Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

"Who goes there?!" The Poison Dragon Master inside the cave finally sensed something was wrong and shouted sharply. A foul-smelling green poisonous mist surged out of the cave.

"Kill the one who will take your life!" Shi Tie didn't bother with any words. He took the lead and, like the dragon head of the formation, led the entire battle formation into an invincible torrent that crashed into the main cave!

Inside the cave, a gaunt, sinister-looking old man dressed in brightly colored robes was raising a bone shield in a mixture of shock and rage. This was none other than the Poison Dragon Master. Beside him were seven or eight trusted bandits.

The Flowing Cloud Dragon Formation swept across! Sword light cascaded down like a waterfall, engulfing everything! The bone shield, under the combined assault of twenty-five elite warriors, shattered in less than a breath!

Venerable Poison Dragon coughed up blood and flew backward, his eyes filled with disbelief and terror. His trusted men were like paper, instantly strangled to death!

"Impossible! Who are you?!" Venerable Poison Dragon screamed, still trying to unleash his poisonous skills.

"Bind!" Shi Tie waved his hand, and the battle formation changed, transforming into countless chains of spiritual energy that bound him tightly. The remaining disciples quickly wiped out the remaining enemies and took control of the cave.

The battle ended as quickly as lightning. From the surprise attack to its conclusion, less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. The once invincible Poison Dragon Ravine was utterly destroyed.

When Zhao Long and the others brought the prisoners and counted the spoils to meet Shi Tie, they were filled with shock and pride as they looked at the Poison Dragon Master, who was bound like a dumpling and looked ashen-faced, and the elite squad that was almost unharmed.

This is the power of a battle formation! This is the current strength of the Qingyun Battle Hall!

The battlefield was cleared and supplies were confiscated. Shi Tie ordered his men to escort Poison Dragon Master to the makeshift interrogation room. He did not interrogate him personally, but instead invited Su Xiao to do so.

Inside the dimly lit stone house, Venerable Poison Dragon was bound to a pillar by Spirit-Sealing Chains, looking utterly dejected. Su Xiao stood quietly before him, saying nothing, simply gazing at him calmly with eyes that seemed to see right through people.

After a long silence, Su Xiao finally spoke softly, her voice still gentle, yet carrying a hint of coldness: "Fellow Daoist Poison Dragon, with your cultivation and caution, you should be living a carefree life. Why do you willingly entrenched yourself in this dangerous place, repeatedly causing trouble for my Qingyun Sect? But... who is instigating you?"

The Poison Dragon Master's eyes flashed, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Kill me or torture me, it's all up to you! I have nothing more to say!"

Su Xiao remained calm and simply nodded slightly to Ying Jiu beside him.

Ying Jiu stepped forward, took out a recording stone, activated its spiritual power, and several blurry images appeared on it. These images were taken by the Shadow Guards while they were lying in wait. They could be vaguely seen people from Poison Dragon Ravine meeting with some cultivators wearing specific clothing and exuding a fierce aura in the border forest.

"I recognize some of the characteristics of the Earthly Fiends Gang's 'Blood Fiend Palm' technique," Su Xiao said calmly. "What benefits did they promise you? To let you stay here and tie down my sect's attention, and even... gather information about the Flowing Cloud Secret Realm?"

Master Poison Dragon's expression changed drastically, clearly his secret had been exposed.

Su Xiao continued, "Do you know that the Earthly Fiend Gang and my Azure Cloud Sect have a long-standing feud? The promises they made were nothing but empty words. Now that you are in my hands, your life or death is entirely up to me. If you are willing to confess the truth, perhaps... you can still live out your days in the mine."

Coercion, bribery, and revealing the truth. Su Xiao's voice wasn't loud, but every word struck a chord in the heart of the Poison Dragon Elder. He struggled for a moment, then finally lowered his head in despair and hissed, "It was...it was the external affairs elder 'Li Xue' of the Earthly Fiend Gang who contacted me...He promised that after the matter was settled, he would help me break through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, and...and share some of the profits from a market with me."

"He instructed me to create chaos here, ideally inciting conflict between the Qingyun Sect and the Lieyang Sect or the Blackwater Gang... and to keep an eye out for any unusual activity in the secret realm, especially... something called the 'Boundary Stone'..."

Earthly Fiend Gang! Boundary Stone!

Upon hearing the news, Shi Tie flew into a rage: "It really is that bunch of scum who can't stand the light of day! Senior Brother Sect Leader, let me lead men to raze the Earthly Fiend Gang's outpost!"

Upon receiving the message, Shen Mo remained unusually calm. His reply consisted of only eight words: "Understood. Proceed as planned."

Before the smoke of battle had completely cleared from Poison Dragon Gorge, the Qingyun Sect's rumbling war chariot had already turned its attention to another far-reaching and fundamental plan—sowing the seeds for the future.

The Qingyun Sect will simultaneously establish "Qingyun Academy" in the locations of its three major branch halls: Black Stone Village, Shadow Moon Valley, and Eagle Beak Gorge. All children aged six to twelve within its jurisdiction, regardless of their birth from immortal or mortal background, will be given free spiritual root testing and selected for basic training!

Those who excel can be directly promoted to outer disciples of the Qingyun Sect!

Once this news was released, it was like pouring a ladle of ice water into a boiling oil pan, instantly causing an unprecedented sensation and frenzy throughout the newly established 600-mile territory!

Immortal destiny! For countless ordinary families struggling at the bottom of society, as well as small clans and low-level rogue cultivators who are trying to survive in the cracks, these two words are as heavy as mountains and as unattainable as a distant dream.

Now, this door to immortality, to power, to changing one's destiny has been opened by the Qingyun Sect itself, and it is open to everyone! No need for offerings, no regard for social status, only talent and character matter!

For a time, the official roads, mountain paths, and even desolate trails leading to the three branch halls were crowded with all sorts of people.

There were ragged, sallow-faced farmers leading children with timid yet curious eyes; there were small merchants driving dilapidated carts carrying their children, the hopes of their entire families; and there were weary, sharp-eyed wandering monks leading their nephews and nieces through mountains and rivers.

Some small families that originally relied on the Qingyun Sect, such as the Zhao family branch in Blackstone City, came with mixed feelings and tried their luck under the guidance of their patriarchs or elders.

Hope, like wildfire, spreads across the vast land.

Blackstone Village, as an important town in the northern frontier and the earliest established branch, naturally became the center of the crowd. The huge square, which was temporarily opened up and could hold tens of thousands of people, was now packed with people and the noise was deafening.

The cries of children, the admonitions of parents, the discussions of unaffiliated monks, and the loud shouts of the disciples of the Battle Hall maintaining order intertwine to create a vibrant and hopeful panorama of life.

In the center of the square, ten temporary platforms were erected. On the platforms were placed the most precious "Spirit Testing Stones," and Qingyun Sect disciples were responsible for recording the results.

Below the platform, the flow of people was divided into dozens of long lines by the fence, winding and twisting as far as the eye could see.

The air was filled with the smells of sweat, dust, and a kind of anxiety that was almost tangible, called "anticipation."

"Silence! Everyone line up! No noise! ​​Those with children, please go to the front to register and verify your identity! All irrelevant persons, please step back!" Sun Hao, dressed in black martial arts attire and carrying a long sword, stood on a tall stone lion, channeling his spiritual power, his voice booming like a bell, suppressing the noise of the scene.

His disciples, in groups of three, each wielding an unsheathed longsword, surveyed the ranks with sharp eyes, maintaining basic order.

Despite being busy, Sun Hao's brows furrowed with excitement. His senior brother's move was a foundational strategy with lasting benefits, and he naturally dared not neglect it.

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