God Transformation Stage cultivators!
Qin Xi stared at the two men before him. Shock outweighed wariness. Although he had heard from his master that God Transformation Stage cultivators truly existed in this world, these old monsters had long since withdrawn from the world. No one had seen one for nearly a thousand years. He never expected to encounter two at once!
Zhong Muling looked up at him, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Brat, I was in a good mood a few days ago and let you leave. Why have you come to break into the formation today?"
Hearing the question, Qin Xi quickly regained his composure and saluted respectfully. "Please forgive this junior, Senior. I came here to search for someone, not to intentionally break into the formation."
"Search for someone?" Yuanbao looked at his attire and asked, "Who are you looking for?"
Qin Xi replied respectfully, "This junior is a disciple of the Xuanqing Sect, searching for a fellow disciple. I dared to enter the formation and beg Senior's forgiveness."
Yuanbao and Zhong Muling exchanged a glance, both understanding the situation.
Seeing that this person was willing to risk breaking into the formation for his descendant, respectful yet without a hint of flattery, Zhong Muling felt a sliver of goodwill. His voice softened. "There is indeed a person here, but I don't know if it's the one you seek. State the name."
Hearing this, Qin Xi knew Mo Tiange was most likely here. Seeing these two God Transformation Stage seniors were quite amiable, he spoke directly. "The person this junior seeks is named Mo Tiange. I wonder if she is the one Senior mentioned?"
Zhong Muling's lips twitched slightly, his gaze meaningful as he looked at Qin Xi. "What is your relationship that you would risk such danger to save her?"
Qin Xi said, "Within the sect, this junior is her senior. Naturally, I should do my utmost to rescue her."
"Oh?" Zhong Muling gave him a sidelong glance, then beckoned with his hand. A golden sword flew from the sky and landed in his grasp. "Three Yang True Fire Sword... So someone actually managed to refine it."
Qin Xi was startled. "Senior recognizes this sword?"
Zhong Muling gave a light hum and waved his hand, tossing the Three Yang True Fire Sword back to him. "I merely saw it mentioned in an ancient cultivator's notes once. You have quite the opportunity to obtain such an ancient treasure."
Yuanbao, standing to the side, laughed. "A-Ling, compared to the Yang Spirit Bead on him, this Three Yang True Fire Sword isn't much. Tsk tsk, a Yang Spirit Bead! I really don't know what kind of luck this kid has to obtain such a rare treasure. If I had a Yang Spirit Bead back then, why would I have been stuck at the threshold of God Transformation for so long!" As he spoke, his eyes kept darting over Qin Xi.
Qin Xi felt a chill run down his spine under that ill-intentioned gaze, but he also knew that before God Transformation cultivators, he was nothing but an ant. If they wanted to do something, with his current strength, he couldn't resist at all. So he quickly calmed himself.
"Senior has keen eyes. This junior does indeed possess a Yang Spirit Bead, obtained by chance in the past. Only after all these years have I managed to integrate it for my own use."
His composure caused Yuanbao a slight surprise. He turned to Zhong Muling with a smile. "A-Ling, his mental fortitude is quite comparable to yours."
Zhong Muling said indifferently, "Don't think everyone is like you."
Though his tone was light, the disdain was clear. Yuanbao couldn't miss it and immediately cried out, "What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing much." Zhong Muling didn't even twitch an eyebrow. Before Yuanbao could retort, he turned back to Qin Xi. "Junior, for the sake of the Three Yang True Fire Sword, if you can walk out of this formation, I'll let you see the person you wish to see."
Before Qin Xi could even respond, Zhong Muling waved his hand, and both he and Yuanbao vanished without a trace.
Qin Xi gazed at the endless glaciers and swirling snow, furrowing his brow. Just as he was about to sigh, he suddenly clutched his chest and spat out a mouthful of blood—
Pushing open the door, Mo Tiange saw the person sitting cross-legged on the floor and froze. "Senior Brother Qin!"
Unaware that Zhong Muling, who was monitoring the hut, had lightly furrowed his brow, she rushed over after her initial shock.
From Zhong Muling's tone, she had originally thought the visitor was Uncle-Master Shoujing. She had been thinking she would finally get to see the famed Uncle-Master Shoujing whom she had only heard of but never met. She never expected it to be Senior Brother Qin!
Seeing Qin Xi, she felt both relieved and uneasy. Relieved because he was right before her eyes, meaning he wasn't in mortal danger. Uneasy because his face was pale, his hands and feet icy cold. He seemed completely unable to hear her voice, eyes closed, motionless. He seemed seriously injured.
Mo Tiange approached, touched his hand, and found it cold as solid ice. She immediately cried out, "Great-Great-Grandfather, what's wrong with Senior Brother Qin?"
After a moment of silence, Zhong Muling's voice sounded. "This kid just had his vitality injured in the Illusion Heaven Formation. No need to worry. His metal and fire spiritual roots are both of the Yang attribute, and he has the Yang Spirit Bead on him. The ice and snow can't harm him. His meridians are just temporarily frozen. He'll wake up on his own in a while."
"Oh..." With Zhong Muling's explanation, Mo Tiange relaxed. Seeing Qin Xi still motionless, she thought for a moment and sat down beside him.
At this moment, even Qin Xi's eyebrows were frosted with ice. Mo Tiange guessed it was probably an effect similar to the desert maze formation she had encountered—a snow and ice maze formation. But why was Senior Brother Qin here?
"Great-Great-Grandfather!" she called again.
Zhong Muling gave an acknowledging hum.
"Can you help Senior Brother Qin?"
Zhong Muling paused for a moment, then said impatiently, "So troublesome! He just needs to meditate and regulate his breathing for a while, and he'll be fine on his own!"
"But..."
"Quiet, you're noisy! Just stay put."
"Oh..." Zhong Muling was clearly displeased, so Mo Tiange didn't dare say more. She silently stood to the side, watching Qin Xi.
In these past few days, she had gained too many opportunities and momentarily forgotten about matters outside. Now, seeing Qin Xi, she couldn't help but think of what had happened before she entered. How did Luo Fengxue and Senior Sister Wei's discussion go? Did she manage to persuade Senior Sister Wei? What if she didn't? Were they safe?
Her thoughts wandered chaotically. She didn't know how much time had passed when Qin Xi suddenly stirred.
Mo Tiange immediately jumped up. "Senior Brother Qin!"
Qin Xi's eyelids fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes. The first thing that entered his vision was a joyful face smiling at him. "Senior Brother Qin, you're finally awake."
Qin Xi closed his eyes again, waiting for his breathing to gradually steady before opening them and revealing a smile. "Tian Ge, are you alright?"
Seeing that his first question upon waking was about her, Mo Tiange felt a slight stir in her heart, yet her expression remained normal as she smiled. "I'm fine. What about you, Senior Brother Qin?"
"I'm fine too, just minor injuries. I'll recover slowly after returning." After examining his surroundings, Qin Xi stood up with some difficulty. "This place is..." Such dense Spiritual Qi—what kind of blessed land was this? His own cave dwelling was located in the most Spiritual Qi-rich area of Clear Spring Peak, with a high-grade Spirit Gathering Formation, yet it was far inferior to this place.
"This is the Void Heaven Realm."
"Void Heaven Realm?" Qin Xi frowned slightly, trying to recall where he had heard this term.
Mo Tiange immediately said, "Senior Brother Qin, no need to think too much. This is the cave dwelling of Senior Yuanbao and my Great-Great-Grandfather. It's safe."
"Great-Great-Grandfather?"
"Yes," Mo Tiange nodded. "I was shocked too when I first found out. My Great-Great-Grandfather's surname is Zhong, his given name is Muling. He is the master of this place."
"..." The master of this place—could it be one of those two God Transformation Stage seniors? At this thought, Qin Xi's gaze instantly filled with astonishment and confusion. A great-great-grandfather was the grandfather of one's grandfather. However, cultivators had long lifespans, and descendants could span many generations. 'Great-Great-Grandfather' could also refer to an ancestor of an indescribably senior generation. But one thing was certain: there was a blood relation between these two. Could it be that one of those two God Transformation Stage seniors shared a blood relation with her?
As this thought arose, Qin Xi, for some reason, suddenly felt an unpleasant taste in his mouth. Before he could figure out his own feelings, he heard Mo Tiange say, "I'll explain this in detail after we return. Senior Brother Qin, are you really alright?"
Qin Xi smiled and said, "I'm fine, don't worry. A few days of meditation, and the injuries will heal. What about you? You're not injured, are you?"
Mo Tiange smiled. "Not only am I not injured, I've gained many benefits."
"Hmm?"
Releasing her full aura, Mo Tiange looked at him with a smile. "Senior Brother Qin, look, what's different about me?"
Qin Xi sensed it and was startled. "You've advanced to the mid-stage?"
"Mhm." Mo Tiange nodded happily. She didn't plan to mention the Five Spirits Fruit, but obtaining the Hunyuan technique and advancing in stage—once she returned to the Xuanqing Sect, it would be impossible to hide. Better to speak of it directly.
Advancing to Foundation Establishment mid-stage less than a year after just establishing her Foundation... Although he himself had encountered many opportunities, he was still quite surprised. But thinking of those two God Transformation cultivators, it seemed only natural. Qin Xi smiled. "Congratulations, congratulations. At your current age, already at Foundation Establishment mid-stage, you can be considered the number one talent in the Xuanqing Sect—hmm, if you work hard, there's great hope of forming your Core within a hundred years."
"Although I dare not claim I can definitely form my Core, I'll accept your auspicious words." After a pause, Mo Tiange remembered something else. "Ah, right, Senior Brother Qin, you... came looking for me?"
"Mhm." Qin Xi nodded. "I heard you went missing here, so I came to check."
"Really? Senior Brother Qin, weren't you missing along with Uncle-Master Shoujing? What about Uncle-Master Shoujing then?"
Qin Xi paused, then said, "We're both fine. As for you... You said this place is your Great-Great-Grandfather's cave dwelling. Is he one of those two seniors?"
Mo Tiange nodded, then said apologetically, "Senior Brother Qin, I'm really sorry. If I had discovered it earlier, you wouldn't have been injured..."
"It's nothing," Qin Xi shook his head lightly. "I'm not seriously injured, you needn't be like this. By the way, what's your current situation? Since your Great-Great-Grandfather is a God Transformation Stage senior, will you... will you stay here?"
Mo Tiange shook her head. "Of course not—ah, right, Senior Brother Qin, you just woke up. Do you want to meditate a while longer? We'll have plenty of time to talk later. In a few days, I'll leave with you, and we can talk slowly then."
Hearing this, Qin Xi revealed a smile, his heart settling at once. "That's good too. The Spiritual Qi here is abundant. We mustn't waste it. We can talk slowly after returning."
"Mhm, you continue your recovery. I won't disturb you."
Watching Mo Tiange exit the room, Qin Xi slumped onto the meditation cushion. Before he could even sigh in relief, a sudden gust of fierce wind struck. He had no time to react before it hit him solidly. The Spiritual Qi within his body immediately churned uncontrollably, and he spat out another mouthful of blood.
Zhong Muling's voice sounded in the room. "Why did you conceal her identity?! What are your intentions?! If you don't explain clearly, don't blame me for taking your life!"