Mo Tiange offered no explanation. After all, the proposal for dual cultivation had already been rejected. Since she wouldn't have any further dealings with Tang Shen in the future, there was no need to say more.
Tang Shen didn't press the matter either. Instead, he smiled and said, "In that case, I'll still call you Senior Sister. Senior Sister Mo is so young yet possesses such cultivation. It's only right to address you as such."
In the cultivation world, seniority wasn't determined by age, except among those with very close relationships, like fellow disciples sharing the same master. Even after cultivation levels increased, such respectful titles often remained. Having spent over a decade together in this pagoda, though mostly focused on their own tasks, their bond was closer than ordinary acquaintances, hence the discussion of age. Now, knowing Mo Tiange's cultivation far surpassed his own, Tang Shen sincerely felt he should address her as Senior Sister.
Xia Qing chimed in, "Well, I should call you Senior Sister no matter what. Senior Sister Mo, you're so amazing. You'll have to look out for me more in the future."
"Junior Sister Xia!" Wei Haolan shot her a glance but also smiled. "That's true. Fellow Daoist Ye is now a Guest Elder of our Bixuan Pavilion. She should indeed look out for us more."
Mo Tiange waved her hand dismissively. "Please don't tease me. I merely rely on the legacy of my elders."
Just as Wei Haolan was about to speak, all four of them sensed a wave of spiritual energy fluctuation. They stopped simultaneously and turned their gazes toward the teleportation array.
The teleportation array flashed with a bright light, followed by Elder Qingyi's voice. "All four of you, come up."
Hearing the elder's voice again after fifteen years, the four couldn't help but feel excited.
Wei Haolan pressed a hand to her chest, calming her stirred emotions. "It seems the two elders have emerged from seclusion. Let's go up to see them."
Naturally, no one objected. All four set down their wine cups and rose to walk toward the teleportation array.
Over the past fifteen years, the teleportation array had been closed. Now that it was activated and they were being summoned, it was clear the two elders had indeed emerged.
Standing on the teleportation array, a flash of light later, the four appeared on the fourth floor. Though eager to see the elders, when the moment arrived, Wei Haolan and the other two didn't dare lift their heads.
They all knew the consequences of the two elders cultivating the Blood Prohibition Secret Art. Even with fifteen years of mental preparation, witnessing it firsthand was another matter entirely.
Thus, Mo Tiange was the first to see the elders' appearance.
The two elders sat side by side on meditation cushions at the head of the room. They appeared completely normal—because they were both wearing cloaks and veiled hats.
These hats and cloaks not only blocked vision but also shielded against spiritual sense detection. With the elders' cultivation higher than theirs, none could see their true forms.
"Greetings, Elders," Mo Tiange was the first to bow. Now that she was considered part of Bixuan Pavilion, there was no need to address them as 'seniors'.
Hearing her voice carry no abnormality, the other three finally looked up, their eyes showing relief mixed with sorrow. The elders must have covered their appearance to avoid frightening them.
"Greetings, Elders," Wei Haolan led the bow.
Elder Qingyi nodded slightly. "You've all worked hard these fifteen years." Her voice, however, was much hoarser than in the past.
Wei Haolan replied respectfully, "Compared to the sacrifices of the two Elders, our minor hardships are nothing."
"You are a good child," Elder Qingmiao took over, her voice noticeably aged despite the hidden face. "You needn't blame yourselves. This is the responsibility we, as elders of Bixuan Pavilion, must bear."
Tang Shen hung his head, secretly wiping the corner of his eye.
Elder Qingyi noticed him and spoke. "Shen'er, you've advanced in rank?"
"Yes," Tang Shen kept his head lowered. "I... I'm sorry to the Elders. I was too immature before."
Hearing this, Elder Qingyi gave a soft laugh. "Child, you've finally grown up. Your great-grandmother would be overjoyed if she knew in the afterlife."
Tang Shen was the beloved grandson of Elder Qingxi, raised from childhood before the three elders, who also regarded him as their own junior. Seeing his cultivation advance and his character mature so much now brought them old comfort.
Tang Shen wiped away his tears and replied softly, "Yes. From now on, Shen'er will cultivate diligently and never disappoint the two Elders or my great-grandmother again."
The elders' gazes shifted to the others. Elder Qingyi continued, "Haolan, Tiange, have your injuries healed?"
"Yes," Wei Haolan answered. "Elder, rest assured. My injuries are mostly healed. Elder Mo neutralized the death qi five years ago."
"Oh?" Elder Qingmiao looked toward Mo Tiange. "Tiange, come forward. Let us examine you."
"Yes," Mo Tiange responded and stepped forward.
Elder Qingmiao's hand shot out like lightning, grasping her wrist and channeling spiritual energy into it.
Mo Tiange felt a numbing pain in her meridians. Elder Qingmiao's spiritual energy was far more powerful than she imagined, seemingly having reached the peak of the Core Formation stage. Yet the energy felt strange—latently frenzied, making her uneasy.
She looked down and saw the exposed hand—withered like old wood, deathly pale without a trace of blood. It could hardly be called a hand anymore. She remembered that sixteen years ago, when she first met Elder Qingmiao, the woman had still been fair-featured, retaining her graceful demeanor.
Even without the deep emotional bond shared by Wei Haolan and the other two, a pang of sorrow still rose in Mo Tiange's heart. Though this was a world where interests often came first, it wasn't entirely devoid of sentiment.
Soon, Elder Qingmiao released her hand, pleased. "Very good, Tiange. Not only have your injuries fully healed, but your spiritual energy is also much purer than before. It seems you've been very diligent these past years."
Mo Tiange stepped back. "The two Elders have sacrificed so much. Since I've received your kindness, I should also do something for Bixuan Pavilion."
"We weren't wrong about you, thinking this way," Elder Qingyi nodded with a smile. "Alright. We called you up for two reasons. First, to tell you we have completed cultivating the Blood Prohibition Secret Art and officially emerged from seclusion today. Second, to deal with that demonic cultivator, this alone isn't enough. We still need to prepare some things."
"Elders," Wei Haolan said, "whatever needs preparing, just tell us. We will certainly carry out our tasks diligently."
"We need to prepare two things," Elder Qingyi stated calmly. "First, that demonic cultivator's death qi is truly formidable. If any of you were contaminated, you likely wouldn't last. We searched for a long time and finally found a type of talisman that can guard against this death qi. So, from now on, set aside all other matters and focus on drawing these talismans. The more, the better."
"Elder," Xia Qing spoke up, "none of us know how to draw talismans. How can we possibly learn in such a short time?"
"Then learn until you can draw them," Elder Qingyi said without hesitation. "As for the second item, it's a magical treasure. You can't help with that. Only Elder Qingmiao and I can refine it."
Among them, there wasn't a single artifact refiner. Refining artifacts differed from drawing talismans. Materials for talismans like paper and brushes, however scarce, were relatively easy to obtain, especially since the seventh floor of the Dao-Attainment Pagoda housed Bixuan Pavilion's accumulated treasures over millennia. Materials for refining artifacts were far more precious, especially rare components for magical treasures, which couldn't be wasted like this.
"Correct," Elder Qingmiao handed over a jade slip. "Haolan, later go to the seventh floor and retrieve the necessary talisman paper and brushes. Follow this and draw. No matter how long it takes, you must produce at least several hundred. Only then can we deal with that demonic cultivator."
"Yes," Wei Haolan accepted it but hesitated slightly. "Two Elders, you... can you hold on?"
Cultivating the latter part of the Blood Prohibition Secret Art meant certain death once begun, but she didn't know exactly how long until that end came.
Elder Qingyi said lightly, "Don't worry. Until we eliminate this threat for you, we two old women dare not die."
Hearing this, Wei Haolan's gaze flickered, but she didn't dare ask further, lowering her head in response. "Yes."
"Tiange."
Mo Tiange stepped forward. "Here."
"Go with Haolan. Your alchemy skills are outstanding. Take whatever materials you think might be helpful for any potentially useful pills and refine them."
Mo Tiange paused, then cupped her hands. "Understood." This was an expression of trust in her—not only allowing her into the sect's treasure vault storing millennia of accumulation but also letting her take items freely. Only a most trusted disciple would receive such treatment.
She sighed inwardly, feeling her weakness had been grasped. She considered herself not a particularly kind person, but when someone treated her well, she felt compelled to repay it. With the elders treating her like this, how else could she repay them? Not only was she committed to being a Guest Elder, but if she achieved greater cultivation in the future, she would also need to frequently watch over and support them.
"Alright, you two go back first. That's all."
"Yes," the four responded in unison. Xia Qing and Tang Shen returned to the third floor, while Mo Tiange and Wei Haolan went to the seventh.
Influenced by the elders' solemnity, neither spoke a word along the way. Upon reaching the seventh floor, Wei Haolan activated the restriction before saying, "Elder Mo, the spiritual herb section is over there. Take whatever you need, then just come here to register it in the ledger."
"Alright," Mo Tiange looked around and nodded.
Sixteen years ago, when they first took refuge in the pagoda, the two elders had brought her and Tang Shen up to this seventh floor. Back then, the elders had selected many pills for them, bestowed magical treasures upon Tang Shen and Xia Qing, and upon learning of her heritage, had generously given her Mo Yaoqing's journal.
Though the journal might seem less precious than a magical treasure, according to Wei Haolan, only the sect leader and elders were permitted to view the Founder's notes. Willingly giving it to her was an immense gesture of goodwill. Moreover, for her, the journal was more important than any treasure.
Though the elders treated her this way hoping she would help Wei Haolan rebuild Bixuan Pavilion, a kindness was still a kindness. Having received it, she ought to repay it somehow.
Taking a deep breath, she quickly selected several dozen spiritual herbs and found Wei Haolan. "Sect Leader, I've finished selecting."
"Oh," Wei Haolan was rummaging among items like cinnabar and finally pulled out several jars of beast blood. "Let's go. We'll record it and can head down."
"Mm."
Following Wei Haolan to the altar table, she took out the ledger to record. Mo Tiange, however, looked up at the statue of Mo Yaoqing.
This great-grandmother of hers had lived a life full of hardships yet remained strong, unyielding, self-respecting, and self-reliant. If she knew the sect she founded had been nearly destroyed by a demonic cultivator who originally only had Foundation Establishment cultivation, she would surely be furious, wouldn't she?
Yet, alongside that anger, she would also feel gratified. Though her disciples might not match her heaven-defying genius, they hadn't lost her proud backbone. As long as that pride remained, Bixuan Pavilion would be rebuilt.
"Elder Mo."
Hearing Wei Haolan's voice, Mo Tiange snapped back to attention. "What is it?"
"Do you have confidence?" Wei Haolan didn't look at her, instead fiddling with the jade slip in her hand.
"...No," Mo Tiange answered honestly before Wei Haolan. "I prefer having matters under my control, but this time it's beyond my capability. Since I'm not the one taking action, I have no confidence at all. However, our lack of confidence doesn't matter. What matters is that the two Elders have confidence."
"True," Wei Haolan also looked up at the statue, then gently knelt. "Founder above, please bless our Bixuan Pavilion to slay our enemy and reclaim our mountain gate!"