Returning to the Sect Leader Hall, Qin Xi said, "Prepare to go back."
Mo Tiange was taken aback. "What's wrong?"
Qin Xi replied, "While patrolling just now, I discovered that the demon cultivator reinforcements have already arrived."
"Ah!" Mo Tiange was shocked that they had come so quickly.
"I've already instructed Hanruo and Tang Shen to gather the disciples from both sects and board the Flying Side Treasure Ship."
Mo Tiange said, "Bixuan Pavilion has two thousand disciples. Ying Jin Yi transferred a portion earlier, but there are still over a thousand left. Adding the three hundred disciples we brought, the total is around fifteen or sixteen hundred, right? With so many people, the Flying Side Treasure Ship won't be enough."
"It's fine," Qin Xi said. "We'll stay behind to cover the retreat. Those who can't fit on the Treasure Ship will be teleported to Tianji via the formation." He calculated briefly. "We should have enough time."
Apart from this, there was no better method. Even if they reported to the Immortal Alliance, firstly, it wouldn't be fast enough, and secondly, the Alliance currently couldn't spare any personnel. Abandoning Bixuan Pavilion and using the Tianmo Mountain as a natural barrier would be much easier to defend. Even if the enemy breached it, the Tiandao Sect was right nearby—it was the main base for resisting the demonic path, and Nascent Soul cultivators could be deployed at any time.
Qin Xi recorded the situation here onto a jade slip and sent a message to the Immortal Alliance—they had just sent a message to Dao Lord Zhenyang a few days ago, and before receiving a reply, their speculation had turned into reality.
Afterwards, he ordered someone to summon Bai Yanfei.
It took quite a while before Bai Yanfei arrived. His eyes were lifeless, his appearance unkempt. He bowed to the two of them. "Greetings, Uncle-Masters."
Seeing him in this state, Qin Xi's brows furrowed. He was naturally fastidious and couldn't stand others being slovenly. His voice turned cold. "Zhi Fei, a major event is upon us, yet you look so degenerate. How can you face Senior Brother Zhenyang's teachings?"
Bai Yanfei still looked listless. "With the two Uncle-Masters here, what do I count for?"
"Nonsense!" Qin Xi grew even angrier. "Aren't you the genius with a single spirit root? After a little setback, you can't get up again? If that's the case, why are you even cultivating immortality? Since you look down on yourself, then you have no business here. Get back to the Flying Side Treasure Ship and return to Xuanqing Sect!"
Although Qin Xi was aloof by nature, he was never harsh towards others. This was the first time he had spoken so severely. Scolded like this, Bai Yanfei's face flushed red, his head bowed so low he couldn't lift it. He had never been scolded like this before—not even by his own master, Dao Lord Zhenyang. Now being berated, and by Qin Xi, whom he considered his mortal rival, made it even more humiliating.
"Why are you still standing there? You have time, but I don't!"
Bai Yanfei bit his lip, turned, and left, even forgetting to take his leave.
Watching his dejected back, Mo Tiange sighed softly. If he couldn't break free from his cocoon and be reborn, this rare single spirit root would be considered wasted.
Not long after, Kuang Zhu and Tang Shen each came to report that the disciples had been assembled. Qin Xi gave the order: the Flying Side Treasure Ship was to set sail immediately, and the remaining disciples were to begin teleportation.
Mo Tiange walked within Bixuan Pavilion, looking at the carved railings, jade buildings, and the sea of flowers, and couldn't help but sigh. The disciples could leave, the valuables could be moved, but these buildings were destined to be destroyed in the flames of war. Mo Yaoqing's painstaking efforts would ultimately be destroyed.
While thinking this, she suddenly saw the Dao-Attainment Pagoda floating in the distance shrink in size and descend.
"Huh?" She was inwardly surprised. With a flick of her sleeve, she sped towards that area.
Arriving at the original location of the Dao-Attainment Pagoda, the place was now empty, with nothing there. She only saw Tang Shen standing there, holding a miniature Dao-Attainment Pagoda in his hand.
"Elder Ye!" Seeing her, Tang Shen hurriedly greeted.
Mo Tiange looked at the Dao-Attainment Pagoda in his hand and asked curiously, "Can the Dao-Attainment Pagoda shrink?"
Tang Shen nodded, his face slightly red. "The Dao-Attainment Pagoda is a magic treasure, so it can shrink."
"So that's how it is." The sect's treasury of Bixuan Pavilion was inside the Dao-Attainment Pagoda. If the pagoda could be taken away, Bixuan Pavilion's losses wouldn't be as great.
"Elder Ye..." Tang Shen looked at her, hesitation on his face.
"What is it?" Mo Tiange asked.
Tang Shen said, "We've already discussed it. Since Bixuan Pavilion can't be preserved, we can only select a new sect location in Kunwu and rebuild Bixuan Pavilion."
Mo Tiange nodded. "That's a very sensible thought. Right now is a time of turmoil. The Immortal Alliance can't possibly send people to retake the East Sea for you. Besides, even if it were retaken, it wouldn't be safe. There are no mortals along the coast now, so it's better to rebuild in Kunwu."
"Yes, it's just..." Tang Shen glanced at her. "We have no connections in Kunwu. It would be very difficult to find a place with abundant spiritual energy to rebuild the sect. So, we ask Elder Ye to lend a hand."
"That's not difficult," Mo Tiange said. "My spirit beast is most adept at treasure hunting. I'll have it help you. If a selected place already has an owner, it can negotiate on your behalf."
Tang Shen quickly bowed deeply. "Thank you, Elder Ye."
"It's a small effort, no need for thanks."
In the afternoon, they discovered that the number of eighth and ninth rank demon cultivators in the demon city had reached double digits, among which were even two tenth rank demon cultivators.
Gathering these demon cultivators already gave them the ability to challenge Bixuan Pavilion's Mountain-Protecting Great Array.
The two of them felt heavy-hearted, but Tang Shen sent another message: they still needed one day to safely send all disciples to Kunwu.
"Maybe they won't attack for a few more days," Qin Xi said.
"I hope so," Mo Tiange said, deeply worried.
However, it seemed the heavens hadn't heard their prayers. One hour later, the demon beasts from the demon city swarmed out en masse.
Mo Tiange and Qin Xi hurriedly flew back. With the Mountain-Protecting Great Array in place, they could still fight against dozens of demon cultivators. But if they got surrounded like this, it would be suicide—there were tenth rank demon cultivators among them.
Their escape light swiftly streaked across the sky as they flew into Bixuan Pavilion. Mo Tiange waved the token in her hand. With a "hum," Bixuan Pavilion's Mountain-Protecting Great Array activated fully.
A message talisman flew over. Qin Xi caught it and said, "Tang Shen says we need to hold out for at least half a day before everyone can be evacuated."
Mo Tiange nodded. Once all these disciples were teleported away, they would destroy the teleportation formation themselves and make their escape. Without burdens, it would be quite simple for Nascent Soul cultivators to flee.
As they spoke, countless black dots appeared on the horizon, densely packed, moving towards them. As the black dots drew closer, they revealed themselves to be demon beasts.
Mo Tiange's expression turned grave. For her, this was a test of her array mastery.
The demon beasts arrived within moments. At the forefront were second to fourth rank demon beasts. With a "hum," these demon beasts touched the edge of the Mountain-Protecting Great Array and were swallowed by the emerging mist, not even their bones spat out.
Next came the fifth to seventh rank demon beasts. They finally managed to attack the array physically, yet under their assault, the great array remained completely unmoved.
Finally, the demon cultivators of eighth rank and above arrived. Most of them manifested their true forms, surrounding two men and one woman as they flew towards Bixuan Pavilion.
Mo Tiange looked at the demon cultivator surrounded in the very center and suddenly froze, utterly astonished.
"Senior Brother..." It took her a long moment to find her voice. "I once saw someone who looked exactly like that demon cultivator!"
Qin Xi followed the direction of her finger. This was a young man who appeared to be in his early twenties, possessing eighth rank cultivation. Dressed in black robes, his face was like autumn moonlight, exuding a dangerous, handsome, and demonic aura. He stood surrounded by demon cultivators, with two tenth rank demon cultivators respectfully positioned to his left and right.
Mo Tiange's expression was one of great shock, clearly unaware of this person's identity.
Qin Xi asked, "Where did you see him?"
Mo Tiange calmed herself and said, "In Yunzhong."
"Yunzhong?"
"Yes. When I saw him back then, I thought he was a demonic cultivator..."
The young man's gaze sharp as lightning fell upon her. He suddenly smiled and said, "Miss Qin, I never expected to reunite under such circumstances. So you are a cultivator from Tianji."
Mo Tiange replied indifferently, "I never imagined that Your Excellency was actually a demon cultivator."
The young man raised his hand and bowed with refined courtesy. "The circumstances back then left me no choice. I hope Miss Qin can forgive me."
"..." Mo Tiange took a deep breath and said, "Fellow Daoist Xuanyue, you are too polite."
This young man was precisely the Demon Lord Xuanyue she had encountered in Yunzhong's Tianxue City—since he was a demon cultivator, he should presumably be called Demon Lord Xuanyue.
Demon Lord Xuanyue's gaze shifted to Qin Xi and he asked with a smile, "May I ask who this fellow Daoist is..."
Mo Tiange said, "This is my husband, Qin Shoujing."
Demon Lord Xuanyue showed surprise on his face, sized up Qin Xi, and said to her, "So it's not Miss Qin, but rather Madame Qin." Hearing Qin Xi's surname, he immediately knew that 'Qin Wei' was an alias.
Mo Tiange smiled faintly. "Whether it's Miss Qin or Madame Qin is no longer important. We met once by chance all those years ago. I never thought that meeting again would mean crossing swords."
Demon Lord Xuanyue still wore a smile. "This humble one also finds it incredible. What a pity." Yet there wasn't a hint of pity on his face.
This Demon Lord Xuanyue was a bit like Jing Xingzhi—flirting with peach blossoms when idle, but a smiling tiger when trouble arose.
Mo Tiange curled the corner of her mouth slightly and asked, "May I ask how Fellow Daoist Xuanyue should be addressed, and what is your status?"
Demon Lord Xuanyue said, "As for my name, no one has known it for a long time. Miss Qin may still call me Xuanyue. I am of the Qilin clan, second in the family hierarchy. My father is the Southern Sea Monarch."
The Southern Sea Monarch—sounded like he should be the king of the Southern Sea demon cultivators. So, this Demon Lord Xuanyue was the Second Prince of the Southern Sea? Who knew why he had impersonated a demonic cultivator in Yunzhong back then.
"So it's Prince Xuanyue." Mo Tiange swept a glance over the demon cultivator ranks and suddenly curled her lips into a smile. "Prince Xuanyue, are you planning to use the lives of these demon cultivators to exchange for Bixuan Pavilion?"
Demon Lord Xuanyue didn't answer. He smiled and said, "Miss Qin, although your great array is profound, it cannot withstand us. We only want the East Sea. Why not simply hand it over?"
Mo Tiange shook her head. "Can the Prince guarantee you only want the East Sea?" She looked at Demon Lord Xuanyue, a slight smile appearing. "I'm afraid after having the East Sea, you'll still want Kunwu."
Demon Lord Xuanyue paused for a moment, then laughed. "It seems we are destined to fight this battle."
Mo Tiange couldn't be bothered with any more pointless talk. She uttered only one word: "Please!"
Xuanyue put away his smile and gave a calm order: "Attack."
"Yes, Second Prince!" The demon cultivators responded in unison. Except for the two tenth rank demon cultivators, they all charged towards the Mountain-Protecting Great Array.