Stealing Immortal

Chapter 98: Chapter 97: Junior Brother

The lake shimmered and the mountains glowed, their light reflected in the water’s surface.

On a desolate islet in the Great Marsh, a flat clearing showed traces of a former fishing settlement.

They would be spending the night here in the wild.

The afterglow of sunset scattered across the water. A light breeze stirred the surface, sending ripples of shimmering gold toward the shore, wave after wave.

"Tomorrow, Senior Sister Liu and I will go first. Junior Sister Lin, you lie in wait. Once we’ve lured Master Wufang out, you can make your move." As Chen Qingyang laid out his plan, the other two fell into contemplative silence.

But Liu Tao had a different opinion. "Junior Brother, do you really trust her just like that?"

Chen Qingyang replied, "Senior Sister, Junior Sister Lin is from our sect, after all. We know her background. Why wouldn’t I trust her?"

Liu Tao glared at him. "Hmph. If you want to trust her, just say so. Don’t make up all these excuses..."

After her complaint, she said no more. Lin Qingxuan looked slightly embarrassed. "I know this is asking you two to take a risk, but there’s no better way. Don’t worry, I’ll be right behind you."

Intimidated by Liu Tao’s glare, Chen Qingyang didn’t dare agree immediately. Only after confirming she had fallen silent did he continue. "Alright. As far as I know, Master Wufang has two disciples at the Qi Refining Eighth Realm with him. We need to plan how we’re going to handle them."

Liu Tao spoke up. "Then tell us what to do. Aren’t you usually the one with all the ideas?"

Chen Qingyang gave an awkward smile, knowing she was still upset about the Warm Jade Scroll. "Junior Sister Lin, though your Cultivation has broken through to the Essence Condensation Second Realm, it was a recent breakthrough, so your foundation isn’t stable. Our top priority is dealing with Master Wufang, so let Senior Sister Liu assist you."

Liu Tao, ever the most impatient, was the first to object. "Nonsense! If I go help her, how are you going to handle two opponents at the Qi Refining Eighth Realm by yourself?"

Every time Chen Qingyang tried to hide his Cultivation, some new problem would force him to reveal a bit more of it. Fortunately, he was with Liu Tao and Lin Qingxuan.

He drew the Qianxue Sword that rested across his knees. A silver-white blade glow extended a foot long, and a chilling aura swept through the area. Liu Tao was stunned. "The Eighth Realm, and with such a deep foundation! You... what have you been doing? Or were you reincarnated with your memories intact after crossing the Bridge of Longevity?"

It was no wonder she would ask. Less than a month ago, Chen Qingyang had claimed to have broken through to the Seventh Realm of Qi Refining, and now he had advanced again. His progress was comparable to that of Li Qianxue in her prime.

Lin Qingxuan’s gaze shifted to him as well. In her memory, Senior Brother Chen was just a middle-aged man who loitered on the slopes of Four Golden Peaks. Besides his perpetually cold expression, she had never seen anything particularly remarkable about him.

"Senior Sister, take another look."

As Chen Qingyang spoke, Liu Tao could only sense the aura of the Qi Refining Fifth and Sixth Realms from him. The change was astonishingly fast.

"It’s not that my Cultivation grows quickly; I just have a Dharma Gate that conceals my aura. My progress isn’t nearly as fast as you imagine, Senior Sister. I was simply hiding my true level before."

Lin Qingxuan’s reaction was normal, but Liu Tao was giving him a strange look. She looked like she wanted to say something, but with someone else present, she held her tongue.

Seeing that both had fallen silent, he continued, "I have the Qianxue Sword. Even if I can’t defeat them, I can hold them off for a long time. As long as we deal with Master Wufang first, the rest will be simple."

"Then the Nine Nether Mechanic Divine Palace won’t know about the two of us, which will make it easier to find the Great Soul Scripture later."

Lin Qingxuan still felt something was off and was about to speak, but Liu Tao cut in. "Fine. In that case, you must be cautious. Don’t get arrogant. If you have to, use the Separation Huo Dragon Pearl to protect yourself."

With that settled, her gaze turned to Lin Qingxuan. "I’ll support you. When we make our move, we have to be decisive. Don’t give Master Wufang any chance to escape."

When it came to matters of such importance, Liu Tao was always resolute.

Lin Qingxuan also replied solemnly, "Understood, Senior Sister Liu."

That address of "Senior Sister" showed that the two could finally work together. Standing to the side, Chen Qingyang secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"One last thing," he added. "If possible, leave Master Wufang’s final breath to me. I want to be the one to execute him."

This struck both women as odd. "Why?" they asked in unison.

Chen Qingyang said, "Please, don’t think of me as some bloodthirsty killer. Master Wufang has been in the Great Marsh for a long time. I just want to ask him about the Water Spirit Immortal."

’The real reason I want to kill him myself is for the Immortal Seedlings,’ he thought. ’Whether the karmic tie is shallow or deep, the consequences will be mine to bear alone.’

Lin Qingxuan handed out Spirit Stones, and they each began to regulate their auras in preparation for the next day’s battle.

Wave after wave lapped against the shore.

Chen Qingyang sat as still as a pine tree, four Spirit Stones in his palm. As he circulated the Qi within him, the Spiritual Power from the stones flowed through his palm and into his body.

Under Introspection, he saw eight streams of Golden Qi moving along their paths—through the Five Hearts, to the Mud Ball Palace Baihui Acupoint, all with the Dantian presiding at the center.

At times they scattered, at others they converged to flow through the Ren and Du Meridians, growing stronger with each circulation. By the time he opened his eyes the next day, the Spirit Stones had crumbled to dust.

"Senior Sister, let’s go."

"Right," Liu Tao replied.

...

After parting ways with Lin Qingxuan, the two of them followed the route Yao Zhi had described. They first passed an island where many commoners lived and worked in peace, then continued on for another thirty to forty li. At last, they saw the tip of a rocky mountain jutting out from the center of the water, shrouded in a rainbow-colored mist.

Liu Tao stopped and scanned her surroundings. "There’s probably an Array here. I’ll go first and draw it out!"

"Be careful, Senior Sister."

"I will."

SWOOSH! Liu Tao shot straight toward the rainbow cloud. Just as she drew near, a burst of Profound Light erupted in the sky.

Four black snakes made of cloud and mist materialized and lunged at Liu Tao. She was prepared. Instantly, she summoned her Flying Sword, which erupted in a wave of fire and shot toward the black snakes, severing two of them in a flash.

"What kind of curs are you, daring to ambush someone from the Tai Xu Sect?" she roared.

Her shout drew out a Snake Staff from the dark clouds, which descended toward her head with shocking power. Liu Tao didn’t dare meet the blow head-on and was forced to retreat.

"Hmph. I am Master Wufang of the Nine Nether Mechanic Divine Palace. Since you’ve come, you can stay—permanently!"

The majestic voice echoed from all directions. Just as it faded, a streak of Profound Light shot out from an angle, cleaving the dark clouds and revealing a long-bearded Daoist in a Profound Robe.

Flanking him were two so-called Disciples. They had the faces of grown men with bristly beards, yet their hair was tied in the topknots of children. Their pale cyan Daoist Robes clung tightly to their muscular frames, revealing hairy chests. It was a bizarre sight.

"Lin Qingxuan!" the Daoist roared. "You dare to collude with another Daoist Sect! I knew everyone from the Tai Xu Sect was a hypocrite!"

Ignoring his furious shouts, Lin Qingxuan summoned a short staff as a Magical Artifact and engaged him in battle. Her attacks were so swift and ferocious that she bore no resemblance to the frail young woman she had appeared to be.

The short staff grew as it flew, instantly stretching to several yards in length. It pulsed with Profound Light and was wreathed in a colorful cloud.

Master Wufang saw this and was inwardly shocked. "He... he even passed *that* on to you!"

As the Magic Staff rushed toward him, the Master formed a hand seal and took a step into the air. A square of Profound Light formed the Eight Trigrams beneath his feet, and along with the four black snakes, he met the attack head-on.

BOOM! A tremendous explosion rocked the surface of the water. Lin Qingxuan’s aura wavered and her face turned pale as she stared at him from a distance.

The Master, having seemingly gained the upper hand, let out a piercing shriek. "Even with that, you are no match for me!"

Seeing this, Liu Tao hesitated no longer. She glanced back and called out four words: "Be careful, Junior Brother!"

The Nine Flavors True Fire erupted before her, coiling around the Cyan Simurgh Treasure Mirror. Seeing this, Master Wufang’s expression grew a little more solemn.

Her Cultivation was far beneath his, but she wielded a True Skill from a renowned Daoist Sect. Moreover, the Nine Flavors True Fire she cultivated was a natural counter to his own techniques. He didn’t dare be careless, sending all four Profound Snakes to intercept. RUMBLE! The heavens shook once more.

In an instant, the three were a whirlwind of flashing techniques and clashing Magical Treasures. Chen Qingyang watched the battle unfold. It was clear no victor would emerge any time soon.

The two Disciples, however, spotted him. They exchanged a look and charged. Both possessed Eighth Realm Cultivation, and they rode two whirlwinds, wielding a pair of Yin Yang Swords. Their power was immense.

Chen Qingyang concealed his Qi Mechanism, so at a glance, his Cultivation seemed to be only in the fifth or sixth realm. The moment they attacked, he turned and fled, which made the two disciples pursue him without the slightest hesitation.

In the blink of an eye, they were four or five li away. Chen Qingyang seemed to be running out of energy and was trapped in a pincer attack, with one in front and one behind.

"Junior Brother, this brat is also from the Tai Xu Sect. If we kill him, we can claim a reward from the Sect." The Yang Sword was thick, the Yin sword was thin, but both were of the same design. The one who spoke was the one wielding the Yang Sword.

"Senior Brother, how about you let me use him for some practice?" They paid no mind to Chen Qingyang, which was exactly what he had hoped for.

"Fine. But be sure to leave a whole corpse!"

With that, the man with the Yin Sword formed a seal for his Sword Formulas and charged at Chen Qingyang. His speed was incredible, his power immense.

Seeing this, Chen Qingyang appeared to freeze in terror, showing no reaction as the sharp edge of the Yin Sword drew closer and closer.

One hundred feet.

Sixty feet.

Thirty feet.

’Now!’

SHING!

The Qianxue Sword sang like a dragon as it drew a bolt of silver light across the air. In that instant, the full power of the One-Origin Sword erupted, completely overwhelming his attacker.

’When it comes to killing, it’s best to be efficient.’

’First, feign weakness. Then, strike with explosive force. Once you make your move, leave them no chance of escape.’

"Junior Brother!"

The one wielding the Yang Sword cried out, but it was too late. Beneath the brilliant silver light, his junior brother’s body fell lifelessly into the water below.

’Such is the power of a single sword strike.’

"You... You whelp! How dare you harm my junior brother!" The Yang Sword wielder performed a flourish, and a Yin Yang Fish materialized in the air. Roiling with Evil Qi, it shot toward Chen Qingyang.

Having expended so much energy on that one explosive kill, Chen Qingyang needed a moment to recover his Primordial Energy. He didn’t dare underestimate the coming attack and instantly brought forth the Separation Huo Dragon Pearl through Sacrificial Refinement.

Flames layered themselves before him, forming a wall of fire from which a dragon’s roar could be heard. When the Yin Yang Fish plunged into it, it was instantly devoured.

’Such a powerful Magical Artifact,’ he mused. ’No wonder Lu Jinzhang was willing to abandon all face to keep it.’

SHING!

Having suffered such a devastating blow and seeing his junior brother dead, the wielder of the Yang Sword thought only of retreat. But at such a critical moment, Chen Qingyang would never let him escape.

The One-Origin Sword struck again, this time employing the Binding Rune Technique. The attacks were relentless as a fine rain, threatening to cling to his opponent’s body. When the two brothers had fought together, they had stood a chance. Now, facing attacks from all sides, the lone swordsman was completely outmatched.

Finally, Chen Qingyang found his opening. Just as his opponent recalled the Yin Yang Fish and turned to flee, the Qianxue Sword wrapped around him and exploded with power, striking straight for his Dantian.

"You... you can actually kill me!"

His face twisted in a ferocious mask of disbelief. The moment the blade entered his abdomen, powerful Sword Qi raged through his body, extinguishing his life force in an instant.

The sword withdrew, and the last glimmer of light faded from his eyes. His body fell stiffly into the water.

Though it takes time to describe, it all happened in a flash.

Killing the two of them had taken but a quarter of an hour.

Chen Qingyang let out a long breath and steadied his mind. Small golden characters floated before his eyes.

[Available Immortal Seedlings: 1639]

’They were both at the Qi Refining Eighth Realm, so it makes sense they’d yield this many Immortal Seedlings,’ he thought. ’My Cultivation can take another step forward!’

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