Beichen Sword Sect Master's Secret Records

When Lu Xing revealed her mechanical lotus arm on her right hand, Lu Qi was so ashamed and angry that she ran away. This victory in the duel, showcasing her family heritage, and displaying a spirit no less heroic than any man, naturally left no room for dissent regarding her succession to the family headship.

Moreover, Lu Xing was quite generous. Despite the conflict with Lu Qi, she took charge and arranged for Senior Brother Lu's outer court to attend Lu Family's mourning rites, offering condolences as if to an aunt. The main wife, likely stunned by Lu Xing's decisiveness in severing her own arm, dared not cause further trouble. As for whether the main wife would hand over the Lu Family's heirloom secret manual, that was an internal matter for the Lu Family.

With such a commotion, one could only wonder what Senior Brother Lu would think of it all in the afterlife. Regardless, the cultivators who came to pay their respects had no intention of lingering. They paid their respects to the deceased in a hurried manner, completing the formalities before dispersing.

Li Fan also went in to offer incense. As the family head, Lu Xing thanked him and actually handed him a sachet-sized purse. "Junior Brother Qingyue, here is the five thousand Divine Essence coin reward for Mu Long this time. Although these incidents occurred and the Coiled Dragon was lost from Bamboo Mountain, it is not your fault as Mu Long disciples. I fear you will have few opportunities for external patrols in your role as Mu Long disciple from now on. Please accept this small token of my apology."

"How can I accept this..." Li Fan initially wanted to refuse, but seeing Yuan Xuanbao give him a look from outside, he thought about it and accepted. "Although we haven't known each other long, Senior Brother Lu treated me very well. If there's anything Junior Qingyue can help with in the future, please don't hesitate to ask, Family Head Lu."

"Thank you for your kind offer, Junior Brother. Lu Xing remembers it," Lu Xing nodded in reply. At this moment, she was perfectly courteous, showing none of the imposing aura and arrogance she displayed when winning outside earlier.

Li Fan opened his mouth, unable to offer any words of comfort, and took his leave from the Lu Family.

Yuan Xuanbao was waiting for him at the entrance. "I've met Lu Qi a few times, but I don't have much of a relationship with Lu Xing. I intended to reprimand her in person, but... she handled things appropriately. Just accept the money. Senior Brother Lu was also like that, so don't worry about it."

Li Fan had some understanding of Yuan Xuanbao's temperament. It was somewhat similar to Profound Heaven Sword Intent. Idle chatter with those who didn't click was ignored, but with kindred spirits, they'd rush into life-and-death situations together. Truly a stubborn personality, but quite good if you became friends...

Profound Heaven Sword Intent states, Host, stop spouting nonsense! I am nothing like that! Hmph, you understand nothing!

Damn it, can you stop adding tsundere traits to yourself every other sentence! A white-bearded old man with twin ponytails is just disgusting...

Li Fan shivered involuntarily at his own thought.

"By the way, Qingyue, how is your injury recovering? Is there any difficulty with arm strength or vision?"

Hearing Yuan Xuanbao's question, Li Fan nodded. "There is a bit. I just don't feel entirely at ease, and circulating my Qi hasn't been smooth these past two days. It's probably not fully healed yet and requires a period of rest..."

Yuan Xuanbao pondered for a moment and shook his head. "The elixirs in the outer sect pharmacy are made from the 'Immortal Ganoderma Soup' that can revive the dead and mend bones, but it's only for inner disciples. There's nothing better for bone and muscle regeneration. I believe your body is fine, but there's still some residual Sha Qi between your muscles and bones.

Why don't you come with me to see my master and ask for a copy of the Body Domination Technique to help you expel the Sha Qi?"

"Oh, Body Domination Technique? Great, great!" Li Fan was genuinely interested. Although Profound Heaven Sword Intent was always nitpicking, saying this was bad and that was bad, since the natives of this world were so fierce, drawing swords and fighting at the slightest provocation, and even Golden Core cultivators weren't spared, it was good to learn a few more moves for self-defense.

Profound Heaven Sword Intent states, it's fine for the host to learn the Body Domination Technique.

Huh?? Sword Intent, why have you changed your tune again? Didn't you always say the Body Domination Technique was trash?

*Profound Heaven Sword Intent states, what's the point of mastering such close-combat killing moves? Aren't you still decapitated by a flying sword? No matter how fast your hand techniques are, can they be faster than a flying sword? An art that might not be used even once in two to three hundred years, you call that not trash?

However, if it could, as before, save your life through sheer luck, then this hard work would be worthwhile. The fact that you managed to trick and kill that dignified Golden Core cultivator shows that current cultivators are indeed too unskilled and lax in their fundamental martial arts.

Well, practicing it is fine, it's better than scrambling around in a tomb when your Qi runs out, which doesn't befit the demeanor and aura of a Beichen Sword Sect successor, and wouldn't be worthy of my tutelage if you went out like that.*

...Damn it, no matter how you put it, it's all your words. I'm too lazy to argue with this guy.

So, Li Fan released a carrier pigeon, intending to visit Yuan Xuanbao's master, Real Person Liang, together.

However, Yuan Xuanbao waved his hand. "No need. He lives just outside of town, we can walk there."

This town was populated by the dependents of Ink Bamboo Mountain immortals and wealthy families. The streets were lined with high walls and grand courtyards, making it feel like walking within palace walls or a military camp. It was surprising that a Nascent Soul stage True Person was stationed just outside the town. It seemed that the security in wealthy communities was good, regardless of the world.

"It's that one. My master, Real Person Liang, is responsible for guarding the town's mortuary. If any of the family's disciples catch his eye, he will guide and train them from a young age."

This mortuary was originally established by the clan using public land and property as a charitable residence. It usually provided clothing, food, and basic living support for clan members, sometimes serving as a venue for weddings and funerals, or even as a school or ancestral hall. Of course, in this world, its most crucial function was as a temporary resting place for coffins and remains before burial.

Since even a slight infection of Sha Qi could lead to a corpse transformation, the Taoist priests guarding the mortuary of a cultivation family day and night certainly couldn't be just Golden Core level; they had to be at least Nascent Soul stage True Persons.

Real Person Liang was such a True Person of the Lou Guan sect, who lived in the world and guarded the mortuary. He was not a faction leader but a registered disciple under the sect master.

Upon entering the mortuary, one could see him sitting on a meditation cushion in the main hall. He had no trace of an immortal about him, looking like a withered skeleton on the verge of burial. He was gaunt, with a horse-like face and distinctly connected eyebrows. His tattered Taoist robe hung loosely on his body, revealing rows of ribs on his chest and abdomen. He wore no headscarf or cap, using only a twig as a hairpin, and had a blade of grass stuck in his mouth.

On the shrine behind him, there was a rustic clay statue of a divine general. If this was his original form manifested as a Devil...

Li Fan looked up. It seemed... no different. Just a normal human form, without even a green face or fangs. It was simply a Taoist divine general, and he couldn't recognize who it was. If this was Real Person Liang's Devil Form manifested, he'd just be a bit fatter... Or was this simply a clay statue for worship in a temple?

Profound Heaven Sword Intent states, hiss... this guy is something else. More powerful than your master.

Oh.

...So you mean more powerful than Real Person Wanshu at the Nascent Soul Realm or...?

Profound Heaven Sword Intent states, more powerful than her current Spirit Transmutation stage.

Li Fan also gasped, "Hiss... Junior Qingyue pays his respects..."

Before he could even bow, Kun emerged from his collar, floated in front of the Taoist priest, locked eyes with Real Person Liang in a chicken fight, then snatched the blade of grass from Real Person Liang's mouth, chewed it, and spat it out.

Kun states, ptooey, tasteless.

Kun!!!

Real Person Liang's connected eyebrows furrowed into a blunt angle.

Yuan Xuanbao wiped a bead of sweat. "Ahem, Master, this is Junior Brother Qingyue, who avenged Dao Tong. He still has some residual Sha Qi and wishes to ask Master to impart a Body Domination Technique to expel it."

Li Fan quickly bowed. "Li Qingyue pays his respects to Real Person Liang."

Real Person Liang, with his furrowed brows, didn't speak. He poked Kun with his withered finger, "...Kun?"

Kun disdainfully slapped its belly with its fin where it was poked and swam back to perch on Li Fan's head.

Li Fan was covered in cold sweat, and together with Yuan Xuanbao, they smiled and nodded in appeasement.

"There are still Kuns in this day and age..." Fortunately, Real Person Liang didn't dwell on the catfish-like creature. He leaned his body on his bent knee to the side, beckoned, and from under a coffin in a side room, a piece of Xuan paper painting flew out. The back faced the two disciples, and it floated as if held by a phantom, landing in Real Person Liang's hand and rolling up into a scroll.

Li Fan's mood decreased by 1 point.

This is...

"Pfft!" Yuan Xuanbao spat out a mouthful of blood, blood gushing from his nose, mouth, and ears. He sat down cross-legged on the ground, saying, "This disciple is dull-witted."

"Holy crap, Xuanbao, what happened to you?" Li Fan was startled by the mouthful of blood.

Real Person Liang nodded repeatedly, "No wonder you could kill a Golden Core. Your talent is quite good... This Kun was also brought out from the Sha Abyss of Tai Su, wasn't it? It's quite good..."

Real Person Liang tossed the scroll in his hand to Li Fan, "I originally wanted to talk about the Dao with you, but unfortunately, Xuanbao's fortune is a bit shallow. He won't be able to withstand this breakthrough... Never mind, this painting shows the 'Abyssal Consciousness' that I observed, which is the dojo where I attained enlightenment under the moon. Take it back and comprehend it yourself."

"Ah, oh, yes, thank you, Real Person..." Li Fan felt conflicted.

"What, you have something else?" Real Person Liang sprawled on the cushion, leaning against the table behind him, tilting his head and asking.

"Ah, yes, this junior wishes to seek the Body Domination Technique to dispel the Sha Qi..."

"Body Domination Technique?" Real Person Liang scratched his face, slowly rolling his eyeballs, "Body Domination Technique... What do you want to learn?"

What else could he choose?

Li Fan shrugged, "Learn swordplay."

Real Person Liang shook his head, "I don't know how."

Li Fan opened his mouth, "Thank you, Real P... Huh?"

"I don't know how," Real Person Liang spread his hands, "There's no swordplay in the Body Domination Technique. Didn't Xuanbao tell you?"

"Disciple... Pfft... is dull-witted..." Yuan Xuanbao started spitting blood again.

Profound Heaven Sword Intent expresses, Hmph, no swordplay, and you still claim not to be trash.

Li Fan broke out in a cold sweat. So this is that trash technique... But... isn't this supposed to collect all martial arts under heaven? How could there be no swordplay...

"I've seen many young men like you. Learning swordplay, wielding a sword, it's very cool, isn't it? Yes, I understand. After all, the secret sword techniques of the Beichen Sword Sect were all spread out back then. Every practitioner had a copy. Everyone used swords, this sword, that sword, and few people diligently cultivated their own arts."

Real Person Liang waved his hand, "When the God Lord compiled the Body Domination Technique, the Immortal Palace was in decline. The main force resisting the Divine Cult, the leader of the Xuanmen, was the Beichen Sword Sect, which claimed to be the ancestor of all sword sects. They specialized in swordplay, boasting unrivaled swordsmanship in the world. Their disciples would descend the mountain daily to smash the plaques of others, defeating all sword sects and sword techniques, whether from the immortal or mortal realms. Therefore, the God Lord did not collect any sword techniques for reference..."

Profound Heaven Sword Intent expresses, Hmph, so that's how it is. I didn't even know the Body Domination Technique had such a minor detail. Indeed, my Beichen Sword Sect is unrivaled in the world...

"So the God Lord had no choice but to comprehend five sword techniques himself from his experiences in battles and the Body Domination Technique. Later, he went to the main peak of the Beichen Sword Sect to verify and appraise them. He challenged them in swordplay at the same cultivation level and directly defeated them, scattering their mountain gate..."

Profound Heaven Sword Intent expresses, You're talking nonsense!

Real Person Liang picked his nose, "Later, the God Lord deemed these five sword techniques too powerful and too complete. They were no longer suitable for use as divine weapons cultivated by mortals through the Body Domination Technique. So, he stored them in the Blood Record Heavenly Tome, one of the three heavenly books of the Divine Cult, naming it the Blood Record Sword Scripture. Only the successive sect leaders and saintesses could cultivate it, so it was never passed down."

Profound Heaven Sword Intent expresses, Hiss... So the legendary Blood Record Sword Scripture came into being like this. No wonder the old hag's moves are all counters to me... No! That's wrong! He's lying! He's lying! Host, don't listen to his nonsense! He's talking nonsense! I don't believe it! I don't believe it! My Beichen Sect sword techniques are invincible in the world!

Li Fan, "..."

Real Person Liang flicked the booger away, "You don't believe it, do you? Well, that Beichen Sword Sect was full of sword fanatics. Although they always helped others gain fame, and were later destroyed by Youquan, their sword techniques were still spread throughout the world and their reputation was quite resounding."

"If you have the chance in the future, you can go to the Beichen Sword Sect's main altar, Jiuyin Mountain. They have a sword inscription stele. Disciples of successive generations would comprehend sword intent before this stele. That character 'Sword' was inscribed by the God Lord himself, who was on the verge of enlightenment at the time, after he won the sword duel and his swordplay reached perfection. Not long after, the God Lord attained enlightenment and ascended..."

Profound Heaven Sword Intent expresses, Hahahaha! You've revealed your weakness! That 'Sword' character was clearly...

"However, the sect's internal legend says it was carved by Xuan Girl. Sigh, if you think about it, it makes sense. Xuan Girl had fought her way through the Immortal Palace, killed the Immortal Emperor at the time, and directly attained enlightenment. Even if Xuan Girl carved it, she should have carved it in the Immortal Palace.

So, the successive sect leaders of the Beichen Sect have been hunting down people from the Divine Cult. Especially the saintesses, they always wanted to challenge the sword techniques comprehended by the God Lord again. In their Beichen Sword Master's Secret Records, the last wishes of their successive sect leaders were to defeat the Blood Record Sword Scripture!"

Profound Heaven Sword Intent expresses, No--you're lying! Wuwuwu! I don't believe it! I don't believe it!

Sword intent, don't be like this... This... doesn't mean that the sword techniques he comprehended are stronger than yours... It only means that the God Lord is more powerful than all of you...

"Real Person Liang asked with a smile, "How is it? Do you still want to learn swordplay?"

Uh... If I say forget it, the sword intent's mentality will probably collapse...

"Yes," Li Fan said, bracing himself, "Strength is temporary, but coolness is forever. Cough, cough, I mean, there are no foolproof methods in the world. Since you said the God Lord's sword techniques are powerful, didn't he not know how to use a sword at all before he compiled the Body Domination Technique? What weapon did he use before that?"

"Real Person Liang's eyes lit up, "Oh, you're a smart one too. Not bad. You must have seen the God Lord in the Lou Guan Tower. With a green face and fangs, because he was harmed while cultivating, his tendons were severed, his face was disfigured and scarred, and he became crippled. That's why he created the Primordial Spirit method to fight. He cultivated all the way to become an ancestor, a legendary cultivator with great perseverance. But strictly speaking, his best skills were illusions and spells of the Primordial Spirit Dao. He didn't actually know any martial arts or weapons."

Li Fan nodded, "In other words, various immortal techniques and secret arts are constantly developing and innovating. Back then, the God Lord, from a different perspective and at a higher realm, comprehended sword techniques that surpassed the old methods of the Beichen Sword Sect. But that was many years ago. Now that the Heavenly Dao has greatly changed, and I cultivate the Great Dao of Tai Su, who's to say I can't deduce sword techniques that are even better than the Blood Record Sword Scripture!

Moreover, if the Beichen Sword Sect truly fell into decline from then on, how could they still have such a great reputation today? Rather, everyone knew that the God Lord who suppressed the world was powerful, and they also knew that the Tai Su Heavenly Dao is now stronger than the Taiji Immortal Dao. But how many people, like these sword cultivators, are unyielding, fearless of danger, unafraid of power, and dare to challenge existences like the Youquan Dao Ancestor with their swords?

This kind of spirit is what we sword immortals aspire to!"

Profound Heaven Sword Intent expresses, Host, there's no need to comfort me. I was just temporarily unbalanced. You're so considerate, it makes me feel embarrassed...

Who the hell is comforting you! It's disgusting!

"Hahaha!" Real Person Liang laughed heartily, "You're quite ambitious. I don't know if you're bragging or just talking big..."

...No, aren't those two words the same meaning...

"How about this? Although the Body Domination Technique doesn't have swordplay for body refinement, I've also collected a set of martial arts for body refinement using swordplay out of interest. It's truly an excellent work, and I can pass it on to you."

Real Person Liang flipped his hand and took out an ancient book, handing it to Li Fan, "This is also a secret manual passed down from the Beichen Sword Sect. It is said that a certain sect leader of the sword sect, after killing a saintess of the same generation, glimpsed some moves from the Blood Record Sword Scripture and deduced this sword technique that could defeat enemies..."

Li Fan took it and glanced at it, "Profound Heaven Sword Method..."

Profound Heaven Sword Intent expresses, You're talking utter nonsense! I didn't write this book!

Real Person Liang said, "However, I suspect it's a forgery by later generations. Because as far as I know, well, it's actually written in their Beichen Sword Master's Secret Records themselves, saying that the Sword Ancestor Profound Heaven was best at refining flying swords and forged many earth-shattering precious swords. He was not only skilled in artifact refining but also proficient in alchemy, talismans, and formations, making him a rare genius of his time, a worthy ancestor..."

Profound Heaven Sword Intent expresses, Hmph! Even if you praise me like this, it's useless! I've already remembered you!

Let's not speak too soon. Can't you tell? I don't know if Real Person Liang always speaks like this, or if everyone in the world talks about the Beichen Sword Sect's gossip the same way, praising them first and then criticizing them...

"But..."

"Look at this!"

"But he was actually very poor at passing down his teachings. To put it bluntly, the sect leader of Profound Heaven had too high a comprehension, a bad temper, and learned too many disparate things. He would often scold his disciples as trash, riff-raff, and useless wood. Furthermore, he was destined for a lonely life and had no disciples who survived to inherit his teachings. No one in the sect liked him, which is why the esteemed Sect Leader of the Sword Sect disappeared for a hundred years, and only then did his disciples discover he was missing.

As for Profound Heaven's whereabouts, some say he achieved Dao, some say he ascended, some say he reincarnated as Liberation by Violence, and some say he was attacked and sealed. In short, there were many theories. As a result, because the sect leader was missing and had no successor, Beichen Sword Sect used their traditional method, sword duels, to select a new sect leader. Too many people died, and the sect was severely weakened, eventually leading to its destruction.

Well, that's all in the past. But in any case, this sword technique is written exceptionally exquisitely, with profound meaning conveyed in simple words. It's truly not like something that Profound Heaven, who couldn't even teach his disciples properly, would be capable of writing."

Li Fan: "..."

"Perhaps because later generations hadn't seen the records in the sect leader's secret manual that was passed down, and seeing that Profound Heaven was most famous for forging so many flying swords, they thought he was exceptionally talented, far surpassing all previous sect leaders. He himself didn't want to cause trouble by deciphering the Divine Sect's ultimate sword technique, so he might have used Profound Heaven's Daoist name to ghostwrite it," Real Person Liang said, seeing Li Fan's pained expression. "What? You don't like it? How about I find you a more reliable one?"

Profound Heaven Sword Intent says, This scroll! Damn it! I'll see what kind of Profound Heaven Sword Method this is! I, Profound Heaven Sword Intent, can definitely write one!!

Li Fan sighed, "Sigh... Then I'll take this one..."

"Hey, we were supposed to be discussing the Dao, but instead, we've ended up gossiping about a bunch of things. Oh, it's all from this Beichen Sword Sect Master's Secret Records>>. Do you want to take a look?"

"Oh? This is quite... Cough cough cough, next time, next time. We'll see if there's a chance later..."