Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

That evening, Shen Mo quietly arrived near the herb garden.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the herb garden, giving the lush green herbs a warm golden hue.

Li Xiaocao was squatting in the ground, gently removing the yellow leaves from a shimmering grass, and whispering to the grass, "Little grass, little grass, grow quickly, so that you can help your senior brothers and sisters refine pills..."

Her expression was focused and serene, and she seemed to be surrounded by a harmonious aura that blended seamlessly with the medicinal garden.

Shen Mo keenly sensed that the faint spiritual energy within her body was slowly and steadily increasing, and its nature was exceptionally pure, full of vitality.

"It seems that entrusting the herb garden to her was the right decision," Shen Mo thought to himself. "This woman's talent in the field of spiritual plants probably far exceeds expectations. Perhaps, she will be an important guarantee for the sect's future elixir resources."

He left quietly without disturbing Li Xiaocao.

Li Xiaocao's success is like a pebble thrown into a pond; its ripple effect is gradually becoming apparent.

The most direct change was that the disciples' enthusiasm for the "Enlightenment Cave" soared to unprecedented heights.

Although Shen Mo stipulated that they could only go twice a month, the disciples were always as excited and looking forward to it as if it were a festival every time they were allowed to go to the Enlightenment Cave for meditation.

Although no one could immediately guide their qi like Li Xiaocao, almost all the disciples reported that sitting quietly in front of the cave did indeed make it easier to calm their minds, and the effect of practicing basic breathing techniques seemed to be slightly better.

This positive psychological suggestion and the small, practical benefits made the "Enlightenment Cave" increasingly secure and sacred in the hearts of the disciples.

Even someone as restless as Shi Tie can now sit quietly in front of the cave for half an hour.

Secondly, the disciples' self-discipline and diligence in cultivation have greatly improved. This is especially true for several disciples with strong wills, such as Lin Xiaofan and Zhao Qingyan.

Lin Xiaofan was practicing with almost his life on the line. After finishing his assigned work each day, he would go alone to a secluded spot in the back mountain and practice the most basic "Qi-Inducing Technique" taught by Shen Mo over and over again.

His aptitude was even worse than Li Xiaocao's, making it extremely difficult for him to draw in spiritual energy. He often became dizzy and pale from forcibly sensing spiritual energy. But he never complained, and the stubbornness and ruthlessness in his eyes grew stronger day by day.

Shen Mo once secretly observed that the boy had collapsed in the grass due to extreme exhaustion, still tightly clutching the rough wooden plaque that represented his identity as a disciple of the Qingyun Sect.

"This child's willpower is far beyond that of ordinary people. If he can overcome the Qi Induction stage, his future achievements may be limitless." Shen Mo thought to himself, and secretly instructed Su Xiao to take better care of Lin Xiaofan in his daily diet.

Zhao Qingyan displayed remarkable meticulousness and comprehension. Not only did she handle her assigned paperwork tasks meticulously, but she also proactively sought Su Xiao's guidance on various cultivation principles and herbal medicine illustrations during her spare time.

She seemed to have a natural talent for things that required patience and meticulousness. She learned and understood Professor Su Xiao's simple pharmacology and herbal processing methods very quickly, which surprised and delighted Su Xiao.

Even the unruly Sun Xiaohou, after witnessing Li Xiaocao's success and the "miraculous" nature of the Enlightenment Cave, became much more restrained and serious during his cultivation.

The entire Qingyun Sect is showing a vibrant and positive momentum.

However, behind this thriving scene, a subtle undercurrent began to quietly stir.

On this day, Su Xiao went down the mountain as usual to the market to purchase some daily necessities and low-grade medicinal herbs.

As she reached the entrance to the market, she keenly noticed that the way some of the independent cultivators and vendors looked at her seemed different than usual. There was less disdain, but more inquiry and... a strange undertone.

She had doubts in her heart, but she did not show them, and went straight to the familiar Baibaoge.

When Manager Chen of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion saw her, he still had that same smiling and amiable demeanor, but after exchanging pleasantries, he asked, seemingly casually:

"Miss Su, has your sect had any joyous occasion recently? I observe that your sect's atmosphere seems slightly different from usual."

Su Xiao's heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm on the surface and replied with a smile, "Manager Chen is too kind. My Qingyun Sect is a small sect, what good news could we possibly have? It's just that our disciples have been diligent and the sect has made some progress."

"Hehe, diligence is good, diligence is good." Manager Chen smiled and didn't ask any more questions, but Su Xiao caught the glint in his eyes.

After finishing her shopping and leaving the Treasure Pavilion, Su Xiao felt several subtle gazes watching her from the shadows. She quickened her pace, wanting to leave the market as soon as possible.

As she passed a stall selling low-level talismans, she vaguely overheard two rogue cultivators whispering nearby:

"Have you heard? That new farm girl recruited by the Qingyun Sect seems to have successfully achieved Qi Refining in just a few days!"

"Really? That Li Xiaocao with the pseudo-spiritual root? How could she be so fast!"

"Who knows... anyway, the rumors are quite detailed. They even say there's some kind of 'Enlightenment Cave' on the back mountain, a blessed land left by the patriarch, it's very mystical!"

"Enlightenment Cave? That's just hype, isn't it? But... this whole thing is a bit sinister! Could it be that the Qingyun Sect really has some hidden trump card we don't know about?"

Hearing these comments, Su Xiao was deeply shocked!

How could the news of Li Xiaocao's successful Qi cultivation have spread so quickly? Even the name "Enlightenment Cave" is known?!

This is definitely not a normal speed of information dissemination!

She immediately realized that the seemingly peaceful development of the Qingyun Sect had already attracted the attention of certain people outside! Someone was secretly gathering information about the Qingyun Sect!

A chill crept up Su Xiao's spine. She dared not linger, hastily leaving the market and hurrying back to Qingyun Mountain.

She had to report this news to her senior brother, the sect leader, immediately!

......

Life on Qingyun Mountain was quietly imbued with an indescribable brilliance because of the existence of the "Enlightenment Cave".

In their spare time from daily work, the disciples talked most about that secluded and tranquil cave.

"Hey, tell me, how exactly did Sister Xiaocao have her epiphany that day? I've been sitting here for ages, and all I feel is a bit cooler, nothing else!"

After dinner, Zhang Daniu ate his spirit grain rice while asking Shi Tie and Lin Xiaofan at the same table in a muffled voice.

He was strong and had an amazing appetite, but he really didn't know how to do things that required "quiet contemplation".

Shi Tie chewed on some pickled vegetables, a thoughtful expression on his dark face: "I'm thinking about it too. The sect leader said that one must be sincere and empty one's mind. I reckon it's because my mind is too cluttered, I'm just thinking about when I can cultivate qi like the little grass, and that's why I can't calm down."

He does have self-awareness.

Lin Xiaofan, who was eating quietly to the side, was curled up with her thin body. When she heard this, her chopsticks paused slightly, and she raised her eyes. A very faint light flashed in her overly clear eyes.

His voice was very soft, almost as if he were talking to himself: "I...I think...I have a little bit of a feeling."

"How does it feel?" Zhang Daniu and Shi Tie immediately perked up their ears, and even Sun Xiaohou from the next table curiously came over.

Lin Xiaofan pursed her pale lips, seemingly trying to organize her thoughts: "It's just... sitting there, with my eyes closed... at first, my mind was in turmoil, and all I could think about were... bad things."

A shadow crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by an eerie tranquility.

"But slowly... listening to the dripping water in the cave and the wind outside... all those chaotic thoughts in my mind seemed to... sink away. My body... didn't feel so bad anymore, and it seemed... I could feel that energy more clearly..."

The "qi" he refers to is naturally the faint spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Although he was far from being able to draw qi into his body, this experience of "easier entry into meditation and clearer perception" was an unprecedented and wonderful feeling for him, a boy with a weak body but an unusually sensitive and heavy mind.