to be about… fifty years old at most. Why are you asking all this?”

“Curiosity. Just pure curiosity.”

‘Around fifty… so it’s not that True Monarch.’

…

They had drunk their tea and finished their conversation. Leng Yueru was about to leave. With a wave of her sleeve, she left a pile of Immortal Grass on the floor—the very same ones Chen Qingyang had written on his list.

Her movements were graceful, and the Immortal Grass seemed to appear from thin air. He was truly dying of envy.

Unexpectedly, after leaving the items, Leng Yueru didn’t hurry to leave. Instead, she handed a letter to Chen Qingyang.

“Master didn’t say what it was, but the letter is sealed, so only you can read it.”

Seeing Leng Yueru’s burning gaze, he tucked the envelope into his robes. Seeing this, Leng Yueru could only say, “Forget it. I won’t be curious then.”

After seeing her off, he hurriedly tore open the envelope. Inside were about seven or eight pages, densely filled with elegant, small handwriting.

Looking closer, he saw it was a Cultivation Technique called the “Tai Xu Sleeve Concealment Technique”—the very same Dharma Gate for Universe in the Sleeve.

‘Well, well, well. She sent it to me after all. In the end, the Master’s principles couldn’t stand up to my moral blackmail!’

He read it through carefully twice, memorizing every word. Then, he used Fire to burn it to ashes, lest it bring trouble to Yun Ci and himself.

[Tai Xu Sleeve Concealment Technique: (0/3000)]

The Dharma Gate had now appeared among the small golden characters.

The starting cost was three thousand, which wasn’t a small amount compared to the Magic Techniques he had cultivated before.

He had 566 Immortal Seedlings remaining. He took one and added it to the technique. In that instant, the Dharma Gate was fully comprehended, settling naturally within his mind.

A change occurred in the center of his torso.

Though the wisp of Qi was faint, it carried the momentum of creating a new world. Right there, in his Dongming Qi Mansion, it seemed as if a universe was being born, quickly growing to the size of his fist.

He finally understood why Universe in the Sleeve could only be cultivated after reaching the Realm of Dongming.

As he added more Immortal Seedlings, this Dongming-world grew. After he “dumped” two hundred Immortal Seedlings into it, it had expanded to be five or six feet square.

He gently activated the technique. His sleeve floated over the long table, and all the teacups on it were drawn inside.

This Dongming-world, while connected to him, seemed to exist outside of this space. It was a pocket dimension created by a cultivator, one that could only be linked to its creator.

‘Not bad. Not bad at all!’

‘The investment is already starting to pay off.’