Chapter 499 - 356: Unity of All Spirits (2)

Chapter 499: Chapter 356: Unity of All Spirits (2)

Yu Changsheng couldn’t quite grasp this concept and looked at the Sui Xian Sword Spirit in confusion.

The spirit nodded, giving Yu Changsheng a profound and inscrutable look before explaining, "Beast Taming, Sword Control... aren’t they both forms of dominion? It’s just that one is over something inanimate and the other is over something living. Naturally, they share common ground."

"The paths of the Great Dao diverge, yet they all lead to the same destination."

"In the past, I wouldn’t have had a good way to help you merge these two paths. But now, I have an idea that’s perfect for you."

Yu Changsheng fell into deep thought, a flash of insight striking him.

After a long moment, Yu Changsheng cupped his fist and bowed to the Sui Xian Sword Spirit. "Please, Senior, guide me."

"It’s hardly guidance," the Sui Xian Sword Spirit said, its expression calm. After a moment of thought, it beckoned with one hand. In the next instant, a light flashed, and a Sword Embryo, shimmering with a jade-like glow, materialized in the air.

The Sword Embryo was jade-white and had a crystalline, translucent quality. Its edge was fearsomely sharp, glinting with a cold light. It was a little over three feet long and two inches wide, engraved with mystical patterns that spoke of ages past, yet it seemed to be missing a certain resonance.

"This is..."

Yu Changsheng stared, momentarily stunned by the sight.

"This Sword Embryo... It was originally..."

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit’s nostalgic gaze fell upon the Sword Embryo. It opened its mouth, about to say something out of reflex, but stopped short. With a soft sigh, it shook its head and didn’t continue.

"Never mind. Let the past be the past. This Sword Embryo belongs to you now."

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit glanced at Yu Changsheng, hesitated for a moment, then tossed the Sword Embryo to him.

Yu Changsheng caught it instinctively. He looked down, examining it closely and stroking its surface. It was cool to the touch and seemed to have a calming effect on his mind, causing his distracting thoughts to vanish.

He tapped the Sword Embryo lightly. It trembled, and a crisp, clear note resonated from it.

"This Jade Sword is forged from an Extraterritorial Celestial Stone. It can clear the mind and calm the spirit. It also provides a boost when you’re cultivating and absorbing nature’s spiritual energy. Moreover, it’s incredibly tough—almost indestructible for anyone below the Divinity Transformation realm."

As the Sui Xian Sword Spirit explained softly, it flicked out a strand of Sword Qi that struck the Jade Sword. The Sword Embryo merely trembled, completely undamaged.

"By the way, the material used to make that piece of Wen Longyu you have is the same as this Sword Embryo."

"No wonder it felt so familiar. So that’s the reason."

Yu Changsheng nodded in sudden understanding.

"It originally belonged to your Senior Martial Brother. Giving it to you now is a bit like returning it to its rightful owner."

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit’s gaze turned complicated. After an almost imperceptible sigh, it gently shook its head and spoke to Yu Changsheng in a serious tone.

"Offer up a drop of your heart’s blood and let it fall upon the blade."

"Oh."

Yu Changsheng had no objections. He obediently patted his chest, forcing a drop of blood to trickle from the corner of his mouth. He caught it on his fingertip and gently dabbed it onto the body of the Jade Sword.

HUMMM...

The Jade Sword trembled. The moment Yu Changsheng’s blood touched it, it was instantly absorbed. A crimson line flickered faintly on the crystalline blade before vanishing.

"Good."

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit nodded and lightly brushed its finger across the Jade Sword, imprinting a series of strange patterns onto it. Finally, it exhaled gently, its breath blanketing the edge of the blade and forming a faint halo.

"Now, impress your Divine Soul Brand upon it."

After finishing all this, the Sui Xian Sword Spirit’s face had grown a little pale, and its voice was tinged with weariness as it spoke.

Yu Changsheng did as instructed without hesitation. After imprinting his Divine Soul Brand onto the sword, he gave the Jade Sword a light heft. Nothing seemed to have changed, but he could vaguely sense a new, indescribable connection between himself and the blade.

"What’s next? Is there anything else I need to do?"

Yu Changsheng looked up at the Sui Xian Sword Spirit and asked curiously.

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit pondered for a moment, its gaze sweeping over the Jade Sword before it spoke slowly, "Although this Sword Embryo is made of a special material and is considered a rare Treasure Sword, it hasn’t yet been given an edge, nor has its forging been completed."

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit paused for a moment before continuing.

"You could, if you have the time, nourish it day and night. That is one way to do it. However, I have a different method. You’ve only just started on the Sword Dao; the normal way would take until the cows come home."

"Since you’re a Beast Master, let’s just use a Beast Master’s methods. The way to truly complete this Treasure Sword is actually quite simple: just put a Sword Spirit inside it. Let the spirit nourish this sword in your stead."

"My former master did the same. That’s why he had many other Sword Spirits besides me. I was simply the first to follow him, so he granted me the name Sui Xian."

As the Sui Xian Sword Spirit spoke, a flash of sorrow crossed its eyes.

Then, it glanced quietly at Yu Changsheng and continued, "You have the skills of Beast Taming, so you don’t need to act like other Sword Immortals. Just treat the Sword Spirit and the sword as you would one of your beasts."

"I understand that part, but a Sword Spirit..."

Yu Changsheng was dumbfounded. "A Sword Spirit..." he mumbled in frustration. "Even top-tier Sword Cultivators aren’t guaranteed to have one. Where am I supposed to find one?"

Sword Spirits are divided into two types: Innate and Acquired. An Innate Sword Spirit is born naturally after a Treasure Sword undergoes Spirit Communication over a vast period of time. An Acquired Sword Spirit, however, is created through some unusual means and made to reside within a weapon.

In terms of rarity and power, Innate Sword Spirits are naturally superior. After all, a weapon that can spontaneously give birth to a Sword Spirit is, without exception, a peerless Divine Soldier. However, Acquired Sword Spirits are also exceptionally rare and something that countless Sword Cultivators can only dream of possessing.

A weapon with a Sword Spirit and a weapon without one are two entirely different things. For a Sword Cultivator, especially, a Treasure Sword possessing a Sword Spirit can unleash two hundred percent of its power in their hands.

’And right now,’ Yu Changsheng thought, ’the Sui Xian Sword Spirit is obviously talking about an Acquired Sword Spirit.’

’But even if it’s an Acquired Sword Spirit, how am I supposed to get my hands on one so quickly? I’ve only just started on the Sword Dao. It’s obviously impossible for me to nourish one myself.’

"Where to find one?" The Sui Xian Sword Spirit smiled, its eyes glinting with amusement. "Why don’t you take a guess?"

"Huh?" Yu Changsheng started to speak but then hesitated, his gaze landing involuntarily on the Sui Xian Sword Spirit.

’Isn’t there a living, breathing Sword Spirit right in front of me?’ he thought. ’And a powerful one at that. Who knows how many ages it’s existed?’

Seeing Yu Changsheng’s expression, the Sui Xian Sword Spirit froze for a second before it understood. It couldn’t help but shake its head and chuckle.

"You little rascal, you’re actually getting ideas about me. Still, if it were possible, I wouldn’t mind accompanying you to see the outside world. After all these years, I wonder..."

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit trailed off. Its gaze darkened almost imperceptibly, and ripples disturbed the depths of its eyes, which were usually as still as a deep well. It was impossible to know what memory had surfaced.

Yu Changsheng scratched his head, laughing sheepishly. "Hehe, just an idea."

"A nice thought, indeed." The Sui Xian Sword Spirit shot Yu Changsheng a look, though there was no real blame in it. It ended with a soft sigh.

"However, my very existence is completely bound to the Sui Xian Sword. Even if I wanted to go out and see the world with you, I am unable. You should give up on that idea."

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit chuckled teasingly.

Yu Changsheng wasn’t surprised. He just rubbed his nose, putting on a deliberately troubled expression before sighing and waving his hand. "What a pity."

’In reality,’ Yu Changsheng thought, ’I could tell the Sui Xian Sword Spirit was just humoring me. It would be impossible for it to actually leave with me.’

"Alright, stop coveting these old bones of mine. When the day comes that the Sui Xian Sword finally crumbles to dust, I will fade away with it."

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit coughed, smiled, and then continued.

"Besides, apart from me, isn’t there a much more suitable candidate right here?"

"You mean...?"

Yu Changsheng’s eyes shifted. After a moment’s pause, a suspicion began to form in his mind.