Atop the Spirit Mountain, beside the Immortal Palace, the cultivators of the Jiuyan Sect sat cross-legged, each focused intently on regulating their breathing.
Not many cultivators from the Jiuyan Sect remained: two at the late Nascent Soul stage, three at the mid Nascent Soul stage, and then Ling Yunhe, a junior at the late Core Formation stage. This party of six did not hold a numerical advantage among the treasure-seeking teams, but with their outstanding cultivation levels, they were still considered the strongest team.
At this moment, they were seizing the time to cultivate while others had not yet reached the Immortal Palace. The spiritual energy at the summit of this Spirit Mountain, next to the Immortal Palace, was so abundant that even the highest-grade spiritual veins in Yunzhong could not compare. It was truly a rare opportunity.
Ling Yunhe had once curiously asked Ling Shiyu: with the spiritual energy in this space so rich, wouldn't advancing one's cultivation here be twice as effective with half the effort? Ling Shiyu had replied: That's true in theory! But who would dare? For high-level cultivators advancing, the most important factor isn't the abundance of spiritual energy, but safety. With so many cultivators having entered this space, where could they find a reliable cave abode for secluded cultivation? When it's not your own territory, there are too many variables.
"They're here!" True Person Yuan Mu suddenly stirred, opening his eyes.
Hearing the sound, the others stopped their meditation and looked up in that direction.
Two streaks of Escape Light soared over the dense forest, appearing on the vast snowy ground, rapidly approaching the Immortal Palace. One streak was white, pure and pristine; the other was red, dazzlingly bright. Hundreds of sharp sword energies also circled around them, forcing the stirred-up millennia-old snow mist to stay at a distance.
"It's them!" Ling Shiyu raised an eyebrow.
With his spiritual sense, he had long since discerned that this was one Nascent Soul cultivator and one Core Formation cultivator. Among the cultivators who had entered the space, only one party had such a combination.
"That Fellow Daoist Mo truly cannot be underestimated..." Ling Yunhe murmured to himself, gazing at the two streaks of Escape Light. He could see that the Nascent Soul cultivator was not deliberately slowing his speed. Under such circumstances, the Core Formation-stage Escape Light was still keeping up with his pace effortlessly. Even if they were using the same flying treasure, it would require her own formidable strength.
Perfected One Iron-Face, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke: "Yunhe, do you know what Spirit Root that female cultivator possesses, or what cultivation technique she practices?"
Ling Yunhe was slightly taken aback, then bowed and replied: "Reporting to Senior Uncle Iron-Face, this disciple does not know. However, she once traded with me to obtain the Danxia Sect's Pure Maiden Art."
"The Pure Maiden Art?" True Person Yuan Mu narrowed his eyes. "Could it be that she is..."
Ling Yunhe knew what he was about to say and continued: "Senior Uncle Yuan Mu, this disciple believes that if she truly possessed a Pure Yin constitution, such behavior would be far too bold. Moreover, she is, after all, only a Core Formation cultivator. How could she possibly hide it from all you esteemed Senior Uncles?"
"That's not necessarily true," True Person Yuan Mu shook his head. "This girl has remarkable courage and insight, and possesses many spiritual treasures. It's hard to say she wouldn't dare to do such a thing." He sighed again. "What a pity. She already has a Dao Companion and has lost her Primordial Yin. Even if it were true, she wouldn't hold much value anymore."
"Hah, Junior Brother Yuan Mu," Perfected One Iron-Face interjected, "Whether this girl has a Pure Yin constitution is not important. What I find strange is, why is her Escape Light white?"
True Person Yuan Mu's expression turned serious, his gaze shifting to Perfected One Iron-Face. "Senior Brother, you mean..."
"A white Escape Light either indicates that the person has had some extraordinary encounter, or that they possess a complete Five-Element miscellaneous Spirit Root. Which one do you think it is, Junior Brother?"
True Person Yuan Mu's expression gradually grew grave. A white Escape Light represented the unity of the Five Elements. If one's own Spirit Root was not Five-Element complete, then the cultivation technique they practiced must certainly encompass all Five Elements.
In the cultivation world, selecting a cultivation technique based on one's Spirit Root was one of the fundamental laws. A person without a Metal Spirit Root could not cultivate a Metal-attribute technique. If a special case appeared, it meant that person possessed a tremendous opportunity, breaking through the law. Since it was called a law, how could it be so easily changed? Such an opportunity was extraordinary.
And if it was the second case... The reason white Escape Light was rare was because Five-Element Spirit Root cultivators mostly remained stuck at the early Qi Refining stage for life, and only Foundation Establishment-stage cultivators and above could fly. Among Five-Element Spirit Root cultivators, even reaching Foundation Establishment was one in ten thousand, let alone Core Formation? Yet this girl was at the Core Formation Perfection stage, only a step away from Nascent Soul...
Perfected One Iron-Face spoke again: "This elder once saw a record in an ancient predecessor's notes. In the past, I only considered it an unreliable rumor and didn't pay it any mind. Now it seems it might actually be true." He looked at True Person Yuan Mu. "That number one figure of Yunzhong, Senior Fuyaozi, possessed a complete Five-Element miscellaneous Spirit Root!"
True Person Yuan Mu narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp as he looked at Perfected One Iron-Face. "Is that true?"
Perfected One Iron-Face's black iron mask showed no expression, and his voice was flat and even. "Correct."
After a long period of contemplation, True Person Yuan Mu let out a long sigh and said, "If this matter succeeds, we must try our best to win them over. If it fails... we absolutely cannot let them take a single step out of the Immortal Palace!"
Although he didn't explain why, none of those present were ordinary individuals. They immediately understood his meaning and softly voiced their assent.
The person recognized as master by the Fusheng Sword, Fuyaozi... So they shared this common point. That meant... this female cultivator had very likely received Fuyaozi's true teachings. Although they were not afraid of Fuyaozi himself, bearing the title of Yunzhong's number one cultivator, he certainly had his unique qualities. And from what they had seen, this female cultivator possessed both courage and insight, and was no fool. Who could say what level of achievement she might reach in the future? If their plans succeeded, establishing friendly relations with her would be a good thing. But they feared she might harbor resentment for their schemes against her during this journey. In that case, to avoid making an enemy for the Jiuyan Sect, they could only eliminate her to cut off future troubles!
As they were pondering this, the two streaks of Escape Light rapidly closed in on the Immortal Palace. Hundreds of flickering sword lights swept aside the snow mist, and a man and a woman arrived before them in an instant.
Ling Yunhe paid attention and noticed that Mo Tiange's boots faintly glowed with treasure light beneath her feet. She was not sharing a flying treasure with Qin Xi.
The cultivation technique he practiced made him very sensitive to the aura of spiritual treasures. He was now certain she had been relying on her own ability to fly all the way. He secretly sighed, the knot in his heart gradually smoothing out. So it turned out he was the one inferior to her. Since that was the case, why should he dwell on it?
"Esteemed Seniors, you've arrived quite early," Mo Tiange said with a smile, greeting everyone together with Qin Xi.
True Person Yuan Mu revealed a bland smile, neither warm nor cold. "You two aren't late either. Only four days have passed and you've already arrived. You must not have lingered on the way, I presume?"
"Hehe," Mo Tiange gave a hollow laugh. "My husband and I are alone and weak. We don't have the capability to be greedy for much, so we could only look for opportunities along the way. Fortunately, the journey was relatively smooth. We picked up some treasures and encountered a Ninth-Rank Demon Beast."
"A Ninth-Rank Demon Beast?" Although their expressions remained calm, surprise flickered in the eyes of Yuan Mu and the others.
There weren't many Demon Beasts in this Spirit Mountain, but when one occasionally appeared, it was at least Eighth-Rank or above. With their numbers and strength, they weren't afraid. A Ninth-Rank Demon Beast was equivalent to a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, and the Demon Beasts in this space, having lived and cultivated for years in places rich with spiritual energy or turbulent demonic energy, were much more powerful than those outside. These two not only appeared uninjured, but also showed no signs of distress. Such strength truly could not be underestimated.
"So, you two Fellow Daoists exterminated that Demon Beast?" True Person Yuan Mu asked.
Qin Xi gave a faint smile and said, "Just by luck."
"Fellow Daoist Qin is too modest!" True Person Yuan Mu smiled, speaking courteously. "You esteemed couple are truly remarkable. Even I don't have full confidence against a Ninth-Rank Demon Beast from this place. Judging by your appearances, you exterminated it quite easily! It seems having your assistance for this Immortal Palace journey is truly fortunate."
"You flatter us..." Qin Xi responded.
Listening to their conversation and observing True Person Yuan Mu's current attitude, Mo Tiange secretly laughed to herself.
Indeed, it was still necessary to appropriately display a bit of strength. Not long ago, in front of this True Person Yuan Mu, she hadn't even had the qualification to negotiate terms. But now, with Qin Xi by her side and having displayed extraordinary strength, this True Person Yuan Mu was being much more polite.
"Fellow Daoist Ling, haven't the others arrived yet?" While Qin Xi was speaking with the Jiuyan Sect's several Nascent Soul cultivators, Mo Tiange asked Ling Yunhe. After all, there was a cultivation gap; some questions were more appropriate to ask Ling Yunhe.
Ling Yunhe chuckled and said, "After entering this space, who would be willing to give up the spiritual treasures along the way? They're probably still treasure hunting."
Mo Tiange blinked. Previously, Ling Yunhe had always seemed to want to say something to her but held back. Today, however, he was so relaxed... Thinking this to herself, she showed no unusual expression on her face and also smiled. "Then what about you, Fellow Daoist Ling? You and your esteemed teachers are willing to give them up?"
Ling Yunhe shook his head, his gaze glancing down the mountain. "Fellow Daoist Mo, haven't you noticed our numbers have decreased? To be frank, my several Senior Uncles were ordered to go treasure hunting. It's just that Senior Uncle Yuan Mu believes the Immortal Fate within the Immortal Palace is of greater importance. The spiritual treasures can be left to those Senior Uncles to find. It's more important for us to attend to the main task."
"Oh..." That made sense. After all, the Jiuyan Sect had brought many people. Only they could split into two groups and still ensure both groups had considerable strength.
"By the way, Fellow Daoist Mo, you just encountered a Ninth-Rank Demon Beast. How was its strength? We only saw one. That Demon Beast saw our numbers and strength and avoided us from afar..."
While Ling Yunhe and Mo Tiange chatted here, over there the several Nascent Soul cultivators and Qin Xi exchanged pointers with each other. A good half of the day passed before, amidst the white snow, figures finally appeared again.
Monk robes, straw sandals, lotus platforms, and Buddhist chants—a group of monks hurried over. It was Venerable Wuming and Venerable Xuxiang who had arrived.
Everyone stood up. True Person Yuan Mu had already stepped forward to greet them. "Fellow Daoist Wuming, you've finally come." He still paid no attention to Venerable Xuxiang.
Venerable Xuxiang didn't mind either. Instead, he blurted out ed: "Old Man Yuan Mu, what are you doing here so early? There are so many heavenly materials and earthly treasures on the way. You're actually willing to give them up?"
True Person Yuan Mu snorted and said, "This seat merely arrived a bit earlier than you. It hasn't even been five days yet. You're quite willing too!"
"Hey! No matter how good the heavenly materials and earthly treasures are, they're not as important as the chance for Deity Transformation, right? I don't have any key. If I came late, wouldn't I just be unable to enter?"
True Person Yuan Mu gave him a sidelong glance, half-heartedly acknowledging him before ignoring him.
Mo Tiange had long since witnessed this. This Venerable Xuxiang utterly lacked the demeanor of a late-stage Nascent Soul great cultivator. He talked nonsense and said anything. Most of the late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators didn't like dealing with him, and even the ever-diplomatic True Person Yuan Mu was no exception.
Venerable Wuming chuckled and stepped forward to smooth things over. "Fellow Daoist Yuan Mu, you've come so early—Fellow Daoist Qin, Little Friend Mo, you've arrived too."