Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

Shen Mo watched his retreating figure, a smile playing on his lips. He knew that Shi Tie, this rough man, had a warm heart more than anyone else.

After leaving the Sword Training Cliff, Shen Mo went to the Array Hall and the Pill Hall.

Inside the "Deduction Pavilion" of the Array Hall, Zhao Qingyan was suspended in mid-air, her fingertips swirling with spiritual light as she sketched a complex array diagram in the air. She wore a moon-white Taoist robe, her long hair tied up with a jade hairpin, and her expression was as focused as a fairy in a painting.

"Junior Sister Qingyan," Shen Mo called softly.

Zhao Qingyan snapped out of her daze and, seeing it was Shen Mo, quickly put away the array diagram: "Sect Leader Brother, what brings you here? I was trying to link the 'Minor Nine Palaces Flowing Cloud Array' with the Mountain Protection Array, but I encountered some obstacles..."

"Let me take a look." Shen Mo walked to her side, his gaze falling on the array diagram. "Here, the spiritual energy nodes are too dense, making them prone to interference. Try moving the 'displaced' array eye to three zhang away, and use the 'Void Stone' as a guide; the flow of spiritual energy will be smoother."

Zhao Qingyan's eyes lit up, and she quickly wrote it down: "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother Sect Leader! I'll try it right away." With a flick of her finger, the spiritual light on the array diagram began to flow again, and it was indeed much smoother than before.

Looking at her joyful expression, Shen Mo recalled how she was just a little girl hiding in the back mountain of the Pill Hall, crying when they first met, and now she was a capable elder of the Array Hall. He was filled with emotion.

"Junior Sister Qingyan, your talent in array formations is even higher than I imagined. After I go into seclusion, I will entrust the optimization of the mountain-protecting array to you. Remember, array formations are the shield of the sect; the shield must be sturdy, but more importantly, it must be flexible."

"Disciple understands." Zhao Qingyan nodded solemnly. "I will work day and night to make the mountain-protecting formation a true 'ironclad fortress'."

"Don't exhaust yourself," Shen Mo said with a smile. "The cultivation of array formations emphasizes 'still waters run deep.' Your calm and composed nature is perfect for this path."

He took out a blue jade slip from his sleeve. "This is the 'Flowing Cloud Formation Explanation' that I obtained in the Flowing Cloud Secret Realm. It contains the ancestor's insights on formations. Take a look."

Zhao Qingyan took the jade slip, feeling its coolness yet warmth: "Thank you, Senior Brother Sect Leader! This disciple will certainly live up to your expectations."

After leaving the array hall, Shen Mo went to the pill hall.

In the herb garden of Dantang, Li Xiaocao was squatting on the ground, carefully watering a "star-patterned grass". She was wearing a green dress, with a few dried spirit flowers in her hair, and her nose was covered with soil, like a village girl who had just returned from the fields.

"Junior Sister Xiaocao." Shen Mo walked up behind her.

Li Xiaocao was startled. Turning around and seeing Shen Mo, she quickly stood up and patted her skirt: "Sect Leader Brother! What brings you here? Is there another problem with the pill formula?"

"There's no problem at all," Shen Mo said with a smile. "I'm here to tell you that I'm going into seclusion, and I've come to say goodbye."

Li Xiaocao's eyes reddened: "You're going into seclusion? Then... then who will guide us through the pill formula?"

"Junior Brother Han Lin will be keeping an eye on the Pill Hall. If you have any problems, go to him." Shen Mo took out a small paper packet from his sleeve. "Inside is the 'Mind-Concentrating Flower' that I picked in the Flowing Cloud Secret Realm. You can use it to make 'Foundation Building Pills' to increase the success rate of obtaining high-grade pills."

Li Xiaocao took the paper package, opened it, and saw that the petals inside were crystal clear and emitted a faint fragrance: "This...this is too precious! Senior Brother Sect Leader, please keep it for yourself!"

"I don't need this while I'm in seclusion." Shen Mo waved his hand. "You should focus on studying alchemy. In the future, the alchemy hall of Qingyun Sect will depend on you."

He paused, then his tone became serious, "Remember, alchemy is like life; the timing and measure are paramount. Don't be as impetuous as Shi Tie, and don't be as secretive as Su Xiao. Ask questions when you need to, and share what you should share."

"I understand!" Li Xiaocao smiled through her tears. "Last time, Senior Sister Mu Qingqing taught me the 'Hundred Flowers Dew Condensation Method,' and I wrote her method down in the 'Alchemy Classic.' Don't worry, Sect Leader, I will definitely manage the Alchemy Hall well!"

Looking at her radiant smile, Shen Mo felt a warmth in his heart. He knew that Li Xiaocao, though seemingly carefree, was actually very thoughtful, and her talent in alchemy was one in a hundred years.

"Go on, don't keep the herbs waiting." Shen Mo waved his hand.

Li Xiaocao responded and squatted down to take care of the star-patterned grass, humming an off-key tune.

When they returned to Sharpening Sword Cliff, the sun was already setting. Han Lin had already activated the restrictions at the cliff entrance, and amidst the swirling clouds and mist, the stone door to the cave was tightly shut, leaving only a narrow gap for one person to pass through.

Shen Mo put his belongings into his storage bag: a few changes of clothes, the calming pills given by Li Xiaocao, Zhao Qingyan's array diagram, Su Xiao's secret report... Finally, he hung the jade token around his neck.

"Sect Leader Brother." Han Lin's voice came from behind, followed by core disciples such as Jin Hao, Mu Qingqing, and Zhao Ling'er. "We've all arrived."

Shen Mo turned around and saw all the disciples standing neatly at the foot of the cliff, their expressions solemn. Jin Hao's hand was on his sword hilt, Mu Qingqing was holding a pill box, Zhao Ling'er had a talisman hanging from her waist, and even the usually mischievous Wang Ergou had stopped laughing and lowered his head, not daring to speak.

"You're all here." Shen Mo smiled. "I went into seclusion to form my Golden Core, and forming the Golden Core is for the sect to become stronger. You don't need to worry, just focus on your cultivation and wait for me to come out of seclusion."

Jin Hao stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Sect Leader, please rest assured and continue your seclusion. Elder Shi will lead the Battle Hall disciples, and they will absolutely not allow anyone to harm the sect in the slightest!"

Mu Qingqing also stepped forward: "I will keep the 'Mind-Concentrating Flower' of the Pill Hall safe. When the new disciples enter the sect, I will teach them to use the new method to refine pills."

Zhao Ling'er raised the talisman in her hand: "The disciples of the Talisman Hall have prepared the 'Mountain Protection Talisman,' and can set up a defensive formation at any time!"

Wang Ergou suddenly raised his head and shouted, "Sect Leader, I...I will practice my sword diligently and not let you down!"

The crowd laughed. Looking at these energetic disciples, Shen Mo felt a surge of warmth in his heart: "Good! With you all here, I can focus on my cultivation without any worries."

He turned and walked towards the stone gate of the cave. Han Lin quickly stepped forward and said, "Sect Leader, let me escort you in."

"No need," Shen Mo waved his hand. "You all wait outside. The stone door will close automatically after I go in."

He entered the cave, and the stone door slowly closed behind him. A flash of light indicated the activation of the restriction, and the clouds instantly swallowed the cave entrance, leaving only the three large characters "Sharpening Sword Cliff" faintly visible in the twilight.

Below the cliff, the disciples lingered, reluctant to leave. Jin Hao gazed at the tightly closed stone door and whispered, "Our sect leader will definitely break through."

Mu Qingqing nodded: "Yes, he promised us that he would teach us the final move of the 'Flowing Clouds and Overlapping Waves Sword' when he came out of seclusion."

Zhao Ling'er gripped the talisman tightly: "Then we'll wait for him to come back."

Wang Ergou suddenly pointed to the sky and shouted, "Look! There's a shooting star!"

Everyone looked up and saw a shooting star streak across the sky, trailing a long tail, before falling into the depths of the distant clouds.

"That must be the sect leader's sword energy, right?" Wang Ergou murmured.

No one answered, but the belief in everyone's hearts was unwavering.

Inside the cave at Lijian Cliff, Shen Mo sat cross-legged on the stone bed, the jade token around his neck emitting a soft glow.

He closed his eyes, and the image of the patriarch of the Flowing Cloud Secret Realm appeared in his mind. The patriarch's voice echoed in his ears: "Hide your edge in the sheath, sharpen your sword in your heart..."

Outside the cave, the clouds and mist still swirled, as if separating the two worlds.