As long as he found the corpse, he would be able to obtain the lifetime savings of a peak Nascent Soul cultivator. It sounded like a very good deal, but...
Mo Tiange chuckled softly. "Senior, your wife was a cultivator from five thousand years ago and it's hard to find where she was buried, but how dangerous would the burial place of a Nascent Soul cultivator be?
Since your wife is a brilliant disciple of the Profound Secrets Sect, her attainments in formations should not be inferior to Senior's, right?
We're just Foundation Establishment cultivators, how can we guarantee that we'll be able to bring back the corpse safely? "
"Correct," Daoist Fangzheng said, "We haven't even obtained any benefits, yet we already have a slim chance of surviving. This transaction isn't fair."
Wanderer Ziwei burst out laughing. "Good, good!
If you're too stupid, then it's not worth it for me to make this deal. "He paused for a moment, then said casually," You want the benefits first, sure!
Not only will I give you benefits, but I will also give you two hundred years.
Little girl, with your age and cultivation level, 200 years should be enough for you to advance to the Core Formation realm, right?
However, don't think that I can't do anything to you just because you've formed your Gold Core. Once the imprint in your sea of knowledge takes effect, it will be effective for life. With a single thought, your life and death will be in my hands.
And you, you don't have much lifespan left. You don't even have 200 years left … "
Daoist Fangzheng was a bit nervous.
What he said just now was because he was unwilling to be ordered around by this senior, but that didn't mean that he didn't think it was a good deal.
He still had seventy to eighty years left in his lifespan. During this period, it was very likely that he could find the remains of a Nascent Soul cultivator. By then, his chances of advancing to the Core Formation realm would be greatly increased!
Even if he took a step back, he wasn't like the little girl beside him. In the past two hundred years, he had already passed away, which meant that he hadn't put in anything.
He was afraid that this senior would cancel his trading rights upon seeing that he didn't have much time left in his lifespan. Then, he would have missed a good opportunity for nothing!
Mo Tiange didn't know whether this Wanderer Ziwei was using the Mind-Reading Technique or not. After a short pause, he said unhurriedly, "You don't need to worry. Having another opportunity to find Zilan's skeleton is always good for me.
In the past, in order to wait a few hundred more years, I once searched all over the Celestial Pole and refined a Longevity Pill. Now, there's only one left, so I'll give it to you! "
Longevity Pill?
Longevity Pill!
It was a Longevity Pill that even Nascent Soul cultivators would find difficult to obtain!
Daoist Fangzheng was stunned for a moment, then he became ecstatic. He stammered, "I … Senior … Longevity Pills …" His words were already incoherent.
Upon seeing his reaction, Wanderer Ziwei burst into laughter then said to Mo Tiange, "As for you, there are several things you can choose from.
The Longevity Pill is useless to you, but I can give you a Dustless Pill. I'm sure you know that after taking this Dustless Pill, your chances of reaching Core Formation will increase.
If you feel that with the help of a Sect Elder, Core Formation won't be a problem, then I can also give you a top-grade magic treasure, or a secret book from the Profound Theory Sect, the Profound Theory Formation Book.
Which one do you want? "
The Dustless Pill, the top-grade magic treasure, the Xuanji Array Book!
No matter which one it was, they were all treasures that were hard to find.
Among them, although the Dustless Pill's value couldn't compare to the Longevity Pill, it was the most practical for Foundation Building cultivators like them who were about to form their Gold Core.
The top-grade magic treasure mentioned by a Nascent Soul cultivator naturally couldn't be compared to ordinary magic treasures. Perhaps other Nascent Soul cultivators would also covet it.
The last one was the Xuanji Array Book. The Dao of Formations was broad and profound. Brilliant formation books were naturally priceless, but … ordinary cultivators simply didn't have the energy to study them. They could only be used to exchange for spirit stones, so they were the most useless.
But for Mo Tiange —
"Senior, Junior wants the Xuanji Array Book."
"Oh?" Wanderer Ziwei was a bit surprised. Obviously, he didn't expect she would choose this book.
Mo Tiange said, "Although Dustless Pills and magic treasures are precious to Junior, it's not impossible to obtain them. It's just that this Xuanji Array Book is one of a kind."
"… Correct. Since you're a Xuanqing School disciple and have such a high cultivation level at such a young age, you must be an elite disciple. Presumably, it won't be difficult for you to obtain medicinal pills and magic treasures.
However, you have to think about it carefully. My medicinal pills and magic treasures aren't ordinary goods. Ordinary Core Formation cultivators can't even imagine them! "
Wanderer Ziwei's words clearly showed he was treating her master as an ordinary Core Formation cultivator.
Mo Tiange knew that for an almost omnipotent and stunning sword cultivator like Wanderer Ziwei, his collection might not be any worse than her master's.
But if she wanted to form her Gold Core, Lord Daoist Jinghe would naturally find Dustless Pills for her. Lord Daoist Jinghe might also have top-grade magic treasures.
As for the Xuanji Array Book, since it was Xuanji School's secret, it must have its own uniqueness. If she missed it, it would be very difficult to obtain it again.
Besides, she kept an eye on Xiao Zilan. Since Xiao Zilan was the Grand Supreme Elder of Xuanji School, the place where she was buried must also be filled with traps, right?
With this Xuanji Array Book, the danger would be greatly reduced.
"Junior has made up her mind."
Mo Tiange paused for a moment then continued, "However, Senior, Fellow Daoist Fangzheng doesn't have much time left in his life. You gave him a Longevity Pill, so even if he can't find it in two hundred years, it won't be a loss to him unless he advances to the Core Formation realm.
But even if I don't advance, I'll still have several hundred years to live. It'll be fine if I find his corpse, but if I can't, wouldn't that be too much of a loss?
This isn't fair to me! "
Regarding this matter, Mo Tiange was very angry.
She now had a bright future ahead of her, but someone placed a 200-year restriction on her for no reason. If she didn't succeed, she'd lose her life — how could she feel good about that?
Besides, the reason she started cultivating was to fight for her freedom. Now that she was under someone else's control, it really wasn't a happy thing.
It was just that this Wanderer Ziwei's methods were extraordinary and he didn't say anything too harsh, so she was willing to endure it.
As if he could sense her anger, Wanderer Ziwei chuckled. "Little girl, you're really unwilling to suffer even the slightest loss.
Alright, I'll give you another Sunstone, how about it?
As for the medicinal pills and treasures on this table, you can divide them among yourselves. In addition, as long as one of you brings back Zilan's corpse within two hundred years, I'll erase the imprints in your sea of knowledge.
Therefore, before you pass away, you must remember to come back and take a look. Maybe one of you has already completed it, hahaha … "
Perhaps because he lived alone for a thousand years, this Wanderer Ziwei obviously had an evil side to his character, so he was deliberately teasing them.
Mo Tiange took a deep breath to calm herself down. She mustn't be angered by him first.
"Alright, since it's like this, Junior can only accept it.
Two hundred years … Junior is a bit curious. Once Senior opens the restriction that preserves your divine sense, can it last for as long as two hundred years? "
Wanderer Ziwei "hmphed" coldly and arrogantly. "Little girl, even if you come from a famous cultivation group, your experience and knowledge are still shallow!
This is a divine sense-severing technique I created myself. Not to mention two hundred years, I'm afraid my divine sense will still be there even after you pass away. "
"…" This Wanderer Ziwei couldn't be judged with common sense. As a sword cultivator, he was proficient in formations and mechanisms, and he could even concoct Longevity Pills and create all kinds of spells. Maybe he even dabbled in tool-refining as well. He could practically be considered an all-rounder, so it wouldn't be surprising if he created some kind of unique divine sense technique.
"What about you?" Seeing as Mo Tiange was speechless, Wanderer Ziwei turned to ask Daoist Fangzheng.
Daoist Fangzheng bowed and said, "That being the case, Junior will accept it."
"Good!"
Once Wanderer Ziwei finished speaking, Mo Tiange felt the stagnant spiritual aura in her body loosen. In an instant, she regained control of her body and was able to walk again.
She heaved a sigh of relief then moved her hands and feet. She found that the spiritual aura in her body was unobstructed and she no longer felt as heavy as before.
"If you have any other questions, just ask.
If you step out of this Immortal's Cave, two hundred years will begin. When the two hundred years are up, regardless of whether you succeed or not, you must come back to see me!
If I'm in a good mood, I might give you more time, but if I'm in a bad mood … hmph! "
Two hundred years … Disregarding Daoist Fangzheng, Mo Tiange felt she should be able to find some information within this time.
Right now, she had a lot of questions. Ever since she stepped into this valley, her head was full of questions, but she couldn't answer them because she was always in danger. Now that she heard Wanderer Ziwei's words, she asked, "Junior indeed has a lot of questions. Would Senior be willing to talk about them in detail?"
Wanderer Ziwei said, "Tell me first."
Mo Tiange thought for a moment then said slowly, "First of all, are the gales and miasma related to the formation Senior laid?
But why was it so easy for me to crack it when I reached the bottom of the valley?
Secondly, what's going on with the stone statue and the altar at the entrance of Senior's Immortal's Cave?
Then … "
"Junior, you're really long-winded!" Wanderer Ziwei interrupted her somewhat impatiently. "I'll tell you everything from the beginning to the end, alright?"
"The gales and miasma above the valley were indeed caused by the formation I laid. However, you were lucky to be able to crack it so easily. The answer to this question is the same as to your second question.
In the past, when I lived in seclusion here, I saved several hundred mortals who were caught in the chaos of war. Seeing that they were pitiful, I brought them back to the valley. They worshiped me as their god, and the stone statue and the altar were erected by them, so I simply changed them to the entrance of my Immortal's Cave — the stone statue was my wife, Lan.
The reason I saved them was because I thought Zilan didn't like me being violent and murderous, so I occasionally did good deeds. Therefore, when they wanted to carve the statue of a god, I let them carve it into Zilan's appearance.
That way, when I occasionally came out of my Immortal's Cave, I could also see her appearance.
"Before I passed away, these mortals had already lived at the bottom of the valley for more than a thousand years. From generation to generation, several cultivators emerged among them, but unfortunately, their spiritual roots weren't good.
Later, when I sensed my lifespan was nearing its end, I ordered those cultivators to move all the mortals out of the valley.
There was an invisible spirit vein in this valley, but when I passed away, I laid this invisible spirit vein into an Illusory Formation, so it was no longer suitable for mortals to live in.
It was precisely because there was no one here to maintain the formation that you were able to crack it so easily. "
"… I see. The Illusory Formation Senior laid in the hall was based on this invisible spirit vein?
Why was everything fake, but the damage was real?
How did we get out of the formation? "
"Hmph!"
Wanderer Ziwei let out a cold "hmph" and said, "This naturally involves complicated theories, which I've recorded in the Xuanji Formation Book. If you thoroughly study it, you'll naturally understand.
As for breaking the formation, the nine of you either had your blood essence sucked dry, were too weak, or had enough willpower to resist the Illusory Formation, so there was no need for the formation to exist.
Hehe, I was being lenient with this formation; it was to test your willpower. Otherwise, you would've been trapped inside for an eternity without being able to come out.
This life is eternal, this life is eternal, and eternity is only one day.
Once this formation is activated, everything will end after one day.
If you can't control yourself and are tempted, your blood essence will be exhausted and you'll die. If you can control yourself, your life will be like eternity, endless time, and in the end, you'll go mad and die.
Therefore, if you can't break the formation, you can only die! "
Both Mo Tiange and Daoist Fangzheng were terrified.
Such a terrifying formation … Although it was an Illusory Formation, it was even more terrifying than a killing formation!
At that moment, Daoist Fangzheng was already faintly regretting his decision. Why wasn't that Xuanji Formation Book given to him?
"So this series of hurdles was only Senior's test?"
"Correct."
Daoist Ziwei's tone was faint and somewhat grim. "If you can't even withstand the gales and miasma when you enter the valley, you're basically a cripple.
As for the Illusory Formation, it's a test of your temperament and willpower. If you can't pass it, you probably won't have the patience to find Zilan's corpse.
As for the Bewitching Moonstone passage, it's a test of whether you're too greedy and calm enough. If you're easily bewitched by those treasures, I'm afraid you'll also go back on your word.
Finally, there's the puppets here. If you can't even defeat five of them, your strength is too weak!
Of course, in the end, you still have to let me see them myself. If you're too stupid, I'll kill you on the spot.
The two of you aren't bad; you both passed. "
"…" Mo Tiange couldn't help but feel angry at his words, but in the end, she forced herself to endure it.
This Wanderer Ziwei was indeed selfish and callous. He set up so many hurdles, but he never considered the lives of the people who entered the valley.
If Xiao Zilan was really like he said and didn't like disputes, she must've loved him very deeply to be able to tolerate him for 200 years and still be a loving couple.
"What's wrong, little girl? Do you have a problem with that?"
Mo Tiange couldn't help but say angrily, "Senior, are you using the Mind-Reading Technique again?!"
Upon seeing her anger, Wanderer Ziwei burst out laughing. "Don't be so fierce to me. Didn't your master tell you to be respectful to your seniors?"
"…" I'll endure it!
Mo Tiange took a deep breath and stopped talking.
She was used to living with Lord Daoist Jinghe. She indeed didn't treat her seniors with enough respect. However, that also depended on who it was. After half a day, she roughly figured out Wanderer Ziwei's character.
If this senior didn't meet his requirements, he wouldn't even spare a glance at her. If she passed his test, he wouldn't be stingy with what he had.
Mo Tiange's display of her little temper might even make him more fond of her.
"Junior also wants to ask if Senior knows the Art of Engineering?"
"Oh?" Wanderer Ziwei was a bit surprised to hear her question. "Little girl, you actually know the Art of Engineering?
That's rare! The Art of Engineering has long been lost, and there aren't many people who know about it. "
"… So Senior really knows the Art of Engineering?"
"Hmph!" Wanderer Ziwei said proudly, "I know a little.
What? Do you want me to teach you the Art of Engineering? "
Mo Tiange hastily said, "If Senior is willing to teach me, Junior will definitely do her best to find your wife's corpse."
"Don't tell me you're not doing your best now?
Don't forget that your life is still in my hands, "Wanderer Ziwei said lazily.
"…"
"Haha, you're really interesting."
Wanderer Ziwei laughed heartily when he saw Mo Tiange's expression. A strange spiritual aura circled around her body. "Alright, I'll be honest with you. It's not impossible for me to teach you the Art of Engineering, but … let's talk about it when you fulfill your promise. If I teach you everything you want to know in one go, wouldn't that be boring?"
Mo Tiange's expression softened. What Wanderer Ziwei said was reasonable. He should teach her whatever she wanted to learn — how could there be such a cheap deal?
"Right." Wanderer Ziwei changed the topic. "Those puppets just now … You were the one who took them, right?"
"… Yes," Mo Tiange answered honestly. She then asked cautiously, "Does Senior want to take them back?"
"Oh … It's hard for me without the puppets.
How about this? You keep four puppets and take two with you. In exchange, I'll fix them and tell you how to control them. What do you think? "
Mo Tiange was overjoyed. "Senior's words are worth nine sacred tripods?"
Wanderer Ziwei "hmphed" coldly. "Why would I deceive a Foundation Building junior like you?
That's degrading! "
The more talented a person was, the more arrogant they were.
Mo Tiange held back her words and took out the six stone sculptures one by one. Fortunately, she put them into her Qiankun Bag right after she killed them. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to get such a bargain.
Daoist Fangzheng's eyes reddened when he heard their conversation.
He gave up on the stone sculptures because they couldn't be used anymore after they were destroyed, so he could only exchange them for spirit stones. He didn't expect the master of this place would come out and put forward such a condition. If he had known earlier, how could he have given them up?
These were puppets in the late stage of the Foundation Building realm!
If he could control them, his strength would increase exponentially!
No matter how he thought about it, he could only blame his bad luck. Alas!
"Senior." While the spiritual aura was fixing the puppets, Daoist Fangzheng asked respectfully, "May I ask Senior if we can take the treasures on the Bewitching Moonstones passage outside?"
"If you have the ability, you can take them yourself."
"…" Daoist Fangzheng was silent.
He said that because he hoped this senior would tell them the method to crack the Bewitching Moonstones, but the answer …
"Don't even think about the things on that passage. Don't underestimate that passage. Those Bewitching Moonstones are also a formation. If you take those things, the formation will be activated immediately. At that time, the entire Immortal's Cave will turn into a killing formation."
Spiritual aura rushed out of the stone sculpture puppets' ears. With several "kacha" sounds, several puppets stood up one by one. They held their swords in their hands, and their momentum immediately surged.
After fixing the puppets, Wanderer Ziwei said, "That's enough. They're not good things anyway, so why do you feel pity?
Little girl, I'll teach you the method to control these puppets now. "
Right after she said that, Mo Tiange felt a sudden pain in her head again, and some things appeared in her mind.
When Mo Yaoqing taught her the Art of Sunu, it was also directly imprinted with her divine sense. However, she was only a mortal at that time.
Now, she was a Foundation Building cultivator and had specially cultivated her divine sense, but she still had no ability to resist the divine sense left by a Nascent Soul cultivator.
The path of cultivation was still very far away for her.
"Since you're done asking, you can take your things and leave the valley."
"… Senior," Mo Tiange hurriedly said, "You haven't told us about your wife!
Xuanji School has long been destroyed, and we don't know what happened back then. Where are we going to find your wife's corpse? "
"I've already prepared this question for you," Wanderer Ziwei said lazily.
Wanderer Ziwei said lazily, "There's a compartment under the table with several Jade Slips inside. Each of you can take one of them; all the information is recorded inside.
If you still can't find her after you have this, you can consider yourself out of luck! "
"Alright, since we've said what we wanted to say, this Venerated One should also rest.
Once you've taken your things, use that Jade Slip to open the exit and leave.
Remember, you must come back two hundred years later! "
Right after he finished speaking, the bizarre spiritual aura in the stone room slowly dissipated …