After Tie Dan endured countless hardships, exhausting the boost from his Turbo Technique, he finally arrived at Qianshengtong only to find that Manager Qiao and the others had already departed.
But that was expected; after all, escaping with oneâs life was the priority.
Tie Dan wasnât in a rush; rightly thinking that since the caravan was moving slowly with families in tow, heâd catch up sooner or later. Resting for a night and then going to White Deer Peak to meet them would be the same. Plus, after using Turbo Technique twice in a row, he was utterly spent and needed to take a breather to restore some of his Refining.
So Tie Dan vaulted over the wall into the trading company, first getting rid of the two burdens on him. He set the one with limbs aside, picked up the old man wrapped like an Iron Cocoon, removed his chains, and gave him a couple of buns to stop him biting, then washed him clean and wrapped him anew in cloth like a swaddled baby, placing him on the bed to calm down.
Then Tie Dan got some water himself, went into the bathroom to wash off the blood and grime. Suddenly, there was a sound behind him. Tie Dan paused and turned his head, finding that indeed, Zhen Baiyu had come in.
What mischief is she up to now? Sheâs crossed the line too many times. Could it be that this woman really intends to steal his Primordial Yang and rob him of his cultivation?
Zhen Baiyuâs face was red like dripping blood, but she seemed to have made some kind of decision. As she undid her robe, revealing smooth jade-like skin akin to creamy sheep fat, she trembled as she spoke,
"Donât misunderstand, I, I just... just, Iâm sweaty, itâs uncomfortable..."
Tie Dan sniffed, oh my, that smell is strong. Misunderstood, indeed. After a whole day in and out of rivers and tunnels, smoked and scorched, even a celestial being would stink by now.
Seeing that Tie Dan remained silent and didnât pay her any mind, continuing to pour water over his head and back to wash. Zhen Baiyu took a deep breath and approached him.
Then Tie Dan felt a pair of soft, smooth hands gently touch his back, using a silk towel to wipe.
"Big, big brother, let me help you wash..."
Looking at his well-defined muscles and clean lines, his body hard and burning hot, Zhen Baiyu felt her mouth go dry, and she couldnât help but slowly bend over, coming close, her warm breath almost spraying onto his bronze skin...
Tie Dan frowned, "What are you doing! If youâre going to scrub, put some strength into it!"
"Oh, oh... yes, yes!"
"A little harder! Havenât you eaten!"
"Sor, sorry!"
With Tie Danâs admonishment, Zhen Baiyu had no choice but to put all her strength into scrubbing his back, putting her back into it, her body bouncing with each stroke.
"Tsk..."
"Canât even scrub with strength, what else can this burden do...? Hmm?"
Tie Dan glanced at her, suddenly grabbing her thigh.
"Ah ah ah!"
Suddenly grabbed by a vice-like hand, Zhen Baiyu trembled violently, her body nearly turning limp like mud, falling against Tie Danâs back, her hands sliding down his chest...
"Are you injured?"
Tie Dan lifted her leg to see clearly, there were indeed burn marks visible on her flawless skin.
"It, it doesnât matter..."
Zhen Baiyuâs eyes were filled with tender affection, her gaze flirtatious, her voice soft as silk.
Tie Dan glanced sideways at her,
"Put some ointment, bandage it up, or else itâll get infected and fester by tomorrow, making it hard to travel. After a few days, itâll scab over and be fine."
"Scab, scab over!"
That was terrifying, Zhen Baiyu snapped awake, quickly checking the wound, anxiously asking,
"What kind of medicine should I use? Do you have any?"
Tie Dan released her leg with a fling,
"No, go find a doctor yourself."
Zhen Baiyu didnât believe it, touching Tie Danâs skin,
"Impossible! You always get yourself into life and death situations, through blades and fire, and thereâs not even a scar on you! You must have some special medicine!"
Tie Dan shot her a glance, thinking to himself that his body was forged with Divine Skill, reborn from blood, not something he could just explain,
"No, try saliva."
Zhen Baiyu blanked, "Sal, saliva?"
"Havenât you seen animals lick their wounds? The enzymes in saliva can repair cells. Lick it yourself."
Zhen Baiyu was stunned for a moment, looking at her leg, then at Tie Danâs mouth. Her face turned red.
"Tie, Brother Tie, I canât reach..."
Tie Dan found it odd,
"How can you not reach, just spit on your hand and rub it on, stupid!"
Zhen Baiyu, "...Oh, right."
"Are you two done yet? I need the bathroom!"
Suddenly, a thundering voice echoed in his mind!
Tie Dan immediately sprang up.
It was the old man! Primordial Spirit Method!? How could it be...
Looking down, Zhen Baiyu was squatting in front of him, staring dazedly at him. The talisman she had drawn on her forehead, the shining Primordial Spirit Talisman Seal, had clearly already been washed away by the steam.
Well, no matter how useful the Divine Sectâs Primordial Spirit Method might be, it was ultimately a Foundation Establishment Stage trick, washed away with water...
Tie Dan didnât delay, draped on his green robe, and left. He had more or less cleaned off the bloodstains and scents, so he didnât have to worry about being tracked by Demon Palace hounds anymore.
Zhen Baiyu, blushing, slowly stood up, dunked herself into the bath barrel, and submerged her head. She needed another wash...
Tie Dan pushed open the door, seeing the old man obediently lying on the bed, not leaping up to fight. He withdrew the sword energy at his fingertips, holding the Taibai Sword in his mouth, ready to pluck the old man and take him to the latrine by the wooden bucket.
After tidying him up, he placed him back on the bed.
"From the Sword Sect."
The old man lay still, transmitting his voice through his Primordial Spirit.
Tie Dan nodded.
"Whoâs the Sect Leader."
"Tianshu Peak Master, Lord Tian Gang"
"Itâs him... or not..."
The old man furrowed his brow, remained silent for a while,
"Who sent you to rescue me."
Tie Dan shook his head,
"No one. Just did it conveniently."
The old man sneered,
"Stop pretending. From start to finish, the Killing Sword has been hanging over my forehead. Youâre no kind-hearted person. Could you be so generous? Speak! What are your intentions!"
Tie Dan looked at him coldly,
"Is there any point in asking? If youâre from the Mystic Sect, saving you can naturally yield some merit, or at worst, a nine-character blade.
If youâre not of my path, killing you myself serves a tribulation, earning some fate."
The old man grinned wide, laughing with a wheeze,
"Ah ha ha! Well said! Excellent! Truly one of my kind! Mystic Sect Disciple! Say! What do you want!"
Tie Dan,
"Anything, as I have nothing, just give what you see fit."
The old man snorted,
"Huh, having nothing? I see your path is wide, your luck as a rainbow, beauty by your side, you lack nothing in companions, wealth or land...
Oh well, Iâm on the eve of Soldier Disintegration, nothing to be stingy about.
Just that in the past, I was blind, got tempted by beauty, trusted the Demon Palace Demoness, and ended up being tricked, resulting in such disgrace and ridicule, no face to name myself and shame the sect.
This time youâve saved me, I owe you, remember your kindness! Iâll repay you in another life! Have no worries! But right now, I donât have any Heavenly Materials Treasures to settle this karma with you.
I assume that as a disciple of the Sword Sect, you wouldnât come down the mountain to learn my pathâs Inner Breath Method.
Therefore, I will pass on all my remaining strength, my lifetime mastery of the Five Arts, as collateral! How about it!"
Five Arts? The same things Honzan planned to teach over thirty years.
Tie Dan, "Fine."
"Good! Soul Transferring and Skill Inheriting Technique!"
The old man let out a roar! Countless golden flying insects spewed from his nose and mouth, appearing like dust mites in the sunlight, slightly nauseating.
However, when Tie Dan focused, those tiny insects were actually numerous characters and notes, which, upon entering his Divine Court, transformed into endless symbols and voices. Clearly, they were the essence of this Old Xuan Sectâs lifetime of diligent study.
At this moment, through the Soul Transfer Technique, they were separated from his original body, turned into pure knowledge and memory, flooding into Tie Danâs Divine Court for recording.
Those transmission jades and transmission figurines commonly seen in the Immortal World are made using a similar Primordial Spirit Method. To simplify, itâs like Chen Xuantianâs computer movies and encyclopedia, knowledge accumulated by predecessors, stored as data on a hard drive. So this is essentially like copying an encyclopedia of Mystic Sect cultivation methods into Tie Danâs mind.
Of course, this knowledge is only the Old Xuan Sectâs own sorted insights, not true profound truth, nor the Great Dao, possibly containing errors that Tie Dan will need to ponder and research himself to utilize effectively. Nonetheless, much of it can be regarded as common sense foundational knowledge in Taijiâs Immortal World, a genuine inheritance. If spread out, it might even create a cultivation world.
And this is exactly what this penniless boy Tie Dan needs, a true, systematic, Immortal Path inheritance.
"Heh, lucky you, kid..."
As with the final breath, blown from the Old Xuan Sectâs nose and mouth, his body rapidly cracked, weathered, and fell into dust, turning into yellow earth in an instant.
"Thank you!"
Finally, Tie Dan buried the mound of sand outside the courtyard, and this karma was resolved.