Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

The morning at the main peak of Qingyun Mountain was unusually tranquil.

Shen Mo stood in front of the window of "Moyunxuan" and looked at the peaceful scene. His fingertips unconsciously touched the green jade token at his waist. It was the token he obtained in front of the ancestral statue of Liuyun Secret Realm when he broke through to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. At this moment, it was as warm as jade, but it faintly revealed a burning heat.

"Sect Leader." Han Lin's voice came from behind, tinged with hesitation, "Are you really going into seclusion? The people from the Blazing Sun Sect and the Heavenly Sword Sect are still staying at the inn at the foot of the mountain. What if..."

"Elder Han." Shen Mo turned around, a faint smile on his face as usual. "Keep an eye on the administrative affairs for me. Compile the Shadow Guard's reports for Su Xiao daily. My seclusion to break through to the peak of the late Foundation Establishment stage is paving the way for Core Formation. Rushing to expand without a solid foundation is a path to death."

Han Lin sighed, knowing he couldn't dissuade him. He presented the newly compiled sect affairs register: "This contains the income and expenditure of each hall, the disciples' cultivation progress, and the activities of vassal families for the past three months. After you have reviewed it, I will have each hall act according to the new rules."

Shen Mo flipped through a few pages, his gaze lingering for a moment on "Sales of the Flowing Cloud Sword" and "Population Growth of Black Stone Village," before tapping the line "Heavenly Sword Sect Envoys Frequently Contact Jin Hao": "Su Xiao will have to put in a lot of effort on this."

"I understand." Han Lin nodded, then lowered his voice, "Elder Shi Tie has been throwing tantrums at the Sword Training Cliff these past few days, saying that since you went into seclusion, no one has been able to control the troops he leads..."

Shen Mo chuckled: "Let him send it. The Zhan Tang people are all about using their fists. But..."

He looked at Han Lin and said, "Go tell him that I want to see him before I go into seclusion."

Han Lin accepted the order and left. Shen Mo placed the affairs book on the desk, got up and walked towards the back mountain. There was his secluded cultivation cave, "Sword Sharpening Cliff," which he had personally opened up. Clouds and mist swirled below the cliff, and the cliff walls were engraved with sword marks he had learned over the years, each one containing the meaning of "concealing the edge" learned from the Flowing Cloud Secret Realm.

When I took over the ruined sect many years ago, all I wanted was to help my junior brothers and sisters survive. Now that the sect is newly established, the disciples' eyes are shining, and Han Lin and the others are all capable of standing on their own... It's time for me, and for the sect, to fight for a chance to reach the Core Formation stage.

On the path to the Golden Core, one step behind means falling behind at every step. The Golden Core cultivators of the Blazing Sun Sect are watching us closely, and I cannot afford to relax for even a moment.

At the entrance of the Sword Sharpening Cliff cave, Su Xiao had been waiting for some time. She was dressed in a plain, close-fitting outfit, her hair tied up in a high bun, and a token of the Shadow Guard hung at her waist. Upon seeing Shen Mo, she quickly stepped forward to greet him: "Sect Leader, you were looking for me?"

"Mm." Shen Mo nodded and led her to sit down on a flat blue stone at the edge of the cliff. "During my seclusion, you will have to take care of the affairs inside and outside the sect."

Su Xiao waved her hand: "Sect Leader, you jest. This is simply my duty. It's just..." She took out a black jade slip from her sleeve.

"This is a secret report from the Shadow Guard in the past month. The 'Crimson Flame Guard' of the Blazing Sun Sect is gathering at the border, and people from the Heavenly Sword Sect went to the Blackwater Marsh, ostensibly to 'discuss cooperation,' but in reality to investigate the distribution of our sect's spiritual veins. There are also remnants of the Profound Yin Sect, who have appeared near the Blood-Weeping Wasteland, suspected of searching for clues about the 'Boundary Stone.'"

Shen Mo took the jade slip, scanned it with his divine sense, and his eyes darkened slightly: "The Boundary Stone... they haven't given up yet."

He returned the jade slip to Su Xiao, saying, "You personally keep an eye on these groups, especially the contact between the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Blackwater Gang. Although the Blackwater Gang leader, Wang Mang, has submitted, you can't judge a book by its cover. Don't let him be bought off by the Blazing Sun Sect."

"Yes," Su Xiao replied, then asked, "What about Junior Brother Jin Hao...?"

"Jin Hao is steady, and Mu Qingqing is by his side." Shen Mo smiled slightly as he recalled the two fighting side by side during the competition. "You just need to keep an eye on the Heavenly Sword Sect envoy's movements and prevent him from having any opportunity to contact the core disciples alone. If necessary, have the Shadow Guards 'invite' him to leave Qingyun Mountain."

Su Xiao nodded and took out a small porcelain bottle from her bosom: "This is the 'Heart-Clearing Pill' newly refined by Junior Sister Li Xiaocao. She said that you need to concentrate and calm your mind when you are in seclusion, so she asked you to take it with you."

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Shen Mo took the porcelain bottle, his fingertips touching its warmth, and his heart felt a surge of warmth: "Thank her for me. Oh, and tell her that the dosage of 'Moon Shadow Orchid' in the prescription can be reduced by another ten percent. I tasted it last time, and it was a bit too bitter."

"Haha, Junior Sister Li will definitely come after you to argue with you when she finds out," Su Xiao laughed, then became serious, "Sect Leader, rest assured and continue your seclusion. I'll guard outside for you. Anyone who dares to invade, the Shadow Guards will chop off their claws first!"

Shen Mo patted her shoulder: "With you here, I feel at ease."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Su Xiao rose to take her leave. Shen Mo watched her departing figure until she disappeared into the mist before turning and heading towards the Sword Practice Cliff—where Shi Tie was waiting for him.

On the Sword Practice Cliff, Shi Tie, shirtless and with sweat and dust clinging to his bronze muscles, was furiously hacking at a giant rock. With each swing of his axe, the ground trembled and rocks fell in a flurry. The rock was covered with axe marks of varying depths, yet it remained unbroken.

"Junior Brother Tie." Shen Mo's voice came from behind.

Shi Tie turned around abruptly, saw it was Shen Mo, grinned, and stuck his axe into the ground: "Sect Leader! What brings you here? I thought you were busy in seclusion and didn't have time to bother with a rough fellow like me!"

"Even the most uncouth person has to listen to the sect leader." Shen Mo walked to his side, picked up the axe from the ground, and weighed it in his hand. "Is this axe newly forged? The craftsmanship of the Weapon Hall has improved."

"Absolutely!" Shi Tie patted the axe handle proudly. "That kid Zhao Tiechui forged this axe with 'Flowing Cloud Steel,' making it thirty percent heavier than my old one. Splitting rocks is like cutting tofu! It's just..."

He changed the subject abruptly, his face full of worry, "My soldiers have been acting recklessly lately when practicing swordsmanship. One of them almost chopped off his fellow disciple's arm and was punished by being sent to fetch water from the back mountain."

Shen Mo handed the axe back to him: "A member of the Battle Hall should have the rules of the Battle Hall. But as impulsive as you are, don't hurt the harmony among your fellow disciples."

He paused, his tone becoming serious, "After I go into seclusion, you will have full command of the Battle Hall. Remember these four words—avoid impatience and rashness."

"Avoid haste and impatience?" Shi Tie scratched his head. "Senior Brother Sect Leader, are you saying I'm too hasty?"

"It's not that you're too hasty, it's that the War Hall is too hasty." Shen Mo pointed to the token at his waist. "You are a War Hall elder, and the disciples are watching your every word and action. If you encounter provocation, you should endure it if you can, and if you can't, you should punch back, but don't act without knowing the facts."

"Last time, when the people from Burning Heaven Valley attacked Greenwood Town, you led your men to chase them for three hundred miles. Although you killed the bandit leader, several of your disciples were poisoned—that shows you were in a hurry."

Shi Tie recalled the disciple who had been poisoned that time, and a look of shame appeared on his face: "I was so angry that I lost my mind at the time... Senior Brother Headmaster is right to reprimand me, I will remember it."

"And one more thing," Shen Mo said, looking at the disciples practicing swordsmanship behind him, "Disciples of the Battle Hall not only need to know how to fight, but also how to cooperate. Teach them more about the 'Flowing Cloud Formation,' with three to five disciples in a group, so they can advance and retreat with a plan. It's more effective than fighting alone."

Shi Tie nodded emphatically: "I'll go revise the training regulations right away! By the way, who's bringing you meals during your seclusion? I'll have the cook from the Battle Hall make some 'Strength Pills' to help you recover!"

Shen Mo chuckled: "No need for that. There's a spiritual spring at Sharpening Sword Cliff. Drink the spring water when you're hungry, and eat spiritual fruits when you're thirsty. You just need to take care of the Battle Hall."

He took out an earthen-yellow token from his pocket and handed it to Shi Tie: "This is the War Hall's troop deployment token. While I'm in seclusion, you can use it to mobilize the War Hall disciples. Remember, unless it's an extremely urgent matter, don't use the 'Flowing Cloud Guard'."

The "Flowing Cloud Guard" is the most elite protective team of the Qingyun Sect, usually only appearing during the sect's grand competition. Shi Tie accepted the token, feeling its weight: "Sect Leader, rest assured, I, Old Shi, will risk my life to protect the Qingyun Sect!"

"I believe you." Shen Mo patted his shoulder. "Go on, don't keep the disciples waiting."

Shi Tie shouldered his axe and strode towards the disciples practicing swordsmanship, shouting as he went, "All of you, stand still! Today we're practicing the 'Flowing Cloud Formation.' Anyone who loses their footing won't be eating tonight!"