Beichen Sword Sect's Headmaster's Secret Records

Chapter 460: Crossing the same boat together
It seems being a fairy is quite difficult. As a disciple, one has to risk one's life, infiltrate and investigate, cultivate and fight. Even after finally achieving success and becoming the head of a sect, there is still no time for quiet cultivation. One has to scheme and fight for the development and benefits of the sect.

It must be said that although the discussion that night wasn't very in-depth, Tie Dan truly benefited greatly, learning a lot from the two women. He also witnessed many sights he had never seen before, scenes that only sect leaders and sect leaders could see.

How to run a sect, how to win over trusted elders, how to manage resource allocation, and how to teach disciples—these are not problems that can be solved by swordsmanship alone. Even if you are the invincible sect leader, possessing all the magic materials, resources, and land at your disposal, and can do whatever you want, if you don't know how to manage your sect's power and how to strengthen your lineage, in the end, you will all have nothing to show for it.

Of course, Yun Jiangli and Chu Ruowei's sect management skills were probably not very high either, otherwise they wouldn't have been beaten so badly by Ling Xuzi for hundreds of years. But they were still much better than Tie Dan, who had never received any relevant education. At least Tie Dan had never heard of things like spirit silk, jade mines, medicinal fields, or various resource points that cultivation sects fought over.

Fortunately, Tie Dan himself was incredibly talented and quickly pieced together the gist of the conversation from the few words he heard.

The struggle for resources within the Xuanmen (Taoist sects) is ultimately based on the practical needs of cultivating the Five Arts.

Arithmetic is relatively easy to learn; pen, ink, paper, and inkstone are sufficient. Other calculating tools like compasses and counting rods are not expensive either. It truly is a system where a single calculation can be passed down through three generations, and the divination remains even after the person leaves. The sect's level of arithmetic depends more on the inner sect's arithmetic classics, the strength of the teaching staff, and the individual aptitude and comprehension of the disciples. Therefore, the most important resource is talent.

Furthermore, formations are adapted to local conditions and depend on the feng shui and ley lines of a sect. Since cultivators themselves choose places where spiritual energy gathers and minerals are abundant to establish sects and cultivate in seclusion, unless a sect has a large number of Nascent Soul cultivators, each occupying one ley line, there is generally no need to open up new ley lines.

As for crafting magical artifacts, that's an extremely high-end need. Most sects don't even have the technology to make magical artifacts. Cultivators collect all sorts of rare and precious materials and ask grandmaster crafting masters to craft them. It's not something sects need to consider.

However, talismans and alchemy constitute the bulk of a sect's expenses. Pills, needless to say, have always been the most consumed commodity in the cultivation world. All sorts of demons, monsters, rare herbs, immortal fruits, and spiritual vegetables are ultimately cooked together to make pills and medicines. Therefore, from a sect's perspective, the most fiercely contested asset is the medicinal herb field.

Yes, medicinal fields are essential. While the formulas and elixirs of different schools may vary, a fertile land with abundant spiritual energy is indispensable for cultivating various rare medicinal herbs. The better the quality of the medicinal field, the higher the yield of medicinal herbs, which in turn provides more resources.

Therefore, cultivation sects prioritize ensuring the yield of medicinal fields, sending disciples day and night to patrol, cultivate, and fertilize them. However, the number of high-grade spiritual fields is as scarce as rare and precious natural treasures, and the yield of low-grade fields is ultimately limited. How many herbs can be grown, how many pills can be refined, and how many disciples can ultimately be distributed from one acre of medicinal field are all predetermined.

Therefore, if the sect is to grow stronger, cultivate disciples, and enrich the Daoist treasury, it is naturally necessary to open up and seize more new lands. Where to seize from? Of course, from the Immortal Palace.

The Celestial Palace has existed for millennia, and the Central Plains have long been developed to their fullest extent. The most valuable farmlands and properties are almost entirely in the hands of powerful clans, registered in the Celestial Register and Divine Ranking. Therefore, those independent cultivator sects willingly serve as lackeys for the Celestial Palace's powerful clans in order to obtain a larger share of the farmlands and a greater harvest.

Of course, the Xuanmen (mystical sect) would not act as lackeys for the Immortal Palace. If they wanted something, the mountain people would simply steal it. But the problem is that land is something that cannot be moved or taken away, and it needs someone to manage it from time to time in order to reap any benefits.

The number of disciples in the Xuanmen sect was already small. These elite geniuses came to cultivate immortality, not to farm, so how could they possibly waste their main energy on growing vegetables? In the end, they still had to rely on local mortals, wealthy families, and landlords to manage it and provide regular supplies to the mountains.

In order to ensure that they receive offerings and tributes from these mortals, they naturally had to provide security to prevent the demons and monsters of the demon palace and cult from harming their village.

Therefore, the current way Xuanmen rules Qianzhou is to have the nine major Xuanmen go out and sign agreements with local landlords, powerful clans and village chiefs, leaving talismans and barriers for protection. Once they are attacked by demons, the village chiefs can summon immortals to save them, and Xuanmen disciples will naturally come to their aid.

The ownership of the produce from the spiritual fields and farms in various regions was re-divided according to the system of the Immortal Register and Divine Ranking, based on the county and village lands of the Immortal Palace era, and distributed by the Nine Great Mystic Gates to various mountains, sects, and schools. Naturally, it was still based on the requirements of the chief's mission; whoever contributed the most to the Mystic Gate would receive the greatest reward.

The Qingtang Sect made great contributions and received numerous rewards during the Tiangang era for their various infiltrations and investigations. However, during the Lingxuzi era, they had almost no opportunity to take action and were suppressed and sidelined. This is also the reason why their spiritual fields and fiefdoms were reduced over the years.

As for the other resource monopolized by the sect leader, it is the Spirit Silk.

Spirit silk is the silk spun by immortal silkworms and spiders. It is not only used to make magical artifacts and robes, but most importantly, it is used to make talismans. In particular, the spiritual power carried by talismans above the Nascent Soul stage is too strong, and paper cannot be used at all. They must be made with spirit silk. The higher the grade of the cloud seal star talisman, the higher the quality requirement of the immortal silk.

However, as everyone knows, the fairy silk is a unique product of the fairy palace. To put it bluntly, it is actually a high-tech product made by the company, and its production capacity is completely monopolized by the fairy palace. With the current technological capabilities of the Xuanmen, it is impossible to imitate it.

Because of the relentless attacks from the Xuanmen, the Immortal Palace was forced to hand over a portion of its production to the nine Xuanmen for distribution. Iron Egg had even witnessed firsthand that, in order to gain the Xuanmen's support in dealing with the rebels, the Immortal Palace handed over the trading rights of the Spirit Silk to Ling Xuzi.

Therefore, all nine major sects now have to defer to this sect leader and are forced to offer massive amounts of resources in exchange for immortal silk. This has led to the Qingtang Sect being brutally suppressed, to the point that their sect leader is now so poor that he can't even afford underwear and has to gather layers of qi to wrap around his body.

"Hmm...now that you mention it, Ling Xuzi does seem quite powerful..."

Even Tie Dan had to admit that, without using a sword, Ling Xuzi's various methods were far superior to his own. He had subdued the shrewd individuals from the Nine Great Mystic Sects. It was just that they were a bit cowardly; all this trouble was essentially for the purpose of escaping…

Chu Ruowei feigned a pitiful look, sitting down with her thighs pressed tightly against Tie Dan's, and pleaded in a pitiful voice.
“Ling Xuzi has been bullying and oppressing our Qingtang Sect for many years. We are truly at odds with him and have nothing more to say. If we were to go to him in person to beg for mercy, we might be extorted and blackmailed for a lot of resources.”

Yun Jiangli also came from the other side, grabbing Tie Dan's hand and pleading desperately.
"I have long admired the name of True Lord Xuantian, and heard that you are a trusted confidant whom Lingxuzi has favored and promoted. Originally, it was not appropriate to get too close to you."

However, to be honest, the treasure of Liuzhuang was actually a magical artifact from the Sword Sect that my Qingtang Sect sent here to be secretly stored under the secret order of the sect leader.

Since you have obtained this treasure, you must have received the sect leader's secret teachings and are a true successor of the Sword Sect.

"Please consider our past friendship and take pity on the trouble we sisters have gone through. Please, for the sake of peace, speak on our behalf. My sister and I are willing to concede defeat. We beg you, Head Master, to stop this and cease your oppression and humiliation of the Qingtang lineage."

It turns out that Tian Gang had been secretly sharing the spoils with others without the knowledge of the Sword Sect disciples, which explains why these two arrived so quickly.

Since he'd eaten their food, he felt obliged; having drunk their fill of divine wine, even if they'd offered it willingly, it was still karma. Tie Dan shrugged, unconcerned.

"At most, I can pass on a message to you, saying that you are willing to give 30% of the Daoist scriptures to Yuntai Peak. Whether it works out or not is not up to me."

"That's perfect! Thank you, Sect Leader!"

Chu Ruowei skillfully snuggled into Tie Dan's arms, pressing her red lips against his chest. "Brother, rest assured, since you've made this happen, we sisters will naturally offer you some benefits as well."

Yun Jiangli joined in from the side, casually wrapping Tie Dan's arm around his waist and pulling it behind his hip.

Seeing that they were serious, Tie Dan was at a loss for words.
"This is the benefit you're giving me?"

When the two women saw that he was no longer so resistant, unlike his previous tiger-like behavior of throwing people off the boat, they were overjoyed. They knew that after spending the whole night talking to him, they had finally managed to get him to agree half-heartedly. So, they skillfully released their true energy and instantly took off their clothes, turning their wide-sleeved silk robes into misty spiritual energy and wisps of fairy light, which directly blocked the surrounding vision, making the guy on the mast so angry that he cursed.

Ignoring the wailing of the defeated man, Chu Ruowei chuckled lightly, pressed her entire body against Tie Dan's chest, and used her slender fingers to undo his belt.

"What kind of benefit is this? It's just a chance encounter with the immortals, sharing a boat and having some fun."

Yun Jiangli took the opportunity to strip off his green robe, then whispered in Tie Dan's ear, his breath coming in soft gasps.

"If I had to point out the good points, I could see that although your true qi is strong, it doesn't seem to have been refined to its fullest extent yet."

"How about we sisters use our dual cultivation technique to assist you and lend you a hand..."

Seeing how well the two worked together, Tie Dan casually asked,

"The dual cultivation techniques you mentioned, could they be those from the Nine Heavens Free and Unfettered Sect?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Ruowei stopped what she was doing, then suddenly looked up and stared directly into his eyes.

"The sect leader actually knows about the Nine Heavens Free and Unfettered Sect?"

Yun Jiangli's breath hitched, and his body stiffened.
"The Unfettered Demonic Path is the mortal enemy of my Xuanmen, and we are sworn to never coexist. Among Fellow Daoist Xuantian's Daoist partners... could there be any remnants of the Dragon Gate?"

Tie Dan hadn't expected the atmosphere to have gotten this far. His casual remark startled the two men, leaving them both frozen in shock and greatly puzzled.

After all, look at how Qingtang Sect acts, they don't pretend at all. He thought that even if they weren't direct descendants of Xiaoyao Sect, they were some kind of branch developed by some unorthodox sect in Jiuxiao Sect. But the two of them seemed a bit off.
So even with the fragrant warmth wafting towards him and the soft beauty in his arms, Tie Dan's eyes remained sharp, and he spoke cautiously.
"Oh, I saw a record of the Dual Cultivation Method of the Xiaoyao lineage in the sect's Daoist Canon and the sect leader's secret teachings. I heard that there are many variations, but this method violates the taboos of the Xuanmen and I have never had the chance to see it."

I thought your sect's dual cultivation methods were all passed down from the same lineage. How come there's a difference?

Yun Jiangli remained silent for a moment, then smiled faintly to hide his embarrassment.
"That's true. Since you were able to find this treasure, you must have obtained the Sword Sect's secret treasure. It's not unusual for you to have heard about the Free and Unfettered Demon Sect."

However, I hope the sect leader knows that although in the eyes of the world my Qingtang lineage seems to act similarly to the Xiaoyao Demon Sect, my Qingtang and the Xiaoyao Demon Sect are actually sworn enemies and will never be able to coexist.

To trace back to the source, it's because our sect's founder was originally a true disciple of the Mysterious Maiden, possessing a flawless golden elixir and a bright future. However, back then, the Free and Unfettered Demon Sect and the Nine Heavens Demon Ancestor came knocking on our door, forcibly attempting to drain our essence, damaging our Dao foundation, and then casting evil curses and poisons upon us, forcing our sect's founder to lose control. Only then did we have no choice but to seek another path, ultimately passing down the ruthless path of cultivation through partner relationships, a path we have to follow out of necessity.

Therefore, from then on, my Qingtang lineage took in more pitiful girls whose foundations had been destroyed and whose true essence had been stolen by villains and wicked people, simply to give them another path to take.

"Your cultivation is still relatively new, and you are unaware of these secrets. However, please refrain from comparing us to the Free and Unfettered Demonic Sect; otherwise, we will be angered."

Tie Dan understood now, and said apologetically with a serious expression.

"I had no idea there was such a secret. I was very rude."

Chu Ruowei also breathed a sigh of relief and teased in a sweet voice,

"I see. You startled me, but it makes sense. These days, where can you find any carefree demon sects?"

To be honest, the bedroom arts we practice are a secret method passed down by the concubines within the Purple Palace of Immortals. The best results are achieved when three people practice together, reaching the pinnacle of their essence, energy, and spirit.

Unfortunately, the Nine Heavens Demon Ancestor's method of absorbing and replenishing energy was originally used to deal with the concubines in the harem. It was a secret technique that was the perfect counter to the Immortal Palace. It could make those ladies in the Purple Palace feel like they were dying and being reborn, unable to stop themselves. No matter how many pills or medicines they used to replenish their energy, all the cultivation they had gained over a thousand years would be completely depleted.

"If you are truly proficient in the Great Art of Freedom, my meager skills are utterly insufficient to serve you."

Oh? Interesting. Xiaoyao Tianke Qingtang said...

So, if we calculate it this way, this woman surnamed Chu is on par with the sect leader as sisters, and their cultivation levels are similar, she probably also has two thousand years of cultivation.

If he were to use the carefree secret technique he had just learned from Ciyun to send these two women to the highest heavens, wouldn't he have the chance to completely drain their combined power of at least five thousand years?

Thinking of this, even Tie Dan couldn't help but swallow.

Wow, five thousand years! I'm a little tempted... How about we do it?

(End of this chapter)