Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

"Very good." Shen Mo's eyes showed approval; the preparations were more thorough than he had anticipated. He then looked at Shi Tie: "Junior Brother Tie, can the Battle Hall select disciples who are courageous, quick-witted, and proficient in naval warfare and escape techniques?"

Shi Tie patted his chest, his voice booming, "Sect Leader, rest assured! There are no cowards among the warriors of Zhan Tang! Those skilled in swimming, adept at escape techniques, and with unwavering resolve—I, Old Shi, have already screened them all. I can pull out twenty late-stage Foundation Establishment experts at any time! Each one can take on ten!"

Shen Mo shook his head: "No need for twenty people. This trip values ​​quality over quantity. I have already made a decision about the personnel."

He slowly swept his gaze over the crowd and said in a deep voice, "I will personally lead the team. Su Xiao will accompany me, responsible for reconnaissance, early warning, and concealment. Shi Tie will accompany me, responsible for assault and protection. Zhao Qingyan will accompany me, responsible for array formations, breaking restrictions, and dealing with spatial anomalies. Li Xiaocao will accompany me, responsible for supplying medicine and treating the wounded."

The four men reacted differently upon hearing this. Su Xiao nodded slightly, a hint of understanding flashing in her clear, cold eyes. Shi Tie grinned widely, rubbing his hands together excitedly.

Zhao Qingyan's beautiful eyes still held worry, but now held a greater determination. Li Xiaocao's face paled, clearly filled with fear of the desolate sea, but when she met Shen Mo's gaze, she nodded vigorously.

"Elder Han," Shen Mo looked at Han Lin, who seemed hesitant to speak, "you will stay at the mountain gate and oversee the overall situation. To the outside world, announce that I am in seclusion to study and break through my bottleneck. All matters concerning the alliance will be discussed and decided by you and the hall masters."

"If attacked by external enemies or if internal changes occur, the 'Flowing Clouds Covering the Sky Formation' can be activated to hold the line and await reinforcements. If necessary... a 'backup plan' can be used."

Han Lin's body trembled, and he naturally understood what Shen Mo meant by "backup plan." It was the true foundation of the Qingyun Sect, and it could not be used lightly unless there was a life-or-death situation.

He knew Shen Mo's mind was made up, and further persuasion was useless. He could only bow deeply, his aged voice heavy with resolve: "Sect Leader, rest assured, as long as I am here, the sect will stand! We will certainly not fail your trust!"

Shen Mo helped Han Lin up, patted the back of his hand, and everything was understood without words.

"This journey is perilous, and our return is uncertain." Shen Mo looked at the four people who were about to accompany him, his voice solemn. "You must swear a soul oath that whatever you see or hear on this journey concerns the sect's top secrets and you must not divulge even a single word. Even if you die and your soul is scattered, you must not utter a single word."

"We obey the sect leader's command!" The four bowed in unison, their expressions solemn. Then, each forced out a drop of soul blood, swore a great oath to their inner demons, and their soul light entered the soul-sealing jade talisman that Shen Mo had prepared beforehand. Once this oath was made, if it was broken, the inner demons would backfire, and their souls would be scattered.

"You have three days to handle your current affairs and make preparations. Any necessary pills, talismans, array plates, and magical artifacts can be obtained from the treasury with my warrant, and will be distributed with priority. Gather at the secret hall of the mountain gate at Chenshi (7-9 AM) three days later, and we will depart."

"yes!"

The others obeyed and left, and the secret chamber returned to silence, leaving only Shen Mo. He sat back down at the table, his gaze falling once more on the beast bone map, his fingertips lightly tracing the cold engravings of the two characters "Gui Xu".

"Guixu... what exactly are you hiding? Is it the final resting place of Ancestor Qingyunzi? Is it the truth about the origin of Qingyun Sect? Or... a trap that has been waiting for eternity?" He murmured to himself, his eyes as deep as an abyss. "Whatever it is, I have come."

Three days later, in the darkest hour before dawn.

Deep within Qingyun Mountain, beneath an inconspicuous side hall, the light from the secret teleportation array slowly faded. The figures of Shen Mo, Su Xiao, Shi Tie, Zhao Qingyan, and Li Xiaocao vanished silently.

At almost the same time, several inconspicuous cargo ships bearing the flags of different chambers of commerce quietly set sail from several different ports along the southern coast, heading towards the vast open sea.

Their destinations varied; some went to trade on the islands of the East Sea, some went to transport supplies to the edge of the Northern Desert, and some even claimed they would risk crossing the Cape of Storms to reach the Western Wilderness.

The sailors on the ship were all highly skilled and capable men. They appeared ordinary, but in reality, they had sharp eyes and a composed demeanor.

One of the medium-sized cargo ships, named "Black Sturgeon," quietly changed course hundreds of miles from the port. Instead of heading towards any known route, it turned around and headed towards the dark sea to the west, a place marked as the "Dead Sea," a place filled with the unknown and taboo of death.

At the bow of the ship, Shen Mo, dressed in a blue robe, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the world ahead, which was gradually shrouded in gray fog and where the sea and sky merged into a dark expanse. His robes fluttered in the sea breeze.

Su Xiao stood three steps behind him like a shadow, his aura perfectly blending into the shadows. Shi Tie, clutching his massive axe that resembled a door panel, sat on the gunwale, squinting as he surveyed his surroundings like a wary beast.

In the cabin, Zhao Qingyan carefully examined the array plates and flags she carried with her.

Li Xiaocao hid in her cabin, taking one last look at the countless bottles and jars that were categorized and labeled.

The "Black Sturgeon" has undergone special modifications, with its hull engraved with reinforcement and concealment arrays. It is not fast, but it is exceptionally stable.

The captain was an old monk with a weathered face, one eye, and a limp. His nickname was "Old Sea Dog." He was an outpost recruited by the Shadow Guard and had spent his life risking his life at sea. He knew the outer perimeter of the Dead Sea like the back of his hand.

At this moment, he stood in front of the helm, his only remaining eye fixed on the sea ahead, muttering curses under his breath at the unpredictable ocean currents and the increasingly thick gray fog.

At this moment, he stood in front of the helm, his only remaining eye fixed on the sea ahead, muttering curses under his breath at the unpredictable ocean currents and the increasingly thick gray fog.

"This damned place, every time I come here I lose ten years of my lifespan..." the old sea dog muttered, but skillfully maneuvered the rudder, avoiding a seemingly calm but actually turbulent sea area.

The gray fog grew thicker and thicker, like solid cotton wool, enveloping the ship. The light dimmed rapidly, as if day had instantly turned into dusk.

The color of the seawater gradually changed from a deep blue to an unsettling, almost inky gray, eerily calm and without a ripple.

A faint, salty smell, like rotting seaweed mixed with rust, filled the air. Inhaling it brought a slight stinging and chill to the lungs.

When one extends their divine sense, it is as if sinking into a quagmire. Beyond fifty feet, it becomes blurry and indistinct, and beyond that, it is nothing but chaos.

"We've entered the fog zone. Everyone, be alert! This fog is malevolent; staying here too long will easily lead to all sorts of strange thoughts! Put up your calming talismans!" The old sea dog's hoarse voice echoed on the deck.

Everyone was already prepared, each activating their protective spiritual light. Zhao Qingyan had even set up a small "Mind-Clearing and Spirit-Tranquilizing Array" at a key point in the cabin. The faint spiritual light flowed, dispelling the pervasive gray fog and the bewitching power.

Shen Mo closed his eyes and concentrated. The Myriad Laws Source Pearl in his sea of ​​consciousness slowly rotated, and the clear light it emitted tried its best to resist the suppression and erosion of his divine consciousness by the gray mist.

He could sense that the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in this sea area was extremely thin and mixed with a kind of frenzied and chaotic quality, making it extremely difficult to absorb and refine.

The spatial structure is also extremely fragile. In my divine sense, there are occasional tiny "ripples" that flash by like cracks in porcelain. These are extremely unstable spatial folds that could develop into fatal cracks at any time.

"Thirty feet to port, something is approaching underwater, moving very fast, and with a heavy yin aura." Su Xiao's cold voice suddenly rang in Shen Mo's ear, using telepathic communication.