The upheaval caused by the Sacred Object of the Demonic Path exceeded even Mo Tiange's imagination.
After leaving the Ling family, she did not immediately set off for the Guixu Sea to find Ling Yunhe, but instead temporarily settled in Tianxue City. During this time, she saw many Core Formation cultivators passing through Tianxue City, hurrying southward.
Among these cultivators, some traveled in groups, while others were alone, likely a mix of sect disciples and rogue cultivators. It seemed this Sacred Object of the Demonic Path held immense weight in the hearts of Yunzhong's cultivators.
Realizing this, Mo Tiange felt compelled to gather some information. She found it puzzling; no matter how powerful this Sacred Object of the Demonic Path was, it was still just a Magical Treasure. Yunzhong was not lacking in cultivators with great Supernatural Abilities, so why were they all flocking to this one treasure?
It wasn't until she visited a tea house in Tianxue City that she understood the reason.
Such a major event was beyond the reach of Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators, but that didn't stop them from discussing it with great enthusiasm. From their conversations, Mo Tiange learned that some ancient legends circulated in Yunzhong.
A hundred thousand years ago was the most prosperous period for Yunzhong's cultivation world. Both the righteous and demonic paths were teeming with talent and flourishing. During that era, several legendary figures emerged among the practitioners of the various paths. The first was Fuyaozi, the second was Demon Lord Tianyao, the third was the founding ancestor of the Jiuyan Sect, Guizhen Daosheng, the fourth was Confucian Sage Zhou Fuzi, and the fifth was the Buddhist master, Master Huiyin.
These five figures, whose ages differed by no more than a thousand years, were contemporaries. Because their Supernatural Abilities far surpassed others of their generation, they were called the Five Sages by Yunzhong's cultivators.
Among the Five Sages, Fuyaozi was the most unique. He had no sect or school, yet his Supernatural Abilities were astonishing. To this day, he is still called the greatest figure in Yunzhong's history by Daoist cultivators. The other four were representatives of the demonic, Daoist, Confucian, and Buddhist schools, each with disciples carrying on their legacy.
Furthermore, there were rumors in Yunzhong about the Five Sages. It was said that all five eventually advanced to the God Transformation stage and departed this world. When they left, each left behind a treasure in the mortal realm. These were the five Sacred Relics passed down in Yunzhong.
Among these five Sacred Relics, Demon Lord Tianyao's was naturally the Heavenly Demon Tower. Another was Master Huiyin's Heaven-Net. As for the other three, the world only knew treasures existed, but not their names. However, aside from Fuyaozi, Guizhen Daosheng, Zhou Fuzi, and Master Huiyin all had disciples who passed down their legacy, so it was eighty percent likely the treasures were in the hands of their successors.
As for Demon Lord Tianyao, after his departure, the Ten Great Demon Lords were suppressed by Fuyaozi alone, and the Heavenly Demon Tower ultimately vanished. It was also because of this that over the many years since, although the demonic path was not lacking in Nascent Soul cultivators with great Supernatural Abilities, they were always suppressed by the other paths.
Mo Tiange left the tea house and sat in the Void Heaven Realm, silently pondering.
Heaven-Net, Heaven-Net... why did that sound so familiar?
After thinking for a while, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck her mind.
Ten years ago, when she first arrived in Tianxue City, she was waylaid by two Foundation Establishment cultivators. At the time, she casually took their Magical Treasure into her possession. Wasn't that treasure exactly what they called the Heaven-Net?
Thinking of this, Mo Tiange reached into her Qiankun Bag, fumbled around for a while, and pulled out a golden net.
This net, woven from an unknown material, was entirely golden, light and thin as if it were nothing, imbued with a strange spiritual power.
After examining it for a while, Mo Tiange couldn't see anything unusual. Treasures always had an aura about them. For example, the Fusheng Sword she had obtained, though corroded by demonic Qi and covered in rust, still possessed an awe-inspiring presence. But this golden net before her eyes showed no such imposing aura. If there was anything unusual about it, it was that the object looked extremely exquisite, and the spiritual power on it remained unfathomable to her current cultivation level.
Carefully recalling the encounter from ten years ago, one of the two men had died by her palm. The other, whom she had found somewhat agreeable, she had let go. That person had admitted they were indeed Buddhist cultivators. But the problem was, they were merely two Foundation Establishment cultivators. How could they possibly possess a Buddhist Sacred Relic? A single Sacred Object of the Demonic Path had thrown the entire Yunzhong into turmoil. A Buddhist Sacred Relic should be safely preserved in the hands of a great Buddhist cultivator.
Could it be that this object was a replica of the true Heaven-Net? That wasn't impossible. Many famous spirit-connected Magical Treasures had replicas in existence. For example, the square seal in her own hand was actually made by Dao Lord Jinghe in imitation of Dao Lord Zhenyang's life-bound Magical Treasure. Thus, although it wasn't a top-tier Magical Treasure, it was still extremely sharp.
After pondering for a while without reaching a conclusion, Mo Tiange shook her head and stuffed the golden net back into her Qiankun Bag.
She was not a cultivator from Yunzhong. Even if this matter drove the entire Yunzhong's cultivators into a frenzy, she felt not a shred of excitement. With so many high-level cultivators involved, including many late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators with great Supernatural Abilities, going there would merely be to watch the spectacle. Besides, she had no covetous designs on the Sacred Object of the Demonic Path.
Thus, she stayed in Tianxue City for another month or so. During this time, rumors spread like wildfire within Tianxue City. The tea houses were flooded with unverified gossip.
Stories like cultivators from various paths clashing fiercely in the Guixu Sea, with heavy casualties; spatial rifts discovered in the Guixu Sea; the Heavenly Demon Tower already falling into someone's hands... The information was chaotic and contradictory.
Mo Tiange found it all bewildering. She simply found another opportunity to visit Xiaoshun.
Xiaoshun was very enthusiastic about her visit and answered her questions without reservation.
From Xiaoshun, Mo Tiange heard another version of the legend.
"Senior, the legend of the Five Sages has been circulating in Yunzhong for a long time, but tens of thousands of years have passed. There are many errors and distortions. Even disciples like us, from the lineages of the Five Sages, can't clearly distinguish truth from falsehood anymore."
Hearing Xiaoshun speak like this, Mo Tiange said, "So, what I heard earlier must all be false?"
Xiaoshun hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "Not entirely false. The existence of the Five Sages themselves and the fact that they left behind five Sacred Relics is likely true. But some of the other details are false. For example, it can only be confirmed that Demon Lord Tianyao and Fuyaozi achieved God Transformation. The others, including our Jiuyan Sect's Guizhen Daosheng, only have legends about them reaching God Transformation. Whether they actually did or not, we descendants don't know."
Mo Tiange was surprised. "Why is that? Guizhen Daosheng is your sect's founding ancestor. Surely there are records within the sect?"
Xiaoshun shook his head. "It's been too long. How could such detailed records remain? Besides, I am ultimately just an ordinary disciple. Although I have earned Second Uncle's favor and know a bit more than others, some matters are simply not for disciples of my level to know."
Mo Tiange found this reasonable and nodded. Some secrets were known only to a select few. Others, no matter how close their relationship, couldn't learn about them if their rank wasn't high enough.
"However, one thing is certain: the Five Sages did indeed each pass down a set of Magical Treasures with astonishing Supernatural Abilities," Xiaoshun added. Then he hesitated and said, "Senior, what I'm about to say next, I'm not sure if it's true or false. It's just hearsay I've heard within the sect. If it's wrong, please don't blame me."
Hearing this, Mo Tiange smiled. "How can we guarantee there are no errors or omissions about events from a hundred thousand years ago? Don't worry. I'm the one asking you for information. How could I blame you?"
Xiaoshun smiled at her words, somewhat embarrassed as he scratched his head. Although these matters couldn't be considered sect secrets, his willingness to speak was also because this Senior Qin had a gentle temperament and was very pleasant to interact with.
"Senior must be wondering why the Five Sages all passed down Magical Treasures together?" Xiaoshun said.
Mo Tiange nodded. "That's exactly what puzzles me." Leaving Magical Treasures for descendants was perfectly normal. But why did the rumors emphasize 'a Magical Treasure of immense power' and 'called a Sacred Relic'? Grouping the five treasures together as Sacred Relics was indeed somewhat unusual.
Xiaoshun said, "Regarding this matter, I've heard another explanation within the sect..."
Then, Xiaoshun began to elaborate slowly.
It was said that a hundred thousand years ago, after a tsunami in the Guixu Sea, a spatial rift suddenly appeared. Through this rift, one could enter a wondrous space. This space, of unknown origin, was filled with an aura of great antiquity and was extremely marvelous.
The appearance of such a space naturally attracted the attention of cultivators. Almost the entire Yunzhong cultivation world became involved. After much contention, the ones who ultimately entered this space were these five supreme cultivators—the Five Sages.
What exactly the Five Sages obtained within that space, no one knew. After they returned, they remained deeply secretive about this experience. Not even their closest disciples knew anything.
Later, the Five Sages each departed from the world. Among Yunzhong's cultivators, it was quietly rumored that they had obtained Primordial Spirit Treasures within, allowing them to break through to God Transformation in one go—of course, this was just a rumor. What the Five Sages obtained in that wondrous place was all speculation.
After the Five Sages left, no one could ever find that space again. Some said the spatial rift was inherently unstable and had collapsed on its own after the Five Sages emerged. Others said the Five Sages had hidden it.
"Which answer do you think it is, Senior?" At this point, Xiaoshun looked at Mo Tiange with a meaningful smile.
Seeing his expression, Mo Tiange smiled slightly and said, "Naturally, the second one." Otherwise, why bring up the five Sacred Relics?
Xiaoshun nodded. "Correct. The version circulating within our sect is the second answer. The Five Sages jointly sealed off that wondrous space. Unless one knows the method to open it, no one can enter."
At this point, he looked at Mo Tiange. "Senior must have guessed it, right? The five Magical Treasures they left behind are said to be the keys to that mysterious space."
"So that's how it is..." This could explain why the Five Sages specifically passed down five Sacred Relics. In fact, their power was secondary. What was important was that these five Sacred Relics could open that wondrous space.
"However," Xiaoshun emphasized, "this matter is just a rumor. The truth of what actually happened is long lost. Even if someone knew, there's no way to verify it because, aside from the Heavenly Demon Tower and the Heaven-Net, few know what the other three Sacred Relics are."
"Oh? You don't even know what your Jiuyan Sect's founding ancestor passed down?"
"No, we don't," Xiaoshun shook his head decisively. "That's why I can't say for sure whether this rumor is true or false, Senior. Just treat it as idle talk and listen casually."
Mo Tiange nodded to show she understood, then said, "So, the reason so many cultivators in Yunzhong are rushing for the Heavenly Demon Tower isn't just because they fear demonic cultivators obtaining it and gaining immense power, but also because of this rumor?"
"Probably," Xiaoshun didn't commit fully. "What rumors other sects have, I don't know."
Mo Tiange thought for a moment, then stood up with a smile. "I understand. Thank you for telling me all this. Whether it's true or false, I'll just treat it as an interesting story to hear."