Stealing Immortal

The green mountains, elegant and handsome, concealed an ethereal grace. The ancient pines, vigorous and fair, had weathered countless seasons of wind and frost, snow and moon.

Amidst the white clouds, bathed in sunlight, Liu Tao traveled by Wind Control. The Divine Power of her Yang Yao Step shimmered brilliantly. Chen Qingyang followed behind, his gaze sweeping over peak after peak dotted with pavilions and towers, connected by bridges of cloud with rainbows paving the way!

The Tai Xu Sect was comprised of more than just the Four Golden Peaks, and the Four Golden Peaks were by no means representative of the entire sect.

"Junior Brother, I’m getting a little tired. Let’s go down and rest for a bit!"

Liu Tao’s voice came from ahead, making Chen Qingyang genuinely think she was slacking off. They had traveled a mere two hundred li, which had already taken them over two hours, and now she wanted to rest midway? ’Is this how an Essence Condensation Cultivator is supposed to act?’

"Alright, I’ll follow your lead, Senior Sister!"

The place they landed was a valley where wildflowers bloomed in profusion and the grass grew lush. A small stream, sparkling like pearls, flowed from a mountain gully, splitting into four or five trickling rivulets across the meadow before merging together again downstream.

Even when she had been an old woman, she’d possessed a girlish heart, and now it was even more apparent. Liu Tao plucked two flowers and tucked them behind her ears, giggling. "Junior Brother, what do you think? Am I pretty?"

Her gaze was shy and her body shifted with a slight coyness, like a flower bud just about to bloom.

Chen Qingyang glanced at her. "Hm, very pretty. Senior Sister, I wanted to ask you something. Has Master Xuan Gui’s entire faction been placed under your master’s command now?"

His asking such a question at a moment like this only confirmed Liu Tao’s belief that he was a complete killjoy. "Yes, yes! Even that Dharma Gate you want is with them. It’s not too late for you to regret your choices!"

Her tone, naturally, was one of extreme impatience.

Chen Qingyang gave an awkward laugh. "Senior Sister, you misunderstand. I wasn’t specifically asking about the Dharma Gate."

’In truth, that was exactly what he wanted to ask about. Getting the later parts of the Dharma Gate from Master Yun Ci in the future would be next to impossible. Who knew if a backup copy even existed anywhere else in the Sect?’

Perhaps Liu Tao decided it was pointless to bicker with this block of wood, as her tone softened. "Then what did you want to ask? Why are you so concerned with my master’s affairs? Oh, by the way, she summoned me for a private meeting once."

Chen Qingyang said, "Now that you’ve been promoted to Inner Sect Disciple, Senior Sister, you’ll become a key figure in Master Yun Ci’s faction. It’s only natural that she would summon you often."

But Liu Tao shook her head. "No, it’s not what you think. Master’s expression was very strange this time, and she said some odd things I didn’t understand."

This couldn’t help but pique Chen Qingyang’s curiosity. "What kind of odd things?"

"The gist of it was something about karmic destiny, Daoist techniques, the line between evil and good... all depending on one’s own heart."

Although Chen Qingyang had never met this Master in person, he knew she was an extremely purpose-driven individual. She wouldn’t say such things for no reason.

"Senior Sister, I think you should pay more attention. You absolutely must not dismiss her words. Your master was clearly hinting at something."

"Hmph!" Liu Tao said fiercely. "Now you’re lecturing me? Don’t tell me you can guess what she was trying to say?"

"No, I can’t. I’m just reminding you to be careful, Senior Sister. It’s getting late. We should get going!"

’She had gone out of her way to make this stop, and they hadn’t even stayed long. All for a bunch of meaningless conversation that just ended up spoiling her mood.’

"Sigh!" Liu Tao sighed and prepared to continue onward with Wind Control.

This time, their speed was astonishingly fast. After just a quarter of an hour, they passed the mountains, and the land suddenly opened up before them.

The terrain here was quite unique. Four or five mountain ranges encircled a vast plain. Streams trickled in from all directions, converging in the center to form an amber-colored lake. Beside this lake stood a magnificent complex of palaces.

Covered corridors served as bridges, and high towers pierced the sky. Mysterious birds rested on the curved eaves, while fierce tigers strolled between pavilions. The buildings spread out in clusters along the lakeshore, with small paths extending from them all the way to the surrounding mountains.

"I always thought the Separation Dragon Pill Institute would be on a mountain, but to think it’s here on a plain... Compared to this, the Four Golden Peaks really are nothing!" Chen Qingyang was naturally filled with emotion at such a sight.

Even Liu Tao’s voice was laced with excitement. "Back when I couldn’t break through in my Cultivation, I traveled all over these peaks. Only then did I realize how vast the Tai Xu Sect truly is. The Cyan Bamboo Peak you’ll be going to is a good place, too."

An Array was active above the palaces, forbidding anyone from passing over with Wind Control, so Liu Tao led Chen Qingyang down to the ground. Upon entering, he truly felt the vastness of the place.

Before them stood a high tower with a majestic wall stretching out, a large gate set in its center. Many people were coming and going. Judging by their attire, they were either from the Outer Sect or the Inner Sect. Someone like Chen Qingyang, a Miscellaneous Task disciple, was truly a rare sight.

There was a designated registration area, and the two of them walked over. Two middle-aged men in Outer Sect robes were handling the registrations. On the Four Golden Peaks, their status would be equivalent to that of the Stewards on the mountainside.

Seeing the pair, they ignored Chen Qingyang and addressed only Liu Tao. "And how should we address you, Senior Sister?"

Today, Liu Tao was wearing a Vermilion and Purple Robe and a Profound Gold Wood Crown. This diminished some of her usual cuteness, replacing it with solemnity and dignity.

The two men naturally recognized this as the attire of an Inner Sect Disciple.

But Liu Tao simply pointed to Chen Qingyang beside her. "I’m not the one participating in the elixir competition. My Junior Brother Chen is."

"Of course, of course. We just need to know which peak this Junior Brother Chen is from, what his Cultivation is, what elixir he intends to refine, and who his master is... It’s just a routine inquiry for the registration!"

The other man added an explanation, "Afterward, we’ll arrange the elixir competition based on the registration info. Based on your results, you can be granted the title of Pill Master. From then on, you’ll be free to come and go from the pill institutes of any peak, and you may even be able to cultivate here at the Separation Dragon Pill Institute to further advance your Cultivation."

Chen Qingyang’s prior understanding had been vague; he only knew that he could win himself a future through the elixir competition. Hearing this today, he realized there were so many more benefits.

"Chen Qingyang, Qi Refining Fifth Realm..." To Liu Tao’s astonishment, he had somehow broken through yet again.

’After the elixir competition, he would become an Outer Disciple and would surely meet a Foundation Establishment Master. It was better to state his Cultivation a little higher and do it step-by-step to avoid trouble later on.’

"I have not yet entered the Outer Sect. I am still a Miscellaneous Task disciple."

Hearing this last sentence, the man who was registering him froze, his brush hovering in mid-air. "Junior Brother... you mean to say?"

Chen Qingyang affirmed, "Yes. A Miscellaneous Task disciple."

The two men immediately looked at each other, at a loss. Their hesitation instantly drew a sharp question from Liu Tao. "Does this Pill Institute of ours have a rule that only Outer Disciples are allowed to participate?"

"Well... there’s no such rule!" The two men exchanged another glance and finally came to this conclusion.

Liu Tao said, "Since there’s no such rule, what are you hesitating for? Just follow the Sect’s regulations. Whether or not he’s an Outer Disciple is irrelevant."

These two were very good at communicating with just their eyes. After staring at each other for a moment, one of them suddenly broke into a smile. "Right! The Senior Sister is absolutely right! We’ll just follow the Sect’s regulations... Which peak is he from?"

Liu Tao answered for Chen Qingyang, "The Four Golden Peaks. I am one of the Stewards of the Four Golden Peaks Pill Institute."

Hearing that name, both men paused for a moment. They had to flip through a registry book before they even found the place called Four Golden Peaks.

"Senior Sister is truly impressive. In the past, no disciple from the Four Golden Peaks has ever come to participate in the elixir competition. It shows that under your leadership this year, things are going very well!"

Liu Tao chuckled. "Cut the flattery and just get it done for us."

Undeterred by Liu Tao’s mockery, the two men remained enthusiastic. One hastily handed over a Token. "Since this is the first time someone from the Four Golden Peaks has come, let me explain the rules. Starting tomorrow after 7:00 AM, you can take this Token to an Alchemy Room to refine your elixir. After the elixir is made, a Pill Master will inspect it in person, and then it will be sealed."

"Then, the Pill Institute will group the participants based on the tier of their elixir and hold a separate appraisal assembly later. At that time, various Foundation Establishment Masters and even Peak Masters will come to appraise the works. Since this Junior Brother is not yet an Outer Disciple, if he can refine an elixir of a decent tier, it will be very easy for him to find a powerful Foundation Establishment Master to be his master..."

The man’s explanation was so thorough that Liu Tao’s expression softened. "That was very detailed. Thank you for the lesson."

She turned back to Chen Qingyang. "Junior Brother, do you have any other questions?"

Chen Qingyang asked, "What tier of elixir has achieved the best results in the past?"

One of them replied, "For those with an Inner Sect Cultivation, Tiers Six and Seven or even Tier Seven and Eight are possible. For those with only an Outer Sect Cultivation, Tier Five is already the absolute limit."

"Haha!" Before Chen Qingyang could respond, Liu Tao burst out laughing. "Then there’s no problem! My junior brother can refine Tier Four Yang Replacement Powder effortlessly. He never fails!"

The two men on the other side were startled. "That... That’s a truly remarkable skill. We wish you both success in advance!"

Acting like someone who knew how to handle social pleasantries, Liu Tao took out two Spirit Stones and gave one to each of them. "May your auspicious words come true!"

Having completed the registration and received the Token, they were allowed to proceed further inside.

They walked past so many palaces and buildings that they were growing tired of the sight before they finally found their assigned quarters. Unfortunately, one Token only entitled them to a single room.

Fortunately... they were both used to it.

"Junior Brother, this means your spot on Cyan Bamboo Peak is basically guaranteed. Cyan Bamboo Peak has a lot of benefits, and it’s close enough to our Four Golden Peaks... Heh. It’ll be convenient for you to come back and visit me in the future."

"Also, when you go to the competition tomorrow, I’ll wait for you here. We can head back together afterward!"

Liu Tao was truly acting as his personal escort, and Chen Qingyang naturally felt a surge of gratitude. "Thank you, Senior Sister. In the future, if you ever need elixirs, just come find me!"

With a wave of her hand, Liu Tao summoned the Flying Sword Cyan Simurgh. The blade could extend to over a foot long or shrink to just four or five inches, making it easy to conceal. "Isn’t this your thanks to me? I’ve always been very fond of it!"