Beichen Sword Sect's Headmaster's Secret Records

Chapter 407 Bewitched
The old man scratched the stubble on his cheek, pondered for a while, then beckoned to Huangfu Yi and pointed to the candlestick beside him.

"Alright, alright, don't panic. Once we know what we're dealing with, it'll be simple. Besides, you've only died twice and you've already found him. We still have four more chances. Isn't this going smoothly?"

However, Huangfu Yi just stared at him, shrinking into the corner without moving, his hand gripping the iron rod tightly. But it was less like holding a sword and more like grasping at some spiritual sustenance, a lifeline, a spider's web, as if if he let go, his last shred of reason would slip away and fly into the realm of impermanence.

Seeing the boy's state, the old man sighed, tilted his body to one side, and propped his head up to watch him.
"Okay, okay, we can wait, five years, ten years, a hundred years, well, we might not be able to wait a hundred years, but we have to wait until you are willing to die."

So why don't you go out first, rest for a bit, fight a few monsters, level up a few times, and then we'll continue when you're ready? What do you think?"

However, Huangfu Yi remained silent and did not retreat. He simply stood still in the darkness, as taut as a bow about to break.

The old man, seeing his miserable state, actually laughed heartlessly.

"Hehe, when I first met you, you actually looked just like this too."

They spout such nice words: to protect our country, to save the people, to rebuild the nation! Brothers, follow me! Let's fight for a future together!
But the result?

When my brothers are trampled into a bloody pulp, and I drag you out of the pile of corpses, you'll look like a wretched man who's lost his parents, secretly crying alone at night. Waaaaah, I'm so sorry to my brothers, waaaaah, I'm so sorry to my parents, waaaaah, I'm so useless~ waaaaah~
Gaga gaga! Gaga gaga! What a sissy, crying like a dog! Waaaaah~ Gaga gaga gaga!

Huangfuyi was immediately embarrassed.
"You're the sissy! You laugh like a duck!"

The old man chuckled, nonchalantly rubbing the mud off his body.

"Hehe, good, there's still hope if you don't want to be a sissy! What's the use of crying there!"

In this life, it's normal to encounter some idiots blocking your way sometimes!

Rise to the challenge! Slay the enemy when they fall! In a narrow encounter, the brave prevail!

That's what a real man is! A true hero!

"I don't need you to comfort me!"

Huangfu Yi took a deep breath, forcing air into his lungs to regain some energy, and sat down, panting.

"what happened."

"It's not that complicated. It's basically the same as what you're thinking. It's just going astray in cultivation."

The old man shrugged and pointed to the ground.
"He has progressed too quickly, gone astray, fallen into the abyss, and sunk too deep. He can no longer hear our voices."

Only you can find him and wake him up in person.

Huangfu Yi frowned, momentarily confused.
"I?"

The old man nodded, as if he were counting on his fingers, or perhaps flicking mud from between his fingers.

"Only you can go. In the Xuanmen, nothing is more important than the bond between master and disciple. You and he have a bond between master and disciple, so no one else can do it. You went down there yourself just now, didn't you? In a place like the Void Abyss, no amount of ability is useful. Without the karmic ties, you can't find him at all."

Moreover, if it's sixty years, there's still room to make amends in time. But if that doesn't work, then you'll have to wait another five hundred, one thousand, or even two thousand years before there's another chance.

But with that kid's abilities, do you think he'll still have the path you see? Tsk tsk, I'm afraid this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Just as you yourself said, if we can't call him back now, here, at this very moment, he won't last five hundred years. I think he'll only last another sixty years before he merges with Taiji.

Huangfu Yi stared blankly, repeating after him.

"Harmony with the Dao... Tai Chi..."

The old man nodded.
"The nine energies return to one, transforming back into the Taiji."

The possibility of reaching such an extreme level in the cultivation of Xuanmen Qi Gong is indeed possible. However, this is only theoretical; it's a level that has never been seen before or since. Even Lao Tzu himself didn't reach such an extreme level back then…”

Huangfu Yi still didn't understand.

"So... so what if we revert to Tai Chi? Is it more serious than the Zerg's annihilation of the world?"

The old man rolled his eyes at him.
"You've already refined Taiji Heaven, what else do you want to happen? Just pfft! In a flash, the lamp is blown out and the candle is removed, and nothing is left!"

The entire Tai Chi world, all things and beings, will be refined into the Nine Qi and united as one!

At that time, he will become arrogant and transform into the Taiji Ancestor, cutting off all his escape routes! He will achieve the highest level of Tao! Reaching the very end!

You! Demons, monsters, gods, and ghosts! You are all his food, his vital energy! How much worse do you want it to get?

Huangfu Yi closed his eyes, feeling dizzy and lightheaded. He leaned on his cane for a while to catch his breath before letting out a long sigh.
"Who did Taiji Heaven offend? Why is there so much trouble..."

The old man stroked his chin.

"Alright, that's how it is. You're always clamoring to save the world, aren't you? Here's the way, go save it."

Of course, if you really don't want to get involved, we don't really care. After all, if he were to truly merge with this path, his combat power wouldn't be low. But no matter what, exchanging three ancestors for one isn't a very worthwhile trade..."

Huangfu Yi glanced at the four-finger candlestick, swallowed hard.

"I understand. Since it's just me going, I will go. But... how exactly do I do it? Is there a plan?"

"It's almost time to win, there's no time for so much scheming."

The old man yawned.

"Don't be so hesitant. He's fallen so deep, still lost in the Dao, unable to use Qi or practice cultivation. You're evenly matched. Besides, you've already stacked so many buffs on him, what's the point of dawdling? Just give him a punch and wake him up."

Huangfu Yi hesitated for a moment.

The old man glared at him.

"Don't hesitate! You've learned the Lightning Style and mastered the Fist of Fury! Charge at him and thrust your sword! Or punch him! Go all out, give it your all! Surely you can't touch him in one go!"
When the odds are overwhelmingly against you, you have to gamble with your life! Put life and death aside! What's the harm in dying? I've given you so many escape routes! What are you afraid of? Charge! Fight! Go all out!

"Go for it? Go for it... go for it!"

Huangfu Yi gritted his teeth, stood up, and roared to encourage himself!
"Let's give it our all! Let's give it our all!! Let's give it our all!!!"

Then he lunged forward and lifted the candlestick.

Then it seemed as if a sword flashed and the candlelight dimmed.

The old man looked around.

"Oh, you're back. How was it this time?"

"Ugh—!! Ugh—!! Ugh—!!"

Huangfu Yi knelt on the ground, spitting out large amounts of blood. Snot, tears, and blood gushed from his mouth and nose. He curled up on the ground like a shrimp, trembling. His centipede-like armor was cracked like rotten dust and broken, withered leaves, and scattered like mustard powder.

"Hey kid, what are you doing...?"

At this moment, the candlelight shone again, and only three fingers remained on his hand. The boy's face also lit up, and then even the old man was stunned.

lost.

The boy's face was cleaved open, a distinct sword scar running down from his brow, piercing through the Immortal Jade Marrow, breaking through his Heart Pivot and Infant, and even splitting his nascent sword embryo in two. If it weren't for the black lotus vines on his chest still writhing desperately, trying to sew his torn body back together, he would probably be shattered in two by now.

"Kid... are you alright...?"

For a time, Huangfu Yi's heart stopped beating; he could only exhale and not inhale. Only after the lotus vines had mended him could he barely speak.

"His...his sword...is too fast..."

The old man's smile vanished, replaced by a grave look at the blood streaming down the boy's body, the sword wounds that refused to fade.
"Severing the cause and severing the effect, the sword intent is already formed, how come the progress is so fast..."

I can't believe that bastard was telling the truth. The entire "Northern Star Sword Chronicles" actually has such a high ceiling...

"It's over, it's over, we're way off, this is it..."

Huangfu Yi had no strength left to move, so he knelt in front of the old man, panting heavily.

The old man looked at him like that, hesitated for a long time, and finally could only shake his head.

"...Forget it, your foundation is still a bit lacking. No matter how much you cheat, you're still just a human being."

Let's go out and level up some more, until we're ready...

Or you could just go out and live a peaceful life, that wouldn't be bad either. Don't force yourself..."

"What happened next..."

"What happened later?"

Huangfu Yi knelt on the ground, spitting blood.

"...You, you dragged me out of a pile of dead bodies...and then what happened?"

"Later..."

The old man was silent for a moment, then shrugged.

"Then I avenged my brothers. I braved mountains of knives and rains of arrows, broke through cities and captured strongholds, killing and hacking all the way, from south to north, from west to east, until I rose to prominence and was granted titles and honors."

In the end, we won, and our revenge was achieved.

Huangfu Yi raised his head, his eyes momentarily blank.
"That's it? Like... what's shown in plays and storybooks?"

The old man nodded.
"That's just acting according to the script."

Huangfu Yi looked at him,
"So, did we manage to save the people in the end?" The old man remained silent for a long time before finally shaking his head.

"The people in heaven do not like to see a peaceful world."

Huangfu Yi lowered his head, clenched his fists tightly, and dug ten bloody marks into the ground before grabbing the candlestick.

With a flash of sword light, the candlelight went out again.

In the darkness, with a thud, the boy's right arm fell to the ground.

The old man jumped up and snatched the candlestick back.

"You're fucking asking for it!"

Fortunately, the candlelight flickered back on, and in the corner of his eye, he could see the boy panting heavily, supporting himself on one hand in the pool of blood, stubbornly raising his head. Although his entire body was covered in blood, and the blood spurting from the sword scar had blurred his face, his eyes, like swords, shone with an unprecedented brilliance.

"It's alright! I... I've learned it! I still have two more chances! I'm sure I can win!"

"Xiao Yi..."

Huangfuyi interrupted him.

"Trust me! We can win! He was too fast; I didn't even have a chance to use my flying sword!"
But I've seen that move three times, I've mastered it! I can do it! I can handle it! I can withstand it!

But the old man looked at him for a while, and finally shook his head.
"You don't need to cover for me. I lied just now just to provoke you."

But even if you really can't do it, it doesn't matter, I have other backup plans.

Listen to me, you should go down the mountain first and heal your injuries before...

"You must be my master from my past life!"

Huangfu Yi roared,
"In the Xuanmen (Taoist sect), nothing is more important than the bond between master and disciple! You said it!"
I don't care about any mysterious or auspicious things!

I don't care who the one below is!

You gave me so many chances! You brought me all the way here! You saved my life time and time again!
Just give me a chance to do what I want to do!

"You're the one who's my master!"

The old man didn't speak.

Huangfu Yi knelt before him and kowtowed to the ground with a thud.
"Master! Let me go!"

In my whole life... I've accomplished nothing... and I haven't been able to save anyone...

I could only watch helplessly as everyone died... I... I really...

I'm so unwilling to accept this!!

Please! Please let me try one more time!

The old man looked at the remaining two fingers, sighed deeply, and finally put the candlestick down.

"Master, please believe in me! I can do it!"

However, before Huangfu Yi could finish speaking, the moment he took the candlestick, the sword light slashed the candle flame away.

The two remained silent in the darkness for a while.

Until the last candle flame slowly lit up, illuminating the boy's eye socket that had been ripped open by a sword.

Huangfu Yi went blind.

The sword strike was swift and decisive, actually ripping off his skull. Fortunately, the black lotus was still intact, and it was stitched back together.

In the flickering candlelight, the old man could only hunch over, helplessly gazing at his disciples seated below.
"Xiao Yi... let's go home..."

Huangfu Yi was no longer agitated or argumentative. He could only sit slumped in the pool of blood, head bowed, hissing and gasping for breath, enduring the pain.
"Master...Master...last time...how did I die last time..."

The old man closed his eyes.
“A group of people rebelled, and the Celestial Palace sent you to suppress it. After you returned, your Dao heart collapsed, and you committed suicide.”

"……Oh?"

Huangfu Yi couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Me? To suppress the poor on behalf of the Celestial Palace?"

The old man nodded.
"100,000 were killed in battle, 100,000 were burned to death, 100,000 drowned, and others died of starvation and disease. In total, there must have been a million people."

Huangfu Yi could no longer laugh.

"……Why?"

The old man shook his head and smiled bitterly.

"Why? Because they really fell into the demonic path just to have a full meal? Because there are hundreds of millions of people under the rule of the Immortal Palace. If they are allowed to go out, will the world really descend into chaos? Because at that time, the people of the world were already bloodthirsty. If no one side can win, the world will never have peace?"
because……

At that time, regardless of gender or age, as long as all the demons and monsters that wreaked havoc on the world, the culprits, were killed, the world would naturally be at peace. This is the principle we firmly believe in.

So you said someone had to do it, so you did it, and after you finished, you committed suicide to atone for your sins. That's all there is to it.

The two fell silent in the darkness.

There's no need to say more; the outcome has already been stated.

Some people just can't stand seeing peace and tranquility on earth.

After an unknown amount of time, Huangfu Yi slowly spoke in the endless darkness.
"Master..."

I know that no matter what I say, you will go.

"If you don't go, how can you be my disciple?"

The old man put down the lotus platform, slowly turned around, and faced the wall.

"Go ahead."

So Huangfu Yi respectfully kowtowed three times, raised his last finger, and stepped into the abyss in the unseen candlelight.

I don't know if it was psychological or a final burst of energy before death.

Huangfu Yi actually thought that being blind would be much more convenient in the endless abyss.

Even though you can't see or touch anything, you can only follow the faint light.

But at this moment, Huangfu Yi saw a path.

Without the slightest hesitation

Without the slightest hesitation

There was no fear left.

Where should we go? Where should we head?

Clear and distinct,
Right before our eyes, right beneath our feet.
Just keep walking forward.

Walk straight
一直走
Until the end of the road
Until the end of the Tao
The man in the green robe was waiting for him there, his back straight as a sword, standing before him.

Like a mountain, like a peak, it seemed that no matter how hard he tried, he could not touch it or shake it in the slightest.

But so what?
Huangfu Yi raised his sword... then suddenly realized he had forgotten his iron rod, because he had forgotten to hold it in his right hand...

So Huangfu Yi raised his left hand, and the remaining candle flame stood before him like a sword.

Light the unseen candle between your brows.

"Huangfu Yi of the Beichen Sword Sect challenges me to a sword duel."

The man then turned around and raised his sword.

You can't see his face, but Huangfu Yi can see his sword.

So, with a lightning-fast strike, he stabbed forward.

Driven by his will, without fear or apprehension, he threw himself into the sword's tip.

In the end, his sword was faster, piercing Huangfu Yi's chest with a single strike. This time, the sword force completely extinguished the black lotus in his heart.

But so what.

When a person has nothing left to lose and nothing left to fear.

The sword in one's heart will never waver again.

So that finger, neither straight nor crooked, neither biased nor inclined, struck the person's brow.

Then Tie Dan opened his eyes and woke up from his meditation.

(End of this chapter)