Mo Tiange was astonished. How could there be people inside Fengxi Valley? Although Ziwei Sanren was now just a wisp of divine sense, the power of the grand formation he left behind was immense. Surely no one could have occupied Fengxi Valley, could they?
As she was thinking this, the approaching figure quickly flew up.
Not one person, but a group.
Eight Foundation Establishment female disciples stood on either side, led by a Core Formation female cultivator, all stepping onto a giant flying sword as they drifted upwards.
The three of them stared unblinkingly at these nine people.
Seeing them, the Core Formation female cultivator showed a look of surprise on her face. Her gaze swept over Jing Xingzhi, then Qin Xi, finally settling on Mo Tiange.
"Little Sister Ye?" What came out of her mouth was a question.
Mo Tiange was slightly taken aback, studying her. She appeared to be around thirty, with gentle and graceful features. Though she had an alluring charm, there was also an air of proud aloofness about her.
She hesitantly spoke, "Sister Shang?"
The female cultivator smiled, curving her brows. "It's me indeed."
Mo Tiange was surprised. Shang Ruwan's current appearance was vastly different from back then—not her looks, but her demeanor. The Shang Ruwan of the past was gentle and magnanimous. The Shang Ruwan now, beneath her gentle exterior, held a sharp sword aura!
Seeing the sword on her back, Mo Tiange blurted out, "You... you've received Ziwei Sanren's legacy?"
Shang Ruwan nodded lightly. "This is still the opportunity you left me, Little Sister. If it weren't for your kind-hearted rescue back then, I'm afraid I would have died long ago. How could I have had the chance to become a disciple under my master?" Although she was only at Core Formation while Mo Tiange had already reached Nascent Soul, she still addressed her as "Little Sister," her expression calm and without a trace of discomfort.
Seeing this, Mo Tiange not only didn't feel offended by Shang Ruwan's familiarity, but instead sighed with admiration. Shang Ruwan's mindset had improved compared to the past. Meeting a Nascent Soul cultivator, she remained composed and steady, even able to converse as naturally as before.
"However," Shang Ruwan smiled again, "no matter what, I can't compare to you, Little Sister. In just over a hundred years, you've risen from Foundation Establishment to Nascent Soul. You're truly a first-rate genius in the Tianji Region. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I truly wouldn't have believed it."
"Sister Shang is not bad either," Mo Tiange replied. "Back then you were only at early Foundation Establishment, but now you're at mid Core Formation. Presumably, forming your Nascent Soul won't be too far off." Of course, such speed couldn't compare to her own, but it was not inferior to the elite disciples of the Xuanqing Sect.
Shang Ruwan, however, smiled. "Others might say that, but hearing such praise from you, Little Sister, truly makes me feel ashamed."
Mo Tiange smiled back. Seeing Shang Ruwan again filled her with amazement. Back when she left Shang Ruwan in Ziwei Sanren's cave dwelling, she had occasionally wondered if Shang Ruwan had survived. She never expected that not only had Shang Ruwan survived, but she had also obtained Ziwei Sanren's legacy. Don't be fooled by Shang Ruwan's current Core Formation stage. With her mindset and Ziwei Sanren's swordsmanship, advancing to Nascent Soul was only a matter of time.
Shang Ruwan paused for a moment, her gaze shifting to Qin Xi and Jing Xingzhi. "And these two are?"
"Ah," Mo Tiange introduced, "This is Fellow Daoist Jing Xingzhi, from the Ancient Sword Sect."
Shang Ruwan's eyes lit up, then she bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Senior Jing."
Ziwei Sanren originated from the Ancient Sword Sect, so she could also be considered a descendant of the Ancient Sword Sect. Calculated this way, she and Jing Xingzhi could be considered fellow disciples.
Knowing that Shang Ruwan was the legacy successor of that senior, Jing Xingzhi put away his casual demeanor and returned the courtesy politely.
"And this one?" Shang Ruwan asked with a smile, looking at Qin Xi. She had experienced deep affection in the past; how could she not see that the relationship between these two was extraordinary? Though there were no intimate gestures, their actions showed a natural closeness and tacit understanding.
"This is my Senior Brother, and also my Dao Companion. He is from the same sect as me. His surname is Qin, and his Daoist name is Shoujing," Mo Tiange stated frankly.
A flicker of surprise passed over Shang Ruwan's face. "So Senior is Qin Shoujing of the Xuanqing Sect." Her gaze shifted, landing on Mo Tiange with a meaningful look. "I suddenly recall a rumor. Under Dao Lord Jinghe of the Xuanqing Sect, there are two genius cultivators: one is a junior clansman named Qin Shoujing, and the other is his last disciple, Mo Qingwei. I wonder..."
Mo Tiange looked slightly embarrassed. "I did not speak truthfully back then. Please don't blame me, Sister Shang."
Shang Ruwan laughed. "How dare I blame you? Little Sister is now a top-tier cultivator renowned throughout the Tianji Region. For me to still call you 'Little Sister' is already presuming on our past acquaintance."
Mo Tiange smiled without speaking.
After laughing, Shang Ruwan's expression turned serious. "Are you all here to see my master?"
"Yes," Mo Tiange replied. "May I trouble Sister Shang to announce us? I have fulfilled our former agreement and seek an audience with Senior Ziwei."
"Oh?" Shang Ruwan's surprise contained joy. "You've found Master's wife?"
"You could say so," Mo Tiange answered. The original agreement was to find Xiao Zilan's remains and bury them together with Ziwei Sanren. However, Xiao Zilan perished within the Boundary of the Ghost City five thousand years ago. She truly didn't have the ability to retrieve the remains. Fortunately, she had found Xiao Zilan's soul, which should count as fulfilling the agreement.
Shang Ruwan nodded without wasting words, stepping aside. "Master has instructed that if it is regarding this matter, you may see him directly. Please follow me."
The three of them boarded the giant flying sword. Shang Ruwan manipulated the flying sword, descending to the bottom of the valley.
After disembarking from the sword and seeing the scene within the valley, Mo Tiange was astonished. "Sister Shang, this is..."
Inside Fengxi Valley, people were coming and going. Some were practicing swordsmanship, some were planting spirit herbs, some were handling game, and others were teaching children to read. Looking more carefully, a circle of stone houses had been built along the valley floor, resembling the scale of a small sect.
Shang Ruwan smiled as she looked at the scene before her. "Master once saved a clan of mortals long ago. They multiplied here for a thousand years. Those mortals moved out of Fengxi Valley after Master passed away. After I formed my Core, Master instructed me to dismantle the grand formation here and re-establish a defensive array. This way, Fengxi Valley remained a secluded paradise, and those mortals all returned. I simply took the opportunity to accept disciples here and was fortunate enough to successfully teach a few."
"So that's how it is." No wonder when they descended earlier, there was only mist and no fierce wind.
The three followed Shang Ruwan to the statue of Xiao Zilan. The Foundation Establishment female disciples activated a mechanism and then withdrew.
"Please," Shang Ruwan gestured, leading the way into the cave.
This Ziwei cave dwelling was vastly different from before. Moonlight stones were embedded in the walls, and the floor was spotless. Led by Shang Ruwan, the three passed through the main hall, walked along a stone passageway, and arrived at the hall containing the Five Elements Platform.
Shang Ruwan made a hand seal. A stone platform silently moved over. The four stepped onto it, and the platform slowly but steadily flew towards the exit.
Leaving the Five Elements Platform, the skeletal passageway from before was also gone. Under the glowing light of the Moonlight Stone Mother, the four smoothly arrived at the stone chamber where Ziwei Sanren resided.
"Please wait a moment, you three," Shang Ruwan said. She then stepped forward a few paces, clasped her hands, closed her eyes, and began performing some unknown technique.
A moment later, a weary voice sounded within the stone chamber. "Disciple, why have you awakened your master?"
Shang Ruwan respectfully replied, "Master, the people you have been waiting for have arrived."
"Waiting for..." Ziwei Sanren paused, then suddenly exclaimed in shock, "You... Little Girl, you actually formed your Nascent Soul?!"
Mo Tiange smiled slightly and stepped forward. "Senior, it's been a long time."
"Hah..." Ziwei Sanren seemed at a loss for words, sighing wistfully. "Indeed, a new generation replaces the old. Disciple, how many years have passed?"
"Reporting to Master, it has been a full one hundred and fifty-two years since we entered the valley back then."
"One hundred and fifty-two years..." Ziwei Sanren exclaimed in amazement. "Little Girl, you're not even two hundred years old yet, are you?"
"That's correct. This junior is currently one hundred and eighty-nine years old."
"One hundred and eighty-nine..." Ziwei Sanren murmured. "When has the Tianji Region ever produced such a genius..."
Hearing his words, Mo Tiange did not feel smug, only replying calmly, "What use is genius if one cannot achieve God Transformation?"
"..." Ziwei Sanren laughed wryly. "You little girl, your ambitions are not small."
Mo Tiange smiled. "This junior still has over a thousand years of lifespan. If I didn't aspire to God Transformation, that would truly show a lack of ambition."
"Well said! How can we cultivators not have the ambition for God Transformation?" Ziwei Sanren's voice rose. "Disciple, you must remember these words."
Shang Ruwan smiled bitterly. "Master, your disciple is now two hundred and fifty years old and only at mid Core Formation. I cannot compare to Little Sister Ye."
"Hey, why belittle yourself like that? Although you started late, forming your Nascent Soul within a hundred years shouldn't be a problem. Back when I formed my Nascent Soul, I was already three hundred years old. If not for bad luck, I would have achieved God Transformation."
Knowing her master's temperament, Shang Ruwan could only say, "Yes, Master. Your disciple will work hard."
"That's more like it," Ziwei Sanren said with satisfaction. After a pause, he asked, "Little Girl, who are these two? Hmm? One of them is a sword cultivator."
Jing Xingzhi stepped forward and bowed. "Jing Xingzhi of the Ancient Sword Sect greets Senior."
Mo Tiange and Qin Xi exchanged a smile. This guy said he didn't want to be bound by a sect anymore, yet now he still identified himself as an Ancient Sword Sect cultivator.
"You are a disciple of the Ancient Sword Sect?" Ziwei Sanren said happily. "Why didn't Yuan Ying mention that there was a junior with such potential within the Ancient Sword Sect?"
Jing Xingzhi remained silent for a moment before saying, "I dare not deceive Senior. This junior left the Ancient Sword Sect a hundred years ago."
"Ah?" Ziwei Sanren was stunned, then said angrily, "Hmph! What did Yuan Ying do? Did he actually expel you from the sect?!"
Jing Xingzhi was startled and quickly produced the small flying sword given by Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying. "Senior, my leaving the Ancient Sword Sect has nothing to do with Uncle-Master Yuan Ying. Uncle-Master Yuan Ying even gave me the opportunity promised by Senior. This is the token."
"Oh?" Ziwei Sanren's divine sense wrapped around the small flying sword for a moment. "This is indeed my token without a doubt. So, you plan to return to the Ancient Sword Sect?"
"This junior... has no such plans..."
"No plans to return to the Ancient Sword Sect?" Ziwei Sanren said. "My secret legacy will not be passed on to cultivators outside the Ancient Sword Sect. If you do not return to the Ancient Sword Sect, holding this token is useless."
"..." Jing Xingzhi lowered his head in silence.
Seeing his silence, Ziwei Sanren said, "Think about it first. Tell me your decision later."
Then, he addressed Mo Tiange. "Little Girl, you... what's your name again?"
Mo Tiange was speechless for a moment before replying, "This junior is Mo Tiange, Daoist name Qingwei."
"There are still decades left. Why have you returned so early? Hoping I'll be in a generous mood and lift your restriction?"
Hearing Ziwei Sanren's matter-of-fact tone, Mo Tiange smiled. "Senior, have you never considered that this junior might have completed the task you entrusted?"
"Hmm?" Ziwei Sanren paused, realizing what she had said, and spoke urgently. "You... you say you completed..."
Mo Tiange said thoughtfully, "Not exactly completed. This junior was unable to find Senior Xiao Zilan's remains. However, I did find her soul, which has lingered in the mortal realm."