Chapter 169 - 168: Firefly

Chapter 169: Chapter 168: Firefly

The moment they made contact.

A flash of insight struck Chen Qingyang’s mind. His consciousness plunged into boundless darkness, as if being inexorably drawn in. He wanted to struggle, but it was no use.

Just as unease began to stir in his heart, a faint glow drifted over from the distance. Like a firefly in the night, it was the only light he could see.

It slowly approached, revealing a cyan mass encircled by a faint golden halo.

While he was still baffled, the small point of light suddenly exploded. Countless vortexes seemed to appear before him, pulling him deep within.

The vortexes then formed into countless lines that swam and flowed before his eyes.

Chen Qingyang immersed himself in the sight. After watching for a long time, he gradually understood that the lines formed the Seven Meridians and Eight Vessels of a human body, and the points of light flowing within them must be the workings of a Dharma Gate.

’Could this be the Cyan Nether Daoist Monarch’s Sword Dao?’

As it continued to operate, the lines gradually coalesced into the faint image of a person. As it grew clearer, he saw that it was himself.

Within this phantom, two masses of cyan aura condensed at the locations of the Dantian and the Spiritual Sea—the positions of the Sword Embryos.

From this aura, a Qi Mechanism slowly flowed out and circulated through the phantom.

Only then did Chen Qingyang realize that his meridians, Dantian, Spiritual Sea, and even his Sword Intent were all undergoing a transformation.

Immersed in this space, he seemed to lose all sense of time’s passage. It felt both slow and fast, all within the span of a single thought. Only the changes occurring within his body gave any measure to time...

Slowly, Chen Qingyang opened his eyes.

There was something new in his mind, yet he couldn’t seem to recall it. The Dharma Gate demonstrated by the phantom was exceptionally complex. Perhaps he would only be able to comprehend it after his Cultivation reached a certain realm.

Maybe when he reached Foundation Establishment, or perhaps even higher. In any case, it would be a very, very long time.

He checked the small golden characters again. As expected, there was nothing there.

Under Introspection, however, the two masses of cyan aura remained. Both his Three Acupoint Qi Vortex and the True Qi circulating through his body were now tinged with a layer of cyan.

This was the power of the Sword Embryos. He would need to slowly refine and absorb it.

Chen Qingyang extended a hand. A foot-long Silver and Cyan Sword Qi materialized in his palm, shaped like a Sharp Sword and emanating a powerful Qi Mechanism. Influenced by the Sword Qi, even the surrounding air grew sharp and piercing.

With a light wave of his hand, the Sword Qi instantly vanished into the cave wall, piercing deep into the stone. While one couldn’t say the difference between this Sword Qi and the Danxia Nourishing Truth Sword Manual was as great as that between clouds and mud, there was at least a hundredfold gap.

The Cyan Nether Daoist Monarch... a single Cave Mansion of his could influence the fate of an entire state. It sounded like the greatest opportunity in all of the Cyan Nether State, and now, it was his.

Although it didn’t directly increase Chen Qingyang’s Cultivation, it had completely transformed his Sword Dao. And as his Cultivation level rose, its power would become more and more pronounced.

By now, Master Lu was nowhere to be seen in the cave. Unsure how long he had been delayed, Chen Qingyang walked out to find the Apricot Forest under a brilliant, starry sky.

He didn’t head further up the mountain. Instead, he faced the summit, clasped his hands, and bowed before returning to his small courtyard.

In the room, Liu Tao was meditating.

Her earnest expression, illuminated by the candlelight, was rather adorable.

Chen Qingyang didn’t disturb her, sitting quietly behind the table and drinking tea. After a short while, Liu Tao opened her eyes.

"You’re back!"

The abrupt statement left him baffled. "Senior Sister, what do you mean?"

"If Senior Brother Lu hadn’t come to tell me, I would’ve thought something had happened to you. It’s been a whole month! Your fortuitous encounter must have been significant!"

’Senior Brother Lu told her everything. This isn’t good. The more she knows, the more karmic ties she’ll be entangled in.’

He didn’t want Liu Tao to get involved in so many things.

"What did Senior Brother Lu tell you?"

"Just that you were strolling on the mountain with him the other day when you suddenly had an epiphany and started meditating on the spot. He told me to wait for you patiently."

’I see. He kept it a secret after all.’

Chen Qingyang nodded lightly. "That’s right. I just didn’t expect to be delayed for so long and affect our return journey."

Liu Tao looked unconcerned. "It’s fine. We’d just be meditating if we went back anyway. Here, we don’t have to patrol the mountain, and I can even..."

She covered her mouth and giggled. "...get to spend more time with you."

’This...’

’One of us was here, the other was over there, and we haven’t seen each other for a month. How does that count as spending more time together?’

’Oh, well. If she says we spent more time together, then we did.’

"Senior Sister, let’s head back tomorrow, then. I originally said I’d be back in the third month, but now it’s been delayed until well into the fourth. I’m afraid the few miscellaneous task workers in my courtyard are getting anxious."

Liu Tao said, "All you can think about are those miscellaneous task workers in your courtyard. Don’t tell me there’s some pretty little girl in there who’s stolen your heart."

Thinking about it, Hong’Er was indeed quite pretty. And then there was Liu Tao’s mortal enemy, Xu Baoling. She still didn’t know that Xu Baoling was alive.

"What pretty little girl? It’s just those two boys you’ve already met. Senior Sister, if you’re free, you can come visit Cyan Bamboo Peak. You’re always welcome."

Hearing this, Liu Tao shook her head like a pellet drum. "I’m not going."

He had invited her before, and she always gave the same answer. Chen Qingyang couldn’t figure out what she really meant.

"Alright, I’ll listen to you, Senior Sister. We can talk about it whenever you feel like visiting. I think we should head back tomorrow morning. We still have to refine the elixirs for your master, or we won’t be able to deliver them on time!"

At this, Liu Tao’s demeanor became very gentle. "Then you should rest up. Once you’re well-rested, we’ll set off."

...

When he opened his eyes again, Liu Tao had already packed everything and was just waiting for him to be ready to leave.

As they were leaving Nine True Temple, Chen Qingyang wanted to bid farewell to Master Lu, but a temple disciple told him that Master Lu had left the day before, leaving behind a single message: "Everything ends in time."

They first descended to Jiuzhen City and settled the bill at the inn. Chen Qingyang slung the bundle onto his back, and Liu Tao asked curiously, "What’s in there?"

Chen Qingyang replied, "Just some Magical Treasures I picked up. Some might be useful, some might not."

After a moment of silence, Liu Tao gave him a thumbs-up. "You’re really incredible. No wonder your Cultivation is improving so quickly!"

He had expected her to pepper him with questions, but she dismissed it with that single sentence.

Afterward, they retraced their steps, rushing along the way. It was the evening of the thirteenth day before they plunged back into the mountains of the Tai Xu Sect.

Today, the Four Golden Peaks were once again covered in snow. Looking up, everything was draped in a silvery-white mantle.

On the Golden Summit, Chen Qingyang and Liu Tao sat and said their goodbyes.

Her gaze was full of reluctance. "After this parting, who knows when we’ll meet again."

Chen Qingyang said, "Cyan Bamboo Peak isn’t far, Senior Sister. Why say such things?"

Liu Tao shook her head gently, her gaze drifting to the vast expanse of snow. "No, you don’t understand. I’m at the Essence Condensation Third Realm now. The next time we meet, you might be at the fourth, fifth, or sixth realm. After that, the seventh, eighth, or ninth, and then you might even be a Foundation Establishment Master."

"In the future... one day, when I see you, I’ll have to clasp my hands and bow first, addressing you as Master Qingyang... By then, you will be like a god in a temple to me, and I... I will be nothing more than a worshipper!"

Her words were logical and painfully realistic. All relationships were defined by strength. The tightest bond wasn’t kinship, but most likely, mutual benefit.

Chen Qingyang once again recalled the care Liu Tao had shown him. It was more than just saving his life.

"Senior Sister, I’ll say it again: if you’re ever in trouble in the future, no matter how many rivers and mountains separate us, I will come for you."

Liu Tao’s eyes warmed, and her smile became exceedingly gentle. "I believe you. But I’m talking about everyday matters. Life isn’t full of vast rivers and mountains to cross; it’s mostly just simple meals. One day, you and I will be different. That’s a certainty. Even if you don’t change, I won’t be able to help but look up to you."

Chen Qingyang didn’t know what to say and simply stood there in silence for a while.

Liu Tao was the first to leave. He then returned to Cyan Bamboo Peak.

There were many troubling things on his mind, and the thoughts from a moment ago were quickly washed away.

He thought about his own master and what hidden motives he might have. He also recalled that before he left Cyan Bamboo Peak, Xu Wuji, a disciple from Water Moon, had come to visit. That matter was not yet concluded.

Then there was the Separation Huo Dragon Pearl in his possession. The longer he used it, the more he discovered its miraculous properties, and the more he understood that Lu Jinzhang would not let the matter rest.

Most importantly, there was still Li Qianxue, waiting for his elixir to be awakened. All in all, he had a lot on his plate.

As soon as he entered Cyan Bamboo Peak, the feeling of spring washed over him.

Everything in sight was a vibrant green, with a light drizzle falling and a hint of moisture in the air. In the distance, he could see the shimmering glow of the Star Disc, marking the location of his small courtyard.

He remembered that when he left, the other cottage hadn’t been finished. Now, it was lit with candlelight, meaning someone had probably moved in. The only thing missing was a Pill Furnace.

Fortunately, this trip had been fruitful. He should be able to trade for a Pill Furnace at Gentle Breeze.

Chen Qingyang walked in quietly, not alerting the others. Only Xu Baoling, who was cultivating on the altar, sensed his presence.

Her beautiful eyes opened, revealing a hint of surprise. "Master, you’re finally back!"

Her Jade Foot stepped through the air, and in a few moments, she was before Chen Qingyang. His gaze landed on her, and perhaps out of shyness, Xu Baoling lowered her head.

"Master..." she called out softly.

"Your Cultivation has grown a bit. Once I’ve properly studied that elixir, I’ll strive to help you break through to Essence Condensation in the shortest time possible."

’So he was looking at my cultivation.’ Thinking of her previous thoughts, Xu Baoling lowered her head even further. "Yes."

"Did anything happen during the days I was away?"

Xu Baoling said softly, "Reporting to Master, Xu Wuji did indeed come by once. Fortunately, Kong Yuan stepped in and stopped him. After that, nothing else happened. Everything is as it was."

Chen Qingyang sat down on a cushion. This place still felt the most familiar. In a way, this small courtyard was his first home in the Tai Xu Sect.

"Good. I’ve been traveling for days and need to rest for a while. If there’s anything else, we can talk about it tomorrow."

He activated the Danxia Nurturing Truth Sword Manual. The mouthful of Spiritual Qi he drew in was incredibly pure, a veritable feast compared to what was available at the Nine True Temple.

The two masses of cyan aura in his Dantian Spiritual Sea were also stirred, pouring into his Meridians...