When Mo Tiange returned to Fengxi Valley, Ziwei Sanren did not assume she had completed his commission. He himself considered it an arduous task.
If Xiao Zilan had passed away within her sect's territory, then, given her status as an elite disciple of a major sect, simply posting a reward mission within the sect would have sufficed. But she hadn't. For over a hundred years, she never returned.
Now, Mo Tiange was back. One hundred and fifty-two years, from Foundation Establishment to Nascent Soul—this was an almost unreplicable myth. Therefore, he naturally assumed she simply hadn't had the time to search for Xiao Zilan's place of demise, and her return here might be due to a lack of leads.
He never expected that she had truly succeeded—and what she found was not remains, but a soul! Ziwei Sanren was momentarily so agitated he couldn't speak.
After a long while, he asked in a hoarse voice, "Her soul... it still exists?"
"Yes," Mo Tiange replied, taking the Soul Pearl from her bosom.
After releasing tens of thousands of souls, only Xiao Zilan remained within the pearl. The pearl's grey color had faded, leaving only a faint, ghostly luminescence. Within that glow, Xiao Zilan's figure could vaguely be seen.
"Let me see her."
However, Mo Tiange put the Soul Pearl away. "Does this count as fulfilling Senior's commission?"
"It does!" Ziwei Sanren answered without hesitation.
"Then I ask Senior to release the restriction and honor the promise."
Ziwei Sanren sighed softly. "That restriction is now ineffective."
Mo Tiange was taken aback. "How so?"
Ziwei Sanren gave a bitter smile. "Though I was proud of my talent, I couldn't possibly place a restriction on a Nascent Soul cultivator with just a wisp of divine sense. At the Foundation Establishment stage, the restriction was naturally effective. It still existed at Core Formation. But once you formed your Nascent Soul, the Heaven and Earth's Primordial Qi would reshape your body. How could my tiny wisp of divine sense resist the power of Heaven and Earth? The restriction in your mind still exists, but it will no longer activate. I will teach you a technique to refine and dissolve it using your spiritual sense."
Mo Tiange was stunned for a long moment. So, she had essentially been tricked? Even if she hadn't returned, this restriction wouldn't have activated?
Qin Xi frowned almost imperceptibly. "Senior's methods are hardly honorable."
"Honorable?" Ziwei Sanren's voice was filled with bitterness. "No matter how peerless one was in life, once fallen, one has nothing. Before my passing, I spent decades turning Fengxi Valley into a grand formation, left behind this divine sense, and exhausted all schemes to attract Foundation Establishment cultivators... Why didn't I want Nascent Soul cultivators? Because even if I could trap a Nascent Soul cultivator to death, I couldn't control them to fulfill my wish..."
Everyone fell silent. Cultivators like them, no matter how powerful, could never escape the might of Heaven and Earth, the principles of life and death...
Ziwei Sanren let out a long sigh. "Now that you are at the Nascent Soul stage, and my disciple is only at Core Formation, even if you wanted Fengxi Valley, I could do nothing. I can only blame myself for failing to calculate that you would form your Nascent Soul in such a short time."
"Sister Ye," Shang Ruwan said sincerely, "My master was wrong in this matter, but he harbored no harmful intent. Since I have inherited my master's legacy, and he is no longer here, I should take responsibility. Everything in Fengxi Valley was what Master promised you. Beyond that, I am willing to be at your command from now on."
With the last sentence, she lowered her gaze, her demeanor respectful, no longer as familiar as before.
"Sister Shang..." Mo Tiange looked at her, her gaze complex. "You truly value sentiment and righteousness."
Shang Ruwan smiled faintly, looking towards the stone table, her tone distant. "Back then, though I survived, my heart was dead ashes. If Master hadn't taken pity on my loneliness and suffering, Shang Ruwan would have long ceased to exist in this world. Master gave me a second life. No matter how I repay him, it is only right."
Mo Tiange recalled the matter of their marriage and also felt a pang of sorrow. No matter how flawed Yao Zixiu was, the feelings between him and Shang Ruwan were genuine and deep. Shang Ruwan had loved deeply. After the painful loss of her beloved, she must have lost the will to live. As for Ziwei Sanren, he had been proud all his life, with only Xiao Zilan as the irreparable regret of his life. Yet fate played its tricks, preventing them from being together.
Both had been deeply wounded by love, sharing the same pain. No wonder Ziwei Sanren took pity on her and passed on his legacy.
Mo Tiange sighed, took out the Soul Pearl again, and without a word, broke its binding, releasing Xiao Zilan.
A wisp of light smoke drifted out of the Soul Pearl, taking the form of a woman. Xiao Zilan opened her eyes and looked around. "Where is this..."
Mo Tiange remained silent until, moments later, Ziwei Sanren's trembling voice rang out. "Zilan..."
After just those two words, Ziwei Sanren could speak no more.
Xiao Zilan froze abruptly. "You... you..."
A wisp of divine sense and a soul faced each other in wordless silence.
Shang Ruwan gestured to Mo Tiange, and the four of them silently left the stone chamber.
The stone door blocked out sound. The four stood in silence.
After a moment, Shang Ruwan broke the silence with a smile. "Sister Ye, what is the current state of affairs? We are secluded in the mortal world, not well-informed. We don't know how the war is progressing."
"I'm not entirely sure either," Mo Tiange said. "It seems to be at a stalemate."
"Oh?" Shang Ruwan was surprised. "Wasn't the Immortal Alliance established? With your cultivation, you should be listed among the Immortal Alliance's Elders. How could you not know the situation clearly?"
Mo Tiange spoke vaguely. "It's a long story. Simply put, I've been traveling abroad these past few years and only returned recently, so I'm not very clear on the current state of affairs."
"Oh..." Shang Ruwan didn't press further, knowing some matters were personal secrets.
"Lady Shang," Qin Xi asked, "All cultivators of Tianji belong to the Immortal Alliance. Have you received a summons order?"
Shang Ruwan shook her head. "With Senior Uncle Yuan Ying's guarantee, the Immortal Alliance has not summoned us." She paused, looking at Mo Tiange. "If we were to go to the Xuanqing Sect in the future, it would be up to you."
Mo Tiange was startled, realizing Shang Ruwan was serious. She shook her head with a smile. "Soon, we will also be joining the war. You needn't take those words from earlier seriously."
She paused, then said, "I will not relinquish the promise Ziwei Senior once made. However, given our past connection, I will not take Fengxi Valley."
Shang Ruwan sighed in relief and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Sister."
"No need for such courtesy." Mo Tiange helped her up.
Shang Ruwan explained, "Fengxi Valley now has many mortals. Moving them would be inconvenient. It's not that I'm unwilling to give it to you."
Mo Tiange smiled, not minding. If things were truly as stated earlier, Shang Ruwan would essentially be recognizing her as master. Who would willingly become a servant or slave, even for Ziwei Sanren's sake? And from her perspective, taking Shang Ruwan as a servant was unnecessary. She was now a Nascent Soul cultivator; there were plenty within the Xuanqing Sect to handle matters for her.
Jing Xingzhi suddenly spoke up. "Lady Shang, since you are under Master Ziwei, Senior Uncle Yuan Ying presumably recognizes you as a disciple of the Ancient Sword Sect, correct?"
Shang Ruwan nodded. "Yes."
"If so, now that Master Ziwei is gone, you could also return to the Ancient Sword Sect."
Shang Ruwan smiled, understanding his good intentions. "Thank you for your concern, Senior Jing. Though Fengxi Valley is small, its defensive formation is not inferior to a sect's."
Seeing her confidence, Jing Xingzhi said no more.
The four waited for a long time before the stone door finally opened. Ziwei Sanren's voice sounded. "Come in, all of you."
Inside the stone chamber, nothing had changed. Xiao Zilan stood quietly, her gaze calm as she looked at them.
Before the four could speak, Ziwei Sanren said, "Little girl, thank you for finding Zilan for me." His voice was also very calm; presumably, the two had reconciled.
Mo Tiange surmised as much and replied, "If Senior hadn't placed the restriction, this junior wouldn't have gone to search for Senior Xiao. There's nothing to thank."
Her tone was indifferent, carrying a sense of distance. Having been deceived for over a hundred years, often fearing time was running out, she wasn't holding a grudge, but she wasn't entirely unperturbed either.
Ziwei Sanren detected it and smiled bitterly. "You really hold a grudge, girl. You didn't lose out in this matter. The accumulation of my lifetime is no ordinary treasure."
Even so, how could mere wealth move Mo Tiange?
Seeing her unmoved, Ziwei Sanren added, "Insights on God Transformation—surely that can compensate you?"
Only then did Mo Tiange's eyes brighten. "Truly?"
"Of course. How could I break my word to a junior?" Ziwei Sanren said. "As long as you don't make things difficult for my disciples."
Mo Tiange smiled upon hearing this, revealing gleaming teeth. "This junior never intended to make things difficult for them."
"..." Ziwei Sanren said to Shang Ruwan, "Disciple, later take them to Jixia Cave."
"Yes, Master," Shang Ruwan replied respectfully.
"Young man surnamed Jing," Ziwei Sanren called out, "Have you made up your mind?"
Jing Xingzhi's expression was complex. "This junior has." He paused, his resolve gradually solidifying. "This junior does not wish to return to the Ancient Sword Sect for the sake of some objective."
Ziwei Sanren was silent for a moment, then sighed deeply. "Good. You have your own convictions. Given time, you will surely become a grandmaster of your generation."
Jing Xingzhi lowered his head, saying nothing. Comprehending the Sword Intent insights of the God Transformation realm was an irresistible temptation for a sword cultivator, yet he still made this decision. A few days ago, he had told Sword Sovereign Yuan Ying he was unwilling to return to the Ancient Sword Sect. To go back now for sword techniques would be contrary to his true heart.
"However," Ziwei Sanren's tone shifted, "Your ability to adhere to your true heart makes you worthy of receiving my inheritance."
Ah? Jing Xingzhi suddenly looked up, stunned.
Ziwei Sanren's voice carried a hint of laughter. "Since Yuan Ying sent you here, it means he acknowledges you. He is the head of the Ancient Sword Sect; why should I worry unnecessarily?"
Understanding his meaning, Jing Xingzhi was moved. "Senior..."
"Disciple, take him to the Sword Cave," Ziwei Sanren instructed.
"Yes, Master."
After handling these matters, Ziwei Sanren let out a long sigh. "Alright, all of you may go now. Being able to see Zilan again before my divine sense dissipates... I am content with this life."
Shang Ruwan caught the note of finality in his words and was startled. "Master?!"
Ziwei Sanren chuckled. "Your master couldn't have lasted much longer anyway. There's no need for you to grieve."
"..." Shang Ruwan said nothing, but her expression was sorrowful.
Mo Tiange couldn't help but think of Fuxiaozi and also fell silent.
"Being able to spend these last moments with Zilan, I am already very satisfied. In a few more decades, I will dissipate, and Zilan will also re-enter the cycle of rebirth. Perhaps, in our next life, we will be fated to meet again..."
"Go now," Ziwei Sanren's voice was content. "I have no regrets in this life."
Shang Ruwan lowered her head, performed a solemn bow, and led the three others out.