Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

"Sect Leader, where...where are we going?" Su Xiao asked, her voice hoarse. Surrounded by powerful figures, she felt like she was having trouble breathing.

Shen Mo did not answer immediately. He carefully observed the terrain and the distribution of various forces. The best locations were naturally occupied by the major sects.

The less desirable rocky platforms were also snapped up by smaller, less powerful groups. What remained were remote, cramped, or unsafe corners.

"Follow me." Shen Mo spotted a spot in the southwest corner of the circular waterway.

There is a small, connected group of low reefs in a remote location, far from the entrance to the Water Palace, and next to it is a murky whirlpool area, which looks dangerous.

The advantage is that although the place is small, it can barely accommodate five people, and it is not easy to be noticed. It is backed by a steep, etched rock wall, making it relatively easy to defend and difficult to attack.

The five carefully avoided the curious, scrutinizing, or disdainful glances cast by the monks along the way, and discreetly made their way towards that corner.

However, just as they were about to step onto the reef, a haughty shout suddenly came from the side:

"Halt! Where did this blind rogue cultivator come from! Get out of the way! This place has caught the eye of our Green Wood Sect!"

Before they could finish speaking, seven or eight cultivators dressed in short blue jackets and wielding various weapons stood menacingly in front of them.

The leader was a burly man with a face full of scars and a cultivation level of around the fourth level of Qi Refining. His eyes were fierce as he sized up Shen Mo and his group of five, as if they were lambs to the slaughter.

The Green Wood Sect? Shen Mo frowned slightly. Never heard of it; probably some insignificant, low-level sect. It seems they think they're weak and easily bullied, and want to seize their territory.

Shi Tie's eyes widened in anger, and he gripped the iron rod tightly, ready to step forward, but Shen Mo stopped him with a look.

"Fellow Daoist," Shen Mo stepped forward, bowing respectfully, "this place seems to be unclaimed. We arrived first, so how can you say we 'seized' it?"

"Hmph!" the burly man snorted coldly, spitting almost onto Shen Mo's face, and said arrogantly.

"I said I've got my eye on it, and that's it! You bunch of Qi Refining stage trash, do you think you deserve such a good spot? If you know what's good for you, get out of here! Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Several disciples of the Green Wood Sect behind him also drew their weapons, their faces contorted with malice, and slowly surrounded him. They looked ready to fight at the slightest provocation.

The atmosphere instantly became tense!

Su Xiao and the others were on tenterhooks. The enemy outnumbered them and their cultivation levels were generally higher! If a fight broke out…

Shen Mo's eyes turned slightly cold. He didn't want to get into a conflict with anyone so soon after arriving, but he would never allow himself to be bullied.

His gaze swept over the group of opponents, and he quickly calculated his strategy. A direct confrontation would offer little chance of victory, and even if they managed a pyrrhic win, it would expose their strength and make them the target of everyone's criticism.

"Oh?" Shen Mo suddenly chuckled softly, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching the other's ears. "Fellow Daoist keeps saying this is a good location? Can't you see that this place is right next to a whirlpool, the water spiritual energy is abnormally chaotic, and there are probably powerful water beasts lurking below?"

"We chose this place only to temporarily reside here and observe the changes in the Water Palace's restrictions. If you truly believe this is a geomantically auspicious location, why not give it to you?"

"But... don't blame me for not reminding you, you'd better be extra careful when you're on night duty."

His words were perfectly crafted. He pointed out the potential dangers of the place (not entirely unfounded), implied that he was not afraid but had other considerations, and gave the other party a way out.

Upon hearing this, the burly man from the green wooden gate was taken aback. He subconsciously glanced at the bubbling, murky vortex beside him and felt a little uneasy.

He scrutinized Shen Mo more closely, noticing the man's composed demeanor and his lack of fear despite their numerical superiority; instead, he spoke eloquently. A sense of unease crept into his mind.

Could this kid really have some kind of backing? Or is he a low-profile disciple from some sect?

Just as he hesitated—

"boom!"

A huge explosion suddenly erupted not far away! It was accompanied by several piercing screams!

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw flames shooting into the sky from a small sect's reef not far from the Heavenly Sword Sect's camp!

Several disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect were fiercely fighting with the people from the smaller sect, wielding flying swords! Sword energy crisscrossed, and magical treasures clashed!

Clearly, this conflict erupted over a battle for a location closer to the entrance to the Water Palace!

"It's the Heavenly Sword Sect clearing the area!" someone in the crowd exclaimed.

The burly man from the Green Wood Sect immediately changed his expression upon hearing this. Even a powerful sect like the Heavenly Sword Sect was starting to clear out the "small fry," while these little shrimps were still fighting to the death over a broken reef—wasn't that laughable?

"Hmph! Consider yourself lucky!" The burly man glared fiercely at Shen Mo, uttering a harsh remark with bluster, before leading his men in a hasty retreat in the opposite direction of the conflict, seemingly wanting to get as far away from the Heavenly Sword Sect as possible.

A conflict that was about to erupt was averted by Shen Mo's few words and a sudden event in the distance.

Su Xiao and the others breathed a sigh of relief, their gazes towards Shen Mo filled with admiration. Their sect leader's ability to adapt to changing circumstances was truly remarkable.

"Quickly, get to the reef and set up simple concealment and early warning formations!" Shen Mo didn't dare to delay and immediately gave the order. The sounds of fighting and screams in the distance served as an alarm bell, reminding him of the dangers of this place.

The five quickly climbed onto the small reef. Zhao Qingyan immediately took out the array flags (crude homemade ones) and spirit stones she had prepared in advance from her bag, and under Shen Mo's guidance, she began to set up the most basic 'small maze array' and 'warning barrier'.

Although the effect is limited, it can at least serve as a warning and a means of concealment.

Just as they were busy, Shen Mo suddenly felt something and looked up sharply at the tallest black stone peak across the circular waterway!

There was no one there.

But Shen Mo clearly felt a cold, indifferent gaze, like that of a venomous snake, seem to pierce through the vast distance and linger on him for a moment!

That gaze held a condescending scrutiny and indifference, as if looking at an insignificant ant!

A chill instantly shot up Shen Mo's spine!

Blazing Sun Sect!

Those are spies from the Blazing Sun Sect!

Has the true ruler of this region finally... turned his gaze here?