Stealing Immortal

Chapter 22: Chapter 21: Xu You

To refine a Tier Two Qi-Introducing Pill, the required ingredients were no different from a Tier One Qi-Introducing Pill. The only change was the dosage.

It was a full tenfold increase.

Therefore, extracting the medicinal properties and then performing the complex fusion and transformation placed extremely high demands on a Pill Master’s Fire Control, ability to guide the Qi within the pill, timing, and more. The difficulty increased exponentially.

This was why there were so few Pill Masters in the entire Four Golden Peaks Pill Institute who could successfully refine a Tier Two Qi-Introducing Pill.

Of course, if one reached Essence Condensation, or even the Foundation Establishment Realm, their methods would be heaven-defying, and their control over Qi would be far beyond Chen Qingyang’s imagination. But for them, these Elixirs had long since lost their effectiveness, so they wouldn’t trouble themselves with such matters.

As Chen Qingyang worked, Liu Tao watched from the side, entranced. Sometimes her gaze fell on him, and other times it fell on the Pill Furnace.

This furnace was named ”Peach Blossom Spring,” something she had accumulated bit by bit.

It was cast from Profound Iron and inlaid with numerous pieces of Fire Jade. Not only had it undergone Sacrificial Refinement by an Artifact Refiner, but it had also been inscribed with many Daoist Talismans to enhance the efficacy of the Elixirs.

It stood nine feet tall with a circumference of six feet. Six Fire Dragons were carved on its four sides, which were further divided into seven faces. Each face depicted a peach tree, so lifelike they seemed real—some in full bloom, some heavy with fruit, and others with delicate, budding branches.

Ever since her Cultivation had been stuck at the Qi Refining Ninth Realm, Liu Tao had immersed herself in the Alchemy Dao, hoping to use it to achieve Breaking Realm.

After tossing in the ingredients, Chen Qingyang slowly pushed out with both palms. The furnace wood beneath the Pill Furnace erupted in an orchid-blue flame, and a wave of warmth instantly spread out. The explosive force was so strong that even Liu Tao couldn’t help but be astonished.

Yet, a glance at Chen Qingyang showed his expression was unchanged; he was calm and composed.

He had started the furnace at noon. By the time he drew back the fire, the sky outside was already dark.

Chen Qingyang slowly withdrew his hands, and the flames within the Pill Furnace gradually died down. For a Tier Two Qi-Introducing Pill, this final ”Late Fire” technique was crucial. If rushed, the pill’s properties would be too ”dry,” easily creating internal fire in the user and becoming detrimental to a Practitioner’s state of mind.

Only after a quarter of an hour did the flames extinguish completely.

He didn’t touch the Pill Furnace, instead closing his eyes and meditating on the spot to recover his energy.

Theoretically, someone at the Qi Refining Second Realm could refine a Tier Two Qi-Introducing Pill, but to make an Elixir of sufficient quality was not something that could be accomplished with just Second Realm Cultivation.

When he opened his eyes again, Liu Tao was grinning from ear to ear, looking at him with a wide smile. She was staring as if she had seen a beloved treasure. Two Tier Two Qi-Introducing Pills were cradled in her hands. Their surfaces were smooth, and a faint golden light overflowed from within—a luster that could only appear when Yellow Essence Stone was refined to its absolute limit.

At the very least, they met Chen Qingyang’s expectations.

”Your first time! This was your very first time... HAHA...” Liu Tao was so happy she could barely contain her laughter. ”With Elixirs this good, if I took two a day, I swear I could reach Essence Condensation within two years... No, I might not even need two years! After all, your Alchemy Dao is improving so quickly. Who knows, maybe you’ll be refining Tier Three pills one day...”

Once she had fully celebrated, Chen Qingyang finally said, ”But I can only produce two of these a day. Is Senior Sister planning on not sharing them with me?”

Although extremely reluctant, Liu Tao still handed one over. ”I, Liu Tao, may have a foul temper, and I’m not much to look at these days, but I’m a person who keeps her word! We agreed to split them fifty-fifty, and I won’t take more than my share. I’ve waited two hundred years, what’s another two!”

When Chen Qingyang took the Elixir in his hand, it was still slightly warm. He examined it over and over for a moment, as if seriously contemplating if there was any room for improvement.

In terms of his attainments in the Alchemy Dao, he was now in no way inferior to Liu Tao, who was at the Qi Refining Ninth Realm.

”This Tier Two Qi-Introducing Pill is good, but for me, it’s not the optimal solution at this stage.” After speaking, he tossed the Elixir back to Liu Tao, startling her into catching it with both hands.

”Are you crazy? What if it fell on the ground and got contaminated with Earth Energy? This thing can only be stored in a Jade Box to keep its medicinal properties from dissipating... You’re just giving it to me like that? You won’t regret it?”

Chen Qingyang shook his head. ”I’m not giving it to you, Senior Sister. I’m proposing a trade.”

Liu Tao chuckled. ”You cunning old rascal, you’re more scheming than anyone. What do you want to trade for? Anything Senior Sister can give, I’ll give it to you.”

As Liu Tao grinned, her broken tooth was once again visible.

”I was wondering, Senior Sister, how many Qi Gathering Pills can you produce in one batch?”

”Three high-quality ones per batch. If they’re a bit inferior, I can get five or six. Why, you want to trade with me?”

Chen Qingyang nodded. ”Right now, the fastest way to improve my Cultivation is to use Qi Gathering Pills in combination with Warm Sun Pills. Senior Sister, you refine one batch of Qi Gathering Pills every two days, and one batch of Tier Two Warm Sun Pills every seven days. I’ll refine one batch of Tier Two Qi-Introducing Pills every day. We’ll use those for our trade. What do you think?”

”Sigh!” Liu Tao sighed as if she were getting the short end of the stick, but she couldn’t help sneaking glances at Chen Qingyang. ”You old rascal, are you trying to work your Senior Sister to death? Qi Gathering Pills are one thing, but Tier Two Warm Sun Pills... those are incredibly draining. But then again, we’re two bugs on the same string. So... I’ll agree to it.”

She really had a knack for playing the victim while taking advantage.

Chen Qingyang reached out and, right before her eyes, took back the Tier Two Qi-Introducing Pill from Liu Tao’s palm. ”Alright, then it’s settled. I know Senior Sister has always been fair. Since you have no Elixirs for me today, you wouldn’t take advantage of me for free. Our trade will begin tomorrow. Today’s Qi-Introducing Pill still belongs to me.”

Liu Tao was stunned for a moment, then she started grumbling again. ”Hmph, you old rascal...”

Seeing that he was as responsive as an old tree stump and that cursing him was useless, she rummaged through a bookshelf for a moment and pulled out a Jade Box. Inside, a single Warm Sun Pill lay quietly.

”I was saving this to trade for ingredients, but I guess I can’t hide it now. You can have it for now. I’ll just have to work harder and refine more pills in the future to make sure you don’t lose out...” Though extremely unwilling, she had no choice but to shove it at Chen Qingyang.

”Senior Sister is the most righteous of all!”

Only then did Chen Qingyang give the Tier Two Qi-Introducing Pill back to her.

The night was moonless, an ink wash across the vault of heaven.

Every step Chen Qingyang took after leaving the Pill Institute was extremely cautious.

Today was the first day without Xu Baoling around, and he was very worried that Qi Xiuyuan might suddenly jump out to kill him.

From what he had seen that day, the man was flamboyant and impulsive. If one were to deal with him slowly and strategically, he would certainly be easier to handle than Xu Baoling. But he was afraid of this exact type of person—someone who would charge out suddenly, without a single thought, and get him killed in the process.

Chen Qingyang didn’t relax until he reached a hidden pine tree halfway up the mountain.

He took out the three Qi Gathering Pills he had saved up and swallowed them all at once, along with the Warm Sun Pill.

Instantly, a powerful torrent of Qi surged through his Dantian Meridians. The Warm Sun Pill, however, generated a wave of warmth, like a layer of Gang Qi, that coated the inside of his Meridians and Dantian, pushing the Qi forward while slowly refining it.

Every quarter of an hour, he would exhale a long breath, expelling the impurities generated by the Qi Gathering Pills from his body bit by bit.

No wonder this art was praised as the ”Master of Ten Thousand Dharmas.” A profound Alchemy Dao was more than just a small boost to one’s Cultivation; there were even divine medicines like the Heaven Repairing Glaze Pill, which could repair a Sword Soul.

By the time he reached the small courtyard, it was already dawn.

Lü Yunshen and another man were each holding a broom, sweeping away the accumulated snow in the courtyard.

The weather had been clear and sunny for two straight days, so now was the perfect time to sweep the snow.

Xu Yong was also there in the distance. He watched the two of them talking and laughing, his face showing clear displeasure.

When he saw Chen Qingyang enter, he looked like he had found a kindred spirit and was about to hurry over, but unfortunately, Lü Yunshen, who was sweeping snow in the courtyard, beat him to it.

”Senior Brother Chen, you’re back! This is...”

Before Lü Yunshen could finish, the man bowed with his hands clasped. ”Senior Brother Chen, this humble one is Xu You. I am from the Jin Dynasty, from outside the mountains. I came up the mountain thirty years ago to become a servant disciple. Today, I was assigned here by the Steward to live in this courtyard. From now on, I suppose we’ll be neighbors. I hope Senior Brother Chen will look after me.”

Ordinary servant disciples usually came to the mountain at fourteen or fifteen. Adding thirty years in the sect, he should be in his forties.

’But looking at his appearance, he seems quite young, like a teenager. He must be quite skilled with the Tai Xu Energy-Introducing Technique,’ Chen Qingyang mused.

A habit left over from his Cultivation of the Great Soul Scripture, Chen Qingyang began to carefully observe and analyze the man’s breathing and Qi Mechanism.

’Long... He only takes a breath after a long while.’

’The Qi Mechanism emanating from his body is also not something a mere servant disciple could achieve. Could it be that he has already entered Qi Refining?’

’To have reached this stage and still be messing around as a servant disciple... besides myself,’ Chen Qingyang thought, ’the only other person I can think of is Hu Kai of the Profound Light Association.’

”Senior Brother Chen?”

As he was lost in thought for a moment, Xu You spoke again.

At this moment, although Chen Qingyang’s skin was smooth, his body was stooped, and he still looked as if his Essence Qi was lacking.

His breathing was soft and rapid, like that of an old man. As for the Qi Mechanism emanating from his body, it would depend on whether the other person had the perception to notice it.

He seemed to snap back to his senses suddenly. ”Oh, my apologies, Junior Brother Xu. This is what happens when you get old. And to have you start sweeping snow the moment you arrive... what Junior Brother Xu, Junior Brother Lü, and I have done is hardly hospitable!”

Xu You smiled faintly. ”What are you talking about? Besides, I’m not a guest.”

At this point, Xu Yong also interjected, ”That’s right, Senior Brother Chen! This Senior Brother Xu You is also from the Profound Light Association. His status is comparable to Senior Brother Hu Kai’s. It’s a great thing that he can come live in our little courtyard!”

Unbeknownst to Xu Yong, those were the words Lü Yunshen had been about to say. Having his line stolen, he was slightly annoyed. ”Yes, yes, Senior Brother Chen.”

Perhaps seeing the two of them’s attitude towards Chen Qingyang, Xu You couldn’t help but laugh. ”Hehe, it seems Senior Brother Chen is quite respected in our little courtyard.”

Chen Qingyang’s gaze, however, was murky as he swept it across the three men before him.

’This whole courtyard is full of Profound Light Association members now,’ he thought. ’The days ahead are going to be lively.’

”You jest. I’m merely a bit older than the rest, that’s all. I’ve just come down from the mountain and am a little tired. I’ll go back to my room to rest for a bit. Please, carry on.”

Just then, Lü Yunshen said, ”Senior Brother Xu just said he wants you to come down the mountain a bit early this evening. He’s prepared some food and wine. We’ll be under the big Locust Tree, watching the mountain and drinking by moonlight, with the cold wind blowing!”

Since Xu Yong didn’t know about this matter, it was left to him to say it.

Normally, servant disciples ate simple meals. Wine, meat, and rich dishes were extremely rare; their diet consisted mostly of grains to fill the stomach. The Tai Xu Sect euphemistically called this ”purifying the heart and reducing desires” for the sake of Qi Refining, and they even banned alcohol to avoid affecting work performance.

For a hundred years, Chen Qingyang hadn’t touched a single drop of alcohol. Here, it was a rare delicacy!

He thought for a moment. ”In that case, my thanks for Junior Brother Xu’s kind intentions. I will definitely be there tonight. I’ll have to make the three of you wait.”

Xu You smiled. ”It’s no trouble.”