If anyone else had said these words, Mo Tiange would have scoffed in disdain. Back when Jing Xingzhi was being ostracized within the Ancient Sword Sect, where was he to uphold justice? Now that Jing Xingzhi had formed his Nascent Soul, he wanted him to return to the Ancient Sword Sect—what a convenient bargain to pick up!
But this person was Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying, so that scenario didn't apply.
Besides his late-Nascent Soul cultivation, Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying was renowned throughout the Tianji Region for his "Sword Obsession" and his integrity. He was obsessed with swords, taking pleasure in collecting flying swords and comprehending sword arts; he had no mind for other miscellaneous affairs. Precisely because of this, the Ancient Sword Sect had established the position of Administrative Supreme Elder in addition to the Chief Supreme Elder. The previous Administrative Supreme Elder had been none other than Sword Sovereign Fuling.
Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying never interfered in sect affairs, but throughout his life, he had upheld righteousness. In any matter he became aware of, he was never biased.
Therefore, Mo Tiange was willing to believe that Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying must have been unaware of Jing Xingzhi's ostracism within the sect. One must understand that from the fall of Sword Sovereign Chongguang to Jing Xingzhi's departure from the sect, it had only been about a hundred years. For Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying, that was merely the duration of a single seclusion.
That was exactly how it was. Only after Sword Sovereign Fuling's death did Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying have no choice but to step out and take charge of sect affairs.
Facing Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying's invitation, Jing Xingzhi was first overwhelmed by the honor, then hesitant and indecisive.
Among the disciples of the Ancient Sword Sect, Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying was a deity-like existence. Every Ancient Sword Sect disciple regarded Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying as an idol, and Jing Xingzhi was no exception.
In the past, to receive a single word from Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying would have been the supreme glory for any Ancient Sword Sect disciple. However, recalling his own experiences within the Ancient Sword Sect, Jing Xingzhi delayed his answer.
Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying gazed at him calmly, neither pressuring nor enticing him, simply waiting patiently for his reply.
Jing Xingzhi gritted his teeth and finally spoke: "Senior Yuan Ying honors me too much. This junior has grown accustomed to a carefree life and does not wish to be bound by a sect again." He addressed Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying as 'Senior' rather than the 'Uncle-Master' of the past.
Hearing this answer, a look of disappointment finally appeared on Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying's face.
One must understand that sword cultivators had a harder time advancing in rank. The number of Ancient Sword Sect disciples was not less than that of the Xuanqing Sect, but they had far fewer Nascent Soul cultivators. After Sword Sovereign Fuling's death, apart from Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying, there was only one early-Nascent Soul Sword Sovereign Xiaohe. Although another sect member had formed their Nascent Soul during the past century, two mediocre early-Nascent Soul cultivators were insufficient to support the Ancient Sword Sect as the Tianji Region's third greatest sect.
As for Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying, he appeared young but was actually of the same generation as Dao Lord Jinghe. To maintain the Ancient Sword Sect's prosperity, they needed to cultivate a cultivator capable of inheriting Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying's status within five or six hundred years. The two current Nascent Soul cultivators of the Ancient Sword Sect, whether in terms of comprehension or age, were insufficient to shoulder this heavy responsibility.
For this reason, Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying had no choice but to search among the Core Formation cultivators for disciples with outstanding aptitude and exceptional character, intending to take them as direct disciples and pass on his legacy. In terms of aptitude and comprehension, Jing Xingzhi was among the best of the new generation of disciples. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been taken as a disciple by a Nascent Soul Sword Sovereign immediately upon entering the sect. He was one of the cultivators Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying considered highly likely to form a Nascent Soul. Who could have guessed that when he went looking, he discovered Jing Xingzhi had disappeared? Only afterward did he learn of the unfair treatment Jing Xingzhi had suffered within the sect over the past century.
But all of this was too late. Jing Xingzhi had killed Sword Sovereign Fuling's disciple and was no longer prepared to return.
During this journey to the Extreme West, unexpectedly encountering Jing Xingzhi—who had indeed formed his Nascent Soul—he naturally wanted to recruit Jing Xingzhi back to the Ancient Sword Sect. Unfortunately, Jing Xingzhi's experiences over the past century had caused him to lose his sense of belonging to his former sect, and he was unwilling to return.
Sighing, Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying said, "With Fuling bullying you like that, I don't blame you for not wanting to return to the sect."
Jing Xingzhi hesitated, on the verge of speaking. His experiences in the Ancient Sword Sect had nothing to do with Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying. He very much wanted to say something, but feared Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying might misunderstand, so he kept his mouth shut.
"Forget it," Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying regained his composure and said to Jing Xingzhi, "As the Chief Supreme Elder of the Ancient Sword Sect, I bear the responsibility of protecting our disciples. The injustice you suffered is also my responsibility. Since you are unwilling to return to the Ancient Sword Sect, I shall grant you an opportunity to compensate for your century of grievances."
Jing Xingzhi was stunned, staring blankly at Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying. He hadn't expected that not only would Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying not reprimand him for refusing to return, but would even offer compensation.
He lowered his head, feeling that the century of unfair treatment was nothing. Those cold glances, those rumors... at least now, the person he respected most within the Ancient Sword Sect knew of his injustice.
Opening his hand, a small floating flying sword appeared in Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying's palm. He said, "This flying sword is a token from a senior of our sect. This senior possessed astonishing divine abilities and his comprehension of the sword far surpassed our generation. I once promised him a favor. In return, he was willing to pass on his lifetime of insights to the person holding this token. Follow the clues to find him." With a lift of his hand, the small flying sword gently floated to Jing Xingzhi. Simultaneously, Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying sent a voice transmission, leaving the clues with Jing Xingzhi.
After doing this, Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying said, "I am returning to the Ancient Sword Sect. If one day you wish to return, the gates of the Ancient Sword Sect will always be open for you."
With that, without waiting for Jing Xingzhi's words of thanks, he waved his sleeve, stepped onto his flying sword, transformed into a streak of sword light, and vanished into the horizon.
Jing Xingzhi held the small flying sword, staring blankly at the spot where Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying had disappeared, silent for a long while.
"Heh! That old man Yuan Ying is still as good as ever at winning people's hearts," Dao Lord Jinghe's voice broke the silence. He glanced sidelong at Jing Xingzhi. "Kid, if you want to go back, no one's stopping you."
"..."
Jing Xingzhi's surge of fervor was drenched clean. Somewhat embarrassed and angry, he said, "Senior Jinghe, weren't you just advising me to return to a sect earlier?"
Dao Lord Jinghe waved his hand. "This Dao Lord just can't stand that old man Yuan Ying putting on airs!"
"Senior!" Jing Xingzhi protested.
Mo Tiange stifled a laugh. She'd bet that Dao Lord Jinghe was just unhappy about having his thunder stolen, all because Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying's few words had made Jing Xingzhi willing to lay down his life. Sure enough, when she turned her head, Qin Xi was also smiling without speaking.
A flash of light, and the small flying sword in Jing Xingzhi's hand was stored away into his Qiankun Ring. He pondered internally about finishing up here and going to seek this opportunity. If Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying called it an opportunity, it must be a great one.
He didn't doubt the opportunity's authenticity in the slightest. If it were anyone else, Jing Xingzhi might have questioned their intentions, but this person was Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying—his character was vouched for by the entire Tianji Region.
In this short time, streaks of escaping light crisscrossed as these Nascent Soul cultivators, some in groups, some alone, departed from Wind-Sand City.
Dao Lord Jinghe said, "Buyan and Ding Luan will stay behind to handle the situation. After we report to the Immortal Alliance, they will dispatch a group of cultivators to guard this place. You two have found a huge batch of resources for the Immortal Alliance; you'll definitely be rewarded."
This last sentence was directed at Mo Tiange and Qin Xi. This mission originally belonged to Huo Ziqi and Zong Si. Unexpectedly, they both died tragically, while Mo Tiange and Qin Xi, who coincidentally came to the Extreme West, completed the task. This secret repository was precisely what the Immortal Alliance needed for fighting on two fronts.
With the establishment of the Immortal Alliance, it naturally needed to mobilize resources and establish the Immortal Alliance's own repository to supply the materials needed for the war effort. They couldn't always rely on each sect to handle their own. Any organization without financial control in hand easily becomes an empty shell. However, the complexity of the Immortal Alliance's membership was unprecedented in Tianji Region's history. All Tianji Region's cultivators, whether from major sects or minor loose cultivators, were brought under the Immortal Alliance's jurisdiction. Thus, how to establish this repository, where to mobilize resources from, and what share each sect should contribute became thorny issues.
Over this matter, the Elder Council in Kunzhong City had argued countless times. Right at this moment, the Extreme West treasure map they hadn't held much hope for actually led to the discovery of an ancient major sect's secret repository, solving the problem at once. This secret repository was too substantial. If they were to divide it, who would get what, who would get more, who would get less—these were all problems. If handled poorly, internal conflicts could arise within the Immortal Alliance. It was better to directly incorporate it into the Immortal Alliance repository. That way, the various factions wouldn't have to rack their brains to shirk responsibility or argue over resource allocation.
Most importantly, this secret repository carried more weight than any single sect's repository. Thus, the Immortal Alliance's position would be firmly secured. Of course, there needed to be subsequent means of accumulating wealth, but that was a matter for the future.
Mo Tiange asked, "What kind of reward? A Spirit Treasure?"
"Dream on!" Dao Lord Jinghe glared at her, then said indifferently, "Probably just picking a few things from the repository." He had already inspected this repository. There weren't any astonishing magic treasures, mostly materials. Although rare, they weren't particularly covetable.
"In that case, Master can receive it on our behalf."
Dao Lord Jinghe glanced at her and asked, "You two aren't planning to go to the Immortal Alliance?"
"Master, I haven't achieved my goal yet, and time is short!"
"Alright," Dao Lord Jinghe thought for a moment and said, "This matter, your master will handle for you. However, now that the Immortal Alliance is established and we're fighting on two fronts, the need for manpower is immense. Our Xuanqing Sect has eight Nascent Souls; missing you two isn't a big deal. But we can't always have others stepping forward. Once this matter is settled, you two need to take their place."
"Yes," Mo Tiange and Qin Xi responded. Qin Xi was fine with it, but Mo Tiange knew that apart from managing miscellaneous affairs on Clear Spring Peak in the past, she had hardly contributed to the sect. In normal times, she could rightfully enjoy the sect's provisions, but these were troubled times. Not contributing to the sect would be unreasonable.
"If there's ultimately no result, don't be afraid," Dao Lord Jinghe said, looking at Mo Tiange. "Yuan Ying, Buyan, and those other old fellows all have some friendship with me. When the time comes, we late-Nascent Soul cultivators will gather. I don't believe we can't solve your problem."
"Mm," Mo Tiange was deeply moved. Since becoming her master's disciple, her master had done too much for her, while she had done very little for him. In the future, if needed, she would definitely go through fire and water for her master.
"Alright!" Dao Lord Jinghe waved his hand, transforming the pavilion back into a cloud carriage. "Your master is returning to Kunwu. You two, come back early if you have nothing else." Without waiting for their reply, he waved and rode the cloud carriage, disappearing into the horizon.
By the time Dao Lord Jinghe's figure vanished, there were no other Nascent Soul cultivators around. The four of them looked at each other. Mo Tiange spoke first: "What about you all?"
Nie Wushang said, "I'm returning to Yunzhong. Over these past days, I've been thinking that my master probably has some method to know my location. That's why as soon as I returned to the Tianji Region, he found me. Now that he's seriously injured, it's a good opportunity for me. I want to use this time to properly improve my cultivation."
"But don't you lack a cultivation method?" Mo Tiange asked.
Nie Wushang smiled bitterly. "Unless my master is willing to pass on his method, where would I get one from? Fortunately, I've already reached Nascent Soul. At worst, I can slowly explore and create my own method."
Even so, creating one's own method was not that easy.
"That won't be necessary," Qin Xi took out a Qiankun Bag and handed it to her. "If my guess is correct, this item is related to your cultivation method."
Nie Wushang took it. Upon touching the Qiankun Bag, she discovered it was a stone stele and was stunned.
Mo Tiange knew what he had taken out must be the Demonic Stele obtained from Mei Feng, so she said, "This is a demonic cultivator's item, useless to us. You keep it."
Nie Wushang nodded, revealing a smile. "Alright." Great kindness need not be spoken; she would repay it when the opportunity arose.
"What about you?" Mo Tiange turned to Jing Xingzhi.
Jing Xingzhi said, "Since I have nothing else to do, I'll go seek the opportunity Uncle-Master Yuan Ying gave me."
Mo Tiange curled her lip. This guy, now that Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying wasn't here, he was willing to call him Uncle-Master.
"You two have important matters, right?" Jing Xingzhi looked at the two of them. Earlier, when Dao Lord Jinghe mentioned gathering the Tianji Region's late-Nascent Soul great cultivators, they knew Mo Tiange's problem was very serious.
Qin Xi nodded and sighed.
"Do you need our help?" Jing Xingzhi said matter-of-factly. Nie Wushang didn't object either.
"This matter isn't something more people can solve," Qin Xi shook his head. "You go ahead."
"Alright, call if you need anything." Jing Xingzhi took out a jade talisman, split off a trace of his divine sense and fused it inside, then tossed it to them.
"Leaving." Without another word of nonsense, Jing Xingzhi rode his sword and departed.
Nie Wushang did the same, giving them a Long-range Communication Talisman. "I'm leaving too. A hundred years is still too short."
"Until we meet again," Mo Tiange said sincerely.
Nie Wushang smiled, nodded, and similarly without a word of farewell, transformed into a black streak of escaping light and sped away into the distance.