Chapter 1397 - 664: Parallel Easter Egg (2)

Chapter 1397: Chapter 664: Parallel Easter Egg (2)

No helping it—this skeleton’s only Nascent Soul Level. Those four Divinity Transformation over there might be small fry, but together they’ve got seven or eight thousand years of Daoist cultivation. Even if Tie Dan can unite the Nine Luminaries, condense it all into Taiyin True Breath, then further refine it into Taiyin Sword Qi, what’s left is only a tenth or so; he’s still limited by his root-bone bottleneck. A large amount of True Qi just can’t be stored in his meridian nodes, so it turns back into hair and sprouts out again.

But it’s really weird—why is it only growing hair on his head? Can’t it grow some body hair? If he grew into a mountain goblin or something, maybe he wouldn’t attract so much trouble; might even refine it into protective armor like Yazi...

"Hey, you okay?"

This Yu’er kid really has decent fortune—sitting safe and sound inside the circle, still scratching his head in thought. He suddenly looks up and sees Immortal Sister in a completely different outfit, and is stunned on the spot.

Although she’d already been stunning at first glance, he never imagined that just by changing out that shabby fur coat and wrapping herself in a moon-white robe, pinning her hair up with a jade hairpin, her looks would soar yet again, transcending the mundane, jumping up a whole grade. Under the moonlight, a faint radiance seems to flow across her skin; especially that head of silver hair, as if the moonlight in the heavens had turned into a river of stars cascading down like a waterfall—truly, truly captivating. He can’t help staring, dazed, and blurts out,

"In plain robes, free and bold, sword light cold; jade pendant fine, a hidden Phoenix Ring of old.

Ice-skin, jade-bone, beyond this dusty span; a span of clear water between the brows reflects bright riverland.

Clouded sky shines down on a flying Immortal’s trace; light body under moon, dancing frosty orchids in grace.

Gazing to the nine heavens to seek an exile guest, a wisp of fragrance entering dreams, hard to rest..."

Yo, the brat can even recite poetry. Looks like it’s not a concussion, huh.

Tie Dan just shrugs.

"Alright, if you’re fine, we’re heading back to the mountain."

Yu’er comes back to his senses and climbs up. After thinking for a long while, he says sheepishly,

"Immortal Sister, Yu’er’s talent is dull and knowledge shallow, I really can’t recall any Immortal lady surnamed Shen..."

"Oh."

Tie Dan also feels it’s a pity—this kid really does seem a bit simple-minded. So there really is no perfect Dao Body in this world.

"...But as for a male Immortal surnamed Shen, my Carefree Sword Sect does have one. Perhaps a female relative?"

"Who?"

Tie Dan is just about to take him into the air when he freezes at that.

A man? No way. Don’t tell him that stupid woman changed gender in a parallel world? Or is it some other son or grandson of the Shen Family...

Then Yu’er says,

"Naturally it’s the Northern Law Enforcement Venerable, True Inheritor of the Ten Extremes God Master, Carefree Sword Sect Leader, Master of Taixu Tongming Sword, Xuantian Emotionless Lord."

Tie Dan slowly turns his head. "...Huh?"

Yu’er tilts his head up to the sky with endless emotion.

"The world’s number one Carefree Sword, the Heartless Sword Immortal Shen Dan—his illustrious name, who does not know it, who has not heard it!

His legendary life story—whenever my family celebrates the New Year or festivals, we invite a theater troupe to sing it. Yu’er has admired him for a long time.

Now that I’ve finally had the fortune to enter the Sword Sect, I wonder when I’ll be blessed with the chance to see this peerless Sword Immortal of our era..."

"What!? There’s even an opera about him!?"

"’Shattering the Ninth Peak alone, blood soaking the Cloud Platform! Sweeping through the Demon Palace, blade smashing the Star Wall! In heaven and on earth, I alone am supreme! On Yin Mountain’s snowy summit, the Sword Transmission to the world!

Now then, this Heartless Sword Shen Dan is a once-in-a-millennium Daoist prodigy! Born with Bright Sword Eyes, his Sword Dao talent at the absolute peak! Later taken in by the Leisure Immortal Sect as a disciple! His future once limitless!

Yet fate is fickle, and envy dogs the gifted! His mountain was exterminated by the Demon Sect, his sect slaughtered! His entire family murdered! He was chained beneath the Demon Suppression Tower, turned into a Sword Ghost slave, suffering all the misery of the mortal world—utterly, unspeakably tragic!

By great fortune the Divine Sect Saintess risked her life to save him! She helped Shen Dan escape from the Ghost Realm, leave the sea of bitterness, and flee the Demon Sect’s pursuit. But alas, lovers rarely end as spouses; in the end the Saintess sacrificed herself, falling beneath a Demon Path sword to save Shen Dan’s life!

And Shen Dan, seeing through the red dust of the mortal world, finally comprehended the Heartless Sword Dao! He carved a path out through the encirclement! In the end, he joined the Divine Sect! Received personal transmission from the Divine Sect Leader, was taken as an Inner Chamber Disciple, granted the Heavenly Book’s secret teachings. His Divine Skill reached great success, and he slew all his enemies! Avenged every hatred!

He cut down all Nine Veins of the Demon Sect, slaughtering sects and razing temples, leveling mountains and breaking peaks, filling the North Sea Returning Ruins forever, suppressing them below the Nine Nether! He became, after the Divine Sect Leader’s Harmonization, the undisputed number one expert under heaven, and the heir apparent to the position of Divine Sect Leader!

He then carved his unparalleled Heartless Sword Dao upon Yin Mountain’s summit, a cliffside Sword Transmission left to the world! To be passed on for ten thousand generations! He rebuilt the Yin Mountain Carefree Sword Sect! This can truly be called the number one legendary tale under Taiji Heaven!!

But the episode this humble old storyteller will recount today will not speak of how that Sword Immortal’s flying sword slew demons, nor of how that Saintess’ wondrous hands ferried all living beings. We will single out instead a peerless romance, a love story for the ages, a fate that shook the world. Good gentle listeners, pray be still and hear me slowly relate that past entanglement of destiny!

Now, among those who Cultivate and Seek the Dao, each has their own karmic ties and inborn tribulations. Yet there is one thing most difficult to dodge or escape, and that is a single character—’feeling’!

As the saying goes!

Upon the Three-Life Stone, old souls abide; they ferry not Immortal Fate, but tribulation’s grace beside. Say not an icy heart leaves no tear’s trace; in snow, a coal of fire most stirs the soul’s embrace.

Blood staining Jade Terrace brings no final regret; when sword cries through nine realms, then gratitude is met. Thrice casting life away in tribulation’s tide, one sword repays the heart and stamps the Dao’s true guide!

Now then, five hundred years before today, there was a sword hero named Shen Dan..."

Damn, there really is an opera...

Because he cared too much about what the hell this "Heartless Sword Immortal" was, and Yu’er, this kid, was so slow-witted and dithering that he couldn’t explain it clearly, at daybreak Tie Dan took him down to a nearby town, ordered a performance of "The Saintess Saves the Sword Immortal Three Times" at a teahouse, and sat at the side listening to the storyteller spraying spittle everywhere as he launched into his opening. By now, Tie Dan was completely numb...

Good grief...

So parallel worlds really do come with parallel Easter eggs, huh...

They say Bright Sword Eyes is...

They say the Carefree Sword Master is...

They say the Supreme of Divine Sect is...

They say Sword Breaking Cloud Platform is...

What kind of parallel universe is this, how is the plot this wild...

All that can be said is, there’s no scene Tie Dan hasn’t seen, but this kind of scene really is his first time.

Today he finally got to witness how fearsome this Reversing Fate, twisting time and space, transmigration great art really is...

No, like, are we seriously doing "any timeline, any possibility goes"? Betraying the Mystic Sect to defect to the Divine Sect, fine; getting entangled with the Holy Daughter, fine; but how the hell can even your birth and natural talent change? Just straight up reincarnating from the Shi Family to the Shen Family, is that even allowed?

Though speaking of which, Tie Dan himself sometimes gets curious: between Bright Sword Eyes and the Hanhai Demon Dragon, which talent is actually stronger? If there’s a chance, they could maybe have a little spar...

Over there the storyteller was still spinning the steamy bit about the Holy Daughter personally feeding Medicine to Shen Dan, when suddenly a refined, well-mannered young master in embroidered brocade robes, Spirit Jade at his waist and a light, graceful step, flashed in front of Tie Dan, blocking his view. With an unhurried air, he cupped his hands in greeting,

"Oh my, isn’t this Brother Pei? Huang here offers his respects. Ten years since we parted in Qianyang, back then Brother Pei’s single move of the Nine Heavens Yin Star Technique! Truly, the strike was like a cold awn, and the sword fell like splattering stars! It’s something I still can’t forget to this day~~"

Yu’er: alert!

Tie Dan saw that, damn, another mob spawn, rolled his eyes at him,

"Scram."

Yu’er: reassured.

Young Master Huang naturally had no intention of scramming. Smiling with squinted eyes, paper fan swaying in hand, his whole body exuding a strong fragrance,

"Oh dear, my apologies, it turns out I mistook you for someone else. It’s just that your brows, eyes, and build all resemble my Brother Pei by about half, though your voice and bearing are far more transcendent and peerless.

I am Huang Yizhi, a mere Loose Cultivator Qi Refiner from Sizhou. On ordinary days I love nothing more than wandering about at leisure and making a few interesting friends. Just now I was presumptuous—your elegance is so outstanding I couldn’t help but call out.

Disturbing your peace really deserves punishment. How about I use tea in place of wine as a token apology?"

Tie Dan gave him another look, retracted the sword energy pinched at his fingertips, and casually pushed a seat out for him.

Yu’er: shocked!

Young Master Huang, seeing the beauty had taken the bait, was immensely pleased with himself. He picked up the teapot and poured tea for the two of them,

"This insignificant one has wandered the Central Plains for many years and knows a thing or two about the various Cave Heaven Blessed Lands and Immortal Fate Daoist Collections.

Brother, are you out of the mountain this time for training? If you’re looking for Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, perhaps I can be of some help."

Tie Dan pointed at the storyteller on stage, who was gesticulating animatedly,

"Aren’t you also from the Leisure Sect? Is he telling it right or not?"

Yu’er: dumbfounded.

Young Master Huang’s smile froze on his face,

"Uh, Brother, you must be mistaken..."

Tie Dan lifted the cup and took a sip of tea,

"Isn’t this Ziwei Weeping Immortal?"

Tie Dan glanced at the fan by Young Master Huang’s waist,

"The incense in your fan, isn’t that Night Lotus Dream? Put these two together and they add up to Seven Fragrances Immortal Powder.

Isn’t this exactly you Carefree Disciples’ classic move—drugging people senseless and harming them in secret?"

Young Master Huang was stunned,

"Then why are you still drinking it?"

What’s there that he can’t drink? Aphrodisiacs are still Medicine, after all; they’re all refined from Spirit Grass and Immortal Plants. At most there are some extra side effects—but those only work on the living anyway.

So Tie Dan tilted his head back and took another gulp,

"Tell your Sect Leader to come over and have a chat."