Beichen Sword Sect's Headmaster's Secret Records

Chapter 370 Yuqian Village

Regardless, we won.

Although this senior brother had some mental issues, his skills were undiminished. He practiced only two moves repeatedly, but he mastered them with ease and fluency, and literally beat Huangfu Yi to the point of vomiting blood.

Although there were no serious injuries such as severed limbs, ruptured organs, or internal bleeding, the repeated blows from the palm strikes, coupled with the forced activation of the Eighteenfold罡拳 (Gang Fist), left Huangfu Yi with torn muscles and fractured bones all over his body, bleeding profusely. He will likely need to rest and recuperate for quite some time and will not be able to forcefully activate the罡拳 (Gang Fist) again in the short term.

After catching his breath on the ground for a while to regulate his energy, Huangfu Yi flipped the Tengkong Sword over and over in his palm, examining it closely.

Only then did he notice that although the blade of the sword was as bright as silver, when it was covered in blood, one could vaguely see fish-scale-like patterns on the spine of the blade. Therefore, when he fought among the scorpion monsters and used the blade to slash at the scorpion tails, the scorpion venom had seeped into and remained in these tiny patterns.

However, no one expected that the scorpion venom would be so swift, taking effect immediately upon contact with blood, and causing massive bleeding. Even such a powerful Core Formation cultivator died from the poison in the blink of an eye.

Huangfu Yi was also puzzled, wondering why he was completely unharmed. Although he hadn't been stung by the scorpion monster, he had clearly eaten quite a few small scorpions. Was it that the smaller ones weren't venomous enough? Or had he eaten too many monsters in the past, neutralizing their venom...?

For a moment, Huangfu Yi couldn't figure it out either. After all, the dead can't be brought back to life, and since they've already been killed, there's nothing more to dwell on.

After rummaging around on the ground for a while, Huangfu Yi found a set of three jade pendants, including jade rings and pendants. It should have been given to a disciple by the Xuanmen sect, and all his personal belongings were stored in it.

Huangfu Yi blew a breath of Daoist energy, but there was no response. It was obviously encrypted with arithmetic and could not be accessed by outsiders. So he simply put the body of his senior brother and the body together, wrapped it in a green robe, and buried it under a locust tree.

Fortunately, this time it wasn't a complete loss. I remembered that this senior brother had thrown away a money bag to buy a sword before. I picked it up from the bushes and saw that it contained a bunch of silver ingots that looked like sharp knives and daggers. They were strung together with rings on the handles by red ropes. There were as many as twenty-four of them, weighing more than two pounds. One side was drawn with talismans, and the other side was written with the nine seal characters 'Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Mysterious Mother Great Heavenly Venerable'. It seemed that these were the silver coins used exclusively by the Xuanmen.

Unfortunately, he couldn't find any medicine or food, so Huangfu Yi had no choice but to endure the excruciating pain and set off. He needed to leave this dangerous place as soon as possible, and he also had to be careful and vigilant, lest his junior sister return and repay kindness with enmity, killing him and taking his sword.

Fortunately, they had killed two powerful demons beforehand and did not encounter any more evil spirits along the way. Finally, Huangfu Yi was able to leave the deep mountains and forests and find a village surrounded by big trees by following the forest path.

Huangfu Yi, an outsider, carrying a sword and covered in blood, attracted attention as soon as he entered the village. The village chief, along with several Qi-cultivating men, armed with knives and swords, immediately surrounded him at the village entrance.

"I wonder where you come from and where you are going."

Huangfu Yi was in excruciating pain all over his body and didn't want to clash with the villagers, so he clasped his hands in a fist salute and said...

"My name is Bai Yi, a wandering knight from Genzhou. The other day, I was hired by Weiyuan Escort Agency to escort the Pei family's merchant caravan from Jiangzhou into the mountains. We were attacked by demons on the way and barely escaped with our lives. I got lost and stumbled into your esteemed place. I only ask for some medicine to treat my wounds and some dry food to fill my stomach."

The villagers were initially skeptical, but when Huangfu Yi pulled out two silver coins, their expressions changed immediately, and they sheathed their swords. The village chief, beaming, approached and said in a friendly tone,

"So it's Young Master Bai. I know the Pei family. They came here a few years ago, but haven't passed through our Yuqian Village recently. Come, come to my house to wash up."

Seeing that the villagers dispersed on their own and did not seem to be faking it, Huangfu Yi breathed a sigh of relief and handed over the money.

"Thank you, sir..."

"It's nothing, it's nothing. Everyone has their difficulties when they're traveling. It's just a simple meal, nothing to worry about. I'll just accept one from you."

The village chief indeed only took one silver coin, wrapped it in a handkerchief, and tucked it tightly into his bosom, beaming with joy as if he had received some immense benefit. The surrounding villagers also looked on with envy, clearly wanting that money too, but daring not to challenge the village chief for this stroke of luck.

Huangfu Yi was indeed somewhat surprised. After all, he had thought it over carefully and had reluctantly revealed his wealth, fully prepared to be surrounded and robbed by these mountain people.

Surprisingly, these people, though their eyes were practically glued to the silver, didn't try to rob him. In fact, they were quite honest, only charging him one coin. They not only provided him with topical medicine for his wounds but also prepared hot water for soaking his bread and clean clothes, showing no intention of harming him. This was quite different from the image of the mountain demons and evil spirits that the Celestial Palace had always portrayed as readily descending from the mountains to kill, rob, kidnap women, and traffic children...

After Huangfu Yi washed up and bandaged his wounds, he ate steamed buns and drank tea while chatting with the village chief.

This place is called Yuqian Village. There's just a grove of elm trees in front of the village, and nothing else special. There is, however, the gate of the Hidden Immortal Sect nearby, but it has been closed for many years, and no trace of the immortals has been seen for a long time.

There are quite a few villages like Yuqian Village hidden in the mountains throughout Qianzhou. Most of the villagers and mountain people are relatives and descendants of Xuanmen cultivators. Because they lack the aptitude for immortality and cannot immediately become disciples in the mountains, and the outside world is not peaceful, they are taken to the foot of the mountain to be cared for and protected. Naturally, no demons dare to harass them.

If any of their descendants produce a Dao seed, they will have the advantage of being close to the source and will be given priority in selection. Although they cannot be considered a 'cultivation family', most of the servants who attend to and serve the True Person are selected from these villagers who know them well.

If three or four generations of people can become disciples of the inner sect and receive the true teachings, then the family's rise to prominence will naturally be a matter of course.

In addition, every month, powerful clans like the Pei family would come to the mountain in groups to offer sacrifices and trade for necessary expenses, so it wasn't entirely isolated from the world. Every sixty years, the previous generation of disciples would reach the Golden Core stage and pass through the tribulation, and the mountain would reopen for a grand sect competition to select a new batch of disciples. In this way, generation after generation, the population grew, and the village eventually rose to become a town or city-state.

Or to put it more bluntly, these mountain people are essentially the Xuanmen version of 'good family men'. This model is the standard template for the ancient celestial palace's guards and soldiers, gradually expanding their vassal states and colonizing the nine border regions. It's just that one side cultivates their body with the Gangquan Fist and serves in the army for generations, while the other side cultivates their Qi and achieves immortality.

Of course, while most of the Xuanmen (mystical sects) can be traced back to various celestial palaces and guards, they have indeed evolved into completely different civilizations over thousands of years. The people of the mountains mostly disregard the law, are ignorant of royal authority, do not kneel before celestial deities, and only worship the Mystic Maiden. They have absolutely no regard for the 'Demon Palace' that once repeatedly raided the mountains, destroyed temples, massacred villages, and beheaded its inhabitants.

The Celestial Palace once considered reclaiming the lost territory of Qianzhou, but in the current state of affairs, even the Three Palaces' high officials cannot protect themselves, let alone care about these mountain rebels. Now it's the turn of these mountain people, who frequently form gangs and go to Genzhou and Sizhou in groups to take advantage of the chaos and plunder.

Fortunately, there are still too few cultivators in the mountains, and they are all busy cultivating their Qi, undergoing tribulations, and competing for rare and precious materials and divine skill manuals. They really have little interest in gold, silver, and jewels. Otherwise, the Immortal Palace would really be in trouble.

"Going to Mount Jiuyin? I've heard of the Sword Sect's great reputation. That sword immortal is truly extraordinary; he actually carved all of his family's secret techniques on the mountain for outsiders to see. It's a pity I was shot in the knee by an arrow back then, otherwise I would have liked to try my luck there too."

When Huangfu Yi asked about the location of Jiuyin Mountain, the village chief was not surprised. After all, sixty years had passed, and the name of the Sword Sect had long been known throughout the Central Plains. Qianzhou was originally the territory of the Xuanmen, where immortals and mortals lived together, so he knew it very well. He simply drew a map on the ground and pointed it out.

Huangfu Yi, after asking for directions, realized that he had gone too far astray.

Jiuyin Mountain is located approximately southwest of Qianzhou, northwest of Sizhou, and east of Duizhou, at the junction of these three prefectures. The Pei family's original plan was to first travel south along Xuannv Mountain, then west along the densely populated border area between Qianzhou and Sizhou, to investigate the situation in the Central Plains, find a relatively safe place to cross the river, and also to trade and replenish supplies along the way.

However, the journey was disrupted by the bat monster, causing many complications. Now, Huangfu Yi has arrived at Yuqian Village, which is deep in the mountains of central Qianzhou. If he turns east, he might get lost in the mountains for a long time. Therefore, the village chief suggested that he continue west, first to the former capital of the Qian Kingdom, Qianyang City, and then go south along the Qian River. Following the former imperial road of the Qian Kingdom, he could reach Hedong County.

Once you cross the Gen River, you'll reach the Central Plains. And once you're in the Central Plains, you'll naturally find Mount Jiuyin.

"Thank you for your guidance, sir."

The village chief knew that a young man like Huangfu Yi, with lofty ambitions and a desire to seek immortality, was beyond dissuading. But being old, he was prone to nagging, so he still offered a word of advice.
"That being said, the Qi cultivation technique of the Sword Sect is also notoriously dangerous and difficult to cultivate. Some people have the fate to learn it, but others don't. Without the guidance of a wise master, one may suffer minor injuries such as broken bones or even have their heart and abdomen ripped out."

Moreover, their inner sect is currently in turmoil, with annual sword fights and infighting, leaving little resource for disciples. Cultivation is entirely up to them; it's not a true pilgrimage to the sect. Therefore, although many initially flocked there, over the years, far more have died learning, practicing, and fighting swords. Consequently, many have lost interest in recent years, learning a few moves for self-defense, and few truly commit to becoming a disciple.

Huangfu Yi asked curiously,
"But what exactly happened to the Nine Yin Sword Sect? Why are they killing each other?"

The village chief was also drinking tea and chatting.
"There are many versions of that story. I've heard from Xuanmen cultivators that the current Sword Sect leader is..."

"The True Disciple of the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, Head of the Nine Luminaries Sword Pavilion, Sect Leader of the Northern Star Sword Sect, Supreme Limitless Sword Master, Mysterious Heavenly Ruyi True Monarch?"

"Uh, you memorized it quite well. Well, in short, this Sword Sect Master Xuantian was not originally a direct disciple of this sect, but a disciple of an outer sect. Therefore, he was often suppressed and bullied by this sect, and thus harbored resentment."

Later, taking advantage of the Xuanmen College Entrance Examination sixty years ago, when most of the Sword Sect's Sword Lord True Persons were out exorcising demons, he suddenly made a move, assassinating the previous sect leader who was recuperating in seclusion in the Sword Pavilion. He also gave the Cloud Terrace Immortal Peak, which was originally under the Sword Sect's care, as well as the divine weapons, treasures, and rare gems treasured in the Sword Pavilion, to the heads of the nine major Xuanmen, thus gaining the Xuanmen's recognition and tacit approval.

Afterwards, he sealed off Nine Yin Mountain with a sword formation, preventing the other Sword Lords and True Immortals of the Sword Sect from leaving the mountain. It is likely that he was in seclusion in the mountain cultivating, preparing to deal with the remaining enemies of the Sword Sect once his divine skills were fully mastered.

To prevent the Sword Sect disciples from joining forces to attack the mountain and break the formation, he deliberately inscribed all the sect's secret martial arts manuals on the mountain walls. This way, those outside the Sword Sect would fight amongst themselves to learn the manuals, while those within the sect would fight to prevent the leakage of their true teachings, leaving no time for anyone to break the formation.

Huangfu Yi was taken aback.
"So, this sect leader is actually a cunning and treacherous person with a deep mind and a long history of scheming?"

The village chief shrugged.

"Perhaps. In any case, to be able to assassinate the head of the Xuanmen sect is something that hasn't happened in many years. It's truly astonishing."

However, the Xuanmen sect has always been most averse to karma. If he was only seeking revenge, assassinating the former sect leader, and seizing these divine skills, secret manuals, and rare treasures, then it would be fine for him to join another sect.

But not only did he stay, he also took the position of leader of the Sword Sect, seized the sword legacy of Nine Yin Mountain, and so easily passed on all sorts of divine martial arts manuals to the world. Over the past sixty years, countless killings have been committed. If the sword techniques are passed on in the future, all the bloodshed will be attributed to him. What is he after all this?

Huangfu Yi didn't understand either.
"Yeah, what's the point..."

"Village chief! Village chief! Something terrible has happened!"

The two were chatting and drinking tea when suddenly a villager sprinted towards them.
"A monster has come knocking on our door!"

"A monster? Coming to attack our village?"

The village chief was clearly confused.
"What kind of monster is it?"

"I don't recognize it. That monster summoned a black wind and blocked the road at the village entrance!"

Huangfu Yi frowned and stood up.
"They might be after me. I'll go check it out."

The village chief picked up his machete.

"They've come to our doorstep and are making all sorts of fuss. We can't rest easy until they've all been killed!"

Tell everyone to gather their wives and children together to take care of them! Send a few strong men to help!

"it is good!"

In a short while, a dozen or so men gathered in the village. Looking towards the village, they saw that black winds were blowing and demonic energy was rising from the elm grove at the village entrance. It was clear that a great demon was lurking in the grove, plotting something sinister.

"I wonder if there are any demon kings nearby?"

"There's no demon king here, just a bear."

“That beast wouldn’t dare to invade our village; he’s probably from out of town.”

However, there's more than one monster from out of town today...

The timing was too coincidental, and not only were the villagers beginning to harbor suspicion towards Huangfu Yi, but even Huangfu Yi himself was wondering where he had made his enemy this time.

Sigh, he's only been in the Central Plains for a few days and he's already made so many enemies; he can't even guess what's going on...

The village chief shouted,

"Keep your eyes peeled! They're using money to ward off evil spirits! They can't possibly be demons! Focus on the enemy!"

Since the village chief had vouched for them, the mountain people decided not to make a fuss. They prepared their food and water bottles, put on their animal hide armor, drew their bows and crossbows, and carried their spears and hunting forks. They then lined up and entered the forest together.

The mountain people were naturally experienced in hunting demons and monsters, and they were accompanied by carrier pigeons and hunting dogs. They knew the forest in front of their village very well, as the village chief explained to Huangfu Yi.
"The oldest tree in this forest is said to have been planted by the mountain people. It has lived for more than 1,800 years and can be considered a spiritual plant."

Elm seeds can strengthen the spleen and calm the mind, relieve cough and phlegm, and clear heat and promote diuresis. Elm bark can astringe and stop bleeding, and treat edema and obstructed meridians.

Our village usually prepares medicinal herbs from these elm trees for the mountains, and the medicine I just gave you was also from this secret formula.

If that demon has some ulterior motive, it's probably after the old elm tree.

"So it's a miraculous remedy from the mountains, truly a rare and precious medicine..."

His reminder made Huangfu Yi realize that the wound he had just treated was no longer painful, and even the meridians that had been trembling from the palm strike had been relieved and healed. He felt relieved but also a little strange.

Why is it that since returning to the Central Plains, I've encountered so many extraordinary adventures and gained so much from every place I go? Has my luck turned around? I never had so many miraculous encounters back in the North…

Uh, no, I used to live in the ruins of immortals, and every night I could see the Big Dipper charging the sword light. How could that not count as having a connection with immortals? Oh well, never mind...

(End of this chapter)