Over Clear Spring Peak, the wind howled and clouds churned, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled.
The disciples of the Xuanqing Sect were shocked, pouring out of their cave abodes to witness this astonishing scene.
"Look, what is that?"
"Could it be someone forming their Core?"
"Definitely not," another disciple scoffed. "When Uncle-Master Dingguan formed his Core, it wasn't like this."
"Then... what is it?" The wind grew stronger, making it hard for them to stand steady.
Before they could discuss further, a Core Formation cultivator flew into the air and shouted, "All disciples, return to your cave abodes immediately! Activate your defensive formations and do not leave without orders!"
His voice, amplified by magic, carried far and wide. Repeating the command several times, the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment disciples, though puzzled, returned to their cave abodes, secretly wondering what extraordinary event was unfolding.
After the low-level disciples returned, the Xuanqing Sect's mountain-protecting grand formation was fully activated. Of the Nascent Soul Dao Lords remaining within the sect, aside from Dao Lord Lingxi who was in seclusion, the other four all appeared in mid-air above the main peak, standing at four corners with a youth in grey-blue robes in their midst.
As the dark clouds finished gathering, the first bolt of lightning struck down. The earth-shattering sensation made the low-level cultivators' hearts flutter with panic. Yet, remembering that several Nascent Soul Ancestors were presiding within the sect, they calmed down, settling into meditation within their cave abodes to await news.
Mo Tiange and the others had long since experienced a Human Transformation heavenly tribulation. Now, within the sect, with the mountain-protecting grand formation above and four Nascent Soul cultivators—one late-stage and three mid-stage—watching over below, the commotion was great, but the situation was stable.
Xiaofan's heavenly tribulation, as expected, was similar to Xiaofeng's: not only ten tribulations, but culminating in golden lightning. Presumably, this was also because he had obtained a divine beast inheritance, being of Xuanwu bloodline.
Half a day later, the dark clouds in the sky completely dissipated, revealing clear skies. The mountain-protecting grand formation returned to a half-activated state. Core Formation cultivators from each peak flew into the air, transmitting orders: "The prohibition is lifted. Disciples may now leave freely."
Hearing this, the low-level disciples set their minds at ease and eagerly rushed out to inquire about what had happened. Soon, news spread throughout the Xuanqing Sect: the sect had gained another Nascent Soul... no, an eighth-rank demon cultivator.
The matter of Xiaofeng had not been concealed. Most Xuanqing Sect disciples knew that under Dao Lord Shoujing, a demon beast had undergone the Human Transformation tribulation and become a demon cultivator—equivalent to the sect's ninth Nascent Soul cultivator. Now, under Dao Lord Qingwei, another demon beast had advanced to Human Transformation, equivalent to a tenth Nascent Soul cultivator.
This news delighted many disciples. Coupled with the sect's exceptional generosity over the past decade, leading to a daily increase in Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivators, they couldn't help but feel immense confidence in the sect. The Xuanqing Sect was truly the number one sect in Tianji. Even the Tiandao Sect at its peak could not compare.
After receiving sect robes and an identity token, Xiaofan returned alone to the Jiyuan Pool. Mo Tiange and Qin Xi stayed behind, joining Dao Lords Jinghe and Hua Yan in the Sanqing Hall.
"Demon cultivators, hah! Demon cultivators." Dao Lord Jinghe took a sip of tea, glancing sideways at the two of them. "You two little rascals are really something, keeping things so quiet! Aside from the Spirit Beast Sect, I've never heard of any family having spirit beasts undergo Human Transformation! One of you having one is one thing, but now a second one. Hurry up and tell me, are there more to come?"
Mo Tiange smiled. "Yes, Master. Your disciple still has two spirit beasts that are about to undergo Human Transformation."
"Ah!" Dao Lord Jinghe was stunned. "There really are more?"
"Yes..." Mo Tiange tried to appear as low-key as possible to avoid her childlike master making a fuss.
Dao Lord Jinghe didn't make a fuss, but he glared at her, muttering indignantly, "Hmph, all the good things go to you, hmph!" During the heavenly tribulation earlier, she had actually used her lifebound treasure to absorb all the tribulation lightning—that was heavenly lightning, and golden lightning at that! He almost hated himself for not having a Thunder spiritual root...
"Master!" Qin Xi's voice called out. His gaze swept over him lightly, and Dao Lord Jinghe could see the meaning in it: four words—don't be childish. Dao Lord Jinghe felt even more aggrieved. Taking these two disciples was practically asking to be angered.
"Shoujing, Qingwei," Dao Lord Jinghe spoke up in time, looking at them with a smile. "I haven't yet congratulated you on gaining another great asset."
"Senior Brother is too polite," Qin Xi said with a smile. "These few spirit beasts are still far from being able to stand on their own."
"Regardless, advancing to Human Transformation is a good thing." Dao Lord Jinghe paused, bringing up serious matters. "Yesterday, we sent news of this to Kunzhong City. Senior Brother Zhenyang was very pleased. He instructed us to proceed as usual, not to worry about other matters, as they will handle them."
"Proceed as usual?" Mo Tiange looked up.
"Correct." Dao Lord Jinghe regarded them gently. "Regarding the previous matter in Yunzhong, Senior Brother Zhenyang has considered it and specifically instructed that it's fine even if there were no gains. Man proposes, heaven disposes. Senior Brother Zhenyang also believes that everything might only be settled once the Qilin is found. The sect has been continuously searching for clues about the Qilin. The two of you should focus on cultivation. Only with sufficient strength can you be prepared for any eventuality."
"Yes," Mo Tiange and Qin Xi responded in unison.
"By the way, you won't be going into seclusion soon, will you?"
Mo Tiange and Qin Xi exchanged a glance and shook their heads. "No."
"Then spend more time instructing your disciples as well. Regardless, we are the Nascent Soul Dao Lords of the sect. Our casual guidance might be a path to the heavens for those disciples."
"Yes, we will heed Senior Brother's instruction."
Mo Tiange secretly glanced at Dao Lord Jinghe beside her, who was still sulking and ignoring people, thinking to herself: *Senior Brother Hua Yan is what you call a teacher's bearing. Master, you... well, never mind.*
Since it was the decision of the senior brothers, Mo Tiange and Qin Xi settled down to cultivate within the sect while also instructing disciples.
Over a decade ago, when they began presiding over the sect and nurturing disciples, Dao Lord Jinghe had declared that, similar to Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment disciples, Core Formation cultivators would also hold monthly dharma assemblies.
Core Formation cultivators differed from low-level disciples. Having entered Core Formation, they had their own insights into cultivation and had already chosen their path. They no longer needed step-by-step guidance as before. Therefore, these dharma assemblies mostly involved Core Formation cultivators raising difficult questions, which Nascent Soul Dao Lords would then explain. As for the Nascent Soul Dao Lords, only a few remained stationed at the sect. Dao Lord Lingxi had been in seclusion continuously, so that left only Dao Lord Jinghe and Dao Lord Hua Yan as the active ones. Thus, the assemblies had no fixed location. If Dao Lord Jinghe was lecturing, it would be at Shangqing Palace; occasionally, if Dao Lord Hua Yan was lecturing, they would go to Lingyin Peak.
After Mo Tiange and Qin Xi returned, they also joined the ranks of lecturers. The rocks on the surface of the Jiyuan Pool were often filled with Core Formation cultivators.
Over the past decade, the number of Core Formation cultivators had increased daily. Although many were away or in seclusion, nearly twenty still regularly came to listen to the lectures.
In front of these Core Formation cultivators, most of whom were older than herself, Mo Tiange felt somewhat restrained at first. But after lecturing more often, she relaxed. Regardless of age, her cultivation level was solid. In front of these people, she was a senior. And these Core Formation cultivators, because she had gone to Yunzhong soon after forming her Core and only returned after forming her Nascent Soul, were not familiar with her. Over these past few decades, the Xuanqing Sect had already shaped her into the most talented cultivator in Tianji's history, an object of admiration and aspiration for all disciples under the sect, and they were no exception.
Cultivating, instructing disciples, lecturing—time flowed by like water. Five years later, Xiaohuo indeed advanced to Human Transformation.
Xiaohuo was only about two hundred years old. After transforming, she took the form of a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl, lively and spirited, completely different from Xiaofeng's enchanting allure.
Upon learning of Xiaohuo's transformation, Feifei was already numb. He merely let out a cold, mocking laugh when Mo Tiange teased him, then turned around, shut himself in his little hut, and applied himself diligently.
Feifei's seclusion lasted ten years.
Feifei was the first spirit beast to obtain divine beast breath. If not for his poor foundation and the fact that the Feifei clan focused on divine sense, he wouldn't have been surpassed by Xiaofan and Xiaohuo in advancing to the eighth rank. After ten years of quiet cultivation, he finally fully absorbed the White Tiger's breath and broke through to the eighth rank in one go.
Feifei's eighth-rank heavenly tribulation was still assisted by Dao Lords Jinghe and Hua Yan. With Xiaofan and Xiaohuo preceding him, both they and the low-level cultivators below had grown accustomed to confronting heavenly tribulations. Aside from those who had entered the sect within the past ten years, the disciples were familiar with the routine: closing their cave abodes, activating defensive formations, and waiting for the tribulation to pass.
This tribulation was also tenfold, its power slightly stronger than the other three divine beasts. Mo Tiange pondered that this might be because Feifei himself possessed divine beast bloodline.
After Feifei's heavenly tribulation, news came from Kunzhong City: the Immortal Alliance intended to launch a strong offensive against the demon cultivators, aiming to drive them back in one fell swoop, securing several decades or even a century of peace for Tianji to recuperate and focus on dealing with the demonic path. For this purpose, the Immortal Alliance summoned major Nascent Soul cultivators to Kunzhong City. Dao Lord Zhenyang explicitly ordered that the sect be entrusted to Mo Tiange, Qin Xi, and Dao Lord Lingxi. Dao Lords Jinghe and Hua Yan were to go to Kunzhong City.
Upon receiving the order, Dao Lords Jinghe and Hua Yan gave brief instructions and then stepped onto the teleportation formation to Kunzhong City.
Xiaoyang Three Islands.
In the hearts of cultivators from Yunzhong and Yuan Prefecture, Xiaoyang ranked first among the most undesirable, perilous places. Compared to the orderly systems of Yunzhong and Yuan Prefecture, Xiaoyang was a place completely devoid of laws and rules. Murder and robbery were as common as daily meals. Living here had only one principle: the victor is king.
Originally, Yunzhong was in the center, Yuan Prefecture to the east, and Xiaoyang to the west, forming a line. After the great upheaval, Yunzhong moved north, Yuan Prefecture moved southwest, and Xiaoyang moved east, resulting in Xiaoyang being in the center, Yunzhong to the north, and Yuan Prefecture to the south.
Now, Xiaoyang and Yunzhong were separated by the former South Sea of Tianji, with no islands and perilous seas, effectively cutting off contact. Yuan Prefecture, however, with its numerous islands and relatively calm seas, became a favorite target for plunder by Xiaoyang cultivators. From time to time, they would gather friends and relatives for a several-day excursion to Yuan Prefecture—robbing, killing, seizing treasures, having their fill of fun without any tour fees. This led to two consequences: first, the standard of living for Xiaoyang cultivators rose sharply; second, the combat proficiency of Yuan Prefecture cultivators rose sharply. Setting aside the rather discordant process and just looking at the results, it seemed... well, let's just say everyone was happy? No, let's reluctantly say each gained something.
Nie Wushang lived very comfortably here. Xiaoyang was full of desperadoes, mostly demonic cultivators, where whoever had the biggest fists was the boss. This suited her perfectly.
On her first day in Xiaoyang, the few Nascent Soul cultivators in Xiaoyang all thought she had come to seize territory and made unwise decisions accordingly. Adhering to the principle of eliminating anyone in her way, Nie Wushang quickly beat most people into submission, becoming the overlord of Xiaoyang's main island.