Stealing Immortal

Chapter 69: Chapter 68: Decision

On the path down the mountain.

The way was still shrouded in dim light.

Forewarned by Lin Qingxuan, Chen Qingyang proceeded with extreme caution.

He had already encountered countless troubles on this very road. It seemed as though everyone who wanted to eliminate him believed this was the perfect place to do so without anyone knowing.

At this moment, he truly hoped that what Lin Qingxuan had said was true. It would be an easy way to help Lin Qingxuan break free from Zhang Wenyuan, and it would also give him a way to assist Leng Yueru.

But alas, nothing happened all the way back to his small courtyard. After washing up, he began to meditate to recover his strength.

Lately, the Golden Qi in his Dantian had grown stronger with every Cultivation session, especially the wisp residing in his Mud Ball Palace. When he broke through to the Seventh Realm of Qi Refining, this strand of Essence Qi would take up permanent residence at the Baihui Acupoint on the crown of his head. There, it would use Yang to nurture Yin and Qi to nourish the Divine Soul, preparing to open a second Spiritual Sea.

The subsequent Eighth and Ninth Realms were all about refining this process. Once the Spiritual Sea opened, that would be the Realm of Essence Condensation.

Before he knew it, dawn was breaking.

Faint specks of light filtered through the window, dappling Chen Qingyang’s face. His eyelids twitched, then he withdrew his power and opened his eyes.

Usually at this time, he would methodically get dressed and wash up. Then, he would either chat for a bit with the youth next door or head straight for the Golden Summit.

Today, however, he simply sat there for a long time after opening his eyes. Xu Baoling, who was beside him, couldn’t help but call out softly, "Master!"

Chen Qingyang snapped back to his senses.

"Master, did you encounter the Starry Sky Chessboard again last night?"

To her surprise, Chen Qingyang shook his head. "No. I imagine someone with Master Xuan Gui’s abilities would have anticipated Master Yun Ci’s intervention. He probably won’t waste any more effort on that for the time being."

Xu Baoling asked again, "The Alchemy Dao competition is only a month away. Master, why not just wait for it to end and then go to Cyan Bamboo Peak with peace of mind? After all, you’re already very familiar with the Tier Four Yang Replacement Powder."

Chen Qingyang shook his head again. "Tell me... do you think I could plot against them one time before I leave? Even if it doesn’t land on Master Xuan Gui, it must at least hit Zhang Wenyuan!"

This statement greatly surprised Xu Baoling. A Miscellaneous Task disciple plotting against a Foundation Establishment Master was unheard of. Moreover, from what she had seen, Chen Qingyang’s temperament was usually reserved and cautious, which didn’t match this sentiment at all.

But then she thought about her own case and it started to make sense. Back then, she had revealed just a hint of killing intent, and he had dared to strike first, persuading Liu Tao to plot her demise.

"Master’s usual style isn’t to be cautiously hidden, but rather to anticipate the enemy’s moves and take the initiative. There’s logic in doing this. After all, you’ve already made a mortal enemy of him. Whether you plot against him once before you leave or not makes almost no difference."

In that moment, Xu Baoling, with her deep understanding of human nature, grasped his meaning.

"Exactly. To go from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment and truly confront Master Xuan Gui... who knows how many years that will take. He is an expert in the Astrology Inference Skill, which means that for all those years, I’ll have to be on guard every single moment. One slip-up, and I’ll be dead for sure."

Chen Qingyang had thought a great deal about this, even to the point of thinking of the word ’imprisonment’.

Because if he couldn’t eliminate Master Xuan Gui, he would essentially be imprisoned forever in the Sect, or later, on Cyan Bamboo Peak. If he ever went out for training or other ventures in the future, it would be easy for his opponent to find a weakness to exploit.

At this, Xu Baoling began to agree with him. "That’s one benefit. Another is the timing. Senior Sister Leng Yueru is the perfect opportunity. Even my own master is part of this opportunity."

This time, a broad smile appeared on Chen Qingyang’s face as he nodded. "You’re starting to understand me more and more!"

Xu Baoling didn’t look pleased. Instead, she shook her head hastily. "Master jests. I only know the barest surface of your thoughts. I wouldn’t dare claim to understand you!"

She had a firm grasp of her place now, and Chen Qingyang didn’t dwell on it.

"When I saw Senior Sister Leng yesterday, she clearly had something she wanted to say to me, but in the end, she held back. I suspect she wanted my help in dealing with Master Xuan Gui, but then retracted the thought, realizing it would put me in danger. After all, she’s very familiar with using me as bait."

Xu Baoling pondered for a moment. "So, Master, you want to use this as your opening?"

"No, no, no. A new opening has presented itself, so I don’t necessarily have to be the bait. But before that, there’s something I don’t understand. Master Xuan Gui has many disciples under him, including some with Essence Condensation Realm Cultivation. Why did he choose Zhang Wenyuan, who’s only in the Qi Refining Ninth Realm, as his True Inheritor?"

Understanding Zhang Wenyuan’s importance would reveal his value to Master Xuan Gui and help determine if he could truly be used as an opening.

Xu Baoling answered immediately, "No, people are different. While Master Xuan Gui has disciples with Essence Condensation Cultivation, none possess Zhang Wenyuan’s level of talent. Furthermore, the Astrology Skill is very unique. Without exceptional aptitude, one can’t learn even a fraction of it."

"It only took Zhang Wenyuan nine years to reach the Qi Refining Ninth Realm. I’ve heard that he has a natural gift for feng shui, understands star maps, and is a master of numerology. Even after cultivating for so long, Master Xuan Gui has only ever been truly impressed by him. Even someone as talented as my master was only taught the Ice Skin Jade Bone Technique!"

Chen Qingyang nodded. "Then I have no more questions. Once I get to Cyan Bamboo Peak and obtain a good Pill Formula for Nourishing the Divine Soul, I’ll make sure you get your share!"

’Come to think of it,’ he mused, ’Xu Baoling has been crucial to all my schemes. Without the information she provides, how would I know any of this?’

At this, she stopped floating and set her feet on the ground. She stood tall and graceful; without close observation, one would think she was a living person.

She gave a slight curtsy, her form gentle and elegant. "Thank you, Master!"

"How far must you cultivate your Yin Spirit Technique before you can form a body again?"

Until now, Chen Qingyang had never asked about her Cultivation. But seeing her Magical Power grow stronger by the day, he felt it was time to show some concern.

"Master, I lack Dantian and Meridians now, so I can’t use conventional standards as a reference. I can only go by feeling. Right now, I’m probably at about the Fourth Realm of Qi Refining. When my Cultivation reaches its peak one day, it might be the Qi Refining Ninth Realm. Once I cross that threshold, I can form a Yin Spirit Body, and my Cultivation will be equivalent to Essence Condensation."

"I have also read in the texts of the Righteous Great Divine Dao that in ancient times, Yin Spirits commanded mountains and rivers, serving as the Earth Deities of entire cities. They could scatter into wind and gather into clouds, drawing upon the terrain as their foundation for a limitless source of Magical Power. But for now, that is far too distant for me!"

Lacking a master and not being well-read on the subject, Chen Qingyang had never heard of any of the things Xu Baoling mentioned.

Seeing his silence, Xu Baoling added sweetly, "If one day Master becomes a Golden Core True Monarch, then my wish can also come true!"

Chen Qingyang waved his hand. "I have one last question. Where can I find Senior Sister Leng?"

Xu Baoling adopted her master’s serious tone. "Senior Sister Leng is usually very busy, so it might be difficult to find her at the Zhengxin Institute. Master, you’d be better off going directly to the Law Enforcement Hall here on the mountainside. Explain your purpose to the person in charge, and I’m sure Senior Sister Leng will arrive shortly."

"Hm, that’s one way to do it."

He lingered in the small house for a long time. By the time he went out, the two youths from across the way had already left for their duties.

Chen Qingyang changed into a set of gray clothes, left his courtyard, and walked in the direction of the Hongling Tokens.

The various tokens for work duties in the Sect were mostly concentrated in this area, which was also why the Law Enforcement Hall was located here.

The office was in a rather imposing courtyard with a high threshold of three steps. On either side stood a strapping young man in black robes with his hair tied back, hands clasped behind his back, looking quite formidable.

Upon closer inspection, they were also Miscellaneous Task disciples who had not yet reached Qi Refining.

"Halt! What’s your business?"

There was no one under the heavens who didn’t judge a person by their appearance, especially guards. But he couldn’t blame them; it was simply the nature of their job.

"I have come on the order of Senior Sister Liu Tao, a Golden Peak Inner Sect Disciple, to visit Senior Sister Leng Yueru. Announce me at once. If you delay important matters, you’ll regret it!"

’I don’t actually have to be so aggressive or use so many titles,’ he thought. ’But doing otherwise would just mean wasting a lot of time arguing with these two guards and inviting unnecessary trouble.’

Sure enough, they were intimidated by Chen Qingyang. "Senior Brother, please wait a moment. I’ll go announce you right away!"

One of them left, while the other remained.

Chen Qingyang didn’t have to wait long before a familiar face emerged. It was the Law Enforcement Hall disciple he had seen several times before.

’Back then, I was just a Miscellaneous Task disciple from the mountainside. Now, I suppose I’m benefiting from my connection to an Inner Sect Disciple.’

"So it’s you... What business do you have with Senior Sister Leng? If you can’t give a clear reason, a person of her stature isn’t someone you can see just by asking."

Chen Qingyang replied slowly, "Senior Brother, this matter is of no small importance. I’ll have to trouble you to announce me, lest Senior Sister Leng returns and places the blame on you!"

The man had a good temper and didn’t get angry. He was also someone who listened to reason. After a moment of serious thought, he called Chen Qingyang inside.

Seated in the main hall, someone was even specially sent to serve him tea. Then, he was told to wait.

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