Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

Shen Mo looked directly at the horse-faced disciple and slowly said, "Fellow Daoist, you are mistaken. Although we are poor, we are still righteous cultivators. We have come to explore the relics of our ancestors because we are devoted to the Dao."

"For the Blazing Sun Sect, a prestigious sect, to demand such exorbitant tolls is... beneath its dignity, isn't it? Besides..."

He abruptly changed the subject, raising his voice to ensure everyone around could hear, "The strange phenomenon of a falling star last night must have been witnessed by you, fellow Daoist. My Qingyun Sect's founder had a deep connection with this Liuyun Water Mansion."

"Perhaps the opening of this water palace is related to some fortuitous opportunity left behind by my ancestor. Fellow Daoist, if you do me a favor today, and my Qingyun Sect makes even the slightest progress in the future, I will surely repay you handsomely!"

His words not only pointed out the "ancestral lineage," implying that he was not without a background, but also bestowed upon the other party the high title of "prestigious sect," and finally made a promise of "generous reward" that was not an empty promise. It can be described as a combination of soft and hard tactics, trying to buy time and find a turning point.

Sure enough, the horse-faced disciple's expression changed slightly upon hearing this; he had clearly also heard the rumors from last night. He couldn't help but turn around and glance at Golden Flame True Person in the void.

The playful smile on Jin Yan Zhenren's lips deepened. He moved swiftly, and in the next instant, he appeared directly above the cliff, no more than ten feet away from Shen Mo!

The terrifying pressure of the Golden Core cultivator poured down like a tidal wave, focusing its force on Shen Mo!

"Oh? Tell me, what is the connection between your Qingyun Sect's founder and this Water Mansion?" Jin Yan Zhenren spoke calmly, his voice even, yet carrying a suffocating pressure.

Thump! Thump! Under this terrifying pressure, Shi Tie, Zhang Daniu, and the others could no longer hold on and collapsed to their knees, trembling all over, cold sweat pouring out like rain!

Su Xiao and Zhao Qingyan were also swaying precariously, their pretty faces pale, gritting their teeth and struggling to hold on.

Only Shen Mo, though his face was also pale and his body swayed slightly, still stood stubbornly!

His meager spiritual energy was surging wildly within him, and his divine sense was highly concentrated as he resisted the oppressive force that was enough to crush him countless times!

He knew he absolutely could not fall now! If he fell, it would truly be the end!

"Reporting...reporting to the Master." Shen Mo spoke with difficulty, his voice hoarse from the pressure, but his tone still maintained a trace of composure.

"According to the incomplete records of our sect, in ancient times, our sect's Qingyun Ancestor once discussed the Dao here with Liuyun Zhenren and observed the sword intent left behind by Xinghui Sword Immortal, from which he benefited greatly."

"The fall of a star last night is a testament to this. I dare not ask for more; I only wish to approach the Water Palace and feel the aura of my ancestor's enlightenment. That would be enough."

His words were half true and half false, and his connection between last night's strange phenomena and the patriarch sounded quite reasonable.

Upon hearing this, Master Jin Yan's eyes flashed with a hint of sarcasm: "A mere patriarch I've never even heard of dares to discuss the Dao with Master Liu Yun? Boy, your storytelling skills are quite impressive. However..."

His tone suddenly turned cold, "Playing these petty tricks in front of me is pointless. Five thousand spirit stones, not a single one less. Either pay up, or..."

His gaze swept over Shi Tie and the others kneeling on the ground, finally landing on Shen Mo, his killing intent chilling: "I don't mind sending you to meet your unknown ancestor!"

The atmosphere instantly became tense, as if the air itself had frozen!

Everyone's hearts were in their throats! No one doubted that this Golden Core cultivator would crush these five arrogant little cultivators into dust in the next second!

Shen Mo's back was also soaked with cold sweat. He could feel the other person's undisguised killing intent. What should he do?

To fight back? That's suicide! To hand over all their possessions? Then they've come for nothing, and they'll never be able to hold their heads high again in Yunmeng Marsh!

At this critical moment—

"Buzz..."

A faint, yet seemingly soul-piercing hum suddenly rang out.

It didn't come from the direction of the Water Mansion, but... from Shen Mo's arms! It was that dark-patterned stone that had been modified by the system!

At the same time, the system's cold notification sounded urgently in Shen Mo's mind:

[WARNING! Extremely high concentration of stellar energy detected rapidly converging! The conditions for a celestial anomaly have been met! A powerful stellar energy resonance is imminent! Host, please move away from the energy center immediately! Repeat, please move away immediately!]

Shen Mo's heart skipped a beat!

It's here! An opportunity! No! It's both a crisis and a turning point!

He suddenly looked up at the sky! He saw that, as if drawn by some invisible force, the streaks of meteors that had not yet completely dissipated in the night sky, which had returned to calm, began to light up again at a speed visible to the naked eye!

And... they converged madly toward the cliff where he was!

No! To be precise, it was converging towards the dark-patterned stone in his arms!

"Hmm?" Jin Yan Zhenren also instantly noticed the abnormality, his brows furrowing slightly as he looked up at the sky. He could sense a pure and boundless stellar power stirring within the heavens and earth!

"Now!" A resolute glint flashed in Shen Mo's eyes! Without hesitation, he communicated with the system: "System! Maximum power! Guide the gathered star power! Not to me, but... to him!"

His mind was firmly locked onto Jin Yan Zhenren in the void!

[Command received! Consume all remaining Causal Points (1 point)! Activate Star Power Guidance Program! Target locked: Jin Yan Zhenren! Guidance initiated! Warning: This operation is highly likely to trigger a strong counterattack from the target! Extremely high risk!]

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

As if in response to the system's warning, the entire world suddenly changed color!

Countless dazzling starlight, like subjects summoned by an emperor, seeped out from the void in all directions, transforming into incredibly solid bands of light that swirled and converged wildly around the cliff!

Finally, to everyone's astonishment, it coalesced into a gigantic lightsaber that stretched across the sky!

The sword is made entirely of pure star power, its light so dazzling that it is impossible to look directly at it. The sword intent it exudes is sharp and unparalleled, as if it can cut through time and space and shatter the void!

And the enormous tip of this Starlight Sword was aimed precisely at... Jin Yan Zhenren, who was suspended in mid-air!