The Journey of Immortal Cultivation-Chapter 434 - 256: Little Thief
Is this kind of studying equivalent to a last-minute cram before an exam? Ning Xiaoxian practiced the newly learned Divine Skills several times until the night deepened. She took a bath in the small house on the Fifth Floor, changed into a new set of clothes, and then stepped out the door.
The surging Cloud Sea of Guangcheng Palace was too white, even the faint moonlight tonight was enough to illuminate the surroundings like dusk. There’s a saying, ’steal the wind but not the moon’; indeed, it was not a good time for a thief. But who could blame her with such pressing time?
The Guangcheng Palace, being such a large sect, was bound not to lack a Karma Retrospection Mirror. Therefore, Qi Zai only carried her to a nearby small hill before heading back to the Prefecture. Qi Zai’s signature white feathers were too conspicuous, fortunately, Guangcheng Palace was filled with a mix of Dragons and fish at this time. She saw many cultivators along her path and if anything happened in Guangcheng Palace, no one could trace it back to her.
She didn’t bring Tu Jin with her; the fewer, the better for thievery. Ning Xiaoxian put away her outer garment, revealing the black night clothes underneath, and put on the newly acquired Ancient Wood Mask, with only her eyes showing. Then she walked down the mountain towards Jade Field. Although she was walking, one stride took her seven to ten meters—a very swift pace. This was the ’Shrinking Land into Inches’ Divine Skill that Changtian had just taught her, an Ancient Technique that had long been lost. She learned just the rudiments on the fly and couldn’t help but use it now. Once mastered, this skill could take one a thousand miles in one step. As for her, a maximum of seven to ten meters per step was all she could manage now.
He reminded her, "Divine Power is limited, use it sparingly!" She was almost twenty years old, yet curious like a child with a new toy.
She neared Jade Field under the cover of the shadows of trees, silent and without a trace, approaching the first Array that Guangcheng Palace had set up here. The Great Sect had probably been too confident—it’s vast Jade Field was guarded only by Array, without human protection.
She waited for instructions from Changtian, who after a moment’s silence, said, "There are people hidden in the farmhouse! Tonight, it cannot be done." There were three people ambushed in the farmhouse near Jade Field. Though they all tried their best to conceal their breath, how could that escape his five senses? On the other hand, even though these people were all at the Foundation Establishment Stage of cultivation, Ning Xiaoxian planned a stealthy theft rather than a bold robbery, and this chance to make a move was hardly appropriate.
She transmitted her voice, "Strange, how do they know we are going to steal?"
"They don’t know," Changtian said in a deep voice, "which means, they are waiting for someone else!"
Does that mean she gets to watch a show? It seemed that she was not the only one coveting Jade Field. Ning Xiaoxian shrugged her shoulders and quietly settled onto a big tree. She was now very close to the farmhouse, but with the Concealing Breath Technique from Changtian, to others’ senses, she was just a tree branch or a piece of dead wood, without the slightest sign of life.
It was now June. The murmurs of the summer insects continued throughout the night, the light breeze brought the scent of distant flowers and the whispering of rice leaves, and a few fireflies took flight, landing on the tree leaves next to her, painting a picture of tranquility.
As a child, she had climbed to the big tree on the hill behind her uncle’s house and looked down at the summer fields in the same way.
Unknowingly, her mind sank into nature, experiencing the clear rhythm of the wind and clouds of this world and the pulsation of life, slowly comprehending the state of mind free from worries and joys.
Changtian keenly sensed the change in her and couldn’t help but silently smile. Qiongqi was about to speak but was silenced by his finger, unable to make the slightest sound to disturb her. He had thought her impetuous nature would not easily enter such a state of Unity of Heaven and Man, but on this night, as she entered the Third Layer of the True One Technique, she effortlessly merged with nature. Having endured the violent baptism of Divine Power in the Demon Transformation Spring, her advancement in Divine Skills would progress at a rate of a thousand miles a day from now on. Afterwards, he was only worried that her temperament couldn’t keep up with her cultivation, potentially inviting a Heart Demon.
This girl had given him quite a few surprises lately.
The people in the farmhouse were nowhere near her in terms of Mental State, and during the tedious wait, several heavy breaths were heard, clearly very impatient. After an unknown amount of time, Changtian finally whispered in her ear, "They’re coming."
By this time, the moon had begun to tilt west, and the ground was not as bright as it had been earlier in the night.
Ning Xiaoxian opened her eyes and looked down at Jade Field below. After a few seconds, indeed, a sneaky figure stealthily made its way inside. Jade Field was protected by ten Defensive Arrays, one misplaced step not only meant being trapped in an Array but also triggering the restrictions and alarming the entire Guangcheng Palace. Therefore, as a fellow thief, Ning Xiaoxian was also very nervous at this moment.
