Stealing Immortal

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Perfection

Senior Brother Zhao’s back disappeared beyond the mountain hollow.

Having nothing to say to the other three, Chen Qingyang returned to his room early. After composing himself, the line of small golden characters appeared before his eyes again.

[Tai Xu Energy-Introducing Technique: (99/100)]

If there was ever a cruel twist of fate, nothing in the world could be more devastating than this.

After a hundred years of bitter toil and humiliation, he had thought the Immortal Dao was far beyond his reach. But now, he saw he was just a single step away.

Perhaps it was fortune, perhaps aptitude, perhaps background. But if you lacked it, you lacked it. That was the immutable cruelty of the Immortal Sects.

’I’ve ruined the immortal fortune of sixty people and taken their Immortal Seedlings, and now, this sliver of hope is mine.’

This was in line with the ways of the Immortal Sects—it was always like an army of thousands trying to cross a single-plank bridge. A world of ”you or me.” Chen Qingyang was very clear-eyed about this.

’With a mere thought, I can subtract a point from the Immortal Seedlings and add it to the Tai Xu Energy-Introducing Technique.’

In an instant, his long suffering ended. The Energy Introduction stage reached Perfection, and he entered the Qi Refining Realm.

The world and everything in it grew exceptionally clear to his eyes. A gentle breeze swirled around him, as soothing as a spring wind caressing new leaves or sweet dew after a long drought. His internal energy condensed, flowing through his Meridians and opening his acupoints. It formed a churning vortex in his Dantian, until finally, a single strand of gold emerged from its center.

The Tai Xu Energy-Introducing Technique states, ”He who holds gold within his Dantian has entered the first.” This was the First Realm of Qi Refining.

He sat on his bed and continued to absorb and refine Qi. The gentle breeze around him persisted, nourishing every part of his body until even his exhaustion vanished completely.

The Tai Xu Energy-Introducing Technique was the introductory Cultivation Technique of the Tai Xu Sect. It focused on the Refinement of the Meridians, strengthening the body, and shaping the Dantian. Chen Qingyang’s body was like parched earth that had not seen water in years; now, suddenly blessed by a spring rain, it displayed an immense greed for Spiritual Qi.

He continued for a long time before finally stopping.

[Chen Qingyang]

[First Realm of Qi Refining]

[Tai Xu Energy-Introducing Technique: (1/200)]

[Available Immortal Seedlings: 59]

The small golden characters appeared again, clearly stating his status: First Realm of Qi Refining. The progress cap for the Tai Xu Energy-Introducing Technique had also changed to 200. Even if he used up all his remaining Immortal Seedlings, he would still be far from reaching it.

’Forget it. I won’t mess with it for now. I’ll save them for when I run into trouble. As long as I cultivate diligently and have the Immortal Seedlings to help, I can dare to covet a place on the Immortal Path.’

「Inside the Hongling Token.」

He was full of energy today, and his control over his arms was the best it had been in almost a year.

He finished a Dao Rhyme Pattern in a remarkably short time, more than ten times faster than his usual pace. Wu Boyou noticed and was naturally taken aback. ”How are you so fast today?”

”Perhaps it’s because I meditated last night. I’m well-rested and not so tired.”

But Wu Boyou just sneered at him. All his former warmth and concern had vanished in an instant, like a lover after a nasty breakup. ”You’ve heard about Li Qianxue, I assume?”

’He always used to call her Senior Sister Li, but now he’s using her full name. If even Lü Yunshen knows, he must know too.’

”Yes.”

”Junior Brother Zhao has already taken your place and left, so I’ll let the past be the past. I’ll give you seven days, at most. If you can’t get your progress back on track within seven days, I’ll have no choice but to make an exception and punish you by sending you down the mountain. When has our great Tai Xu Sect ever coddled idlers!”

His attitude was frigid, a complete reversal from the day before. Fortunately, Chen Qingyang had long since seen through human nature and had already pegged him as a fair-weather sycophant. Thus, he felt no inner turmoil, and his expression remained calm.

”Don’t worry, I won’t cause any trouble for you, Senior Brother Wu. I need to leave early today, I hope you’ll permit it.”

Wu Boyou waved his hand with extreme impatience. ”I don’t care about any of that. The last thing I need is people calling me a snob, saying I started pressuring you the moment Li Qianxue was gone. In any case, if you can’t finish in seven days, no one can help you!”

Chen Qingyang bowed with clasped hands as was custom. ”Thank you!”

’Of course, he could announce his breakthrough. He could be promoted directly to Outer Disciple and would no longer have to perform such arduous labor.’

’But a breakthrough at the age of one hundred and twenty... that was a rarity in the entire Tai Xu Sect. None of the masters on the various peaks would be willing to accept him as a disciple. He’d end up stuck in the Miscellaneous Task division, which would be incredibly awkward. Even if he were accepted, he’d be a forgotten, peripheral disciple with no future.’

’On the path of Immortal Cultivation, a master was the greatest resource of all. He had been mediocre for far too many years and refused to remain so. It would be better to use Stealing Immortal to build up his strength, then find the right opportunity to amaze everyone and secure a truly capable master.’

’Some paths can be traveled slowly, but the choice of path must be the right one.’

By morning, he had already completed three Dao Rhyme Patterns, which drew a look of utter astonishment from Wu Boyou. ’This is only the beginning,’ Chen Qingyang thought.

Four Golden Peaks was majestic and imposing, a truly enormous mountain.

He walked straight up the bluestone steps, taking a full hour to reach the summit.

This was the place from which he had often seen golden light spilling into the night sky.

The Outer and Inner Sect Disciples of Four Golden Peaks primarily cultivated here. People like Wu Boyou were usually on duty for four or five years before returning to their own cultivation.

The flat ground at the summit was paved entirely with White Jade, surrounded on all sides by palaces, towers, waterside gazebos, and pavilions. Cranes swooped down to land and Spirit Deer made their home here. Compared to the mountainside, this was a true Immortal Secret Realm.

Chen Qingyang found a palace with a plaque above the entrance that read ”Cloud Scripture Jade Pavilion”.

From his first day in the Tai Xu Sect, he knew that Immortal Cultivation comprised the Seven Arts: Pill, Array, Artifact, Talisman, Yu, Planting, and the Sword Dao.

Every disciple who broke through to the First Realm of Qi Refining could come to their respective peak to choose one Dharma Gate to pursue.

These Seven Arts were immensely useful but also mentally taxing, so disciples below the Qi Refining Fifth Realm rarely came here. ’I can make use of those 59 Immortal Seedlings,’ Chen Qingyang thought. ’An extra skill is an extra means of survival.’

”Stop. Who are you?”

’Those in white or gray robes are Miscellaneous Task disciples.’

’Seeing this man was so old, his Essence Blood clearly long exhausted, he looked nothing like a disciple. The young gatekeeper naturally wasn’t going to let him pass.’

”Senior Brother, I just had a breakthrough in my cultivation last night. I’ve come to choose one of the Seven Arts to study.”

The boy’s eyes widened. A moment later, a pulse of energy washed over Chen Qingyang. Far from resisting, Chen Qingyang deliberately let his own True Qi flow freely, letting the boy probe him.

”So it’s true. That’s a rare sight. How old are you?”

”One hundred and twenty.”

”What... You lived to a hundred and twenty without even reaching Qi Refining!” the boy exclaimed in astonishment. ”Who’s your master? Did he feed you some kind of life-extending Elixir?”

”I don’t have a master at the moment. The breakthrough was a stroke of luck.”

”No master means you’re still in Miscellaneous Task. Weird, really weird... Technically, you’re not allowed in here... but you have reached Qi Refining... Ah, whatever, do what you want!” The boy waved his hand, growing impatient.

’So that’s how it is,’ Chen Qingyang realized. ’Miscellaneous Task disciples aren’t allowed inside. Even though I have the cultivation, I don’t have the official status of a Disciple yet.’

Fortunately, the boy’s impatience gave him an opening. He bowed with clasped hands. ”Thank you, Senior Brother.”

The interior wasn’t massive, at most ten zhang square, with shelves packed tightly with books and scrolls.

Chen Qingyang had a clear goal and headed straight for the section on the Alchemy Dao.

’For one, he had already studied Gold and Stone Pharmacology, so he had some foundational knowledge.’

’For another, he had witnessed the power of the Alchemy Dao firsthand from Li Qianxue. He had even heard that many disciples who hit a wall in their cultivation would choose the Alchemy Dao as an alternative path.’

’This art was all-encompassing: it could raise one’s cultivation, heal injuries, provide protection from water and fire, and purge toxins... Most importantly, it could earn a lot of money, making it the friendliest option for someone destitute and just starting out.’

”Halt!”

As he was leaving, the young gatekeeper called out to him again. ”What did you pick? Let me have a look.”

He took out a piece of paper. It was a handwritten copy of an elixir formula named ”Energy Introduction”.

The boy looked at it and suppressed a laugh. ”I figured someone who took so long to break through would have a more steady temperament. I never thought you’d pick the Qi-Introducing Pill. Even I wouldn’t dare attempt to refine that lightly.”

Chen Qingyang was about to explain, but the boy grew impatient again. ”Forget it. Good advice is wasted on those determined to die. You can only come here once a year and take one formula. I’ve memorized your face, so don’t come back again this year. Also, you can only memorize that, you can’t take it with you.”

Completely ignoring the boy’s attitude, Chen Qingyang first offered his thanks, then stood where he was and committed the formula to memory before burning the paper in front of him.

’He had his reasons for choosing the Qi-Introducing Pill.’

’Pills like the Qi Gathering Pill or the Qi Nourishing Pill were used by Qi Refining Realm disciples to advance their cultivation. However, the True Essence gained this way was often flawed. Over time, it would clog the Meridians, requiring other elixirs to be taken periodically for cleansing.’

’The Qi-Introducing Pill, however, was an exception. Its main function was to stimulate the entire body to absorb Spiritual Qi at a much faster rate. Since the energy was still being refined by one’s own body, there were no such side effects.’

’This elixir was effective but also notoriously difficult to refine. Many who finally mastered the technique had already advanced their cultivation to a point where they no longer needed it, while those who did need it couldn’t manage to refine it.’

’Having served as Li Qianxue’s Sword-carrying Boy for so many years, he had at least gained some worldly perspective.’

[Chen Qingyang]

[First Realm of Qi Refining]

[Tai Xu Energy-Introducing Technique: (1/200)]

[Tier One Qi-Introducing Pill: (0/50)]

[Available Immortal Seedlings: 59]

’Just as he expected, after he memorized it, the line for the Qi-Introducing Pill appeared. The progress cap was fifty, meaning that once he reached that number, he would have a preliminary grasp of the skill.’

In one fell swoop, Chen Qingyang maxed out the Qi-Introducing Pill. This was a rare skill. At least on Four Golden Peaks, very few Qi Refining Disciples could master it. With this, he now had a real skill to rely on for his survival.

「By the time he returned, it was already evening.」

In the small courtyard, the other three were drinking tea under a Locust Tree, pointedly ignoring Chen Qingyang. Only Xu Yong called out to him. ”Senior Brother Chen, care for a cup?”

He was a handsome youth of nineteen who had entered the Sect at fourteen. For a time, he had followed Chen Qingyang and cultivated alongside him.

Chen Qingyang had taken him under his wing, personally teaching him everything he knew. But as time went on, the youth found the charismatic Lü Yunshen, who always spoke of righteousness and the great Dao, more to his liking. He began to follow Lü Yunshen around and gradually grew distant from Chen Qingyang.

”No, thank you. I’m going to rest.”

’He didn’t need to pay any mind to their two-faced behavior. When the time was right, they could all become Immortal Seedlings for him.’

Back in his room, a gentle breeze stirred.

Chen Qingyang sat cross-legged on his bed and began his breathing exercises.

Once one’s cultivation reached this level, sleep was no longer necessary; peaceful meditation was all that was required.

He continued without stopping until dawn, yet the progress for his Tai Xu Energy-Introducing Technique remained at 1.