Secret Records of the Leader of the Beichen Sword Sect
Chapter 207 - 206 Liu Family Manor

Chapter 207: Chapter 206 Liu Family Manor

"Blood Poppy Divine Skill, First Level! Red Blood Flowing Vessels! Haaaaa——!!"

Just like last time, upon seeing the signal of flames rising from the Prince Mansion, Yao Honglei activated her berserk combat mode, punching the palace guards to death one by one! Then, she charged around, drawing attention to buy time for Tie Dan’s escape.

Unlike last time, there was no Void Heavenly Demon to interfere this time. Thus, the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals from the Immortal Palace chose the easier targets, charging in a large force, surrounding Jiangdu with the Heaven and Earth Net, capturing anyone in sight.

So Immortal Jiang Zhu charged into the formation alone, clashing with the army of the Immortal Palace in the clouds, causing winds to stir and clouds to surge, lightning to thunder, the sound booms of punches reverberating. Shattered flesh and a rain of blood poured down upon the world, like a storm sweeping across Jiangdu.

Tie Dan, breathing heavily, tunneled out of the city, ran a bit further into the forest, then collapsed by the roadside, unable to move further while gasping for breath.

This time, although he wasn’t beheaded, he expended five hundred years of his Golden Core lifespan sealing the demon, with his life fire burning low, and his destiny almost spent. Not only did he appear hunched and old, but the Qi acupoints all over his body were leaking, with his power drastically reduced. His clothes were dirty, his hair wilted, he was sweating under his arms, his body emitted a foul stench, and he no longer had the pleasing appearance he once had, clearly indicating the onset of the Heavenly Person’s Five Decays.

But fortunately, even though Tie Dan was weak, his Sword Bone could still stand, with Purple Mist Spirit Qi flowing endlessly in his Qi Sea, so he could barely gather enough Qi to run.

Who knows if Yao Honglei could carve a path out of the Immortal Palace’s grand formation, but at this moment, Tie Dan knew he was a burden and couldn’t help her much anymore.

Moreover, priorities were clear, and he couldn’t concern himself with Yao Honglei’s side matters. He needed to suppress the Void Heavenly Demon Map at the feet of Shenxiao Ancestor within seven days to eliminate this calamity and get through this great tribulation; nothing else mattered.

So this time, Tie Dan also headed directly toward Heng Mountain.

Upon reaching Heng Mountain, he could exchange for the longevity-enhancing ginseng pills, with eighty-one years of lifespan more than enough to resolve the problem of the Heavenly Person’s Five Decays. Besides, given his current state, his teacher’s wife probably wouldn’t want to cultivate with him...

Thus, exposed to the wind and sleeping under the stars, covered in filth and emitting a foul odor, Tie Dan arrived disheveled at the foot of Heng Mountain, resembling a beggar.

And like last time, he encountered the "Heng Mountain Destroyer."

"Moo moo, hum hum, moo moo, hum hum, munch munch..."

This time, Tie Dan saw a strong wind from afar and climbed up a tree to avoid it, spotting the Nascent Soul Pig Demon rooting around in the mountains for wild yams and mushrooms to eat.

Well, no wonder Heng Mountain left this pig outside the Mountain Gate, as it actually had a pretty gentle nature. As long as you don’t start a fight with it staring at its head, it won’t actively chase you.

Having a Great Demon guard the mountain not only deterred other demons from invading, but this pig remembered the paths to the spiritual herbs all over the mountain, could automatically locate and dig out many Spirit Roots hidden in the soil, and at the same time, while eating and defecating, fertilized the soil at the mountain’s base, spreading the seeds of herbs around Heng Mountain. It naturally became a planter and guardian of the Medicine Garden. Heng Mountain disciples just had to follow the pig to find herb collection points.

Well, killing this pig might make Heng Mountain angry, better leave it for next time.

Thus, Tie Dan continued deeper into the mountains. Maybe because there was no interference from the pig this time, things deviated again, and instead of finding the Spirit Hall Hot Spring Bathtub, he found a secluded village hidden deep in the mountains.

"Old man, where do you come from, and what brings you here?"

Outside the village in the terraced fields, a farmer planting rice seedlings saw Tie Dan emerge from the forest and greeted him with a smile.

Tie Dan saw that even a mere farmer possessed the Golden Core Realm, and from his brows and features, he could discern the resemblance of those two old acquaintances, so he realized he had triggered some Immortal Fate plot.

"A Mountain Man from the Northern region."

So Tie Dan earnestly made a formal salute of respect and presented the flute with both hands,

"To return the belonging of your village’s descendants."

The farmer was taken aback, gazed at the flute, and sighed,

"I see, Chao Yan and Changqing... I understand. Benefactor, please follow me."

Indeed, this was the Heng Mountain Liu Family Village.

The Liu clan residing here were the descendants of Jingtian Immortal in the mortal world. The Heng Mountain Liu Family could be called a typical family-style cultivation sect.

Once, generation after generation of ancestors were trampled under the Immortal Palace, toiling tirelessly without a chance of rising.

But just by one person attaining the Dao, the whole family and their livestock ascended to the heavens, thanks to an extraordinary ancestor, Jingtian Immortal, who alone elevated the entire clan. Thus, the entire Liu family for generations relying on the Immortal Lord’s legacy of cultivation techniques, Heavenly Materials Treasures, and connections with Daoist companions, stepped onto the path of cultivation.

Over the years, almost the entire Liu family could rely on the Immortal Lord’s bequests to gain an Immortal Fate, with Jingtian Immortal leaving not only cultivation resources and a magic treasure for the family but also cultivation techniques suitable for the family’s lineage. Coupled with guidance and training from each generation of accomplished elders, the starting point for Liu family disciples was indeed much higher than those commoners starting with nothing, and almost every generation of Liu disciples could at least reach Foundation Establishment, with a fair number forming inner cores.

Yet, even for a family with an Immortal ancestor like the Liu family, it demonstrates how difficult Mystic Sect cultivation is. Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Divinity Transformation — each threshold is like leaping through the Dragon Gate, eliminating at least ninety percent of candidates.

Even with the Immortal Lord’s legacy and resources, while the clan does have those who succeed in Foundation Establishment and even Core Formation, the number who can withstand heavenly tribulations to form a Nascent Soul True Man’s core dramatically decreases. And forming a Nascent Soul is merely the foundational requirement for entering the Mystic Sect. Afterward, the path becomes increasingly perilous, with heavenly tribulations every 500 years and life-and-death trials every 1,200 years, not to mention the deadly battles for Magic Couples, Materials, and Lands, making successful Divinity Transformation extremely rare.

Ironically, if the clan truly produced someone who mastered Divinity Transformation, it may not necessarily be a good thing.

Because though a Divinity Transformation Cultivator is powerful and can uphold the destiny, bringing endless benefits to the family, the further cultivation demands astronomical consumption, imposing a heavy burden on the sect and family. If one lives too long, without ascending for one or two thousand years, no matter how vast their original resources, it would be depleted.

Therefore, honestly speaking, after the first generation of Immortal Lord to the present, due to producing several Divinity Transformation cultivators and experiencing a few calamities from the Immortal Lord’s enemies, with repeated subjugation, downfall, and rebuilding, the Liu family quickly exhausted their savings, and wasn’t particularly wealthy, just a commonly decent Immortal Village by current standards.

However, in recent generations, the Liu family hasn’t produced another Divinity Transformation ancestor, the highest realm being a Nascent Soul True Man cultivating at Shangqing Palace on Heng Mountain, so there has been some accumulation, enough to support clan disciples in cultivation.

This generation, besides having this farmer assume the role of village chief to guide the younger members, the clan’s hopes rested on Liu Chaoyan and Liu Changqing. But at present... hopes would have to be placed on the next generation.

Of course, with Tie Dan returning the news of the clan members’ passing and returning the magic treasure flute of Jingtian Immortal, the Liu family was naturally grateful for this kindness, prepared to offer not just the Longevity Grass Yellow Ginseng Pills, but also any Heavenly Materials Treasures if requested.

However, Tie Dan only accepted two ginseng pills, used one for extending his lifespan, and didn’t ask for more.

After all, returning the treasure was an obligation, done as a matter of course, not to mention Lord Xiao’s constant protection and guidance along the way, whom Tie Dan felt guilty about getting into trouble.

Moreover, when paying respects in the Jingtian Immortal shrine and returning the flute to its shrine, with a "plop," a scroll fell from the rafters, covering Tie Dan in dust.

Well, what else could it be? It was an anonymous flute score, recording numerous pieces composed by Jingtian Immortal and Lord Xiao. Apparently, Lord Xiao was quite free-spirited; this was likely all he had left to remember.

Having already bid farewell last time, Tie Dan didn’t hesitate and placed the flute score close, bowed solemnly to the flute in the shrine, thanked it, and left.

"But Benefactor, are you truly not staying a few more days? Your wounds haven’t healed yet..."

"Thank you, Village Chief Liu, for your hospitality, but I have pressing matters and shouldn’t linger."

Tie Dan rested only for a single night, healing the Heavenly Person’s Five Decays, his body no longer overly sweating and filthy, then prepared to continue his journey with his white-haired and aged appearance.

Seeing he could not persuade him, Village Chief Liu said,

"Benefactor, not only did you deliver the message across thousands of miles, but you also returned our most cherished family treasure; you are a rare righteous hero, and the Liu family will remember your kindness for generations.

Our ancestor once had ties with Danxia Mountain, and here is a letter that should help you in meeting Shenxiao Peak smoothly.

This spotted deer is my mount, fleet-footed and swift, covering a thousand miles a day, it knows the way, so let it carry Brother Tie on a leg of your journey."

"Then thank you kindly."

Indeed, time was tight. Reaching Liu Family Manor, using medicines and practicing Breathing Control, already delayed three days, and Danxia Mountain was quite far away.

Thus Tie Dan didn’t hesitate, foregoing the chance to greet his teacher’s wife, sister, and junior sister who were near Heng Mountain, riding the deer swiftly towards Danxia Mountain, on to save the world.