Over a hundred years had passed. Tang Shen had already formed his Golden Core and was now at the mid-stage of Core Formation. Xia Qing's aptitude was ordinary, and she wasn't particularly passionate about cultivation; she was still at the late Foundation Establishment stage. However, her alchemy skills had improved extremely rapidly, and she was now a first-rate alchemist. Wei Haolan had indeed suffered a relapse of old injuries, drastically reducing her lifespan. Fortunately, she had prepared in advance and selected Ying Jinyi from among her many disciples to be trained as her successor.
Upon hearing this, Mo Tiange sighed. She truly hadn't expected that to be the last time she would see Wei Haolan.
Ying Jinyi said, "All the Core Formation Elders of the sect are occupied with matters and haven't had time to return yet. In a moment, Elder Tang will come to pay his respects."
Mo Tiange nodded and asked, "Has someone gone to receive the cultivators we brought?"
"Elder Ye, please rest assured," Ying Jinyi reported. "A Core Formation Elder has already opened the mountain-protecting formation and guided them inside."
"That's good."
Seeing they had no further questions, Ying Jinyi wisely took her leave. "Please rest well, Seniors. This junior has some matters to attend to and will take her leave first."
Mo Tiange gave a noncommittal hum.
After Ying Jinyi left, Mo Tiange was lost in thought for a moment before saying, "She really resembles Wei Haolan, worthy of being the successor she trained."
"Wei Haolan? The former Sect Leader of Bixuan Pavilion?" Qin Xi asked.
"Yes," Mo Tiange said vaguely. "I just feel that life isn't even half over, yet I've already seen friends pass away."
"There will be more and more in the future. You'll have to get used to it."
Tian Ge fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Did you ever return to your hometown in the mortal world later?"
Qin Xi was taken aback for a moment before nodding gently. "I went back."
Without waiting for Mo Tiange to ask further, he said softly, "I was the third child. My parents had many other children besides me. Many years later, when I returned to the Qin family, I found I simply couldn't integrate into the family I once had."
Mo Tiange watched him.
Qin Xi continued, "Our ancestors were enfeoffed as marquises for several hundred years, branching out into over a dozen lines of descendants. Some had already left the princely estate to make their own way. Our branch remained within the estate. Without a title or any business ventures, to put it bluntly, we were just living off the estate, idling away. So, we collateral branch brothers were often bullied by the direct descendants of the estate..."
"Eldest Brother had a fiery temper and would always fight with them. Second Brother was weak and let them bully him. As for me, I was neither like Eldest Brother nor Second Brother. When they bullied me, I paid them no mind. After a while, they found it boring and rarely bothered me. Father favored Eldest Brother, thinking he would have a promising future. Mother doted on Second Brother and also had to care for Little Sister, so she had no time for me. I too once hoped, hoped they would notice me, but..."
"When Master came to the estate to take me away, my status changed instantly. The Prince bestowed great rewards, and my brothers could only look at me with envy. My parents had never imagined that the one to bring them glory first would be the son they had never paid attention to. During those days, I was overjoyed, both because Master was taking me to cultivate immortality and because my parents doted on me exceptionally."
He sighed wistfully and went on, "...Thirty years later, when I returned to the estate, Father already held an official post, Eldest Brother had become a general, Second Brother had passed the imperial exams and become a Hanlin academician, and Little Sister had even become an imperial consort... The moment I returned, they were overjoyed. My parents accompanied me every day, and my siblings constantly surrounded me. At first, I was delighted in my heart, thinking I had finally obtained the parental affection I yearned for... But I later discovered they revered me because I had become an 'Immortal,' not because I was their son or brother. They were warm and affectionate towards me, yet their gazes seemed to be from a thousand miles away—respectful yet distant. There was no longer a place for me in this family."
"..." Mo Tiange remained silent. She had sought family but could not find them, while he had family by his side yet could not obtain familial affection. She truly didn't know which was more tragic.
Qin Xi lifted the corner of his mouth, looking at her with a smile. "Actually, this is for the best. If it weren't so, I wouldn't have been able to sever the ties of familial affection so easily. Since my ambition lies in the Great Dao, my mortal family ties were destined to end sooner or later."
"Hmm..."
Qin Xi added, "Before I formed my Core, I went to the estate once more. Most of my parents and siblings had passed away. It was only then that I truly comprehended this principle. Afterwards, I formed my Core, calming my heart and mind, succeeding on the first attempt."
As he spoke, someone approached from outside. "Aunt, Master."
It was Shui Linbo's voice. Mo Tiange called her in and asked, "What brings you here?"
Shui Linbo bowed her head respectfully. "Your disciple has come to attend to Master and Aunt."
Qin Xi smiled slightly. "This isn't the sect. There's no need for you to manage the cave abode. Just go and gain experience."
"This..." Shui Linbo's gaze shifted to Mo Tiange.
Mo Tiange nodded. "Go ahead."
Shui Linbo prostrated herself. "Thank you, Master. Thank you, Aunt. Your disciple takes her leave."
After she left, Mo Tiange said, "Linbo doesn't seem to consider herself our disciple."
Qin Xi laughed. "Isn't that good? It shows she isn't a greedy person."
Mo Tiange sighed but said nothing more.
Qin Xi took out the jade slip given by Fairy Fengqing and read its contents. Although her attitude had been poor, the jade slip was recorded in great detail, clearly explaining all necessary matters, including the location of the demon city and the distribution and strength of the demonic cultivators.
Just as he finished reading, someone else arrived from outside—it was Kuang Zhu.
The Xuanqing Sect's Daoist robes carried different flavors when worn by different people. Qin Xi was aloof and proud, Bai Yanfei was handsome and elegant, while Kuang Zhu was refined and graceful. This chief disciple of Lingyin Peak was said to have once been the most popular male Foundation Establishment disciple within the sect. After forming his Core, he became even more handsome and transcendent.
After entering, he bowed neither humbly nor arrogantly. "Two Senior Uncles."
Qin Xi asked, "What is it?"
"All the disciples have been settled. I came specifically to report to the two Senior Uncles."
"Any problems?"
Kuang Zhu shook his head. "Everything is fine. I just wanted to ask the Senior Uncles if we need to take over the Bixuan Pavilion's formation." For defending a mountain and guarding a gate, the formation was the most crucial thing, of course it should be held in their own hands. Moreover, Kuang Zhu didn't quite believe such a small sect could have any profound formation. Taking it over early would allow for improvements.
"No rush," Mo Tiange said. "I will personally inspect this formation. You all rest first; we'll discuss it tomorrow."
Kuang Zhu paused briefly before complying. "Yes. This disciple will take his leave first."
Just as Kuang Zhu stepped out the door, he heard a flurry of footsteps. Four Core Formation cultivators entered the courtyard, all heading this way in a rush. The two parties met, sizing each other up. Seeing his attire, the four asked, "Are you a Fellow Daoist from the Xuanqing Sect?"
"Indeed." Kuang Zhu clasped his hands towards them.
The leader was a young gentleman with fair skin, quite handsome, his face slightly flushed when he spoke, almost like a woman's.
He returned the courtesy, saying, "I am Tang Shen of Bixuan Pavilion. In these extraordinary times, our hospitality is lacking. I hope Fellow Daoist will forgive us."
Kuang Zhu replied indifferently, "How dare I." He showed no intention of introducing himself.
The four then understood the other party had no desire to associate with them. Tang Shen said, "We still need to see the two Seniors. Farewell."
Kuang Zhu stepped aside. "As you wish, Fellow Daoist."
Tang Shen and the others walked to the small flower hall and called out loudly, "Juniors, cultivators of Bixuan Pavilion, request an audience with the two Seniors."
After a moment, a voice came from within the flower hall. "Enter."
The four entered and paid their respects reverently. "We pay our respects to the two Seniors."
Seeing the leader was indeed Tang Shen, Mo Tiange was very pleased. Tang Shen's aptitude wasn't bad. Being able to break through the Core Formation barrier was truly remarkable. He might have the potential to form a Nascent Soul in the future. If so, Bixuan Pavilion could prosper once again.
"No need for such courtesy." Seeing Tang Shen look up at her with a smiling expression, Mo Tiange also smiled. "Elder Tang, it's been a long time."
Tang Shen's face flushed slightly, but his demeanor remained composed. "Yes, nearly a hundred years. It's truly wonderful to see Elder Ye again." Having said that, he looked towards Qin Xi. Before coming, he knew Dao Lord Shoujing of the Xuanqing Sect had also come. He was very curious about what Elder Ye's husband looked like. Seeing Qin Xi now, he thought to himself, with such outstanding bearing, no wonder Elder Ye was smitten.
Qin Xi smiled at him in acknowledgment, yet felt some puzzlement in his heart. Why did this person's face seem so familiar? Had they met before?
He looked for a while before asking directly, "Elder Tang, why do I find you so familiar? Have we met previously?"
Tang Shen was taken aback, staring at him carefully. He also felt somewhat familiar. Strange, this Dao Lord Shoujing shouldn't have come to the East Sea before, and he himself had only been to Kunwu once...
"Ah!" Tang Shen suddenly realized, looking at him. "This junior once had a brief encounter with Senior at Tianmo Mountain."
With this reminder, Qin Xi also remembered. Wasn't this Tang Shen the handsome young man who had followed behind Sword Venerable Fuling? The one with the Pure Yang constitution who was captured by Sword Venerable Fuling and taken into Tianmo Mountain.
Qin Xi's gaze shifted to Mo Tiange, his expression strange, leaving Mo Tiange utterly bewildered.
Did she know this Elder Tang had a Pure Yang constitution? She had mentioned coming to Bixuan Pavilion in the past, being trapped with them for twenty years, sharing life-and-death experiences. It wouldn't be strange if she had mentioned it. However, such a secret wasn't something anyone would casually reveal.
If she knew someone possessed a Pure Yang constitution, how would she react? Pure Yang and Pure Yin were a natural, perfect match. And he, even with the Yang Spirit Pearl and the Pure Yang Art, ultimately wasn't a true Pure Yang body...
In that instant, many thoughts flashed through Qin Xi's mind. In the end, he only said, "So it's you. I didn't expect you to survive after Sword Venerable Fuling perished."
Tang Shen said modestly, "It was just good luck, leaving earlier and avoiding the great disaster."
"Luck is also part of strength. Elder Tang survived a great calamity; great fortune must follow."
"Being able to form a Core is already great fortune for this junior."
The other three Core Formation Elders—one man and two women—looked at Tang Shen with envy, chatting happily with the two Nascent Soul Seniors. This was also a great opportunity...
Fortunately, the two Seniors didn't neglect them for too long. They soon inquired about the demonic cultivators and their duties.
The three answered every question, leaving out no detail, explaining everything clearly, hoping to leave a good impression on the two Nascent Soul Seniors. When Mo Tiange had come to Bixuan Pavilion in the past, they had also seen her and knew this Elder Ye excelled at alchemy. If they gained her favor, she might bestow some pills. Even if not, a few pointers would be immensely beneficial.
Holding such expectations, the three held nothing back, speaking exhaustively, continuing until evening.