All the way there, Mo Xuan weighed it again and again. In the end, he still decided to hand over the "little sun" through Teacher Kong—he didn't trust anyone else with it.
So he didn't go to the Academy. Instead, he directed Xiao Ba to fly toward Teacher Kong's immortal realm.
After only a few days, Teacher Kong's immortal realm had changed drastically. The spirit lake's water level was still low, but the spiritual plants in the fields had already recovered—lush, vigorous, swaying in the wind.
Mo Xuan smiled faintly. He had Xiao Ba slow down, then drifted down lightly onto the plaza of Teacher Kong's immortal realm.
Hm? Kong Ling was here too.
Mo Xuan frowned slightly, put Xiao Ba back into the beast pouch, rewarded Xiao Ba with a meteor "snack," then entered the small palace and cupped his hands to greet Teacher and Kong Ling.
Kong Ling frowned at Mo Xuan. This kid isn't here to borrow Great-Grandfather's transport spirit ship again, is he? Shameless!
Kong Ling spoke first, cutting him off: "Great-Grandfather, it's settled then. I'll borrow your transport spirit ship for a few years."
Kong Jian glanced at Kong Ling, sighed inwardly, and nodded slightly.
Kong Ling shot Mo Xuan a glare. What's so good about this guy anyway? Why does Great-Grandfather favor him so much?
Mo Xuan was long used to her glares. He calmly stated his purpose: "Teacher, I'd like to ask you to help me with something."
"Shameless," Kong Ling muttered under her breath.
"Ling'er!" Kong Jian warned her with a look and said, "Aren't you in a hurry? Go—leave early, arrive early. Be careful."
"It can wait. I'll leave later," Kong Ling said, staring at Mo Xuan. She wanted to see just how thick his skin really was.
Kong Jian sighed helplessly and gave Mo Xuan an apologetic look. He'd once wanted to matchmake Mo Xuan and Kong Ling, but… sigh.
Mo Xuan didn't mind. "My Mo family has an outstanding girl named Mo Que'er. Last year, she ranked fourth in the entire commandery's grand examination."
Kong Jian nodded in understanding, but his brows tightened slightly. This favor would not be easy. He'd already used up years of accumulated connections just to secure Mo Xuan's slot back then…
Kong Ling snorted again and again. Good kid, I underestimated how shameless you are. You really dare say it out loud! You got lucky and became an immortal, and now you want your clan's juniors to cultivate too? Dream on! Our Kong family's next slot isn't even settled yet—why should we help you?
If Kong Jian weren't standing right there, Kong Ling would've cussed Mo Xuan until he bled. Do you even have a face?!
Mo Xuan cleared his throat and said, "Teacher, I salvaged a rather good meteor core in the void. I want to use it to secure a cultivation slot for Mo Que'er. But I don't know anyone 'up there,' so I can only ask you to help."
Kong Ling was so angry she laughed. She pointed at Mo Xuan and snapped, "Mo Xuan, you—! What garbage meteor is that, worth how many points? You think you can leech off our Kong family again?! Are you even human? Shameless! I'm annoyed just looking at you!"
She erupted like a shrew, cursing nonstop—Kong Jian couldn't even stop her.
Mo Xuan awkwardly rubbed his nose. Back then, when he'd been desperate, he had taken quite a bit of Teacher Kong's help—effectively consuming resources that should've belonged to Kong Ling. It wasn't much, but Kong Ling had resented him ever since.
"Enough!" Kong Jian shouted.
Only then did Kong Ling fall silent—still glaring viciously at Mo Xuan.
Mo Xuan sighed softly. No more nonsense.
He directly took out the little sun.
Radiance burst forth—blinding brilliance, dazzling enough to scorch eyes.
"What… is that?"
Kong Jian was shocked, staring at the little sun floating in midair.
Kong Ling was completely dumbstruck, blinking blankly, unable to believe it. Is that… a meteor core? What kind of treasure is this?!
Mo Xuan gave a simple introduction: "Water–light mixed energy crystal. 140 kg. Energy storage rate: 78%. Earth-grade, first rank."
Earth-grade, first rank!
Kong Jian was a three-thousand-year-old earth immortal. He hadn't lived through Qingyuan's ancient prosperity—this was the first time he had ever seen an earth-grade first-rank meteor core.
Kong Ling reached out and lightly touched the little sun.
Heaven. Such surging energy.
Kong Ling swallowed hard. A violent greed surged up inside her, and she blurted at Mo Xuan, "Mo Xuan, the Kong family helped you so much—consider this meteor core your compensation!"
As she spoke, she tried to store the little sun into her storage pearl.
"Outrageous!"
Kong Jian flicked his sleeve. A gust of force rolled Kong Ling straight out of the small palace.
Kong Ling scrambled to steady herself, landing on the ground, face pale. She knew she'd been possessed by desire—and that was extremely harmful to cultivation.
She looked at Kong Jian, furious like a thunder god. Then she looked at Mo Xuan and the little sun, bared her teeth, stomped, and—still fuming—darted into the transport spirit ship.
The ship shot away at full speed.
"Teacher, please don't be angry," Mo Xuan quickly soothed him, then sighed. "My family situation was truly difficult. Otherwise, I would've offered this core to you long ago, to repay your great kindness."
Kong Jian raised a brow. "Do you think I would accept it?"
Mo Xuan smacked his own mouth. "Ah—my stupid mouth. Teacher, don't take it to heart. I just didn't want you to get upset. Senior Sister Kong Ling is only blunt. She's not… truly bad."
Kong Jian shook his head and sighed. "That girl has become more and more outrageous. It's my fault for spoiling her too much."
Back then, when Kong Jian secretly supported Mo Xuan, he had indeed used Kong Ling's resources. Even if it was only a small portion, he'd always felt guilty—so he'd indulged her too much, and her temper grew sharper with time.
Mo Xuan steered the conversation away. "Teacher, do you think this meteor core can exchange for a cultivation slot?"
Kong Jian pondered. "It should be more than enough. But this is my first time seeing such a treasure. I'm not sure of its exact value. Wait a moment—I'll report upward."
Kong Jian took out his jade tablet and operated it. Soon, a reply arrived.
Kong Jian froze, then said to Mo Xuan, "Xuan'er—Daojun Gu Xin summons you. Go at once."
"Huh?" Mo Xuan scratched his head blankly, put away the little sun, bade farewell to his teacher, and rode Xiao Ba toward Daojun Gu Xin's immortal heaven.
Kong Jian stroked his beard. This child's luck really is absurd… Earth-grade first rank… He salvaged one earth-grade third-rank fragment after three thousand years, and only then did he gather enough resources to advance to earth immortal…
Gu Xin Daojun's immortal heaven was easy to recognize—among the three super great immortal heavens, it was the smallest one.
Even if it was the "smallest," a Daojun's immortal heaven was no ordinary place.
Mountain ranges stretching hundreds of li, a vast lake like an ocean, millions of mu of top-grade spirit fields planted with immortal herbs, birds and beasts everywhere, flourishing vitality—rich and splendid, practically a small immortal world of its own.
In the mist, enormous palaces appeared and vanished. Celestial music drifted.
Without permission, if you dared intrude, the dense layers of defensive and killing formations would teach you exactly how to write the character for "death."
Mo Xuan had only seen the three Daojuns once.
That was when he'd first entered the Academy—when new students chose factions, or rather, were chosen by the three great sects.
Taiyi Sect and Qianzao Sect had high requirements.
Taiyi wanted wealthy background, good talent, and handsome looks.
Qianzao had fewer requirements—beauties got priority.
As for Guxin Sect…
Well, whoever the other two didn't pick, they scooped up into one pot.
Teacher Kong Jian belonged to Guxin Sect, so Mo Xuan naturally joined as well.
New disciples followed Guxin Sect's senior disciple, Juye the heaven immortal, to pay respects. Juye was short and plain-looking—among immortals full of gorgeous men and women, he was… honestly kind of ugly.
Gu Xin Daojun's palace was grand and imposing, but inside it was strangely empty—nothing flashy.
Gu Xin Daojun himself gave Mo Xuan the impression of being tall and thin, with extremely sharp eyes. Not especially handsome. He only smiled, nodded once from start to finish, and said a single word:
"Good."
And that was the end.
Many new disciples complained in private: No wonder Guxin Sect always loses resources to the other two. Daojun Gu Xin barely speaks!
Mo Xuan put Xiao Ba away and drifted slowly into the immortal heaven. The moment he entered, he felt over a dozen powerful divine senses sweep over him multiple times—at least earth-immortal level—checking and confirming. Only then did they withdraw.
Mo Xuan exhaled. He still remembered the route, and he descended before Daojun Gu Xin's grand palace.
Two immortal attendants at the gate had already received instructions. They nodded slightly and let him pass.
Mo Xuan entered stiffly. It felt much the same as two hundred years ago—still so empty.
He scanned the hall, then stepped into the inner chamber, where he saw tall Daojun Gu Xin standing and speaking with two people.
Mo Xuan didn't dare look too much. He lowered his head and approached.
All three turned to look at him.
Mo Xuan's scalp went numb. He felt as if he'd been stripped bare under their gaze—cold all over.
The three quickly withdrew their eyes and exchanged smiles.
Only then did Mo Xuan notice the other two also wore purple-gold crowns.
He s*ck*d in a sharp breath.
Purple-gold crowns were the mark of Daojuns.
At the Academy, students wore bronze crowns. Ordinary immortals wore silver. Earth immortals wore gold. Heaven immortals wore gold-inlaid jade.
Only Daojuns could wear purple-gold.
Mo Xuan sneakily glanced at Daojun Qianzao: tall and slender, even slightly taller than Daojun Taiyi. Her robes were plain and simple, but her face—
So beautiful it shook the soul.
Those bright eyes seemed to glitter.
A true goddess.
Mo Xuan didn't dare stare. He stole a glance at Daojun Taiyi.
He'd long heard Taiyi Daojun was unbelievably handsome—indeed flawless, a breathtakingly perfect man.
If this were Earth, he'd crush every celebrity idol without trying.
Compared to the two Daojuns with jaw-dropping looks, Daojun Gu Xin just… had height.
Mo Xuan bowed deeply. "Disciple Mo Xuan greets the three Daojuns."
No need for flattering blessings. Immortals were casual; sincerity was best.
Daojun Gu Xin nodded slightly and said directly, "Mo Xuan. Take it out."
Mo Xuan brought out the little sun.
Radiance blazed, illuminating the entire grand hall.
The three Daojuns' eyes lit up. They stepped forward and examined it closely.
Mo Xuan, too, gazed at the little sun with deep feeling.
From this day on… he'd never see it again.
The three Daojuns exchanged looks and nodded in satisfaction.
Daojun Gu Xin asked plainly, "Mo Xuan. What do you seek?"
Hand it over for free?
Don't joke.
Immortals had selfishness too. Meteors were ownerless—whoever salvaged them owned them. The small world might take a cut, but the best meteor cores? Immortals kept those for themselves. Otherwise, trade gatherings wouldn't exist.
Mo Xuan explained Mo Que'er's situation.
Surely one little sun could at least buy one cultivation slot.
Daojun Gu Xin nodded in understanding. Then he took out a stack of talisman paper and a purple-gold talisman brush.
Swish, swish, swish—
He signed three names, tore off three slips, and handed them to Mo Xuan.
Mo Xuan stared blankly at the three slips in his hands.
These were nothing else—
Cultivation quotas.
One slip equaled one cultivation slot. Write the name and press a handprint, and it took effect immediately.
Heavens!
A Daojun really was decisive—
Three slots, just like that.
Mo Xuan's brain went empty.
The Mo family… had truly risen.