Although karma had temporarily concluded, Tie Dan couldn’t remain at White Deer Peak.
Soon, several white-robed disciples from Xuanji Sect flew in to clean up the aftermath. They glared angrily at Tie Dan, who had killed their fellow disciples and tarnished their reputation.
Tie Dan paid them no mind. After all, he had achieved his aim, sheathed his sword, and procured gold, moreover, he spotted Manager Qiao among the onlookers.
To avoid causing trouble for Qianshengtong, he merely exchanged a glance with him and didn’t acknowledge him, before leaving the town directly.
The old man of White Deer Peak, so heartlessly dealt with his people, ending karma so decisively, smashing with such fearsome might, was likely at the peak of the Divinity Transformation realm, in seclusion on the mountain, preparing for a breakthrough or soldier disintegration.
Such a person did not have many days left in the mortal world, burdened with various tribulations, unwilling to bother with juniors, let be what may, all companions, kin, and enemies were ordered away, let no one disturb his cultivation.
However, White Deer Peak evidently had more than just that ancestor, there were many disciples, and the female cultivator taken to Songshan could effortlessly rally four senior brothers at the Golden Core Realm to help her commit murder and robbery, even her junior brothers at the Foundation Establishment Stage continuously chanted vengeance for her. This suggested extensive connections, likely numerous Daoist companions would come seeking revenge for her.
Although there’s tribulation to pass, Tie Dan wasn’t averse to it; yet having just discharged Turbo Technique twice, he felt physically weak, and felt it wise to hide for a while and recuperate.
Thus, Tie Dan exited the city, found a secluded spot within the mountain forest to meditate in solitary cultivation, during which he also took out the bronze sword he extracted from the granite to examine and polish it.
This sword was three feet, nine inches long, one inch and four-tenths wide, in a greenish bronze color and sharp, its blade was refined steel, inscribed with ancient seal characters, ’Xuanjian’.
Having a name was a good start, now Tie Dan, possessing the epitome of Daoist encyclopedia, simply had to trace the records and consult them.
Therefore, while simultaneously using sword oil and stone to whet the blade, Tie Dan’s Divine Sense flickered through the Daoist collection for information.
It turned out that this sword was used by a former Immortal Venerable in demon wars, reaching the foot of Kunwu Mountain, where there was abundant red gold, burning like fire. Troops were stationed there, digging a hundred feet deep without reaching springs, only witnessing sparks like stars, and abundant elixir was within the ground, its springs crimson, prompting the refining of stone into copper and collecting gold to cast this sword. Encountering birds aplenty, they would fly past and be severed by its blade, earning this name.
Though it was unknown why this sword was buried in stone, whether it was a replica or an original forge remains uncertain. Due to its ancient craftsmanship and years of entombment, its Divine Light had dimmed and it hadn’t fostered any Sword Spirit, categorizing it as not a particularly magical treasure.
Yet despite such, being a weapon accumulated by a patriarch of a sect, hurled by a Divinity Transformation Cultivator, this Divine Weapon’s material was notably sharp beyond measure; upon breaking from stone, merely a slight polish revealed its stellar edge, dividing water that remained cut, capable of cutting jade and breaking gold, and slicing through wood with ease—indeed a fine sword.
"Xuanjian Xuanjian, long bereft of drinking blood, sealed in stone and hidden beneath, murderous intent hard to restrain, Xuanji boundless, yet White Deer untrimmed, await the forging of a Divine Infant, to wash the sword in blood."
"Haha, this Fellow Daoist truly harbors murderous intent and overwhelming grievances. Even after the Xuanji God himself agreed to sever karma with you, you still speak of an untrimmed White Deer and washing your sword in blood. Isn’t your magnanimity a bit lacking?"
Tie Dan pressed down the sword’s spine, with a twist of blue light, he leapt onto a pine branch in the forest, embracing Xuanjian, looking down at the forest.
"I wonder which friend you are, why not reveal yourself and speak?"
"Heheh..."
Then a cultivator chuckled softly, withdrew his Invisibility Technique, and walked out of the forest.
Clad in a cloak and masked with some theatrical mask while concealing his aura and cultivation, he was a skulking individual.
However, being able to follow and stealthily conceal behind Tie Dan unnoticed, this skill was remarkable and he was indeed likely an adept of the Mystic Sect.
"I am Sui Yunfei, upon seeing Brother Tie’s prowess, I felt admiration, and have come specifically to establish friendship."
Whatever Sui Yunfei was, it was clearly a pseudonym, yet the young man named Tie Dan had no standing to protest, nodded, and clasped his fist,
"Sui Brother, are you here for a sword duel? Very well, let me catch a breath, then I’ll test my sword on you."
Sui Yunfei was speechless,
"...Brother Tie jests, I merely saw your remarkable skill and came to form a connection..."
Tie Dan raised his hand,
"There’s no need for courtesy, Sui Brother. When venturing in the Jianghu, it’s always a matter of you scheming against me or me against you; rather than making it a bothersome affair by scheming, it’s better to confront life and death directly.
If you can’t wait, just unsheathe your sword."
Sui Yunfei was at a loss,
"...Brother Tie, I think you might have misunderstood how the Jianghu operates. Could it be because I mentioned your lacking magnanimity, and that displeased you?"
Tie Dan waved it off,
"Sui Brother, no such words, I just want to kill someone to test my sword. Since you came knocking, I won’t be courteous, behold the sword!"
"No, Brother Tie..."
With a flash of blue light, Tie Dan had already leaped forth, merging with his sword, Xuanjian slicing through the air, and thrusting directly at the masked man!
Sui Yunfei indeed possessed skill, facing Tie Dan’s self-sacrificial strike, he remained neither flustered nor evasive, merely lifting his cloak to reveal a Wu Hook Gold Saber, parrying and blocking the sword’s edge, surprisingly intercepting Tie Dan’s stabbing sword.
Clinking sounds resounded as the sword and saber clashed, bronze sword and gold saber intertwined in a whirlwind of light and shadow. The Sword Gang and Sword Wind scattered in four directions, severing and felling pine, bamboo, and grass throughout the forest.
The two darted and jumped in the forest, switching places, striking swords and blades, each exchange barely took a moment, swapping ten moves, unable to determine victory.
This stalemate was naturally because neither truly sought life or death, thus neither deployed True Qi, merely testing their sword path and saber techniques as a friendly exchange.
Of course, in any contest, it was indeed a genuine engagement of sword and knife, for if one couldn’t withstand even three to five exchanges, being cleaved outright, it would be fruitless to continue.
Sui Yunfei landed on a treetop, swirling his golden saber behind his back, clasping his hand in greeting.
"I wonder if Brother Sui has anything to teach."
Tie Dan also sheathed Xuanjian behind his back, temporarily standing down.
After all, despite knowing little, he recognized the other’s sect affinity but was aware that they likely hailed from the Mystic Sect, at the Core Formation realm, with solidified inner energy and profound cultivation, plus the golden saber the other wielded was a remarkable Divine Weapon, at least of the Nascent Soul level, the stored divine edge would make Xuanjian’s chances of withstanding a strike slim.
Sui Yunfei chuckled,
"It’s simple; I have a business, seeking a hand. Brother Tie, with your prowess, can assist me greatly in this endeavor. Once successful..."
Tie Dan,
"Alright, I’m in."
Sui Yunfei opened his mouth, then closed it, opening it again, and closing it once more, finally saying,
"...Brother Tie, you’re truly decisive, actually though..."
Tie Dan pinched his finger,
"Are you targeting White Deer Peak?"
Sui Yunfei,
"..."
Tie Dan calculated in his mind,
"Even if I don’t agree, you’ll still try to rob my Xuanjian to do this business, right?"
Sui Yunfei sighed,
"I thought Sword Sect members were straightforward, but didn’t expect you to be this perceptive, Brother Tie."
Tie Dan sneered,
"There’s no fool in the Mystic Sect, we’re just too indolent to play these petty tricks. Speak directly."
Sui Yunfei also chuckled candidly,
"Alright, it was petty of me, Brother Tie, follow me!"
He flew off like an eagle, riding the wind, instantly soaring beyond the forest.
Yet Tie Dan paused silently, standing still in place...
So Sui Yunfei had to fly back.
"No, Brother Tie, what about what we just agreed to? Why are you hesitating?"
Tie Dan coughed,
"About how you flew earlier, could you teach me that...?"
Sui Yunfei looked at him skeptically,
"You mean you don’t even know how to fly? Could you possibly be a fake disciple of the Sword Sect? Even if you can’t Sword Control, didn’t your seniors impart to you that when traveling, it’s wise to learn multiple Qi Gongs to avoid causing trouble that implicates your sect?"
Tie Dan remained silent, wiping his hands, channeling Divine Gang Sword Qi onto Xuanjian.
Sui Yunfei resignedly tossed a Jade Scroll,
"Fine, this one is an Inner Sect secret from White Deer Peak’s Xuanji Sect, the ’Xuanming Xuanji Ice Qi Technique,’ paired with an Escape Skill named ’Xuanming Ice River Escape.’
This Qi Technique is an evolution of the Xuanming Refining Qi Technique, capable of absorbing water to refine qi, manipulating qi to fly. Initially cultivating Xuanming True Qi to mastery, it can progress to refining Xuanji Ice Qi.
When contesting internal strength, as long as internal breath power surpasses the opponent, the Xuanji Ice Qi can be blasted into the opponent’s meridians and viscera, like ice daggers piercing bones and cold waves striking the heart; it can also coat weapons, battling long, cold energies can infiltrate the body, intractable by medicine, incredibly sinister.
As for the accompanying Ice River Escape, it’s an aerial body control technique, capable of advancing and retreating, attacking and defending, in concert with the Ice Qi Technique, during escape it can disperse cold qi currents, invisibly insinuating into the body, secretly striking foes. It’s particularly handy in sword duels, and indeed the hallmark technique of Xuan Jizi.
These two techniques, let them serve as a token of goodwill; as advance payment, you only have to help me succeed in this endeavor. I have many other benefits in store, all will be yours, once words are spoken, they’ll be irretrievable."
Thus Tie Dan perused the Jade Scroll, swiftly mastering the ’Xuanming Xuanji Ice Qi Technique’ and ’Xuanming Ice River Escape.’
Well, how could the ’Nine Luminaries Sword Scripture’ be difficult then?
In truth, if he escaped right now, he might even be irretrievable. But it doesn’t matter; experiencing tribulation is enough.

Comments

Loading...