Stealing Immortal

Chapter 121: Chapter 120: Entering the Sea

Cyan Bamboo Peak.

A sea of clouds churned below, like crumpled silver satin flowing over the mountain ridges, revealing the faint outlines of jade palaces and celestial halls hidden deep within the mist.

In his small courtyard, Chen Qingyang slowly opened his eyes. The familiar furnishings of his newly rebuilt home brought him a profound sense of peace.

In his hundred-plus years in the Tai Xu Sect, only when he woke up here could he feel truly at peace. Birds chirped in the tree by the gate, the two boys in the courtyard occasionally made a ruckus, and Xu Baoling would descend from the altar table to greet him softly, "Master!"

After parting with Liu Pei yesterday, he had returned with Kong Yuan. Upon learning that Chen Qingyang had managed to last until the Dragon Summoning Assembly, Kong Yuan was full of praise and enthusiastically invited him to visit his Cave Mansion when he had the time.

Chen Qingyang accepted, knowing he was greatly indebted to both Liu Pei and his disciple for this success.

"How long was I gone this time?" In that other world, far from the rising and setting of the sun and moon, he had naturally lost all sense of time.

He had been so focused on consolidating his cultivation upon his return yesterday, and it had gotten so late, that he hadn’t had a chance to chat with anyone in the courtyard.

"Master, it’s been twenty-six days in total. I was counting every single one," Xu Baoling replied.

’So long?’ He must have spent too much time at the Dragon Summoning Assembly. Meditating and cultivating there had been equivalent to a session of closed-door cultivation.

The eternally spring-like climate of Cyan Bamboo Peak, with its lack of temperature changes, was another reason. Anywhere else, he would have certainly felt the passage of twenty-six days in the shifts of the world around him.

"I imagine you gained a lot on this trip, Master?" Xu Baoling asked when he fell silent.

"I did make some gains. I’ve grasped the Nine Yang Separation Fire Technique, so I can at least control the Separation Huo Dragon Pearl at will now."

As he spoke, the Dragon Pearl materialized in his palm.

Its warmth flowed up his arm and into his body, once again forming the Fire Sun of the Three Jiaos.

Within the world of the Separation Huo Dragon Pearl, countless flames surged, and hidden among them was the Conscious Fish.

This reminded Chen Qingyang of the Li Yang Earth Fire. The True Dragon had stayed there so long that it had merged with the flames. He wondered if his Conscious Fish, by constantly residing within the pearl, could also achieve complete control over the world inside the Separation Huo Dragon Pearl.

’If that’s possible, it would take my use of this Dragon Pearl to the next level.’

Xu Baoling said, "Congratulations, Master. I was so worried you would face hardships on your trip. I’m just glad you returned safely..."

The two chatted for a little while longer, mostly about what he had seen in the cave. But in truth, his greatest opportunity from this trip was the more than ten thousand Immortal Seedlings.

The time to break through was today.

Chen Qingyang said, "I can feel the opportunity for a breakthrough. This might take a long time, so I’m going into seclusion. I’ll leave you to manage everything in the courtyard. Also, keep this to yourself!"

Xu Baoling was taken aback. "Master, are you saying... you’re about to step into the Essence Condensation Realm?"

Chen Qingyang nodded, giving her an affirmative answer.

"Ah!" Xu Baoling couldn’t help but cry out. Realizing her lack of composure, she quickly added, "Master, you’re breaking through already?"

She still remembered the night she had first blocked his path. His cultivation had been, without a doubt, at the First Realm of Qi Refining. Now, just over a year later, he was about to step into the Essence Condensation Realm.

This wasn’t just incredible; it was completely absurd.

"That’s right. If I cause any commotion, you must cover for me. Remember, no one can know about my cultivation breakthrough. You should understand the stakes."

Xu Baoling nodded but then raised a concern. "Master, you know that Essence Condensation is completely different from Qi Refining. If you really break through, won’t it be difficult to hide?"

Chen Qingyang waved his hand. "Don’t worry, I have a plan."

Hearing this, Xu Baoling said no more and just nodded lightly.

Chen Qingyang sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion and adjusted his breathing slightly. Small golden characters floated before his eyes.

[Chen Qingyang]

[Qi Refining Ninth Realm]

[Great Soul Scripture (Volume 2): (214/5000)]

[Tai Xu Star Pivot Purple Micro True Skill (Starlight Body): (21/3000)]

[Danxia Nourishing Truth Sword Manual: (101/5000)]

[Tier Two Nameless Elixir: (14/1000)]

[Tier Two Qi Gathering Pill: (3/200)]

[Available Immortal Seedlings: 12173]

With over twelve thousand Immortal Seedlings, this was the first time he’d ever been so wealthy. Besides that, the progress on all his techniques had increased. Although the Immortal Seedlings helped, Chen Qingyang had never given up on his own training. Whenever he had a spare moment, he would meditate to expel the stale and absorb the new.

He allocated 4,900 Immortal Seedlings to the Danxia Nourishing Truth Sword Technique. Instantly, a boundless Qi Mechanism erupted within him. The power of the nine streams of Golden Qi intensified, arranging themselves in a supportive formation of three and six to open a Spiritual Sea mansion within his Mud Ball Palace at the Baihui Acupoint.

It was like Pangu splitting the heavens from the earth, like the initial birth of Yin and Yang. His Mud Ball Palace was undergoing a transformation from nothingness into being. As the saying goes: the one gives birth to the two, the two to the three, and the three to all things.

The three streams of Golden Qi in his mind instantly vanished, condensing into a white cloud of Qi. Within this cloud were the Three Souls—Fetal Light, Nether Spirit, and Shuang Ling—and the Seven Spirits: Corpse Dog, Crouching Corpse, Sparrow Yin, Thief Swallower, Non-Poison, Evil Dispeller, and Fetid Lung.

His Three Souls and Seven Spirits merged into one, nurtured by the Qi cloud in his Spiritual Sea. This illustrated the saying: a person has two seas. The one called Dantian stores power; the one called Spiritual Sea gestates the spirit.

Meanwhile, his Dantian also underwent a massive transformation. The six streams of Golden Qi gathered together. At times, a fiery hue would emerge; at others, a silver radiance would erupt, or specks of starlight would glitter—his three cultivation techniques, shifting in succession.

Then, the Golden Qi vanished, leaving behind only a mass of True Essence. This True Essence then flowed out from the Ren and Du Meridians, traveling upward to connect with his Spiritual Sea. It performed a Minor Circulation, cycling endlessly. The upper and lower bodies were now interconnected, tightly linked.

Chen Qingyang’s True Essence was now dozens of times stronger. He was oblivious to any commotion outside, aware only of the immense amount of Spiritual Qi his body craved.

As he continued to meditate and cultivate, his Dantian and Spiritual Sea were gradually replenished. Time passed. When both were filled to a certain point, a stream of Qi Mechanism flowed out along his meridians and formed a single point of golden light below his abdomen, near his groin.

This was the Earth Root Acupoint, the first of the Nine Acupoints of Ascension. A cultivator had to draw upon the Earth Vein Yin Fiend to temper the Earth Root. Only after succeeding could one completely solidify the Earth Root of the Essence Condensation Realm.

Chen Qingyang had only just crossed the threshold; achieving this would still require some time.

[Essence Condensation Realm]

[Danxia Nourishing Truth Sword Manual: (1/8000)]

[Available Immortal Seedlings: 7274]

He looked at the small golden characters again. The three words "Essence Condensation Realm" were listed prominently. The progress cap for the Danxia Nourishing Truth Sword Manual had risen to eight thousand, a full three thousand more than the previous five thousand.

With over seven thousand Immortal Seedlings remaining, it was basically impossible to break through two realms in one go.

’For safety’s sake, I should first familiarize myself with my Essence Condensation cultivation, especially by figuring out a way to conceal my Qi Mechanism. Once that’s settled, I can think about searching for more Immortal Seedlings.’

When he opened his eyes, Xu Baoling was waiting nearby. Chen Qingyang asked her, "How many days was I meditating this time?"

Xu Baoling replied, "Not long, just three days. There wasn’t much of a commotion, but the change in your Qi Mechanism was truly astonishing, Master. Even I didn’t dare get too close." Her timid demeanor, combined with her enchanting features, made for a rather fetching sight.

Chen Qingyang nodded lightly. "Good. My cultivation has broken through, but I’ll still need to spend a few days tempering this Earth Root Acupoint."

Fortunately, the method was recorded in the Danxia Nourishing Truth Sword Manual, so Chen Qingyang knew what to do. It was all thanks to that master of his.

Xu Baoling’s envy was plain to see. As a former Outer Disciple, this was the very step she had yearned for. "With Master’s talent, it’ll only take three to five days. Once your cultivation has broken through, you can achieve even greater results in the Alchemy Dao. It’s like a trapped dragon finding the sea and soaring to power overnight."

In her heart, Chen Qingyang was no ordinary person. One day, this True Dragon would walk his own great path.

Chen Qingyang added, "I need to go into seclusion one more time. Please arrange everything in the courtyard. I’m counting on you."

"Yes, Master."

Hearing this, Xu Baoling naturally assumed he was going to temper his Earth Root Acupoint. But how could she know that Chen Qingyang’s real goal was to advance his long-dormant Tai Xu Star Pivot Purple Micro True Skill, to truly see the trajectories of the stars and perceive the tides of the world?

Setting aside whether he could avoid calamity and attract fortune, his very method of cultivation—which required him to scheme against others to advance—made it imperative that he master this kind of Divination Skill and Divine Power to deduce the way of the world.

He once again took out his Immortal Seedlings, adding all of them to the Ziwei Scripture. This time, as the Qi Mechanism in his body underwent a tremendous change, Chen Qingyang’s spirit once again roamed the heavens.

He once more saw the Star Map hanging among the celestial bodies. It was no longer hazy as before; everything he saw was incredibly real and distinct...

He could even see the twinkling stars, each corresponding to an individual’s destiny.

Last time, he couldn’t see them clearly, only knowing that they corresponded to people’s paths. This time, however, he could distinguish these paths, perceive hints of cause and effect, and discern fragments of their stories.

Everything was vivid in his mind, and starlight began to surge within his body...

Watching from the side, Xu Baoling was even more shocked. She felt a completely different aura—the mysterious Power of the Stars. A faint starlight enveloped Chen Qingyang’s body and lingered for a very, very long time...

This meditation session didn’t last long. At dawn the next day, Chen Qingyang opened his eyes. He changed his clothes and stood in the courtyard with his hair unbound, letting the cool wind wash over him.

"Senior Brother Chen, Senior Sister Xu said you were in seclusion. It looks like you’re out now?" The one who spoke was Li Sheng.

With his now-powerful cultivation, a single glance was enough for Chen Qingyang to see a subtle change in Li Sheng’s Dantian. His own Qi Refining breakthrough would likely come soon.

Back at Four Golden Peaks, his talent had earned him his cultivation technique ahead of schedule. Now, having received many elixirs—even a Tier Two Warm Sun Pill—it wasn’t surprising for him to be on the verge of a breakthrough at seventeen.

"That’s right. I gained some insights from my trip to the Separation Dragon Pill Institute and was just digesting them," Chen Qingyang replied. "I can see a faint Profound Light around you. You’ll probably break through within the next month or two!"

Hearing this, Li Sheng was first hesitant, then shocked and overjoyed. "Ah... a breakthrough? If Senior Brother Chen says I’m about to break through, then it must be true."

Under the eaves, Zhang Ping was preparing breakfast. Realizing what was going on, he called out to Li Sheng, "Junior Brother Li, congratulations!"

Li Sheng only glanced back at him before falling silent for a moment, as if he had made some kind of decision. He turned to Chen Qingyang and asked, "Senior Brother Chen, if I break through... can I still stay here?"

Zhang Ping stopped talking too, simply watching him.

Chen Qingyang was silent for a moment before saying, "You don’t know what a breakthrough feels like, so you can’t judge the situation with your current mindset. Let’s just wait until it happens."

...

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