Chapter 172 - 171: Fortuitous Opportunity

Chapter 172: Chapter 171: Fortuitous Opportunity

Following the path Hu Sheng had pointed out, Chen Qingyang made his way up. He passed a waterfall and, sure enough, saw the building suspended from the cliff face.

It was gray-green in color, with glazed tiles on the roof. A plank walkway and connected bridge were built above the waterfall, and on both sides of the bridge grew strange flowers and exotic fruits, lending it an air of Immortal Qi.

He stepped onto the White Jade Steps, and after a few more paces, he saw the entrance. The gate was also built to be extremely impressive.

’I’ve only met this Senior Brother once, and my impression of him was just that of a slightly plump, amiable fellow. Seeing how luxurious this Dao Field is today, he must be someone who loves ostentatious displays.’

Chen Qingyang stood at the entrance and struck the Beast Ring. A moment later, a youth walked out. He wore white robes, a Jade Crown on his head, and held a Duster in his hand, dressed as a Child.

"May I ask where Senior Brother has come from?" Every move he made was well-mannered; he had clearly been well-trained. ℯℯ𝘭.

"I am from under Master Jing Yuan, here to pay a special visit to Senior Brother Xu Wuji."

Though the Child’s face still bore a smile, a cold glint appeared in his eyes. "Senior Brother has been busy with secluded cultivation recently and is not seeing outside guests. Please forgive me."

His tone was now icy cold, a complete change from a moment ago. ’It seems Xu Wuji’s hostility toward Master Jing Yuan’s lineage is quite significant. Even this little Daoist Child knows to send me away.’

Chen Qingyang said, "My name is Chen Qingyang. I am here today on important business. If it’s delayed, you won’t be able to bear the blame when Senior Brother Xu finds fault. You’d best inform him."

The Child sized him up again, as if he had heard the name before. "Senior Brother, please wait a moment."

’I don’t know if he’s trying to put me in my place or what,’ Chen Qingyang thought as he stood at the entrance, waiting for a while.

He wasn’t angry, though. ’If I can’t see Senior Brother Xu today, then I won’t find out how he plans to deal with me, let alone how to steal the Immortal Seedling.’

’Now that my cultivation has grown, I don’t have to be as timid as before. As for the Immortal Seedling, I’ll take it if I can.’

"Senior Brother Chen, Senior Brother Xu invites you in!"

’He really is trying to put me in my place.’ Even when Chen Qingyang entered, the Child led him on a long, winding tour through the twisting and turning Dao Field.

Numerous Miscellaneous Task workers walked to and fro, and there was even a number of Qi Refining Cultivators among them. Many treasures were also displayed in the courtyard; some were for decoration, while others looked like Arrays, put there for visitors to see and to show off the master’s wealth.

Though called a courtyard, it was built into the mountain, covering a vast area. Between the mountains and waters, everything was exquisitely carved.

Finally, under a locust tree, beside a set of stone tables and chairs, Chen Qingyang saw Xu Wuji, his face still a mask of amiability.

Today, he had deliberately worn Vermilion and Purple Attire, adding an air of dignified luxury to his bearing. The difference between inner and outer sect was instantly apparent, creating a gap between him and Chen Qingyang.

"Ah, Junior Brother Chen, I truly didn’t expect you to come. How was the tea I sent you last time?"

He gestured for Chen Qingyang to take a seat.

Chen Qingyang replied, "The tea was excellent. I heard Senior Brother was looking for me, but unfortunately, I was tied up with various matters. I came to visit you as soon as I was free today."

As he spoke, he sat down, but he did not drink the tea the other man offered.

Xu Wuji’s eyes swept over him, taking this in. "I wonder what worldly matters have kept Junior Brother so busy? Care to tell me about them?"

He only knew that Chen Qingyang wasn’t on Cyan Bamboo Peak, but he didn’t know what he had been doing. Not just him—even among all the Inner Sect Disciples at the Nine True Temple back then, not all of them had necessarily seen Chen Qingyang in person.

Chen Qingyang deliberately created an air of mystery and didn’t tell him. "It was just a trivial matter, not worth mentioning to Senior Brother Xu. The reason I’ve come today is to ask why Senior Brother was looking for me."

Seeing that the other party was completely intractable, even the patient Xu Wuji couldn’t help but reveal a trace of anger. ’In his eyes, the other man was just a lowly Qi Cultivation practitioner.’

"It seems you truly fear nothing. But then again, a fledgling like you wouldn’t know how fearsome a tiger can be."

Chen Qingyang didn’t respond to this, simply waiting for him to explain himself.

Understanding the silent demand, Xu Wuji could only state his purpose directly. "The reason I sought you out, Junior Brother, is that I have a great opportunity for you. It’s a massive opportunity, and only you are capable of accepting it."

His tone was laced with a hint of condescension, as if bestowing a great favor. ’In his mind, just speaking a few more words to this lowly Qi Cultivation practitioner was a blessing for the other man.’

An opportunity!

But Chen Qingyang only heard one word: ’scheme’. ’Does this man really think I’d see a trap and just walk right into it?’

Chen Qingyang asked, "And what kind of opportunity is Senior Brother referring to?"

Seeing him take the bait, Xu Wuji finally smiled. "I am aware that Junior Brother Chen has a promising future in the Alchemy Dao. I also know that since joining Master Jing Yuan’s sect, you haven’t been highly regarded and have had to rely on yourself for matters both big and small."

"On the path of cultivation, one lacks many things. You need Merit, you need Spirit Stones. I know of a good place where, with your skills, Junior Brother, you will want for nothing in the future."

’What does he mean by that? Is he trying to offer me a job?’ Chen Qingyang had never imagined he would try something like this.

"I don’t quite understand. What is Senior Brother referring to?"

Xu Wuji continued, "Junior Brother, have you ever heard of the Fulu Workshop?"

The Fulu Workshop.

’What’s that?’

’Ever since his experience with the Profound Light Association on the Four Golden Peaks, Chen Qingyang had a visceral aversion to organizations outside the Sect, especially one mentioned by Xu Wuji.’

Seeing his clueless expression, Xu Wuji continued, "The Fulu Workshop exists only on our Cyan Bamboo Peak. It is composed of a group of exceptionally powerful Pill Masters. This is different from serving the Separation Dragon Pill Institute. In the Fulu Workshop, the Pill Masters work not for the Sect, but only for themselves."

"Take this Tier Four Yang Replacement Powder, for example. If you take it to Gentle Breeze, you’ll get 1,200 Spirit Stones at most. If you exchange it with the Sect for Merit, you’ll only get the equivalent of eight hundred. But in the Fulu Workshop, you can get twenty percent more."

At this point, Xu Wuji’s tone became earnest, and he put on his usual benevolent expression. "Junior Brother, don’t underestimate that twenty percent. If you refine a large quantity of Elixirs, it will add up to a considerable sum. I see you have four Miscellaneous Task workers in your courtyard. Don’t you want more in the future? Don’t you want to build your Dao Field to be more magnificent and impressive? Don’t you want to improve that Array?"

"Heh heh..." Xu Wuji chuckled. "You’ve seen my Dao Field. How grand is it?"

’So that was the purpose of showing me around.’

Chen Qingyang wasn’t fond of Xu Wuji as a person, but he was genuinely interested in whether what he was saying was true.

"I still don’t understand. Who exactly is behind the Fulu Workshop?"

Seeing that he was interested, Xu Wuji smiled again. "From Half-Step Foundation Establishment cultivators down to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Realm, anyone who can refine a Tier Four Elixir can be brought under its banner. If you’re asking what kind of people they are, they’re simply people who want to make their hard work more valuable."

Chen Qingyang feigned surprise. "Such a thing exists? Does the Sect simply turn a blind eye to this?"

Xu Wuji laughed again. "What is the Sect? The Sect is just a few tall buildings and a few people. This doesn’t hinder anyone, so why wouldn’t they do it?"

’He used to think that 1,200 Spirit Stones for a Tier Four Yang Replacement Powder was already a great price. Now, regardless of whether Xu Wuji was telling the truth, Chen Qingyang was still a little tempted.’

’After all, he produced a large quantity of Elixirs, and as his cultivation and his study of the Seven Arts advanced, his Spirit Stone consumption would only increase. But the person in front of him was Xu Wuji. No matter what he said, he couldn’t fall into this trap.’

"Could it be that Senior Brother is also a member of this Blessing and Fortune Association?"

He just shook his head. "You jest. My Dharma Gate belongs to the Five Elements of Water. Although I am on Cyan Bamboo Peak, I am not proficient in the Alchemy Dao. I am a Mountain and River Daoist."

The Mountain and River Daoist Lord is the elegant name for the Spirit Plant specialization of the Seven Arts.

"Then..." After a moment of hesitation, Chen Qingyang said, "Why would Senior Brother introduce such a good thing to me? I truly don’t understand."

It was as if Xu Wuji had known he would ask this. "Although I’m not in the Blessing and Fortune Association, I am a Recruitment Envoy for them, and I provide them with a large number of Spirit Plants every year. This year, I absolutely must recruit a Pill Master. None of the Disciples under my master, Master Water Moon, are currently up to the task, so I can only offer this benefit to you, Junior Brother."

After speaking, as if he knew what Chen Qingyang was thinking, he continued, "I also understand that there has been some friction between us, Junior Brother, and you are naturally wary of me. But please rest assured, Junior Brother. In the Sect, a thousand years of cultivation is a long time. Even if some disagreements arise, they will pass with time."

’I see now. This man’s greatest skill is feigning sincerity. This time, he wasn’t beating around the bush; he was direct, and his tone was all about mutual benefit.’

’If it were any other Qi Refining Realm Disciple instead of Chen Qingyang, they would have surely agreed. Once they joined that Fulu Workshop, they would inevitably be constrained by this man and completely under his thumb.’

’Unlike now, where despite his high cultivation, the Sect’s laws prevent him from acting directly against Chen Qingyang. Sometimes, there’s truly nothing he can do.’

While Chen Qingyang was silent, Xu Wuji thought he had a chance, but then he heard him say, "I think I’ll pass. My skills are not refined, and I don’t know many Pill Formulas. I’d hate to be a burden to Senior Brother."

The rejection was clean and decisive. He even stood up as if to leave. Perhaps because it was the first time his sense of superiority had taken such a blow, Xu Wuji was stunned for a moment.

"It doesn’t matter if you don’t know many Pill Formulas. The Fulu Workshop can teach you plenty. What Master Jing Yuan can’t teach you, someone there naturally can..." Unwilling to give up, he launched into another lecture.

Chen Qingyang, however, began to bow with his hands clasped. "Thank you for your kind intentions, Senior Brother. I have also sampled the tea. I’ll be taking my leave now!"

His face turning ashen, Xu Wuji fell silent for a moment before immediately forcing a smile. "Very well, very well. Everything requires a process of acceptance. Junior Brother, you should think it over again."

Chen Qingyang wanted to just flick his sleeves and leave, but on second thought, he beamed at his Senior Brother. "I appreciate Senior Brother’s kind intentions. It’s just a pity my Alchemy Dao skills are lacking, and the elixirs I produce wouldn’t be worthy of your notice. Otherwise, I would surely bring a few next time as a token of my appreciation."

’His cultivation is at least at the Sixth Realm. A little bit of Star Meteor Powder could mean hundreds of Immortal Seedlings.’

’I wonder if this poison will even work on him?’