The wind whistled past as a small brown spirit beast whimpered and rushed over to bite Mo Tiange's sleeve.
Mo Tiange gently patted its head. "Behave, be quiet for a while."
The Blazing Fire Beast blinked its dark, glossy eyes, lowered its head, and sat motionless beside her.
Seeing its aggrieved expression, Mo Tiange couldn't help but smile and patted it again. "What's wrong? Do you think Zhenji spoils you more when you're with him?"
The Blazing Fire Beast whimpered twice, whether in agreement or disagreement was unclear.
Mo Tiange stroked its head again, sighed as she watched the flowing stream, and said, "I'm not a good master. I only let you cultivate on your own and have you help me with alchemy, but I never play with you."
The Blazing Fire Beast barked twice, bit the hem of her sleeve, and shook it gently as if acting spoiled.
Mo Tiange smiled warmly. "Xiaohuo, how about you stay behind to keep Zhenji company?"
Upon hearing this, the Blazing Fire Beast immediately raised its head, its eyes fixed on her face as if it didn't understand why she said this.
"There's no spirit beast contract between us. The reason you're so close to me is because the Void Heaven Realm resonates with my divine sense. You've lived there for a long time, so naturally, you've developed a connection with me. Zhenji grew up under your watch. These years when you weren't in the Void Heaven Realm, you've been by his side, so your bond with him is even deeper than with me. Right now, I'm not comfortable leaving him alone in the secular world. Could you stay behind to keep him company?"
The Blazing Fire Beast's eyes widened into perfect circles, but it didn't make a sound.
Mo Tiange knew that this Blazing Fire Beast, having eaten something unknown in the Void Heaven Realm, was more spiritually aware than ordinary spirit beasts. So she wasn't giving an order but discussing with it.
"Don't worry, I've refined many pills for second- and third-rank spirit beasts. I'll give them to Zhenji later, so your cultivation won't be a problem. I'll be gone for at least three years, at most five. I expect to return before you advance in rank."
This was something she had considered for a long time. Losing the Blazing Fire Beast would merely inconvenience her alchemy, but Zhenji hadn't established his Foundation yet. Leaving him alone in the secular world wasn't reassuring, so it was better to leave Xiaohuo by his side. With a second-rank spirit beast, even if he encountered danger, he likely wouldn't be harmed.
The Blazing Fire Beast lowered its head and whimpered a few times, its mood somewhat downcast, but it didn't object.
Mo Tiange smiled, took out a few pills, and fed them to it. She sighed. "I'd better leave first. The Ye Family... this is all I can do for them. Unless one day they produce a large number of descendants with spiritual roots, enough to support a family, or unless I form my Nascent Soul and can protect them... Right now, I don't have enough power. Revealing my identity would only bring them trouble. I hope Zhenji can understand my thoughts."
"Aunt!" Ye Zhenji's voice came from outside. Mo Tiange raised her hand, a pearl-like light flashed between her brows, and she returned to reality.
Opening the restriction, Ye Zhenji stepped in and smiled when he saw her. "Aunt, we finally left the mountain, and you're cultivating again!"
Mo Tiange shook her head with a smile. "It's a habit." In the past, her aptitude was too poor, so she could only compensate with diligence. Now, even though her aptitude was good, she feared wasting it by becoming lazy in her cultivation.
After Ye Zhenji entered and she reactivated the restriction, she asked, "What's wrong? Not keeping your family company? It'll be hard to see them in the future."
At this question, Ye Zhenji gloomily sat on the table. "Don't mention it. I was originally talking with my father and the others, but I couldn't stand listening, so I came out."
"Couldn't stand it?" Mo Tiange didn't understand. She lifted her chin. "Sit properly on a chair."
"Yeah," Ye Zhenji obediently got off the table, pulled a chair over, and sat in front of her, his tone puzzled. "I find it strange. I remember when I was young, my father was also very diligent in cultivation. Why is he like this now?"
"Like what?"
Ye Zhenji paused, somewhat annoyed. "My father and uncles are always talking about eating, drinking, having fun, and playing with power. I didn't want to listen, so I said I was coming to find you."
Seeing Ye Zhenji's displeased expression, clearly very annoyed with his father, Mo Tiange smiled gently. "Zhenji, how old is your father this year, and what's his cultivation level?"
Ye Zhenji was taken aback. "My father... is already forty-five years old and still at Qi Refining Level 1."
Seeing the dawning realization on his face, Mo Tiange smiled. "In the Xuanqing Sect, although your aptitude isn't outstanding, you still have hope of cultivating immortality. But for secular wandering cultivators, without good spiritual veins or good pills, decades of hard cultivation—forget Foundation Establishment, even advancing one more step in Qi Refining is difficult—it's not that your father and the others aren't motivated, but they can't see hope."
"But..." Ye Zhenji wanted to say something but felt he couldn't argue.
Mo Tiange then said, "Zhenji, do you still have many Qi Refining pills on you?"
Ye Zhenji nodded. "I originally wanted to give all these pills to them, but seeing them like this, I don't want to anymore."
"It's precisely because they're like this that you should give them."
"Why?" Ye Zhenji didn't understand.
Mo Tiange explained, "Your father hasn't been able to advance in decades, so naturally, he's lost interest in cultivation. If you give them pills now, letting them see hope for advancing their cultivation, their hearts will naturally return to cultivation—they're not mortals. What in this world is more attractive to them than advancing their cultivation?"
Ye Zhenji suddenly understood. "Ah, right! How come I didn't think of that!"
Mo Tiange thought for a moment more. "Also, don't give them too much. It's best to tell them that when they send people to Taikang Mountain in the future, you'll also send pills and such. This way, although they're in the secular world, they'll feel hope for cultivation and will naturally focus their hearts on it."
"Aunt, you're so thoughtful!" Ye Zhenji jumped up. "I'll go right now..."
"Wait."
Ye Zhenji stopped. "Aunt, what's wrong?"
"Talk about this matter later. Right now, I have something to tell you."
"Ah?"
Mo Tiange said calmly, "My coming to the Ye Family this time was just to escort you. Now that I've safely delivered you, I'll leave tomorrow."
"Ah!" Ye Zhenji panicked. "Aunt, you're leaving me alone here?"
Mo Tiange smiled slightly. "What, are you afraid?"
Ye Zhenji was startled, somewhat embarrassed. For ten years, he had never been away from his aunt's side, so he panicked momentarily.
Calming down, he said, "Aunt, I... I'm just not used to it. Can't you stay a bit longer?"
"Whether I leave early or late, I'm still leaving." Mo Tiange reached out, wanting to pat his head like when he was a child, but seeing how tall he was now, she withdrew her hand. "Don't worry, I'm leaving Xiaohuo with you. Nothing will happen."
"I'm not afraid something will happen." Ye Zhenji looked at her pitifully. "Aunt, I don't want you to go."
He was already a grown man but made such an expression. Mo Tiange couldn't help but laugh. "So grown up, yet still acting like a child!"
Ye Zhenji rubbed his nose and also smiled. Knowing Mo Tiange was determined to leave, he settled for second best. "Aunt, how about I go with you?"
"I'm going to travel and experience the world, not to play." Mo Tiange patiently explained. "If I take you, first, I don't know when we'll return. It wouldn't be good if it affects your Foundation Establishment. Second, I might go to some dangerous places. I don't have enough strength yet to guarantee your safety."
Ye Zhenji fell silent. He wasn't an unreasonable child; he knew what Mo Tiange said was true. He just couldn't bear to part.
"Alright, I know you're sensible. It's not like I'm not coming back. For us cultivators, parting for a few years, even a hundred years, is normal. The higher our cultivation, the more this is the case. You have to get used to it."
"...I know." Ye Zhenji nodded honestly. How could he not understand these principles? Cultivating immortality meant pursuing longevity, and what one must get used to most with longevity was separation and loneliness. For us junior cultivators, it's still okay—at most, we go into seclusion for over a year. But for cultivators above Core Formation, seclusion for decades is common, and even a hundred years isn't a big deal.
Cultivating immortality also meant cultivating loneliness. Those who cannot endure loneliness will ultimately fail to achieve the Great Dao.
"Aunt, be careful on your journey. Send messages often. Otherwise, I'll worry."
Mo Tiange smiled. Though lonely, having someone who cared was always warm.
"Mm, you must cultivate diligently, don't neglect it, and don't be impatient. If you have questions, go ask your Grandmaster. Although your Grandmaster has a peculiar temper, he sincerely nurtures juniors. If he says something, be sure to listen."
"I know." Ye Zhenji agreed, then thought and asked, "By the way, Aunt, what if my... that master comes out of seclusion?"
Mo Tiange raised an eyebrow slightly. "A master is a master. What's with 'that master'?"
Ye Zhenji rubbed his head, saying innocently, "He's called my master, but I haven't even met him to this day! Aunt, you're my real master. That one is just a cheap master I got by chance."
Hearing this term, Mo Tiange couldn't help but laugh. "Cheap master." The two of them, aunt and nephew, were truly consistent on this point—their masters were both given to them by others.
"By the way, Aunt, what is my master really like? Hua Ling said he saw him when he was young, but he doesn't remember clearly. Other senior brothers and sisters all say I'm lucky, that my master is the top figure among the younger generation of our Xuanqing Sect. He's already at Core Formation late-stage. If he succeeds in forming his Nascent Soul within a hundred years, then I really stepped in dog shit—ah, anyway, I'm just too lucky..." Feeling he had spoken too vulgarly, Ye Zhenji hurriedly mumbled past it.
Mo Tiange smiled. That was indeed true. The status of an Inner Disciple of a Core Formation cultivator versus an Inner Disciple of a Nascent Soul cultivator was worlds apart. If Qin Shoujing truly succeeded in forming his Nascent Soul, even though Zhenji was only nominally under him, it would still be extraordinary. At that time, his disciple allowances, cave dwelling, and resources would be vastly different from now. Back when she was still being instructed by Senior Uncle Xuanyin, she was just a bit better off financially. But after becoming Dao Lord Jinghe's formal disciple, her current wealth was no less than that of an ordinary sect's Core Formation cultivator.
"Mm... back then, when your Grandmaster had you registered as your master's Inner Disciple, he indeed had this intention. However, your master is currently in death seclusion. It's unknown when he'll emerge. If he only emerges after forming his Nascent Soul a few hundred years later... it makes no difference to you."
"That's true..." Ye Zhenji scratched his head. He hadn't placed his hopes on it anyway, so he didn't feel frustrated. The one who truly taught him cultivation was his aunt. That cheap master—having him or not was the same.
"Aunt, you still haven't said what my master is like!"
Mo Tiange smiled. "What if I said I haven't seen him either?"
Ye Zhenji widened his eyes. "How is that possible? They said your relationship with Master is unusual..."
"Oh?" Mo Tiange frowned slightly. "How unusual? What did they say?"
"They said... Aunt, you were recommended into the sect by Master. Grandmaster accepted you as a disciple also because of Master. That's about it..."
Mo Tiange's expression softened. "When I entered the sect, your master was already a Core Formation cultivator. Why would he need to appear personally?"
Ye Zhenji thought for a moment and nodded. "That's true..."
"What they said is correct. Your master is the most promising Nascent Soul-forming cultivator among the younger generation of the Xuanqing Sect. With his cultivation speed, forming his Nascent Soul within a hundred years or so isn't impossible. If your master doesn't emerge from seclusion during this period, forget it. But if he happens to emerge, you must still treat him with respect. This is also your Grandmaster's intention."
"Mm..." Ye Zhenji paused, then added, "But I already have you, Aunt. Master is just a nominal one..."
Hearing these childish words, Mo Tiange smiled wryly. "My age and cultivation level are evident here. Not to mention anything else, you'll establish your Foundation within the next ten-odd years. I definitely won't be able to form my Core within that time, so I can't help you that much..."
"I'm not that utilitarian!" Ye Zhenji exclaimed. "If it weren't for you, Aunt, I wouldn't be where I am today. No matter how good that cheap master is, what does it have to do with me?"
These words filled Mo Tiange's heart with both joy and worry. Joyful because, over these ten years, she hadn't taught this child to have a profit-seeking nature. Worried because, without enough experience, he was still too childish.
In the end, she still cautioned him, "Say this only in private. Don't go around saying it."
"I know, Aunt. Don't worry."
"Mm, is there anything else unclear?"
Hearing her ask this, Ye Zhenji edged closer again. "Aunt, you must come back early. I'll work hard to establish my Foundation during this time."
This sentence made Mo Tiange smile. She finally reached out and patted his head. "Go keep your mother company. You haven't seen her for many years; she misses you very much and talks about you constantly. Take care of everything you need to, so your mother won't worry."
"I know."
Withdrawing her hand, Mo Tiange opened the restriction, sat cross-legged, and closed her eyes.
Ye Zhenji lingered reluctantly for a while before leaving.
Only after hearing the door close did Mo Tiange open her eyes again, worry surfacing in them.
This child... was so much like her back then. Or perhaps, she hadn't considered things thoroughly enough. Although she gave him enough care, she also let him develop a dependent personality. Just like back then, she depended on Second Uncle, and when she lost him, the pain was unbearable.
It wasn't that such deep affection was bad, but deep affection required an open and magnanimous heart to contain it. The Dao scriptures say, 'The Supreme Dao forgets emotions.' It doesn't mean having no emotions; 'forgetting emotions' means being serene and unmoved by emotions, as if forgetting them. That's the principle. Cultivators aren't forbidden to have attachments. There are also those with great magnanimity—husbands and wives who are deeply in love, raising children and grandchildren—and it doesn't affect their cultivation. But ordinary disciples can't be like that, which is why sects don't approve of disciples having too much contact with their families.
Ye Zhenji was now facing precisely this problem. Ten years of companionship—like a teacher, a father, a mother, an elder brother—just like her feelings for Second Uncle back then.
But he was also too young now. Mo Tiange thought back to herself. It was at this age that she lost Second Uncle. Back then, if it weren't for Qin Xi supporting her by her side, perhaps she wouldn't have stood up so quickly either...
Thinking of this name, she felt a needle-like pang in her heart, but she quickly calmed down.
This was her good fortune and also her tribulation. If not for this, she might have spent a long time recovering her mental state. If not for this... she also wouldn't have easily developed feelings for someone.
Fortunately, she had rationally severed this affection. Later, vaguely realizing certain things, she was even more grateful for her decisive decision back then.
Thinking of this, Mo Tiange rubbed her temples and shook her head.
Forget it, no need to think so much. She was her, and Zhenji was Zhenji. The difference between men and women was also reflected in personality. Perhaps during her absence, if Zhenji interacted more with others, this dependency would fade. As for seeing through it... that would require opportunity.
Early the next morning, Mo Tiange packed her things and left the Ye Family.
All the Ye Family members came out to see her off.
Last night, Mo Tiange had Ye Zhenji take some unused pills, spirit tools, and other items to the Ye Family patriarch as gifts from a senior. The Ye Family was extremely grateful.
The Ye Family had been in the secular world for too long and had long since exhausted their accumulated treasures. Back when they sent Ye Zhenji up the mountain, they could only produce two or three spirit stones and a few pills, showing how impoverished their resources were. Based on her status as Ye Zhenji's martial aunt, Mo Tiange gave away over ten bottles of pills and more than ten spirit tools at once, which was truly a huge fortune for the Ye Family.
Actually, those pills were leftovers from when she was learning alchemy, and the spirit tools were also confiscated from cultivators she had killed in the past. They weren't anything good, which was why she hadn't given them to Ye Zhenji and had just tossed them in a corner of her Qiankun Bag. Now they came in handy.
"Zhenji, I'm entrusting Xiaohuo to you. Take good care of it. When you return, take it back to the sect, understand?"
"Mm." Ye Zhenji nodded and took the Blazing Fire Beast. Over the past ten years, one could say he grew up with Xiaohuo. The bond between the person and the beast was very good, so he naturally hugged Xiaohuo.
Seeing this Blazing Fire Beast, all the Ye Family members widened their eyes.
The few cultivators in the Ye Family could tell—this Blazing Fire Beast was a second-rank spirit beast! A second-rank spirit beast was equivalent to an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator! And it was just given to Ye Zhenji like that!
"Senior!" Ye Cheng stepped forward, pointing at the Blazing Fire Beast in Ye Zhenji's arms, speaking with trepidation. "Isn't it inappropriate for you to give this spirit beast to Zhen'er?"
Mo Tiange turned to look at him. "Patriarch Ye, what problem do you see?"
Ye Cheng said, "This is a second-rank spirit beast. It can surely help you. Giving it to Zhen'er, then what will you do?"
Mo Tiange said indifferently, "Even if this spirit beast stayed by my side, it wouldn't be of much use. It's better to let Zhenji take care of it. Patriarch Ye, rest assured. Xiaohuo grew up with Zhenji; they have deep feelings. It won't harm Zhenji."
"That's not what I meant..."
Mo Tiange knew he was just worried, so she waved her hand, cutting him off. "Patriarch Ye, just rest assured. Alright, Zhenji, Martial Aunt is leaving now. Stay at home for a few months, remember to return to the sect on time. If you miss the trial, the next one will be three years later."
"I know, Martial Aunt. Don't worry, I know all this."
"Mm, then I'm leaving. No need to see me off." With that, she said no more, waved her hand, summoned the white silk handkerchief, which transformed into a streak of escaping light and disappeared into the horizon.