The mention of Nascent Soul formation opened the floodgates for conversation among the several Foundation Establishment cultivators. Chatting idly as they flew back toward Taikang Mountain, even their initial fear that something had happened to the sect gradually faded. The truth was, along the entire journey, aside from encountering fellow disciples returning together, there had been no unusual signs. If something had happened to the Xuanqing Sect, presumably the whole of Kunwu wouldn't be so peaceful.
Mo Tiange had heard many pieces of news along the way. At the very least, she now knew her master was safe and sound, and that Senior Brother Shoujing of hers was about to attempt a breakthrough to Nascent Soul soon.
Thinking of this, she fell into silence, unable to describe the taste in her heart. She was about to form her Core, yet he was about to form his Nascent Soul. This distance... it remained this vast...
However, she would absolutely not rush her progress for this reason. Over all these years, her master's teachings were firmly etched in her heart. She was now considered a heaven-endowed talent, not needing to worry about failing to advance before her lifespan ran out. Like Martial Uncle Xuanyin, even with extremely high aptitude, it was best to proceed steadily, step by step.
The melancholy only brushed past her heart before she quickly regained her composure. Compared to the Great Dao of immortality, such slight stirrings of emotion were truly insignificant. Moreover, given the nature of their acquaintance, there was always a knot in her heart. Since that was the case, why force something that was never perfect to begin with?
Traveling day and night like this, they finally reached Taikang Mountain a month later.
Beneath their feet stood majestic, towering peaks, mountains clustered together, seas of clouds like brocade, Spiritual Qi permeating the air, an aura of immortality swirling around.
The main peak, thousands of *zhang* high, was surrounded by six slightly shorter peaks, like a blooming lotus flower. Countless rooftops and eaves were nestled among the mountain forests, with disciples in white robes and blue gowns coming and going.
After leaving for over twenty years, she had finally returned.
Mo Tiange gazed fondly at everything beneath her feet. From the eastern border of Kunwu, crossing tens of thousands of *li*, this reminded her of the time before she had even reached Foundation Establishment, when it took a full two months to travel from the Cloud Mist Sect to the Xuanqing Sect. That person appeared aloof, yet was very considerate, knowing her cultivation was too weak to endure day-and-night travel, so...
"Senior Brothers and Sisters," came the voice of patrolling cultivators arriving, raising their hands in salute to the group. "You've had a long journey. Please return to your respective cave dwellings to rest first."
Among them, the gossipy old man surnamed Yan quickly grabbed the leading Foundation Establishment cultivator and asked, "Senior Brother, dare I ask what important matter has prompted the sect to summon us back?"
The leading cultivator shook his head. "The Ancestors of each peak will explain this matter to you in detail. It's not my place to say more. My apologies, everyone, please return for now."
With the refusal so clear, the old man could do nothing but follow the others into the mountain-protecting formation, each returning to their own peak.
Mo Tiange paused mid-air for a moment. She looked up at the mountain-protecting formation in its semi-defensive state, then looked down at Taikang Mountain, which seemed no different from over twenty years ago. As she descended toward Qingquan Peak, she thought to herself, such solemnity indeed seemed to confirm what that old man Yan had said—someone was about to attempt Nascent Soul formation.
However, even if a sect cultivator was forming a Nascent Soul, they wouldn't recall *all* Foundation Establishment disciples. Back when Martial Uncle Xuanyin formed his Nascent Soul, it was merely a matter of heightened security.
Unable to figure it out, Mo Tiange shook her head, tossing these random thoughts aside. She was back now anyway; wouldn't she know if she just asked? Her incorrigible old master was the Ancestor of Qingquan Peak. Even if others didn't know the inside story, she would.
Lost in thought, she had already landed. She looked up; the surrounding scenery and buildings were unchanged. However, the cultivators coming and going no longer recognized her.
Back in the day, when her master had tormented her, she had mixed in the beginner's school for several months and often went to the main peak for lectures. Most of the Qi Refining disciples in the entire sect had known her. Especially after she took over the affairs of Shangqing Palace, everyone on Qingquan Peak, high and low, respectfully addressed her as "Ancestor Mo" or "Martial Aunt Mo."
But now, walking on Qingquan Peak, the passing disciples only looked at her with curious yet distant gazes. Seeing her pass, they merely stood aside to make way, bowing their heads to show respect to a Foundation Establishment senior. Only a few, older Qi Refining cultivators exclaimed in surprise, "Ancestor Mo!" which drew astonished looks from the younger cultivators.
Mo Tiange smiled faintly, looking up at the sky above Qingquan Peak. Twenty-two years. A new generation replaced the old. These newly entered, young disciples still busily bustling about on Qingquan Peak didn't recognize her. And those disciples who did recognize her—if they hadn't already advanced to Foundation Establishment during the long twenty-two years—had probably felt the relentless passage of time and devoted themselves wholeheartedly to bitter cultivation.
For high-level cultivators, a mere twenty-two years was the prime time for Qi Refining cultivators.
"This... Senior Sister?" Just as she was about to step into Shangqing Palace, she was stopped by the disciple guarding the entrance. He looked her up and down, eyes filled with confusion. "Senior Sister, this is Ancestor Jinghe's cave dwelling. Without summons, entry is not permitted."
She was taken aback, then couldn't help but laugh. So it wasn't just the Qi Refining cultivators; even these Foundation Establishment disciples didn't recognize her.
This laugh, however, displeased the guarding disciple. His face stiffened as he said, "Senior Sister, the Ancestor has a bad temper. I must ask you to leave quickly."
She waved her hand, about to speak, when she heard someone exclaim in surprise from the side, "Martial Aunt Mo?!"
Turning her head, she saw it was Mingxia, who often attended to Dao Lord Jinghe and was quite favored.
Mo Tiange smiled slightly. "Mingxia. Long time no see."
Mingxia was startled by her amiable greeting. In the past at Shangqing Palace, because these maidservants relied on the Ancestor's favor to act arrogantly, and the four named Qin, Qi, Shu, and Hua had schemed against her, Mo Tiange had always been stern with the sixteen of them, even scolding them when angered. Even after they all behaved, she merely ignored them, rarely giving them a smile.
Not seeing her for twenty-two years, Mingxia suddenly seeing her smiling face and hearing such a gentle, pleasant voice was truly... Was this person an imposter?
Little did she know that after being away for so long, having experienced and seen much, Mo Tiange's horizons had broadened. Naturally, she no longer held onto such minor past grievances. Moreover, having been away for so long, she was now delighted to see every blade of grass and tree of the Xuanqing Sect, let alone an old acquaintance?
"What, don't recognize me?"
Mingxia looked her up and down once before confirming, a smile appearing on her face. "Martial Aunt Mo, you've finally returned. The Ancestor was just saying how you hadn't sent any messages back for over twenty years."
Mo Tiange smiled slightly, not yet replying, when she saw the guarding disciple looking at her with great surprise. "Mar... Martial Aunt Mo?"
"Indeed," Mingxia said to this person. "This is our Ancestor's closed-door disciple, Martial Aunt Mo. Martial Aunt Mo hasn't returned for over twenty years. You actually stopped her outside?"
The person scratched his head. Though embarrassed, he wasn't flustered or panicked. Instead, he respectfully performed a bow. "Martial Aunt Mo, please forgive me. I had never met you and didn't recognize you. Please do not blame me, Martial Aunt."
The disciple's words were proper. Besides, Mo Tiange wasn't angry, so of course she didn't take it to heart. She smiled and said, "It's nothing. May I enter now?"
The person quickly nodded, stepping aside.
Mo Tiange brushed her sleeves and slowly stepped into Shangqing Palace, which she hadn't seen in over twenty years.
"You girl, finally willing to come back!" Her eccentric master was still half-lying on his dragon throne. His skin hadn't sagged, no wrinkles had appeared at the corners of his eyes. He was still as handsome, dignified, noble, and indolent as ever. At the moment, he was lazily flipping through a book, not even lifting an eyelid. "See! Even the gatekeepers don't recognize you anymore!"
This familiar scene made Mo Tiange's lips curl up involuntarily. She lifted her sleeve and gently knelt down. "Your disciple has not returned for over twenty years, causing Master to worry. I beg Master to punish me."
"Cough! Cough!" Dao Lord Jinghe swallowed the plum in his mouth, pit and all, before he had finished chewing, choking until his eyes rolled.
Mingxia hurried forward with tea. "Ancestor!"
After a good while, Dao Lord Jinghe finally caught his breath. Handing the tea back to Mingxia, he sat up and glared angrily at Mo Tiange. "Damn girl, trying to choke your master to death?!"
She still smiled, widening her eyes innocently. "Your disciple did nothing. I even properly paid my respects to Master!"
"You..." After being choked by the plum, Dao Lord Jinghe was choked again by these words. He could only glare at her angrily.
But after just two glares, the expression on his face changed to delight. "Ah, not bad! Not only have you advanced, but your realm is also very stable. Hmm, these twenty years weren't wasted. Come here, let your master take a look." He beckoned to her happily.
Mo Tiange stood up and approached.
Dao Lord Jinghe grabbed her wrist, sending Spiritual Qi into her meridians. After a while—
"Good. This is how it should be." Having quickly inspected her body, he let go, picked up a plum, and tossed it to her. "You're still the obedient one. Your master rewards you."
Mo Tiange caught the plum, which seemed to contain only a faint trace of Spiritual Qi, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Master, as your beloved disciple, having left for over twenty years and finally returned with great difficulty, how come you don't ask a single question?"
Dao Lord Jinghe grabbed another plum for himself to munch on, looking rather dismissive. "Beloved disciple? Do I have such a thing?" He gave her a disdainful once-over. "Seeing you can run and jump, not only having advanced but also looking quite happy, what is there to ask?"
"Ask how I've been these twenty years, what I've experienced... As a master, shouldn't you analyze things for your disciple?" What kind of master was this? Not returning for twenty years, she finally returned from her travels, and he gave her a plum as a reward? Not a single question? Even when she was nominally under Martial Uncle Xuanyin back then, it wasn't like this! Not to mention Second Uncle; whenever she encountered anything, Second Uncle would analyze the details for her, tell her what lessons to learn, how to handle things next time.
Hearing this, Dao Lord Jinghe rolled his eyes. "What kind of person is your master? Feeling your meridians tells me you're perfectly fine! As for what you experienced, that's for you to comprehend yourself. What's the use of telling you? You're not a child!"
Mo Tiange was taken aback, then smiled happily. Right. After all, it was different now. She was no longer a little Qi Refining cultivator needing someone to hold her hand. Her master wasn't Second Uncle or Martial Uncle Xuanyin either. He had his own way of caring, his own teaching method. Why force them to be the same?
"Alright then." Mo Tiange pulled up a chair and sat down in front of him. "Since Master has nothing to say, your disciple has many things to ask!"