"Elder Ye, heading southeast from here is the location of our Spirit Stone vein. This stretch of sea is safe, with no dangerous sea beasts. Also, here is a Sea Map passed down by the sect's founding ancestors. It records the distribution of sea beasts, but due to limitations in cultivation level, we haven't been to many of these places, so it might not be entirely reliable."
Mo Tiange took the Sea Map handed over by Wei Haolan and said sincerely, "Thank you. With this map, my journey will be much safer."
Wei Haolan smiled and waved her hand. "Elder Ye is a guest elder of our Bixuan Pavilion and has done us great favors. Such a small matter is only what should be done."
Mo Tiange understood the situation well. Bixuan Pavilion now had Spirit Stones and disciples, but what they lacked were channels for scarce resources and guidance from high-level cultivators. Therefore, as a guest elder, she was very important to Bixuan Pavilion. Wei Haolan would certainly do her utmost to meet her requests, hoping she would lend aid to Bixuan Pavilion, not just out of gratitude for sharing hardships decades ago or because the founding ancestor was her ancestor.
After all, her status in the Xuanqing Sect was extraordinary. By connecting with her, obtaining some pills or even Core Formation techniques would become much easier. Moreover, her own cultivation was high, and her future prospects were bright. If she were to form her Nascent Soul in the future, even occasional support would bring immense benefits to Bixuan Pavilion.
However, Mo Tiange didn't mind Wei Haolan's calculations. In this world of cultivation, who could truly be good to someone without any selfish motives? As long as she harbored no ill intentions, that was enough. Besides, given her connection with Bixuan Pavilion, they were far more reliable than strangers.
Putting away the Sea Map, Mo Tiange suddenly remembered something and said, "Sect Leader Wei, there's something I'd like to ask of you."
"Oh? Please go ahead, Elder Ye."
Mo Tiange said, "There's a fishing village near Linhai City. In that village, there's a fisherman named Shui San. Sixty years ago, when I came to Linhai, I had a chance encounter with his family. His daughter was tested back then and found to have five spiritual roots. She should be sixty-eight years old now. With the great chaos in Linhai back then, I don't know how his family is faring. Could you please help me inquire?"
Hearing it was such a small matter, Wei Haolan readily agreed. "Elder Ye, rest assured. It's just a trivial matter."
"Then I thank you in advance."
With her request made, Mo Tiange looked up towards the East Sea.
As far as the eye could see, the sea stretched boundlessly. The sea breeze gently brushed, and the ripples shimmered.
On a day with gentle winds and bright sunshine, the sea was so calm and beautiful. But when it raged, the waves surged violently, as if to swallow everything. Faced with its fury, humans—even cultivators—could hardly remain composed. Only by cultivating to the Nascent Soul stage, gaining the power to move mountains and overturn seas, could one face the sea's wrath without fear.
Mo Tiange guessed that Mo Yaoqing's choice to establish her final resting place deep in the East Sea must still involve danger. Although she had left a route map, venturing deep into the sea would bring encounters with high-level sea beasts. Perhaps it was precisely due to such considerations that such a complex restriction was set.
However, she was not afraid. For one, her life-bound Magical Treasure, the Heaven and Earth Fan, had reached great completion. While its offensive power wasn't exceptionally high, its defensive and trapping capabilities were first-rate. Coupled with her Cloud-Stepping Boots, White Silk Handkerchief, and Xu Tian Realm, the number of life-preserving methods at her disposal far surpassed that of ordinary Core Formation cultivators. As long as she wasn't terribly unlucky, she wouldn't face mortal danger.
"Sect Leader Wei, I'll be off now."
Wei Haolan cupped her hands. "Elder Ye, may you return soon." This time, Wei Haolan was much more courteous. Although the closeness between them remained as before, it was inevitably tinged with a degree of respect.
Mo Tiange smiled, clouds forming at her feet as she rose into the air, transforming into a streak of light that shot towards the depths of the sea.
Only after advancing to Core Formation did a top-tier Magical Treasure like the Cloud-Stepping Boots truly display its power. During her Foundation Establishment stage, wearing the Cloud-Stepping Boots allowed her to fly, but not at such speed. After forming her Core, once she used the Cloud-Stepping Boots, clouds would form beneath her feet, carrying her aloft and saving her a great deal of Spiritual Qi.
The speed of a Core Formation cultivator was extremely fast. In just half a day, she had passed the location of the Spirit Stone vein mentioned by Wei Haolan. Flying further into the depths of the East Sea, she didn't know what she might encounter.
Mo Tiange pondered briefly, deciding to fly a bit higher to avoid disturbing powerful sea beasts, but not too high, as she still needed to watch the sea surface for the markers left by Mo Yaoqing.
Over five thousand years had passed. Whether the markers Mo Yaoqing left back then were still effective, Mo Tiange couldn't be sure. However, with Mo Yaoqing's intelligence, she should have considered this problem. Thinking this, Mo Tiange cast aside these doubts and focused on flying at full speed.
This flight lasted five days. Over these five days, Mo Tiange went from seeing only first or second-rank small sea beasts to frequently spotting fourth or fifth-rank sea beasts.
She proceeded with caution throughout the journey. If she attracted the attention of these sea beasts, she would fly higher to avoid them.
On the sixth day, Mo Tiange finally spotted a small island shrouded in Spiritual Qi in the sea. The island was extremely small, roughly only one li in circumference. Perhaps a single high tide could swallow it. The spiritual vein wasn't great either, with only faint Spiritual Qi—just a very minor spiritual vein. Yet she was overjoyed, because on Mo Yaoqing's jade slip, there was a record of this very island. However, Mo Yaoqing's description indicated it was larger. Considering five thousand years had passed, changes in the island's size were perfectly normal. In the sea, such small islands could disappear overnight.
Flying around the island in the air, she found no traces of high-level sea beasts nearby. Mo Tiange carefully descended towards the island.
It was unclear how long it had been since anyone last visited this island. It was densely overgrown with vine-like plants that covered almost everything except the sandy beach.
Seeing this, Mo Tiange carefully released Xiaohuo from her Spirit Beast Bag.
Mo Yaoqing's jade slip mentioned that these vines were quite strange, seeming almost alive. Any living creature would be entangled and devoured by them. In this world, it was usually beasts eating plants. For plants to eat beasts defied common sense. What defies reason is demonic, so these vines could be considered a type of demonic plant. This was also why there were few sea beasts near this island—if low-level sea beasts accidentally came here, they would be devoured by these vines.
However, these vines were not without natural enemies. If they encountered a Demon Beast of the fifth rank or above, they could put up a fight. Moreover, some sea beasts particularly enjoyed eating these vines because, having often consumed Demon Beasts, the vines contained more Spiritual Qi than ordinary spiritual plants, and devouring them could aid cultivation.
The reason Mo Yaoqing recorded these small islands on her jade slip was also because the journey ahead was long. Unlike land, where one could stop and rest when tired from flying, it was quite normal to go for days or even dozens of days without seeing land over the sea. Therefore, if someone sought her cave dwelling, they would need to rest on these small islands.
Although flying consumed very little Spiritual Qi, being unable to rest continuously would be unbearable even with Spirit-Returning Pills to replenish energy; mental fatigue would set in. Once mental acuity declined, reaction times to danger would slow, and strength would drop significantly. Therefore, Mo Yaoqing recorded the locations of many small islands suitable for temporary rest on her jade slip.
With the Xu Tian Realm, this problem didn't originally exist for Mo Tiange. The reasons for seeking these islands were, first, for comparison, and second, because Mo Yaoqing had noted the characteristics of these vines, sparking her interest to collect some. After all, this was the sparsely populated East Sea. The cultivators of Bixuan Pavilion were still low-level and couldn't reach here, and these vines were rare. Collecting some might prove useful in the future.
As soon as it emerged from the Spirit Beast Bag, perhaps because it hadn't been out for too long, Xiaohuo joyfully pounced towards the island's interior.
Seeing this, Mo Tiange quickly stopped it. "Xiaohuo, come back!"
Xiaohuo paused, turned its head to look at her, blinked its dark, shiny eyes, then turned back to stare at the green vines, looking very eager to go over.
Watching this scene, a thought occurred to Mo Tiange. Could it be that not just sea beasts, but even a land-dwelling spirit beast like Xiaohuo instinctively wanted to eat this?
What would happen if a spirit beast ate these vines? Mo Yaoqing hadn't said, only briefly mentioning the vines' characteristics on the jade slip, noting to be careful when resting here. However, since sea beasts loved to eat them, it should be the same for spirit beasts, right?
Thinking this, Mo Tiange said to Xiaohuo, "Xiaohuo, attack them with your technique."
Connected in mind with her, Xiaohuo, upon receiving the command, immediately leaped up, and True Solar Fire burst forth.
Most spiritual plants feared things like metal and fire, and even these demonic vines were no exception. As soon as Xiaohuo's True Solar Fire appeared, the vines, which had been lying quietly like ordinary plants, instantly reared up, avoiding the True Solar Fire.
Seeing this, Xiaohuo's eyes widened. It leaped again, releasing another stream of True Solar Fire directly at the roots of the vines.
This time, even though the vines dodged in panic, they couldn't escape. Their roots were instantly scorched black, and their leaves and stems went limp.
"Woof woof!" Xiaohuo excitedly barked twice, ran over, bit into the leaves and stems, and began chewing heartily.
Seeing it handle the situation easily, Mo Tiange didn't intervene further. After all, Xiaohuo was already fifth rank and a variant. Ordinary Demon Beasts couldn't trouble it, let alone these vines. Since it loved to eat them, she might as well let it.
Thinking this, she herself summoned a flying sword. Relying on her high cultivation, she uprooted some vines, suppressed them with her own Spiritual Qi, and sealed them in a jade box.
Originally planning to enter the Xu Tian Realm to rest once Xiaohuo had eaten its fill, she didn't expect the little fellow to seem addicted and unwilling to leave. Mo Tiange thought about it; there were no high-level sea beasts nearby anyway, so she might as well let it be. She found a spot, set up a defensive formation to rest, and continued studying Mo Yaoqing's route map.
Taking out the jade slip and the Sea Map given by Wei Haolan, Mo Tiange carefully compared the two.
In terms of detail, Mo Yaoqing's was undoubtedly superior. She had meticulously recorded her route from back then, clearly noting which places had islands for reference and what kind of Demon Beasts were present. However, the Sea Map given by Wei Haolan might be more accurate, because Mo Yaoqing was, after all, from five thousand years ago. Over five millennia, great changes had occurred; some islands might have disappeared, others might have appeared, and Demon Beasts would have migrated.
According to Mo Yaoqing's records, flying southeast from this island, there should be a large island. Yet according to Wei Haolan's Sea Map, there was no large island marked there. Mo Tiange frowned. Which one was correct?