Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

Shen Mo suddenly laughed, a laugh tinged with pity, as if watching a clown. He gently shook his head, his voice clearly reaching everyone's ears:

"You can't discuss ice with a summer insect, nor can you discuss the sea with a frog in a well. How could someone as short-sighted and narrow-minded as you possibly fathom the principles of my Qingyun Sect?"

He stopped looking at the triangular-eyed man's livid face, turned his gaze to the crowd, and said loudly, "Gentlemen! The conditions for recruiting disciples of the Qingyun Sect are here, in black and white, open and aboveboard!"

"Those who believe will come; those who doubt will leave. I, Shen Mo, hereby swear that all disciples will be treated equally, and there will be absolutely no exploitation or mistreatment! If I break this oath, may I be struck down by heaven and earth!"

Although his voice was not loud, it contained a sense of awe and righteousness, especially the solemn oath he made, which moved many rogue cultivators.

Those who cultivate immortality are still somewhat averse to oaths, and usually do not swear oaths with their own lives or their path of cultivation.

"As for whether the Blessed Land of Spiritual Eyes is real or not..." Shen Mo's tone shifted, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with a meaningful look, "Whether it's real or not, one can find out by climbing the mountain and seeing for oneself. My Qingyun Mountain Sect is always ready to welcome those who are interested to come and verify. However..."

He paused, his tone carrying a profound meaning: "Entering the mountain gate is easy, but proving one's Daoist heart is difficult. I fear that some people don't even have the courage to step onto the mountain gate, and only know how to engage in empty talk."

These words, spoken neither servile nor arrogant, were reasonable and well-founded, effectively putting the ball back in the court and leaving the mockers speechless.

Yeah, whether it's true or not, why don't you go and see for yourself? What kind of skill is it to just curse here?

The man with the triangular eyes trembled with anger. He wanted to say something more, but when Shen Mo's deep and cold gaze swept over him, he felt a chill for no reason. He swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue and could only glare fiercely at Shen Mo.

Just then, a gentle and steady voice broke in:

"Hehe, Sect Leader Shen, how have you been?"

Everyone looked over and saw that Manager Chen of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion had somehow appeared on the outskirts of the crowd, smiling as he looked over. He was followed by two shop assistants.

Manager Chen's appearance quieted things down a bit. The Hundred Treasures Pavilion was quite powerful, and Manager Chen himself was a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, so everyone present had to give him some face.

Upon seeing Manager Chen, Shen Mo smiled appropriately and greeted him with a cupped hand, "So it's Manager Chen. Greetings."

Shopkeeper Chen returned the greeting with a smile, his gaze sweeping over the notice that had sparked much discussion among the crowd. A barely perceptible glint flashed in his eyes, and then he smiled at Shen Mo:

"Sect Leader Shen, your actions have certainly livened up this Green Moss Market quite a bit."

His tone was calm, neither praising nor criticizing, revealing the shrewdness of a businessman.

"Manager Chen, you flatter me." Shen Mo said calmly, his expression unchanged. "Our sect is newly established and we are facing a shortage of talent. We have no choice but to resort to this tactic, casting a wide net in the hope of finding one or two promising individuals with decent character."

"Oh? Casting a wide net?" Manager Chen stroked his short beard, took a few steps closer, and seemingly casually pointed to the two phrases on the notice: "Not solely based on aptitude" and "The Spiritual Eye of the Ancestral Master's Legacy." He lowered his voice, asking with a hint of curiosity and inquiry:

"Sect Leader Shen, forgive my bluntness, but in this world, which sect doesn't first consider the spiritual root aptitude when accepting disciples?"

"Your school, however, goes against the grain, emphasizing 'mind and nature' and 'karmic connections.' Such standards are truly...unique."

"Could it be that this is truly a rule set by your sect's founder?"

His question was quite skillful, pointing out everyone's biggest doubts while also steering the question towards the "founding master," giving Shen Mo a way out (or fabricating) an explanation, and at the same time probing the Qingyun Sect's true nature.

The surrounding crowd, including the man with the livid face and triangular eyes, all pricked up their ears, eager to hear Shen Mo's answer.

Even Su Xiao looked nervously at her senior brother, the sect leader.

Shen Mo inwardly praised Manager Chen, saying he was indeed a seasoned veteran. A look of reminiscence and reverence crossed his face, his gaze seemingly fixed on the distant void, and his voice carrying a touch of etherealness.

"Manager Chen has discerning eyes. This method is indeed not the modern method, but the instruction left by our sect's founder, the immortal Qingyunzi, before he ascended to the Dao. The founder once said, 'The Great Dao is fifty, Heaven expands to forty-nine, and man escapes to one.'"

"Spiritual talent is like a boat; it is important, but what ultimately determines whether you can reach the other shore is the will and perseverance of the person navigating the boat, as well as that sliver of opportunity in the dark."

"Those with good aptitude but a corrupt mind, or who are arrogant and lazy, will ultimately find their lives in vain; those with poor aptitude but a firm and unwavering heart may still be able to defy fate and seize a glimmer of hope in dire circumstances."

He paused, then looked away from the shopkeeper, his tone becoming more sincere: "As for the Blessed Land of the Spirit Eye... the Ancestor chose this location for a profound reason. The mysteries within cannot be fully explained in a few words."

"All I can say is that those who believe will have confidence, and those who doubt will doubt themselves. Our Qingyun Sect only seeks to have a clear conscience and patiently awaits the right person."

His words were full of allusions and cryptic statements. He invoked the banner of the patriarch and attributed the matter of the "spiritual eye" to "mystery" and "chance." He spoke in a mysterious and enigmatic way, yet left no room for argument.

The last sentence, "Those who believe will have confidence, and those who doubt will doubt themselves," perfectly puts the ball back in its court.

Upon hearing this, Manager Chen's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He wasn't entirely convinced, but Shen Mo's demeanor and words certainly didn't seem like someone who spoke carelessly. He laughed heartily and smoothed things over:

"I see! Your sect's founder possessed a realm of profound understanding, beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. I was indeed presumptuous. It seems the Qingyun Sect's heritage is truly profound!"

His words were both a gesture of respect for Shen Mo and a way of subtly praising the Qingyun Sect, implying to those around him that the Qingyun Sect might actually have some merit and wasn't just acting recklessly.

Sure enough, after hearing this conversation and seeing Shen Mo's calm and unfathomable demeanor, some of the rogue cultivators' contempt lessened by three points, replaced by deeper doubts and a hint of curiosity.

Seeing that Manager Chen seemed to be "flattering" Shen Mo, the man with triangular eyes felt even more resentful and couldn't help but interject sarcastically:

"You talk a good game! Who knows if it's all made up to fool us? If you're so capable, show us some real talent!"

Shen Mo didn't even bother to look at him, but simply smiled at Manager Chen and said, "True gold fears no fire. In time, public opinion will judge whether it's real or fake. Manager Chen, if there's nothing else, I need to go and purchase some supplies, so I'll take my leave now."

Manager Chen, being shrewd, immediately seized the opportunity and said, "Very well, Sect Leader Shen, please make yourself at home. If you need anything, just come to the Treasure Pavilion, and we will definitely give your sect the most favorable price."

This was yet another gesture of goodwill, clearly stating Baibaoge's stance in front of everyone.

Shen Mo bowed in thanks, then led Su Xiao away from the bulletin board area with composure, amidst a variety of complex gazes.

From beginning to end, he ignored the irritating triangular-eyed man.

Once out of the crowd, Su Xiao finally let out a long sigh of relief, patted her chest, and said with lingering fear:

"Sect Leader, that was...it scared me to death! Those people were so rude! And that guy from the Pill Refining Pavilion, he was really annoying!"

Shen Mo smiled and said in a relaxed tone, "A tree that stands out in the forest will be felled by the wind; a person who excels above others will be criticized by the masses."

"If our Qingyun Sect wants to rise to prominence, we must inevitably go through these disputes and controversies. We'll get used to it. The important thing is that the seed has already been sown."

"But... will anyone really come?" Su Xiao was still a little worried.

"Yes, it will." Shen Mo's gaze swept over the simply dressed, low-level cultivators in the market, haggling over a few spirit stones, his tone certain.

"In this world, there are far more people who are talented but not recognized, mediocre but unwilling to accept their fate, and desperate and helpless than we imagine."

"What we're offering isn't a shortcut to success, but a seemingly slim but real opportunity. There will always be someone willing to take the gamble."

He paused, then added, "Besides, after what Manager Chen just said, at least some people have been dispelled from thinking we're just swindlers. Now, all we have to do is wait."

The two then purchased some daily necessities and low-grade medicinal herbs at the market.

Wherever they went, they could still feel all sorts of probing gazes and whispers, but perhaps because of Manager Chen's attitude, or perhaps because of Shen Mo's previous response, there was a noticeable decrease in blatant mockery, and more curiosity and observation.

After finishing their shopping, it was already afternoon. Without further delay, the two returned straight to Qingyun Mountain.