Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

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At this moment, the earthen-yellow flying car landed with a thud, raising a cloud of dust. The car door opened, and a young man with slicked-back hair and a splendid appearance, who looked more like a worldly playboy, jumped out first, followed by more than a dozen monks dressed in different clothes, but all with the Qingmu Temple emblem embroidered on their chests.

The young man's cultivation was only at the early stage of the Golden Core realm. His aura was weak and his eyes were shifty. As soon as he got out of the car, he looked around and muttered, "What a lousy place this is! Not only is the spiritual energy thin, but it also has a strange smell... My father is such a jerk, making me come to this godforsaken place..."

It was Songtao, the son of Songfeng, the abbot of Qingmu Temple.

Behind him, a slightly older, more composed-looking cultivator who appeared to be in charge, quickly stepped forward, bowed deeply to Shen Mo and the others, and said with a fawning smile:

"I am Zhou Tong, a steward of Qingmu Temple. I have been ordered by the abbot to escort Young Master Songtao and fifteen disciples skilled in surveying terrain and setting up formations to await the command of Alliance Leader Shen. Young Master is young and this is his first time traveling. If there is any impoliteness, I hope Alliance Leader Shen and fellow Daoists will forgive him."

That's a well-chosen way of putting it. It attributes Song Tao's loss of composure to his "first time going out since he was young," thus saving face while also clarifying our position—we're here to help, but the main force consists of this young master and his disciples who are "skilled at surveying terrain and setting up formations." As for their combat capabilities, don't expect too much.

Fairy Ling Shuang frowned almost imperceptibly, glanced coldly at Song Tao, and remained silent. True Man Qing Song also shook his head helplessly.

Shi Tie scoffed without any attempt to hide his disdain, his large, copper-bell-shaped eyes filled with contempt.

Shen Mo's expression remained unchanged; he simply nodded to Deacon Zhou Tong: "Deacon Zhou, you've worked hard. Now that Fellow Daoist Song Tao is here, please assist in surveying the terrain and providing early warning from the rear. Specific actions will be arranged accordingly."

"Yes, yes, yes, I'll do as Alliance Leader Shen commands!" Zhou Tong quickly agreed, then tugged at Song Tao, who was about to say something.

Song Tao pursed his lips and ultimately remained silent. His gaze darted furtively over Fairy Ling Shuang and Leng Yue, then lingered on the female cultivators in the Qingyun Sect's battle hall, causing many to show their disgust.

Thus, the forces from all four sides—Qingyun Sect Battle Hall, Shadow Guard (partial), Xuanbing Pavilion, Baicao Sect, and Qingmu Temple—totaling thirteen Golden Core cultivators (Six from Qingyun Sect including Shen Mo, Su Xiao, Shi Tie, and Wang Hu; two from Ling Shuang and Leng Yue; Qing Song and Song Tao; plus three Golden Core assassins from Qingyun Sect Shadow Guard who did not make a public appearance), and over two hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, completed their assembly at the foot of Broken Soul Ridge.

In the center of the valley, a clearing was temporarily created, and a protective array of light was erected to block spying and interference.

Shen Mo, Fairy Ling Shuang, Elder Leng Yue, True Man Qing Song, Shi Tie, and Zhou Tong (who was acting as their representative, while Song Tao was ordered to stay on the periphery) sat together. The atmosphere was somewhat heavy, and each person had a different expression.

"Gentlemen," Shen Mo spoke first, breaking the silence, "Time is of the essence, the blood sacrifice is imminent. Let's skip the formalities. Su Xiao."

As he finished speaking, Su Xiaoqing's aloof figure quietly emerged from the shadows at the edge of the array's light barrier, like ink spreading across water. Holding a jade slip and a piece of animal hide with a simple map carved on it, she walked into the center of the group.

"This is a summary of the Shadow Guard's reconnaissance of Burial Valley and the surrounding 300-mile area up to one hour ago." Su Xiao's voice was cold and calm, without the slightest emotion. He handed the jade slip to Shen Mo and unfolded the animal hide map at the same time.

The map is centered on Burial Valley and is marked in great detail. Burial Valley is located in a huge basin deep in the desolate mountains of the Northern Desert. It is surrounded by mountains on all sides and has a treacherous terrain. There are only a few narrow valley paths that can be entered.

Inside the valley, numerous red markers and runes were displayed.

"Outside the Valley of Burial Souls, there are a total of 27 sentry posts, both visible and hidden, mostly covered by small illusion arrays and poison barriers. The patrol frequency is once every half hour, with five people in each team, whose cultivation levels range from the mid to late Foundation Establishment stage."

Su Xiao traced the edge of the map with her slender fingers. "There are three defensive formations at the valley entrance, with increasing strength. The outermost layer is the 'Bewitching Miasma,' the middle layer is the 'Bone-Corroding Poison Fire Formation,' and the innermost layer is suspected to be the 'Nine Nether Yin Fiend Formation,' the grade of which is unknown, but the energy fluctuations are strong."

"In the core area of ​​the valley," she pointed to a specially highlighted red area in the center of the map, "there is a huge altar under construction. The altar is made primarily of 'Nine Nether Cold Iron' and 'Blood Soul Crystal,' and its size... exceeds one hundred zhang in diameter."

"Nine huge 'blood pools' have been excavated around the altar. They are now more than half full, filled with bloody energy and resentment that lingers. Preliminary estimates suggest that each blood pool contains the essence and souls of at least tens of thousands of living beings."

At this point, even someone as aloof as Su Xiao's voice carried a hint of coldness.

The frost-covered fairy's aura intensified, her beautiful face frosty. The hand that was stroking the beard of the Green Pine Immortal paused, his face showing both pity and anger. Stone Iron's fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and he muttered under his breath, "These beasts!"

Zhou Tong's face turned pale, and he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"The core of the altar is guarded by at least three late-stage Golden Core cultivators, whose auras are obscure and who appear to be elders of the Xuan Yin Sect. In addition, there are more than 500 Xuan Yin Sect cultivators stationed in the valley, including no fewer than 15 Golden Core cultivators, more than 200 Foundation Establishment cultivators, and the rest are mostly late-stage Qi Refining cultivators or menial workers. They seem to be waiting for something, and most of them are on guard, but they have not conducted a large-scale search outside, seemingly very confident in their own defenses."

Su Xiao continued, "In addition, in a secluded mountain valley fifty miles to the northeast, traces of activity of the 'Red Sun Guard' of the Blazing Sun Sect were discovered. There were about thirty people, and the leader was a late-stage Golden Core cultivator."

"Seventy miles southeast, in an abandoned mine, there are suspected disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect's 'Enforcement Hall' lurking, numbering around twenty, with the leader also being a late-stage Golden Core cultivator."

"They've come as expected!" Fairy Ling Shuang sneered. "Those two old devils, Huo Yun and Jian Wuhen, dare not show themselves easily, but have sent their trusted elites. Are they trying to sit back and watch the tigers fight, or are they waiting for an opportunity to reap the rewards?"

"As expected." Shen Mo remained calm, looking at the hidden locations of the Lieyang Sect and the Tianjian Sect marked on the map. "Since they are aware of the Xuanyin Sect's plan and may even be secretly supporting it, they naturally wouldn't miss this 'grand event.' However, the fact that they dare not openly cooperate with the Xuanyin Sect indicates that there is also suspicion between them. This might be a point that can be used."

"Alliance Leader Shen, the disparity in strength between us and the enemy is enormous," True Person Qingsong said worriedly. "The enemy has nearly twenty Golden Core cultivators on the surface alone, and they occupy the terrain and have a formidable array. At most, we have only thirteen Golden Core cultivators on our side, and our Foundation Establishment cultivators are less than half the number of the enemy. This... a direct attack is probably not the best strategy."

Zhou Tong nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, Alliance Leader Shen, the Abbot of Songfeng Temple also instructed us before we left that the priority of this trip is to disrupt the blood sacrifice and preserve our strength. Why don't we take a longer-term view and find a more reliable method, such as... uniting with more righteous comrades, or seeking help from the major sects in the Central Region?"

These words clearly revealed a sense of fear.