Stealing Immortal

Having reached the Qi Refining Sixth Realm, Chen Qingyang could now refine Tier Four Yang Replacement Powder without needing any further increase in his cultivation.

He could even attempt to refine a Tier Five Elixir and move to a higher peak, but this course of action presented two obvious problems.

First, he couldn’t obtain the Pill Formula; such formulas were only available on the peaks that specialized in refining elixirs. Second, it would draw far too much attention, as he was, after all, just a Miscellaneous Task disciple.

The safer choice was Cyan Bamboo Peak; it was the best place for him to go.

...

The sky was still dark, shrouded in a cold mist.

Chen Qingyang rose early, washed up, and made his way to the Golden Summit. Just as he was about to reach the peak, a golden light burst forth from behind the mountain range.

The sky brightened completely.

’It’s strange. Given how Qi Xiuyuan hates my guts, he’s been quiet for several days. A gentleman’s revenge may not be too late after ten years, but I think it’s better to strike while the iron is hot. If he doesn’t show up soon, I’ll just have to create an opportunity myself and parade right in front of him.’

Ignoring all other destinations, Chen Qingyang headed straight for the Cloud Scripture Jade Pavilion.

Xu Baoling had said that the One-Element Sword Technique obtained here could be used all the way to the Qi Refining Ninth Realm. As for what came after the Ninth Realm, he would truly have to take on a Foundation Establishment Master.

Today, the guard outside the Cloud Scripture Jade Pavilion had changed. It was an old man in a gray robe. He had a head of white hair but a youthful complexion, looking far older than Chen Qingyang, who currently appeared to be middle-aged.

He had thought that with the dismissive youth gone, it would be hard to get the Sword Formulas. But unexpectedly, the old man didn’t even glance his way, uttering just a single word: "Enter."

Chen Qingyang was once again engrossed inside for a long time. This time, he didn’t just browse the Pill Formulas; he went through all the Sword Formulas as well.

When it came to the purity of sword cultivation, only the One-Origin Sword was truly supreme, so he decided to complete the rest of its techniques. As for Pill Formulas, he chose one for an Antitoxic Elixir called Dragon and Tiger Fighting Calamity. He had, after all, witnessed the power of Poison Pills firsthand, and having such a countermeasure would be a safeguard for the future.

Liu Tao was in the Alchemy Room.

She sat before the Pill Furnace, painstakingly refining a batch of Warm Sun Pills.

Chen Qingyang sat beside her, watching for a long time. Fortunately, this batch yielded two Tier Two pills, an improvement from her usual single one.

In terms of alchemical skill alone, Chen Qingyang was already considered exceptional on the Four Golden Peaks.

"You really shouldn’t compare people, or you’ll die of frustration!"

Liu Tao’s face was slightly flushed, and her ample chest rose and fell as she panted heavily. "Seeing you refine Tier Three Qi-Introducing Pills so easily while I struggle so much with even Tier Two ones... Hmph..."

Chen Qingyang said, "Senior Sister, don’t feel bad. You must have been focusing on your cultivation breakthrough recently and paid less attention to the Alchemy Dao. You’re just a bit rusty, that’s all. It will get better with time."

Liu Tao looked over, her gaze softening. "You old fox, so you’re not a block of wood after all!"

Chen Qingyang just gave a slight chuckle and returned to his alchemy.

He had successfully refined countless Tier Three Qi-Introducing Pills, yet he still had to give each attempt his full concentration to guarantee both quality and quantity.

He had started very early in the morning, and it wasn’t until afternoon that he finally finished the "Late Fire" stage.

"I don’t need these elixirs for now. They’re all for you, Senior Sister. Use them to completely stabilize your cultivation."

Without standing on ceremony, Liu Tao accepted them all. "Very well. In that case, you can have these Warm Sun Pills. These three Qi-Introducing Pills are enough to last me a day."

Chen Qingyang didn’t refuse.

’There are many paths to immortality, and Gold and Stone Pharmacology is one of them. Taking an elixir is better than not, especially since this one can also refine the meridians.’

"Thank you, Senior Sister."

After that, Chen Qingyang began to refine Yang Replacement Powder, deciding to attempt a Tier Two version today.

As soon as he began preparing the ingredients, Liu Tao was already astonished. "You’re moving on to this already?"

"I’m just giving it a try, Senior Sister. I don’t know if it will succeed; my progress isn’t necessarily that fast."

"Hmph, lying again!"

Liu Tao fell silent, continuing to watch him intently from the side.

The moment the ingredients entered the Pill Furnace and Chen Qingyang began his Fire Control, she looked away. She knew this batch of elixirs was a guaranteed success.

A long time later, the sky outside had begun to dim.

A layer of golden powder settled inside the Pill Furnace. Judging by the color, it had reached Tier Two. Much later, a brilliant golden pill rested in Liu Tao’s palm.

"A Tier Two... It’s wonderful, but it’s useless to me. If I ever took this out, my Master would definitely ask if I was the one who refined it. My Master has plenty of Outer Disciples, you know. I’m afraid she’d press-gang me into service." Liu Tao adored the pill but was vexed that she couldn’t use it.

An idea occurred to Chen Qingyang. "I heard from an Outer Sect Steward that there’s a place at the foot of the Four Golden Peaks where disciples trade in private. You can even wear a cloak to hide your identity. Couldn’t you trade it for Spirit Stones there, Senior Sister?"

This Outer Sect Steward was, naturally, Wu Boyou. He was known for skimming Spiritual Powder from the Hongling Tokens, converting it into Spirit Stones, and then secretly trading them for other necessities.

The Sect had its rules, and the disciples had their own ways around them.

It was as if a lightbulb went off for Liu Tao. "That’s right! I can’t do it openly, but I can go in secret! Why didn’t I think of that before!"

Despite her age, she wasn’t particularly worldly-wise.

"If I trade enough of them, could I save up enough Spirit Stones to get a Flying Sword?"

"Hmph!" At Chen Qingyang’s suggestion, Liu Tao gave him a light slap. "You promised to *give* me a Flying Sword, not just have me save up for one with Spirit Stones. Are you trying to get out of it so easily?"

Exasperated, Chen Qingyang could only suggest another plan. "In that case, Senior Sister, you can give all the Spirit Stones to me. Once I’ve saved enough, I’ll go get a Flying Sword and present it to you with my own two hands."

Liu Tao considered this seriously and saw no issue with it. "Okay. Once I’ve figured out the location, I’ll take you with me!"

Chen Qingyang remained noncommittal.

In the time that remained, he refined another batch of Jade Flower Spirit Dew Pills. This time, he produced three pills, which would be enough for Xu Baoling for a day or two.

Thanks to his early start, it wasn’t too late when he headed back down the mountain.

Back in the small courtyard, smoke was curling up from the chimney; the three youths were busy cooking again.

Li Sheng seemed to have been watching for him. The moment he saw Chen Qingyang, he immediately walked over, and with an air of mystery, ducked into the house first.

"Senior Brother Chen, I think Senior Brother Hu Kai is dead!"

He kept his voice low, as if terrified the others in the courtyard might overhear.

Chen Qingyang wasn’t surprised. "How do you know?" he asked.

"Some senior brothers from the Law Enforcement Hall came to question me today about what I discussed with Hu Kai yesterday. That’s how I found out."

’The Law Enforcement Hall acted so quickly,’ Chen Qingyang thought, surprised. ’And they already identified the body as Hu Kai, even though it was burned to ashes.’

Li Sheng continued, "I just told them he complained I was too slow and gave me some instructions on my tasks. I didn’t mention a single other thing."

’This kid is sharp,’ Chen Qingyang thought. ’He just saved me from a huge headache. If he’d mentioned the bamboo tube, I’d have had no way to defend myself.’

Chen Qingyang stared at him, and the boy stared back. "Did you know Hu Kai well?"

"I heard he often skipped work, that he seemed to have connections. People always flocked around him. He seemed to hold a lot of sway among the Miscellaneous Task disciples, is that right?"

Chen Qingyang mulled this over for a moment before asking, "Are you afraid of me, then?"

Without hesitation, Li Sheng shook his head firmly. "If you hadn’t warned me to be careful yesterday, I might be. But because you did warn me, I’m not afraid."

’Not only is he quick-witted, but he’s also courageous. And at only fourteen or fifteen... truly remarkable.’ "You’ve helped me a great deal," Chen Qingyang said. "I should thank you."

As he spoke, an elixir appeared in his hand: a Tier Two Warm Sun Pill he had acquired just today.

’This thing is incredibly rare, not just for a Miscellaneous Task disciple, but even for an Outer Disciple. I don’t have any Qi Gathering Pills on hand, so this will have to do.’

"Don’t ask for the elixir’s name. Just know that it’s extremely precious. Take it tonight when you get back, and remember to recite the formula for the Tai Xu Energy-Introducing Technique while guiding your Qi Mechanism."

Li Sheng accepted the elixir with both hands, showing no hesitation. He examined it carefully for a long moment. "Senior Brother Chen, I’ve heard that good elixirs have a smooth luster and a potent aroma. This one is actually shimmering with a golden light. It must be an incredible treasure, right?"

There was no feigned modesty, just a direct question about the elixir.

Chen Qingyang replied, "That’s precisely why I can’t tell you its name. It would only bring you trouble—a great deal of trouble. I want this matter to end here. From now on, we go our separate ways. Understand?"

’It’s normal for a person to be greedy, but true character is revealed by one’s ability to rein it in.’

’If the boy’s character were even slightly flawed, he wouldn’t accept these terms. He would try to stick with me and wheedle more things out of me.’

’Eventually, that would naturally evolve into a threat.’

’Be cautious, stick to your duties. Only by thinking three steps ahead for every one you take can you secretly advance your cultivation day by day.’

Li Sheng didn’t hesitate. "No problem. I’ll treat this as my one and only stroke of Immortal Fate. Senior Brother Chen, Senior Brother Zhang Ping has prepared dinner tonight. Would you do us the honor of joining? They sent me specifically to invite you."

After a brief silence, Chen Qingyang replied, "Very well."

After agreeing, he went back to his own room and rummaged through his belongings, gathering some food and a few small trinkets that other senior brothers had given him in the past to bring as a gift.

Young people will be young people. They are rarely swayed by rumors and gossip, preferring to act on their own instincts.

After all, only the young believe they are always right!

Thus, despite having heard many rumors about Chen Qingyang, they were incredibly warm toward him that evening. They chatted a great deal, talking about many things from the world beyond the mountain.

It occurred to Chen Qingyang that he had left the Red Dust a hundred years ago.

"Senior Brother Chen, I wonder when we’ll get a chance to go down the mountain and see the world again?" It was Lin Qingxuan who asked.

"All I know is that Outer Disciples at the Seventh Realm of Qi Refining and above get the chance to go down the mountain for training."

He knew this because Li Qianxue had been at that realm when she returned home all those years ago.

"Ah!" Lin Qingxuan cried out in shock. "But wouldn’t that take two or three hundred years to reach? By then... who would be left in my family!"

"Sigh." Zhang Ping, however, looked unconcerned. "Junior Sister Lin, you shouldn’t even think about it. Very few Miscellaneous Task disciples even manage to start Qi Refining by the time they’re old. It’s a question of whether we’ll even live that long. Better to focus on the here and now."

Li Sheng clapped him on the shoulder. "Senior Brother Zhang, no matter what, the few of us still have a chance!"