Chapter 185 - 184: Spirit Stone

A radiant glow washed over him as Sword Qi surged.

A luster emanated from the point between Chen Qingyang's eyebrows, pulsing rhythmically with his every breath.

At times, his Qingming Sword Qi would manifest, passing through Mingtang Hall and over the Earth Root, traversing the two seas to reach the Jiang Palace. It would then converge into the profound, generating Essence that reached his Divine Soul, before finally expelling all impurities into the world.

Such was the nature of cultivation. With every advancement in his Cultivation, the flow of his Qi Mechanism would gain a new path. The Cultivators of old observed the sun, moon, and stars, the transformations of heaven and earth, and manifested the Great Dao within their own bodies.

Two consecutive days of meditation left Chen Qingyang feeling exceptionally refreshed. Long Sheng's death had also left him with 1,239 Immortal Seedlings, which he was now saving, waiting for the right moment to push his Cultivation to the next level in one go.

He exhaled and withdrew his energy.

With a thought, Chen Qingyang sent Yu'Er drifting slowly toward Peach Immortal Valley. He was exceedingly cautious, advancing one careful step at a time.

Ever since witnessing Long Sheng's death through Stealing Immortal, he hadn't dared to probe this area again. 'Two days have passed. Surely Master Water Moon has left by now.'

As expected, there was no sign of activity.

From a distance, he saw the great peach tree. It was withering, and the ground was blanketed in a layer of fallen pink blossoms. This land, once a ten-li stretch of spring-breeze peach blossoms, was now revealing withered branches and signs of decay.

In the thatched hut, Chen Qingyang saw the Six Immortals of Peach Valley. They were all meditating diligently behind closed doors, seemingly oblivious to the withering peach tree outside.

Seeing no immediate changes, Chen Qingyang had his Conscious Fish perch on a rock. More than ten consecutive hours passed, yet the six of them didn't move.

'I've never seen them so devoted to seeking the Dao.'

Although Chen Qingyang hadn't seen what transpired, he could guess. With the peach tree ruined, the Six Immortals of Peach Valley were now no different from ordinary disciples in the eyes of the Master.

Having witnessed Long Sheng's execution, they must have been terrified. Their only hope now was to focus on their Cultivation; otherwise, their future would be even more miserable.

As for Master Water Moon's judgment on the matter, Chen Qingyang had no way of knowing, nor did he have any intention of investigating. It was best to act as if it never happened.

As he drew closer to the peach tree, Chen Qingyang suddenly felt a faint warmth in his chest. It was the Artifact Soul within his Jade Peach Incense Burner that was stirring.

'Considering the Wood Spirit Qi it contains and its color, it really shouldn't be called the Profound Wood Incense Burner. Jade Peach is its new name.'

He took the burner from his robes and released the Soul Artifact. A tiny, green-clad girl floated toward the peach tree. After circling it a few times, she plunged headfirst into its trunk.

Chen Qingyang could feel the girl roaming within the tree. The section of Jade Peach Profound Wood that once glowed green now looked like ordinary wood. The girl landed on it, stroking it for a moment with a dazed expression before flying back into the Incense Burner.

'She must have sensed a familiarity with this place, but that's all. The Jade Peach Profound Wood is worthless now.'

On its way back, the Conscious Fish made a detour past Tian Jingzhao's Cave Mansion. The same Miscellaneous Task disciples were there, but the residence had a new master.

'Just as Tian Jingzhao said, he's probably far from Cyan Bamboo Peak by now, serving as a Steward. His path on the Great Dao ends here. Still, compared to Long Sheng, at least he got a peaceful end.'

「A few days later, at Fulu Workshop outside Cyan Bamboo Peak.」

Chen Qingyang arrived again with a basket on his back. Inside the Commander's Lower Palace, he saw the same Senior Brother Liu.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Liu!" Chen Qingyang said, bowing respectfully.

Senior Brother Liu's given name was Han Qing. According to Chen Qingyang's fourth senior brother, Han Qing had only broken through to the Half-Step Foundation Establishment Realm last year, after which he took charge of the Commander's Lower Palace. Before that, he had served as a Guardian Envoy alongside Fourth Senior Brother, which was why they were on good terms.

His fourth senior brother, in turn, was at the Essence Condensation Ninth Realm, just shy of reaching the Half-Step Foundation Establishment stage.

Seeing Chen Qingyang put down his basket, Senior Brother Liu said, "I see you didn't go to the Jin Kingdom. I assume you've prepared the elixirs?"

Chen Qingyang placed all the elixirs on the table. "Forty-eight Tier Four Earth Root Rejuvenation Pills. Every single one is here."

Senior Brother Liu didn't bother picking one up, merely giving them a sideways glance. "Very good. It seems Ji Rang's worries were unnecessary. You've done well!"

Chen Qingyang spoke again, "Thank you for your support, Senior Brother Liu. I'd like to ask, how are Tier Five Earth Root Life Transformation Pills priced in Spirit Stones?"

"Without the support of Essence Condensation True Power, that elixir is extremely difficult to refine. Don't tell me your Cultivation is about to break through?"

Chen Qingyang replied, "I'm just one step away."

'I'll announce my breakthrough to the Inner Sect level at the Elemental Separation Conference in a few months. Once I'm an official Inner Sect Disciple, things will be much more convenient.'

'This rate of cultivation is fast, but not as dazzlingly so as Li Qianxue. If I slow down gradually after this, I shouldn't attract any more unwanted attention.'

Senior Brother Liu's expression showed he understood. "I see. For Tier Five Elixirs, we'll pay three thousand five hundred Spirit Stones per pill. Thirty a month will be sufficient."

'At that rate, it's over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones a month. In fifty months, I'll have the five million saved up. That's a truly massive sum.'

"Understood. What task will I be assigned for next month?"

Senior Brother Liu's attitude was now quite friendly. "What we at Fulu Workshop lack most is elixirs. You must understand, they are indispensable for the Cultivation of disciples below Foundation Establishment. Just keep supplying elixirs at this rate. If you ever want a break, I can find you an external assignment to let you relax a little."

'Hundreds of thousands of disciples all want to advance their Cultivation. How could they possibly do without elixirs? For something like the Earth Root Biochemical Pill, the more you take, the faster you break through. This is one of the great advantages of being a Pill Master: while other disciples spend a fortune on this path, Pill Masters are the ones making it.'

Chen Qingyang bowed with cupped fists again. "Many thanks, Senior Brother Liu."

Afterward, a Daoist Child led Chen Qingyang to the area behind the Commander's Lower Palace. Many buildings stood there, each serving as an elixir storehouse. Entry required passing through a tightly-secured protective Array.

Here, a specialist inspected Chen Qingyang's elixirs one by one. After confirming there were no issues, they did a detailed accounting for him.

"Junior Brother, the total comes to 115,200. Would you like to keep this on account, or take it with you now? If you take it, we can exchange it for one hundred and one Top Grade Spirit Stones."

Chen Qingyang thought for a moment. "Keep it on account."

When he left, he held a new Jade Talisman. It contained a wisp of Qi Mechanism—the unique mark of Fulu Workshop—upon which was inscribed the string of numbers representing his balance.

Afterward, Chen Qingyang didn't return to Cyan Bamboo Peak. Instead, he made his way to the Four Golden Peaks, heading straight for Liu Tao's residence on the Golden Summit.

This time, Liu Tao was in the middle of secluded meditation. Though not an Inner Sect Disciple, she still resided in the Pill Institute and had never considered finding a prime location in the Zhengxin Institute to establish her own Dao Field.

She had no Miscellaneous Task disciples to attend to her, and just as when Chen Qingyang first met her, she was completely alone.

To outsiders, Liu Tao had always seemed like a recluse.

Hearing her door being pushed open, Liu Tao's eyelids twitched. She didn't open them immediately, waiting a long moment before finally exhaling and glancing over. "In all the world, there's no one who treats my home as their own quite like you do!"

Chen Qingyang was already seated at the round table sipping tea, his posture just as she'd described. "Heh, I'm just glad you aren't complaining that I'm late this time, Senior Sister!"

Liu Tao rose and swayed over to him, shooting him a charmingly fierce sidelong glance. "Hmph. What good would complaining do? You're a prestigious disciple of Cyan Bamboo Peak now. How could I possibly dare to complain to you!"

After speaking, she put on a dramatic show and gave Chen Qingyang a graceful curtsy. "In fact, I should be the one bowing to you!"

Chen Qingyang sat up straight and proper, raising a hand in a grandiose gesture. "Then you may rise."

"Hehe!" Liu Tao laughed and sat down across from him. "I imagine before long, I'll actually have to greet you like this whenever we meet!"

But there was a hint of sorrow in her tone.

Hearing this, Chen Qingyang immediately took out the ten elixirs he had prepared. "In that case, Senior Sister, you must focus on raising your Cultivation. I can promise you this: in the future, I'll make sure you have more than enough elixirs."

"This..." Liu Tao stared in astonishment, looking from the elixirs in her palm to Chen Qingyang and back again. "This Earth Root Biochemical Pill... is it Tier Five?"

Now that he had Immortal Seedlings, and his own breakthrough with the Biochemical Pill was just a hair's breadth away, refining these was a simple matter. He wouldn't dare give these elixirs to anyone else, but he could trust Liu Tao with them.

"You..." Seeing Chen Qingyang's affirmation, Liu Tao's eyes reddened. She had found herself easily moved to tears over the past year or two.

"Why are you so good to me? These elixirs must be incredibly difficult to refine, right?" she asked after a long, dazed pause.

Chen Qingyang said, "I'll never forget your kindness to me, Senior Sister. I hope to see the day you step into the Foundation Establishment Realm."

Though moved, Liu Tao's expression also held a flicker of disappointment. "Of course. A person like you, whose heart is as devoted to the Dao as my own Master's... how could you be bothered with anything else? Senior Sister is very grateful, I truly am!"

With that, she pressed the elixirs to her chest. Perhaps she squeezed too hard, as the magnificent softness indented, and her thin, form-fitting robes outlined their full contour.

Next, Chen Qingyang took out one of the Qiankun Mirrors. "This is from our trip to Nine True Mountain. I've spent days and nights using my Mingtang True Fire to sacrificially refine it. It can now be considered a Protective Magical Artifact. Carry it with you, Senior Sister. It might just save your life at a critical moment!"

Of course, Liu Tao remembered the item. She also remembered Chen Qingyang's promise. She took the Copper Mirror and held it close as well.

She hugged it tightly, as if it were a living thing, carefully trying to feel its aura.

"You actually remembered everything you promised. In my eyes, no one in the entire Tai Xu Sect is as loyal and true as you. Senior Sister will listen to you. I'll focus on my Cultivation so that one day, I can keep up with your pace!"

Chen Qingyang nodded gravely. "That's the right way to think."

…

After leaving the Four Golden Peaks, he headed back toward Cyan Bamboo Peak.

There were only four months until the Tai Xu Elemental Separation Conference. Chen Qingyang planned to spend them in seclusion. Besides Alchemy and Cultivation, everything else could wait until after he became an Inner Sect Disciple.