Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

Several days later, when the familiar outline of Qingyun Mountain's gate came into view, the five of them felt an indescribable sense of familiarity and peace. The mountain was still the same mountain, and the clouds and mist were still swirling around it, but at this moment, it felt more reassuring to them than any other blessed land.

"I'm home!" Li Tiezhu breathed a long sigh of relief, his tense shoulders finally relaxing.

Upon seeing them from afar, Zhang Daniu, the gatekeeper, immediately shouted excitedly, "Sect Leader! Elder Han! Senior Sister Su and Senior Brother Shi are back!"

The sound, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly shattered the tranquility of the mountain gate. Soon, core disciples such as Shen Mo, Han Lin, Zhao Qingyan, and Li Xiaocao, along with many inner disciples, came out to greet them.

Seeing that Shi Tie was injured but in high spirits, Su Xiao looked tired but his eyes were calmer, and Wang Hu and the other two also had much more refined auras, everyone showed joy and curiosity.

"It's good that you're back!" Shen Mo's gaze swept over the five people, lingering for a moment on Shi Tie's injuries and Su Xiao's slightly pale face. He nodded slightly, his tone calm, yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible concern.

"Sect Leader! Elder Han! We're back!" Su Xiao and Shi Tie stepped forward and bowed. Wang Hu and the other two quickly followed.

"Oh dear! Senior Brother Shi, your injury is quite serious! Quick, let's go to the medicine hut and have Xiaocao take a look!" Zhao Qingyan was observant and immediately noticed that Shi Tie's breathing was unstable.

Li Xiaocao quickly stepped forward, saying, "My newly prepared 'Muscle Regeneration Powder' will come in handy!"

"Haha, it's nothing! Just a minor injury! I'm tough!" Shi Tie waved his hand dismissively, but still walked towards the medicine hut surrounded by the crowd.

Shen Mo said to Su Xiao, "Junior Sister Xiao, you've had a long journey. Please rest for a while. We'll have a meeting in the main hall in an hour to discuss your experiences in detail."

"Yes, Senior Brother Sect Leader," Su Xiao replied respectfully.

An hour later, inside the sect leader's main hall. All the core disciples had gathered, even Shi Tie, whose injuries had stabilized, insisted on attending. The luminous pearl inside the cave emitted a soft glow, illuminating the expectant faces of the group.

Su Xiao, as the leader of the trip, stood in the center and began to give a detailed report on the trip to Black Mountain City.

From her initial observations upon arriving in Black Mountain City, to the delicate situation among the three major families, to taking on the monster investigation mission, discovering the Li family's conspiracy, secretly passing on evidence, using their strength against them, and finally joining forces with Shi Tie to fight a bloody battle against the mutated wolf spider, she ultimately quelled the storm with the help of the City Lord's Mansion and the Zhao family, gaining the status of "Friendly Alliance"...

The entire process was well-organized and highlighted the key points. It objectively presented the facts while also aptly showcasing Shi Tie's bravery, the growth of Wang Hu and the other two, and the teamwork among the group.

She didn't overemphasize her role, but everyone could hear how crucial her calm judgment, precise planning, and decisive actions were throughout the entire incident.

When they heard that Su Xiao and Shi Tie had narrowly escaped death from the venom of the tarantula and ultimately joined forces to severely injure the monster, a collective gasp filled the cave. Zhao Qingyan covered her mouth, and Li Xiaocao's eyes were filled with tears.

Even Han Lin stroked his beard and exclaimed, "The younger generation is truly formidable! Truly formidable!"

Shi Tie listened with great interest, occasionally adding details, especially vividly describing how he fought off the tarantula and protected Su Xiao.

After the report was finished, the cave fell silent, then erupted into enthusiastic praise and discussion.

"My god! A mutated wolf spider nearing rank two! Senior Sister Su and Senior Brother Shi are amazing!"

"They actually brought down the Li family! Our Qingyun Sect is now famous in Black Mountain City!"

"A friendly alliance! That's a formal alliance! It'll be much more convenient for us to handle business in Black Mountain City from now on!"

Shen Mo sat upright, listening quietly to the crowd's discussion. Only after the noise subsided did he speak slowly, his voice calm yet carrying a calming power:

"During this trip to Black Mountain City, you all remained calm and composed in the face of danger, demonstrating both courage and wisdom. You have brought honor to Qingyun and made great contributions. Congratulations!"

His gaze first fell on Shi Tie: "Junior Brother Tie, you were brave in battle, faced difficulties head-on, honed yourself in the bloody battle, and verified what you have learned. You have initially integrated the 'Giant Spirit Shaking Mountain Technique' and the 'Flowing Cloud Dao Body,' and your combat strength has improved significantly. You are now capable of shouldering great responsibilities. You deserve the greatest credit in this battle."

Shi Tie blushed with embarrassment at the praise, scratching his head and chuckling, "Sect Leader, you flatter me! I'm just a bit stronger and thicker-skinned..."

Shen Mo smiled slightly, his gaze turning to Su Xiao, his eyes filled with even more admiration: "Junior Sister Xiao, you are meticulous, adept at leveraging opportunities, insightful, and able to seize opportunities amidst complex situations, devise strategies and guide the battle. You are also capable of making decisive decisions in times of crisis, and your seamless cooperation with Junior Brother Tie has turned the tide of the battle."

"Your growth during this experience is particularly gratifying. We can rely on you more in the future for the sect's external affairs."

A warm feeling welled up in Su Xiao's heart, and she bowed deeply: "Xiao'er will do her utmost to live up to the expectations of Senior Brother Sect Leader!"

Next, Shen Mo affirmed Wang Hu's composure and reliability, Sun Xiaolan's quick wit and meticulousness, and Li Tiezhu's down-to-earth and hardworking nature, praising them for the thorough training they had received during this trip, proving they were no longer the same as before.

Finally, he concluded: "This battle has shown that the disciples of my Qingyun Sect are no longer fledglings; their wings have grown strong enough to stand on their own. The 'alliance' with Black Mountain City is not only a recognition but also a responsibility. It means that the prestige of my Qingyun Sect is no longer limited to this corner of Qingyun Mountain but has begun to radiate to the surrounding cities and states. This is an opportunity, but also contains risks."

His tone turned serious: "With fame comes many eyes. From now on, you must be even more cautious in your words and actions, proceeding with utmost care. Within the sect, unity and diligent cultivation are paramount. Only by possessing formidable strength can you truly establish yourself in this turbulent world of cultivation!"

"We will follow the sect leader's teachings!" The people inside the cave responded in unison, their expressions solemn, their hearts filled with a sense of mission and enthusiasm.

After the meeting, the resources and "Alliance" tokens brought back from Black Mountain City were properly stored.

The jade slip containing the "Yi Mu Pei Yuan Jue" that was obtained by chance was given to Li Xiaocao for in-depth study. Combining it with the practice in the herb garden, it indeed made the spiritual plants grow more and more pleasingly.

Days passed by, and the mountain gate was orderly. The body-tempering pool was shrouded in white mist, the sutra pavilion was always lit, the preaching platform was filled with the sound of Taoist chants, and the herb garden was lush with new greenery.

The disciples each performed their duties, cultivating, completing tasks, listening to lectures, and exchanging skills. Encouraged by the contribution point system, everyone strived to be the best, creating a thriving and prosperous scene.

On this day, the sky was bright and the mountain breeze was refreshing. Shen Mo was in the main hall of the sect leader's palace, referring to the broken compass he had obtained from the Flowing Cloud Water Mansion, and deducing the prototype of a combined attack formation suitable for Shi Tie and others to cultivate. However, a series of lazy footsteps with a familiar feel came from outside the cave, accompanied by a faint smell of alcohol.

"Brother Shen, is Brother Shen there? I apologize for bothering you!" The voice was clear and melodious, with a hint of laughter.

Shen Mo looked up and saw Li Xiaoyao, still wearing that faded blue cloth shirt, with a vermilion wine gourd hanging from his waist, sauntering in with his signature cynical smile on his face.

"Fellow Daoist Li? What brings you to the mountain today?" Shen Mo put down what he was doing and smiled slightly.

He had mixed feelings about this elusive rogue cultivator. This person seemed carefree, but was actually quite shrewd. His appearances always seemed to coincide with the right moment. He was neither friend nor foe, yet his true nature remained a mystery.