"Fellow Daoists, you've arrived quite early," another late-Nascent Soul cultivator arrived, his voice booming like a great bell even before he landed.
Mo Tiange looked up. This person had a bald head with ordination scars, a large head and ears, and a ferocious countenance. Even dressed in kasaya robes, he looked every bit the rogue and ruffian.
"This is Venerable Xuxiang of Taolin Temple," Ling Yunhe explained to her from the side. "Venerable Xuxiang cultivates the Tiger-Subduing Art, which is different from Venerable Wuming's path."
"Oh," Mo Tiange nodded in understanding. She knew Buddhism wasn't a single sect. Judging by Venerable Wuming's conduct, he likely belonged to a relatively gentle and disciplined sect, while this Venerable Xuxiang seemed much more unrestrained.
"This Venerable Xuxiang has an imposing aura. The Tiger-Subduing Art must be renowned for its ferocity, right?"
"Correct," Ling Yunhe praised. "If Daoist Guo is the hardest turtle shell, then Venerable Xuxiang is the sharpest stone."
The analogy made Mo Tiange laugh out loud. The next moment, noticing the gazes of several late-stage Nascent Soul experts falling upon them, she hurriedly suppressed her smile.
Venerable Xuxiang scratched his head and asked, "I say, old man Yuan Mu, is this your sect's disciple?"
True Person Yuan Mu glanced sideways, his tone stiff. "Why do you care so much?"
"I recognize this lad, he's from the Ling family. The one next to him, not wearing your Jiuyan Sect robes, could she be the Ling lad's wife?"
Hearing this, Mo Tiange paid it no mind, but Ling Yunhe hastily said, "Venerable Xuxiang, please don't misunderstand. This is... Fellow Daoist Mo, the one whom the Fusheng Sword acknowledged as master."
"Oh?" Venerable Xuxiang was surprised, then laughed heartily a few times. "Not bad, little girl."
Mo Tiange could only smile and bowed respectfully to Venerable Xuxiang.
Venerable Xuxiang waved a hand at her haphazardly before turning back to continue conversing with the other late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.
Another moment later, a powerful wave of demonic qi came from the sky. Mo Tiange looked up and was startled.
This newcomer was clearly a demonic cultivator, and with such an aura, he was likely also a late-Nascent Soul cultivator. This person was entirely concealed within a cloak, the standard demonic cultivator attire. Behind him followed two tall refined corpses, which actually possessed early-Nascent Soul cultivation.
"This is Demon Lord Yueying, City Lord of Yueying City," Ling Yunhe said. "Among the Three Great Demon Lords of the demonic path, this Demon Lord Yueying is the most mysterious. No one has ever seen his face. And these two refined corpses by his side are also famous throughout Yunzhong. Ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators cannot contend with them. In terms of strength, even my sect's Uncle-Master Yuan Mu would find it hard to say for certain he could defeat him."
"Late-Nascent Soul cultivation, plus two early-Nascent Soul refined corpses..." Mo Tiange sighed. "Isn't that like three beings in one?"
Ling Yunhe smiled. "Exactly. However, refining corpses is also very difficult, no easier than raising spirit beasts. To have refined corpses cultivate to the Nascent Soul stage—that is also a form of strength."
"It's been many years, Fellow Daoist Yueying. Your cultivation has advanced yet again," Venerable Xuxiang said sarcastically upon seeing this City Lord of Yueying.
Unfortunately, Demon Lord Yueying ignored him, merely bowing in greeting to True Person Yuan Mu and the others.
Another half-day passed. Many cultivators arrived on the small island one after another, but no more late-Nascent Soul cultivators appeared.
Mo Tiange couldn't help but ask, "Fellow Daoist Ling, Yunzhong has more late-stage cultivators than just these, right?"
Ling Yunhe pondered for a moment. "There are four more who haven't arrived. They should make it before the space opens."
"Oh? Which four?"
"Two of them are naturally the other two Demon Lords," Ling Yunhe said. "The Three Great Demon Lords are all late-stage cultivators. So far, only City Lord Yueying has come. Then there's Perfected One Miaoying of the Jingxu Sect. It seems she had some matters to handle; she previously sent a message to my Uncle-Master Yuan Mu. The other one is a loose cultivator."
"Two more Demon Lords..." Mo Tiange frowned. "Could the Heavenly Demon Tower be in the hands of one of them?"
Just as she said this, another powerful wave of demonic qi came from the sky, even stronger than when Demon Lord Yueying arrived.
Mo Tiange looked up. Sure enough, a group of demonic cultivators had arrived, among them... two late-Nascent Soul cultivators.
"Demon Lord Guifang, Demon Lord Yeshuang... They actually came together..." Ling Yunhe murmured.
Mo Tiange recognized Demon Lord Guifang. As for that Demon Lord Yeshuang, she was actually a very young, cold-faced woman. Though her expression was frosty, she was as beautiful as peach blossoms, her deep purple robes clinging tightly to her body, giving her a unique charm.
Mo Tiange was inwardly astonished. She knew Demon Lord Yeshuang was the City Lord of Night Owl City. Among the three great demonic domains, Night Owl City was the most domineering and ruthless. Any cultivator who offended Night Owl City would inevitably face retaliation. Take Starfall City, for example—its city lord's mansion was slaughtered overnight, with no survivors except City Lord Mei. She truly hadn't expected that such a domineering city would have a woman as its lord.
Subsequently, her gaze was drawn to a person in the procession.
Yang Chengji.
His cultivation was still at the Core Formation mid-stage, yet he was among a group of Nascent Soul cultivators, closely following Demon Lord Guifang.
"Could it be him..." The Core Formation cultivators present were only Juexin, Han Shizhi, Ling Yunhe, and herself. All four of them were masters acknowledged by sacred relics. During this period, only Nascent Soul cultivators had been arriving, no Core Formation ones. Yet Yang Chengji was clearly only a Core Formation cultivator, yet he was in the procession.
"Fellow Daoist Guifang, Fellow Daoist Yeshuang, you two have finally arrived," True Person Yuan Mu and the others went forward to greet them.
Demon Lord Yeshuang merely cupped her hands in greeting to the crowd, not uttering a single word, before standing to the side with an aloof expression.
The others, clearly familiar with Demon Lord Yeshuang's temperament, didn't mind. True Person Yuan Mu remained enthusiastic as he said to Demon Lord Guifang, "Fellow Daoist Guifang, you've finally arrived. Has everything been smooth?"
Demon Lord Guifang's expression was impassive as he nodded in reply. "Fellow Daoist Yuan Mu need not worry."
Scholar Yu, standing to the side, smiled. "Fellow Daoist Guifang, you've kept it well hidden. If not for us gathering the other four sacred relics this time, who would have known the Heavenly Demon Tower had actually fallen into Fellow Daoist Guifang's hands?"
"Isn't that right?" Venerable Xuxiang immediately cried out strangely after Scholar Yu finished. "Back then in the Guixu Sea, Fellow Daoist Guifang deceived us so thoroughly, even saying it was because of our Buddhist sect that you lost the Heavenly Demon Tower. Turns out you were just bluffing!"
Venerable Xuxiang's words were thick with sarcasm. Hearing them, the muscles on Demon Lord Guifang's face twitched, but he merely snorted and didn't bother arguing.
Hearing this, Mo Tiange was now certain: the one acknowledged by the Heavenly Demon Tower was undoubtedly Yang Chengji. This Demon Lord Guifang was truly cunning. Back then, he feigned enmity with the Buddhist sect over the Heavenly Demon Tower matter. When Venerable Wuming went to Guifang City, he even put on a life-or-death stance. Yet he had already secretly taken the Heavenly Demon Tower into his possession. Others only thought he hated the Buddhist sect to the extreme, not knowing it was merely a smokescreen.
Her gaze returned to Yang Chengji. Yang Chengji had also noticed her by now. After hesitating, he raised a hand in greeting. She smiled and returned the gesture.
What a coincidence. The masters acknowledged by the other sacred relics were all people she knew. Ling Yunhe had some friendship with her, Yang Chengji could be considered an old acquaintance, Juexin... she still couldn't be sure if he truly held no grudge, while Han Shizhi clearly bore enmity toward her. Although Ling Yunhe had promised to mediate the old grievance back then, with past enmity existing, if interests conflicted, Han Shizhi would undoubtedly act against her.
She sighed inwardly. In this matter, she truly had to be careful with every step. Even though she possessed the Fusheng Sword and those people wouldn't dare do anything to her, she was still at a disadvantage... If only her master and Senior Brother were here...
Just as she was thinking this, another person flew toward the small island. This person was at the Nascent Soul mid-stage, but his aura was overwhelmingly powerful. Mo Tiange even thought she might be mistaken, yet this person's aura clearly lacked something, falling short of the late-Nascent Soul stage.
As this person flew closer and closer, descending toward the small island, Mo Tiange's expression suddenly changed.
This person was enveloped in black clouds. Both the appearance and the aura of these black clouds reminded her of someone: Perfected One Songfeng.
This person certainly couldn't be Perfected One Songfeng, but his appearance was identical. If not for the fact that this person was undoubtedly male, Mo Tiange would have almost guessed it was Nie Wushang.
"Origin Demon qi..." she murmured softly. This person cultivated Origin Demon qi. Could it be that Yunzhong still had some sacrificial temple?
"It's you!" Before Mo Tiange could make sense of it, the cold-faced woman, Demon Lord Yeshuang, spoke up. She stared coldly at the newly arrived demonic cultivator, flicked her sleeve, and her purple robe's silk ribbons rose, her aura suddenly becoming astonishing. "Mei Feng, you have some nerve! You escaped from under my hand back then, and today you dare to show your face!"
Mei Feng? Mo Tiange was startled. Could this be the former City Lord Mei of Starfall City? He had escaped with his life, and in these few decades, he had actually advanced to the mid-stage?
A sharp, boyish voice came from within the black clouds. "City Lord Ye, why must you be so relentless? Back then, I accidentally offended your disciple. You already destroyed my Starfall City's foundation completely. Over these years, I, Mei, haven't gone looking for trouble with your Night Owl City either. Can't we consider this matter settled?"
"You make it sound so simple!" Demon Lord Yeshuang said coldly. "How can your insignificant Starfall City be compared to my disciple? Hand over your life as compensation, then we'll talk!" As soon as the words fell, demonic qi surged, pressing down heavily. The early-Nascent Soul cultivators on the island with slightly weaker cultivation were all shaken, while the five Core Formation cultivators, including Mo Tiange, couldn't help but sway.
Seeing this, Venerable Wuming flicked his kasaya, and an invisible force protected the juniors. He pressed his palms together and chanted a Buddhist invocation. "Amitabha, Fellow Daoist Yeshuang, if you wish to settle personal grievances, please do not harm the innocent."
Demon Lord Yeshuang swept her gaze around, retracted her demonic qi, but her eyes remained fixed on Mei Feng.
Mei Feng laughed. "City Lord Ye, although your strength surpasses mine, I am no longer the Mei Feng of old. Capturing me won't be easy. Today, we've all come for the opportunity of the Five Sages of Guixu Sea. Compared to reaching Deity Transformation, what does this little grudge amount to? If this enmity cannot be reconciled, let's fight after we come out, alright?"
Demon Lord Yeshuang stared at him coldly for a while, then snorted coldly, flicked her sleeve, and the silk ribbons of her purple robe obediently wrapped around her once more. She averted her gaze, no longer looking at him.
With the crisis averted, this Mei Feng also descended onto the small island, the Origin Demon qi around him slightly fading.
Although he was now at the Nascent Soul mid-stage, there were eight or nine late-stage cultivators on the island, so he didn't dare act too presumptuously. Moreover, he had been rather unpopular in the past, so he intended to find a quiet spot and wait inconspicuously.
However, as he turned his head, he saw Mo Tiange sitting cross-legged in a corner.
"It's you!" he exclaimed in shock and anger.
Mo Tiange sighed helplessly. "City Lord Mei, it's been a long time.
Mei Feng stared at her, gnashing his teeth. Old hatred and new grievances surged within him all at once.
The Origin Demon he had painstakingly nurtured for so long was devoured by another. The Starfall City he had painstakingly built over many years was destroyed overnight. He had fled in panic like a stray dog...
He didn't hate Demon Lord Yeshuang much, because her strength was overwhelming, and he had carelessly offended her. But he bore a deep-seated hatred for Mo Tiange. If not for this junior, his Origin Demon wouldn't have been eaten by another. If not for his plans failing at the last moment, his Starfall City wouldn't have been annihilated in a single day. If not for offending Demon Lord Yeshuang because of this, he wouldn't have had to hide for decades.
Action faster than thought, he raised his arm, and a stream of Origin Demon qi shot toward Mo Tiange.