Mo Yan guided the baleful qi sword, carrying Xie Zhaolin northeast.
After about two hours of flight, the silhouette of a grand city appeared on the horizon.
"Master, ahead is Tianyuan City," Mo Yan said respectfully. "It's the largest city within a thousand-li radius, with teleportation arrays connecting to various regions."
He descended the sword in a quiet spot outside the city, formed hand seals to dissipate the baleful qi, and took a cyan robe from his storage pouch. In an instant, the sinister demon cultivator transformed into an ordinary middle-aged cultivator.
"Master, this is my disguise," Mo Yan explained. "In the human cultivators' territory, my name is Mo Xun."
Xie Zhaolin gave a slight nod and changed her attire with a hand seal as well.
Soon, they passed through a teleportation array and arrived at Qingxi City, affiliated with Qingxi Sect. The city wasn't very large, but being close to Qingxi Sect made it bustling. Most cultivators on the streets wore cyan sect robes, their chests embroidered with a stream pattern—the emblem of Qingxi Sect.
"Master, let's find somewhere private to talk," Mo Yan said quietly, leading her into a secluded teahouse. Inside, he set up a soundproof barrier and took out a jade slip. "This contains detailed information on Qingxi Sect."
Xie Zhaolin scanned it with her divine sense, taking in the data. Qingxi Sect had three Golden Core elders, with the sect master at mid Nascent Soul. Mo Yan's disguised identity as Mo Xun, an Outer Sect herb-gathering elder, held limited status but allowed freedom of action.
"Just go in as your disciple," Xie Zhaolin decided, putting away the jade slip. She took out a bronze bracelet and put it on her wrist. With a flash of spiritual light, her cultivation was suppressed to Peak Qi Refining.
This level wouldn't draw too much attention but would still earn some respect.
Mo Yan examined her carefully and nodded. "Master, your disguise is perfect, even the aura is just right." He hesitated for a moment before adding, "But I'll need to trouble you a bit…"
"No problem," Xie Zhaolin interrupted. "In front of outsiders, we're a master-disciple pair. Also," she added, "from now on, when it's just the two of us, you don't have to call yourself 'slave.' Just say 'subordinate.'"
Mo Yan froze for a moment, then showed gratitude. "Subordinate obeys."
After settling the plan, they left the teahouse.
Mo Yan rented a simple horse carriage at an outskirt station, slowly making their way to Qingxi Sect. It suited their disguise—a herb-gathering elder returning with a newly accepted disciple—no need for flashy display. Through the carriage window, Xie Zhaolin could just make out the sect's mountain gate through the distant peaks.
"Master, the sect is ahead," Mo Yan said quietly. "If the gate disciples ask, just say I found a promising loose cultivator outside and took them as my disciple."
The carriage stopped before the sect, two gate disciples in cyan robes approached.
"Elder Mo has returned," one greeted respectfully, glancing at Xie Zhaolin with curiosity.
"Yes, lucky this time," Mo Yan, now Mo Xun, said with a smile. "I found a good talent and took her as a disciple. Her name is Xie Zhaolin, Peak Qi Refining."
The disciples exchanged envious looks. A Peak Qi Refining cultivation could, with effort, even enter the inner sect.
"Congratulations, Elder Mo, on finding a fine disciple," the other disciple said flatteringly. "Do you need me to register her?"
"No need," Mo Yan waved. "I'll settle her in first and go to the Steward Hall tomorrow."
The disciples bowed and stepped aside respectfully.
Mo Yan led Xie Zhaolin through layers of halls to a secluded courtyard at the back mountain, filled with spirit herbs exuding a faint fragrance.
"This is it, Master," he said. Inside, he formed a soundproof barrier. "The courtyard looks ordinary, but there's a hidden basement, absolutely safe."
Xie Zhaolin glanced around and nodded in satisfaction. This hideout was even better than she expected, both secluded and convenient.
"Go report to the Steward Hall first," she instructed. "Just say I'm temporarily staying here, and we'll arrange permanent accommodations after the formal apprenticeship ceremony."
Mo Yan bowed and left.
Xie Zhaolin turned inside, planning to head to the hidden room to cultivate, when she suddenly heard rustling in the herb garden. She frowned—Mo Yan had said this place was secluded, so who could it be?
After a brief hesitation, she decided to check, knowing she couldn't explain anything if something unexpected happened.
Opening the door, she saw three youths in inner sect attire sneaking through the herb garden, occasionally looking around. Their belts were empty, no herb tokens—obviously here to steal—but she was new and didn't want trouble, so she intended to ignore them.
As she started to step back, one of them looked up, locking eyes with her.
"Hey! You over there!" the lead youth barked. "What are you sneaking around for?"
Xie Zhaolin had no sect clothing yet, so she looked like a loose cultivator with no background. Her Peak Qi Refining cultivation was meaningless to these Foundation Establishment inner sect disciples.
"Talking to you!" another arrogant youth stepped forward. "Which peak are you from? Why are you in Elder Mo's herb garden?"
She remained calm, neither bowing nor yielding. "I'm Elder Mo's newly accepted disciple."
"Disciple?" They glanced at each other and burst into laughter. "Since when did Elder Mo take a Peak Qi female disciple? Could it be…"
Their words trailed off, but the mockery and implication were clear.
A cold glint flashed in Xie Zhaolin's eyes, but she quickly calmed herself. She didn't want trouble on her first day, so she turned to leave.
"Stop!" the lead youth blocked her path. "Who said you could leave? Tell us, are you here to steal herbs?"
Xie Zhaolin paused, looking up coldly.
"Step aside," she said evenly, her voice carrying undeniable authority.
The youth froze, then laughed exaggeratedly. "Wow, this little lady's got some nerve!"
He winked at his companions. "Listen to that—a useless Peak Qi cultivator dares talk to us like this?"
The other two laughed too, eyes glinting with lecherous intent. The tall thin one rubbed his hands and stepped forward. "Little Junior Sister, come play with Senior Brothers. What can that Lao Mo teach you anyway?"
Xie Zhaolin's gaze turned icy, but she still didn't move.
"Why so quiet?" the lead youth reached out to touch her face. "Let Senior Brother take good care of you!"