Secret Records of the Leader of the Beichen Sword Sect-Chapter 11 Liangzhou City

Thus, Yue Peng followed Tie Dan, heading north, traversing mountains and valleys, towards Liangzhou City in Dui Country.

Indeed, it was just Tie Dan walking ahead, with Yue Peng trailing far behind.

They were treating this kid as bait to lure out the demons, the beasts, and then have him practice swordsmanship, slay demons for elixirs, hunt beasts for skins, and hone his sword energy.

If any demon elder truly appeared, he could step in in due time.

But even the demon elders weren't foolish. Anyone traveling here knew the prowess of the Sword Immortal at Yanzi Peak; provoking a horde of sword demons from Beichen without reason wasn't wise.

And the beasts in the mountains, the wolves, tigers, and leopards were mostly ordinary creatures. They couldn't withstand the slightest slice of the Divine Gang Sword Qi. Frankly, it was unnecessary for the senior brother to intervene.

So throughout the journey, Yue Peng observed Tie Dan killing wolves, dogs, leopards, one after another, gradually seeing his path of the sword unfold.

Well, truthfully, there wasn't any path of the sword; after all, he had just begun Qi Refining as a child. They hadn't taught him anything yet; he didn't even know basic sword techniques, let alone the top-notch sword techniques and swordsmanship of the Sword Sect's true inheritance.

But Tie Dan indeed had talent, whether it was innate aggression or wear from countless trials, Tie Dan surely wasn't like an ordinary brat who would scream and cry after killing. He was steady and precise; wherever he aimed, he'd hit. The kill was sure, without hesitation; coupled with the prowess of Beichen Sword Qi, he could slaughter undefeatéd demons and beasts as easily as cutting chickens and dogs.

So, Yue Peng knew what to teach him.

"Sword Control Technique. Now, you're weak, lacking in essence and blood. Top-notch sword techniques won't be powerful in your hands, so start with Sword Control."

Yue Peng said, tossing the wooden sword in his hand. With a pinch of his sword technique, the wooden sword hovered like a dragonfly, darting back and forth, brushing down the leaves by the roadside.

"Here, give it a try. Knock down that bird."

Tie Dan looked at the wooden sword fluttering like a swift swallow in the air, then at the heavy iron sword in his hand.

Yue Peng grinned,

"Weight doesn't matter. I use a wooden sword because I'm refining the Purple Mist Sword Qi. I see your Divine Gang Sword Qi is already well-refined. You should be able to control the sword by now; just wrap your sword energy around the gold and iron."

So Tie Dan nodded, holding the sword horizontally, forming a sword technique with his hand, drawing two fingers over the blade, silently reciting the incantation his senior brother taught him,

"Nine Heavens Qianjin, Ascend Divine Weapons, Drive away demons, Supreme Evil Wielder, Majestic Sword God King, Slay Evil, Eradicate Traces, Purple Qi Ascends to Heaven, Danxia Rising, Supreme and Immeasurable, Supreme Venerable, Profound and Mysterious, Ancestor of Kaixuan, Supreme Limitless Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman Ruyi Sword! Go!"

"Zing!"

With a thrust, the flying sword unsheathed, turning into a streak of golden light across the sky, piercing the quail on the branch, and slashing the tree trunks planted along the Chidao into halves.

Yue Peng nodded,

"Good! Indeed a sword seed! Huh? Why are you down again, get up."

Tie Dan collapsed on the ground,

"No Qi left."

Yue Peng was stunned, quickly checking Tie Dan's pulse, and was left speechless.

Well, Tie Dan's talent in the Sword Dao and comprehension were indeed high. Even at the Qi Refining stage, he could execute secret sword techniques not even mastered by Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Yet, due to his young age, low cultivation level, and frail body, he could only hold a single breath of Qi in his organs.

In close combat, he could thrust out and absorb back in time for repeated use, but if he couldn't control the measure, using everything for sword control, releasing but not retrieving, naturally he'd end up exhausted of essence and energy, limbs weak, collapsing like mud.

"Your body is too weak, lacking in essence, energy, and spirit. It was indeed too forceful to make you practice sword control now. Oh, right, that iron sword, I also inscribed talismans on it; it's considered a magic artifact. Without Foundation Establishment, it's hard to control—it's quite usual..."

Tie Dan just glared at him.

Yue Peng scratched his head, taking out a string of coins, stuffing it in Tie Dan's bosom,

"Alright, alright, I've never taught a disciple before; I thought you were a natural sword seed, so unique. But it seems it's just as it is—only one breath of Qi, then it's done. Start with simple practice first.

These Divine Gang Coins were treasures cast in the Demon Palace, rich in Divine Gang Gold Qi. You can absorb Divine Gang Qi for cultivation in the ordinary, or utilize them for sword control, practicing with coins should consume less."

Who said weight wasn't an issue just now!

Yue Peng stood up, hugging his wooden sword,

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"We're not far from Liangzhou City; follow the Chidao into the city by yourself. Heavenly materials treasures are best found on your own; even if you encounter none, gaining experience is good too.

Of course, something like gold essence, worth its weight in gold, won't be found in commoner households; you'll have to reach those noble residences for a chance. So, this is your trial—see if you can sneak into someone's mansion.

Don't worry, I'll go ahead and scout, secretly protecting you."

His voice faded as he spoke, and by the time it ended, there was no sign of him.

Tie Dan could only lie on the ground breathlessly, adjusting his Qi to recover. After a while, he managed to get up, walking a long distance to find the iron sword stuck in the soil, pulling it out, and stumbling down the Chidao towards the north. By the time he finally saw the walls of Liangzhou Prefecture City, the day had grown dark, with the gates about to close.

Tie Dan hurried to squeeze out of the crowd to the gate, only to be blocked by the gate guards.

"Gates closed, gates closed!"

"What, closing early! Sir, it's not even the You hour yet. Please have mercy, let me deliver these goods to the inn, they're still waiting for them..."

The peddler at the front was anxious, hastily grabbing at the military officer beside him.

"Scram!"

The duty officer, temper flaring, kicked the peddler down with one foot, brandishing his ring-headed knife, striking the face with the knife's ring. Clang, clang, two hits, splitting the peddler's head, causing him to cry and wail, collapsed in tears with fresh persimmons rolling everywhere, mashed into mud.

"Rebellious slaves! Intruders will be executed!"

Seeing him step on the peddler's back with his foot, ready to slash with the knife, the gate guards hurriedly intervened, smiling to stop him,

"Commander, Commander, calm down, why bicker with these rabble, we're to seal the gates and go congratulate Captain Hu on his promotion and wedding. It's bad to see blood now."

"Hmph! Crawling bootlicker! Bought a position, that eunuch! I'll deal with you in the water prison another day!"

"Sir, please spare me, I have an eighty-year-old mother at home, sob sob!"

The commander, barely containing his rage, gritted his teeth and swung the ring-headed knife again, breaking the peddler's fingers, causing him to scream in agony.

"All disperse, all disperse, the gate's closed today!"

The guards wielded their five-colored sticks to disperse the crowd while dragging off the crying peddler. The surrounding people watched in silent horror, admitting their misfortune, and turned to leave.

Mingling in the crowd, Tie Dan watched the scene, looked at the persimmons underfoot, picked one up, wiped it on his green robe, took a bite, retrieved a Divine Gang Coin from his bosom, and flicked it with his finger.

As the commander turned, a flash of golden light skimmed over his head, embedded in the wall.

Before the commander knew it, he felt a prick in his throat, furrowing his brows, reaching to wipe,

"What the hec..."

Looking down, he saw his hand full of blood, a red line opened on his throat, a gushing fountain of blood, his carotid artery severed.

"Cough! Cough cough! Kahk kahk gah!"

"Commander! Commander, what's happening to you!" "Sir bit his tongue!" "An assassin! Assassin!" "Mother! Blood loss is massive!"

The surrounding civilians, seeing the blood spray from afar, thought the soldiers were randomly killing, causing a huge chaos as they scattered in panic. The guards were shocked, forgetting the peddler, rushing haphazardly to the commander to stop bleeding, carrying him flusteredly into the city to find a doctor.

Too bad the strike didn't decapitate the rogue, the Qi power wasn't enough, and even the edge of the Divine Gang Coin wasn't sharp enough.

Seizing the confusion at the city gates, Tie Dan utilized the chaotic crowd as cover, harnessed his Qi to flash into the city.

Though Tie Dan hadn't been to Liangzhou City, under the Demon Palace's rule, places were broadly similar, with nobles as the lords, commoners as dirt, a strict order, and neat hierarchies unchanged for a hundred generations.

At the top, the Gate Valve noble families divided neighborhoods, living within the walled city, guarded by soldiers by day, protected by high walls at night, with closed gates providing peace of mind.

Local landlords and powerful elites also built fortresses, dug moats, set camps and bastions, enforcing military discipline, hiding people as private labor and soldiers.

At the bottom, the destitute depended on villages outside city walls, working as menials for the wealthy by day, driven out at night. If ever snatched away by beasts, bandits, or monsters, it wasn't surprising.

Human lives held as little value as dogs; in such times, being human or being a dog wasn't much different.

Nibbling a persimmon as he entered the city, wandering around twice, Tie Dan quickly found the largest household in the city, with two Han White Jade pillars standing by the entrance.

Liang County Shi Family.

According to his senior brother, to 'pick' something like Gold Essence Iron Seed, you'd need to find a Gate Valve family's hidden treasure.

Hmm? What's a Gate Valve? Oh, it's the two pillars by the main gate.

On the left it's called 'Valve', recording merits; on the right, 'Review', noting official histories.

For example, the pillar shows the Shi family ancestor was a general under the command of an Immortal Venerable, opening a thousand miles of new land for the Demon Palace in the Western Regions through military merit, granted the title of First-Rank Pillar, later producing heavy generals like Western Expedition and Township. The current head of the Shi family, though not practicing martial arts, only through External Elixir Dao reaching the Golden Core Realm, still holds the post of Liangzhou Captain for the Demon Palace, commanding two thousand stones, a top military official in the west, as a Gate Valve noble family.

So, some things don't require much inquiry; observing such boldly displayed pillars lets you know which families can or can't be provoked.

Why does Tie Dan know these principles?

Ha, less than a year ago, he was the gatekeeper tied under a pillar like that...

Thankfully, his two senior brothers had exterminated that entire family, sparing him from a life as a dog...