Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

After seeing off Fairy Ling Shuang and Chen Hao, Shen Mo paced alone in the hall. Their visit made him even more aware of the storm that the "Star River Ruler" might unleash.

The enormous doubt in his own mind about "fabricating the truth" was like a sword hanging over his head, making him restless and unable to eat or sleep.

"Junior Sister Xiao," he called softly.

Su Xiao's figure emerged from the shadows like a ghost: "Sect Leader."

"Two things." Shen Mo turned his back to her, gazing at the deep night outside the hall. "First, increase manpower to keep a close watch on the camps of the Blazing Sun Sect and the Heavenly Sword Sect, especially their connections with the outside world, particularly with the Northern Desert, the Southern Wilderness, and... the Profound Yin Sect. Report any unusual activity immediately."

"Yes."

"Secondly," Shen Mo turned around, his gaze sharp as lightning, "use all available resources, at any cost, to collect all records, legends, fragments, and anecdotes about 'Star River True Lord,' 'Star River Ruler,' 'Heavenly Measuring Ruler,' and even ancient celestial phenomena, the Way of the Stars, and the secret arts of destiny in the Southern Region and surrounding areas."

"Find me even the most absurd and nonsensical clues. Especially... any clues that might be related to the ancient heritage of my Qingyun Sect."

A hint of surprise flashed in Su Xiao's eyes. The sect leader had never been so eager or so willing to go to such lengths to search for specific information, especially such seemingly ethereal ancient legends.

But she did not hesitate at all, bowing and saying, "Understood. I will do it immediately."

Su Xiao's figure disappeared into the shadows once more. Silence returned to the hall.

Shen Mo walked to the huge map of the Southern Region, his gaze falling on the location marked "Falling Star Valley", then slowly moving towards Flowing Cloud Mountain, and finally landing in the direction of the Scripture Pavilion.

There lies the accumulated knowledge of Qingyun Sect over a thousand years, as well as the "Travels of Ancestor Liuyun" that he personally placed there, and many more dusty piles of old papers that he may not have even noticed before.

He returned to the library once again. This time, it wasn't to consult cultivation manuals or to find a good strategy to defeat his enemies, but rather with an almost obsessive scrutiny, to reread those dusty, "useless" ancient books, notes, fragments, and even just a few words of casual writing and rubbings.

He tried to find a trace that could prove that his "fabricated" stories about Xinghe Daoren and Xinghe Ruler were not entirely baseless, but rather that he had subconsciously come into contact with some lost fragments of information.

However, the harvest was meager. The records of ancient times in those yellowed old papers were already vague, mostly consisting of strange tales and ambiguous legends.

Some mention "Star Lord" and some record "Heavenly Ruler", but they are all far from the specific details of "Star River True Lord" and "Star River Ruler".

As for the pattern of the "measuring ruler", he compared it repeatedly and confirmed that although it was somewhat similar to the star ruler he "made up", the details were very different and it did not have the characteristics of "seven stars arranged and the end of the ruler slightly curved".

The celestial legends that "the Big Dipper governs death and the Southern Dipper governs life" are ubiquitous and do not have any specific meaning.

Could it really be just an unbelievable coincidence? Or is there a force beyond his comprehension guiding him in the shadows, infusing his pen with long-forgotten truths through "inspiration"?

Shen Mo stood by the window on the top floor of the Sutra Pavilion, gazing at the surging sea of ​​clouds outside, his brows revealing a deep weariness and confusion for the first time.

This feeling is more disheartening than facing a powerful enemy or dealing with conspiracies and intrigues. The unknown is the deepest fear, especially when that unknown is directed at oneself.

"Sect Leader, Senior Sister Su Xiao requests an audience." The voice of the disciple on duty rang out from outside the door, breaking the silence.

"Let her in." Shen Mo composed himself, his face regaining its calm.

Su Xiao entered silently, still dressed in black, her aura cold and aloof. She presented an ancient jade box with both hands: "Sect Leader, the Shadow Guards discovered this at an abandoned Xuan Yin Sect stronghold on the edge of the 'Blackwater Marsh.' It was extremely well-hidden, with remnants of protective barriers, suggesting it was left behind during a hasty retreat, or perhaps… deliberately left behind."

Shen Mo took the jade box; it was icy cold to the touch, and a trace of sinister spiritual energy still lingered on it, confirming it was indeed the work of the Xuan Yin Sect. He waved his hand to remove the restriction and opened the jade box.

There was no jade slip inside, only a strange crystal the size of a thumb, as black as ink and shaped like an eyeball, and a piece of animal skin paper as thin as a cicada's wing that emitted a faint fishy smell.

Shen Mo first picked up the animal skin paper, on which a simple map was drawn with dark red, blood-like paint, marking several locations. One of them was "Fallen Star Valley," and next to it were the words "Star Source," "Great Array," and "Awakening" written in twisted runes.

Another location points to a desolate mountain range at the border of the Southern Region and the Northern Desert, marked with unsettling words such as "blood sacrifice" and "traction".

At the bottom of the signature is a distorted, eerie mark resembling three overlapping eyes—the symbol of the Xuan Yin Sect.

"Blood sacrifice? Guidance? Awakening?" Shen Mo frowned.

The Xuan Yin Sect is indeed operating in the shadows, and their target is Falling Star Valley! What do they intend to do with this blood sacrifice? What do they want to attract? What do they want to awaken?

Is it that "Star River Ruler", or... something even more terrifying in the ruins?

Setting down the animal skin, Shen Mo picked up the black crystal again. His divine sense probed it, and a cold, chaotic fragment of thought, filled with madness and distortion, surged towards him.

The fragments are filled with screams, wails, desperate prayers, and fragmented images: countless lives struggling in pools of blood, the blood flowing into streams and surging into a huge altar covered with strange runes...

At the center of the altar, something seemed to be offered, but the image was blurry, with only a chilling, greedy desire permeating the air.

Finally, a deep, hoarse voice, like that of a night owl, echoed repeatedly: "...The time is coming...The star source will be activated...The sacred artifact will return...Those who obstruct me...will all be reduced to blood and flesh..."

Shen Mo slowly withdrew his divine sense, his eyes filled with intense coldness.

The Xuan Yin Sect is indeed planning a large-scale blood sacrifice! The location is likely in the desolate mountains at the border of the Northern Desert and the Southern Region, and the goal is to "awaken" or "attract" something in Falling Star Valley—the "Star Source"?

Is it the Star River Ruler, or something else? Combining this with Su Xiao's previous report about the possible secret contact between the Xuan Yin Sect's Ghost Hand and the Lie Yang Sect and the Tian Jian Sect, a vague yet terrifying outline of a conspiracy gradually took shape in his mind.

The Xuan Yin Sect intends to perform a blood sacrifice to awaken or seize the Star River Ruler (or the core of its relics).

The Lieyang Sect and the Tianjian Sect, whether out of self-interest or resentment towards the Qingyun Alliance, may secretly condone or even assist, or at least remain neutral.

They themselves, and the Qingyun Alliance, were the biggest obstacles in their plan and had to be eliminated.

"What a clever scheme—using one enemy to devour another, reaping the benefits without lifting a finger." Shen Mo chuckled coldly, placing the crystal and animal hide into the jade box and carefully putting it away. "Junior Sister Xiao, who else knows about this?"

"Only this disciple. The Shadow Guard 'Gui Qi,' who discovered this item, has sworn a soul oath and has been temporarily transferred to 'Yunmengze' to lie low and avoid being noticed," Su Xiao replied.

"Well done." Shen Mo nodded. "Keep a close eye on the Xuan Yin Sect, especially the movements of Ghost Hand and that 'Poison Scholar.' Send more people to that desolate mountain area on the northern border and set up hidden sentries, but don't alert them."

"Furthermore, any contact between the Blazing Sun Sect, the Heavenly Sword Sect, and the Profound Yin Sect must be thoroughly investigated."

"Yes." Su Xiao replied, then hesitated for a moment before adding, "Sect Leader, the Xuan Yin Sect acts in a secretive and cruel manner. Their scheme this time is far-reaching. Should we inform the other factions in the alliance in advance so they can prepare accordingly?"