This person was none other than Jiang Shanghang, whom she had not seen since leaving Yunwu Mountain over a decade ago.
Compared to more than ten years ago, the Jiang Shanghang before her eyes had changed greatly. Back when she first entered the Yunwu Sect, the Jiang Shanghang Mo Tiange saw was young and handsome in features, yet exuded a chilling aura, his gaze often filled with contempt, making people not want to approach him at all.
But the current Jiang Shanghang actually looked somewhat younger than he did back then—calculating, he was still under fifty this year, which was indeed quite young for a Foundation Establishment cultivator. His whole person had become much thinner than before, but the uncomfortable chilliness that permeated him had transformed into an aloof, detached coldness. His brows and eyes had softened, lacking the wounding contempt, replaced instead by a faint indifference.
After Jiang Shanghang saved her back then, the two of them fled separately. Mo Tiange attracted the pursuers' attention, so no one knew Jiang Shanghang was involved. He simply vanished smoothly. Later, although Mo Tiange was rescued by Qin Xi, she lost her Second Uncle and went to the Xuanqing Sect. Separated by thousands of miles, she had no time to inquire about Jiang Shanghang's news. Over a decade had passed in the blink of an eye.
"...Senior Brother Jiang?"
Jiang Shanghang's expression upon seeing her was even more shocked than hers. Only upon hearing her voice did he snap back to reality. He said to Haibo, who was standing aside full of curiosity, "This is a friend of mine. Hurry and bring Snow Lotus Tea."
Haibo hastily responded, "Yes, yes. Please wait a moment, honored ones. The tea will be right here."
After Haibo left, Jiang Shanghang's gaze finally settled on Mo Tiange. He sized her up, his surprised expression slowly fading, ending with a slight smile. "Junior Brother Ye, it's been a long time."
This smile made Mo Tiange sigh inwardly. The Jiang Shanghang of the past, where would he ever smile? It seemed the over ten years since leaving the Yunwu Sect had changed him a lot.
"It has indeed been a long time. Over a dozen years have passed in a flash. I never thought we would reunite here."
Jiang Shanghang nodded with a smile. "Junior Brother Ye, please sit—oh, should I change how I address you now?"
Mo Tiange took a seat in the guest position and smiled. "What difference does it make what you call me? I still use the name Ye Xiaotian when I'm outside. Senior Brother Jiang can still call me that." She paused, then asked with a smile, "I wonder if Senior Brother Jiang is still using his original name?"
Jiang Shanghang sat down in the host's seat and shook his head. "My current name is Jiang Shuihan."
Hearing that he had indeed changed his name, Mo Tiange sighed and nodded. Jiang Shanghang changing his name was probably out of necessity. Leaving the Jiang Family meant severing ties with them. Before departing, he had even killed a favored descendant of a Core Formation cultivator from the Jiang Family. Unlike her, who entered the Xuanqing Sect and had protection, if he didn't change his name, he could easily be found.
"It's been many years since we parted. How have you been, Senior Brother Jiang? Why did you become the Immortal Master of this Extreme North tribe, and how did you enter the Zhengfa Sect?"
"I've been doing alright," Jiang Shanghang said calmly. "After leaving Yunwu Mountain, I decided to leave Kunwu and seek another spiritual vein to cultivate. But there are too few spiritual veins in the mortal world. After much thought, I finally headed to the Extreme North. The Zhengfa Sect dominates the Extreme North alone, and they cultivate water-based spells, which suits me perfectly. It's also separated from Kunwu by thousands of mountains and rivers. I figured the Jiang Family, no matter how hard they searched, wouldn't find their way to the Extreme North."
"That... makes sense. Senior Brother Jiang cultivated water-based spells back then. Joining the Zhengfa Sect is indeed a perfect match." Mo Tiange couldn't help but nod. Thinking about it carefully, Jiang Shanghang coming north was completely normal. He primarily cultivated water techniques, the Zhengfa Sect's cultivation methods suited him, and it was far from Kunwu—a perfect place to hide.
Jiang Shanghang smiled. "Being able to smoothly enter the Zhengfa Sect was a coincidence, though. For mortals of the Extreme North, if they have Spirit Roots, regardless of the quality, the Zhengfa Sect will accept them as disciples. But for us cultivators from the south, they are very strict. My Spirit Roots are too poor; it was originally very difficult for them to accept me."
"Oh? Did Senior Brother Jiang encounter some fortunate opportunity?"
"It was also a coincidence. As soon as I arrived here, I happened upon the people of this tribe. Their Immortal Master had just perished, and they faced the predicament of being absorbed by other tribes. They begged me to become their Immortal Master. I thought about it and had nowhere else to go, so I agreed. Later, the Zhengfa Sect changed its name, abandoning the original Zhengfa Gate. To celebrate the name change, foreign cultivators like me, who had become tribe Immortal Masters, were allowed to join as an exception."
"...I see." So, over these seventeen years, Jiang Shanghang had suffered much more than her. Fleeing arduously from the Yunwu Sect, leaving Kunwu, fleeing far to the Extreme North. He must have endured many hardships initially, but fortunately, he eventually achieved results.
Jiang Shanghang looked at her and asked, "Junior Brother Ye, from your appearance, you've lived well these years. I originally thought it would be good enough if you could achieve Foundation Establishment. I never expected that upon seeing you again, your cultivation would be far higher than mine. You must have encountered some extraordinary fortune, right?" His own cultivation was still at the early Foundation Establishment stage. Even attempting to break through to mid-Foundation Establishment wouldn't happen in a short time. Yet Mo Tiange was already at the peak of mid-Foundation Establishment, ready to attempt late Foundation Establishment at any moment.
Mo Tiange also smiled. Now, Jiang Shanghang's temperament suited her eye—speaking directly, not as gloomy as before. "It's alright, just good luck."
"Just good luck alone probably isn't enough, Junior Brother Ye. No need to be modest." He paused, then continued, "Junior Brother Ye, to be honest with you, when we parted back then, I thought it was most likely you wouldn't escape disaster. I never expected you... How exactly did you escape back then?"
"This..." Mo Tiange pondered for a moment, then told the truth. "It was almost like that. If Senior Brother Qin hadn't come to rescue me, I would have been dead for sure."
"Senior Brother Qin?" Jiang Shanghang thought for a moment, surprised. "Are you talking about Qin Xi, Junior Brother Qin, who lived with us?"
Mo Tiange nodded. "After we separated that day, Second Uncle and I fled Yunwu Mountain, but we were quickly caught up with. Second Uncle perished because of it..." Mentioning this, her expression dimmed.
Jiang Shanghang's face showed apology. "Sorry. I made you recall something sad."
"It's nothing." Seeing Jiang Shanghang's current demeanor, he truly was completely different from the past. In the old days, how would he ever apologize to someone for such a thing? She continued, "Before Second Uncle perished, he told me to seek help from someone. That person was a famous Core Formation cultivator from West Kunwu. He owed my father a favor from long ago and had left a Divine Sense Message Talisman... After I crushed the Message Talisman, Senior Brother Qin appeared soon after."
"What?" Jiang Shanghang was greatly shocked. After thinking, he asked, "Did Junior Brother Qin already have a master back then?"
Mo Tiange smiled and nodded. She knew Jiang Shanghang misunderstood, but she wasn't prepared to explain. Actually, back then, she had thought the same as Jiang Shanghang. Qin Xi had also led her to believe that. After all, an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator, where would they imagine they had been living with a Core Formation cultivator for several years?
After some thought, Jiang Shanghang asked, "Could it be that Junior Brother Qin's master is much more famous and prestigious than the Yunwu Sect's, which is why..."
"That's right..." Mo Tiange said calmly. "A disciple of Dao Lord Jinghe of the Xuanqing Sect in West Kunwu. How would those people from the Yunwu Sect dare offend him?"
"What?!" Jiang Shanghang blurted out again, standing up abruptly.
Just then, someone called from outside, "Immortal Master, the Snow Lotus Tea is here."
Jiang Shanghang composed himself and sat back down, his tone returning to calm. "Come in."
A woman lifted the door curtain and walked in gracefully carrying a tray. She poured each of them a cup of tea, her gaze carefully circling between them as if guessing their relationship, then performed a bow and left.
The women of the Extreme North were also different from those of Central Kunwu. Their skin was paler, features deeper, and while not tall, they were sturdy. Since arriving at this tribe, all the women Mo Tiange had seen along the way were like this. But this woman was clearly more beautiful, with a much more slender figure, unlike the people of the Extreme North.
Jiang Shanghang noticed her gaze and explained, "Since the Zhengfa Sect established itself in the Extreme North, the mortals it brought have intermarried extensively with the Extreme North tribes. Now, some people in the tribes have mixed blood from the Central Plains and Kunwu." After saying this, he pointed at the Snow Lotus Tea on the table. "I wonder if Junior Brother Ye has drunk this Snow Lotus Tea in Da'an City? Back then, I rushed to the Extreme North and didn't drink Snow Lotus Tea, suffering many hardships. Fortunately, I encountered the people of the Haibao Tribe."
Mo Tiange shook her head with a smile. "I haven't either. Fortunately, I've already achieved Foundation Establishment now, otherwise I would have suffered too."
Jiang Shanghang smiled. The two each savored the tea.
This Snow Lotus Tea, similar to tea in the south, was made by drying and processing, then brewing. However, it didn't use tea leaves but rather snow lotus petals. After taking a sip, Mo Tiange immediately felt a stream of warmth surge from her abdomen to her limbs and bones, incredibly cozy. It seemed not only washing with snow lotus broth but drinking Snow Lotus Tea could also resist the extreme northern cold wind.
Putting down the teacup, Jiang Shanghang looked at her and continued the previous topic. "Junior Brother Ye, you said Junior Brother Qin is a disciple of a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Xuanqing Sect?"
"That's right." There was nothing unspeakable about these things.
"So that means you are also in the Xuanqing Sect now?"
Mo Tiange smiled faintly. "I was also lucky. I went to the Xuanqing Sect and caught Dao Lord Jinghe's eye. He accepted me as a nominal disciple. After I achieved Foundation Establishment, I became his formal disciple."
Hearing this, Jiang Shanghang looked at her with a different gaze than before. Seeing Mo Tiange's cultivation at the peak of mid-Foundation Establishment, her confident demeanor, he knew she lived well. But he never imagined it was this good.
A formal disciple of a Nascent Soul cultivator... Recalling himself, after successfully achieving Foundation Establishment, his cultivation speed was not inferior to elite disciples. He thought he was lucky enough. Occasionally thinking of Junior Brother Ye from back then, he always assumed she was most likely no longer in this world. Even if she luckily escaped disaster, she probably couldn't achieve Foundation Establishment. He never expected that she not only achieved Foundation Establishment but lived so well, well beyond his expectations.
"So that's how it is. No wonder Junior Brother Ye advanced so quickly, not only smoothly achieving Foundation Establishment but also reaching the peak of mid-stage so soon..." Jiang Shanghang sighed. "Truly, each person has their own fortune and fate. It's not something to envy."
"Senior Brother Jiang is now a formal disciple of the Zhengfa Sect. Why envy? With Senior Brother Jiang's temperament, surely the Great Dao is also within reach."
Jiang Shanghang smiled bitterly. "The Great Dao? Too far away! In the past, I didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth. I thought those two ancestors deliberately suppressed me to let Jiang Chengxian stand out. Actually, even if they didn't suppress me, so what? Perhaps I could smoothly achieve Foundation Establishment, but... after Foundation Establishment, the future is hard to predict."
Mo Tiange fell silent. If she hadn't obtained the Hunyuan cultivation method, transforming from a five-attribute waste Spirit Root into a heaven-endowed talent in one move, her path of cultivation would probably be like this too. During Qi Refining, she always thought that with her own efforts, even if the immortal path was difficult, she could reach the other shore. But after Foundation Establishment, she realized her past thoughts were utterly ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth. Talent, cultivation methods, temperament, luck—all are indispensable.
"At least Senior Brother Jiang smoothly achieved Foundation Establishment, right?"
Jiang Shanghang sighed. "I could achieve Foundation Establishment only because I entered the Zhengfa Sect. Back then, although I obtained Foundation Establishment Pills and Consolidation Pills, I tried once myself and failed. Later, when I came to the Extreme North and entered the Zhengfa Sect, I switched to cultivating the Zhengfa Sect's advanced ice-attribute techniques. Finally, after winning in a minor sect competition and receiving guidance from a Core Formation senior, I dared to go into seclusion again. This time, I finally succeeded by luck."
"..." With Jiang Shanghang's Four Spirit Root talent, succeeding in Foundation Establishment on the second attempt was indeed lucky. Actually, wasn't she herself also lucky? "Back when I achieved Foundation Establishment, I used a full four Foundation Establishment Pills. If I hadn't received several Foundation Establishment Pills as rewards from my master, I don't know when I could have achieved Foundation Establishment." Mo Tiange also sighed ruefully. During Qi Refining, she didn't know. Only after achieving Foundation Establishment and recalling the process did she realize the hardships.
The two each sighed, then looked at each other and couldn't help but smile.
Mo Tiange thought for a moment and chose a tactful way to phrase it. "By the way, Senior Brother Jiang, your temperament seems different from before..."
Jiang Shanghang laughed as soon as he heard. "I know what you mean. You want to say, not as detestable as before, right?"
Mo Tiange also smiled, not denying it.
Jiang Shanghang said, "After leaving the Jiang Family and seeing more of the world, I realized how vast the world truly is... When I was in the Jiang Family, to cultivate quickly, I always used secret techniques, which damaged my body and made my temperament very strange. After coming to the Zhengfa Sect, I abandoned my original techniques and switched to cultivating the Zhengfa Sect's advanced ice techniques. Naturally, I'm different from before."
"So that's how it is..." No wonder his entire aura was different. The previous secret techniques leaned towards a chilling coldness. Now the advanced ice-attribute techniques leaned towards a clear, crisp coldness. Moreover, without the shackles of the Jiang Family, of course he became more open.
"Besides, here, the entire tribe respects me, and the Zhengfa Sect doesn't oppress me either. Everything goes smoothly, so naturally I'm no longer cynical and misanthropic."
Mo Tiange thought it made sense too. Environment influences character. Back in the Yunwu Sect, she was cautious and meticulous, heavy-hearted, always greeting others with a smile, not daring to offend anyone in the slightest. After coming to the Xuanqing Sect, having cultivation, status, and position, her personality became more assertive, and she learned to assert authority over others.
"Junior Brother Ye is different from before too..." Jiang Shanghang sized her up again and smiled. "Junior Brother Ye of the past, no matter how you looked, was still a child. Now though... can truly be called a fairy maiden."
Was this praising her appearance? Mo Tiange felt a bit strange. Even after switching back to female attire, she always dressed in loose-sleeved Daoist robes, with only a Daoist bun in her hair, not even using the jewelry Qin Xi gave her... Thinking of this name, she was momentarily stunned. They hadn't seen each other for ten years. She didn't know how his seclusion was going now. Master said he overthought things; it was most likely he wouldn't succeed in forming his Nascent Soul. But he was very insistent. Yet she clearly knew that regarding cultivation, he wasn't an impatient person. What exactly made him rush to form his Nascent Soul?
"Junior Brother Ye! Junior Brother Ye!"
Seeing Jiang Shanghang's curious expression, Mo Tiange realized she had actually spaced out just now, feeling annoyed inwardly. "Sorry, Senior Brother Jiang..."
Jiang Shanghang looked at her with an inquisitive expression, ultimately shaking his head and not asking anything. He brought up another matter. "By the way, you said Junior Brother Qin is a disciple of Dao Lord Jinghe. Now you and he are fellow disciples under the same master?"
"...Yes."
"Then, since he is a disciple of such a major sect like the Xuanqing Sect, and under a Nascent Soul cultivator, why did he go to the Yunwu Sect? And stay for three whole years..."
"Uh..." The reasons therein, she wasn't very clear about either. Moreover, this was Qin Xi's private matter, not something she could easily speak of.
Seeing her troubled expression, Jiang Shanghang said, "I was just asking casually. If it's inconvenient, no need to say."
Mo Tiange relaxed and explained with a smile. "This is Senior Brother Qin's private matter. It's not appropriate for me to say."
"I was too abrupt." Putting this question aside, Jiang Shanghang asked again, "Then how is Junior Brother Qin now?"
"...Very well." The words turned on her tongue, then she swallowed them back. "Senior Brother Qin's advancement is even faster than mine."
"Is that so?" Jiang Shanghang was astonished. After thinking, he said, "Back then, he was a Qi Refining disciple yet already a disciple under a Nascent Soul cultivator... Could it be his talent is truly outstanding?" Saying this, his gaze at Mo Tiange became somewhat strange. What he thought was, he knew what kind of talent this Junior Brother Ye had, yet she was also accepted as a disciple by a Nascent Soul cultivator. Could it be out of consideration for that Junior Brother Qin?
"You could say so..." Mo Tiange said calmly. "Senior Brother Qin is my master's blood descendant. Moreover, his talent is outstanding. I imagine even forming a Nascent Soul is not unimaginable."
"Forming a Nascent Soul..." Hearing this term, Jiang Shanghang couldn't help but say, "Junior Brother Qin is only at Foundation Establishment now, right? Even if he is a single Spirit Root genius, forming a Nascent Soul is not a certainty..."
But he only saw Mo Tiange smiling slightly, seemingly unconcerned. He swallowed his following words and changed the subject. "Back then, the five of us in one room: Junior Brother Xu died; you, I, and Junior Brother Qin left. Only that Senior Brother Liu remained in the Yunwu Sect. I wonder how proud and satisfied he is now."
Mentioning Liu Yidao, Jiang Shanghang's face wore a cold smile, as if scornful.
Mo Tiange frowned slightly, puzzled. "Senior Brother Jiang, you didn't have any conflicts with Senior Brother Liu back then, did you?"
"Naturally not."
"Then why..."
Jiang Shanghang sneered again. "I originally thought he was a rare loyal and righteous person among cultivators. Who knew he let me see a secret of his."
"A secret?" Mo Tiange was startled.
"That's right." Jiang Shanghang asked coldly, "Do you know how Junior Brother Xu died?"
"It was during the Foundation Establishment Pill trial..." Mo Tiange stopped. Since Jiang Shanghang said this, could Xu Jingzhi's death be related to Liu Yidao?
Seeing her expression, Jiang Shanghang nodded with an indifferent face. "You probably guessed what I mean. Back then in that forest, I happened to see them. I witnessed with my own eyes them being surrounded. In a moment of danger, that Senior Brother Liu, to buy himself time to escape, didn't warn Junior Brother Xu. He took advantage of others not paying attention and slipped away, leaving Junior Brother Xu trapped in the encirclement of Zixia Sect cultivators, undoubtedly perishing."
"What!" Mo Tiange's face turned pale. She was about to question why he saw but didn't intervene. Thinking again, never mind what Jiang Shanghang's temperament was like back then; since defeat was certain, naturally there was no reason to go to his death. But not intervening was one thing; throwing Xu Jingzhi down as a sacrificial pawn was another!
Thinking further, when she last saw Liu Yidao, he showed such great anger over Xu Jingzhi's death... Was it guilt? Because he himself did such a thing, he hated even more the people who forced him to make that choice.
Mo Tiange said slowly, "Senior Brother Liu... has also achieved Foundation Establishment now. I've seen him once. He is now a disciple of a Core Formation cultivator in the Yunwu Sect."
"Is that so?" Jiang Shanghang sneered, yet with an indifferent expression. "I've left the Yunwu Sect for so long and don't plan to return in the future. Whatever he is like has nothing to do with me."
Mo Tiange remained silent. She thought the same. Something that happened over ten years ago. Even if Liu Yidao wronged Xu Jingzhi, so what? Anyway, she wouldn't have dealings with this person in the future.
Only, this matter couldn't help but make her sigh with emotion. Knowing a person's face but not their heart—indeed, it was so.