Back when she was in Foundation Establishment, Mo Tiange had met Liu Yidao, who had lived with her back then. From his mouth, she learned that the two Core Formation cultivators of the Jiang Family had been severely injured by Qin Xi when they escaped. Later, the Nascent Soul cultivator of the Zixia Sect—the Jiang Family's backer—had made an error in his cultivation, effectively perishing. As a result, the Yunwu Sect and the Golden Blade Sect broke free from the Zixia Sect's control, and the Jiang Family declined from then on.
After she formed her Core, she encountered Wang Qianyi and Shen Bing again at the Demonic Mountain and learned that the Yunwu Sect and the Golden Blade Sect had joined forces to retake their mountain gate. Although she didn't ask about the Jiang Family's situation, it was easy to imagine they wouldn't have met a good end. Even if those two Core Formation cultivators weren't dead, they would have been imprisoned, and their lifespans were already running out.
If she hadn't been trapped in Yunzhong and had returned to the Tianji Region according to the original plan, that would have been the most opportune time for revenge. Her own cultivation would have advanced greatly, and the other party might still have been alive. Unfortunately, she had been stranded in Yunzhong for so long. With a rough estimate, the lifespans of those two Jiang Family Core Formation cultivators should have already been exhausted.
Moreover, upon returning from Yunzhong, she had already formed her Nascent Soul. The higher one stands, the farther one sees. If Mo Tiange were only at the Core Formation stage today, perhaps she would return to the Yunwu Sect to demand the justice owed to her and vent her anger. But now, if she wished, she could wipe out the entire Yunwu Sect with a wave of her hand. Instead, she had lost the desire for revenge—how could a person care about ants beneath their feet?
This was the path of longevity, where everything was decided by strength. Those people were already ants to her. And what about her? To those Deity Transformation cultivators, was she also an ant? Once you set foot on this path, you must keep walking without stopping, because no one is willing to be an ant in someone else's eyes.
"Is it too rash to just follow them into Wind-Sand City like this?" Mo Tiange asked softly under the moonlight.
During the day, they had agreed with Huo and Zong to enter Wind-Sand City together tomorrow. But Mo Tiange always felt somewhat uneasy. Although the major sects of the Tianji Region had merged into the Immortal Alliance, they had no particular friendship with Huo and Zong. Wind-Sand City was one of the three great danger zones of the Extreme West. Having untrustworthy companions was not a good thing.
Qin Xi said, "We happened to run into them. If we want to enter Wind-Sand City, we can't avoid them. Besides, I know a little about these two. They aren't particularly known for their combat prowess. With our combined strength, defeating them wouldn't be difficult."
In fact, he was confident that even facing Huo and Zong alone, he could easily defeat them. Although there was only a small gap between the mid-stage and early-stage of Nascent Soul, generally speaking, the strength of one mid-stage cultivator was equivalent to several early-stage ones. Especially since he excelled in combat.
Mo Tiange thought for a moment, felt his words were reasonable, and said no more. Instead, she asked, "How much do you know about this Huo Ziqi and Zong Si?"
Qin Xi said, "The Spirit Beast Sect has three Nascent Soul cultivators in total. Huo Ziqi is one of them. His cultivation is average, and his spells are average. However, the Spirit Beast Sect is skilled in beast taming. He has several kinds of exotic insects and beasts in his possession, which are quite peculiar. As for that Fellow Daoist Zong, he is the Supreme Elder of the Longevity Sect. The Longevity Sect is a medium-sized sect with only one Nascent Soul cultivator. This Fellow Daoist Zong has little reputation, is somewhat old in years, and has no hope of advancing further. But he formed his Nascent Soul long ago and has rich combat experience. We shouldn't underestimate him too much."
Mo Tiange also understood that for such veteran cultivators, even if their cultivation wasn't high, their life-preserving skills were first-rate.
"As for their character..." Qin Xi paused and shook his head. "I'm not familiar with either of them, so it's hard to say."
As a distinguished disciple of the Xuanqing Sect, Qin Xi knew a great deal about the major sects and high-level cultivators, but he couldn't be called familiar with them. When he was in Foundation Establishment, he liked to travel outside and did make a group of friends. But his cultivation speed was too fast. Among his former acquaintances, only Jing Xingzhi kept up with his cultivation speed. The other Nascent Soul cultivators from various sects were all considered his seniors.
Mo Tiange's situation was similar. She formed her Nascent Soul at one hundred and eighty years old and was now only one hundred and eighty-nine—the youngest Nascent Soul cultivator in the history of the Tianji Region. If not for this Great Upheaval of Heaven and Earth, her return to the Tianji Region would certainly have caused a sensation.
In fact, Dao Lord Zhenyang had long mentioned to them that once matters with the Immortal Alliance stabilized, he would hold a Nascent Soul Formation ceremony for her. At that time, there would inevitably be a great deal of fanfare to earn some face for the Xuanqing Sect. With eight Dao Lords of Nascent Soul, including the youngest Nascent Soul cultivator, the Xuanqing Sect's position as the number one sect in the Tianji Region would be well-deserved.
However, for Mo Tiange, this Nascent Soul Formation ceremony was more trouble than anything. She would have to socialize with others, which gave her a headache just thinking about it.
Shaking her head to cast the matter aside, she asked, "What about us now?"
Qin Xi thought for a moment. "You go left, I'll go right. At most one hour, we'll meet back here."
"Alright." Mo Tiange agreed. Without further words, the two separated to act—they were here tonight to scout the path, as they would enter Wind-Sand City tomorrow.
Clouds forming beneath her feet, Mo Tiange circled south.
Wind-Sand City lived up to its name: the wind howled, and sand and stones piled high. From the outside, the city walls were towering, and the buildings stood tall, all constructed from piled sand and stone, creating a uniquely majestic and spectacular sight. But up close, she found wind-eroded pits and holes everywhere, not a blade of grass grew, and it was desolate beyond compare.
Not far into her circuit, Mo Tiange frowned.
When they came during the day, both she and Qin Xi had swept Wind-Sand City with their Divine Sense. At that time, they only felt that Wind-Sand City was quite large; even with the power of their Divine Sense, they couldn't penetrate it. But now, on the outskirts of Wind-Sand City, she realized the strangeness of this place.
The reason their Divine Sense couldn't penetrate wasn't because Wind-Sand City was too vast, but because the sand towers and earthen mounds within interfered with Divine Sense!
Discovering this, Mo Tiange changed direction and flew upward, stopping only when she was mid-air.
Looking down from above, Wind-Sand City under the moonlight was a mass of dark, looming shadows and strange, towering buildings. Combined with the wind's cries—sometimes sharp, sometimes low—it became even more terrifying, as if ghosts and monsters truly hid within, like the underworld.
Mo Tiange flicked her sleeve. The Taiji Bagua Diagram flew out, hovering in mid-air and emitting a hazy white light. The surrounding aura immediately stabilized. She closed her eyes and spread out her Divine Sense.
Indeed...
A moment later, she opened her eyes, her brow slightly furrowed.
Ranked among the three great danger zones of the Extreme West, Wind-Sand City was indeed extraordinary. At first glance, the sand and stone structures within Wind-Sand City seemed to have been abandoned for a thousand years, bearing only the marks of time from wind and rain, with no traces related to cultivators. However, she discovered something strange hidden within.
These sand towers and earthen mounds were scattered throughout Wind-Sand City in a chaotic yet marvelous pattern. When Divine Sense probed within, it would be subtly misled without one realizing. This misdirection contained no Spiritual Qi, so even Nascent Soul cultivators could fall for it.
"Truly marvelous," Mo Tiange murmured to herself, gazing at the quiet Wind-Sand City under the moonlight.
This was clearly an array formation, yet it was vastly different from the array formations of the cultivation world.
All array formations in the cultivation world were related to Spiritual Qi. Therefore, once Spiritual Qi was exhausted, many array formations and restrictions would fail. But this Wind-Sand City had no Spiritual Qi at all. Relying solely on sand towers and earthen mounds of varying sizes and positions, it could interfere with a cultivator's Divine Sense. This was absolutely unheard of, something she had never encountered in her life!
Before this, she had only heard of mortal world array formations, which were arranged according to position. But those kinds of formations were ineffective against cultivators. Something like this before her eyes, which could affect cultivators without needing Spiritual Qi, was too heaven-defying!
After pondering, Mo Tiange turned her gaze to the depths of Wind-Sand City. Since Divine Sense couldn't penetrate deeply, should she enter to investigate?
After a moment's consideration, she abandoned the thought. The array formation within Wind-Sand City was too strange. There might be something beyond comprehension inside. Since they would enter tomorrow anyway, there was no need to take the risk.
She was about to put away the Taiji Bagua Diagram and descend to meet Qin Xi when suddenly, the hairs all over her body stood on end. She used Wind-Thunder Flash, and her figure instantly shifted several zhang away. Immediately after, Mo Tiange waved her sleeve. Lightning flashed as a ball of Golden Lightning shot forward.
"Boom!" A loud explosion rang out. Dazzling golden light flashed where she had originally been standing. What collided with the Golden Lightning was a mass of black mist, like an ink blot.
"Ah!" A faint cry of pain came from within the black mist.
Mo Tiange's gaze shifted, coldly staring at a spot. "Who's there?"
The mass of black mist wavered, stabilizing in mid-air. Then, the ink-like mist slowly expanded before finally dispersing, transforming into a woman.
This woman appeared to be in her twenties, with a charming appearance and revealing clothing. She wore a halter top that barely covered her chest and a short skirt that only reached her thighs. Both the halter and skirt were made of animal hide, exposing her snow-white waist and legs, giving off a wild, sensual charm.
At this moment, she twirled her fingers, and a curved blade appeared in each hand. Then she brought her hands together, and the two curved blades connected, transforming into a strange weapon with blades at both ends.
Holding the double-bladed curved weapon, the woman's gaze swept over Mo Tiange before she suddenly smiled. "You're a Daoist cultivator?"
Her pronunciation was clear, but her tone was somewhat strange, neither like a Kunwu cultivator nor a Xirong person.
Mo Tiange frowned slightly and slowly nodded. "Correct. Are you a Demonic cultivator?" Although this woman showed no obvious abnormalities, Mo Tiange could still sense a restrained demonic aura. Moreover, this person's cultivation was no weaker than hers—also at the early-stage of Nascent Soul.
"Exactly." The woman's eyes held curiosity. Seeing Mo Tiange gripping the Heaven-Earth Fan tightly, with Golden Lightning swirling around her body as if ready to fight at any moment, she smiled again, her brows curving. "No need to be so hostile, right? Although we aren't of the same path, we have no enmity between us."
Mo Tiange looked at her and said coldly, "You just ambushed me, and now you say there's no need for hostility?"
"I was just curious," the woman said, raising her hand. The double blades of her curved weapon began to spin, casting sharp glints of light under the moonlight that made her face appear alternately bright and dark.
She said, "This is the first time I've encountered a high-level Daoist cultivator, and you're a woman too. I've heard them say that among Daoist cultivators, high-level female cultivators are rare. Even if there are, they're usually relatively weak. So I couldn't help but test you."
Mo Tiange stared at her for a long time. Seeing the smile remained on her face, Mo Tiange softened her tone. "Is that so? And now?"
"You're very powerful," she said, her expression innocent, clashing with her overall seductive charm. "So there are such powerful female cultivators among Daoists too. I'm truly impressed."
"You're not weak either," Mo Tiange said. "I have an appointment with someone. Farewell."
She withdrew the Golden Lightning and turned to leave.
The next moment, a streak of light suddenly shot toward her, carrying a sharp, fierce wind.
Golden Lightning rumbled as Mo Tiange appeared behind the Demonic cultivator woman and said unhurriedly, "Does the esteemed one only know how to ambush?"