Chapter 259: Three Thousand

Chapter 259 -252: Three Thousand

“As they say, to remain still is death, but to act is to court danger. Only by burning one’s boats is there a sliver of hope for survival.”

It was precisely because Master Yun Ci acted first, unafraid of death, that Chen Qingyang felt, in some unseen way, that her character made her worth saving.

Otherwise, she would have faced certain death whether she struggled or not.

Looking back now, it corresponded almost perfectly with what the Star Map had shown. But before it happened, not even Chen Qingyang could have predicted that the sliver of hope belonged to Yun Ci.

Such are the world’s mysteries, the workings of fate, the indeterminate and the preordained!

He used his Star Power to once again carefully observe that white star. All the seemingly motionless stars in the sky actually followed their own patterns, their own movements. If you couldn’t see it, it just meant your Cultivation was insufficient.

Chen Qingyang tried to divine its path, but the white star didn’t move at all. Instead, a piercing pain shot through his chest, forcing him to stop immediately.

‘Trying to divine the fate of a Foundation Establishment Master at the Essence Condensation Fifth Realm… I was really asking for it!’

His curiosity sated, he set aside the Purple Star True Skill and focused his mind on the Conscious Fish, using it to probe a wider area of the Tai Xu Sect.

If the first level of understanding in the Array True Understanding was called Initial Recognition, then the second must be Observing the Subtle. As for the third, Chen Qingyang wanted to call it Integration.

The Array was blurry and the Qi Mechanisms were faint, still not entirely clear. But whenever the Conscious Fish approached a key node, it could now merge directly into it, no longer requiring the effort it once did, nor the worry of being discovered.

That wasn’t even the main thing. Most importantly, Chen Qingyang could now control certain nodes. By using his Star Power, he had become one of the Array’s operators, even if his control was infinitesimal.

He didn’t know if these abilities would be enough to find the third volume of the Great Soul Scripture, but any further improvement would have to wait for his own research. He still had a use for the remaining eight thousand-plus Immortal Seedlings.

According to Senior Brother Lu, no one in the Tai Xu Sect had ever truly mastered this Array. Even Golden Core True Monarchs could only do so by joining forces or by using the Array’s central hub and the Magical Treasures that controlled it.

Chen Qingyang was satisfied with reaching this stage. After all, he had accomplished in a single morning what would take others decades, or even a hundred years, to achieve. Worse yet, some people would never reach this stage at all.

Xu Baoling landed nearby, watching as the Star Power around Chen Qingyang flared and died down in waves.

She couldn’t see through her Senior Brother’s current Cultivation Realm, but she could sense that it had improved—by a great deal.

Chen Qingyang had returned to the small courtyard yesterday and had already seen everyone there.

It is often said that in Cultivation, time has no meaning. During the three months he was away, he had experienced so much that time felt full and slow. But in this small courtyard, everyone lived day after day, year after year. Three months was but the blink of an eye.

Seeing him awaken, Xu Baoling hopped down from the offering table and thoughtfully pushed open the window, letting in a bit of fresh air from outside.

The air of Cyan Bamboo Peak still smelled the best, especially after everything he’d been through.

“Senior Brother, it looks like your Cultivation has improved significantly, especially your Purple Star True Skill?”

If you were to ask who in the world knew Chen Qingyang’s secrets best, it would of course be Xu Baoling. She was Cultivating the Yin Spirit Technique, and Chen Qingyang was her Source Aspect. One could say her life and death were in his hands.

“It has improved, and by quite a lot.”

Chen Qingyang glanced at her Cultivation. It had only been three months, so it was normal that there hadn’t been much change.

“How is your Cultivation of the Mountain and River Daoist Lord technique coming along?”

Xu Baoling opened the back window and pointed to the field. “I’ve had a little bit of success. Just as Zhang Ping said, I’m planting Spirit Grass for you, Senior Brother. I’ll grow as much as I can.”

Chen Qingyang looked over. Although they were all Low Tier Immortal Grass, they were growing exceptionally well, which showed that the two of them had put their hearts into it.

‘Their talent may be a bit lacking, but it’s fine. I can use Elixirs to grant them long lifespans. They’re bound to mature one day.’

“I’ll Refine a few batches of Elixirs in the coming days to help you mend your Divine Soul. That way, you’ll recover faster and can be of greater use to me in the future.”

Xu Baoling bowed slightly.

‘She knew clearly in her heart that when Chen Qingyang’s Cultivation was low, he would still ask her about certain problems and was willing to hear her ideas on some matters.’

‘But now, this Senior Brother Chen has reached a state she can no longer comprehend. If she didn’t work harder, she would very likely be abandoned in the future.’

“Yes, Senior Brother.”

Barefoot, she walked over softly, picked up the comb on the table, and gathered Chen Qingyang’s long hair for him. By the time he was ready to go out, he looked much more refreshed.

In the courtyard, Hong’Er was preparing to light a fire to cook. At some point, Zhang Ping must have passed this skill on to him.

Three youths—two at the First Realm of Qi Refining and one not even at Qi Refining yet—naturally couldn’t do without the smoke and fire of the mortal world.

“Senior Brother Chen, Zhang Ping and I spent a bit of money to get two excellent old tea trees from the common folk at the foot of the mountain. We’ve planted them on the hillside and are cultivating them using the same methods as for Immortal Grass. They’re growing very well. In a few days, after we learn how to roast tea leaves, we’ll prepare some and send it to you…”

Zhang Ping always had ideas for managing the courtyard, and now with Hong’Er added to the mix, the feeling of returning home was always comforting to Chen Qingyang.

‘He even thought that if, a hundred years from now, the Demon Sects truly gained the upper hand over the Daoist Sects and this peaceful place was no more, he would take all these people, and Liu Tao, with him.’

‘As the thought crossed his mind, he suddenly realized this was exactly what Senior Brother Lu had talked about. After being in the Tai Xu Sect for so many years, some ties were not so easily severed.’

“Alright, that’s very thoughtful of you two.”

…

After greeting everyone, he left the small courtyard. As he walked along the White Jade Steps, he once again released the Conscious Fish.

This time, it easily entered the Sumeru Secret Realm on Cyan Bamboo Peak. From there, it would find the Five Elements Cave Mansion and seek out the Five Elements Fire for Refinement and Cultivation.

As long as it was given enough time, its Cultivation would grow steadily. Suddenly, Chen Qingyang thought of that True Dragon.

‘Its essence was a Golden Core Dragon Soul, and it had refined Li Yang Earth Fire to form its body. If he could have the Conscious Fish cultivate by clinging to it, wouldn’t that mean…’

The benefits would be too great to imagine.

He ascended the steps, all the way to the summit.

There was no vegetation here, nor any shelter on any side. The wind howled fiercely. The last time he had gathered here with his senior brothers, they had only stood at the entrance of the lonely, great hall and had not gone inside.

Chen Qingyang had just come to a stop and was about to announce his presence when he saw his master’s Child, Zeng Xiancheng, come out to greet him.

The boy was extremely polite, bowing very low with his hands clasped. The first time he had met Chen Qingyang, there had been some friction between them. But later, after seeing how much Master Jing Yuan valued Chen Qingyang, his attitude had become exceedingly humble.

Chen Qingyang had also leaped from being an unimpressive disciple at the First Realm of Qi Refining under his master to a member of the Inner Sect.

“Senior Brother Chen is back! I heard you went to a dangerous place. You’ve finally returned safely. Master has been asking about you quite a bit.” His tone was much more familiar now.

‘I remember giving him an Elixir last time, and I didn’t hold back this time either. I estimate I’ll be able to harvest a few Immortal Seedlings from it in a moment.’

‘I’m out of Star Meteor Powder, so every Elixir I use is one less I have. I’ll have to make another trip to the Gentle Breeze to get some more.’

“Thank you for your concern, Junior Brother. I’m glad to be back. Is Master in?”

He passed over the Elixir discreetly, and the Child accepted it just as discreetly.

He pushed the door open. “Please come in, Senior Brother. Master went to the Separation Dragon Pill Institute this morning to lecture on the Pill Scripture. He said he would be back by noon. It’s noon now, so I don’t think there’s any need for you to go back down the mountain. Why don’t you wait for him inside!”

A little benefit certainly changed one’s attitude. And so, Chen Qingyang had the honor of entering his master’s palace for the first time.

From the outside, it was pitch black, with nothing visible within. But once he stepped inside, it was as if he had passed through a portal into another world.

Ripples spread across the surface of a lake, its waves crested with white foam. A palace was suspended in mid-air, extending out so that at least half of it was over the water.

Below this palace, waterside pavilions and terraces were lined up in a row, with many buildings situated among them.

Four or five Children bustled about among all kinds of exotic flowers and rare grasses. Beyond them, all that could be seen was a vista of green meeting the azure sky.

Seeing the surprise in Chen Qingyang’s eyes, the Child explained with a grin, “This is a type of Array technique, similar to the Divine Power of the Three Thousand Worlds. It can fit a whole li of the surrounding landscape right inside this palace. Every senior brother and sister is just as surprised the first time they come here!”

After hearing his explanation, a thought flashed through Chen Qingyang’s mind: ‘My master is quite different from how he appears on the surface!’