Jian Dan didn't return to Mo Ying Peak immediately after leaving the main hall of Tianmo Peak. Instead, she took a detour and headed toward Mo Qǐ Peak, where Mo Qǐ resided.
The guards stationed at the foot of the mountain saw that Mo Yue Zhūnzhǔ had arrived alone and quickly stepped forward with respectful bows.
"Greetings to Mo Yue Zhūnzhǔ!"
"Has Mo Qǐ returned?"
"Reporting to Zhūnzhǔ, the Peak Lord returned two days ago and is currently resting and attending to peak affairs. I'll notify her immediately. Let me have my junior escort you up."
"Alright."
Jian Dan didn't mind. She was visiting someone else's territory, after all, and would naturally follow their etiquette. Since there was no urgent business, she took her time, admiring the scenery of Mo Qǐ Peak as she made her way slowly uphill.
Mo Qǐ Peak's overall style mirrored its master—unassuming but refined. It wasn't steeped in gloomy tones like some of the other mountains, nor was it a riot of gaudy colors. The atmosphere was understated yet elegant, offering a calm, comfortable walk.
From the foot of the mountain to the halfway point, black obsidian stone was paired with lush greenery. From there to the peak, small flower gardens were spaced evenly along the way.
These gardens were planted with mid- to high-grade demon plants and spirit flowers, maintained by formations that handled watering and care. Once mature, designated attendants would harvest them.
By the time Jian Dan strolled near Mo Qǐ's cave residence, Mo Qǐ's first attendant had already grown anxious waiting. Seeing the black-robed figure, now emanating an even stronger aura, the attendant hurried over to greet her.
"Greetings to Mo Yue Zhūnzhǔ. My Peak Lord has been waiting. Please, this way!"
"You're so slow. I've already prepared tea and snacks. Come on in."
Mo Qǐ's clear, hearty voice rang out. Clad in a red robe with her hair in a high ponytail, she stepped out of the cave and gave Jian Dan a quick once-over before bowing formally.
"Mo Qǐ pays respects to Mo Yue Zhūnzhǔ."
Playing along with the act, Jian Dan's lips curved with a faint smile.
"No need for that, Peak Lord. Let's not pretend between us. Aren't you worried your attendants will laugh at you?"
"Hey, there are eyes and ears all around. Proper decorum is still necessary."
The two walked side by side into the cave residence, which was laid out in a clean, spacious manner.
The entry led to a hundred-square-meter reception hall, its ceiling embedded with luminous pearls that cast a soft glow.
Mo Qǐ brought Jian Dan to a cozy side room furnished with a full set of chairs and tables. Hanging lanterns on the stone walls illuminated the space brightly. Green vines climbed the walls, with occasional bright red flowers blooming between them.
"This place feels warm and charming," Jian Dan remarked as she took her seat.
"Mhm. I usually host close friends here. The main hall is for official matters."
"Here, try this new tea my family sent me."
Mo Qǐ poured her a cup of pale green tea and handed it over.
"Thank you."
"When you brought those cultivators back from their tribulation, I was already out. But I heard your tribulation stirred quite the commotion."
Mo Qǐ wore an inquisitive look, clearly wanting firsthand details.
"Don't get me started. It was that Ma Wen from the Ma family. After seizing the body of a younger clan member, he tried to use me as his scapegoat during tribulation. As if I'd let that slide."
"The Fei family reported that you destroyed an entire mountain. The Ma clan didn't even have time to activate their defensive array."
"You think I'd let him open it? I finished crossing my tribulation, then struck immediately."
"I'm impressed. Only you would go after someone before stabilizing your cultivation."
"Hmph. If I'd waited, who knows what hole he would've crawled into? I would've had to waste effort hunting him down."
"Exactly why I admire you. You're bold, but you have reason behind your actions. You always know your limits. Even my ancestor said I should learn from you."
"Pfft. There's nothing to learn. I was forced into it."
Jian Dan took a sip of tea, its fragrance lingering. She sighed casually, then took the opportunity to vent a little.
"You know I come from a Loose Cultivator background. Alone in this vast cultivation world, and as a female cultivator no less, if I want to walk the path of longevity, I have to read the room and tread carefully."
Mo Qǐ nodded in agreement. Being a Loose Cultivator was never easy. For someone like Jian Dan, traveling alone, it was even harder.
"After so many years, I've gained some experience. But enough of that. When I left, the Tang family seemed displeased. They said some nasty things. Their reaction felt a bit over the top. Not long after I got back, I ran into a trap. Could it be their doing?"
Jian Dan shifted the conversation, revealing her true reason for the visit.
"Sharp as ever. You're right. The Tang clan hasn't been too happy about how fast you've risen. They likely set you up to knock you down a peg."
That matched Jian Dan's own suspicions. Since joining the Heavenly Demon Palace, the only ones she had ever crossed interests with were the Ma family, Tang Jian, and Pan Yuanyuan.
Now that the culprit was clear, she would wait and see how Palace Master Mo Lie handled things.
They chatted a bit more before Jian Dan used peak affairs as an excuse and took her leave, returning to Mo Ying Peak.
Thanks to Jian Dan's preferences, the space from the mid-mountain to the peak of Mo Ying Peak had been filled with peach blossoms. From afar, the entire mountain seemed dyed in pink, vibrant and full of life.
Back at Mo Qǐ Peak, after seeing Jian Dan off, Mo Qǐ returned to her residence. Her attendant seemed to be holding back a question.
"Just ask. You're going to pop if you keep it in."
The attendant smiled sheepishly.
"Peak Lord, why did Mo Yue Zhūnzhǔ come here alone today? Did she really just want to ask about the Tang family?"
"That's all you were wondering?"
Mo Qǐ sat on her meditation cushion and explained with ease.
"Mo Yue has her own sources. She probably already knows exactly who did it. She came to me to confirm it, that's all."
The attendant still looked uncertain.
"Then how do you think she found Ma Wen's location right after her tribulation?"
Only now did the attendant realize—Mo Yue Zhūnzhǔ had passed her Void Refinement tribulation and gone straight to take revenge.
"Besides," Mo Qǐ continued, "her coming here is also a way of showing goodwill. She still sees me as a friend and doesn't put on senior airs just because her cultivation is higher."
"I see now. Thank you, Peak Lord."
"Mark my words. Before she leaves for the Ming Valley, she's going to take a bite out of the Tang clan."
"Mo Yue Zhūnzhǔ could just let the Palace Master handle it. She wouldn't need to be the villain, and could even use her trip to the Ming Valley to pressure the Palace Master a little..."
"And that's why your thinking is too small. Mo Yue is not so foolish when it comes to big decisions. She'll definitely report the matter to the Palace Master. But he has too many concerns, and in the end, he'll just smooth things over. Only by handling it herself will she truly gain something."
"Oh..."
The attendant still looked confused. Mo Qǐ continued to explain.
"Mo Yue is already a top cultivator on this continent. And she's alone. That's both her strength and her weakness."
"You mean, being alone makes her more flexible and reliant on the sect, but also means she lacks family backing, making her vulnerable to manipulation?"
"Exactly. Her entire path was carved by her own hands. That means she must be cautious and decisive, because one mistake could cost her life.
But that kind of person... isn't easy to mess with either. If you cross her, she'll take her time and dismantle an entire clan without flinching."
"Is that even possible?"
"Why not? If it were me, and someone's clan provoked me, I'd start from the low ranks and work my way up. Their family might be vast, but can every junior be protected by a Void Refinement cultivator?"
===
Hey there! ( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ
If you've been following my translations for a while—or even if you just stumbled across one of the novels I work on—you might've noticed that I sometimes drop a link in the comment section of certain chapters. That link usually leads to my personal glossary, where I explain some of the more complex terms and concepts related to cultivation.
But I realized something recently… maybe some of you are reading through the app, not the web version, and copying links there can be a hassle (´･ᴗ･ ` )
So! I decided to upload the glossary directly to my Webnovel account. You can now find it right on my profile, titled:
🌸 The Xianxia Handbook: A Guide to Cultivation and Beyond 🌸
This way, it's easier for you to access, and I can keep updating it whenever I come across new terms, concepts, or explanations I feel are worth sharing. Whether you're new to cultivation novels or just want to deepen your understanding, I hope this helps enhance your reading experience. (๑˃ᴗ˂)ﻭ
I highly recommend adding it to your library and giving it a read—even if you're already a seasoned xianxia reader. Why? Because the handbook includes everything from foundational terms you've probably seen a hundred times, to deeper insights and uncommon concepts you might not have explored yet. It's also a great refresher if you ever feel confused by a term mid-chapter.
The content is a mix of information I've gathered from various sources and my own interpretations after reading way too many cultivation webnovels (∠｀ω´) 📚
For example:
-I wrote an entire section called "The Evolution of Cultivation and the Diversification of Paths", where I explore how cultivation branches beyond just "martial" or "spiritual" types. I also touch on 法修 (Fǎxiū) as spell-based cultivators, 剑修 (Jiànxiū) for weapon users, 音悦修 (Yīnyuè Xiū) for sound cultivation, 道修 (Dàoxiū) for Path-focused cultivators, and 魔修 (Móxiū) for demonic ones. Plus, side paths like talisman masters, beast tamers, and more.
-You'll find discussions on Five Spiritual Roots (五灵根, Wǔ Líng Gēn) and how they're viewed differently in different novels—some say it's the worst, others say it's the best.
-I also dive into Heavenly Tribulations, how they vary depending on the cultivator's path, and what that means for progression.
Basically, I try to "make it make sense" by piecing together bits of knowledge scattered across tons of novels. I've rarely seen any story explain all of this in a consistent and logical order, so I figured... why not try myself?
That said, everything in the handbook reflects my personal understanding, even if I reference or quote from other sources. I try to keep things neutral, general, and easy to understand—especially since different authors interpret terms in very different ways.
You'll also find clarifications for common misconceptions, like:
-Dual Cultivation isn't always about sex—it actually has two forms: one intimate (yes, that one), and one non-intimate focused purely on energy exchange.
-Terms like human furnace or cauldron (炉鼎, lú dǐng)
-Concepts like Takeover or Soul Piercing (common transmigration tropes), which I cover in Chapter 23: Spirit/Soul/God (神, Shén) & Divine Sense
-The Hierarchy of Worlds, the difference between practitioners vs. cultivators, Martial Arts vs. Cultivation, and other common worldbuilding tropes like sects, clans, realms, and more.
All in all, this version is way more comprehensive and accessible than the old comment-linked glossary, so I really recommend you check it out! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧