Secret Records of the Leader of the Beichen Sword Sect
Chapter 96 - 95 Beggars’ Guild

Chapter 96: Chapter 95 Beggars’ Guild

As I hurried along the way, before stepping into the forest, I heard a noisy commotion, arguing incessantly. From a distance, I saw a group of people shouting and making a fuss outside the forest, blocking the road so that passersby and carriages had to take a detour.

There were also a few ox carts parked across the main road, looking towards the apricot grove from afar. The people inside the carts lifted the curtains to watch the commotion, laughing and chatting, unclear whether they were admiring the flowers or watching a show.

"Mage, please wait for a moment, I’ll go and ask."

The assistant was smart, taking the opportunity to chat with someone returning to detour and gathered some information before coming back to report.

"That group claims to be from the Genbei Beggar Gang, who fled here avoiding military chaos. They were recruited by some General and agreed to become village militia volunteers, allowing them to live outside the city in the forest. Seeing the scenery here is good, they plan to establish a branch here.

The maids and servants serving in the temple said it’s Wang Family’s property, but the gang won’t leave even when told to, continuing to hold meetings by themselves."

"What about those people?"

Tie Dan glanced at the ox carts.

The assistant said,

"Those in the ox carts are probably young aristocrats. The Zhen Family has extensive connections in Ye Capital. Before the young lady of the family became a nun, she might have been acquainted with them, so they often come to the apricot grove to admire flowers, disturbing the peace of the temple."

Even if they knew each other, watching the show here probably means they aren’t really friends.

"Okay, you stay here and wait."

Tie Dan then took out the package given by Tang Tong, held it in his hand, and walked into the forest.

By now, he had grown some skin, changed into clean casual clothes, wrapped in a green robe, but all his equipment was ruined, and his hair was half an inch long, looking no different from the assistant next to him, just like a passerby.

The hooligans and beggars were still surrounding the forest, blocking the way. People around avoided them, noticing this bold boy striding in, knowing he might have some skills and was planning to stand out forcefully.

So a beggar nearby’s eyes turned cold, and as Tie Dan walked by, he suddenly picked up an iron crutch wrapped with iron-tipped nails, gathered his inner strength, and with a "wham!" swung it towards the back of Tie Dan’s head!

Tie Dan loved such straightforward fighters who skipped the talking and went directly for action. He tapped the tip of his foot, spun mid-step, his figure flashed to the side, and then landed a kick on the abdomen.

"Bang!"

The sound resembled that of a watermelon breaking; the beggar was kicked, ripping open belly and intestines, flung horizontally, and landed a considerable distance away, his back cracked open on a stone, resembling a smashed mango, and instantly died.

In an instant, the apricot grove fell silent as a group of people turned and stared at the uninvited guest.

Then they saw Tie Dan frown, lift one foot, and pick up the shredded intestines stuck to the sole of his shoe.

Alas, forcing a breakthrough indeed harbors numerous hidden dangers, with his Dao Foundation unstable.

Initially, he only intended to simply kick the person dead, but unexpectedly, during Qi Circulation within the meridians, it caused pain, unable to control the strength, thus a footstep ended up with guts squashed, tarnishing his shoe soles.

Hmm, this was obviously not a good thing.

After breaking through to a new realm, the upper limit of the Dao Body’s strength, the speed, cultivation, mana, and divine sense, all aspects of basic attributes, naturally receive a substantial boost and continue to grow stronger over time with cultivation advances until reaching the next threshold, the next bottleneck period.

Moreover, it’s easily understandable that your true panel strength is not determined by how high the highest bottleneck is, but by how low the lowest shortcoming lies.

Previously, Foundation Establishment Tie Dan, out of sheer boredom, had practiced to a point where he could use a flying sword to trim branches into squares and circles.

But now, as Golden Core Tie Dan, he still couldn’t control how much force to use — whether to instantaneously kill or explode to death. How could he talk about wielding a sword?

The state of this Dao Body was so poor that it was shocking. It seemed temporarily unsuitable to use sword energy.

Ah... I am so weak...

The beggars, "..."

This person was so ruthless and his power so profound, clearly marking him as a villainous expert. All the Beggar Guild members instantly became cowardly and gave way promptly.

Thus, Tie Dan entered the apricot grove directly. Already, somebody had informed the Beggar Guild leader, the four main elders, the five protectors, and other core disciples with four, five, six, or seven bags to come out and meet.

"I am Niu Dali, the leader of the Beggar Guild! May I know your purpose for forcefully entering our main hall?"

Tie Dan, "... Nothing in particular, just make way."

"Impudence! You disrespectful scum! Do you think our Beggar Guild is without men? Take this! Tiger Subduing Palm!"

Then an elder, wearing a ragged coat, with nine bags around his waist, holding an iron alms bowl, shouted violently, lifted his hand and flung that iron bowl while leaping out! Qi Force filled the body, Gang Power fully unleashed! Both arms pushed forward! A palm strike was launched!

"..."

Tie Dan swept his left hand, "Bang!" with a loud bang, sending the iron bowl flying ten zhang away, "Clang!" it slammed and broke an apricot tree as thick as a bowl.

Subsequently, he raised his right hand, gathered his inner strength, "Boom!" and clashed palms with the Nine Bag Elder.

Upon first contact, Tie Dan realized that he had underestimated them.

These beggars forming alliances, each barefooted, fending faster than Kan Country’s cavalry, daring to cause trouble in the apricot grove naturally had some real capabilities to find a foothold.

However, people of Jianghu, martial artists, even with traditions, were essentially derivations based on Gang Fist; perhaps unexpectedly, there were one or two brilliant moves born of sudden inspiration, but in essence, mortal fists trained for a few decades could not surpass those immortal soldiers who tempered iron for hundreds of years, let alone those frequently circulating their breath for millennia.

Of course, Tie Dan hadn’t trained for long either, but his cultivation techniques were advanced, forged through numerous life-or-death disasters, enhanced repeatedly by divine skills, now nurturing the Taibai Sword Embryo, in terms of arm strength alone, solidly at Golden Core Realm. Naturally, he feared no one when it came to palm clashes.

Even Tie Dan was aware that his cultivation had regressed significantly and he couldn’t control or hold back, thus at least holding off five parts of his strength, intending to take one solid palm strike, breaking the opponent’s arms and sending him flying would suffice...

So things went wrong...

Because that elder himself played a small trick, or rather, displayed an exceptional skill.

He shouted Tiger Subduing Palm, and indeed, it came out with great momentum, a roaring force, Gang Wind brushing the face, but the palm strength was rather soft, lacking in Qi force, not really intending to engage inner force with Tie Dan’s power...

After all, such an experienced old hand was certainly not foolish, considering the many people around, why should he stand out himself?

So he shouted louder for effect, but reserved his force, prepared his Hua Jin, intended to take one hit directly, spit two mouthfuls of blood, and that would be it.

He thought it would work perfectly, and his act seemed convincing, but in reality, he didn’t have the capability...

Joking, Tie Dan’s power at turbo level, once erupted, not even he could withstand, what’s a foundation-less, old slimy toad worth, thinking he could take it! Dissolve! Emit!?

Well, those who court death will always meet death.

"Boom!"

"Elder Xu ahhhh!"

Amid the Beggar Guild leader Niu Dali’s scream, Elder Xu exploded.

Like a fully-bloomed apricot blossom.

Because the opponent’s strike was so soft, completely avoiding a palm clash, Tie Dan indeed missed holding back, not even possible to retract himself without internally injuring.

So directly pouring a full force of True Qi, Gang Power through the body, sword wind sweeping in all directions, the entire person exploded like popcorn scattered all over the garden, hitting the Beggar Guild members head to toe.

Finally, only a slightly large, human-shaped bloodskin remained on site, splattering to the ground with a "plop".

Tie Dan, "..."

"Ugh—!"

It seemed some spectator had vomited...

"Yikes yikes yikes!"

"Elder Xu got blown up!"

"Done done done!"

"Ghost! Ghosts!"

Awakened by the sounds of vomiting, the Beggar Guild crowd exclaimed, scattering in all directions, rolling and crawling away like birds and beasts.

After all, they were a haphazard bunch; people can be temporarily destitute, but if truly capable, truly a man, how could one treat begging as a primary occupation...

So soon enough, aside from the Beggar Guild leader Niu Dali still forcing himself to stand before Tie Dan, the two other elders, five protectors, and other core disciples with four, five, six, or seven bags had already fled.

Hmm, apart from the exploded Elder Xu, another elder was lying down, seemingly due to old age, excessive fright, suffered a heart attack, and with an "ouch" fell over...

How to say, no wonder they chose Niu Dali as the leader, at least he hadn’t fled... Hmm? Was it because his legs were weak? Maybe the name was simply easier to remember...

Thus, Tie Dan walked past Niu Dali.

After all, Tie Dan wasn’t a ruthless, bloodthirsty person, nor was he there to destroy the Beggar Guild.

He was merely passing by, didn’t want to detour.

So Tie Dan went straight through the apricot grove, arriving at the white-walled, black-tiled Taoist temple within the woodland.

He saw the door fronted by lush orchids and verdant grasses, with several terraces of blue, elegantly and quietly decorated,

At the sides of the door frames, hung agarwood plaques, inscribed,

The wind sometimes hears the Brahman bell, seeking Zen barriers in deep clouds.

Looking up, he saw three characters: Xuanmu Temple.

This place was indeed a charming and graceful location, if only the maids and servants hadn’t vomited at the entrance, it would be even more scenic.

Seeing this fierce character approach, those servants turned and fled early too, nobody reported, Tie Dan crossed the door on his own.

From afar, there was a Divine Sense locking on, without much effort, he located someone, judging from the voice, it was likely a female cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage, presumably her.

"Is it Zhen Baiyu inside?"

The person hidden in the inner hall of the temple, seemingly unaware of the commotion outside, only closed the door, spoke softly,

"Quiet is the residence of Yang Zi, where none but one’s companions dare to visit. Empty and vast the universe, discoursing on all but the profound void."

...What’s this?

Tie Dan frowned and kicked the door open.

"I have something of yours, come and check it."