When Mo Tiange returned to Fengxi Valley, Wanderer Ziwei didn't think she completed the task she entrusted to him. Even he himself felt it was very difficult.
If Xiao Zilan died in her sect's encampment, with her identity as an elite disciple of a big cultivation group, she only needed to issue a bounty mission in the group.
But she didn't. She didn't come back for more than a hundred years.
Now she came back. From the Foundation Building realm to the Nascent Soul realm in 152 years — this was a legend that couldn't be replicated. Therefore, he took it for granted that she didn't have time to search for the place where Xiao Zilan died. She probably came back because she didn't find any clues.
He didn't expect she really completed it!
Moreover, what she found wasn't her remains, but her soul!
Wanderer Ziwei was so excited that he couldn't speak.
After a long time, he asked in a hoarse voice, "Soul … Does her soul still exist?"
"Yes." Mo Tiange took out the Soul Bead from her robe.
After releasing thousands of souls, Xiao Zilan was left alone in the Soul Bead. The Soul Bead's gray color had faded, leaving only a dim light. Xiao Zilan's figure could be vaguely seen in the dim light.
"Let me see her."
Mo Tiange put the Soul Bead away. "Does Junior complete Senior's task?"
"Yes!" Wanderer Ziwei said without hesitation.
"Then Senior, please remove the restriction and fulfill your promise."
Wanderer Ziwei sighed softly. "This restriction is ineffective now."
Mo Tiange was stunned. "What?"
Wanderer Ziwei smiled bitterly. "Although I'm a genius, I can't use a strand of divine sense to place a restriction on a Nascent Soul cultivator.
This restriction is effective during the Foundation Building realm, and it's also effective during the Core Formation realm. However, once you form your Nascent Soul, the spiritual aura of heaven and earth will rebuild your body. How can my tiny divine sense resist the power of heaven and earth?
The restriction in your head is still there, but it won't activate.
I'll teach you a technique to refine it with your divine sense. "
Mo Tiange was stunned for a long time.
Did this mean that she had been deceived?
Even if she didn't come back, the restriction wouldn't activate?
Qin Xi frowned imperceptibly and said, "Senior's method isn't honorable!"
"Upright?"
Wanderer Ziwei's voice was full of bitterness. "No matter how insufferably arrogant you were when you were alive, once you die, you'll have nothing left.
Before I passed away, I spent decades setting up a huge array formation in Wind Breath Valley, leaving behind my divine sense and racking my brains to attract Foundation Establishment cultivators … Why not Nascent Soul cultivators?
Because even if I can trap Nascent Soul cultivators to death, I have no way of controlling them to fulfill my wish … "
Everyone was silent.
Cultivators like them, no matter how strong they were, could not escape the power of heaven and earth, the rules of life and death …
Wanderer Ziwei heaved a long sigh. "Now, you're already in the Nascent Soul realm, while this disciple of mine is only in the Core Formation realm. Even if you want to leave Fengxi Valley, I can't do anything about it — I can only blame myself for never anticipating that you'd form your Nascent Soul in such a short time."
"Little Sister Ye," Shang Ruwan said sincerely, "My master was wrong in this matter, but he didn't intend to harm anyone.
Since I have inherited Master's legacy, and Master is no longer around, I have to take responsibility.
Master had promised me everything in Wind Breath Valley. Other than that, I am willing to listen to your orders from now on. "
When she said the last few words, she lowered her gaze. Her expression was full of respect, no longer as cordial as before.
"Big Sister Shang …" Mo Tiange stared at her with a complicated gaze. "You're really loyal and affectionate."
Shang Ruwan smiled. She stared at the table and said faintly, "Back then, although I survived, my heart was like dead ashes. If it wasn't because Master pitied me and took pity on me, there would've been no Shang Ruwan in this world.
Master gave me a new lease on life, so no matter how I repay him, it's what I should do. "
Mo Tiange also felt sad when she recalled what happened between them as husband and wife.
No matter how bad Yao Zixiu was, the affection between him and Shang Ruwan was sincere. Shang Ruwan was deeply in love, so after she lost her lover, she presumably didn't want to live anymore.
As for Wanderer Ziwei, he was conceited all his life. Xiao Zilan was the only regret he had in his life, but fate made fools of people; they couldn't be together.
Both of them were deeply hurt by love and sympathized with each other in the same boat. It was no wonder Wanderer Ziwei took pity on her and passed on his legacy to her.
Mo Tiange sighed then took out her Soul Bead again. Without saying anything, she broke the bead's bindings and released Xiao Zilan.
A wisp of smoke escaped from the Soul Bead, transforming into a woman's figure.
Xiao Zilan opened her eyes and looked around. "This is …"
Mo Tiange didn't say anything until a moment later, Wanderer Ziwei's trembling voice rang out. "Zilan …"
After just two words, Wanderer Ziwei was already speechless.
Xiao Zilan was suddenly stunned. "You … You …"
A wisp of divine sense and a soul looked at each other without saying anything.
Shang Ruwan signaled Mo Tiange, and the four of them left the stone room quietly.
The stone door isolated the sound, and the four of them stood there in silence.
A moment later, Shang Ruwan broke the silence and asked with a smile, "Little Sister Ye, how's the situation now?
We're in the secular world, so we're not very well-informed, so we don't know how the fight is going. "
"I'm also not sure," Mo Tiange said, "It seems to be in a stalemate."
"Oh?" Shang Ruwan said with astonishment, "Hasn't the Immortal Alliance been established?
With your cultivation level and your position as an elder in the Immortal Alliance, how could you not know the situation? "
Mo Tiange said vaguely, "It's a long story. To put it simply, I've been traveling outside for the past few years and haven't been back for long, so I'm not very clear about the situation."
"Oh …" Shang Ruwan didn't ask further. She knew some things were personal secrets, so it wasn't convenient for her to answer.
"Miss Shang," Qin Xi asked, "all cultivators in the Celestial Pole belong to the Immortal Alliance. Have you received any summons?"
Shang Ruwan shook her head. "With Martial Uncle Yuanying's guarantee, the Immortal Alliance didn't summon us."
Shang Ruwan paused and looked at Mo Tiange. "If we go to Xuanqing School in the future, you'll be in charge."
Mo Tiange was stunned. She finally realized Shang Ruwan was serious, so she shook her head and said with a smile, "Soon, we'll also have to participate in the war.
Big Sister Shang, you don't have to take what I said seriously. "
She paused for a moment then said, "I won't give up on Senior Ziwei's promise, but since we're fated, I don't want to go to Wind Stop Valley."
Shang Ruwan felt relieved. She bowed and said, "Thank you, Little Sister."
"No need to be so polite." Mo Tiange helped her up.
Shang Ruwan explained, "There are many mortals in Wind Stop Valley now, so it's inconvenient to move. It's not that I don't want to give it to Little Sister."
Mo Tiange smiled and didn't mind.
If what she said was true, Shang Ruwan would recognize her as her master.
Even if it was for Wanderer Ziwei, who would be willing to be a servant?
From Mo Tiange's point of view, taking Shang Ruwan as a servant wasn't necessary.
She was a Nascent Soul cultivator now, so many people in Xuanqing School worked for her.
Jing Xingzhi suddenly said, "Miss Shang, since you're Senior Ziwei's disciple, Martial Uncle Yuanying must also recognize you as a disciple of Gujian Sect, right?"
Shang Ruwan nodded. "Yes."
"That being the case, even if Senior Ziwei isn't here anymore, you can still return to Gujian Sect."
Shang Ruwan smiled. She understood his good intentions. "Thank you for your concern, Senior Jing. Although Wind Stop Valley is small, its great defensive formation isn't inferior to a sect's."
Seeing how confident she was, Jing Xingzhi didn't say much.
The four of them waited for a long time before the stone door finally opened. Wanderer Ziwei's voice rang out. "Come in."
Inside the stone room, nothing had changed. Xiao Zilan stood there quietly, looking at them with a calm gaze.
Before the four of them could say anything, Wanderer Ziwei already said, "Little girl, thank you for finding Zilan for me." His voice was also very calm. Presumably, the two of them had reconciled, right?
Mo Tiange guessed. She said, "If Senior didn't place a restriction on me, Junior wouldn't have gone to look for Senior Xiao. There's nothing to thank me for."
Her tone was indifferent and distant.
After being deceived for more than a hundred years, she often feared she didn't have enough time. Although she didn't mind, it wasn't that she wasn't angry at all.
Wanderer Ziwei heard her and smiled wryly. "Girl, you really hold a grudge.
You didn't lose anything in this matter. The things I've accumulated throughout my life aren't ordinary goods. "
Even so, how could money move Mo Tiange?
Seeing that she wasn't moved, Wanderer Ziwei had no choice but to say, "Deification experiences … this should be enough to compensate you, right?"
Mo Tiange's eyes finally brightened. "Really?"
"Of course. How can I break my promise to a junior?" Wanderer Ziwei said, "It's fine as long as you don't make things difficult for my disciples."
Mo Tiange smiled, revealing her shining teeth. "Junior never planned to make things difficult for them."
Wanderer Ziwei no longer said anything. His divine comprehension wrapped around her and an art was imprinted in her mind. Soon after, he said, "The Deification experiences are in the Rosy Clouds Cave."
He said to Shang Ruwan, "Disciple, take them to the Rosy Clouds Cave later."
"Yes, Master," Shang Ruwan answered respectfully.
"Brat surnamed Jing," Daoist Ziwei said, "Have you thought it through?"
Jing Xingzhi's expression was complicated. "Junior has thought it through."
He paused for a moment and gradually became determined. "Junior doesn't want to return to Gujian Sect for any purpose."
Wanderer Ziwei was silent for a while then said with a sigh, "Good. You have your own beliefs. Given time, you'll definitely become a grandmaster."
Jing Xingzhi lowered his head and didn't say anything.
Comprehending the sword intent of the Deification realm was a temptation that sword cultivators couldn't refuse, but he still made this decision.
A few days ago, he told Venerable Swordsman Yuanying that he didn't want to return to Gujian Sect. Now that he wanted to return for the sake of swordsmanship, such an action went against his conscience.
"However …" Wanderer Ziwei's tone changed. "If you can keep your conscience, you're qualified to receive my inheritance."
Huh?
Jing Xingzhi suddenly looked up. He was stunned.
There was a smile in Wanderer Ziwei's voice. "Since Yuanying let you come, it means he's approved of you. He's the head of Gujian Sect, so why should I worry?"
Upon understanding the meaning behind Wanderer Ziwei's words, Jing Xingzhi became excited. "Senior …"
"Disciple, take him to the sword cave," Wanderer Ziwei ordered.
"Yes, Master."
After dealing with these matters, Wanderer Ziwei heaved a long sigh. "Alright, all of you can go.
Being able to see Zilan again before my divine sense dissipates is enough for me. "
Shang Ruwan sensed the sense of farewell in his words. She was stunned. "Master?!"
Wanderer Ziwei chuckled. "Master can't hold on much longer, so you don't need to be sad."
"…" Shang Ruwan didn't say anything, but her expression was mournful.
Mo Tiange couldn't help but think of Fu Yaozi. She was also silent.
"I'm already very satisfied to be able to spend my last moments with Zilan.
Several dozen years later, I'll dissipate and Zilan will enter the cycle of reincarnation again. Maybe we'll be fated to meet again in our next lives … "
"Go." Wanderer Ziwei sounded satisfied. "I have no regrets in this life."
Shang Ruwan lowered her head and solemnly saluted him then led the three of them out of the cave.