Mo Tiange had no idea how long she had been soaking in the Nurturing Pool. Finally, she mustered the strength to open her eyes.
Looking around, she could now see the pool clearly.
It was a pool constructed from irregular warm jade. Mist filled the air above the water, which was a faint milky white and emitted the familiar scent of medicinal herbs.
The pool was situated on a raised platform. The steps and floor were all made of white jade, with carved railings and painted beams—the height of luxury. Gauze curtains hung all around. When the wind blew, the curtains fluttered, and countless flower petals drifted down from the sky...
Surrounding the platform was an endless sea of clouds. The entire structure seemed to float amidst the clouds. She had no idea where this Nurturing Pool was actually located.
While she was lost in these random thoughts, a maidservant exclaimed joyfully, "Uncle-Master Mo, you're awake?"
Mo Tiange turned her head and saw four Foundation Establishment female cultivators standing respectfully behind her, each beautiful and gentle. These must be the Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum who had been bickering while attending to her.
The one who spoke sounded like the most talkative, Meng Zhu. Mo Tiange simply nodded. "Can I come out now?"
Mo Mei took over. "Since Uncle-Master can move, of course you may."
Receiving confirmation, Mo Tiange started to rise but suddenly realized she was completely naked. Feeling somewhat awkward, she asked, "Where are my clothes?"
The four—Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum—separated. Two clearly held long towels, while the other two held up garments, evidently prepared to assist her.
Mo Tiange thought for a moment. They were all women; being seen wasn't a big deal. She stopped being bashful. Stepping out of the pool, one maid gathered her hair, another dried her body, and the remaining two helped her dress.
Without lifting a single finger, she was fully clothed.
At this moment, Mo Tiange suddenly recalled a story she had read in the mortal world. It spoke of an ancient dynasty that nearly unified the Tianji Continent. The emperor of that dynasty doted on a concubine who loved bathing in a hot spring. A poet wrote a long poem about this tale, which included the lines: "In spring's chill, she is granted the bath at Huaqing Pool; The warm spring waters smooth her congealed lard-like skin. Attendants help her rise, her delicate form weak; This is the time she first receives the imperial favor..."
Unconsciously thinking of this, Mo Tiange immediately broke out in goosebumps. Even if Dao Lord Jinghe acted like a decadent ruler, she was his disciple, not some unfortunate concubine! The comparison was completely off!
Shaking off the discomfort, Mo Tiange turned and asked, "Should I go pay my respects to Master now?"
"Yes," Meng Zhu replied. "Uncle-Master, please board the Lotus Platform."
Only then did Mo Tiange notice a floating Lotus Platform resting beside the platform. She stepped onto it. The platform moved slowly, gradually descending.
Now she could see that the high platform was actually suspended in mid-air. The Lotus Platform descended steadily, unsupported yet carrying her securely toward Qingquan Peak.
A few moments later, Mo Tiange stepped onto Qingquan Peak. The Lotus Platform slowly ascended back into the sky.
Watching it depart, Mo Tiange looked up. This was precisely the cave abode of Dao Lord Jinghe that she had visited before.
Seeing her descend from the Lotus Platform, the Foundation Establishment disciple guarding the entrance immediately approached, greeting her warmly. "Are you Uncle-Master Mo?"
Mo Tiange nodded. These people were truly sharp. She had just been promoted from a nominal disciple to a closing-door disciple, and their address and attitude had completely changed.
The disciple smiled. "The Patriarch instructed that when Uncle-Master Mo arrives, no announcement is needed. Please go right in."
Mo Tiange gave him a slight smile. "Thank you."
Amidst his repeated murmurs of "I dare not," she stepped into the main hall.
"Your injuries healed quite quickly! It's only been a few days, and you're already up!"
The voice reached her before she even entered. Mo Tiange looked up and saw Dao Lord Jinghe seated solemnly within. She hurriedly knelt and paid her respects. "Your disciple pays homage to Master. I have troubled Master with my concerns."
Dao Lord Jinghe waved a hand dismissively. "As long as you're alive, it's fine."
"..." How was she supposed to develop reverence for this newly appointed master of hers?
"Alright, get up. I'm not a master who mistreats disciples. You don't need to kneel at every turn. Have a seat!"
Hearing this, Mo Tiange's face twitched slightly. She stood up and obediently replied, "Yes."
As she chose a chair and sat down, Dao Lord Jinghe's gaze swept over her, up and down. He stroked his short beard thoughtfully one moment, then stared at her muttering to himself the next.
Mo Tiange began to feel restless under his scrutiny. Was something wrong?
Dao Lord Jinghe suddenly clapped his hands. "Right! How did I not think of this!" He turned to Mo Tiange. "Since you are now my formal disciple, I shall bestow upon you a new cave abode! Xiu Qin!"
A female cultivator standing to the side responded, "Yes."
"Take her to the Mingxin Residence!"
"Yes, Patriarch." The female cultivator bowed slightly and said to Mo Tiange, "Uncle-Master Mo, please follow me."
"Oh." Mo Tiange bowed once more to Patriarch Jinghe and followed the female cultivator out through a side door.
Dao Lord Jinghe's cave abode could almost be called a palace—a palace built into a mountain. It contained countless pavilions, towers, and terraces, with exotic flowers and rare herbs everywhere. Mo Tiange had never seen such a magnificent and luxurious cave abode and couldn't help but marvel.
Even among cultivators, there were differences. Some pursued ascetic cultivation, while others, like Dao Lord Jinghe, enjoyed luxury. If mortals saw this cave abode, they would surely mistake it for a celestial realm.
They passed through a moon gate, walked along a covered corridor, and finally entered a separate small courtyard.
This courtyard was completely different from the other structures. Though it had jade steps and stone walls, it was simple and plain, devoid of any luxurious decorations beyond the essentials.
A row of five small rooms. The maid named Xiu Qin introduced them one by one. "Uncle-Master Mo, the middle one is the reception hall for meeting guests. This is the cultivation chamber, this is the alchemy room, this is the artifact refining room, and this is the resting chamber... Also, if you have spirit beasts, you can build a shelter outside. This medicinal herb field was originally planted by Uncle-Master Shoujing. But from now on, it belongs to you."
Hearing this, Mo Tiange was taken aback. "Who lived here originally?"
The maid smiled and replied, "This was Uncle-Master Shoujing's residence in his youth. After he formed his Golden Core, the Patriarch bestowed another cave abode upon him."
"..." Mo Tiange looked around. A pond in front of the house, a medicinal field behind. Because natural light was channeled in, Moonlight Stones were unnecessary.
Stepping into the small hall, she saw simple rosewood tables and chairs placed against the wall. Aside from tea sets on the table, there was nothing else—not even a single trinket.
Thinking the original owner must have taken everything, she walked to the cultivation chamber. There, she saw two bookshelves against the wall, filled with books, jade slips, and other old items.
Xiu Qin explained, "After Uncle-Master Shoujing moved out, he didn't take any of these things."
"Then... should they be moved out now?"
Xiu Qin paused. "This... I shall report back to the Patriarch first."
As they exited the cultivation chamber, another female cultivator entered. She bowed to Mo Tiange. "Uncle-Master Mo, the Patriarch has sent me to relay a message."
Mo Tiange inclined her head. "Please speak."
The maid said, "The Patriarch says this place now belongs to you, Uncle-Master, including all items within. No need to report; use them as you wish. Additionally, after you settle here, there is no need to visit the Patriarch again. Focus on your cultivation in peace. If the Patriarch has matters, he will summon you."
In short, this long message boiled down to four words: fend for yourself. Mo Tiange, of course, hadn't fantasized that Dao Lord Jinghe would value her highly, so she wasn't disappointed. She simply nodded. "Understood. Please convey my thanks to the Patriarch."
The maid bowed lightly again and withdrew.
Xiu Qin glanced in the direction the maid had left, a hint of envy in her eyes. She smiled. "Congratulations, Uncle-Master. Uncle-Master Shoujing left many good things here. They all belong to you now."
Mo Tiange didn't respond to that. Instead, she asked, "I'd like to gather my things from my old cave abode. May I go out?"
"Of course," Xiu Qin said. "Uncle-Master, please follow me. We use this path to exit the cave abode. Please familiarize yourself with the route for future convenience."
After winding through numerous turns, they emerged from a side hall. Xiu Qin said to the gatekeeper, "This is Uncle-Master Mo. She will be residing here from now on."
The gatekeeper was also a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Hearing this, he dared not neglect her and bowed respectfully to Mo Tiange. "Uncle-Master Mo."
Having been addressed as such for several days, Mo Tiange was already accustomed to it. She no longer nervously returned the bow as she had initially, but nodded naturally. "I'd like to go out for a bit. Is that alright?"
The gatekeeper replied, "Since Uncle-Master resides here, you may come and go as you please."
"Mm." She turned to Xiu Qin. "I'll go pack up my cave abode. There's no need for you to accompany me further."
Xiu Qin bowed. "Yes."
Mo Tiange then left Dao Lord Jinghe's cave abode and headed toward her former small cave abode.
Meanwhile, in the main hall of Dao Lord Jinghe's cave abode.
"This little girl is truly extraordinary now. You said her meridians were transformed by that God Transformation cultivator?" Dao Lord Jinghe turned to ask the young man seated in a chair.
Qin Xi's expression was wooden as he nodded.
"A Primordial Chaos Spiritual Root paired with Primordial Chaos cultivation techniques... This girl's natural talent now is no less than any genius cultivator! I should consider myself fortunate for taking her as a disciple. Given time, advancing to Nascent Soul won't be a problem—then our Qingquan Peak will have more than three Nascent Soul cultivators! Haha..."
He laughed halfway, then noticed Qin Xi showed no reaction. Dao Lord Jinghe frowned. "What? Isn't this worth celebrating?"
Qin Xi finally moved, standing up with an utterly weary expression. "I'm going back first."
This reaction surprised Dao Lord Jinghe. "Wait! Aren't your injuries healed yet?"
"They've been healed for a while."
"Then what's with that dead-fish expression?"
"Nothing."
Nothing, his foot! Dao Lord Jinghe didn't believe a word of it. "You brat! Think your wings are hardened now? Daring to give your master attitude! Speak up! What's on your mind?"
"I..." Qin Xi sighed helplessly. "Can't I just go back and cultivate?"
"Cultivate again!" Dao Lord Jinghe exclaimed. "You just came out of seclusion! What cultivation?"
"I just want to achieve Nascent Soul Formation as soon as possible."
This statement gave Dao Lord Jinghe pause. "Why the rush? Didn't you say that God Transformation cultivator gave you many benefits that will make forming your Nascent Soul much easier? Since that's the case, why be impatient?"
At this, Qin Xi curled the corner of his mouth and let out a soft, cold snort. "Benefits? Beating me half to death first, then giving me benefits—that's called a reward? The feeling of powerlessness in the face of absolute strength... I suppose you wouldn't know."
With that, he turned and left the cave abode, leaving Dao Lord Jinghe stunned for a long moment before he muttered to himself, "The kid is serious..."