Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

After the visit of Leng Yueyao and others from Xuanbing Pavilion, no more disciples from major sects appeared outside the mountain gate, and Black Wind Village disappeared without a trace, as if there had never been any entanglement.

However, the invisible pressure hanging over Qingyun Mountain did not truly dissipate.

Shen Mo knew better than anyone that the Xuanbing Pavilion's "visit" was just the beginning; it was merely a scrutinizing gaze from a higher level.

The once barren and neglected land of Qingyun Sect has now come into the sights of certain behemoths because of the ambiguous "strange phenomenon" at Liuyun Water Mansion.

Life in the sect returned to its usual rhythm, even becoming more intense.

With the harvest brought back from Liuyun Cave, the resources "compensated" by Black Wind Stronghold, and the meager but stable income from the initial cooperation with Baibao Pavilion, Qingyun Sect finally escaped its impoverished state.

Shen Mo, Su Xiao, and Li Xiaocao meticulously planned to use every spirit stone wisely.

Under Li Xiaocao's meticulous care, the herb garden has more than doubled in size. The newly transplanted low-level spiritual herbs are growing well, and the main root of the vermilion fruit plant has even sprouted a second tender bud, which, although still weak, brings boundless hope.

Inside the weapon-refining room, Shi Tie, along with Zhang Daniu and several other strong disciples, were hammering away. They were no longer haphazardly repairing broken magical artifacts, but were instead trying to refine the simplest standard iron swords and shields according to the basic diagrams that Shen Mo had compiled from the miscellaneous chapters of "Qingyun True Explanation". Although it was crude, it was a legitimate business and could also train the disciples' perception of spiritual materials and control of spiritual power.

On the other side of the array hall, Zhao Qingyan made rapid progress. With Su Xiao's assistance, she actually combined the "Minor Illusion Array" with the "Mist Transformation" technique she obtained from the Water Mansion, creating an even more effective "Water Mist Illusion Array".

Although its coverage area is still limited, its concealment effect has been significantly improved, and Shen Mo has ordered it to be deployed at key locations around the mountain gate.

Everything was moving in a positive direction, and the disciples were smiling more often, cultivating with even greater effort.

But Shen Mo's heart remained taut. He often stood alone on the edge of the cliff, gazing at the distant mountains shrouded in mist, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

On this day, as dusk fell, the setting sun, like blood, dyed the clouds on the horizon a magnificent yet poignant crimson.

Shen Mo had just finished instructing Zhao Qingyan on a difficult problem involving the transformation of a formation node, and was strolling towards the herb garden, wanting to see how well the new batch of "Moonlight Grass" cultivated by Li Xiaocao was growing.

Sudden--

Without warning, an indescribable, immense will, like an invisible tide, silently swept across the entire Qingyun Mountain!

In that instant, the sounds of the wind, the chirping of insects, and even the breathing sounds of the disciples during their cultivation seemed to vanish. The world fell into an extreme silence.

Shen Mo felt a chill run down his spine, and a sense of dread from the depths of his soul swept over him!

He felt like a small boat on a stormy sea, about to be crushed by this irresistible force at any moment!

That will did not deliberately exude pressure; it was more like an unconscious sweep, like a god lowering his eyes and indifferently glancing at the ants at his feet.

But its level was far beyond anything Shen Mo had ever seen! Compared to it, the Golden Core pressure of True Person Jin Yan was like a firefly compared to the bright moon!

Faced with this will, Shen Mo felt that all his secrets were exposed, and the faint star power in his body and the mysterious cause-and-effect editing system in his mind seemed to be seen through!

He desperately suppressed his aura, shrinking all his divine sense back to the deepest part of his sea of ​​consciousness. He even stopped breathing, and his whole being seemed to turn into a lifeless stone.

Fortunately, this will only swept by for a moment, lingering for less than a breath, before receding like the tide and disappearing without a trace, as if it had never existed.

The sounds of nature returned: the rustling of leaves in the evening breeze, and the distant shouts of Shi Tie practicing his boxing.

But Shen Mo's back was completely soaked with cold sweat. He stood there for a long time without moving, his face slightly pale.

"Sect Leader... Senior Brother?" A gentle voice filled with worry sounded beside me.

Shen Mo snapped back to reality, turned around and saw Su Xiao standing beside him, her pretty face also showing a trace of lingering fear and confusion.

"Junior Sister Xiao, did you... feel it just now?" Shen Mo's voice was slightly hoarse, even to his own surprise.

Su Xiao nodded heavily, her small hands instinctively gripping the hem of her clothes, her voice trembling slightly: "I...I felt it!"

"It seems...it seems like something very...very scary swept...over our heads?"

"For a moment, I almost couldn't breathe! Senior Brother Sect Leader, what... what was that?"

Even Su Xiao felt it! Although her feelings might not be as clear or terrifying as Shen Mo's, the oppressive feeling originating from the level of life itself was very real.

Shen Mo's heart sank. This was no illusion! Nor was it the kind of divine sense that a Golden Core cultivator could possess!

He had experienced the divine sense scan of a Golden Core cultivator before. Although powerful, it was still traceable, allowing him to perceive the source and general direction.

But that will just now was vast, ethereal, and indifferent, as if it came from the heavens above, without roots or source. Its level... it is probably only possible for a legendary Nascent Soul True Monarch or even a higher realm to possess!

A Nascent Soul True Monarch?!

This conjecture sent a chill down Shen Mo's spine. What merit did the Qingyun Sect possess to have attracted the attention of such a powerful entity?

Was it because of the Flowing Cloud Water Mansion? Or was it because the "Starry Sword Immortal" spectacle he created that day with the help of the system was too grand?

"Sect Leader Brother?" Su Xiao felt even more uneasy seeing Shen Mo's ever-changing expression and his long silence.

Shen Mo forcibly suppressed his turbulent emotions and whispered to Su Xiao, "This is not the place to talk. Come with me."

The two walked quickly back to the most heavily guarded main hall of the sect, one after the other.

Shen Mo activated a few of the simplest soundproofing and warning barriers. Although he knew they were useless in the face of such beings, at least they could give him some peace of mind.

Inside the cave, the luminous pearl emitted a soft glow. Looking at Shen Mo's grave expression, Su Xiao couldn't help but ask again, "Senior brother, what...what exactly happened just now? Was it...another powerful enemy?"

Shen Mo shook his head, then nodded, his brows furrowed: "Whether they are a formidable enemy or not is still hard to say. But that divine sense just now... was very strong, extremely strong, stronger than we imagined."

"Is she... stronger than that cold fairy from the Xuanbing Pavilion?" Su Xiao asked tentatively. In her opinion, Leng Yueyao, who was in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, was already someone she had to look up to.

Shen Mo gave a wry smile: "Leng Yueyao of the Xuanbing Pavilion? In front of her, she's probably not even worthy of carrying her shoes."

"What?!" Su Xiao exclaimed, covering her mouth in shock, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief and terror.

So much stronger than the mid-Foundation Establishment stage? What kind of concept is that? Golden Core? Or...? She simply dared not think any further.

"I suspect," Shen Mo lowered his voice, each word spoken unusually slowly and heavily, "that it might be... a Nascent Soul."

"Yuan... Nascent Soul?!" Su Xiao's legs went weak, and she almost collapsed to the ground, her pretty face instantly losing all color.

Nascent Soul True Monarch! That's a legendary realm, a being who establishes a sect and becomes a revered ancestor! And in this world, in this Dharma-ending Age, the Nascent Soul stage is practically the highest level of combat power!

For a mere Qi Refining cultivator like her, a Nascent Soul True Monarch was simply a figure from mythology!

How could such beings possibly notice the Qingyun Sect tucked away in this remote corner?

"Senior brother, could it be... could it be a senior passing by who accidentally glanced at it?" Su Xiao asked, her voice trembling, clinging to the last shred of hope.