I fabricated myths to guide the revival of spiritual energy.

The snow in Kunlun Mountain fell earlier and was thicker than in previous years.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the main square of Kunlun Taoist Temple was not as somber as usual. The snow on the huge bluestone square had been swept clean, and a restless excitement permeated the air.

Just half an hour earlier, a brand-new jade notice board had been erected at the mountain gate, bearing only a simple line of gold characters:

[With the year-end approaching, you may now return to your hometown from the mountains.]

"Going home! I can really go home!"

"I originally thought that cultivating immortality meant severing all worldly ties, but I never expected I could go home for the New Year?"

Among the crowd, a physical cultivation disciple from Northeast China rubbed his large, rough hands, which were as hard as steel, and said excitedly with his face flushed, "I haven't seen my mother for more than half a year. I wonder if the sauerkraut jar at home has been completely soaked."

"All you think about is food," a girl carrying a sword case rolled her eyes at him, but she couldn't hide the smile in her eyes. "But... I miss home too. I didn't even have time to say goodbye to my best friend when I left."

For these disciples who were just ordinary people half a year ago, Kunlun Mountain is a sacred place and a myth, but the ordinary human world down below the mountain is the root of their lives for more than ten or twenty years.

More importantly, this trip home is different from any other time I've ever been home.

In the past, going home meant crowded Spring Festival travel, the exhaustion of hard-seat trains, and the embarrassment of facing relatives' interrogations about "whether you have a boyfriend or girlfriend" and "how much of your mortgage is left."

And now?

A disciple dressed in a blue Taoist robe suddenly lowered his voice, a hint of undisguised smugness in his tone: "Hey, what do you think would happen if we just 'fly' back?"

These words were like a spark, instantly igniting the tinderbox in everyone's hearts.

Returning home in glory.

This is a concept ingrained in the Chinese people, a deep-seated belief that returning home in glory is like wearing fine clothes in the dark. Moreover, what they now possess is a power that transcends worldly understanding.

"My home is in a small county in Henan Province," a disciple said, his eyes shining, his hand unconsciously reaching for the storage pouch at his waist. "My second uncle next door always looked down on my family, saying I was a failure for only getting into an ordinary second-tier university. This time, if I ride my flying sword, circle the big locust tree at the village entrance twice, and then come down..."

"Vulgar!" another disciple rebuked righteously, but then changed the subject, "However, in order to deter villains and promote the prestige of Kunlun, it is necessary to appropriately demonstrate some immortal techniques. I plan to fly directly to the square in the center of our city on my sword and pick up my parents for a nice meal."

"Flying on a sword is too tiring, and is your spiritual power enough to fly that far?"

"Tch, didn't we just get supplies? I've saved up five low-grade spirit stones, enough for me to slowly fly back to Jiangnan!"

The discussion in the square grew louder and louder, and the topic gradually shifted from "homesickness" to "how to make the most stylish entrance".

Some are planning to perform a "divine intervention" on their rooftops, while others are considering using their newly learned "water control" techniques to do a thorough cleaning and scare their neighbors. Some are even discussing whether they can use their "lightness technique" to dominate the village basketball tournament.

This mindset is naive, but it's very real.

They were, after all, just ordinary people who had gained superhuman powers. The sense of superiority they felt—possessing the truth and looking down upon the mortal world—reached its peak on the eve of their return to the mundane.

……

Above the clouds, on the terrace of the Kunlun Hall.

Gu Qing stood with his hands behind his back, with thick clouds beneath his feet. His gaze pierced through the clouds, taking in the expressions of every disciple in the square and every conversation.

"Returning home in glory, huh..." Gu Qing tapped lightly on the railing, a playful smile curving his lips.

On the light blue system panel in front of him, rows of data were jumping around wildly.

[Group psychological fluctuations were detected: vanity, anticipation, and a sense of superiority.]

[Integrity purity analysis: Agitated.]

[Prediction Warning: Without intervention, it is predicted that during the holiday period, there will be 1420 incidents of cultivators disrupting social order, 205 cases of accidental injuries caused by showing off their abilities, and... a loss of control over public opinion across the entire internet.]

"Dean," Zhao Feng limped over from behind, his face still pale, a lingering effect of his recent excessive training, "These brats, they've gotten too cocky as soon as they've achieved some results. Should I go and give them a talking-to? Tell them to obediently take the high-speed train back and stop flying around in the sky."

Zhao Feng has a traditional military mindset; keeping a low profile and maintaining discipline are paramount. He is very worried that these students, who have acquired power, will become uncontrollable time bombs once they return to society.

"No need."

Gu Qing turned around, looked at the arrogant man, and shook his head. "It's better to guide than to suppress. After suppressing them for half a year, and now that they know the three of you are showing off your prowess in Rongcheng, they're envious. It's only natural for them to want to show off. The more you make them hide, the more they'll secretly cause trouble."

"So what do you mean?" Zhao Feng asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Let them go back. Not only go back, but go back in style."

A deep light flashed in Gu Qing's eyes, like a director writing a script and watching the actors about to take the stage.

"The world today is not the same as it was half a year ago. Signs of the spiritual energy revival are appearing frequently in various places. Although Bureau 749 is trying its best to block the news, the truth will eventually come out."

Gu Qing raised his hand, and a miniature map of China appeared in his palm, covered with countless bright red dots.

"Zhao Feng, look. These red dots are all low-level paranormal phenomena that have appeared recently. Some are strange vines, some are haunted old houses, and some are mutated wild animals. The 749th Bureau simply can't handle them all with its limited manpower."

"I want students to treat this holiday as a 'worldly experience'."

Zhao Feng was taken aback for a moment, then understood Gu Qing's intention, and gasped: "You want them... to take care of these problems as well?"

"It's not just about solving problems." Gu Qing walked to the edge of the terrace, the wind blowing his clothes, making them flutter. "I want them to understand that from the moment they stepped into Kunlun, they were different from ordinary people. This difference is not just in terms of superior strength, but also in terms of the weight of responsibility."

"Want to return home in glory? Sure." "Want to show off your skills in front of others? Sure."

"But the premise is that they must be worthy of that 'sacredness'."

With a gentle wave of his sleeve, Gu Qing instantly switched the system interface, and a pre-prepared "Red Dust Trial Task Book" was generated.

Meanwhile, the noise in the square continued.

"Hey, do you think we could wear this 'Taoist robe' back? The fabric and embroidery are way better than those designer brands!"

"Come on, if you go back dressed like that, people will think you're doing cosplay."

The students were still looking forward to their upcoming moment of glory, completely unaware that their "benevolent" principal had prepared a heavy "gift" for them.

The temptation of "returning home in glory" will be the first and most dangerous hurdle they face in their spiritual journey.

The mortal world at the foot of the mountain is far more complex than the monsters on the mountain.

"Pass down the word," Gu Qing's voice turned cold, echoing throughout the hall, "Everyone assemble in half an hour. Before leaving the school, I have a few words to say."

At that moment, the wind and snow stopped abruptly.