Stealing Immortal

Chapter 62: Chapter 61: Stellar Hub

Spring returned to the land, and the lingering snows of winter were no more.

Withered trees found new life, bursting with vitality in the smallest of places.

The cycle of the seasons, the alternation of the sun and moon—all follow their own Dao. A Qi Refiner seeks clarity amidst turbidity, perceives Qi within matter, finds the root of spiritual wisdom, and manifests the essence of humanity. They use the physical body to nurture the Five Elements and transform Pure Yang into Pure Yin... Only then can one truly grasp the meaning of "Qi Refining."

His steps were steady, yet his pace never slackened. As Chen Qingyang walked and thought, his mind unconsciously drifted back to the core principles of the Tai Xu Energy-Introducing Technique.

Whether one was a Miscellaneous Task disciple or in the Outer Sect, from the Masters and True Monarchs on high to the newest initiates of the Immortal Sect, as long as they cultivated in the Tai Xu Sect, their first lesson always began with these principles.

An Enlightened One, it is said, first grasps the principle and then takes action. But Chen Qingyang, harboring the ambition of a Stealing Immortal, did the opposite: he acted first, then pondered the principles within. As he experienced things, the reasons behind them gradually became clear.

His thoughts drifted to his battle with Qi Xiuyuan. Though he had taken the man’s life, Xu Baoling’s warning had been correct. ’If he had possessed even a single Magical Treasure, I would have been in grave danger!’

’Relying on my finger as a sword is a problem. While I can count on the ferocity of the Sword Dao and the edge of the One-Origin Sword, it’s an inferior method that will put me at a disadvantage against a true master.’

’As for finding a Magical Artifact, that would attract too much attention. I should wait until I’ve entered the Outer Sect to think about it. For now, I just need to focus on studying the Alchemy Dao.’

He was running late again. By the time he reached the entrance of the Golden Peak Pill Institute, the sun was already high in the sky. Just as he was about to enter, he ran into Leng Yueru from the Law Enforcement Hall, who was just coming out.

Chen Qingyang stood to the side of the path and bowed with clasped hands. "Greetings, Senior Sister Leng!"

Leng Yueru paused. "Mm. I was looking for you, but I’m short on time. I’ve had my junior sister pass on the message."

Chen Qingyang asked no more questions and simply said, "Thank you, Senior Sister."

Leng Yueru gave a slight nod and left.

Upon entering the Alchemy Room, he found Liu Tao sitting behind the round table, cradling her head in her hands and lost in thought. A few beams of light shone on her face, making it as rosy as a peach. She was an undeniably lovely sight.

"Senior Sister!"

Chen Qingyang sat down opposite her. As he poured himself a cup of tea, he poured one for Liu Tao as well. "I just saw Senior Sister Leng was here."

"That’s right. She came to see me about something." Liu Tao’s voice was low, and she seemed distracted.

"What was it?"

When Chen Qingyang asked, Liu Tao suddenly exploded, "You almost died, you know that?!"

She pointed a finger at him. Chen Qingyang’s heart dropped. ’Where did I screw up?’ he wondered, racking his brain.

"Do you know how the Sect dealt with those sixty-nine disciples who relied on the Profound Light Association for their Cultivation?"

Chen Qingyang shook his head.

"They were all killed. Their bodies will be used to nourish Spirit Plants—after all, since they were cultivated by the Sect, everything they have rightfully belongs to the Sect. As for their Divine Souls, they were all fed to the Bridge of Longevity. No reincarnation, just... gone. Their souls utterly destroyed."

A chill ran down Chen Qingyang’s spine. To think a grand Orthodox Dao Sect could be so ruthless. Yet there was no surprise on Liu Tao’s face; she acted as if this was completely ordinary.

"Senior Sister, have people been dealt with like this before?"

Liu Tao said, "Of course. It’s been a tradition ever since the Tai Xu Sect was founded. What is given by the Sect is returned to the Sect in the end. It’s considered perfectly normal."

’I see,’ he thought. ’So she finds this normal.’

He had heard Liu Tao speak of the Bridge of Longevity before. It was a bridge that allowed a Golden Core True Monarch to be reincarnated as a mortal. When the time was right, their Innate Wisdom would awaken, and their Magical Power would return. This allowed them to experience a completely new life, to perceive the world with a fresh mindset, and thus increase their chances of a breakthrough in their Cultivation.

’It’s truly a "minor reincarnation" cycle within the Sect,’ he mused.

"So... you’ve escaped death yet again. I’ve told you time and again to be cautious in the Tai Xu Sect, but do you ever listen?"

Liu Tao had been very irritable with Chen Qingyang lately, as all sorts of accidents seemed to happen around him. He didn’t mind being scolded; he simply let her talk, his mind already elsewhere. ’In that case, aren’t all the Outer Disciples under that Master Xuan Gui gone now?’

Liu Tao replied, "That’s what Senior Sister Leng said."

"Then... won’t Master Xuan Gui be resentful? Or has the Sect already found evidence that he was colluding with a Demon Sect?"

Liu Tao’s breathing steadied, and she looked at him. "That’s exactly what I needed to tell you. Although there’s no proof, the Sect’s suspicions haven’t been dispelled. That Master is likely a dead man walking; anything he does now is just a final, desperate struggle. Senior Sister Leng also said that, based on their investigation, the Profound Light Association seemed to value you highly. Some people even think you might have been involved in what happened. She said you should be careful for a while to avoid retaliation."

Chen Qingyang thought for a moment. ’Xu You and Gong Yueshu are dead. Hu Kai, the one who tried to recruit me, is also dead. Who in the Profound Light Association, or even among the disciples of a Foundation Establishment Master, would still be paying any attention to me?’

’Or perhaps... Leng Yueru is deliberately creating a smokescreen?’

’Either way, it’s possible. I should be careful.’

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister. I will act more cautiously."

Liu Tao nodded. "Mm, that’s more like it!"

At that moment, Chen Qingyang’s thoughts turned to Lin Qingxuan and the task Li Sheng had entrusted to him. "Senior Sister, if the Sect finds evidence against Master Xuan Gui, what will happen?"

"They’ll kill him. It wouldn’t even be surprising if they wiped out his entire lineage."

"Then... what about the Miscellaneous Task disciples serving his lineage?"

Liu Tao grew curious. "Who is it you’re so concerned about?"

Chen Qingyang smiled. "Senior Sister is as perceptive as ever. There are three youths in my courtyard. One of them came up to the Golden Summit to serve as a Miscellaneous Task disciple under Senior Brother Zhang Wenyuan, one of Master Xuan Gui’s people. They asked me to inquire about the situation today, so here I am."

"The Law Enforcement Hall is always thorough. If he has nothing to do with this and is only a Miscellaneous Task disciple, they’ll naturally spare his life. It’s just..." Here, Liu Tao hesitated.

"Is something wrong, Senior Sister?"

Liu Tao sighed. "Ai... I suppose I’ll have to broaden your horizons again today. The skill Master Xuan Gui cultivates is called the Tai Xu True Method of the Star Pivot and Purple Star. Some say this Dharma Gate is sinister, some say it’s profound, and still others say it’s unfathomably deep and are terrified of it. It’s an Astrology Skill. Once mastered, a cultivator can connect with the stars in the heavens, sense events across the world, calculate worldly tribulations, avoid disaster, find fortune, and cheat death to preserve their life. It is formidable indeed."

"However, this Dharma Gate has a drawback. Divining the celestial phenomena inevitably invites a backlash that consumes an enormous amount of lifespan. But it’s different from my Fire Control Three Acupoints, which only consumes the user. This skill can transfer the backlash to others. That’s why everyone in Master Xuan Gui’s lineage has a short lifespan. He has many disciples, but only Zhang Wenyuan is his True Inheritor. And under Zhang Wenyuan, the Miscellaneous Task disciples never last long."

"That..." Chen Qingyang was stunned. Regret washed over him. ’Why didn’t I ask about this sooner? And that Steward Shao who recommended Lin Qingxuan for the position... he certainly had no good intentions.’

"Is there any way to block this skill?"

Liu Tao shook her head. "The skill is highly mysterious. Even my own Master’s enmity with Master Xuan Gui is likely related to it. Junior Brother, you shouldn’t worry so much. Everyone makes their own choices. Just as you chose to risk staying as a Miscellaneous Task disciple for a chance at Cyan Bamboo Peak, it’s the same for this boy..."

At this, she leaned in close, her expression deadly serious. "And another thing. I forbid you from getting involved in this. Your own slate isn’t exactly clean. If you get entangled with Master Xuan Gui’s lineage, you’ll be in for a world of trouble!"

Ever since he’d heard that sixty-nine Outer Disciples had been executed just like that, Chen Qingyang knew Liu Tao’s words were no exaggeration. ’I really can’t interfere in Lin Qingxuan’s affairs,’ he thought.

"Don’t worry, Senior Sister. I won’t go looking for trouble. For me, studying the Alchemy Dao is the most important thing. I hear the competition is only two months away."

A smile finally touched Liu Tao’s lips, but it was a scornful one aimed at Chen Qingyang. "What are you dreaming of? Do you really plan to master the Tier Four Yang Replacement Powder in two months? You must know that elixir is far more tedious and complex to refine than the Tier Three Qi-Introducing Pill. Besides, your Cultivation has to be high enough to refine a Tier Four pill in the first place."

Chen Qingyang replied, "Senior Sister, you’re a Chief Steward in the Pill Institute now. If you get wind of anything, just tell me in advance. Maybe I’ll have a shot."

Seeing his confident expression, Liu Tao’s scorn faded. After all the time they’d known each other, had Chen Qingyang ever failed to shock her? "Well, based on the talent you’ve shown, reaching Tier Three is certainly possible. It might not get you into a place like Cyan Bamboo Peak, but someone is bound to take notice of you. It would be good for you to leave this nest of trouble sooner rather than later!"

Chen Qingyang could hear the concern in her voice. "Thank you, Senior Sister. I’ll start my alchemy now. If I can earn enough for a Flying Sword in these two months, consider it my way of repaying you."

He had been delayed in the morning, and after talking with Liu Tao for a while longer, it was nearly noon by the time he fired up the furnace to begin his alchemy. By the time the batch of Tier Two Yang Replacement Powder was finished, night had almost fallen.

Without resting, Chen Qingyang refined another batch, producing three Jade Flower Spirit Dew Pills, before bidding farewell to Liu Tao and heading down the mountain.

"Be careful!"

Clearly, Liu Tao had taken Leng Yueru’s warning from that morning to heart and had begun to worry about him again.

"Senior Sister, I have the Warm Jade Scroll."

...

On the way down the mountain, he still didn’t dare use the Void Step Introduction. As he walked, a figure suddenly appeared up ahead.

The figure was tall and powerfully built, dressed all in black. His face was obscured by a high collar, and long, messy hair hung over his forehead, hiding his features.

He simply stood on the bluestone steps, arms folded. Chen Qingyang searched his memory but couldn’t recall knowing such a person.

Calm and unhurried, he drew a little closer, carefully extending his senses toward the man. His breathing was long and powerful, and his Qi Mechanism was hard to grasp, but in the instant Chen Qingyang’s senses made contact, he knew with certainty that this person was incredibly strong.

This wasn’t like Liu Tao’s Essence Condensation; this was a Qi Refiner, one far beyond his own level. For a moment, he couldn’t figure out who this person was or why he was here waiting for him.

"Excuse me, Senior Brother. May I pass?"

He bowed respectfully, his hands at his sides, while inside his long sleeve, his hand tightened around the Warm Jade Scroll.

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