Secret Records of the Leader of the Beichen Sword Sect
Chapter 83 Dining Out

Chapter 83: Chapter 83 Dining Out

No matter what, since the Sect Leader has spoken, the two finally managed to return alive to the courtyard at the foot of Kaiyang Peak.

Of course, they still have to hand in all the wood they’ve chopped in the past few days to the sect. Only then will the patrolling mage agree to take them up to Cloud Platform Peak.

Fortunately, Tie Dan managed to hide the most crucial ’Mountain Demon Skeleton’, so they didn’t suffer too much this time.

"Ah... what a disaster out of nowhere... Old Tie... get me some water... Old Tie..."

Tang Tong doesn’t have the ability to be reborn in blood. This time, he bumped his head hard, skinned his backside from the fall, and lay on the bed lamenting as soon as he returned.

Tie Dan couldn’t be bothered with him. He enjoyed the peace of silence and examined that Knife Coin under the sunlight.

Tang Tong said that this thing is called the Soldier Repelling Coin. It’s privately minted by the nine major sects and used as an internal currency, also a kind of Magic Artifact for warding off evil. It has the basic shape of a knife, sharp point, curved back, concave blade, with a round loop at the end. The blade has inscriptions, and the back is decorated with patterns. Because most of them have nine words engraved on the surface, it’s also called a ’Nine-character Blade’.

For example, the one in Tie Dan’s hand has the nine seal characters ’Nine Heavens Xuan Nu Ruyi True Monarch’ inscribed on it, and the reverse side has a Mystic Sect Exorcism Talisman, indicating that this Knife Coin is forged by the Beichen Sword Sect. It’s a genuine talisman Magic Artifact. Once True Qi is infused into the exorcism talisman, it can activate the talisman, and the coin can be thrown out as a talisman to annihilate those demons and evil spirits.

Or you can keep it in your hands as money to trade with fellow Mystic Sect cultivators for Divine Skill secret manuals, Miracle Spiritual Elixirs, and the like.

Because the Soldier Repelling Coin is a genuine Magic Artifact, if placed at home, it really can ward off evil and protect the house. Its initial purpose was as an Immortal Fate Token, given to mortals to end mortal ties, protect their homes, and as a token for seeking help from cultivators in case of emergencies.

Even if the other party is not from the Mystic Sect, as long as they accept this coin and offer help, it’s considered to form a good relationship with the Mystic Sect. And the nine major sects are interconnected and value karma and deeds, mutually recognizing each other. Therefore, using a Soldier Repelling Coin forged by another sect as a token, various treasures and cultivation techniques can be exchanged from the Sword Sect as thanks.

Gradually, the Soldier Extinguishing Talisman came to be used as the Soldier Repelling Coin. Of course, since this involves karma, if you kill and rob someone and foolishly present yourself, don’t blame the Mystic Sect for being ruthless.

As the Mystic Sect forces grow larger by the day, the value of the Soldier Repelling Coin has also risen. However, the minting technique for this coin is a non-transmittable secret technique, requiring at least the Nascent Soul Realm, and each coin forged is stained with some karma, which must be repaid in due time.

Among the Mystic Sect people, it is most taboo to provoke deeds, and not many would stoop to becoming immortals just to mint coins for wealth, making this coin increasingly precious and scarce, barely seen at auctions.

For novices like Tie Dan entering the sect, even if they have not been formally taught the Sword Transmission, they can receive a Soldier Repelling Coin as the Mystic Sect’s custom, representing the acceptance of the Immortal Fate from joining the sect.

With this coin of Immortal Fate, one can exchange various elixir talismans and cultivation techniques within the sect. To earn more Soldier Repelling Coins to exchange for secret manuals, naturally, one has to complete sect missions and hand in various Heavenly Materials Treasures for tribute.

Unfortunately, although a lot of resources were paid from chopping wood this time, it was counted as punishment for killing fellow sect members, so no reward coins were given. What a waste...

"Old Tie..."

Sigh, it’s so annoying...

"What is it now?"

"It’s... it’s time for food... I’m counting on you... grab a share for me..."

Food?

Then with a rumble, thunder roared in the clouds. Tie Dan rushed outside and saw clouds churning, and from underneath the flying island they were on, emerged a Flood Dragon!

The Flood Dragon was covered in gold and iron hues, seemingly cast from iron and copper, with five to six chains bound between its spines, circling the flying island and dragging it across the sky.

Looking further, from the clouds, in all directions, eight other floating flying islands also detached from the sea of clouds, dragged by steel Flood Dragons, gliding through the air, gradually gathering at a vast wide platform in the sea of clouds.

From a high vantage point, looking down, there were no other buildings on this platform, polished squarely and very flat, and upon closer inspection, there were seventeen vertical and horizontal lines, two hundred and eighty-nine spots, forming a giant chessboard. In the middle of the chessboard stood a long stone table covered with many lunchboxes.

With a gigantic rumble, the nine-headed dragon served as a bridge, spiraling around the chessboard, clinging to the large island’s edge. Soon, sword lights flickered, figures darted, obviously other disciples practicing beneath other peaks, climbing along the Dragon Spine, rushing towards the chessboard island.

"Hurry, hurry..." Tang Tong croaked hoarsely from behind, "If we’re late... the food will be gone!"

Tie Dan was speechless.

Well, in this sect, everything is a scramble...

Seeing the example set by disciples from the other eight peaks, Tie Dan didn’t hesitate, leaping onto the Dragon Spine and sprinting swiftly across the Dragon Scales.

Despite having sustained significant injuries, Tie Dan had to act cautiously and didn’t use his full power, using a bit of turbo power to sprint while observing the movements of disciples from other peaks.

Indeed, it wasn’t about who ran the fastest to rush over and grab some food.

Tie Dan noticed clearly that when these disciples leaped onto the chessboard, they clearly adopted two completely different strategies.

Some people went for the star positions nearby, others made a beeline for the Heavenly Yuan. However, no one directly stepped into empty spaces, they all leapt like placing a piece, landing on the intersections.

Once on the board, their speed noticeably slowed, as if under some restraint. Though they leapt across short distances, most appeared to exhaust their Qi Power, needing to sit crossed-legged for some time to move another square.

But this shouldn’t really resemble playing chess, after all, there were no pieces. Tang Tong hadn’t specifically reminded him of any rules, likely some kind of Illusion Technique Array...

Tie Dan contemplated and leaped into the chessboard, landing on a spot.

Swoosh

The moment he landed, the world changed, the sky and earth transformed, day and night turned, Qiankun reversed!

Looking around, Tie Dan no longer saw any sea of clouds, the nine peaks, or the chessboard.

There was only vast emptiness in all directions, an endless void surrounding, and beneath his feet, was a land covered with wind and sand, where he found himself sitting on a meditation cushion.

Entered the array, have you?

Tie Dan carefully scanned his surroundings and noticed in the distance, another meditation cushion, which seemed to be another ’intersection’.

Was it asking him to jump over there?

Recalling the scenes from outside the array earlier, Tie Dan seemed to have some insight.

This distance, neither too near nor too far, indeed required an Elementary Qi Refining cultivator to give it their all, using full Qi power to leap across. If one’s Qi Power wasn’t sufficient, they wouldn’t make it; if the force applied was too great and insufficiently controlled, they might overshoot and not land on such a small cushion.

In the Foundation Establishment realm, neither high above nor low below, unable to fly, unable to tunnel, with limited Qi, and inadequately refined body. It’s rather awkward, isn’t it? Jumping a few times indeed exhausts one’s Qi Power, necessitating a rest on the spot.

However, this test wasn’t too difficult for Tie Dan. Given his current power, casually defeating those in the Golden Core Realm, jumping across these points would be trivial.

But the question was.

What if you don’t leap onto that cushion, or follow their rules, or traverse their points?

So Tie Dan pondered, stood up, took a step straight into the game.

Suddenly!

Smoke signals rose! Shouts of killing thundered! Thousands upon thousands of troops! Clad in white armor and golden helmets! Shouting in unison! Forming an array to charge and kill! A vast expanse of white, like a tidal wave rushing to the shore!

Then Tie Dan looked down.

The meditation cushion had disappeared without a trace, on the battlefield was only himself, wielding the Qingshuang Treasure Sword, clad in Black Iron Armor, wholly covered in a coal-like sheen.

Alright, given this situation, there’s no need for much explanation.

Don’t understand arrays?

Not proficient in calculations?

Can’t play chess?

Fine.

Then just fight your way through, damn it!

So fight!

Black armored little general leapt into the fray! Qingshuang like a long Flood Dragon breaking through the void! Blue dragon entering the sea! Alone with a single sword! Charged into the enemy array!

Fight!

One sword strike! Crushing both men and horses! Where the sword blade pointed! No one could stand in its way! Limbs and arms flying! Soared into the sky! Like a sharp reef! Crashed straight into the sea! Splitting the surging waves! In two halves!

Fight!

This is exactly it!

Within the space of the chessboard, black and white arrays in two lines,

The placement of pieces changes the winds and clouds, the decision to kill in a mere thought.

Qi cut off the roar of dragons and tigers, a life-and-death tribulation in the encirclement,

Once the piece is placed with no regrets, the battlefield reveals the hero!

Carve through obstacles! No regrets in this life!

In this world! None can block my Daoist Heart!

Slay——!

Whoosh——!

Tie Dan struck out with a sword, slashing apart the chess pattern before him. Instantly, heaven and earth changed colors, the celestial peaks once again leaped out from the Sky Dome above.

The sword light illuminated everything, casting auspicious light over the chessboard, and upon the group of bewildered young ones.

The board... broken?

The serving disciples of the nine peaks couldn’t help but turn their heads to look at the youth who was now taking food from the stone table at the Heavenly Yuan.

It’s been who knows how many years... yet someone!

Succeeded! By killing! Through the array!

Well, it wasn’t actually too difficult.

Tie Dan wasn’t purposely showing off, but clearly, the tradition of placing a food banquet on Nine Yin Mountain wasn’t set just in a day or two.

The sect’s lousy Sword Masters, despite being lousy, set up this array to let people break through it, and naturally wouldn’t make it too difficult. It wasn’t as if they expected a bunch of disciples to truly break an entire army.

The key was having the courage to fight and charge forward. As long as you charged ahead, cut forward, took the lead to break the array, and passed through the deadly pass, this round became solvable.

Yes, it was all about training the Daoist Heart.

Ordinary children might get frightened, but to Tie Dan, who has truly been on the battlefield, charged through arrays, raided camps, and stole sentries, it was child’s play, really.

So Tie Dan, indifferent to the gazes around him, opened the food box to take a look.

Mountain and sea delicacies, dragon liver and phoenix gall... it wasn’t quite that. It was just some Immortal Vegetables, Spirit Fruit, chicken, duck, and fish, just ordinary stuff. However, the food was quite flavorful, and it came with a bottle of fine wine, emitting a fragrant aroma and spiritual breath, rejuvenating upon a single whiff, boosting energy manifold.

Not bad, so Tie Dan picked up two lunchboxes, turned, and with one step, left the Heavenly Yuan.

Then the world changed colors, the wind and clouds churned.

Countless black-armored soldiers, thousands of troops, mountain and array of spear and shield, like clouds from the horizon, like a reversed whirlwind, like mountain ranges of the night, pressed down and approached layer by layer.

Even Tie Dan couldn’t help but gape, stunned for a moment, and finally sighed,

"Eating a bite of your food is really tough..."

Forget it, no more words.

Then slash through it once more...