Nie Wushang opened her eyes, clenched her fist, and felt quite satisfied.
Having consolidated her cultivation over these years, she had finally broken through to the mid-stage.
Thinking back, the time when she formed her Demon Infant was no later than Mo Tiange's own advancement. Back then, Mei Feng had created that Origin Demon, devouring many Core Formation cultivators, intending to use it on himself to leap directly from early to late-stage Nascent Soul. But before he could complete it, she had stumbled upon the opportunity. With that Origin Demon Qi, converting to demonic cultivation meant forming her infant soul simply required refining and utilizing that demonic essence.
It was only later, because the Origin Demon Great Method she had stolen was incomplete, that she remained stuck at the early stage, slowing her cultivation speed. After obtaining the Origin Demon Stone Tablet, her cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds. Coupled with the fact that demonic cultivators rarely encountered bottlenecks, she finally surged into the mid-stage in one go.
Fortunately, she hadn't fallen too far behind. Qin Xi and Jing Xingzhi went without saying—though they were cultivators of the same generation, there was a century's age difference. But Mo Tiange was even younger than her. Falling behind Mo Tiange would have been embarrassing.
Stretching her limbs, feeling thoroughly refreshed, Nie Wushang stood up and walked out of her cave abode.
Xiaoyang truly lived up to its reputation as the most terrifying and treacherous place in the eyes of Yunzhong cultivators. Here, the proverbial barren mountains and vicious waters were a perfect fit. Spirit veins and demonic domains were pitifully small. When Nie Wushang first arrived here, she almost wanted to shed a tear of sympathy for Xiaoyang's cultivators. The one she occupied now, if placed in Yunzhong, wouldn't even be wanted by a Core Formation cultivator. Yet in Xiaoyang, it became a cave abode fought over by Nascent Soul cultivators...
There weren't many Nascent Soul cultivators in Xiaoyang. Once one cultivated to the Nascent Soul stage, who would willingly suffer hardships in Xiaoyang? Those who remained in Xiaoyang all had compelling reasons. Some had too many enemies, some had offended people they shouldn't have, some were guilty of possessing treasures that invited disaster... Coupled with Xiaoyang's limited resources and constant fighting, only five Nascent Soul cultivators remained in the end. Two were beaten down by her, two were scared off by her, and the last one wisely didn't get involved. This cave abode naturally fell to her.
"Demon Lord," seeing her appear, a Core Formation demonic cultivator with a scruffy beard and a weathered face hurried forward, bowing respectfully. "If the Demon Lord has matters to attend to, this subordinate can handle them."
Nie Wushang nodded calmly and took out a jade slip. "Prepare these things."
"Yes." The demonic cultivator took the jade slip, probed it with his spiritual sense, and immediately looked dumbfounded. "Demon Lord, this..."
"What, is there a problem?" Nie Wushang cast a faint glance his way.
The demonic cultivator shivered, involuntarily recalling the previous owner of this cave abode from decades ago, who was nearly beaten to the point of his Nascent Soul shattering by her. He quickly said, "No, no problem at all." He scanned the jade slip again. "This subordinate will immediately gather people and head to Yuanzhou."
"Wait." Nie Wushang took out a spirit stone pouch. "Don't alert others. Go to Yuanzhou alone and buy them back."
The demonic cultivator stared at her, mouth agape but silent. Buy? This was the first time he'd seen a Xiaoyang Nascent Soul cultivator wanting to buy things...
"What, another problem?" Nie Wushang leisurely cracked her knuckles.
"This subordinate wouldn't dare!" The demonic cultivator took the spirit stone pouch. "This subordinate will go immediately and ensure no one finds out!"
Nie Wushang nodded with satisfaction. "Go."
"Yes!" Not daring to ask another question, the demonic cultivator scurried away.
Watching the man leave, Nie Wushang stood for a while longer before returning to her cave abode and sitting back down in meditation. Mid-stage Nascent Soul, plus those items, should be about enough. She didn't dare wait until the late-stage. By then, his injuries would probably have recovered, right? The accumulated prestige and power of years—she knew his strength all too well. If he recovered his cultivation, she would have little chance. At that point, she could only wait for his lifespan to end and for him to pass away naturally. If that happened, this knot in her heart would never be untied.
Nie Wushang clenched her fist again, her gaze resolute. She must personally defeat him and grant herself a new life.
A little over a month later, that Core Formation demonic cultivator returned from Yuanzhou, respectfully presenting the Qiankun Bag and the remaining spirit stones. "Demon Lord, this subordinate has fulfilled the task."
Nie Wushang summoned the Qiankun Bag with a wave of her hand, checked each item, and nodded. "Good, well done. For decades, you have been diligent. Seeing how obedient you are, this Lord can grant you one request."
The Core Formation demonic cultivator was overjoyed and hurriedly bowed. "Thank you, Demon Lord!"
Nie Wushang said calmly, "This promise stands until I leave Xiaoyang. You can think it over and come back later."
The demonic cultivator was stunned. "Demon Lord, you... you're leaving Xiaoyang?"
Nie Wushang slightly raised her gaze, looking into the void, and remained silent for a long moment. Just as the demonic cultivator thought she wouldn't answer, she said, "Better to say it early, lest I have no time to fulfill it later."
"Demon Lord..."
"Speak."
The demonic cultivator said, "The Demon Lord should know that this subordinate suffered severe injuries many years ago, damaging my Demon Core. My cultivation has been unable to advance since..."
"Understood." Before he could finish, Nie Wushang said, "I can help you repair your Demon Core, but that is all."
The demonic cultivator was ecstatic. "Thank you, Demon Lord! Thank you, Demon Lord!"
Watching him express profuse gratitude, Nie Wushang sighed inwardly. This subordinate had voluntarily submitted after she occupied the island. She valued him precisely because his Demon Core was damaged and his mind was simple. The reason for his damaged core and exile to Xiaoyang was a story of its own sorrow, which made Nie Wushang think: if she hadn't seized the opportunity back then, the best outcome might have been ending up like him, right?
Master, Master. Her gaze turned cold and distant, her fists clenched tightly. After a long while, she slowly let out a breath. Over a century of humiliation—she would personally take it all back.
Despite the war against the demonic cultivators raging fiercely, the Xuanqing Sect's Grand Competition, held once every fifty years, still took place.
According to the Xuanqing Sect's rules, Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment disciples had minor competitions every ten years, while Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivators had a Grand Competition approximately every fifty years. Over the past few decades, the Xuanqing Sect had seen a surge of talented Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivators. Even with nearly half the disciples engaged in external campaigns, the sect still had over three hundred Foundation Establishment disciples and more than thirty Core Formation cultivators.
The rewards for the Grand Competition were extremely generous, ranging from cultivation methods and magic treasures to spirit pills and materials—everything one could want. Moreover, setting aside Core Formation cultivators for now, Foundation Establishment disciples who performed exceptionally well in the Grand Competition stood a high chance of being taken as disciples by Core Formation Perfected Ones, or even Nascent Soul Dao Lords. For most, this was an irresistible temptation.
At this moment, on the main peak of Taikang Mountain, a massive Combat Arena had been constructed out of thin air using profound formation techniques. From the outside, the arena resembled a transparent lotus platform floating in mid-air. But for those inside, it was a vast, seemingly boundless world.
On the Combat Arena, life and death were irrelevant. This phrase didn't mean that dying on the arena was for nothing; rather, it meant one wouldn't truly die. This Combat Arena was no ordinary stage. Within it, protected by formations, one's true spirit and physical body were preserved. Even if one's body was utterly destroyed and spirit extinguished during the match, everything would be restored to its original state once it ended.
At the command of the Martial Hall's Mighty Elder, two Foundation Establishment disciples on the Combat Arena began their duel.
On the several cloud platforms surrounding the Combat Arena, various Core Formation Perfected Ones watched while commenting on their disciples. This was a rare opportunity to observe actual combat. Due to the arena's unique properties, unlike usual sparring, it allowed cultivators to better display their true strength and made it easier to discern each individual's strengths and weaknesses.
Watching this scene, Mo Tiange couldn't help but sigh. The strength of a major sect was truly something medium and small sects couldn't hope to match. Just this Combat Arena alone was something a mid-sized sect like the Cloud Mist Sect couldn't build even by exhausting the entire sect's resources, let alone those small sects with only a few Core Formation cultivators. Thinking back to when she wandered Kunwu with her second uncle, she had witnessed many sect's Immortal Assembly Competitions, but they were all just ordinary stages enhanced with formations.
"Junior Sister Qingwei has never participated in a sect Grand Competition, right?" A gentle, refined voice sounded by her ear.
Mo Tiange turned to see Dao Lord Lingxi on the other side. The older generation had all been summoned to Kunzhong City, leaving only the three of them, the younger ones, in the Xuanqing Sect. Dao Lord Lingxi had emerged from seclusion not long ago, his cultivation greatly advanced and his mood excellent, his face perpetually graced by a spring breeze.
"Senior Brother Lingxi teases me. This junior sister never had the opportunity."
Dao Lord Lingxi smiled. "Disciples under Nascent Soul Dao Lords like us generally don't participate in minor or major competitions during Foundation Establishment; we only join in at the Core Formation stage. That Junior Sister never had the chance is because your advancement was too rapid. Senior Brother Shoujing and I experienced two Grand Competitions at the Core Formation stage. Once, Senior Brother Shoujing was in closed-door seclusion, so we only shared the stage once."
"Oh?" Mo Tiange was quite interested. "What was the result?"
"Naturally, I lost." Dao Lord Lingxi smiled warmly, speaking of defeat without a trace of lingering resentment.
Qin Xi, seated in the foremost position, curved the corner of his mouth. "That was when you had just formed your Core, your cultivation barely stabilized."
"We're about the same age. What 'just formed your Core'? I was simply one step behind you." Dao Lord Lingxi shook his head, joking, "Senior Brother Shoujing, being so modest after winning makes it hard for us losers to face ourselves."
Qin Xi waved his hand, looking at Mo Tiange. "The real winner is right there. Before her, we are all losers."
Dao Lord Lingxi was taken aback, then burst into laughter. After laughing, he said, "Senior Brother Shoujing, in other matters I still have confidence, but on this point, I really can't compare with you."
Qin Xi also smiled, not the least bit embarrassed.
"Speaking of which, the sect has produced many outstanding disciples in recent decades. This Grand Competition has quite a few highlights." Dao Lord Lingxi's gaze shifted to the Combat Arena, his eyes flickering. "Hmm, this disciple is quite good."
Mo Tiange and Qin Xi also turned to look, their attention captured.
The two disciples on the Combat Arena were both at mid-stage Foundation Establishment. One had numerous treasures and frequently unleashed spells, likely an elite disciple under a Core Formation Perfected One. The other was much more destitute, possessing only a single high-grade magical instrument and practicing a relatively ordinary cultivation method. Yet, strangely, the former was being suppressed by the latter.
After watching for a while, Qin Xi suddenly said, "This person truly has promising material."
Dao Lord Lingxi nodded. "Indeed. Whether in terms of magical instruments or cultivation methods, he falls far short. Yet he manages to hold his own through solid foundations and flexible adaptability. What's even rarer is his high fighting spirit and tenacity. Given time, he will surely achieve something."
Qin Xi looked at him. "Junior Brother Lingxi seems quite interested in this disciple."
Dao Lord Lingxi smiled and summoned a disciple. "What is this person's name?"
The disciple flipped through a register and reported, "Replying to Grandmaster, this junior brother is named Mo Xiaoliang, a disciple of Ganlu Peak. He is currently forty-five years old, formed his Foundation at twenty-five..."
"Oh?" Dao Lord Lingxi narrowed his eyes slightly. "To reach mid-stage in just twenty years is quite remarkable... Does he have a master?"
Asking this indicated his interest. The reporting disciple felt both envy and jealousy as he answered, "He has no master."
A trace of doubt flashed in Dao Lord Lingxi's eyes. "His aptitude isn't bad, his will is even better, and his cultivation progresses quickly. Why does he have no master?"
"This... this disciple doesn't know..."
Of course, Dao Lord Lingxi didn't expect this Foundation Establishment disciple to answer. The Transmission Hall's Teaching Elder nearby heard and stood up to reply. "Reporting to Martial Uncle, the reason Mo Xiaoliang has no master is because his temper is too violent. Back when he was at Qi Refining, he accidentally killed a fellow disciple, so..."
"Why?" Dao Lord Lingxi's expression turned serious. Killing a fellow disciple was a sect prohibition. Regardless of how outstanding one's aptitude was, violating this prohibition would result in expulsion from the sect, let alone being taken as a disciple by a Nascent Soul Dao Lord.
"A disciple was deliberately bullying him, relying on his family's influence. Mo Xiaoliang acted impulsively and struck too hard..."
"So that's how it was." Dao Lord Lingxi nodded. "In that case, it's not really his fault."
"Yes." Seeing Dao Lord Lingxi's evident interest in this disciple, the Teaching Elder added, "The sect prohibits killing fellow disciples. If he were at fault, he would have been expelled long ago. But his temper is indeed a headache. Back then, several junior brothers were interested in him but ultimately decided it was better to temper his disposition first."