Chapter 219 - 217: Crossing the River

"Senior Brother Chen, please follow me this way!"

...

Bathed in moonlight and flickering candlelight, Chen Qingyang descended the mountain trail and followed a young Daoist child toward the eastern side of the temple.

He still had to take care of Senior Brother Li Zheng's business and was now on his way to see a Foundation Establishment Master.

Lu Qingyu had arranged for this Daoist child to specifically act as his guide.

After the path descended, it met an intersection of eight roads where a small, circular courtyard had been built. The object standing in the courtyard was one of the Array Profounds of the Circulation of Stars Demon Suppression Array. It drew away the surrounding Spiritual Qi, yet left a small amount behind for the Daoist Temple.

The Daoists of Nine True Temple all called it the Immortal Fate Spirit Guide. Their ability to practice Cultivation was entirely due to the grace of the Tai Xu Sect.

The Array Profound resembled a massive stone stele, entirely snow-white and smooth as jade. From it, one could sense the sheer richness of the spiritual aura pervading the entire Nine True Temple.

"This road leads directly to the Xuanwei Master's residence. We aren't normally allowed inside, so you'll have to go on your own, Senior Brother."

When they reached this point, the Daoist child once again pointed the way for him.

The Daoist child was about seventeen or eighteen but had yet to reach the Qi Refining realm. Fortunately, his meridians were open and clear, so it was only a matter of time. Had he been in the Tai Xu Sect, he likely would have reached Qi Refining long ago and secured a promising future.

'Compared to him, being chosen to perform miscellaneous tasks at the Tai Xu Sect seems like a stroke of luck after all.'

"Thanks!"

Chen Qingyang gave him a slight nod, but the Daoist child hurriedly said, "Senior Brother, there's no need! It's my good fortune to be able to guide an Upper Immortal like you. Others couldn't ask for such a blessing even if they begged for it."

His expression was a mixture of respect and a slight unease.

Chen Qingyang flicked an elixir out from his sleeve. It was a Tier Three Qi Gathering Pill. To the child, it was a miracle elixir capable of changing his entire destiny. For Chen Qingyang, however, it was a common trifle, which was why he'd acted on a whim.

"Don't let anyone see this. Find somewhere private and take it as soon as you can. Within a few days, you'll be able to break through to the Qi Refining realm."

'Qi Refining... in just a few days...'

The child hurriedly accepted it with both hands, a look of shocked joy on his face. His eyes welled with tears and his body began to tremble. "This... this... This is a blessing from the heavens..."

'Getting overly excited isn't a good thing. A moment of fortune can determine your immediate situation, but how far you go in the future depends on your mental realm. A person's destiny is determined by such subtleties.'

This gave Chen Qingyang a completely new perspective on the nature of fortune.

'A casual gift from someone of a higher station is a world-changing event for those below. Even the "corpse" left behind by a superior is an immense treasure to them.'

'Take the Cyan Nether Sword Embryo, for example. He considered it a monumental stroke of fortune. But in essence, it was nothing more than the "corpse" the Cyan Nether Daoist Monarch left behind after his death. The only difference was that with his Profound Transformation cultivation, he possessed no flesh and blood that could rot.'

Chen Qingyang suddenly realized he should handle things with more composure. 'At the very least, I shouldn't get so excited. I need to take a longer view.'

"Do you know how many Masters are in this temple?"

The child quickly answered, "Originally, there was only one. Later, two more arrived. Of these three Masters, one is Master Guan Wei, and another is named Qing He. Master Qing He is the Xuanwei Master of Nine True Temple."

'Logically, there should only be two Xuanwei Masters here—one who was already stationed at Nine True Temple, and one who just arrived from the Yong Kingdom. Now there's an extra one. The situation must be critical.'

"And what's the third one's name?"

The child shook his head. "I've never seen them or heard their name. I just know they're practicing Cultivation in that courtyard."

"Alright, I understand. You can head back now."

But the child didn't move. "The Temple Master instructed me to wait here. He's arranged a guest room for you to rest in, Senior Brother."

His voice was still tinged with excitement.

"That won't be necessary. I have other arrangements."

"But..." The child started to say something else, but Chen Qingyang had already walked off. The child could only clutch the elixir in his hand and kowtow in the direction Chen Qingyang had gone.

He had explored nearly every corner of the Nine True Temple, but this place was the sole exception.

He pushed open the door to reveal a long alleyway with another door at its end. As Chen Qingyang stood at the entrance, he noticed the Spiritual Qi flowing out from within was even richer than it was outside.

Just as he was about to knock, a young girl dressed as a Daoist attendant emerged. She looked to be fifteen or sixteen, with her hair tied in two topknots. She had rosy lips and pearly teeth and wore apricot-yellow robes. "Are you here to see the Master, Senior Brother?"

Noticing Chen Qingyang's Vermilion and Purple Attire, her tone was naturally more courteous.

"I am. Please inform her of my presence."

The attendant shook her head. "The Master is not seeing visitors right now. Please come back tomorrow."

Chen Qingyang understood. Every Master had numerous disciples and other affairs to manage; they couldn't see just anyone who showed up. "Just tell the Master that I've come from the Yong Kingdom, where traces of Demon Sect Disciples have been discovered."

Seeing his firm tone, the attendant said, "Please wait a moment."

Chen Qingyang stood his ground. A moment later, the attendant emerged again. "The Master invites you to come in, Senior Brother."

Inside the courtyard, the Spiritual Qi was even denser, nearly on par with that of the Tai Xu Sect. 'So this is where the Xuanwei Master practices Cultivation. One could stay here for a full sixty years without their Cultivation being affected in the slightest. Such are the benefits of privilege.'

As they walked through the small courtyard, the attendant didn't forget to add, "My Master's name is Qing He. She has guarded this place for sixty years. Make sure you don't get her mixed up, Senior Brother."

The name was unfamiliar to Chen Qingyang. He couldn't recall if this Master had been present during the last clash with the Demon Sect. After all, in a sect as vast as Tai Xu, there were simply too many Masters.

"Thank you."

When they reached the rear courtyard, the attendant pointed to a house and said, "Please go in on your own, Senior Brother."

Following her gesture, Chen Qingyang's gaze fell upon a figure on the windowsill. It was a woman, her silhouette graceful and elegant.

Standing at the doorway, Chen Qingyang clasped his hands in a salute toward the interior. "Disciple Chen Qingyang of Cyan Bamboo Peak pays his respects to Master Qing He!"

The door opened on its own. The Master was dressed in green robes, her long black hair cascading down her back. She faced away from him, holding the letter in her hand. "Come in."

Her voice was gentle, yet tinged with anxiety.

Chen Qingyang entered and remained standing. Without turning around, the Master asked directly, "When was this letter written?"

"The evening before last. I was there when Senior Brother Li wrote it."

The Master then asked, "Then you saw this array with your own eyes?"

Chen Qingyang replied, "I only saw that the bloody aura had not yet dissipated. The vegetation in the valley was withered and yellow, and many wild animals were dead or injured. But as for how the array was laid, I have no idea."

The Master seemed to mutter to herself, "It looks like it really is the Six Paths Blood Refining Array. That's a technique of the Demon Sect's Earth Six Paths Palace, a notorious True Skill. Why would it appear here?"

Chen Qingyang knew she wasn't asking him, so he remained silent.

"The Demon Sect member you encountered in the Yong Kingdom's Cave of Myriad Images, did they say anything to you?"

Chen Qingyang shook his head. "No."

Only then did Master Qing He turn around. Her skin was fair but somewhat pale. She had a slender face and a high-bridged nose, her delicate beauty tinged with a sharp, heroic air.

"Very well. Our business here is concluded. You may return to the Yong Kingdom with the Immortal Grass and complete your mission."

'I could just go back and complete my mission, but then I wouldn't make up for the small gap in my Cultivation. If only I could run into a few lone Demon Sect Disciples, I could break through to the next realm.'

So, Chen Qingyang asked, "If you need me, Master, I am at your disposal!"

But the Master shook her head. "This is not your assignment, so you needn't concern yourself. This area is far from peaceful at the moment. I wouldn't want you to fall into danger."

Since she had put it that way, Chen Qingyang had no choice but to withdraw. "Yes, Master."

But just as he reached the door, the Master spoke again. "On second thought... The Demon Sect is plotting something involving the Circulation of Stars Array, and none of us can get away. Some matters can't be explained in a few words. It would be better if you ran an errand for me. At least you're more dependable than the Qi Refining Disciples of Nine True Temple."

Chen Qingyang stopped in his tracks. "Please speak, Master!"

This time, she explained the circumstances to Chen Qingyang. "Since the Demon Sect was able to infiltrate the Yong Kingdom, it's highly likely they will stir up trouble there. Master Guan Wei is tied up right now, so our only option is to dispatch more disciples. Therefore, I need you to deliver a letter for me. It must go to the far side of the Cyan Nether River, deep into Demon Sect Territory. Do you dare?"

'Does this mean the Tai Xu Sect also has disciples who have infiltrated Demon Sect Territory? Are there agents on both sides? That must be it. After all, Senior Brother Lu told me there are quite a few Demon Sect Disciples right here in Jiuzhen City.'

After she finished, the Master added, "The task itself is simple. You just need to be careful after you cross the river. Find a city called Heyang, and within it, a tavern named Qingfeng. Once you get there, you'll naturally understand what to do."

Contrary to the Master's claim of it being easy, Chen Qingyang felt it would be quite complicated. This was deep inside Demon Sect Territory, after all; concealing his presence would be a major problem.

"Master, if I go just like this, won't my movements be discovered?"

Hearing his question, the Master gave a faint smile, her expression suddenly softening. "Don't worry. Even though our Circulation of Stars Array has made this territory as secure as an iron fortress, Demon Sect Disciples can still come and go as they please with a simple disguise. It will be the same for you over there. You only need to deliver the letter. Do not start a conflict with anyone."

"Of course, if you feel it's too risky and decide not to go, it's perfectly understandable. After all, you're a disciple of Cyan Bamboo Peak and haven't been officially dispatched by the Sect. You have every right to refuse."

Of all the Foundation Establishment Masters Chen Qingyang had met, she was by far the most reasonable and approachable.

From start to finish, she hadn't given him the typical impression of a Master. 'A trip to Demon Sect Territory, a chance to stir up a little trouble and maybe secretly acquire some Immortal Seedlings... that would be perfect.'

"Rest assured, Master. I guarantee I can complete this task."

"Good. Sending someone in person is the most secure method. If we were to use other means of communication, it would be easily intercepted by the Demon Sect's divinations."

With that said, she wrote a letter.

It was just two sheets of paper, unsealed, which she handed directly to Chen Qingyang.

Chen Qingyang accepted them with both hands. "Yes, Master."

Qing He added, "If you perform this task well, I will petition the Sect for a commendation on your behalf and see that you are rewarded."

Chen Qingyang bowed with clasped hands and thanked her once more.

After leaving the Nine True Temple, he went straight down the mountain, found an inn in the city, and took a room. The moment he'd heard there were three Masters at the temple, he immediately decided he didn't want to stay there.