Forming his Nascent Soul at just over two hundred years of age, while aided by his spiritual roots, Dao Lord Lingxi was also diligent and blessed with profound opportunities. However, no matter how fortunate his encounters had been, he had never seen so many top-tier elixirs before.
Daojun Hua Yan enthusiastically introduced them to him: "Lingxi, you probably haven't seen these before. These are Longevity Pills."
Unexpectedly, Dao Lord Lingxi said, "I once saw Longevity Pills at my master's place back in the day, though these are of a higher grade."
"Oh..." Daojun Hua Yan then remembered that his master, Dao Lord Tianyun, had indeed consumed Longevity Pills, though he ultimately met an untimely death. He smiled again and said, "But these Longevity Pills are unlike ordinary ones. They can increase one's lifespan by five hundred years."
He said it lightly, deliberately trying to shock Dao Lord Lingxi, and this time he finally got his wish. Dao Lord Lingxi was so astonished he was left speechless.
"Is that true?"
"Naturally, it's true."
"Five hundred years... If this were to spread, I fear it would shake the entire world." Dao Lord Lingxi immediately calmed down, his first thought being this very point.
"Correct," Daojun Hua Yan said. "And it's not just the Longevity Pills. There are other elixirs and spiritual herbs as well. Ten-thousand-year-old Hundred-Result Fruits, which aid in forming the Nascent Soul, and some that can even be used to break through Nascent Soul realms. In the past, we might not have obtained these even by risking our lives. Moreover, we also have Foundation Consolidation Pills. One could say our cultivation progress and potential for advancement have increased to an unimaginable level. If these matters were to leak, it would bring great calamity upon our sect."
This point raised by Dao Lord Lingxi was something the several Dao Lords couldn't possibly have overlooked.
"Therefore, secrecy is of paramount importance. The fewer people who know about this batch of resources, the better."
As soon as Daojun Jinghe's words fell, Dao Lord Lingxi expressed confusion: "If we don't speak of it, who else could possibly know?"
Daojun Hua Yan shook his head. "Lingxi, it's not just what we have in hand. There's another batch."
"Another batch?" Dao Lord Lingxi widened his eyes in surprise.
Daojun Hua Yan said, "Those items, while not as precious as what we hold, surpass them in quantity. Their significance to the sect might even exceed that of what we have here."
Dao Lord Lingxi was once again rendered speechless. He knew the immense weight of the Qiankun Bag he held. To exceed that... just how valuable must that other batch of resources be?
He looked at Mo Tiange and Qin Xi, his eyes filled with admiration and respect.
"Senior Brother Shoujing, Junior Sister Qingwei, did you two perhaps rob the treasury of some Ancient Great Sect?"
Lingxi's half-joking words made the two of them smile.
Mo Tiange laughed. "If it were the treasury of an Ancient Great Sect, would it only contain this much? It's a pity that when we went to the Guixu Sea last time, we couldn't haul back the storehouse of that Immortal Palace. Otherwise..."
"You girl, you really don't know the meaning of greed," Daojun Jinghe huffed, pointing at Qin Xi. "This kid discovered the ruins of an Ancient Great Sect when he was just at Foundation Establishment. Several major sects divided a huge batch of resources, but that was only from a few small storehouses. The true storehouse of an Ancient Great Sect—how could it be easily hauled away by others?"
The group chatted back and forth, yet never once asked about the origin of these resources. Mo Tiange felt at ease, thinking that what Qin Xi had said was indeed correct. They wouldn't insist on knowing where these treasures came from. She should have more faith in the sect.
Because of this batch of elixirs and spiritual herbs, the several Dao Lords made a few decisions.
First, Daojun Hua Yan, now possessing sufficient lifespan, would return to the sect and, like them, enter seclusion to attempt a breakthrough to the mid-stage. Second, Daojun Jinghe would take long-term charge of guarding the sect and nurturing disciples, ideally cultivating a new generation of Nascent Soul Dao Lords within the next few centuries. As for Xuanyin and Miaoyi, they could only make a temporary sacrifice.
"Senior Brothers, then what about me?" Dao Lord Lingxi asked.
Daojun Hua Yan said, "You three will remain as before, focusing solely on cultivation."
"This... All the senior brothers and sisters are busy running about, while I do nothing and even receive so many treasures for free..."
"Lingxi," Daojun Jinghe interrupted him, "you are the disciples with the brightest future in the sect. Your cultivation advancement is the enhancement of the sect's strength. That in itself is serving the sect. Don't overthink it. Just focus on your seclusion."
"And you two," Daojun Jinghe turned to Mo Tiange and Qin Xi. "I heard you claimed to be in seclusion, yet your cave abode has been bustling with people. What's going on?"
Qin Xi said, "Master, since we are entering seclusion, of course we must settle all trivial matters first."
"Do you two have that many trivial matters?" Daojun Jinghe looked at Mo Tiange. "You accepted two formation masters as named disciples. Do you intend to pass on what you've learned?"
Mo Tiange nodded. "I always feel I won't have this kind of leisure in the future. I'm not like Senior Brothers Zhenyang and Hua Yan, who have many disciples and their own lineages. If I don't pass it on now, I fear all that I've learned may not be transmitted."
Daojun Hua Yan sighed. "Qingwei, thinking this way is a blessing for the Xuanqing Sect."
Whether it was a blessing for the Xuanqing Sect, Mo Tiange didn't know. She simply felt it was the right thing to do.
The several Dao Lords exchanged some more information before each returned to their own places.
Back in the cave abode, Qin Xi saw Mo Tiange looking preoccupied and asked, "What's wrong?"
Mo Tiange shook her head, then nodded. "I'm thinking about who to pass my mechanical arts to."
Qin Xi didn't answer immediately. Instead, he sighed, reached out, and patted her head. "How about we also start taking on disciples?"
Upon hearing this, Mo Tiange hesitated slightly. "This... We probably won't have much time in the future. Is taking disciples a good idea?"
Qin Xi said, "You're overcomplicating it. Within the sect, there is a Dao Inquiry Hall responsible for instructing disciples. Apart from servants, outer sect disciples, and inner sect disciples without masters, elite disciples whose masters are in seclusion are all placed under the jurisdiction of the Dao Inquiry Hall. Your cultivation method is unique, and Master has never been in long-term seclusion, so you haven't experienced that stage. All of us went through it that way."
"Oh..." Mo Tiange thought about it and felt it made sense. When high-level cultivators enter seclusion, often for years or decades, can they just ignore their disciples? She asked further, "Who manages the elite disciples in the Dao Inquiry Hall, and what realm are they?"
Qin Xi replied, "By convention, the teaching elders of the Dao Inquiry Hall are all long-established Golden Core cultivators. So generally, even if an elite disciple is a Golden Core cultivator, they can handle it. Besides, Golden Core cultivators receive regular guidance from Nascent Soul Dao Lords, so it's not a big issue. Look at Junior Brother Lingxi as an example. He had no master, but for many years, he received guidance in turn from various senior brothers and sisters." Qin Xi paused, then smiled. "As for you, you advanced too quickly. You missed many stages that ordinary disciples go through, so you're unaware."
"So that's how it is..." Mo Tiange suddenly understood. "Right, a major sect has a well-established system. They should have methods to handle all sorts of situations."
"Therefore, if you wish to pass on all you've learned, you can very well start taking disciples. During our seclusion breaks, we can offer some guidance, and that should suffice. First, as elite disciples, they must possess independent capabilities. Second, the sect's considerations are thorough; they won't be neglected."
After pondering for a long time, Mo Tiange finally decided: "Alright, if that's the case, let's also start taking disciples."
With Mo Tiange's one decision, the entire Xuanqing Sect became busy.
"Dao Lords Shoujing and Qingwei are going to take disciples!" This news spread throughout the six peaks in no time. Disciples from each peak, whether well-connected or not, began to stir—inquiring for information, seeking favors through connections, and even coming directly to their door.
Fortunately, Xiaoguzi and Xiaozui were indeed capable. These matters didn't require the slightest worry from Mo Tiange and Qin Xi.
"Nephew Zhan!" An elderly cultivator with graying hair and beard, possessing an immortal-like demeanor, called out to the youth before him with a cordial smile.
Xiaoguzi turned and, seeing this cultivator, hurried forward to greet him. "Isn't this Uncle-Master Yanmo? A distinguished guest arrives—no wonder the magpies have been chirping all day. Uncle-Master, may you be well. Xiaoguzi pays his respects."
The old cultivator waved his hand. "Nephew Zhan, you're too polite. How could this old Daoist be considered a distinguished guest?"
"Uncle-Master Yanmo is most certainly a distinguished guest..."
After an embarrassingly sycophantic exchange of flattery, Perfected Yanmo slowly steered the conversation to the main topic: "I heard that Uncle-Masters Shoujing and Qingwei are going to take disciples. I wonder if Nephew Zhan here has any exclusive information?" As he spoke, he pulled something from his sleeve and slipped it into Xiaoguzi's hand.
Xiaoguzi understood implicitly and accepted it with a beaming smile. "Xiaoguzi merely manages the cave abode for the two Ancestral Masters. What exclusive information could I have? However..." He lowered his voice, speaking mysteriously, "This nephew does have some past connection with Ancestral Master Qingwei, so I do know a bit about her temperament and preferences."
Perfected Yanmo also cooperatively leaned closer, handing over another package. "I'll trouble Nephew Zhan then."
Xiaoguzi weighed it in his hand and said, "Ancestral Master Qingwei is a person of utmost modesty and amiability, so she dislikes overly arrogant disciples. When taking disciples, first, the temperament must be good—not too domineering. Second, they must be self-reliant—not overly dependent on elders. Third, it's best if they understand a bit of formations..." He looked at Perfected Yanmo and smiled. "As for the rest—good aptitude, good character—need I say more?"
Perfected Yanmo understood. "Oh..."
"Of course," Xiaoguzi added, "the younger, the better. After all, the two Ancestral Masters are only two or three hundred years old themselves, aren't they?"
Perfected Yanmo grasped his meaning. "Of course it's not this old Daoist. At my age, how could I still harbor the delusion of becoming a disciple to the two Uncle-Masters..."
Xiaoguzi chuckled. "Uncle-Master is considering his descendants, naturally. It's only human, only human."
"And what about Uncle-Master Shoujing..."
Xiaoguzi said, "Ancestral Master Shoujing's temperament is similar to Ancestral Master Qingwei's. Besides, if Ancestral Master Qingwei is satisfied, would Ancestral Master Shoujing ever say no?"
At the end, Xiaoguzi winked and made faces. Perfected Yanmo put on an expression of sudden realization. "Understood, understood..."
After another round of mutual flattery, Perfected Yanmo left, thoroughly satisfied.
"Heh." Xiaoguzi stroked the Qiankun Bag in his hand, extremely pleased with himself. "Perfected Ones are indeed generous!"
"Brother!" Xiaozui stood behind him, hands on her hips, frowning. "You accept people's things so casually. What if the two Ancestral Masters find out?"
Xiaoguzi waved his hand dismissively. "Do you think the two Ancestral Masters don't know I accept things? If I didn't accept things, how would we shoo away all these flies? The Ancestral Masters understand clearly! As long as we handle the tasks they assigned properly and don't delay their affairs, they won't mind."
"And you know this for sure?"
"Ah, just relax!" Xiaoguzi handed her one of the Qiankun Bags. "Besides, between the two of us, who's who? What's mine is yours, isn't it?"
Taking that Qiankun Bag, Xiaozui muttered contentedly, "That's true..."