Secret Records of the Leader of the Beichen Sword Sect
Chapter 172 - 171 Lan Pond

Chapter 172: Chapter 171 Lan Pond

One can only say that wealthy families are truly grand; there are hidden doors and secret chambers everywhere, with several Cave Heaven Secret Realms to boot.

But it makes sense. The Lan Pond grows countless Golden Lotuses, which are actually rare treasures that can be harvested for Alchemy and Artifact Refining.

The Xiao Family further arranges these Golden Lotuses into a formation with a special Array; without a talisman to drive the boat, it’s impossible to enter or exit the Golden Lotus Array. Without knowledge of the Array Technique, one who intrudes rashly will be entangled by flower stems and roots, potentially drowning in the mire. Even yin souls are barred outside this many-layered Golden Lotus Array, unable to step in.

However, with the Kun leading the way, swimming ahOéad and pointing directions among the water plants and fake mountains, Tie Dan recites the water avoidance art and follows in unnoticed, stealthily entering the Lan Pond.

Passing the First Level of the Golden Lotus Array, the water of the Lan Pond suddenly becomes clear, as if it were a translucent blue Treasure Bead, as clear as crystal and transparent to the bottom.

Thus, straightway diving down underwater reveals clearly Xiao Family’s residence built underwater.

At the bottom of that Lan Pond, there are jade walls lining the pond and marble paving the ground. Coral and seaweed from the Southeast Sea have been brought with no expense spared, alongside numerous strange stones and fake mountains, creating dwellings and temples underwater, forming a crystal palace to escape the heat.

From afar, one sees underwater rocks coated with five-colored gold lacquer, reflecting from the water, several Purple Pavilions and brothels stand, their walls bearing pictures of men and women’s private liaisons. The Purple Pavilion stands supreme, all the palaces are excessive in luxury and extravagance, the murals and sculptures are purely made of glaze, green bands of gold adorn everything, musk perfumes the walls, brocade curtains and pearl drapes reach the height of opulence.

Well then, earlier Tie Dan even compared the Xiao Fa to the Shi family in the northwest, thinking this family quite frugal; how ignorant he was. Indeed, this was the elite of all valves; look at this spectacle, villas beneath the water, even the door handles are gilded and inlaid with jade...

Within the heart of the Xiao Family Lake, there must be some powerful magic treasure suppressing and protecting the place, forming a dense Qi Shield that guards the whole residence.

Tie Dan splits open the water curtain Qi Wall with the ’Dingye’ blade, entering the Grotto Heaven, and, turning his head, he sees the azure lake water floating outside, wrapping the palace like a crystal ball, the outside adorned with patches of Golden Lotus, lending a certain atmosphere.

Meanwhile, several Treasure Boats from the Xiao Family had already docked within the residence. At a glance, he saw blood dripping on the deck of the boats and wine splashed around, implying that festivities had been going on overnight, only to be abruptly attacked; a wave of attacks had happened, many guards and maids were killed on the deck.

It appears then that the attackers have already taken the Xiao family members hostage and brought them down.

Tie Dan then pinches a formula to conceal his presence, heading towards the central Purple Pavilion of the residence.

And that Purple Pavilion seems like some place of cultivation and retreat, constructed at the center of this lake-heart residence, built upon a three-tier Jade Magic Altar, suppressing the Earth Vein of Lanling Prefecture, indeed the gathering place of the most concentrated Spiritual Qi.

On a closer look, surely enough, all the Xiao Family members are there, a whole family held by four men in black, forced to kneel on the Han White Jade plaza outside the Purple Pavilion for beheading.

At a glance, more than a hundred heads had been slain, blood flowing like rivers, heads rolling; no gender or age was spared, dragged out and killed with a single sword, the heads lifted as if to show the people inside the Purple Pavilion, then tossed aside to pile up like a cairn, the bodies thrown beneath the altar.

The Purple Pavilion itself had its doors and windows shut tight, faintly emitting a golden light, seeming as though someone is hiding inside holding on.

Hm, who else could be in that pavilion? Yet seeing their family being slaughtered so thoroughly and not stepping out, their ancestor certainly has a steady seat...

Since their own ancestor isn’t in a hurry, Tie Dan has no reason to rush either. He hid stealthily for a moment, pinched his fingers for some calculations, and came to some conclusion.

These men in black are clearly conducting a blood sacrifice to break the formation.

Four True Men of the Nascent Soul Realm sit in the east, west, south, and north, chanting incantations.

Five Mages of the Golden Core Realm stood in positions corresponding to the mutual conquest of the Five Elements, wielding swords to decapitate.

The heads of the Xiao family are piled up, while the bodies are either intact or severed at the waist, forming Yin Yang lines, arranging around the Purple Pavilion into a Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Formation.

The Magic Altar below the Purple Pavilion is being corroded by the blood of the Xiao Family, the rune talisman on the Altar dimming, gradually becoming ineffective, and the Immortal Palace Divine Beast protection made of Jade outside the Purple Pavilion is soiled by blood, collapsing one by one, the curses nullified, their powers lost.

The four True Men occasionally wave their dusters, casting mountain wind, earth fire, hail, and sandstorms, pounding the Purple Pavilion from all sides, shaking it as if in an earthquake, on the verge of collapse.

Whoa... slaughtering a whole family so adeptly, truly fellow sect members indeed...

Tie Dan cast a glance at the remaining spell materials...

Uh oh, he didn’t see Xiao Baoqin among them; she couldn’t have already been chopped, right...

Then he decided to retreat.

The Blood Blade spoke speechlessly, "Huh? You’re leaving now?"

Well, the situation as it stands—four Nascent Soul and five Golden Core! Altogether nine Mystic Sect members!

Moreover, can’t you see the flowers have gone cold? What’s the point of fighting further!

Forget it, in the future, he’ll find Fanghu’s people for revenge...

But the moment Tie Dan took a step back, he bumped into someone.

He turned his head and saw Mr. He Lin holding a piece of coral over his head, crouching behind, raising an eyebrow at him.

"As expected, it’s you, little brother. I knew from the scent that you had arrived."

Scram! Get lost!

Tie Dan gave him glare, turned away, and walked off.

"Hey, hey, hey, don’t go! Help me out, will you!"

Mr. He Lin quickly pulled him,

"My friend has agreed to let you join. Since you’re so capable, take care of the Golden Core ones. Are you confident?"

Tie Dan squinted at him,

"Let go."

Mr. He Lin had no choice but to release his hand,

"Hey kid, I’ve let you off for ruining my plans several times, and now my Sword Box is damaged. Don’t you think you should make amends? Help me out this time."

Tie Dan sneered.

Thinking of that crane, he fumed, darn thing pecked him painfully...

But before Tie Dan spoke, Mr. He Lin took out a dragon-patterned iron box from his sleeves and handed it over,

"Here, as payment."

Payment? What’s this? Elixir Pills?

Mr. He Lin opened the box to show him, and inside was a pitch-black iron ball.

Oh, this is... Eh? Could it be...

Mr. He Lin nodded and said,

"This sword, Shadow, was commissioned by a friend of yours from the Sword Sect for me to forge. He had already prepared a Golden Materials Sword Manual, but unfortunately, being an Outer Mountain Disciple, he never got the chance to use the Sword Furnace of Nine Yin Mountain...

In any case, the sword was not yet refined when he fell in sword fighting. Since it used your Sword Sect’s talismanic seals, I’ve held on to it. Since it seems we’re fated, I’m giving it to you."

Tie Dan, "Shadow."

Shadow flashed and leaped, rising from the box, landing in Tie Dan’s palm.

Yes!

Sword ball!

Golden Core Third Grade!

A magnificent sword indeed!

No, it’s not an exaggeration! To Tie Dan, a disciple of the Sword Sect, it’s truly a magnificent sword!

A disciple of the Sword Sect must have a good sword in hand to fully utilize their skills!

And with a sword ball that matches his realm, specifically designed to complement the Sword Control Skill flying sword! To truly manifest the Sword Sect Secret Skill’s might!

As far as sword balls go, a rating of at least third-grade is the minimum, but for Mr. He Lin to have forged a flying sword on his first attempt is already considerably impressive!

Tie Dan was overjoyed! He wanted to draw his blade and test the sword right then, sleeves rolled up, killing everyone in sight!

Mr. He Lin quickly said,

"Wait, wait, the time is not yet right."

Tie Dan was anxious,

"What do you mean? I’ve been entrusted with the Golden Core ones! You’ve got four people, and you still can’t handle it!"

Mr. He Lin rolled his eyes at him,

"These are experts from the Supreme Nine Truth Palace. While they may not have much reputation in the Central Plains, they have been stirring up trouble overseas, dominating for years.

I foresee the Penglai Five Immortal Mountains falling into their hands sooner or later, absolutely not to be underestimated.

The Xiao Family Ancestor in the Purple Pavilion also possesses some capability, seeing his family being slaughtered yet not taking action; he’s got patience.

Wait a little longer until they break the grand formation and engage with the Xiao Family first, to wear them down a bit, before we make our move.

The cicada is captured by the mantis, and the yellow sparrow follows behind. In any case, wait for my signal."

Sure enough, let the Xiao Family fight a round first; it’s likely that today the Xiao Family will be wiped out completely...

Alright, alright, in light of the flying sword, let’s wait a bit longer...

"Oh, also."

Just as Mr. He Lin was about to leave, he suddenly turned around and looked at Tie Dan with a glint in his eyes,

"No need to worry about those two lovers of yours; they’re no pushovers and have long since fled.

And the fire in Tai City? It was set by your Junior Sister. This Lan Pond originally had a banned formation array, but the Marquis Xichang Mansion’s young lady broke the talisman to let the Jiuzhen Palace’s people in.

This time, with their meticulous planning, they invaded so smoothly, even faster than us. Surely they’ve been plotting against the Xiao Family for a long while, both inside and out completely bought off.

You Sword Sect members, so straightforward and headstrong, always charging forward recklessly.

Be careful in the future when choosing a Daoist companion. Keep your eyes open, lest you be used as a tool."