Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

Qingyun Mountain is as bright as day tonight.

On the main peak square, dozens of long tables were piled high with roasted spirit beast meat, steaming spirit rice, and "Hundred Fruit Brew" that Li Xiaocao and his Dantang disciples were working hard to brew. The aroma of wine mixed with the aroma of meat wafted for miles.

A huge bonfire burned in the center of the square, crackling sparks shooting into the sky and making everyone's faces glow red.

"Drink! Drink it all! Nobody's leaving until they're all down!" Shi Tie, shirtless and revealing his bronze arms, stood on a stool, spitting as he roared, one hand holding a wine jar and the other a roasted animal leg.

He was surrounded by disciples of the Battle Hall, all with their arms around each other, their bowls clattering loudly.

"Elder Shi is mighty!"

"Our Qingyun Sect is now the most powerful sect in the Southern Region!" A drunken disciple gave a thumbs-up, almost poking the nose of the person next to him.

"That's right! Our sect leader has achieved the Golden Core stage and possesses the Myriad Laws Source Pearl! Let's see who dares to bare their teeth at us now!"

Wang Ergou, his face flushed and neck red from drinking, was bragging to a few newly initiated junior disciples: "You guys didn't see it! Back in Wanfayuan, Jian Wuji of the Tianjian Sect was all high and mighty, but what happened? He almost wet his pants after our sect leader glared at him."

"And that Source Pearl, it just flew into Senior Sister Su's hand in a flash! What do you call that? That's destiny!"

The new disciples listened with shining eyes, wishing they could have been there themselves.

The Dan Hall, Qi Hall, and Array Hall were relatively quieter, but the atmosphere was just as lively. Li Xiaocao was surrounded by a group of female disciples, explaining her experience in improving the "Concentration Pill" using the newly acquired "Star Pattern Grass".

A Yuan and Mu Qingqing sat quietly to the side, smiles on their lips, listening to Zhou Yi gesturing wildly as he explained the profound mystery of the "Starflow Sword Stele" in the secret realm.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, Shen Mo, seated at the head of the table, appeared rather quiet.

The food and wine on the table in front of him were barely touched; he only occasionally picked up his teacup to take a sip. His blue robe appeared somewhat thin in the firelight, and he wore a faint smile as he looked at the jubilant disciples below the stage, his gaze occasionally sweeping across the darkness at the edge of the square and across the deep night sky in the distance.

"Sect Leader, today is a joyous occasion, please relax." Han Lin approached with a wine cup, his old face flushed red, his beard stained with wine. "Our Qingyun Sect hasn't been this glorious in years!"

Shen Mo smiled, picked up his wine glass and clinked it with his: "Elder Han, you've worked hard. Thanks to you for managing the affairs inside and outside the sect."

"Of course, of course!" Han Lin downed his drink in one gulp, then lowered his voice, "Sect Leader, is something... on your mind?"

At this moment, Su Xiao walked over silently. She hadn't been drinking, and her face appeared somewhat cold in the firelight. She nodded to Han Lin first, then leaned down and whispered a few words in Shen Mo's ear.

Shen Mo paused, his smile fading slightly. He gently set down the glass and said to Han Lin, "Elder Han, please continue drinking. I need to speak with Su Xiao about something."

Han Lin, being an experienced and shrewd man, saw through the situation and quickly agreed, then chuckled and plunged back into the crowd to offer drinks.

Shen Mo stood up, gave Su Xiao a wink, and the two left the noisy square, walking to a quiet ancient pine tree not far away. The noise of the campfire was silenced, and a cool night breeze blew in.

"Are you sure?" Shen Mo asked calmly, looking at the faint lights of the Lieyang Sect's territory in the distance below the mountain.

"Hmm." Su Xiao nodded, speaking slowly but clearly, "The Shadow Guards reported that Xuan Yang Shangren of the Blazing Sun Sect secretly met with Jian Wuhen of the Heavenly Sword Sect two hours ago. The meeting place was very secluded, in an abandoned mine thirty miles west of Blackwater Marsh."

"I don't know the specifics of what was discussed, but Jian Wuhen looked very grim when he left."

"In addition, our spies around the Blazing Sun Sect have discovered that their airships transporting supplies have been 30% more frequent than usual recently, and the disciples escorting them are clearly more powerful."

"Where is Jian Wuji?" Shen Mo asked.

"He's still in seclusion; the Heavenly Sword Sect claims it's for healing. But Jian Wuying has been very active; he's met with the heads of several smaller sects these past few days."

Su Xiao paused, then added, "Also, the Black Fiend Ancestor of the Xuan Yin Sect sent a trusted aide to the Lie Yang Sect's headquarters yesterday, but he left in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

Shen Mo remained silent for a moment, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the rough pine bark. Faint white marks were left on the bark.

"Understood." His voice was flat. "Have the Shadow Guards keep an eye on things, especially the movement of supplies and personnel between the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Blazing Sun Sect. In particular... see if they've been secretly contacting people further north or west."

"North? West?" Su Xiao was slightly taken aback. "Is the sect leader worried about..."

"The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind." Shen Mo interrupted her, turning his head back to the reveling figures in the square. "We are now that tallest tree. These families in the Southern Region have suffered a loss, and although they dare not do anything openly, they will not accept it in their hearts. They may want to take advantage of some 'outside wind'."

Su Xiao's heart tightened: "I understand. We will send more people to conduct reconnaissance towards the border."

Su Xiao's heart tightened: "I understand. We will send more people to conduct reconnaissance towards the border."

Just then, an even louder commotion arose from the other side of the square. It turned out that Shi Tie had gotten drunk and insisted on arm wrestling with someone. In the end, he smashed an ironwood table to pieces with his strength, which drew laughter and cheers from the crowd.

Looking at the scene, Shen Mo sighed softly: "Hot oil and blazing fire, beautiful flowers and brocade... are good things, but they are also the easiest to burn or char.

Su Xiao followed his gaze and frowned slightly. She also noticed that some of the new disciples were starting to get carried away, speaking with disdain for other sects. This kind of atmosphere was indeed something to be wary of.

"Junior Sister Xiao," Shen Mo's voice pulled her back to reality, "tell me, what is the foundation upon which our Qingyun Sect stands?"

Su Xiao thought for a moment and replied cautiously, "It is thanks to your excellent leadership, Sect Leader, the lineage of Ancestor Liuyun, and... the unity of everyone."

"It's about strength," Shen Mo said calmly, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable power. "But it's also about being clear-headed. Knowing your own limitations, knowing how vast the world is, knowing that your reputation is not always commensurate with your abilities."

He raised his hand and pointed to the square: "It's good that you see them happy now. But what we need to see is what happens after they're happy. The Blazing Sun Sect and the Heavenly Sword Sect have a thousand-year history and a deeper foundation than ours."

"The setback at Wanfayuan will not break them; it will only make them hate more and want to find an opportunity to retaliate. The same goes for internally; when resources suddenly increase, rules tend to loosen and people's minds tend to become restless."

"Then... Sect Leader, what should we do?" Su Xiao asked.

Shen Mo turned to face Su Xiao, the firelight outlining his clear silhouette behind him: "Relax on the outside, tighten on the inside. Externally, maintain the proper pomp and circumstance, continue advancing the alliance's affairs, demonstrating our confidence and magnanimity. But internally..."

His gaze swept across the square, his voice deepening: "Starting tomorrow, the intensity of daily patrols in the Battle Hall will increase by 30%. In the Pill Hall and Weapon Hall, newly acquired resources must be converted into combat power as soon as possible, not left to lie dormant in the warehouse. In the Array Hall, the daily maintenance level of the mountain-protecting array will be raised to the highest level."

"Also, tell Han Lin that the detailed rules for sect contribution points that were set before should be strictly enforced. Tell all hall masters that if any of their disciples show signs of arrogance, domineering behavior, or laxity in cultivation, I will hold them accountable."

His tone was calm, but Su Xiao felt an invisible pressure. She knew that the sect leader was about to cool down the revelry and bring the disciples' morale back from superficial glory to solid cultivation and vigilance.

"Oh, right," Shen Mo said, as if remembering something, "Go to the Pill Hall tomorrow and have Xiao Cao prepare a batch of 'Heart-Clearing Pills,' make sure there's a generous quantity. Just say it's to celebrate the completion of the Golden Core stage, as a sect benefit, and that everyone will receive a few pills."

Su Xiao was taken aback at first, then understood. The Mind-Clearing Pill calmed the mind and cleared away distracting thoughts. The sect leader wanted the disciples to "cool down" after the revelry. She admired him and bowed, replying, "Yes, Sect Leader."