Stealing Immortal

Chapter 132: Chapter 131: Profound Wood

’So many Immortal Seedlings... almost half of what a Qi Refining Ninth Realm Cultivator possesses. On top of that, I fed him quite a few Poison Pills. I’m afraid it will be very difficult for Hu Sheng’s cultivation to ever recover.’

’It all happened so suddenly. Could it be that Lu Sheng schemed against him?’

Chen Qingyang hesitated no longer. He picked up his bamboo basket and traveled by Wind Control, landing outside Peach Blossom Valley a moment later. He then sent his Conscious Fish drifting over.

At that moment, the Seven Immortals of Peach Valley were all gathered beneath the peach tree.

Hu Sheng spat blood, his eyes wide with rage. Beside him, Que Sheng’s face was filled with hatred, yet he dared not start a dispute. Lu Sheng’s expression was grim as he remained silent. And then there was Bao Sheng, who was letting out a long sigh; it looked like he was the one who had attacked.

As for Long Sheng, he stood in their midst, leaning on a long staff, his expression utterly vicious.

"...Consider today a small warning. Don’t make the same mistake again. We are all still brothers, bound by oath. Otherwise... HMPH!"

As he said this, a hint of reluctance surfaced through Long Sheng’s viciousness.

Hu Sheng seethed with hatred but couldn’t utter a word for a long time. Lu Sheng was also silent. For a moment, Chen Qingyang truly couldn’t figure out what had happened.

"Senior Brother Long, I have always respected you because whenever anything happened, you always put our brothers first. But now..." Since Hu Sheng wasn’t speaking, Que Sheng spoke for him.

"But now you’ve changed!"

Que Sheng’s words clearly sent Long Sheng into a rage born of shame. The trace of pity that had just appeared on his face vanished. "Nonsense! Isn’t everything I do for the sake of our Great Dao? The Seven Immortals of Peach Valley means seven immortals. Not a single one can be missing!"

But Que Sheng seemed to muster his courage. "I think it’s because you’re injured! You’re worried that Senior Brother Hu’s cultivation will surpass yours and he’ll take your position! And Senior Brother Lu here has always been at odds with Senior Brother Hu, so you two ganged up..."

"Silence," Long Sheng cut him off, unable to listen any further.

At this point, Chen Qingyang was starting to understand.

’My original plan was to provoke Hu Sheng and set him against Lu Sheng. But it seems Lu Sheng made the first move, colluding with Long Sheng to scheme against Hu Sheng.’

’And since Bao Sheng was the one to strike, the plot must have something to do with this Peach Demon.’

Que Sheng fell silent, and no one else spoke. From beginning to end, Lu Sheng hadn’t said a single word, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.

Long Sheng took a few steps forward until he was in front of Hu Sheng again, his tone softening slightly. "Junior Brother Hu, don’t blame me. When our Master sent us to guard this Peach Spirit, she gave me the authority to discipline the Seven Immortals of Peach Valley. Just take this as a small lesson. In any case, colluding with outsiders crosses the line."

’Obviously, I’m that outsider,’ Chen Qingyang thought. ’If it were just for colluding with an outsider, Hu Sheng’s punishment wouldn’t be this severe. The root cause is just as Que Sheng said.’

’Long Sheng’s position was threatened, and Lu Sheng was there fanning the flames.’

Finally, Hu Sheng could speak. "HA HA... I think you’ve gotten old and muddled, Senior Brother Long! If you can scheme against me today, you can scheme against the others tomorrow. Once trust is lost, the Seven Immortals of Peach Valley will cease to exist..."

"You..." This was what enraged Long Sheng the most. He pointed a finger at Hu Sheng. "You shut your mouth too."

Seeing this, Hu Sheng struggled to sit up on a rock, laughing maniacally.

Lu Sheng, who had been silent for so long, finally spoke. "Senior Brother Long, you did the right thing. Master sent us here precisely because she values our unity. That Jade Peach Profound Wood is crucial for Master’s breakthrough. Why else would she have sent us?"

Seeing Lu Sheng speak up for him, Long Sheng seemed to feel slightly better. "That’s right. Everything is for Master’s sake."

Little did he know, Lu Sheng was just waiting for him to say that. "Senior Brother Long, since we’re considering what’s best for Master, there is one more thing we must discuss."

Long Sheng’s expression shifted. He knew this couldn’t be good. "I’m tired today. We can discuss it another time."

With that, he turned to return to his thatched hut, but Lu Sheng moved faster, blocking his path.

Only then did Long Sheng remember: Hu Sheng was gravely injured, and his own cultivation had not yet recovered. There was no one left who could restrain Lu Sheng. Not far away, Hu Sheng heard this and his laughter grew even more unbridled.

"Junior Brother Lu, what is it you want?" Long Sheng stopped, his tone softening.

Lu Sheng said, "Senior Brother Long, didn’t Master tell us back then that we should discuss the Wood Element Mystic Core amongst ourselves and take turns controlling it? But ever since your cultivation surpassed ours, it hasn’t been in any of our hands for twenty years. Now that you’re injured, I fear it will delay Master’s great undertaking. Therefore, you must hand it over, so we can take turns wielding it."

He spoke each word with deliberate clarity. The expressions of every brother present—from Long and Hu to Bao and Lu, and even Que and He—changed.

’The name included "Wood Element,"’ Chen Qingyang mused, ’so it’s undoubtedly related to that Peach Demon. The "Mystic" part sounded like it came from an array’s name, and the "Core" must be a key-like object used to control it.’

’So what is the purpose of this array that Master Water Moon set up?’

"HA HA..." This time, it was Long Sheng’s turn to laugh. "Junior Brother Hu was right. I really have grown old and muddled. How could I have tolerated something like this? I deserve this. I truly deserve this..."

Paying no mind to his veiled insults, Lu Sheng simply said, "I am seeking justice for our junior brothers. Everyone knows that wielding this Core allows one to absorb extra Wood Spirit Qi every day. Our Water Moon Grotto Heaven lineage primarily cultivates the Water and Fire Technique. Water gives rise to Wood, and Wood gives rise to Fire. Who here doesn’t know how greatly beneficial that is!"

Lu Sheng’s words made even Bao Sheng, who had always been respectful toward Senior Brother Long, change his expression.

Chen Qingyang had experienced it himself before. Under normal circumstances, Wood Spirit Qi was indeed beneficial for one’s cultivation.

"Sigh!" Long Sheng sighed again, giving off the impression that his reign was over. "You mean you want to wield it alone?"

Lu Sheng shook his head. "One year per person, starting tomorrow. I’ll go first, and then we’ll take turns according to seniority. You can be last. That way, it’s fair to everyone."

Long Sheng sneered. "I’m afraid that once it’s in your hands, you’ll find it very difficult to hand it over, won’t you?"

Lu Sheng was exceptionally shrewd. He didn’t bother to address the accusation and said directly, "That would be a matter for after you’ve handed it over. The priority right now is for you to give it up. If you refuse, we will take this to Master and demand a clear ruling."

"You know Master’s temperament. We were ordered to carefully guard the Peach Spirit, and now things have come to this. A punishment of fifty lashes each would be getting off easy. If Master becomes truly angry, she might even expel you from the Sect... Senior Brother Long, I suggest you stop being so stubborn."

Lu Sheng’s tone was firm as he spoke, carrying the unyielding threat of mutual destruction.

Long Sheng gave a scornful laugh. He raised his hand, and a flash of green light emerged from his sleeve, floating instantly into Lu Sheng’s hand.

Before Chen Qingyang could get a clear look, Lu Sheng had already put it away. Aside from a surge in the Qi Mechanism, Chen Qingyang didn’t sense anything out of the ordinary.

Lu Sheng clasped his hands in a salute to the others. "My dear brothers, you all understand that this Talisman Yin Array is of critical importance for Master’s cultivation to advance. The Jade Peach Profound Wood being nurtured within it will reach the count of one hundred and eight in just ten more years."

"Therefore, during these ten years, each of us can wield it for one year. As for the time remaining after that, we can decide based on our cultivation. I wonder who is for and who is against? Unlike Senior Brother Long, I am not an unreasonable person. We should speak our minds clearly."

He Sheng, who had always been closest to Lu Sheng, was the first to agree. Seeing that there was no point in arguing, the others followed suit and consented.

Even Hu Sheng chimed in, "Count me in! I agree too!"

Unexpectedly, Lu Sheng just shot him a contemptuous smile. "You’re gravely injured, in a worse state than even Senior Brother Long. You’re not qualified."

Hu Sheng was stunned with anger, but thinking of his current state, he could only swallow the bitter pill.

Lu Sheng dismissed him and turned to Long Sheng. "And you, having occupied it for so many years, are also disqualified. That means the rest of us can each have it for two years... Now, Junior Brother Que, what are your thoughts?"

Que Sheng was standing right next to Hu Sheng. With this move, Lu Sheng was forcing him to choose a side. ’To turn the situation around like this in such a short time... he truly is the most cunning of them all,’ Chen Qingyang thought.

"HA HA..." The laughter came from Hu Sheng. "Go on! Get lost and go over there..."

Amid the furious cursing, Que Sheng hesitated, but finally said, "I agree," and moved to stand behind Lu Sheng.

While they were busy redividing the spoils, Chen Qingyang was still pondering what exactly this Jade Peach Profound Wood was.

He started by considering the Five Elements and thought back on Lu Sheng’s words. Finally, an idea began to form.

He had been at Cyan Bamboo Peak for some time now, and he’d heard that Master Water Moon cultivated a Water and Fire Technique. Between the two, her Water was strong, but her Fire was weak.

Lu Sheng’s point just now was a good one: Water gives rise to Wood, and Wood gives rise to Fire. Therefore, the key to a Master’s cultivation breakthrough lay in this ’Wood’.

’This Peach Demon is a rare specimen, containing immense Wood Spirit Qi. Just like a human, it must have a Dantian to gather Qi. And within this Peach Demon’s Dantian, a piece of Divine Wood must be growing—the Jade Peach Profound Wood.’

’So, this tree wasn’t planted here by chance. And these seven aren’t just guarding a tree; they’re guarding Master Water Moon’s Daoist Technique itself.’

’If I could just get my hands on that Wood Element Mystic Core for a moment, I might be able to find the Jade Peach Profound Wood inside the tree. Then I could pull out Master Water Moon’s Daoist Technique and have a little fun with it, too.’

’For now, all I can do is hope my Great Soul Scripture advances to the next level, so I can discover it myself with more sensitive perception.’

Thanks to Lu Sheng’s maneuvering, the sworn brothers were split into two factions, with Long Sheng and Hu Sheng cast out and isolated. This was a turn of events that Chen Qingyang had not anticipated at all.

’Things have evolved to this point, and all I’ve managed is to steal Hu Sheng’s Immortal Seedlings. If I want to stir up more trouble among them, I’m not sure where to start.’

The root of all this, perhaps, stretched back to the first Peach Blossom Banquet. That was when Long Sheng was gravely injured, and the original balance among the Seven Immortals of Peach Valley was shattered.

The carefree air of the Seven Immortals of Peach Valley was gone. Their faces were all as grim as still water as they returned to their respective thatched huts. Having watched the farce play out, Chen Qingyang withdrew his Conscious Fish and, picking up his bamboo basket, walked back toward his own small courtyard.

Above, the moonlight was still beautiful.

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