Exiting Ziwei's cave abode, Mo Tiange turned and looked up. The stone statue, dozens of zhang tall, was cleaned spotlessly. The woman's face was gentle and elegant, her long skirt fluttering, vivid and lifelike, identical in every detail to Xiao Zilan—to what degree must one miss a person to depict even these subtle qualities so clearly?
"Will you go to Jixia Cave or the Sword Cave first?" Shang Ruwan asked.
Jing Xingzhi couldn't wait: "What's the deal with the Sword Cave?"
Shang Ruwan replied, "Within the Sword Cave, there is an array set up by Master. In this array, sword energy crisscrosses, sword intent surges, sealing the sword techniques Master comprehended in his lifetime."
"Oh..." To use sword techniques to form an array, Ziwei Sanren truly possessed astonishing talent.
"So, entering the Sword Cave requires slow comprehension?" Mo Tiange asked.
Shang Ruwan nodded: "Correct. When I entered the cave years ago, it took me a full three years to comprehend."
Mo Tiange looked up at Jing Xingzhi: "Fellow Daoist Jing, if you enter the Sword Cave, we'll be leaving first."
Jing Xingzhi, his mind wholly on the Sword Cave, waved dismissively: "Whatever. It's not like I'm returning to Kunwu anyway."
Seeing his expression, Mo Tiange smiled faintly and asked, "Do you still have any of those Thunder Pearls from Wind-Sand City?"
"Thunder Pearls?" Jing Xingzhi remembered, fished one out, and said magnanimously, "I got this in the Guixu Sea. Take it, take it."
Mo Tiange accepted it without ceremony and said to Shang Ruwan, "Fellow Daoist Jing probably can't wait. Please take him there first."
Seeing Jing Xingzhi's impatient look, Shang Ruwan also pursed her lips in a smile: "Please wait here a moment, you two." Then she turned, "Senior Jing, please follow me."
"Mm, mm." Jing Xingzhi nodded, waving back at them, "Off I go."
Not long after, Shang Ruwan returned and led the two to Jixia Cave, explaining along the way: "Jixia Cave is where Master stored his treasures. All the accumulations of Master's lifetime are within Jixia Cave."
Mo Tiange looked at the mortals and cultivators busily working in the valley and asked, "What about the resources you need for cultivation?"
Shang Ruwan answered, "Many medicinal gardens have been opened in the valley, growing quite a few spirit herbs. Also, beneath the spirit vein here, there is a small spirit stone mine. Though not large, it's sufficient for our cultivation needs."
Mo Tiange nodded gently. In that case, she could take Ziwei Sanren's accumulations without any qualms.
Jixia Cave was located on a cliff face within the valley. Shang Ruwan led them up, using a special method to open the restriction, revealing the true appearance of Jixia Cave.
Upon entering the cave, Mo Tiange and Qin Xi were shocked by the contents. Various ores were scattered haphazardly, high-grade spirit stones were piled in heaps, and there were many different types of magic treasures and magical instruments.
Ziwei Sanren was definitely no pushover. To amass so many things single-handedly, how many cultivators must he have slain? Look, there were even jade slips of demonic arts here.
After the initial shock, Mo Tiange discussed with Qin Xi: "Senior Brother, these spirit artifacts and magical instruments are useless to us. Should we not take them?"
Qin Xi smiled: "You decide."
Mo Tiange picked through the items, storing some in her Qiankun Ring, and said to Shang Ruwan, "Sister Shang, we won't take the rest."
Shang Ruwan gratefully bowed: "Thank you, Sister." Most of what remained were spirit stones and low-grade magical instruments, precisely what they could use.
Exiting Jixia Cave, Mo Tiange said, "Sister Shang, we'll be leaving now. If you have any matters in the future, you can come to the Xuanqing Sect to find us."
Shang Ruwan nodded, joking, "The Ancient Sword Sect has Uncle-Master Yuanying, and the Xuanqing Sect has Sister Ye. I'm truly lucky to have two Nascent Soul cultivators as backers."
Mo Tiange also smiled: "In that case, until we meet again."
"Until we meet again."
Under Shang Ruwan's gaze, the two flew away.
Upon returning to the Xuanqing Sect, Mo Tiange immediately heard news: Luo Fengxue had successfully formed her Core and would soon take over as Sect Master.
Thus, before even warming her seat back in her cave abode, she went to Ganlu Peak.
The disciple on duty at Ganlu Peak saw her and hurried to inform Luo Fengxue, who quickly came out to greet her.
"Uncle-Master Qingwei!"
A century apart, yet Luo Fengxue still looked the same as before. Mo Tiange examined her and laughed, "First time hearing you call me Uncle-Master. It feels rather nice."
"That's easy enough. I'll call you that every day from now on," Luo Fengxue said with a radiant smile, taking her hand and leading her towards her own cave abode. "How long has it been since we last met? The last time was when Uncle-Master Shoujing formed his Nascent Soul..."
Settled in Luo Fengxue's cave abode, Mo Tiange asked, "I heard you're taking over as Sect Master?"
Luo Fengxue nodded: "Senior Brother Shen's lifespan is nearing its end. He wants to resign from the Sect Master position, so I'm taking it on."
Mo Tiange frowned: "These are troubled times. Being Sect Master won't be easy." With frequent conflicts, the Sect Master not only had to handle administrative affairs but also deploy disciples and prepare supplies—extremely tedious.
"Who else is willing to do it besides me?" Luo Fengxue said self-deprecatingly. "In peaceful times, everyone fights to be Sect Master. Now, they stay as far away as possible." Seeing Mo Tiange still frowning, she smiled again, "You don't need to feel indignant on my behalf. Becoming Sect Master was one of my goals all along. You know my nature. Becoming a Nascent Soul Dao Lord, presiding over a peak—I never had such ambitions."
Hearing this, Mo Tiange relaxed her brow: "As long as you're willing."
Luo Fengxue looked her up and down: "You were gone for decades without returning. Master and Uncle-Master Shoujing were worried something had happened to you. Only I wasn't worried—I just knew you'd return safely."
Mo Tiange laughed: "Am I an unkillable cockroach?"
"Who says you're not?" Luo Fengxue blinked. "Think about the last beast tide. In that situation, you still managed to survive."
Mo Tiange curled her lips. Luo Fengxue wasn't wrong. Since Qi Refining, she had faced many dangerous situations and always managed to escape death.
"As soon as I left seclusion, I heard you not only returned safely but also formed your Nascent Soul," Luo Fengxue said enviously. "To think, we formed our Foundations together back then. Now you're already a Nascent Soul Dao Lord, and I've barely formed my Core. I'm afraid I'll never have the chance to form a Nascent Soul."
Mo Tiange said, "You're not even two hundred years old, with plenty of lifespan left. How could there be no chance?"
But Luo Fengxue shook her head: "I don't have your unwavering Dao heart. The possibility of forming a Nascent Soul is very slim. Never mind me. You've been gone a century; you must have many stories. Tell me quickly!"
Mo Tiange chuckled. Even after forming her Golden Core and becoming a high-level cultivator, Luo Fengxue's personality remained the same as before she formed her Foundation.
After hearing Mo Tiange recount her experiences roughly, Luo Fengxue sighed with emotion: "You really are bold. With so many Nascent Soul cultivators, you actually dared to..."
Mo Tiange picked up her teacup, took a gentle sip, and smiled warmly: "No choice. If I didn't dare, I wouldn't be alive."
"That's true..."
Putting down the teacup, Mo Tiange pondered: "There's something I need your help with."
"What is it?" Luo Fengxue asked curiously. "You're a Nascent Soul Dao Lord now. Is there still something you need my help with?"
Mo Tiange smiled: "You're the future Sect Master. Who else should I ask for help if not you?"
"What's a Sect Master?" Luo Fengxue said self-deprecatingly. "Just a slightly more powerful manager. It's only because of these extraordinary times that there's more to manage."
Mo Tiange knew Luo Fengxue was being modest. On the surface, with Nascent Soul Dao Lords present, the Sect Master's power seemed small. In reality, aside from these Nascent Soul Dao Lords, everyone else had to heed the Sect Master's wishes. The Sect Master had the authority to appoint deacon elders for each hall, intervene in any hall's affairs, allocate resources, and also managed the sect's treasury. If not for the current wartime situation where the Sect Master's responsibilities were heavy and Nascent Soul Dao Lords were watching closely, preventing any underhanded moves, the Sect Master position would absolutely be something every Core Formation elder fought for.
However, this could be considered Luo Fengxue achieving her wish. Her ambitions never lay in cultivation.
"Just say what it is. With your current status, if you tell the Administration Hall, would they dare not do their utmost?"
Mo Tiange said, "I want to find a place..." She roughly explained the matter of the Five Spirit Sacrificial Temples. "Since there are Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise, it's very likely there's also a Qilin."
"That's easy," Luo Fengxue said. "Just post a task at the Administration Hall and send some disciples to keep an eye out for related news. It's just that the chances are rather slim."
"That's why I'm telling you." Mo Tiange looked at her, smiling. "For a task with little chance of results, others might not take it seriously. Telling you, you can pay more attention."
"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on it constantly." Not yet in office, Luo Fengxue was already performing Sect Master duties.
Half a day later, Mo Tiange stood to take her leave. Luo Fengxue saw her off: "In ten days, my Core Formation celebration and the Sect Master succession ceremony will be held together. You and Uncle-Master Shoujing must come to show your support."
"Don't worry, I'll be there."
Luo Fengxue, still not fully assured, reminded her several more times before letting her leave.
Mo Tiange was in a very pleasant mood. Jing Xingzhi formed his Core, Luo Fengxue formed her Core—old friends, one by one, stepping onto the Golden Core path. Speaking of which, Zhenji had already reached Foundation Establishment perfection and would soon form his Core too.
Returning to Qingquan Peak, Mo Tiange and Qin Xi sorted through the gains from their journey one by one.
The spirit beast bracelet given by Demon Lord Yeshuang was checked and found to be normal. From now on, all three spirit beasts could be stored within it, eliminating the need to carry a bunch of spirit beast pouches.
Thinking of this, she entered the Void Heaven Realm and released the three spirit beasts. For cultivation, spirit beast pouches were, of course, inferior to the Void Heaven Realm.
As soon as she opened Feifei's spirit beast pouch, a vast, solemn, and murderous aura rushed out.
"Feifei!" Seeing Feifei tumbling to the ground, Mo Tiange was shocked and quickly picked it up. "What's wrong?"
Within the golden light, Feifei struggled to open its eyes: "I... I..." Its entire body was filled with the Breath of the White Tiger, intense and violent.
"Could it be you can't absorb these auras?"
Bound by the Breath of the White Tiger, Feifei said with difficulty, "I... I need to go into seclusion."
"Alright!" Mo Tiange didn't hesitate, placing it back in the spirit beast hut.
The Breath of the White Tiger soon filled the entire Void Heaven Realm. Xiaohuo and Xiaofan hid far away, not daring to approach.
Mo Tiange grew even more uneasy. Could it be Feifei couldn't subdue this Breath of the White Tiger? What should she do? This Breath of the White Tiger was too violent. If Feifei couldn't subdue it, it would suffer backlash...
Time passed gradually. The Breath of the White Tiger remained intense. Mo Tiange set up a Heart-Calming Array outside Feifei's spirit beast hut, hoping it could help. Beyond that, she was helpless, only able to pray that Feifei could safely pass this trial.