The date of the Core-Formation Ceremony was soon set.
Qin Shoujing and Li Lingxi both failed to form their Nascent Souls, so the enthusiasm of Xuanqing School disciples for cultivating was severely damaged. Mo Tiange just happened to form her Gold Core at this time, so it was a good time to boost the disciples' morale.
Mo Tiange, who originally planned to keep a low profile, finally found that her Core-Formation Ceremony was grander than she had imagined.
Of course, the Core-Formation Ceremony couldn't be compared to the Nascent Soul Ceremony. Not only were cultivators from other cultivation groups not invited, but only cultivators in the Foundation Building realm and above were invited to the ceremony. As for Aura Refining disciples, they could come, but there was no requirement if they didn't come.
However, this kind of ceremony usually only had one or two Nascent Soul cultivators and half of the Core Formation cultivators at most. This time, however, all five Nascent Soul cultivators except for Lord Daoist Huayan who was in Closed Door Meditation showed up. More than forty Core Formation cultivators, except for those who were traveling or in Closed Door Meditation, also showed up, so it naturally looked grand.
The Core-Formation Ceremony had always been held by cultivators from one of the six peaks, so Mo Tiange's ceremony was naturally held on Clear Spring Peak.
For this reason, the steward's hall of Clear Spring Peak chose the largest Ningxin Hall and decorated it with lanterns and streamers to make it grand.
On that day, snowflakes drifted down from Clear Spring Peak in winter, filling the sky with flying snow as if it was another form of celebration.
Mo Tiange had long changed into the new Daoist robe sent by the steward's hall.
She wore a white robe, a light blue buttoned robe, and a blue and white robe with innate trigrams and Taiji cloud patterns on the collar and sleeves. She also wore a hibiscus crown. She didn't need any extra decorations; she already looked like an immortal, dignified, and elegant.
For some reason, after she formed her Gold Core, although her appearance was no different from before, she was obviously more elegant and beautiful than when she was in the Aura Refining or Foundation Building realm. When she asked, Lord Daoist Jinghe answered, "You cultivate the Sunu Art of the Origin, which partly comes from the Art of Sunu. Doesn't the Art of Sunu keep a woman young and beautify her appearance?
I think it's because of this technique. "
Since she had formed her Gold Core, she didn't care about this. In any case, no matter how her appearance changed, it would be difficult for cultivators to think she was devastatingly beautiful; at most, they would praise her.
By the time Mo Tiange arrived at Ningxin Hall, several hundred cultivators in the Foundation Building realm and above had already gathered inside the hall. Outside the hall, there were also countless Aura Refining disciples braving the wind and snow to come and watch.
With a smile on her face, she walked into Tranquil Heart Palace.
The four Nascent Soul Dao Lords stood at the very front, while Sect Master Shen led dozens of Core Formation elders to their sides. Behind these elders were many Foundation Establishment disciples.
The Nascent Soul Dao Lords were all delighted. For the sake of the Nascent Soul Dao Lords, the elders revealed smiles on their faces even though they did not think much about it. As for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators behind them, they were both envious and jealous.
Not long ago, Mo Tiange was just a Foundation Building cultivator like them. Now, however, she reached the sky in a single bound and became a high level cultivator.
This was only a core-formation celebration, so there was no need for Lord Daoist Zhenyang to personally preside over it. Sect Head Shen would be the one to do it.
Upon seeing Mo Tiange coming in, School Head Shen led her to the front of the Three Pure Ones' Patriarchs in the hall. He hinted for her to kneel, kowtow, and offer incense. Then he said loudly, "Mo Tiange, a disciple of Xuanqing School's Clear Spring Peak, has formed her Gold Core today and advanced into the Core Formation realm. According to Xuanqing School's rules, she is now conferred the position of an elder."
Sect Head Shen was also a Core Formation cultivator, so Mo Tiange didn't need to kneel to him. She only performed a Dao salute to show her respect.
Then she took the identity tablet of an elder with both hands, as well as the first offering after she formed her Gold Core.
After she accepted the identity tablet of an elder, Sect Head Shen smiled and said, "Junior Martial Sister Mo, from now on, you're an elder of Xuanqing School. When there's nothing to do, you can enjoy the sect's offerings every year. When there's something to do, I hope you can protect Xuanqing School's interests and reputation."
"Yes, I'll obey Senior Martial Brother Sect Head's order."
Sect Head Shen continued, "Since you've advanced into the Core Formation realm, according to Xuanqing School's rules, please grant me a Daoist name."
Right after he finished speaking, someone immediately placed a praying mat in front of Lord Daoist Jinghe. Mo Tiange took a few steps forward and knelt on the praying mat.
Lord Daoist Jinghe said with a solemn expression, "My disciple, Tiange, you're extremely talented and intelligent. You also have a firm Dao Heart and great wisdom. Now that you've formed your Gold Core, you mustn't be arrogant and complacent. You must know that you haven't reached the Great Dao yet. In the future, you must still work hard and mustn't slack off."
Whenever a disciple made a realm-breakthrough, they'd always be praised, but very few people would say the words "extremely talented." Lord Daoist Jinghe relied entirely on her Spiritual Roots of the Origin, which were only seen once every several thousand years, so he used the words "extremely talented." Presumably, there really weren't any cultivators in the world who were more talented than her. Of course, those Deification cultivators who'd been born a long time ago didn't count.
"Disciple will sincerely follow Master's instructions."
Lord Daoist Jinghe revealed a faint smile. He stroked his short beard with his right hand and muttered, "The path to the Great Dao is filled with untold hardships. The Divine Path is indistinct, and the Immortal Path is boundless.
You seek the Immortal Path, and your state of mind can only be described as' tranquility '.
You should also seek the subtlety of the Dao. You mustn't act rashly, and you should keep a calm heart.
Therefore, Master bestows upon you the Daoist name Qingwei. "
Mo Tiange's gaze flickered, but her face remained expressionless. She lightly kowtowed. "Qingwei thanks Master for bestowing the name."
Lord Daoist Jinghe nodded with a smile.
Upon seeing this, School Head Shen took over. "I've already kowtowed to thank Master for his kindness. Junior Martial Sister Qingwei, please rise."
Mo Tiange once again saluted him then stood up. She was led to the center by School Head Shen, and School Head Shen announced loudly, "Disciples, I hereby announce that Clear Spring Peak disciple Mo Tiange has been bestowed a name by her master, Lord Daoist Jinghe. From now on, her name is Master Daoist Qingwei."
Once School Head Shen finished speaking, the Core Formation cultivators standing on both sides congratulated her. "Congratulations to Junior Martial Sister Qingwei for advancing to the Core Formation realm."
Then, all the Foundation Building disciples saluted her one after another. "Disciple congratulates Martial Uncle Qingwei."
Outside the hall, the voices of the Aura Refining disciples came from afar. "Disciple congratulates Master Daoist Qingwei."
Even though her mood was calm, Mo Tiange still felt a bit excited when she heard the loud and powerful congratulations.
After holding the Core-Formation Ceremony and being bestowed a Daoist name by her master, she was now an elder of Xuanqing School.
Mo Tiange's eyes became slightly moist. She took her first step towards becoming a high level cultivator, and she couldn't help but think of some people she lost in her eighty-plus years of life.
Her mother who raised her alone, her father whom she never met, her second uncle who sacrificed his life for her, and Tianqiao who was implicated by her … If they knew about this, they would definitely be very happy, right?
She was now a Core Formation cultivator and an elder of Xuanqing School, one of the best cultivation groups in the Celestial Pole. She no longer needed to hide from place to place and didn't need to tremble in fear. She could walk under the sun with her head held high.
The Core-Formation Ceremony ended. In the wind and snow, the Aura Refining and Foundation Building disciples left one after another. The Nascent Soul cultivators also returned to their Immortal's Caves, leaving only the Core Formation cultivators to make friends with the new Junior Martial Sister Qingwei.
In the past, although this junior martial sister was Lord Daoist Jinghe's disciple, she was still a Foundation Building cultivator after all, so they didn't need to interact much.
But things were different now. This junior martial sister successfully advanced to the Core Formation realm at such a young age. It was said that her talent was rarely seen in a thousand years, and she also had a protective master like Lord Daoist Jinghe. Presumably, her future was bright, so it wouldn't be wrong to interact more with her.
Mo Tiange was trapped in the crowd and couldn't get away, so she could only cheer up and socialize with these senior martial brothers and sisters from the same sect.
Who said cultivators should be detached from worldly affairs?
They left the secular world, but they were still entangled with worldly affairs.
On a mountain top on Clear Spring Peak, a man stood in the wind and snow with his hands behind his back. He was silently gazing in the direction of Ningxin Hall.
The flying snow fell on his black hair and seeped into his blue clothes and white robe, but he didn't move at all.
Lord Daoist Jinghe landed behind him and walked towards him while stepping on the ground full of broken jade. "Why didn't you go to the Core-Formation Ceremony?"
A snowflake fell and covered his eyelashes, but it soon melted, leaving him with a bone-chilling coldness. He moved his gaze and said in a hoarse voice, "What if I went?"
"Nothing." Lord Daoist Jinghe was in a very good mood. Ignoring Qin Xi's gloomy mood, he walked to Qin Xi's side and smiled. "Won't you also go when other people form their Gold Cores?"
Qin Xi didn't answer.
He wasn't stupid. This master obviously came to tease him, so why should he answer and deliver himself to his master's doorstep?
The two of them stood in the wind and snow for a while in silence. After a while, Qin Xi suddenly said, "The path to the Great Dao is filled with untold hardships. The Divine Path is indistinct, and the Immortal Path is boundless. It's subtle, mysterious, and unfathomable.
You seek the Immortal Path, and your state of mind can only be described as' tranquility '.
You should also seek the subtle Dao. You mustn't act rashly, and you should maintain tranquility with a calm heart.
Therefore, Master bestowed upon you the Daoist name of 'Shoujing'.
Master, when you bestowed a Daoist name to your disciple, did you specifically choose to say these words? "
"…" Lord Daoist Jinghe laughed hollowly. "Hehe, when you were young, didn't you participate in your Senior Martial Brother Qingyuan's Core-Formation Ceremony?"
"…" That was a long time ago. He only vaguely remembered that his master didn't say these words at that time. Sure enough … even during a solemn Core-Formation Ceremony, this dirty old man couldn't help but play around.
But what was the use of doing this?
He was just like a child … What wasn't his would never be his …
Qin Xi shook his head. "From now on, there's only Mo Qingwei, not Mo Tiange."
His voice was flat, but it carried an indescribable sadness.
Lord Daoist Jinghe couldn't help but cast a sidelong glance at him. "Brat … I'm really old; I don't understand anymore.
Didn't I teach you that if you want something, you should look for it, take it, or even rob it? As the saying goes, cultivating is fine as long as you don't go against your heart. Who told you to be so dilly-dallying and pestering?
Since Tiange has formed her Gold Core, the distance between the two of you is already very close. Why do you still feel even more despair? "
Qin Xi chuckled. In the wind and snow, his laughter carried a chilliness that could freeze one's heart. "Master, why did she form her Gold Core?
Because her heart doesn't care about anything, and she doesn't even want anything. "
Lord Daoist Jinghe was stunned, but he seemed to understand a little. "You … You mean … she doesn't care about you?"
"What other explanation is there?"
He was disheartened and lowered his head. "I'm trapped by my Inner Demon. I tried to form my Nascent Soul three times, but I couldn't make any progress. She, on the other hand, was unmoved and smoothly formed her Gold Core … You and I both know how difficult it is for cultivators who form their Gold Core for the first time and have never experienced Inner Demon, but she easily passed this hurdle."
"…" Lord Daoist Jinghe was speechless.
For cultivators who formed their Gold Core for the first time and encountered Inner Demon for the first time, having a connection in their heart would be magnified infinitely. They would be intoxicated by it and wouldn't know how to get out. But Tiange … She couldn't have reached the realm of supreme indifference, could she?
"Master, what should I do?
If this goes on, I won't be able to form my Nascent Soul in ten or a hundred years even if my lifespan ends … "
Lord Daoist Jinghe felt he couldn't answer this question.
This was the first time this child asked him what to do in such a confused tone. In the past hundred years, he never needed other people's help. He walked on the path of seeking immortality and seeking Dao alone.
He suddenly felt that meeting Tiange was really a disaster for him.