Daoist Fangzheng crashed to the floor with a heavy thud. For a moment, there was no sound.
Mo Tiange immediately summoned her White Silk Kerchief, but the spiritual energy did not reappear—she never figured out where it had come from!
Lying on the ground, Daoist Fangzheng groaned, struggling to get up, his face pale. "This..."
"Fellow Daoist Fangzheng, it seems the master of this place does not intend for us to take the Sunlight Stones." After confirming there was no danger, Mo Tiange put away her magic treasure and slowly scanned the stone chamber.
This was clearly a method beyond their cultivation level, yet it hadn't delivered a killing blow. It seemed it simply didn't want them to take the Sunlight Stones.
Daoist Fangzheng looked up at the Sunlight Stones embedded in the stone ceiling, his face filled with unwillingness.
If that was the case, then coming all this way... would they leave empty-handed?
Right at that moment, several rumbling sounds echoed, as if some stone slab had been moved.
The two followed the sound and were overjoyed.
They saw the innermost stone wall of the chamber suddenly slide open, revealing a stone table on which several items were placed.
However, after the previous events, both were cautious. After the initial joy, neither immediately went to take the items.
Daoist Fangzheng released his first-rank spirit beast once more. The bird let out a screech and wobbled its way toward the stone table.
Not only Daoist Fangzheng, but Mo Tiange was also extremely nervous. Since arriving here, aside from a single Moonlight Stone Mother and a few Moonlight Illusion Stones, they hadn't obtained anything. On the contrary, they had consumed several magical treasure talismans. It was frustrating that this place held so many treasures yet wouldn't let them take them.
The bird safely landed on the stone table. A hint of joy appeared on Daoist Fangzheng's face, followed by even greater tension as he commanded the bird to pick up a certain item.
The bird flapped its wings unsteadily on the table, heading toward a bell-shaped object. It then picked up the bell's handle with its beak and was about to fly up.
"Crack!" Smoke suddenly erupted from nowhere, and a surge of spiritual energy shot out.
Mo Tiange was about to activate her protective aura, but in that instant, the spiritual energy throughout her body went out of control, rendering her immobile!
At that moment, a low, authoritative voice echoed through the stone chamber. "Who are you, juniors, to come to my Ziwei Cave Abode?"
Mo Tiange was startled. Could it be—
Daoist Fangzheng reacted first, answering promptly, "This junior is Fangzheng, a mere wandering cultivator. I pay my respects to Senior Ziwei!"
This method... after a Nascent Soul cultivator passes away, a portion of their divine sense is split off and preserved somewhere. It must be the master of this place, the self-proclaimed Ziwei Sanren, a Nascent Soul cultivator.
"This junior Mo Tiange, a disciple of the Xuanqing Sect, pays her respects to Senior Ziwei." Faced with the interrogation of a Nascent Soul cultivator—even if only a wisp of divine sense—Mo Tiange still chose to tell the truth.
"Xuanqing Sect?" Upon hearing her words, Ziwei Sanren expressed slight surprise before asking, "What is your relationship with Dao Lord Danling?"
Dao Lord Danling? Mo Tiange thought for a moment and replied, "Dao Lord Danling is a senior of my sect. He passed away five thousand years ago."
"...Five thousand years," Ziwei Sanren fell silent for a long time after hearing this, then let out a long sigh. "It's actually been five thousand years... Zilan, it seems you too have..."
The next moment, his voice regained its composure. "You two juniors, what do you seek by coming to my Ziwei Cave Abode?"
Hearing this, Daoist Fangzheng was overjoyed and was about to speak, but Mo Tiange beat him to it. "I wonder, Senior, what is your purpose in guiding us here?"
For a Foundation Establishment cultivator to speak to a Nascent Soul cultivator in such a manner was truly audacious. Afraid Mo Tiange had misspoken, Daoist Fangzheng hurriedly whispered, "Fellow Daoist, don't speak recklessly!"
Mo Tiange remained unmoved. She dared to speak this way because she was certain Ziwei Sanren would not be angered.
Sure enough, the next moment, Ziwei Sanren laughed. "You're a clever junior. Correct, it was indeed I who deliberately guided you here."
"What is Senior's intention?"
Instead of answering, Ziwei Sanren asked a question in return. "You two juniors, what do you think of my cave abode?"
This time, Daoist Fangzheng answered first. "Senior's cave abode is truly worthy of a Nascent Soul cultivator's dwelling—multiple arrays, abundant treasures."
"Arrays, treasures..." Ziwei Sanren repeated, then suddenly asked, "Then, do you wish to obtain them?"
Daoist Fangzheng's heart leaped with both shock and delight, but he dared not be presumptuous. He glanced at Mo Tiange before replying, "Naturally... but given Senior's capabilities, we have no choice in the matter."
"Haha, you're a slippery junior too." Ziwei Sanren laughed it off. "Don't worry, I am not a cruel person. If you answer honestly, I will naturally not harm you."
Hearing this, Mo Tiange secretly grumbled. Not a cruel person? Before even entering this cave abode, nine people were reduced to just the two of them intact, and now Daoist Fangzheng was covered in injuries. And this is called not cruel...
"Do you have any objections?" Ziwei Sanren's voice suddenly drew close, as if right beside her ear. Mo Tiange was startled. Could this Ziwei Sanren read minds?
"Mind-reading? Something like that." Before she could voice her question, Ziwei Sanren continued, "In my lifetime, I attempted to break through to God Transformation. Though I failed, I gained some abilities of a God Transformation cultivator. Mind-reading is one of them."
Mo Tiange was stunned. That seemed plausible... Back when she was with Yuanbao and Zhong Muling, she vaguely felt as if nothing could be hidden from them. It was slightly different from the feeling of being compelled to tell the truth under immense pressure. If so, didn't that mean Ziwei Sanren had reached the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, just failing to truly advance to God Transformation?
"Huh? You, junior, have actually seen a God Transformation cultivator?" An invisible strand of spiritual energy coiled around Mo Tiange, tightening as the question was asked.
Mo Tiange was alarmed and quickly focused her mind, preventing herself from thinking chaotically. Mind-reading... if she thought too much, wouldn't everything be known?
Just as she had this thought, before she could speak, she heard Ziwei Sanren chuckle. "Junior, don't panic. Mind-reading requires active use. I won't use it on you. Speak slowly."
The words sounded quite amiable...
Mo Tiange relaxed slightly but remained on guard. She answered, "Correct. This junior was indeed fortunate enough to have met God Transformation seniors."
"Oh? What are their names? How did you meet them?"
"...One of them is surnamed Zhong, named Muling. The other is called Daoist Yuanbao. I don't know if those are their real names or their Daoist titles."
"Zhong Muling, Yuanbao..." The voice murmured the names. "They actually achieved God Transformation..."
Mo Tiange was surprised. "Senior knows these two God Transformation seniors?"
"You could say so..." Ziwei Sanren said indifferently. "They were cultivators from the same era as me, but they came from Yunzhong, not cultivators of Tianji."
Mo Tiange knew this as well. Yuanbao had told her much about it. They were originally cultivators from Yunzhong, later traveling to Tianji. After achieving God Transformation, they wandered without fixed abode, roaming only within the Void Heaven Realm.
"Alright, junior. Tell me, how are they faring?"
"They... are well." Judging by the tone, it seemed there was old acquaintance without enmity between him and Zhong Muling and Yuanbao, so Mo Tiange relaxed. "During the previous Demon Beast Rebellion, this junior accidentally entered the cave abode of the two God Transformation seniors and was saved by them, thus meeting them once. After this junior recovered from her injuries, she left. It seemed they were just traveling through the area."
"..." Upon hearing this, Ziwei Sanren fell silent for a long time. After a prolonged pause, he let out a deep sigh. "Hearing news of old friends stirs emotions within me. Junior, since you have ties with my old friends, I will not make things difficult for you. To be honest with you, for these five thousand years, I have periodically weakened the arrays, releasing spiritual energy to guide Foundation Establishment cultivators like you here. Unfortunately, not a single person ever made it this far..."
So it was! Mo Tiange had already guessed as much, but she didn't understand why Ziwei Sanren didn't guide Core Formation or Nascent Soul cultivators here. What was his purpose?
"I have a lifelong regret that I was unable to resolve before my passing. Therefore, I sealed a portion of my divine sense within this cave abode. If anyone passes the trials and reaches this place, I emerge to meet them. If you can help me accomplish this matter, I will naturally gift you with treasures."
Hearing this, Mo Tiange and Daoist Fangzheng exchanged glances, both somewhat astonished. Six dead, one severely injured, only the two of them intact upon reaching this place... and it was all because a deceased Nascent Soul cultivator had a request? Moreover, it still didn't make sense why Core Formation or Nascent Soul cultivators weren't allowed. This Ziwei Sanren was a peak Nascent Soul great cultivator who nearly achieved God Transformation. Presumably, his treasures were so numerous that even Nascent Soul cultivators would flock to them.
"Are you wondering why I want Foundation Establishment cultivators to come?"
Daoist Fangzheng clasped his hands. "Senior, please forgive this junior's ignorance. If Senior has a task to entrust, wouldn't it be better to have Core Formation or Nascent Soul seniors come? Their abilities are higher, making Senior's entrusted task easier to accomplish."
"Haha, while that may be true, how would Core Formation or Nascent Soul cultivators fear a mere wisp of divine sense? No matter how high my cultivation was in the past, now I'm left with only this bit of divine sense, unable to intimidate them." Ziwei Sanren said calmly. "Furthermore, the matter I entrust has nothing to do with cultivation level."
That was also true. If Core Formation or Nascent Soul cultivators discovered such a cave abode, they would likely force their way in to search for treasures. No matter how much of a genius Ziwei Sanren was in life, now he was merely a wisp of divine sense.
Mo Tiange said, "Senior, aren't you afraid we might agree for now but not actually do it? Or, what if this junior returns to her sect and informs her elders, having her sect seniors come treasure hunting?"
"Ha, you little girl have quite the nerve." Ziwei Sanren laughed, but his tone turned cold the next moment. "Since I have Foundation Establishment cultivators come, I naturally have a way to deal with you!"
As soon as the words fell, in an instant, Mo Tiange felt a sharp pain in her head. That strand of spiritual energy drilled into her consciousness, then immediately withdrew.
"Ah—" She couldn't help but cry out in pain.
After the pain subsided, she felt no other abnormalities. Turning her head, she saw Daoist Fangzheng was the same, looking bewildered.
Ziwei Sanren's voice drifted lazily. "I have left a mark within your Sea of Consciousness. If you do not return in time, this mark will activate. At that time..."
The threat in his words was palpable.
Mo Tiange was both shocked and furious. "You—" She was not a person who went back on her word. If Ziwei Sanren gave her treasures and then entrusted her with a task, she would naturally keep her promise. But such methods made her indignant!
"Junior." Ziwei Sanren said with a chuckle. "Don't get excited. Don't forget your life is currently in my hands."
Reminded of this, Mo Tiange barely suppressed her anger but couldn't help sneering. "Senior, since you know I am a disciple of the Xuanqing Sect, what does leaving a mark matter? I will return to my sect and ask my sect elders to resolve it for me!"
"Haha, resolve?" Ziwei Sanren's voice was filled with pride. "Your sect doesn't have a God Transformation cultivator, does it? Even a Nascent Soul late-stage cultivator cannot resolve my unique technique." Then, curiously, he added, "You, girl, always speak so directly? Aren't you afraid I'll kill you? After all, there are two of you. You are not my only choice."
"Is that so?" Mo Tiange said coldly. "Senior waited several thousand years for just the two of us to come. Aren't you afraid the only one left won't complete the task?"
Ziwei Sanren's voice paused, then he chuckled bitterly. "Just a Foundation Establishment little girl, yet so sharp-tongued? Ah, whether afraid or not, you should be grateful. I have been cultivating my mind and tempering my nature here for over a thousand years. I am no longer the hot-tempered person I once was. Otherwise..."
Then, he muttered to himself, "However, you are quite like her..."
Her? Could it be that Zilan?
Ziwei Sanren spoke again. "Alright, enough nonsense. I am not harsh. As long as you complete the task I assign within a hundred years and come here, I will give all my accumulated treasures to you—whoever accomplishes it first gets them first. But you'd better not fight and kill each other for the treasures. The mark I left in your Sea of Consciousness will inform me. If that happens, I won't give them to anyone!"
All his accumulated treasures? Hearing this, Daoist Fangzheng hurriedly asked, "May I ask, Senior, what is the task you want us to do?"
"I want you to find someone's remains and bring them to my side, to be buried together with me."
Mo Tiange blurted out, "Could it be the Zilan Senior keeps mentioning?"
"Correct." Ziwei Sanren's voice remained calm, but Mo Tiange felt it carried boundless desolation. "I knew long ago I wouldn't see her again. Being buried together with her is enough..."
Mo Tiange couldn't help but ask softly, "She... who is she?"
This question made Ziwei Sanren fall silent. After a long time—so long Mo Tiange thought he wouldn't answer—she finally heard his voice. "She was my wife."
Mo Tiange was startled. "Since she was Senior's wife, why then..."
"You, junior, have too many questions." Ziwei Sanren chuckled bitterly. "I was merely separated from my wife, unable to be together. That's why I want you to bring her remains back. And you're interrogating me to the root."
Despite saying this, he sighed softly and still spoke slowly. "My wife's surname was Xiao, given name Zilan. She was a cultivator of the Xuanji Sect. Do you know of the Xuanji Sect?"
Daoist Fangzheng said in a low voice, "The Xuanji Sect... after the Tianliang Sect was destroyed thousands of years ago, its original disciples established that sect. However, today the Xuanji Sect no longer exists either. It split into several factions like the Guigu Sect, the Qiqiao Sect..."
Ziwei Sanren paused. "The Xuanji Sect also..."
"Correct. As far as this junior knows, it was due to internal strife. However, it was so long ago, and this junior is merely a wandering cultivator, so I don't know the details."
"...Fate. They ultimately could not escape the fate of sect destruction." Ziwei Sanren sighed, then continued, "How about the Ancient Sword Sect now? It still exists, right?"
"Currently, the Ancient Sword Sect is the third great sect of Tianji, with vast influence and numerous disciples."
"That's... good then." When mentioning the Ancient Sword Sect, Ziwei Sanren's tone was indifferent, as if he didn't care.
After this pause, he began to speak slowly. "I was originally a secular swordsman. At twenty, my master discovered I possessed spiritual roots and brought me to the Ancient Sword Sect. Later, I became a sword cultivator, devoted myself to cultivation, formed my Core at a hundred, and reached Nascent Soul at three hundred. I dare not call myself a genius, but among sword cultivators, I was rare."
"Because I came from the secular martial world, where grievances and favors were settled directly, I always had a fiery temper. My Ancient Sword Sect was also traditionally combative and did not restrain us. When I had just formed my Core, along with several senior brothers, because people from the Tianliang Sect offended my senior brother, we fellow disciples annihilated the Tianliang Sect."
"..." Mo Tiange was somewhat shocked. The Ancient Sword Sect now had a righteous image and always restrained its disciples. So in the past, it was actually like that...
"I didn't take this matter to heart at all at the time. Who knew, a hundred years later, I met a Foundation Establishment little girl..." Speaking of this, Ziwei Sanren's voice finally showed fluctuation. "That was my wife, Zilan. She was a disciple of the Xuanji Sect. I knew, but I didn't care. So what if I was involved in the past events? With my strength and status at the time, if I wanted to marry her, how would a minor sect like the Xuanji Sect dare refuse?"
"However, I didn't want Zilan to know, lest she think I was pressuring her with my influence. Zilan only knew that disciples of my Ancient Sword Sect had annihilated the Tianliang Sect, but she didn't know I was among them. Although she disliked the Ancient Sword Sect, she ultimately married me. We were a loving couple for two hundred years. I smoothly formed my Nascent Soul, and Zilan also formed her Golden Core. Her aptitude was exceptional. With my help, forming her Nascent Soul was almost inevitable. I thought we would continue loving each other like this, accompanying each other for a thousand years..."
Two hundred years... at this time, Ziwei Sanren would have been about four hundred years old, right? Was it around then that he defected from his sect and went into seclusion here?
"Right at this time, Zilan heard from my senior brother that I had participated in the annihilation of the Tianliang Sect. She returned to question me and broke off with me. Only then did I learn that Zilan wasn't merely a disciple of the Xuanji Sect. Her clan had once been a great clan of the Tianliang Sect... In other words, her elders and relatives likely all died by my hand."
Ziwei Sanren narrated calmly, his tone even and unfluctuating. "Having been husband and wife for two hundred years, how could I not know her temper? Although she was usually kind, she was most stubborn. Once she decided something, she would absolutely not change her mind. Since she broke off with me, she would never see me again in this lifetime."
"...But I still deluded myself that she might return. So, I defected from my sect and came to this secular world to live in seclusion. I sent word to her that if she ever forgave me, she should come find me. I deeply regret the events of the past, but I am powerless to change them. I gave up everything, cutting off the past." At this point, Ziwei Sanren finally sighed, revealing a hint of emotion. "Sure enough, I waited over a thousand years but never waited for her. Later, I heard she formed her Nascent Soul and became the Supreme Elder of the Xuanji Sect, but she never came to see me..."
So that was it. This Xiao Zilan was a disciple of the Xuanji Sect. No wonder there were traces of the Tianliang Sect everywhere in this valley. During their two hundred years as husband and wife, these were things Xiao Zilan passed on to Ziwei Sanren, right?
"Juniors, go to the original location of the Xuanji Sect, find Zilan's remains, and bury them with me. Then I will give you all the treasures I have accumulated in my lifetime."