Stealing Immortal

Chapter 144: Chapter 143: Nine Truths

The evening glow unfurled across the horizon, casting halos of light from behind dark clouds that settled upon the mountains. The world was dim and dusky. A line of migrating geese flew through the gray haze, and below them, a rugged river snaked its way toward the end of the skyline.

From this high vantage point, the magnificent landscape stretched out before them.

Turning around, they saw the grand gates of the Daoist Temple. A crack had opened, and an old Daoist was slowly approaching. As he drew near Liu Tao and seemed to finally get a clear look, he immediately said, "Ah, so it is the two Upper Immortals from the Immortal Sect! Please, come in, quickly!"

As it was a Daoist Temple, it naturally housed statues and burning incense. A haze of smoke filled the air, lending it a dignified and sacred atmosphere. The two of them bypassed the front Divine Hall, walked to the living quarters in the back, and were led to a reception hall to wait.

Chen Qingyang lifted his teacup, sniffed it, and then drank it all in one go. The taste was very refreshing. "Senior Sister, this tea is not bad!"

Liu Tao was in no mood for such pleasantries. "Did you feel it? There’s only a sliver of Spiritual Qi inside this Daoist Temple. It’s almost impossible to sense any outside. This place really is remote... SIGH!"

After saying her piece, she sighed again.

"I think you’ve just gotten used to the good life, Senior Sister. You can’t even handle a little hardship. It’s not so bad. Besides, my bag is full of Spirit Stones, more than enough for us to use."

Liu Tao, of course, shot him a look. "I’m not worried about Spirit Stones. I’m worried that we’re too close to the Demon Sect. This assignment probably won’t be easy. If it were really just about staying here for three months, I’d spend my days sightseeing and go into the city to eat and drink my fill."

Chen Qingyang nodded hurriedly. "Yes, Senior Sister is always so thoughtful. I have plenty of silver, too. If we can’t get used to living in this Daoist Temple, I’ll just rent a house at the foot of the mountain. Watching the comings and goings of the Red Dust would be quite relaxing."

Liu Tao frowned. "Forget it, forget it! I really don’t want to talk to you anymore!"

As the two were talking, a middle-aged Daoist priest entered from outside. He wore a sapphire-blue Daoist Robe with an Eight Trigrams pattern embroidered on the back. He had a long, thin face and a beard that reached his chest, giving him the distinct air of an immortal.

"Might you be Junior Sister Tao?"

Chen Qingyang observed the man. His Cultivation was in the Realm of Essence Condensation, and clearly above his own.

Liu Tao replied, "I am."

"My name is Lu Qingyu, and I am the Temple Master of this Daoist Temple. Xuanwei Master is currently stationed here, but he has not yet assigned any duties. So, I will get you settled in first, Junior Sister."

After speaking, he turned to Chen Qingyang. "The Sect’s letter did not mention this Junior Brother. Might I ask who you are?"

Chen Qingyang replied, "Chen Qingyang of the Cyan Bamboo Peak Outer Sect. I was not dispatched by the Sect; I came with Senior Sister Liu Tao. You don’t need to concern yourself with me, Senior Brother."

Liu Tao also chimed in, "That’s right."

"I understand. In that case, please follow me to the rear courtyard to rest."

Lu Qingyu personally led them through a corridor to a small courtyard. Along the way, he thoughtfully explained the situation to them. "Four hundred li further from here and you’ll be in the territory of the Yu Xiao Demon Sect. Recently, the Demon Sect has been eyeing our Daoist Sect covetously and has been quite provocative. Unless absolutely necessary, you must not venture deep into their lands."

"The Demon Sect has many methods for bewitching the hearts of men. The common people under their rule are quite devoted to them, so you could say they are united from top to bottom. If any of us enter their territory, we’re very easily discovered..."

At this point, Chen Qingyang had a question. "Excuse me, Senior Brother, but what kind of methods do they use to bewitch people?"

Lu Qingyu said, "Ah, that’s not something I can explain in just a moment. You just need to know that they are insidious and cunning."

’What a vague answer,’ Chen Qingyang thought. ’Which of the Tai Xu Sect’s Practitioners isn’t insidious and cunning? Those who aren’t have probably already run out of their lifespan and turned to dust.’

Though he thought this, Chen Qingyang didn’t press the matter further. "I understand."

Then, Lu Qingyu continued, "This Nine True Temple was established two years ago. I went to the Daoist Sect one hundred and twenty years ago, received its legacy, and my Cultivation is at the Essence Condensation Sixth Realm."

"Beneath me, there are three hundred and sixty-five Disciples. The one with the highest Cultivation is at the Qi Refining Ninth Realm, while the lowest has only just begun. Fortunately, the Daoist Sect left an Array here, which is how they are able to have this chance at Immortal Cultivation..."

This "legacy" he spoke of, Chen Qingyang guessed, was similar to a Transmission.

It meant that once your Cultivation and seniority were sufficient, the Tai Xu Sect would give you a boost, allowing you to better serve the Sect.

Additionally, he learned that the Xuanwei Master stationed here was replaced every sixty years. Under the Master’s command were Inner Sect Disciples ranging from the Essence Condensation First Realm to the Essence Condensation Ninth Realm, their numbers maintained at three hundred year-round.

Those at the Essence Condensation First Realm were rotated out every three months. At the Second Realm, it became half a year. The duration increased along with one’s Cultivation. Chen Qingyang gained a much greater understanding of the Tai Xu Sect’s methods for managing its external affairs.

"These two rooms have been prepared for you. Tea and other items are inside. If you need anything else, you need only ask. As for your duties, Xuanwei Master will arrange them. I won’t disturb you any further. You must be tired from your journey, so rest early!"

Standing at the door, he added one last thing.

Liu Tao said to him, "This little courtyard is very nice. It’s just the two of us. The Master is very thoughtful."

As she spoke, an Elixir had already appeared in her hand. "This is a Tier Three Warm Sun Pill, a small token of my gratitude."

When it came to social niceties, she was always impeccable, especially when away from home. Sure enough, after receiving the Elixir, Lu Qingyu thanked her profusely.

The scene felt somewhat familiar to Chen Qingyang. The last time she gave out an Elixir, the Yao Clan had ended up being wiped out.

After seeing Lu Qingyu off, only Chen Qingyang and Liu Tao remained in the small courtyard.

Liu Tao asked, "There are two rooms. Which one do you choose?"

Chen Qingyang politely deferred, "Senior Sister should choose first. I’m fine with either one."

But Liu Tao wouldn’t have it. "I told you to choose, so choose! Stop dawdling!"

Helpless, Chen Qingyang chose a room and went inside. To his surprise, Liu Tao followed him in and shut the door.

"We’re used to sharing the same Alchemy Room anyway. At night, you do your Cultivation, and I’ll do mine. We won’t disturb each other. And if something comes up, we can discuss it."

Chen Qingyang was slightly stunned. He hadn’t expected this. ’What could possibly need discussing in the middle of the night?’

"What, you’re not happy about it?" Seeing him hesitate, Liu Tao’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked annoyed.

"Fine, fine. I’ll do whatever Senior Sister says."

His tone was full of reluctance, but thankfully, Liu Tao paid it no mind. She went straight to a spot, sat down, and began circulating her energy to cultivate.

Chen Qingyang was also tired from days of travel, so he too began his Cultivation of the Danxia Nourishing Truth Sword Manual.

The Nine True Temple was the only place on their entire journey where they didn’t need to expend Spirit Stones.

When he opened his eyes again, it was already daylight.

Liu Tao was sitting across from him, watching him. When she met Chen Qingyang’s gaze, she approached him. "Your Cultivation has already broken through, and it’s not like you lack a Master’s favor. Why do you still have to hide it?"

Along the way, Chen Qingyang had to meditate to recover his energy. But as soon as he circulated his energy, the change in his Qi Mechanism was bound to be sensed by Liu Tao, who was also at the Essence Condensation First Realm. So, he had simply stopped hiding it from her.

"Becoming famous too early isn’t a good thing. You have to let me keep a low profile, Senior Sister. What are we doing today?"

Liu Tao shook her head. "I don’t know. If the Master doesn’t have any arrangements for us, let’s go down the mountain and take a look."

"Sounds good."

Just as they were speaking, footsteps approached from outside. "Senior Sister Liu, Xuanwei Master requests all Disciples to gather!"

The door opened to reveal a Little Daoist Child.

After sending him away, Liu Tao said to Chen Qingyang, "Looks like I have to go alone. You wait here for me, or go for a walk outside the mountain. No matter what happens, you must wait for me to get back before doing anything."

Chen Qingyang readily agreed, "Alright."

After Liu Tao left, Chen Qingyang continued to sit and cultivate. He couldn’t even be bothered to send out his Conscious Fish.

Chen Qingyang didn’t see Liu Tao again until noon.

She sat down behind the round table, took a sip of tea, and her expression was quite grave. "From the Master’s tone, things aren’t as simple as I thought!"

Chen Qingyang walked over and asked, "Care to elaborate, Senior Sister?"

"Two months ago, several Qi Refining Disciples from the Nine True Temple disappeared. The Master sent out a number of people to investigate, but not only did they find nothing, more Disciples went missing—this time, Inner Sect Disciples."

"After that, Xuanwei Master himself went out on patrol. He even had a brief skirmish with a Yu Xiao Demon Sect Master on the banks of the Great River, four hundred li away. Although both Masters only exchanged a few blows, it’s enough to show that things are not peaceful."

It seemed Liu Tao didn’t want to get involved in any karma whatsoever; she just wanted to lie low and coast through her time here.

Chen Qingyang thought seriously for a moment. "What’s the strength of the Yu Xiao Demon Sect on the other side?"

"The Master said that the two sides have been fighting for thousands of years and have long since reached a tacit understanding. However many people the Tai Xu Sect has on Nine True Mountain, they will have a roughly equivalent number. Even in occasional skirmishes, no one ever dies. But this time is different."

Although the Tai Xu Sect had many Foundation Establishment Masters, this territory was vast enough that the current point-for-point standoff with the Demon Sect was to be expected.

Chen Qingyang guessed, "Could there be some kind of treasure on Nine True Mountain?"

Liu Tao shot him a look. "I’m telling you, there’s no need for wild speculation. They’ve been enemies for thousands of years. If there were really some treasure, it would have been discovered long ago. What are the chances we’d happen to stumble upon it now?"

Chen Qingyang found this very reasonable. "Senior Sister has a point. Through thousands of years of turmoil, the two sides have always been enemies. This is probably just normal friction. No need to worry about it. If the sky really were to fall, wouldn’t there be Golden Core True Monarchs to hold it up?"

Hearing him put it that way, Liu Tao realized she had been overthinking things. "You’re right. Getting all worked up will only scare myself."

Chen Qingyang then asked, "So what assignment did you receive, Senior Sister?"

"Patrol duty. I just have to walk a designated route around the mountain once a day. If I find anything unusual, I’m to report back immediately. No need to engage with anyone from the Demon Sect!"

Chen Qingyang nodded. "Master Yun Ci’s influence is truly great. That’s an excellent assignment. All you have to do is go for a scenic walk!"

Liu Tao could only pray, "Yes. As long as I don’t run into any trouble."

...

Patrol duty was a task for the next day.

Bored, Liu Tao dragged Chen Qingyang down the mountain to wander around the city. Chen Qingyang rarely saw such lively, mortal scenes, so he went along.

This city didn’t belong to any kingdom. All the citizens pledged their faith to the Nine True Temple, which also sent people to govern it. All internal matters, such as the appointment of officials, were handled by the Nine True Temple.

In a teahouse, they overheard that a thousand years ago, this city didn’t exist; only the Nine True Temple stood here. Later, refugees arrived, saw that the land was fertile, and began to clear it for settlement.

As more and more people gathered, whenever injustices occurred, they would seek out the Nine True Temple and ask the Daoist Masters to pass judgment. Gradually, this led to the current state of affairs.

By the way, this city was also named Nine Truths.

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