Secret Records of the Leader of the Beichen Sword Sect
Chapter 95 - 94 Ye Capital

Chapter 95: Chapter 94 Ye Capital

Dong!

Tie Dan, who had just broken through to the Golden Core Realm and jumped out of the gourd, fell headfirst onto the bedroom floor, sprawled on the ground, spitting out clotted blood in large mouthfuls.

Although it was called a breakthrough, there was no Treasure Light or Celebratory Clouds, no earth-shaking phenomenon. Tie Dan’s entire body was almost devoid of Qi Power, lying paralyzed on the deck as if all his bones had been crushed like a dog’s.

Well, they indeed shattered. After all, this was an emergency, hastily using the unrefined quarter-skeleton frame of the predecessor Yu Hengzi for Body Sculpting, making the foundation naturally unstable, an antique that hadn’t moved for at least hundreds or thousands of years. No wonder it collapsed.

Yes, forced Core Formation.

Due to the previous urgent situation, forcibly using the Turbocharging Technique to escape had already exceeded the body’s load limit during the Foundation Establishment Stage. So, even with the ferocious recovery from the Blood Jade Technique, the body continuously collapsed and overwhelmed, the Dao Body nearing blood dissolution, the Divine Soul on the verge of dispersing.

With no retreat at such critical danger.

So Tie Dan had to forcibly break through to the Golden Core Realm, barely gathering his remaining Dao Body bit by bit with the improved Divine Sense from the breakthrough, barely recovering a life.

Except the timing of this Core Formation was really off, at least a few years ahead of Tie Dan’s plan, done solely to save his life, with no proper preparation.

The dangers and hardships within need not be overexplained. There were several times where Tie Dan thought he was done for, possessed by demons, dead meat. Yet surprisingly, with some crazy ideas from Xuantian and Kun, pointed out and hand-drawn, he managed to save himself.

Which goes to show, this success thanks a lot to the two chatterboxes in the Divine Court, providing extra insights, modeling, and calculating, greatly helping out.

Of course, it couldn’t do without Tie Dan’s robust life or the accumulated fortune from countless battles and robberies strong enough to support him.

All the prepared Divine Sword Bone, Elixirs and Spiritual Materials, and even the Demon Blood and Flesh, along with the Divine Gang Coins in his pocket, were used up, completely consumed. Even the Gourd Spirit and Magic Bead offered up their stored Spiritual Qi, lending it for Tie Dan’s survival, exhausting their Treasure Light Tao Qi, turning into a grey stone gourd and stone bead, falling into slumber.

Such coincidental, unexpected circumstances narrowly kept Tie Dan alive, like a resonating sound keeping a life.

But forcibly breaking through was like constructing a tower with unstable foundations, built in haste, teetering and tottering. To avoid potential disasters emerging, it’s unlikely he can charge ahead as he did in the Foundation Establishment Stage. He’ll need to retreat for quiet cultivation and recovery for many years to slowly regain.

More regrettably, all this effort for such a great cost, only ended up saving his own life in the end, growing flesh, and restoring human form.

Moreover, Qingshuang was entirely gone.

Previously breaking half the sword tip, the remaining sword edge was used as material during sword casting.

Now in Tie Dan’s palm, there was only a fragment of a sword hilt left, spiritual power depleted, weathering into rusty iron in a breath.

Once again, he was left alone...

Hugging the sword hilt to his chest, the exhausted young man fell into a sleep akin to an infant.

This time Tie Dan did not dream again, just slept continuously, and after three days and nights, barely regained enough energy to force himself up to maintain guard.

When Qiao entered the cabin and saw Tie Dan had already gotten up by himself and was eating porridge, he exclaimed,

"Fellow Daoist Tie, considering your injuries, it’s a miracle you can be on your feet so quickly, and even breakthrough; truly remarkable. Clearly, a Mystic Sect Daoist, extraordinary indeed...

Why not lie down a bit more, or I’ll call the boatman to make something warm for you."

Tie Dan bowed slightly,

"Thank you, Shopkeeper, for saving me."

On this occasion, thanks are also due to Qiao Fa.

Although the person may lack some skills, courage, and fortune, he nearly failed to escape.

But fortunately, Boss Qiao was not lacking in money; by splashing a fortune, he startlingly slipped out of the encirclement of the Kan Army scouts without danger.

Finally, carrying the gourd, fleeing all the way to the Zhang River side, he indeed ran out of energy, then hired a boatman for a heavy price, taking him to Ye Capital, sealing the gourd temporarily in the cabin, inquiring about the Gen Kingdom situation along the way from the boatman. For these three days, he took care of Tie Dan.

"I inquired, the Marquis Zhongshan was assassinated, and wounded on the cheek, the Kan Army temporarily withdrew from all places to regroup, the southbound momentum was temporarily halted.

However, the Gen Army had already lost its courage, and there isn’t a single town along the way being defended, the court hasn’t issued orders to cease fighting, the Northern Soldiers probably won’t be held back for long...

But no matter what, it’s good that you survived. I have already reported your names to the Mystic Sect with a flying talisman. I expect the sect will issue Soldier Repelling Coins as a reward."

Is that so, the result is ’only wounded on the cheek’...

Tie Dan fell silent for a moment, looking out the boat window, saw a mass of refugees, fleeing south with their families, kicking up clouds of dust like startled cattle and sheep along the riverbank.

Manager Qiao comforted,

"If not for the selfless efforts of a few righteous heroes, they would have already been crushed into a meat paste by the Iron Cavalry. Now at least there’s a chance of survival, isn’t there.

Man’s efforts have limits, heavenly destiny is inevitable. Do your best and accept destiny."

Accepting destiny... But what if destiny demands your life...

"Cough, cough..."

Seeing Tie Dan’s body still weak, the Shopkeeper closed the window,

"When we arrive at Ye Capital tomorrow, shall I arrange for you to return to the mountain?"

Tie Dan shook his head,

"Isn’t Tang Tong’s friend in Ye Capital? You send her to the mountain."

The Shopkeeper chuckled bitterly,

"That’s not possible, he hasn’t even entered the sect yet; the mountain doesn’t allow keeping maidservants or Dao pets privately, especially... well, it’s better not to mention it. Let’s say under current circumstances, a fall of Ye Capital might happen in the near future, and we should settle the employees in the city sooner and pack up valuables to retreat.

But I’ve heard that the neighboring Fukou Pass has been closed, fearing no way out, trapped in the mountain path is not a wise choice. It’s better, after picking up Brother Tang’s Daoist companion, everyone heads south together, first to White Deer Peak.

White Deer Peak is under our Mystic Sect’s jurisdiction, the Kan Army should not dare to offend. Once there, depending on the situation, whether to head west through Bai Xing, back to Qianzhou, or south across the Gen River to the Central Plains, or east to the Zhen Country’s Daming Prefecture, all routes are possible."

The Shopkeeper knew Tie Dan had escaped, so he didn’t force him to return to the mountain, only mentioning that once reaching White Deer Peak, Tie Dan could go wherever he wished in the world.

Thus Tie Dan nodded in agreement.

Thus peacefully and without incident, after recuperating for a day, the ship arrived at Ye Capital, disembarking. The Shopkeeper first took Tie Dan to recognize the local branch of Qianshengtong, then found an errand boy who had previously helped Tang Tong deliver things or send letters to meet up with the person.

Tie Dan consumed all the Elixirs and filled his belly with millet porridge. Although his bones still needed refining, his body had regained some strength. He then went with the errand boy to deliver Tang Tong’s items to his Daoist companion.

Therefore, following the errand boy on the road, he glanced at Ye Capital’s atmosphere, one couldn’t help but sigh.

Though Gen Kingdom was a vast plain without natural defense, yet Ye Capital, being the capital, was naturally extraordinary.

This place had the Zhang River to the north, the Gen River to the south, bordering the Huan River to the east, and the Xuan Nu Mountain barrier to the west, with the Fukou Pass natural stronghold. It’s broad in place, high with walls and deep moats, rich in Qi, and full of life energy, with three layers of outer city and palace walls, troops and armaments in abundance, food and supply ample. Having served as Emperor Wu’s palace, the Great General’s military camp, and the base for the Northern Expedition, the palace and granaries were complete, not to the point of being indefensible.

Although the Royal Army had suffered great loss, the southern troops and defeated northern soldiers began gathering here, and even the long-established noble families and influential households many generations in the making were reluctant to abandon their ancient heritage, aware of Marquis Zhongshan’s tyranny, naturally unwilling to let go. Without instructions, they began mobilizing house servants and private soldiers, distributing provisions and armaments for defense, and vigorously recruiting civilian volunteers to reorganize military strength. At this time, defending the city had many armored soldiers, all equipped in standard military gear, appearing extremely grand and imposing compared to the northern barbaric savages who ate raw meat and drank blood.

Even if appearances didn’t equal combat power, it was evident that Gen Kingdom was indeed vast and abundant, resource-rich with profound heritage, although having lost an army of over ten thousand, far from a point of no return. Yet, strangely enough, the Sovereign of Gen abandoned the city and fled so swiftly.

Or perhaps, the Duke of Gen knew this battle could not be won no matter what...

"Mage, that place is the Snow and Apricot Sea."

Tie Dan followed the errand boy’s direction and saw an apricot grove, trunks upright, each over three meters tall, with cascading petals. The outer three circles bloomed like snow jade, while the inner three were about to bloom, each reddish-pink, vividly charming, resplendent with floral colors, resembling a plethora of rouge in full spring splendor. Say white that isn’t truly white, speak red that isn’t really red, observe the craftsmanship from beyond the red and white.

Amidst the red apricot and white flowers, through the thick floral cover, several incense Pavilion cottages gradually emerged, with black tiles and white walls revealing a corner. Presumably, it was the dwelling of Tang Tong’s Daoist companion.

Tie Dan didn’t care much about the flowers or apricots but, having reached a certain cultivation level, could see the traces of profound Spiritual Breath, the Earth Vein pure and untainted, and couldn’t help wondering,

"This place is evidently a superior cultivation ground, with Tang Tong’s limited skills, how could he manage this place for his Daoist companion?"

The errand boy laughed,

"As if he could. This was originally private property of the Zhen Family, a renowned family in Ye Capital, a manor for the family women for retreat. However, the Zhen family committed crimes, exterminated by the Sovereign, homes raided, heads chopped off, and the female members fell into the Imperial Music Bureau. This place was also taken by the Sovereign.

Later when some from the mountain came to handle matters, Young Hero Tang saved the Zhen maiden, but couldn’t take her back for placement. Fortunately, many former officials and students of the Zhen family in Ye Capital were sympathetic towards their family’s misfortune and intervened. The other side also didn’t wish for the Zhen family to enter the palace, so they sold the Mystic Sect some favor, returning this garden for the young lady to live, making her a Daoist in this place.

Outwardly stating that she copied scriptures in the temple, praying for the Sovereign’s blessing, and atoning for her family’s sins. Occasionally, when Mystic Sect people came to Ye Capital for business, they also arranged to stay here to avoid trouble in the city."

"I see..."

But this Snow and Apricot Sea, after all, is a land of earthly blessings and worldly disputes.

Previously with the Sovereign and Mystic Sect’s dual protection, the Zhen maiden could remain aloof, practicing and living safely in this earthly Immortal Realm.

But now, the Sovereign fled with his tail between his legs, and the common people didn’t recognize mountain people’s faces, and trouble followed suit.