After her conversation with Tan Dongchen, Mo Tiange quickly gained a clear understanding of the situation.
Qing Province was a large city only a few hundred li away from Tianxue City. The Tan Family of Qing Province, like the Ling Family of Tianxue City, was the foremost cultivation family in the area, with over half of Qing Province's industries belonging to them.
However, unlike the Ling Family, although the Tan Family had intricate connections with the Jiuyan Sect, they were not nominally subordinate to it. In fact, the Tan Family did not belong to any sect. Within their family, the highest-ranking member was a Nascent Soul cultivator, along with several Core Formation cultivators and countless Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining disciples.
Such a large cultivation family was no less powerful than an ordinary mid-sized sect and often held significant sway within major sects. Yet, the Tan Family was not a member of any major sect. They used their family as a foundation, absorbing outer sect disciples, and over thousands of years, they had grown increasingly powerful in Qing Province, their influence no different from that of a sect. One could say they were essentially a sect, just called a family.
The reason the Tan Family could establish a firm foothold in Qing Province had a rather intriguing relationship with the Jiuyan Sect. Tan Dongchen said that due to their proximity, the Tan Family had marital ties with many families within the Jiuyan Sect, including the Ling Family. Having been in the Xuanqing Sect for a long time, Mo Tiange knew that many families within such major sects used marriage alliances to stabilize relationships. She understood immediately that the Tan Family also used this method to form an alliance of interests with the Jiuyan Sect, which was why they could develop such a large family right next to the sect.
After learning this, Mo Tiange felt great admiration for the successive heads of the Tan Family.
The Jiuyan Sect's position in Yunzhong was even more dominant than the Tiandao Sect's in the Tianji Region. The Tiandao Sect claimed to be the number one sect in Tianji, but the Xuanqing Sect and the Ancient Sword Sect among the Seven Great Sects were not far behind. In Yunzhong, however, the Jiuyan Sect was not only the foremost sect for Daoist cultivators but also the foremost for all practitioners. Since the decline of the Danxia Sect, no sect in Dongtang Country had grown powerful enough to catch up to the Jiuyan Sect, and they could only watch helplessly as the Jiuyan Sect grew increasingly dominant. Over thousands of years, the present-day Jiuyan Sect could be said to be a giant crocodile in Yunzhong, with no one daring to block its path.
Right beside the Jiuyan Sect's domain, the Tan Family had not only established a firm foothold but had even grown and prospered. Such skill in navigating complex relationships was truly remarkable. Mo Tiange reflected that among the people she knew, even Luo Fengxue, who was always adept at saying the right thing to the right person, did not possess this level of ability.
Although they called it exchanging cultivation insights, given the gap in their cultivation levels, it was mostly Mo Tiange giving pointers to Tan Dongchen. Tan Dongchen knew he was getting the better end of the deal and had nothing to complain about, so he told Mo Tiange almost everything about the situation in Yunzhong, especially regarding the Jiuyan Sect.
The Jiuyan Sect's management style differed from that of the major sects in Tianji. Although they also granted rights and status based on cultivation level, positions of power like the Sect Leader and the duty elders had to be obtained through elections. Especially the Sect Leader position—any Core Formation cultivator in the sect could run for it as long as they were nominated by two Grand Elders. The election process was completely transparent; even ordinary disciples could understand it clearly.
However, Mo Tiange knew this was only the surface. After all, who was qualified to run was ultimately decided by those Nascent Soul Grand Elders, and who ultimately won was also decided by them. Therefore, this Sect Leader position could only be considered partially transparent. In the end, who became Sect Leader was both a contest among the candidates and a struggle among the factions represented by the various Grand Elders.
Mentioning this, Tan Dongchen mysteriously shared some gossip with her.
It turned out that this Jiuyan Sect's Sect Leader Grand Selection had seen many strange occurrences. For example, one of the original candidates, a Core Formation cultivator from the Yin Family, went out searching for treasures for the selection and mysteriously disappeared. Meanwhile, the candidate from the Ling Family encountered a high-rank sea beast in the Guixu Sea and returned severely injured, forcing him to withdraw from this selection, with another cultivator taking his place.
Hearing this, Mo Tiange's eyes lit up, and she asked, "Could there be some hidden secret behind this?"
Tan Dongchen glanced around and said mysteriously, "Who knows what really happened? But for all these accidents to coincide so conveniently... surely the world isn't that coincidental, right?"
The two shared a knowing smile.
Mo Tiange asked further, "The Yin Family matter is one thing, but the Ling Family candidate encountering a sea beast in the Guixu Sea—that can't be fake, can it?"
"That's hard to say," Tan Dongchen replied. "I heard from my family before that the Ling Family has been embroiled in intense internal strife these past few decades. The original Sect Leader candidate belonged to the Ling Family's main lineage, while the current candidate comes from a branch lineage that has long been suppressed by that main line..."
Tan Dongchen recounted the story in detail. Originally, although the Ling Family was large and populous, the branch lineages had always been lacking in talent, and family affairs had always been decided by the main lineage. However, over a hundred years ago, a cultivator emerged from the Ling Family who achieved Foundation Establishment in his twenties and formed his Core in his eighties, instantly becoming the most promising junior in the family. At the same time, several other descendants from different branches also produced talents who formed Golden Cores. With talents frequently appearing over a century, it should have been a glorious time for the Ling Family. Yet, for some reason, these rising stars of the Ling Family became embroiled in endless power struggles for their respective interests, dragging the family into an unending conflict.
By this point, Mo Tiange had learned from Tan Dongchen the name of that Ling Family genius. It was indeed Ling Yunhe.
Before this Sect Leader Selection, outsiders had speculated that Ling Yunhe would be the candidate. Unexpectedly, he had been injured earlier, causing his cultivation to drop significantly, so the Ling Family unquestionably had a descendant from the main lineage run instead. Who could have predicted the later incident in the Guixu Sea, forcing that Ling Family cultivator to withdraw from the selection? Just when everyone thought the Ling Family would have to give up this time, Ling Yunhe surprisingly recovered his cultivation not long after and became the candidate again.
This series of dramatic twists and turns provided much fodder for outsiders' gossip. What hidden circumstances lay behind it, outsiders did not know, but that didn't stop them from enthusiastically speculating. Mo Tiange listened to several versions relayed by Tan Dongchen and could barely contain her laughter.
Among them were stories that Ling Yunhe, suppressed by the main lineage and unwilling to withdraw from the selection, had plotted against his clan brother. Others said that clan brother had plotted against Ling Yunhe, but man's schemes are no match for heaven's will. The funniest one, however, claimed that the clan brother was very fond of this younger cousin, but Ling Yunhe, being proud and aloof, paid him no heed. The clan brother's love turned to hate, and he tried to suppress Ling Yunhe at every turn, going to great lengths to prevent him from becoming Sect Leader. Unfortunately, he miscalculated and ultimately became the loser.
Mo Tiange first listened in stunned silence, then struggled to hold back her laughter until her stomach hurt. The so-called immortals of the cultivation world were no different from ordinary mortals. There were plenty of busybodies who loved to gossip. At the very least, whoever came up with this particular "inside story" was certainly no ordinary person.
In the end, Mo Tiange satisfactorily concluded her exchange with Tan Dongchen. Tan Dongchen gained many pointers on cultivation and heard many fresh stories about the outer seas from her, while she learned much about the cultivation sects of Yunzhong from him. Both were pleased.
Content, Mo Tiange bid farewell to Tan Dongchen. Just as she was about to leave the tea house, she suddenly felt a chill down her back, sensing a powerful Divine Sense settling upon her.
She narrowed her eyes. Although this Divine Sense was powerful, it did not completely suppress her, so it wasn't from a Nascent Soul cultivator. But if it was from a Core Formation cultivator, it was far too strong. One must know that she had cultivated the Soul Refining Art and was now at the mid-stage of Core Formation. An ordinary late-stage Core Formation cultivator's Divine Sense might not even be stronger than hers, yet this Divine Sense was undoubtedly much more powerful.
Friend or foe? Her mind raced. If it was a foe, there was no aggressive intent. But if it was a friend, the sense of brazen probing was far too obvious.
As she thought this, a voice sounded in her ear: "This young lady, clearly a Core Formation cultivator, why conceal your cultivation?"
It was a somewhat effeminate male voice, carrying a gloomy chill. Though the speaker was not nearby, the words seemed to be spoken right beside her ear.
Mo Tiange paused. A flash of light appeared in her hand as the Heaven-Earth Fan materialized instantly. Her gaze turned sharp as she looked toward the private room on the right.
With her movement, the previously restrained hostility within that Divine Sense immediately flared up. Mo Tiange instantly felt a surge of murderous intent rushing toward her, seemingly trying to suppress her Divine Sense.
In that instant, Mo Tiange's gaze swept around. The Heaven-Earth Fan opened and closed, tapping against the back of her hand. An invisible barrier appeared around her, protecting her securely.
"Oh?" The male voice expressed surprise, then carried a hint of amusement. "Interesting. Truly interesting."
Mo Tiange also smiled, tapping the Heaven-Earth Fan against her hand as she looked toward the private room. "Fellow Daoist, relying on a powerful Divine Sense to bully others doesn't seem proper, does it?"
With this sudden change, the tea house attendants looked at her in astonishment, but none dared approach. Only now did they realize this seemingly young woman was actually a Core Formation cultivator.
"Bully? Haha!" With the laughter, the door to the private room opened, and a man in black robes appeared in the doorway.
He wore a black cloak with golden-thread embroidery along the edges, extremely ornate. His appearance was young, his face as fair as the autumn moon, and he was quite handsome. However, no matter how one looked, this handsome youth's pale face carried a strange, eerie aura, and the energy around him was thick with demonic presence.
Late-stage Core Formation! Mo Tiange's expression turned grave as she looked at this person, cautiously tightening her grip on the Heaven-Earth Fan. This person was definitely not a Daoist cultivator. By the looks of it, he should be a demonic or a devilish cultivator.
Seeing her movement, the man smiled slightly. "Young lady, you are already at the mid-stage of Core Formation, and your Divine Sense is so powerful. How can you call this bullying? This Lord is not even certain he can defeat you."
Mo Tiange snorted coldly. "If it's not bullying, then what is the meaning of you, a stranger, suppressing me with your Divine Sense?"
The man blinked, his face showing a sudden realization. He then bowed and clasped his hands. "In that case, this Lord was indeed at fault. Let me offer my apologies. Ah, allow me to formally introduce myself. This Lord is called Xuan Yue, known as Demon Lord Xuan Yue. May I ask the young lady's esteemed name?"