Secret Records of the Leader of the Beichen Sword Sect-Chapter 31: Forge My Sword

"Huff... It should be a bit cooler now, try it, is it still hot?"

Inside the Guangxia Mountain Swallow Cave, Eight Lady Shen, the descendant of Shen Huai from the Beichen Sword Sect, the lady owner of the Hidden Sword Manor, and Jianjia's mother, blew on the congee she had cooked, scooped it into a bamboo tube, and carefully fed it to Tie Dan.

This time, Tie Dan was again gravely injured and on the brink of death, having been unconscious for who knows how many days. If he didn't eat something to nourish himself, he might not make it to the next morning—even if they fed him poison, he had to swallow it.

However, truth be told, the congee was quite tasty, made with dew collected using True Qi, a leaf, a bit of homemade dried meat, and plums—it was sour and sweet with a hint of bamboo's fragrance, truly appetizing.

At least it's better than what's inside a bear's stomach...

"Feeling a bit more energetic?"

Eight Lady Shen fed Tie Dan two bowls of congee, wiped his mouth clean, then hugged her knees, gathered her skirt, and sat sideways beside Tie Dan, asking in a soft voice,

"Child, are you a disciple of Guangxia Mountain? Oh, you don't have the strength to talk yet, just blink your eyes. Blink once for yes, twice for no."

...Alright, blink it is.

So Tie Dan blinked.

Seeing his reaction, Eight Lady Shen was both delighted and somewhat anxious as she clutched her skirt and carefully asked.

"This Mystic Steel Sword, it's a treasure bestowed by the sect to my ancestor, forged from meteorite iron, a family heirloom, always with Jianjia for protection. How did it end up with you...

Hmm... Shen Jianjia, she's my daughter, do you know her?"

Tie Dan blinked.

"Is, is she doing alright?"

She's doing quite well, very strong, at least able to draw a four-stone bow...

Seeing Tie Dan blink, Eight Lady Shen breathed a sigh of relief, her tense body relaxing a bit,

"Did she perhaps join Guangxia Mountain?"

Tie Dan blinked again.

Eight Lady Shen's joy was evident, but suddenly she became tense again,

"Then, then did she come with you this time?"

Tie Dan blinked twice.

Eight Lady Shen finally relaxed,

"Good, good, as long as she didn't get caught up in this... Since she's joined, then the Young Master..."

Eight Lady Shen hesitated, choosing her words carefully,

"Uh, is there a young man named Luu Yue at Guangxia Mountain?"

Blink twice.

"No... So Jianjia joined alone?"

Blink once.

"Is that so..."

Eight Lady Shen wasn't particularly surprised, after a moment of silence, she suddenly spoke,

"The Young Master is dead, isn't he."

Tie Dan glanced at her,

Blinked once.

Eight Lady Shen sighed, looking out the cave, speaking softly,

"Indeed, if the Three Constellations want you dead by midnight, how many can escape their fate... Ultimately, a mortal carp that can't leap the Dragon Gate..."

The two didn't speak for a while, and it was unclear what Eight Lady Shen was thinking. After a moment, she looked at Tie Dan.

"Are you thirsty? I'll get some water for you?"

Tie Dan looked at her somewhat confusedly.

Someone like Eight Lady Shen, who wandered the Jianghu, naturally understood his meaning and didn't rush, first feeding him a sip from her water bottle, then using a handkerchief dipped in dew to wipe Tie Dan's mouth, carefully avoiding the blood scabs on his face.

"Since Jianjia entrusted the Hundred Piercing Sword to you to overcome this calamity, she must see you as one of the few friends she has and does not want you to die."

Tie Dan, "..."

Eight Lady Shen took his pulse, then helped Tie Dan undo his Daoist robe, wiping the blood and pus from his body,

"I'm naturally happy that Jianjia has the chance to join the Mystic Sect. However, the paths of immortal and mortal are different; I'm dull-witted, not understanding much, and can't offer help to my child.

But since you have the opportunity to cultivate together as sect mates, if you could support each other and seek the Dao together, it wouldn't be a bad fate..."

Tie Dan, "..."

Eight Lady Shen, being sharp-minded, saw that there was not much youthful excitement or shyness in Tie Dan's eyes, as if he had worries, so she didn't push but eased her tone,

"Of course, I know that child can be a bit stubborn, her mind sometimes not flexible, and she might suffer in the future.

But please, considering today's fate, should the opportunity arise in the future, help her. Eight Lady Shen will be eternally grateful."

Tie Dan looked at her, blinked once.

Seeing him agree, Eight Lady Shen completed a task in her heart and finally relaxed.

At this time, seeing Tie Dan staring outside the cave, she guessed his thoughts and softly explained,

"We found you earlier near the Dragon Corpse but didn't find your fellow sect members. Later, the Shi family pursued us relentlessly, so I took you away first, which scattered us from our brothers.

However, while healing here for a few days, there's no sign yet of the Spirit Communication Secret Realm closing. It seems the Demon Suppression Platform hasn't opened.

"In your current condition, you can't use your Qi. You'd better rest until your body recovers. Once you can move, I'll take you out of the cave, and we can head to Guangxia Mountain together, alright?"

Tie Dan was silent for a moment, blinked once.

Seeing his agreement, Eight Lady Shen smiled and placed the Hundred Piercing Sword by Tie Dan's side, nodded to him, and got up to leave,

"Alright, I won't disturb your rest any longer, go back to sleep for a while."

As soon as she left, Tie Dan immediately flipped up, twisting his neck and kicking his legs.

Though he hadn't regained much power, his body was essentially healed.

One could say that the Blood Jade Technique is peculiar, and the Qiu Niu blood quite potent. Even when blasted beyond recognition, as long as there's a breath left, it would restore you.

Tie Dan had now recognized the pattern: every time he was on the verge of death, activating the effects of the Blood Jade Technique was like muscle change and rebirth.

Not only did his meridians become broader, but his bones and muscles were also enhanced, akin to steel forged a thousand times over, growing stronger through relentless tempering and maximizing his body's potential to adapt to a cold, ruthless world.

Perhaps this is what they call infinite evolution...

However, it's still not enough.

This strength is far from enough.

Tie Dan knew well that even if he rebirthed through blood again, even if his potential were reawakened, even if his Qi returned full and his sword sharpened, it was still not enough to defeat the Demon Palace.

At present, his sword couldn't deal with that Qilin.

And under the Princely Heir, besides the Qilin, there are also the Qiu Niu, Eagle Dogs, and many beastly house slaves. On a whim, they might also summon great numbers of ancient strange beasts, Demon God Guardians, to battle.

Even if he fought to the death, he wouldn't be their match and would likely end crushed like an ant.

Rationally, following Eight Lady Shen's method was the safest approach.

Conserve energy and retreat is the wise move.

Leaving now, remembering the grudges, achieving great success in Divine Skill before coming to settle scores, is the common trope in this world.

There are too many demons lurking in corners, filled with grievances against the world, driven mad by the indulgent scions of the Demon Palace.

If he were still that dog Dan tied to the door, living in a cage and hiding under the whip, he wouldn't hesitate, prioritizing survival above all.

But this would mean that Tie Dan from Guangxia Mountain's Swallow Cave and his fellow disciples who came to face the trial would perish in this sunless Grotto Heaven.

So, no! He couldn't flee!

He didn't want to flee! He didn't want to go back to being that dog Dan!

If not fleeing, there was no other option! Just fight with all you've got!

Currently, he still wasn't strong enough!

Without enough strength, nothing could be protected!

To become stronger, there was no choice but to fight desperately!

The young man reached out and grasped the sword beside him.

Mystic Steel Sword!

If it's truly as Eight Lady Shen said, this thing is made of meteorite iron and is the Sword Sect's direct heritage!

Then this sword is the best Gold Essence Iron Seed in the world, a Foundation Establishment Treasure!

Indeed!

Foundation Establishment!

Tie Dan hadn't yet established his foundation!

His Divine Gang Sword Qi could still become stronger!

Now is the time!

Foundation Establishment! Sword swallowing!

Yes, sword swallowing!

Envelop the sword seed with Divine Gang Sword Qi, swallow it in one gulp, plant it in the inner scene, hide it in the body, hone it into a divine blade unique to oneself!

Use your body, your life!

To be the oil that nurtures the sword, the sheath that hides the sword, the blood that sacrifices the sword!

This is the true Sword Child!

This is the real art of sword casting!

This is the true Heritage of the Beichen Sword Sect!

Divine Gang Refining Qi Sword Method!

Swallow it!

Swallow this treasure sword!

Ingest it, refine it into Qi, forge it into the blade!

Your sword!

Will be formed!

Raising his head, Tie Dan opened his mouth, painfully thrusting the dismantled sword tip straight down his throat!

It might look to others like a circus act, but Tie Dan was doing it for real!

The sharp sword blade that could even slaughter Qiu Niu and Dragon Tortoise! Cutting iron like mud, tearing Tie Dan's innards, spouting blood from his mouth!

But it didn't matter! Keep thrusting! Keep swallowing it down! Once in the sheath, it will be refined!

Sure, the Sword Sect's sword casting method is cruel, but not so insane.

Typically, they would cast iron seeds into golden pills, for the disciples to orally consume. Only very few secret methods would call for feeding children anesthesia, later for sect elders to perform surgery, slicing open to implant the forged sword embryo in the visceral cavity.

But Tie Dan had no help around him, and he hoped the Blood Jade Technique would work miracles, healing him while simultaneously undergoing a blood rebirth. Slicing open his abdomen and breaking his meridians wasn't an option then, was it?

So he could only force the sword down his throat alone...

"Ugh ugh ugh... huh? Eh??"

While strenuously working the sword down his mouth, Tie Dan glanced aside, suddenly finding the Divine Beast Catfish perched on his shoulder, fixing him with an 'ooh, you're quite brave...' look, and smacking its fins as if clapping...

"Uh! Ugh ugh gah gah!"

Tie Dan was startled by the creature! Choked!

The sword tip veered! Slashing open his belly! Blood spurting from seven orifices!

Damn it! Of all times!

Tie Dan frantically signaled to the fish! Stop just watching and help a brother out!

The Catfish gave a signal back, implying 'Trust me', then with a "pop", it spat out a purple bubble.

Then upon the bubble bursting, the voice of an old man echoed,

"There are many ancient flaws in the Sword Sect's sword casting method, especially the risk in implanting swords into bodies—it's perilous, one survives out of ten. However, no worries! I have improved this technique so that one can establish their foundation and cultivate even without using a human sheath!"

Why didn't you mention this sooner!!

Tie Dan was about to faint.

Then the old man leisurely said,

New novel chapt𝒆rs are published on ƒгeewebnovёl.com.

"...But if strictly compared, the ancient method is still more powerful.

If you wish to learn it, I'll explain the intricacies, though this divine skill is most lethal and vicious, serving no purpose other than killing, and once mastered, it sets you on the path of slaughter, experiencing life and death trials!

Before achieving great success in Divine Skill, before achieving Human Sword Unity, at least once every seven days, you must kill to sacrifice your sword, using blood to bathe the blade, else the sword soul will run rampant, murderous intent will seize the heart, the sword will pierce the spine, harming oneself!

Moreover, this sword carries too many killings, too heavy a karma, inevitably plunging into the demonic path of massacre! Killing continuously, disregarding kin, impossible to stop! Do you really intend to establish this Dao Foundation?"

Isn't that perfect! Life is for the killing! Come!

The Catfish popped another bubble,

A purple bubble dissolved in time, and from the void came an old man's wild laughter, "Hehehe, hahaha, hohohohahaha!"

"I thought you'd be different, but you're making the same choice!

Can't bend you, spine! Can't sever, sword in the belly!

Can't clear away, worldly woes! Can't flee, calamities beneath heaven!

Can't devour, flesh of gods and demons! Can't finish, hero's wine!

Can't fathom, mortal realm! Can't slay, enemy heads!

Good! Since you wish to learn, I'll teach you! All of it!

Come! Forge my sword!!"