Secret Records of the Leader of the Beichen Sword Sect
Chapter 55 Jindu

Chapter 55: Chapter 55 Jindu

Tie Dan gnawed on the burnt venison, sitting amidst the pile of corpses, resting for quite a while. It was not until the dead of night, under the high hanging full moon, that he reattached his broken arms.

After a bloody battle, arms broken, three people and three demons dead, he finally snatched half a Spirit Fruit.

Yet it was worth it.

After all, it was a Heavenly Material Treasure that caused the world’s fortunes to shift. If it were worthless garbage, who would risk their life for it?

Tie Dan could feel the wondrous effects of the Spirit Fruit.

It eased muscle soreness.

Yes, even when using the Blood Jade Technique and Dog-shaped Fist for forced bursts, the effects were noticeably different when used twice in sequence.

When he killed the deer, his whole body was overloaded to the point his muscles felt broken, and he couldn’t move at all, even breathing was painful.

But that half fruit, just a whiff of it, and Tie Dan felt all fatigue and exhaustion vanish instantly. So at that moment, he didn’t hesitate to swallow it in one gulp and fight desperately with those two.

Sure enough, his energy surged to its peak instantly! He could even forcibly trigger another burst of the Blood Jade Technique with ease! His body’s endurance was significantly enhanced!

Though his body felt no fatigue, Tie Dan’s head still hurt a lot.

He wondered if it was because he only ate half of the Spirit Fruit and its effects were halved, but he didn’t feel any calming function at all.

Of course, it hadn’t improved his vitality...

Anyway, once he’d rested enough, Tie Dan tidied up the battlefield, picked up the Dragon and Phoenix Dual Rings, and the Magic Array Command Flag of some unknown mage, then continued his journey toward Jindu City.

The remaining dozens of miles were quite peaceful after all; it wasn’t the season for Heavenly Materials Treasures to appear everywhere yet.

Soon he climbed out of the mountains, found the Chidao, and headed straight into Jindu.

As they say,

From the River View Pavilion, one watches a thousand sails, morning bell drums in Qingyang Palace

Qintai Alley with smoky green waters, lychees ripe on New Rain Mountain

Carriages and horses gather by Diquan Bridge, lantern shadows swirling in Huxuan Dance

Among the Twelve Countries lies a Heavenly Land, tens of thousands of households into Jindu enter

Simplifying it, the place is quite vast, and the people quite numerous...

From the city’s perspective alone, Kun Country seemed more prosperous than Dui Country.

After all, Liangzhou City was closer to a large fortress than an urban city, centered around the Shi family and several Gate Valve families, ready to close the city and defend at any time. These years, Dui Country had been the main battlefield between the Demon Palace and the Demon Sect, frequently engaging in warfare. Once fighting broke out, it involved tens of thousands of battles, staining the rivers with blood. City defenses were tight, and it was not uncommon to kill ’spies’ on sight.

In comparison, Kun Country was much more peaceful, with lazy defenses and no curfew laws. The streets were bustling with merchants and caravans everywhere, not only the trade groups heading north to the Central Plains but also the southwestern barbarians and the foreigners crossing the Kunlun. It wasn’t unusual to see Divine Beasts coming and going, Flying Boats taking off and landing, and many Cultivators gathered in this place.

Although Tie Dan wasn’t too interested in the affairs of the Demon Palace, he generally knew that when the Demon Palace General was campaigning in the Northern Lands, the southern Demon Clan took advantage of the Demon Palace’s weakness to rebel, ravaging Li Country, advancing into the Southern Sect Country. As a result, the sight of the Three Constellations turned back to expand the Southern Border, and now a large army was gathering in Yunmeng Swamp, engaged in a major battle with the local Demon Clan.

So many Gate Valves in the Southern Country were migrating to Kun Country to avoid disaster, and Kun Country was complying with the Three Constellations’ directive to conscript civilians, cultivate land, open roads, train soldiers for battle, gather military resources, and build warships. At the appointed time, they could march out to Southern Middle, support Li Country, encircle from three sides, or retreat along the river eastward to support the war in Yunmeng Swamp.

Although Kun Country was also preparing for war, the actual campaign was far off, and with such a natural barrier, however intense the fighting might be, it wouldn’t reach Jindu City. Instead, it attracted merchants from various countries, making business in the city increasingly prosperous.

"Qingyang Palace, this is the place then..."

According to the records given by Senior Brother Zhou, the Demon Palace’s rules in Kun Country required visiting Qi Refiners to first deliver their Daoist certificate and talisman at the Eight Banners Qingyang Palace in Jindu City.

This Taoist Palace, originally named Qingyang Temple, had temple masters appointed by the king serving as state-protecting Mages, gradually becoming an official institution in Kun Country. It managed the Immortal Record, recruited Tribute Masters, trained the young generation of Qi Refiners in Kun Country, akin to a National Academy for Cultivators, as well as managed the spiritual veins and energy hubs of Jindu City’s feng shui. Visiting Cultivators could register their sect’s Immortal Record, lodge within the temple to cultivate, and receive subsidy allowances.

Of course, the Sword Sect belonged to the Demon Sect, not to mention Tie Dan hadn’t officially been to Honzan to receive the talisman seal. Truthfully, he was a Mixed Cultivator of the mixed. Having never received a daoist certificate, he lacked necessary housing accommodations, making it unnecessary to abide by these rules.

However, the area around an assembly of Cultivators like the Eight Domains Qingyang Palace naturally became a trading center where Cultivators gathered. Many Gate Valve families purchased nearby properties to educate their descendants, facilitating their pursuit of dao in Qingyang Palace. Inevitably, there were shops and clubs dedicated to selling magic treasures and trading materials, equivalent to Jindu City’s downtown, making it an easy find.

Of course, stationed at the Qingyang Palace were also the Lifeguards of the Six Gates, preventing mischief and coupling with visits to see the court notices about wanted Immortal Thieves and trading bounties for heads to earn some money.

Incidentally, Senior Brother mentioned that Chen Huzi held the top spot on the wanted list among the Central Plains Countries, implicated in numerous dirty deeds for Honzan, a top-tier, heaven-grade Immortal Thief, infamous for encountering nine enemies seeking revenge with every outing. Hence, he opened a sect in the remote Guangxia Mountain, retreating to smith swords.

Yet, no one ever said that a wanted Immortal Thief couldn’t claim a bounty, so the mountain’s expenses were quite reliant on bounty hunting...

In any case, having arrived at Jindu, the first thing to do was to buy a sword.

Tie Dan, not wanting to roam aimlessly, headed straight for the most prominent shop in front of Qingyang Palace where the Treasure Light soared to the sky. After a single glance around, he had found his target.

Tie Dan, "This one is nice."

The shopkeeper sprang out and appeared, quite stealthy like a Kun,

"Young Hero has a keen eye! This sword! Three feet six inches! The form of eight virtues! Made from the gold of Emperor Mountain! Forged over thirty years!

It slices through oxen and horses! Strikes waterfowl with ease! Cuts foes decisively! Shaves jade like mud! The blade gleams with a green glow! Bright as frost and snow!

Sword Inscription! Qingshuang!"

Tie Dan, "Good!"

Shopkeeper, "For three million eight hundred thousand coins."

Three hundred...

Tie Dan maintained a straight face, "I don’t have that much money."

The shopkeeper turned to leave, "Take your time, Young Hero."

Tie Dan quickly caught him, following his Senior Brother’s advice,

"I have some good items, found them, take a look."

"Found them?"

The shopkeeper glanced around to ensure no one else was around, mumbling since no one else entered,

"Used ones?"

"Used, of course."

The shopkeeper flicked his eyes,

"... Then come with me."

Experienced, the shopkeeper led Tie Dan to the backyard, into a side room to inspect the goods.

Tie Dan laid out a heap of mirrors, rings, and bottles like a street vendor.

The shopkeeper scrutinized them closely, shaking his head,

"Dirty stuff, not worth much."

Tie Dan didn’t get angry; business had its negotiations, and his Senior Brother had pre-evaluated them, finding the treasures decent but too dirty, bonded with exclusive sect Refining seals and talisman inscribed spells, manageable only by fellow sect members.

But surely you couldn’t sell the magic treasures to the deceased’s family, claiming they were found by looting them, would seem foolish...

Rephrasing such tainted second-hand items through re-smelting was simple and clean.

The shopkeeper clicked abacus beads,

"Ah, ah, Young Hero, to find so many things, likely a Demon Sect disciple, sent by an elder for experience, small folks dare not offend you, let’s calculate openly.

Among what you have, this pair of Dragon and Phoenix Rings is the most valuable, but they’re rare and delicate, only a handful of users, often cultivated by Daoist partners. At most, I offer one thousand two hundred coins... a piece, disagree and seek elsewhere.

This Command Flag is worthless, why bring it? Magic Command Flags are usually self-made, nobody buys from elsewhere. Also, this belongs to Magu Mountain’s secret array, troublesome family, small people dare not accept.

The Golden Cloth Rope passes; murder, robbery, theft essentials, standard Divine Artifact, but it’s inscribed with the Immortal Palace Seal, sellable only to colleagues in office, all paupers. Five hundred coins, how about that.

This Jade Mirror is rare and nice, looks like a Palace-secret refined spell, specifically for scanning swords, but few can use it, lest dust settles, it might remain unsold indefinitely. Only counted it as three hundred eighty coins here.

The rest of the needles, whips, bottles, all inferior goods, each a hundred coins, the skins, bones I can’t use, trade at the market yourself.

Ah, this argali horn feels good as a knife handle, I’ll offer two hundred coins, agreeable?"

Tie Dan felt confused,

"The pile of items only trades for a single sword?"

Shopkeeper, "No, you’re still twenty coins short."

Tie Dan took a deep breath, reminded himself of his Senior Brother’s teachings, held back his killing intent,

"Let’s discuss further."

Shopkeeper chuckled,

"Young Hero, quite bloodthirsty, isn’t it? Treasure Jade Hall has traded in Jindu for five hundred years, fair deals, cheating neither young nor old. I lack what small items of yours?

Pity my treasure sword, refined a thousand times to form the green blade, hung empty for twenty years, the world bustling with mediocrity, no keen eyes spotting talents.

Would I sell it for three copper coins, just because you’re broke?

Do you take a sword for something so trite?"

Tie Dan glared at him,

"I’m not asking you to sell it for three coins, but for three million seven hundred eighty thousand coins."

After a long stare of chicken-eye with Tie Dan, the shopkeeper finally gave in, rubbing his eyes and shaking his head,

"Forget it, forget it. In this world besides you people, who else still uses a sword? So, here’s the deal.

Help me kill someone, and the twenty coins are on me, what do you say?"

Tie Dan pondered for a moment,

"Who?"