Put away the bamboo, put away the bamboo

Li Mo had yet to speak, pondering what to say.

Qin Yuzhi’s face was frosty as she spoke with stern authority:

"Immortal, you are far too lenient, far too indulgent with these unfilial juniors! To act so insolently before their ancestors—such audacity!"

"??"

Unfilial... juniors?

That insult cut deeper than calling someone a bastard—straight-up elevating generations in the insult hierarchy.

Yuwen Cuojin, by nature a ruthless demon, was about to erupt in fury when a sudden realization struck him.

The Bamboo of Sincerity stood silently, unmoving.

This meant no lie had been detected.

Even curses counted as lies—yet this woman’s words just now... held truth?

Cold sweat broke out on the Vice Sect Leader’s back.

Immortal Li Mo waved a hand dismissively. "Enough. We have long transcended mortal trivialities. Why cling to such worldly formalities?"

"I was the one who unlocked the Cloud Dream Palace, but I never promised to let you take what lies beneath."

"Besides, it’s not as though you left empty-handed, no?"

"A worthless rock—what use is that?!"

Tan Zhuyin couldn’t suppress his frustration.

"That is no ordinary rock," Immortal Li Mo chuckled, sounding like an elder exasperated by a wasteful junior. "Though it’s true you lack the means to wield it... and it is not the greatest treasure the Demon Summoning Sect obtained in the palace."

Hm?

Yuwen Cuojin frowned, glancing at the Bamboo of Sincerity—no lie detected.

So, Tan Zhuyin had secured something even greater in the palace?

Why was he unaware?

Had the man hidden it... planning to keep it for himself?

His gaze sharpened as it landed on Tan Zhuyin.

"I don’t know! All I got was this damn rock!"

Tan Zhuyin clenched his fists, feeling like the world’s biggest fool.

Fortunately, the Bamboo of Sincerity vouched for him—it remained still.

Yuwen Cuojin pressed, "He clearly only obtained this stone in the palace. Why claim there was a greater prize?"

"I wasn’t speaking of him, but of the Demon Summoning Sect."

Li Mo’s eyes grew distant, as if gazing into the past. "Do you know who built the Cloud Dream Palace?"

"......"

The demonic cultivators fell silent.

Even Yuwen Cuojin shook his head—the history was too ancient, and the sect’s records held no trace. Had someone erased it?

"It was a Demon Summoning Sect Leader—no, a Divine Summoning Sect Leader—who mastered the Great Dream Dao. Her name was Qin Yuzhi. With peerless brilliance, she constructed the Cloud Dream Palace."

"As for her purpose... well, you sought the palace yourselves. You should know."

For the Cloud Dream Ancestral God?

The thought flashed through Yuwen Cuojin’s mind, sending shockwaves through him.

No inheritance or divine artifact could compare to an Ancestral God!

As Yuwen Cuojin reeled, Luo Yexian spoke up:

"Elder Brother Immortal, why did you not answer when I called for you earlier?"

Nice one, Old Luo—perfect timing. I’ll treat you to another bowl of braised beef noodles later.

Li Mo chuckled. "Naturally, I had more pressing matters."

Looking at the still somewhat confused members of the Demon Sect, he sighed, as if lamenting the ignorance of the younger generation.

"Let me be straightforward," he said. "That day, I went straight to the core of the underground palace and met your Dream Deity—the Cloud Dream Immortal."

"He revived by borrowing the body of the Qin Sect Leader, and that very Qin Sect Leader is standing right before you."

"!!!"

These words struck like a thunderbolt out of the blue, exploding in the ears of the Summoning Demon Sect members.

Yuwen Cuojin felt his scalp tingle.

He suddenly remembered something—earlier, when this woman scolded them as "unworthy descendants," the Bamboo of Sincere Hearts had not reacted, meaning her words were entirely genuine.

This woman... was the Qin Sect Leader.

Or more accurately... the Cloud Dream Ancestral Deity?!

"But... how could an Ancestral Deity only be at the Palm Mystic Realm?" Yuwen Cuojin muttered to himself.

"Time erodes even the mightiest bones. Isn’t it natural after such an endless span of years?" Li Mo said expressionlessly.

"Right... right..."

The clever Deputy Sect Leader Yuwen began racking his brain.

Was there a possibility that gathering the power of the masses was meant to restore the Ancestral Deity’s strength?

Cold sweat dripped down Yuwen Cuojin’s back, and his earlier arrogance vanished.

He hastily ordered his followers, "Put away the bamboo! Put it away!"

Then, he took the lead in bowing respectfully, declaring his reverence for the Ancestral Deity’s descent.

Qin Yuzhi: "......"

They seemed to have misunderstood something.

And Li Mo hadn’t spoken a single lie.

Still, she played along with a cold snort. Swarms of dream butterflies fluttered back from all directions—the very means she had used to send dreams to the people of the Southern Border.

The Dao of Dreams!

This was a lost art of the Summoning Demon Sect, one that had faded with the slumber of the Cloud Dream Ancestral Deity. Yet now, it had reappeared!

At this moment, the last trace of doubt in Yuwen Cuojin’s heart vanished. Overwhelmed with excitement, he asked,

"Since you’ve descended, why didn’t you notify us so we could welcome you back to the sect?"

"I now serve under the Black Earth Immortal," Qin Yuzhi said coldly.

"!!!!"

Luo Yexian turned to Lei Mo, his gaze filled with shock and awe.

Even the Ancestral Deity served under this Black Earth Immortal?

The Ancestral Deity was a descended Celestial Immortal of the Nine Heavens!

Then just how terrifyingly vast must this person—and the Myriad Forms Immortal Sect behind him—be?!

Recalling his earlier arrogance, even daring to exert pressure on such an existence, Luo Yexian felt a surge of relief, grateful that the Immortal had not held it against him.

"Please... please have some tea," Yuwen Cuojin hurriedly offered, handing a cup to the great one.

"So, you don’t mind me taking some of the power of the masses?" Li Mo asked with a faint smile.

"Haha, why would we? We’re all family here! Besides, that power has already been put to good use."

Yuwen Cuojin believed that the power of the masses was meant to restore the Cloud Dream Ancestral Deity’s strength.

The Black Earth Immortal had truly gone to great lengths, playing such an elaborate game.

He really... moved me to tears.

As a mere mortal, Yuwen Cuojin felt a twinge of shame.

"But... what method did you use to gather followers for your teachings?"

"Who still relies on traditional preaching these days?"

Li Mo smiled faintly. "Celestial Brand Instant Noodles—a must-have for the modern era!"

......

As dusk fell, the Demon Sect members who had arrived with fierce momentum now left with gratitude, their mouths full of thanks to the Immortal.

Tan Zhuyin even handed over that stone bead—after all, it was useless to him.

As for Li Mo, all he gave up was a recipe for instant noodle seasoning.

Qin Yuzhi watched their retreating figures. "You just gave it to them? Aren’t you afraid they’ll compete with us for the power of the masses later?"

Li Mo tidied up the kitchenware and replied softly, "If the food truly reaches more people, does it matter who makes it?"

"If they remain stubborn, how could a packet of instant noodles change them? When the time comes... the people’s eyes are sharp."

"......"

Qin Yuzhi was taken aback. Suddenly, she felt she couldn’t quite understand this young man anymore.

Even in the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands today, the academies taught the hierarchy of heaven, earth, ruler, parents, and master—order above all.

Where had Li Mo learned these strange yet increasingly convincing principles? Some private school?

Just as she was feeling moved, Li Mo’s voice rang out again:

"Qin-jie, let’s head to the next stop. I’m in a hurry to get back to Autumn Water Pavilion for moon-viewing!"

"Damn those Demon-summoning Cultists for interrupting—I’m gonna be late, dammit!"

"......"

Is that really just moon-viewing you’re after?

......