Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

This time, it was no longer a test outside the mountain gate.

Shi Tie unleashed his full power, pushing the Giant Spirit Mountain-Shaking Technique to its limit. His qi and blood surged like smoke, and the shadow of his staff, as large as a mountain, enveloped all directions, unleashing a fierce and violent attack.

He received a hint from Shen Mo to force Han Lin to reveal his true strength and how to deal with him.

Han Lin's gaze sharpened, knowing that this was the final crucial moment.

He no longer held back, unleashing his full power of spiritual energy at the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining. He pushed his movement technique to its limit, and the longsword in his hand transformed into streaks of blood-red lightning. He no longer simply dodged, but instead sought opportunities to advance. His swordsmanship remained ruthless and cunning, but it lacked some of the ferocity of a free cultivator fighting for their life, and instead showed more restraint and discipline.

He always managed to narrowly avoid Shi Tie's heavy blows, his blade always aimed at the weaknesses in Shi Tie's moves, but he would withdraw or change his move just before touching them, stopping short of making a direct impact.

For a moment, the platform was filled with the clash of sticks and the flash of swords, with strong winds blowing everywhere, and the fight was so intense that it was difficult to determine who was the best.

Shi Tie was brave and fierce, while Han Lin was shrewd and experienced. Su Xiao and Zhao Qingyan, who were watching from the side, nodded in approval. This Han Lin was indeed a rare master.

After nearly a hundred exchanges of fierce fighting, Han Lin seized an opening, skillfully deflecting Shi Tie's iron rod with a flick of his blade. Using the momentum, he gracefully retreated three zhang (approximately 10 meters), sheathed his sword, and stood up, slightly out of breath. He cupped his hands and said:

"Fellow Daoist Shi's divine power is astonishing; I admire it! If we continue fighting, my spiritual power will be insufficient, and I will undoubtedly be defeated."

He voluntarily conceded defeat, giving Shi Tie face and demonstrating his self-awareness.

Although Shi Tie had fought with great gusto, he knew his opponent hadn't gone all out and had held back at every turn. Any lingering resentment he had felt had vanished. He laughed heartily, put away his iron rod, and said, "Brother Han is amazing! I'm impressed!"

Shen Mo observed the scene before him, a faint smile finally appearing in his eyes. The three trials—testing his willpower, tempering his emotions, and demonstrating his strength and awareness of when to advance and retreat—were truly indicative of a promising talent.

He walked slowly to the center of the platform, his gaze sweeping over Han Lin, who was slightly out of breath, then over Su Xiao, Shi Tie, and Zhao Qingyan, before finally settling back on Han Lin. His voice was clear and steady, echoing throughout the entire platform:

"Han Lin, a rogue cultivator, has passed the three trials of 'Inquiry into the Heart,' 'Refining Emotions,' and 'Martial Arts Demonstration.' He possesses unwavering resolve, pure loyalty, solid cultivation, and knows when to advance and retreat, as well as the importance of understanding gains and losses. Today, in the name of Shen Mo, the head of the Qingyun Sect, I hereby grant you permission to join my sect!"

Upon hearing this, Han Lin's body trembled violently, and his eyes blazed with barely suppressed excitement. He lifted his robes and, as if overturning a mountain of gold and jade pillars, kowtowed heavily to Shen Mo, his voice trembling slightly:

"Han Lin pays his respects to the Sect Leader! He will faithfully abide by the sect rules, serve with utmost loyalty, and devote himself to the cause until his dying breath!"

"Get up." Shen Mo gave you a slight help. "From this day forward, you are hereby granted the position of Guest Elder of Qingyun Sect, enjoying the honors of an elder and the right to read the books on the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion."

"You have the authority to supervise disciples and participate in sect council meetings, and you also bear the responsibility of protecting the sect and imparting knowledge. I hope you will live up to your words today and stand with the Qingyun Sect through thick and thin."

"Han Lin obeys the sect leader's orders!" Han Lin kowtowed again before rising, his face filled with determination and a sense of belonging. After a life of wandering, he finally had roots.

Su Xiao, Shi Tie, and Zhao Qingyan also stepped forward, cupping their hands in congratulations: "Congratulations, Elder Han!"

From then on, Qingyun Sect welcomed its first guest elder, quietly adding a weight to its strength and foundation that should not be underestimated.

......

The night was as dark as ink, and the stars were sparse.

At the summit of Qingyun Mountain, Shen Mo stood alone on that familiar boulder, letting the mountain wind flutter his blue robes.

Behind them, the outline of a sect, beginning to take shape, was drawn by the scattered lights; in front of them, a vast mountain range sank into boundless darkness, as if countless giant beasts were lurking there.

More than a month has passed since Han Lin officially joined the Qingyun Sect.

After the initial commotion and wariness, the sect gradually adapted to the thorny "excitement" that came with being "ranked," and began to try to turn pressure into motivation, entering a tense but orderly operating rhythm.

Han Lin's involvement had an immediate and noticeable effect.

This experienced Qi Refining Ninth Level Peak rogue cultivator not only greatly enhanced the sect's high-end combat power, but also brought tangible improvements to disciples such as Shi Tie and Zhang Daniu with his shrewd experience and practical combat skills.

He was very open to sharing his knowledge. With Shen Mo's approval, he regularly held "Combat Experience" lectures, imparting all the experience he had accumulated over the years of life-and-death battles, including how to judge the enemy's strengths and weaknesses, how to make use of the environment, and how to survive and counterattack when at a disadvantage...

These invaluable experiences could never be gained through solitary practice, and they greatly benefited the disciples, especially those like Shi Tie who were brave but lacked skill.

In addition, Han Lin also took the initiative to take on some of the guard and patrol duties around the sect. He was sharp-sighted and experienced. With him in charge, the number of suspicious eyes that were originally peeping outside the mountain gate immediately decreased by more than half.

With the burden on Su Xiao's shoulders lightened, she was able to focus more on internal management and external liaison.

Zhao Qingyan's research on array formations and Li Xiaocao's cultivation of spiritual plants were able to proceed more smoothly due to a relatively stable external environment and a slight surplus of internal resources.

Everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction.

Although the sect's treasury still doesn't have a lot of spirit stones, at least it's no longer a shortage; the disciples' cultivation levels are steadily improving with ample (relatively speaking) resources and systematic teaching.

Even the main root of that red fruit plant, under Li Xiaocao's careful care, has already unfurled its second tender leaf, radiating vitality.

However, Shen Mo's heart did not relax in the slightest. He knew better than anyone that the current calm was just a brief respite before the storm.

The attention brought by the Tianji Pavilion rankings is a double-edged sword. While it brings some convenience, it also completely exposes the Qingyun Sect, this "fat piece of meat," to a pack of wolves.

The cold indifference of the Xuanbing Pavilion, the silence of the Lieyang Sect, and the restless groups of rogue cultivators and other unknown forces lurking in the shadows... the real test has probably not yet begun.

He slowly closed his eyes, his mind sinking into his body, engaging in silent communication with the mysterious and unpredictable system that had accompanied him since his transmigration.

The interface remains simple, with the causal point numbers changing slowly and almost negligible.

The pale gold progress bar representing "reputation energy" seemed to have solidified slightly more than before, but it was still a long way from being usable.

"System," Shen Mo silently asked in his mind, "in your judgment, is the Qingyun Sect's current overall strength worthy of being considered top-tier in the Southern Region of the Eastern Wilderness?"

[Instruction received. Evaluating based on available data...Evaluation in progress...]

[Analysis of Sect Strength:]

[Highest combat strength: Host (peak Qi Refining level 6, actual combat strength assessment: Qi Refining level 8-9); Guest Elder Han Lin (peak Qi Refining level 9).]

[Core members: Su Xiao (Qi Refining Level 5), Shi Tie (Peak Qi Refining Level 5), Zhao Qingyan (Qi Refining Level 4), Li Xiaocao (Qi Refining Level 3)... other disciples (Qi Refining Levels 1-2).]

[Special Advantages: A preliminary, well-developed sect structure and teaching system; an improved version of the mountain-protecting formation; suspected clues to the inheritance of ancient starlight; the host's special ability (system).]

Resource reserves: Low (slightly improved).

[External evaluation: Ranked 99th (last) on the Tianji Pavilion's potential list, with a significant increase in reputation and high level of attention.]

Overall Assessment: Regional Influence: Slightly Above Average. Actual Combat Strength: Barely reaches the threshold of a third-rate sect (lowest-rate).

Survival pressure: Extremely high. Development potential: Above average (based on host leadership and special inheritance).

[Conclusion: The system is in its nascent stage, with a weak foundation and fraught with danger. It needs to rapidly enhance its core combat capabilities and overall cultivation to meet the impending challenges.]

The system's assessment was cold and objective, and basically matched Shen Mo's own judgment.

The Qingyun Sect is like a seedling that has just broken through the soil. Although it has a tenacious vitality to grow upward, its stem is slender and its roots are not deep. Any slightly strong wind or rain may destroy it.