Novel Full Chapter 158: Misfortune Never Comes Alone
Li Hanzhou.
That name sounded somewhat familiar.
Chen Yan’s mind raced, searching through his memories for the figure and face corresponding to that name.
Then, Chen Yan locked onto a fragment of his memory.
Two years ago, Taiyun City, Cloud Prince Manor.
The education manager for Yuanhua Mountain disciple Qian Xun, Li Hanzhou.
Though the heavens and earth are vast, sometimes this world can be surprisingly small.
…
The next day.
Qingchan Peak, Scripture Hall.
“Observe the emptiness of form, hear the emptiness of sound, sense the emptiness of rhythm, comprehend the emptiness of the Dao, like the ceaseless flow of mountains and rivers…”
Chen Yan stood in a corner of the Scripture Hall, looking at the thin-faced young man sitting on the meditation cushion at the scripture lecturing platform.
He couldn’t help but feel a moment of daze.
How long had it been since he last came to listen to Lu Li’s scripture lectures?
If counting only the time in this current reality, it was probably close to five years.
But if all the time from every cycle of reincarnation was stacked together, it was over a hundred years.
The exact amount of time, Chen Yan couldn’t clearly remember either.
“Forging the body to gather qi, circulating qi to form a spring, springs surging to converge into a sea.”
“Qi is blazing fire, Kongshan murmurs softly, heaven and earth clear and congealing…”
Listening to Lu Li’s scripture lecture, Chen Yan tried to put himself back into the role of that former outer sect disciple.
However, he didn’t feel any stirring of the world’s spiritual energy.
Chen Yan simply smiled.
The disciples sitting in the Qingchan Peak Scripture Hall were naturally all inner disciples of Qingchan Peak.
The Kongshan Sect robes they wore differed from those of other peaks in the light-colored cloud patterns at the hem of the robes.
Just like when Lu Li was in the outer court back then, his scripture lectures at Qingchan Peak were also deeply popular among the Qingchan Peak disciples.
“That’s all for today. You may all leave on your own.”
After about another half an hour passed, Lu Li, sitting upright on his cushion, said calmly.
“Thank you, Instructor Lu!”
The Qingchan Peak disciples in the Scripture Hall stood up and bowed to Lu Li in thanks, then left the hall in an orderly manner.
Among these disciples, some clearly noticed the handsome young man standing in the corner of the Scripture Hall, wearing the Kongyuan Mountain gilded cloud crane pattern robe.
Some Qingchan Peak disciples who didn’t recognize Chen Yan naturally cast more curious glances in his direction, wondering why a Kongyuan Mountain disciple was standing in the Qingchan Peak Scripture Hall.
Until their scrutinizing gazes fell upon the two tokens at Chen Yan’s waist.
One was engraved with “Kongyuan Chief Disciple.”
The other was engraved with “Kongshan Imperial Law Court.”
Then, these Qingchan Peak disciples’ minds suddenly went “buzz.”
“Ch-Chief Disciple Chen, greetings!”
“Chief Disciple Chen!”
The Qingchan Peak disciples passing by the Scripture Hall entrance all bowed respectfully and admiringly towards Chen Yan, greeting him.
Chen Yan simply nodded with a smile, saying nothing.
Half an incense stick’s time later, only two people remained in the Scripture Hall: Chen Yan standing in the corner and Lu Li sitting on his cushion.
The Scripture Hall fell silent again for a few breaths.
Then Lu Li rose from his cushion, bent at the waist and bowed towards Chen Yan, saying respectfully:
“Lu Li, instructor of Qingchan Peak Scripture Hall, pays his respects to Chief Disciple Chen!”
“Instructor Lu is being too polite.”
Chen Yan said with a smile:
“Back when I was still in the outer court, I often went to listen to Instructor Lu’s scripture lectures. If we’re being honest, you’re still my teacher.”
“I dare not claim that title.”
Lu Li’s voice remained as flat and calm as ever.
Even though he was bowing to Chen Yan with respectful attitude, it didn’t give any sense of groveling subservience.
“Also, two years ago in Taiyun City, I received much care from Instructor Lu.”
Chen Yan said, then paused briefly:
“It’s just a pity, Junior Sister Qin, she…”
“Each person has their own destiny, Chief Disciple Chen need not dwell on it too much.”
Lu Li said, then asked:
“Might I ask what important business brings Chief Disciple Chen here specifically this time?”
Chen Yan opened his mouth, then seemed to suddenly think of something and swallowed back what he originally intended to say.
Then, he spoke again:
“Instructor Lu, what’s the shortest time you’ve heard of for someone to break through from the Body Forging Realm to the Qi Circulation Realm?”
“Half a year.”
Lu Li answered:
“A record set by the sect’s current Sect Leader, Yun Yichen… that is, Chief Disciple Chen’s grandmaster.”
“What if there was someone even faster?”
Chen Yan asked again.
“Chief Disciple Chen means…”
“Fifteen days, or even shorter.”
Lu Li fell silent for a moment, then said:
“Chief Disciple Chen jests.”
“What if such a person truly existed?”
Chen Yan said:
“What would Instructor Lu do?”
“Forgive my bluntness, but if such a person truly existed, I would suspect it might be some kind of ominous sign.”
Lu Li said.
“Instructor Lu means, a Cause of Calamity?”
Chen Yan said with a smile.
“Yes.”
Lu Li answered.
“I still remember, back at Cloud Prince Manor, Instructor Lu also suspected that Yuanhua Mountain disciple who was traveling with us was a Cause of Calamity.”
Chen Yan added.
“Correct, I did indeed have such suspicions back then.”
Lu Li said.
“I wonder how he’s doing now.”
Saying this, Chen Yan paused slightly:
“Instructor Lu, how about coming with me to Yuanhua Mountain to see him?”
…
Kongyuan Mountain, Alchemy Hall.
A middle-aged cultivator wearing a loose crane-feather cloak, looking about forty or fifty years old, sat before an alchemy furnace and spat to the side:
“Damn it, why is this pill so hard to refine?”
Lin Qifeng didn’t know alchemy.
He had never cultivated pill arts in his life, yet Yun Yichen still tossed the position of Alchemy Hall Elder to him.
“Elder Lin.”
Just then, a cautious voice of a young Alchemy Hall disciple suddenly came from behind Lin Qifeng.
“Hmm?”
Lin Qifeng turned his head with considerable impatience.
“A disciple from Mingxiao Peak requests an audience outside the Alchemy Hall.”
The young Alchemy Hall disciple felt a slight shock in his heart, then said somewhat haltingly.
“A disciple from Mingxiao Peak?”
Lin Qifeng asked.
“Yes, they also brought a cart of goods, saying… saying it’s Chief Disciple Chen’s filial offering to you, Elder.”
“Oh?”
Hearing this, Lin Qifeng immediately became interested.
He stood up, pushed the young Alchemy Hall disciple into the alchemy chamber, and pointed toward the furnace:
“You watch this batch of pills for me. I’ll be right back.”
“Ah?”
The young Alchemy Hall disciple immediately panicked:
“E-Elder Lin, this disciple is only a Qi Circulation Realm cultivator! If the alchemical fire goes out of control, this disciple’s true qi won’t be able to suppress it!”
“I’ll be right back!”
Lin Qifeng completely ignored the young disciple’s concerns and strode straight out of the Alchemy Hall.
This was something Chen Yan was giving him!
You must understand, in Lin Qifeng’s mind, Chen Yan was a living, breathing reincarnation of a great Immortal Ascension Realm power!
Especially after that day at Heavenly Summit Mountain, when spiritual energy burst from Chen Yan’s fingertip, Lin Qifeng became even more convinced of this speculation.
A reward from a great Immortal Ascension Realm power, how could this be anything ordinary?
Whenever Lin Qifeng remembered that box of Soul Ice Needles he gave Chen Yan back in the outer court, he couldn’t help but feel ashamed and embarrassed.
In high spirits, Lin Qifeng arrived at the Alchemy Hall entrance and walked smilingly toward the two Mingxiao Peak disciples and the cart of goods covered with black cloth behind them.
“Is this what my disciple said he was offering to me?”
Lin Qifeng asked the two Mingxiao Peak disciples.
“Yes…”
Before the Mingxiao Peak disciples could finish answering, Lin Qifeng yanked off the black cloth in front of him, then his pupils contracted and his brain short-circuited slightly.
Why so many spirit stones?
Quickly, Lin Qifeng realized what was going on.
Damn it, coming to me to launder your ill-gotten gains?
Just then, a loud explosion suddenly came from the Alchemy Hall behind Lin Qifeng.
“Elder~”
A figure flew out from a window.
Lin Qifeng looked up, watching the young disciple’s figure fly into the distance, then slapped his forehead:
Oh no, the alchemy furnace exploded!