Chapter 289: Invitation

Shopkeeper Wang was clearly taken aback. ‘He’s in the middle of a big deal,’ he thought, ‘what are you trying to butt in for?’

“This… I don’t think this is appropriate, is it?”

Chen Qingyang waved his hand. “Shopkeeper, what are you saying? Why wouldn’t it be appropriate? We are all fellow sect members. This senior brother is acquiring a new Divine Weapon, so how is it inappropriate for me to offer my congratulations?”

Shopkeeper Wang shook his head frantically. This all made no sense. He couldn’t figure out why Chen Qingyang was insisting on making such a scene.

Just as the two were arguing, a voice drifted down from the second floor. It was slightly old and a little hoarse. “Since this junior brother wishes to view it, why not invite him up?”

Perhaps because he couldn’t believe things could develop this way, Shopkeeper Wang froze again before shooting Chen Qingyang a look. His eyes were clearly saying, ‘Don’t you dare ruin my sale.’

Chen Qingyang patted him on the arm, showing that he understood.

Going up to the second floor, he saw the senior brother from Sun-piercing Peak. He had an aged face and a full head of white hair. He wore a black Long Coat and a pair of black short boots on his feet, which were embroidered with golden thread, giving them a rather noble appearance.

He wore a headpiece of beautiful jade and a pendant at his waist. He was currently bowing to Chen Qingyang in greeting. “May I ask which peak this junior brother is from?”

Chen Qingyang returned the gesture. “Chen Qingyang from Cyan Bamboo Peak, disciple of Master Jing Yuan.”

The old man’s expression changed slightly. “I… I think I’ve heard that name before!”

His gaze roamed over Chen Qingyang, and after taking in his Cultivation level, a hint of shock appeared in his eyes.

After all, Li Qianxue was a famous figure on Sun-piercing Peak. She had a strange middle-aged man by her side who wasn’t even at the Qi Refining realm, and the two even had a childhood marriage contract. It was hard not to hear such gossip.

“Senior Brother is correct. I am that Chen Qingyang. I was fortunate enough to enter Cyan Bamboo Peak to study the Alchemy Dao, and I also serve as a Pill Master at Fulu Workshop. May I ask for Senior Brother’s name?”

The mention of a Pill Master from Fulu Workshop inevitably commanded a degree of respect, much like how ordinary people would view a physician, especially one with a distinguished background.

The old man spoke again, “Chao Rui, a Sword Cultivator from Sun-piercing Peak. Does Junior Brother also understand the Sword?”

He pointed to a Sword Box in which a Treasure Sword lay quietly.

Without touching it, Chen Qingyang walked over for a closer look. The sword was three feet long, with six Dao Rhyme Texts inscribed on it. Its entire body was the color of Bronze, and its blade was engraved with the image of flowing water, making it extremely exquisite.

Perceiving it more carefully, he noted that its Five Elements attribute was Water, and its Sword Qi was dense, carrying the meaning of endless vitality.

“This is a Bone Artifact!”

Chao Rui immediately said, “Junior Brother truly has a discerning eye. I’ve had my eye on this sword for a long time. It took me many years to save up enough Spirit Stones, and today I can finally take it away.”

Chen Qingyang then said, “It seems Senior Brother Chao’s Sword Dao relies on a continuous, majestic Sword Momentum with an ever-present Qi Mechanism. You have quite a unique understanding of the Sword Dao.”

Having been accurately described by Chen Qingyang, Chao Rui looked at him with an added layer of respect in his eyes. “Junior Brother is exactly right. Do you think this sword suits me?”

At that moment, Chen Qingyang opened his palm. The Five Elements Sword shone brightly upon it, dazzling the eye. A Danxia glow bloomed, surging forward like a flame, setting the Sword Qi ablaze.

Even Shopkeeper Wang, who was watching from the side, muttered to himself, wondering when he had obtained so much Five Elements Essence without ever doing business here.

“That’s the Danxia Nourishing Truth Sword Manual, a Dharma Gate of my Sun-piercing Peak!” Chao Rui exclaimed in shock.

This technique was quite well-known on Sun-piercing Peak, which showed that none of the Dharma Gates passed down by Master Jing Yuan were subpar.

“Senior Brother has a good eye. This is indeed the Sword Manual from Sun-piercing Peak. It was personally passed down by my master, so I have cultivated it a little.”

When Chao Rui looked at Chen Qingyang again, his face was filled with envy. “Excellent! Junior Brother’s Sword Dao is truly impressive!”

Chen Qingyang retracted the sword, and the rosy glow instantly faded, returning everything to normal. “As Senior Brother Chao can see, I have some understanding of the Five Elements in the Sword Dao.”

Having said that, he pointed to the Sword Box. “As for this sword…”

Having displayed his skill and revealed his identity, Chen Qingyang had already earned Chao Rui’s trust. “Please, Junior Brother, tell me more!”

Now that he was about to critique the Flying Sword, Shopkeeper Wang’s heart nearly leaped into his throat. He quickly interjected, “Senior Brother Chen, please trouble yourself to give Senior Brother Chao some advice. I’d like to hear it as well!”

As he spoke, he shot another look at Chen Qingyang. The wily merchant was undoubtedly trying to give him a hint.

With a light flick of his finger, he tapped the sword.

Chen Qingyang used a tiny bit of True Power. A faint, light-blue halo spread out like a ripple on water, and a crisp sound echoed endlessly. Just based on its appearance, it was still worth a massive sum of over ten million.

“Senior Brother Chao, please look. This sword’s watery ripples indicate its abundant Five Elements Water. This is the first benefit.”

“Its body is forged from the finest Refined Gold. As the saying goes, metal produces water, and in this case, it’s used to control the water, allowing you to wield it freely. It’s like cutting through water with a drawn blade, or grasping the moon in the water—making the impossible possible. This is the second benefit.”

“When I touched this sword just now, I found its Qi Mechanism to be pure. This is enough to show that the artisans at Gentle Breeze were dedicated. The person who forged this sword left no trace of their Divine Soul on it, making it seem brand new, which is beneficial for its future owner. This is the third benefit.”

…

He fluently listed five or six good points about the sword, making both Shopkeeper Wang and Chao Rui ecstatic. After all, one of them had brought enough money, and the other had the item ready. If the deal didn’t go through, neither of them would be satisfied.

“Haha… Junior Brother, you speak so well! It’s true what they say: you’ve changed so much, one must see you in a new light. The last I heard of you was over twenty years ago. To see you again now, looking like this, so much younger and more handsome… The change is truly immense!”

Despite his words now, if Chen Qingyang hadn’t appeared, he probably would have assumed that old Miscellaneous Task worker was long dead.

“…Junior Brother, if you have the chance, you must come visit Sun-piercing Peak again. After all, it was the beginning of your Immortal Path. I would be glad to fulfill my duties as a host!”

‘I definitely plan on visiting,’ Chen Qingyang thought. ‘Otherwise, I wouldn’t have spent so long talking to you.’

“I heard that Senior Brother prepared this sword for the Tai Xu Elemental Separation Conference. May I ask what day it will be held?” After all this buildup, this was his true purpose.

Chao Rui answered casually, “It should be seven days from now.”

‘Seven days. That’s a good amount of time. Enough for me to prepare.’

The Tai Xu Splitting Essence involved absorbing the Earth Deities from all directions. If he could sneak in, he might be able to get a share of the benefits.

The only problem was that the person presiding over this Grand Array was always a Golden Core True Monarch. If he stood out even a little, he would be easily discovered. ‘It’d be great if that True Monarch had gone off to be reincarnated.’

Jade Gold, Cheng Tian, Qing Yao, and that one female Daoist—out of the eleven True Monarchs in the Tai Xu Sect, four were guarding something. The odds of the others going off to be reincarnated were probably higher.

Chen Qingyang said flatteringly, “Then I must congratulate Senior Brother on being able to meet a Golden Core True Monarch soon. It’s rather shameful to say, but despite being here for so long, I still don’t know who the True Monarch of Sun-piercing Peak is.”

Chao Rui said, “That’s normal. After all, the junior brother you were before is vastly different from the one you are now. The Sun-piercing Peak Master is Pei Cangwu, and his title is Sun-piercing True Monarch. As for meeting him, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait another three to five years.”

‘So he really is gone?’

Chen Qingyang showed a look of confusion. “Senior Brother, why is that?”

Chao Rui explained, “The Sun-piercing True Monarch has gone to the Bridge of Longevity to comprehend the Great Dao. In another three to five years, when a full cycle of sixty years is complete, he should be able to return.”

‘Excellent. It’s like my wishes are coming true.’ Apart from that True Dragon, everything else seemed to be going much more smoothly lately.

Chen Qingyang feigned a casual chat. “I once witnessed the Essence Splitting conference on Cyan Bamboo Peak, which was personally presided over by Qing Yao True Monarch. I wonder what happens when there is no True Monarch available?”

Chao Rui smiled and explained patiently to Chen Qingyang, “Naturally, Master Life Light will preside. After all, it only happens once every three years, and the various Masters cannot go without their Earth Deities.”

“That makes sense, Senior Brother. I wonder which Master Life Light it is? And what are his methods like?”

Suddenly faced with so many questions, Chao Rui was unable to answer any of them and could only shake his head in embarrassment. “I’m really not good at socializing. If it were my other senior brothers, they would surely know. If Junior Brother wants to learn about these things, why not come visit me at Sun-piercing Peak?”

It was a casual, polite invitation, but who would have thought Chen Qingyang would take it seriously? He directly took an elixir out from his sleeve; it was a Tier Four Dongming Upper Mansion Pill. “I’m not sure if this elixir will be of use to Senior Brother. Please take it as a meeting gift. I will definitely pay a visit in a few days.”

Needless to say, he could definitely use it, because Chen Qingyang had seen that his Cultivation was at the Essence Condensation Six Realms.

“Ah! I can’t possibly accept this…”

Chao Rui obviously knew how precious this elixir was. Joy flashed in his eyes, but his hands continued to make a weak show of refusal.

Chen Qingyang granted his wish and pushed it into his robes. This fellow wasn’t as unsociable as he claimed; at the very least, he could tell a good thing when he saw one.

“Aiya… Such a generous gift… then it would be disrespectful of me to refuse!”

As the two of them went through the motions of refusal and pleasantries, Shopkeeper Wang watched from the side with an envious look on his face.

‘Senior Brother Chen gives away an elixir worth thousands of Spirit Stones just like that. Surely he’ll be able to pay back that measly ten-million-stone debt on time, right?’

As the saying goes, ‘Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will never be defeated.’ It was just some elixirs, not worth mentioning. If he could grasp every detail before sneaking into the Secret Realm, it would be well worth it.

By doing this, Chen Qingyang could also gain some peace of mind.

“Senior Brother Chao, there’s no need to be so polite. Let’s set a date for three days from now. I will come to visit, and I will be sure to bring a gift. If it’s convenient for Senior Brother Chao, you could also invite one or two other senior brothers to be present. We can drink tea and discuss the Dao.”

Chao Rui immediately nodded in agreement. “Good, good, good! I will be sure to host you warmly. Junior Brother, you must come. If you don’t, I’ll come looking for you!”

…

Finally, Chao Rui left with his beloved Flying Sword.

Shopkeeper Wang, meanwhile, arranged for a group of people to count the ten million Spirit Stones. When he had settled these matters, he found Chen Qingyang still standing in the same spot. “Senior Brother Chen, is there something else you wanted to say?”

Chen Qingyang spoke slowly, “I did you such a big favor today. Shouldn’t you show some appreciation? You have to understand, without me, this Flying Sword wouldn’t have sold so easily!”

Being in business, when a major client made a request, one had to make a gesture, no matter what. “Of course, of course. I see that Senior Brother isn’t lacking in elixirs or anything of the sort. I have a catty of the finest Spirit Tea here. I’ll go pack it up for you right now!”

Chen Qingyang shook his head. “I don’t like to drink tea.”

Knowing this man was full of clever schemes, Shopkeeper Wang grew a little worried. “Then… why don’t you just tell me what you want, Senior Brother Chen?”

“The Star Meteor Powder you gave me last time was excellent for use in pills. How about you give me another two or three taels?”

Hearing this made Shopkeeper Wang’s heart skip a beat. ‘What kind of poison is he using that’s so potent he’s already used up two taels so quickly?’ He wanted to refuse, but then he remembered that Chen Qingyang had never sold any elixirs to him, so he relaxed.

“No problem, no problem at all. I see that Senior Brother has so many elixirs on hand. Why haven’t you come to do business with me?”

Chen Qingyang gave a wry smile. “Next time. Definitely next time.”

Shopkeeper Wang didn’t know whether to believe him or not. He simply nodded and went to prepare the Star Meteor Powder, quickly handing it to Chen Qingyang.

He hadn’t used any of the powder he had taken back before. He was saving it all up, to see if it might come in handy for something big in the future.

“Many thanks!”

He accepted it with a Universe in the Sleeve technique and exited the bamboo building.

Universe in the Sleeve. In reality, the “universe” wasn’t in his sleeve at all, but in his stomach. As for why it came out of his sleeve, Chen Qingyang figured it was so that no one could tell whether you truly possessed a Universe in the Sleeve or just a simple storage bag.

Returning to his small courtyard, he put away the Star Meteor Powder. He was just about to refine a batch of pills for his trip to Sun-piercing Peak in a few days.