Stealing Immortal

Chapter 49: Chapter 48: Repaying a Kindness

Recalling his last conversation with Hu Kai, Chen Qingyang could only wonder, ’Is this what he meant when he said he wouldn’t let things go?’

He had come to the Golden Summit to perform Alchemy for Liu Tao, but that wasn’t an urgent task. He decided it was better to go meet with Hu Kai first.

He was quite familiar with Hu Kai’s courtyard.

This time, he used the same method as before to have the gate opened. Only Hu Kai was in the courtyard; he was the one who let him in.

News about the Profound Light Association had completely dried up after Lü Yunshen’s death.

Chen Qingyang wasn’t sure if the association was still meeting here or if it had disbanded. The courtyard, however, had certainly lost its former bustling atmosphere.

Hu Kai didn’t look well. His already dark-skinned face was now even more gaunt.

’His eye sockets are slightly sunken. He must be overworked. I wonder what’s worrying him so much?’

"Junior Brother Hu, we meet again."

Hu Kai’s gaze was intense. He handed Chen Qingyang a cup of tea and paused for a long moment before speaking. "You probably don’t know yet, Senior Brother Chen. The Profound Light Association has a new steward. Now this courtyard is abandoned, and so am I. Everything I worked so hard to build... just handed over to someone else."

His voice was laced with regret and helplessness.

’Come to think of it, this really does have something to do with me. Hu Kai originally wanted to recruit me, but Xu You was suspicious, and so Xu You died. Then Gong Yueshu came along, and she died too—and that caused quite a stir.’

"Isn’t this a good thing? You can join the Outer Sect sooner and find a master. If you delay any longer, it’ll be detrimental to your future cultivation."

Hu Kai paid no mind to Chen Qingyang’s platitudes. "Hmph. If only I could actually get away. I know too much. Do you think they’d just let me leave?"

’So that’s where the pressure is coming from.’

’Just a few days ago, he was going on about how grateful he was to the Profound Light Association, how he was determined to have everyone band together for mutual support so more people could find their Immortal Fate. Now, he’s being persecuted by the very foundation he relied on to survive.’

"Who is this newcomer?"

"Sigh!" Hu Kai sighed. "I can’t really say. I just know that as soon as he arrived, he took everything from me. He forbade me from acting in the name of the Profound Light Association. Hateful!"

As he gritted his teeth, veins bulged on his dark forehead.

Chen Qingyang looked puzzled. "I... don’t quite understand. Why are you telling me this, Junior Brother Hu? Surely you don’t think I can help you?"

Hu Kai gave a dry, choked laugh. "I’ve thought it over, and you’re the only one who can help me. Let’s not say too much. Just consider the goodwill we built over those two Qi Gathering Pills."

’Goodwill.’

’A man like Hu Kai might believe in goodwill, but not by much.’ "What could I possibly do to help? Report this to the Law Enforcement Hall and demand justice for you?"

Without bothering to figure out if Chen Qingyang was joking, Hu Kai laid out his plan. "If they want to harm me, then I’ll make the Sect eradicate them completely—root and stem. I won’t leave a single one..."

There was a hidden ruthlessness in Hu Kai’s voice as he spoke.

’Setting aside his Cultivation, the man is still quite capable. He certainly wouldn’t be merciful when it’s time to act.’

’Of course, I could refuse,’ Chen Qingyang thought. ’But if I don’t get involved in this mess, how will I ever get the Immortal Seedling? Besides...’

’...the man across from me doesn’t seem like the type to just let things go.’

"Sigh." He began, his voice tinged with emotion. "Out of both sentiment and my debt to you, I suppose I should repay this favor. But you absolutely cannot ask me to risk my life."

Seeing him agree so readily, Hu Kai’s eyes lit up. "Don’t worry. I’ve always respected you as a person, Senior Brother Chen. I just need you to lure the snake out of its hole for me. There’s no risk involved at all."

When he saw Chen Qingyang’s confused expression, Hu Kai continued, "I want to kill the new steward, but he doesn’t trust me. So, I want to use you, Senior Brother Chen, to lure him to a secluded place. We’re both Qi Refining Cultivators, so he’s no match for me. I’ll tell him beforehand that you’re connected to Xu You’s death. That will get him to watch you secretly. After that, we’ll play it by ear."

Chen Qingyang chuckled. "Sounds rather dangerous, doesn’t it?"

Hu Kai waved his hand dismissively. "Not at all. Rest assured, he’s no match for me. I’m just worried about causing too much of a commotion, which is why I need you to lure him out. When it’s done, I’ll reward you handsomely."

"But... will killing one man really be enough to ’eradicate them root and stem’ as you said?"

As if expecting the question, Hu Kai slowly began to explain. "Senior Brother Chen, do you know what that Metal Lotus used to reconstruct a Dantian is called?"

Chen Qingyang’s silence was answer enough.

"It’s called the Great Profound Golden Wheel Lotus. It comes from an Immortal Cultivation Sect in Cyan Nether State called the Nine Nether Mechanic Divine Palace. Unlike the Tai Xu Sect, a leader among Daoist Sects, this sect excels in the art of Magical Treasures, especially in refining ones like this that help a Cultivator break through realms. I’ve figured it out since then. Their infiltration of the Tai Xu Sect is obviously for some ulterior motive. Those Outer Disciples who advanced with their help are most likely under their control. They’re even active among the Foundation Establishment Masters of the Inner Sect."

"I’ve seen the Token carried by Disciples of the Nine Nether Mechanic Divine Palace—it’s a small Golden Lotus. That’s how they contact each other. I’ve managed to get my hands on one. After I kill the steward, I’ll plant the Golden Lotus on his body. The Sect will know that an outside power has infiltrated our ranks. In their rage, they’ll tear them out, root and stem."

A hint of pride crept into his ruthless tone. "Hmph. No matter how well they hid the Golden Lotus—they don’t even carry it on them—I still found it."

’That’s actually a pretty good plan!’

’But for him to tell me the entire story from beginning to end... it means he either trusts me completely, or he has no intention of letting me live.’

"So what does this Golden Lotus look like? Let me see it."

Hu Kai replied, "How could I possibly carry something so important on me?"

’To be honest, I’d like to have one of those myself.’

"I see."

"So, Senior Brother Chen... what’s your decision?"

Chen Qingyang nodded. "Alright. Since you say there’s no danger, I’ll do it. Let’s just call it me repaying my debt to you. When it’s all over, I want twenty Qi Gathering Pills."

Hu Kai didn’t even hesitate at the large number. "You’ve got it."

Chen Qingyang now understood what was on his mind. ’Heh heh. Thank you, Senior Brother Hu.’

’That old saying is true. There are no good people in the Tai Xu Sect!’

’No, no... maybe it’s just that when a Cultivator lives too long, they become hard-hearted.’

「Golden Summit, Pill Institute.」

Liu Tao had just had a breakthrough in her Cultivation, so she spent most of her time meditating to consolidate her new realm.

Today, she told Chen Qingyang that the Tier One Yang Replacement Powder was quite valuable and could definitely be traded for some good things.

Chen Qingyang kept himself busy. First, he refined Tier Three Qi-Introducing Pills for Liu Tao, followed by a cauldron of Tier Two Jade Flower Spirit Dew Pills. After that, he spent some time studying the Yang Replacement Powder.

He worked without a break, his Qi Mechanism flowing smoothly, sustaining him for a long time.

"Junior Brother, I have a feeling... did your Cultivation break through again?"

His activity was so unusual that even someone as unobservant as Liu Tao would notice something was off.

Knowing he couldn’t hide it from her, Chen Qingyang admitted it outright. "Senior Sister truly has a sharp eye. I just broke through yesterday. I’m at the Fourth Realm of Qi Refining now."

Instead of being shocked, Liu Tao just looked skeptical. "For real this time?"

"For real?"

"Hmph! If you dare to trick me again, you old rascal, I’ll make you regret it!" Her puffed-out cheeks, combined with her light pink dress, were actually quite cute.

Chen Qingyang nodded again and again. "I broke through three realms in three months. You don’t think that’s enough, Senior Sister?"

Liu Tao shot him another fierce glare. "Going from nothing to the first realm of Qi Refining doesn’t count! This means you’ve broken through four realms in a row. To think it took me a full forty years to get this far... I’m so jealous!"

And when she said she was jealous, her eyes were filled with nothing but jealousy.

"Don’t worry, Senior Sister. Now that you’ve overcome this hurdle, it will be smooth sailing from here on out."

Liu Tao’s gaze grew distant. "Sigh, I hope so... And don’t you forget what you promised me."

’It seems... there was more than one promise,’ Chen Qingyang thought, forcing himself to say, "Mm, don’t worry."

...

He left all the other Elixirs behind, taking only the Jade Flower Spirit Dew Pills. By the time he reached the mountainside, it was the middle of the night.

The small courtyard was pitch-black. Chen Qingyang didn’t light a lamp when he returned. He saw a graceful figure drifting in a corner. Her cold, aloof aura immediately identified her as a spirit, yet she was also strikingly beautiful.

She floated before him without taking a single step, then curtsied gracefully. "Your servant greets you, Master."

Suddenly, even this rundown old hovel seemed to have a bit of life in it.

Chen Qingyang tossed her two Tier Two Jade Flower Spirit Dew Pills. "Here are today’s Elixirs."

It was clear that Xu Baoling preferred the world outside the Warm Jade Scroll. She even felt that surrendering her Source Aspect yesterday had been the right decision. In any case, her life and death now rested on his whim.

"Your servant thanks you, Master!"

Chen Qingyang then remembered the matter of the Nine Nether Mechanic Divine Palace and asked Xu Baoling, "Have you ever heard of a Sect called the Nine Nether Mechanic Divine Palace?"

’It’s better to ask her about this than Liu Tao,’ he thought. ’Liu Tao would pester me with questions about why I’m asking and wouldn’t let it go, but she won’t.’

And as expected, Xu Baoling had heard of it. "That is a Demon Sect. Its Cultivators are ruthless, and it’s backed by the Yu Xiao Demon Sect. They’ve always enjoyed opposing our Tai Xu Sect. May I ask why you’re suddenly asking about this, Master?"

’If they’re connected to the Yu Xiao Sect, then everything makes sense.’

According to Liu Tao, that Demon Sect was the only one in all of Cyan Nether State that was on par with the Tai Xu Sect. For millennia, the two sides had been locked in a constant struggle, endlessly trying to undermine one another.

’The Profound Light Association’s background is truly something else!’

"Have you heard about the techniques they cultivate?"

Xu Baoling nodded. "Replying to Master, I have. They cultivate the Armor Manipulation Skill. This skill was originally one of the Seven Arts of Immortal Cultivation. However, it destroyed the foundations of countless people, so it could hardly be considered a superior art. It was eventually struck from the list, leaving only the arts we have today."

Seeing Chen Qingyang’s confusion, Xu Baoling immediately began to explain the Armor Manipulation Skill. "A Human Cultivator’s progress, aside from the innate talent of their Divine Soul, depends mostly on their Meridians and Dantian. This is especially true at the lower realms of Cultivation. This Armor Manipulation Skill uses the immense power of Magical Artifacts to alter the Meridians and Dantian. For those with physical defects, it can even replace parts of the body entirely with Magical Artifacts!"

Chen Qingyang understood now.

’That matches what I saw with the Great Profound Golden Wheel Lotus.’

"In your opinion, do you think these Demon Sects would try to infiltrate our Sect?"

Xu Baoling answered without a moment’s hesitation. "The two sides are in constant conflict, so of course they send spies. However, our Sect is extremely strict when vetting the backgrounds of new Disciples. We completely forbid anyone who has already learned from another master from joining, which is how we prevent it."

’So that’s why they choose to operate among the Miscellaneous Task disciples,’ Chen Qingyang realized. ’And why it was so rare to see anyone in the Profound Light Association above the Second Realm of Qi Refining.’

"I see."

Xu Baoling asked, "Master, could it be that you’ve discovered something?"

"Just some whispers on the wind."

...

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