Stealing Immortal

The Seven Arts of Immortal Cultivation.

Pills, Arrays, Talismans, Swords, Planting, Control, and Artifacts—these were what the Tai Xu Sect called the Seven Arts of Immortal Cultivation. But if one looked at the whole of Cyan Nether State, there was another art that had to be mentioned: the Armor-Controlling Style.

All eight of these could help a Practitioner in Breaking the Dao, establishing their own law, and ascending to become a Celestial Human. However, the Armor-Controlling Style had significant side effects, so the Tai Xu Sect did not promote it. The Nine Nether Mechanic Divine Palace, on the other hand, based its entire existence on it.

The eldest son’s current state, combined with the sickly act he always put on for his father, was enough to prove he was secretly colluding with the Nine Nether Mechanic Divine Palace. It seemed the father and his five sons were not as united as they appeared.

His expression was grim. He circulated a bit of his True Power, and the Metal Lotus began to spin. Chen Qingyang’s Conscious Fish perceived it all with extreme detail: True Essence was circulating from the man’s Meridians into the Metal Lotus, then passing through the Ren and Du Meridians to complete a full Circulation of Heaven. This object had clearly become his Dantian.

Judging from the Qi Mechanism he was emitting, his Cultivation was at the Fourth Realm of Qi Refining.

After observing in secret for a while, Chen Qingyang landed softly in the courtyard. The eldest son sensed his presence, finished dressing, and came out to greet him. He relaxed slightly upon seeing it was Chen Qingyang.

He was now leaning on a cane, his back hunched at nearly a ninety-degree angle, once again affecting his sickly appearance.

"COUGH, COUGH... So it’s Senior Brother Chen. My father has already arranged everything. The Water Spirit Immortal is just waiting for the two of you to retrieve it."

He didn’t yet know what had happened and just assumed Chen Qingyang was dropping by for a visit.

Chen Qingyang played along. "I appreciate the trouble you and your father have gone to. What, not going to invite me in for a seat?"

The eldest son gave an awkward smile. "Of course, as long as Senior Brother Chen doesn’t mind this decrepit old man’s company. Please, come in!"

He called out, and a maidservant came to prepare tea and snacks. At Chen Qingyang’s signal, the eldest son dismissed all the maids.

"Senior Brother Chen, is there something you wish to speak to me about alone?"

Now, only the two of them remained in the room. "That’s right. There’s something I’m very curious about. I’d like you to clear up my confusion."

"Please speak freely, Senior Brother Chen."

Chen Qingyang placed a hand on the long table. "What’s going on with your Dantian?"

The eldest son froze, his expression shifting from confusion to terror. He knew that in the eyes of the Tai Xu Sect, this was tantamount to colluding with a Demon Sect. "I... I don’t know what Senior Brother Chen is referring to."

The arm resting on the table lifted slightly. Sword Qi shot out from his fingertips, instantly shredding the eldest son’s clothes. Looking at the Golden Lotus on his abdomen now, most of it seemed to be hidden inside his body, with only a few metal petals exposed.

But it was more than enough proof.

"This is what I’m referring to."

Seeing that he could no longer hide it and was no match for his opponent, the eldest son could only give a bitter smile. "Senior Brother Chen, you may not know this, but my lifespan is nearly at its end. My Cultivation has been stuck at the Third Realm of Qi Refining, unable to break through. With death imminent, I accepted a favor from the Nine Nether Mechanic Divine Palace ten days ago and entered the Dao through a Golden Wheel."

"Ten days. It’s only been a short time. I have never done anything to betray the Tai Xu Sect. All I wanted was to live. It’s only human nature. Please... Senior Brother Chen, show mercy beyond the law and spare me this once!"

His words were sincere, his delivery slow. He truly sounded like an old man who only wanted to survive.

Chen Qingyang said, "I’m not one to meddle in other people’s business. After all, what you do has nothing to do with me. But what I’m asking now is, how did you conspire with Master Wufang?"

Hearing this, the eldest son’s face turned ashen. He knew that matter had been exposed. After a long moment, he said, "It seems the Upper Immortal knows everything!"

His tone was filled with helplessness.

Chen Qingyang sneered. "Aren’t you going to argue your case? Or think of a way to survive? Your father and your other brothers weren’t nearly as calm as you are."

The eldest son laughed as well, though it was a miserable laugh. "In that case, they... they’ve already been... aigh!"

He beat his chest and stamped his feet, filled with regret, then laughed out loud. "So I’m the only one left... I was a dead man walking who did a deed worthy of death. If Senior Brother Chen wants to kill me, please, do it!"

Sword Qi surged at his fingertips, its powerful Qi Mechanism causing the eldest son’s expression to change. "That Master Wufang seemed closest to you. Tell me his Cultivation level, and I’ll give you a quick death?"

Hearing this, the eldest son seemed to think of something else. "I have a secret that Senior Brother Chen doesn’t know. If I tell you, can I trade it for my life?"

Chen Qingyang said, "So you do want to live. It depends on what your secret is."

The eldest son paused, then no longer hesitated. "The one who bestowed the Golden Wheel upon me was not Master Wufang, but another, Master Qingxuan."

’Qingxuan.’ The name sounded familiar. The image of the last time he saw Lin Qingxuan surfaced in his mind. ’But... could it really be such a coincidence?’

’Besides, the girl named Lin Qingxuan was long gone from this world. All that remained was Master Xuan Gui wearing her skin.’

"Keep talking."

"This Master appeared about ten days ago. She said she could give me a chance to live, but I had to pledge my loyalty to her. At the time, my father hadn’t yet decided to side with the Nine Nether Mechanic Divine Palace, so I was suspicious and didn’t dare agree."

"But that Master told me she wasn’t trying to win over the Yao Clan. She wanted to use this opportunity to eliminate Master Wufang. Upper Immortal, you are from an Immortal Sect and may not know this, but competition within the Nine Nether Mechanic Divine Palace has always been fierce. If the Masters wish to advance, they must step over the bodies of their comrades."

The Tai Xu Sect was the number one Sect in the Cyan Nether State and styled itself as an Orthodox Dao Sect, yet its internal affairs were still cruel. How much more so for a Demon Sect?

The only difference was that fierce competition in the Tai Xu Sect began with the Foundation Establishment Masters, while in the Nine Nether Mechanic Divine Palace, it started as early as Essence Condensation.

Chen Qingyang asked one last question. "What is that Master Qingxuan’s surname, and what does she look like?"

The eldest son shook his head. "I don’t know her surname, only her given name. I only know that she is a woman; I don’t know what she looks like. She always wears a Cloak whenever we meet."

After hearing this, Chen Qingyang was lost in thought for a long time.

When he lifted his hand again, a blade of Sword Qi appeared, shooting straight for the eldest son’s abdomen.

The man stumbled back several steps, clutching his abdomen. Blood seeped through his fingers. When he moved his hand away, the Golden Wheel clattered to the floor.

"I’ll spare your life!"

The Stealing Immortal ability surfaced in his mind again. This time, it stole 376 Immortal Seedlings. The man’s body was already weak; he probably didn’t have much time left to live anyway.

Watching Chen Qingyang’s departing back, the eldest son shouted, "Thank you for sparing my life, Upper Immortal!"

When he went outside again, the estate was already in chaos. The second son was hastily moving things and shouting for everyone to leave. Some had already noticed that their Patriarch was missing.

Chen Qingyang stood for a moment amidst the crowd.

[Available Immortal Seedlings: 1403]

’At this rate of killing,’ he thought, ’it seems I only need to kill one more person to break through to the Qi Refining Ninth Realm.’

’It seems that being a Wandering Cultivator outside allows one’s Cultivation to advance faster than in a Sect. But on second thought, that’s just wishful thinking.’

’First, without the Sect’s protection, it’s easy to attract sieges over time. Second, only within a Sect can one access superior Cultivation Techniques.’

’If there’s a third reason, it would be that in the long run, Stealing Immortal can be used to greater effect within a Sect. Only a Sect would have so many Foundation Establishment Masters and the contests for Foundation Establishment Earth Deities.’

By now, Chen Qingyang had slowly figured it out. The higher his Cultivation, the more exaggerated the number of Immortal Seedlings required. When it was actually time for his own Foundation Establishment, he would probably have to scheme against Foundation Establishment Masters.

Without hesitation, he used all the Immortal Seedlings on his Cultivation.

He returned to his quarters.

Liu Tao had clearly noticed the commotion outside. "I was just about to look for you, and here you are. What happened out there?"

Chen Qingyang answered, "Colluding with a Demon Sect is a capital crime, but I only crippled their Cultivation and made them leave this place forever. I suppose you could say I left them a way out."

Liu Tao asked, "So what do we do next?"

"Senior Sister, I’ve found out everything. That Master Wufang who ambushed us has a Cultivation at the Essence Condensation Second Realm. You and I are no match for him. On top of that, this Master Qingxuan has appeared. Although her Cultivation is unknown, the fact that she dares to oppose Master Wufang means she can’t be weak. To be safe, I think it’s best we avoid a direct confrontation!"

"Aigh!" Liu Tao frowned. "If we do that, I’m afraid we won’t be able to get the Water Spirit Immortal. Since they’ve targeted us, they’ll just keep waiting for us in the Great Marsh. Besides, the Great Marsh is the agreed-upon boundary line between our Sect and the Yu Xiao Demon Sect. Even if we report this to Xuanwei Master, he won’t make a move in the Great Marsh."

Chen Qingyang sighed as well. A perfectly good training expedition had been ruined just like that. He even had to cross the Great Marsh to search for the Great Soul Scripture.

"Forget it. We’re not doing this task, and we’ll put the search for the Cultivation Technique on hold for now. It’s best we just go straight back. If we get surrounded, it’s all over!"

A guilty expression appeared on Liu Tao’s face. "Junior Brother, this is all my fault. If I hadn’t been trying to take a shortcut, things wouldn’t have gotten this bad."

Chen Qingyang immediately waved his hand, dismissing her concerns. "Senior Sister, you don’t have to say that. Life is unpredictable; who can say what will happen? Let’s leave now, before they can catch up."

"Okay, I’ll listen to you."

When they went out this time, the entire estate was in even greater chaos. Some servants had even organized to openly loot valuables.

Chen Qingyang saw from a distance that the eldest and second sons were being escorted away from the estate by their last few loyal family servants.

Chen Qingyang had never expected it to fall into chaos so quickly. Perhaps it was because the Yao Clan’s ancestors, despite operating here for a hundred years, had failed to win the hearts of the people. The populace feared their power but never felt their benevolence, which led to the scene today.

Time is long, and authority can collapse in an instant. Mortals, through generation after generation, will eventually find their opportunity.

At that moment, Chen Qingyang even felt that the Immortal Dao might not always be victorious.

The two of them used the Wind Control Skill and were just about to leave the port town when a beam of Profound Light shot out from a side alley at incredible speed.

In no time at all, it had blocked their path.

The figure was wrapped entirely in black, their face hidden within a wide Cloak, making them impossible to see clearly.