Beichen Sword Sect's Headmaster's Secret Records

Chapter 393 Woodcutter
At first glance, seeing the horns on the head of the fairy in the lake, Huangfu Yi thought it was a beast or a dragon, or at the very least a jiao (a type of dragon), or a pig dragon or something like that. But when the demon's form was fully revealed, it seemed to be a giant salamander.

Yes, it's a giant salamander, but with scales and horns, a dragon-headed lizard-like creature. It's either a dragon species or a mutation. Counting from head to tail, it's a full three zhang long. Its skin is incredibly smooth, its flesh as clear as snow, with only its toes covered in fine silver scales. When the sunlight shines on it, it's as colorful as a rainbow. Apart from the somewhat gruesome death caused by a blow to the head, it does look quite beautiful.

Moreover, as expected of someone who has cultivated to become an immortal, not a trace of demonic aura or earthy smell could be detected on his body. Even the demon core in his abdomen had been cultivated to be as bright as a pearl and as clear as the moon, shining brightly when taken out, without the slightest impurity or dust. Clearly, it was a dragon pearl that had finally been refined after a thousand years of arduous cultivation in this pool, gathering the essence of the sun and moon and combining with the creation of heaven and earth, thus becoming a demon immortal who had attained the righteous path.

So much so that when Huangfu Yi was peeling the skin, he could smell a wonderful fragrance. He couldn't help but cut off a piece of meat and put it in his mouth. It was so tender and melted in his mouth, with no fishy smell at all, that it made his mouth water.

Let's get started.

The Dragon Pearl is a supreme treasure, swallowed directly into the stomach for slow refining and absorption. The essence of the body is the color of jade, thick as nectar; drinking it all in one gulp fills the Qi Sea and lungs, greatly increasing cultivation.

After skinning the carcass, hang it on a tree branch to dry. Cut the carcass into eight pieces, lightly fry the best cuts of fat over a fire until they turn a golden wheat color and drip oil, then you can enjoy it to your heart's content.

The internal organs need to be processed, but since this monster was born in a spiritual vein and raised in a clean environment, it can be considered a rare resource. It can be stored in a storage container for future use.

Using the essence and blood of the demon's body and the clear spring water in the pool, he devoured the large piece of meat in one go, even collecting the scattered brains, placing them in the skull lid, and scooping them up like tender tofu, sucking them clean with slurping.

Huangfu Yi finally ate his fill and was quite satisfied. Seeing that the bloodstains on the skin were almost dry, he put the giant salamander skin on himself, sank to the bottom of the green pool to recuperate, and prepared for the next sneak attack.

It has to be said that the benefits of overcoming tribulation are really high. Huangfu Yi has only completed half of the task, but he feels the spiritual energy in his meridians is like a tide, and his true qi is surging. He is also being flushed by the rich spiritual spring of the surrounding earth veins. He is even showing signs of breaking through to the Golden Core stage. In addition, he has just fought a hundred rounds with the God of War, which has loosened his muscles and bones. He has also made progress in the minor transformation of the Mysterious Goddess Technique. Now he can completely refine the Golden Core in this spiritual vein.

However, considering that the system had also mentioned that this was a high-level match, with danger lurking everywhere and the next wave of enemies appearing at any moment, now was clearly not the time to focus on breaking through. But if he did nothing, he would be wasting this excellent spiritual spring and this golden opportunity for breakthrough. So, after much thought, Huangfu Yi decided to simply forge a sword.

Yes, sword forging.

A sword is useless if it is not forged. Since it was not the time to break through, Huangfu Yi used the Xuan Nu Nine Qi that filled his lungs and surged in his sea of ​​Qi to repeatedly practice the basic sword control technique that was "not yet ready for birth." He observed and imitated the willow leaf-like shape of the key flying sword, and refined and polished a mouthful of innate sword Qi. He actually refined and strengthened this spider silk-like natal sword Qi repeatedly, and gradually refined it into a needle-like tip.

When I tried to unleash the sword's energy, it was just as sharp as a flying sword. It cleaved through the water, leaving a clear trail that shot ten feet away.

Although its name isn't revealed, this sword-controlling technique is indeed quite powerful. When attached to the key-flying sword, it's unstoppable, capable of slaying gods and demons alike. Each refinement increases the sword's speed by three points. Unfortunately, each time the sword is unleashed, the true energy is depleted. The most significant draw is the initial unsheathing; any delay inevitably weakens the initial momentum, making it vulnerable to being countered by other magical weapons. In short, it's another true manual that requires constant refinement, polishing, and meticulous forging.

Huangfu Yi calmed down and practiced his fist techniques, internal energy cultivation, and sword sharpening in the spirit pool, diligently honing his skills. He didn't know how much time had passed when suddenly, "Splash!" A muffled sound came from above, as if something had fallen into the water.

Huangfu Yi opened his eyes and saw a gleaming silver hand axe fall into the pool.

coming! coming!
"Wow!"

Huangfu Yi, staff in hand and axe in hand, burst forth from the water. At a glance, he spotted a handsome young nobleman standing on the bank. The nobleman wore a magpie-tail crown, lavish robes adorned with gold and silver, and jade pendants. His body was surrounded by Daoist energy, protected by five-colored divine light, and auspicious clouds swirled above his forehead, radiant like a peacock's spreading tail. His martial arts skills were indeed extraordinary. At this moment, the nobleman was respectfully and dutifully bowing his head.

"Cai Jingxiu of Magu Mountain has met the Fairy of Langgan..."

“Bang!!”

Without saying a word! He smashed the stick into the back of the head!
"Ow!!"

Caught off guard, the young nobleman was struck by a sneak attack. Although his Daoist aura shielded him from the sword light and energy, he was still struck on the head with a club, his skull shattering. He screamed in agony and collapsed to the ground. His vision blurred, blood gushed from his orifices, and his face was filled with disbelief as he looked up, exchanging a glance with Huangfu Yi…

"Ow!!"

Terrified by the gruesome death and terrifying face of the fairy in the human skin mask that came towards him, the young nobleman screamed again and instinctively tried to get up and run away. But a sharp pain came and he fell backward, looking down...

"Ow!"

At a glance, screams erupted again. In that short time, the young master's body had been pierced by the sword light! His inner core had been destroyed! His lower body had been severed at the waist by a bronze axe! His intestines spilled onto the ground, and his dantian had been pierced by an iron rod, firmly embedded in the ground! Meanwhile, the ghostly figure in skin continued to pound his fists like the wind, aiming straight for his heart! In an instant, all that could be seen was a bloody mess, flesh rotting like rain!

"Hehehe!"

The young master wanted to scream, but the breath he took reached his throat and gushed out with hot blood. Unbeknownst to him, his throat had been slashed in two by the sword energy, leaving a huge gash...

died.

"Bang bang bang!"

After he died, Huangfu Yi continued to hammer him until he was flat and flat, so flat that he couldn't even curl up. Only then did he stop.

That's it? Wasn't this supposed to be a high-level match? It seems pretty easy to play.
Huangfu Yi couldn't figure it out either, and didn't have time to think about it in detail.

Because he went all out from the start, he was surprised that his opponent was beaten to death so easily. As a result, the true qi in his body gathered but could not be released. The qi in his body rapidly boiled, and the qi in his dantian and sea of ​​qi seemed to be boiling. His muscles and bones were crackling and stretching, and his pores were breathing freely. The spiritual springs of heaven and earth were gathering and flowing back!

I can't hold on any longer! I've formed my Golden Core! I've formed my Golden Core!
Huangfu Yi couldn't care less about anything else for the moment. He quickly packed his things, plunged back to the bottom of the pool, and mobilized his Dao Qi to surge through his Qi Sea. He tried to absorb the tiny, hair-like strands of innate sword Qi he had just condensed into his Qi Sea Dantian, attempting to absorb the surging true Qi and cultivate basic sword control true Qi. He wanted to avoid breaking through... uh, breaking down during the killing tribulation.

Breakthrough.

Huangfu Yi felt that, in that instant, he had suddenly crossed that invisible and untouchable line.

In a flash, his meridians and internal organs were completely emptied, and the surging, uncontrollable vortex of Qi in his sea of ​​Qi condensed instantly into a bamboo leaf-shaped sword tip around that innate sword Qi!
At this moment, by focusing one's inner vision, one can see that the bamboo leaf, guided by sword energy as fine as a cow's hair needle, has actually generated nine meridians, evolving into the nine energies of Tai Chi. The leaf is a vibrant green, clearly condensed from the innate Dao energy!
The spiritual essence of the Divine Court, the lotus of the Heart Chamber, and the bamboo leaves of the Dantian are connected through the meridians of the whole body, complementing each other and resonating in harmony, just like a heartbeat. With each surge and pulsation, the essence, qi, and spirit are brought back to a state of great fullness and perfection!

What's going on... How can basic sword control techniques lead to core formation?
"Pfft!"

At this moment, another muffled sound suddenly interrupted Huangfu Yi's enlightenment. When he opened his eyes, he saw an iron axe falling from the pool above his head.

Huh? Wait a minute...

Looking at the iron axe, then down at the bronze and silver axes beside him, Huangfu Yi fell silent for a moment.

"Woooooooo..."

Then the sound of crying came from the shore.

This unfolding...

Huangfu Yi was momentarily dazed and subconsciously picked up three axes, peeking out to take a look.

There was an old woodcutter weeping by the lake; he looked like just an ordinary man.

The system didn't mention this kind of development...

Huangfu Yi involuntarily stepped out of the lake.
"Old man, why are you crying here?"

The old man cried out.

"Waaah, I'm old and useless now. I tripped and fell and lost my axe."

Did you slip and fall...?

Huangfu Yi looked at the marks on the ground. Hmm, he had just killed two people. The riverbank was indeed stained with blood and mud...

"Oh, is this your axe?"

So Huangfu Yi handed over the iron axe he had just picked up, but the old man shook his head.
"No."

"no?"

Huangfu Yi was taken aback, and for a moment wondered if he had asked the questions in the wrong order.

Then the old man raised his head, looked over with a deep gaze, and pointed at the gold and silver double axes at Huangfu Yi's waist.

"That iron one belongs to my master, and I'll have to return it later. These two are mine, and I never expected they'd both end up in your hands."

Huangfu Yi was momentarily dazed, then suddenly felt a tightness in his heart, and a long "woo—!" sound suddenly rang in his mind! The Hiru no Horn in his arms vibrated loudly, instantly waking him up!
No! A murderous ambush in a secret realm! Where did this mortal woodcutter come from?! And he's right in front of me, yet I can't even make out his features! He's a master!
However, it was too late for him to realize this. Before Huangfu Yi could react, the woodcutter had already grabbed his wrist, pulled him from the lake to his side, and casually snatched back the gold and silver axes, shaking his head and sighing.
"If you walk by the river often, you're bound to get your shoes wet, but your fall really tripped me up quite badly."

A thousand years of planning, ruined in an instant. What a pity, what a pity, fate is hard to change..."

Huangfu Yi roared in anger.

"Draw the sheath!"

However, there was neither the gleam of a sword nor the sound of its cry. Only the woodcutter, holding Huangfu Yi in one hand, and with the other, seemingly performing magic, conjured up items one by one—the Leech Horn, the Nine Heavens Sword Pavilion, the Thousand Calyx Screen, the Golden Cudgel, and the Iron Plaque—and threw them on the ground. Finally, he produced a sword sheath, held it in his hand, and examined it.
"Sword Sect? Dragon Temple? Crane Temple? Or someone from the palace? No, no, these things weren't meant for you. You stole them all, they're all a smokescreen..." Then he abruptly turned his head and stared coldly at Huangfu Yi.
"Kid! Which bastard sent you to ruin my plans? Confess honestly, and I'll spare your life!"

When Huangfu Yi saw that even his sword sheath had been taken, and that his wrist had been bruised from being squeezed so hard, his Xuan Nu Refining Form Fist and Overlord Body techniques were completely useless, he immediately realized that he had kicked a hornet's nest.

Then a wave of confusion washed over him, and he hesitated for a moment, thinking to himself, "If I had known this would happen, I would have followed the system's instructions and killed the two of them and fled immediately..."

The woodcutter frowned. "Xitong? Whose Taoist name is that? I've never heard of it before..."

Huangfu Yi was jolted awake! He gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, raised his head, straightened his back, and coldly shouted!

"Fine, I concede! Kill me if you want! Don't try this trick!"

The woodcutter glanced at him, then chuckled coldly.

"Hehe, you don't need to play the hero. I don't know which old friend is making fun of me behind my back, but to give you all these skills just to amuse me is going too far."

I think he's really trying to convert you; he'll show up and demand you back within three days. If I can't get rid of you, a mere junior, in these three days, I, Xuandu, will throw away all my face."

Huangfu Yi remained expressionless and did not beg for mercy; he simply closed his eyes and awaited death.

The woodcutter was somewhat surprised to see him like this.
"Well, good lad. Hearing my name, you can still remain calm and composed. That's interesting. I wonder if you can be this tough when searching souls."

To be honest, Huangfu Yi had never heard of him before. He opened his eyes, looked at the other person, and couldn't help but ask.

"Did you set up this game? Why did you have to throw the axe?"

The woodcutter sneered.

"This forest is protected by a protective barrier; you can't get in without an axe. Enough nonsense! Confess and I'll give you a quick death!"

Huangfu Yi remained calm, pointed to the silver axe, and said...

“One must take responsibility for one’s actions. I did kill this guy. If you want to avenge your disciple, I will have no objections.”

This bronze item has nothing to do with me; I found it on the road. But if it's for that monster...

"Hmph, demons and monsters, everyone has the right to kill them! With your level of cultivation, you dare to collude with demons! You are despicable!"

"Hey! You're going to start badmouthing me now! Fine! I'll reason with you!"

The woodcutter flew into a rage, suddenly grabbing Huangfu Yi's wrist as if to tear his arm apart, dragging him straight into the lake. In a flash, they entered the icy pool and, before reaching an underwater cave, pointed to the sign at the entrance that read "Yayu Immortal Abode, Langxuan Secret Realm."
"This precious dragon seed was given to me by my master when I first entered the mountain gate!"

One family served as my porters and listened to my teachings. They were granted a divine destiny, transformed into human form, and cultivated themselves in seclusion for a thousand years, never harming a single person!
Now she's the only one left in the family, and she just occasionally seeks out a few lovers for fun. What's it to you?

Why did you have to act like a hero and come to attack her?!

Huangfu Yi angrily shouted back.

"Demons must die! You need to ask why you're exterminating demons! But when you were eating people, why didn't you come and ask why!"

"Didn't I already say she never ate people? Look! Look! There's no one here!"

The woodcutter was furious and raised his fist, as if he wanted to beat him up.

However, Huangfu Yi met the fist angrily and said...

"So what! Do I have to watch it eat a person before I can kill it? Besides, what level of cultivation do you have! Would they eat people right under your nose?! Of course, you'd act pitiful, humble and subservient, not daring to overstep your bounds in the slightest!"

But a demon is a demon! Sooner or later, it will choose to devour humans! Can you watch over them all day long? When you're dead, who will watch over them?
Oh, now it didn't eat anyone, it was killed, and you saw it all, so you jump out to defend it!

"When those people, ravaged by demons and slaughtered by chaotic soldiers, cried out for help in vain, couldn't you see them?! Where were you?!"

The woodcutter was also furious, and he squeezed Huangfu Yi's hand so hard that the bones cracked loudly.
"What do I care! Did I tell them to kill each other because of the chaos in the world? How can you blame me for this?"

The law of the jungle is a natural law. If I see an eagle hunting a rabbit, am I supposed to stop it?

Huangfu Yi, thinking he was going to die anyway, refused to suffer any humiliation and roared at the top of his lungs.

"How can I not blame you! Aren't you human! Aren't we human! How many rare and precious treasures have you high and mighty immortals consumed, and how many gold, jade, and spirit stones have you taken to get to where you are today!"
Who is born with innate knowledge of the Dao? Who cultivates solely through a stroke of divine inspiration? Isn't it all about fierce competition, the survival of the fittest, and snatching from others? In the end, isn't it the common people who are supporting you?

You plunder the world, seizing all the good things, and you claim it's out of karma, protecting all living beings! But what about you? Do you even consider us human? Do you even consider yourselves human anymore?

They spout off about cause and effect and karma, but when the world is in chaos and chaos reigns, they distance themselves from everything! They close their doors, turn a blind eye, and disappear into the distance! They don't care about anything anymore!

If you were just like the Celestial Palace, a bunch of incompetent fools, that would be one thing! But you clearly have such skill, you could take down any demon with a single swing of your axe!
If you were willing to take action, which evil spirit would dare to wreak havoc on the world! Which demon would dare to bring disaster to the country! It's all because you disdain this and care about that! You let things drift and prioritize your own safety! These beasts are the ones who can slaughter the world!

So how can it not concern you! You condone and nurture demons! You allow evil to wreak havoc! This world is ruined by cold-blooded, ruthless, and inhuman demonic sects like yours!

"what!"

The woodcutter was so angry he laughed.

"You don't know anything! The weak have to depend on the strong to survive. There will always be someone stronger to trample you, and someone weaker to be trampled underfoot! That's called the way of heaven!"

If you can't even understand such a simple principle, what the hell are you doing cultivating immortality? What the hell are you seeking the Dao for?

If you want to reach the pinnacle, you have to tread a bloody path! Look at your own skills, how much of them were acquired by trampling on others, killing them, and stealing from them!
"How dare you yell at me like that? What's it to you?! Is it any of your business?!"

Huangfu Yi roared in anger.

"I'll take care of it! I'll take care of it once I learn the skills! I'll return any benefits I've stolen!"
The demons you won't kill, I will kill! The monsters you won't slaughter, I will slaughter!
I, Huangfu Yi, stand tall and upright! If the sky falls, you can all run away! I'll hold it up!

The woodcutter was taken aback, then burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! This brat is barely out of his teens and already spouting nonsense! Bah! His bragging is deafening!"

Who's so eager to go back to the village! Who's thinking of hiding in the mountains after slaying the Blood Demon! Once you've sorted out your own troubles, would you still have left home to meddle in these trivial matters! Stop talking nonsense!

The boy, seemingly having lost his guard, roared back.

"I want to go home too! But how can I get back? They're all dead!"

The woodcutter fell silent for a moment.

The boy, panting, with red eyes, gritted his teeth and said, word by word,

"I've been thinking... I've always thought... if we slay the Blood Demon, perhaps we can restore everyone..."

But I only recently realized it... I'd known it in my heart for a long time...

Even if we go back and vanquish the demons, it will be useless; they are already dead...

The moment they were absorbed into the sea of ​​blood, they all died. Their souls were captured and their spirits were refined into blood puppets, all used as pawns in Cunxin's calculations...

My mother, my father, all of mine... are gone, taken away by demons...

"I will...slaughter...all the demons..."

"...A string of lies! I refuse to believe them!"

The woodcutter remained silent for a moment, then suddenly roared coldly and struck Huangfu Yi's divine court with a palm!

(End of this chapter)