Stealing Immortal

“Ever since Sun-piercing True Monarch was reincarnated to recultivate, the array has always required this process to activate. Cyan Bamboo Peak has a True Monarch in residence, after all. And while its array is vast, it’s nothing compared to the one on Sun-piercing Peak, so a single True Monarch is enough to activate the Grand Array.”

Chen Qingyang grew curious again. “Doesn’t that mean the Tai Xu Elemental Separation Conference on Sun-piercing Peak also takes forty-nine days?”

“More than that. Far more. It takes a full two months. You should know, the Secret Realm on Sun-piercing Peak is second only to the Bridge of Longevity on Denglai Peak. The opportunities it holds are countless, and after entering, disciples are allowed to search on their own. If you can obtain anything, it’s your own good fortune.”

‘So… the famous Bridge of Longevity is on Denglai Peak.’

At this point, Chao Rui, who had been silent for a long time, chimed in. “Heh, Junior Sister, don’t be ridiculous. What great opportunities are left these days? It’s hard enough to find even a trace of the Five Elements Essence. By talking like that, aren’t you just making Junior Brother Chen’s mouth water?”

The two of them were clearly very close. According to the Tai Xu Sect’s usual hierarchy, the more accomplished person is considered the senior.

Although Chao Rui had joined the sect earlier than Jing Shu, her cultivation surpassed his, so he was supposed to address her as ‘Senior Sister.’ Yet, he still called her ‘Junior Sister’ as he always had, a testament to their close personal relationship.

Jing Shu glared at him. “I’m not being ridiculous. It’s just that *you* can’t find anything. If Junior Brother Chen were to go, he might just find something.”

Her gaze shifted over to him, her eyes brimming with amusement. This unwarranted kindness of hers was starting to put Chen Qingyang on edge.

“Senior Sister, you shouldn’t joke. I’m not a disciple of Sun-piercing Peak, so how could I possibly go?”

Jing Shu said, “You’re not wrong. But you’re gathering so much information, one might think you’re about to go. Is there anything else you’d like to know, Junior Brother?”

Her words made Chen Qingyang a bit awkward. But everyone knew that not even Masters could enter the Sumeru Secret Realm freely, let alone someone like him. He could only treat her words as a joke.

The conversation had reached a point where he had learned the basics of what he wanted to know. The rest, such as how to enter the array and how it operated, were things Chen Qingyang would have to figure out for himself.

After the gathering broke up for the day, he didn’t plan on heading back right away.

“I was once fortunate enough to be allowed into the Five Elements Cave Mansion by Qing Yao True Monarch, and I obtained a great deal of Five Elements Fire. I wonder if this Secret Realm has such a place?”

Jing Shu held up a hand and began counting on her fingers in front of Chen Qingyang. “The Five Elements Cave, the Sword Grinding Cave, the Hundred Beasts Array, Chaotian Temple… and, most importantly, the Tai Hao Qingxu Palace. They’re all in there. Especially Taihao Qingxu, which is related to the very origin of our Tai Xu Sect. What do you think? Don’t you think my Sun-piercing Peak is pretty impressive?”

Chao Rui spoke up again. “Junior Brother, don’t listen to her nonsense. The places exist, yes, but there’s absolutely no way there are that many opportunities left.”

‘That was the honest truth. Ten thousand years had passed; how could there still be so many opportunities waiting for him? This was an era where even Earth Deities were withering away. Heaven and Earth’s Ultimate Treasures could only become rarer.’

“Chatting with you both today has been truly enlightening. I’ve learned more in the past six months than in the decades before. Thank you.”

Chao Rui waved his hand. “It’s nothing. I’m just glad you found it useful, Junior Brother.”

Jing Shu then repeated her earlier question, “Is there anything else you’d like to know, Junior Brother Chen?”

Chen Qingyang shook his head. “No, that’s all. My curiosity has been sated.”

Jing Shu raised her wine cup, gesturing to Chen Qingyang. Chen Qingyang had no choice but to lift his own cup and lightly tap it against hers.

She wasn’t shy about it, bringing the cup to her red lips and taking a delicate sip right in front of him. “Since your questions are answered, Junior Brother, I actually have a favor to ask of you. I wonder if you would be able to help.”

‘So it was true. No one in this world is kind to you for no reason—especially not a beautiful woman with a higher cultivation than yours, acting so gently toward you.’

“Why don’t you tell me about it, Senior Sister!”

Jing Shu gave him a sidelong glance and said, “I heard from Senior Brother that although your cultivation is at the Essence Condensation First Realm, Junior Brother, your foundation is profound, and you’re already a Pill Master at Fulu Workshop. Your future is truly limitless!”

‘Now the flattery begins,’ Chen Qingyang thought. He said, “Senior Sister Jing Shu, there’s no need for such formalities. If I can help you today, you can help me tomorrow. Isn’t that how relationships are built?”

“You’re refreshingly direct, Junior Brother. In that case, I’ll get straight to the point. I wonder if you have access to the True Register Elixir Platform? If so, I’d like to request a Pill Formula.”

‘If this gets out, I’ll be the one held responsible. Since Jing Shu knows so much about Fulu Workshop, she must be aware of that, right?’

“What kind of Pill Formula are you looking for, Senior Sister?”

Sitting across from him, Jing Shu’s body suddenly flashed with a cyan light. Her Qi Mechanism shifted drastically, and her entire being was bathed in the gentle light, making her look as graceful as a saint.

Chen Qingyang re-evaluated his assessment. Her cultivation might even be at the Essence Condensation Ninth Realm.

The cyan light resolved into the image of a great bird, which materialized behind Jing Shu. It looked poised to spread its wings and soar, radiating a spiritual vitality.

On closer inspection, even the finest details of its feathers were perfectly distinct. Its eyes glowed with a white light, filled with divine power. It held a Jade Talisman in its beak, which was also enveloped in white light, giving it the grand bearing of an immortal being.

Back when he had met the Seven Immortals of Peach Valley, Chen Qingyang had already gained some understanding of this Beast Taming Technique.

He had even personally witnessed one of the seven brothers cultivating this path in order to communicate with the Jade Peach Profound Wood.

Currently, the Profound Wood Spirit was still cultivating inside the Jade Peach Incense Burner; he hadn’t yet been able to truly refine it into an Artifact Spirit.

“Your cultivation is incredible, Senior Sister!”

“Thank you for the praise, Junior Brother. As Senior Brother mentioned earlier, I cultivate the Cyan Bird Immortal Talisman technique. This is the Cyan Bird Spirit that resides within me. It is currently on the verge of breaking through from the Eighth to the Ninth Realm, but my cultivation has hit a bottleneck. I later heard that the Cyan Bird was originally a sacred being of Li Mountain and a deity of Yinghai State. It was born on the Green Fall Immortal Wood and was said to feed on the Green Fall Fruit of Eternal Life each day.”