Chapter 238 - 235: Pursuit

Chapter 238: Chapter 235: Pursuit

"Not bad, not bad at all!"

Chen Qingyang said faintly.

Lin Qingxuan’s face flushed, but she was also a little confused. "What... what’s not bad?"

"This Dharma Gate, of course. It’s exceptionally suited for you. If you had just stayed in the Tai Xu Sect, you might not have achieved such results. After all, the Daoist Sect’s Dharma Gates all begin cultivation from the Meridians. To unleash the power of your Divine Soul, you’d have to wait until after Essence Condensation."

Lin Qingxuan’s expression turned serious, deciding she had overthought things. "Here, I suppose only the Dharma Gate is suitable for me."

Chen Qingyang stood up, putting a stop to the topic. "Since your Cultivation has broken through, let’s go find that Senior Brother of yours now."

At this, Lin Qingxuan hesitated again. "Senior Brother, if you continue forward and cross the Cyan Nether River, you’ll reach Daoist Sect Territory. My Cultivation has improved, so I’m much more confident about this. You can leave without worry!"

Without the Cultivation of the Essence Condensation Fifth Realm, she was fearless out of ignorance. Now that she had it, she realized how terrifying the Sixth Realm was, even if her opponent was on the verge of dropping a realm.

"It’s fine. You said you wanted me to back you up."

Lin Qingxuan was still worried and added a warning, "Then, Senior Brother, you must promise me: if we can’t defeat him, you have to retreat when it’s time to retreat."

Chen Qingyang nodded. "Don’t worry. I cherish my own life far more than you do. I would never take such a reckless risk, which is why I’ve never once been forced into a desperate situation. After I help you this time, don’t do this again."

As if she were very obedient, Lin Qingxuan replied, "Okay, I’ll listen to you, Senior Brother."

[Danxia Nourishing Truth Sword Manual: 51,999/52,000]

[Available Immortal Seedlings: 17,453]

Since meeting Lin Qingxuan, he had gained an extra eighteen thousand Immortal Seedlings because of her. After using some on the Danxia Nourishing Truth Sword Manual, he still had quite a few left. This trip wasn’t for nothing.

There was still one at the Essence Condensation Six Realms. Chen Qingyang estimated he would get six or seven thousand, maybe even more, Immortal Seedlings from him. He could save them all up.

If one were to ask who was the strongest in the Essence Condensation Fifth Realm, no one could surpass Chen Qingyang. If he wanted to, he could break through at any moment.

However, after breaking through, he would have one more Dongming aperture in his body, and the change in his Qi Mechanism would be so significant that it would be impossible for Master Jing Yuan not to see through it. So, he could only wait until he got his hands on the third volume of the Great Soul Scripture.

"Let’s set out now, then."

...

After setting out from their location, they traveled for five or six days, covering nearly thirty thousand miles, before arriving at a city.

The city was not large, with a population of a few tens of thousands at most. It was situated amidst towering mountains and didn’t belong to any of the ten nations of the Yu Xiao Demon Sect. This land was called Yu, and the kingdom’s Sacrificial Offering was to the Nine Nether Mechanic Divine Palace, placing it within the Divine Palace’s territory.

This city was located in the southwestern corner of the Yu Kingdom. Within the city was a family, the Qin Clan, a renowned Immortal Cultivation Clan for hundreds of miles around. This was solely because the clan had once produced an expert from an Immortal Sect—namely, Lin Qingxuan’s Senior Brother Qin.

「It was noon.」

Chen Qingyang was sitting alone in an inn drinking tea when he saw Lin Qingxuan walk in from outside. Today, she had changed into a green dress. Though it still covered her neck, it was less solemn and gave her a refreshing, spring-like air.

"Senior Brother, I’ve gathered all the information. It turns out the Qin Clan offended a Demon Sect Disciple and was nearly wiped out, which is why they summoned Senior Brother Qin. After Senior Brother Qin hosted that Demon Sect Disciple for a few days, the matter was resolved amicably. He should be returning within the next three to five days. We can set up an ambush on the road."

Chen Qingyang replied, "Where did you get this information? Is it reliable?"

"The Qin Clan’s disciples act tyrannically in this city, so it’s very easy to find them. I just had to ask around a bit. You can even hear them boasting in the taverns, saying things like even the Yu Xiao Demon Sect has to show them some respect."

Chen Qingyang nodded. "As long as there are no problems. Have you heard what kind of Demon Sect Disciple it was?"

"I don’t know. I imagine their Cultivation isn’t very high, or they wouldn’t have been dealt with so easily. It shouldn’t affect us."

After listening, Chen Qingyang pointed out the window with his right hand. A high wall stretched into the distance, enclosing a mansion within it like a city within a city, looking extremely imposing.

"Is that the Qin Mansion?"

"Yes."

Just as Lin Qingxuan confirmed it, his consciousness-fish began to explore the mansion, searching it inside and out. It only found three people in the Qi Refining Realm, not the Essence Condensation Six Realms cultivator they were looking for.

Chen Qingyang then asked, "When was that Demon Sect Disciple sent off?"

"He was just sent off today."

"Is it possible that Senior Brother Qin didn’t come back, but headed straight back to the Sect instead?"

Lin Qingxuan knew Chen Qingyang wouldn’t speak without reason. "Senior Brother, are you saying you think he has already left?"

"I don’t think so. I’m certain."

Lin Qingxuan’s expression changed as well. "Should we give chase, then?"

"Of course."

With that said, the two of them shot into the sky, heading straight toward the Divine Palace. With a thought from Chen Qingyang, his consciousness-fish once again scouted ahead, instantly reaching four hundred miles away before beginning to search left and right.

’If he really took this path, we should be able to catch up.’

They started at noon and soon flew into the night. The two didn’t stop, continuing until daylight returned.

Chen Qingyang also kept an eye out for the whereabouts of that Yu Xiao Demon Sect Disciple, but he never found any trace of them.

The pair continued their pursuit without any rest until noon. "Senior Brother, it’s just over a day’s journey to Duling City! I don’t think Senior Brother Qin will stop along the way. We’re not going to catch him!"

As she said this, Lin Qingxuan felt a slight sense of relief. After all, she had never wanted to drag Chen Qingyang into danger with her.

"Not necessarily. You said it’s highly likely his Cultivation is dropping. A person in his situation wouldn’t waste so much energy traveling. He’d conserve all his True Power to maintain his current realm. Once he drops, he’d have to waste another Armor-Protecting Treasure, and it would be difficult to rise back up again!"

Lin Qingxuan pondered for a moment. What he said did make sense, but she still felt a faint worry. "Don’t tell me... Senior Brother Qin has fallen behind us?"

"Most likely. With our search method, in these vast mountains, if he ever stops to meditate and rest, we’re bound to find him."

"Then..." Hearing Chen Qingyang’s coherent analysis, Lin Qingxuan asked him, "Senior Brother, what do you think we should do?"

"Wait. And go down to recover our Cultivation and make thorough preparations."

Lin Qingxuan bit her lip. "But what if waiting is useless?"

"Don’t worry. Then we’ll just find a way to lure him out at the Divine Palace Mountain Gate. As long as you have enough patience, what’s to fear about killing one person?"

With that, he descended straight into the forest below.

Lin Qingxuan thought for a moment and followed him down. She saw Chen Qingyang sit down cross-legged, assuming a meditative posture.

"But... even if Senior Brother Qin is behind us, we shouldn’t just wait like this, should we?"

But Chen Qingyang said, "If you want this to go smoothly, the best thing to do right now is listen to me. Meditate and cultivate with a peaceful mind. Don’t forget, I can sense his presence."

’This is an extremely profound Magic Technique. I heard only a Golden Core True Monarch can master it. Although I don’t know why Senior Brother has it too, its effectiveness has already been proven.’

Lin Qingxuan had always been obedient to him, especially after he had watched her achieve her Cultivation breakthrough. "Mm, okay."

Seeing Chen Qingyang really close his eyes to rest, a faint Qi Mechanism flowing around his body, she also began to circulate her Cultivation to recover.

Although his body was sitting still, his consciousness-fish was constantly roaming. Its speed was much faster than Chen Qingyang’s Wind Control Flight.

It wasn’t until dusk that Chen Qingyang sensed a Qi Mechanism drifting toward them from behind.

Just as he had predicted, that Senior Brother Qin was indeed behind them.

’It makes sense, though. He doesn’t have any urgent business, so why would he rush? At his level of Cultivation, he’s already lived for over a thousand years. He’d naturally take things slow.’

Lin Qingxuan’s eyelids fluttered. She heard movement beside her and saw that Chen Qingyang had already stood up.

"Senior Brother!"

The moment she said his name, he vanished instantly. The Ten Thousand Miles in One Breath Technique was pushed to its absolute limit, so fast that Lin Qingxuan could barely track his movement.

’So strong!’

’His Cultivation has always been above mine, even now that I’ve broken through.’

That Senior Brother Qin was dressed in Profound Robes. He was extremely thin and gaunt, with skin that drooped from his face as if all the moisture had been wrung out of him.

Riding a gentle breeze, he was traveling from west to east at an unhurried pace.

Chen Qingyang could tell with a single glance that this was a sign of the Celestial Human Five Declines, his vitality and blood essence completely exhausted. If not for the immense True Power of a Half-Step Foundation Establishment cultivator, he wouldn’t just be suffering a drop in Cultivation—he would be dead.

This just went to show the terrifying nature of the Nine Nether Mechanic Divine Palace’s Rapid Formation Method.

’Back when I was in the Tai Xu Sect, I schemed against so many people, all of them in the Qi Refining Realm. As long as they didn’t die on the spot, they could slowly recover even if their Dantian was injured.’

’Not to mention those senior brothers and sisters at Half-Step Foundation Establishment who couldn’t break through. Even after years and years of trying to reach Foundation Establishment, they wouldn’t end up in a state like this.’

’Lin Qingxuan looks magnificent right now, but if her Divine Soul were ever damaged and she lost control of her Armor, she could very well end up in the same predicament. I’d better remind her to be more cautious!’

Suddenly, a chill ran down Senior Brother Qin’s spine.

As he turned his gaze, he saw himself being enveloped by a Fire Gold Flame. A dragon shape manifested within it, like a Sharp Sword stabbing straight toward his Mud Ball Palace.

Having once been at Half-Step Foundation Establishment, he reacted in an instant. Before the Li Yang Earth Fire could wreak havoc inside his body, he had already drawn upon the earth’s Yin Fiend to block it.

’So fast!’

Chen Qingyang thought to himself as his Five Elements Sword erupted with a brilliant light in his hand, shooting straight toward his opponent.

Senior Brother Qin was truly overwhelmed. In his haste, he threw out an object to block the attack—it was a Magical Artifact.

Little did he know that Chen Qingyang had been waiting, well-rested, for this moment, having calculated every aspect of the attack. He threw out an object of his own, from which a cyan-green light spilled forth and Wood Spirit Qi rippled. It was the Jade Peach Incense Burner, which intercepted the Magical Treasure.

He was an old fox, after all. As he sent out that Magical Treasure, another Magical Treasure shot toward Chen Qingyang as well. It seemed he was attempting a two-pronged attack. Chen Qingyang also tossed out an item in response.

Flames billowed from it, revealing a landscape of mountains and rivers within. A round pearl spun rapidly—it was the Separation Huo Dragon Pearl.

In a brief instant, the two had already exchanged two blows, each pitting their Magical Artifacts against the other’s.

There was no chance for Senior Brother Qin to produce a third Magical Treasure. Chen Qingyang’s Five Elements Sword flared with a brilliant light and stabbed straight into his chest.

Instantly, a tremendous backlash of True Qi struck back, shattering the corporeal sword into nothingness. Chen Qingyang felt a sharp pain in his chest and retreated.

Looking back at Senior Brother Qin, he let out a long breath, his face dark and cold. "You brat! You’re courting death!"

Chen Qingyang stood motionless. He opened his palm, and the light from the sword’s blade grew even sharper. "I don’t believe you weren’t injured by my sword!"