This time they met, Mo Tiange noticed that Nie Wushang seemed different from before.
Before, Nie Wushang, though bold and decisive in action, always gave Mo Tiange the impression of being filled with an air of weariness, seemingly uninterested in everything around her, as if even her own life was unimportant.
But this time, though she was also wandering aimlessly, she was full of enthusiasm and vitality.
Mo Tiange couldn't help but ask, "Fellow Daoist Nie, we parted ways a year ago. Did you perhaps encounter some fortuitous opportunity? Why do you seem like a completely different person this time we meet?"
"Oh?" Nie Wushang, hearing her words, asked with great interest, "How am I different?"
Mo Tiange tilted her head in thought, then said, "It seems you've started to enjoy the pleasure of being alive."
"..." Nie Wushang was taken aback, her smile fading as she gazed at Mo Tiange with a profound look. "For that, I must thank you, Fellow Daoist Mo."
Mo Tiange was puzzled. "Why thank me?" Apart from sheltering her for three days on Beiji Island, she hadn't done anything to help her. And during those three days, nothing particularly significant had happened that could have changed Nie Wushang's outlook.
Nie Wushang sighed softly, looking into the distance as she spoke slowly, "For so many years, I dreamed of escaping my master's control and living a free life. But after enduring countless hardships, fleeing from the Tianji Region to Yunzhong, I suddenly realized I didn't know what to do. For over a hundred years, everything I did was what my master ordered. Though I was unwilling in my heart, I cannot deny that it was my master who gave my life meaning."
Hearing this, Mo Tiange frowned. "What kind of talk is that? You are a person, not a tool. Why would you need him to give your life meaning?"
"Fellow Daoist Mo, you don't understand," Nie Wushang shook her head. "Your master gave you freedom, so you live for yourself. But I am not like that. Before I left my master, I could hardly be considered a person..."
"..."
Nie Wushang smiled and didn't explain further. Some things are difficult for those who haven't experienced them to understand. Or perhaps, her master was too successful—not only did he manipulate her life, but he also suppressed her true nature. So, even though she hated him, after leaving him, she felt lost, as if she had lost her reason for living.
Over a hundred years—for high-level cultivators, it wasn't an overly long time, but it was the entirety of her life.
"Fellow Daoist Mo," Nie Wushang suddenly asked, "why did you leave the Tianji Region and come to Yunzhong?"
"..." This question was somewhat difficult for Mo Tiange to answer. She came to Yunzhong both to see the wider world and to follow in Mo Yaoqing's footsteps. Which was more important? Even she herself couldn't say. Moreover, she hadn't planned to tell anyone about Mo Yaoqing.
Seeing her troubled expression, Nie Wushang waved her hand. "You don't need to answer in detail. I know some things aren't convenient to tell outsiders. I'm just curious. In the Tianji Region, you were a disciple of a prestigious sect, your cultivation progressed smoothly, you had a master who cherished his disciples like his own life, and you had just formed a Dao partnership with your Senior Brother. You were at the peak of success and satisfaction. Why did you leave the Tianji Region and come to Yunzhong?"
She had wondered about this question ever since their reunion on Beiji Island, but at that time, their relationship was still ambiguous, bordering on enmity, so it wasn't appropriate to ask. Now, asking it would resolve a year's worth of confusion.
Hearing this question, Mo Tiange just looked at her and smiled. "In Fellow Daoist Nie's eyes, what kind of person am I? A disciple of a prestigious sect, with smooth cultivation, a master, and a Dao partner—so I should stay in the Tianji Region enjoying the envious gazes of others? Waiting for others to do everything for me?"
"..." Nie Wushang was somewhat at a loss for words. Her intuition told her Mo Tiange wasn't like that, but in the Tianji Region, weren't all those female cultivators from privileged backgrounds like that? They didn't need to worry about their own cultivation paths; their elders and husbands paved the way for them...
Without needing Nie Wushang to answer, Mo Tiange knew what she was thinking. She said, "If I only knew how to enjoy the shelter of my master and Senior Brother, then even if I formed a Nascent Soul, I would never achieve the Great Dao in the end."
Nie Wushang suddenly turned to look at her, her gaze unwavering. "Achieve the Great Dao?"
"Of course." Her surprised expression puzzled Mo Tiange. "Didn't Fellow Daoist Nie, upon embarking on the immortal path, ever think of one day achieving the Great Dao and ascending to become an Immortal?"
"..." Nie Wushang took a deep breath and bowed solemnly to her. "Only now do I realize I underestimated you, Fellow Daoist Mo."
Achieving the Great Dao, ascending to become an Immortal—how many cultivators today still think of such things? True, those who cultivate immortality embark on this path for longevity. But since ancient times, the world has changed drastically over hundreds of thousands of years. No one has ascended to become an Immortal, and even those who reached the Deity Transformation stage are few and far between. Most cultivators have given up on the dream of becoming an Immortal, turned instead to pursue power and lifespan. Because of this, the old dichotomy between Immortal and Demonic paths no longer exists, because whether one cultivates the Immortal or Demonic path, the ultimate goal is no longer fundamentally different.
Whether this should be called the decline of cultivators or the helplessness of the elusive Immortal path is hard to say.
But in this day and age, those who can still persist in Immortal Dao are undoubtedly people of firm will, worthy of admiration.
Seeing Nie Wushang's grave expression, Mo Tiange chuckled. "I am merely a Core Formation cultivator now. The so-called Great Dao is still far beyond reach, and my Dao Heart is just words for now. Why must Fellow Daoist Nie be so serious?"
Nie Wushang's face remained unsmiling. She said, "If our meeting on Beiji Island only made me feel there was still some pleasure in being alive, then today, your words have shown me a whole new world. From now on, wherever Nie Wushang goes, she will no longer be shackled by the past."
Mo Tiange raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Fellow Daoist Nie, you..."
Nie Wushang gazed at the distant peaks gathered like a congregation, the cloud-waves raging like anger, and felt the vastness of heaven and earth. Why should she abandon a free future for past darkness? Achieving the Great Dao, cultivating to become an Immortal—for over a hundred years, she had never thought of it, nor dared to. But now it was different. She was free of restraints, able to exist freely between heaven and earth. Since that was the case, why couldn't she pursue the true meaning of the Dao? Cast off the Origin Demonic Qi and become a true Immortal cultivator.
Crossing the Jialing Mountains and entering the northern Beilin Kingdom, the vast green mountains here were tinged with a faint black aura—this was demonic qi. North of the Jialing Mountains was Xingluo City, one of the Demonic Domains of the Beilin Kingdom.
The Beilin Kingdom was the territory of Yunzhong's Demonic Cultivators. They had Three Great Demon Lords, each occupying one of the three major Demonic Domains, plus seven smaller Demonic Domains, somewhat smaller in scale but still gathering large numbers of Demonic Cultivators. Xingluo City was one of the seven smaller Demonic Domains.
Nie Wushang said, "The city lord of this Xingluo City is an early-stage Nascent Soul Demonic Cultivator. Among the Demonic Domains of the Beilin Kingdom, his strength is neither great nor small, just passable as a figure of some note."
Mo Tiange nodded in understanding. She noticed something: cultivators in Yunzhong, whether Immortal or Demonic, were less strict about titles. For example, in the Tianji Region, sects like the Xuanqing Sect and the Zhengfa Sect followed the tradition of calling Core Formation cultivators 'Perfected Ones' and Nascent Soul cultivators 'Dao Lords,' with titles symbolizing status and cultivation level. But in Yunzhong, it wasn't like that. Among Daoist sects, many Nascent Soul cultivators were called 'Perfected Ones,' purely a matter of personal preference. Among Demonic Cultivators, many called themselves 'Demon Lords,' but only the Three Great Demon Lords were truly renowned throughout Yunzhong.
Thinking of this, Mo Tiange smiled slightly. She recalled Demon Lord Xuanyue, whom she had met once in Tianxue City. Though he called himself a Demon Lord, he was merely a Core Formation cultivator.
Seeing her expression, Nie Wushang asked curiously, "What's so funny?"
Mo Tiange asked, "Do you still remember that Fellow Daoist Jing?"
Nie Wushang was startled, her expression immediately becoming somewhat uncomfortable. "Fellow Daoist Mo, about that matter... he didn't end up doing anything to you, did he?"
"Ah?" Mo Tiange was taken aback, then realized the misunderstanding and laughed. "No, that's not what I meant. I was going to say I met someone in Yunzhong who reminded me of him."
"Oh?"
Mo Tiange told her about meeting Demon Lord Xuanyue, concluding, "When I saw that Demon Lord Xuanyue, I thought of him."
Nie Wushang listened and also smiled. "Actually, that Fellow Daoist Jing, though somewhat improper, was quite reliable. Back then, when he learned of my master's intentions, he resisted fiercely. If my master hadn't kept him for his usefulness, he would have almost killed him."
This, Mo Tiange didn't know. She was surprised. "There was such a thing?"
"Yes, you had already lost consciousness by then," Nie Wushang said. "He said Qin Shoujing was one of the few people he could call a friend. Though he was flirtatious, he didn't want to betray a friend. Moreover, matters between men and women should be based on mutual affection and bring joy and happiness. How could they be forced, becoming dirty, illicit affairs?"
After a pause, Nie Wushang sighed. "I originally didn't have a good impression of him, but after this incident, I found him much more likable than those hypocrites."
"..."
Seeing Mo Tiange lost in thought, silent, Nie Wushang raised an eyebrow and asked, "Fellow Daoist Mo, what are you thinking?"
Mo Tiange sighed and said, "If that's really the case, then Senior Brother Shoujing and I have wronged him."
"Ah? Did he perish on Tianmo Mountain?"
Mo Tiange shook her head. "No, he also escaped the disaster on Tianmo Mountain. But afterward, he fell out with a disciple of Sword Venerable Fuling of the Ancient Sword Sect. If I remember correctly, one of Sword Venerable Fuling's disciples is the current sect leader of the Ancient Sword Sect. By this action, he offended the ruling faction of the Ancient Sword Sect and cannot return to his sect."
Mo Tiange then told Nie Wushang everything about meeting Jing Xingzhi again that day. Jing Xingzhi was injured at the time and couldn't return to the Ancient Sword Sect. She didn't know how he was now.
After listening, Nie Wushang said, "Fellow Daoist Mo, what does this have to do with you? Even without this incident, was he guaranteed to gain some opportunity on Tianmo Mountain? He might not have escaped the disaster on Tianmo Mountain and perished directly. Even if he did obtain some rare treasure from Tianmo Mountain, he already had grievances with Sword Venerable Fuling's faction. A falling out was inevitable sooner or later. Besides, what kind of strong-willed person is he? He was never happy in the Ancient Sword Sect. He probably wanted to leave long ago. Why worry about him?"
Mo Tiange was stunned, speechless for a long moment.
Seeing this, Nie Wushang asked, "Did I say something wrong?"
Mo Tiange sighed and nodded. "No, everything you said is right. I was mistaken. That Fellow Daoist Jing is not someone who needs sympathy."
Actually, there was another point Mo Tiange didn't mention. She realized she had become softer-hearted than before, actually worrying about others. Could it be that because she had gained so much, her emotions had also become richer? Was this a good thing or a bad thing?