Chapter 186 - 185: Child

The biting wind howled through stacks of withered wood.

Cyan Bamboo Peak was like spring all year round, but beyond its borders, the colors of autumn had long since deepened, and the harshness of winter was imminent.

The trees and plants of the mountain forests were sparse, with only a few withered yellow or vibrant red leaves clinging to their branches. A sudden gust of wind swept through, and a few more fell.

Chen Qingyang delivered his Elixirs at Fulu Workshop and continued toward the Four Golden Peaks. He passed the Golden Summit without stopping, heading straight for Zhengxin Institute.

He still had fifty Elixirs on him; it was time to report to Master Yun Ci.

'Back then, my Cultivation was low, and refining Elixirs wasn't as easy as it is now. Two hundred Tier Four Yang Replacement Powders a year truly felt like a deliberate hardship. Now that it has been switched to these Earth Root Biochemical Pills, and after four months at Fulu Workshop, fifty Elixirs a year is no trouble at all.'

'I even feel like Master Yun Ci is cold on the outside but warm on the inside; she could even be considered merciful. But she's not entirely in the right, either. After all, Xu Baoling was the one who tried to kill me. I was just defending myself.'

Today, he had also heard from his Fourth Senior Brother that the Tai Xu Elemental Separation Conference of Cyan Bamboo Peak would be held in three days. His master would surely summon all the disciples, so he was told not to leave the Sect lightly. After settling things with Master Yun Ci, all Chen Qingyang had left to do was wait patiently.

"Oh, it's Senior Brother Chen. Please wait a moment while I go inform my master!"

The Master's Dao Field wasn't enhanced by any Arrays. There was only a formidable four-story building standing here, subject to the changes of the heavens, earth, Sun and Moon, and the four seasons, without any protective Array.

When Chen Qingyang stood at the entrance, the one who opened the door was Qingfeng, the same person as last time. Today, he was again dressed in a long azure robe, his long hair gathered back with extreme neatness. His face had a youthful air, and his whole demeanor was gentle yet resolute.

He nodded lightly to the other boy. "Thank you for your trouble, Junior Brother."

On his back was a bamboo basket, personally crafted by Zhang Ping, where he always stored his Elixirs when he went out.

"Senior Brother Chen, please come in!" Before long, Qingfeng returned and invited Chen Qingyang inside. However, they didn't go to the fourth floor, stopping on the second instead.

"I must trouble Senior Brother Chen to wait here for a little while. My master is at a critical point in her closed-door cultivation and cannot conveniently meet with guests at the moment."

'The previous two times I came at night. I specifically chose to come in the morning this time, but I didn't expect I'd still have to wait.' He could only say to Qingfeng, "Thank you for your trouble, Junior Brother!"

After that, Qingfeng brought him some tea. He drank it while he waited. In this place, Chen Qingyang didn't dare to meditate and cultivate; no matter how bored he was, he had no choice but to sit there stiffly.

Only when the sun had set behind the western mountains and the world had grown dark was he led to the fourth floor. 'If I'd known, I would have just waited until night to come.'

The Master was sitting there with her back to him.

Her snow-white clothes seemed to emit a soft glow. The long hair at her temples was slightly disheveled, and the skin behind her ears was fair and smooth. Her body seemed petite beneath the wide Daoist Robe. Her arms hung naturally at her sides, her head was slightly bowed, and she was as serene as a jade statue.

Though her back was to him, Chen Qingyang's attitude remained respectful. "Cyan Bamboo Peak disciple Chen Qingyang pays his respects to the Master!"

The Master first raised her hands, extending her slender, jade-like hands from within her wide sleeves, and then stretched her legs.

Barefoot, she walked over slowly.

Like an Immortal from the heavens, or a figure that had flown out of a mural, her face was exquisite, and her pair of Phoenix Eyes held a divine quality.

"What have you been up to lately?" The Master's frown held a hint of cuteness.

Every time she saw Chen Qingyang, she seemed to express this same confusion. "I'm not sure what the Master is referring to?"

The Master said directly, "Either you've done something to disperse that Qi Mechanism, or you've used some method to conceal it."

'I remember the Master saying she cultivates the Ice Skin Jade Bone Technique, a technique of extreme cold. That's why she's so sensitive to the Conscious Fish in my body, which was modified by a True Dragon.'

'Now she's asking what method I used to hide the Li Yang Earth Fire. Thinking it over, the only thing I can conclude is that the Qi Mechanism from the Cyan Nether Sword Embryo in my body must be stronger, temporarily suppressing the Li Yang Earth Fire.'

"This disciple is slow-witted and still doesn't understand what the Master means." He had used the same excuse to brush her off last time, and the Master hadn't pursued it.

This time, however, she said, "You claim it's the Li Yang Earth Fire, but I don't believe that for a second. You also said it was because of the Separation Dragon Assembly. Perhaps some change occurred inside you that you didn't perceive. It seems I'll have to go see the next Separation Dragon Assembly for myself!"

The Master seemed to be talking to herself. Chen Qingyang didn't know how to respond, so he just waited quietly by the side.

The Master glanced over and asked, "The Separation Huo Dragon Pearl is still in your possession, correct? The next Separation Dragon Assembly is in a few years. I assume you'll be there?"

Chen Qingyang nodded. "I should be."

"Mm," The Master seemed to have made up her mind. "Alright then. I'll go see for myself just what changes have happened to you. I won't count the Elixirs. Just leave them there..."

With that said, she sat down again and began to meditate, lost in her own world.

The candlelight here was already dim, and now, it seemed the only source of light was the Master's back.

'At the Separation Dragon Pill Institute, all the Stewards are Pill Masters. I wonder what method she'll use to squeeze her way in. Even if she gets in, how could she possibly detect the True Dragon's presence? After all, the True Dragon even managed to deceive that Golden Core True Monarch from the Pill Institute.'

"Yes."

After putting the items down, Chen Qingyang went to the third floor, where Qingfeng was waiting. Qingfeng then escorted him all the way outside the building.

'This time, she didn't mention having me stay the night. That must mean the previous two invitations weren't just for courtesy's sake, but a method of observing me in secret.'

「A moment later, he entered Cyan Bamboo Peak.」

He meditated peacefully just like that until dawn. By the time he opened his eyes, it was already bright outside.

He had just settled onto his meditation cushion and composed himself when Hong'Er came in. "Senior Brother Chen, a Child who claims to be from Master Jing Yuan has arrived. He says you are to go out and welcome him!"

"Welcome him!" Hong'Er frowned at those two words. Even Chen Qingyang felt a little uncomfortable. After all, when Master Jing Yuan himself had visited last time, he hadn't put on such airs.

"Alright, I understand."

Chen Qingyang calmly changed his clothes and put on his shoes. When he reached the door, he saw a Child dressed in green. He looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old but possessed a cultivation at the Qi Refining Ninth Realm, and his face was etched with impatience.

"You're Chen Qingyang?"

A Child, in the end, was not a disciple. His status was inherently lower than Chen Qingyang's, yet he was showing such impatience. His intentions were clearly malicious.

Chen Qingyang didn't get angry with him, calmly replying, "That's right. I am Chen Qingyang."

The Child looked him up and down, even releasing a tendril of his Qi Mechanism to probe him. Afterward, his expression turned slightly astonished. "You... Why can't I sense your Qi Mechanism... Are you... not in the Qi Refining Realm?"

He looked from side to side before finally blurting out the question. The other party wasn't as easy to handle as he had imagined, which surprised him a little.

'I see it now. This Child dares to look down on me simply because he thinks my cultivation is only at the Qi Refining Realm.'

He sneered. "What my cultivation level is, do I need to report that to you? Since when did you become my master? If you were capable of being my master, I would have to inform Master Jing Yuan about it."

"You..." Hearing the word "Master," the Child indeed showed a trace of fear. His tone shifted as he said, "I really can't understand how someone with my master's reputation could accept you as a disciple."

From this brief exchange, Chen Qingyang had already formed a judgment about him.

'My low cultivation is one thing. But more importantly, this Child, with a cultivation at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Realm, has been with Master Jing Yuan for a long time, yet he's still just a Child. Seeing that I was accepted as a disciple under exceptional circumstances, he must have long been filled with jealousy. On top of being made to wait today, it's no wonder he's so angry.'

Having figured this out, Chen Qingyang said even more leisurely, "You can't figure it out, but... I think I can."

The Child was curious and naturally had to ask, "Hmph, you think you can figure it out? You received a favor from Master Liu. What other reason could there be?"

Chen Qingyang took two steps back and sat down at the stone table and chairs under the Locust Tree. He raised his head and looked at the boy with a smile. "My master is always extremely strict when accepting disciples, especially forbidding entry to those of poor character. I can figure it out. Although your cultivation is decent, your character is truly lacking!"

The Child was thin with a pointy chin, giving him a sour and mean appearance. At this moment, he was so angry that he could only point a finger at Chen Qingyang, unable to utter a word for a long moment. "Nonsense... sharp-tongued... I'll report to my master that your character is poor..."

Chen Qingyang, however, looked completely unfazed. "Suit yourself. But before you go back to report, you should tell me the real reason you're here. You didn't come here for no reason, did you?"

The Child seemed to have just remembered why he was here. "Tomorrow at 7:00 AM, report to the master's Dao Field. If you're brave enough, you'd better not go."

After hearing this, Chen Qingyang frowned. "Are you sure it's 7:00 AM?"

The Child seemed to snap back to his senses. "Heh. No matter how incompetent I might be, I wouldn't dare mess with official business. The message has been delivered. Whether you go or not is up to you."

With that, he rode a gust of wind straight into the sky, disappearing from sight in an instant.

'What was all that about? I just opened my eyes and collected myself, and then this whole scene happens.'

'I suddenly remember why Master Jing Yuan didn't allow anyone from his faction to contact me at first. As the saying goes, it's easy to meet the King of Hell, but the minor demons are hard to deal with. Back then, my cultivation was only at the Seventh Realm of Qi Refining, and Master Jing Yuan probably has quite a few Childs like this one under his command.'

'Judging from this point alone, and the fact that he passed down a Cultivation Technique to me, the Master has treated me very well. But I just can't understand why he would hide the Cyan Nether Sword Embryo.'

'He clearly has the Sword Embryo in his possession, so why does he have to create this elaborate deception?'

Having dismissed the visitor right at the doorway, Chen Qingyang started walking back inside. Hong'Er asked, "Senior Brother Chen, I noticed that Master's Child has a really high cultivation. Is he even stronger than Tian Jingzhao and her group?"

Chen Qingyang answered her, "Your intuition was correct."

Hong'Er asked again, "Then why did he leave after just a little while?"

"It means our conversation wasn't exactly harmonious."

She then added, "Then... what did you talk about?"

Chen Qingyang glared at her. "You can chase after him and ask."

The only thing left for Hong'Er was his back.