Stealing Immortal

Chapter 83: Chapter 82: Ashes

Just as the Miscellaneous Task disciple had said, it was indeed a gray-bearded old man. He wore a black long coat, his body hunched over with his hands clasped behind him. He kept his back to Chen Qingyang, making it impossible to see his face, only that he had an average build.

’This scene feels strangely familiar. Wasn’t this exactly how I looked two months ago?’

"I am Chen Qingyang. May I ask for this Senior Brother’s name?"

Hearing his words, the man finally turned his gaze toward him. His movements were slow and deliberate. "Shen Chongzhou... You’re Chen Qingyang?"

"Yes, Senior Brother. That’s me."

The man began to size him up again, a sharp glint flashing in his aged eyes. Chen Qingyang’s intuition told him this person’s cultivation was very high, surpassing Leng Yueru’s at the very least.

"I heard... you didn’t become Master Lu’s disciple, but want to return to Four Golden Peaks instead. Why is that?"

’Judging by his tone, he doesn’t sound like someone sent by Lu Jinzhang, yet he’s asking about this exact same thing.’

"May I ask where you are from, Senior Brother? And could you possibly be involved in this affair?"

"Sigh!" His voice was thick with resignation. "My Master sent me to clean up the mess our Junior Martial Uncle caused on a whim. By the way, the Junior Martial Uncle I’m referring to is Liu Pei, the man in green robes you saw at the appraisal event last night."

’So the old man before me is Liu Pei’s martial nephew. It seems someone from Cyan Bamboo Peak hasn’t given up on me after all.’

"Last night was all thanks to Master Liu’s intervention. Otherwise, the champion’s title wouldn’t have been mine."

But Shen Chongzhou shook his head. "What’s yours is yours. There’s no need to be so modest. I, for one, couldn’t refine that elixir from the Pill Formula after reading it only once."

"Sigh..." He sighed again, as if his Junior Martial Uncle frequently caused him trouble.

"Don’t you realize what a mess this is? Just when you should be making your move, you’ve gone and offended all the people you shouldn’t have. Drawing so much attention to yourself isn’t a good thing!"

Chen Qingyang could see the man was reasonable, so he ventured to debate the point. "Senior Brother, even if I had cowered and kept my head down, do you really think this trouble wouldn’t have found me? I believe that as long as I have a heart for the Dao, as long as I desire the Separation Huo Dragon Pearl, this trouble was bound to come knocking sooner or later!"

Shen Chongzhou shook his head, his full head of silver hair swaying. "You have a point. Perhaps it was inevitable. You’re quite perceptive."

"My Master is named Master Jing Yuan. He cultivates on Cyan Bamboo Peak and is an expert in the Alchemy Dao. While he may not be a heaven-sent prodigy like Martial Uncle Liu, he is still a well-regarded figure among the Masters of the Tai Xu Sect. He heard about your situation last night and specifically sent me to offer you a way out. Would you be willing to join my Master’s lineage and become my Junior Brother?"

This was a light in the darkness, a path forward where none had seemed to exist. At this moment, Chen Qingyang didn’t hesitate for even a second.

"My thanks to Master Jing Yuan, and to you, Senior Brother. I am willing!"

Shen Chongzhou looked as if he could see right through Chen Qingyang. "I knew you would say that. After all, you’ve waited so long as a Miscellaneous Task disciple, despite your Qi Refining Cultivation. It was all for a day like this."

Chen Qingyang didn’t deny it. "You’re absolutely right, Senior Brother."

"Heh. Your cultivation is a bit lacking at the moment, but you’re quick-witted. And your character... well, it seems acceptable for now. I’ll accept you as my Junior Brother."

His tone made it sound as if he were the one accepting a disciple. As he spoke, he took out a token and handed it to Chen Qingyang. "Keep this on you. If anyone with the surname Lu comes looking for trouble, just show it to them. Do you plan to return with me to Cyan Bamboo Peak now, or will you take a day or two to prepare and come on your own?"

Chen Qingyang accepted the token with both hands. It was a cyan Jade Pendant, carved into the shape of a bamboo stalk. As he held it, he could faintly sense an aura emanating from it.

’So this is the token for Cyan Bamboo Peak. From this moment on, I’m an Outer Disciple with a master!’

"Senior Brother Shen, I need to go back to Four Golden Peaks to prepare. Also, am I allowed to bring two Miscellaneous Task disciples with me?"

He was referring to Li Sheng and Zhang Ping. Since he had promised them, he had to follow through.

Shen Chongzhou chuckled, his expression surprisingly kind. "That’s fine. But you’ll all have to make your own way there. Before I go, there’s one more thing I must discuss with you."

As he said this, his tone shifted slightly.

"What might that be, Senior Brother Shen?"

Shen Chongzhou gestured toward the front of Chen Qingyang’s robes. "Since you are now a disciple of our lineage, I should hold on to your Magical Treasure for safekeeping. It’s far too valuable and attracts greedy eyes. I’ll give it back to you once you’ve returned to the peak!"

’What...’ Although he felt the man had treated him well, this was a request Chen Qingyang could never accept. "Thank you for the offer, Senior Brother Shen, but this item was my prize for winning. I’m capable enough to look after it myself."

Suddenly, Shen Chongzhou started laughing again. "Junior Brother, I’ve never seen a treasure like this before. Why don’t you just let me borrow it for a couple of days to admire? How about it?"

Chen Qingyang said nothing, simply shaking his head.

"Hmph. Is that a firm no?" His expression turned sour.

"It’s not possible." ’Even if it means I can’t go to Cyan Bamboo Peak, I won’t just hand this over to someone else.’

Just as the tension reached a breaking point, Shen Chongzhou suddenly broke into a smile. "So you do have some cunning. My Master has too many disciples who lack it. The Tai Xu Sect is no paradise; how can you last long without a sharp mind? Keep your own things. Now that my Master’s task is complete, I’ll be heading back."

He didn’t give Chen Qingyang a chance to respond. With a wave of his hand, he began to walk away. His gait seemed light and unhurried, yet each step covered a vast distance.

’Coming to recruit a disciple on behalf of a Master is usually a task for the First Senior Brother. Liu Tao once said that Master Yun Ci’s first disciple is at the Half-Step Foundation Establishment level. This man’s cultivation is probably not far off from that.’

"His cultivation is very high, comparable to our First Senior Brother."

Liu Tao appeared abruptly at his side, having apparently been watching in silence for some time.

"He said his name was Shen Chongzhou. He left this and told me that I’m now a disciple of Cyan Bamboo Peak."

Liu Tao took it for a look. "I’ve never seen this before, but it certainly looks like the token of a specific lineage. This is the final fruit of our labors. You’ve really become an Outer Disciple of Cyan Bamboo Peak!"

Her voice was full of emotion, as if she had gone through the ordeal herself.

"You’re right, Senior Sister. I’ve finally become an Outer Disciple!"

...

With Liu Tao’s level of cultivation, using the Yang Yao Step at full speed, she reached the Four Golden Peaks Golden Summit in less than half an hour.

After they said their goodbyes, he headed toward the mountainside. ’This will probably be the last time I walk on these White Jade Steps,’ he thought.

He walked slowly, watching the sun sink lower and lower.

In the small courtyard, the large Locust Tree had sprouted new leaves. Due to the recent rains, the tiles of the small hut were now covered in moss.

Under the eaves of the hut across the way, Li Sheng and Zhang Ping were preparing dinner.

"Senior Brother Chen, long time no see!" Li Sheng spotted him first and called out.

"You’re just in time! Come and eat with us," Zhang Ping added with a warm welcome.

"It has been a while. I was gone for nearly ten days."

Hearing his reflective tone, Zhang Ping asked curiously, "What have you been busy with all this time, Senior Brother Chen?"

Chen Qingyang said, "My cultivation has broken through, and I’m about to be promoted to an Outer Disciple. I came today to ask you two if you’re still willing to come with me."

Hearing this, Zhang Ping immediately put down his ladle. "Of course! I wish we could leave with you right now, Senior Brother Chen. What’s the point of this daily drudgery?"

Li Sheng also nodded solemnly. "As long as you’re willing to have us, Senior Brother Chen, we’ll do anything."

Chen Qingyang gave a slight nod. "Then you don’t need to report for work tomorrow. I’ll speak to your Steward personally. When the time comes, you’ll leave this place with me. Oh, right. We’re going to Cyan Bamboo Peak—that peak way over there!"

The two boys squinted. The distance was immense; in the fading light of sunset, they could only make out its silhouette and the brilliant gleam of its summit.

"I’ve heard many people say that the only true Immortal Sacred Land in this area is Cyan Bamboo Peak. Senior Brother Chen must be incredibly talented at cultivation to have been chosen so easily!"

Zhang Ping was deeply impressed by this, but Li Sheng pondered for a moment before asking, "Senior Brother Chen, may I ask what realm of Qi Refining you’ve reached?"

Chen Qingyang asked, "Why do you ask that?"

"I may not have cultivated with you, Senior Brother Chen, but I’ve seen how you remain unflappable through thick and thin, and how methodical you are. You were bound to achieve something astonishing. Since you mentioned a breakthrough, I’m sure it wasn’t just to the First Realm of Qi Refining."

Li Sheng was very clever and knew how to be tactful. By revealing his thoughts now, he was also making his own stance clear.

"Haha, you’re a clever one, Junior Brother Li. I’m at the Qi Refining Fifth Realm now, and a breakthrough to the Sixth Realm isn’t far off."

"Whoa!" Zhang Ping clicked his tongue in amazement. "Doesn’t that make you a real Immortal? You’re completely different from us mortals now!"

But Li Sheng said, "Junior Brother Zhang, cultivation depends on opportunities, and Senior Brother Chen is clearly our opportunity. Since he’s willing to give us a helping hand, we might also become true Immortals one day!"

As he spoke, he knelt and pulled Zhang Ping down with him, performing a deep, formal bow to Chen Qingyang.

They were both deeply respectful, and Chen Qingyang stood and accepted their bow.

While he had been chatting with the two boys, Xu Baoling had been standing in the doorway, watching. When he went inside, she gave him a graceful bow, her voice exceptionally soft. "Greetings, Master."

"Mm."

He then briefly recounted the story of joining Cyan Bamboo Peak and the events of the elixir competition.

"Master, you are like a captive dragon returning to the sea. Your future is boundless. When you go to Cyan Bamboo Peak, Master... you mustn’t forget to take me with you." Her voice trailed off, laced with a hint of bashfulness.

Xu Baoling was genuinely worried that Chen Qingyang would abandon her. ’As just a Divine Soul,’ she thought, ’where could I possibly go if I left him?’

Chen Qingyang said, "Don’t worry. I won’t go back on my promise to you. Besides, now that I’m officially an Outer Disciple, I’ll need someone to handle things for me. You are very useful to me!"

Her greatest fear was being useless to him, so she immediately brightened up. "Yes, Master."

「The night deepened.」

Across the way, the two boys fell asleep after their cheerful celebration. Specks of starlight began to shimmer around Chen Qingyang’s body—it was the Purple Star True Skill.

Suddenly, his eyelid twitched uncontrollably.

Now that he was cultivating the Starlight Body, certain special physical reactions could foreshadow future events. ’This is not a good omen,’ Chen Qingyang thought.

As he was lost in thought, a sudden warmth spread from his chest. He pulled open his robes to see the talisman, folded into a triangle, spontaneously combust and turn to ash in an instant!

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