Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

Just then, a steady sound of footsteps came from outside the hall.

The two looked up and saw Shen Mo slowly walking in.

His face was calm, his eyes were deep, and there seemed to be little spiritual energy fluctuation on his body, but his every move naturally revealed a captivating demeanor.

"Sect Leader, Senior Brother!" The two women quickly stood up and bowed.

"Hmm." Shen Mo nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the jade slip on the table. "Are you researching escape techniques?"

"Yes, Senior Brother Sect Leader," Su Xiao replied respectfully. "We are trying to combine the 'Mist Transformation' technique with the sect's existing illusion array."

"Good idea." Shen Mo nodded, walked to the window, stood with his hands behind his back, looked at the sea of ​​clouds below the mountain, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly spoke. His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every disciple in the hall.

"Come on over, everyone."

His voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to carry some strange power.

Soon, Shi Tie, Zhang Daniu, Li Xiaocao, A Yuan... all the disciples nearby put down what they were doing and rushed over. They stood quietly in the hall, their eyes all fixed on Shen Mo, filled with admiration and anticipation.

Shen Mo slowly turned around, his gaze calmly sweeping over the young, energetic faces, and... a hint of barely perceptible pride.

"These past few days," he began slowly, his tone flat, revealing neither joy nor anger, "I've heard a lot of talk. People saying how powerful my Qingyun Sect is, how I, Shen Mo, am... 'all-powerful'."

Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but smile with pride, especially Shi Tie and Zhang Daniu, who puffed out their chests.

However, Shen Mo's next words instantly froze the smiles on their faces.

"But I'm telling you," Shen Mo's voice suddenly turned stern, "this...is all bullshit!"

What...what? Everyone was stunned, looking at each other in disbelief, thinking they had misheard.

"Do you really think that by relying on a bit of luck, a bit of...external force, my Qingyun Sect can rest easy?"

Shen Mo's gaze sharpened, cutting across everyone's faces like a knife. "Regarding the Yunmengze incident, if it weren't for a series of coincidences, if it weren't for... our opponents having reservations, do you think we'd still be standing here unscathed?"

The main hall was deathly silent. You could hear a pin drop.

The excitement and pride on the disciples' faces receded like the tide, replaced by a trace of bewilderment, a trace of... panic.

"You have all experienced the power of the Golden Core firsthand." Shen Mo's voice was low, yet carried an immense weight.

"Before such beings, how are we different from ants? The so-called 'Nascent Soul Sword Intent' is nothing but a mirage, a castle in the air! It may fool others for a while, but can it fool them forever?"

"External forces are ultimately illusory!" Shen Mo waved his hand emphatically. "Only personal strength is fundamental! It is the only reliance for standing firm in this cruel world of cultivation!"

"Look at yourselves!" He pointed at Shi Tie. "Shi Tie, what level have you reached in your 'Giant Spirit Shaking Mountain Technique'? Are you capable of withstanding a Golden Core cultivator's attack head-on?"

Pointing at Su Xiao, he said, "Su Xiao, can your divine sense cover an area of ​​ten miles? Can you foresee good and bad fortune?"

Finally, his gaze swept over everyone: "Could all of us combined possibly withstand a casual strike from a Foundation Establishment cultivator?"

Each question struck the hearts of the disciples like a heavy hammer. The color drained from their faces, and they lowered their heads, cold sweat pouring down their backs.

Yes... what do they have to be proud of? Their cultivation level is still low; their strength is utterly insignificant in the face of true powerhouses!

"Sect Leader...we...we know we were wrong..." Shi Tie was the first to speak, his voice muffled, his dark face full of shame.

"Yes...we were blinded by fame..." Su Xiao said in a low voice, her pretty face pale.

The other disciples also bowed their heads and admitted their mistakes, creating an extremely oppressive atmosphere in the hall.

Seeing everyone's expressions, Shen Mo nodded inwardly. The purpose of the warning had been achieved; too much of a good thing could have been bad.

His tone softened slightly: "To err is human, to forgive divine. I do not mean to undermine your confidence."

"On the contrary, I hope you can transform this 'vanity' arising from the sect's reputation into 'motivation' to spur yourselves on and cultivate diligently!"

"Our experience in Yunmengze should have taught us the cruelty of the cultivation world! It should also have made us cherish even more this hard-won, brief period of peace and...opportunity!"

"From this day forward," Shen Mo commanded in a deep voice, "everyone, put away your restlessness! The seclusion is not over yet! Dedicate all your energy to cultivation!"

"When will any of you be able to defeat a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator head-on with your own strength? When will our Qingyun Sect be able to command the respect of those major sects with our true power? That will be the time when we should be proud!"

"Yes! Senior Brother (Sect Leader)! This disciple will remember!" Everyone responded in unison. Although their voices were not as passionate as before, they carried a heavy sense of determination and reflection.

"Go and cultivate, everyone." Shen Mo waved his hand.

The disciples bowed silently and left the side hall one by one. Each of their steps appeared much more steady.

After everyone left, only Shen Mo remained in the main hall. The seriousness on his face gradually faded, replaced by an undisguised weariness and solemnity.

He walked to the window, gazed into the distance, and remained silent for a long time.

His words just now were less a warning to his disciples and more a reminder to himself.

"External forces are ultimately illusory... True strength lies within oneself..." He repeated his words in a low voice, a bitter smile playing on his lips.

Everyone understands the principle. But putting it into practice is easier said than done.

This trip to Yunmengze seemed like a resounding victory, bringing him to the pinnacle of prestige. But only he knew the risks and… costs involved.

The drama of "Starry Sword Immortal" may seem glorious, but it is actually like walking a tightrope on the edge of a precipice!

Once exposed, or if Jin Yan Zhenren had been determined to test them, Qingyun Sect would have been wiped out in an instant!

Moreover… they had completely offended the behemoth that is the Blazing Sun Sect. A Golden Core elder was frightened and forced to retreat in front of everyone, losing all face.

The other party will never let this go! They are only holding back for now because of the intimidation of the "Nascent Soul Sword Intent" and because they cannot figure out the truth of the matter.

Once the other party finds out the truth... what awaits the Qingyun Sect is a thunderous retaliation!

Time… what he lacks most is time!

He must... he must improve his true strength as soon as possible! Not only himself, but the entire sect needs to grow stronger quickly!

But... how easy is that? Resources, cultivation techniques, opportunities... each one is like a mountain weighing on his heart.

With the current gains, it's barely enough to support a few disciples' cultivation. To expect the sect's overall strength to leap forward in a short period of time is nothing short of wishful thinking.