Now that the decision to go to Tianmo Mountain had been made, Mo Tiange immediately began preparing for the journey.
She had just achieved Core Formation, and many of the things a Core Formation Cultivator should possess were still incomplete. Fortunately, she had her master's rewards, so she wouldn't appear too shabby. After a brief refinement, her Magical Treasures, while perhaps not matching the power of other Core Formation Cultivators' Life-Bound Artifacts, would at least be able to put up a fight. She also had some talismans and Magical Treasures that could help her maintain appearances in an emergency. Finally, there was the Spirit Refining Art. Because she didn't fear Qi deviation, her cultivation of the Spirit Refining Art was astonishingly fast. As soon as she successfully formed her Core, it automatically advanced to the third layer.
The first layer of the Spirit Refining Art allowed Divine Sense to become substantial, enabling attacks. The second layer could weaken the pressure exerted by higher-level cultivators. The third layer strengthened Divine Sense to such a degree that the pressure it could emit even surpassed one's actual cultivation level. In other words, though she was merely an early-stage Core Formation Cultivator now, once she released her pressure, others might perceive her as a mid-stage or even late-stage Core Formation Cultivator, achieving a deterrent effect.
Apart from this, Mo Tiange meticulously studied the maps and materials Dao Lord Jinghe had given her.
The terrain of Tianmo Mountain was extremely peculiar. Starting from the ancient era millions of years ago, immortals and demons had waged a great war here. For the next million years, the righteous and demonic paths had also set their battlefield at Tianmo Mountain. Even after the end of the ancient era, the current demonic cultivators had still clashed with the righteous path several times. Over these millions of years, Tianmo Mountain had undergone countless baptisms of war, leaving behind innumerable restrictions and turbulent Spiritual Qi fluctuations. Countless treasure hunters had also entered and lost their lives there. To this day, the place held untold treasures and was littered with corpses, where opportunity and danger coexisted.
After tens of thousands of years of exploration, predecessors had left behind precious maps and treasure-hunting accounts for current cultivators. Mo Tiange silently memorized which areas were suitable for cultivators of what level, which places were best avoided, and the general dangers present.
Thinking of Qin Xi's attitude, she couldn't help but feel a surge of indignation. She knew her strength was still far inferior to that of Senior Brother Shoujing, but such an attitude was simply too dismissive of her!
She took a deep breath to calm her emotions. While she still harbored the desire to prove herself, she couldn't become too fixated on it. Otherwise, it could easily breed resentment, which would be detrimental to her cultivation.
A month passed quickly. Qin Xi sent her a message, informing her it was time to depart. His tone was much softer than that day, carefully explaining many things to note and what to prepare.
Mo Tiange held the message talisman, flicked it lightly, and let it burn out. Following his instructions, she brought all the necessary preparations and met him at the agreed time.
As for Dao Lord Jinghe, he had already stated that he would travel with Dao Lord Huayan and told them to go on their own.
On the appointed day, after informing Dao Lord Jinghe, Mo Tiange went to the location of Qin Xi's Cave Abode.
His Cave Abode wasn't particularly small, but it was the most secluded among the several Core Formation Cultivators on Qingquan Peak. If one didn't know better, they might think it was just an uninhabited hilltop. Who would have thought that behind this bare, unappealing-looking rock face lay the Cave Abode of a Core Formation Cultivator?
Including herself, she hadn't expected it either, which was why she had done that embarrassing thing she still cringed to remember—getting entangled with Bai Yanfei right in front of his Cave Abode. It was truly mortifying.
Landing on this hilltop once more, Mo Tiange flicked her sleeve, sending a wisp of Spiritual Qi to lightly tap the rock wall, producing a dull sound.
Not long after, the rock wall silently slid aside, and Qin Xi walked out.
Seeing Mo Tiange, he said, "Let's go."
Mo Tiange was taken aback. "Senior Brother Shoujing, is it just us?"
Qin Xi flicked his long sleeve, and a white cloud appeared beneath his feet. "I've already made arrangements to meet others in Kunzhong City."
Kunzhong City was a city in central Kunwu, not belonging to any single sect. Though not large, it was an important landmark in central Kunwu.
Mo Tiange hesitated. "Aren't we going with our fellow Senior Brothers and Sisters?"
Qin Xi replied, "They have their own close friends. Though they are fellow disciples, it's better to go with those whose hearts are aligned."
Hearing this, Mo Tiange said nothing more. She also rose into the air, but then Qin Xi said, "Get on my Flying Cloud. It'll save you some Spiritual Qi."
"..." The Spiritual Qi required for flight wasn't much, but since he was offering an olive branch, there was no reason to refuse.
Landing on his Flying Cloud, they shot into the sky in an instant. The speed of this Flying Cloud was truly astonishing. Mo Tiange thought to herself that even if she used her Treading Cloud Boots at full speed, she might not match this pace. Of course, it was also because her current cultivation level wasn't high enough. With his level of cultivation, the speed of the Treading Cloud Boots probably wouldn't lose to him.
The two flew out of the Xuanqing Sect's mountain-protecting formation, and Mount Taikang receded into the distance in a flash.
The speed of a Core Formation Cultivator flying at full power was truly not to be underestimated, especially since this Flying Cloud was clearly a top-tier flying Magical Treasure.
Several days later, the two arrived at Kunzhong City in central Kunwu.
This wasn't Mo Tiange's first time in Kunzhong City. When she was wandering around with her second uncle years ago, she had also come to this city and stayed for a while.
The city wasn't large, but it was bustling with people, the most prosperous cultivation city in Kunwu.
It was said the city was initially established by several Loose Cultivators with great supernatural powers, originally just to provide a trading place for Loose Cultivators—essentially a large market. Who would have thought it would grow larger and larger, eventually becoming a landmark of central Kunwu? Because the city had no major power backing it and was always maintained by Loose Cultivators with supernatural abilities who didn't compete for territory, the major sects didn't interfere much. Over time, it became a trading city. Moreover, due to the tacit approval of the major sects, this Kunzhong City became the largest neutral ground in Kunwu.
Along the way, the two didn't converse much, focusing solely on traveling. Mo Tiange had little to say, and Qin Xi also didn't seem inclined to talk. Only after landing at the city gates of Kunzhong City did Qin Xi say, "Junior Sister Qingwei, these old friends of mine are generally trustworthy in character, but their temperaments are a bit eccentric. If you find anything strange, don't mention it to their faces. Just ask me quietly."
Hearing this form of address, Mo Tiange was momentarily stunned. She wasn't yet accustomed to her Daoist name, let alone Qin Xi addressing her like this. But she quickly recovered and nodded. "I understand."
As soon as they entered Kunzhong City, cultivators were everywhere. Both of them were Core Formation Cultivators, wearing Xuanqing Sect Daoist robes, and both were very young. Upon entering the city, they attracted many gazes.
With Core Formation Cultivators present, Qi Refining cultivators naturally didn't dare approach, and even Foundation Establishment cultivators stood aside, waiting for them to pass. Mo Tiange felt the aloofness of a high-level cultivator for the first time and found it somewhat uncomfortable. Qin Xi, however, seemed completely unaffected, leading her straight into the city.
This feeling of being jostled in the crowd made Mo Tiange particularly uneasy. The Spirit Refining Art she practiced strengthened her Divine Sense, and spreading Divine Sense was a subconscious action for cultivators. In the city, the Divine Sense was chaotic, making her feel very uncomfortable. It was like someone with sharp hearing feeling more distressed than ordinary people in a noisy place.
Qin Xi suddenly turned his head. "What's wrong?"
Mo Tiange hadn't expected him to notice her discomfort. After a moment's pause, she shook her head. "There are too many people."
Qin Xi's gaze shifted. "I'll give warning if anything happens. Withdraw your Divine Sense for now."
"..." After a moment's hesitation, Mo Tiange nodded. Her current strength was insufficient; forcing herself would be useless. Better to save her energy for critical moments.
Seeing her comply, Qin Xi turned back to lead the way. Soon, they entered a tavern.
He declined the greeting of the mortal waiter and, familiar with the route, went up to the third floor, turned several corners, and stopped before a room door.
Before the door opened, Mo Tiange heard voices from inside—a delicate, coquettish female voice: "Two people. Old Man Lei, you lose. Hand it over!"
Then came a voice like a great bell: "Damn it, Granny Feng, you're cheating, aren't you?"
"Heh, if you gamble, accept the loss. Being a sore loser is no fun. Old Man Lei, are you handing it over or not?"
"Fine!" The voice was extremely frustrated but very straightforward, though it then muttered, "I'm not gambling with you anymore. You old woman must be cheating!"
Qin Xi pushed the door open. "What are you betting about me this time?"
His voice was clearly cold, but Mo Tiange felt there was an extra touch of genuineness to it.
Seeing him enter, the voices inside immediately stopped. Then a fragrant breeze rushed over as a beautiful woman dressed entirely in pink, like a blooming peach blossom in early spring, rushed forward, calling out coyly, "Ah, you dead heartless one, why did it take you so long to come!"
Qin Xi flicked his sleeve, sending out a wave of Spiritual Qi to block the fragrant breeze, frowning. "Don't talk nonsense!"
The woman, stopped by his cold words, stood several zhang away, her eyes darting to Mo Tiange who followed him in. She immediately pouted coquettishly, "Hmph, forgetting old love for new. How heartless!"
"Enough! Lady Feng, I'm not in the mood for your nonsense today!" After saying this, Qin Xi walked to the other side of the private room with a dark expression.
The woman blinked, asking a bald, fat man not far away curiously, "What's wrong with him today? Can't even take a joke?"
The bald fat man holding a wine jar glanced at Mo Tiange, who was following behind Qin Xi with her head lowered, and said, "Can't you see he brought someone this time? How can he let you joke around freely like before?"
The woman said, "We joked around freely before too, and I never saw him take it seriously."
There were four people in this private room: the woman who had rushed over upon entry, plus the bald fat man behind her, and on this side, a middle-aged Daoist and a gaunt old man.
The middle-aged Daoist was at the late-stage of Core Formation, while the other three were all at the mid-stage. If these were to be their companions for the journey, then her cultivation level would be the lowest. Mo Tiange briefly considered this as she watched Qin Xi step forward to greet the middle-aged Daoist and the gaunt old man.
"Fellow Daoist Kumu, Fellow Daoist Tong, I trust you have been well since we last met?"
The two had already seen him and stood up to return the greeting.
The middle-aged Daoist stroked his beard and smiled. "Fellow Daoist Shoujing, eighty years since we last met, and your cultivation has already surpassed ours."
Though the gaunt old man's face was stiff, there was a hint of a smile in his eyes as he looked at Qin Xi.
A faint smile appeared on Qin Xi's face. "Fellow Daoist Kumu, you jest. Having failed to form my Nascent Soul three times, I'm now the laughingstock of Kunwu. I've lost a great deal of face."