Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

Three thousand miles north of the Black Wind Mountains lies a place called "Falling Star Plain".

This place is eerie. During the day, it looks like a barren wasteland, but at midnight, the ground begins to emanate wisps of silver light, as if stars have shattered in the soil.

In the last half month, the Falling Star Plains have become even more bizarre. The silver light is no longer wispy, but surges in large swaths, sometimes even condensing into a blurry palace phantom that lasts for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before dissipating.

The latest issue of Bai Xiaosheng's "Tales of the Eastern Wilderness" uses a shocking title: "The Abyss of Ten Thousand Laws Approaches, Strange Phenomena Occur Frequently in the Fallen Star Plain: Is it a Predestined Fate or a Calamity?"

At this moment, a makeshift teahouse on the edge of Falling Star Plains was crowded with all sorts of cultivators.

"Have you heard? The Heavenly Sword Sect is in complete chaos!" A rogue cultivator in a Bagua robe spat as he spoke.

"The pro-war faction, led by Elder Jian Wuhen, insists on entering the Abyss of Myriad Laws first, claiming it's an opportunity to thwart the Qingyun Sect's conspiracy!"

"But Elder Jian Wuchen, who is in charge of transmitting skills, strongly objects, saying that the place is evil and getting involved with it will bring terrible misfortune!"

A scholar-like cultivator standing nearby waved his folding fan and said, "If you ask me, Elder Jian Wuchen is right. Think about it, why did Shen Mo of the Qingyun Sect so openly release information about the Myriad Laws Abyss? There must be something fishy going on. I've heard..."

He lowered his voice, "Xuanji Daoist of Tianji Pavilion privately cast a divination, saying it's 'Abyss as deep as the sea, malevolent energy soaring to the heavens,' a very ominous sign!"

"What a load of rubbish!" A burly man with a face full of scars slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups bounce around. "Fortune favors the bold! If the legacy of Patriarch Liuyun really exists in the Abyss of Ten Thousand Laws, what's there to fear about evil aura once we've snatched it?"

"I think the Heavenly Sword Sect has been terrified by the Azure Cloud Sect!"

"That's right! No matter how powerful the Qingyun Sect is, Shen Mo is only at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, not yet at the Golden Core stage! There are so many of us, what are we afraid of!" someone echoed.

In a corner of the tea stall, a man in black wearing a straw hat silently put down his tea money, got up and left.

He walked a short distance and turned into an inconspicuous mountain hollow, where several people were already waiting.

"What's going on with the Blazing Sun Sect?" Su Xiao's voice came from under the bamboo hat.

A shadow guard whispered a report: "Master Xuan Yang of the Blazing Sun Sect, along with three hundred Crimson Flame Guards, are stationed in 'Flame Valley,' fifty miles to the northeast, and are holding back their troops. However, they have made contact with the people from the Mystic Ice Pavilion."

Another Shadow Guard added, "Two elders from the Xuanbing Pavilion have arrived, accompanied by the 'Frost Jade Guards.' They are few in number, but elite. They seem quite wary of the Blazing Sun Sect; their camp is quite far away."

"What about the Xuan Yin Sect?" Su Xiao asked.

"The Black Fiend Ancestor has come in person, bringing with him all the men from the 'Rotten Heart Hall,' hiding in the 'Poison Dragon Ravine' to the west, acting suspiciously. They've made connections with several minor evil sects."

Su Xiao nodded, his gaze drifting to the increasingly bright silver light emanating from the red earth in the distance: "Sect Leader's prediction was correct; these wolves have all caught a whiff of the scent... How's the situation at the Heavenly Sword Sect?"

"Jian Wuji has just arrived and set up camp at 'Sword Echo Slope' in the south. His arrival seems to have calmed the infighting within the Heavenly Sword Sect, but undercurrents are still surging."

"Sword Limitless..." Su Xiao pondered. This new sect leader of the Heavenly Sword Sect was not old, but he was known for his swordsmanship talent and calm ruthlessness. He was not someone to be trifled with.

"Keep a close eye on them, especially the movements of the Blazing Sun Sect and the Profound Yin Sect."

The next day, at noon. The silver light at the center of Falling Star Plain almost solidified, and the phantom of a majestic and ancient stone gate appeared and disappeared, radiating a chilling pressure.

Unable to contain themselves any longer, the various forces appeared one after another, forming distinct camps a few miles away from the illusory stone gate.

To the east, the banner of the Blazing Sun Sect fluttered, and three hundred Crimson Flame Guards, clad in fiery red spirit armor, exuded a scorching aura.

Like a burning cloud.

Master Xuanyang sat upright in his carriage, closing his eyes to meditate, seemingly indifferent to the strange phenomenon before him, but his slightly trembling fingertips revealed his inner turmoil.

Not far away, the Xuanbing Pavilion's camp was a pristine white, exuding a chilling aura. Two aloof female elders, accompanied by dozens of Hanyu Guards, maintained a clear distance from the Lieyang Sect's camp.

To the west, the black flag of the Xuan Yin Sect fluttered, and the Black Fiend Ancestor was surrounded by green poisonous miasma, his triangular eyes greedily staring at the illusory stone gate.

He was surrounded by a group of strangely dressed, unorthodox cultivators, creating a chaotic and unpleasant atmosphere. Many self-proclaimed righteous cultivators cast disgusted glances at him.

To the south, all the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect stood with their swords in hand, their sword energy soaring into the sky. Leading them was the newly appointed sect leader, Jian Wuji.

He looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a cold and stern face and eyes that were frighteningly bright, as if they concealed a sharp sword that had been drawn from its sheath.

Behind him stood Jian Wuhen, his face gloomy, and Jian Wuchen, his expression worried.

To the north, the Qingyun Sect had the fewest members. Shen Mo only brought Su Xiao, Shi Tie, Jin Hao, Mu Qingqing, Zhou Yi, and a dozen other core disciples, standing quietly on a high slope, completely out of place with the surrounding noise.

Shen Mo, dressed in a blue robe, had a calm expression, as if he had only come to admire the scenery.

Jian Wuji's gaze swept across the entire room, finally settling on Shen Mo. A half-smile played on his lips as he spoke in a clear voice, not loud, but carrying clearly throughout the room:

"Sect Leader Shen, how have you been? Your sect's release of news about the Myriad Laws Abyss has attracted heroes from the Southern Region of the Eastern Wilderness—truly a grand gesture. I wonder how Sect Leader Shen plans to distribute this 'Celestial Fortune'?"

These words, though seemingly polite, were actually quite venomous, directly placing the Qingyun Sect in the eye of the storm and implying that Shen Mo was the mastermind behind the turmoil.

Countless gazes instantly focused on Shen Mo. Shi Tie gripped the axe handle tightly, Jin Hao's eyes sharpened, while Su Xiao frowned slightly.

Shen Mo raised his eyes to look at Jian Wuji, his gaze calm and unwavering, as if he hadn't noticed the hidden meaning in Jian Wuji's words, and simply smiled faintly:

"Sect Master Sword is joking. The Abyss of Myriad Laws is a land without a master; its emergence is predetermined and cannot be arranged by human power. My disciples and I are merely following the will of Heaven to observe. Fate has brought this together; forcing it is futile. As for how to distribute the spoils..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the factions of the Blazing Sun Sect, the Profound Yin Sect, and others. "I'm afraid it's not up to my Qingyun Sect to decide."

"What a fine 'fate and destiny, nothing can be forced'!" From within the Xuan Yin Sect's camp, the Black Fiend Ancestor cackled wickedly. "Sect Leader Shen is certainly trying to wash his hands of it all! Who knew this wasn't a trap set by your Qingyun Sect? Trying to use this Myriad Laws Abyss to wipe us all out?"

Before Shen Mo could answer, Xuan Yang Shangren of the Lieyang Sect suddenly opened his eyes and said slowly, "Fellow Daoist Hei Sha is mistaken. Sect Leader Shen is upright and honorable; how could he possibly do such a despicable thing? However..."

He changed the subject and looked at Shen Mo, "Wan Fayuan has a deep connection with your sect's Ancestor Liuyun. If Sect Leader Shen knows anything about it, he might as well speak frankly to avoid causing trouble and unnecessary casualties."

He spoke with an air of compassion, yet like Jian Wuji, he put the Qingyun Sect in a very difficult position.

Faced with the barbed remarks from the two sect leaders and the blatant provocation from the Black Fiend Ancestor, Shen Mo remained composed. He lightly brushed his sleeves, as if to dust them off:

"Fellow Daoist Xuan Yang, you flatter me. The matter of our patriarch is ancient and mostly legend, so I, Shen, dare not speak presumptuously. As for the details..."

He shook his head slightly, "What I know may not be more than what you all know. The Abyss of Ten Thousand Laws is right before us. Whether it is a path to immortality or a calamity, a smooth road or a trap, we will only know after we go in and see for ourselves."

"If any of you have any doubts, my Qingyun Sect is willing to be the last to enter, as a sign of our sincerity."

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned. The last one to go in? Wouldn't that mean he wouldn't even get a sip of soup? Was this kid genuinely foolish, or was he using a feigned retreat as a tactic?

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