The date for the Core Formation Celebration was quickly set.
Both Qin Shoujing and Li Lingxi had failed in their attempts to form their Nascent Souls. The cultivation enthusiasm of the Xuanqing Sect disciples had been severely dampened. Mo Tiange's timely Core Formation was the perfect opportunity to boost the disciples' morale. Thus, Mo Tiange, who had originally intended to keep a low profile, ultimately found her Core Formation Celebration to be far more grand than she had imagined.
Of course, a Core Formation Celebration couldn't compare to a Nascent Soul Grand Ceremony. Not only were cultivators from other sects not invited, but even within the sect, only Foundation Establishment cultivators and above were invited to attend the ceremony. As for Qi Refining disciples, they could come if they wished, but their attendance wasn't required.
However, in past celebrations of this kind, only one or two Nascent Soul cultivators would make an appearance, and at most half of the Core Formation cultivators would attend. This time, all five Nascent Soul cultivators were present except for Dao Lord Huayan, who was in seclusion. Of the forty-some Core Formation cultivators, all who weren't traveling or in seclusion attended, making the event naturally appear grand.
Core Formation Celebrations had always been held on the peak from which the cultivator originated. Mo Tiange's celebration was naturally held on Qingquan Peak.
For this purpose, the Qingquan Peak Administrative Hall selected the largest hall, Ningxin Hall, decorating it with lanterns and streamers, striving for grandeur.
On that day, snowflakes drifted over Qingquan Peak in the winter season, the swirling snowflakes seeming like another form of celebration.
Mo Tiange had changed early into the new Daoist robes sent by the Administrative Hall. White robes, a light blue front-closing robe, a blue-and-white cloak, with the collar and cuffs adorned with the Eight Trigrams and Taiji cloud patterns. After donning the lotus crown, no additional adornments were needed—she already possessed an immortal's grace, dignified and ethereal.
For some reason, after forming her Core, although her appearance was no different from before, she was noticeably more elegant and beautiful than during her Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment days. When she asked about it, Daojun Jinghe answered her thus: "You cultivate the Primordial Chaos Elemental Maiden Art, part of which originates from the Elemental Maiden Formula. Doesn't that formula allow women to retain their youth and enhance their beauty? I imagine it's due to this cultivation art."
Since she had already formed her Core, she didn't mind this. No matter how her appearance changed, it was unlikely to make cultivators consider her a devastating beauty; at most, she might earn a word of praise.
When Mo Tiange arrived at Ningxin Hall, the hall was already filled with hundreds of Foundation Establishment cultivators and above. Outside the hall, countless Qi Refining disciples braved the wind and snow to come and watch.
Wearing a slight smile, she walked into Ningxin Hall.
Four Dao Lords stood at the very front. On either side were dozens of Core Formation elders led by Sect Leader Shen. Behind these elders were numerous Foundation Establishment disciples.
The Dao Lords all wore expressions of joy. For the sake of the Dao Lords, even if these elders had no particular feelings about the event, they forced smiles onto their faces. The Foundation Establishment disciples behind them were filled with both envy and jealousy. Not long ago, Mo Tiange had been just like them, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator. Now, she had ascended to the heavens in a single step, becoming a high-level cultivator.
Since this was only a Core Formation Celebration, there was no need for Dao Lord Zhenyang to personally preside. Sect Leader Shen took charge.
Seeing Mo Tiange enter, Sect Leader Shen led her before the statues of the Three Pure Ancestors in the center of the hall, indicating for her to kneel, kowtow, and offer incense. Then he announced loudly, "Mo Tiange, disciple of Qingquan Peak of the Xuanqing Sect, has today formed her Golden Core and advanced to the Core Formation realm. According to the rules of our Xuanqing Sect, she is hereby granted the position of elder."
As Sect Leader Shen was also a Core Formation cultivator, Mo Tiange didn't need to kneel to him. She merely performed a Daoist salute to show respect. Then, with both hands, she received the elder's identity token and the first stipend after Core Formation.
After she accepted the elder's token, Sect Leader Shen smiled and said, "Junior Sister Mo, from now on, you are an elder of our Xuanqing Sect. In peaceful times, you shall enjoy the sect's annual stipend. In times of trouble, we hope you will uphold the interests and reputation of our Xuanqing Sect."
"Yes, I shall obey Senior Brother Sect Leader's decree."
Sect Leader Shen continued, "You have advanced to Core Formation. According to the rules of our Xuanqing Sect, we ask your master to bestow upon you a Daoist title."
As soon as he finished speaking, someone immediately placed a cushion before Daojun Jinghe. Mo Tiange stepped forward a few paces and knelt on the cushion.
Daojun Jinghe spoke with solemn expression: "My disciple, Tiange, you possess peerless talent, surpassing intelligence, a firm Dao-heart, and penetrating wisdom. Today, you have formed your Golden Core. You must not become arrogant or complacent. Know that the Great Dao remains unattained. You must continue to work diligently and not slacken in the future."
Whenever a disciple advanced, a few words of praise were inevitable, but few could praise with words like 'peerless talent.' Daojun Jinghe was completely relying on the fact that a Primordial Chaos Spiritual Root appeared only once in thousands of years to use the phrase 'peerless talent.' Indeed, among the cultivators currently in the world, it was hard to find one whose talent surpassed hers—of course, excluding those Nascent Soul cultivators who had long since transcended worldly affairs.
"Your disciple respectfully obeys Master's teachings."
Daojun Jinghe revealed a faint smile, stroking his short beard with his right hand as he pondered. "The journey of the Great Dao is fraught with hardships. The Divine Dao is elusive, the Immortal Dao vast and boundless, subtle and profound, unfathomably deep. You seek the Immortal Dao; the ultimate state of mind lies in the two words 'clarity and stillness.' Furthermore, you must seek the Dao to its most subtle essence, not acting rashly or presumptuously. Calm the heart and guard stillness. Therefore, this master bestows upon you the Daoist title: Qingwei."
Mo Tiange's gaze flickered slightly, but no expression showed on her face as she gently kowtowed. "Qingwei thanks Master for bestowing this title."
Daojun Jinghe nodded with a smile.
Seeing this, Sect Leader Shen took over: "Having thanked the master's grace, Junior Sister Qingwei, please rise."
Mo Tiange performed another Daoist salute and stood up. She allowed Sect Leader Shen to lead her to the center, where Sect Leader Shen announced loudly: "Disciples, by the authority of the Sect Leader, I declare: Mo Tiange, disciple of Qingquan Peak, having received a Daoist title from her master Daojun Jinghe, shall henceforth be known as Perfected One Qingwei."
After Sect Leader Shen finished speaking, the Core Formation cultivators standing on either side offered their congratulations: "Congratulations, Junior Sister Qingwei, on advancing to Core Formation."
Then, the Foundation Establishment disciples bowed in unison: "Disciples congratulate Elder Qingwei."
The voices of the Qi Refining disciples outside the hall drifted in from afar: "Disciples congratulate Perfected One Qingwei."
Even with a calm heart, amidst this grand and overwhelming chorus of congratulations, Mo Tiange felt somewhat stirred. Having held the Core Formation Celebration and received a Daoist title from her master, she was now a sect elder of the Xuanqing Sect.
Mo Tiange's eyes grew slightly moist. She had taken the first step as a high-level cultivator. She couldn't help but think of the people she had lost in her more than eighty years of life: her mother, who raised her alone; her father, whom she had never met; her second uncle, who burned the last of his life for her; and Tian Qiao, who was implicated because of her... If they knew, they would surely be overjoyed, right? She was now a Core Formation cultivator, an elder of the Xuanqing Sect, one of the top sects in Tianji. She no longer needed to hide, to live in fear and trembling. She could walk in the sunlight, head held high.
The Core Formation Celebration thus concluded. In the wind and snow, the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment disciples departed one after another. The Nascent Soul cultivators also returned to their cave abodes, leaving only the Core Formation cultivators to socialize and build connections with the newly minted Junior Sister Qingwei.
Previously, although this junior sister was Daojun Jinghe's disciple, she was ultimately still a Foundation Establishment cultivator, so there was no need for much interaction. Now it was different. This junior sister had successfully advanced to Core Formation at such a young age. It was said her talent was once-in-a-millennium, and she had a protective master like Daojun Jinghe. Her future seemed bright; more interaction was certainly not wrong.
Mo Tiange found herself trapped in the crowd, unable to extricate herself. She could only brace herself and socialize with these fellow sect brothers and sisters.
Who said that as cultivators, they transcended worldly affairs? They had left the mortal world, yet were still entangled in worldly matters.
On a certain mountain peak of Qingquan, a man stood with his hands behind his back in the wind and snow, gazing silently in the direction of Ningxin Hall.
The swirling snowflakes fell on his jet-black hair, seeped into his blue robes and white coat, yet he didn't move a muscle.
Daojun Jinghe landed behind him, walking toward him over the ground covered in shattered jade-like snow. "Why didn't you attend the Core Formation Celebration?"
A snowflake fell, covering his eyelashes, quickly melting, icy cold to the bone. He shifted his gaze, his voice low and hoarse. "What would it matter if I went?"
"Nothing much," Daojun Jinghe said in excellent spirits, ignoring his low mood. He stood beside him, curling the corner of his mouth. "When others form their Cores, don't you attend?"
Qin Xi didn't answer. He wasn't stupid. This master was clearly here to tease him. Why should he answer and walk right into it?
The two stood in the wind and snow for a while, each silent. After a moment, Qin Xi suddenly spoke: "'The journey of the Great Dao is fraught with hardships. The Divine Dao is elusive, the Immortal Dao vast and boundless, subtle and profound, unfathomably deep. You seek the Immortal Dao; the ultimate state of mind lies in the two words 'clarity and stillness.' Furthermore, you must seek the Dao to its most subtle essence, not acting rashly or presumptuously. Calm the heart and guard stillness. Therefore, this master bestows upon you the Daoist title: Shoujing.' Master, when you bestowed Daoist titles upon your disciples, did you specifically pick this passage to recite?"
"..." Daojun Jinghe gave a dry laugh. "Heh heh, when you were young, didn't you attend your Senior Brother Qingyuan's Core Formation Celebration?"
"..." That was a very long time ago. He only vaguely remembered that his master hadn't recited this passage back then. So it was true... Even during a solemn Core Formation Celebration, this old scoundrel couldn't resist playing around. But what use was this? Like a child... What wasn't his would never be his...
Qin Xi shook his head. "From now on, there will only be Mo Qingwei, no longer Mo Tiange."
His voice was flat, yet carried an inexpressible sorrow.
Daojun Jinghe couldn't help but glance at him sideways. "You brat—I'm really getting old, I don't understand you anymore. Didn't I teach you that if you want something, you go find it, take it, even snatch it? The so-called cultivation of immortality only requires not going against your true heart. Who told you to be so hesitant and entangled? Now that Tiange has formed her Core, the distance between you has narrowed. Why are you even more despairing?"
Qin Xi gave a light laugh. In the wind and snow, the laughter carried a chill that pierced to the heart. "Master, why did she form her Core? Because her heart is unattached, even without desire."
Daojun Jinghe was taken aback, seeming to understand somewhat. "You... you mean she... has no place for you in her heart?"
"What other explanation is there?" Disheartened, he listlessly lowered his gaze. "I am trapped by my inner demons, failing three times in my attempts to form my Nascent Soul, making no progress. Yet her heart remains unmoved, smoothly forming her Core... Both you and I know how difficult the inner demons during Core Formation are for a cultivator experiencing them for the first time. Yet she passed this trial with ease."
"..." Daojun Jinghe actually found himself at a loss for words. For a cultivator forming their Core for the first time, encountering inner demons for the first time, whatever attachments they had would be infinitely magnified. They would become immersed in them, not knowing how to extricate themselves. Yet Tiange... Surely she hadn't reached the realm of the Great Dao's Forgetfulness of Emotion?
"Master, what should I do? If this continues, even after ten years, a hundred years, even when my lifespan ends, I still won't succeed in forming my Nascent Soul..."
This question, Daojun Jinghe felt he couldn't answer. This was the first time this child had asked him 'what should I do?' in such a lost tone. In the past hundred-plus years, he had never needed others' support, walking alone, yet firmly, on the path of seeking immortality and inquiring about the Dao.
He suddenly felt that meeting Tiange was truly a tribulation for him.