Secret Records of the Leader of the Beichen Sword Sect

Chapter 1442: Chapter 681: Sword Embryo

As the sun set in the west, Chen Dewei stood at the peak of Guangxia Mountain, gazing at the sea of clouds beneath his feet. The mountain was covered with red leaves extending towards the horizon, reflecting a splendid golden light. He stood there pensively, lost in thought, or perhaps captivated by the scene.

"Master, the newly admitted children have been properly settled in the retreat, and all have been taught the Qi Refining Chapter; please choose."

At this moment, two disciples in green robes arrived together, climbing the steps up the mountain, and respectfully bowed behind Chen Dewei.

Chen Dewei did not turn around, his tiger-like eyes, commanding and authoritative without anger, continued to sweep over the mountain below. Without any expression, he asked,

"During your training journey down the mountain, did you gain any insights?"

The pair of senior brothers raised their heads, each narrowing their eyes, glancing at the scene their master was observing,

"The Heavenly Dao is emotionless, all beings suffer."

"Not all suffer, some live quite comfortably."

Chen Dewei,

"Then what do you say should be done?"

Yue Peng thought for a moment,

"Perhaps there is nothing to be done, just go with the flow."

Zhou Feng shook his head,

"Alas, if you go with the flow, and I go with the flow, letting nature do as it pleases, the world will be in a disastrous state."

Chen Dewei still showed no expression, as if he was merely asking casually,

"Is there anyone of good potential among this batch?"

Yue Peng nodded,

"All are of great potential, able to read and recognize characters. Along the way, they all recognized the Qi acupoint and refined some Qi sensation. With another three months of hard work, they should be able to practice sword energy."

Zhou Feng added,

"There is one named Liu Xiaoliu, a refugee from the south, who is extraordinarily intelligent and has excellent comprehension; he is always the first to grasp any teaching. While passing through the Capital, there was even a young master who tried to challenge him, vying for his opportunity, but it was to no avail. Among this batch of children, I believe he has the best natural talent."

Chen Dewei nodded his head,

"Oh, and from the north?"

The two couldn’t help but exchange a glance before kneeling and kowtowing together.

"Master, forgive us! There was indeed another child of great potential! He wielded a fine treasure sword! He seemed to be a descendant of the Hidden Sword Manor! But..."

"It was the disciple’s negligence! While traveling through Lingwu County in Genzhou, the mountain roads were perilous, and one moment of carelessness allowed a strange gust of wind to sweep him into a mountain ravine, and he may have perished!"

"We later inquired from various sources and learned that the place is called Verdant Altar Canyon, with complicated terrain and many oddities. Every year, around eleven or twelve people are swept into it, their fates unknown; it is likely the work of demons. At the time, the Kan and Gen Countries were still at war, and we had other children with us, so..."

Chen Dewei stroked his beard in silence, calculating with his fingers,

"Verdant Altar Canyon, alright, I understand."

Yue Peng and Zhou Feng knew they had botched the task and dared not rise.

Chen Dewei brushed his sleeve, helping them up,

"That boy was a descendant of a former acquaintance from the Sword Sect, destined by fate to be lonely and isolated, abandoned by wicked men early on and wandering about. His life was full of hardships, marked by solitary stars, and harm to his kin and friends. This tribulation was destined in his life, and your life charts couldn’t suppress it. Pay it no mind. The treasure sword will return to the mountain someday."

"Yes, Master, Master, Master, Master..."

The scene suddenly froze, the sky full of evening glow and red leaves seemed to join into one, as if forming a giant hand sweeping across. The clouds rolled, the Five Qi changed, and it accelerated directly, fast-forwarding with a SKIP, advancing to the next scene in the blink of an eye.

This was a dungeon.

Zhou Feng was locked inside a cage, a Lute Hook, rib lock, and Bone-piercing Nails all used on him; his tendons were cut, his kneecaps gouged out, and his spine shattered, rendering him a cripple.

"How is it?"

Chen Dewei carried the head of a Qilin into the cell, gently caressed its head, and breathed a breath of Qi into it.

Zhou Feng opened his eyes, then lowered his head again,

"Master, Xiaoliu, I sent him away to escape, the senior brother, holding the line, was eaten by that wretched dragon, the disciple is unable, I couldn’t save him, brought shame to Yanzi Cave..."

Chen Dewei’s eyes gleamed with vigor, examining him from head to toe,

"No matter, I am here for everything."

Zhou Feng shook his head,

"No need, Master, all my True Yuan has been drained. With no more use, what is the point of clinging to life?

In this life, I most detest being at the mercy of others, humiliated and bullied. Please help me with Soldier Disintegration."

Chen Dewei was silent for a long time,

"You haven’t reached the Nascent Soul, nor refined enough Divine Thought, you might not be able to reincarnate..."

Zhou Feng smiled bitterly, shaking his head,

"The mortal world is a boundless sea of suffering, not coming back is no regret. I only regret that if I hadn’t lost my temper back then, we wouldn’t have been expelled from Honzan. It’s all the disciple’s fault for not being filial to you, unable to serve you..."

Chen Dewei patted Zhou Feng’s head,

"Alright, then go ahead."

Zhou Feng closed his eyes,

"Thank you, Master, for fulfilling my wish."

And so the cell plunged into darkness, silent for a time, until Chen Dewei stood up and coldly said,

"What, have you seen enough?"

Tie Dan stood outside the cage, staring fixedly at Zhou Feng,

"Did he really want to die himself? Are you lying to me again!"

Chen Dewei turned his head, slightly surprised as he glared at the young man in the green robe,

"Lying to you? What’s there to hide about something like this!? Besides, who are you? Why do you stop me from Soldier Disintegration?"

"You don’t recognize me!?... Fine, you really don’t know me."

Tie Dan took a deep breath, controlling his emotions,

"Immortal Tianku! I’ll just ask you one thing, Yue Peng and Zhou Feng! Did you ever consider them as disciples!!"

Chen Dewei was momentarily puzzled,

"You intervened to stop my Body Seizing, just for their cause and effect? How do you know them?"

"That’s none of your concern! I’m just asking you!"

Tie Dan glared at him angrily, pointing at the Qilin head on the ground,

"Was this tribulation really due to their insufficient fate? Was it their limited ability? Was it their helplessness!