Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

"Manager Chen, there's no need for such formalities. Please have a seat." Shen Mo gestured for him to sit down. "Has the market received any good materials this time?"

Nowadays, Qingyun Sect and Baibao Pavilion have a close cooperation. Most of the pills and low-level magic weapons produced by the sect are sold through Baibao Pavilion, and the spirit stones and materials obtained in return are an important support for the sect's development.

Chen Hao smiled and said, "Of course we have the materials, but I've come today to tell Sect Leader Shen something even better."

He lowered his voice, his tone tinged with eagerness, "Sect Leader Shen, have you ever heard of the 'Mysterious Gathering'?"

"The Xuanji Gathering?" Shen Mo's eyes flickered slightly, as if he vaguely remembered it.

The Xuanji Gathering does not refer to Liuyunfang, but rather to an irregular private trading gathering among Foundation Establishment stage cultivators and small sect cultivators in the Southern Region of the Eastern Wilderness.

It is said that the initiator was a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator known as "Xuanji Sanren". He was highly respected and the meeting place was not fixed. He only invited trusted fellow Foundation Establishment cultivators to participate. The main activity was bartering, and occasionally high-level pills and cultivation manuals would also be leaked out. He was quite famous in the Foundation Establishment circle of the Southern Region of the Eastern Wilderness.

"I've heard a little about it. What does Manager Chen mean...?" Shen Mo looked at Chen Hao.

Chen Hao's smile widened: "To be honest, Sect Leader Shen, this year's Xuanji Gathering will be held in half a month at 'Luoxia Mountain Hidden Moon Valley,' which is three hundred miles from here!"

"Our owner has some connections with Xuanji Sanren and has specially secured a spot for your sect!"

"This is a rare and grand event! All those present are prominent Foundation Establishment cultivators from the surrounding counties. With Sect Leader Shen having just advanced to Foundation Establishment, this is a perfect opportunity for him to make friends, exchange what he needs, and also to spread the reputation of my Qingyun Sect to higher-level circles!"

Shen Mo's heart stirred. This was indeed an opportunity. Although the Qingyun Sect was now gaining fame around the Blackwater Marsh, it was still a new face in the broader circle of Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Southern Eastern Wilderness.

Participating in this level of trade fair not only allows you to acquire much-needed Foundation Establishment stage resources, but also expands your network, helps you understand the movements of surrounding forces, and especially provides information about the Tianyuan Conference.

Moreover, these private meetings offer relatively high security.

"I appreciate your kind offer, sir. But I wonder if there are any rules for attending this small gathering?" Shen Mo asked calmly.

Chen Hao hurriedly said, "The rules are quite simple. First, you need to have Foundation Establishment cultivation and be introduced by a senior member; second, you need to prepare one or two decent items for exchange; third, private fights are strictly prohibited during the gathering, and all transactions are voluntary."

"With Sect Leader Shen's wealth and cultivation, he will certainly be fine! This is the invitation jade talisman and a general map showing the location of this gathering. Please keep it safe, Sect Leader Shen."

As he spoke, he took out a jade talisman shrouded in light mist and a jade slip, and respectfully presented them.

Shen Mo took the jade talisman. It was warm to the touch. He probed it with his divine sense and felt a gentle yet undeniable late-stage Foundation Establishment divine sense imprint, which was the mark of Xuanji Sanren.

The jade slip inside indicates the exact location of Mount Luoxia and how to break the entrance restriction.

"Thank you for your trouble, Manager Chen and your esteemed employer. I will be there on time." Shen Mo put away the jade talisman and jade slip and nodded in agreement.

"Excellent!" Chen Hao exclaimed, beaming with joy. "Then I wish Sect Leader Shen a successful trip and a fruitful return!"

After seeing Chen Hao off, Shen Mo pondered for a moment, then summoned Su Xiao, Shi Tie, and Han Lin and informed them of the Xuanji Gathering.

"The Mysterious Gathering? I've heard of it!" Shi Tie's eyes lit up. "It's said to be full of Foundation Establishment stage veterans, and they have a lot of good stuff!"

"Sect Leader, you really need to go and find some treasures for body tempering! I feel the later stages of the 'Giant Spirit Shaking Mountain Technique' aren't quite powerful enough!"

Su Xiao, however, considered things more thoroughly: "Sect Leader, such gatherings are a mixed bag. Even though a renowned host is in charge, we must still be careful."

"Why not have Senior Brother Shi or Elder Han accompany us? That way, we can have someone to look after us."

Han Lin stroked his beard and said, "Su Xiao is absolutely right. Although the sect leader is incredibly powerful, it will be inconvenient for him to attend the meeting alone."

"Although my cultivation is shallow, I am quite adept at interpersonal relationships and worldly affairs, so I may accompany you and take care of some trivial matters."

Shen Mo shook his head slightly: "No need. The focus of this trip is on exchange; too many people would be detrimental. I'll go alone, so I can move freely."

"The sect has just been established, Xiong Meng is still recovering from his injuries, and there are undercurrents in the outside world. We need you to stay at the sect to guard against any unforeseen events."

"Junior Brother Tie, I have my own plans for the follow-up techniques of the Giant Spirit Shaking Mountain Technique. Your primary task right now is to stabilize your realm and master the power of the Foundation Establishment stage. Don't be greedy for more."

Seeing that Shen Mo had made up his mind, the three of them said no more, but repeatedly reminded him to be careful.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. Shen Mo entrusted the sect affairs to Su Xiao and Han Lin to manage together, and then went to the medicine house to check on Xiong Meng's recovery. He bestowed several bottles of medicine to nourish his meridians, and then quietly descended the mountain, transforming into an inconspicuous cyan light and heading towards Luoxia Mountain.

Three hundred miles is not a long distance for a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Shen Mo traveled at a leisurely pace, familiarizing himself with the various wonders of flying during the Foundation Establishment stage, while simultaneously extending his divine sense to observe the terrain and distribution of spiritual energy along the way.

The Southern Region of the Eastern Wilderness is vast and boundless, and the Blackwater Marsh is just a corner of it. The outside world is much more expansive, and the spiritual energy is much richer. Occasionally, he can sense the aura of some powerful demonic beasts or cultivators, but he avoids them in advance.

Half a day later, a range of rolling mountains, which looked like they were burning with flames under the setting sun, appeared at the edge of the field of vision. It was Luoxia Mountain.

Following the guidance of the jade slip, Shen Mo found a seemingly ordinary valley entrance, made a hand seal, and infused a wisp of spiritual power into the invitation jade talisman.

The jade talisman flashed with a faint light, and ripples appeared in the void ahead, revealing a misty passage that could only accommodate one person at a time.

As Shen Mo stepped inside, the scene before him suddenly opened up.

Beyond the passage lay a secluded valley nestled among mountains, filled with exotic flowers and rare herbs, brimming with spiritual energy. In the center stood an elegant white jade platform, upon which more than ten people sat or stood, their auras powerful and profound—all clearly Foundation Establishment cultivators!

A faint barrier was placed at the entrance of the valley, separating the inside from the outside.

Shen Mo's arrival immediately drew the attention of everyone on the stage. A dozen or so gazes, some curious, some scrutinizing, and some indifferent, were cast upon him.

Shen Mo's aura was restrained, and he seemed to be only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, but his calm demeanor made him someone not to be underestimated.

An elderly man, dressed in a wide, dark Taoist robe with star patterns embroidered on the sleeves, with a lean face and gentle, calm eyes like an ancient well, stepped forward, cupped his hands, and smiled:

"This fellow Daoist looks unfamiliar. Are you perhaps Fellow Daoist Shen Moshen of the Qingyun Sect? I, Xuanji, have failed to greet you properly."

This person possessed profound aura, having reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment. He was the initiator of this small gathering, Xuanji Sanren.

Shen Mo returned the greeting: "I am indeed Shen Mo. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Xuanji. Thank you for the invitation."

"Fellow Daoist Shen, you're too kind. Please take a seat." Xuanji Sanren smiled warmly and led Shen Mo to an empty futon to sit down.

The stone platform was arranged in a circular pattern, and there were already thirteen or fourteen Foundation Establishment cultivators present, including men and women, monks and laypeople, with cultivation levels ranging from the early to the late Foundation Establishment stage, and their clothing varied, clearly indicating that they came from different forces.

Some people nodded to Shen Mo, some glanced at him indifferently, and others closed their eyes to rest, showing no interest whatsoever.