Chapter 262: Binding

Chapter 262 -254: Binding

This visit to his master had taken quite some time.

He had started up the mountain at noon, and it was now nearly midnight. His master had given him private instruction, and in this single session, had thoroughly explained the Daoist Technique.

Unfortunately, Chen Qingyang’s energy was limited, so he couldn’t expend any more mental effort on it. He could only entrust the task to the Conscious Fish or the Immortal Seedling.

‘But once the Great Soul Scripture advances another level, the Conscious Fish might be able to cultivate and perceive on its own. Then I won’t have to think so hard about everything.’

Zeng Xiancheng was the one who escorted Chen Qingyang from the palace.

The stars were scattered across the sky. This place was situated on the highest peak, with no obstructions in any direction. Looking out, the azure Celestial Vault was like a canopy, enveloping all living things.

Their two shadows stretched long against the palace wall.

“Senior Brother Chen, it’s rare for Master to value a disciple this much. If one day you achieve your lofty ambitions, please don’t forget me!” Zeng Xiancheng said with a grin.

Chen Qingyang smiled. “Junior Brother, it’s too early to talk about such things. Does Master rarely keep a disciple for this long?”

“Of course. In my thirty-odd years here, something like this doesn’t happen more than a few times a year. The last time was probably when the eldest senior brother had his breakthrough.”

Chen Qingyang thought for a moment, then clasped his hands in a salute. “I’ll likely have to trouble you often in the future, Junior Brother. Please don’t refuse. Of course, there will be benefits for you as well.”

The benefits he mentioned were Elixirs. ‘He helped me quite a bit today,’ he thought, ‘I should give him some proper gifts in the future.’

Zeng Xiancheng grinned again. “Of course, of course. I must certainly get closer with Senior Brother Chen in the future.”

After a few more pleasantries, Chen Qingyang thought of the Jade Talisman again. “Master said the Jade Talisman he bestowed upon me is called the Li Guang Jade Talisman. I wonder if you’ve heard of it, Junior Brother?”

“Oh my goodness!” At the sound of that name, Zeng Xiancheng’s expression grew more exaggerated, as if he wanted to beat his chest and stamp his feet. “How did I not realize! To think that what I delivered for you was this treasure! Otherwise, I would have taken a good long look at it. I’ve only ever heard people talk about it; I’ve never actually seen it once.”

Master Jing Yuan had only said the Magical Artifact was incredible, but he hadn’t explained why. “Since you’ve heard of it, Junior Brother, could I trouble you to tell me about it?”

When it came to such matters, Zeng Xiancheng was more than happy to oblige.

“Years ago, before Master became a Master, he cultivated the Five Elements Fire. He later changed to Returning to the Tai Xu. I heard long ago that when Master was in the Essence Condensation realm, he nurtured a fine Magical Artifact.”

“It was tempered by the Five Elements Fire for a hundred years, then seared with Master’s Mingtang True Fire. The materials used to refine the Magical Artifact also have a significant origin. It has now become a Blood Artifact. If Master hadn’t cultivated Returning to the Tai Xu and cast it aside, it might have developed an Artifact Soul long ago.”

“Among the senior brothers of our branch, there are no more than five in total who possess such a Magical Treasure, and none of theirs can compare to this Magical Artifact personally refined by Master. Don’t you think he values you greatly?”

‘A Blood Artifact, and he values me so highly!’

This was even more unexpected.

Among the Magical Treasures Chen Qingyang possessed, only the Jade Peach Incense Burner could compare in terms of rank. That item was already powerful on its own, and only after absorbing the essence of an entire Peach Demon could it be considered a complete Blood Artifact.

Although it had an Artifact Soul, it still required much more Refinement to be useful. The one his master had given him was actually on par with it.

Chen Qingyang hadn’t expected to be valued to this extent.

“You were right to remind me. Master told me to go back and properly perform Sacrificial Refinement on this treasure. It seems I must take this seriously.”

“Oh my goodness!” Zeng Xiancheng exclaimed again. “More than take it seriously! You should practically worship it, thinking about it day and night! Do that, Senior Brother, and your Cultivation will surely advance by leaps and bounds. In the future… you’ll have a real shot at Foundation Establishment!”

‘He’s starting to think more and more highly of me. It jumped from ‘Master values you’ straight to ‘you have a real shot at Foundation Establishment’. I have no idea how he reached that conclusion.’

Chen Qingyang could only reply, “Thank you for your auspicious words, Junior Brother.”

…

It was quiet when he returned to the small courtyard.

In the other Alchemy Room, the light of a fire could still be seen. Li Sheng was refining a cauldron of Tier One Qi Gathering Pills. Since Chen Qingyang was there to retrieve the Jade Talisman, he stopped to observe for a while.

His technique was much more practiced than before, and when the Elixirs were produced, they were also more potent. However, overall, he was still a long way from Tier Two.

Li Sheng stopped what he was doing and bowed to Chen Qingyang. “Senior Brother Chen.”

Chen Qingyang took the Elixirs he was handed. “Not bad. You’ve definitely improved. But the key to Alchemy is heat control. Your technique is mature, but your heat control is lacking. From today on, focus your efforts on your Cultivation. Once your Cultivation grows stronger, the medicinal potency will naturally increase…”

Just as Master Jing Yuan had given him a transmission of knowledge today, Chen Qingyang also gave Li Sheng a thorough explanation.

Although Li Sheng’s talent for Cultivation was not as good as Hong’Er’s, his strength lay in his steady, prudent nature and his meticulous way of thinking. He could understand many things with just a little guidance.

After this delay, he took the Jade Talisman, returned to his own Alchemy Room, sat down, and held it in his hand to examine it closely.

Observing it with his Divine Sense, the Li Guang Jade Talisman didn’t look much different from the first time he’d seen it. He only felt that the Qi Mechanism within was powerful, far beyond his imagination.

As for whether the Master had left a trace of his Divine Thought inside, he couldn’t be certain for now. Chen Qingyang finally decided to first perform Sacrificial Refinement on it for a period of time. Even if there were any problems with it, they would be purged by the Refinement.

His hands formed a seal. He was using the Nanming Red Emperor’s Celestial Burning and Sea Boiling Daoist Truth, mixing it with his Mingtang True Fire, and spat out a raging flame that suspended the Jade Talisman in mid-air.

Instantly, intense heat radiated outwards. Xu Baoling gently pushed open a window, letting some of the wind from outside blow in.