Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

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The bluestone floor of Liuyun Hall gleamed in the morning light, and the air still carried the faint aftertaste of burning sandalwood.

Shen Mo stood on the high steps in front of the hall, his gaze sweeping over the disciples standing below.

Shi Tie stood at the front like an iron tower, his face taut, but the light in his eyes was frighteningly bright.

Su Xiao stood diagonally behind him, half-hidden in the shadow cast by the pillars of the palace, almost invisible unless you looked closely.

Zhao Qingyan, dressed in a light blue Taoist robe, held an array plate in her hand, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the patterns on the plate's surface.

Li Xiaocao carried her medicine bag, which was almost as tall as her, bulging and filled with countless bottles and jars.

Atu squatted on the ground, his palms pressed against the floor tiles, as if sensing something.

Wang Hu crossed his arms, raised his chin slightly, and gave off an air of "choosing me is definitely the right choice".

Further behind was a dense, dark mass of inner and outer disciples. Some were standing on tiptoe, others were craning their necks, and thousands of eyes were fixed on Shen Mo.

"Everyone's here." Shen Mo spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly carried to everyone's ears under the influence of his true essence. "Regarding the Tianyuan Grand Competition, everything that needed to be said has been said these past few days. Today, the selection is made."

A slight commotion arose below, but it quickly subsided.

Shen Mo didn't look at the roster; he simply called out each name: "Shi Tie."

"Disciple is here!" Shi Tie took a step forward, and the ground trembled.

"Zhao Qingyan".

The female cultivator in blue bowed respectfully, spinning the array plate in her hand.

"Su Xiao".

A very soft "yes" came from the shadows, almost drowned out by the wind outside the hall if one did not listen carefully.

"Li Xiaocao".

"Yes, yes!" Xiaocao replied hurriedly, her medicine bag swaying on her back, from which came the crisp sound of bottles and jars clattering.

"A-Tu".

The boy squatting on the ground raised his head, grinned, revealing two tiger teeth: "Don't worry, Sect Leader, leave the things underground to me."

"Wang Hu".

"Disciple obeys!" Wang Hu clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice booming like a bell.

Then came four more names, all of whom were inner disciples who had performed outstandingly in competitions and missions during this period.

After the ten names were announced, some were happy, some were disappointed, but most felt a complex mix of emotions: they envied the opportunity to go out and see the world with the sect leader, yet they were also secretly worried about the perils ahead.

With a wave of his hand, Shen Mo sent ten jade slips flying from his sleeve, landing precisely in the hands of the ten people whose names were called.

"This is the essence of the Foundation Building chapter of the Yuanhai Daojing," Shen Mo said, "along with a simplified Yin-Yang Array diagram. We'll see it along the way; once we enter Tianyuan City, there won't be so many peaceful moments."

Shi Tie took the jade slip, probed it with his divine sense, and his eyes shone even brighter.

Although the array diagram was simplified, the principles of change it contained were many times more profound than anything he had previously dabbled in.

He couldn't help but nudge Wang Hu beside him with his shoulder, lowering his voice: "Hu Zi, see that? If this formation is used well, the two of us, one on the left and one on the right..."

"Save your breath," Wang Hu rolled his eyes. "The sect leader gave you the array diagram, not for you to act recklessly. Understand it first before you speak."

On the other side, Zhao Qingyan was already engrossed in holding the jade slip, her fingers tracing patterns in the air, seemingly deducing changes in formation.

Su Xiao took the jade slip, put it into his pocket without even looking at it, but his gaze swept over every corner of the square in front of the palace, as if calculating the best evacuation route in case of an attack.

Li Xiaocao held the jade slip, her little face scrunched up, muttering to herself, "The Origin Sea Dao Scripture... Foundation Establishment Chapter... Oh dear, the spiritual energy circulation described here seems to match the fire control method I use when refining pills..."

As she was about to take something out of her medicine pouch, Atu gently tugged at her sleeve.

"Sister Xiaocao, this isn't the alchemy room," Atu whispered a reminder.

"Oh, right." Li Xiaocao quickly pulled her hand back, her face slightly red.

Shen Mo looked at the different expressions of his disciples, a faint smile flashing across his eyes.

With another wave of his hand, ten more streams of light flew out, this time carrying ten storage rings of different styles, which hovered in front of each person.

"There are some life-saving items inside," Shen Mo said, "talismans, pills, and protective magic artifacts, one set for each person. Don't be stingy when using them, but don't use them recklessly either. You only have one life, and you can always make more if you lose something."

Shi Tie grabbed the ring in front of him, probed it with his divine sense, and gasped.

Inside, there were not only a dozen or so talismans brimming with spiritual energy, but also three pills the size of longan, completely crimson, whose immense blood energy could be felt even through the storage space.

There was also a dark gold wristband with an ancient pattern, subtly conveying the weight of mountains.

"This, this is too valuable..." Even he stammered a little.

"Take it if I give it to you," Shen Mo said calmly. "The Tianyuan Grand Competition is not a minor sect competition. Once you step onto the stage, you are responsible for your own life and death. These things are what give you the confidence to come back alive."

Su Xiao took the ring, and without even looking at it, put it on the little finger of her left hand. The ring automatically adjusted its size and fit snugly at the base of her finger.

She gently touched the ring face, where there was an extremely fine indentation, a hidden rune personally carved by Shen Mo.

Li Xiaocao's storage ring contained the most pills, all kinds of colors and effects, neatly categorized and arranged.

She watched with a beaming smile, muttering "Rejuvenation Pill," "Mind-Calming Powder," and "Poison-Avoiding Pill," just like a little mouse that had fallen into a rice jar.

After distributing the items, Shen Mo's gaze swept past the ten people and landed on Han Lin, who was standing at the very front of the disciple line.

Elder Han.

"Disciple is here." Han Lin stepped forward and bowed. Today he was wearing a dark blue Taoist robe, his hair was neatly combed, and his expression was more composed than usual.

"After we leave, you will be in charge of the entire sect for the time being." Shen Mo looked at him, his voice softening. "I have already given you the jade talisman for controlling the mountain-protecting formation."

"If there is any emergency, you can use the communication disc to contact Chen Hao. I have already spoken to Baicaoge."

Han Lin took a deep breath and bowed again: "This disciple will certainly not fail the sect leader's expectations."

"Remember," Shen Mo stepped forward and patted his shoulder, "the safety of the sect is paramount. In times of indecision, it's better to be safe than to take risks. The several thousand people of Qingyun Sect are entrusted to you."

These words were so weighty that Han Lin felt a heavy weight pressing down on his shoulders, as if a tremendous burden were bearing down on him.

He raised his head, meeting Shen Mo's gaze, and said, word by word, "Sect Leader, rest assured. As long as this disciple is here, the sect will stand."

Shen Mo nodded and said nothing more. Some things are better left unsaid.

He also gave instructions on some trivial matters—the daily maintenance of the mountain-protecting formation, the distribution of sect missions, the operation of the alchemy and weapon-making halls, the monthly allowances for outer disciples… Han Lin noted down everything, no matter how small.

Finally, Shen Mo took out a palm-sized bronze array plate from his pocket and handed it to Han Lin.

"This is the sensing array plate with the Ink Cloud Shuttle," he said. "In case of emergency, I can crush the core of this plate and I will know no matter where I am."

Han Lin accepted it with both hands and carefully put it away.

As the sun rose higher, thousands of disciples remained standing quietly in the square in front of the hall.

No one spoke; only the rustling of the wind through the ancient pines at the edge of the square could be heard.

Shen Mo turned around and looked towards the northern horizon.

"The time has come."

He stepped down the high steps, followed by Shi Tie and ten others. They passed through the automatically parting passage of the crowd and headed towards the plaza in front of the mountain gate.

There was a jet-black, sleek flying shuttle parked there.

The shuttle is about ten zhang long and more than three zhang wide. Its surface flows with a dark light like water ripples. Upon closer inspection, countless fine silver runes can be seen moving under the light. These are the new patterns on the Moyun Shuttle after it has incorporated some of the ancient runes of Qingyun Palace.

Compared to before, it is more reserved and more dangerous, like a ferocious beast lurking in the shadows.

"Wow..." Li Xiaocao couldn't help but let out a small exclamation.

Even the usually calm Su Xiao's pupils contracted slightly.