Standing on the flying sword, Mo Tiange looked down at the ground.
The mountain peaks gathered together, the clouds billowed furiously, and the mountains stood towering.
This was west Kunwu's Mount Taikang, the main gate of Xuanqing School.
If she hadn't been to Tiandao Sect and seen Mount Yuheng and Demonic Mountain, she would've been shocked by the scenery under her feet.
Compared to such a lofty and rich spiritual aura, Mount Yunwu was simply not worth mentioning. Even Zixia Sect, which she once exclaimed in admiration, now seemed to be petty.
Mount Taikang was several thousand feet high. Although it wasn't as high as Demonic Mountain, it was one of the rarest peaks she'd seen along the way.
Its main peak was the highest, and it was surrounded by six other peaks of similar height.
Countless roof tiles and eaves were hidden in the forest, and there were also hundreds of disciples neatly lined up in the square, learning martial arts.
Upon noticing the direction in which she was staring, Qin Xi explained, "Although Xuanqing School is a Dao school, we also have many kinds of cultivation techniques. These disciples are from sword cultivation groups and are sword cultivators, so they learn martial arts just like the secular world."
"Oh … It looks really spectacular."
Looking from a distance, these cultivators in blue and white robes brandished their swords together. The sword aura was really crisscrossing, elegant and pleasing to the eye.
Sensing someone approaching, she looked up and saw a group of seven or eight cultivators coming on their swords. The leader was a Foundation Building cultivator who seemed to be in charge of mountain patrol.
Upon seeing them, the group of cultivators flew over but only saluted Qin Xi from afar.
After they left, Qin Xi said, "Alright, from now on, you're a disciple of Xuanqing School. I'll take you in now. Let's go."
The flying sword went down towards one of the peaks.
"This is Clear Spring Peak.
Xuanqing School has six peaks. The disciples of each peak usually cultivate on the side peaks and go to the main peak to listen to Dao.
You only need to memorize the general terrain of Clear Spring Peak. We only go to the main peak occasionally. "
After Qin Xi finished speaking, the two of them landed in front of a main hall.
She was still looking around when a female cultivator came out of the main hall. As soon as she saw them, she looked pleasantly surprised and was about to call out —
"Fengxue, come here."
The female cultivator swallowed the words she was about to say back into her stomach. Full of questions, she walked over and bowed.
Qin Xi first said to Mo Tiange, "This is our Clear Spring Peak's supervising disciple and also Martial Uncle Xuanyin's inner disciple, Luo Fengxue."
Right after he said that, he said to Luo Fengxue, "It's been three years, but you still haven't built your foundation?"
Upon seeing his expression, Luo Fengxue blinked her eyes then very cleverly called out, "… Martial Uncle?"
Qin Xi showed a faint smile and said, "Yes, now you have to call me martial uncle."
"Oh …" Luo Fengxue's eyes wandered back and forth. She then said with a smile, "Martial Uncle, why did it take you so long to come back?
Grandmaster misses you very much! "
Qin Xi didn't answer. Instead, he pointed at Mo Tiange and said, "This is the junior martial sister who just entered the school. Take her to the register first. Later, we'll make arrangements."
"Oh, I see."
Luo Fengxue looked at Mo Tiange with doubt on her face. In the end, she just smiled and said, "Junior Martial Sister, what's your name?"
This was the first time someone called her "junior martial sister," and Luo Fengxue happened to be wearing men's clothes. For a moment, Mo Tiange didn't know how to greet her. In the end, she could only answer first. "Senior Martial Sister Luo, my name is Mo Tiange."
"Tiange?"
Luo Fengxue called her name. She immediately pulled Mo Tiange's hand affectionately and said, "Don't call me senior martial sister. Everyone calls me by my name. You can also call me Fengxue!"
"This …"
Seeing that Mo Tiange was completely at a loss when faced with Luo Fengxue's enthusiasm, Qin Xi couldn't help but smile. He said, "Junior Martial Brother Ye, I'll report your matter to grandmaster first. You can go with Fengxue." He then said to Luo Fengxue, "Fengxue, I'll leave her to you. You have to do your job well."
Luo Fengxue smiled and said playfully, "I know. Martial Uncle, you haven't come back for a long time. You should go and pay your respects to grandmaster first. I'll take good care of her!"
"…" Facing the lively Luo Fengxue, Qin Xi seemed to be somewhat helpless. Without saying anything, he waved his hand and left.
Mo Tiange watched as his figure disappeared. He didn't say anything else to her and didn't look at her again. Mo Tiange's mood was a bit complicated.
The journey from Mount Yunwu to Xuanqing School was almost across the entire Kunwu Mountain Range. They walked for two whole months.
During these two months, the two of them had become many times closer.
Perhaps it was because Qin Xi had been taught by a famous teacher since he was a child, but his knowledge was extensive. Not only did he tell her a lot of cultivation insights, but he also talked about a lot of things he had seen.
In fact, his temperament wasn't as cold as it was when they first met. On the contrary, he was gentle and polite. When he talked, he made people feel like they were bathing in a spring breeze. Moreover, he helped her a lot …
When she realized that she was starting to rely on him, she realized that the situation wasn't good. She made a prompt decision and distanced herself from him.
Qin Xi came from a prestigious school and he also had a high level elder. Even if they performed Dual Cultivation together, with her aptitude, she definitely wouldn't have any hope, so why should she be delusional?
Therefore, when she realized that she was a bit moved, she rationally cut it off.
This was the first time she developed a different kind of feeling towards a person. Even she herself was surprised that she could make such a rational decision.
However, she didn't feel like she was struggling because she never had such firm confidence that she would go further on the path of cultivation.
Qin Xi approached the highest Immortal's Cave on Clear Spring Peak.
Although it was called an Immortal's Cave, it would be better to call it a palace. Although it was located in the belly of the mountain, the entrance was completely palace-like.
When the disciple guarding the entrance saw him, he called out in surprise, "Martial Uncle Shoujing, you're back!"
He nodded and asked, "Is grandmaster here?"
The disciple answered, "He's here. Please come in."
After stepping through the entrance, they saw that the ground inside was paved with spirit jades and the walls were made of strange stones. Although it wasn't dazzling with gold and jade, it had an indescribable air of nobility.
Inside the main hall, a middle-aged man wearing a golden crown and a king's robe was reclining on a dragon-carved bed. A woman was massaging his legs while another woman was peeling grapes for him.
This middle-aged man who looked like a secular emperor was actually a Nascent Soul cultivator.
After he swallowed the grapes the beauty brought to his mouth, he finally took the time to look at Qin Xi. "Where did you go this time?
You actually didn't come back for three years … Huh?
You recovered your cultivation level? "
Qin Xi ignored the man's behavior, which was like that of a secular incapable emperor. He picked up a chair, sat down and poured himself a cup of tea. "What else could I have done?
Of course, I was looking for spiritual medicines to treat injuries. I also took the opportunity to look for some Body-Refining Techniques in preparation for my Nascent Soul formation. "
"Hmph!" The man raised his eyebrows. "That's more than that, right?
You obviously brought back a little girl.
What, are you finally tempted by her? "
"Do you think I'm like you?" Qin Xi said bluntly. He then frowned and said, "How did you know she was a woman?
She clearly … "
"Do you think you can hide from my eyes that have seen countless women just by wearing men's clothes?
Oh, no, it's my divine sense — "After talking to himself for a while, the man swallowed another grape and comfortably changed his posture. He stared at Qin Xi and said," Tell me, since you brought her back, she's definitely not an ordinary woman. What's going on? "
Qin Xi didn't argue with him anymore. He thought for a while and said, "Master —"
If Mo Tiange heard the way he addressed her, she would definitely understand his real identity.
Clear Spring Peak was Patriarch Jinghe's cultivation place. Since this middle-aged man was a Nascent Soul cultivator, he was naturally Qin Jinghe.
There were only a few people in the entire Xuanqing School who could call him master.
"Master, please accept her as our disciple."
"En?" Qin Jinghe, who was eating grapes, almost choked when he heard what Mo Tiange said.
He swallowed the grape in his mouth, thought for a while, then waved the two women away and finally sat up straight. "You want me to accept her as my disciple?
Who's this woman? She's actually worthy of your attention? "
Qin Xi didn't answer the latter question. He only said, "I just want you to accept her as your registered disciple. I'll take care of everything else."
"Tell me who she is first —"
Qin Xi had no choice but to tell him, "Do you remember someone entrusted an orphan to me twenty years ago?"
Qin Jinghe, who didn't look like a Nascent Soul cultivator at all but more like a fatuous and mediocre monarch in the secular world, thought for a while and understood. "Oh, so she's that family's girl.
Alas, I'm really disappointed. I thought you were enlightened. "He then lay back down, but this time, he didn't have a beauty to serve him, so he used a spell to peel the grape.
Seeing his behavior, Qin Xi felt even more helpless. "Master?"
The man said discontentedly, "Xi 'er, I'm your granduncle and also your master. Can't you be a bit more respectful?"
"Can you blame me for being disrespectful?" Qin Xi wasn't polite at all. "Look at yourself. Do you look like an elder?"
"You brat —" The man jumped up. "You're obviously taught by me, so why are you acting like those smelly old Daoists?
Who said that cultivators have to be pure in heart and few in desires? Only by wholeheartedly cultivating can one achieve success?
Didn't I, your master, cultivate to the middle stage of the Nascent Soul realm? "
"I'm just talking about acting like an elder. I didn't …"
"Do you think I don't know what you're thinking?
Smelly brat, you just came back, but you're already making me angry! "
Qin Xi was about to explain, but he was retorted. He could only take back what he wanted to say and spread his hands. "Fine, whatever you say. Who told you to be an elder?" In any case, he was already used to it.
"That's more like it."
He continued to eat grapes with satisfaction. After a while, Qin Jinghe said, "Tell me your plan first.
I remember the disciple you sent ten years ago brought back news saying this girl really has a Pure Yin Constitution? "
Qin Xi nodded. "Correct.
In fact, her spiritual roots aren't good, but she's very diligent and has a good perception. With some nurturing, she might be able to become useful. "
"Become useful?
Are you talking about the Core-Formation realm? "
Qin Jinghe shook his head. "Don't use your example on other people. Brat, you have double spiritual roots, so you won't be burdened by your aptitude.
I remember that child has five spiritual roots, right?
For a cultivator with five spiritual roots, no matter how diligent she is and how good her perception is, it'll be very difficult for her to achieve anything. If she can build her foundation, she'll already be thanking the gods! "
Qin Xi didn't refute him. "Master, since you think so, how about we make a bet?"
"En?"
"You said she can build her foundation at most, but I said she can definitely form her Gold Core!"
Qin Jinghe, who was sitting on the bed, stopped and looked at him thoughtfully. "Where do you get your confidence from?
Not to mention a cultivator with five spiritual roots, there are many cultivators with double spiritual roots like you who are stuck in the Foundation Building realm. You said she can definitely build her foundation … Did you discover something? "
Qin Xi shook his head and only said one word: "Intuition."
Qin Jinghe paused and curled his lips disdainfully. "Forget it!
Don't forget, no matter how awesome you are, you're only in the middle stage of the Core Formation realm. How can you compare to me in sensing the Mandate of Heaven? "
Qin Xi sneered at him. "Master, are you really that awesome?
I remember you said it would take me 200 years to advance to the Core Formation realm. What happened in the end?
It only took me 70 years to form my Gold Core. I'm afraid I'll form my Nascent Soul in 200 years! "
Qin Jinghe's face reddened, but in the next second, he said confidently, "There are errors in sensing the Mandate of Heaven, okay?
Don't be complacent. Forming your Nascent Soul in 200 years? How many years has it been since someone appeared in the Celestial Pole?
I'm telling you, don't think forming your Nascent Soul is as easy as forming your Gold Core. Back then, I was already a genius, but I only formed my Nascent Soul when I was almost 400 years old. You … "
"Then Master, you're betting she can't form her Gold Core?"
The topic changed too fast, so Qin Jinghe paused for a moment and said angrily, "Who said I was betting with you?
Brat, go away! You're always scheming against me … Wait!
I want to ask you what you want to do with her, not discuss her future with you. Don't change the topic! "