Hao Qing smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. "Ming Hong Daoyou, it has been a long time!"
Suspended in midair, Ming Hong smiled and returned the gesture. "Indeed, it has been quite some time. Hao Qing Daoyou, are you leading Haoran Sect's delegation this time?"
"Yes," Hao Qing replied. "I didn't expect to meet you here. Has Mingjian Gate's team already set out?"
"Yes, we left early to make preparations. I imagine it's the same for your sect, isn't it?"
The two exchanged polite words with tacit understanding. Yunxi, who had just arrived, remained silent and stood respectfully at the side.
Ming Hong Zūnzhě remembered her from before. When he sensed her current cultivation, a flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes before he smiled warmly. "Wei Xiaoyou, are you also participating in the Five Region Grand Tournament this time?"
Addressed directly, Yunxi stepped forward and gave a respectful bow. "Greetings, Ming Hong Zūnzhě. My master believes I lack real combat experience and wishes for me to temper myself. The Five Region Grand Tournament is an excellent opportunity, so I signed up."
Ming Hong nodded in approval. "Your master is correct. Retreating into seclusion for cultivation alone is not enough. Seeing young cultivators like you grow so quickly is truly heartening. It reassures us that the future generation is promising."
Clearly a compliment, and Yunxi responded with a modest smile. "Zūnzhě overpraises me. I still have much to learn and must accumulate more experience."
Once Yunxi finished speaking, Hao Qing made a suggestion. "Ming Hong Daoyou, since we've met here, why don't our sects travel together? It would be safer if we looked out for each other."
"That would be best."
This had been Ming Hong's intention as well, so he agreed readily.
With that, Hao Qing waved his sleeve, signaling Haoran Sect's flying boat to halt. Ming Hong Zūnzhě disappeared from view, and moments later, Mingjian Gate's sword-shaped flying boat pierced through the clouds, gliding to a stop beside Haoran Sect's vessel. The two boats then sailed side by side.
Hao Qing led Yunxi back to the cabin and informed Hao Yan Zūnzhě, "Senior Sister, Mingjian Gate's leaders this time are Ming Hong and Ming Xian."
Hao Yan Zūnzhě's lips curved into a faint smile. "It seems Mingjian Gate took our warning quite seriously."
"Since it concerns evil cultivators, Mingjian Gate would never sit idly by."
Hao Yan Zūnzhě's phoenix eyes glimmered with interest. "The Shadowscale Serpent actually persuaded Wei Yunqing to return to her cabin. It appears it's very wary of Mingjian Gate."
Hearing this, Yunxi instinctively spread her divine sense, catching sight of Wei Yunqing's cold expression as she returned to the room reserved for Nascent Soul cultivators.
Yunxi touched her chin thoughtfully, then bowed to the two Zūnzhě before flashing away to the deck.
Zhang Lingrui and Lin Keyang had been waiting for her ever since boarding the flying boat. When she finally appeared, they both approached with smiles.
"Senior Sister Ran Xi, are we traveling alongside Mingjian Gate now?"
"Yes," Yunxi replied with a smile. "We happened to meet them, and Zūnzhě decided we'd travel together."
At the same time, she transmitted a private message to them. "Be cautious of Wei Yunqing. No matter what excuse she uses to approach you, even if she says it's on my behalf, do not agree to meet with her, understood?"
Zhang Lingrui and Lin Keyang's expressions didn't change outwardly. They continued their casual chatter while transmitting their answer. "We understand. We'll avoid her."
They didn't pry further. Knowing Yunxi's warning was for their sake was enough. Soon after, the two returned to their cabins.
Other disciples at the Golden Core and Foundation Establishment stages had also noticed Mingjian Gate's flying boat. Some exchanged greetings via message talismans before heading back to their quarters.
Yunxi had been assigned to guard duty, her divine sense constantly extended. She not only kept watch over Haoran Sect disciples on board but also monitored the area surrounding the flying boat to ensure she could raise an alarm at the first sign of danger.
Ten days later, they were halfway to the Central Region, and the journey had been uneventful. Yunxi found herself chatting with Mingjian Gate's Shi Jun, and the topic inevitably shifted to Zhou Langchen.
"I haven't seen Zhou Langchen since we parted ways in Shuangshan City. Isn't he competing in the tournament this time?"
"He's successfully formed his Golden Core and has gone to face his Love Tribulation."
Shi Jun didn't hold back the information, answering frankly.
"If I recall correctly," Yunxi said thoughtfully, "isn't Zhou Langchen cultivating the Ruthless Dao? Why is he undergoing a Love Tribulation?"
Shi Jun shot her a strange look. "One must first have emotions to sever them. Only by severing emotion can one achieve ruthlessness."
Yunxi resisted the urge to roll her eyes and continued, "Then that poor female cultivator accompanying him through this tribulation is in for some misfortune."
Shi Jun shook his head. "Langchen's memories and cultivation have been sealed, and he's been sent to the mortal world. His tribulation partner is a mortal woman. Mortals only live a hundred years at most, making them ideal companions for this tribulation."
Yunxi couldn't hold back a few tuts of surprise. "So, does he need to kill his wife to prove his Dao?"
Shi Jun's expression darkened slightly, and he waved his hand dismissively. "Mingjian Gate is a righteous sect. Our cultivation methods are orthodox. We'd never do something so foolish as 'proving the Dao through killing one's wife.' That would only create unnecessary karmic sins. If he dislikes his tribulation partner, he can simply wait a century for her to pass away naturally. There's no need for such extremes."
This was probably the longest sentence Yunxi had ever heard Shi Jun speak, a clear sign that he didn't want her to misunderstand Mingjian Gate.
"I see. It seems I was ignorant."
Yunxi replied politely. She had only been curious, influenced by the countless cultivation novels she had read in her past life, which was why she'd asked.
Still, she couldn't resist asking one more question. "Shi Jun Daoyou, what if someone fails to sever emotions after falling in love, and even after severing them, they can't truly forget?"
Shi Jun took a deep breath. "Then they've failed the tribulation."
"And if they fail, do they have to go through it again?"
"It depends on the individual."
"How so? Seal their memories and have them undergo it again? If memories can be sealed, can emotions be sealed too?"
Shi Jun's face turned slightly green. He coughed lightly. "Ming Hong Zūnzhě is looking for me. Let's talk another time."
Before Yunxi could respond, he vanished.
"Tsk, why run away so fast? I was just curious, that's all."
"Ran Xi, come back!"
The moment Yunxi heard Hao Yan Zūnzhě's voice, she immediately flashed back to the cabin and asked respectfully, "Zūnzhě, what instructions do you have for me?"
Hao Yan waved for her to sit and smiled. "Nothing in particular. I just wanted you to chat with me. You're quite impressive, you know. You even scared Shi Jun off."
Knowing nothing escaped Hao Yan Zūnzhě's perception, Yunxi laughed sheepishly. "Zūnzhě, I was only curious."
"And yet every question you asked struck Mingjian Gate's sore spots."
Yunxi's eyes lit up, sensing gossip. She leaned in with a mischievous smile. "Zūnzhě, did Mingjian Gate once have a major incident involving a failed Love Tribulation that caused a huge scandal?"
"You're quite clever. Yes, five hundred years ago, Mingjian Gate faced a major incident. One of their most talented disciples failed his tribulation and accidentally killed his beloved.
After returning to the sect, a Zūnzhě sealed those memories for him. But the disciple was too gifted. He refused to forget his lover that way, so he tampered with his own sea of consciousness. Not long after, the seal was broken…"