‘Alright, so without worldly memories, one is truly untainted by the mortal coil.’
“That’s what makes it so rare… You have not seen the mortal world, yet you understand its suffering!”
The Master gazed out the window, his thoughts unreadable.
Dust Root Purification, True Essence Convergence, Qi Mansion Abundance, Dao Foundation Established, Spirit Breath Unification, Heaven-Treading Aspect, Profound Light Concealed, Dharma Body Solidification, Mortal Transformation Birth.
These are the Nine Realms of a Foundation Establishment Master!
…
[Nanming Red Emperor’s Celestial Burning and Sea Boiling Daoist Truth: (77,146/120,000)]
‘Not bad. It’s increased by nearly 2,000.’
‘At this rate, I should be able to break through to the next realm in two or three years.’
The mist was thick and heavy, obscuring the light.
At the end of the valley, two large, damp Daqing Stones sat, their color as deep as ink. A clear pool gathered beneath them, from which a stream flowed out of the valley.
Next to the Daqing Stones, a small courtyard had been erected. It had two main sections and a second floor.
Entering through the main gate, there were side rooms on either side. In the center stood a two-story pavilion. A side door on the pavilion’s east side led further in to a three-story pavilion that was situated in the north, facing south.
The inner courtyard had no other buildings. At its center was a flowerbed, and next to it, a pond. A stream of water was diverted into it from the outside before flowing out again, and several Golden Carp were being raised within.
The outer area was the residence for the three of them, while the inner area was Senior Brother Chen’s Dao Field.
Within this three-story pavilion, the first floor was for Alchemy and storing ingredients. The second floor was filled with bookshelves for future scriptures, and Xu Baoling usually stayed here. The third floor had been turned into a quiet room for Senior Brother Chen to meditate and cultivate, and it also served as his living quarters.
The plot of land wasn’t small, and the construction was neat and orderly. A circle of thin bamboo was planted around the outside of the main gate, creating an atmosphere not so different from the small courtyard back on Cyan Bamboo Peak.
In front of this small courtyard, a flagstone path stretched out. Two or three acres of Spirit Fields had been cleared and were currently being farmed. Farther out, plenty more land remained available for cultivation.
Behind the small courtyard was a small vegetable patch, also tended to by Zhang Ping.
At this moment, all five of them landed in the courtyard. They watched as Chen Qingyang refined the Array Building into the surroundings, then performed a Sacrificial Refinement on the Star Disc, suspending it above the three-story building like a Bright Mirror hanging from the roof.
Immediately, starlight began to manifest. The other four didn’t know what was changing, but Chen Qingyang could clearly see the Power of the Stars from the Nine Luminaries Star Formation in the sky being drawn into the Array.
This was an evolution he had derived himself from the Array True Understanding. It absorbed Spiritual Qi much faster and could also shield against the prying of Celestial Secrets to a certain degree. He had this idea for a while, and only now had he managed to accomplish it.
With their new home complete, everyone cheered.
“Let’s credit Zhang Ping with a great contribution. Let me think… what should I give you?”
But Zhang Ping said, “There’s no need, Senior Brother. I just like doing this kind of work. I’d be upset if anyone tried to take it from me.”
“Alright, alright. I can’t think of anything for now either. In the future, I’ll see if I can find an elixir for you that will let you step into Qi Refining all at once.”
Of course, Zhang Ping was delighted. Seeing everyone around him already at the Qi Refining realm, how could he not be anxious? Besides, Chen Qingyang had passed down a Dharma Gate, allowing even Hong’Er and Li Sheng to use Wind Control.
They could now fly thirty feet high and travel for dozens of miles, which was enough to make anyone envious.
“Thank you, Senior Brother! I can’t wait to cultivate the method of the Mountain and River Daoist Lord. My Spirit Field needs me!”
Everyone laughed again.
“You know, if Senior Brother Chen can reach Foundation Establishment soon, we can all become his disciples and children. We’d be perfectly happy here in the Tai Xu Sect.” Hong’Er always liked to say things like this. She had experienced hardship elsewhere and knew how good Chen Qingyang was to them.
She would rather perform Miscellaneous Tasks here than be a disciple somewhere else.
“Yeah, yeah!”
…
The group started chatting again.
After they dispersed, Chen Qingyang returned to the pavilion, refined a batch of elixirs, and headed toward Four Golden Peaks.
He had given the Green Fall Elixir of Longevity to Jing Shu long ago. If she needed more, she would come find him. ‘She probably hasn’t finished it yet.’
This time, he had packed Earth Root Biochemical Pills into his Universe in the Sleeve. ‘Liu Tao’s cultivation must be about to break through, too.’
Passing the mountainside of Four Golden Peaks, he thought about the small courtyard he had lived in for nearly seven years. He felt a certain attachment to it, so he decided to land and take another look. However, he saw a young man standing at the door. He had a First Realm of Qi Refining cultivation, held a Duster, and was dressed as a Child.
Seeing someone like Chen Qingyang arrive, the young man hastily bowed with his hands clasped. “Excuse me, Senior Brother, where has this residence’s master, Senior Brother Chen, gone?”
“Are you talking about Chen Qingyang?”
The Child came to his senses. “Could it be that you are Senior Brother Chen Qingyang?”
“I am.”
The Child spoke again, “Senior Brother Chen, I am a Fengyu Child from the Du Shi Hall. I am here today specifically to inform you, Senior Brother Chen, that the Sect orders you to report to Xuanwei Master at the Upper Purity Temple on Nandang Mountain in the Da Li Kingdom within one month to await assignment. This is the Sect Token.”
He handed over a Jade Token with both hands. It contained a Qi Mechanism. The front was engraved with the four characters for “Tai Xu Righteous Dao,” and the back had a dragon and tiger pattern.
Chen Qingyang had seen a token like this before. The last time Liu Tao was sent out of the Sect on a mission, she had held one. After refinement, it could be used for communication. ‘A place like Four Golden Peaks probably mass-produces them every year.’
“Thank you. Did they say what the assignment is?”
The Child replied, “As for what you will be doing, that will all be at the discretion of Xuanwei Master. The tasks will be assigned according to your cultivation. Since you, Senior Brother, are an esteemed Inner Sect Second Realm cultivator, you will be given tasks appropriate for the Second Realm.”
‘He sure knows how to talk.’ Chen Qingyang tossed him a Qi Refining Pill. “A small token, just to help you with your cultivation. From what you know, what kind of place is this Da Li Kingdom, and what is it near?”
The Child was a practical person. He accepted the elixir and immediately replied, “The Da Li Kingdom is to the southeast of our Sect. Within the kingdom, there is an Immortal Mansion called the Ningzhen Immortal Mansion. As far as I know, although there is no Golden Core True Monarch, there is a Master Life Light.”
“Further southeast of the Da Li Kingdom is the territory of the Six Sects of Cyan Nether State. You should know, Senior Brother, that each of these sects has at least one Golden Core True Monarch, some more than others.”
‘If I hadn’t spent that elixir, I really wouldn’t have learned any of this.’
Chen Qingyang asked again, “So what do people usually have to do there, and for how long?”
“Usually three to six months. Although it’s on the edge of our Daoist Sect Territory, nothing ever really happens there. It’s much better than the borders near the Demon Sects or north of Dragon City.”
‘It seems my Eldest Senior Brother was right. Master’s reputation still carries some weight; they didn’t assign me any troublesome errands.’
“Thanks. One last question: how long does it take to get there?”
The Child pondered for a moment. “It’s seventy thousand li away. Senior Brother, you can travel ten thousand li a day, so you should be able to arrive in seven days.”
Chen Qingyang thanked him again.
The Tai Xu Sect’s Du Shi Hall held the same status as the Law Enforcement Hall. One was responsible for the Sect’s internal laws and regulations, while the other handled external affairs. A Fengyu Child was a type of miscellaneous task disciple who specialized in relaying messages.
Although this young Child’s cultivation was far beneath his own, he was, after all, part of this institution and knew much more than he did. It was quite a coincidence to have run into him; otherwise, who knows where the Child would have had to search for him.
After the Child left, Chen Qingyang continued toward Four Golden Peaks and landed inside the Pill Institute, where he saw Liu Tao.
She was performing Alchemy today, so he waited for a little while.
“…You haven’t come by in over half a year. I was afraid you’d forgotten all about me. What, you finally have some free time today and remembered that I exist?”
Her tone held a hint of complaint, as if she were lightly pouting.
“Senior Sister, I’ve just been busy…”
Liu Tao feigned annoyance. “Busy? So busy you couldn’t even spare a single hour? Then tell me, what exactly have you been busy with?” Seeing how neatly dressed Chen Qingyang was, she became even more curious about who was by his side.
‘I absolutely cannot tell her. Whether it’s Xu Baoling or Yun Ci, I can’t mention either of their names.’
Chen Qingyang didn’t answer right away, instead laying out the elixirs. “Senior Sister, take these fifteen elixirs. I’ve received an order from the Sect. After today, I’m afraid we won’t see each other for another half a year. I hope that by then, your cultivation will have broken through.”