Not long after, the second batch of disciples dispatched to exterminate the demon beasts set off. Among them was indeed Senior Sister Wei.
They departed quietly. By the time Mo Tiange knew about it, she only received a message talisman at the entrance of her cave abode.
It was from Qin Xi, saying he was also on the list for the second batch of disciples, but time was too tight to bid her farewell.
Regarding this, Mo Tiange merely spaced out for a moment before resuming her usual cultivation and alchemy.
These matters were beyond her ability to intervene. Instead, she needed to guard against the possibility of being sent out of the mountain gate if the battle situation intensified, and make more preparations.
A major sect like the Xuanqing Sect had about five hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators. Yet, these two consecutive dispatches had already sent out over two hundred, accounting for half the total number. According to the last message received, the first batch of disciples had suffered about thirty percent casualties—that was thirty to forty people. Losing thirty to forty Foundation Establishment cultivators would be an immeasurable loss for a medium-sized sect. Even for a major sect like the Xuanqing Sect, it was not to be taken lightly. Moreover, this was just the beginning of the conflict, with fierce fighting underway. By the time this Demon Beast Rebellion ended, the Xuanqing Sect would likely lose at least over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators—enough to wipe out a medium-sized sect entirely.
If that were the case, probably few Foundation Establishment cultivators in the sect could escape this tribulation. Therefore, she had to prepare herself to avoid being sent into battle without any means of self-preservation.
Day by day, a tense atmosphere gradually filled the entire Xuanqing Sect. Mo Tiange learned from Luo Fengxue that the entire Kunwu Mountain Range had been drawn into the Demon Beast Rebellion. If the Xuanqing Sect hadn't issued the Mountain-Sealing Decree and activated the mountain-protecting array from the start, they would likely have been fully engaged in battle by now, with Qi Refining disciples especially unable to be preserved. Currently, although Foundation Establishment disciples had suffered many casualties, Qi Refining disciples remained unaffected. This way, even if the Xuanqing Sect suffered heavy losses, it could recover its vitality within a century or two, and the sect's strength wouldn't decline significantly.
Upon learning this, Mo Tiange couldn't help but sigh that experience was indeed valuable. Grand Elder Zhenyang, the Chief Supreme Elder, had actually been able to judge the situation's trajectory from the very beginning, thus avoiding greater losses. Otherwise, the Xuanqing Sect would have found it difficult to escape this tribulation.
Luo Fengxue hadn't been very busy these days. It was said that because the matter was of great importance, Core Formation elders of the sect leader's generation had taken over all these affairs. Currently, Foundation Establishment deacons like them only needed to keep an eye on things from time to time. Once free, Luo Fengxue came to chat with her every day. Although Mo Tiange was anxious to practice the Spirit Refining Art, she also knew this couldn't be rushed. She simply followed her daily cultivation routine step by step, exchanging idle talk with Luo Fengxue.
Luo Fengxue was actually someone who busied herself with nothing. She had good aptitude but wasn't particularly passionate about cultivation. Instead, she enjoyed handling miscellaneous affairs. There was almost nothing on Qingquan Peak she didn't know about, and she was aware of much gossip from other peaks too. Having such leisurely conversation indeed added some enjoyment.
Mo Tiange had never encountered someone like her before. Just this lively atmosphere made her think of Murong Yan. She wondered if Murong Yan had reached Foundation Establishment yet.
"Hey, hey, Tian Ge, what are you spacing out about again?"
Mo Tiange snapped back to reality and shook her head. "Nothing. I was just thinking... Senior Sister Luo, you've been really idle lately. I kind of miss when you were busy."
This was essentially saying she was annoying. Luo Fengxue glared at her. "If Eldest Senior Sister weren't absent, I wouldn't come bother you! Right now, it's just the two of us living here. If I don't talk to you, should I talk to the spirit beasts instead?"
Mo Tiange smiled helplessly. "That's true. If I let you get so bored you talk to spirit beasts, I'd really be at fault."
Luo Fengxue gave her a sidelong glance, then remembered something. "By the way, Tian Ge, how old are you again?"
"Hmm?" Mo Tiange thought for a moment, sighing. "Twenty-four. In the blink of an eye, it's been almost four years since I came to the Xuanqing Sect." These four years had been so smooth that they felt like they passed quickly.
"Oh, then I remembered correctly. You're a year younger than me. Does the cultivation technique you practice preserve your appearance? You look no different from when you first arrived."
"It seems so..."
"Seems?!" Luo Fengxue exclaimed. "You really don't know how lucky you are! An appearance-preserving cultivation technique! Most female cultivators pursue immortality largely to maintain their youth. Having a suitable appearance-preserving technique saves so many Beauty-Preserving Pills. Countless people envy that, and you just say 'seems'!"
Mo Tiange felt somewhat guilty. She had obtained her technique too easily, so she didn't treasure it.
"You..." Luo Fengxue shook her head and sighed. "You're smart in some ways, yet quite obtuse in others. You seem foolish at times, yet you know how to gauge tact very well. I can't really say what kind of person you are..."
Mo Tiange was curious about this. "Senior Sister Luo, how do you categorize people?"
"Hmm..." Luo Fengxue thought for a moment and said, "Actually, it's quite simple. Look at the two senior sisters and me living here—each represents one type. Eldest Senior Sister is the most likable kind—she has both a woman's understanding and empathy, and a man's sense of righteousness. Second Senior Sister is the kind neither particularly liked nor disliked—she can't be bothered with others and doesn't cause trouble for anyone. As for me, I'm the kind most people like, with a small minority disliking me. Look at how popular I am. Among Qingquan Peak disciples, I dare say I know the most people..." After boasting about herself, she continued, "Then there's the kind a small minority likes but most people dislike—those with not-so-great personalities but without petty minds. The last kind is the completely disliked type. The representative figure is that senior sister of ours who was sent far away from Taikang Mountain. No self-awareness, only self-centered in her heart, thinking everyone should revolve around her. Hmph, that kind of person is almost universally detested."
Hearing Luo Fengxue mention this gossip again, Mo Tiange asked, "Does this senior sister really have no likable qualities at all?"
"Hmm... Now that you ask, I really can't think of any. It happened a long time ago. I was probably only eleven or twelve then. I remember it was not long after Uncle-Master Shoujing returned from the Demonic Mountain. At that time, Uncle-Master Shoujing's cultivation had plummeted, barely escaping with his life. Second Senior Sister took on the duty of caring for his cave abode while he was in seclusion. Who would have thought that senior sister would actually become jealous and resentful that Second Senior Sister could care for Uncle-Master Shoujing up close? She made a huge scene, even attacking Second Senior Sister. Just think—Uncle-Master Shoujing had almost lost his life, and she was only concerned with petty jealousy. Naturally, she greatly offended both Uncle-Master and Grandmaster. Only out of consideration for her father did Grandmaster not punish her, merely sending her away from the Xuanqing Sect to a branch location to reflect on her mistakes for several decades. Sigh, anyway, I've never heard of anyone liking her."
"Oh..." That kind of person really wasn't likable, lacking any sense of proportion.
"Speaking of Eldest Senior Sister, I wonder how she is. I'm not too worried about Second Senior Sister, since Uncle-Master Shoujing is with her, after all." Luo Fengxue looked up at the sky and sighed.
"Is there still no news about Senior Sister Han?"
"There's a little news..." Luo Fengxue thought for a moment. "A few days ago, word came that they found a secret mark left by Senior Sister. They just haven't found her yet. I think the possibility of Senior Sister being alive is still quite high."
"That's good. No bad news is good news."
Luo Fengxue pondered briefly, then clapped her hands. "That's a good saying. Exactly so."
The two chatted idly for a while longer when they simultaneously received message talismans.
"Huh, it's from Master."
Mo Tiange also nodded. "Mine too. It seems to be about the same matter. Let's go."
"Mm." The two put aside their distractions and hurried together to Perfected Person Xuanyin's cave abode.
"Master."
"Uncle-Master."
This time, Perfected Person Xuanyin wasn't meditating. Instead, he was pacing around the main hall with his hands behind his back. Seeing them enter, he stopped and said, "Good, you're both here. Come over."
Turning to sit in the main seat, Perfected Person Xuanyin looked gravely at his disciples and said solemnly, "I called you here because the battle situation is intense. You might be sent out to participate in the battle at any moment."
Mo Tiange was greatly shocked. Exchanging a glance with Luo Fengxue, both showed expressions of surprise and doubt. After all, the sect had already dispatched as many as twelve Core Formation cultivators. Even though Uncle-Master Hanyu had fallen earlier, there were still eleven. The Xuanqing Sect only had about forty-some Core Formation cultivators total—they had already sent out a quarter. Could they still not hold out? Had another uncle-master or senior uncle-master fallen?
"Master, what about Eldest Senior Sister and Second Senior Sister..."
Perfected Person Xuanyin shook his head. "Qingyu has been found. She's fine. But given the current situation, whether they can return is uncertain. I have decided to leave the mountain to provide support. Among you, those at Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment or above will accompany me into battle."
All the disciples were startled, but no one dared voice any objection. Those with cultivation at Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment or above replied softly, "Yes, Master."
"And you two," Perfected Person Xuanyin looked toward Mo Tiange and Luo Fengxue. "You early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators must not relax either. I estimate that before long, you will all have to leave the mountain to participate in exterminating the demon beasts. Therefore, I will first bestow upon you some magical instruments and spirit talismans. Take them and keep them well."
"Yes, Master."
Mo Tiange and Luo Fengxue glanced at each other, each receiving magical instruments and talismans from Perfected Person Xuanyin's hands. After listening to some more admonitions, they left Perfected Person Xuanyin's cave abode.
The two walked in silence for a while. Mo Tiange hesitantly spoke up, "Senior Sister Luo, do you have any way to inquire about the specific situation?"
"Hmm?" Luo Fengxue was distracted. "What news do you want to inquire about?"
"One is Brother Ye—you know him too. And then there's Senior Brother Qin... Last time, Senior Brother Qin said he would also go into battle. There's been no news of him since."
Luo Fengxue said, "Your Senior Brother Qin definitely won't be in any danger. It's Senior Brother Ye who's hard to say... Don't worry, I'll go ask other senior brothers and sisters at the Deacon Hall later."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Of course," Luo Fengxue's eyes shifted. "Senior Brother Qin has a special status. They definitely won't send him on risky missions. Besides, there's still Uncle-Master Shoujing."
"Hmm... That's true."
Even so, Mo Tiange still felt uneasy. Ye Jingwen had, after all, advanced to Foundation Establishment many years ago and was now at Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment. Qin Xi had only advanced a few years ago—he probably hadn't even stabilized his realm yet, let alone developed his divine abilities and techniques. Even with many treasures, without sufficient cultivation, it would be futile.
However, she didn't worry for long, because not long after Uncle-Master Xuanyin left the mountain, she received notice to depart with Luo Fengxue to provide support.