Mo Tiange stood with her hands tucked into her sleeves atop the highest tower of the Yu Family's stronghold, gazing intently at the defensive barrier of the formation array above the estate.
Two cultivators and a demon beast were engaged in battle up there. One of the cultivators spotted her and was overjoyed, shouting loudly, "Fellow Daoist, please lend a hand!"
Mo Tiange frowned slightly, feeling somewhat displeased. That demon beast was a Fifth-Rank Demonic Beast, equivalent to a human cultivator at the early Core Formation stage, though demon beasts lacked talismans, magic treasures, and such, making their combat abilities somewhat weaker than an early-stage Core Formation cultivator.
Regardless, this was still a Fifth-Rank Demonic Beast. The two of them were only Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, finding it difficult to fight it, yet they had so casually led it into the Yu Family's territory to seek help. It seemed they didn't value the lives of the Yu Family's mortals and low-level cultivators at all. They might even be trying to divert the disaster eastward to save their own skins.
Though this thought was rather malicious, Mo Tiange was seventy to eighty percent certain that even if these two weren't doing it intentionally, they were subconsciously acting that way.
Facing a Fifth-Rank Demonic Beast, even as disciples of a renowned sect, these two were powerless to fight back and could only dodge its attacks. Seeing them struggle more and more, the other one shouted again, "Fellow Daoist, are you just going to stand by and watch?!"
His tone was far from pleasant. Mo Tiange swept a glance around; only a few low-level cultivators were watching them with reverence nearby. Everyone else had already been relocated to other places by the Yu Family Head. She let out a soft laugh and said indifferently, "I am a guest here, not the host. Such matters should be decided by the master of this place. You two should wait a bit longer."
"You—" The one who spoke later flushed purple with anger. He naturally understood that Mo Tiange's words were an evasion, but their lives hung by a thread at this moment!
In that moment of distraction, the other person was slapped down by the demon beast's wing. He let out a miserable scream and was sent flying.
"Junior Brother!" The first cultivator cried out, shot a furious glance at Mo Tiange, and began circling with the demon beast—he truly couldn't hold on much longer.
Fortunately, the Yu Family Head and his wife hurried over at that moment. Seeing the situation, they hastily said to Mo Tiange, "Fellow Daoist Mo, please help!"
Mo Tiange understood his meaning and nodded. "I will open the formation. You go rescue the injured person. Remember, be quick. You only have the time it takes an incense stick to burn. If you can't get in by then, for everyone else's safety, I will directly close the formation."
"Understood." Over the past few days, they had taken in many cultivators one after another. The Yu Family Head was very clear about Mo Tiange's rules. Right now, if she said one incense stick's worth of time, it was one incense stick's worth. If they exceeded it, they would be responsible for their own life and death. Moreover, a Fifth-Rank Demonic Beast had appeared this time, exceeding their capabilities. Being able to rescue people inside was already very good.
The Yu Family Head shouted loudly, "Fellow Daoist up there, we will open the formation for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. Please enter as quickly as possible. If you cannot get in, we will be powerless to help."
Upon hearing this, the cultivator was overjoyed and also shouted, "Thank you! Please open the formation quickly. I can't hold on much longer."
Mo Tiange remained unhurried. At this moment, she brought her palms together, formed a hand seal, and began chanting an incantation. This ancient Four Symbols Formation was not like modern ones operated by formation flags. Instead, it had corresponding hand seals and incantations, making manipulation more effortless.
As she chanted the incantation, a layer of light flashed across the protective barrier, accompanied by a buzzing hum. Hearing this sound, Mo Tiange's chanting sped up. Suddenly, a sharp chirping sound rang out, and a small hole opened at the top of the protective barrier. Mo Tiange shouted, "Hurry!"
The Yu Family Head acknowledged and immediately flew out with his wife, pouncing toward the fallen person.
The cultivator being chased by the demon beast saw this and was overjoyed, charging straight toward the opening.
Mo Tiange was furious at the sight. This person was truly extremely selfish, barging in directly like that without fear of leading the demon beast inside and harming the Yu Family! Her expression grew even more solemn as she stared intently at the demon beast behind the cultivator. Changing her hand seal, several formation eyes of the Four Symbols Formation suddenly glowed brightly, transforming into the lights of the Four Symbols—Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—which shone upon the demon beast.
This light seemed to have substance. When it shone on the demon beast, the beast's movements faltered, and smoke immediately rose from its body. The demon beast let out an angry roar, flapped its wings rapidly, and began grappling with the light beasts conjured by the formation.
In an instant, the spirit stones at each formation eye shattered one after another, and even the spiritual energy within her body was rapidly draining away. Mo Tiange gritted her teeth, secretly released her spiritual sense, and between the Fifth-Rank Demonic Beast and the Four Symbols, she seized an opportunity and lashed out fiercely.
The Fifth-Rank Demonic Beast immediately let out a roar of pain. The Four Symbols' light pounced on it and bit down hard. The cultivator took advantage of this opportunity to rush into the formation. The Yu Family Head and his wife were also quick, following the cultivator and darting inside.
Seeing this, Mo Tiange immediately formed a hand seal, coordinated with the incantation, and another beam of light swept across the protective barrier, sealing it shut. The demon beast struggled several times but, seeing it was futile, finally left unwillingly.
Seeing the formation close and the demon beast depart, everyone present breathed a sigh of relief. Mo Tiange slowly lowered her hands, covered her chest, and coughed once.
"Fellow Daoist Mo!" Madam Yu exclaimed in alarm.
Mo Tiange wiped away the blood she coughed up and shook her head. "It's nothing. I expended too much spiritual energy just now. Please go quickly and replenish the spirit stones at each formation eye."
Hearing this, Madam Yu did not dare delay and personally went to do it.
Only then did Mo Tiange turn to look at the Yu Family Head and the two cultivators who had just entered. The Yu Family Head was already examining the injuries of the unconscious cultivator. The other cultivator had closed his eyes to meditate, not even glancing at her.
Mo Tiange shook her head, swallowed a Small Recovery Pill, and paid them no further mind.
These two cultivators—the unconscious one was younger, looking just over thirty, while the one meditating and regulating his breath was older, not yet forty. Both wore the robes of the Danding Sect, and their attitude was arrogant. They were likely elite disciples, and being relatively young yet having Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation indicated promising futures, which explained their demeanor toward others.
Saving these two was within her capabilities and was requested by the Yu Family Head. Mo Tiange hadn't expected gratitude from them and didn't take it to heart.
The Yu Family Head checked the injuries of the unconscious one. When Madam Yu returned, the two worked together to heal that person.
Not long after, the person awoke groggily and called out, "Uncle! Aunt!"
Seeing him awake, the Yu Family Head said happily, "Good, good. It's good that you're awake. Don't speak for now. Go back and recuperate."
Mo Tiange was taken aback. So this person was actually the only remaining Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Yu Family in the Danding Sect? No wonder he had so naturally asked her to help—this was his home. However, she was still a disciple of another sect. It was still rather impolite.
After sending that Yu Family junior back with someone, the Yu Family Head turned and sincerely cupped his hands toward Mo Tiange. "Great kindness needs no thanks, Fellow Daoist Mo. I will remember this favor in my heart."
Mo Tiange said indifferently, "The Yu Family Head need not be so polite. It was merely within my ability."
The Yu Family Head, however, did not take this lightly. He took out a bottle of pills and said, "Fellow Daoist Mo was injured just now. This is called Biheng Dan, a secret medicine of my Yu Family. Its effects are far superior to the Small Recovery Pill. Please accept it as a mere token of our gratitude."
A secret healing medicine was exactly what Mo Tiange lacked. She didn't stand on ceremony and accepted it. "Thank you."
After a while longer, the cultivator who had been healing on the spot finally opened his eyes and let out a breath.
As soon as he looked up, he stood and greeted the Yu Family Head. "Uncle Yu, thank you for saving me."
The Yu Family Head smiled and helped him up. "I didn't see clearly earlier. So it's Junior Brother Zhou. Junior Brother Zhou, you're too polite. What uncle or not? Our cultivation levels are the same. Calling me Senior Brother would already make me quite happy."
This Junior Brother Zhou didn't say more. Mo Tiange could tell that this person didn't think much of the Yu Family Head, who had no hope of advancing further. He was likely being polite for the sake of that Yu Family junior brother. At this moment, a trace of disdain flashed in his eyes as he asked the Yu Family Head, "Where is Junior Brother Yu? Is he alright now?"
The Yu Family Head said, "My nephew is fine. He's resting in the back now. If Junior Brother Zhou wishes to see him, I'll have someone show you the way." He then called over a low-level cultivator and gave some instructions.
Junior Brother Zhou cupped his hands, swept a similarly dismissive glance over Mo Tiange, and followed the low-level cultivator away.
After this person left, the Yu Family Head sighed and turned to Mo Tiange. "Fellow Daoist Mo, please don't mind him. This Junior Brother Zhou has always had this kind of temperament. He doesn't have any ill intentions."
Mo Tiange smiled. She had seen many people like this, but none were as blatant as this Junior Brother Zhou. Even Wei Jiasi was only superficially arrogant. She would never look at people with such eyes or order them around. Only this Junior Brother Zhou was truly detestable.
Seeing Mo Tiange's expression, the Yu Family Head roughly guessed her thoughts and felt somewhat awkward, but didn't say more. This Junior Brother Zhou wasn't from the Yu Family. For the sake of his nephew, offering a word of comfort was enough.
The two stood silently atop the Yu Family's tower, looking into the distance. Occasionally, streaks of light would pass by, along with the glow of battles.
Over the past two days, they had learned about the current situation from the cultivators who had come in from outside. The present circumstances were quite dire. The disciples of the Danding Sect had all been dispatched to battle, even the miscellaneous-duty disciples were no exception. The fact that miscellaneous-duty disciples were also being sent to the battlefield showed just how fierce the fighting had become.
Later, parts of the Danding Sect's mountain-protecting formation shattered. The cultivation families attached to it all received orders from the Danding Sect to join the battle. Of course, not all families obeyed. With the Danding Sect in peril, naturally some wanted to preserve themselves alone. However, demon beasts wouldn't negotiate peace with humans. They could only hope they were lucky and didn't run into high-level demon beasts.
The Yu Family's decision to join the battle was due to multiple reasons. First, the Yu Family was too small. Rather than preserving their strength and choosing another powerful force to attach to later, they might as well gamble a few lives, betting that a sect like the Danding Sect, which had lasted for thousands of years, wouldn't be toppled by a single demon beast rebellion. Second, one of the Yu Family's promising Foundation Establishment Cultivators had already died in this chaotic war. In their anger, they had let go. Things couldn't get much worse. Preserving strength might not even be possible, so they might as well fight with everything they had.
Thus, Mo Tiange felt quite impressed by this Yu Family Head. To be able to make such a decisive judgment, he was indeed a capable person.
She heard that the Danding Sect had sent out countless distress messenger talismans. Presumably, in a month or half a month, fellow cultivators would come to aid—too early, and those people wouldn't want to sacrifice; too late, and the Danding Sect would be defeated, which would likely deal a blow to the entire Kunwu's alchemy level. It seemed they just needed to hold out until then.
The two watched silently for a while. The Yu Family Head suddenly said, "In a few days, it will be the New Year."
Mo Tiange was startled. Cultivation had no regard for time. Cultivators didn't pay attention to such mundane rituals. Whether in the Cloud Mist Sect or the Xuanqing Sect, or when she was with her Second Uncle, they never celebrated the New Year. At most, they would tell her she had grown another year older. For the Yu Family Head to suddenly bring this up, it seemed people from cultivation families probably placed more importance on these things.
The Yu Family Head gazed at the distant flames and said with a downcast smile, "Last New Year, another grandnephew of mine had just turned thirty and advanced to Foundation Establishment. At that time, we thought the Yu Family had a bright future ahead and might produce a Core Formation cultivator. We never expected that this New Year, that grandnephew of mine has already perished…"
The Yu Family Head didn't say anything more, but Mo Tiange still sensed his sorrow. For people from cultivation families, having no successors was probably the saddest thing, just like the Ye Family back then. Even though they produced a stunningly talented Core Formation cultivator, with no one to inherit, they ultimately withdrew from Green Mist Mountain in obscurity.
The Yu Family Head wiped the corner of his eye, turned, and smiled. "Fellow Daoist Mo, please don't mind me. When people get old, they tend to indulge in wild thoughts. Ah…"
Mo Tiange shook her head. "It's nothing…"
The two fell silent again for a moment. The Yu Family Head asked, "Fellow Daoist Mo is quite young, and it doesn't seem like a youth-preserving art. May I ask how old you are?"
Mo Tiange paused. Asking about age was an extremely rare act among cultivators, but this Yu Family Head was quite old and could be considered an elder. After thinking, she replied, "After this New Year, I will be twenty-five."
"Twenty-five!" The Yu Family Head was shocked. "Fellow Daoist Mo, with your Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, you're only twenty-five?"
Mo Tiange nodded. Though saying it might cause surprise, Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment wasn't such a world-shaking cultivation level, so it was fine.
The Yu Family Head sighed sincerely. "No wonder your Senior Sister praised you as young and accomplished. I thought my grandnephew was considered outstanding even among elite disciples of major sects. Compared to you, Fellow Daoist, he truly isn't worth mentioning."
Mo Tiange smiled without pride. "The Yu Family Head is too polite. Actually, I only established my Foundation not long ago. It's only because my elders doted on me and I encountered some opportunities that I entered the mid-stage. Speaking of it, I feel rather ashamed."
"Eh!" The Yu Family Head said seriously. "Opportunities are also part of one's strength. Fellow Daoist Mo really needn't be so modest. If it were my useless sons and grandsons, even if you gave them heaven-sent opportunities, I'm afraid they couldn't advance to such a state."
Mo Tiange merely smiled and cupped her hands in response to the Yu Family Head's praise. The Yu Family Head didn't know what kind of opportunities she had encountered. Obtaining the Hunyuan Primeval Maiden Technique, her own waste spiritual roots instantly became heaven-bestowed talent; receiving guidance from a God Transformation cultivator meant her cultivation path would be at least ten or twenty years shorter than others in the future; plus the opportunity of Five Spirits Cultivation Body, she essentially reduced the cultivation time of the God Transformation Art by more than half; finally, the Void Heaven Realm—though she hadn't yet had time to utilize its greatest wealth, the formation array she was using now came from it.
Before all this, she would have agreed with the Yu Family Head that opportunities were merely auxiliary. But after obtaining them, she realized that opportunities truly should not be underestimated. In the past, Kunwu had legends of a cultivator with extremely poor aptitude who obtained a heaven-sent opportunity, cultivated to the Nascent Soul stage, and his divine abilities roamed freely across Tianji. Now it seemed that was indeed true.
The Yu Family Head spoke again. "Fellow Daoist Mo, may I ask which Perfected One of the Xuanqing Sect you and your Senior Sisters are disciples of?"
When they arrived, they only said they were sent by their master to accept the Danding Sect's dispatch for aid, but didn't specify their master's name. With the Yu Family Head's status, he probably wasn't qualified to know such things.
However, this matter wasn't a secret. Mo Tiange said, "My Senior Sisters are all disciples of Perfected One Xuanyin. I was also taught by Perfected One Xuanyin, so we can be considered from the same master."
"So that's how it is…" The Yu Family Head didn't ask further about why she specifically called him Uncle-Master. Such matters were personal secrets.
The two chatted idly for a while longer. Seeing her young age yet possessing such cultivation and her steady manner in dealing with people, the Yu Family Head was quite inclined to befriend her. Mo Tiange also responded amiably—forming a connection might truly be useful in the future.
Just as they were talking, someone came to report that the condition of that young Yu Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator had changed. The Yu Family Head was extremely worried and immediately rushed over. Mo Tiange hadn't planned to get involved, but just then Han Qingyu came to take over and secretly instructed her to follow and check on the situation.
Following the Yu Family Head into the Yu Family's inner courtyard, upon entering the room, she received another hostile glance from that Junior Brother Zhou.
Mo Tiange curled her lips slightly, feeling somewhat helpless. This Junior Brother Zhou, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator who appeared close to forty, was at least over a hundred years old, yet he was still so childish. The disciples of the Danding Sect didn't seem all that impressive.
"A'Xi, how are you?!" Using such an address, the Yu Family Head seemed very close to this cultivator.
The young Yu Family cultivator lay on the bed, his spirits dim, revealing a bitter smile. "Uncle, I… I'm sorry…"
"A'Xi, don't say such things!" The Yu Family Head tightly grasped this person's hand, comforting him. "Rest well and recover. You will get better. We still have plenty of Biheng Dan…"
"Uncle!" This person interrupted him, a look of grief in his eyes. "Uncle, my injuries… I know them myself. Perhaps the injuries can heal, but… but I've probably been knocked back to the Qi Refining stage…"
Hearing this, the Yu Family Head's expression changed drastically. Mo Tiange saw his hand holding this person's trembling slightly.
Knocked back to the Qi Refining stage—Mo Tiange knew how severe such an injury was. As for cultivation level regression, in better cases, it would take several years to train the cultivation back; in worse cases… one might never make an inch of progress for the rest of their life.
"Uncle…" Seeing the Yu Family Head's expression, tears rolled from this person's eyes. "I… I'm sorry. For over fifty years, you did your best to nurture me, yet I… I…"
"No," The Yu Family Head regained his senses and actually calmed down, his voice resolute. "A'Xi, don't worry. Once the war is over, Uncle will help you find a way. Don't think too much now. Our Yu Family is still alright. Right now, getting through this hurdle is what matters."
This person wiped away his tears, probably not wanting the Yu Family Head to grieve further, and nodded. "Yes, Uncle, please rest assured. I… I don't want to die yet…"
However, Mo Tiange clearly saw desolation in his eyes—he clearly knew he wouldn't recover. Mo Tiange secretly shook her head. With her discernment, she could roughly tell that this person was indeed in bad shape. His meridians were severely damaged. Even if his Dantian was unharmed, he would at least regress to early Foundation Establishment.