Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

Just then, Li Xiaocao came over with a bowl of hangover soup: "Sect Leader, Senior Sister Su, what are you doing hiding here? That brute Shi Tie has passed out drunk. I just made some soup, so I served you some too."

Shen Mo took the bowl; the steaming soup carried a medicinal aroma. He took a sip and smiled at Li Xiaocao: "Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Xiaocao, the Pill Hall has been working hard lately. You need to familiarize yourself with the medicinal properties of the newly acquired spiritual herbs as soon as possible and transform them into useful pills. Especially those that heal injuries, detoxify, and quickly restore spiritual energy—prepare more of those."

Although Li Xiaocao had drunk a bit too much, she immediately became serious when she heard about alchemy: "Sect Leader, don't worry! I've planned everything out! The combination of 'Moon Shadow Orchid' and 'Star Pattern Grass' might just produce an even better 'Spirit Restoration Pill'!"

"Okay." Shen Mo nodded, finished the soup in his bowl, and handed the empty bowl back to Li Xiaocao. "Go on, keep an eye on them, make sure they don't really drink anything that causes trouble."

Li Xiaocao agreed and left.

Shen Mo stood there for a while, watching the commotion in the square, then said to Su Xiao, "Go get something to eat too. Everyone's tired today. As for the Shadow Guards, do it the way we just discussed."

"Yes," Su Xiao replied, but did not leave immediately. Looking at Shen Mo's profile illuminated by the firelight, she couldn't help but ask, "Sect Leader, aren't you... worried?"

Shen Mo turned his head, glanced at her, and suddenly smiled. There was something complicated in that smile, like weariness, or like some deeper determination.

"What's the use of worrying?" he asked rhetorically, then looked up at the dark sky dotted with stars. "What's meant to happen will happen. All we can do before then is lay a stronger foundation and hone our skills."

He paused, his voice lowering, "Good fortune may be a harbinger of misfortune... I understood this principle many years ago. It's just that now, this good fortune is a bit too great, and this misfortune... I'm afraid it won't be small either."

Having said that, he said no more, turned around, and slowly walked towards the light and clamor. Su Xiao watched his back disappear into the firelight, and felt that beneath that green robe, he was carrying an increasingly heavy mountain.

The next morning, before dawn, the Liuyun Hall on the main peak of Qingyun Mountain was already full of people.

The air still carried the sweet aroma of last night's fruit wine, mixed with the fresh scent of morning dew, but none of the people sitting in the hall showed much of the languor of a hangover; instead, they all seemed quite tense.

In the center of the main hall, there was a mountain of objects: various minerals exuding spiritual energy, spiritual herbs still emitting rosy light in jade boxes, several incomplete but extraordinary ancient treasures, and a pile of jade slips recording cultivation techniques and secret arts.

These are all spoils of war brought out from Wanfayuan. They haven't been put into storage yet, but they're piled up here, like a piece of freshly cooked, oily, fatty meat, tempting people's eyes but also hot to the touch.

Shen Mo sat at the head of the table, ignoring the pile of things, holding a cup of tea and slowly blowing on it to warm it. To his left and right, several core elders, including Han Lin, Shi Tie, Su Xiao, Li Xiaocao, and Zhao Qingyan, sat on either side, with even Zhou Yi standing behind Zhao Qingyan as an observer.

"Ahem," Han Lin cleared his throat and spoke first, his old face wrinkled like a walnut, "Sect Leader, everyone, everything is here. Let's discuss the arrangements."

He paused, then added, "I've already increased manpower at the warehouse, and all three layers of restrictions have been activated."

Shi Tie was the first to lose his temper. He waved his large hand, fanning himself with a palm leaf fan, and pointed at the pile of things: "What's there to discuss? I think we should stick to the old rules! Whoever puts in the most effort gets the most, and whoever grabs the most gets it! The brothers of the Battle Hall risked their lives this time, so they deserve the lion's share!"

His voice was so loud that it seemed to make the roof beams vibrate.

Wang Ergou, who was standing behind him, couldn't help but puff out his chest, feeling proud as well.

"Nonsense!" Han Lin immediately objected, his mustache bristling. "Elder Shi! Times have changed! How many eyes are watching our Qingyun Sect now? You're openly dividing the spoils... the spoils of war, while the Lieyang Sect and Tianjian Sect are accusing the Qingyun Sect of 'bullying the weak and hoarding the secret realm's treasures'!"

"What if they all attack us then? Possessing a treasure is a crime!"

"Screw them!" Shi Tie glared. "I, Old Shi, am itching for a fight! If they dare come, my battle axe will finally get its fill!"

"Useless courage!" Han Lin slammed his fist on the armrest of his chair in anger. "How can a sect survive solely through fighting and killing?"

"Elder Han is right," Su Xiao said, his voice cool and clear, which lowered the temperature in the somewhat sweltering hall. "There are rumors circulating outside that our Qingyun Sect has received great benefits from the Myriad Laws Abyss. If we close our gates now and monopolize the resources, we will undoubtedly become the target of everyone's criticism."

She looked at Shen Mo and said, "Sect Leader, I think it would be better to offer some resources in exchange for benefits."

"A trade of interests?" Shi Tie frowned. "Using what we brothers risked our lives for to curry favor with those bastards?"

"It's not about currying favor." Su Xiao shook his head. "It's about stabilizing them and buying our sect precious time to develop in peace. We can use some of the ores, spiritual herbs, and even some unimportant cultivation technique copies to exchange for urgently needed resources from friendly forces like the Hundred Treasures Pavilion and the Profound Ice Pavilion, or... to get them to remain neutral, or even support us on certain issues."

"At the same time, it can ease tensions with the Blazing Sun Sect and the Heavenly Sword Sect, at least preventing them from finding an excuse to attack in the short term."

Li Xiaocao couldn't help but interject, her eyes sparkling: "Sect Leader, Senior Sister Su! I don't care about anything else, but that 'Seven-Colored Moon Shadow Orchid' and 'Star Pattern Ironwood' must be left for the Pill Hall and the Weapon Hall."

"Moonshadow Orchid is one of the auxiliary ingredients for refining the 'Infant Transformation Pill,' and Star Pattern Ironwood is the core material for making high-level talisman brushes. We ourselves are in very short supply!" She was afraid that the good things would be exchanged for other things.

Zhao Qingyan added softly, "The Array Hall also needs those few 'Void Stones' and 'Star Sand' to reinforce the mountain-protecting array and the entrance to the secret realm. The few incomplete arrays brought out by Wanfayuan also need to be studied as soon as possible."

For a time, the hall was abuzz with discussion. Shi Tie advocated for a direct confrontation, Han Lin worried about external threats and advocated for caution, Su Xiao suggested diplomatic mediation, while Li Xiaocao and Zhao Qingyan focused more on developing their own branch of the organization.

Shen Mo listened quietly until the noise subsided, then he put down his teacup and calmly swept his gaze over everyone.

"Have you finished speaking?" His voice was not loud, but it silenced everyone.

"Junior Brother Tie," he said, looking first at Shi Tie, "no one can deny your contributions to the Battle Hall. You will receive the full reward you deserve. But rewards are rewards, and resources are resources."

"What the Battle Hall needs are better elixirs, sharper weapons, and stronger armor. Can these be conjured up immediately by simply dividing ores and spiritual herbs?"

Shi Tie opened his mouth, but didn't say anything. He knew he couldn't.

Shen Mo then looked at Han Lin: "Elder Han's concerns are valid. Our sect is currently like oil on a raging fire, seemingly glorious, but in reality, we are fraught with danger at every turn. To take it all for ourselves is indeed a path to disaster."

Finally, his gaze fell on Su Xiao: "Junior Sister Xiao's 'exchange of benefits' is based on the right idea. But how to exchange it, and what to exchange it for, requires careful consideration."

He stood up, walked to the pile of resources, and casually picked up a piece of ore that shimmered with starlight, weighing it in his hand: "These things are good. But what is most precious to our Qingyun Sect?"

He paused, then answered his own question, "It's time, it's stability."

"Strength is fundamental. Without strength, you can't protect any resources, or even the sect's foundation." He looked at everyone and continued, "But improving strength takes time."

"We need time for our disciples to digest what they have gained from the secret realm, time for Xiaocao and Qingyan to research new pill formulas and new formations, and time for the disciples of the Battle Hall to consolidate their cultivation and practice new battle formations."

He put down the ore and clapped his hands: "Therefore, most of these resources must be used for our own development. Priority should be given to meeting the needs of the Pill Hall, Weapon Hall, and Array Hall, and they should be transformed into real combat power, defensive capabilities, and development potential as soon as possible. This is the foundation, and it cannot be touched."