Through such collaboration and assistance, Tie Dan also recovered his powers. Carrying the letter written by Xiao Baoqin, the jade bracelet, and a lock of green silk as tokens, he asked the old kidnapper for directions and quickly headed to the Lanling Xiao Family to seek the Spiritual Essence Immortal Mushroom.
Originally, the matter was supposed to be accomplished by picking a Snow Lotus, but who would have thought it would get complicated, taking such a roundabout route, with so much unnecessary trouble arising. Not only was there no trace of the Life-extending Elixir, but even the whereabouts of Zhen Baiyu were lost.
Tie Dan was quite helpless. Had he known, he would have just ignored those people on the boat and walked away from the start.
But that being said, since he was already entangled in these causes and effects, giving up halfway wasn’t his nature.
Moreover, Xiao Baoqin actually treated him well, offering good food and drink along the way, with the Yangquan Immortal Brew and Court Ceremony Blade being treasures of the Immortal Family. These advance payments were enough to hire Tie Dan to find ways to protect her life.
Besides, there was that Shi Gui, and she was probably also...
Forget it, in any case, Tie Dan owed her nothing. At most, he would escort her to Lanling and consider it the final settlement of past matters.
To return to the main topic, probably when cultivating together with that member of the Qingtang Sect, Xiao Baoqin drove the Flying Boat aggressively all the way, directly crossing the Gen River and entering Zhenzhou territory. She was not even aware of the rule of the Immortal Palace people avoiding Mystic Sect lands, and thus fell into the trap of that tree-planting old man, getting surrounded.
Ah, this group of pig teammates is all self-inflicted!
At this time, Tie Dan utilized the Ice River Escape, flying south along the coastline. Below, he could see the vast sea on one side and expansive fertile fields on the other, countless rivers flowing into the East Sea, with innumerable white sails on the sea and ant-like carts and boats on the land. The weather was pleasant, with high skies and vast seas, brightening even the painting style.
Zhen Country is located on the East Sea, extensive in territory, rich in resources, densely populated, wealthy, and strong. After years of development, it is a standard heartland of the Central Plains, supporting the Three Constellations’ crucial finances.
Therefore, the Immortal Palace would never easily let go of such a money bag. Not only the Mystic Sect, but the Divine Sect’s branch in this area frequently caused trouble, making the struggle among the Three Great Sects exceptionally fierce.
Tie Dan flew continuously along the way, sensing the sporadic waves of cultivators’ and fighters’ fierce Qi battles from sky to ground. Various towns also had cultivation families, local sects, court vassal states, and other forces, maintaining a dynamic balance.
It could be said that Zhen Country’s overall national strength is among the top in the Twelve Countries, even able to contend with the Three Constellations.
Whichever of the Three Great Sects can truly dominate Zhen Country and suppress the East Sea would undeniably become one of the foremost existences in the world. However, with the Immortal Palace weakened and internally divided, the Divine Sect far away, and the Mystic Sect undermanned, none have been able to swallow this fat piece of cake.
Therefore, the three forces’ mutual checks and balances instead gave the Xiao Family, representing local Gate Valve families, a chance to stand by, sometimes siding with the Immortal Palace, sometimes colluding with the Mystic Sect, maintaining implicit and explicit relationships with various parties, thus preserving Zhen Country’s superficial peace.
Tie Dan only had seven days and naturally did not want to stir up more trouble, avoiding unnecessary conflicts along the way. Unfortunately, his constitution was destined to have no fate with peace. Just as he finally saw a mountain peak shimmering with spiritual light, calculated the position of the spirit vein’s outlet, sat down for breathing control, and hadn’t taken a few breaths of Qi, the event was already triggered...
"Capture them!" "Don’t let the thieves escape!" "Master ordered to capture them alive!"
Tie Dan was sitting on the jade mineral bed on the mountain peak, not wanting to move his butt, but the commotion below was drawing nearer. At a glance, there were a hundred and fifty people, manor guards, hunters, thugs, constables, heavily surrounding the mountain for a search. And their prey, driven to desperation, could only run toward the cliff, heading straight for Tie Dan.
The event hit his face just like that, not interested in dodging, Tie Dan sat steadily on the Qi Veins. After a while, two people fled to him.
It was a man and a woman. The man was a scholar, seemingly knowing a bit of Qi Gong, but his breathing was off, and his pulse unstable, likely groping his way alone through unorthodox paths.
The woman, youthful and beautiful, had a face like peach blossoms. Although incomparable to those proper Immortals and Princesses, she was still a rare beauty. Her delicate skin indicated that she wasn’t a village girl working in the fields, presumably an escapee from a wealthy family.
The two fled desperately and had reached the rock under Tie Dan’s seat; the man just sat down.
The woman was anxious, "Young Master Hou, what’s wrong with you? Why aren’t you running?"
The man said, "There’s no way out. I’ll catch my breath and fight them."
The woman said,
"Forget it, forget it, at worst we’ll jump off the cliff together. I’d rather die than go back."
The man said,
"Alright! We’ll be a couple in the next life."
Tie Dan looked left, then right, discovering that these two were immersed in romantic declarations and steadfast in their love, so he simply remained silent.
Soon, the pursuers arrived, with dozens brandishing knives and sticks, bringing nets and ropes to capture them. A man who appeared to be a steward led them, snarling,
"Xiang Shan! You ingrained traitor of a slut! Your life was bought by the Ruan Family for 200 coins from Drunken Fragrance Tower, and yet you eloped with a wild man! Have you forgotten the landlord’s grace, you wanton wench?"
The woman, outraged and grieving, cried,
"You killed my father, drove my mother to her death, took our lands, sold me to a brothel, and still won’t let me go!
When I grow up and you plan to violate me, even as a ghost, I’ll curse your Ruan Family!
The man remained silent, focusing on breathing Qi, his face steaming with blue mist, consolidating the returning dust spiritual energy.
The steward disregarded Xiang Shan, sneered coldly at Young Master Hou,
"Hou Chaosong, you meddling fool, ditching your studies and frequenting brothels, incurred the wrath of Mr. Ruan for this foul woman!
With just your two-bit Qi Gathering skills, you dare to play out a romance from a play? You traitorous wretch!
Come! Break his limbs and bring him back for interrogation. If he honestly reveals the mantra, give him a quick death!"
"Yes!"
"Villains! I’ll fight you to the death!"
That scholar Hou yelled in defiance, springing forth to battle the thugs.
Unlike the Northern countries, where it’s either Gate Valve Families or serfs, the common people in Zhen Country are affluent. Many amass wealth to send their children for literacy and martial training.
Though Hou Chaosong is a scholar, he’s required to practice martial arts and archery. Furthermore, being literate with Qi refining indicates decent comprehension. Armed with a treasure sword and equipped with True Qi, performing a set of Jianghu techniques, he could fend off an average group of three to five men.
If three to five don’t work, then send three to fifty.
Before Foundation Establishment, a Qi Refiner’s physical ability is not much different from ordinary people. Only after Core Formation can they fundamentally improve. Moreover, Hou Chaosong is an unorthodox practitioner, and even for ordinary people, one person couldn’t fight off four, yet he already fought ten, which was exceptional.
But the Ruan Family’s servants swarmed him, using nets and ropes, throwing rocks and spears for ambush. Indeed, within ten rounds, Young Master Hou missed a breath, got tripped by hooks and locks, wrapped in nets, and soon beaten, bruised, and on the brink of consciousness.
Xiang Shan saw this and also smiled miserably, drawing a hairpin to her throat, backing towards the cliff.
"Young Master Hou, see you in the next life..."
"Xiang... Xiang Shan..."
However, the steward sneered, pulling out a sharp skinning knife,
"You ignorant slut! Did you really think dying would end it all? Do you know what this is? It’s the flaying knife bestowed by the Holy Daughter.
If you jump and shatter to smithereens, I can still skin you, de-bone you, extract your fat, and bind your soul with the selling contract!
Turn you into a Soul Suppressing Lamp, forever sealed in the wick, never in the afterlife! Forever serving as a ghost slave to the Ruan Family! Never to see your Young Master Hou again!"
Xiang Shan turned deathly pale,
"Y-you’re so venomous, isn’t there any justice? Aren’t you afraid of retribution..."
The steward laughed evilly like a dog,
"Retribution? Justice? The order of rank, the hierarchy of superior and inferior, is the justice of this world!
You wretched slaves are meant for generations of servitude!
Mud-legged peasants trying to rise! Can you rise? Hahaha!"
This terrified Xiang Shan.
Yes, she wasn’t afraid of death, but if even dying was impossible and she faced eternal slavery and humiliation, with enduring suffering and misery, who could hold out?
The steward grew increasingly smug,
"Jump then, jump! What, scared? Then let’s not be polite. The master said to vent on this slut! Everyone, together!"
"Hahaha!" "Thanks for the master’s reward!"
The thugs laughed and closed in.
"Xiang Shan... Xiang Shan..."
Hou Chaosong roared helplessly from beneath the mob.
Xiang Shan’s eyes were lifeless, nearly devoid of will to live.
Tie Dan felt this scene had sufficiently played out, so he cleared his throat, "cough cough."
Everyone was startled, suddenly turning their heads to see the young man seated at the cliff.
Tie Dan nodded in salute, introduced himself,
"I’m of the Mystic Sect."
The crowd, "?"
Then he took out some Divine Gang Coins, scattering them casually.
A flash of golden light, and forty to fifty heads rolled, hot blood like the wind, swirling in a gusty bloom.
Hou Chaosong and Xiang Shan were frozen in place.
Tie Dan tossed a talisman, sticking it to the steward’s forehead.
"Where’s the Holy Daughter?"
The steward, "I don’t know."
If you don’t know, why were you boasting nonsense?
Tie Dan furrowed his brows,
"Where’d that knife come from?"
The steward, "Old Master gave it."
Tie Dan eased his brow,
"Where’s the Old Master?"
The steward, "In the pickle jar of the cellar."
Damn, even the Old Master is pickled in a jar. Truly ruthless, the Ruan Family.
After these three questions, the steward rolled his eyes, stuck out his tongue, and died like a dog.
Hmm, dead is dead, I suppose.
Tie Dan could be considered, in these times, a Righteous Path practitioner with relatively high ethical standards.
No matter the age, gender, morality, or culpability, he killed them kill without binding their souls.

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