Stepping out of Bishui Pavilion, a carriage and horses were already prepared outside. Mo Tiange boarded the carriage. Luo Qianshan respectfully saw her off: "Senior Ye, our sect's elders are already waiting at the gate. Please proceed directly; someone will receive you there."
Mo Tiange thanked him from inside the carriage: "I've troubled Manager Luo. Thank you."
Luo Qianshan hastily returned the courtesy. Then, the driver cracked his whip, the horse whinnied, and the carriage set off.
Inside the carriage, Mo Tiange lowered the curtain, focused her gaze inward, and used the travel time to enter meditation.
She didn't bother memorizing the carriage's route. So far, Bixuan Pavilion didn't seem to harbor any ill intentions toward her. If they did, there would be no need to send a carriage to fetch her. Such a mundane method served no purpose other than to show respect.
After entering meditation, a little over half an hour quickly passed before the carriage came to a stop. The driver, also a Qi Refining cultivator, spoke respectfully from outside: "Senior Ye. We have arrived at our sect. Please alight."
Mo Tiange opened her eyes. By then, someone had already lifted the carriage curtain: "Senior, please alight."
It was a youth with delicate features, his attitude respectful. Judging by his attire, similar to the driver's, he seemed to be a menial disciple.
Alighting from the carriage, Mo Tiange's gaze immediately fell upon the ascending jade steps, the grand mountain gate, and the two Qi Refining female cultivators waiting to the side.
These two Qi Refining female cultivators were different from the driver and the youth who lifted the curtain. Their cultivation was higher—one at the seventh level of Qi Refining, the other at the eighth. Their demeanor held no trace of subservience, and their clothing was relatively ornate, with identical sect insignias on their sleeves and collars.
Mo Tiange noted that their attire closely resembled that of Yan Ruoshu and the other two she had encountered at Ziwei's cave dwelling, and the insignia was the same.
Seeing her alight, the two female cultivators approached with smiles: "Are you Senior Ye? We are the welcoming disciples of Bixuan Pavilion. Greetings, Senior Ye."
Being on Bixuan Pavilion's turf, Mo Tiange politely returned the courtesy: "You are too kind, ladies. I am indeed Ye Xiaotian."
She keenly noticed that the two female cultivators seemed to be assessing her. Their eyes swept over her once each before they exchanged glances and smiled, appearing somewhat satisfied.
One of them spoke: "Senior Ye, we have already reported your background to our sect's elders. Upon hearing that another guest from outside had arrived, and a Foundation Establishment senior at that, the Sect Leader specifically instructed us to welcome you here."
"Oh?" Mo Tiange raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
The other continued: "The Sect Leader is awaiting you, Senior. Please follow us."
"Your Sect Leader wishes to see me?" Mo Tiange was astonished. She had suppressed her cultivation to the early Foundation Establishment stage. With the Concealing Spirit Pendant's effect, even a Core Formation cultivator wouldn't detect anything amiss, so she wasn't afraid of Bixuan Pavilion's Sect Leader discovering anything. However, as an outsider with only early Foundation Establishment cultivation, was it necessary for a sect leader to receive her?
After a moment's thought, she decided there was no need to be nervous. Perhaps outsiders were simply too rare, and being a female cultivator, Bixuan Pavilion's Sect Leader had taken an interest.
"Indeed," the welcoming female cultivator said, then turned and glanced at the youth who had lifted the curtain. "Go inform the Sect Leader that the honored guest has arrived."
Mo Tiange observed that both the driver and the youth were extremely deferential in front of these two female cultivators. If this were Kunwu, she would have simply assumed these female cultivators held higher status, so the others dared not show the slightest disrespect. But having already learned that Bixuan Pavilion revered female cultivators, she noticed that within this sect, all those performing menial tasks or holding lowly positions were male cultivators.
After instructing the youth to deliver the message, the two female cultivators politely guided Mo Tiange: "Senior Ye, this way, please."
Mo Tiange nodded. "I've troubled you." She followed them up the jade steps.
Bixuan Pavilion's mountain gate was no different from those of Kunwu sects, and its spiritual vein was rather ordinary—though, of course, this was because her standards were now higher. Mount Taikang was a first-rate spiritual mountain, while Bixuan Pavilion was secluded in a remote corner, hardly comparable to Kunwu's top-tier spiritual veins.
However, though Bixuan Pavilion lacked imposing grandeur, it was exquisitely crafted. Ascending the jade steps and passing through the mountain gate, she saw pavilions, terraces, towers, ponds, and waterside pavilions, all meticulously elegant and captivatingly beautiful. It seemed women's meticulous minds and skillful hands excelled at arranging scenery compared to men.
Following the two welcoming female cultivators for about the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, they arrived at a great hall.
Guarding the hall entrance were also two female cultivators at the eighth or ninth level of Qi Refining. Seeing them approach, they curtsied: "You've worked hard, Junior Sisters. Is this Senior Ye?"
Mo Tiange raised her hand slightly. "Indeed."
The two then smiled. "Senior Ye, the Sect Leader is waiting. Please enter."
Mo Tiange nodded her thanks and stepped into the hall.
Upon entering, however, Mo Tiange was momentarily taken aback.
It wasn't that the hall was unusual, but rather that only a single mid-Foundation Establishment female cultivator sat in the main seat. This cultivator appeared to be in her late twenties, dressed opulently and exuding a charming grace, clearly someone adept at social maneuvering.
Mo Tiange felt puzzled. The Bixuan Pavilion disciples who brought her in said their Sect Leader was waiting here, so why was there only this Foundation Establishment female cultivator? For a moment, she wasn't sure how to address the situation.
Fortunately, as soon as she entered, the female cultivator rose first and smiled. "Are you Fellow Daoist Ye?"
Though inwardly uncertain, Mo Tiange showed no sign on her face. She raised her hand in greeting. "Indeed. I am Ye Xiaotian. Greetings, Fellow Daoist."
Hearing her introduce herself, the female cultivator returned the courtesy, smiling warmly. "Fellow Daoist Ye is too polite. My name is Wei Haolan. I humbly serve as the Sect Leader of Bixuan Pavilion."
"You are the Sect Leader of Bixuan Pavilion?" Mo Tiange exclaimed in surprise, the words escaping her lips. She had assumed that as Sect Leader, it should be a Core Formation cultivator, hence her confusion about why a Core Formation cultivator would want to see her. She hadn't expected it to be a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
As soon as the words left her mouth, Mo Tiange realized she had been somewhat impolite. She quickly bowed again. "My apologies, Sect Leader Wei. I was discourteous."
Wei Haolan, however, didn't mind. She smiled slightly and warmly stepped forward to help her up. "I heard from my disciples that Fellow Daoist Ye is a distinguished disciple of the Xuanqing Sect, a great sect of Tianji. Naturally, your perspective is extraordinary. It's no surprise you didn't expect our Bixuan Pavilion to have a Foundation Establishment disciple as Sect Leader. This is no discourtesy."
This Sect Leader Wei was indeed gentle and amiable. Mo Tiange secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Initially worried that Bixuan Pavilion, accustomed to dominance due to its power, might be overbearing, it seemed Sect Leader Wei was also astute, treating guests with full respect.
After exchanging pleasantries, Mo Tiange took a seat in the guest position.
Shortly after, attendants served tea—again, low-ranking male cultivators. It seemed Bixuan Pavilion truly practiced female superiority. Mo Tiange thought to herself, accustomed to seeing women in Kunwu often treated as cultivation cauldrons, being in Bixuan Pavilion was truly refreshing.
"Fellow Daoist Ye," Wei Haolan said with a smile after taking a symbolic sip of tea. "It has been many years since an outside cultivator came to our Linhai City. I wonder what strange encounter brought you here, and how you arrived?"
Hearing the question, Mo Tiange set down her teacup and replied, "To be frank, Sect Leader Wei, several months ago, I left the mountain on my master's orders to travel. By chance, I met several fellow cultivators and went to a secret location to seek treasures. Unexpectedly, while we were treasure hunting, that secret place suddenly collapsed. I'm not clear what happened. When I woke up, I was in Linhai."
"Oh?" Wei Haolan looked perplexed. "It was like that?"
"Yes. As for how I got here, I'm not very clear myself and have no way to investigate."
Seeing her equally puzzled expression, Wei Haolan smiled. "Fellow Daoist Ye, preserving your life without serious injury is already great fortune. Our Linhai is isolated from the world. Over the years, occasional outside cultivators have arrived, but many came here severely injured or even lost their lives. The world is full of wonders. We are still beginners on the Immortal Path; some things are beyond our understanding!"
"Indeed," Mo Tiange agreed. She had pondered why she ended up in Linhai. The Land of Hidden Dragons changed its scenery annually. She speculated it likely contained some hidden secret technique that attracted a location into the Land of Hidden Dragons each year, switching again the next. This time, she happened to be transferred to Linhai.
Setting this matter aside, Mo Tiange thought for a moment and decided to ask frankly: "Sect Leader Wei, I've heard that Linhai City only has your sect's teleportation array connecting it to the outside. Is that true?"
Wei Haolan nodded. "That's correct."
Delighted, Mo Tiange stood and raised her hand. "In that case, I would like to borrow your sect's teleportation array. Would that be possible?" After a pause, she added, "Of course, I will provide some resources as payment for using the array."
Hearing this, Wei Haolan didn't answer immediately. Instead, she leisurely finished her sip of tea before smiling. "Fellow Daoist Ye, there's no need to be so polite. The matter of lending the teleportation array... is open to discussion."
She said it was open to discussion, but after speaking, Wei Haolan didn't continue. Instead, she picked up her teacup again and slowly resumed drinking.
Having managed affairs at Shangqing Palace a few years prior, Mo Tiange had a general understanding of such social interactions. Seeing Wei Haolan's attitude, she grasped the situation.
It seemed Wei Haolan was quite adept—friendly and amiable, but unhesitant to employ strategy when necessary. Her silence now was because, holding the teleportation array, she retained the initiative. If Mo Tiange wanted to borrow the array, she would have to state her terms herself, and Wei Haolan would only agree once satisfied.
Mo Tiange wasn't anxious either. She imitated Wei Haolan, slowly drinking her tea for a while before setting down the cup and speaking calmly. "Sect Leader Wei, let's speak plainly. How about this: if your sect is willing to lend the teleportation array, I'll offer one thousand Spirit Stones. How does that sound?"
One thousand Spirit Stones was a significant sum for an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator. Loose cultivators could hardly produce such an amount, and even sect disciples might struggle if they weren't good at saving, as Foundation Establishment cultivators had many expenses despite their income.
But Wei Haolan merely raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Fellow Daoist Ye truly lives up to being from a great sect. One thousand Spirit Stones—I wouldn't even be willing to part with that much myself!"
Though she said this, Mo Tiange could tell she wasn't very satisfied.
After some consideration, Mo Tiange said, "Fifteen hundred Spirit Stones."
Although teleportation arrays consumed considerable resources, activating one typically required only a few mid-grade Spirit Stones, equivalent to a few hundred Spirit Stones. Fifteen hundred Spirit Stones meant a profit of at least one thousand.
Yet Wei Haolan still shook her head without speaking, clearly not satisfied with this price either.