Within the Fengling Hall of the Tiandao Sect, a Qi Refining stage youth was dozing off when he suddenly heard a soft "crack" sound. He jolted awake with a start. Rubbing his eyes and about to go back to sleep, he looked up and saw that one of the life lamps in the very front row had gone out at some unknown time. He checked the lamp's position, then saw that not a single spark remained within it. Instantly frightened out of his wits, he stood there at a loss for a moment before dashing out of the hall: "Uncle-Master, Uncle-Master, something terrible has happened!"
The Foundation Establishment steward of Fengling Hall was enjoying a small drink under the moonlight when he was suddenly disturbed, feeling somewhat impatient: "What's all the noise? Which Uncle-Master has fallen? Is there a need for such a fuss?"
"N-no, it's not an Uncle-Master..." the youth panted, "it's... it's the first row..."
"The first row?" The steward was startled upon hearing this and quickly stood up, rushing into the hall.
Half a quarter-hour later, Lu Daquan, who was staying behind at the sect, received the news: Fairy Fengqing had fallen. Several days later, Liu Dingyuan in Kunzhong City received the message...
The teleportation formation of Bixuan Pavilion had already been destroyed. The current Linhai City showed not a trace of human habitation, leaving behind only ruins.
Mo Tiange stood above Linhai City, sighing softly: "A small city just vanished like this..."
Qin Xi's tone was much colder: "This is only the beginning, if the world truly descends into chaos."
Mo Tiange remained silent.
What Amber had said was too shocking, relating to the end of several eras from ancient times until now. And now, were they also welcoming the end of an era?
They could only hope that Amber's speculation wasn't true, that the great chaos of the world had not yet occurred.
The sound of a dog barking came from the ruins. A thin, small figure ran out from the wreckage, followed by a wild dog. The person and the dog were fighting over a black, unrecognizable lump. This person was thin and small, appearing to be only an eight- or nine-year-old child. Facing a wild dog nearly as tall as himself, he showed not a trace of fear, using both hands and feet with fierce ferocity.
"There are still people," Mo Tiange said in surprise. This child was clearly a mortal, with not a hint of spiritual energy on him. To have survived until now was truly not easy.
The wild dog swiped with its paw, tearing a strip of flesh from the child's leg. The child didn't utter a sound, instead ferociously charging forward and biting down hard on the dog's neck with his teeth. Even as he was clawed again, he held on firmly without letting go.
The wild dog's neck was bitten open, blood flowing into its throat. The child became even fiercer, not stopping until the dog bled out and gradually lost strength. Only then did the ferocious light in his eyes slowly fade.
After the wild dog died, he plopped down on the ground, breathing rapidly. But after just a moment, he forced himself to stand up, dragged the dog carcass to the water's edge to wash off the blood, and after cautiously checking his surroundings, slowly returned to his den.
It could really only be called a den—a nest he had made within the ruins of Linhai City using straw, bricks, and stones.
Entering the den, he glanced hungrily at the dog carcass, then wolfed down that black lump. Afterward, he rummaged through the straw for some wild grass, chewed it up, and applied it to his wounds.
Just as he finished these tasks and was about to get up to hide the dog carcass, the sound of straw being stepped on came from outside.
He immediately dropped the dog carcass, picked up a brick from the ground, and hid beside the entrance. A shadow appeared at the mouth of the cave. Without even looking, he raised the brick and smashed it down hard.
"Ah!" The next moment, he cried out in pain. The hand holding the brick was caught. The person smiled, and something lightly tapped his head. "Little fellow, you strike so fiercely."
There was someone! The child widened his eyes in shock, suddenly looking up at the young woman smiling before him, holding a fan. What had tapped his head just now was that radiant, colorful fan.
"Im... Immortal..." Once freed, the child immediately knelt down with a thud, kowtowing desperately. "I beg the Immortal to save me! I beg the Immortal to save me!"
"Get up first," Mo Tiange said.
The child, excited for a moment, then stood up.
Mo Tiange looked him up and down. He was dark and skinny, his features unclear, only a pair of eyes full of vitality. His body was covered in blood, some wounds even beginning to fester. She frowned and asked, "Does it hurt?"
The child was taken aback. Remembering these past days of fighting wild dogs for food, his eyes filled with tears. Previously, he had been struggling for survival every moment, with no time to think about such questions. Now that someone asked him so gently, his tears became uncontrollable.
"It hurts," he sniffled, wiping away his falling tears.
Mo Tiange sighed softly, reached out, and lightly waved her hand. A mist of water enveloped him.
The child felt incredibly comfortable. When he came to his senses, there was no feeling of pain on his body at all. He looked down—where were there any wounds? Not even a scar remained.
Overjoyed, he quickly knelt and kowtowed: "Thank you, Immortal! Thank you, Immortal!"
"Get up!" With a flick of her sleeve, she lifted him up. "First, answer a few questions for me."
The child nodded, sniffling: "The Immortal may ask anything."
"How did you end up alone here? Where are your parents and family?"
The child said: "Reporting to the Immortal, I lost my parents and family long ago. I'm an orphan."
This answer was not surprising. Seeing the ferocity with which this child fought the wild dog for food, he was definitely not raised in a happy family. Mo Tiange continued asking: "Why are you the only one here? Have all the other mortals died?"
The child said: "Ever since those sea monsters suddenly appeared, many people died. Later, I heard that immortals came from west of the mountains, and those sea monsters stopped hurting people. Those who were still alive all found ways to go to the immortals. I... I'm young, and just a little beggar. They didn't call me, so I didn't make it in time..."
"So that's how it is," Mo Tiange sighed. "Are there any other people? It can't be that only you are left?"
The child shook his head: "There were a few people some days ago, but I haven't seen them these past few days."
Mo Tiange nodded. Even if fortunate enough to survive, with conditions so harsh, not many could hold on until now.
"Immortal," seeing Mo Tiange remain silent for a long time, the child said anxiously, "I beg you to take me with you. I... I'll be your ox or horse, I can do any rough work..."
Was he worried she would abandon him? Mo Tiange looked at him and said, "I don't need a servant."
"Then... then..." Before he could finish, he heard her say: "You possess wood and fire dual spiritual roots, and your will is firm and resolute. You are actually very good material for cultivation. Let me ask you, are you willing to follow me back to the Xuanqing Sect to seek immortality and pursue the Dao?"
The child stared at her, mouth agape, dumbfounded.
Mo Tiange smiled: "What, you're not willing?"
The child snapped out of his daze as if waking from a dream, kneeling down and kowtowing desperately: "Thank you, Immortal! Thank you, Immortal! Oh, no, thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!"
"Wait," Mo Tiange said, "I'm only taking you into the sect. Whether there is a master-disciple karmic connection still depends on the future."
"Oh," the child responded vaguely.
"What's your name?" Mo Tiange had always liked obedient children.
"I'm called Xiaoliang."
"Good, Xiaoliang, come with me."
"Yes, Immortal."
Leading the child, she swayed leisurely out of the ruins. Qin Xi was already waiting ahead.
"How is it? Any other people?" she asked.
Qin Xi sighed and shook his head: "None." While Mo Tiange went to find the child, he had flown a circle around the area. Unfortunately, there were no other survivors.
"Then let's go," Mo Tiange said without dwelling on it. Finding one was already good enough.
Qin Xi nodded and summoned Feiyun. The Ten Thousand Li Solitary Boat had been destroyed by Fairy Fengqing. Now they could only rely on themselves—ah, Nascent Soul cultivators should have the bearing of Nascent Soul cultivators. Without a portable cave-dwelling type magical treasure, it was almost embarrassing to go out. Master had his cloud carriage and small pavilion; Fairy Fengqing even had a thatched cottage. The only thing they had was a Ten Thousand Li Solitary Boat, barely used to show off a bit, and now even that was gone.
Traveling arduously all the way, they finally reached Kunzhong City. Seeing the sky above Kunzhong City filled with all kinds of grand and magnificent flying boats and flying carriages, Mo Tiange said with a hint of envy: "When should we buy a Flying Side Treasure Ship from the sect? Driving it out would surely be quite impressive!"
Qin Xi glanced at her with a smile: "As a Nascent Soul Dao Lord, you can freely deploy the sect's Flying Side Treasure Ship. Why would you need to buy one?"
Mo Tiange said: "The sect's Flying Side Treasure Ship is always different from having your own."
Qin Xi shook his head and said: "On the surface, you appear no different from those sect cultivators who rose from elite disciples, but in reality, you are completely different inside. You can do what you can for the sect, but you cannot trust it with your whole heart."
Mo Tiange was taken aback upon hearing this. Was he saying she held reservations in her heart?...
Qin Xi had already descended onto the high platform under the guidance of the reception cultivator. Someone came forward to greet them: "...Uncle-Master Shoujing, Uncle-Master Qingwei."
The two looked and saw it was Han Qingyu.
"Qingyu." Qin Xi rarely showed a smile. "How have you been recently?"
"Thank you for your concern, Uncle-Master Shoujing. Both I and Master, Grandmaster, and the others are all doing quite well," Han Qingyu replied with a beaming smile.
Mo Tiange habitually wanted to call her Senior Sister Han, but felt it inappropriate, so she simply smiled at her as a greeting.
"Since both Uncle-Masters have returned safely, please go see Grandmaster quickly. During these days you were out of contact, Grandmaster didn't say anything on the surface, but he was actually quite worried in his heart."
"Good, you go about your business." Qin Xi was about to leave when he remembered something. He pointed at Xiaoliang, who was shrinking behind Mo Tiange. "This child was rescued by us in the East Sea. His spiritual roots are quite good. We'll entrust him to you for now."
Han Qingyu carefully looked at Xiaoliang, then nodded with a smile: "Rest assured, Uncle-Master."
After Qin Xi and Mo Tiange left, Han Qingyu reached out to take his hand, but Xiaoliang looked wary, hiding his hands behind his back.
Han Qingyu smiled, bent down, and asked: "Little brother, what's your name?"
Xiaoliang looked at her cautiously for a while before saying: "...Xiaoliang."
"Xiaoliang? No surname?" Han Qingyu asked, puzzled.
Xiaoliang turned his head, looking at their departing figures, and said: "I... I'll take the surname Mo."
"Huh?" Han Qingyu was surprised.
Xiaoliang turned back and said seriously: "I said I'll take the surname Mo, is that okay?"
Looking at his serious expression, Han Qingyu said gently: "Of course it's okay. Whatever surname you want, you can decide yourself."
Only then did Xiaoliang reveal a small smile, his eyes again following their retreating figures: "...This elder sister, you call them Uncle-Master. Are they very powerful?"
"Of course! They are the Supreme Elders of our Xuanqing Sect, the most top-tier cultivators in the mortal world."
"Ah!" Xiaoliang said, dumbfounded. "Then... then can I become their disciple?"
"Hmm?" Seeing his serious look, Han Qingyu patted his head and smiled. "Then you'll have to work hard."