Stealing Immortal

Chapter 110: Chapter 109: Delivering a Message

Behind the long desk.

Chen Qingyang invited Hong’Er to take a seat and poured her a cup of fragrant tea. Hong’Er held the cup in both hands, a contented smile on her face.

She was a miscellaneous task disciple, it was true, but she had never considered herself a servant.

Then, Chen Qingyang walked over to a shelf and took an elixir from a Jade Box. It was a Qi Gathering Pill. He often set aside time to refine these elixirs, partly as gifts and partly for Li Sheng and Zhang Ping to take.

Hong’Er quickly stood up and accepted the elixir with both hands. "Thank you, Senior Brother Chen."

Chen Qingyang said, "It’s nothing. I can see you have excellent aptitude for cultivation. Plus, you’re on Cyan Bamboo Peak where the Spiritual Qi is so dense. You should be able to break through to the Qi Refining Cultivation realm before you turn twenty."

Hong’Er nodded. "It was hard to say before I met you, Senior Brother Chen. But now, my chances are very good."

As she spoke, she stood up and bowed again.

"That’s good. In the future, you’ll be able to find a good master, and you might even get the chance to stay on Cyan Bamboo Peak to continue your cultivation."

"Yes," Hong’Er nodded.

After the idle chatter, it was time to get down to business. "Tell me," he said, "why did you risk coming to see me today?"

Hong’Er set down her teacup, her expression turning serious. "Senior Brother Tian has recovered quite a bit recently. He’s moving around freely and has been making a lot of moves to deal with you, Senior Brother Chen."

This didn’t come as much of a surprise to Chen Qingyang. "What kind of moves has he made?"

Hong’Er continued, "Two men, calling themselves Senior Brother Hu and Senior Brother Lu, have been visiting frequently. They claim to be two of the Seven Immortals of Peach Valley and have a certain reputation under Master Water Moon. Senior Brother Tian has always associated with them."

"They were asking about your background, Senior Brother Chen, and Master Jing Yuan’s attitude toward you. They also mentioned a Senior Sister named Li Qianxue and her past relationship with you... I couldn’t hear the rest very clearly."

’But no matter how they look,’ Chen Qingyang thought, ’all they’ll find is Chen Qingyang, the hundred-year miscellaneous task disciple.’

’Whether they can connect it to what I did that night will depend entirely on their own skills.’

"I understand. Is there anything else?"

Hong’Er nodded. "Of course. That Senior Brother Lu from the Pill Institute also came once. He’s a very cautious person. He never let me stay nearby when he was talking with Senior Brother Tian. I only vaguely overheard the three words, ’Separation Dragon Assembly.’"

"Oh, right. That Senior Brother Lu looked very young and was wearing a Vermilion and Purple Daoist Robe. I’m guessing he’s an Inner Sect Disciple. Senior Brother Tian was completely subservient to him, as if terrified of saying one wrong word and angering the man."

’This gave Chen Qingyang pause. His senior brother had once warned him to be wary of Lu Jinzhang’s methods, though he hadn’t specified what they were. Could this Separation Dragon Assembly be what he was talking about?’

’Separation Dragon... Separation Dragon... Could it be an assembly related to the Separation Fire Dragon Pearl? Are they trying to use this as an opportunity to take the treasure back, or to seize it through some other trickery or force?’

While Chen Qingyang was lost in thought, Hong’Er spoke again, her tone filled with concern. "Senior Brother Chen, you’ve only just arrived at Cyan Bamboo Peak, and you’ve already offended people from both the Pill Institute and Master Water Moon’s faction. And in the end, it’s all tied back to Senior Brother Tian. I’m afraid you’ll have a lot of trouble ahead!"

After all, she had received so many elixirs from him and had a good impression of him, so her voice carried a clear note of concern.

"It’s nothing to worry about."

Seeing Chen Qingyang’s calm demeanor, Hong’Er grew curious. "Aren’t you worried at all, Senior Brother Chen?"

He shook his head gently. "No. The troubles that are bound to come will come. I just have to be prepared to deal with them. And thank you for taking the risk to warn me today."

Hong’Er said, "Don’t worry about me, Senior Brother Chen. Senior Brother Tian sent me to the Merit Tower today, so I just stopped by on my way. He won’t find out. Oh, and he told me to prepare more raw materials for refining Tier Four Yang Replacement Powder to send to you. He’s run out of your elixirs again."

’That’s right,’ Chen Qingyang thought. ’I’m short on Immortal Seedlings myself. I could have used them to advance my cultivation, but I didn’t dare. I’ve been putting everything into the Great Soul Scripture, so I’m in desperate need.’

"Alright, I understand. Finish your tea and hurry along, so you don’t raise suspicion by being gone too long."

"Yes." Hong’Er nodded.

When she left, Senior Brother Chen was in the house refining elixirs. In the courtyard, she ran into two young men.

They had just finished packing up and were about to head out themselves.

"Where are you two headed?" Hong’Er asked.

Zhang Ping replied, "To the Merit Tower, to exchange for some daily necessities."

But Hong’Er noticed they were carrying ropes. "What are you getting that you need to tie up with ropes?"

"We’re getting all the furnishings this new house will need. Senior Brother Chen’s Alchemy Room shouldn’t be so shabby."

Behind Zhang Ping, the bamboo house was already taking shape, needing only doors, windows, and the like.

Hong’Er clapped her hands. "Oh, I see! Why don’t we go together?"

Li Sheng remained silent, but Zhang Ping didn’t refuse, so the three of them headed down the mountain together.

「In the Alchemy Room.」

Chen Qingyang sat on a meditation cushion, small golden characters floating before him.

[Chen Qingyang]

[Qi Refining Ninth Realm]

[Great Soul Scripture (Volume 2): (7/5000)]

[Tai Xu Star Pivot Purple Micro True Skill (Starlight Body): (12/3000)]

[Danxia Nourishing Truth Sword Manual: (53/5000)]

[Dragon and Tiger Fighting Calamity Pill: (100/100)]

[Tier Two Nameless Elixir: (8/1000)]

[Tier One Qi Gathering Pill: (76/100)]

[Available Immortal Seedlings: 2061]

Ever since the Great Soul Scripture had once again reached Perfection, its upper limit had risen to five thousand. He wondered how far Volume Two would allow him to cultivate.

And after the nameless elixir from Liu Pei had its breakthrough, its upper limit had also reached one thousand. The change was truly astonishing and served as a side-proof of the elixir’s considerable potential.

Then there was the Danxia Nourishing Truth Sword Manual. Although he practiced it daily, his progress was slow. With only two thousand Immortal Seedlings remaining, a cultivation breakthrough was still a distant prospect.

After a moment of thought, Chen Qingyang began refining the Tier Four Yang Replacement Powder again. This time, while processing the raw materials, he deliberately added some Star Meteor Powder.

...

A pale cyan robe, black short boots, and long, dark hair gathered neatly and pinned with a jade hairpin. His bearing was otherworldly, as if he were an immortal descended to the mortal realm. This was Chen Qingyang’s current appearance.

Holding a Jade Box, he ascended the White Jade Steps one at a time.

Outside Tian Jingzhao’s Cave Mansion, a miscellaneous task disciple had already seen him and gone to announce his arrival. A moment later, Tian Jingzhao emerged, walking with feeble steps.

’Good,’ Chen Qingyang thought. ’He didn’t stay bedridden.’

"Junior Brother Chen, you’re finally here!" That one word, "finally," was saturated with one of his rare displays of genuine emotion.

Chen Qingyang used his Conscious Fish to observe him for a long moment. Tian Jingzhao’s Qi Mechanism was stabilizing, and a faint vitality was stirring at the crown of his head. He was, indeed, recovering.

’After all, although I’ve been poisoning him, it hasn’t been consistent, so the Star Meteor Powder can’t achieve its full effect. The medicinal power of the Tier Four Elixir, on the other hand, is the real deal.’

’It’s also Tian Jingzhao’s own fault for being so disappointing. So many years of cultivation, and he’s only at the Seventh Realm of Qi Refining. If he were at the Qi Refining Ninth Realm, each elixir would have an even greater effect.’

"From what I can see, you’ve recovered quite a bit, Senior Brother Tian. I imagine in another year or so, you’ll be as good as new."

"SIGH!" Tian Jingzhao let out a weak sigh. "This is all thanks to you, Junior Brother Chen. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable."

As he spoke, his gaze fell upon the elixir in Chen Qingyang’s hand.

Chen Qingyang, however, deliberately flicked his sleeve, putting the elixir away. Knowing he was being toyed with, Tian Jingzhao seethed with resentment.

"A few days ago, I was invited by the Seven Immortals of Peach Valley from Master Water Moon’s faction to attend a peach blossom gathering. I heard that these seven are quite close with Junior Brother Tian. I wonder if that’s true?"

Tian Jingzhao was, by now, well aware of what had happened at the banquet. He pointed to himself. "Of course I know those seven senior brothers. It’s just that I’ve been severely injured lately and haven’t been able to get around, so I’m not too clear on many things."

’He’s quite the actor,’ Chen Qingyang thought. When Lu Sheng had come to invite him, he hadn’t mentioned much of a connection to Tian Jingzhao. Chen Qingyang decided not to press the issue and simply handed him the elixir.

"Senior Brother Tian, these elixirs weren’t easy to come by. I’ve prepared two for you today. You should refine them as soon as possible."

"Ah, two of them! So many! Excellent, excellent..." Tian Jingzhao took them with both hands and examined the elixirs closely. "I understand, I understand. I’ll send the raw materials over tomorrow. I’ll be sure to send plenty for you, Junior Brother Chen."

With that said, he immediately took the elixirs right there in his Cave Mansion and began to cultivate. ’The bastard is greedy, too,’ Chen Qingyang mused. ’Swallowing both at once. This isn’t a simple case of one plus one equals two. The toxicity of Star Meteor Powder increases exponentially with the dosage.’

As Stealing Immortal hovered over Tian Jingzhao’s head, Chen Qingyang saw the golden text: Stolen Immortal Seedlings: 75.

’The damage this time was significant. That wasn’t my intention; I was going for a more sustainable approach. But I never expected Tian Jingzhao to be this greedy.’

After he finished the refinement of the elixirs, Tian Jingzhao seemed to sense something was wrong. "Every time I finish refining one of your elixirs, a warmth spreads through my body, and I can feel my Mud Ball Palace repairing itself. I feel the warmth today, but... why is there also a hint of a chill?"

’He’s sharper than I thought, to even notice the chill.’

Chen Qingyang’s expression remained unchanged. "Try to feel it more carefully."

After a long moment, he said, "It’s still there, a faint, lingering chill... Junior Brother Chen, there’s nothing wrong with these elixirs, is there?"

This remark naturally provoked an angry response from Chen Qingyang. "Hmph! If you don’t trust me, then I simply won’t come anymore! Do you have any idea how much effort I spent refining these elixirs for you? Besides, you brought your current state upon yourself! What does it have to do with me!"

He flicked his sleeve and turned his back.

Tian Jingzhao looked troubled. After all, he had tangibly experienced the benefits of these elixirs. He focused inward once more, trying to perceive it carefully, and it seemed the faint chill was now disappearing.

’It must be because my Qi Mechanism has been unstable and my mind has been restless lately,’ he thought. ’My senses must be playing tricks on me.’

"Junior Brother! Junior Brother, don’t misunderstand! It was all in my head!"

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