Secret Records of the Leader of the Beichen Sword Sect
Chapter 158 - 157 Lanling

Chapter 158: Chapter 157 Lanling

Judging by the proficiency exhibited in the opponent’s array formation talisman, after some calculations and considerations, Tie Dan estimated that with his current strength, he’s probably no match for Mr. Ruan.

Often, the strength or weakness of battle power can be seen from these details.

Even if both are in the Nascent Soul Realm, each additional divine skill mastered, each extra magic treasure in possession can make a vast difference in actual combat power. A ferocious beast trained extensively in flesh and bone, however fast or strong, is easy to deal with if you have a sword that breaks defense; upon encountering Tie Dan, it would still pounce to snatch the prey. An Old Xuan Sect adept in various mystical escape techniques and innumerable secret lethal moves, whose cultivation is unfathomably deep, would naturally be avoided by him.

If this Mr. Ruan were just a Mixed Cultivation Demon Path practitioner inferior to Great Demon Beasts, who swapped some cultivation technique tools with the Divine Sect, Tie Dan would have chopped his head off without hesitation.

But unfortunately, the opponent is a genuine expert. Tie Dan flew around the cellar multiple times, inside and out, yet couldn’t find the method to break the formation. No matter how he moved, the moment he entered the formation-breaking method, the restriction would trigger and activate Mr. Ruan.

From the dense talisman marks, it was evident that the opponent was skilled in Qimen Dunjia and Primordial Spirit Secret Technique. Even if Tie Dan threw a heap of trump cards and forced a victory, he would likely be severely injured and might be eradicated by the altar master’s main body of the Divine Sect.

And someone like Lord Xiao cannot afford to use his trump card unless necessary to save his life; using it would likely cause a coma for seven days, and the back-and-forth would probably be too late.

However, since he promised Hou Sheng to save his life, Tie Dan naturally took this causality upon his shoulder.

So Tie Dan took out the Stone Box, glanced at the Jade Scroll, Jade Pendant, and Jade Sword within, which were merely items for Hou Sheng’s Foundation Establishment Realm, nothing rare. But the box was quite nice, just suitable to make a Sword Box.

So Tie Dan dumped out those trinkets, split them with a slash, and placed them alongside the heads of the old and young of the Ruan Family in the cellar, keeping only a small knife with him. Then he carved on the ground with the knife, inscribing the nine characters, ’Nine Heavens Xuan Nu Wishing Heaven Venerable’, and went out to set the Ruan Family aflame.

Thus, by destroying the Ruan Family’s stronghold, cutting off Hou Sheng’s Immortal Fate, provoking them outright by riding on their face, it indicated that my Mystic Sect indeed meddles, is determined to ruin your fate, break your magic, and raid your house, khiến khiến khiến!

I suppose, after suffering such a disgrace, the Divine Sect would also probably stop thinking about Hou Sheng and definitely pursue him.

So Tie Dan flew away, continuing to escape southward day and night, eventually arriving at Lanling Prefecture by the evening of the second day.

In fact, Lanling was not originally intended to be the capital of Zhen Country but was the fief of the Xiao Family. However, over the years, the clansmen of Zhen Country have been incompetent, morally weak and irrational, indulging in pleasures and neglecting governance, leading to the state affairs being entirely controlled by the Lanling Xiao Family, who have managed their affairs competently. Hence, the center of power gradually shifted here, making it the foremost city of Zhen Country.

The Xiao Family is indeed one of the top Gate Valve Families in the world. Their ancestor was already a prime minister in the era of the Immortal Venerable. While the Immortal Venerable slew demons and exterminated monsters on the frontline, he strategized and prepared provisions for the Immortal Army at the Three Constellations, earning great merits and becoming renowned for his contributions to national security, soothing the people, supplying military needs, and providing salaries, leading to being conferred ranks of nobility and becoming a minister.

Over the years, the Xiao Family has established a deep alliance with the Immortal Family. The men rise to be amongst the Three Ministers and Nine Ministers, while the women are conferred as Four Queens and Eight Concubines, being regarded as key officials among key officials, élite among élite. By governing for generations and excelling in management passed down through their family, they have countless disciples and old officials, endless wealth and property, and govern Zhen Country smoothly, earning the title of Virtuous Marquis from the world.

Of course, the Xiao Family’s longstanding success is primarily due to their clear positioning: they focus solely on providing money and women to the Three Constellations, without touching military power. Hence, even if the royal banner on the city walls changes, whoever gains power can rely on them without worry.

The Three Constellations naturally appreciate such insightful and capable Gate Valve Families. Moreover, people and taxes are fundamental to governance, so they reciprocate by wholeheartedly wooing the Xiao Family, ensuring that the head of the family is guaranteed at least a position among the Nine Ministers.

Of course, the Xiao Family will advance or retreat according to the political situation of the Three Constellations. If their women are favored in the Ziwei Constellation and their connections esteemed in the Heavenly Market Constellation, the Xiao Family Master might attempt to advance, strive for a position among the Three Ministers.

But if the Three Constellations face turmoil, with incessant clan and party strife, rampant occurrences of witchcraft, and assassinations, they would retreat, taking up positions such as the Governor of Zhenzhou to preserve the family’s assets.

The current Xiao Family Ancestor serves as the Governor of Zhenzhou, one of the Nine Ministers, and holds the position of Prime Minister of Zhen Country, bearing the Golden Seal and purple cords, honoured immensely by the nation.

So as Tie Dan rushed all the way here, he found, speechlessly, that he couldn’t even get through the door, though there was a large crowd at Lanling Prefecture’s gate fawning and self-recommending. Hence, he inquired about the process to meet the Xiao Mansion.

Regardless of the issue, money must be submitted first. The gatekeeper will count the gift money; they sell a hundred slots daily, the highest bidder gets it, and typically a ingot of gold is needed, referred to as the ’knocking brick’.

And getting through the door doesn’t mean seeing the ancestor; it’s to meet the steward of the Outer Mansion. The stewards of the Outer Mansion screen first; any trivial issues that can be settled will be handled, and those self-recommending are tested for their abilities. If they indeed have talent, they may be recommended to the Xiao Family’s young masters.

Even someone like Xiao Baoqin, a side branch of the Xiao Family, receives training and a chance to network. After being screened by the young masters, they might be recommended to the chief steward of the Inner Mansion.

If the chief steward of the Inner Mansion deems someone competent after a conversation, they will recommend them to those governing young lords and masters with real power, who might use them as staff if there’s a vacancy.

To have one’s name card presented before the ancestor’s desk and become a person worthy of the Xiao Family’s investment, one truly needs talent and must pass multiple screenings.

Well, with this tone, it’s still considered valuing talent and maintaining humility within the Gate Valve Families, at least providing a visible upward channel. Generally, in other Gate Valve Families, without a top-grade recommendation, they wouldn’t even glance at you.

Truly worthy of the title Virtuous Marquis.

"No, when the heck will this queue end? I don’t have time for this."

Upon hearing this, Tie Dan couldn’t wait and directly approached the gatekeeper, flashing his treasured sword.

"Hey, take a look at my sword..."

"Assassin!"

The gatekeeper, being experienced enough, immediately turned and ran, shouting at the top of his voice as soon as the cold gleam of the blade flashed. Instantly triggering the security mechanism!

Swish, swish, swish, swish! Four Great Gate Gods protectors immediately jumped out, each clad in Ming Guang Xuan Armor, wielding treasure swords, holding copper hammers, steel whips, and iron maces, they were Gang Fist Warriors! Swinging their whips and lifting their hammers to strike!

Tie Dan saw that once again he’d entered his most familiar rhythm. Well, it seems fine, a real man should indeed speak with swords!

So, without wasting words, he immediately activated the Turbo Divine Skill, raised the Court Ceremony Blade, clanging and banging! A cacophony of golden impacts resounded, dazzling to the ears!

These four Combat Generals guarding the Xiao Family’s gates were naturally strong, though perhaps a bit short of the Martial God, each was a house guard trained in Divine Gang Pill for longevity and Body Sculpting, refining Gang Fist for over a hundred years, able to unleash twenty to thirty layers of Gang Power with every move, clad in robust iron armor, built like rhinoceros tanks. They swung those fifty-to-hundred-pound copper hammers and iron maces with roaring wind, embodying human killing machines.

Yet, Tie Dan wasn’t weak either, although he had to conceal his Demon Sect identity on their turf, and with the turbo boost, his equipment attributes, base stats, and natural talent and comprehension were evident. Even with just a straightforward Five Tigers Breaking Door Saber, he fought on par with four adversaries.

These five fought a fierce battle, swords and blades flashing, sand and stones flying, with the ringing of metal clashing loudly, creating an exceedingly intense scene. Fortunately, Tie Dan wasn’t here for a massacre, and the four guards wouldn’t actively dismantle the mansion, hence both controlled their strength so it didn’t spread too widely, allowing onlooking quantifiers to continue observing while queuing and commenting unabated.

"This person looks exceedingly robust."

"Truly exceptional in appearance, full of domineering aura."

"Though his expression is fierce, he’s quite handsome."

"To fight four at once, a true hero indeed."

"Why is there a fragrance, smells truly fragrant..."

Tie Dan roars,

"Too much nonsense! Get out of my way!"

However, the crowd didn’t listen and instead gathered more, surrounding Tie Dan as if watching some juggling monkey, all merry and bright-eyed.

This angered Tie Dan, who shook his body vehemently, unleashing a surge of powerful Xuanming Ice Qi, simultaneously activating the Turbo Divine Skill, his powers bursting forth, instantly elevating his inner strength, rapidly increasing the speed of his blade, launching into a fierce and wild hacking spree!

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Tremendous sounds, akin to chorusing bells, echoed through Lanling, causing the nearby crowd to scream and cover their ears. Blasted by the icy air, they turned blue-faced and shivered, stumbling away chaotically as they fled.

The Xuanming True Qi he cultivated was an improved version by the Xuanji Ancestor. Previously, his opponents were mostly higher in cultivation than him, not showcasing the power of this skill. But at this moment, combating Cores, Dao Foundation counterparts were immediately invaded by the chilly Xuanji Cold Qi.

Upon encountering his blade just once, ice Qi pierced through the meridians like needles, the cold stream pouring into the lungs directly. In each subsequent clash, continual ice Qi infiltrated along the force, not only reducing the Qi flow by thirty to forty percent, directly diminishing cultivation power, but also frosted the viscera muscles, with the sinister cold Qi entrenched in the body like bone-eating maggots. Each use of strength felt like ice spikes rampaging internally.

Moreover, as Tie Dan’s rage erupted, his sword power intensified visibly, the four gate Combat Generals were noticeably unable to withstand, retreating and fleeing one by one, with blood frothing from their mouths freezing on their faces as vivid red ice shards. If it weren’t for the layers of treasure armor protecting them and Tie Dan’s restraint in sparing their lives, they would likely have been diced into frozen flesh chunks within a few maneuvers.

"Steward, come out here! Don’t force me to kill!"

Then, growing ruthless, exerting his Divine Power, smashing the four gate Generals, Tie Dan carried his sword into the hall, forcefully entering Lanling City.