Stealing Immortal
Chapter 39 - 38: One Sword

Chapter 39: Chapter 38: One Sword

The next day.

Chen Qingyang took out his Hongling Token again, but there was still no sign of Wu Boyou.

He even made a point of asking around. Not even the other Outer Disciples who worked with Wu Boyou had seen him in two days; it was as if he had vanished into thin air.

But it was no matter.

He had never been one to waste mental energy on matters that didn’t concern him, so after completing his daily Dao Rhyme Text, he headed up the mountain again.

Inside the Golden Summit.

Liu Tao’s Alchemy Room.

As he pushed the door open, a wave of warmth washed over him, carrying the faint scent of Immortal Grass, but Liu Tao was nowhere to be seen.

’That’s right,’ he thought. ’I’m too early. Liu Tao went to see Master Yun Ci for information, so she must not be back yet.’

Sitting behind the round table, Chen Qingyang picked up a cup of tea. Just as he brought it to his lips, he saw Liu Tao storm in. Her frantic, fiery entrance made it obvious she was seething.

Chen Qingyang didn’t question her, simply pouring her a cup as well.

"How is this possible!" Liu Tao took the cup and downed it in a single gulp. "Hmph. If it was just about his aptitude, I could accept it. But with Qi Xiuyuan’s temperament, how could he possibly have survived the Nine Deaths Treasure Mirror..."

Her words trailed off as she suddenly thought of something. "Do you think... could it have been Master who helped him in secret?"

Although Chen Qingyang had seen Qi Xiuyuan being tormented, he hadn’t been able to tell if Master Yun Ci had helped. "Whether she helped or not, what difference does it make? Why don’t you tell me the details?"

WHAM!

Not noticing the placidness in Chen Qingyang’s tone, the short-tempered Liu Tao slammed her palm on the long table.

"Hmph, what more is there to say? I just got the news that Qi Xiuyuan made it through. That attendant was even snickering, saying that Qi Xiuyuan will be able to hold his head high in front of Master from now on, and that he’ll definitely step into the Realm of Essence Condensation. He even said that one day... Hmph! His Cultivation will surpass mine! What a pipe dream!"

Liu Tao’s face was flushed with rage, but her tone inevitably betrayed some worry.

In Chen Qingyang’s eyes, everything she was talking about was a problem for the future. ’What’s the situation right now? What should we do? None of that is clear yet, is it?’

"I was asking, Senior Sister, what is Qi Xiuyuan doing right now?"

Liu Tao continued, "The attendant said it himself. Though he pulled through, his Primordial Energy was damaged, so he needs to go into seclusion again to recuperate. I asked for exactly how long, but the attendant didn’t give a specific date... But I’m smart; I specifically asked how badly Qi Xiuyuan was hurt. Based on that, I’d judge he’ll be in seclusion for one or two months."

Hearing this, Chen Qingyang actually breathed a sigh of relief.

’Haste makes waste, as they say. The more you can slow down an urgent matter, the more likely you are to find a solution. By the time he’s out, maybe I’ll have reached the Seventh Realm of Qi Refining myself. Then I’ll have the power to protect myself when I face him.’

"I think you should go into seclusion too, Senior Sister. As long as you can make your breakthrough before Qi Xiuyuan emerges, it’ll be uncertain who carries more weight in Master Yun Ci’s eyes."

Hearing this, Liu Tao nodded gravely. "Yes, I was thinking the same thing. Then I’ll be able to protect you, too. I’ll prepare the necessary ingredients beforehand... Oh, Junior Brother, your Qi-Introducing Pills are vital for me. You must put your all into it!"

"Don’t worry, Senior Sister." Then Chen Qingyang asked, "Once you break through, you won’t need Qi-Introducing Pills anymore, right?"

This was a very important point for him.

Liu Tao didn’t catch the hidden meaning in his words. She just said, "That’s right. At that point, Warm Sun Pills will be enough, and I can refine that Elixir myself. You can take a breather and focus on your Cultivation, Junior Brother. When I become the Chief Steward in the future, I’ll get you the formula for Yang Replacement Powder. With your talent, studying it to reach Tier Four shouldn’t be a big problem."

She paused for a moment, as if thinking of something else. "This year’s Elixir competition is a lost cause, for sure. Big deal, you’ll just have to wait a few more years. Anyway, I don’t see much of a difference between being 120 and 130. You’re just an old geezer either way, hehe..."

As she poked fun at Chen Qingyang, Liu Tao cackled like a hen.

An old one.

Seeing that she was as straightforward as ever, Chen Qingyang relaxed. "Thank you for looking out for me, Senior Sister."

"It’s nothing. My breakthrough relies on you, after all!"

"Right. I’m going to start Alchemy now."

...

He started on this batch of elixirs in the morning and worked straight through to the evening. Two Tier Three Qi-Introducing Pills had just been freshly refined when they landed in Liu Tao’s hands.

She was now a person who heard nothing of the outside world, her mind singularly focused on achieving a breakthrough.

She pulled a curtain to partition off a small area, sat down on a meditation cushion, and became completely still. Occasionally, gentle breezes would stir around her; this was the process of absorbing Spiritual Qi.

Just outside the curtain, she had remembered to place a Jade Box, instructing Chen Qingyang to simply deposit the refined elixirs there each day and not to disturb her for any other reason.

’It’s a shame my control isn’t steady enough and Immortal Seedlings are so scarce,’ Chen Qingyang thought. ’Otherwise, I’d really like to try producing three elixirs from a single furnace.’

By the time he headed down the mountain, the snowstorm had ceased.

The sky, a profound, deep blue, slowly unfurled into a breathtaking tapestry of stars.

Just as he was speeding along using the Wind Control Skill, he suddenly saw a figure appear ahead. He quickly withdrew the Technique and pretended to be walking down the mountain.

Before he was even close, he saw that the person was dressed in black and had a very familiar build. Looking more carefully, he realized it was Wu Boyou, who had been missing for three days.

’Why is he here?’

’There’s no need to be in such a hurry to get an Elixir,’ Chen Qingyang thought, confused.

"Excuse me, are you Senior Brother Wu?"

Hearing his voice, the man turned around.

His complexion was dark, and though his fat face squeezed out a smile, a vicious glint was hidden in his eyes.

By now, Chen Qingyang’s senses were so sharp that he immediately felt Wu Boyou’s killing intent.

’Was the Poison Pill discovered?’

’That seems unlikely.’

’After all, even a Pill Master like Xu Baoling hadn’t been able to see through it.’

While he was mulling it over, the man spoke slowly, "You owe me an Elixir, and I couldn’t find you, so I had no choice but to wait here. Now, give it to me!"

His voice was strained with anger, sounding all the more unsettling in the dark night.

Upon hearing this, Chen Qingyang didn’t move. He just asked, "I had it on me the last two days, but I couldn’t find any trace of you, Senior Brother. Did something happen?"

Wu Boyou’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. "Heh heh. I just went to confirm something—something very important. And now, I’ve confirmed it. It turns out the reason my Cultivation is at its current level is all because someone has been poisoning me!"

Chen Qingyang was shocked. ’How did he find out?’

’Could someone have tipped him off?’

’Who could it be?’

’The worst-case scenario is that it was discovered by Wu Boyou’s master, a Foundation Establishment Master.’

"Senior Brother Wu, I don’t quite understand what you mean."

Wu Boyou finally lost his patience, his expression shifting abruptly. "Hmph, you still don’t get it? And after I thought you were so important! All this time, you were dead set on harming me. If not for that Gong Yueshu’s warning, I’d still be kept in the dark!"

He had so casually blurted out the name of his informant that Chen Qingyang, paradoxically, breathed a sigh of relief.

’That woman really is as clever as she is ruthless!’

’First, she was responsible for Lü Yunshen’s death. Then, after seeing me bribe Wu Boyou to get Xu Yong kicked off the mountain, she followed the trail straight to Wu Boyou.’

’But how did she know Wu Boyou was being poisoned, especially when the dose was so minuscule?’

"I don’t suppose this Gong Yueshu is your master, Senior Brother Wu? Or maybe a senior sister?"

Wu Boyou shook his head. "Neither. She’s just a Miscellaneous Task disciple, that’s all. One who happens to know a few methods for detecting poisons."

Chen Qingyang’s eyes widened in realization. "Then... you just believed her word so easily, Senior Brother Wu? You and I haven’t known each other for just a day or two, have we?"

"Hmph! I’ll tell you after you’re dead!"

As soon as the words were out, Wu Boyou charged toward Chen Qingyang, intent on killing him.

He had wanted to ask more about how Gong Yueshu had discovered the poison, but his opponent was no longer giving him the chance.

Chen Qingyang didn’t hesitate either. He immediately executed Void Step Introduction and sprinted toward a more secluded area.

Having waited all this time, how could Wu Boyou let him go now? He naturally gave chase with all his might.

Both used the Wind Control Skill, and they quickly covered several miles.

Chen Qingyang’s Cultivation was a cut above his, so he moved with ease. Even as he fled, he could keep his awareness focused behind him, tracking Wu Boyou’s movements.

Killing an Outer Disciple was no small matter; it had to be done in complete secrecy.

Besides, he also needed to verify if Gong Yueshu was hiding in the shadows. At their speed, anyone trying to keep up would inevitably expose themselves.

After a long while, the area grew more and more remote, and he was able to confirm that Wu Boyou had come alone.

"Senior Brother Wu, watch out!"

As his voice faded, Chen Qingyang reversed his course and counter-attacked with a speed that was beyond Wu Boyou’s imagination.

He formed a Sword Point with his right hand, and a sharp glint of light bloomed at its tip.

It flashed silver, then burst apart.

"You..."

Wu Boyou’s face went pale with shock as Chen Qingyang’s Sword Point shot forward like a rainbow and plunged directly into the center of his forehead.

Instantly, fresh blood gushed forth from a wound the size of a baby’s fist.

The move was exceptionally ruthless; not only did it destroy his body’s life force, but it also left his Divine Soul with no chance to escape.

His eyes bulged open for the last time, and then he was utterly and completely dead.

Such was the power of that one sword strike.

At the same time, an image of the man’s face appeared in Chen Qingyang’s mind. This time, he had obtained 348 wisps of Immortal Seedling.

He had thought he would be obtaining Immortal Seedlings by killing Gong Yueshu, but he never expected it would be from Wu Boyou. An Outer Disciple had died, which was sure to enrage the Sect. The slightest misstep now would lead to endless trouble.

Leaving the corpse where it fell, without even cremating it, Chen Qingyang’s mind was already racing, contemplating his next move.