Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

The small Qingyun Sect was filled with jubilation because of Su Xiao's breakthrough. This real progress was far more inspiring to everyone than any empty slogans!

Looking at his delighted junior brothers and sisters, Shen Mo felt a surge of emotion. Su Xiao's breakthrough was of great significance at this moment.

This not only signifies an improvement in the sect's high-end combat strength (although still meager), but also proves that, under the revival of the Spirit Eye and his scientific guidance, the cultivation path of the junior brothers and sisters is feasible!

This is a powerful boost to the upcoming recruitment of apprentices!

"Go and rest, everyone," Shen Mo waved his hand and instructed. "Let Su Xiao consolidate her cultivation. We have important matters to attend to tomorrow."

Shi Tie and A Yuan nodded obediently and left, both with smiles on their faces.

Shen Mo gave Su Xiao a few more instructions on how to stabilize her cultivation level, and then turned and returned to the side hall.

However, he didn't fall asleep immediately. Su Xiao's breakthrough seemed to have stimulated his own cultivation as well. He felt that his bottleneck at the peak of the first level of Qi Refining had loosened considerably.

He sat down cross-legged and immersed himself in cultivation once more. He used his divine sense to introspect, guiding the pure spiritual energy he had obtained from his spiritual eye to circulate slowly.

Perhaps due to his surging emotions, or perhaps due to the subtle shifts in the sect's fortune, he felt his cultivation technique flowing exceptionally smoothly tonight. The bottleneck that had been holding him back for so long, under the influence of Su Xiao's breakthrough, even began to sway!

"An opportunity!" Shen Mo's heart stirred, and he immediately concentrated all his energy, mobilizing all the spiritual power he could control to launch an attack on the bottleneck!

Once, twice... the barrier remained stubbornly insurmountable.

But Shen Mo was not discouraged. He patiently accumulated strength, searching for that glimmer of opportunity in the darkness.

At that very moment when his mind and spirit were in perfect harmony—

[Ding! Detected that the host is at a critical point of cultivation breakthrough. Sect cohesion has increased, meeting the conditions for minor assistance. Consume 1 point of Karma Point to guide the spiritual energy of the Spiritual Eye to assist in the breakthrough?]

The system notification sounded abruptly but just in time!

Shen Mo didn't hesitate: "Attack! Support!"

[Command confirmed. Causality point -1. Begin bootstrapping...]

Instantly, Shen Mo felt the spiritual eye beneath him tremble slightly. A spiritual energy that was purer and easier to absorb than usual surged into his meridians as if guided, merging with his own spiritual power and transforming into an even more powerful torrent that crashed fiercely into the solid bottleneck!

Click...

Shen Mo seemed to hear a soft cracking sound as something broke!

The obstruction was instantly broken!

Shen Mo immediately felt a lightness throughout his body, and the spiritual power in his dantian surged and flowed rapidly! His divine sense also expanded accordingly. Although it was not as great as Su Xiao's improvement, the feeling of clarity and stronger control was incredibly real!

Qi Refining Level 2!

He also made the breakthrough!

"Hoo..." Shen Mo slowly opened his eyes, feeling the increasing power within his body, a smile curving his lips. Although it consumed 1 precious karma point, it was well worth it! Improving the sect leader's strength is crucial at this stage.

He pushed open the palace door and stepped into the courtyard. Moonlight, like water, bathed the courtyard. In the direction of his spiritual eye, Su Xiao was still quietly consolidating his cultivation; he could vaguely sense the spiritual energy surrounding him.

Shen Mo looked up at the bright moon, a surge of heroic spirit rising in his heart.

Overnight, the sect's two core disciples broke through to the next level!

This "confidence" is finally firmly in our hands.

As the sun rises in the east, its golden rays illuminate the newly built plaque at the Qingyun Mountain gate, making it shine brilliantly.

Today is the official day for Qingyun Sect to open its doors and accept disciples.

In front of the mountain gate, on a deliberately cleared open space, there are several rough but sturdy wooden tables and chairs.

Shi Tie stood upright, like an iron tower at the front, his dark face full of tension and anticipation, his big, round eyes staring intently down the mountain.

Su Xiao sat upright behind the table, with paper and pen spread out in front of her. Her expression seemed calm, but her slightly twisted fingers betrayed her inner anxiety.

Even the youngest, A-Yuan, put on the neatest little Taoist robe, stood on tiptoe, her little face filled with a mixture of excitement and unease.

Sect Leader Shen Mo, still wearing a faded Taoist robe, stood with his hands behind his back on the stone steps of the mountain gate, his gaze calmly looking down at the winding mountain path. The mountain breeze fluttered the hem of his robe, and his expression remained completely calm.

Time passed slowly, and the sun gradually rose higher, stretching the shadows of the three people shorter and shorter. At the foot of the mountain, faint noise and fluctuations of spiritual energy could be heard—it was the scene of another small cultivation family in the vicinity, the "Lin Family," recruiting disciples.

Although the Lin family is not a major clan, it is considered to be quite prominent in the local area. Today, they set up a grand display with gongs and drums, and even displayed three "spirit-testing stones" for assessing spiritual roots. This attracted a large number of children and onlookers from nearby villages, making the place bustling and lively.

On the other hand, at Qingyun Sect, apart from the rustling of leaves in the wind and the occasional bird song, there was only a chilling silence.

"Sect Leader... Sect Leader," Shi Tie finally couldn't hold back any longer, his voice muffled and filled with barely concealed frustration, "It's been almost half a day, and there's not a soul in sight! Meanwhile, the Lin family down the mountain... it's as noisy as a marketplace!"

Su Xiao also looked up, a hint of worry flashing in her beautiful eyes, and asked softly, "Sect Leader, could it be... that our notice was written too... well, too unconventional, and scared people away?"

A-Yuan didn't say anything, but her face fell as she stared longingly at the empty mountain path.

Shen Mo withdrew his gaze, turned to look at his three junior brothers and sisters who looked like wilted eggplants, and instead of disappointment, he revealed a faint smile.

"What's wrong? You're already losing your composure?" He spoke calmly, walking slowly to the table. He casually picked up a blank registration form in front of Su Xiao, flicking it lightly with his finger. "Let me ask you, what does the Lin family value most when recruiting apprentices?"

Without hesitation, Shi Tie replied, "Of course, it depends on their spiritual root aptitude! Those with good spiritual roots are selected directly! Those with poor spiritual roots aren't even given a second glance!"

"That's right." Shen Mo nodded, then asked, "So, do you think there are more promising talents with good spiritual roots, or more ordinary people with poor or no spiritual roots?"

"Well... of course, their spiritual roots are far inferior!" Shi Tie replied, scratching his head.

"This is it." Shen Mo put down the registration form and glanced at the three people. "The Lin family is so powerful because they are competing for the 'genius' that is one in a hundred, or even one in a thousand."

"But what we, the Qingyun Sect, seek are those seemingly ordinary 'mortals' who have been rejected by countless sects, yet possess unwavering resilience. Their arrival requires even greater courage and will be far more cautious. Is it any wonder they arrive late?"

He paused, his tone carrying a worldly-wise calmness: "Quality over quantity. I would rather have three or five truly sincere people come today than welcome a hundred mediocre talents with wavering minds."

"A bustling atmosphere isn't necessarily a good thing; a quiet atmosphere isn't necessarily a bad thing. Just wait patiently."

These words were like sweet rain nourishing the anxious hearts of the three. Shi Tie suddenly understood, slapping his forehead forcefully: "I get it! The sect leader is saying, good things come to those who wait! We want genuine sincerity, not just people here to watch the show!"

Su Xiao seemed to be deep in thought as well, her tense nerves relaxing slightly. She nodded in agreement, saying, "Xiao'er was too impatient. Senior Brother Sect Leader is right; true gold needs to be refined in fire, and great talent needs time."

Although A-Yuan didn't quite understand profound principles, seeing that her senior brothers and sisters had calmed down, she nodded vigorously, her little face regaining its radiance.