Above Guifang City, amidst the swirling mists, several figures stood suspended in mid-air.
These individuals were all dressed as monks, with shaved heads bearing ordination scars, straw sandals on their feet, and staffs in their hands. The only difference lay in the color and style of their outer kasaya robes.
The one with the most exquisite kasaya and the most imposing aura was a kindly-looking old monk with white eyebrows and a white beard. This old monk sat cross-legged upon a lotus platform in the air, eyes closed, palms pressed together in prayer, a string of prayer beads hanging from his chest. He was surrounded by the other monks.
"Juexin, is this the place?" After a while, the old monk opened his mouth to ask. As he spoke, his eyes remained closed, his expression calm and unmoving.
A middle-aged monk standing to the side lowered his head and replied, "Yes, Master. Your disciple has ascertained that the person we seek is indeed here."
"Hmm." The old monk gave a slight nod. "Lead the way."
"Yes." The middle-aged monk responded respectfully, then looked up and addressed the others. "Junior Brothers, let us proceed."
Led by this middle-aged monk, the group of several figures vanished into a patch of dense mist, silently infiltrating Guifang City. Yet, not a single cultivator within Guifang City noticed, and even the city's protective formations remained completely undisturbed.
At this moment, if any high-level cultivator were present, they would have discovered that the kindly-looking old monk was actually a Late-Nascent Soul cultivator, and every one of his disciples was at the Core Formation stage.
* * *
Mo Tiange opened her eyes and looked at her own hands, unable to contain her joy.
With sufficient medicinal pills and three years of closed-door cultivation, she had finally successfully advanced to Late-stage Core Formation.
This speed couldn't be considered fast, but it wasn't slow either. Prior to this, her cultivation base had reached the required level, but her mental cultivation had not yet attained the state of natural, effortless progression. Over these three years, she had cultivated while carefully using various spirit pills to help stabilize her spiritual qi, calming her mind and spirit. Only in this way could she step by step smoothly advance to the mid-stage.
For traditional Daoist cultivators like them, insufficient mental cultivation made advancement much more difficult. Unfortunately, many Daoist cultivators were unaware of this. In this world, the scarcity of spiritual qi and the difficulty of cultivation had led many Daoist cultivators down the same path as demonic cultivators, pursuing only power while neglecting mental cultivation.
Savoring the feeling of abundant spiritual qi circulating throughout her body, Mo Tiange stretched her limbs and opened the restrictions on her cultivation chamber.
The moment she did, Feifei came bounding in.
"Ah, Master, you really did advance!"
Feifei's cheerful voice immediately made Mo Tiange suspect a scheme. She asked warily, "What are you up to?"
Feifei blinked. "Nothing, just saying hello." After a moment, it wagged its tail and added, "Master, twenty-nine years have passed, you know."
Mo Tiange understood its meaning. Twenty-nine years. It had been twenty-nine years since the day they discovered Nanjie Island had sunk. That meant she had been away from the Tianji Region for over forty years now. The time remaining was less than a century.
Although she and Daoist Fangzheng had both accepted the commission from the Loose Immortal Ziwei, given Daoist Fangzheng's cultivation level and lifespan, the possibility of him completing the task within two hundred years was minuscule. This matter still fell to her. Even if she failed to accomplish it, she absolutely had to return to the Ziwei Cave Abode in the Tianji Region. Otherwise, even if the Loose Immortal Ziwei suddenly felt merciful and didn't want her to die, it would be useless.
"Twenty-nine years..." Mo Tiange sighed. Time was pressing.
Having not tended to the Void Heaven Realm for three years, Mo Tiange spent a little time afterward, ordering the two stone puppet servants to tidy up the medicinal herb fields and repair the bamboo hut. As for her three spirit beasts, they didn't need her care at all. Little Huo had grown up here since it was young and was more familiar with the spirit herbs in the fields than she was. Feifei and Xiaofan, possessing intelligence, naturally required even less of her attention.
Afterward, she exited the Void Heaven Realm.
The moment she stepped out of her cultivation chamber, the door to Nie Wushang's cultivation chamber opened simultaneously.
"You really did advance successfully," Nie Wushang said, looking up from her cross-legged position on the stone bed with a smile.
Mo Tiange looked at her, equally surprised and delighted. "You advanced too?"
Nie Wushang was now at Late-stage Core Formation. The Origin Demonic Qi around her body had receded considerably, yet her aura was even more formidable.
Nie Wushang straightened her robes, got off the bed, and walked out of the cultivation chamber. The two of them casually took seats in the main hall.
"Thinking back, when we first met, I was at Late-stage Foundation Establishment and you were at Mid-stage. My cultivation was higher than yours to begin with, and I'm older. How could I possibly fall behind you?"
Hearing this, Mo Tiange was momentarily taken aback, then chuckled wryly. "You actually remember that?" In the world of immortal cultivation, it was quite common for younger cultivators to have higher cultivation than older ones. Few people judged cultivation based on age, unless they were exceptionally proud and refused to admit inferiority. She hadn't realized Nie Wushang was also so competitive.
"One always needs to find some motivation for oneself," Nie Wushang said. Then, her expression turned serious. "By the way, now that you've advanced to the late stage, what are your plans next? For me, it doesn't matter now. I could seclude myself here until I form my Nascent Soul without issue. But that's not an option for you, is it?"
This was precisely what worried Mo Tiange. She thought for a moment and sighed. "What else can I do? The turmoil in Yunzhong has mostly subsided. It should be safe to go out now. In that case, I might as well go look for Ling Yunhe. First, to collect the debt he owes, and second, to inquire about news from him."
Nie Wushang nodded. "That's a good idea." Then she smiled. "Have you found out for sure? Is Ling Yunhe still alive?"
"That..." Mo Tiange didn't know either. In Guifang City, the news one heard was a mix of truth and falsehood. Besides, the Dongtang Kingdom was somewhat far away. Even though the Jiuyan Sect was the number one sect in Yunzhong, demonic cultivators didn't have much interest in its sect leader. However, Ling Yunhe probably wasn't that unlucky, right?
"He is, after all, the sect leader of the Jiuyan Sect and has the favor of his elders. He shouldn't have been sacrificed, should he?"
"Probably not," Nie Wushang shrugged. She wasn't concerned about Ling Yunhe. Anyway, the debt he owed her wasn't of much use now. "When do you plan to leave?"
"Probably..." Just as she was about to answer, a sudden chill ran down her spine. She and Nie Wushang simultaneously looked toward the entrance, their expressions turning alert.
"Someone's here," Nie Wushang said in a low voice.
Mo Tiange gave a slight nod, stood up, fully activated the restrictions around their cave abode, and simultaneously spread out her divine sense.
"They're coming for us," she stated. Distinguishing this was easy. The cave abode they had chosen was quite remote. Although other cultivators lived in the vicinity, they had set up restrictions and did not accept transmissions from others. Those cultivators had wisely refrained from disturbing them.
But now, several auras were outside, heading directly for their cave abode. Among them was one aura with a particularly astonishing presence.
"A Nascent Soul cultivator..." Nie Wushang also sensed it, her expression turning peculiar. "Why would a Nascent Soul cultivator come?"
"And an extremely powerful one at that. He doesn't seem ordinary." Having spent years around Nascent Soul cultivators, their experience made it easy to distinguish between early-stage and late-stage Nascent Soul. This person's aura was definitely that of a Late-Nascent Soul cultivator. Moreover, his imposing presence was deliberately restrained, yet it was clearly directed at them.
If they tried to tell themselves they were being overly sensitive now, they wouldn't believe it themselves.
Sure enough, the group of several people finally stopped right in front of their cave abode.
"Juexin." The old monk on the lotus platform, who had remained motionless the entire time with his eyes closed, called out.
"Yes, Master." The middle-aged monk with the Dharma name Juexin responded respectfully. Without needing further instruction, he stepped forward.
Juexin stood before the stone door of the cave abode and spoke in a clear voice, "The two benefactors within the cave abode, we are monks from the Huayan Temple of White Floating Mountain. We humbly request an audience."
The monk's voice was not loud, but it was steady and resonant, like a deep bell, reaching the ears of the two inside the cave abode.
After a while, when there was still no response, the monk spoke again. "Two benefactors, we are monks from the Huayan Temple of White Floating Mountain. We humbly request an audience!" His tone remained unhurried, but it carried an added layer of authority.
A moment later, the stone door of the cave abode finally opened, revealing two women to the assembled monks.
These two women presented a stark contrast—one in black, one in white; one a Daoist, one a demonic cultivator.
Mo Tiange stood half a step ahead of Nie Wushang. Her gaze swept over the monks before her, finally settling on the Late-Nascent Soul old monk. She performed a Daoist salute. "Greetings, esteemed Buddhist senior. May I ask the purpose of your visit, honored masters?"
The Late-Nascent Soul old monk still had his eyes closed and did not reply. The monk Juexin, who had called out earlier, also remained silent. The gazes of all the monks fell upon a tall, young monk standing to the side, who had his head bowed and palms pressed together.
This tall, young monk looked up, fixed his gaze on Mo Tiange, took two steps forward, and stood beside Monk Juexin. Then, he bowed to Mo Tiange. "Benefactor, do you still remember this humble monk?"
Hearing this, Mo Tiange stared at the monk, her brow slightly furrowing.
This monk looked no different from the others—the same monk's robes and straw sandals, the same respectful and humble attitude. His cultivation was at Early-stage Core Formation, making him utterly unremarkable among this group of monks.
However, as Mo Tiange looked at him, she felt a sense of familiarity. The feeling wasn't strong, indicating that this person was definitely not someone who had left a deep impression on her. Perhaps they had only met once or twice, and it was quite some time ago.
Seeing she did not answer, the monk spoke again. "Forty years ago, this humble monk was only at Mid-stage Foundation Establishment. I once offended the benefactor in Tianxue City. Does the benefactor remember?"
Forty years ago, Tianxue City... Mo Tiange hadn't met many cultivators in Yunzhong, and even fewer Buddhist cultivators. Hearing his words, her eyes widened in realization. "So it's you!"
Seeing she had recognized him, the monk smiled, his attitude still peaceful. "Indeed. It has been many years. I trust the benefactor has been well?"
Mo Tiange took a deep breath and glanced at Nie Wushang, conveying with her eyes that these people were here for her. She had remembered who this person was. Forty years ago, two Foundation Establishment cultivators had tried to ambush and rob her in Tianxue City. One of them, due to his disrespectful words, had been killed by her. The other, whose character was somewhat better, had been spared by her. It was from them that she had obtained the Heaven-Net.
Thinking of the Heaven-Net, Mo Tiange understood the purpose of these people's visit.
The Heaven-Net in her possession must be the Buddhist sacred relic left behind by Great Master Huiyin.
She did not answer. Instead, she shifted her gaze to the Late-Nascent Soul old monk with closed eyes. This old monk wore a smile on his face, appearing kind and benevolent, yet he had not spoken a word.
"May I ask who you esteemed masters are?"
The middle-aged monk Juexin chanted a Buddhist invocation and said, "Benefactor, we are disciples of the Huayan Temple on White Floating Mountain. This is this humble monk's master, also the Venerable Puji of our temple. His Dharma name is Wuming. This humble monk's Dharma name is Juexin. These are all my junior brothers. This is Juewu." He specifically pointed to the young monk who had spoken to her earlier.
Mo Tiange gave a slight nod. Although the other party's intentions were likely hostile, their attitude was so polite that she could not afford to be discourteous. She returned the salute. "I come from the outer seas. My surname is Qin, given name Wei. This is my good friend, Tian Can. I presume the purpose of your visit, honored masters, has nothing to do with her?"