Secret Records of the Leader of the Beichen Sword Sect
Chapter 163 - 162: Music and Rhythm

Chapter 163: Chapter 162: Music and Rhythm

Upon hearing Tie Dan’s plan, the old man appeared doubtful for a moment,

"Treachery? Will they really fall for it?

And look at you, all colorful, holding a treasure sword and wearing grand clothing. The Xiao Family hasn’t treated you poorly, have they?

Will you really turn against them and collaborate with me?"

Tie Dan responded frankly,

"One thing at a time. I saved their family member, and took their reward; the cause and effect is settled.

Moreover, it was Marquis Xichang and his daughter who befriended me. Since the Xiao Family refuses to lend their aid, it’s a complete break; I, as an outsider, don’t need to be concerned.

Besides, our paths don’t align; you and I, on the other hand, are kindred spirits. As long as you agree to share the Immortal Ganoderma with me, I will naturally join forces with you, help you gain the Immortal Ganoderma, and achieve the Great Dao together."

The old man fell silent, as if calculating secretly.

Tie Dan struck while the iron was hot,

"Why hesitate, senior? Even if you’re ruthless and finish off a few weak women here, it won’t help. It’s clear the Xiao Family won’t exchange their items for people, and it’ll only tarnish your reputation.

You find yourself in this predicament, unable to advance or retreat, precisely because two fists can’t block four hands. Alone, you truly can’t overcome the Xiao Family or obtain this treasure. That’s why you need someone to join forces with you.

As long as you share some of the Immortal Ganoderma with me, it won’t interfere with your Immortal Fate. If you’re really reluctant, you can promise to trade for comparable Divinity Transformation Heavenly Materials Treasures in the future; I trust you."

The old man pinched his fingers and calculated,

"I don’t mind either way. As long as I can obtain the Immortal Ganoderma and open my path, any means are acceptable. Any karma can be repaid slowly after Divinity Transformation.

However, I need to discuss this with my associate, with whom I’ve already made an agreement. Adding another person to share the loot requires their consent as well."

Tie Dan’s heart jumped, his gaze sharpened as he realized this matter wasn’t simple.

"You’ve already partnered with someone?"

The old man chuckled,

"Indeed, just as you said. Since it’s impossible for me to obtain the Immortal Ganoderma alone, I naturally sought someone to join forces.

That’s why, under someone’s guidance, I set up this trap to abduct the Xiao Family’s young lady to lure away the tiger from its mountain.

You don’t have to hurry to join. Once my friend’s forces have dealt with your reinforcements, they’ll be here in the blink of an eye.

We’ll soon know whether it works or not."

Tie Dan was shocked and immediately attempted to flee, but he ran straight into a sea of trees, trapped and blocked within the formation!

"What is the meaning of this, senior?"

The old man smiled warmly,

"If you want to join and share the spoils, you must prove your worth. Although I know your skills are decent, you still need to show others your capabilities.

Here’s the deal: if you can withstand three days and nights in my formation, I’ll consider it your victory."

"Damn, this trick again!"

Yet the old monster acted immediately!

The wooden leaves transformed into a dragon in an instant! Sweeping through the forest, it pounced to kill!

Seeing the sea of trees surging like tides, with needle-like leaves pouring down like rain, aiming to bury him, Tie Dan knew he was at a life-or-death crossroads and could no longer hold back!

Without further ado, he shed his Snow Mountain Palace disciple guise, jolted the Daoist energy, activated the turbo, and radiated the Taibai Sword Light. Swinging his saber and brandishing his sword, with dazzling blades and sword lights unleashed in full force, he executed his mantra and calculations, dashing through the formation, breaking it while moving, tunneling and teleporting!

However, the Mystic Sect’s formation calculations are not something to be trifled with. This skill directly tests a disciple’s mathematical abilities. Not only must one calculate correctly, but also fast; otherwise, miscalculate and run into a dead end, and it’s death; calculate a way out, then another may change the formation, and you’re still dead!

Even if you calculate correctly and quickly, whether you have the ability to break through it is still questionable. Now, Tie Dan found himself in a vast labyrinthine woodland, with tree walls surrounding him like countless forest locust serpents, thorny wooden walls crushing toward him!

Facing him were the formation-casters, especially these old Mystic Sect monsters. They didn’t have to calculate and then act. With years of sect predecessors’ accumulation and research, they could easily operate the grand formation by following the formula and heart method, capable of crushing thousands of troops into mustard, grinding them into meat paste!

"You can’t just break it move by move like this!"

Seeing Tie Dan struggling in the formation, often in danger and beset with perils, even Lord Xiao watching from the side became anxious, offering advice,

"Their Daoist skills are higher than yours, their techniques stronger, and they’ve diverted you for a full seven days to fully prepare!

Once the array is activated, it becomes a realm of its own. Do you think you can cut through the entire world?

Don’t be too obstinate; sometimes you have to use wit!"

"That’s easy for you to say, where’s the wit to use!"

Tie Dan inwardly lamented, using sword energy to cut through the incoming wooden dragon vines, dodging poison stingers from left and right.

Though protected by the Lion Dharma Robe and wielding the Court Ceremony Treasure Saber, he had preserved enough energy for a fierce battle upon arrival.

But as Lord Xiao said, the enemy had calculated everything and prepared thoroughly. Last time, by sheer luck, he barely had a chance for a sneak attack. This time, they didn’t even reveal their true form, suppressing him entirely with the grand formation!

Though Tie Dan was highly talented, learning everything quickly, and even having the Heavenly Book’s advantage, healing and replenishing Qi particularly effectively, this magic battling and breaking formation task was overwhelmingly complex! Pure talent could only go so far! Time and experience were needed!

Simply put, it was a matter of practice and memorization!

Though formations are natural, breaking them is always easier than setting them up! An individual can’t encompass all changes, and the formations they mastered and prepared are always limited!

Thus, with enough practice, when encountering a formation, one could declare, "I know this formation!"

Knowing how it changes, where the dangers lie and where the vitality is, sometimes the opponent wouldn’t even need to fight you, sparing their effort.

But for a newbie like Tie Dan, his accumulation in formation arts was far from enough! To be blunt, his foundation in any of the Mystic Sect’s Five Arts was insufficient!

Even relying on strong talent and good comprehension to forcibly break through, he could only barely manage against the endless vine whips, wooden arrows, and thorny spears! He aimed to rush through the path of survival before being shredded into pieces!

"How stubborn! Why say there’s no clever way! Listen carefully to the sound of the trees! It’s so obvious!

I’ve told you before to learn the flute, but you refused! Come! Let me teach you the Book of Tones!"

Lord Xiao, frustrated with Tie Dan’s lack of progress, seeing him so busy, still jumped around the forest, clapping rhythmically, as if dancing!

"What madness is this! I don’t have time to bother with you right now!"

Tie Dan swung his sword into a sphere to block incoming leaf blades from all directions, utterly exhausted.

Still, Lord Xiao chattered nonstop,

"Foolish, foolish! Everything in the world has rhythm! Music has rhythm, formations have methods, Qiankun has returns, heaven and earth have Dao!

You can’t always think of using brute force, like the Sword Sect, to break the Dao!

If caught in such a predicament now, and with your strength, barely enough to shatter the sky?

Will you remain trapped in this formation for eternity!?"

Tie Dan was startled, like a sudden jolt, urgently dodging a crushing giant wood dragon!

"So annoying! If you’re going to teach, then teach! I won’t learn it!"

"Without the Six Tones, you can’t correct the Five Sounds! Follow the rhythm, find the principles of this place!"

Ignoring everything else, Lord Xiao began to sing boldly within the formation.

Tie Dan felt like going mad. With Xiao silent for days, he now wouldn’t stop yammering endlessly, distracting him even from focusing and calculating. Finally, he gave up on calculations altogether, listening to the chattering, swinging his sword and saber wildly, countering attacks as they came, fighting fiercely.

In this moment, Tie Dan had no reservations left, his pupils shining brilliantly, chasing the storm of needle-like leaf blades, blinking erratically, sometimes not even aligned. He wished he had more eyes to utilize.

Engaged in the chaotic battle, the song sung by Lord Xiao also entered his ears,

"First month of spring, tone of Major Second, second month of spring, tone of Minor Third, last month of spring, tone of Major Third, first month of summer, tone of Perfect Fourth..."

Then Tie Dan understood.

Lord Xiao was teaching about the Five Sounds and Twelve Tones, the basic sound theory: Gong, Shang, Jiao, Zhi, Yu, and Huangzhong, Dalü, Taicu, Jiazhuo, Guxian, Zhonglü, Ruibin, Linzhong, Yize, Nanlǚ, Wushe, Yingzhong.

Although Lord Xiao was singing the music theory, each tone, each resonance, was astoundingly precise, echoing like the heavenly music, as if the Dao between heaven and earth resonated with him.

Upon understanding this Dao, Tie Dan involuntarily comprehended a swordsmanship style, and without thinking, began to dance his sword in rhythm, weaving through the chaotic wind and leaves.

He could then discern the hidden sounds within the forest.

Indeed, since formations are natural, these principles converge; the so-called Jiao belongs to wood, symbolizing the people; this Purple Mist Wood Formation, each tone, each resonance begins with ’third tone.’

By grasping this pattern and calculating, every transformation and Qi circulation of the formation follows the five-tenth-four rhythm, which corresponds to Lin Zhong...

Ultimately, everything returns to its source!

By following the rhythm and capturing the changes, one can reverse-engineer the foundation of this formation’s principle! There’s a chance to find the path of transformation!

Then indeed! Break the formation and emerge! Turn defeat into victory! Reverse Qiankun...

"Fell off key, fell off key! The flavor’s off!"

"Ah? Damn!"

"Boom!"

Tie Dan was swatted onto a tree trunk by the claw of a wooden dragon, spewing blood.

Lord Xiao, hands on his hips, shouted angrily,

"Fool! Not paying attention in class! You’re a beat behind! Dismiss distractions! Start over!"

Damn it, with this kind of teaching, no wonder you couldn’t teach anyone in two hundred years...

Tie Dan couldn’t speak and could only spit blood, starting over...