Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

Explore the fantasy novel genre; there's bound to be one that suits you.

On the surface, everything seemed normal. Sect missions were being issued as usual, disciples continued their cultivation, and markets were bustling with activity. But behind the scenes, top-level secret orders were being transmitted through the most clandestine channels to key figures in each hall and department.

Resources began to be directed and concentrated in several key areas under various pretexts. The maintenance and inspection frequency of the mountain-protecting formation, the "Flowing Clouds Covering the Sky Formation," quietly increased.

The tentacles of the Shadow Guards, like a spider web, spread and infiltrated silently from Qingyun Mountain towards the Southern Region and even further afield.

Three days later, late at night, deep within the forbidden "Ancestor Cave" on the back mountain of Liuyun Peak, a top-secret meeting was held with only six participants: Shen Mo, Han Lin, Shi Tie, Zhao Qingyan, Su Xiao, and Li Xiaocao.

The cave's internal restrictions were fully lifted, isolating it from the outside world. On the central stone platform, the jade box, sealed with numerous talismans, sat quietly.

Even through the jade box and the seal, an indescribable, faint Daoist aura, mixed with vicissitudes, tragedy, and vastness, yet also calming and soothing, still permeated the air.

Shen Mo personally broke the seal and opened the jade box. Qing Yunzi's crystal-clear, jade-like remains, now reduced to ashes (which Shen Mo had stabilized using a secret technique), and the pile of dull, cracked fragments of the "Measuring Ruler" were presented before everyone's eyes.

There were no earth-shattering phenomena, only a profound stillness that seemed to cleanse the soul.

This was the first time Han Lin had ever seen an elderly man with white hair trembling violently, tears streaming down his face, respectfully performing the three kneelings and nine kowtows before the remains, and lingering there for a long time.

Shi Tie, Zhao Qingyan, and the others also had red eyes and bowed solemnly once again. Even the aloof Su Xiao had tears welling up in her eyes.

"Heaven has eyes... Heaven has eyes!" Han Lin's voice choked with emotion as he stroked the edge of the jade box, as if caressing a long-lost relative. "Our Qingyun Sect... actually had such a sage! Sacrificing himself to uphold the Way and protect all living beings... Such achievements, such integrity, should be a model for all ages!"

"Our sect leader's act of bringing back the ancestral remains is an unparalleled achievement! The legitimacy of our Qingyun Sect is now irrefutable! Let's see who dares to question the shallowness of our sect's foundation!"

Shen Mo helped Han Lin up and said in a deep voice, "Elder Han, we, the descendants, should inherit the legacy of our ancestors and carry on their legacy to glorify the Dao, so as not to fail their sacrifice. Right now, we need to let our ancestors' souls return to their hometown and be worshipped by our disciples. We also need to take this opportunity to rectify the situation and unite people's hearts."

"Sect Leader is absolutely right!" Han Lin wiped away his tears, his eyes regaining their firmness and sharpness. "I will do my utmost to ensure the success of this sacrificial ceremony! I will ensure our ancestors return to their ancestral home in glory, and that the prestige of our Qingyun Sect will rise to even greater heights!"

Over the next few days, the entire Qingyun Sect leadership worked efficiently and discreetly around the matter of "welcoming back the ancestral master's remains and holding a grand sacrificial ceremony."

The scale of the sacrifice was set at the highest level—equivalent to that of the founding patriarch! The location was chosen deep in the forbidden area behind Liuyun Peak, a secluded valley with beautiful scenery and where patriarchs of all generations had secluded themselves for cultivation. It was named "Qingyun Valley," and construction of the "Qingyun Hall" was started immediately as a permanent place of worship.

The sacrificial process, rituals, sacrificial texts, ritual implements, music and dance... every detail was personally overseen by Han Lin, who meticulously drafted the rituals by referring to the oldest and most solemn sacrificial rites in ancient books and combining them with the characteristics of the Qingyun Sect.

The necessary supplies were procured by Chen Hao of Baibaoge at all costs.

The news spread like wildfire, quickly reaching within the Qingyun Sect and even among the upper echelons of the Qingyun Alliance.

Although the specific details are still kept secret, the news that "the sect leader has ventured deep into the forbidden lands to retrieve the remains and legacy of the ancestral master who perished in ancient times to protect the common people, and a grand ceremony will be held soon to welcome the ancestral master back to the sect" is enough to make all the disciples excited and proud!

"Have you heard? This time, the sect leader and the others went to a forbidden place called 'Guixu'! Goodness, I heard that even Nascent Soul True Monarchs have a nine-out-of-ten chance of dying there!"

"More than that! I've heard that the patriarch, whose Daoist name was 'Qingyunzi,' possessed profound cultivation. In ancient times, in order to suppress some great calamity, he ventured alone into a perilous place, ultimately succumbing to exhaustion and passing away peacefully. His remains have remained incorrupt for countless ages, and his Daoist essence still lingers. The sect leader found them through an immense stroke of luck!"

"Qingyunzi? That name... I feel like I've heard it somewhere before? Oh! I remember now! The opening of the book 'The Travels of the Flowing Cloud Ancestor' on the top floor of the Scripture Pavilion mentions that when the founder of the sect was traveling around, he received guidance from the senior 'Qingyunzi'! So that's where the origin is! This senior Qingyunzi is probably one of the sources of our Flowing Cloud lineage!"

"Indeed! No wonder our sect leader has been able to lead our Qingyun Sect to prosperity; it turns out we are blessed by the legacy of an ancient great master! With the return of our ancestral remains and the subsequent sacrifices to Heaven, the fortunes of our Qingyun Sect will surely flourish even more!"

"Exactly! I heard that on the day of the sacrificial ceremony, all inner disciples and above can attend! They can even receive the baptism of the ancestral master's Daoist aura! I need to get myself into peak condition quickly!"

Rumors abounded, and speculations abounded, but without exception, they all expressed boundless reverence for the "Qingyunzi" patriarch, sincere admiration for the sect leader Shen Mo, and immense confidence and pride in the future of the sect.

Rumors abounded, and speculations abounded, but without exception, they all expressed boundless reverence for the "Qingyunzi" patriarch, sincere admiration for the sect leader Shen Mo, and immense confidence and pride in the future of the sect.

An unprecedented sense of cohesion and unity quietly emerged and spread within the sect. Many disciples who were stuck at a bottleneck felt a connection upon hearing this, their bottlenecks loosened, and they broke through one after another.

The entire sect presented a vibrant and ever-changing scene.

Shen Mo observed all of this with a cold eye, his heart unmoved. The manipulation of public opinion was part of the plan. This was exactly the effect he wanted.

By properly "packaging" and "elevating" Qingyunzi's deeds, shaping them into the spiritual totem and source of the Qingyun Sect's tradition, we can not only place his remains and comfort his spirit, but also greatly boost morale and unite people's hearts. We can also silence some outside gossip about the Qingyun Sect being "nouveau riche" and "shallow in foundation," achieving multiple benefits in one fell swoop.

Of course, the real core secrets, such as the fact that Qingyunzi guards the "Reincarnation Palace", the opponent is the "Extraterrestrial Demon", and the root of the disaster lies in the "Eye of Return to the Void", are still strictly sealed in the smallest circle.

In public statements, it was only mentioned briefly, saying that "to protect the common people, he guarded a certain ancient forbidden land and fought to the death."

Half a month later, on an auspicious day.

Qingyun Mountain, behind Liuyun Peak, is the newly built "Qingyun Valley".

This place was originally a blessed land where spiritual energy converged, a place of tranquility and peace. After half a month of intensive construction, it has undergone a complete transformation.

At the entrance of the valley stands a ten-zhang-high archway carved from a single piece of "Soul-Suppressing Jade," inscribed with three ancient seal characters: "Qingyun Valley." The calligraphy is vigorous and powerful, exuding a Daoist charm, and was personally written by Shen Mo.

A wide and flat "pilgrimage path" paved with white jade leads straight from the entrance of the valley into the depths, with ancient pines and cypresses planted on both sides, creating a spiritual atmosphere.

In the center of the valley, a majestic and solemn hall with an ancient and dignified style rises from the ground, which is the "Qingyun Hall".

The palace is built with "ten-thousand-year-old ironwood" for beams, "green granite" for foundations, and "glazed jade" for tiles. Although it is not as grand as the Liuyun Palace on the main peak, it has its own sense of vicissitude and weight that has been accumulated over the years.

The plaza in front of the hall is spacious and decorated with a yin-yang fish pattern made of black and white jade. A nine-foot-high platform is set up in the center as the main altar for sacrifices.