Over the following days, Xiao Mo sat on the deck day and night, cultivating with focused discipline.
Whenever Tushan Jingci had a free moment, she would also come up to the deck and sit quietly at Xiao Mo's side.
But on this flying vessel, the Tushan cultivators who had come were not there solely to protect Tushan Jingci. Their presence also carried a subtle sense of surveillance.
Yueshi, worried that once the Young Miss returned to Tushan, any behavior between her and Xiao Mo might be used against her, frequently pulled her Young Miss aside and urged her to exercise a little more restraint.
Tushan Jingci was unhappy about it, but she understood.
It was also during this time that Xiangniang took every opportunity to tease Xiao Mo.
And the moments she chose, without exception, were always when Tushan Jingci was not present.
Whenever she found an opening, Xiangniang would sway her slender waist and walk languidly before Xiao Mo.
Sometimes she would deliberately let something drop to the ground, then bend over in front of him to pick it up, deliberately exposing the fullness of her figure.
Or she would lift the hem of her skirt slightly, revealing a pair of shapely, slender legs, then run her fingers slowly along her skin before him, from her pale ankle to her smooth thigh.
Xiao Mo even felt that if he had not made a point of keeping his distance each time, she would probably have been pressing herself directly against him already.
At first, Xiao Mo had simply assumed this fox clan woman called Xiangniang was one of those who acted purely on impulse, with little restraint.
But one night Xiangniang quietly found him and told him she was still untouched, and Xiao Mo realized that things were not nearly as straightforward as they appeared.
If the woman were someone who simply acted on her feelings, he could have understood that readily enough. The fox clan's allure was famous, and they had always been more open to matters between men and women than other races.
But for an untouched woman who had never been involved with anyone to be behaving this way, that was a different matter entirely.
It gave the strong impression that she had been unable to make any headway with him through ordinary means and was now showing her hand, attempting a more direct seduction.
The effort felt altogether too forced.
As for whether she had fallen for him at first sight, that was an explanation too far-fetched to hold together.
In short, though Xiao Mo could not yet see through her true intentions, he understood clearly that Xiangniang's approach had another purpose entirely.
Three days later, the sky had just begun to lighten with the pale grey of early dawn.
Xiao Mo slowly opened his eyes, and before him, layer upon layer of cloud and mist drifted over the towering peaks in the distance.
These clouds were, in reality, the visible manifestation of spiritual energy so dense it had taken on a physical form.
Places this rich in spiritual energy were typically restricted grounds for a sect or clan, accessible only to inner disciples who had earned a sufficient contribution to the organization before being permitted to cultivate there.
And yet these blessed sanctuaries extended across hundreds of peaks, all of it serving simply as the dwelling ground of a single clan.
This alone was testament enough to the standing and strength of the Tushan clan within the Demon Realm.
After all, without power great enough, the Tushan clan could never have held such a place.
Huang Mingwei brought out a jade pendant, and the light it released enveloped the entire flying vessel as it slowly merged into the formation.
Once through the formation, the ancestral home of the Tushan clan spread itself fully before Xiao Mo's eyes.
Cities and villages were distributed in an interwoven pattern across the mountain peaks, each complementing the others.
Spirit beasts leapt lightly through the mountain streams, and foxes of every color chased and played with one another. Some remained in their beast forms, while others had transformed into human shape but still kept their fluffy ears and tails.
Because of the great Tushan formation, the spiritual energy and fortune of the land here were distributed preferentially to the fox clan.
As a result, foxes born here needed no cultivation, no special opportunity. Simply by opening their eyes to the world, they awakened into awareness.
Or one could say that being born within the Tushan clan's ancestral home was itself the greatest fortune of their lives.
The flying vessel descended slowly, and two young women stepped forward and gave Tushan Jingci a bow.
"Qingkong."
"Qingyu."
"We greet our younger sister of Tushan."
The pair of sisters, identical in appearance, spoke together in one voice.
Standing to one side, Xiao Mo could clearly sense that the bloodline presence coming from them was identical to Jingci's.
In other words, they too were descendants of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox clan.
"My respects to both elder sisters."
Tushan Jingci returned the courtesy with natural grace, her tone warm and composed.
"Jingci has grown up outside and is visiting the ancestral home for the first time. If there is any lapse in courtesy, I ask both elder sisters to please forgive me."
"How can sister say such a thing? It is we who should be properly welcoming you on your first return to the clan home." Qingkong smiled slightly, then continued, "But before that, the Grand Elder would like to meet with Jingci. Would sister be free?"
"Of course, I have no objection to that. Then I trouble both elder sisters to lead the way." Tushan Jingci gave a nod.
"Then Young Miss, Xiao Mo and I will wait here for you." Yueshi said tactfully. She had never entertained the idea of accompanying the Young Miss to meet that legendary figure of the Tushan clan.
"One more thing." Qingyu turned her head, smiled at Xiao Mo, and said, "The Grand Elder has also requested that Young Master Xiao attend as well."
The moment those words fell, everyone present turned to look at Xiao Mo in surprise, with the sole exception of Xiangniang, the corner of whose lips curved with an expression that could have been taken for a smile.
"To be received by the Grand Elder is my honor." Xiao Mo gave a calm nod. "I trouble the two ladies to lead the way."
"Please."
Qingkong and Qingyu turned gracefully, and led Xiao Mo and Tushan Jingci toward the main peak.
One incense stick's time later, Tushan Jingci and Xiao Mo arrived before a great hall.
"The Grand Elder is already waiting inside. Please go directly in." Qingkong said.
"Many thanks, both elder sisters." Tushan Jingci gave a bow of thanks, then brought Xiao Mo with her into the hall.
The great doors of the hall slowly closed behind them.
At the very front of the hall, standing in quiet stillness, was a woman dressed in a white robe.
"Jingci."
"Xiao Mo."
"We pay our respects to the Grand Elder."
The two of them gave a bow together in the direction of the figure.
The Grand Elder turned slowly, her gaze settling on Tushan Jingci and Xiao Mo, and smiled faintly. "No need for formality. Please rise."
"Yes, Grand Elder."
The two straightened and raised their heads to look at her.
Before them stood a woman who appeared to be in her mid-forties, her whole bearing radiating a cool, unapproachable quality.
As for her appearance, that hardly needed to be said.
The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox clan had always produced beautiful women, without exception.
The reason one could say they were all women was because no matter what race a Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox joined with, the children born of that union were invariably daughters.
And as the Grand Elder looked at Tushan Jingci, a particular light moved through her eyes as she used her innate divine ability to probe Jingci's spiritual roots.
At the same time, Tushan Jingci felt her own spirit and soul being penetrated bit by bit, as though the other person was attempting to exert control over her.
Understanding this was a test, Tushan Jingci activated her spiritual energy, and within three breaths, the soul-subduing technique dissolved quietly.
"Excellent, excellent."
The Grand Elder looked at Tushan Jingci with an expression full of satisfaction.
"Worthy indeed of being the most outstanding young member of our Tushan clan. Both her spiritual roots and the strength of her spirit and soul are genuinely exceptional. It has been a very long time since our Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox clan has seen a young one as satisfying as this."
"The Grand Elder praises too generously." Tushan Jingci replied with modest humility. "Compared to the other elder and younger sisters, Jingci still has many shortcomings."
"Ha ha ha, you are quite modest." The Grand Elder, Tushan Meng, smiled gently, her expression kind. "Your mother described you as lively and mischievous, even a little headstrong, but meeting you today I find you cultured and well-mannered, poised and gracious in all ways."
"Well, I will not go on complimenting you. Otherwise your mother will say you do not take praise well and will slack off in your cultivation."
"Jingci, I understand this is your first time at the ancestral home, and there must be much you are still getting used to. But that is fine, you will settle into it naturally with time. If there is anything you need, come directly to Hanpo Peak and find me."
"Yes, Grand Elder." Tushan Jingci gave a nod.
"There is one other matter, and I do not know whether you will agree to it." The Grand Elder looked at Tushan Jingci with a kindly expression, her eyes full of approval.
"The Grand Elder may speak freely. Jingci is listening." Tushan Jingci sounded perfectly trusting of the Grand Elder, but inwardly she had already raised a degree of wariness.
"In my life, I have only ever taken two disciples. One of them is your mother. Seeing your talent so exceptional today, I find myself moved to take on a student again."
Tushan Meng looked at Tushan Jingci with anticipation, her tone full of the affection an elder might show a promising junior.
"Jingci, would you be willing to become my disciple and serve as the new Holy Woman of the Tushan clan?"
"This... Grand Elder, if this young one could study under your guidance, it would naturally be this young one's great fortune. But the position of Holy Woman of Tushan carries responsibilities this young one lacks the virtue and ability to fulfill."
Tushan Jingci's eyes shifted, a measure of hesitation in her expression.
Becoming the Holy Woman of Tushan was not without its appeal. In fact, the vast majority of Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox clan members dreamed of becoming Holy Woman.
Because being named Holy Woman meant becoming the next leader of the Tushan clan.
But she had only just arrived at the ancestral home and knew nothing of anything here. How could she possibly shoulder a responsibility of this magnitude?
And beyond that, leading the Tushan clan and things of that nature were matters she had simply never thought about.
"Ha ha ha, there is no need to be in such a hurry to decline. You may think it over carefully and come and tell me once you have made up your mind."
Tushan Meng seemed to have no intention of pressing Tushan Jingci, and shifted the topic lightly.
"As for your book attendant here, I have long heard of him as well. Not only did he save your life when you were young, but his natural gifts are impressive. He has entered the Golden Core realm at such a young age. I happen to have something I would like to give him as well."
Hearing the Grand Elder's words, Xiao Mo and Tushan Jingci exchanged a glance.
"Xiao Mo, is it." Tushan Meng looked at Xiao Mo, her gaze assessing. "I see that you have yet to take a wife. Among the Tushan young people who came to receive you, there is a young woman called Xiangniang. She is a fine woman of our Tushan clan."
"And today this old woman will play the matchmaker."
"I would give Xiangniang to you, and the two of you should choose an auspicious day to marry. What do you think?"