Not long after the Nascent Soul Ceremony, the Duty Hall had investigated Shui Linbo's background and reported their findings.
Preliminary investigation showed that Shui Linbo had not lied. Except for the matters in Linhai which could not be confirmed, the Duty Hall had verified all her experiences, finding nothing suspicious.
Since there was nothing suspicious, Mo Tiange felt at ease. Ye Zhenji was the closest junior to her and Qin Xi. His Dao Companion could have poor aptitude and low cultivation, but absolutely could not harbor ulterior motives.
Additionally, what reassured Mo Tiange was that Shui Linbo's personality was much steadier than Ye Zhenji's, and she had experienced and seen much more. If she could be by his side to constantly urge him on, Mo Tiange could also cultivate with peace of mind in the future, letting go of her worries about Ye Zhenji.
As for Shui Linbo's injuries, after confirming her background was not in doubt, Mo Tiange had already entrusted the matter to Kuang Zhu. No matter what precious items were needed, he could simply draw them from her. Not to mention anything else, with her current salary as a Core Formation Elder, she could completely afford the cost of treating Shui Linbo, and could afford any precious materials required.
Jinghe Daojun's matter did not need immediate worry in the short term, Shui Linbo's injuries were also being handled by Kuang Zhu, and various other miscellaneous affairs were finally sorted out.
In the days to come, what she needed to focus on was Qin Xi's seclusion.
This seclusion of Qin Xi's was no small matter. His own preliminary estimate was that it would take at least ten to twenty years. If that was the case, many preparations were needed.
Mo Tiange felt that during this time, she could not stay in the Xuanqing Sect the entire time. She had stayed in the Void Heaven Realm for ten years, and with the benefits of dual cultivation, her cultivation had smoothly reached the peak of the early Core Formation stage. It was best not to enter seclusion again in the short term, so traveling and handling affairs outside would be unavoidable. In that case, she needed to leave some things for Qin Xi, such as some special pills.
There was also her master. She couldn't prepare all the pills, but at the very least, she needed to prepare one or two types so that her master would have pills available for healing after emerging from seclusion.
Alchemy, preparing medicines, cultivation, researching magic treasures, occasionally giving pointers to Zhenji and Shui Linbo—two years passed by quickly.
Although these two years were peaceful, they were fulfilling. Becoming Dao Companions with Qin Xi had not brought any trouble to each other's lives. Their personalities were compatible, and after the adjustment in the Void Heaven Realm, they quickly adapted to life as a pair.
Just as Qin Xi was preparing to enter seclusion, Mo Tiange sensed a familiar aura from afar—a faint trace of her own Divine Sense.
A Ten Thousand Li Sound Transmission Talisman!
She carefully recalled. It seemed she had only given a Ten Thousand Li Sound Transmission Talisman to one person—Wei Haolan, the Sect Master of the Bixuan Pavilion, who was far away ten thousand li!
But this aura was not far from her, roughly in the location of Kunzhong City—had someone from the Bixuan Pavilion come to Kunwu?
Mo Tiange informed Qin Xi of this matter. Qin Xi frowned in thought for a while. "They know your identity. Why wouldn't they come directly to find you, but instead released a Ten Thousand Li Sound Transmission Talisman?"
This was precisely what worried Mo Tiange. "I think perhaps this person encountered some danger and had no choice but to contact me this way."
"Hmm." Qin Xi thought the same. He considered for a moment and said, "How about I accompany you there?"
"Hey, no!" Mo Tiange looked at him helplessly. "You're a Nascent Soul cultivator now, and you've prepared for so long to enter seclusion. How can you just casually accompany me here and there?"
Qin Xi looked somewhat abashed at her words. "I'm just not very reassured..."
"I am, after all, a Core Formation cultivator now. I'm just a bit short of comprehension to break through from early to mid-stage. You've taught me so much about combat techniques over the years. Could it be I can't even handle such a small matter?"
"..." Qin Xi was left speechless. If it were any other Core Formation cultivator, he wouldn't have had such thoughts. Even back when she was just a Foundation Establishment cultivator traveling outside, he hadn't been this concerned. Now, it could only be said that worry arises from deep affection.
"Listen to me," Mo Tiange said seriously. "You should properly enter your seclusion. I will handle these matters myself—" Seeing Qin Xi seemed about to say something, she raised her hand to stop him, her gaze meeting his directly. "Trust me, alright?"
After thinking for a while, Qin Xi sighed helplessly and nodded. "Alright, I know I should trust you, in every aspect."
Having obtained his permission, Mo Tiange smiled, flashed to sit on his lap, leaned in and gave him a kiss. "Alright then, you focus on your seclusion. I hope by the time you emerge, everything will be resolved smoothly."
Qin Xi grabbed her. "Just this isn't enough..."
Several days later, Qin Xi entered seclusion, and Mo Tiange left the Xuanqing Sect, heading towards Kunzhong City to trace the aura of the Ten Thousand Li Sound Transmission Talisman.
The location where the talisman was released was not far, but not exactly close either. For a Core Formation cultivator, the Kunzhong City area would take at least several days of flight to reach.
Mo Tiange didn't know if she would arrive in time, but she could only do her best.
Recalling the past, she and her Second Uncle had also used a Ten Thousand Li Sound Transmission Talisman to seek Qin Xi's help. Fortunately, Qin Xi happened to be nearby at the time. Otherwise, by the time he arrived or sent Xuanqing Sect disciples to investigate, she and her Second Uncle would likely have been dead and buried.
This type of Ten Thousand Li Sound Transmission Talisman was sealed with the cultivator's own Divine Sense. Even from ten thousand li away, one could trace back to the place where the talisman was crushed. The sensation of the Divine Sense also lasted relatively long, remaining for nearly a month—enough time for Mo Tiange to find that place.
Pushing the Cloud-Treading Boots to their limit, within a few days, Mo Tiange descended outside Kunzhong City.
The place where the Ten Thousand Li Sound Transmission Talisman was crushed was within this Kunzhong City. Getting closer, Mo Tiange had confirmed the direction. Following the imprint left by the Divine Sense, she discovered it was actually the very same restaurant where Qin Xi had brought her twelve years ago to meet with Daoist Kumu and the others.
Recalling back then, she had just formed her Core and even felt uncomfortable using Divine Sense in Kunzhong City. Twelve years had passed. Those Core Formation experts who had looked down on her in this restaurant back then had already turned to dust, while she was now perfectly at ease within the Core Formation stage.
This path of longevity was just this cruel. Great waves wash away the sand, a new generation replaces the old.
The incident with Ye Zhenji back then had enraged Jinghe Daojun. Perfected One Mingzhen had slaughtered the entire Loose Cultivator Alliance in Kunzhong City, and the Xuanqing Sect had thus become a baleful star-like presence in Kunzhong City. Although Kunzhong City remained a city of loose cultivators and trade, it was no longer as neutral as in the past.
Seeing the Xuanqing Sect Daoist robe Mo Tiange wore, the restaurant manager came forward, greeting her with extreme enthusiasm. "This humble one pays respects to the Immortal. Esteemed Immortal, may I ask how I can be of service?"
Following the Divine Sense imprint upstairs, Mo Tiange turned several corners and pointed to a room. "Who stayed in this room half a month ago?"
"Half a month ago?" The manager was stunned for a moment. "Immortal, this room... was also occupied by two Immortals. They have indeed been here for half a month and haven't checked out yet!"
Two Immortals? Mo Tiange's gaze shifted slightly. Had the Bixuan Pavilion sent a male cultivator?
Her Divine Sense had long enveloped the entire inn. There was no one in this room.
"They went out?"
"This..." The manager shook his head. "Immortal, this humble one is just a mortal. If the Immortals went out, how would I know?"
This was also true. Apart from low-level cultivators, which cultivator staying at an inn would properly use the door? They would just fly out directly.
Just as Mo Tiange was thinking how to handle this, she saw the manager looking at her with great fear. She said, "You may go. I'm here to find someone."
The manager dared not refuse, respectfully acknowledged, and turned to leave.
After the manager left, Mo Tiange's spiritual energy rippled, and the door swung open with a sound.
She stepped into the room, her gaze sweeping over it, Divine Sense enveloping the space. Her brows furrowed.
The Ten Thousand Li Sound Transmission Talisman had indeed been crushed here. The room also retained the auras of other cultivators, but this was not good news because, based on the residual auras, she deduced that at least one of these two people was a Core Formation cultivator!
The Bixuan Pavilion shouldn't have produced a Core Formation cultivator so quickly. So, did that mean this person had fallen into the hands of a Core Formation cultivator?
However, there were no defensive formations or restrictions set up here. It seemed these two cultivators only treated this as a temporary residence.
Mo Tiange pondered for a moment, reached into her Qiankun Bag, and pulled out several items—array disks and array flags.
It had been a long time since she used formations to face enemies. The current situation, however, was very suitable for setting a trap here.
With a slight smile, her sleeves fluttered. The array disks and array flags flew out and landed in their respective places. In just a moment, everything was properly arranged. Then, she walked to a corner and laid down spirit stones.
With this Four Symbols Hundred Flowers Array, even if this Core Formation cultivator's cultivation surpassed hers, they wouldn't be difficult to deal with.
After finishing this, Mo Tiange took the Heaven and Earth Fan in hand and leaned leisurely by the window, sipping tea and watching the street scene.
Time passed bit by bit. She had arrived at noon. By the time night fell, the people still hadn't returned. Mo Tiange wasn't anxious. Since the room wasn't checked out, they probably hadn't left. If they had truly left, she didn't even know who had sent the transmission talisman and had no immediate method of tracking them. It was better to keep waiting.
She waited until the moon was high in the midnight sky.
In the deep quiet of night, shops in Kunzhong City closed one after another. Mo Tiange sat cross-legged on a chair, silently regulating her breathing.
Suddenly, her Divine Sense tensed, and she immediately completely concealed her aura.
Although her aura-concealing techniques weren't exceptional, she had the Spirit-Concealing Jade Pendant on her. Never mind a Core Formation cultivator, even a Nascent Soul cultivator wouldn't detect her immediately.
Then, two auras appeared nearby—one at Foundation Establishment mid-stage, one at Core Formation... late-stage!
Mo Tiange stiffened. A Core Formation late-stage? Was she confident? The thought flashed through her mind in an instant, but then she calmed herself. What was there to fear? She wasn't the Mo Qingwei who had just formed her Core twelve years ago. With a magic treasure like the Heaven and Earth Fan in hand, after ten years of exploration, and Qin Xi's guidance, her combat strength had grown by no small measure. Not to mention she now had the Four Symbols Hundred Flowers Array as backup.
The people drew closer. Mo Tiange heard voices.
"Can't you just behave for me, kid? When have I, your senior, ever treated you poorly? Run, run, run—where can you possibly run to?!" This voice sounded somewhat familiar.
Mo Tiange frowned slightly, still gripping the Heaven and Earth Fan tightly. Even if it might be an acquaintance, she would subdue them first and talk later.
Then came another familiar voice pleading, "Senior, please just let me go? What good does capturing me do you? I..."
Tang Shen! Mo Tiange's eyebrows shot up. That was Tang Shen's voice. Had he actually come to Kunwu?