Among Venerable Wuming's disciples, Juexin was clearly the most senior in the sect's hierarchy, having been the one to speak on behalf of Venerable Wuming until now.
Hearing Mo Tiange's words, Juexin said, "So it is Fellow Cultivator Qin. Indeed, we have come to find you. Judging from your words, you likely know why we are here."
Mo Tiange replied indifferently, "I did not know originally, but upon seeing your junior brother, I can roughly guess."
Juexin pressed his palms together and bowed slightly. "Since that is the case, may we ask if Fellow Cultivator Qin is willing to return the original item?"
Mo Tiange did not answer immediately. She first looked at Juexin, then at the bowing Juewu beside him, and finally at Venerable Wuming, who remained smiling with his eyes closed.
Venerable Puji was a respectful title within the Buddhist tradition, bestowed only upon Nascent Soul cultivators of extraordinary strength; ordinary Nascent Soul Buddhist cultivators were merely called 'Venerable.' It seemed this Venerable Wuming held an exceptional position within Huayan Temple. However, she was curious—this late-Nascent Soul Buddhist cultivator's Dharma name was Wuming, and he kept his eyes closed. Could he truly be blind?
Surveying the situation before her, Mo Tiange weighed her options and spoke, "Venerable Wuming, esteemed masters, to be frank, if not for Master Juewu's arrival, I would have long forgotten this matter. Only now, upon seeing Master Juewu, do I realize the unusual nature of that incident years ago."
Seeing Juexin about to speak, she raised her hand to continue. "I have no interest in the internal affairs of others' sects. However, regarding the rights and wrongs of that incident, I believe Master Juewu has already explained them to you, Senior, and the other masters. Given that, shouldn't you provide some explanation for coming to demand the item back?"
Her words were neither subservient nor arrogant. She did not cower before Venerable Wuming's imposing presence, nor did she resign herself to misfortune because they outnumbered her. For a moment, the monks were left speechless.
Juexin likely also found it difficult to respond and turned to look at his master behind him.
Venerable Wuming remained with his eyes closed, a smile on his face. This left Juexin uncertain. He turned back and hesitated, "Fellow Cultivator Qin, this matter..."
"Juexin." Venerable Wuming, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. "Let this master handle it."
Juexin quickly turned and bowed respectfully. "Yes, Master." He then stepped aside.
"Fellow Cultivator Qin." Venerable Wuming, his eyes still closed, spoke in an unhurried tone. "That incident years ago involves our temple's internal affairs and is inconvenient to explain to you. I must ask for your understanding on this matter."
Mo Tiange was quite surprised that Venerable Wuming, a late-Nascent Soul cultivator, would be so polite to a mere Core Formation cultivator. Though she did not understand much about Buddhism, having been in Yunzhong for some time, she knew Buddhist rules differed greatly from those of the Daoist path. Buddhist cultivators adhered to strict precepts. While seniority in cultivation was still respected, matters were judged based on reason and right versus wrong. It was precisely because of this that she dared to speak these words before them. Still, she hadn't expected a late-Nascent Soul cultivator like Venerable Wuming to maintain such a courteous attitude, which made her feel somewhat embarrassed.
"Senior," Mo Tiange bowed. "I have no intention of prying into your temple's affairs. However, since you have come to my cave abode with such a formidable presence to demand a Magical Treasure back, some explanation is warranted."
"I understand your meaning, Fellow Cultivator." Venerable Wuming smiled, his expression composed. "Logically speaking, it was our Huayan Temple disciples who offended you first that day. You were not at fault. However, you killed one of our disciples and took our temple's Magical Treasure. Let us consider the matter settled, how about?"
Hearing this, Mo Tiange frowned slightly. Just moments ago, she had thought this Venerable Wuming was amiable, without the arrogance typical of a late-Nascent Soul cultivator. But these words carried a rather intriguing implication.
That day, it was the two Huayan Temple disciples who had schemed against her first. Even if she had killed them both, it would not have been wrong. Yet she had not pursued them to the end. Not only had she left Juewu a way out, but she also hadn't taken his Qiankun Bag, merely confiscating the Magical Treasure used against her. That was showing mercy.
Given that, these people coming to demand the treasure back should have been apologizing to her. Yet this old monk said they had offended her, and she had killed and taken treasure, so they were even. This seemed somewhat like twisting right and wrong.
Mo Tiange thought to herself, a late-Nascent Soul cultivator was still a late-Nascent Soul cultivator. No matter how amiable, they were unwilling to lose face before a junior. However, this only stirred her temper, making her want to argue the point with this Venerable Wuming.
Having thought this, Mo Tiange revealed a smile. "Senior, what you say has some logic."
Seeing her agreement, Venerable Wuming continued, "Since Fellow Cultivator has no objections, may we have our temple's Magical Treasure returned?"
"Heh." Mo Tiange chuckled, looking at Venerable Wuming before her as she spoke unhurriedly, "Senior, you just said that your temple's two disciples offended me first, and that I killed one and took the Magical Treasure, which was not wrong. Is that correct?"
Venerable Wuming nodded. "It is."
"In that case, between me and your temple now, there is no issue of who owes whom, correct?"
Venerable Wuming paused before replying, "Correct."
Mo Tiange then smiled. "If so, Senior, asking me to directly hand over the Magical Treasure... isn't that somewhat using your position to pressure me?"
After these words, all the monks were taken aback. Even Venerable Wuming did not reply.
After a moment of silence, someone among the monks could no longer restrain himself and called out, "Fellow Cultivator, the Heaven-Net is our temple's important treasure. My master is asking you politely, yet you actually..."
"Juehui!" Juexin shouted. "The master is here. Do not be rude!"
The monk glared unwillingly at Mo Tiange before lowering his head in acceptance. "Yes, Senior Brother."
After another moment, Venerable Wuming finally spoke. "Fellow Cultivator, this old monk will speak frankly. That Magical Treasure remaining in your hands brings misfortune, not fortune. Returning it to this old monk may seem like a loss for you at first glance, but when disaster strikes, you will know my words are true."
Mo Tiange remained unmoved. "But handing this item over to you, Senior, would undoubtedly bring you great benefit."
Venerable Wuming, however, said, "Fellow Cultivator, if others had come here, they certainly would not have been so polite."
Upon hearing this, Mo Tiange raised an eyebrow, then smiled the next moment. A late-Nascent Soul cultivator was still a late-Nascent Soul cultivator. Though his words were polite, he did not wish to suffer the slightest loss. The meaning was clear: given my status and cultivation, treating you with such courtesy, how can you not know what's good for you? She naturally knew that before a late-Nascent Soul cultivator, she would have to hand over the Heaven-Net. However, she was unwilling to have kept it safe for others for forty years for nothing. She had to gain something in return.
She sighed. "Senior, as a late-Nascent Soul expert, surely you won't haggle over every detail with a minor cultivator like me?"
Hearing this, Venerable Wuming paused, then suddenly laughed. From his appearance until now, he had maintained a compassionate expression and gentle words, upholding the demeanor of a senior eminent monk. Only now did he show a trace of human warmth.
Still with his eyes closed, he smiled. "It is indeed this senior's fault. Little Fellow Daoist, if you want some benefit, just say it directly."
From 'Fellow Cultivator' to 'Little Fellow Daoist,' Venerable Wuming's address had undoubtedly become closer. Mo Tiange knew her behavior had not angered him and might have even earned her a bit of his favor. This put her mind at ease—even though she was bold enough to seek benefits from an unfamiliar late-Nascent Soul cultivator, she had still been apprehensive.
After a moment's thought, she retrieved an item from her Qiankun Bag and held it in her hand. "Senior, I am not one who fails to recognize kindness. Since this item belongs to your temple, I return it to its original owner."
The moment she took out the Heaven-Net, everyone's gaze immediately focused on her hand. Juexin exclaimed involuntarily, "It's the Heaven-Net! It really is the Heaven-Net!"
Juewu, standing to the side, even chanted a Buddhist invocation, murmuring excitedly, "Master, the Sacred Relic has finally returned. This disciple has not become a sinner of Huayan Temple..."
Mo Tiange glanced at him again. As Juewu said this, his gaze turned skyward, as if speaking to someone already deceased. Could it be that Venerable Wuming was not his master?
That was not impossible. Forty years ago, Juewu was merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet he possessed a Buddhist Sacred Relic, which was unusual in itself. If he were truly Venerable Wuming's disciple, how could he and his junior brother have been driven out, reduced to robbing passersby? Likely this matter involved Huayan Temple's secrets.
Seeing Mo Tiange straightforwardly produce the treasure, the smile on Venerable Wuming's face grew even brighter. A flash of Buddhist light appeared on his right hand, and the Heaven-Net in Mo Tiange's hand flew up, landing in his grasp in an instant.
Venerable Wuming unfolded the item, his hands carefully feeling over it, as if his eyes truly could not see.
After a while, he held the Heaven-Net and looked up with a smile. "Little Fellow Daoist, since you are so forthright, this old monk cannot be too stingy. Whatever you want, just say it directly."
Hearing this, Mo Tiange felt a weight lift from her heart. Though this Venerable Wuming was somewhat shrewd and calculating, he was far more generous than those late-Nascent Soul cultivators who relied on their position to pressure others. He did not go back on what he had just promised.
She bowed. "This junior wishes to exchange some information from you, Senior."
"Oh?" Venerable Wuming smiled meaningfully. Though his eyes were closed, Mo Tiange felt a sharp gaze fall upon her. "Little Fellow Daoist said earlier you would not pry into our temple's internal affairs, correct?"
"Naturally." Mo Tiange's gaze fell on the Heaven-Net in his hand as she replied calmly. "What this junior wishes to know has little relation to your temple."
Venerable Wuming seemed quite satisfied with her answer and nodded. "Since that is the case, speak."
She thought for a moment before slowly saying, "Previously, I have heard the legend of the Five Sages of Yunzhong. It is said that when the Five Sages departed this world, they left behind five Magical Treasures, all called Sacred Relics. Two of them are the Heavenly Demon Tower and the Heaven-Net. I wonder what the other three are?"
Venerable Wuming paused for a long while before speaking. "This question indeed has nothing to do with our temple's internal affairs. This old monk can answer you. The other three Sacred Relics of the Five Sages are: the God-Restricting Bead of the Sage of Returning to Truth, the Nameless Record of Master Zhou, and the Fusheng Sword of Master Fuyao."
"..." Mo Tiange took a deep breath before asking again, "There is a rumor in Yunzhong that these five Sacred Relics can open a mysterious space in the Guixu Sea. I wonder if that is true or false?"
Hearing this question, Venerable Wuming smiled slightly. "This question, this old monk cannot answer accurately either. I can only tell you that the five Sacred Relics having another purpose is true, and their connection to the Guixu Sea is also true. But whether it is to open a mysterious space or has some other use, that is unknown." He paused before asking, "Does Little Fellow Daoist have any other questions?"
"No more." Mo Tiange respectfully performed a Daoist salute. "Thank you for informing me, Senior."
Venerable Wuming smiled and was about to say something more when, the next moment, his smile vanished as he raised his head toward the sky.
At that moment, Mo Tiange heard a low, dark voice come from the air. "Old Monk Wuming, coming to my Guifang City, why not come and say hello?"