After gathering information from Wei Ziming and the others, Mo Tiange rented a room at Biyun Tower. The manager, upon hearing she wished to stay temporarily, even arranged a small courtyard for her. This showed that cultivators enjoyed considerable privileges in Linhai City.
Thus, Mo Tiange felt her earlier judgment had been somewhat rash. Although Bixuan Pavilion was powerful and imposed restrictions on non-sect loose cultivators everywhere, it also offered many benefits. Regardless, given the unique geography of this place, how Bixuan Pavilion conducted its affairs was not for an outsider cultivator like her to judge.
The three men had vied to invite her to visit their respective families, but Mo Tiange politely declined each offer.
She wanted to leave Linhai City and return to Kunwu as soon as possible. It was better not to get entangled with local families here. Bixuan Pavilion held great sway; if she inadvertently offended their taboos, it would be troublesome.
Through the words of Wei Ziming and the others, Mo Tiange gained a general understanding of the situation in Linhai.
According to them, Linhai City was Bixuan Pavilion's domain. Any cultivator in Linhai City, no matter what they wanted to do, could not bypass Bixuan Pavilion.
For Mo Tiange, as long as Bixuan Pavilion controlled Linhai's only teleportation array connecting to the outside world, she would inevitably have to deal with them. The question was how to go about it, which required careful thought.
Wei Ziming and the others had mentioned that initially, Bixuan Pavilion's teleportation array was not limited to sect disciples. Even loose cultivators could borrow it, provided they paid sufficient Spirit Stones or valuables.
Linhai had been isolated from the outside world for generations, and resources like Spirit Stones and valuables were relatively scarce. Loose cultivators often had to spend their entire savings to use the teleportation array once. However, no one objected to this because the array itself consumed a vast amount of Spirit Stones. If no fees were charged, Bixuan Pavilion would simply be operating at a loss.
Later, at some unknown point, Bixuan Pavilion began demanding more and more valuables until finally, no loose cultivator could afford the cost. From then on, the teleportation array became exclusively for Bixuan Pavilion's use. To this day, if any loose cultivator requested passage, Bixuan Pavilion would quote an astronomical price to deter them.
After learning all this, Mo Tiange had a few ideas.
The first method was to directly reveal her identity. With the prestige of the Xuanqing Sect, Bixuan Pavilion would likely show some respect. However, Bixuan Pavilion was different from the sects in Kunwu. Given Linhai's unique geography, they reigned supreme here, unchallenged. Even if the Xuanqing Sect was the number one sect in Tianji, its influence couldn't reach them.
The second method was as Wei Ziming and the others suggested: Bixuan Pavilion, seeing her decent cultivation level, would likely try to recruit her. Once she became a Bixuan Pavilion disciple, she could naturally request to use the teleportation array. But this would unnecessarily complicate a simple matter. Her original intent was just to borrow the array; turning it into deception would be problematic. If discovered by Bixuan Pavilion, not only would they refuse her passage, they might even kill her out of anger.
Then there was the third method. They said that occasionally, a small number of outsider cultivators accidentally arrived in Linhai. Male cultivators faced more trouble, but female cultivators? They were either recruited or paid a certain price to teleport away. She could simply act as she had before, claiming to be a loose cultivator willing to pay the price to borrow Bixuan Pavilion's array.
After pondering for a long time without deciding on a method, Mo Tiange suddenly had a change of heart and chuckled wryly to herself.
Actually, this was a very simple matter. Why was she overcomplicating it?
Apart from Yan Ruoshu and the other two, she had no connection whatsoever with Bixuan Pavilion. Yan Ruoshu and the others died in Ziwei's cave dwelling, and that wasn't her responsibility. In other words, she bore no grudge with Bixuan Pavilion and didn't need to worry about them deliberately making things difficult for her.
Whether she was a Xuanqing Sect disciple or a loose cultivator, Bixuan Pavilion was a female-only sect. Judging from Wei Ziming and the others' tone, they weren't overly harsh on non-sect female cultivators. She could simply be straightforward and tell the truth. Why rack her brains trying to devise a foolproof excuse?
Ultimately, having encountered many incidents, she always thought about avoiding danger and had gotten stuck in a mental rut. In this world, what was truly foolproof? She was still human, not an immortal, nor even a high-level cultivator capable of sensing destiny. She wasn't clever enough to devise flawless strategies. Being cautious where necessary was enough. Trying to avoid all risks was simply impossible.
Having thought it through, Mo Tiange made her decision. Since she had no choice but to go through Bixuan Pavilion, she might as well honestly seek their help.
Additionally, back in Ziwei's cave dwelling, she and Daoist Fangzheng had divided the belongings of the deceased, which included items from Yan Ruoshu and the other two. She needed to hide these well before going to Bixuan Pavilion. Avoiding trouble was better than inviting it. Matters involving joint adventures were hard to explain clearly, so it was better not to mention them at all.
After resting at Biyun Tower for a day, Mo Tiange followed the manager's directions the next day and went to Bishui Pavilion, a shop opened by Bixuan Pavilion in Linhai City.
Mo Tiange stepped into the small shop, which looked no different from a mortal store from the outside, and swept her gaze around.
The shop wasn't large, with only two storefronts. However, though small, it was fully equipped. There were separate counters for cultivation methods, pills, spiritual tools, and materials, and even a section for purchasing goods.
All the attendants manning the counters were low-level Qi Refining cultivators. Mo Tiange noticed they were all male.
Seeing her enter, the low-level cultivators on duty were momentarily stunned. But someone quickly reacted and stepped forward. "This... Senior?"
This time, Mo Tiange had suppressed her cultivation to the early Foundation Establishment stage. After all, late Foundation Establishment cultivation was considered quite high. Bixuan Pavilion only had three Core Formation cultivators in total; a late Foundation Establishment cultivator might attract the attention of their Core Formation Elders. On the other hand, the Qi Refining stage was too low and might lead to being looked down upon.
Although this person addressed her as 'Senior,' he wasn't entirely sure, his expression showing some surprise and doubt. In Linhai, apart from women with truly inferior Spirit Roots and no backing, any female cultivator with some cultivation level was a Bixuan Pavilion disciple. The person before him was an early Foundation Establishment female cultivator. Logically, she should definitely be a Bixuan Pavilion disciple, yet Mo Tiange bore no Bixuan Pavilion insignia whatsoever. And they didn't recognize the attire of the Xuanqing Sect.
Mo Tiange smiled slightly at the person. "May I ask, is this a shop of Bixuan Pavilion?"
Hearing her question, the attendant quickly nodded, then asked, "Dare I ask, Senior, you are..."
Mo Tiange replied calmly, "I am a cultivator from Kunwu who arrived here unintentionally. I have come specifically to request an audience with the person in charge of Bixuan Pavilion."
Upon hearing this, the other attendants put down their tasks and looked her way. It had been a long time since an outsider cultivator had come to Linhai, let alone a Foundation Establishment cultivator who was considered high-level to them.
The attendant who received her hurriedly said, "So that's the case. Senior, please wait here for a moment. I will immediately invite the manager to meet you."
Mo Tiange nodded with a smile. "Thank you for your trouble."
Perhaps because her cultivation level was sufficiently high, or perhaps because her attitude was amiable, the attendant asked her to wait briefly before rushing into the back hall. Not long after, a middle-aged man at the ninth level of Qi Refining followed the attendant out in haste.
The middle-aged man spotted Mo Tiange sitting in the guest seat at a glance and immediately walked over, his demeanor extremely respectful. "This humble one is Luo Qianshan, serving as the manager of Bishui Pavilion. Greetings, Senior."
Mo Tiange stood up and returned the courtesy. "Manager Luo, there's no need for such formality. My name is Ye Xiaotian. I am a cultivator from Kunwu who arrived here by accident. I heard your esteemed sect possesses a teleportation array for leaving, so I have come specifically to request an audience."
Manager Luo had already learned the reason from the attendant. Originally, this wasn't a major issue. Although Linhai was isolated from the world, outsider cultivators occasionally arrived by various accidental means. Generally, reporting to the sect was sufficient. Whether they could leave depended on whether the sect was willing to lend the teleportation array. However, the person before him was not only a female cultivator but also a Foundation Establishment cultivator. For a small place like Linhai, a Foundation Establishment cultivator was already a high-level cultivator. He dared not be negligent.
"So it's Senior Ye," Manager Luo maintained his respectful and courteous attitude. "This matter is significant. This junior will certainly report it to the seniors of our sect as soon as possible. Senior Ye, please come inside and have a seat."
Hearing this, Mo Tiange nodded with a smile. "Alright, thank you for the trouble."
Her demeanor and attitude were gentle and polite, which greatly impressed Luo Qianshan. He respectfully invited Mo Tiange into the inner room to serve tea.
"Senior Ye," Luo Qianshan said after instructing his subordinate to report to the sect, sitting beside her as a host. "It has been a long time since any outsider cultivators came to Linhai. May I ask how you arrived in Linhai?"
Mo Tiange smiled. It seemed Luo Qianshan was probing into her origins. That was understandable. Linhai was Bixuan Pavilion's domain. Suddenly, an outsider cultivator wanting to borrow the teleportation array had arrived; of course, they needed to investigate.
"Well... to be honest, I'm not entirely sure myself." She had already prepared an explanation for this point. "I originally went to a secret location seeking some opportunities. I don't know what happened, but that secret place suddenly collapsed. Afterwards, I found myself in Linhai."
"So that's how it is..." Hearing her words, Luo Qianshan couldn't discern their truth or falsehood, only feeling that Mo Tiange's expression was calm with no suspicious points. "Judging by Senior Ye's bearing, you don't seem to be a loose cultivator. May I ask which renowned sect in Kunwu you belong to?"
"You flatter me," Mo Tiange replied with a faint smile. "I am a disciple of the Xuanqing Sect in West Kunwu."
"Xuanqing Sect?" Luo Qianshan was startled. He wasn't like those minor cultivators from the cultivation families. As the manager of a Bixuan Pavilion shop, he had access to some of the sect's affairs and knew much more than they did.
The Xuanqing Sect—this was the second greatest sect in Tianji! Although Bixuan Pavilion held immense power in Linhai, in Kunwu, it could only be considered a mid-to-small sect, completely incomparable to a major sect like the Xuanqing Sect.
Hearing Mo Tiange say she was a Xuanqing Sect cultivator, Luo Qianshan's gaze immediately changed, becoming somewhat apprehensive. "Senior Ye is actually a senior from the Xuanqing Sect. I truly apologize for my earlier disrespect."
"Not at all," Mo Tiange waved her hand. "I am merely an ordinary cultivator of the Xuanqing Sect. I really don't deserve such great courtesy from Manager Luo."
Although Mo Tiange said this, Luo Qianshan dared not be the slightest bit negligent, his words polite and his attitude respectful. Especially seeing that Mo Tiange didn't conceal anything and answered whatever he asked with straightforward words, he completely lost any doubts about her.
Not long after, the attendant who had gone to deliver the message returned to report. As expected, the person in charge at Bixuan Pavilion was willing to see her.
Mo Tiange secretly breathed a sigh of relief. So far, there were no abnormalities. She hoped the sect manager of Bixuan Pavilion would agree to lend her the teleportation array smoothly.