Stealing Immortal

Chapter 115: Chapter 114: Aberration

The main assembly was today.

Chen Qingyang woke from his meditation early to adjust his state and pack his belongings.

Kong Yuan was meditating in the room next door. After waiting a short while and seeing no sign of him, Chen Qingyang left the residence alone, passed through layers of palace courtyards, and set foot on the straight path leading to the lakeside.

Many Disciples cultivated at the Separation Dragon Pill Institute, and he saw busy figures everywhere along the way. It seemed the so-called Separation Dragon Assembly hadn’t caused much of a stir; everyone was minding their own business.

At the end of the road, by the lakeshore, several figures were already standing there.

He had heard from Kong Yuan yesterday that when the time came and everyone had gathered, a dragon gate would rise from the lake. After passing through it, they would see the true Li Yang Earth Fire and the True Dragon Cave.

The various Cultivators glanced at one another. If they saw no one they knew, they paid each other no mind. If they did recognize someone, they would go over to chat.

’One, two, three, four...’ Chen Qingyang counted. The number of figures had finally reached thirty-four. Based on who was clustered together, he could tell which ones belonged to the Separation Dragon Pill Institute.

For instance, the twenty-some people gathered to the left, standing together protectively, were surely from the Pill Institute. The remaining six or seven scattered individuals, each keeping to themselves, were most likely the holders of the Separation Huo Dragon Pearls that had circulated outside the institute. Besides them, there really weren’t many people who had come just to watch the spectacle.

’It seems this Separation Dragon Assembly is quite exclusive, not a widely publicized event like an Elixir competition.’

Chen Qingyang looked up. At 7:00 AM, bells chimed throughout the entire Separation Dragon Pill Institute. A dozen or so figures approached in unison over the lake’s surface. The Cultivation of every single one of them was at or above the level of a Foundation Establishment Master.

Among the many Masters, Chen Qingyang immediately spotted Steward Lu Jinzhang. There was another figure, dashing in green robes with a free and easy demeanor—it was actually Liu Pei.

’That makes sense,’ he thought. ’The Separation Dragon Pill Institute has the Lu Clan, but the Lu Clan doesn’t represent the entire institute. I remember the first time I saw Liu Pei, he was standing high above, just like today, appraising the quality of Elixirs with the others.’

These Foundation Establishment Masters remained in mid-air, not landing. After whispering among themselves for a moment, the sixteen of them acted in unison to cast a Secret Technique. It was as if a seven-colored rainbow had been stretched across the sky, imprinting waves of light onto the lake’s surface.

Immediately, the ground shook and the mountains swayed. With a sound of rushing water, a giant gate resembling a White Jade Archway rose from beneath the lake. The gateway shimmered with a turquoise luster like a curtain of water, obscuring everything behind it.

Chen Qingyang’s intuition told him this was an exceedingly powerful Array.

Just as he was thinking this, Lu Jinzhang announced from above, ”This is the Immortal Array Secret Technique: Void Bridge, left behind by a Golden Core True Monarch of the Separation Dragon Pill Institute. The marvel of this bridge is that it allows you all to reach the True Dragon Cave without having to cross the lake. Proceed through in an orderly fashion!”

’The Void Bridge... an Array like this... isn’t it basically a physical teleportation across the void? Truly profound.’

The Disciples who had come here passed through the Void Bridge in an orderly line. The sixteen Masters were lined up on either side. As Chen Qingyang passed by Liu Pei, Liu Pei even gave him a nod of acknowledgement.

Quietly, he formed the Conscious Fish in his hand. He stuck just one hand through the gate and could already perceive the situation inside.

The Array was just that miraculous. It was as if another world lay just behind the gate. Chen Qingyang hesitated no longer and stepped inside.

He found himself underground. His vision was dim and murky, with a thick layer of rock overhead, creating a strong sense of suffocation. A wave of intense heat washed over him.

The earth looked as if it had been shattered. Rivers of lava seemed to be flowing and yet standing still at the same time. Billowing heat waves rolled forth, and after standing there for only a moment, Chen Qingyang had to circulate his True Essence to resist it.

But as soon as he circulated his True Essence, the heat intensified. If he strengthened his defense by one part, the heat would strengthen by two. Continuing to resist nearly made Chen Qingyang stumble to his knees. Fortunately, he retracted his True Qi in time, and the pressure eased accordingly.

He understood. This place was filled with the Qi of Li Yang Earth Fire. The Cultivation of anyone who came here would be suppressed. The more one resisted, the stronger the suppression became. In other words, everyone who was suppressed was unable to use their Qi Mechanism, their Cultivation restricted.

This was undoubtedly good news for him. At least he wouldn’t have to worry about being plotted against in here.

Looking around again, he saw that he was standing on a high platform. A man-made stairway crossed over the sea of fire, leading forward. Faintly in the distance stood a palace of simple, ancient design, as if it had been carved directly from the stone.

The people who had entered before him were scattered along the stone path, heading toward the palace.

”Junior Brother Chen, I’ve finally caught up to you!”

Hearing the voice behind him, he turned to see the old man from yesterday. He was still leaning on his cane, but when he saw Chen Qingyang, much of the relaxed air he had yesterday had vanished.

Chen Qingyang observed him carefully and immediately understood that the man’s Cultivation was also being suppressed. Feeling no fear, he said, ”It seems Old Senior Brother simply can’t get me out of his mind!”

Hearing the three words ”Old Senior Brother,” the old man’s face twitched. ”Junior Brother, is showing off your sharp tongue all you’re good for?”

Chen Qingyang replied, ”Yesterday, I was perfectly polite when I asked for your name, Senior Brother, but you were rather rude. Since I don’t know what to call you, I can only address you as ’old’. If you don’t like it, Senior Brother, I can also call you ’little senior brother’.”

This only made the old man angrier. He was even stunned for a moment before letting out a cold sneer. ”Ignorance truly is bliss. If we weren’t in this place, how could I let a brat like you mock me? Forget it, forget it. It’s not like you can hold on to that Separation Huo Dragon Pearl for long anyway.”

After speaking, he turned to leave, but Chen Qingyang called out to him again. As he did, he raised his hand, and the Conscious Fish peeked out from his sleeve. The old man didn’t seem to notice anything.

It moved a little closer to the old man, and still there was no reaction. Chen Qingyang then grew bold and let the Conscious Fish roam freely around the area.

’This place restricts everyone’s Qi Mechanism, forcing them to rely on their five senses. Naturally, they couldn’t detect this strange phenomenon. This is great!’

The old man turned back, but Chen Qingyang said nothing for a long moment. Growing even more irritated, the old man flicked his sleeves and strode forward.

Chen Qingyang walked forward slowly, his Conscious Fish exploring the surroundings. The entire scene within the cavern entered his mind’s eye.

In one corner, for instance, where the Earth Fire surged, several Pill Furnaces were set up. Someone had their hands pressed tightly against a furnace, Refining a batch of fine Pills...

’So by pressing your hands directly against the Pill Furnace, you can channel True Essence straight into it to control the flames.’

In another corner stood an altar, upon which rested the head of a True Dragon, over a hundred zhang tall...

Four Profound Turtles guarded the four cardinal directions, their bodies dozens of zhang wide, each carrying a massive pillar on its back...

There were also Disciples skilled in Artifact Refining, channeling the Li Yang Earth Fire to forge a high-quality Magical Artifact... ’So the Li Yang Earth Fire is being utilized to this extent!’

In the main hall directly ahead, the sixteen Foundation Establishment Masters were already inside. Each took out a Token and began a Sacrificial Refinement, channeling vast amounts of True Essence toward the Great Cauldron in the very center.

The Conscious Fish didn’t dare get too close, as Chen Qingyang feared being discovered. But he gradually realized that the Cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Masters was also suppressed here. Their ability to use True Power was inextricably linked to the Tokens in their hands. As long as he didn’t get too close, they wouldn’t be able to detect his Conscious Fish.

Perhaps the time was right. The Great Cauldron, over ten zhang wide, began to rotate, kicking up a fiery whirlwind throughout the hall. When the whirlwind dissipated and the Great Cauldron settled, a golden flame rose from within. A powerful force radiated outwards, and even Chen Qingyang, standing far off, could feel the disturbance.

He began to wonder if the so-called Lock Dragon Array had something to do with this Great Cauldron.

Sure enough, the Masters began to confer.

”Senior Brother Lu, I recall that ten years ago at this time, it took the sixteen of us at least an hour to turn this Dragon-locking Tripod. Now, it took us less than half an hour. The power of the Li Yang Earth Fire is really getting weaker and weaker.”

The speaker was a middle-aged Daoist Nun dressed as a Foundation Establishment Master. A veiled conical hat draped down from the top of her head to her ankles. Her face was round, giving her a somewhat august appearance.

It was clear that even among these Foundation Establishment Masters, Lu Jinzhang was the Chief Steward.

”Indeed. Don’t tell me he was right, that thirty-six Separation Huo Dragon Pearls is the limit. To think, our Pill Institute is full of talent, all hoping to rely on these Dragon Pearls to advance further on the Alchemy Dao and serve the Sect!” The one speaking this time, stroking his long beard, was an old Daoist with a large nose, a thin face, and a complexion that could not be called fair.

”Indeed, indeed!”

...

When the discussion died down, Lu Jinzhang spoke with an air of finality, as if striking a gavel. ”It most likely is the limit. Therefore, we must ensure the remaining Separation Huo Dragon Pearls are given to our most elite Disciples. Otherwise, we’d be wasting the Dragon Pearl’s power. We absolutely cannot squander the might of this treasure!”

As soon as he said this, someone snorted coldly.

Without having to ask, one knew it was the rebellious and untamed Liu Pei, who was standing off to the side.

”Junior Brother Liu, do you happen to have a different opinion?” Lu Jinzhang asked him.

”Hmph!” Liu Pei continued to sneer. ”Why ask when you already know? If I didn’t have a problem with you Lu-surnamed folk, why would I have personally involved myself and come to this Pill Institute to become one of the sixteen Stewards? I came here to make trouble for you.”

This time, Lu Jinzhang didn’t even want to look at him. He just turned to the others. ”Everyone, since the Dragon-locking Array is open, let’s bring the Disciples over.”

Chen Qingyang wanted to probe Lu Jinzhang’s true strength, but when the Conscious Fish got too close, Lu Jinzhang suddenly whipped his head around. Fortunately, Chen Qingyang was prepared and hastily retracted the Conscious Fish.

’That guy’s Cultivation is formidable. Even though his Qi Mechanism is suppressed, his perception is still extremely sharp.’

A moment later, the heavy doors of the palace slowly swung open from the inside. The golden flames within even brightened the area outside.

As Chen Qingyang’s Conscious Fish drifted about, he suddenly heard a voice in his ear, ”Hmm, what kind of strange creature is this?”