Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

"Hehe, I've been wandering around since I have nothing to do, and by the way... I've come to say goodbye to Brother Shen."

Li Xiaoyao sat down on the futon opposite Shen Mo, picked up the teapot on the table, and without even using a cup, took a sip straight from the spout. He smacked his lips and said, "Tsk, Brother Shen, your spiritual tea is a bit weak. It's not as strong as my strong liquor!"

Shen Mo didn't mind and laughed, "This rustic tea is naturally inferior to your celestial brew. Taking your leave? Are you going on a long journey?"

"A long journey? I suppose so!" Li Xiaoyao stretched, his gaze sweeping over the misty mountain scenery outside the cave, his tone carrying a hint of longing, yet also a strange sense of melancholy.

"I've been lingering around this Blackwater Marsh for years, and I'm tired of it. I've heard that the Central Region is prosperous and thriving, with numerous immortal sects and countless geniuses. I want to go and see for myself. What future do I have staying in this poor, remote place?"

"The Central Region?" Shen Mo's eyes flickered slightly. That was the true central region of this world, a place where, according to legend, Nascent Soul cultivators were as worthless as dogs and Golden Core cultivators were everywhere. It was rich in resources and had countless opportunities, but it also meant that the competition was much more brutal and the dangers far exceeded those of the Southern Eastern Wilderness.

"Fellow Daoist, your ambition is truly admirable. The journey ahead is long and fraught with peril, so please take good care of yourself."

"Hey! I, Li Xiaoyao, am all alone, with no ties whatsoever, what's there to be afraid of!"

Li Xiaoyao waved his hand dismissively, took another swig of wine, and his eyes cleared somewhat. "As for you, Brother Shen, the Qingyun Sect is quite famous now. That incident at Black Mountain City was brilliantly handled!"

"Now, everyone in the surrounding markets knows that the disciples under Sect Leader Shen of the Qingyun Sect are all exceptionally talented! Even that Fatty Chen from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion treats you people like royalty!"

He paused, leaned closer, and lowered his voice, saying, "However, Brother Shen, the bigger the tree, the more the wind will blow. Your Qingyun Sect's foundation is still a bit weak. Right now, you can still intimidate people with the 'ancient inheritance' as your shield. But in the long run, some people will inevitably become suspicious, or... they might simply disregard the rules and try to use force. You'd better be careful!"

Shen Mo felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that Li Xiaoyao was genuinely reminding him. He cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for the reminder, fellow Daoist. I understand."

"Hehe, I was just saying it casually, Brother Shen, you surely know what I mean." Li Xiaoyao laughed, stood up, dusted off his backside, and said, "Alright, we've had our drinks and our talk, it's time to go! If we stay any longer, we might not be able to leave behind your free sermons and spiritual tea!"

Shen Mo also rose to see him off: "When will you depart, fellow Daoist?"

"The weather is nice this afternoon, perfect for traveling."

Li Xiaoyao waved casually, walked to the cave entrance, then seemed to remember something, turned back and smiled, "Brother Shen, we're quite destined to meet. If your Qingyun Sect hasn't been demolished by now when I return from the Central Region, I'll come back to hear your teachings! And when that happens, you can't hold back; you have to share some valuable insights!"

Shen Mo smiled and said, "If you return, the Qingyun Sect's gates will remain open to you."

"Alright! It's a deal!" Li Xiaoyao laughed loudly, his figure swaying like a drifting cloud as he floated down the mountain. With a few leaps, he disappeared at the end of the winding mountain road, leaving only the faint aroma of wine and his carefree and unrestrained figure.

Shen Mo stood at the cave entrance, gazing in the direction Li Xiaoyao had disappeared, remaining silent for a moment. This person came and went like the wind, seemingly unreliable, yet always managed to appear at crucial moments, leaving behind some ambiguous clues or reminders.

The Central Region… that is indeed a much larger stage. Perhaps one day, the Qingyun Sect will also set its sights there. But not now.

After seeing Li Xiaoyao off, Shen Mo strolled out of the main hall and walked slowly through the mountain gate. The Qingyun Mountain of today was vastly different from the dilapidated and desolate place he had witnessed when he first arrived.

In the direction of the herb garden, Li Xiaocao was busy with several disciples. The newly opened spiritual field was filled with spiritual energy under the nourishment of the "Yi Wood Nourishing Yuan Technique". Various spiritual herbs were growing well, especially the "Moonlight Grass" and "Earth Dragon Root" used as seed sources. Their leaves were thick and their spiritual light flowed. It looked like they would be ready to be harvested in another month or two.

Li Xiaocao squatted by the edge of the field, carefully loosening the soil around a tender seedling, a serene and content smile on her face. Nearby, her disciples were recording growth data; the division of labor was clear.

"Senior Brother Sect Leader!" Upon seeing Shen Mo, Li Xiaocao quickly stood up and bowed, her face flushed. "Look at this 'Dewdrop Flower,' it's growing so well! It'll probably be ready to be harvested next month, and the quality of the 'Qi-Returning Pills' made from it will definitely be much better!"

"You've worked hard, Xiaocao. The herb garden is very well managed, you deserve a lot of credit." Shen Mo nodded in approval.

"It's all thanks to the sect leader that the cultivation techniques are so good!" Li Xiaocao lowered her head shyly.

In the distance, shouts and cheers echoed from the martial arts arena. Shi Tie, shirtless and his bronze skin glistening with sweat, was sparring with Wang Hu.

He has now begun to integrate the "Giant Spirit Shaking Mountain Technique" with the "Flowing Cloud Dao Body," combining fierceness with agility. As he wields the heavy iron rod, the wind howls, yet it contains many hidden variations, forcing Wang Hu to rely solely on his movement techniques to barely manage to maneuver.

There were many disciples around who were observing and learning, and they occasionally exclaimed in amazement.

"Senior Brother Shi! Your 'Flowing Cloud Shock' move is too tricky! I can hardly keep up!" Wang Hu shouted as he dodged in a sorry state.

"Haha! Kid, want to learn? Trade your contribution points for guidance!" Shi Tie laughed, his attacks becoming even fiercer. Clearly, his injuries were no longer a problem, and his strength was even greater than before.

Inside the Sutra Repository, all was quiet and solemn. Zhao Qingyan was writing furiously at her desk, organizing the simple array formations she had seen during her trip to Black Mountain City, and combining them with the sect's inheritance to try to optimize several nodes of the Mountain Protection Illusion Array.

Su Xiao was browsing through ancient texts on a nearby bookshelf, seemingly searching for some information, his expression focused. Several disciples sat quietly in a corner, some reading jade slips, others deep in thought, creating a strong atmosphere of learning.

Today, Han Lin was the main speaker on the lecture platform, explaining some tips and practical experience for breaking through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining. The audience was packed with disciples, with even some outer disciples crowding to the edges, listening with rapt attention.

Han Lin is experienced and his explanations are insightful yet easy to understand, which made his disciples nod frequently.

Even Wang Fugui, who was in charge of logistics and miscellaneous tasks, was so busy that he was directing several disciples to check the warehouse supplies and calculate the purchase list needed for the next transaction with Baibaoge. His abacus was clicking away, and his face was full of the satisfaction of being "in charge".

Everything was progressing steadily along a positive trajectory. Production was stable, disciples were making progress, and reputation was growing daily. Shen Mo strolled through the area, feeling this vibrant energy, and felt gratified.

All the hard work over the past six months has paid off. The Qingyun Sect, once a dying old tree, has finally sprouted new branches and buds, radiating a strong vitality.

In the evening, Shen Mo summoned Su Xiao, Han Lin, Shi Tie, Zhao Qingyan, Li Xiaocao and other core disciples to the sect leader's hall.

"Li Xiaoyao took his leave today and went to travel to the Central Regions," Shen Mo said bluntly.

"Oh? That slippery fellow finally left?" Shi Tie grinned. "That guy was a bit eccentric, but he was quite capable and a decent guy too."

Su Xiao pondered and said, "Fellow Daoist Li seems carefree, but he is actually unfathomable. When he took his leave this time, he specifically mentioned the Central Region, perhaps... also as a reminder. Although our Qingyun Sect is making steady progress, it is still worlds apart from the true major sects of cultivation. The Central Region... is the real stage."

Han Lin stroked his beard and nodded: "Junior Nephew Su is absolutely right. The Central Region is where the best of the world resides, with countless opportunities, but also fraught with risks. For now, we still need to bide our time and accumulate strength. The friendship with Black Mountain City and the channels of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion are both good beginnings, and we should make good use of them."

"Elder Han is right," Shen Mo agreed. "The most important task at present is still to diligently cultivate our internal strength. The contribution point system is functioning well, and we must persevere. The herb garden, alchemy, weapon crafting, and formations all need to be steadily improved. My cultivation level is the foundation."

"Next, I intend to help Shi Tie and Su Xiao attempt to break through the bottleneck of the late stage of Qi Refining within this year. Qingyan's formation and Xiaocao's spiritual plants also need more resources."

Upon hearing this, Shi Tie's eyes lit up immediately: "Reaching the late stage of Qi Refining? Sect Leader, I can't wait any longer!"

Su Xiao's beautiful eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Zhao Qingyan and Li Xiaocao felt a great responsibility and secretly resolved to work even harder.

(End of Volume 1)