The white light of the teleportation array faded. Mo Tiange raised her head and looked around.
"Elder Ye, we meet again!" Wei Haolan stood smiling opposite her.
Forty years had passed, yet her cultivation level remained unchanged, and her appearance was not much different. Mo Tiange remembered that Wei Haolan had been around a hundred years old back then. Even if she could never advance further in this lifetime, she still had over two hundred years to live. Judging by her current appearance, she seemed to be doing quite well.
Recalling their pleasant interactions in the past, Mo Tiange also smiled. "Sect Leader Wei, it's been many years. I trust you have been well?"
"Thanks to Elder Ye's great fortune, these years have been quite smooth."
The two looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.
Watching the two of them step out of the teleportation array, Wei Haolan looked at Tang Shen with a hint of reproach. "Junior Brother Tang, how could you be so careless? You were missing for so long, we almost thought you had perished."
Tang Shen lowered his head apologetically. "Sect Leader Senior Sister, I'm sorry. I overestimated myself and failed to handle the matter properly."
Wei Haolan did not scold him further, saying only, "Since you've returned and managed to contact Elder Ye, we'll let this matter rest. Junior Brother Tang, you've worked hard these past dozen years. We can discuss other matters slowly later. Go and rest for now."
"Yes." Tang Shen responded, reaching into his Qiankun Bag and taking out some items. "Sect Leader Senior Sister, these are the Core Formation pills Elder Ye helped me purchase. Also, Elder Ye bought a high-level breath-concealing technique for me. All the spirit stones for these were advanced by her."
Wei Haolan accepted them and thanked Mo Tiange with a smile. "Elder Ye, we are greatly indebted to you this time."
Mo Tiange waved her hand with a smile. "As a Guest Elder of the Bixuan Pavilion who receives your offerings, it is only right that I do something for the Pavilion when needed."
Hearing this, Wei Haolan stopped her thanks and said gently to Tang Shen, "Junior Brother Tang, don't worry about it. You lost those spirit stones while carrying out sect business. The sect will handle it. Go and rest assured."
Tang Shen felt somewhat relieved. The amount of spirit stones he had taken for the Core Formation pills was enormous. Losing them had weighed heavily on him. Hearing Wei Haolan's reassurance made him feel better.
"Thank you, Sect Leader Senior Sister. Then... I'll take my leave first."
"Mm."
Watching Tang Shen leave with his head bowed along the underground passage, Wei Haolan and Mo Tiange exchanged smiles again.
Wei Haolan made a gesture of invitation and walked alongside Mo Tiange. As they walked, she said, "Actually, I originally didn't agree to Junior Brother Tang going either. But he had always yearned for Kunwu, and I saw he had become much more mature in handling affairs over the years, so I took the risk of letting him go. I never expected something would still go wrong."
Mo Tiange smiled faintly. "This matter can't really be blamed on him. It was just that the timing of his trip to Kunwu was unfortunate."
"I know that too," Wei Haolan sighed. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have said anything. Junior Brother Tang has been much more careful in his dealings these years, but his constitution is ultimately a source of trouble. If he goes out, it's hard to guarantee there won't be accidents."
Mo Tiange gave a light smile. "There's no solution to this problem, unless one day he forms his Golden Core and masters the breath-concealing technique."
"Easier said than done!" Wei Haolan rubbed her temples. "Junior Brother Tang's cultivation has been fairly smooth these years, but he's always been just a hair's breadth away from late Foundation Establishment, unable to advance."
"These things can't be rushed," Mo Tiange comforted. "Some people have sudden epiphanies in a day, others remain stagnant for decades. Breaking through realms depends entirely on personal comprehension."
Wei Haolan smiled. "Since Elder Ye has returned, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you for some guidance."
Mo Tiange merely smiled. "Regarding advancement, I can only offer some advice. I can't provide too much specific guidance, as everyone's situation is different."
"Mm, I understand what Elder Ye means."
After walking for a while, Wei Haolan turned to look at Mo Tiange and suddenly laughed. "Look at my memory, forgetting such an important matter. Elder Ye, I haven't yet congratulated you on your Core Formation advancement. To become a Core Formation Cultivator before reaching a hundred years of age—you can truly be called a genius that appears only once in a millennium."
Mo Tiange had heard the title of 'genius' many times in Kunwu. She smiled and shook her head. "Sect Leader Wei, please don't praise me like that. Forget 'once in a millennium'—in just the last few centuries, the Xuanqing Sect alone has produced three Core Formation Cultivators under a hundred. I really don't deserve such praise."
"Oh, right." Wei Haolan nodded, looking at her with envy. "It's truly because the Xuanqing Sect has produced so many geniuses these past few centuries."
Mo Tiange simply smiled, though she felt quite proud inwardly. The Xuanqing Sect had indeed produced many outstanding cultivators in recent centuries. Other sects would be fortunate to have one or two in a thousand years.
Wei Haolan's eyes shifted, then she continued, "And that's only part of it. Not long ago, the manager of our Yuhueng Mountain Guild Hall reported that Elder Ye has entered a dual cultivation union, and your husband is none other than the Xuanqing Sect's newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivator, Dao Lord Shoujing. I must offer you even more congratulations."
Mo Tiange smiled slightly. "Thank you. Sect Leader Wei's information network is quite efficient."
Wei Haolan shook her head. "Elder Ye's dual cultivation union happened two years ago, yet I only learned of it recently. Our Bixuan Pavilion's guild hall in Kunwu still isn't doing enough. This matter wasn't particularly secret; it should have been reported much earlier."
This touched upon the Bixuan Pavilion's internal affairs. As merely a nominal Guest Elder, Mo Tiange just smiled and didn't comment further.
The two soon left the underground passage and arrived at the main assembly hall.
Wei Haolan invited Mo Tiange to sit and had a disciple serve tea. After a while, she asked, "Elder Ye, although I asked you to escort Junior Brother Tang back, there was no need for you to teleport over together. I presume you aren't lacking those few spirit stones, in a hurry to collect them?"
Hearing this, Mo Tiange laughed. "I am, after all, a Guest Elder of the Bixuan Pavilion. Isn't it fine for me to come and visit after so many years apart?"
"A visit is naturally welcome. However, my intuition has always been quite accurate."
Facing Wei Haolan's half-smiling expression, Mo Tiange could only sigh. "Alright, I do indeed have some matters..."
Wei Haolan smiled. "Is there anything you need help with?"
"Not for the moment." Mo Tiange pondered internally. Since the matter still had no clear leads, it was better not to go into detail yet.
Wei Haolan was clever and didn't press further, saying only, "If there's anything you need help with, Elder Ye, just say the word."
"Thank you."
Afterwards, Mo Tiange inquired about the Bixuan Pavilion's situation over the past few decades, and Wei Haolan answered each point. After nearly being wiped out back then, the Bixuan Pavilion had encountered an opportunity. The discovery of the East Sea spirit stone vein and changes to the sect rules had allowed the Pavilion's strength to recover rapidly. Over these decades, the number of Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment disciples had already surpassed the original count. The only thing lacking was Core Formation Cultivators.
Mo Tiange then asked, "Elder Tang is still only at mid Foundation Establishment. Has the sect already produced cultivators capable of attempting Core Formation so quickly?" Back then, Tang Shen had been selected as a provisional elder because his combat ability had greatly improved. In terms of cultivation level, mid Foundation Establishment wasn't bad.
Wei Haolan sighed. "How could it be that fast? Currently, the sect has one senior sister and one senior brother who have reached late Foundation Establishment, but they haven't reached Foundation Establishment perfection yet. I'm just preparing for contingencies. After all, Core Formation pills aren't easy to find; it might take decades to locate them."
Mo Tiange nodded silently. Shangguan Yunhao from back then was a clear example. If he hadn't been unable to obtain Core Formation pills for so long, leading to hopelessness, he might not have so easily fallen into demonic obsession and betrayed his sect.
"If not for Elder Ye this time, we wouldn't have been able to obtain these Core Formation pills. I must thank you again."
Mo Tiange waved her hand with a smile. "Sect Leader Wei, you keep thanking me. I really don't deserve it."
Wei Haolan was taken aback, then laughed. "Alright, I won't say any more words of thanks. I'll keep them in my heart."
After chatting idly for a while longer, Wei Haolan noticed Mo Tiange had run out of things to say and tactfully ended the conversation, having someone escort her to her quarters.
Leaving the Bixuan Pavilion's main assembly hall, Mo Tiange walked while observing. The destruction caused by Ren Yu-Feng back then had left no trace. Those pavilions and towers had been repaired to look brand new, the mountain gate had been re-erected, and flowers and plants were constantly being added. The skilled hands of the female cultivators made the Bixuan Pavilion look even more scenic and pleasant than the major sects of Kunwu.
Along the way, numerous Qi Refining disciples came and went, both male and female. Seeing her, they all widened their eyes in surprise—because of her different attire, and even more because of her cultivation level. A Core Formation Cultivator! It was actually a Core Formation Cultivator!
The Qi Refining disciple guiding her wore a proud expression, announcing to these people, "This is our Guest Elder Ye."
Thus, along the entire path, countless disciples bowed to her. "Greetings, Elder Ye."
Mo Tiange felt quite helpless. She had never liked such pomp. Fortunately, her destination wasn't far. Soon, the guest building came into view.
Originally, Wei Haolan had prepared for her to stay in the Dedao Tower, but Mo Tiange had declined. The Dedao Tower was, after all, a symbol of the Bixuan Pavilion, and she wasn't truly a core elder of the Pavilion. Returning to Linhai was merely to search for the cultivation insights left by Mo Yaoqing. Earlier, Wei Haolan had already returned the spirit stones used to purchase the technique and pills, and even supplemented them with tens of thousands more, saying it was her stipend as a Guest Elder. Considering it, she had received quite a lot from the Bixuan Pavilion and really didn't want to take further advantage.
She stayed in the guest building for several days. During this time, Wei Haolan arranged for her to meet the Bixuan Pavilion's Foundation Establishment cultivators. Although female cultivators still held the dominant position, the number of male Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Pavilion had increased by several over the years. Seeing her so young, the newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivators were astonished.
Since it was rare for the Bixuan Pavilion to host a Core Formation Cultivator, Mo Tiange inevitably shared some cultivation insights with these Foundation Establishment cultivators. Additionally, at Wei Haolan's invitation, she lectured on Core Formation insights to several cultivators with hopes of advancing.
By the time everything was finished, seven or eight days had passed.
Mo Tiange wasn't in a hurry. Although Mo Yaoqing's jade slip contained route records, they required careful study and comprehension. During this time, she took the opportunity to consult Wei Haolan about matters of the sea. Although she was already at Core Formation, with cultivation far surpassing Wei Haolan's, apart from that one trip to the extreme northern sea sixty years ago, she had no experience sailing. And that trip couldn't really be counted.
Hearing she intended to go to sea, Wei Haolan didn't ask many questions, only giving her detailed information about general precautions for sea travel and the more dangerous sea beasts in the nearby area. However, limited by her own cultivation level, this could only serve as a reference. After all, Wei Haolan hadn't been to deeper sea regions either, and Mo Yaoqing's meditation cave was located deep within the East Sea.
Several more days passed. Once Mo Tiange had made all her preparations, she finally set out.