Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

After the ancestral worship ceremony was completed, the next highlight of the celebration was the offering of gifts and congratulations from various factions.

As Master of Ceremonies Han Lin announced the ceremony, representatives of various factions who had been waiting in the audience stepped forward in turn, according to their strength and the closeness of their relationship, to present gifts to Shen Mo and the Qingyun Sect and to offer their congratulations.

First to step forward was Wang Mang, the vice leader of the Blackwater Gang. Today, he was wearing a brand-new brocade robe, his face beaming with a warm, even somewhat obsequious smile, a stark contrast to the infamous "Blackwater Python" of the past. Behind him followed four strongmen carrying two heavy jade boxes.

"King Mang of the Blackwater Gang congratulates the Qingyun Sect on its expansion and rise to prominence in the Southwest! We present ten pieces of 'Millennial Black Sandalwood,' one hundred catties of 'Mysterious Water Essence Gold,' and five thousand top-grade spirit stones! We hope that our two sects will forever be friends and that our trade routes will be unimpeded!" King Mang's voice was loud and clear, and his posture was extremely humble.

"Chief Wang, you are too kind. Please take a seat." Shen Mo nodded slightly, and a disciple stepped forward to take the gift list and led him to his seat.

Next came Lin Yuanshan, the elder of the Lin family, who presented several fifth-order spiritual herbs brimming with spiritual energy and a batch of rare medicinal ingredients; Jinshimen, Liuhuo Valley and other forces also offered generous gifts, speaking with utmost respect.

These gift lists were far more substantial than those from the previous private visit. Clearly, the official recognition from the Lieyang Sect had made these local tyrants fully realize the situation, and they dared not be negligent in the slightest.

The arrival of the envoy from the Blazing Sun Sect brought the atmosphere to its first climax. It wasn't a high-ranking figure like Master Xuan Yang, but rather a powerful deacon in the late Foundation Establishment stage, who represented the Blazing Sun Sect.

The congratulatory gifts he presented were also extremely exquisite: a "Crimson Sun Heart-Protecting Mirror" that could withstand three full-force attacks from a cultivator in the early Golden Core stage, three bottles of "Blazing Sun Barrier-Breaking Pills" that were remarkably effective for Foundation Establishment cultivators to break through minor bottlenecks, and a jade slip bearing the seal of the Blazing Sun Sect, formally confirming the "Boundary Demarcation Agreement" between the two parties, and accompanied by a detailed map.

"By order of the True Man Chiyang, I have come to congratulate the Qingyun Sect on its establishment of its capital! Our Ancestor said that he hopes our two sects will join hands and work together to protect the peace of the Southern Region!" The steward of the Lieyang Sect spoke with a respectful tone, neither humble nor arrogant.

This gift and statement are of extraordinary significance! It is tantamount to the Lieyang Sect once again "standing up" for the Qingyun Sect in front of the world.

On the viewing platform, many representatives of smaller factions showed expressions of envy and even jealousy, which further strengthened their resolve to befriend the Qingyun Sect.

Shen Mo remained calm and courteous, but he knew perfectly well that the more "generous" the Lieyang Sect was, the bigger their ambitions must be.

The gift-giving ceremony lasted for nearly an hour, with gifts piled up like mountains, showcasing the Qingyun Sect's current prestige and power. Following this, the segment showcasing the sect's strength—martial arts demonstrations and a variety of performances—began.

Within the training area, the first to take the stage were the disciples of the Battle Hall. Under the command of Sun Hao and Xiong Meng, a hundred late-stage Qi Refining disciples, dressed in uniform spirit armor and wielding standard flying swords, practiced the "Minor Nine Palaces Flowing Cloud Battle Formation".

Sword light flashed like a forest, footsteps moved like clouds, offense and defense were integrated, changes were exquisite, spiritual energy was linked together, and there was a faint sense of rising clouds and the formation of a sword aura domain. Its power was already close to that of a cultivator in the early stage of Foundation Establishment!

This clearly incorporated some of the essence of the formations Zhao Qingyan obtained from Liuyun Cave, greatly increasing its power. The onlookers, especially representatives of forces known for their martial prowess, were deeply moved.

"What an exquisite battle formation! The spiritual energy flows smoothly, combining offense and defense. It has truly mastered the essence of the Flowing Cloud Sect's teachings!" An elder from a small sect that established itself through martial arts couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice.

Next, Shi Tie personally took to the field. Although his injuries had not fully recovered, he used his physical strength alone to smash a 10,000-pound "Sword Testing Stone" into dust with his bare hands, demonstrating the power of the "Giant Spirit Battle Body" and drawing gasps of astonishment.

The Hundred Arts Zone was equally spectacular. In the Pill Hall area, Li Xiaocao personally opened the furnace and refined a batch of third-grade superior "Foundation Building Pills" in front of everyone. When the pills were completed, the air was filled with rosy clouds and the aroma of medicine was overwhelming. The success rate of the pills was as high as 70%, which made many representatives of various forces envious.

The disciples of the Weapon Hall displayed newly forged standard flying swords, infused with red copper essence, which were incredibly sharp.

The disciples of the Array Hall then joined forces to set up a small "Flowing Cloud Misty Array," trapping several early Foundation Establishment stage observers for a moment before releasing them, which amazed everyone.

Lingzhi Hall also showcased several mutated Yin-attribute spiritual herbs that had been successfully cultivated in Yinfeng Valley, and they were growing vigorously.

These displays are not for showing off, but to tell everyone in a real way that Qingyun Sect not only has a powerful battle hall, but also a solid foundation in alchemy, weaponry, formations, and plant cultivation, and has strong potential for continued development!

This is more alarming than mere military intimidation.

The grand celebration continued until the sun began to set. Guests and hosts alike enjoyed themselves immensely, and representatives from various factions, filled with a complex mix of emotions including amazement, envy, and apprehension, took their leave.

The entire Qingyun Sect remained immersed in immense joy and pride.

Night fell, and the hustle and bustle subsided. The main hall at the rear of the main peak was brightly lit. The core members of the sect gathered once again, but the atmosphere was completely different from the daytime fervor, carrying a hint of post-event calm and solemnity.

"Today's ceremony is a complete success! The prestige of our Qingyun Sect is at its zenith!" Sun Hao, still somewhat excited, pumped his fist and said, "Let's see who dares to look down on us now!"

Xiong Meng grinned and said, "Exactly! Especially during the martial arts demonstration, the way those guys looked at us, haha, it'll keep me, Old Xiong, entertained for half a year!"

Elder Han Lin stroked his beard and smiled, but his eyes held a hint of worry: "We have gained prestige, but the pressure that follows is immense. The designated 600-mile territory may seem vast, but in reality, it is sparsely populated with scattered resource points, making management incredibly complex. The needs reported by each branch—spirit stones, materials, and manpower—are far from being met."

Su Xiao nodded and added, "More importantly, it's the 'generous gift' from the Blazing Sun Sect. The more generous they are, the bigger their intentions must be. That 'Jiazi Golden Elixir Ceremony' is likely to be a feast with no substance."

"Moreover, I received a secret report that people from Burning Heaven Valley and Five Poisons Sect have been more active on the border recently, and it seems that they have not given up on the 'Boundary Stone'."

"The Earthly Fiend Gang, the Black Water Gate, and other forces that originally had a grudge against us have outwardly submitted, but they are constantly making underhanded moves in secret."

Zhao Qingyan said coldly, "The mountain-protecting formation needs to cover the key nodes of the newly defined territory, which increases the consumption several times over. The newly acquired inheritance needs time to digest, and the training of disciples also requires a lot of resources. It seems like a beautiful sight, but in reality, every step requires careful planning and is like walking on thin ice."

Li Xiaocao also whispered, "The spiritual herbs in the Pill Hall's inventory are being used up very quickly. The newly cultivated herb garden is too far away to meet the immediate needs, and the refining of many pills is stuck on the lack of materials."

After the celebrations come more real and severe challenges. Resources, talent, external pressures, and internal development—each is a difficult problem.

Shen Mo sat calmly in the main seat, listening to everyone's reports. He had long anticipated all of this. Prestige needs strength to back it up; territory needs power to protect it.

"What you all say is true." Shen Mo spoke slowly, his voice steady and carrying an air of authority. "Celebrations are for show, for establishing authority, for gathering momentum. But behind closed doors, we must be clear-headed. In the current situation, opportunities and risks coexist."

His gaze swept over the crowd: "To address the resource shortage, we must simultaneously increase revenue and reduce expenditure. Elder Han, oversee internal affairs and establish a new contribution point system, prioritizing land reclamation, exploration, and production."

"Junior Sister Xiao, increase trade with the Hundred Treasures Pavilion and friendly forces, and use our unique pills and formations to exchange for scarce resources."

"Sun Hao and Xiong Meng will lead the team to explore the mineral resources and medicinal herbs in the XJ region as soon as possible, establish a base, and start mining in an orderly manner."

"Regarding external pressure, remain calm and wait for the opportune moment. Strengthen border patrols to demonstrate our presence; it's not advisable to provoke conflict for the time being. As for the Blazing Sun Sect, maintain a feigned acquiescence. I'll attend the Golden Core Ceremony and act according to the circumstances."

"Burning Heaven Valley and Five Poisons Sect are under close surveillance. As long as they don't cross the line, we'll leave them alone for now. As for internal instability, Junior Sister Xiao, keep a close eye on it. If any unusual activity occurs, suppress it with swift and decisive action—there will be no leniency!"

"Internal development is fundamental! Qingyan, prioritize the protection of core areas and important resource points with formations, proceeding step by step. Xiaocao, the Pill Hall should focus all its efforts on developing alternative pill formulas to increase the pill success rate."

"Junior Brother Tie, the training in the Battle Hall must not be relaxed. The new battle formations must be mastered as soon as possible. The inheritances obtained by each hall should be selectively passed on to meritorious disciples, and transformed into the sect's strength as quickly as possible!"

Each instruction was clear and specific, breaking down the immense pressure into concrete tasks. The group accepted the orders with reverence, their initial restlessness gradually replaced by a heavy sense of responsibility.

"Finally," Shen Mo stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the map of the sect's territory, now several times larger than before, its lights twinkling in the night sky. His voice carried an undeniable resolve.

"Issue a decree to the entire sect: Starting tomorrow, the celebrations will end, and the sect will enter a period of 'keeping a low profile and focusing on development'! Within ten years, the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators must double! At least one core disciple must reach the Golden Core stage!"

"I will truly establish the eternal foundation of my Qingyun Sect within this six-hundred-mile territory!"

"I will obey the sect leader's decree!"

The crowd responded with a resounding roar, their eyes blazing with the fire of determination to fight.