Qin Xi sat within the small bamboo pavilion of the Void Heaven Realm, gazing at the seclusion chamber next to him.
Inside the seclusion chamber, the spiritual energy fluctuations gradually stabilized before finally settling completely. Then, the door opened, and Mo Tiange stepped out, her face beaming with joy.
"How did it go?" Qin Xi asked. "The Azure Dragon's Breath..."
Returning to sit in the small bamboo pavilion, Mo Tiange waved her hand and opened the Heaven-Earth Fan, handing it to him. "Look."
After purification and refinement with Spirit-Tempering Water, the Heaven-Earth Fan's spiritual energy was pure and radiant with flowing light. But that wasn't the main point. Qin Xi saw at a glance that an Azure Dragon pattern had appeared on the fan's surface, emanating a pure and vast Azure Dragon's Breath.
"This is..."
"After I re-refined the Heaven-Earth Fan, the Azure Dragon appeared," Mo Tiange said. "Perhaps the original Heaven-Earth Fan's grade wasn't high enough, so the Azure Dragon's Breath remained hidden and did not manifest."
Mo Tiange wasn't just guessing wildly. The Vermilion Bird Bow was the guardian treasure of the ancient great sect, the Ice Palace. Not to mention that ancient artifact-forging techniques were far superior to today's, just the fact that the Ice Palace possessed such a large Spirit-Tempering Pool meant the treasures they forged were bound to be of utmost purity.
As for her Heaven-Earth Fan, although the materials used were not inferior, the forging technique could not compare, nor had it been purified and refined with Spirit-Tempering Water. Of course, it couldn't be mentioned in the same breath as the Vermilion Bird Bow.
Fortunately, the Heaven-Earth Fan was her life-bound artifact, connected to her heart and mind. It could be continuously refined and improved. Given time, it might not be inferior to the Vermilion Bird Bow.
After a moment's thought, Qin Xi also understood and smiled. "Regardless, we've finally found the Azure Dragon's Breath. Nurture it well; the Heaven-Earth Fan's power is different from before."
"Mmm." Mo Tiange was filled with confidence. The next moment, she hesitated again and said, "There's another thing I'm not sure about."
"What is it?"
Mo Tiange didn't answer immediately. Instead, she formed a hand seal and summoned a ball of golden lightning from her dantian.
"This is..." Qin Xi was slightly taken aback. "This aura... how is it so similar to the golden lightning from the ninth heavenly tribulation that day?"
"Exactly!" Mo Tiange reached out, holding this ball of golden lightning. It wasn't large, only about the size of a fist, but the intimidating power contained within it was identical to the heavenly lightning from that day. "After the Azure Dragon appeared, it opened its mouth and spat out this ball of golden lightning."
Qin Xi thought for a moment and smiled. "I understand. That day, the Azure Dragon faced the enemy and swallowed this ball of golden lightning, then hid within the Heaven-Earth Fan. During this time, the Azure Dragon assimilated the golden lightning. And after you re-refined the Heaven-Earth Fan this time, the Azure Dragon has truly acknowledged you as its master. Therefore, this ball of golden lightning has also been refined by you by extension."
Heavenly Tribulation lightning possessed sentience. Yet this ball of golden lightning was so docile in her hand, clearly having been refined by her.
"So that's how it is..." Mo Tiange looked at the golden lightning in her hand. "Then this ball of golden lightning..."
"It's perfect for cultivating the Heavenly Thunder Method," Qin Xi said. "I've looked over that technique manual. It's a secret art created by a great ancient cultivator after experiencing a Heavenly Tribulation, based on the characteristics of heavenly lightning. Although this art allows one to cultivate heavenly lightning oneself, having a high-grade lightning-based spell to begin with makes it twice as effective with half the effort. Now that you've obtained this ball of golden lightning, it's perfect for practicing the Heavenly Thunder Method. This golden lightning is heavenly lightning itself; they complement each other perfectly."
"Mmm." Mo Tiange had also read the Heavenly Thunder Method. The most difficult part of this secret art was the beginning—first, one had to cultivate pure heavenly lightning, then slowly increase its power based on that ball of lightning. Although heavenly lightning could be cultivated, it wasn't true heavenly lightning after all. But now she had a ball of genuine heavenly lightning in her hand, and moreover, it was golden lightning, the most powerful form of heavenly lightning. The hardest hurdle had been crossed by her unintentionally.
Thinking of this, Mo Tiange felt her luck was almost excessive. The Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation was originally a brush with death. Fortunately, with Qin Xi and Jing Xingzhi's full assistance, she had safely passed through it. After passing the tribulation, she had even turned misfortune into blessing. Not only did she undergo heavenly lightning body tempering, but she also stimulated the Heaven-Earth Fan's true power and obtained a ball of heavenly lightning, perfect for cultivating the Heavenly Thunder Method.
"Next, you should enter seclusion to cultivate. With this ball of heavenly lightning, it won't take long for your Heavenly Thunder Method to take initial shape. Then we can set off for the Extreme West."
"Alright." Mo Tiange also knew that the matter of Patriarch Ziwei was urgent. To go to the Extreme West, she needed to restore her strength and had to seize the time to enter seclusion.
Qin Xi's gaze softened. He reached out an arm and gently embraced her, saying, "Your seclusion this time will probably take several years. I can't accompany you inside the Void Heaven Realm. You must be careful on your own."
Mo Tiange smiled lightly. "We are people pursuing the Great Dao; how can we focus on day-to-day companionship? Don't worry, Feifei and the others are still here!"
"Mmm." Qin Xi responded. After a moment, he sighed contentedly. "I always used to think that pursuing the immortal path was a lonely thing and didn't understand why some people sought Dao companions. Now I understand that meeting you is truly the luckiest thing in my life."
Mo Tiange's heart stirred. She understood Qin Xi's personality too well. No matter how deep his feelings, he would never forget the Great Dao he had pursued his entire life. For him to say such words was already his limit.
"Senior Brother, I..."
"No need to say more. I understand."
...
After reporting the matters of the Azure Dragon and the heavenly lightning to Dao Lord Jinghe and notifying Dao Lord Hua Yan, Mo Tiange entered seclusion.
This seclusion, barring accidents, wouldn't be too long. Nurturing the Heaven-Earth Fan was a long-term task; Mo Tiange only needed it to restore its former spirituality. As for the Heavenly Thunder Method, with her possession of the golden lightning, it would take only a few short years to gain initial power. Time was pressing; she couldn't wait until the Heavenly Thunder Method was fully mastered before leaving seclusion—that would take at least several decades. But cultivating it to an initial stage wouldn't take much time.
As for Qin Xi, he remained outside, cultivating while keeping an eye on the situation in the Tianji Region.
The emergence of the new continent posed a huge threat to Tianji. Although Dao Lord Zhenyang had stated they weren't needed for the time being, if the situation changed, they might need to participate in the war. Regardless, the Xuanqing Sect had supported them for so many years; when it was time to contribute, they must contribute.
Several months later, Dao Lord Miaoyi returned from Kunzhong City.
Upon learning of her return, all the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Xuanqing Sect went to Qingluan Peak, including Dao Lord Lingxi, who had just stabilized his realm and emerged from seclusion.
Dao Lord Lingxi was about the same age as Qin Xi, appearing as a young man in his early twenties. But his temperament was completely different from Qin Xi's—he was refined and scholarly, even seeming a bit mild-mannered.
He happened to arrive at the same time as Qin Xi. Seeing him, Lingxi bowed and clasped his hands in greeting. "Senior Brother Shoujing, it's been many years. Have you been well?"
When Qin Xi and Mo Tiange returned to the Xuanqing Sect, he had still been in seclusion. Today was their first meeting.
Qin Xi returned the greeting politely. "Thank you for your concern, Junior Brother Lingxi. These years have been good. It's been several years since we parted. Congratulations on your successful Nascent Soul formation."
Dao Lord Lingxi smiled. "I heard Junior Sister Qingwei also successfully formed her Nascent Soul. Congratulations to you both."
Qin Xi smiled slightly and didn't reply further.
He and Lingxi were only a year apart, having entered the sect almost simultaneously. After Foundation Establishment, they were often compared, especially after both successfully formed Golden Cores, becoming symbols of the Xuanqing Sect's new generation of geniuses. This long-standing competitive relationship created a unique dynamic between them—paying attention to each other while secretly vying.
Although after Core Formation, Lingxi gradually fell behind, and by Nascent Soul formation, he could no longer compete with Qin Xi, Qin Xi didn't look down on him. Because Qin Xi had always had his master's care, while Lingxi lost his master not long after Foundation Establishment and had been cultivating alone ever since.
Ganlu Peak once had a Nascent Soul cultivator overseeing it—this person was Lingxi's master, Dao Lord Tianyun. Back then, Dao Lord Tianyun was also at the Nascent Soul mid-stage, with formidable strength, which was why he could secure a single spiritual root disciple like Lingxi. Unfortunately, during an outing, Dao Lord Tianyun unexpectedly perished. Given Lingxi's aptitude, Dao Lord Zhenyang intended for him to choose another master to avoid hindering his cultivation, but Lingxi was a person who valued sentiment and was unwilling to leave Ganlu Peak.
Having a Nascent Soul stage master made too big a difference. After that, although Lingxi was diligent and hardworking, he could no longer compete with Qin Xi.
Frankly speaking, Qin Xi and Lingxi had completely different personalities, so they only maintained a fellow disciple relationship. But both were upright individuals who still appreciated each other.
The two entered Dao Lord Miaoyi's cave abode, each greeting and taking their seats. After a while, Dao Lord Hua Yan and Dao Lord Jinghe also arrived.
"Miaoyi, you girl, why are you back? Where's that old man Zhenyang? And that kid Xuanyin, nothing's happened, right?" As soon as Dao Lord Jinghe arrived, he clamored noisily.
In the entire Xuanqing Sect, only he would call them that. Miaoyi was about three hundred years younger than him; he had watched her step by step advance to Nascent Soul formation. Zhenyang was his contemporary, and Xuanyin was his disciple.
Hearing this, Dao Lord Miaoyi laughed. "Senior Brother Jinghe, can't you say something nicer? War could break out at any moment. No matter what, we should seek an auspicious start."
"What auspicious start? We're not mortals; do we still believe in that?" Dao Lord Jinghe was completely dismissive, waving his hand. "You know I'm impatient. Hurry up and say, what exactly is the matter?"
Dao Lord Miaoyi sighed helplessly, then said seriously, "Several Senior Brothers and Junior Brother, there's good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"
"Whichever!" Dao Lord Jinghe eagerly expressed again. "Hurry up, hurry up."
Dao Lord Miaoyi was even more helpless and had to say, "Then I'll start with the good news. Currently, we can't fight the Demon Cultivators. The ghost cultivators and Demon Cultivators on the new continent are at odds. Before this matter is resolved, full-scale war won't break out."
"That's good." Hearing this news, Dao Lord Hua Yan breathed a sigh of relief. "That way, we also have time to prepare. If we prepare fully, the Demon Cultivators might not gain any advantage."
"Mmm." Dao Lord Miaoyi nodded. Compared to Demon Cultivators, humans had advantages in miscellaneous studies like alchemy, artifact forging, talismans, and formations. They had sect bases; once the mountain-protecting formations were fully activated and supplies were in place, even if the Demon Cultivators spent several times the manpower and resources, they might not be able to capture them.
"Then what's the bad news?"
"Don't rush." Dao Lord Miaoyi said with a smile. "I haven't finished the good news yet. We've found another new continent. This continent is inhabited by many Dao cultivators. We have allies!"