Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

Outside the window, the setting sun painted Qingyun Mountain golden. The sounds of disciples practicing swords, the furnace fire in the alchemy hall, and the humming of spiritual energy in the array hall intertwined to create a harmonious symphony.

The clouds and mist on Sword Sharpening Cliff remained thick, and in Shen Mo's secluded cave, the light of the jade token shone even brighter. He sat cross-legged on the stone bed, the mental cultivation method of the Flowing Cloud Technique circulating endlessly in his sea of ​​consciousness, and the spiritual energy around him surged like a sea of ​​clouds.

Occasionally, he could hear the commotion below the cliff, the laughter of his disciples, the methodical handling of Su Xiao's affairs, the heroic roar of Shi Tie, the focused deduction of Zhao Qingyan's formation, and the humming of Li Xiaocao while refining pills...

These voices, like warm streams, flowed into his lonely seclusion. The sect was growing, the disciples were growing, and he, too, had to break through as soon as possible to become their strongest support.

......

In the backyard of the Alchemy Hall on Qingyun Mountain, A-Yuan squatted by the herb garden, her fingertips gently brushing the leaves of a "Mind-Concentrating Grass". The morning dew dampened her skirt, and her hair was still covered with ash from the furnace she had rubbed off while refining pills the night before, making her look like a little girl who had just run out of the kitchen.

But at this moment, she stood up straight, and the spiritual power of the ninth level of Qi Refining flowed slowly through her meridians, shaking the dew on the grass into fine mist—this was the realm she had just broken through to last night, only one step away from Foundation Establishment.

"Junior Sister Yuan, looking at the grass again?" Li Xiaocao's voice came from behind, carrying the languor of someone who had just woken up. She was wearing a loose green robe and holding a bowl of spirit rice porridge with two candied dates floating in it.

A-Yuan turned around, her eyes shining like stars: "Senior Sister Li! Look at this Mind-Concentrating Grass, the leaves are thicker than last month. Does that mean we can extract half a percent more medicinal power?"

She remembered that when she first started learning, she could even rot the roots of the spiritual herbs by watering them, but now she could distinguish the subtle changes in the spiritual herbs.

Li Xiaocao sat down beside her, scooped a spoonful of porridge and handed it to her: "You little girl, your talent isn't top-notch, but you have a lot of tenacity. Before the sect leader went into seclusion last time, he said that A-Yuan is like a small pine tree, slow-moving but with deep roots."

She paused, her tone softening, "Actually, the reason you're breaking through slowly is because you're too impatient. You can't rush the foundation building during the Qi Refining stage."

Ah Yuan held the bowl of porridge, the steam making her eyes sting. For years, she had gotten up at dawn every day to practice swordsmanship, weeded the herb garden at noon, and assisted in the alchemy room in the evening, without ever missing a day.

"Senior sister, am I too stupid?" she asked softly.

"Silly girl," Li Xiaocao poked her forehead, "Back in the day, our sect leader sat on the edge of a cliff for seven days and seven nights without eating or drinking, all to comprehend a sword technique in the Flowing Cloud Secret Realm. What is your little bit of progress compared to that?"

She pointed to the half-person-tall "Iron Bone Ginseng" in the corner of the herb garden, "See that? Those ginseng seeds were planted when you first started out, and now they've grown so tall. You are like those ginseng seeds, slowly simmer, and one day you'll emerge from the ground."

A-Yuan nodded vigorously, ate the jujubes in the porridge bowl, and felt the sweetness melt on her tongue. She stood up, drew the wooden sword from her waist, and began practicing the "Flowing Cloud Sword Technique" in the courtyard.

His swordplay still had a touch of naivety, but each move was more composed than before. As the sword energy swept across, the fallen leaves on the ground formed a neat arc—a sign of the ninth level of Qi Refining.

Li Xiaocao watched her retreating figure, a smile playing on her lips. She took out a jade slip and sent a message to Shen Mo: "A-Yuan has broken through to the ninth level of Qi Refining, and Foundation Establishment is within reach. This girl, just like you said back then, 'Her tenacity is more precious than her talent.'"

On the other end of the jade slip, inside the cave at Sword Sharpening Cliff, Shen Mo was meditating cross-legged. Receiving the message in his mind, a slight smile appeared on his lips. He tapped his fingertips lightly in the air, sending a spiritual message to the Pill Hall: "Tell A-Yuan that 'Moon Shadow Orchid' is needed as a medicinal guide during Foundation Establishment."

I have three plants in my storage bag; tell her to go get them from Elder Han.

On the training ground, Jin Hao was inspecting his sword sheath. He was dressed in a light blue outfit, and the long sword slung across his back had been replaced with the "Flowing Cloud Sword" newly forged by the weapon hall. The sheath was engraved with fine cloud patterns, which gleamed faintly in the sunlight.

"Senior Brother Jin, are we really going to the 'Sword Testing Tournament'?" Zhao Ling'er ran over carrying a stack of talismans, the bells in her hair jingling. "I heard that this time, all the sword cultivators coming are top experts from the surrounding three prefectures, as well as inner disciples from the Blazing Sun Sect!"

Jin Hao straightened his sword sheath and said calmly, "Before the sect leader went into seclusion, he said that Qingyun Sect disciples should not only guard their home but also go out and see the world. I'll go give it a try and also observe other people's swordsmanship."

He recalled Shen Mo's teachings on "concealing one's sharpness," and added, "Losing is not shameful, and winning... is to bring honor to the sect."

"Who's going to let you lose!" Zhao Ling'er stuffed the talismans into his arms. "These are 'Wind Control Talismans.' Take them with you; they'll help you escape faster if you're surrounded. And this too..."

She took a small jade bottle from her waist. "These are the 'Qi-restoring pills' that Uncle Li just refined. Take one when you're tired."

Jin Hao took the jade bottle, his fingertips touching its warmth: "Thank you, Junior Sister."

"No need to thank me!" Zhao Ling'er waved her hand. "When you become the 'Azure Cloud Sword Master,' don't forget to treat me to candied hawthorns!"

At this moment, Shi Tie strode over, a beast-skin cloak draped over his bronze arms: "Kid, are you ready? I'm Old Shi on my way to patrol the border, I'll give you a ride."

He patted Jin Hao on the shoulder, the force so strong that Jin Hao staggered. "Remember, a sword is for killing, not for showing off. If you encounter those hot-tempered guys from the Blazing Sun Sect, don't fight them head-on. Use 'Flowing Clouds Overlapping Waves' to wear them down!"

Jin Hao nodded: "Elder Shi, rest assured, I will not bring shame to the sect."

"Haha, you little rascal, just like me when I was young, a real taciturn type." Shi Tie grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. "Go on, when you come back, I'll teach you the 'Mountain-Splitting Axe Technique,' and show you what true ferocity is!"

Jin Hao bowed respectfully and turned to walk towards the mountain gate. Zhao Ling'er and Shi Tie stood by the training ground, watching his figure disappear into the morning mist. Zhao Ling'er suddenly asked, "Do you think Senior Brother Jin can win first place this time?"

Shi Tie spat and gazed at the distant mountains: "When has my disciple ever let me down? Just wait and see, it won't be long before the name 'Azure Cloud Swordsman' resounds throughout the Southern Region!"

The "Sword Testing Tournament" is held at the "Martial Arts Arena" in Qinglan City. This is the largest martial arts arena in the surrounding three counties. The bluestone-paved surface has been carved with grooves of varying depths by the sword energy of generations of sword cultivators.

When Jin Hao arrived, the audience was already packed with people, and various flags were waving in the wind, including the "Crimson Flame Flag" of the Blazing Sun Sect, the "Flowing Cloud Flag" of the Heavenly Sword Sect, and the "Mixed Color Flag" of the Loose Cultivator Alliance.

"The Qingyun Sect is here!" someone whispered in the crowd. Jin Hao's appearance caused a stir—he was young, dressed simply, but the "Flowing Cloud Sword" on his back exuded an indescribable sharpness.

"Hey, isn't this the kid who won first place in the last secret realm trial?" A weasel-faced cultivator sidled up, sizing up Jin Hao. "I heard your swordsmanship is pretty good. How about a 'duel' with me? If you win, I'll give you ten low-grade spirit stones. If you lose, you'll kowtow three times!"

Jin Hao glanced at him but didn't say anything. He remembered Shen Mo saying, "A true strongman doesn't bother with hooligans."

"What? You dare not?" Seeing that he didn't answer, the cultivator assumed he was afraid and laughed smugly. "Is the Qingyun Sect out of people? Sending some greenhorn to fill in?"