Stealing Immortal

[Chen Qingyang]

[Qi Refining Fifth Realm]

[Void Step Introduction: (63/100)]

[Tier Three Qi-Introducing Pill: (41/2000)]

[Great Soul Scripture (Incomplete): (9/600)]

[One-Origin Sword: (304/800)]

[Available Immortal Seedlings: 1]

The Tier Three Qi-Introducing Pill was truly potent. After taking one yesterday when he went down the mountain, its effects didn’t begin to wane until this morning.

Chen Qingyang cultivated nonstop throughout the night. By today, his One-Origin Sword progress had increased by a single point. He just didn’t know how long this state would last.

He was short on Immortal Seedlings lately, so he had no choice but to rely on his own hard work.

「That morning.」

Chen Qingyang had just finished tidying up and was about to head out when he saw Zhang Ping waiting in the cold wind. Wisps of smoke were already curling up from the house across the way, carrying a fragrant aroma.

Zhang Ping wasn’t empty-handed. He was holding a bowl of vegetable congee and a piece of pastry.

They were still warm, steaming fragrantly.

The pastry was oily and flaky, with layer upon layer, reminding him of the flaky, layered oil pancakes from his past life.

His skills were truly impressive. In the mortal world, he would undoubtedly be considered a capable young man.

"Thank you for your guidance yesterday, Senior Brother Chen. I’ve made up my mind. I don’t have much to offer, but please don’t scorn this breakfast."

Chen Qingyang didn’t refuse. "You’re very thoughtful."

He took it behind his long table and tried a bite. The flavor was genuinely good. He proceeded to finish everything while Zhang Ping waited nearby to clear away the bowl and chopsticks.

"By the way, Senior Brother Chen, I’ve decided to stay."

Seeing that Chen Qingyang had no intention of asking whether he would stay or go, Zhang Ping brought it up himself.

In truth, Chen Qingyang had guessed he would stay ever since he saw Zhang Ping’s shock upon meeting Liu Tao yesterday.

For Zhang Ping, long life had always been something from stories. Now, it was right before his eyes.

"Yes, I suspected as much."

"Heh..." Zhang Ping scratched the back of his head. "I was wondering why you didn’t ask, Senior Brother. So that’s why."

After clearing the bowl and chopsticks, he left.

It was clear he was a man of few words. Anyone else would have surely asked questions like who Liu Tao was or just how powerful the Essence Condensation Realm was.

After changing into a set of gray robes, Chen Qingyang stood before the Copper Mirror and examined his reflection for a moment.

Aside from the graying hair at his temples, the rest had long since returned to black. The wrinkles on his face were few and far between. Complemented by his three long strands of beard, he looked like a middle-aged man of about forty at most. When he stood up straight, you could still see the burly shadow of his youth—broad shoulders tapering sharply at the waist. All in all, it was a fine physique.

He could feel that ever since entering the Qi Refining Fifth Realm, the rejuvenation was continuing.

There was no need to go to the Hongling Token. After leaving his house, he went straight up to the Golden Summit.

There was no sign of Liu Tao in the Alchemy Room. He waited a while longer, but she still didn’t appear.

Seeing that the shelves were well-stocked with ingredients, Chen Qingyang began refining the Tier Three Qi-Introducing Pill. He continued until noon.

When he came back to his senses, Liu Tao was sitting cross-legged beside him. "I have two things to tell you, one good and one bad. Which do you want to hear first?"

He was currently in the "Late Fire" stage, so Chen Qingyang couldn’t relax his concentration and didn’t speak.

"Fine, what’s the fun in talking to a block of wood like you? I’ll just start with the bad news. You’d better brace yourself."

Chen Qingyang wasn’t a complete block of wood. He gave Liu Tao a tiny reaction—at least, his head moved slightly.

"I saw Master today. Apart from surprise at my breakthrough, she didn’t show much joy, which I found very strange. After all, another Disciple with an Essence Condensation Cultivation in our branch means our branch’s Earth Deity will also grow stronger by a fraction. Master should have been happy."

Chen Qingyang didn’t have the mental space to think about it deeply, so he just gave another slight nod.

From that point on, Liu Tao completely dropped the subject of the good news, instead pressing him, "Tell me, why would Master have that kind of attitude toward me? Did I do something wrong?"

Chen Qingyang didn’t speak, so Liu Tao fell silent as well, simply staring at him as she always did.

Even though her cultivation had broken through to Essence Condensation, her feelings toward Chen Qingyang seemed unchanged.

"If you want me to make a judgment, you have to tell me what actually happened, right?"

Finally, the "Late Fire" stage was over.

Based on what he had learned over the past few days, Chen Qingyang had reached two conclusions about Master Yun Ci.

First, all her disciples were afraid of her. She ruled them with an iron fist.

Second, she placed immense importance on her disciples’ cultivation. Only by nurturing her disciples could the Earth Deity of their branch grow stronger.

Liu Tao’s worry was not without reason.

"She just said my breakthrough was very strange and outside her expectations, but she still congratulated me."

Chen Qingyang thought for a moment more. "She believes you shouldn’t have been able to break through, yet you did. She must be wondering what method you used."

But Liu Tao shook her head. "Master didn’t ask."

Hearing this, a bad premonition rose in Chen Qingyang’s heart.

According to Xu Baoling, her master was suspicious by nature. How could such a person not inquire about something she doubted?

Not asking naturally meant she already had an answer in her heart.

’What is that answer, and where did she get it from?’

’Was it Qi Xiuyuan?’

Thinking about it further was indeed giving him a headache.

Of course, he couldn’t say this directly to Liu Tao. With her personality, she would worry for a long time and might easily give something away. "I think... perhaps she’s blaming herself for misjudging you in the past!"

"Bah!" Liu Tao retorted viciously. "Don’t try to fool me. I’ve known her for over three hundred years and I’ve never seen her blame herself for anything. Master never makes mistakes, you need to be clear on that."

Chen Qingyang insisted, "I think you shouldn’t overthink this. Just handle things calmly. After all, she already made a mistake in her assessment of you, didn’t she?"

"Hmm..." At first, Liu Tao felt that made sense, but on second thought, it seemed wrong. "Shouldn’t it be that she misjudged *you*? Who knew your alchemy skills were so brilliant? Otherwise, how could I have broken through?"

Chen Qingyang said, "Yes, what you say makes sense, Senior Sister. But that just proves that your Master can still make mistakes. We’ve been delayed for so long, and you still haven’t told me what the good news is."

Liu Tao then said, "I asked the child attendant. Qi Xiuyuan will be coming out of seclusion in the next two or three days. You need to be careful. Now that my cultivation has improved, I can perform another Sacrificial Refinement on the Warm Jade Scroll to enhance your ability to protect yourself."

Thinking of Xu Baoling still inside it, Chen Qingyang had no choice but to refuse. "There’s no rush for that. But... this doesn’t sound like good news, does it?"

Liu Tao chuckled. "Hehe, look at me, I almost forgot to say."

She handed something over. Chen Qingyang took it and examined it closely. It was made of bronze and faintly pulsed with a Qi Mechanism.

The token was about the size of a woman’s palm. One side was inscribed with the three words "Four Golden Peaks," while the other was carved with a pill furnace, its flames raging beneath.

Liu Tao began to mock herself. "It’s true that when the tiger’s away from the mountain, the monkey can be king. I am now one of the seven Chief Stewards of the Four Golden Peaks Pill Institute. This is the token. With it, you can freely enter and exit the Cloud Scripture Jade Pavilion and get any pill formula you want..."

"But, I must remind you, although there are several hundred pill formulas there, some of them aren’t suitable for you. Studying them would be a waste of time. Just find what you need, and that’ll be enough. You can hold onto this for now."

She was truly generous with Chen Qingyang, handing over the token she had just received that very morning.

An idea immediately surfaced in Chen Qingyang’s mind. "Senior Sister, besides the Jade Flower Spirit Dew Pill, are there any other elixirs that can repair the Divine Soul?"

As he looked at her, Liu Tao’s expression turned strange—a stare filled with suspicion, indignation, and seething hatred, fixed right on him.

For a moment, Chen Qingyang thought she had seen through his plan to repair Xu Baoling’s Divine Soul.

Suddenly, she gave Chen Qingyang a shove. "What are you thinking? And you said you weren’t indulging in wishful thinking! Don’t tell me you believe you can heal an injured Sword Soul with that elixir of yours? That pill is Tier Two at best, just an ordinary healing elixir. If you’re really that capable, go get a Heaven Repairing Glaze Pill..."

Her pouting anger made Chen Qingyang realize she had brought up Li Qianxue again.

"Senior Sister, you’ve misunderstood. I’ve already answered this question before."

Liu Tao tilted her head, pondering for a moment. "Really... But that’s true. Now when you see her, you have to address her as a Foundation Establishment Master. So why are you asking about this elixir?"

He had to think of a suitable reason. After all, he still needed to trouble Liu Tao with the alchemy.

"I... My Divine Soul was injured by the Great Soul Scripture, so I need this elixir to repair it. Would that be possible?"

Liu Tao thought hard for a moment and found his reason quite plausible. "Sigh, I shouldn’t have passed that Dharma Gate on to you in the first place. I suppose I’m the one who harmed you. The Jade Flower Spirit Dew Pill can indeed have some effect, but how much you recover will depend on you. Is the injury serious?"

Chen Qingyang quickly shook his head. "Not serious. Not serious at all. I just need a little while to recover."

Only then did Liu Tao say, "Take the token to the Cloud Scripture Jade Pavilion tomorrow. You’ll be able to get the formula for that elixir. The ingredients are also quite simple. I’ll prepare some for you while I’m at it."

Hearing this, Chen Qingyang cupped his hands in thanks.

It was indeed a bit too late to go to the Cloud Scripture Jade Pavilion today. He would wait until tomorrow.