Stealing Immortal

Chapter 47: Chapter 46: Source Aspect

As long as Qi Xiuyuan lived, he couldn’t eat or sleep in peace.

In the Alchemy Room.

The two fell silent for a moment. Chen Qingyang was contemplating the danger to his life, while Liu Tao’s thoughts were a mystery, though her cheeks were slightly flushed.

”Senior Sister, I see no reason to worry anymore. That man may seem like his character has changed, but it really hasn’t. I’m guessing he only survived the Nine Deaths Treasure Mirror because, just as you said, Master Yun Ci went easy on him. He’ll never be your opponent in the future!”

”Pah!” Liu Tao said dismissively. ”You think I’m worried about *that*? His Cultivation is worlds away from mine now, and the Essence Condensation Realm isn’t something you can break into just by wanting it!”

”Then what are you worried about, Senior Sister?”

”Hmph!” Liu Tao huffed, glaring at Chen Qingyang. ”You’re such a blockhead. He’s made it clear he wants you dead. Aren’t you even scared?”

’Scared?’

’What good would that do? I’m destined to walk an unconventional path. The truly frightening thing would be if all these troubles disappeared.’

”This animosity between us won’t just disappear. You saw it yourself, Senior Sister. Is there a way to eliminate him?”

”None,” Liu Tao said without hesitation.

It seemed the higher her Cultivation advanced, the more cautious she became.

Chen Qingyang fell silent for another moment. ”You just said, Senior Sister, that your Cultivation is far higher than his?”

”Pah!” Liu Tao was scornful again. Perhaps out of some desire for revenge, she had become quite petulant since regaining her youthful appearance. ”What do you think ’Nine Acupoints Ascending to Heaven’ means? I have now awakened the Earth Root Acupoint. The True Essence contained within my body is beyond his imagination. If I really threw caution to the wind and killed him, it would be as easy as killing a chicken.”

She looked truly ferocious as she spoke. After all, Chen Qingyang had persuaded her that killing Qi Xiuyuan was the goal.

”Senior Sister, what is the Earth Root Acupoint?”

Liu Tao said, a little bossily, ”Do you really think I’m your master?”

Chen Qingyang bowed respectfully. ”Would you please enlighten me, Senior Sister?”

’I’m already at the Fifth Realm of Qi Refining; it’s about time I learned about Essence Condensation. This isn’t the kind of information you find in a textbook, so I can only learn about it from her.’

”Fine. Only because you’re being so well-behaved. Nine Acupoints Ascending to Heaven describes the Cultivation method for Essence Condensation Cultivators. It uses the Nine Acupoints as a foundation to achieve Qi Acupoints Perfection, allowing one’s body to reach the Realm of Clarity, completely shed mortal constraints, and become a Master. These Nine Acupoints are, in order: Earth Root, Mingtang Hall, Jiang Palace, Spirit Platform, Xuanji, Dongming, Jade Capital, Gui Cang, and Taichu.”

”Right now, I’m at the Earth Root Acupoint. This is the Netherworld Dragon Origin, where the True Method Connects to the Netherworld. It involves drawing upon the Earth Vein Yin Fiend for tempering, creating an Earth Dragon Root. This technique borrows the might of Earth Power, and its force should not be underestimated. Whether one is practicing Sword Cultivation, Cultivating the Five Elements, Yin and Yang, or anything else, one must temper oneself through these Nine Acupoints, achieve an Essence Condensation Dantian, and pave the way to Foundation Establishment...”

Liu Tao explained in detail, and Chen Qingyang listened intently.

He recalled that around the time he and Li Qianxue had gone their separate ways, he truly had no idea there was such a vast gap between Qi Refining and Essence Condensation.

Compared to that, Qi Refining was like a toddler just learning to walk.

”Senior Sister, since your Cultivation is so profound, could you perform a Sacrificial Refinement on this Warm Jade Scroll again? That way, if Qi Xiuyuan dares to make a move on me, it can kill him in one blow!”

After a long silence, this was what Chen Qingyang said.

”You’re insane!” Liu Tao immediately flared up. ”If it really comes to that, he might not die, but you definitely won’t survive the blow! Besides, you’re just a Miscellaneous Task Disciple, are you really going to provoke him on purpose? ...Even if he did die, do you think the Foundation Establishment Masters wouldn’t punish you for it?”

This was a well-thought-out plan; Chen Qingyang wasn’t going to give up easily. ”What if it only injures him severely?”

This time, Liu Tao just slapped him. ”Hmph, even if it only injures him severely, with your Cultivation at the Third Realm of Qi Refining, you’d still suffer quite a bit! Stop thinking about it. Besides, severely injuring him won’t kill him; it will only deepen his hatred.”

But Chen Qingyang continued, ”I think that’s enough. At the very least, it would prevent him from advancing his Cultivation in the short term. It might even leave your True Essence inside his body, further damaging his Dao Foundation.”

Chen Qingyang had seen firsthand the power of her Fire Control Three Acupoints to scorch a person’s Meridians and Divine Soul.

Liu Tao’s anger flared. ”Why are you so insistent on being the bait? If you’re worried he’ll attack you outside the Pill Institute, then just stay here! You can go straight to Cyan Bamboo Peak later!”

’That’s the safe option, but how long could I hide?’

’If I just cultivate normally, it’ll take at least a hundred years to catch up to Qi Xiuyuan—that’s a hundred years of living in danger.’

’It makes more sense to find a weakness now, while he’s just come out of seclusion and his Cultivation is still unstable. Besides, it would be a real shame not to use a powerful ally like Liu Tao.’

”Senior Sister, you misunderstand. I just don’t want to be trapped here forever, and I have no intention of provoking him first. This is just a way to give myself another means of survival... As for what comes after, I’m confident I can find a way to eliminate him without anyone knowing.”

His voice was low and his tone was firm. Even Liu Tao began to hesitate as she looked at him.

Chen Qingyang pressed his advantage. ”I’ve thought this through carefully. Assuming we can’t attack him directly, this is the best option. If this matter really gets brought before the Foundation Establishment Masters, we’ll be the ones in the right. Besides, if he gets seriously injured while attacking me, what face would he have to make a fuss about it?”

Liu Tao finally stopped arguing, showing a hint of agreement. ”With Master’s terrifyingly proud personality, Qi Xiuyuan would either have to swallow this loss, or he’d end up being punished by Master.”

”Then... what are you hesitating for, Senior Sister?”

SMACK!

Liu Tao slapped Chen Qingyang again. ”Fine, fine. I guess you’ve completely figured me out, you little schemer.”

Chen Qingyang said, ”Not at all. It’s simply a testament to your wisdom, Senior Sister.”

...

The Warm Jade Scroll, of course, ”wasn’t on him.” After all, it contained the person Liu Tao detested most.

Chen Qingyang had to go back and get it for Liu Tao. Although it was a bit dangerous to go out now, he figured that since Qi Xiuyuan had just been there, he wouldn’t return so soon.

Chen Qingyang had always felt that Liu Tao was far too cautious, especially when it came to Qi Xiuyuan.

’If Qi Xiuyuan is going to attack me, the right move is to injure him severely, then find a chance to finish him off for good.’

’An Outer Disciple has already died, and it didn’t cause a huge stir. What’s the big deal if another one dies?’

’It’d be even better if I could drag Wu Boyou and Gong Yueshu into this.’

’Victory is easiest to seize from chaos.’

...

He descended the mountain and entered his room.

Chen Qingyang took out the Warm Jade Scroll, and Xu Baoling appeared, floating before him.

’This item is crucial for my plot against Qi Xiuyuan. I’ll have to give it to Liu Tao for three days of Sacrificial Refinement. But during that time, what am I going to do with Xu Baoling?’

’I can’t just let her roam free. If she travels to the Golden Summit in her Divine Soul Body and finds her master, I’m a dead man!’

”This servant greets you, Master. You have not summoned me for many days. Might I ask what Master has been busy with?”

Having spent some time together, Xu Baoling and Chen Qingyang had become more familiar with each other, and their conversations grew more natural.

”Liu Tao had her breakthrough. Because of that, I was able to get the Jade Flower Spirit Dew Pill Formula. I can start practicing with it in the next couple of days. I’m wondering, if you continue to cultivate in your current state, what level will you ultimately reach?”

Liu Tao’s breakthrough was expected, so Xu Baoling didn’t dwell on it. Instead, she was rather pleased. ”Master, you may not know this, but the Righteous Great Divine Dao itself originates from the ancient Yin Spirit Technique. One can cultivate with just a soul body after losing their physical one. Not only can you reach Foundation Establishment and condense a physical body from qi, but you can also achieve the great Yin Spirit Dao.”

”And now, Master has provided me with this Elixir that restores the Divine Soul. This will greatly benefit the recovery of my Cultivation.”

Chen Qingyang thought about it seriously; an idea was already forming in his mind. ”Then after your Divine Soul is restored, how will you cultivate?”

’How will I cultivate?’

’At the very least, I can’t stay locked up in the Warm Jade Scroll. How else would I absorb Spiritual Qi? Just relying on Chen Qingyang letting me out for a short while every few days is nowhere near enough.’

Smart as she was, Xu Baoling naturally understood Chen Qingyang’s concern. Leaving the Warm Jade Scroll meant she would be completely out of his control. Only by entrusting herself to him, completely and utterly, could she put his mind at ease.

Xu Baoling gritted her teeth. ”In that case, my only choice is to take Master as my Divine Dao Source Aspect.”

Chen Qingyang didn’t understand what that meant and gave her a confused look.

Xu Baoling began to explain again. ”The Divine Dao Technique is also known as the technique of Wish Power. Mortals make idols of clay and offer Sacrificial Offerings to them daily. This creates Wish Power. It accumulates over time, and when the statue gains sentience, that becomes the origin of the Divine Dao Technique.”

”After the idol gains sentience, although it can roam the ten provinces and five directions as a Divine Soul, its foundation is still that clay statue. Unless its Magical Power reaches a certain level, it is impossible to break away. This is what’s known as the Source Aspect.”

Chen Qingyang understood her meaning. ”So, you’re saying that from now on, we’re bound together? We’ll prosper together and perish together?”

Xu Baoling paused for a moment. She had already placed all her bets on Chen Qingyang. ”Yes. In the future, if Master is gone, I will be gone too. But if I’m gone... it’s only me who’s gone.”

Seeing through her thoughts, Chen Qingyang said, ”Don’t worry. This is just a temporary measure. In the future, when I no longer fear your master, I will naturally return everything to you. But in the meantime, you must listen to me carefully!”

Hearing him say this, a hint of joy finally appeared on Xu Baoling’s face. ”Okay, I will listen to whatever Master says!”

Xu Baoling’s Divine Soul drifted closer. Though he couldn’t feel any physical warmth, Chen Qingyang still felt an intimate fusion of their very spirits.

His thoughts couldn’t help but drift back to that moment long ago when Xu Baoling had used the Righteous Great Divine Dao on him. She had been utterly and incomparably beautiful!

Chen Qingyang was sitting upright, and Xu Baoling assumed the same posture, their forms overlapping.

Within his Divine Soul, he began to feel countless connections forming with her, like invisible golden threads pulling the two of them together.

Gradually, Chen Qingyang could feel his control over Xu Baoling’s Divine Soul, as if his own consciousness had entered another body... He could even control her life and death.

It continued for a long time before finally ending.

”From now on, you can hide and cultivate in this room. You don’t have to go back into the Warm Jade Scroll. This will be good for you. Just remember, don’t draw attention to yourself.”

”Mm.”

He could even vaguely sense what Xu Baoling was thinking.

’So this is the Source Aspect.’