Secret Records of the Leader of the Beichen Sword Sect

So Huan Tianyuan nodded, waved the guards back, and the two of them straightened their robes and rose solemnly.

Golden Fish Head,

"Wang Cheng is the fake name I use when walking the Jianghu; I am Xia Baishu, a Songshan Wanderer."

Triangular Eyes,

"Ye Rong is the fake name I use when walking the Jianghu; I am Ji Qingyan, a Songshan Wanderer."

"The two of us come from a Mixed Cultivator Left Dao background, we brought our skills to seek a master, and are now cultivating under Immortal Taiyin Nanhua."

"Our Taiyi Dao belongs to the Ancient Taoist Sect of old; to gain entry-level, one must pass through the Five Elements and Six Epochs, and cross the Nine Calamities and Eight Passes before being admitted."

"This time, our paying homage to the Overlord Residence and accepting Tribute from the Immortal Palace is also to carry out our master’s order, to descend the mountain to meet the Mountain Tribulation."

"And while we’re at it, to assist the General in pacifying the rebels, restoring the Central Plains, saving all living beings, and achieving a great enterprise."

Huan Tianyuan was broad-minded and naturally didn’t care about such trifles; he stepped forward and helped the two up.

"Quickly, please rise! For me, Huan, to obtain the assistance of you Masters is my Blessing, and also the Blessing of all people under heaven!"

Chen Xuantian also nodded repeatedly and chimed in,

"Being able to become sworn brothers with you two, that is the Blessing of my Wu Lian as well!"

The two of them couldn’t help slanting him a look, but for such a small matter they couldn’t be bothered to argue with him.

Xia Baishu said,

"Today happens to be a coincidence, a chance to climb the Cloud Platform, meet the Immortal Alliance. General, why not take this opportunity to recruit people of talent and ability to jointly undertake the great cause."

Ji Qingyan’s tone turned,

"However, back when we were walking the Central Plains, we offended no small number of people and had no choice but to use false names to hide. Now I only fear we’ll spoil the General’s opportunity; better that we avoid the scene for a while."

Huan Tianyuan seemed not to have understood yet, so Chen Xuantian explained,

"’Dwelling deep in this mountain, the clouds are thick and one knows not where he is.’ Being able to see Cloud Platform Immortal Peak today is already the General’s fortune; what’s more, in days to come you will launch a Northern Expedition into the Central Plains and will surely need the Immortal Alliance’s recognition. This is exactly the time to pay a visit and seek Immortal Fate.

It’s just that we three Evil Demons and Heretics have offended too many people. If we stay at your side, those so‑called True Men of the Dao will be disinclined to show themselves; if things go badly there might even be a blood calamity that implicates you.

Cloud Platform Peak won’t stay hovering here for long; the chance is rare. Better that we go wait at the foot of the mountain. You carry Heavenly Destiny on you, none of them will dare touch you. You can ascend Cloud Platform on your own; if you can forge some Immortal Fate, it will surely be of great use in the future."

With it spelled out so plainly, Huan Tianyuan naturally understood, and he also guessed these three likely had things to discuss and that he was the one who ought to withdraw, so he nodded.

"Very well, in that case, I must trouble you Masters to wait a while at the foot of the mountain."

So Huan Tianyuan turned the light boat and flew into the Cloud Platform to seek out Immortal Fate. And Chen Xuantian kept quiet and followed the two Songshan men down to Yunmeng Swamp, found a deserted spot; the three of them sat down in a triangle, and for a moment no one spoke.

After a short wait—swish, swish, swish, swish—four streaks of brilliant light fell from the clouds and encircled the three from four sides. Then the breeze rucked up, clouds rolled and billowed, gathered and scattered, and in midair with a crashing sound a large crowd suddenly appeared.

Chen Xuantian raised his head to look; he saw the crowd was mostly dressed as Taoists, with a few monks, nuns, and Martial Cultivators mixed in. As for Divinity Transformation and Sanctification types, on the surface there were just the four who had descended and triggered tribulation, surrounding them. The other ones manifesting were basically half Nascent Soul and half Golden Core Realm, old and young, men and women, each pointing at this tall, this short, and this thin one as if watching monkeys in a zoo.

Ji Qingyan spoke softly,

"Little brother, how sure are you of getting through this tribulation?"

Chen Xuantian shrugged,

"If they all swarm us at once, then I naturally don’t have the slightest bit of certainty."

Ji Qingyan rolled his eyes.

"Oh? And if they come one at a time, then you do?"

Xia Baishu chuckled,

"Big brother needn’t worry; little brother has a measure in his heart, he’s not flustered. This battle will probably not require us to lift a hand."

Chen Xuantian turned his head to look at him, then took a bundle out from his bosom,

"That’s not quite right either. Once you’re in a calamity, everyone gets their chance. In case I slip up and flip the cart, I’d like to trouble you two brothers to pass these things on to a few young friends for me, to settle a bit of karma."

Ji Qingyan sighed, took the bundle, and shook his head.

"Little brother, why go this far? If you drift in the Jianghu, how can you not take a few blades. Bow your head a little, swallow a bit of anger, and this’d all blow over. Why make it so bloody. What if they can’t afford to lose and refuse to own up?"

Xia Baishu smiled with narrowed eyes,

"Exactly, exactly. We Mixed Cultivator Left Dao types, in the eyes of those so‑called orthodox sects, are just cockroaches that slipped into their Grotto Heaven, rats dirtying their blessed land. They see your crooked melon of a face is an eyesore, so they rough you up, they rough you up; kill you, they kill you. Asking you for sword fighting is them showing you respect.

But if you so much as strike back a couple of times—heh—that’s when the trouble really starts. You’ve poked a hornets’ nest. Master, Daoist companion, relatives and friends, all will come swarming in droves to settle accounts with you. Can’t provoke ’em, can’t provoke ’em~"

"Hmph!"

Then a cold snort rang out from the sky, exploding like thunder.

"Mixed Cultivator! Don’t go spewing foul gas! Since you dare come offend Cloud Platform, then we’ll go by the Mystic Sect rules! Three rounds of sword fighting to clear the karma! We’ll spare you your lives!"

Chen Xuantian raised a hand and pointed to the sky, reeking of wine, playing at being woozy,

"Your math’s wrong!"

For a moment the people in the clouds stopped their chatter, and beams of Divine Light shone down on him from the firmament.

Chen Xuantian brushed off his robe and stood, step by step walking out onto the lake’s surface,

"According to the Mystic Sect’s rules, only when a single person wins three rounds can the karma be settled.

This calamity today was born from my own temper being out of joint; I stirred it up on purpose. Who knew my two brothers would get dragged into it.

Their karma, I should shoulder alone. So let’s do it like this.

We’ll fight the full nine rounds. After today, I won’t hold this matter against you."

As soon as the words fell, everyone fell silent; even the sound of the wind seemed to stop.

After a brief silence, from all directions came peals of "Gagaga!" "Hahaha!" "Hohoho!" "Jiejiejie!" laughter spreading out, like thunder rolling through the clouds!

"Hahaha! Evil Demons and Heretics! Such big talk! Good!!"

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

Then nine Jade Tokens flew out from within the clouds, spinning in midair.

"This brat only has trifling Golden Core Daoist power and dares challenge Cloud Platform! He’s got a bit of backbone!

You lot, show some real skill and let him see! Let me see the mettle of the Nine Mountains! Don’t you dare go and shame the Mystic Sect for this old man!"

"I’ll go!"

As the voice fell, one person shot out, caught a Jade Token, and landed at the center of the lake; with a flick he took off his Black Crown, flipped his long sword, eyes bulging with anger, sword‑brows bristling, Qi Flame blazing around him,

"Disciple Xiao Yan of Gusheshe Mountain! I’ve come to avenge my junior brother!"

Chen Xuantian casually cupped his fist and hiccupped,

"Remember this: the one who kills you today is an Evil Demon and Heretic, Wu Lian by name."

"XXX! Hand over your life!"

The others might have come just to watch the show, but Xiao Yan was clearly here with real hatred to wash away the shame of his Mountain Gate! He didn’t even bother to put on an act, no chanting any damned Taoist Techniques and Methods, no talking of your bullshit rules and forms, just one shout of "XXX!!" and a single blade tearing through the air, chopping straight down at his head!

In an instant they only saw Red Evil Dao Qi condense over his whole body! His entire figure bursting with crimson light! As he leapt out with the blade, two wings of fire seemed to steam up from his spine, and together with his close‑body power, the ferocious Sword Gang poured entirely into that single line of blade edge! In that instant he transformed into a Red Evil fire wild goose! The sword momentum was fully formed! At least a couple of centuries of bitter cultivation had been steeped into this one strike!

Red Fiend Divine Blade! Blazing Dao Fire! Blotting out the sky, a blade sweeping straight at his face!

"Whooosh—"

Then the wind rose.

The sound of the wind roared, like breath blown through blood.

The wild goose, just as it was about to take flight, was split in half by a single blade. That crimson human shape, trailing Blood Wind, fell from the clouds.

With a splat, like a gourd cut neatly in two, it kicked up a spray of pink water and sank into the blood‑soaked lake.

Bathing in the blood rain and reek of wine covering him, Chen Xuantian slowly brought his palms together, withdrawing the sword light from his fingertips.

One move, and the outcome was decided!

For a moment the immortals and buddhas on the cloud peak could only widen their eyes and exclaim "Ah, ah..." in astonishment. After a stunned instant, they erupted in uproar like a hive of bees exploding.

"Th‑that move, could it be!"

"This brat couldn’t possibly be..."

That’s right! It was precisely the Sword Sect’s ultimate move---

"Emei’s White Tiger Leaping Over the Stream!"

Tsk...