Chapter 167 - 166: Deduction

Chapter 167: Chapter 166: Deduction

In the past few days, the Masters had all left, including that Xuanwei Master, Zhu Qi. Someone else had been left in their place.

The injured disciples had returned to the Immortal Sect to recuperate, and new ones arrived as replacements a few days later. Everything returned to how it was before. Liu Tao went out on her daily mountain patrols, but Demon Sect Disciples were rarely seen.

It seemed as if both sides had truly accepted the Cyan Nether River as a border, leaving each other in peace.

In the small cabin, Liu Tao had left for her mountain patrol early in the morning. Only Chen Qingyang remained. He calculated the days; he could return in another four or five.

[Tai Xu Star Pivot Ziwei Scripture (Starlight Body): 23/6000]

[Available Immortal Seedlings: 4232]

His Astrology Skill had been dormant ever since it entered the second stage of Starlight Body. This whole ordeal made Chen Qingyang realize the importance of the skill.

He would face many more unknowns in the future, and being one step ahead was crucial. He decided to spend all his remaining Immortal Seedlings on it.

Instantly, the Starlight Power within him surged. He guided the Qi Mechanism with his Purple Star True Skill, slowly completing several Circulations before the power was fully absorbed into his body.

It settled within his Dantian Spiritual Sea and his Seven Meridians and Eight Vessels.

Chen Qingyang performed another Astrological Inference with the Power of the Stars. His gaze pierced through layers of clouds and mist, unaffected by the sun’s golden radiance, and he saw the brilliant star that hung directly over the Nine True Mountains.

Though it still hung high in the sky, a closer perception revealed that its teetering, precarious feeling had intensified. ’The matter here is settled. Could it be that the Cyan Nether Sword Embryo is only now about to appear?’

He wanted to discern more details, but unfortunately, his Cultivation was only enough to support that one brief glance. A sharp pain began to throb in the Meridians in his chest.

Chen Qingyang had no choice but to stop. After resting for a good while, he performed another Astrological Inference.

The Star Map he saw in the sky this time still had mixed stars swirling about, but there were far fewer of them. Even the mist he had seen last time had weakened, allowing Chen Qingyang to see things more clearly.

However, the "Mixed Star Demon Qi" was still present, which meant they had not yet reached a point where all truths were revealed. Some matters remained unresolved.

He spent the entire morning engrossed in this inside the cabin. By the time he went out, it was already noon.

The sun hung high in the sky, so high that even the light it cast down felt weak. A layer of coldness shrouded the world. As far as the eye could see, the tree branches were bare, their leaves long since fallen.

Stepping on the ground produced a rustling sound.

The young Daoists of Nine True Temple had been exceptionally busy these past few days, sweeping leaves nonstop. They even had to sweep clean the mountain path outside, which pilgrims used to make Sacrificial Offerings.

Chen Qingyang followed the plank walkway, ascending the steps. He saw that even the Nine Truths Temple Master, Lu Qingyu, was sweeping leaves off the ground at this very moment.

Seeing Chen Qingyang behind him, he waved. "Go on inside and have a seat!"

Chen Qingyang clasped his hands in a salute. "Alright, Senior Brother Lu."

He hadn’t visited him since returning from his last outing. He figured that no matter what, he should at least say goodbye before he left.

Burning charcoal was a task Chen Qingyang was very familiar with. His memories from Four Golden Peaks felt like they were from a long, long time ago—so long that they now seemed a bit foreign.

If all he wanted was to boil water, a single Talisman and a bit of Magical Power would suffice. But that would lack the ambiance of a charcoal fire, not to mention its warmth and the fragrance released as the charcoal burned.

The water boiled, and the tea was brewed.

Lu Qingyu came in from outside, wiped his hands, and sat down again. His posture was like that of an old farmer who had just finished inspecting his "territory."

"Junior Brother, by my count, you should be leaving soon, right?"

Chen Qingyang handed him the tea. "You’re right, Senior Brother. I’ll be heading back in three or four days. I don’t know when we’ll meet again, so I came specifically to bid you farewell."

Lu Qingyu took the cup and drained it in one gulp. "There will be plenty of opportunities. Ordinary people feel that opportunities are rare because the world is too vast, and their lifespans are too short."

"As for you, Junior Brother, your Cultivation is outstanding and your temperament is superb. You have many years ahead of you. Perhaps you’ll even be able to traverse the entire world, no matter how vast."

’I feel like his words are hinting at something.’ "Senior Brother Lu makes a good point. If one had an endless lifespan, then even the world would no longer seem endless."

Lu Qingyu spoke again, "Having witnessed the confrontation between the Daoist and Demon Sects with your own eyes, what have you gained?"

Chen Qingyang shook his head. "I’ve gained nothing, nor have I seen any trace of the Cyan Nether Sword Embryo. The rumors I heard were just a smokescreen put up by the Demon Sect. Perhaps... it’s just as you said, Senior Brother. A mere Mirror Flower Water Moon, nothing but an illusion."

As he spoke, his gaze remained fixed on Lu Qingyu. The Temple Master suddenly burst out laughing. "Yes, yes! Only after you’ve lost everything do you realize that the tea in your hand is the most real thing of all. Since you also covet this item, Junior Brother, I wonder how much you know about it?"

’He must have more to say, asking a question like that.’ To this day, he still couldn’t figure out what this Master Lu’s true intentions were.

"I’m listening?" Chen Qingyang said, phrasing it as a question.

Lu Qingyu said, "The news spread by the Demon Sect claims this item is tied to the fortune of the entire Cyan Nether State. That’s true, but not entirely true. You must understand that the fortune of a state is most closely related to the hearts of its people, not a single treasure."

"They also say that if it falls to the earth, it will sink into the ground and connect with the mountains and rivers, only to re-emerge later. That’s also nonsense. Wherever the Cyan Nether Sword Embryo is, that’s where it will stay. It won’t run off on its own, nor will it use Earth Escape."

"Since the Demon Sect began searching for this item, they’ve practically turned over every inch of the mountains. If it were really there, they would have found it by now."

’The way he’s talking, it sounds like he knows the whereabouts of the Cyan Nether Sword Embryo. But why would he be telling me this?’

Chen Qingyang asked tentatively, "Then, Senior Brother... you know where the item is?"

Unexpectedly, the other man shook his head. "How would I know that? If I knew, I’d have taken it to use for my own Cultivation long ago. Maybe then I could even become a True Monarch in the future." His words carried a hint of self-mockery.

This only made Chen Qingyang more confused. "Then what do you mean, Senior Brother?"

"Haha!" Lu Qingyu laughed heartily again. "It’s just that fate has brought us together, and we enjoy our conversations. I’m just helping you deduce things, step by step. In any case, this item will have an owner eventually. I hope it’s you. You’re a man of sentiment and principle. If I help you, you’ll repay me in the future."

’Sentiment and principle? Where did those three words come from?’

Was it because he knew about his relationship with Liu Tao? But that was just his side of the story. A thought suddenly struck Chen Qingyang: ’This man’s Cultivation isn’t as simple as it appears. It’s highly likely he’s been observing my every move!’

Instantly, a sense of vigilance toward Lu Qingyu rose in his heart.

"Don’t let your mind wander, Junior Brother. I mean you no harm." Perhaps guessing his thoughts, Lu Qingyu added.

Chen Qingyang said, "Please don’t take offense, Senior Brother. My life wasn’t easy back when I was performing Miscellaneous Tasks on Four Golden Peaks, so I developed a habit of being cautious and overthinking things."

Lu Qingyu smiled again. "That’s the right way to be. It keeps you from being schemed against without even knowing it. Now, let me continue helping you deduce: where exactly is the Cyan Nether Sword Embryo?"

Chen Qingyang could only reply, "Please continue, Senior Brother?"

"This item was originally in the Cyan Nether Daoist Monarch’s Cave Mansion. The Daoist Monarch’s legacy was hidden there, which can also be called a Dharma Embryo. Li Qianxue went inside and absorbed it completely. Therefore, her Cultivation shouldn’t be Foundation Establishment as the outside world claims, but rather, she has entered the Life Light realm. This is because the Jade Flute Demon Sect Master who died at her hands was a top-tier Life Light expert."

’I can’t believe he knows so much. It’s as if he sees through the secrets of every person who comes to this Nine True Temple.’

Chen Qingyang nodded lightly in acknowledgment.

Lu Qingyu continued, "Besides the Dharma Embryo, there was another item: the Cyan Nether Sword Embryo. This item was originally in Li Qianxue’s possession. Later, during her battle with the Demon Sect, they placed a Talisman on her, and she fell into a coma. That’s why the Cyan Nether Sword Embryo’s whereabouts became a mystery."

"The Demon Sect believes the item was lost, but that’s merely their assumption. They never actually saw it get lost with their own eyes."

’If I follow his deductions... Li Qianxue is in a coma, and the Demon Sect has no idea if the item was truly lost. Doesn’t that point the finger at the other five Masters from the Tai Xu Sect?’

The speculation was unexpected, yet logical. Although he had heard that the Sect had also conducted a strict investigation of the five Masters, Chen Qingyang had no idea how that investigation was carried out.

"I’m very curious, Senior Brother. How could you, here in Nine True Temple, know the Demon Sect’s thoughts?"

Lu Qingyu said, "To be honest with you, Junior Brother, I have something of an acquaintance with that Master Yu from the Demon Sect. In the Saint True Temple, just across the Great River, there is also a Xuanwei Master—that would be him. It’s just that the Demon Sect doesn’t use the title ’Xuanwei Master’."

"This person often appears in Jiuzhen City. Over time, I got to know him, and that’s how I learned a few things about the Demon Sect. But don’t get the wrong idea, Junior Brother. I never discuss matters of the Daoist and Demon Sects with him, nor would I ever act as a spy. After all..."

Lu Qingyu gave a cynical smile. "Nine True Temple has never been short of spies, with or without me."

Chen Qingyang couldn’t care less if he was a spy; he was only curious about the accuracy of his deductions.

"I understand. Please continue, Senior Brother?"

Lu Qingyu nodded lightly. "The fact that you can understand means you aren’t blindly loyal to the Tai Xu Sect. That’s a good thing. After all, the Dao is one’s own, not the Sect’s."

"Since the Demon Sect never saw it, that only leaves the five Masters. Let’s make a bold speculation: as long as one of those five Masters hid the Sword Embryo and didn’t bring it back to the Sect, it would be incredibly difficult for the Sect to find it, no matter how they investigated."

"Therefore, after investigating for a while, the Tai Xu Sect came to believe the Demon Sect’s rumors. After all, those five are... unfailingly loyal to the Sect. They would never have such a motive."

Chen Qingyang was silent. Lu Qingyu continued, "So, let’s guess again: who was the one who hid it?"

"It’s hard to say about the other Masters, but there is one whose behavior was rather unique. He was the one who insisted that the Sword Embryo was lost, forcing me to send out all my disciples to search for it. The rumor that the Cyan Nether Sword Embryo was lost also came from his mouth first."

’This...’

Chen Qingyang’s heart skipped a beat. ’Isn’t that Master Jing Yuan?’