Chapter 174 - 173: Life Light

Chapter 174: Chapter 173: Life Light

As Chen Qingyang was lost in thought, Xu Baoling, who was beside him, provided the answer.

"Many years ago, we were with our master when we witnessed this phenomenon. A Foundation Establishment Master is breaking through to the Life Light stage. This Dragon and Tiger Aspect is the sign of that breakthrough."

Life Light!

Since it was happening on Cyan Bamboo Peak, the only person Chen Qingyang could think of was his own master, Master Jing Yuan.

Ever since he first arrived at Cyan Bamboo Peak, he had heard from Liu Pei that his master’s breakthrough was imminent. Now, after more than two years, it was probably time.

"You’re more knowledgeable than I am, after all. I’ve never even heard of this Dragon and Tiger Aspect."

After hearing Chen Qingyang’s words, Xu Baoling said, "It’s not that. Your cultivation speed is quite fast, Master, and you’ve only been an Outer Disciple for a mere two or three years. I’ve simply been alive a little longer and have heard more things. I wouldn’t say I’m particularly knowledgeable."

"Then what is the Dragon and Tiger Aspect?"

Xu Baoling added, "At Foundation Establishment Perfection, one performs the ’Transfer from Longkan Tiger,’ comprehends the Yin Yang Dao, Refines Qi and Attains Divinity, and achieves Transcendent Life Light. I don’t know what it all really means, but I remember that’s what our master said back then."

’Perhaps Zhu Qi is a Master Life Light,’ Chen Qingyang suddenly recalled that when the Xuanwei Master named Zhu Qi had fought that man from the Demon Sect, he had displayed this very Dragon and Tiger Aspect. he thought.

As the two of them spoke, the three youths standing nearby listened intently, their imaginations running wild.

"Ever since I was a child, my family told me that Immortals could command life and death, with the power to move mountains and shake the seas," Li Sheng lamented. "I’d never seen anything like it since joining the Tai Xu Sect, but today, I’m a true believer."

"Junior Brother Li, just focus on your alchemy," Zhang Ping responded. "One day, that’ll be you. You have a limitless future ahead of you."

Hong’Er giggled at her two martial brothers. "I’d say... there’s no need for you two to be in such a rush to daydream. We all follow Senior Brother Chen. Our chance will only come when his cultivation improves."

She knew just what to say, and the two boys could only nod in agreement.

Gradually, the glowing light filling the sky dissipated, and the clouds were blown away, leaving only a vast, deep blue firmament.

The bright sun shone high overhead, its warm glow illuminating the entire courtyard.

After craning their necks to watch the auspicious phenomenon fade, everyone went about their business. Although Chen Qingyang wanted to confirm if it was Master Jing Yuan, he didn’t dare send out his Conscious Fish to investigate. At his current level of cultivation, he could only conceal his probing from those below the Half-Step Foundation Establishment realm.

Just as he was about to return to his room to practice alchemy, a gentle breeze swept in from the distance, coalescing into a young man standing at his gate.

A single glance told Chen Qingyang that the man’s qi was fully exposed; it was so powerful that he couldn’t begin to fathom his realm. Yet, at other times, the man’s presence would become ethereal. ’He must be trying to control his aura, to keep from releasing it too strongly.’

The man was dressed in yellow robes and looked to be in his early twenties. His face was as handsome as polished jade, and he wore a tall ebony crown that gathered his long hair. His elegant demeanor was tinged with an air of nobility.

’Half-Step Foundation Establishment, or a full-fledged Master?’

Chen Qingyang couldn’t be sure. Seeing the man’s gaze land on him, he had no choice but to walk out of the courtyard and ask, "I am Chen Qingyang. For what reason has Senior Brother come?"

Masters were rare, after all, and it was unlikely one would visit a mere Qi Refining Disciple like him. Thus, he addressed the man as "Senior Brother."

"Mm." The man didn’t say who he was, merely glancing around the area and then back at Chen Qingyang. "Is it convenient? I’d like to come into your Alchemy Room and sit for a while."

Chen Qingyang felt the man must be familiar with him, so he didn’t refuse. "Senior Brother, please!"

Once inside, the man didn’t take a seat, instead letting his gaze sweep across the room. It was a rather rude gesture. Curious about the man’s identity, Chen Qingyang still said nothing.

Finally, after surveying the entire room, the young man turned to him and said, "It has been two or three years since you became my disciple, yet we’ve never met. I wonder, do you still recognize me as your master?"

He’d had a feeling, but hearing the man say it himself still startled him. "Disciple greets Master!"

He bowed deeply with clasped hands, his posture full of respect.

As long as Master Jing Yuan remained standing, Chen Qingyang could not sit. The Master spoke again, "Dispense with the formalities. I have taught you very little—I only gave you a plot of land on Cyan Bamboo Peak and a few Dharma Gates. It is more than enough that you are willing to call me Master at all."

Chen Qingyang had often wondered what this Master would look like, but he had never imagined he would appear as a young man. Even his mannerisms were youthful, completely unlike the other Masters he had met.

"Master, you have passed on techniques to me. That in itself is the greatest Immortal Fate a disciple could ask for. There is no question of whether or not I recognize you."

Neither agreeing nor disagreeing, the Master simply said, "Let’s sit."

He said it so casually, as if he were the master of this place.

The two sat down on opposite sides of the long table. A fragrance soon filled the room as Chen Qingyang brewed tea. All the while, the other man’s burning gaze was fixed on him, undoubtedly sizing up his cultivation.

He suppressed his aura to the absolute limit, having already made up his mind. ’If Master sees through my cultivation, I’ll just have to come clean.’

Fortunately, the Great Soul Scripture proved superior in the end; his master apparently couldn’t discern anything.

The Master lifted the teacup, took a small sip, and commented, "Not bad tea."

The tea Chen Qingyang had brewed was from the small jar Xu Wuji had gifted him. He had given most of it to the three youths, and only a little remained.

Intending to bring up the Fulu Workshop, Chen Qingyang said, "Master may not be aware, but this was a gift from a Senior Brother named Xu Wuji, one of Master Water Moon’s disciples. He is an Inner Sect Disciple with a very high cultivation level, and he mentioned that this Spirit Tea was extremely difficult to come by."

As expected, these words piqued the Master’s curiosity. He gently raised the cup to his lips. "You’ve only been here for two or three years. How did you get involved with them?"

Chen Qingyang immediately recounted the whole affair with the Fulu Workshop. After listening, Master Jing Yuan thought for a moment. "Have you begun to study the two Pill Techniques I gave you?"

Chen Qingyang replied, "Master, I’ve managed to work out the Spirit Yang Breaking Yuan Formula up to Tier Four. As for the other one, I haven’t gotten to it yet."

The Master showed little reaction, simply saying, "Not bad. And how is your progress with the Danxia Nourishing Truth Sword Manual?"

Chen Qingyang answered humbly, "The Sword Manual is vast and profound. I have only just scratched the surface."

With that, the Master had his answer. "Since your future in the Alchemy Dao is brighter than in the Sword Dao, you should focus on it from now on. As for the Sword Dao... I think you can give it up. I will pass on a new Dharma Gate for your cultivation. You haven’t reached Essence Condensation yet, so it isn’t too late."

’He was the one who gave me the Danxia Nourishing Truth Sword Manual, and now he wants me to abandon it.’

’Before, that might have been acceptable. But with the Cyan Nether Sword Embryo inside me, how could I possibly give up the Sword Dao? If I refuse my master directly, how will he react?’

After a moment’s thought, Chen Qingyang said, "I will do as Master says."

’I’ll agree for now,’ he thought. ’I can get another cultivation technique out of it. If it seems useful, I can try studying it. If not, I still have the Immortal Seedling.’

"Mm," Master Jing Yuan said softly, seemingly unsurprised by his agreement. "Since you’re willing to abandon even the Sword Dao, and you’ve already offended a Steward from the Separation Dragon Pill Institute, then you should indeed join that Fulu Workshop. You should take part in anything that benefits your path to the Dao."

’This is the second time he’s surprised me,’ Chen Qingyang thought. He had expected his master to offer some insight, or perhaps to warn off Xu Wuji, not to agree so readily.

"But Master, I don’t even know what the Fulu Workshop is."

The Master raised a hand gently. "It doesn’t matter. You’ll find out when you go. As for Xu Wuji, don’t pay him any mind. I will handle it."

This was good news. ’With my master making arrangements, whatever strings Xu Wuji tries to pull will be useless.’

Chen Qingyang bowed again with clasped hands. "Thank you, Master."

The Master then asked, "Regarding Liu Pei’s Nameless Elixir, how is your research progressing? He has mentioned you to me more than a few times."

Chen Qingyang didn’t tell the whole truth. "I’ve achieved a Tier Three effect so far."

The Master frowned, seeming slightly surprised. "Reaching Tier Three in just two or three years... If you were given a few hundred years, you might reach Tier Nine, or even an Immortal Grade elixir comparable to the Heaven Repairing Glaze Pill... Still, the variables are numerous, and the odds are less than one in ten thousand. It is no easy task."

Not understanding his master’s thoughts, Chen Qingyang simply said, "Master is absolutely right."

"Then in your opinion, if you continue your research, can it reach Immortal Grade?"

Chen Qingyang understood the meaning behind the question. ’It’s not about whether the elixir can reach Immortal Grade, but whether Li Qianxue can be awakened.’

’If I’m the one who found the Cyan Nether Sword Embryo, then what Purple Sun True Monarch said must be true—it was hidden by my own master. So, does he want Li Qianxue to wake up, or not? This question is incredibly complicated.’

"What are you thinking?"

Chen Qingyang was a deep thinker and would ponder even small matters for a long time. The Master’s question came after just such a moment of delay.

"Replying to Master, I can’t say it’s impossible, but the chances are one in ten thousand at best. After all, a legendary item like the Heaven Repairing Glaze Pill isn’t a guaranteed success even if you have the pill formula, let alone when you’re working without one."

He observed his master carefully. Upon hearing this, the Master seemed to let out a sigh of relief, his eyelids lowering once more.

Chen Qingyang understood at once. ’The Master doesn’t want Li Qianxue to awaken.’ But from what Liu Pei had said, Li Qianxue had risked her life to save the Master and his group, and they were all deeply grateful to her.

’For Master Jing Yuan to act this way, it must mean that Li Qianxue waking up would be a threat to him. Could it be... that when the Sword Embryo "fell" into his hands, Li Qianxue happened to witness it?’

’Or perhaps there was another reason entirely.’