Stealing Immortal

Chapter 91: Chapter 90: Leaving the Sect

Tian Jingzhao looked even worse today.

His face was pale, and his already tall, thin frame was like a bamboo pole, lying ramrod straight and motionless on the bed.

Chen Qingyang was genuinely worried that this Poison Pill would take Tian Jingzhao’s life. ’It... shouldn’t, right?’

"Ah, Junior Brother Chen, you’re here?"

When a person is extremely weak, their hands will always reach for something to grasp, seeking some psychological comfort—even if it’s from a person they used to dislike. As Chen Qingyang stood before the bed, Tian Jingzhao’s hand naturally clutched the corner of his robes.

"Senior Brother Tian, look what I brought for you."

In his palm rested a Jade Box. Inside was an elixir whose brilliant golden color marked it as a Tier Four Yang Replacement Powder.

At this moment, Tian Jingzhao’s feelings for Chen Qingyang were particularly complex. He couldn’t quite feel grateful—it felt too awkward—but he couldn’t purely hate him, either, not when the man was holding an elixir to save his life.

"Th... Thank you, Senior Brother Chen!"

"Take it and begin the Refinement now. Don’t delay any longer. I estimate that with a month or two of recovery, you’ll be able to resume your Cultivation on your own. You’d better hurry, before your Master decides to cast you out."

Whether he suspected the elixir was poisonous, Chen Qingyang didn’t know. But Tian Jingzhao should have been able to figure it out; if Chen Qingyang truly wanted him dead, why go through such a convoluted process?

With a trembling hand, he popped the elixir into his mouth. As he closed his eyes, a golden light began to circulate around his body, and a Gentle Breeze from all directions swirled to envelop him.

While he refined the elixir, Chen Qingyang stood by and waited quietly. The young maid, Hong’Er, watched from a distance with a timid gaze.

After a long while, Tian Jingzhao opened his eyes. An image of him surfaced in Chen Qingyang’s mind, along with the words, ’Pilfer Immortal Seedling 22.’

"Junior Brother... Junior Brother, this elixir’s quality is truly exceptional. It’s no wonder you beat Senior Brother Lu..." His eyes, besides showing a flicker of restored Essence Qi, were filled mostly with shock.

The dose of Star Meteor Powder was so small it hadn’t caused him any real harm yet.

"Senior Brother Tian, don’t speak for now. Continue!" From his robes, he produced another elixir—this one wasn’t poisoned, just like the ones he’d given Lü Yunshen. ’Take twenty Immortal Seedlings at once, then cultivate him slowly. This way, I can harvest from him thirty or forty times a year. As long as I don’t let Tian Jingzhao recover completely, he’ll keep taking the elixirs.’

"This..." Tian Jingzhao clenched his fists. "Junior Brother, I will never forget this great kindness!"

"I’m glad you truly think so."

After he refined this next elixir, his spirits recovered even more. He could even prop himself up on the bed and sit up on his own.

The young maid, Hong’Er, who had taken all this in, was also stunned.

"Senior Brother Tian, I won’t stay any longer. I’ll be taking a long trip soon, and I expect to be gone for a month. I’ll come back in a month with more elixirs for you."

For a moment, he was genuinely reluctant to see Chen Qingyang go. "Then... please try to come back as soon as you can. Once I’ve recovered, I will repay you handsomely..."

As he left, Tian Jingzhao, as was customary, instructed Hong’Er to see Chen Qingyang out.

"Do you know where I live?" The sudden question made the young maid lower her head.

After a long moment, she answered shyly, "I don’t know, but... I can ask around."

"Good. If you run into any trouble in the future, come find me. That includes needing elixirs. Just don’t let anyone else know."

"Yes, Senior Brother Chen."

Just as Chen Qingyang was about to leave, the young maid, who had been biting her lip, suddenly called out, "Senior Brother Tian... he... he said he resents you. If Master Water Moon can’t get justice for him, he’ll find other ways to deal with you. He’s... not at all like he appears on the surface..."

She paused for a moment before adding, "Those ’other ways’ is Master Lu."

Chen Qingyang smiled. "Alright, I understand. You should hurry back inside."

"Mm."

’That Tian Jingzhao is really no good,’ he thought. ’I went to all this trouble to be "good" to him, and he still resents me.’

This only made Chen Qingyang feel more justified.

Leaving the Cave Mansion, Chen Qingyang passed by his own small courtyard without entering, instead heading straight up the mountain.

He was going to leave the mountain for training and experience; he had to at least inform his First Senior Brother.

The cliff face of a mountain peak looked as if it had been sheared in half by a blade. On the flat ground right next to the remaining half-peak, numerous buildings were nestled.

There were pavilions on the cliff’s edge, suspended towers, and connecting sky-walks, with waterfalls cascading straight down... The place was like a veritable Peach Blossom Spring. The disciples under Master Jing Yuan all lived here. In this context, Shen Chongzhou’s simple dwelling really did make him look like a gatekeeper.

Miscellaneous task disciples bustled through the alleys and courtyards. Chen Qingyang casually grabbed one, asked for directions, and soon had the location of First Senior Brother Shen Chongzhou’s residence.

He was a man who lived simply. His home was just two thatched huts perched on the cliff’s edge, enclosed by a half-fence that served as a courtyard wall. The moment Chen Qingyang stood at the gate, the other man sensed his arrival.

Chen Qingyang cupped his fists in salute. "Greetings, First Senior Brother!"

The other man simply said, "Come in and talk."

He led him inside and gestured for him to sit. The interior was as spartan as the exterior, containing only a meditation cushion, a bed, and a clothes rack. This was truly the home of an Immortal Cultivator free from all distractions.

"I hear your little courtyard has been nicely renovated."

Chen Qingyang replied, "That was all the work of my two miscellaneous task disciples. I’ve been too busy with Alchemy to pay attention to such things."

Shen Chongzhou said, "That’s fine. At least you’ve settled in. Now, tell me, why have you come to see me today?"

Chen Qingyang stated his purpose directly. "First Senior Brother, the first matter is this: my Cultivation has recently broken through to the Seventh Realm of Qi Refining. I’d like to go down the mountain to gain some experience. It has, after all, been a hundred years since I joined the Sect, and I’ve never gone back to visit. I’m afraid that if too much time passes, it might affect my Mental Realm."

As Shen Chongzhou looked over, he deliberately narrowed his eyes. A faint light glinted within his pupils. He remained perfectly composed, revealing nothing, yet he exuded an intense pressure.

Chen Qingyang made no attempt to hide it, allowing his Qi Mechanism to be seen. "It really is the Seventh Realm of Qi Refining. How could you... have broken through so quickly?"

His wrinkled face was filled with confusion. After all, when they had met a little over ten days ago, he was only in the Qi Refining Fifth Realm.

Chen Qingyang replied, "The day you saw me, Senior Brother, I had already reached the Qi Refining Sixth Realm. You simply didn’t pay it any mind. Now that I’m here on Cyan Bamboo Peak where the Spiritual Qi is abundant, I naturally broke through."

Nodding, Shen Chongzhou fell silent for a moment. "That’s a plausible explanation. My expectations for you, my little Junior Brother, are growing. I approve your request. However, the world below is different from the Sect. You must be careful above all else."

Chen Qingyang bowed. "Thank you, First Senior Brother. I have a second matter I wish to ask you about."

Shen Chongzhou said, "You haven’t been practicing the Cultivation Technique passed down by our Master, but have instead been practicing Sword Formulas. You must want to ask if Master would be willing to teach you more Sword Formulas should your Cultivation advance, since the later ones can’t be found in the Cloud Scripture Jade Pavilion."

He didn’t even bother asking where those Sword Formulas had come from in the first place.

"First Senior Brother is truly perceptive. That is exactly what I wanted to ask."

Shen Chongzhou stroked his long beard. "I cannot answer that question for you. After all, our lineage excels at Alchemy, and most of our Cultivation Techniques are of the Fire Element. I will ask our Master and explain it to you in detail afterward. However, the fact that Master gifted you a Sword suggests he might have already considered this."

’We’re all Master’s disciples,’ he thought. ’I should be able to ask him directly. Having to go through a middleman feels a bit awkward.’

’I wonder when my own Master will finally be willing to see me.’

"Alright. Then I will pay you another visit, Senior Brother, when I return."

Just as he was about to leave, Shen Chongzhou said, "Wait. Master gave you a Sword, but you have nothing to protect yourself with. Let me lend you a Magical Treasure. You can return it to me when you get back."

In the past, Chen Qingyang would have accepted without a second thought. But after the precedent set by Master Yun Ci, he could only refuse tactfully.

"I appreciate your kind intentions, First Senior Brother, but my purpose on this trip is to temper my character. It is best that I rely on myself for everything."

Shen Chongzhou had to stop. "I didn’t expect you to have such ambition. Very well, have it your way."

He went down the mountain and returned to his courtyard. After refining a batch of Qi Gathering Pills, he gave his final instructions to the others.

The next day, he made his way to the Four Golden Peaks, where he met up with Liu Tao before heading to the Merit Tower on the same peak.

"A few days ago, I found a good task. Turning it in to the Sect will earn three thousand Merit Copper Coins. You wait here for me. I’ll be right back."

Standing at the entrance, Liu Tao explained to Chen Qingyang.

"Senior Sister, you still haven’t said what the task is."

Liu Tao said, "There you go worrying again. This task is very simple. We just need to go find a Spirit Grass and bring it back. There won’t be any complications."

Chen Qingyang smiled. "It seems you’ve misunderstood me, Senior Sister. I’m just cautious, not cowardly. What kind of Spirit Grass is it that even an Immortal Sect can’t cultivate it?"

"It’s a matter of natural creation and specific environments. Not everything born of heaven and earth can be replicated by an Immortal Sect. While this thing isn’t what I’d call exceedingly rare, it can only be found in a very specific place."

Chen Qingyang nodded. "Alright then. I’ll wait here for you, Senior Sister."

A moment later, Liu Tao walked out holding a small plaque that was neither quite stone nor quite jade. On its face was inscribed the word ’Merit,’ and on its back, ’Tai Xu.’

Its top edge was jagged, as if it had been broken off from a larger piece.

"This is called a Merit Order. Taking it means you’ve accepted the task. If you complete it, you get the reward. If you fail, a tenth of the reward’s merit value will be deducted from your own. You’ll be using these yourself in the future."

She carefully explained to Chen Qingyang that there was another half to the order. The two pieces had to be fitted together to complete the mission, a system designed to prevent any mistakes or fraud.

Within the Tai Xu Sect, all Outer Sect and Inner Sect Disciples required merit. Once one reached the level of a Foundation Establishment Master, however, it was generally no longer needed.

"Senior Sister, let’s go then!"

To Liu Tao’s astonishment, Chen Qingyang executed the Void Step Introduction, soaring a hundred zhang into the air with incredible speed. This was clearly a skill one only possessed after reaching a very high level of cultivation.

"You... Chen Qingyang, you lied to me again!"

Liu Tao’s furious shout drew the attention of numerous onlookers.

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