Stealing Immortal

Chapter 106: Chapter 105: Yin Talisman

’Meetings like today’s... the more, the better.’ Chen Qingyang couldn’t afford to make enemies of them, so he casually shifted the position of the incense burner.

By doing so, the Array Building’s orientation was altered, destabilizing the Array Base and nullifying the Array Profound. Now, even if he knelt and kowtowed, the array would no longer have any effect.

"Junior Brother Chen, what are you doing?"

Seeing Lu Sheng get a little too agitated, Chen Qingyang grabbed his hand and laughed. "Senior Brother Lu, surely you aren’t that petty? Can’t I even take a look at the quality of this incense burner?"

Just then, Long Sheng stepped forward. He was the eldest of the Seven Immortals of Peach Valley. "Of course, Junior Brother Chen. We have plenty of incense burners like this one. If you like it, please, take one or two with you!"

Chen Qingyang instantly guessed that this man was the one who had set up the Array.

The peach tree, the incense burner, the altar, and the dark opening were the components of the Array Building, forming the Array Base. The meditation mat was the Array Profound, and Que Sheng lighting the incense burner was the trigger that activated the Array.

’It was all done right in front of me, incredibly well-concealed. In Immortal Cultivation, you really can’t be a one-trick pony. If I didn’t understand Arrays or know about the Divine Soul, I would have certainly fallen for their trap today.’

Chen Qingyang’s thoughts continued. ’A peach tree can become a spirit over time, and from there, a demon. As a Peach Demon, it can produce these brilliant blossoms, absorb the surrounding Spiritual Qi to nourish itself, and even siphon away a bit of my own qi.’

’Just as they said, if this demon were just an ordinary peach tree, it would have long since attained a Yin Spirit and a Transformed Form. Its Cultivation would be at least above the Essence Condensation realm. Having my qi siphoned like that would undoubtedly affect my Divine Soul for a time, causing my True Essence to leak and my Cultivation to stagnate.’

At this moment, Chen Qingyang was both shocked and envious. The shock was self-explanatory, but the envy stemmed from their ability to harm people so covertly. ’I really need to learn more, see more, and get out into the world.’

"I appreciate Senior Brother Long’s kind intentions, but this item is rather cumbersome, and my Junior Sister Yin Soul back in my courtyard might not like it. Let’s get back to talking about the banquet."

Lu Sheng, realizing his earlier reaction had been too rash, softened his tone. "No matter. It is impolite not to reciprocate a kindness. You shouldn’t refuse Senior Brother Long’s goodwill."

Chen Qingyang bowed with his hands clasped. "Then it would be rude of me to refuse! Thank you, Senior Brother Long!"

...

Although the Array had been sabotaged, the act had to be played out. After their exchange, the others began to kowtow again. Chen Qingyang put on a show of utmost sincerity, also paying his respects to the Peach Fairy Granny.

After the third kowtow, a golden-green light surged forward and entered the bodies of the seven men. When Chen Qingyang absorbed his portion, he felt his Dantian True Essence strengthen. ’Looks like half of what they said was true,’ he thought. ’I wonder what other traps they’ve set for me, besides the Array?’

After getting to their feet, they resumed their brotherly facade, chatting with Chen Qingyang for a while. Their conversation was mostly an attempt to probe him or dispel any lingering suspicions he might have.

Chen Qingyang simply said, "Senior brothers, your willingness to bring me to pay respects to Peach Spirit Granny shows how highly you regard me. We should certainly hold more gatherings like this one."

Seeing that Chen Qingyang showed no suspicion, Lu Sheng’s own worries were assuaged. He added, "Junior Brother Chen is absolutely right. By the way, have you ever heard of the Three Meetings of Peach Worship?"

Puzzled, Chen Qingyang shook his head.

"The Three Meetings of Peach Worship are: Worshipping, Holding the Talisman, and the Zhao Dance. Each meeting offers significant benefits to a Practitioner. We just completed the first one. Now, two more await you, Junior Brother Chen. Shall we continue?"

’The ’Worshipping’ meeting was a trap using an Array,’ Chen Qingyang thought. ’The next two can’t be anything good. These seven have really put a lot of effort into dealing with me.’

’Judging by how practiced they are, I’m definitely not the first person they’ve trapped like this. Hong’Er was right. These people spend all their time scheming against others. Their dedication to the path of cultivation is even weaker than mine.’

"And what is ’Holding the Talisman’?"

Lu Sheng stroked his long beard and laughed heartily. The other six also crowded around Chen Qingyang, their enthusiasm palpable. "A moment ago, Junior Brother Chen, did you feel the nourishment from the Wood Spirit Qi?"

Chen Qingyang nodded. "Indeed, there was an aura lingering over my head that then stored itself in my Mud Ball Palace. My Dantian True Essence feels a little stronger. It seems what you senior brothers said was true."

Upon hearing this, some stroked their beards, some nodded, some chuckled elegantly, and some roared with unrestrained laughter. But the sentiment was unanimous: "We are true friends to Junior Brother Chen. Naturally, every word we speak is the truth!"

As the conversation grew animated, Lu Sheng once again steered the discussion. He was the most adept at this among the group.

"Excellent, excellent. That is the benefit of Wood Spirit Qi. Wood gives rise to Fire, and Fire invigorates the spirit. It’s only natural that you would feel your Cultivation increase, Junior Brother. Now, let me tell you about ’Holding the Talisman.’ This Peach Spirit Granny has absorbed the Sun and Moon Essence and taken in nature’s spiritual energy for thousands of years. Over time, it has formed acupoints out of the gnarled knots on its branches, where it gathers Wood Spirit Essence."

Hearing this, Chen Qingyang nodded slightly. ’Forming acupoints from gnarled knots... that’s similar to a Cultivator’s Nine Acupoints of Ascension.’

"After all these years, it has formed Eight Acupoints. If this were a Cultivator, that would be equivalent to the Essence Condensation Eighth Realm of Cultivation. Long ago, our master used each of these acupoints as a foundation to craft eight Peach Talismans. Each talisman is a true font of Wood Spirit Essence. The one ’Holding the Talisman’ takes a Peach Talisman, stands upon the branches, and performs the Peach Talisman steps. Do this, and Peach Spirit Granny will surely sense you and once more grant you Wood Spirit Qi to absorb into your body."

It sounded simple, but Chen Qingyang knew there had to be a catch. The moment he heard the words "Peach Talisman," he immediately thought of the art of Talismans.

He once heard Liu Tao say that Talismans were divided into Yin and Yang. Yang Talismans were an honorable art, used to suppress evil and help others. Yin Talisman Cultivators, however, used them to steal destiny, bewilder the mind, and damage one’s Meridians—a truly vile and harmful practice.

’Since the Seven Immortals of Peach Valley have someone skilled in Arrays, they must also have an expert in Talismans.’

"Junior Brother Chen, do you understand?" Lu Sheng pressed, seeing him lost in thought.

Chen Qingyang ultimately decided to play it by ear. "I understand. It sounds simple enough. If the benefits are anything like last time, then this gathering will be a truly fruitful one!"

"Hahaha..." Lu Sheng roared with laughter, and his brothers joined in. With a flick of their wide sleeves, the group plunged back into the peach tree’s canopy. Their figures drifted weightlessly, causing the dense branches to RUSTLE as they settled in another part of the tree.

They were once again facing the thick trunk of the peach tree, only this section had been hollowed out to form an alcove. The space was empty except for eight arrowhead-shaped wooden plaques hanging within. Each was tied with a red string and etched with incredibly complex patterns. A closer look revealed a faint green light shimmering over their surfaces.

"Look, Junior Brother. The Peach Talismans hang right here. It takes a full year for them to accumulate even a small amount of Wood Spirit Qi. You’ve arrived at the perfect time."

Chen Qingyang used his Conscious Fish to inspect them again. Besides the abundant Wood Spirit Qi, he couldn’t find anything wrong. Every plaque was identical, unlike the meditation mat, whose flaw he had spotted with ease.

’If the trap isn’t in the Peach Talismans themselves, then what other trick have they prepared?’

"Junior Brother Jiao, you are the closest to Peach Spirit Granny. It’s your turn to work your magic."

This Jiao Sheng certainly lived up to his name, which meant "flood dragon." He was tall and lanky, and his body seemed to twist and slither as he moved. When he wasn’t smiling, a coldness lurked in his eyes, giving him the distinct air of a serpent.

"Alright. Junior Brother Chen, watch me carefully now. The main thing is to observe my footwork." Holding three sticks of incense, Jiao Sheng performed a series of highly unusual steps in the center of the clearing.

Chen Qingyang sensed that the peach tree and Jiao Sheng were in perfect harmony. The Qi Mechanism emanating from the tree was like a web of vines responding to Jiao Sheng’s movements. He then lit the three incense sticks and planted them in front of the alcove. At that, the eight wooden plaques seemed to stir with life.

"Junior Brother Chen, Peach Spirit Granny has manifested her presence!" Jiao Sheng exclaimed. "Quick, grab a Peach Talisman and use the footwork I just demonstrated! It will prompt the Granny to bestow her Wood Spirit Qi upon you. An opportunity like this hasn’t come along in decades!"

Lu Sheng chimed in from the side, "If the gift you brought today weren’t so astounding, Junior Brother, we would never offer such an opportunity to just anyone!"

"Indeed! Junior Brother Chen is just so sincere, giving such a magnificent gift at our very first meeting. A Tier Three Qi-Introducing Pill is a truly wonderful thing..."

The men all chimed in, chattering for some time before Lu Sheng finally cut them off. "Junior Brother Chen, please, hurry and begin!"

Still having not figured out the gimmick, Chen Qingyang didn’t dare to try it rashly. It would be a huge problem if he fell for their hidden trap.

He tried to deflect. "Why don’t I have Senior Brother Lu demonstrate first? I’d like to observe for a bit. It would be awful if I made a clumsy mistake and angered the Granny."

As if he had expected this very response, Lu Sheng waved his hand. "Among us seven brothers, Junior Brother Jiao is the one who usually presides over this ritual. Would it be alright if he did it?"

Chen Qingyang nodded. "I leave it all in Senior Brother Lu’s hands."

Jiao Sheng stepped forward, casually took one of the Peach Talismans, and held it with both hands. Then, he performed the same sequence of actions all over again.

Using his Conscious Fish, Chen Qingyang determined that the key to the trap was not in the Peach Talisman itself. Jiao Sheng hadn’t appeared to choose any particular one.

As Jiao Sheng repeated the steps, Chen Qingyang could feel the surrounding Wood Spirit Qi condensing, but this time, it felt slightly different.

The Qi Mechanism wasn’t as pure as before; it was tainted with something he couldn’t quite identify. Furthermore, after the Qi Mechanism entered Jiao Sheng’s body and was then re-emitted, a faint cyan hue, invisible to the naked eye, slowly dispersed from it. It seemed that the Peach Talisman in his hand was directing the whole process.

As a Pill Master, Chen Qingyang suddenly recalled a saying: ’All Spirit Grass contains a measure of poison.’

’For a Peach Demon, this poison would be even more potent. Holding the Peach Talisman lets one communicate with the Peach Spirit Granny and receive Wood Spirit Qi. But what if they’ve already made a deal with this Peach Demon to infuse its poison into my body along with the Qi? If it damages my Meridians and Dantian, the outcome will be far worse than what the Array would have caused.’

Although the Peach Talisman itself possessed no power, by relying on this Peach Spirit, it effectively became an Yin Talisman.

Simply turning and leaving was not Chen Qingyang’s style. After a moment’s thought, he tucked his hands into his sleeves, adopted a sincere posture as if bowing, and then began to move, performing the Peach Talisman steps.

Just as he expected, the Wood Spirit Qi swirled toward him. And while he felt that now-familiar sense of his Cultivation strengthening, there was another aura mixed in—one that seemed intent on turning his Meridians into dead wood, stripping them of all vitality.

’Now it’s your turn!’

Chen Qingyang chanted inwardly. A flash of fire erupted within him. The Separation Huo Dragon Pearl, containing potent True Dragon Qi, released its flames at the perfect moment. As the fire swept through his Meridians, the foreign, toxic aura was steadily driven back.

’Fire overcomes Wood,’ he thought with satisfaction. ’The Dragon Pearl incinerates all poisons. No wonder Lu Jinzhang was so damn petty about such an incredible treasure.’

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