The Pastoral Life of a Cultivation Master

Chapter 3218: Doubts Begin
After thinking for a moment, Chen Mo recounted the process of the shadowy figure appearing and launching the sneak attack.

“The situation was very sudden,” Chen Mo said slowly, his gaze sweeping over everyone, finally lingering on Qian Ying’s face for a fleeting moment. “The shadow appeared without warning. It was like ink seeping from the ground, completely blending into the shadows. If it hadn’t launched its attack and brought that bone-chilling cold, we probably wouldn’t have noticed its presence until it got very close.”

Of course, Chen Mo used a little trick here. In fact, he possessed divine sense, making it absolutely impossible for the shadowy figure to get close to him, even if it tried to kill Ouyang Nana. However, within the range of his divine sense, which was over three and a half meters wide, the shadowy figure would be detected as soon as it approached.

Chen Mo couldn't say it like that at first; he could only say that he couldn't detect it. Fortunately, the shadowy figure wasn't attacking him but Ouyang Nana, so he used the excuse that he could detect it in time to tell Qian Ying.

As for whether to believe it or not, that depends on what Qian Ying thinks. Anyway, he has already explained it very well. If you don't believe it, there's nothing you can do. At most, we can just kill Qian Ying, and even kill Zhou Zixing and the others.

But he could buy himself some time, since he was genuinely interested in the environment and the shadowy figure.

Chen Mo couldn't say that. He could only pretend to be completely unprepared, even projecting an image of having "luckily" defeated the shadow. After all, if Qian Ying and Zhou Zixing knew that he could easily sense the shadow's presence, they would inevitably doubt his true strength.

“That shadowy figure was extremely fast and incredibly adept at stealth.” Chen Mo frowned slightly, as if deep in thought. “Perhaps because its ambush was discovered, it didn’t use its full strength in its haste, which is why I was able to repel it.”

He paused, then added, "Moreover, that thing seems very reluctant to be discovered, always hiding in dark corners, specifically targeting people when they are off guard. It's really strange."

As Chen Mo spoke, he subtly observed Qian Ying's expression. Sure enough, Qian Ying's eyes flickered slightly, and her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly before returning to normal. But Chen Mo knew that this guy had begun to suspect him.

When Ouyang Nan returned earlier, he told them that Qian Ying and Zhou Zixing had encountered a shadowy figure on the platform above, and even lost four martial artists. Although the encounter was brief, they had already deduced that the shadowy figure's strength was not to be underestimated.

But now, Chen Mo actually "easily" repelled the shadowy figure with a single move?
How could this not arouse Qian Ying's suspicion?

Even Zhou Zixing, standing to the side, couldn't hide the fact. After all, Chen Mo had indeed knocked the shadowy figure away; everyone had witnessed it. He had thought that although he knew Chen Mo's strength and could try to conceal it, how could he possibly do so in this situation?

Helpless, I really didn't want to stand here. Ouch. The feeling in my back returned; why did that uncomfortable feeling always surface whenever Chen Mo was mentioned?
However, he didn't dare to reach out and touch it, after all, Chen Mo had told him not to touch it casually, or he would have to bear the consequences.

Although Zhou Zixing was neither a kind-hearted person nor one to keep his word, he would always abide by the rules in front of someone powerful, daring not to overstep the boundaries in the slightest. Even if he felt somewhat uncomfortable, he wouldn't dare to touch them even a little.

Ugh, I'm so tired!

Qian Ying gently stroked his chin, his eyes deep, as if weighing something. After a moment, he suddenly spoke, his tone calm but with a hint of probing: "Li Mo, your reaction is quite quick."

From the beginning until now, all Qian Ying knows is that Chen Mo's name is Li Mo.

Chen Mo smiled slightly, his expression indifferent: "It was just good luck. That shadowy figure probably didn't expect me to discover him and then suddenly launch a counterattack."

Qian Ying stared at him and nodded slowly, but the scrutiny in her eyes did not diminish in the slightest.

He put himself in Chen Mo's shoes, imagining what would happen if he discovered the shadowy figure and exchanged a blow with it. But the more he thought about it, the more doubtful he became. He had personally witnessed the shadowy figure before and experienced its strength up close; it was definitely not as Chen Mo claimed—that he was caught off guard by a sudden counterattack and hadn't used his full strength. Heh, this young man seemed to be talking nonsense.

However, Qian Ying then thought that Chen Mo's strength was already at the peak of the tenth level of the acquired realm, especially when he fought against his own steward, Qian Wantong, he was the one who suppressed him.

He was very clear about Qian Wantong's strength; he had already reached the late stage of the tenth level of the Acquired Realm, only a small step away from the peak. Perhaps after returning this time, coupled with the training experience in this valley, he might be able to break through to the peak in a short period of time and officially start striving towards the first level of the Innate Realm.

However, upon analysis, it becomes clear that despite his formidable strength, Qian Wantong was utterly powerless against Chen Mo, and was defeated in just over ten moves.

Therefore, this young man's strength is definitely not what he said, that he is at the peak of the tenth level of the acquired realm.

But if it's not the peak of the tenth level of the acquired realm, could it be the first level of the innate realm?
That's impossible. Among all the innate masters in the outside martial arts world, none are as young as this first-level innate master. This is rather strange.

If you're not a first-tier innate master, how did you defeat Qian Wantong and that shadowy figure?
For a moment, Qian Ying scratched her head, then looked at Chen Mo and said, "Could you describe in detail what it felt like to fight the shadowy figure? It would be best to give some specific details."

Chen Mo nodded. Since he wanted details, he would explain them to him properly.

"When the shadow attacked, I stepped forward and exchanged blows with it, and it felt really bad!"...

"How should I put it? It had a kind of cold, slippery feeling. Especially the cold feeling, which was very uncomfortable."...

"Look, the blue mark left when I clashed palms with the shadowy figure."

As Chen Mo spun words, he used his internal energy to turn his palms blue, deliberately making them bruised to prove that he hadn't gained the upper hand in his palm strike against the shadowy figure.

The method to create this trace is quite simple; it can be achieved simply by circulating one's true energy.

Sigh, lying is a skill. I couldn't make up any more stories, so I just stopped. "I only exchanged one palm strike with the shadowy figure, so it felt very brief. It can be summarized in just a few words."

Qian Ying nodded, neither confirming nor denying, "Then what about the sound of bones breaking when they clashed palms with the shadowy figure?"

"I don't know, maybe there's something special about the shadowy figure's body that's causing it to make that sound." Chen Mo naturally couldn't say that he had broken the shadowy figure's arm.

Qian Ying remained silent, but her suspicious gaze was quite evident.

He knew the young man in front of him was lying, but it was hard to tell how many lies and how much truth he was telling.

He can't directly attack Chen Mo right now, because every combatant is precious under the current circumstances.