After completing a major cultivation cycle, Mo Tiange withdrew her power and opened her eyes.
Cultivating in this place, she discovered her cultivation progress was advancing at an unbelievably fast rate. She possessed a Five Spirit Root aptitude, and retaining spiritual qi within her body was originally difficult. Yet here, the five elements circulated in a cycle, and her absorption of spiritual qi was several times faster than on Mount Taikang! Logically, the density of spiritual qi should affect the speed of absorption, but her spirit roots were too poor—at most, it should only be one or two times faster, never an exaggerated four or five times. Moreover, since entering the Foundation Establishment stage, her cultivation had stagnated for the past half year. Yet in these two days here, her cultivation had grown remarkably rapid.
Ever since she handed over the Plain Maiden Art cultivation method, Zhong Muling had secluded himself to study it. The other master of this place, Yuanbao, was very amiable and had spoken with her at length, allowing her to learn the reason.
It turned out this place was called the Void Heaven Realm. It was said to be an independent space created by a great supernatural power from the Primordial Era who shattered the void. It contained light and water, forming its own cycle of life and death, and others could not enter without permission—meaning, here, its master was a god. Even in the Primordial Era, the Void Heaven Realm was a miraculous object, possessed only by those with great supernatural powers. In today's age, it was even more of a heaven-defying treasure. The spiritual qi environment here was the same as in the Primordial Era, hence the extremely fast cultivation speed. Zhong Muling had also obtained this object through a stroke of fortune.
Mo Tiange was quite envious of this. A portable cave abode with such dense spiritual qi, very safe, and convenient for hiding—it was truly a first-rate tool for killing and escaping. Especially after learning that after reaching the God Transformation Stage, the master could make it fly like manipulating a magic treasure, her envy grew even stronger.
However, she also knew this object was extraordinary. Even for reclusive experts like them at the God Transformation Stage, this was a heaven-defying treasure. Daoist Yuanbao also said that, to their knowledge, apart from theirs, only another reclusive God Transformation Stage cultivator possessed one. So she merely entertained the thought.
Regarding this Senior Yuanbao, Mo Tiange felt quite curious. The other party seemed not to have seen outsiders for many years and spoke with great enthusiasm, telling her many things.
It turned out her great-great-grandfather Zhong Muling not only possessed a Hunyuan Spiritual Root but also had a perfect balance of yin and yang, making him the purest Neutral Constitution. His blood was also called Heavenly Origin Blood. This Heavenly Origin Blood was only possessed by those with a Hunyuan Spiritual Root and Neutral Constitution, making it an excellent catalyst during alchemy. When Zhong Muling was young, he was accepted into a sect specializing in alchemy. His master treated him very well, so he never knew his constitution was special. Later, after his master passed away and he was imprisoned by his martial uncle, he realized he was different from ordinary people. After escaping the sect and experiencing many hardships, stumbling along, his situation only improved somewhat after he formed his Core. Later, relying on the miraculous effects of the Hunyuan cultivation method and his Heavenly Origin Blood, he advanced to the God Transformation Stage in one go and no longer entered the mortal world.
Hearing this, Mo Tiange felt closer to this ancestor. She herself had a Pure Yin Constitution, which had always easily attracted great calamity. Being cautious inevitably led to depression. It turned out this ancestor had similar troubles—since he could cultivate to the God Transformation Stage under similar circumstances, it gave her great confidence. With the Hunyuan cultivation method, she could certainly do it too!
As for Daoist Yuanbao, he said his own experience was much simpler. Born into a major immortal cultivation clan, belonging to a great sect, possessing a Pure Yang Constitution, and having a single spirit root, he was coddled by his sect and clan since childhood. Coupled with his own pure-hearted nature, he cultivated and cultivated until he reached the Nascent Soul stage, later breaking through to the God Transformation Stage. Cultivators at the God Transformation Stage viewed all worldly matters lightly. Moreover, as relatives and friends passed away one by one, he found it dull and eventually left his clan and sect.
Yuanbao spoke plainly, but Mo Tiange was quite jealous. Although Zhong Muling, by Primordial Era standards, was also a heaven-endowed talent, he had experienced many hardships to achieve his accomplishments. But this Yuanbao—a genius since childhood, meticulously nurtured by his clan and sect—his cultivation path was too smooth, so smooth it made someone like her, born to face tribulations, jealous. She couldn't help but wonder: Was Zhong Muling's harsh attitude towards Yuanbao also born from such psychology?
Yuanbao and Zhong Muling met when Yuanbao was at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, impacting the God Transformation Stage. To transform into a god, one must first transform into a human. Having lived within his clan and sect since childhood, Yuanbao knew nothing of the human world. For this, he left his clan and sect, wandering everywhere in the mortal world. One day, bored, he squatted daydreaming in some immortal cultivation market, saw Zhong Muling pass back and forth in front of him, and on a whim, followed behind him, wanting to play a trick. That's how they met.
Originally, it was merely a senior teasing a junior. Who could have guessed that later, Zhong Muling would also transform into a god? Only then did they truly become close friends. Cultivation in this world was too difficult; there were only a few at the God Transformation Stage. Only the two of them were of similar age. In their loneliness, they accompanied each other in seclusion, for thousands of years...
Mentioning this, a look of profound loneliness appeared in Yuanbao's eyes. Being able to have one person accompany him seemed something he considered himself fortunate for, making Mo Tiange sigh inwardly.
What was the lifespan of a God Transformation Stage cultivator? They didn't know either. After thousands of years, they still didn't know its end. Yuanbao, who sounded like someone with such a simple mind, actually felt lonely—Mo Tiange couldn't help but think: Wasn't the purpose of cultivation to achieve longevity? If one ended up feeling lonely and sad, then why seek longevity?
Yuanbao smiled and said that although longevity was lonely, many beautiful things still required being alive to experience. So if given the choice, he would still walk the path of cultivation, advancing towards longevity. Otherwise, a human life of several decades would end before one could fully comprehend certain matters, which would be too short. Moreover, when lonely, there were always ways to dispel it. If dead, one could experience nothing.
Apart from this, Yuanbao also told her about Mo Yaoqing. It turned out her feeling was correct: between Mo Yaoqing and Zhong Muling, there was only the act of marriage, not the affection of husband and wife. In the past, Mo Yaoqing schemed against Zhong Muling to form her Nascent Soul, which led to their dual cultivation fate. Due to certain reasons, Zhong Muling very much wished for descendants. And since Mo Yaoqing had shown him kindness in other matters, he didn't hold it against her. Later, after transforming into a god, he learned that after their one night as husband and wife, Mo Yaoqing had actually borne descendants. However, by then, Mo Yaoqing had exhausted her lifespan and passed away. While overjoyed in his heart, he felt an additional trace of gratitude towards Mo Yaoqing. While traveling the world within the Void Heaven Realm, if he reached the Tianji region, he would check on his descendants.
Hearing this, Mo Tiange felt somewhat reassured. Zhong Muling wished for descendants. Although the descendants bore the Mo surname, he had always watched over them. Then he would certainly show her extra care.
Just as she was thinking this, a voice suddenly sounded in her ear: "Tian Ge, come to my room."
This was Zhong Muling's voice. Mo Tiange stood up and straightened her clothes.
Learning that the master of this place was her own ancestor, she was naturally ecstatic in her heart. But since beginning cultivation, she had experienced too many things, and her mind was extremely composed, so she quickly calmed down. Her Hunyuan Spiritual Root was precisely inherited from this great-great-grandfather. Considering this spirit root, unseen for thousands of years, this great-great-grandfather was very kind to her and had previously hinted at giving her a cultivation method. She didn't greedily hope for more. As long as she obtained a suitable cultivation method, she would be satisfied.
"Greetings, Great-Great-Grandfather."
Zhong Muling sat cross-legged on a cushion, pointed to the spot opposite him, and waited for her to sit down before saying amiably, "Do you know what is special about the Hunyuan Spiritual Root?"
Mo Tiange replied, "This junior only knows that the Hunyuan Spiritual Root is one of several special spirit roots, but does not know its true use."
Zhong Muling smiled slightly. This answer didn't surprise him. The special characteristics of the Hunyuan Spiritual Root were originally known to very few.
" so-called Hunyuan, the origin of chaos. When heaven and earth first opened, the world was chaotic, the five elements were born, yin and yang began to grow. Thus, a world was formed where the five elements generate and restrain each other, yin and yang cycle endlessly, life begets life without cease. The Hunyuan Spiritual Root refers to a spirit root where the five elements are of equal strength, achieving balance within the body. Explained this way, do you understand?"
Mo Tiange was somewhat shocked. The so-called chaos was the origin of the world. Could the Hunyuan Spiritual Root really be explained this way? She calmed her emotions, thought for a moment, and slowly said, "Does Great-Great-Grandfather mean that the Hunyuan Spiritual Root is meant to cultivate a chaotic world?"
Zhong Muling nodded. "Correct. This was a cultivation method from the Primordial Era, gradually lost over time. I dare say, apart from me, no one today knows this cultivation method."
"So it's like that..." She had never imagined this Hunyuan Spiritual Root would be connected to the Primordial Era—so, in fact, her spirit root was also extremely good?
"I also obtained this cultivation method by accident. Otherwise, with my Five Spirit Root and without your Pure Yin Constitution, I would merely have a waste spirit root. Your Pure Yin Constitution is actually not suitable for cultivating the Hunyuan Spiritual Root. You must know that the elements of chaos include both the five elements and yin and yang. I happened to have a Neutral Constitution of yin and yang, hence my cultivation was astonishingly fast. But you are different: solitary yin does not grow, solitary yang does not beget."
Hearing Zhong Muling say this, Mo Tiange's heart instantly cooled again. She had just gained hope for her innate talent—was it empty joy after all?
Seeing her expression, Zhong Muling smiled again. "The Pure Yin Constitution and Hunyuan Spiritual Root—obtaining either one is already rare. You possess both, but it comes with a discount. However, you need not be discouraged. The Pure Yin Constitution has other benefits, and it's not impossible to practice the Hunyuan cultivation method. Both yin and yang contain the five elements. You can first cultivate the five elements of yin. These past two days, I carefully studied your Plain Maiden Art, modified it somewhat, and incorporated the Hunyuan cultivation method. Henceforth, it shall be called the Hunyuan Plain Maiden Art."
Zhong Muling pointed to two jade slips on the table. "This is my original Hunyuan cultivation method, the Taiyuan Record. This is the modified Hunyuan Plain Maiden Art. The reason I give you this Taiyuan Record is because I do not have a Pure Yin Constitution. This Hunyuan Plain Maiden Art is entirely deduced. If this cultivation method is not suitable, you can re-cultivate the Taiyuan Record."
Hearing this, Mo Tiange felt overwhelmed by the favor. She originally thought Zhong Muling's willingness to modify her cultivation method was already extremely good. She hadn't expected him to directly give her the Hunyuan cultivation method and even say such words.
"Great-Great-Grandfather, I..."
Zhong Muling pondered for a moment and said, "Although you are my descendant, I cannot keep you in this Void Heaven Realm. This Void Heaven Realm is a space from the Primordial Era. Cultivating here is naturally extremely fast, but without worldly experiences, your mental state will certainly be insufficient, causing problems during advancement. Now you are an elite disciple of a renowned major sect, with a smooth future ahead. I will not keep you. Stay here for a period, practice this Hunyuan Plain Maiden Art, and see if it is feasible. When the time comes, I will gift you a few treasures, also counts as fulfilling the bond of our bloodline."
"Yes." Mo Tiange assented. She hadn't fantasized about staying here anyway. After all, separated by thousands of years, the bloodline connection with this great-great-grandfather was extremely faint. His willingness to care for her was already very good.
Seeing her so well-behaved, Zhong Muling seemed to feel somewhat sorry for her and added, "During this time, if you have any matters, you can ask me freely. Although I will not handle everything for you, I will also not let you be bullied."