Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

However, his forced composure was completely shattered a few hours later by another urgent message.

"Report—!" A trusted disciple rushed into the tent, his voice trembling. "Master! Something terrible has happened! An urgent report has come from our 'spies' in the Black Wind Mountains! The Heavenly Sword Sect has suddenly raised its alert level significantly. All the mine formations are fully activated, the number of patrol teams has doubled, and their area of ​​operation has expanded! Moreover... and moreover, one of their elite 'Sword Guards' seems to be heading towards 'Ghost Valley'!"

"What?!" Ghost Yin Master abruptly stood up, his green eyes flashing with a terrifying light. "The Heavenly Sword Sect's sword guards went to Ghost Soul Valley? What are they planning to do?!"

Could it be... that the news about the secret realm is true? Is the Heavenly Sword Sect trying to strike first?!

Or is this... a provocation from the Heavenly Sword Sect? Or... a purge targeting any secret strongholds that might exist within our sect?

Recalling the rumors about the secret realm he had just received, Ghost Yin Shangren's alarm bells rang loudly! The Heavenly Sword Sect's actions were by no means unfounded!

"Investigate further! I need to know what the Heavenly Sword Sect is up to!" Ghost Yin Master shouted sharply, his ominous premonition growing stronger. He sensed that the situation was spiraling out of his control.

Just as the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Profound Yin Sect were becoming suspicious and wary of each other due to their respective "discoveries," and the tense situation was about to erupt, a different scene was unfolding inside the Enlightenment Cave on Qingyun Mountain.

Shen Mo sat cross-legged. In the void in front of him, on the map of the Southern Region of the Eastern Wilderness drawn with spiritual power, the red and black dots representing the forces of the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Profound Yin Sect were flashing and moving frequently. In particular, the red light (Heavenly Sword Sect) in the Black Wind Mountain Range area was very strong and clearly showed a tendency to gather towards the direction of the Netherworld Valley. Meanwhile, the black dots representing the Profound Yin Sect also began to show irregular restlessness.

"System, based on the information feedback from the Treasure Pavilion and the monitoring of spiritual energy fluctuations, assess the current situation level," Shen Mo silently recited in his mind.

[Assessment in progress... The Heavenly Sword Sect's Black Wind Mountain Range defense line activity has increased by 300%, the defensive formation activation rate is 85%, and the frequency of high-level cultivator mobilization is abnormal. The Xuan Yin Sect's forward strongholds show signs of contraction, and the frequency of reconnaissance activities has increased by 250%. The spiritual energy fluctuations of the two factions are overlapping and slightly colliding in the 'Ghost Valley' area.]

Situation Level: High Risk (On the Brink of War). Analysis: Due to the catalysis of the 'Secret Realm Rumors' and the 'Secret Order Incident,' the probability of misjudgment by both factions has significantly increased. The probability of small-scale skirmishes breaking out within 24 hours is 78.3%.

Shen Mo's lips curved upwards almost imperceptibly. The fish had not only taken the bait, but had already begun tearing at each other.

"Sect Leader Brother." Su Xiao's voice rang out from outside the cave, tinged with fatigue but mostly with excitement. "We've received news from Chen Hao that the 'secret realm clues' we released have spread among the rogue cultivators at the bottom of the Blackwater Swamp, and it seems to have attracted the attention of the Xuan Yin Sect's hidden agents. In addition, Senior Brother Shi and the others have returned safely and are currently recuperating in the side cave."

"Come in," Shen Mo said gently, dispelling the spiritual energy diagram.

Su Xiao entered the cave, her face flushed from the journey, her eyes sparkling: "Sect Leader, the plan seems to be going very smoothly! Both the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Profound Yin Sect have been alerted!"

Shen Mo nodded: "Yes, a good start. But it's precisely at this point that we need to remain calm. Even a raging fire needs the final touch of fuel."

"What does Senior Brother Sect Leader mean...?" Su Xiao asked, puzzled.

"Wait." Shen Mo's gaze was profound. "Wait until they start fighting amongst themselves. Wait until the allure of the 'secret realm' and the fear of being 'ambushed' completely overwhelm their reason. Then... we'll give them another 'gift'."

Su Xiao pondered, "Is Senior Brother Sect Leader planning... to add fuel to the fire at this crucial moment?"

"Not bad." Shen Mo looked at Su Xiao, "Junior Sister Xiao, how are the things I asked you to prepare?"

Su Xiao hurriedly replied, "It's all ready! As you instructed, Junior Sister Qingyan, Junior Sister Xiaocao, and I joined forces to create three 'message swords' bearing the faint aura of the Xuan Yin Sect's Golden Core Elder, 'Ancestor of the Netherworld.' The message instructs Venerable Guiyin that if the battle for the secret realm goes poorly, he can 'discretionarily' abandon the Qingyun Sect and concentrate his forces to ensure the successful raid on the mine. The imprint is about 70% similar, so in the chaos of battle, it should be difficult to distinguish the real from the fake."

"Very good." Shen Mo nodded in satisfaction. "Keep it safe for now. We need to wait for the right moment to light this fire. For now, we just need to observe and wait."

Outside Qingyun Mountain, at the camp where the Xuan Yin Sect's Ghost Yin Master was stationed, the atmosphere was somewhat eerie. The arrogant atmosphere that had been tense and ready to break through the mountain in three days seemed to have been largely extinguished by an invisible cold water.

The camp remained heavily guarded, but the large black tent at the head of the camp was now quieter and less frequented by messengers than usual, replaced by a sense of oppressive silence.

Master Guiyin sat cross-legged in his tent, his skull prayer beads moving with unusually slow speed between his fingers. A flicker of doubt and unease shone deep within his green eyes. News from the Black Wind Mountains poured in one after another, like cold boulders thrown into a still lake of his heart, stirring up towering waves.

The Heavenly Sword Sect is under full martial law! The Sword Guards are on the move! Their target is the Netherworld Abyss!

All of this fit perfectly with the sudden "rumor of the secret realm" and the unexpectedly seized "secret order for a sneak attack"! Could there really be such a coincidence in the world? He instinctively felt that something was wrong, as if he had stepped into a carefully woven trap.

However, the divine consciousness imprint on that jade slip could not be faked, and the Heavenly Sword Sect's fierce reaction was a real threat!

"Qingyun Sect... Liuyun Inheritance..." Ghost Yin Shangren muttered to himself, a hint of irritation flashing in his eyes.

Compared to the immense temptation of the nearby ancient secret realm and the core interests of the sect, the Qingyun Sect—a seemingly lucrative but potentially difficult target—seemed to have its priority diminished without anyone noticing. Moreover, if the secret realm was real, but the Tianjian Sect seized it first, then he, Ghost Yin Shangren, would be a sinner within the sect!

"Pass down the order!" He abruptly stopped spinning his prayer beads and said in a hoarse voice to his confidant outside the tent, "Stop pressuring Qingyun Mountain. Everyone stay put and wait for orders. Do not move without my command! Send another elite team of sentries to infiltrate the Black Wind Mountains. I need to know exactly what the Heavenly Sword Sect is up to! The situation in Ghostly Soul Valley must be thoroughly investigated!"

"Yes, Master!" came a respectful reply from outside the tent.

Master Guiyin suppressed his unease and greed. Right now, figuring out the true intentions of the Heavenly Sword Sect and confirming the veracity of the rumors about the secret realm were far more important than forcing the Qingyun Sect, which was hiding in its shell. After all, even if they captured the Qingyun Sect, losing the secret realm or even having their stronghold destroyed by the Heavenly Sword Sect would be a net loss.

And so, the deadly threat that loomed over Qingyun Mountain was quietly averted due to another upheaval thousands of miles away. The ultimatum to breach the mountain in three days seemed to have become an empty promise that no one would ever mention again.