Stealing Immortal

Chapter 127: Chapter 126: Gap

The courtyard was small.

Chen Qingyang rarely invited guests into his Alchemy Room, so any visitors had to be seated in the courtyard.

He had been on Cyan Bamboo Peak for over half a year now, and among all the Cultivators he had seen, only Shen Chongzhou’s residence was as humble as his own.

It was as the old saying goes: a mountain is famed not for its height, but for the immortal who resides there; a sea is hallowed not for its depth, but for the dragon that dwells within. Though the surroundings were indeed simple, the etiquette was impeccable. This was especially true when Lu Sheng and Hu Sheng saw the two Tier Two Qi-Introducing Pills presented on the tray brought by a servant disciple. They could truly feel their host’s warm hospitality.

"This..." The two exchanged a look, slightly shocked.

Chen Qingyang remained calm and composed. "There’s no need to be surprised, Senior Brothers. My humble abode lacks celestial treasures like the Peach Spirits, so I can only offer these elixirs as a gesture of hospitality. I gained a great deal from the peach blossom banquet last time, so please consider this a token of my gratitude!"

While Hu Sheng was still hesitating, Lu Sheng had already acted, snatching up an elixir. "Junior Brother Chen, you are truly generous! I’ll gladly accept this elixir, then!"

Seeing this, Hu Sheng naturally pocketed his as well, not forgetting to flash Chen Qingyang a simple, honest smile.

’If they want to probe my depths, then I’ll let them probe all they want today.’ Chen Qingyang continued, "They’re merely elixirs, nothing worth mentioning. Back when I was at Four Golden Peaks, I used these elixirs to make many good friends, and I’ve been generous ever since."

Hearing him mention Four Golden Peaks, Lu Sheng had a question. "I’ve heard that after you broke through to Qi Refining, Junior Brother Chen, you continued to live as a servant disciple. Then you soared to Cyan Bamboo Peak in a stroke of genius. Such fortitude is truly rare, isn’t it?"

Chen Qingyang waved his hand. "It’s nothing worth mentioning."

Lu Sheng pressed on. "But as I recall, servant disciples can only practice the Tai Xu Qi-Introducing Formula, which caps out at the Third Realm of Qi Refining. How did you manage to cultivate to the point where you can refine a Tier Four Yang Replacement Powder, Junior Brother?"

’It seems they’re determined to get to the bottom of my background and Cultivation today,’ Chen Qingyang thought. He replied, "Naturally, someone taught me. It was a set of Sword Formulas. As for the person who taught me, he now has a Foundation Establishment Cultivation and is practicing at Tai Hao."

He said just enough and no more. Lu Sheng and Hu Sheng exchanged a glance; they understood his meaning.

Still, Lu Sheng didn’t give up. His third question followed immediately. "While that act violates the Sect’s rules, no one would dare investigate a Foundation Establishment Master. However, the origin of the Tier Four Yang Replacement Powder’s Pill Formula is harder to explain."

Chen Qingyang set his teacup down and stopped answering. "Senior Brother, why do you keep asking about these things? Are you merely curious about my origins, or are you trying to dig up my past violations of the Sect’s rules?"

Lu Sheng held his teacup in one hand and stroked his long beard with the other, chuckling. "Junior Brother, you misunderstand. We are simply a bit curious about your extraordinary cultivation journey. Your current Cultivation should be at the Seventh Realm of Qi Refining, correct?"

As soon as he asked, Hu Sheng released his Qi Mechanism to probe him. Chen Qingyang saw through the attempt but didn’t expose it. "It’s embarrassing to admit, but I haven’t even touched the threshold of the Qi Refining Eighth Realm yet. On another note, I heard from Senior Brother Tian a few days ago that you senior brothers are all anxious to enter seclusion to break through and become Inner Sect Disciples?"

Hu Sheng gave an imperceptible nod, signaling to Lu Sheng.

Of the two men across from him, Hu Sheng undoubtedly had the higher Cultivation. If anyone was going to break through to the Inner Sect in a short time, he was the most likely candidate.

At this point, Hu Sheng finally had a chance to speak. "That’s right. At my current pace, and with another elixir from my Master, I should have no problem entering the Inner Sect within two years."

He spoke with absolute certainty and considerable pride. Beside him, Lu Sheng looked a bit sour.

Chen Qingyang cupped his hands in congratulations. "Congratulations! Will Senior Brother Long be able to break through as well?"

"Sigh!" At the mention of this, Hu Sheng sighed. "I don’t know what happened, but something went wrong with Senior Brother Long’s Cultivation Technique. He’s been in seclusion practicing ever since. Although Senior Brother Wuji has been doing his best to help, it’s still..."

"Ahem!" Lu Sheng had expected Hu Sheng to say a few words and be done, but he just kept rambling on, forcing Lu Sheng to cut him off with a cough.

Hu Sheng also suddenly realized he had said a bit too much.

"Hehe, for now, it looks like I have the best chance of success," Hu Sheng said, then fell silent.

’I’ve heard Long Sheng mention this Senior Brother Wuji before,’ Chen Qingyang thought. ’He must be an Inner Sect Disciple under Master Water Moon, responsible for looking after the Seven Immortals of Peach Valley. If I get any more entangled with them, I might end up drawing this Inner Sect Disciple out.’

’But... so what if he comes? I’m not afraid of anyone right now. Under the laws of the Sect, even if he wanted to do something to me, he couldn’t do it openly, could he?’

"I wonder what this Senior Brother Wuji’s Cultivation is like? If it’s possible, could you introduce me to him?"

Chen Qingyang’s request was rather strange. Lu Sheng shot Hu Sheng a look, signaling him not to speak again. "Why do you want to see our Senior Brother Wuji?"

Chen Qingyang replied nonchalantly, "Just to pay a visit. If it’s not convenient, then forget it."

’He’s part of Master Jing Yuan’s lineage, yet he’s trying to get in with Master Water Moon’s people.’ Lu Sheng gave him a perfunctory reply. "There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. I heard you made a trip to the Separation Dragon Pill Institute a few days ago, Junior Brother. I wonder how that went for you?"

Chen Qingyang had secretly overheard them discussing this, so he wasn’t surprised by the question. He let out a long sigh. "Alas, I gained nothing. I was only able to hold on to the Separation Huo Dragon Pearl. As you both know, Steward Lu of the Pill Institute has never liked me, so getting away with just that was already a good outcome."

In reality, they just wanted to find out what other secrets Chen Qingyang was hiding after the last incident.

At this point, it seemed they couldn’t get any more information out of him. As for everything else, wasn’t it obvious? Master Jing Yuan couldn’t be bothered with him, leaving him to cultivate alone on the mountainside. He was, for all intents and purposes, a mere Seventh Realm of Qi Refining Cultivator with no backing.

Lu Sheng let out a sigh of false sympathy. "That incident certainly put you in a difficult position, Junior Brother. It would have been better if you had your Master’s protection, but as things stand now..."

Chen Qingyang took the opportunity to say, "That’s precisely why I want to get closer to you Seven Immortals. That way, I’ll at least have some acquaintances on Cyan Bamboo Peak. Come, please have some tea!"

...

The idle chatter that followed only served to reinforce the two brothers’ original suspicions. When he saw them off, Chen Qingyang remained at his courtyard gate, but sent his consciousness out in the form of a fish to follow them. Maintaining a safe distance, he eavesdropped on their conversation.

"He seems pretty hospitable to me. I don’t think we need to go so far as to destroy his Dao Foundation. If he can keep honoring us with these Qi-Introducing Pills, won’t our Cultivation advance even faster? And we’d still be fulfilling Master’s wish," Hu Sheng said.

As soon as he finished speaking, he eagerly tossed the elixir into his mouth. From a distance, an image of Hu Sheng appeared in Chen Qingyang’s mind. ’Immortal Seedling plundered: 51. As expected of someone on the verge of breaking through to Essence Condensation. If he took two in a row, the second one could yield as much as seventy or eighty.’

’But... if I act too eager, it will only create more problems.’

But Lu Sheng shook his head. "Senior Brother Hu, that is misguided compassion. Even if we spare his life, he must do so respectfully, kneeling as he presents the elixirs to us. Otherwise, where would the honor of the Seven Immortals of Peach Valley be? We might as well give up our reputation on Cyan Bamboo Peak."

"Hmph." Hu Sheng sneered. "That’s bullshit, I say. It’s all because of that bootlicker Tian Jingzhao. He’s buttered you up so perfectly that you’re acting this way today. If you ask me, this Chen Qingyang is far better than Tian Jingzhao. That guy is a petty villain who will only bring us harm."

It was clear that Hu Sheng utterly detested Tian Jingzhao.

Lu Sheng didn’t get angry with him. He simply said, "Go tell that to Senior Brother Long. If his anger has subsided, then we can drop the matter. Then you can spend your days drinking with Chen Qingyang, calling him brother, and disregarding the bond between us seven."

"You..." Hu Sheng pointed a finger at him, too angry to speak. ’From this, I can see that Lu Sheng is the most venomous of the group,’ Chen Qingyang thought. ’I really regret not scheming against him last time.’

"Hmph, you and your sharp tongue! When did I ever say anything like that? If you provoke me, don’t blame me for getting rough!"

Lu Sheng was resentful but didn’t dare to openly defy him. He just said, "Senior Brother Hu, you must understand. Our Master, Master Water Moon, is in a precarious position on Cyan Bamboo Peak. Only by uniting can we bring honor to our Master. Tian Jingzhao almost had his Cultivation crippled. Is he not also our junior brother?"

This softer tone was effective. No matter how furious Hu Sheng was, he couldn’t stay angry at him.

"You’re still full of bullshit excuses!" he complained, before striding away.

’From the looks of it, the seven of them aren’t a monolithic block. There are plenty of ways I can exploit the rift between just Hu Sheng and Lu Sheng.’

’A Qi Refining Ninth Realm Cultivator should have a thousand Immortal Seedlings. If I could get half from each of the seven, that would be three thousand five hundred. Combined with what I have left, it would be enough to advance my Cultivation even further.’

’Once my Cultivation is higher, I’ll continue to delve into the Alchemy Dao. Sooner or later, reaching Immortal Grade won’t be far off.’

Watching Hu Sheng’s retreating back, Lu Sheng cursed viciously under his breath before heading off as well.

Chen Qingyang wouldn’t gain any more useful information by following them further, so he stopped and returned directly home.

He could guess what would happen next. After these two returned, the seven brothers would surely come up with a plan to deal with him.

In the coming days, he could send his Conscious Fish over more often to see if he could overhear anything.

The distance from Cyan Bamboo Peak to Peach Blossom Valley was a hundred li. His Conscious Fish could only travel seventy or eighty li at most. ’It seems my progress in the Great Soul Scripture is still not enough.’

’When I can circle around a Foundation Establishment Master without being discovered, that’s when it will become a truly powerful tool. Sometimes, when you want to plunder Immortal Seedlings, information is far more important than Cultivation.’

In the small courtyard, inside the Alchemy Room.

He had just sat down when Xu Baoling came forward, concerned. "Master, the ill omen of Ying Huo you calculated—were you referring to those two?"

Chen Qingyang nodded. "The very same. They might bring even greater trouble."

Xu Baoling frowned slightly. "It’s a pity my current Cultivation is only equivalent to the Seventh Realm of Qi Refining. I want to help you, Master, but there’s not much I can do!"

This wasn’t mere politeness; her words were clearly heartfelt. After spending so much time with him, Xu Baoling seemed to genuinely enjoy her current situation.

Chen Qingyang said, "It doesn’t matter. My Cultivation is far higher than theirs now. No matter what tricks they try, they can’t affect me in the slightest!"

Indeed. Lu Sheng repeatedly claimed to be at the Seventh Realm of Qi Refining, and Hu Sheng boasted that he was about to break through, but how could they possibly know that the man before them was already an existence they could no longer hope to match?

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