Reunion

Several years had passed, and the Red Leaf Market was still the same as ever. Only the rogue cultivators struggling at the bottom had changed.

As soon as one batch of rogue cultivators died in the Hundred Beasts Mountain Range, another would grow up to take their place. Like the chives in a vegetable patch, they could never all be cut down.

How many of these rogue cultivators could defy the heavens and change their fate, rising above others?

With a hint of ruefulness, Mo Wen and Song Yixue found an inn and settled in.

His main purpose in returning this time was to seize Jingxiu Mountain. To give himself a proper justification, Mo Wen decided to visit the Dragon Snake Cave and discuss the matter with the few remaining members of the Mo Clan.

After settling Song Yixue in, Mo Wen left the Red Leaf Market at once and flew on his sword toward the depths of the Hundred Beasts Mountain Range.

The flying sword he now wielded was Ji Buqun's Startling Thunder Sword. This Startling Thunder Sword was a high-grade second-tier Spirit Artifact, enough to serve him for a long time.

In less than half an hour, Mo Wen flew over three hundred li and arrived in the valley outside the Dragon Snake Cave.

After scanning the surroundings with his Divine Sense and finding no trace of anyone else, he contacted Mo Changge with a Message Transmission Talisman.

Mo Changge soon replied: wait a moment. Uncle Daolin will come out to welcome you.

After waiting about a quarter of an hour, Mo Wen saw Mo Daolin appear.

Six years had passed, and Mo Daolin had aged considerably. His whole bearing seemed weary and lifeless.

When he saw Mo Wen, he gave him a rare smile and said, "You've grown quite a bit younger, haven't you, lad? Looks like you've been living well these past few years!"

"Uncle Daolin, it's been some time. Have you been well?" Mo Wen greeted him.

"Alas, I'm old and no longer of much use." Mo Daolin spoke with Mo Wen about recent events as he led him into the Dragon Snake Cave.

"These past few years, those lads have been seizing every moment to cultivate. Changge has been handling the daily affairs."

"By the way, Changying has reached the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer and is preparing for Foundation Establishment."

"Really? I hope she breaks through in one go. If the Mo Household wants to establish itself in the outside world, it still needs someone at Foundation Establishment to hold the fort," Mo Wen said.

"That's true enough, but how could Foundation Establishment be so easy? Even when the old ancestor was alive, he didn't nurture a single Foundation Establishment cultivator, much less now!" Mo Daolin sighed.

"As long as people are still here, there's always a chance," Mo Wen reassured him.

With his current abilities, he could give back to the Mo Household. But even if he was willing to contribute, they might not accept it!

When the two arrived at the underground cave, Mo Changge and Mo Qingyun were waiting to welcome them in front of the exit.

"Sixth Brother! What happened to you?" Mo Changge asked in surprise when he saw how much younger Mo Wen looked.

"I had some fortuitous opportunities in the Azure Luan Immortal City and restored the foundation I damaged during Foundation Establishment," Mo Wen explained vaguely.

"Oh, congratulations, Sixth Brother!" Mo Changge was genuinely happy for him.

"Qingyun greets Senior." Mo Qingyun's manners were impeccable, leaving no room for criticism.

"You can't be far from the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer, Qingyun. You truly deserve to be called the foremost of the Qing generation!" Mo Wen said politely.

"You flatter me, Senior. I still have a long way to go," Mo Qingyun replied modestly.

After the three exchanged a few pleasantries, they entered a rough-hewn stone hall to talk.

"I heard you've been cultivating in the Azure Luan Immortal City all these years, Senior. How did you find time to come to the Dragon Snake Cave?" Mo Qingyun asked tentatively.

He had always been wary of Mo Wen, yet he also wanted to draw on his strength to revive the Mo Clan, so he treated him neither warmly nor coldly.

Mo Wen pondered for a moment, then got straight to the point. "I want to take possession of Jingxiu Mountain as a place to cultivate. What do you think, nephew?"

Mo Qingyun's face immediately turned cold at those words. Jingxiu Mountain had originally been the Mo Clan's ancestral land. Although it had now been seized by force, he had always regarded it as his own.

Now that Mo Wen had announced he wanted to take possession of Jingxiu Mountain, Mo Qingyun felt as though someone had set their sights on a cherished possession, and naturally, he was far from pleased.

After several breaths, he finally mastered his emotions and asked, "Senior, Jingxiu Mountain is now occupied by the Feng Clan. I'm afraid taking it back won't be easy, will it?"

"Since I dared to say it, I'm naturally confident I can deal with the Feng Household," Mo Wen said calmly.

"Since you're so confident, Senior, why bother coming to the Dragon Snake Cave? You might as well march straight up Jingxiu Mountain!" Mo Qingyun sneered.

"Qingyun, don't be rude!" Mo Changge hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over.

Even if Mo Wen had only achieved Divergent Method Foundation Establishment, the few Qi Refining cultivators among them were no match for him. Of course, he did not believe Mo Wen would attack the few remaining members of the Mo Household.

"Please don't be angry, Senior. I spoke out of turn," Mo Qingyun apologized, taking the opportunity.

Mo Wen smiled, unconcerned, and explained, "I am a member of the Mo Clan, after all. Even if I took Jingxiu Mountain for myself, no one could fault me!"

"However, I don't intend to stay on Jingxiu Mountain for long. I want to hand this spirit land over to you to manage in the future. That's why I came to tell you before reclaiming it."

When Mo Changge and Mo Qingyun heard this, delight immediately appeared on their faces.

If things were truly as Mo Wen said, then these Mo Household descendants, hiding in the Dragon Snake Cave like homeless dogs, could finally see the light of day again.

"Senior, do you have any other conditions?" Mo Qingyun asked. As the person now in charge of the Mo Clan, he naturally had to lay any unpleasant matters on the table first.

"Yes. Since you've asked, I'll speak plainly. I've advanced to become a second-tier talisman master, but I don't have a complete talisman inheritance. Once I've taken Jingxiu Mountain, I want to make a copy of the Mo Household's talisman inheritance!" Mo Wen said.

Mo Qingyun pondered for a moment, then said, "Without a Foundation Establishment cultivator to hold the fort, we can't possibly keep Jingxiu Mountain."

"I can go to the Azure Luan Immortal City and buy a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill, but you'll have to provide the Spirit Stones."

"We don't have that many Spirit Stones."

"Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation methods, spells, and Spirit Artifacts can all be used to settle the debt."

"Very well. It's a deal."

"It's a deal."

After the two reached an agreement, the atmosphere between them grew much more cordial.

"Next, this is what we'll do..." Mo Wen explained his plan in detail.

Mo Qingyun and Mo Changge filled in the gaps, doing their best to make the plan to seize Jingxiu Mountain as complete as possible.

In truth, with Mo Wen's strength, he could have swept aside the cultivation households around Jingxiu Mountain. But considering that he was going to attempt Foundation Establishment next, he did not want to attract too much attention.

Thus, he decided to hide most of his strength. Showing a normal Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivation would be enough.

Lastly, Mo Wen told Mo Qingyun and Mo Changge that he had found a dao companion, who was also a cultivator who had only recently reached Foundation Establishment.

When the two learned they had such a powerful ally on their side, they grew even more confident about taking Jingxiu Mountain!

Mo Wen did not stay long at the Dragon Snake Cave. After agreeing on a time to act with Mo Qingyun, he left and returned to the Red Leaf Market to meet up with Song Yixue.

Over the next few days, Mo Wen searched the Red Leaf Market for information about the Feng Household.

After several days, he had obtained only information that was readily available, including details about the Feng Household's two Foundation Establishment cultivators.