"You concealed her identity. What exactly is your intention?! If you don't explain clearly, don't blame me for taking your life!"
Qin Xi remained silent for a long time before speaking softly, "If I hadn't concealed her identity, she wouldn't have stayed in the Xuanqing Sect."
"Stayed in the Xuanqing Sect?" Zhong Muling was somewhat surprised, then asked in a grave voice, "What did you want to do by having her stay in the Xuanqing Sect?"
Qin Xi revealed a bitter smile but replied without any courtesy, "What else could she do if she didn't stay in the Xuanqing Sect?"
Zhong Muling was taken aback by these words. He naturally understood the meaning behind them. A Qi Refining cultivator with a special physique and no backing—how long could she survive in the cultivation world? And as he pondered further, he realized there was another implication to this statement. If Tian Ge didn't stay in the Xuanqing Sect, this kid wouldn't be able to do anything either.
He softened his tone slightly. "So, you had good intentions?"
This time, Qin Xi did not answer his question. Only after a long while did he speak. "Does Senior know about the matter between me and her father?"
Mo Tiange had mentioned this before. Zhong Muling snorted. "I've heard."
Qin Xi smiled faintly but said, "There are some things she isn't clear about, and I imagine Senior doesn't know either." He paused, then continued slowly, "More than twenty years ago, before her father perished, he helped me escape from a predicament and entrusted me with taking care of his wife and daughter. In return, he allowed me one thing."
Zhong Muling was startled. "What thing?"
Qin Xi spoke word by word, slowly, "In the future, all matters regarding this girl's dual cultivation shall be decided by me."
After saying this, he fell silent.
Suddenly, spiritual energy fluctuated, and Zhong Muling soundlessly appeared before him, his face ashen.
"Decided by you?" He flicked his sleeve, and spiritual pressure spread out. Qin Xi collapsed to the ground once more, his injuries compounding.
Zhong Muling's face was dark. "Are you saying her father betrothed her to you?"
Despite his severe injuries, Qin Xi revealed a smile and did not lower his head. "If Senior wishes to understand it that way, it is acceptable."
"And you, how do you understand it?"
"Me?" Qin Xi wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and sat up. "Before her second uncle passed away, I promised that if she was unwilling, I would not force her."
Zhong Muling said nothing more. His expression shifted uncertainly, flickering between severity and calmness as he stared intently at Qin Xi's pale, bloodless face.
Qin Xi did not look at him, yet he showed no fear, his expression composed.
"A-Ling!" Spiritual energy fluctuated again within the small room. Yuanbao suddenly appeared, looking at Qin Xi with interest as he said to Zhong Muling, "Don't you think dual cultivation is a good idea?"
Zhong Muling glared at him with an unpleasant expression.
Yuanbao spread his hands, looking innocent. "Alright, dual cultivation isn't a good idea. However, this kid has the Yang Spirit Pearl on him, possesses dual Spiritual Roots of metal and fire, and has extremely abundant Yang energy. He'd make a good Cauldron for Tian Ge."
As soon as these words were spoken, Qin Xi's expression changed. He looked up at the two of them, only to see Zhong Muling's expression soften as he pondered and slowly nodded. "That statement does hold some reason."
The two of them looked down at Qin Xi again, as if inspecting whether he was qualified enough.
Qin Xi's spiritual energy surged violently within him. Fury attacked his heart, and he suddenly spat out another mouthful of blood.
Yuanbao made a clicking sound with his tongue, crouched down, grabbed Qin Xi's hand, and sent a surge of powerful spiritual energy into Qin Xi's body. "A Cauldron can't be this weak. A-Ling, hand this kid over to me for proper training, alright? Hehe, with the Yang Spirit Pearl inside him, he's not far from a Pure Yang physique. He's quite suitable for learning my things."
Zhong Muling snorted, flicked his sleeve, and vanished from the room. "If you like him, take him. Why ask me?"
"Cauldron..."
Qin Xi murmured these two words softly and opened his eyes.
In this lifetime, he had never experienced such humiliation!
He knew that although those two had severely injured him, they had also given him many benefits. Even if there was no grace, it couldn't be considered enmity. It was just that he couldn't swallow this anger!
Cauldron... They actually wanted him to be a Cauldron!
Since childhood, he had cultivated Daoist heart techniques and never once entertained the thought of using a Cauldron. But he never expected that one day, someone would want him to *be* a Cauldron!
Closing his eyes, Qin Xi calmed his emotions.
Since arriving at Taikang Mountain at the age of eight, he had never experienced such emotional turmoil before. With a Nascent Soul Patriarch as his master and his own rapid cultivation progress, no one dared to show him a displeased face. Even when traveling alone, he possessed enough wit to preserve himself.
During those few short days, that God Transformation cultivator named Yuanbao transmitted a set of incantations to him and fed him many strange things. Some caused him unbearable pain, while others allowed his cultivation to increase rapidly, almost tormenting him to the brink of death. When leaving, Yuanbao grinned and told him he needed to form his Nascent Soul as soon as possible to become a good Cauldron...
Thinking of this, Qin Xi pressed his palms together again and pursed his lips tightly.
Cauldron! He couldn't even speak these words to his master, so he could only bury this secret matter in his heart.
The incantations Yuanbao gave him were causing him to draw closer and closer to a Pure Yang physique. Many thresholds for advancement would become increasingly easier for him. This was, of course, a tremendous benefit. If they didn't do anything excessive beyond this, he wouldn't repay kindness with enmity. However, those words not only made him feel humiliated but also made him worry: if these two truly intended for him to serve as a Cauldron after his advancement, what should he do?
He didn't dislike Mo Tiange, nor did he deny that he had once entertained such thoughts. But that was only a fleeting matter. The Great Dao was not yet achieved. His heart couldn't accommodate other things, and matters of dual cultivation were not within his considerations. However, after this incident, facing her made him feel unbearably awkward! This awkwardness had nothing to do with her, yet it made him not want to face her.
He pondered for a long time how to resolve this problem. If he cultivated the incantations, his Pure Yang energy would become increasingly abundant, approaching infinitely close to a Pure Yang physique, which also meant... he would be more suitable to be the Cauldron they spoke of. But if he didn't cultivate them, his cultivation speed wouldn't be as fast. He might even be trapped at the Nascent Soul stage for life, unable to achieve God Transformation...
Therefore, he finally decided not only to cultivate but to do so quickly. Form his Nascent Soul as soon as possible, then achieve God Transformation. Only when he achieved God Transformation and grasped control of his own destiny could he erase the taste of this humiliation!
Drawing a deep breath, Qin Xi stood up and walked out of the cave abode.
His injuries were completely healed. His cultivation had also improved over these past two years. In some time, he could prepare to attempt a breakthrough to late-stage Golden Core. He judged his chances to be quite high. Spending another twenty to thirty years until his Golden Core was perfected, he could then attempt Nascent Soul Formation. Calculating about fifty years, he was currently one hundred and forty-three years old. Forming his Nascent Soul by two hundred was highly possible.
As for after Nascent Soul Formation, he didn't know how many years it would take. His master formed his Nascent Soul at four hundred years old. Now over eight hundred, he had remained at the Nascent Soul stage for over four hundred years, still only at the mid-stage, unable to touch the threshold of the late stage. His aptitude was only worse, not better, than his master's. It was only because of the Yang Spirit Pearl within him and his single-minded focus that he had achieved such cultivation. After Nascent Soul Formation, he probably wouldn't have such advantages...
Lost in thought, he suddenly heard movement ahead. He stopped walking and was suddenly startled. This place was...
"Tian Ge, congratulations. You were accepted as a formal disciple by the Patriarch so quickly. I'm truly envious to death—ah, no. I should call you Aunt-Master now."
Mo Tiange was packing her things in the cave abode while talking to Luo Fengxue. Hearing this, she couldn't help but laugh. "Senior Sister Luo, your 'Aunt-Master' makes me genuinely flustered."
"Flustered about what?" Luo Fengxue said matter-of-factly. "You are the Patriarch's formal disciple, so of course I should call you Aunt-Master. You mustn't call me Senior Sister anymore. I can't bear that title now, and it wouldn't be good if others heard."
"Then... alright, Fengxue."
Hearing this address, Luo Fengxue's face brightened with a smile. "I actually only heard you call me by my name today. Aunt-Master Mo, you're actually the most guarded person..."
Her tone when saying "Aunt-Master Mo" was teasing, making Mo Tiange blush. Luo Fengxue was right. She was just unwilling to get too close to others, so she had been reluctant to call her by name. Yet Luo Fengxue had always treated her with sincere honesty. To be honest, she was the one who had let Luo Fengxue down.
"Fengxue, I..."
"Alright, no need to explain." Luo Fengxue smiled. "I understand. You've had a rough past, so you're guarded against everyone. If you weren't someone brought back by Uncle-Master Shoujing and then accepted as a disciple by the Patriarch, I wouldn't have treated you sincerely either."
Hearing this made Mo Tiange feel better. She smiled and said, "Alright, Fengxue. From now on, I won't be living here. I'll leave the herb fields to you to manage. If anyone new moves in later, whether to move them or not is up to you."
"Great. Now that you're the Patriarch's formal disciple, the spirit herbs we bought at the Danding Sect last time are still with me. I won't be polite and will take them all. You won't object, right?"
Mo Tiange chuckled. "Naturally. Now that I'm a senior, of course I can't haggle with a junior."
"Ha, you're adapting to your status quite quickly, already putting on senior airs with me. Hmph, since I'm taking the substantial benefit, I won't fight you over the nominal one."
After chatting for a while, Luo Fengxue led Mo Tiange to see Perfected One Xuanyin.
During the great battle two years ago, both Luo Fengxue and Wei Jiasi were injured. Wei Jiasi's injuries were more severe, and she was still recuperating. Luo Fengxue had mostly recovered and had even received rewards of pills and other items from the sect. As for Han Qingyu, she was injured more recently and was currently in closed-door meditation healing her wounds. Therefore, when Mo Tiange returned, she only saw Luo Fengxue.
Approaching the cave abode, Mo Tiange saw the gate-keeping disciple immediately come forward to greet them. "Greetings, Aunt-Master Mo, Senior Sister Luo."
Mo Tiange was somewhat surprised. Had the news of her being accepted as a formal disciple already spread throughout Qingquan Peak?
Luo Fengxue whispered to her, "As soon as the Patriarch returned, he announced that during the Demon Beast War, you dared to face a fifth-rank demon beast alone, not diminishing the prestige of our Xuanqing Sect, and thus declared he was accepting you as a formal disciple."
So that was how it was. No wonder the gate-keeping disciple changed his address as soon as he saw her.
Entering the cave abode's main hall, Perfected One Xuanyin was meditating with his eyes closed. Luo Fengxue called out, "Master!"
Perfected One Xuanyin opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over them before finally settling on Mo Tiange. "Tian Ge, are you well?"
Mo Tiange stepped forward and performed a respectful bow. "Uncle-Master Xuanyin, I am perfectly well. Thank you for your concern."
Perfected One Xuanyin stroked his long beard, smiling. "You have already been accepted as a formal disciple by Master. From now on, there's no need to call me Uncle-Master. Address me as Senior Brother."
"Yes," Mo Tiange corrected her address. "Senior Brother Xuanyin, the years of guidance you have given me, Tian Ge dares not forget. Today, as I am leaving, I have come specifically to express my gratitude."
"You child..." Perfected One Xuanyin looked at her with fondness in his eyes. Two years missing, two years in Foundation Establishment—truly calculated, his guidance had been less than three years. Although there was no master-disciple title, there was the substance of the relationship.
"Tian Ge, now that you have entered Master's tutelage, from now on you must diligently cultivate and not tarnish Master's prestige, understand?"
"I will follow Senior Brother Xuanyin's instructions."
"Good. We will have many opportunities to meet in the future. No need for sadness. Go on."
"Yes."
After solemnly expressing her thanks, Mo Tiange withdrew with Luo Fengxue.
"Alright, Fengxue, I'll return to my cave abode now. If you have nothing to do in the future, you can come find me."
Luo Fengxue smiled, stepped forward, and hugged her briefly. "I know." Although she said this, she understood in her heart that opportunities to meet would certainly be fewer in the future. How could she often visit Patriarch Jinghe's cave abode?
After bidding farewell to Luo Fengxue, Mo Tiange turned around and saw someone standing not far away, their expression displeased.
It was Qin Xi.
Since parting at Luoyan Cliff, they hadn't seen each other for over two years. Back then, when he emerged from Zhong Muling's Void Heaven Realm, Qin Xi's expression had been very unpleasant. Now, the gaze he directed at her was also complex and difficult to describe. There seemed to be some nostalgia, yet his eyes held distance. His attitude was cold, yet his face showed struggle.
Mo Tiange stopped, her own emotions complex and indescribable. Should she go greet him? For a moment, she felt unwilling; the next, she felt she shouldn't care. Finally, she took a step, revealed a smile, and walked toward Qin Xi.
But the next instant, Qin Xi lowered his gaze, turned around, and walked away without the slightest hesitation.
She stood there, stunned.
He... hadn't failed to see her walking over. He just didn't want to greet her.
A feeling of oppression rose in her heart, unclear whether it was anger or frustration.
"Tian Ge?"
Mo Tiange turned her head and saw Luo Fengxue looking at her with surprise and doubt. She must have seen the whole scene just now.
She took a deep breath and showed Luo Fengxue a smile. "It's nothing. I'm going back."
"...Alright." Luo Fengxue answered hesitantly. She hesitated but ultimately didn't bring up the matter of the so-called Senior Brother Qin.
After all, in this matter, now that Tian Ge was also an Aunt-Master, she, as an outsider, really had no need to intervene.
Returning to her new cave abode, Mo Tiange sat in the small hall for a while.
Every plant, tree, table, and chair in this cave abode had been left behind by someone else. It seemed filled with those past years that did not belong to her.
Its former owner might have been just like her, sitting here, holding a teacup, either talking to someone or simply lost in thought. He had also meditated in the cultivation room, flipped through those books, his handwriting still lingering on the pages. The alchemy room, the alchemy tools, the resting chamber... every place bore traces of him.
Finally, she smiled faintly, stood up, took a deep breath, and placed everything in these rooms into an empty storage bag. Tables, chairs, books—none of these were hers. It was better to replace them all.
"Aunt-Master Mo!" A cry of surprise reached her ears.
Mo Tiange glanced over and saw two female cultivators standing at the entrance, looking at her with shock.
"What is it? Is there something?" she asked expressionlessly.
"What are you doing?"
"Tidying up my cave abode."
"Ah?"
Mo Tiange swept a cold glance over them. "What? Didn't they say everything in this cave abode is left for me to dispose of? Can't I choose not to use it?"
"This..." The two female cultivators looked at her helplessly. That was indeed what they said, but they never imagined that this Aunt-Master Mo would throw away all of Uncle-Master Shoujing's things!