Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

Shen Mo seemed oblivious to the probing in his words and went along with it, saying, "That's right. This tea was casually made by Junior Sister Xiaocao and isn't particularly precious. If Fellow Daoist Wuji needs any, I'll have my disciple send some over later. When you're in seclusion and trying to break through to a higher realm, a calm mind is especially important."

His tone was sincere, as if he genuinely cared.

Jian Wuying carefully observed Shen Mo's expression, trying to find a trace of mockery or schadenfreude, but only saw a calm sincerity, which made him even more uneasy.

He chuckled dryly, "Sect Leader Shen is too kind. My brother is simply practicing meditation to consolidate his cultivation; there's nothing wrong with him. Speaking of which, Sect Leader Shen, you've just achieved the Golden Core stage, and your aura is truly magnificent, making us all feel ashamed."

"I wonder what kind of Golden Core Sect Leader Shen has formed? It must be extraordinary to be able to trigger such a celestial phenomenon."

He finally revealed his true intentions and asked the most crucial question, attempting to uncover Shen Mo's true strength and capabilities.

The candlelight flickered softly in the hall, casting shifting shadows on Shen Mo's face. He set down his teacup and calmly looked at Jian Wuying. His gaze wasn't sharp, but it was as deep as an ancient well, making Jian Wuying feel as if all his thoughts had been laid bare.

"The path to the Golden Elixir is profound and mysterious; it is nothing more than the unity of the three treasures—essence, energy, and spirit—and the preservation of oneness." Shen Mo's voice was unhurried. "The quality of one's cultivation is merely an outward appearance. A steadfast Dao heart is the foundation."

"Just like Fellow Daoist Wuji, with your clear sword mind and profound foundation, this period of quiet cultivation must be to eliminate distracting thoughts, realize your true nature, and strive to reach a higher level in the way of the sword, right?"

Instead of answering the question about the quality of his Golden Core, he steered the conversation back to Jian Wuji, using phrases like "eliminating distracting thoughts" and "enlightening the mind and seeing one's true nature," which almost pointed out the fact that Jian Wuji's Dao heart had been damaged!

Jian Wuying's pupils contracted sharply, and his hand holding the teacup tightened suddenly, his knuckles turning white instantly. He suppressed his shock and forced a smile, saying, "Sect Leader Shen is right, the Dao heart is indeed fundamental... My brother is indeed diligently comprehending the sword."

Shen Mo seemed oblivious to his momentary loss of composure, continuing calmly, "The way of the sword is based on sincerity; sincerity brings enlightenment. Sometimes, being overly fixated on sharpness can easily lead to stagnation. One must know that excessive rigidity leads to breakage, and the balance of power is not eternal. What does Elder Wuying think?"

These words were pointed, commenting on swordsmanship while also alluding to the power dynamics in the Southern Region, implying that the Heavenly Sword Sect had been too powerful in the past and now needed to recognize the current situation.

Sword Shadow's back was instantly soaked with cold sweat. Shen Mo's words, seemingly casual, were like swords, each one hitting the nail on the head!

He not only knew his brother's situation inside and out, but also had a clear understanding of the predicament of the Heavenly Sword Sect!

This unfathomable sense of control is more unsettling than direct military intimidation.

He could no longer remain seated. He abruptly stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Sect Leader Shen's words are invaluable; I, Wuying, have learned much! It is late, and it is inconvenient to disturb the Sect Leader's cultivation any longer. Farewell!"

"Elder Wuying, please take care." Shen Mo did not stand up, but simply nodded slightly. "Please give my regards to Fellow Daoist Wuji. If he has any questions about swordsmanship, he is welcome to come to Liuyun Palace to discuss the Dao with me over tea."

Jian Wuying practically fled from Liuyun Palace. Only after walking a long way and being blown by the mountain wind did he feel the invisible pressure dissipate slightly, but the chill in his heart only intensified.

Inside the hall, Shen Mo sat alone, his fingertips lightly tracing the rim of his teacup. The lamplight on the table flickered, illuminating his deep eyes.

"Master, that guy's acting suspiciously, he's up to no good, isn't he?" Shi Tie's rough voice came from the shadows outside the hall. He was holding an axe, reading novels like Cola, and watching the updates with a sense of exhilaration. He stood guard there like a door god.

Shen Mo smiled and said, "Just testing the waters. Looks like someone's having trouble sleeping."

"Should I take a few brothers to 'take a stroll' at the Heavenly Sword Sect's headquarters? To give them a heads-up?" Shi Tie was eager to try.

"No need." Shen Mo shook his head. "A bird startled by the mere twang of a bow will panic on its own. Junior Brother Tie, go and rest. Starting tomorrow, the patrol area of ​​the Battle Hall will be extended outward by thirty miles."

"Understood!" Although Shi Tie didn't quite understand what "a bird startled by the twang of a bow" meant, he knew that the sect leader must have a reason for ordering him to patrol. He readily agreed, picked up his axe, and left.

......

The bustling atmosphere at Qingyun Mountain Gate was like a summer afternoon thunderstorm—it came on strong and went away quickly.

As the Dharma assembly ended, the forces from all sides gradually dispersed, and most of the vendors in Blackstone Town at the foot of the mountain also left, leaving only a few local residents. The streets suddenly became much emptier. But on the mountain, it was a completely different scene.

The newly initiated disciples, like a school of fish during the spring flood, numbered in the hundreds. The Qi Refining Hall, the Dharma Lecture Hall, and even the miscellaneous service area on the back mountain were more than twice as noisy as usual.

These newcomers came from all walks of life: some were children from nearby villages whose spiritual roots had been discovered, some were rogue cultivators who came to join the Qingyun Sect because of its reputation, and some were disciples brought in by smaller sects that had merged into the sect. Their cultivation levels varied, and their character was even more uneven.

With more people comes more trouble. After only a few days of calm, a restless atmosphere, like moss after the rain, has quietly grown and spread within the mountain gate.

At midday, under the blazing sun, Wang Ergou was boasting to a few newly initiated junior disciples, his spittle flying everywhere, under the shade of a tree at the edge of the training ground. He was now a "veteran" of the Battle Hall, having reached the seventh level of Qi Refining, and had also gone to the Myriad Laws Abyss with Shi Tie, so he felt he had extraordinary knowledge.

"...Back then, Jian Wuji's face turned green! Our sect leader just glanced at him indifferently, and good heavens, that old codger didn't dare utter a single word!"

Getting carried away, Wang Ergou slapped a skinny, dark-skinned boy on the back of the head. "Little Bean, did you hear that? From now on, stand up straight when you're out here! We're from the Qingyun Sect; we don't cause trouble, but we're not afraid of trouble either!"

The boy named Xiaodouzi shrank his neck and smiled sheepishly. He came from a farming family at the foot of the mountain, had average spiritual talent, and was a bit dull. He had entered the sect with a distant uncle from the village.

A haughty young man in a silk robe sneered. His name was Zhao Ming, a disciple of a small cultivation family in the vicinity. He was at the fifth level of Qi Refining and was considered one of the best among the freshmen.

"Senior Brother Wang, aren't you exaggerating a bit? What kind of person is the Heavenly Sword Sect Master? Could he be intimidated by a single glance? I think it's just that our Sect Leader was lucky, it was a coincidence..."

"Bullshit!" Wang Ergou couldn't stand such words. He glared at Zhao Ming, "What do you mean? You're saying the sect leader's success depends on luck?"

Zhao Ming curled his lip: "I didn't say that. However, now that our Qingyun Sect has risen to prominence, we can't be arrogant, can we? My father said the cultivation world is a deep and treacherous place, and we should keep a low profile..."

"Keep a low profile my ass!" Wang Ergou snapped, "You little brat, you deserve a beating! You're on your own turf, and you're already trying to act all high and mighty? I think you've got too big for your britches and forgotten who you are!"

Zhao Ming was also enraged. He was pampered at home and couldn't stand this: "Wang Ergou! Stop putting on airs like a senior! So what if you joined the sect a few years earlier? Let's see who's truly capable!"

"Hey! You've gone too far!" Wang Ergou rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight.

Seeing that the two were about to fight, Xiaodouzi turned pale with fright. Several disciples nearby quickly tried to break up the fight, and the scene became chaotic.