Chen Youli entered and said to Ye Jingwen, "Junior Brother Ye, is the person you mentioned a cultivator of the Ye Family from Qingmeng Mountain?"
Ye Jingwen nodded. "That's right. Have you found any news about him, Senior Brother Chen?"
Chen Youli smiled. "Indeed. Not long ago, he bought something at our shop."
"Oh?" Ye Jingwen was pleasantly surprised. "When was this, and where did he go afterwards?"
Chen Youli replied, "About a month ago, this person came to our shop with a friend. From their conversation, one was indeed a cultivator of the Ye Family from Qingmeng Mountain, and the other was also from a cultivation family, surnamed Lu. The two seemed to be close friends. The cultivator surnamed Lu was there to see Ye Jiang off. As for where he went afterwards, we don't know."
After a moment's thought, Ye Jingwen understood the situation.
When Uncle-Master Shoujing had asked his disciples to gather information, they had learned that after Ye Hai went missing at Tianmo Mountain years ago, other cultivation families on Qingmeng Mountain had soon bullied their way to the Ye residence, trying to drive them off the Spirit Vein of Qingmeng Mountain. The Ye Family was left with only Ye Hai's younger brother, Ye Jiang, a single cultivator. Ye Jiang was not as naturally gifted as Ye Hai and had only barely reached the Foundation Establishment stage. How could a single Foundation Establishment cultivator contend with families that had Core Formation cultivators? With no other choice, Ye Jiang had to send all the mortal members of the family into the secular world, severing their ties to the cultivation world so they could enjoy wealth and comfort in the mortal realm. He himself became a rogue cultivator. He was already old and no longer thought about advancing further, simply wandering about. The last time he was seen was near this Qingmeng Mountain.
Seeing Ye Jingwen lost in thought, Chen Youli offered another suggestion. "Junior Brother Ye, those two were very familiar. To my knowledge, there is also a cultivation family on Qingmeng Mountain surnamed Lu. That cultivator surnamed Lu might be from this Lu Family. Why don't you go ask at the Lu Family?"
Ye Jingwen had no other leads. Thinking this method was indeed feasible, he said, "Thank you for the advice, Senior Brother Chen. May I ask where this Lu Family is located? And what did that cultivator surnamed Lu look like, and what was his cultivation level?"
Chen Youli stroked his beard. "The Lu Family is located west of Qingmeng Mountain. You'll know it when you see a mountain peak shaped like a giant palm. As for that cultivator surnamed Lu, according to the disciple who served them, he was also at the Foundation Establishment stage, about the same age as Ye Jiang, and also seemed to have limited lifespan left."
Ye Jingwen nodded and stood up. "Thank you, Senior Brother Chen. I'll set off now. Farewell."
"You're too kind," Chen Youli shook his head repeatedly. "We are fellow disciples; this is what I should do. Safe travels, Junior Brother."
Ye Jingwen cupped his hands in farewell, took Mo Tiange by the hand, and left the market directly. He mounted his flying sword and continued on their way.
"Brother Ye, are we going to that Qingmeng Mountain?"
"Yes, to ask someone about your uncle's whereabouts. We should find him soon."
Mo Tiange hesitated for a moment before looking up and asking, "Brother Ye, why did my uncle have to leave Qingmeng Mountain? Was it just because he couldn't defeat the others?"
Before answering, Ye Jingwen paused briefly, then decided to tell her the truth. "You should understand that the cultivation world is one where strength reigns supreme. Spirit Veins, cultivation techniques, rare treasures—they all go to those with the power to claim them. The Spirit Vein at Qingmeng Mountain is quite good, so it was divided among the cultivation families. Without corresponding strength, one cannot enjoy such benefits."
"Just like that Li Yushan?" she murmured to herself. "Because he was stronger than me, I had to obey him. If I were stronger than him, I could make him obey me, even kill him!"
Ye Jingwen did not answer for a long while. He recalled his own childhood, entering the sect without any backing, always being bullied by senior disciples. Later, he cultivated diligently every day and finally shone brilliantly in the sect's minor competition, earning the chance to become a disciple of Perfected Lord Qingyuan. From then on, he stood above others. Those who had bullied him came one after another with gifts and apologies, completely changing their former arrogance. Then he thought of this little girl's circumstances—both parents gone, unloved in her mortal family, yet possessing a Pure Yin Constitution. One could imagine that if others found out, her life would never know peace...
He sighed. "Yes. Only when you yourself are strong enough can you control your own destiny. Otherwise, others will decide for you."
Mo Tiange nodded calmly. "I understand."
By now, a tall mountain had appeared beneath their feet. The mountain was hundreds of *zhang* high, with several peaks piercing the clouds. Spiritual energy swirled around it, a sea of mist billowed, and verdant green covered the slopes. It truly lived up to its name as an Immortal Mountain.
Ye Jingwen circled the mountain on his sword and indeed saw a peak shaped like a giant palm to the west, its sharp summit resembling five fingers, with pavilions and towers nestled in the palm's center.
Seeing this, he flew toward that location.
As soon as the two landed, a Qi Refining cultivator came forward to greet them. "Greetings, Senior."
Ye Jingwen acknowledged with a hum and asked, "Are you from the Lu Family?"
This cultivator was only at the second level of Qi Refining but looked about fifty years old. Clearly, his aptitude was poor with little hope of advancement, so he was assigned to greet guests. Though his cultivation was low, he was observant. Seeing the Taiji cloud pattern embroidered on Ye Jingwen's robes, he immediately recognized him as a disciple of the Xuanqing Sect. Moreover, to have reached the Foundation Establishment stage at such a young age, he must be an elite disciple. Therefore, he was especially courteous. "That is correct. May I ask your esteemed name, Senior, and what brings you to the Lu Family?"
Ye Jingwen said, "I am Ye Jingwen, a disciple of the Xuanqing Sect. I have come here to find someone."
"Oh?" The elderly greeter asked warmly, "Who might Senior be looking for? If this old man knows them, I will certainly tell you everything I know."
Ye Jingwen did not stand on ceremony. "The person I'm looking for should also be a cultivator of your Lu Family, at the Foundation Establishment stage, with a similar appearance and age to you."
"Does he have a name?"
"No."
"This..." A troubled expression appeared on the old man's face. "To be frank with you, Senior, although our Lu Family is not a large clan, we have over ten Foundation Establishment cultivators. Six or seven of them fit the age you described... May I ask what brings you here?"
Without a name, it was clearly not an acquaintance. With only a rough age to go on, the old man looked at Ye Jingwen with some wariness, evidently concerned he might be here to settle a grudge.
Ye Jingwen was well aware of this. He immediately took out a jade bottle from his robe and said, "I am looking for this person to inquire about another person's whereabouts from him. If I can find this person, here are ten Qi-Nourishing Pills as compensation."
Looking at the jade bottle, the old man couldn't help but feel a surge of desire. Although Qi-Nourishing Pills were the most common foundational consolidation pills for Qi Refining cultivators, for a minor cultivator like him, obtaining them was not easy. Moreover, there were ten of them—the Lu Family only distributed one per month.
He immediately smiled and said, "Senior, please come inside and have a seat."
Ye Jingwen smiled slightly and, leading Mo Tiange, followed the old man into the reception hall, where spiritual tea was promptly served.
"May I ask where Senior heard of this person? This old man can analyze it with you; perhaps we can figure it out."
Ye Jingwen said, "About a month ago, this person and a friend visited the Xuanqing Sect shop in the market at the foot of the mountain."
"Oh?" The old man thought for a moment and said, "Among the Foundation Establishment seniors of our Lu Family, aside from those in seclusion or not at home... this old man probably knows who it is."
Seeing his gaze, Ye Jingwen tossed the jade bottle in his hand. "In that case, I trouble you to arrange an introduction."
The old man caught it, overjoyed, and said repeatedly, "Senior, please wait here a moment. This old man will be right back."