Originally, Tie Danās plan was to cross the Yin Mountain with Baiyu. In Yanmen, they made all the necessary preparations for the journey. According to Zhen Baiyu, she wished to bring a tent along to sleep in, but obviously, thatās not possible now.
Now, her soul has scattered, and sheās facing the Heavenly Person Five Decays. Tie Dan must find Heaven-defying Heavenly Materials Treasures within a year to save her life. Naturally, this isnāt the time to worry about whether thereās cumin roasted meat to eat on the way.
However, thereās no need to panic. Anyway, Tie Dan has taken on tasks like chopping monsters and saving Baiyu multiple times, and heās already quite skilled at it.
Moreover, Zhen Baiyu has been with him for so long and has benefitted from a fair amount of luck, so perhaps her fate isnāt sealed yet.
After all, didnāt they say that the Flat Peach red fruit, Ganoderma Immortal Medicine, and Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus would be enough? And arenāt they right there?
Yes, the Snow Lotus is on the summit of Yin Mountain.
This Snow Lotus usually grows on the snowy peak cliffs, blooming every five years, once in summer and once in autumn. The rhizome is thick, the leaf sheaths like a crown, resembling a lotus flower, pure white as jade, adored by nature and creation. It gathers the initial Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth, thrives against frost and snow, and possesses extremely tenacious vitality. It is precisely the best Heavenly Materials Treasure for alchemy and medicine, and for saving lives.
In the past, Wolf Head even picked some for Lady Yuan, and Tie Dan had watched how it was refined into medicine.
Now theyāre in danger at Yanmen, and not far from Yin Mountain. Tie Dan also recognizes this medicinal herb, and itās currently the right season, in late autumn, making it a perfect time for harvesting.
Even if thereās no chance this time, thereās another opportunity next summer. If he fails to gather it, Tie Dan can still rush to Qianzhou to request an Immortal Pill from the Mystic Sect.
Although Mystic Sect has strict control over secret manuals, Daoist collections, and magic treasure materials, the life-extending, life-saving Immortal Pill is a common currency for crossing tribulations and forging connections. Every sect has secret formulas in reserve. As long as one can present trade goods or accept a cause and effect, complete some tasks, they can obtain it.
Anyway, it wouldnāt be harder than slaying dragons or demons to save Baiyu, right?
But truthfully, the method of that Demon Cult Saintess is indeed formidable. Baiyu was already in the Five Decays of Heaven and Man, her oil running out, yet she could still suppress her soul and seal her spirit, forcibly extending her life for a year before dying...
Tie Dan shook his head, clearing away the cluttered thoughts and the frost, looked at the distant snow mountains, then at the swirling Demon Qi gathering at the mountainās foot.
Since they have arrived at the foot of Yin Mountain, Tie Dan dismounted, untied the reins and saddle, and let the warhorse go free to escape on its own.
Judging by the gusts of Demon Wind, there seems to be another commotion up ahead, with several monsters mixed together. He should venture there alone.
In the end, the great affairs of the world will not change with the efforts of a few people. A wave may crash against the rocks and shatter, but when the tides sweep in, it will eventually engulf everything.
This is precisely the situation now. Just after slaughtering eight Nascent Soul Monsters, thereās no telling when an endless stream of demons will head south, and who knows how long Yanmen Pass can hold out this time. Hopefully, the year to save Baiyu doesnāt pass while the Nie Family Mansion falls to the demon beast tide... Sigh... The Saintess is really fraught with misfortune...
Now Tie Dan lacks the energy to go on a killing spree. He previously exhausted all his strength, and his Essence Blood wasnāt fully replenished. He didnāt have a single activation of his Turbo Technique, and his sword was broken. He barely recovered enough to set out in search of the Snow Lotus. Although he borrowed some talismans and weapons from Brother Liu and Brother Nie, he ultimately needs to consider facing a vast horde of demons within Yin Mountain, so he does well to avoid trouble if he can.
So Tie Dan donned a grayish felt cloak, blending with the snow, pinched an Invisibility Talisman, gathered his Qi and focused his mind, continuing forward up the mountain.
Yet for someone like him, a lone star destined for calamity, he naturally isnāt lucky enough to evade the impending misfortune. The turbulent Demon Wind from afar is rolling straight toward his direction.
Realizing he likely couldnāt avoid it and couldnāt run away, Tie Dan simply ducked into the cold snow, like a gray stone lying there.
Lord Xiao lay alongside him, turning his head, and said softly,
"Little friend, shall I sing you a song?"
Get lost!
Then Lord Xiao turned to face Tie Dan,
"Little friend, youāre a sword practitioner, right? Coincidentally, I know a bit of Swordsmanship myself. Shall I teach you?"
Tie Dan remained expressionless.
Lord Xiao, expressionless as well, leaned in,
"If youāll play a tune on the flute, Iāll teach you unparalleled Swordsmanship, unmatched martial arts. Isnāt it worth it?"
Tie Dan didnāt bother responding, thinking, what madness, keep playing, but whoās going to find the Snow Lotus if he dies?
Lord Xiao continued to nudge closer, putting an arm around Tie Dan,
"Itās not a problem, really. I can see youāre resilient, enduring so much yet still full of life; youāre hardly easy to kill.
Besides, you donāt have to play it on me, just whistle or sing a song, anything!
Iām honestly begging you! Iāve been alone in the box for two hundred years, no one to talk to, no one to sing with me! Iām lonely, solitary, cold!"
Huh, just two hundred years and already canāt stand the loneliness, pitiful.
Lord Xiao fumed, "What kind of snide comment is that! Try it if youāre so tough!"
Tie Dan sneered, disdainful of these artifact spirits with unstable Daoist Hearts.
Kun poked its head out and gave Tie Dan a sideways glance, patted Lord Xiao with its fin, showing understanding, even signaling with a look that it would handle it.
Lord Xiao looked at it,
"No can do, you donāt have fingers."
Kun was enraged! It slapped Lord Xiaoās face with its fin!
Lord Xiao gazed speechlessly at the sky,
"Sigh... Where is the soulmate I seek~~ amidst these lofty mountains and flowing streams~~"
Quiet, both of you!
Tie Dan held his breath, lying low in the snow. At this moment, a group of demons was already upon them.
Five Snow Leopards... Hmm? No, wait, how come there are two mounted figures as well?
Alright, upon focusing, it was clear; ahead were two fleeing men.
Two young cultivators, wearing cloaks made of Snow Leopard Skin, galloping away on horses, escaping for their lives. Three Snow Leopard Great Demons pursued closely behind.
... Damn, talk about asking for it. If a monster wearing human skin passed by Tie Danās eyes, heād chase them too...
Look at these three Leopard Demons with their massive demon bodies over twenty feet long and the all-encompassing icy Demon Wind; even though they havenāt yet transformed fully, itās clear they have gained a certain degree of Spiritual Wisdom, allowing them to ride the wind and snow, surpassing common demons. But evidently, they lack any Demon Clan inheritance; theyāre likely just mindless beasts that reached a qualitative change through consumption, most likely unworthy of joining the Taotieās ranks.
Of course, those two young cultivators are the same kind of small fry. A young man and woman at the Early-stage Core Formation realm, their Snow Leopard Skin Coats offering protection against the Leopardsā icy wind attacks, preventing them from freezing solid. The man wielded a Candlestick with a bit of green Dao Fire, likely a Nascent Soul realm magic treasure. Every time the Leopards attempted to attack, the male cultivator would pinch a formula to release Dao Fire, driving back the attacking demons, thus managing to flee this far.
Still, they probably wonāt make it. If that Senior Brother were alone, he might have escaped, but with the burden added...
"Senior brother, save me!"
But how can a horse match demonic power, especially if the war horse, though acclimatized to the Northern Landās cold, couldnāt withstand the Demon Qi and icy wind invading its body? The Junior Sisterās mount slowed, leaving the Dao Fireās protective range. Instantly, two Great Demons attacked in tandem, tearing off the horseās legs, ripping open its belly, pulling it apart, and throwing the Junior Sister off the horse.
Then two leopards fought over the horse carcass while one leopard gnawed at the Junior Sister.
"Senior brother!"
"Junior sister, mount the horse!"
The Senior Brother saw his Junior Sister in danger, shouted loudly, turned and rode back, pinched a formula and pointed, shooting a fiery arrow of Dao Fire to drive back the Snow Leopard Demons. Then he dismounted and saved his Junior Sister onto his horse, handed her the magic treasure candlestick to keep, drew his sword, and unleashed a sequence of True Qi sword techniques to temporarily push back the surrounding demons.
"Junior sister, give me a hand..."
"Hyah! Hyah!"
Well, the Junior Sister knew she was a burden, so when she had the candlestick and the horse, she didnāt hesitate and rode off at full speed.
"Junior, Junior sister... aaah!"
The Senior Brother stood dumbfounded, unable to believe it. This momentary distraction cost him dearly, as the three demons took turns pouncing on him, clawing and slashing, breaking his head and neck, and tearing out his heart and guts, ripping him to shreds on the spot.
Senior Brother! Dead!
Tie Dan just lay quietly watching.
Next to him, Lord Xiao recited,
"Oh, what is love in this world~~ that makes people promise eternal life and death~~"
Tie Dan rolled his eyes and sighed.
Sigh, this guy is really annoying...
"Roar?"
A Snow Leopard suddenly raised its head, seeming to sense human presence.
Tie Dan was speechless, glaring at Lord Xiao.
Lord Xiao pointed at himself, "Blame me?"
Thus, the Snow Leopard stepped cautiously, heading towards where Tie Dan lay in the snow, its mouth dripping blood on the snow, sniffing for human scent as it approached...
Alright, letās do this.
With that, Tie Dan raised a hand, jabbing Lord Xiao into the Snow Leopardās nostril, and a single flute pierced through the skullās heavenly cover, causing brains and blood to spray through the Jade Fluteās holes.
Well, it is a Divinity Transformation First Grade flute after all. But since it can break defense...
"Roar?"
The two Snow Leopards were startled, looking up only to see Tie Dan already leaping at them, the Jade Flute piercing an eye and bursting a head! Another Leopard slain!
Suddenly turning, dodging the Leopardsā pounces! Before the demon beast could swing its tail, an airborne flute thrust pierced through ears, striking through to kill the third Leopard!
In an instant, one flute for three Leopards! The Jade Flute filled with blood and brains!
Lord Xiao, "...You did that on purpose, didnāt you."
Indeed.