Zhi Shi Tang returned home with his reward, and Mo Tian Ge and Liu Yi Dao chatted and laughed as they walked back to their residence.

  Zhou Shixiong returned earlier than them and was now collecting the Lingcao he had neglected for a few days beside his house. Seeing them, he smiled and nodded at them. Zhou Shixiong's name is Zhou Jianan, and it was him who got first place this time, with two rewards that made people jealous. Because of their journey together in the Misty Valley, his attitude towards them was different from before.

  Mo Tian Ge and Liu Yi Dao hastily returned a courtesy, before returning to their own residence.

  Qin Xi and Xu Jingzhi were still waiting for them in the small hall, while Jiang Shanghang's house had already been locked up, presumably he had returned to cultivate. This time, the blow to him should be quite big, but they didn't know him well, so there was nothing to say.

  The four of them chatted for a while before dispersing. After seeing that they had all returned to their rooms, Mo Tian Ge hesitated for a moment before going to knock on the door next door.

  The door opened and Qin Xi stood behind it: "Does Ye Shidi have anything else?"

  He looked at his hand grasping the door and raised an eyebrow: "Brother Qin, aren't you going to invite me in?"

  Qin Xi smiled slightly and let go of his hand, turning around and entering the house.

  This room... is different from others, she hasn't seen Jiang Shang's room before, but has seen Xu Jingzhi and Liu Yidao's. Xu Jingzhi's room was similar to hers, with bedding and tea sets that were all brought from home. Liu Yidao didn't add much, only the necessities for cultivation. The current room is different from theirs. The cushion is not an ordinary item, she can feel it, and the tea set on the table is made of crystal clear jade, exuding a refined aura, clearly not an ordinary object. In the center of the room, there's a tripod furnace, seemingly a dan furnace, with array tools placed around the room. The cushion, tea set, dan furnace, and array, only these four items were added, but none of them are ordinary! She can't see through the other three objects, but she can make out some clues about the array, it's a composite array that combines defense, spirit gathering, divine sense restriction, and spiritual energy isolation. The spiritual energy density within this array is comparable to Beifeng! She secretly estimated that with her own and Second Uncle's array skills, they couldn't create such an array, this must be the work of a cultivator above the Foundation Establishment stage. If placed on the market, it would cost at least several thousand spirit stones.

  She turned her head and saw Qin Xi looking at her with a smile that was not quite a smile, realizing she had lost her composure, so she said: "Qin Shixiong, the reward has been received, let's part ways now."

  As she spoke, she pulled out a cloth bag from her Qiankun bag and said: "Here are 700 pieces of spiritual stone. The token that Master gave me can be exchanged for 200 spiritual stones, and as for the reward, I urgently need Gathering Qi Pills. Master's cultivation has already reached the tenth level, so he shouldn't need them that much. So, I think, the spiritual stones belong to you, and the Gathering Qi Pills belong to me."

  Qin Xi just glanced at him and said, "Since I've already said it's compensation for you, of course, I won't ask you to return it. You can use it as you like."

  "Although brother doesn't want to, I think it's still better to settle the account clearly. After all, I don't want to draw attention either and come out early, but it's not just because of you."

  Qin Xi hesitated for a moment, took out the cloth bag, fished out a piece of Ling stone, and then threw the rest back to her.

  "Mo Tian Ge didn't understand: 'This is...'"

  "There are about two hundred spirit stones here, consider it as repayment for the token. As for the reward, go and claim it yourself, you're the one taking part of the risk, I don't want it. Besides, do I look like I'm short on spirit stones?"

  "This matter, Mo Tian Ge could only bitterly smile, looking at the few things in this house. This Qin Shixiong thought to come and not put these several hundred pieces of spiritual stone in his eyes, had no choice but to say: 'Alright, today I'll grant you this favor, Shixiong.'"

  Qin Xi nodded and asked again: "Is there anything else, Young Master?"

  "Not... " Mo Tian Ge paused for a moment, then reluctantly said, "I'll take my leave."

  Qin Xi revealed a hint of a smile, apparently very pleased with her tact: "Brother Ye, you may go."

  It's said to be convenient, but in fact, he just wanted her to leave. Mo Tian Ge felt a sense of helplessness even more, but she herself didn't want to stay either, so she went along with his intention and pushed the door out.

  Back in his own room, he first washed up and then lay on the bed in a daze.

  This time, she could be said to have gained a lot. One thousand spirit stones, one bottle of Gathering Qi Dan, plus the one in her hand, was enough for her not to worry about spirit stones for two years, and focus on cultivating until she reached the tenth layer of Qi Refining. However, thinking of Qin Xi, she couldn't help but feel puzzled. To be honest, she had only probed him with a few words, and didn't know what secrets he was hiding, yet he seemed to not fear her discovering his true intentions, as if he was certain she wouldn't reveal anything. Why was he so confident? The more she thought about it, the more her hair stood on end - could it be that her own secret had been discovered, which is why he was so sure? Upon careful consideration, Qin Shixiong's treatment of her was indeed slightly different from others, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what exactly was different. After thinking left and right without coming to a conclusion, she shook her head and decided to sleep first, planning to go down the mountain tomorrow to ask Second Uncle for advice - with his rich experience, he would surely be able to tell her what to do.

  Closed my eyes, soon fell into a deep sleep, but today I kept dreaming. First, I dreamed of when I was young, my mother's body was still good, cooking in the kitchen, she was only three or four years old, sitting on a small stool watching. Then I dreamed of Li Yushan, it was the furnace tripod that I didn't understand when I was young, now I know what it means, and I'm even more terrified. Next, I dreamed of Ye Jingwen, she and my second uncle were brought back to Xuqing Gate, waiting for disposal. After that, I dreamed of Yunwu Sect, her secret was exposed, kneeling in front of the master of Zhenbao Hall, waiting for disposal...

  Waking up with a big sweat, Mo Tian Ge felt a wave of dizziness, it seemed that she was really frightened yesterday. She patted her forehead, went outside to fetch water, washed herself once, and prepared to go down the mountain.

  First went to the Menpai store to pick up the Ling stone for the proxy array method, exchanged it for wound-healing medicine, and then returned to the small courtyard where he originally lived with his second uncle.

  Opening the formation, walking into the yard, without even knocking on the door, I heard Second Uncle's voice: "Xiao Tian?"

  The stranger pushed open the door: "Second Uncle, it's me."

  Ye Jiang's old face revealed a smile, but Mo Tian Ge was stunned. Not having seen him for a month, Second Uncle's face showed an even deeper exhaustion, his complexion pale and wan with white hair, looking extremely worn out. She only now realized that in her unawareness, Second Uncle had become like this. With Second Uncle's cultivation, even if forming the Golden Elixir was hopeless, he could have originally found a small sect to peacefully spend his remaining years. However, over these seven or eight years, Second Uncle brought her along, avoiding the Xuan Qing Sect, running about everywhere, exhausting his mind to earn spirit stones, finally ending up with severe injuries...

  "Second Uncle..." Her eyes turned sour and she said in a low voice, "Is your injury more serious? Why didn't you tell me?"

  Ye Jiang gazed at her, but smiled faintly: "Xiao Tian...Tian Ge, Second Uncle calculated that your lifespan is already not much, so this injury has been unable to heal. We cultivators, although we have a longer lifespan than ordinary people, ultimately still have life and death, don't be sad, there will come a day when..."

  "But..."

  Ye Jiang waved his hand to stop her: "I can feel it, at most there are only two or three years left. Even if the injury heals, it's not going to work out. Now that you have already reached the 8th layer of Qi refining, Second Uncle hopes to see you advance to the Foundation Establishment stage before he passes away, and when that time comes, even in death, he will be smiling all the way to the afterlife."

  Tears fell involuntarily, and upon hearing this, she hastily wiped away her tears, took out the Qiankun bag, poured out the Ling stone and Dan medicine, and smiled at him: "Second Uncle, look, I won a lot of people in the Misty Valley, got these rewards, enough for me to cultivate to the tenth layer of Lianqi."

  Ye Jiang smiled: "Second Uncle has always believed that you can do it, don't worry, Second Uncle will definitely hold on until then, so, you must cultivate well, understand?"

  Moyin nodded, but her heart was bitter. She knew this day would come eventually. Ever since Second Uncle got injured, she had been constantly reminded of the impermanence of life. As a cultivator, one naturally had to look at life and death lightly, yet although she understood it in her mind, she couldn't help feeling sorrowful. Ten years ago, it was Mother who left her, now it's Second Uncle... The most important people by her side always ended up leaving her.

  "Alright, tell me about your trip to Misty Valley this time. Second Uncle can still give you some pointers."

  The song of the wild sky calmed his mind, and then he told the story of the Misty Valley in detail, finally mentioning Qin Xi.

  Ye Jiang remained silent for a long time before saying, "This person's background must be extraordinary. According to what you said, his experience in martial arts is so rich, and he has no shortage of wealth and treasures. It doesn't seem like he's a Qi-refining cultivator, unless... he's not a loose cultivator, but rather has a high-ranking cultivator as a senior or has had some unusual encounter. You don't have to worry, his actions clearly show that he has no designs on you; it's just best if you limit your interactions with him in the future."

  Moyuan felt slightly relieved: "I know, whatever he does I won't interfere much, and we'll still interact like before."

  "Not bad. You can go back and continue practicing now, Second Uncle's time is limited, must seize it tightly."

  Mo Tian Ge fell silent, and finally nodded: "I know, Second Uncle."

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  Thank you again for the reward, thank you ~