"By the way," Mo Tiange thought for a moment and said, "that Tong Tianyun mentioned that his friend wants me to exchange a Thousand-Year Jade Marrow for a certain spiritual object that might be found in Tianmo Mountain."
"A spiritual object from Tianmo Mountain?" As expected, a look of sarcasm also appeared on Qin Xi's face. "They're really calculating. How dangerous is it to go to Tianmo Mountain? And they think they can get what they want through your hands with just some Thousand-Year Jade Marrow? Hmph!"
Mo Tiange said, "Thousand-Year Jade Marrow isn't something only they possess. Waiting a bit longer is no big deal. However, the most important matter at hand is still the journey to Tianmo Mountain. I won't haggle with them over this. If I can really obtain that spiritual object and return safely, then we can discuss this matter. If luck isn't on our side..." She didn't continue. After all, Tianmo Mountain was a dangerous place, not to mention the place where her father had perished. Even though Qin Xi had been there once before, and even with ample preparations this time, it still wasn't foolproof.
Qin Xi, however, frowned and said coldly, "Since I'm the one taking you there, I will naturally bring you out safely. You don't need to worry."
Mo Tiange was momentarily speechless, choked by his words. That wasn't what she meant at all, so why did he...
Just as she was thinking this, she heard Qin Xi ask, "What exactly do they want?"
Mo Tiange gathered her scattered thoughts and replied, "It's something called a Heavenly Fragrance Bean. Tong Tianyun said it's originally a type of spiritual medicine. Its fruit resembles a bean, and after ripening, it detaches from its roots and leaves, becoming as hard as stone. This thing rarely appears in the world, but quite a few have been discovered in Tianmo Mountain."
Hearing this, Qin Xi frowned and remained silent for a long while.
Seeing his expression, something seemed off. Mo Tiange asked, "What's wrong?"
After quite some time, Qin Xi said, "This old friend of Tong's probably cultivates some unorthodox path. The Heavenly Fragrance Bean indeed isn't considered too precious and is of little use to ordinary cultivators. If you can find it, exchanging it for Thousand-Year Jade Marrow wouldn't be too unfair. However... the use of this Heavenly Fragrance Bean is..."
He hesitated for a long time, unable to say it, as if it were something difficult to voice.
Mo Tiange didn't understand and asked again, "What exactly is it used for?"
Qin Xi turned his head away, trying to keep his voice calm. "The Heavenly Fragrance Bean can be used to refine a certain type of pill. For those who practice dual cultivation, it has miraculous effects."
Mo Tiange thought about it and found it even stranger. "That doesn't seem particularly special, does it?" The Dao of pill refinement was inherently diverse, with formulas for all sorts of situations. Cultivators who practiced the dual cultivation path naturally also had pills suitable for them to take.
Facing her puzzled gaze, Qin Xi's expression grew even more awkward. After a long pause, he squeezed out a few words: "This isn't an ordinary pill... it's... it's used to... arouse desire..."
"Fellow Daoist Shoujing! Fellow Daoist Qingwei!" The voice of Daoist Kumu came from afar, breaking the awkward silence.
The two looked up to see Daoist Kumu waving at them. "We should set off."
Both felt as if pardoned from a death sentence. They each summoned their flying magical tools and moved closer to the group.
Although she knew she should act as if nothing had happened, Mo Tiange couldn't help but put a bit more distance between them. After a few days of traveling together, Madam Feng had become somewhat friendlier towards Mo Tiange. Seeing this, she found it strange and asked, "Did something happen?"
Mo Tiange was momentarily at a loss for words. Then she saw Jing Xingzhi glance over with that half-smile, half-smirk expression, making her feel even more frustrated. She could only answer sullenly, "It's nothing. I just heard my master has already arrived at Yuheng Mountain, so I'm feeling a bit anxious."
Madam Feng didn't suspect anything. Hearing this, she said with some envy, "Little sister, with your talent and your current age, it seems unnecessary for you to take such risks at Tianmo Mountain, doesn't it? Why are all three of you, master and disciples, going?"
Mo Tiange was silent for a moment before replying, "I'm going to Tianmo Mountain to settle an old matter."
"An old matter?" Madam Feng was about to ask more when she saw Mo Tiange turn her head away, seemingly preoccupied with her own thoughts, so she didn't press further.
Seeing the two of them getting along much better, Lei Dongqing, with his loud voice, called out, "Old Lady Feng, didn't you dislike this little girl? How come you're so chummy after just a few days?"
Seeing it was him, Madam Feng snorted coldly. "Even if I dislike others, I'm still better than you! Get lost, you nuisance!"
Lei Dongqing rubbed his nose and just muttered, "Shrew!"
Mo Tiange couldn't help but smile faintly. These two were quite amusing. Madam Feng clearly wasn't old, appearing to be only in her early twenties, a bright and beautiful woman. Yet this Lei Dongqing kept calling her 'Old Lady Feng.' And Lei Dongqing, though a bald, somewhat ugly man, only appeared to be in his thirties, yet Madam Feng insisted on calling him 'Old Man Lei.'
However, thinking of this, Mo Tiange also began to suspect. These two seemed different from the others. Could they have some relationship? She was about to send a secret message to ask Qin Xi, but then remembered what had just happened and swallowed her words. If there was some relationship, Qin Xi would have already told her. Since he hadn't, it probably meant there was nothing.
She shook her head, putting the matter aside, and continued on the journey in silence. The flying speed of Core Formation cultivators was naturally fast. After a few more days, they were approaching the territory of Yuheng Mountain. More and more cultivators were flying in the sky, with a considerable number of high-level cultivators among them. Occasionally, even Nascent Soul cultivators passed by.
This weakening of the restrictions at Tianmo Mountain had shaken the majority of the cultivators in Tianji. Those stuck at bottlenecks or lacking opportunities had flocked here. Even those whose cultivation was progressing smoothly were hesitating. After all, the path of immortality was difficult. If they could gain some opportunities, it might surpass centuries of arduous cultivation. Even Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators were restless. Of course, they wouldn't dare venture deep into Tianmo Mountain, but even in the outer regions, they might find some treasures. If luck was on their side, they could benefit for a lifetime, even leaping to become high-level cultivators.
The Tiandao Sect, hailed as the number one sect in Tianji, naturally attracted many cultivators to its vicinity. At this time, it was even more bustling and lively.
However, as Core Formation cultivators, Mo Tiange and her companions didn't need to wander around Yuheng Mountain like ordinary cultivators, searching for their own accommodations. The Tiandao Sect would provide them with hospitality.
Yuheng Mountain was closely connected to Tianmo Mountain. To reach Tianmo Mountain, one had to pass through Yuheng Mountain. The entire Yuheng Mountain belonged to the Tiandao Sect. Therefore, to go to Tianmo Mountain, one had to pass through the Tiandao Sect.
Tianmo Mountain held both immense wealth and great danger. The Tiandao Sect naturally didn't dare monopolize it, but seizing the opportunity to amass wealth was inevitable. Every cultivator entering had to pay a passage fee. This fee wasn't too high, especially insignificant for Core Formation cultivators. However, with the sheer number of people, the Tiandao Sect made a huge windfall every time Tianmo Mountain opened.
Additionally, many people were selling maps and notes about Tianmo Mountain in the small town at the foot of Yuheng Mountain. The prices were quite high, yet buyers came in a steady stream.
Mo Tiange initially found it interesting and wanted to buy one to look at, but Qin Xi stopped her. "These things aren't very useful. Most are incomplete, only covering the outermost areas. The place we're going is much deeper. These maps don't cover it at all."
Mo Tiange thought about it and agreed. With the materials Dao Lord Jinghe had obtained, why would they need to buy from these street vendors? Some of these people were even mortals. One could guess they wouldn't have anything too good.
Led by Daoist Kumu, the seven of them ascended Yuheng Mountain.
"Fellow Daoist Kumu! Fellow Daoist Tong! Fellow Daoist Shoujing!" Just as they reached the mountain gate of the Tiandao Sect, a Core Formation cultivator came forward with a smile. "Fellow Daoists, you've arrived quite early."
Mo Tiange looked at him. This was a Tiandao Sect cultivator who appeared to be around thirty, with Core Formation mid-stage cultivation. Judging by the way he greeted Daoist Kumu and the others, he seemed familiar with them.
Everyone returned the greeting, except for Lei Dongqing, whose face had turned gloomy ever since they arrived at Yuheng Mountain.
Mo Tiange recalled that Qin Xi had mentioned that Lei Dongqing was originally a Tiandao Sect cultivator who had been ostracized and forced out after offending someone. Looking at his expression now, he indeed harbored great resentment towards the Tiandao Sect. Moreover, since he was a Tiandao Sect cultivator with Core Formation cultivation, he must have been an Elder. Shouldn't he have his own cave dwelling on Yuheng Mountain? In the current situation, this cultivator was treating him as an ordinary guest, and he didn't mention anything, acting as if he had no connection to the Tiandao Sect at all.
"Huh? And who is this?" The cultivator looked at Mo Tiange with surprise in his voice.
Qin Xi said, "Fellow Daoist Ji, this is my junior sister, Dao name Qingwei."
"Ah, so this is the now-famous Perfected One Qingwei! I've long heard of your name!" This Core Formation cultivator named Ji Feng smiled and saluted, his tone full of astonishment.
"Fellow Daoist Ji is too polite." Mo Tiange returned the salute once more.
Ji Feng, however, didn't seem to be merely polite. His tone was very enthusiastic. "Perfected One Qingwei's name has spread throughout Kunwu. This isn't just Ji being polite. The Xuanqing Sect has repeatedly produced genius cultivators, truly making us envious."
Mo Tiange smiled slightly but only cupped her hands in acknowledgment without saying more.
Seeing she wasn't much for conversation, Ji Feng didn't press further. He smiled and said, "Fellow Daoists have come a long way. You must be tired. Please go and rest first."
Although none of the seven were physically tired, traveling silently for several days had taken a psychological toll, so no one objected.
Ji Feng handed them over to the Qi Refining disciples responsible for receiving guests, and the group was led into the mountain gate by two of these Qi Refining disciples. They hadn't walked far before arriving at a very large courtyard.
With a preliminary sweep of her spiritual sense, Mo Tiange found that there were indeed quite a few Core Formation cultivators in this courtyard. A rough estimate put the number at least thirty or forty. There were still about two or three months before Tianmo Mountain opened. Who knew how many more would come later.
Upon entering the courtyard, other cultivators immediately came forward to greet them. "Esteemed Seniors, welcome from afar!" They then very diligently led everyone to their respective accommodations.
The courtyard was very large, with each smaller courtyard having several rooms. Two such smaller courtyards would be enough for the seven of them.
After leading her to her room and getting her settled, the disciple didn't leave but stood at the door watching. Mo Tiange didn't understand what they were doing at first. Then she heard the sound of other cultivators thanking someone for a reward from the room to her left and understood. She also took out a small bag of spirit stones and tossed it over. The disciple was only at the Qi Refining stage. Feeling the spirit stone bag, it contained at least a hundred spirit stones. He was overjoyed and repeatedly expressed his gratitude. "Thank you for the reward, Esteemed Senior! Thank you for the reward!"
Watching the person retreat, Mo Tiange shook her head. Since they were Core Formation cultivators, they had to be generous. Combined with the passage fee, the Tiandao Sect was truly making a huge profit.