"What is Liu Dingyuan's scheme?" Mo Tiange asked privately.
Qin Xi gave a slight, scornful smile. "It's just about borrowing strength. The Tiandao Sect is located at Tianmo Mountain, close to the East Sea. Now that we're at war with the demonic path, the Tiandao Sect is already on the front lines. If the demonic cultivators from the East Sea break through Tianmo Mountain's natural defenses and come to Kunwu, the Tiandao Sect would be attacked from both sides. Now that our sect's strength has surpassed theirs, if they get besieged by both demonic and demonic cultivators, their low-level disciples will suffer heavy losses. At that point, they might not even be able to protect their sect's foundation."
Mo Tiange nodded. "It's fortunate our sect's headquarters are in West Kunwu. Neither demonic cultivators nor the demonic path can directly attack our mountain gate."
"That's true," Qin Xi said. "But during peaceful times, Tiandao Sect disciples often advance faster than ours." The Xuanqing Sect had been the perpetual second place for millennia precisely because of this. Although Xuanqing disciples also went to the southern forests for training, compared to the Tiandao Sect's proximity to Tianmo Mountain, they lacked a sense of crisis and thus didn't grow as readily. The reason the Xuanqing Sect was rising now, aside from coincidentally having so many talented disciples, was largely because during this special period, the Tiandao Sect had suffered massive disciple losses and had no successors.
Qin Xi continued, "The reason they're sending us with Feng Ning is because the three of us hold significant positions within the sect. To boast a little, the future of the Xuanqing Sect largely rests on us. Senior Brother Zhenyang would absolutely never let anything happen to us. As for Feng Ning, she's the precious daughter of the Luan-Feng Immortal Couple. Sending her means her parents will make all necessary preparations. That way, he doesn't have to worry about the East Sea affairs."
"It's also confidence in your strength, right?" Mo Tiange glanced at him with a smile.
Qin Xi chuckled. "Alright, I'll say it without shame: yes." For one, a mid-stage cultivator was worth several early-stage ones. Secondly, after he returned, word had spread about his forceful crossing of the South Sea. Plus, now that Tianji and Yunzhong were in contact, his reputation in Yunzhong—where he had easily slain Mei Feng and dealt with several major powers—was fearsome.
They didn't rest long in Kunzhong City before selecting their team and preparing to depart.
Of the six Core Formation cultivators they brought, Dao Lord Zhenyang specifically named Bai Yanfei to go with them. Mo Tiange proactively requested Kuang Zhu—this Senior Brother's medical skills were superb, and having him along would greatly reduce casualties.
Among the Foundation Establishment cultivators, Wu Feishuang had long been confirmed to follow them. Shui Linbo was also returning to the East Sea, her homeland. Ye Zhenji would remain in Kunzhong City to fight the demonic cultivators.
Several days later, ten Core Formation cultivators and three hundred Foundation Establishment disciples from various sects boarded the Flying Side Treasure Ship, heading for the East Sea.
As they boarded, they finally met the precious daughter of the Luan-Feng Immortal Couple: Feng Ning.
Ding Luan and Feng Xiao always said Feng Ning was spoiled, mischievous, of mediocre aptitude, bad temper, unstable temperament—in short, nothing but flaws. Upon meeting Feng Ning, Mo Tiange realized the couple had been speaking pure nonsense with their eyes wide open.
Feng Ning was extremely beautiful, resembling Ding Luan by five parts and Feng Xiao by three. With parents like those two, a matched pair, their daughter couldn't be bad-looking.
Once on board, she politely greeted them, then stood quietly to the side. Though somewhat aloof, she was impeccably courteous.
Mo Tiange sent a voice transmission: "This Miss Feng doesn't seem like a spoiled young lady. The Luan-Feng duo's words were untrue."
Qin Xi smiled and replied, "They were speaking in reverse. They say their daughter is this and that bad, but in reality, they dote on her to the point of confusing right and wrong. In the Biyun Sect, she's practically the supreme ruler. Whatever she says, that couple absolutely obeys. If she said the sun rises in the west, they'd never say east."
"..." Mo Tiange secretly glanced at Feng Ning. "With that kind of doting, it's surprising this Miss Feng wasn't spoiled rotten."
"How do you know she wasn't? She's quite proper in front of outsiders, but in front of her parents, she causes plenty of unreasonable trouble."
Mo Tiange shot him a look. "You know so clearly. Are you very familiar with them?"
Qin Xi paused. "Master had some acquaintance with the Luan-Feng duo. I've met Feng Ning a few times. I heard these things from Master." He certainly wouldn't mention that Ding Luan had once tried to betroth Feng Ning to him. Though it was said in jest, that couple might not have been entirely joking. However, at that time, his heart was set only on cultivation, and he kept a respectful distance from Feng Ning's spoiled nature. Later, at Tianmo Mountain, when Dao Lord Jinghe said he had someone in his heart, Ding Luan never made such jokes again.
No matter how outstanding he was, Feng Ning was the apple of the Luan-Feng Immortal Couple's eye. She had plenty of talented suitors to choose from; no need to fixate on him. Though when he formed his Nascent Soul, Ding Luan probably regretted not acting sooner—then Mo Tiange wouldn't have been in the picture.
Qin Xi was determined not to reveal a single word of this. He had never been interested in Feng Ning. If he spoke of it now, it would just give Mo Tiange leverage to hold over him, something to bring up whenever she was displeased, leaving him speechless.
Two days passed. The Flying Side Treasure Ship reached the east of Kunwu. The two of them stood at the ship's bow, watching the forests below slowly recede, when they suddenly saw two peaks standing side by side.
"There..." Mo Tiange stared at that place with complex emotions.
Qin Xi's gaze swept over it. "The Yunwu Sect," he said softly.
Since leaving the Yunwu Sect during Qi Refining, they had never returned. One hundred and seventy years—the Yunwu Mountains were surely unrecognizable now. The disciples from back then, those who hadn't perished or passed away from old age, had probably all reached Foundation Establishment. They might have heard the names Qin Shoujing and Mo Qingwei, but they'd never imagine they were once ordinary disciples of the Yunwu Sect.
Mo Tiange thought of Wang Qianyi and Shen Bing, whom they'd met at Tianmo Mountain. "I wonder if anyone formed a Golden Core..."
As for Nascent Soul, there was no need to wonder. All Nascent Soul cultivators in Tianji had been to Kunzhong City. During their few days there, they hadn't heard of any Nascent Soul cultivators from the Yunwu Sect. Presumably, after that Nascent Soul elder from the Zixia Sect passed away, none of the three sects produced a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Those old friends all had ordinary aptitudes. In the Xuanqing Sect, they wouldn't even rank. Even if they encountered great opportunities, forming a Nascent Soul would take at least another hundred years.
The Yunwu Sect gradually faded into the distance. After a long while, Qin Xi said, "I once asked the Administration Hall about the Yunwu Sect's current state. They reported that the two Jiang Clan Core Formation cultivators, whom I severely injured back then, never recovered. A hundred years ago, they were killed by a former Core Formation elder of the Yunwu Sect. The Jiang Clan cultivators were slaughtered, leaving only some insignificant mortals who were expelled from the Yunwu Mountains."
Although several of the Yunwu Sect's Core Formation elders had been killed by the Zixia Sect, some had escaped, and others had endured humiliation. Without the Zixia Sect, the Jiang Clan couldn't possibly control the Yunwu Sect.
Mo Tiange sighed. "When they were arrogant and domineering, they never imagined such a day, did they?"
Qin Xi smiled slightly and added, "Also, I have good news. That Senior Brother Jiang from back then formed his Golden Core. He returned once and is now a nominal guest elder of the Yunwu Sect."
"Oh? He formed his Core? Why didn't he send me a message?"
Qin Xi said, "Have you forgotten you disappeared from Tianji for nearly a hundred years? Senior Brother Jiang once sent a verbal message, but you weren't here then. As for now... I suppose he's heard you returned to Tianji, but I don't know if he still wishes to associate."
"..." Mo Tiange thought for a moment, then shook her head. If it were someone else, they might fawn upon learning she'd formed her Nascent Soul. But Jiang Shanghang might not. He was quite proud; he might even avoid her. When she had time, she'd visit the Zhengfa Sect to see if they could still interact as before.
Past the Yunwu Sect, they soon reached Tianmo Mountain. This mountain range stretched past the Tiandao Sect, deep into Kunwu's interior, like a claw slanting over, cradling the Tiandao Sect in its palm.
This was an offshoot of Tianmo Mountain. The demonic energy wasn't intense, but the air currents were turbulent, the aura strange. Precisely because Tianmo Mountain was such a treacherous place, cultivators below Nascent Soul couldn't cross it to travel to and from the East Sea; they could only rely on the Bixuan Pavilion's Teleportation Array.
Now they had the Flying Side Treasure Ship and Nascent Soul cultivators aboard. Crossing Tianmo Mountain directly was even better than the Teleportation Array, because the array cost a fortune—transporting hundreds of people was extremely expensive.
Speaking of which, Yunzhong was more convenient. Teleportation Arrays were widespread and cost less. Tianji's array proficiency really couldn't compare to Yunzhong's; Teleportation Arrays were pitifully few. Hmm, she had Mo Yaoqing's notes and understood Yunzhong's arrays. She should pass them to the sect's array masters sometime, have the Immortal Alliance fund the construction of Teleportation Arrays across Tianji. That would be much more convenient.
Entering Tianmo Mountain's territory, countless streams of demonic energy and fierce winds assaulted the treasure ship. Qin Xi had already activated the ship's defensive formation. With a hum, a light shield enveloped the ship. The demonic energy and winds struck the shield without effect.
This Flying Side Treasure Ship was considered a top-grade magical treasure. Not only could it carry people, it also had several sets of formations for both attack and defense.
After half a day, the ship finally left Tianmo Mountain's range, and the vast sea where water met sky appeared in the distance.
Mo Tiange spotted the Bixuan Pavilion at a glance. Its protective grand formation was still intact, and the sect itself showed no major changes. As for Linhai City, it had become a ruined city.
What a pity, Mo Tiange thought. With Linhai City destroyed, who knew how many lives had been lost to demonic beasts. Demonic beasts and humans were natural enemies.
As the treasure ship entered the East Sea, a streak of light shot up from within the Bixuan Pavilion, stopping before them.
Clad in red, with phoenix eyes containing authority—it was the Tiandao Sect's Fairy Fengqing.
Fairy Fengqing's temper wasn't great; it showed on her face.
"So it's Fellow Daoists Shoujing and Qingwei." Having met them once before, Fairy Fengqing recognized them. Moreover, she had already received the Immortal Alliance's message.
Mo Tiange and Qin Xi returned the greeting. "Fellow Daoist Fengqing."
Feng Ning also emerged, giving a faint bow. "Fellow Daoist Fengqing."
Seeing Mo Tiange and Qin Xi, Fairy Fengqing's expression had already darkened somewhat. Seeing Feng Ning made it even worse. Her dislike for Mo Tiange and Qin Xi was related to the Xuanqing Sect. If not for their successive Nascent Soul formations, the Tiandao Sect wouldn't have lost its top sect status. Her dislike for Feng Ning stemmed from a past incident.
Fengqing, Feng Ning—at first hearing, they sounded like sisters. In reality, Fairy Fengqing was of the same generation as Dao Lord Miaoyi, four hundred years older than them. She had no relation whatsoever to the Biyun Sect's Luan-Feng Immortal Couple; they merely shared the surname Feng.
In the past, before Feng Ning existed, Fairy Fengqing was also a famous beauty. Many in Kunwu praised her for having phoenix-like grace, calling her Fairy Phoenix. Later, when the Luan-Feng Immortal Couple gave birth to Feng Ning, Feng Ning's beauty became quite renowned among the younger generation of disciples.
Fairy Fengqing, being several hundred years old, wouldn't envy Feng Ning over this. But once, during a gathering of Nascent Soul cultivators, she overheard someone mention 'Fairy Phoenix.' Having just arrived, she thought they meant her and modestly demurred. Who would have thought that person was saying they had recently taken a junior to the Biyun Sect, met Feng Ning, and been struck by her celestial beauty, declaring she was the true Fairy Phoenix, peerless in beauty.
The scene instantly turned awkward. Though someone smoothed things over, saying both Fairy Phoenixes were exceptionally beautiful, Fairy Fengqing had already lost face, irrecoverably. Fairy Fengqing's temper was somewhat fiery to begin with. Though she wouldn't go cause trouble for Feng Ning, she held a grudge in her heart.