Walking through the free market, Mo Tiange found her horizons broadened.
It wasn't because the items here were particularly good, but rather because the variety of demon cores was truly abundant. Many demon cores she had never even heard of before, likely from demon beasts unique to Yunzhong.
The cultivators buying and selling here ranged from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment. Mo Tiange even spotted two Core Formation cultivators. Most of the Qi Refining cultivators coming and going looked exhausted and unkempt.
Mo Tiange found this strange and asked Ayin, "Why do these Qi Refining cultivators look so worn out?"
Ayin replied, "These cultivators are all hunters here. Their cultivation is low, so they can't hunt high-rank demon beasts and can only kill first-rank ones. But many first-rank demon beasts don't have demon cores. Finding one is very difficult, and the other materials from demon beasts aren't worth much..."
By this point, Mo Tiange understood. These Qi Refining cultivators were the bottom layer supporting the demon core market of Beiji Island. They did the hardest, most dangerous work, finally obtaining a demon core to sell at this free market, earning a few spirit stones to support their own cultivation. They weren't merchants; they were laborers.
"When my father was alive, it was the same. Sometimes he'd return from the sea so tired he could barely stand, but he still had to muster his energy to come out and sell demon cores..." Ayin suddenly said, lost in thought.
"Your father?" Mo Tiange turned to look at her.
"Mm." Ayin lowered her head and said softly, "My father was also a cultivator, but his spiritual roots weren't good. He's passed away now."
Mo Tiange was silent for a moment, then sighed and patted her shoulder as a gesture of comfort.
Ayin offered a smile. "Thank you, Immortal. I'm fine. It's been two years since father passed; I'm used to it now." She turned and pointed to a small door in the distance. "That's where the Yulin Pavilion appraisers are. Even if you're not making a transaction, you can ask them to appraise items, as long as you pay the appraisal fee."
Mo Tiange looked over. The small door had a steady stream of people, most of them buyers and sellers traveling together, though there were also individuals.
She wasn't particularly interested in appraisals. After a few glances, she turned her gaze away. But a moment later, she looked back.
No. Just now, she seemed to have seen something. Mo Tiange quickened her pace, heading straight for the appraisal room.
"Immortal?" Ayin was startled and followed.
Inside the small appraisal room, several appraisers were surrounded by crowds. Mo Tiange looked around but couldn't see the person she had spotted earlier.
"Immortal, are you looking for someone?"
After searching for a while with no success, Mo Tiange gave up, squeezed out of the crowd, and shook her head. "Perhaps I was mistaken."
"Oh..." Ayin wisely didn't ask further.
After this incident, Mo Tiange lost interest in browsing. "There's nothing much to see. Let's go."
Exiting the free market, Mo Tiange didn't feel like going anywhere else either. After some thought, she said to Ayin, "I'm going for a walk by the sea. It wouldn't be appropriate to bring you along. You can head back first."
"Yes." Ayin acknowledged, then added after a moment's thought, "Immortal, most cultivators who go hunting depart from the northeast dock. The western area is where the major sects are located; they might not receive outsiders."
"Mm, I understand."
Hearing her response, Ayin curtsied and turned to leave.
Mo Tiange didn't linger. Leaving the market, she flew into the air and headed east.
As she flew, she pondered what had just happened.
In that free market, she had seen a woman in black whose back looked very much like Nie Wushang. Logically, the route from the East Sea to Nanjie Island was very hidden. Unless one had seen the jade slip left by Mo Yaoqing, the chances of finding it on one's own were very low. But if one took the South Sea route, the journey from Tianji to Yunzhong was not only extremely long but also fraught with countless dangers. How could Nie Wushang, a Core Formation cultivator, possibly make it through? Could it be that it wasn't Nie Wushang at all, and she had just misseen? But that back was too similar to Nie Wushang's, and the style of clothing was the same. Even if she could mistake a back, it was unlikely the clothing would be so similar, right?
Frowning in thought, Mo Tiange felt nothing but questions. Moreover, that woman's cultivation was at the Foundation Establishment stage, which didn't match. However, that wasn't certain either. She could conceal her spiritual aura; others could do the same.
Not long after flying, she suddenly sensed several auras of pressure approaching.
She was currently disguised as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, flying at an extremely slow speed. These few individuals were also at the Foundation Establishment stage, but they were using some kind of flying artifact that allowed them to catch up quickly.
Mo Tiange intended to give way slightly, but unexpectedly, those few individuals suddenly split up and surrounded her from all sides.
Realizing this, she stopped, frowning as she watched these cultivators approach.
There were men and women among them, wearing uniform attire that seemed to indicate they were disciples of some sect.
"Gentlemen, is there something?" Three at the early Foundation Establishment stage, two at the mid Foundation Establishment stage, with unfriendly expressions. Mo Tiange frowned. She was just passing through, and this wasn't the area Ayin mentioned as the location of the various sects. What were these people here for?
Hearing her speak, these individuals exchanged glances. The leader, a mid Foundation Establishment cultivator, said with a stern expression, "Hand over the goods!"
Mo Tiange's frown deepened. Her gaze slowly swept over the cultivators surrounding her. "Gentlemen must have mistaken me for someone else?"
Under her gaze, these cultivators involuntarily shrank back. Those with lower cultivation felt a shock in their hearts, as if suppressed by a higher-level cultivator. Yet the female cultivator before them, though her cultivation was higher than theirs, was only at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Steadying their minds, the leader once again adopted a cold, severe expression. "Mistaken? Your accent is clearly identical to that thief's. How can you say it's a mistake?"
This person's tone was truly unpleasant, and without even asking for an explanation, he had already decided she was some thief, which further displeased Mo Tiange. However, this wasn't Tianji. She was new here; it was better to exercise some restraint.
Thinking this, she swallowed her anger and said calmly, "Could there be some misunderstanding, gentlemen? I just left the demon core market and was heading to the dock when you intercepted me on the road. I truly don't know what you're here for."
Hearing her words, these individuals' expressions changed drastically. Another person shouted, "It is you! And you still dare to quibble!"
Mo Tiange was taken aback. What was wrong with what she said?
"Esteemed one," the leader tightened his grip on the artifact in his hand and said coldly, "just obediently hand over the goods! Although you're at the late Foundation Establishment stage, with the five of us joining forces, you won't escape!"
"Hmph!" These people were single-mindedly convinced she was someone, regardless of the reason. Mo Tiange also grew angry and said coldly, "I'm telling you for the last time: I said it's not me, so it's not. If you want to fight, be my guest!"
"You—" The leader's expression instantly turned ugly. Finally, gritting his teeth, he gave his companions a meaningful look.
Receiving his signal, the five moved almost simultaneously. They each took out a banner, unfurling it against the wind. As the banner surfaces spread, spiritual energy immediately surged, and a cold wind arose.
Mo Tiange narrowed her eyes. With her cultivation, she naturally wasn't afraid of these five Foundation Establishment cultivators. However, their technique was rather peculiar, seemingly a formation using people as its components...
She looked at the banners in their hands. They were painted with Taiji and Bagua diagrams, along with some strange pictures. Though she wasn't very familiar with them, she could roughly tell they were some kind of formation diagrams. A flash of insight struck her mind. "Are you from the Tianyan Sect?"
Hearing this, the leader snorted coldly. "No need to act! You just stole something from our Yulin Pavilion. What's the point of pretending not to know now?"
Mo Tiange had always been someone who responded better to softness than hardness. This person's aggressive attitude provoked her displeasure. With a flick of her sleeve, she released her aura. "I truly don't know. What are you going to do about it?"
As the aura of a Core Formation cultivator emerged, the five individuals' expressions changed drastically. One of them cried out, "Senior Brother, this..."
"It's actually the Core Formation stage..." The leader's face turned pale and then red. His attitude softened slightly, but his gaze grew even more resolute. "Since you are a Core Formation senior, why disguise yourself as a Foundation Establishment cultivator? Could it be that you have designs on our Tianyan Sect?"
"Hmph!" Mo Tiange said coldly, "I conceal my spiritual aura if I feel like it. Why should I explain myself to you juniors? You falsely accuse me of stealing something from you for no reason, and I'm supposed to explain everything clearly to you? Even if your Tianyan Sect is the largest sect on Beiji Island, that's not how things work!"
After her speech, the five hesitated. If it were a Foundation Establishment cultivator, they could just capture them and hand them over to the sect for disposal. But this female cultivator was at the Core Formation stage. They couldn't defeat her, yet letting her go wasn't an option either, since she was the most suspicious person they had encountered along the way.
This Tianyan Sect had grown accustomed to being dominant on Beiji Island and couldn't bear to lose face. They had come charging over aggressively to intercept someone, only to discover the other party was a Core Formation senior and then retreat? Wouldn't that be a joke? Moreover, those uncles and masters in the sect wouldn't consider their difficulties; they would only say they hadn't handled the task properly.
"Esteemed Senior." The leader finally softened his tone and said to Mo Tiange, "The truth is, our Yulin Pavilion has lost an important item. If we don't handle this task properly, being punished upon our return is a minor matter. The entire Beiji Island could face upheaval. This matter is of great importance. We ask that you come back with us to explain things clearly to our sect."
Mo Tiange lifted the corner of her mouth into something resembling a smile. She, a Core Formation cultivator, being inexplicably implicated in some incident and taken back by a few Foundation Establishment cultivators—wouldn't that make people laugh their heads off if word got out? Did people in Yunzhong handle matters this way? Or was it that the Tianyan Sect, being the most powerful force here, was simply this arrogant?
"Gentlemen, if your sect elders said a word, I might agree. But based solely on you few, for me to obediently follow you back—wouldn't that be ridiculous?"
"Esteemed Senior!" The one who looked youngest among the five shouted, "Although we are Foundation Establishment cultivators, we represent the Tianyan Sect! If you refuse to come back with us, we'll have no choice but to report to our sect elders. At that time, I'm afraid you won't look good!"
"Junior Brother Qiao!" As soon as this person finished speaking, the leader immediately shouted a reprimand. Unfortunately, the words were already out. He turned to look and saw that Mo Tiange's face had already frosted over.
"Fine! Then go back and report to your sect elders!" She raised her head and arrogantly glanced at the five before her. "I'll be waiting for your sect elders to come to my door and give me an explanation!"