Cultivation Online

Chapter 1542 Empyrean Overlordʼs True Name

1542 Empyrean Overlordʼs True Name

”Whatʼs your plan now?” Tian Qiyuan asked Zi Xuan sometime later.

”I donʼt know yet, but Iʼll let you know once I think of something. In the meantime, let me see your sword. Iʼve been dying to take a look at it ever since I heard about it.” Zi Xuan said, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

”Of course.”

Tian Qiyuan retrieved his sword and held it before Zi Xuan.

”Oh…”

Even without a body, Zi Xuan could feel her entire existence trembling from excitement.

Once her excitement calmed down a little, she noticed the sword emitting a strange aura, almost as though it was trying to charm her soul.

However, after examining it for a little longer, she felt that something was off about it, and she couldnʼt pinpoint why she was feeling this way.

”Itʼs definitely an otherwordly sword without equal, and donʼt misunderstand me for saying this,” Zi Xuan muttered after a moment, ”but it feels like thereʼs something missing. It just doesnʼt feel complete, somehow.”

Zi Xuan braced herself for Tian Qiyuanʼs reprimand, but to her surprise, he simply smiled at her.

”If anyone could tell, I knew it would be you, Zi Xuan.” Tian Qiyuan chuckled.

Despite the multitude of admirers and expert blacksmiths who had seen the sword, none had noticed the subtle flaw that Zi Xuan pointed out.

”Huh? I was right?” Zi Xuan muttered in a dazed voice.

Tian Qiyuan nodded and said, ”Indeed, youʼre right. As you pointed out, while the sword is finished, itʼs not truly complete. Itʼs missing one key element, but this element isnʼt something that can be forged or crafted.”

”What do you think this element is? Take a guess.”

Zi Xuan stared at the sword in silence. However, no matter how much she thought about it, the answer eluded her.

”I canʼt think of anything.”

”The answer is a soul.” Tian Qiyuan answered a moment later.

”A… soul? Like a humanʼs soul?”

”Although I said soul, itʼs not the type youʼre thinking about. Itʼs an extremely rare phenomenon, but did you know that given enough time and spiritual energy, natural plants and herbs can develop into sentient spirits with their own consciousness?” Tian Qiyuan asked.

”Yes, I am aware of that.”

”Treasures are the same. They, too, have the capability to form their own consciousness. When they do, they become Soul Weapons—a weapon with its own soul. However, not all treasures can become Soul Weapons. As for those that have the capability, one can only wait for them to turn into a Soul Weapon naturally.”

Tian Qiyuan then continued, ”This sword… itʼs an artificial Soul Weapon—a soulless one. While it doesnʼt have a soul right now, it has the capability to house a soul and grow together with it.”

”An artificial Soul Weapon…? Thatʼs crazy… but what advantage does it providethat a natural Soul Weapon cannot?”

”Well, for starters, once a natural Soul Weaponʼs spirit dies, the weapon loses its powers alongside the spirit. As for my sword, it wonʼt lose its powers or be destroyed even without a spirit because it came into existence without one.”

”And since the sword wonʼt be destroyed without a spirit, we can always change out the spirit for whatever reason.”

Zi Xuan listened to Tian Qiyuanʼs words as she stared at the beautiful sword.

”Would a human soul be compatible with it?” she suddenly asked.

”A human soul, huh? Since a spiritʼs soul is almost indistinguishable from a humanʼs soul, I think it would work.” Tian Qiyuan said.

”I have decided what I want to do. Qiyuan, let me become this swordʼs spirit,” she spoke in a serious tone.

”What?” Tian Qiyuan stared at her with wide eyes.

”The sword is incomplete right now because it doesnʼt have a soul, right? Then, allow me to complete it. I have always wanted to become one with your swords, so this is exactly what Iʼve been waiting for!”

”But youʼre a human who spent most of your life living in this vast world… Are you really fine with throwing away all of that just to spend your life inside a sword as a spirit?” Tian Qiyuan hesitated to make Zi Xuan the spirit of his sword.

”I am. I can continue growing stronger with the sword, right? And itʼs not like I have to spend the rest of my life inside the sword since it can continue to operate without a spirit.”

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Tian Qiyuan sighed, ”If thatʼs what you really want, I wonʼt stop you. And itʼs true. If you ever change your mind, you can come out of the sword and return to living as a human.”
”Then itʼs decided. I want to be together with you as your sword. This will fulfill both of my dreams at once, just like killing two birds with one stone.”

Zi Xuan always wanted to remain by Tian Qiyuanʼs side, but her position within the Unrivaled Nine Swords Sect made that difficult. Now that sheʼll be living inside his sword, sheʼll be able to follow him wherever he goes.

”However, promise me something.” Zi Xuan suddenly said.

”What is it?”

”That youʼll never let another soul dwell inside this sword for as long as I exist.”

”As long as you wish to remain inside the sword, I promise that I wonʼt let anyone else take your spot.” Tian Qiyuan nodded.

”By the way, whatʼs this swordʼs name?”

Tian Qiyuan smiled and said, ”I thought youʼd never ask.”

”Since itʼs a treasure that stands above all treasures under heaven, I named it Number One Under Heaven.”

”Number One Under Heaven… What an arrogant yet fitting name. Itʼs perfect.”

Sometime later, Zi Xuan entered Number One Under Heaven, completing Tian Qiyuanʼs masterpiece.

”...”

”...”

”...”

”I remember everything now, Zi Xuan!” Yuan exclaimed as the sword spiritʼs aura reached its peak.

Zi Xuanʼs body trembled after hearing her name, and her aura began to simmer down.

Yuan raised the Empyrean Overlord and mumbled to it, ”I apologize for not remembering you sooner, Number One Under Heaven.”

Ding!