Chapter 339: Cause and Effects
Ao Jiao smiled charmingly and said, “This is a long story. I can tell it to you in detail. However, I will only say it once. If you do not understand, that is too bad. Don’t ask me again.”
Ao Jiao said that she would only explain once, this meant that she really would only explain it once. Xiao Chen could not do anything except perk his ears up to listen carefully.
“The forging method and the materials of the Lunar Shadow Saber were all top quality. However, the conditions for forming a Weapon Spirit are too harsh. I originally that it would be impossible for the Lunar Shadow Saber to form its own Weapon Spirit. So I sealed myself in there.
“However, the situation exceeded my expectations. While I was asleep, a Weapon Spirit started to slowly form in the Lunar Shadow Saber. It has been in a state of coexistence with me.
“Although I had sealed myself at that time, I could split out a portion of my strength to suppress her and not let her obtain control. However, after Liu Ruyue forcefully awakened me the last time, I exhausted too much of my strength. I entered into a state of deep sleep and she seized control.
“If it were not for your big fight with her, causing her to expend too much strength, it would have required a long time for me to awaken.”
Xiao Chen was enlightened, So that was why. He had felt that it was strange. With Ao Jiao’s strength, how could she allow another to become the Saber Spirit of the Lunar Shadow Saber?
“Then why does she not recognize me as master? Furthermore, she seemed quite hostile to me.”
Ao Jiao explained, “All Weapon Spirits are like that. This is the protection mechanism of Weapon Spirits. When I was first born, the Thunder Emperor was an eyesore to me, as well. If you do not have great strength, how could a Weapon Spirit recognize you as master?
“However, once they recognize a master, the Weapon Spirit will be absolutely loyal. They will never betray you.”
Xiao Chen felt doubtful and said, “In that case, what exactly is the relationship between you and me? You are much stronger than me. Doesn’t that mean I would not truly be your master for a very long time?”
When Ao Jiao heard this, she said happily, “That’s right! So, idiot master, you better become stronger quickly. If you cannot even protect me, how can you become my master?”
Xiao Chen was speechless. Based on the strength Ao Jiao had shown, she was at least a Superior Grade Martial Monarch. Xiao Chen did not know how long would it take for him to achieve such strength.
Seeing Xiao Chen deep in thought, Ao Jiao laughed and said, “Get up, idiot master. With ambition, there is no need to fear the heights of heaven.
“Don’t overthink this. I will first merge the Saber Spirit with the Lunar Shadow Saber in your hand. Then you will be able to achieve Listening to the Sword and Communicating With It.”
Xiao Chen got up and took a look at the Lunar Shadow Saber in Ao Jiao’s hands. He asked with some disbelief, “That simple?”
One had to know that Liu Ruyue had spent a lot of effort to help Xiao Chen grasp Listening to the Sword and Communicating With It. However, after all that effort, he would only able to catch a glimpse of it and was unable to get a complete grasp of it.
Ao Jiao smiled and said, “That little girl’s method was correct. However, she did not anticipate that there was another Weapon Spirit in there. Weapon Spirits have an innate self-protection mechanism. Hence, she has rejected your call and caused you to be unable to grasp Listening to the Sword and Communicating With It.”
No wonder I kept feeling I was on the verge of grasping Listening to the Sword and Communicating With It, but unable to break through it. So, it is because I was prevented from doing so.
“Hu Chi!”
Ao Jiao swung her hand up and the long Lunar Shadow Saber flew quickly toward the boundless sky. Spots of purple light revolved around it. Under the moonlight, it was extremely beautiful.
The saber flew higher and higher. Soon, all Xiao Chen can see was a blurry black spot.
Xiao Chen looked up and said, “Where is it flying? How is it going to merge like that?”
Ao Jiao said, “Of course it is flying to the real world. Otherwise, how is it going to merge? In the inner space of the Lunar Shadow Saber? Alright, when you go out, you will immediately understand the mysteries behind it. It is time you tell me about the Massacre Throne.”
Xiao Chen withdrew his gaze and thought for a while before deciding to tell it as it was. There was no need to hide anything from Ao Jiao.
After Xiao Chen told Ao Jiao everything that happened in the Ink Forest, he asked, “Ao Jiao, is there anything wrong with this scarlet throne?”
After Ao Jiao heard everything, she pondered for a moment before answering, “There isn’t really anything wrong with it. The Massacre Throne was something personally refined by the ancient Evil King. However, before he was killed, he split the throne into six parts.
“Each throne represented a state. They were the states of massacre, ruin, destruction, anger, berserk, and death. Legend has it that when the six thrones arere assembled together, the ancient Evil King would return once again.”
Xiao Chen muttered, “So you are saying there are five more of these thrones, and I only obtained one? What should I do if I meet another person with one of these thrones?”
Ao Jiao nodded, “That would be the crux of the problem. As long as two cultivators with the thrones are within five hundred kilometers of each other, they would be able to sense each other’s presence. The thrones were originally one and they would be able to swallow each other up. After swallowing another, its might would be stronger.”
Even without Ao Jiao explaining so much, Xiao Chen could understand how much stronger the throne would become. One throne represented a state. Grasping two high-leveled states at the same time, the increase in might went without saying.
Xiao Chen was not afraid of competition with others. He was only worried about what Ao Jiao said about the return of the Evil King; he felt it was somewhat strange.”
“However reliable is this legend? It has been at least thirty thousand years since the Ancient Era. It is not possible for him to return, right?” Xiao Chen asked doubtfully.
The Tianwu Era was founded twenty thousand years ago and was destroyed ten thousand years ago, resulting in the current division of five nations. Of those, the Great Jin Nation was the greatest.
Before the Tianwu Era was the Chaotic Era. There were no proper records of the Chaotic Era in the history books. The true Ancient Era happened before the Chaotic Era.
This was hard to imagine. Even a vast sea could turn into a dry field within thirty thousand years. Could humans come back to life?
Ao Jiao said, “There is some reliability to this legend, but you don’t have to be too worried about it. In the past ten thousand years, I have never heard of the six thrones all appearing together at the same time. There is no way it will coincidentally happen to you.”
“Rumble…!”
A loud screech came from the sky above. When Xiao Chen looked up, he saw that it was the Lunar Shadow Saber flying to the edge of the space, striking the barrier continuously.
Ao Jiao said softly, “The Lunar Shadow Saber is about to go out. You should go too. Remember to comprehend the Listening to the Sword and Communicating With It properly after you go out. This is only the entry level.”
Xiao Chen felt that there were still many things he had not said. He quickly thought for a moment and only said the thing that he felt was most important, “Am I able to call out to you at will in the future?”
Ao Jiao shook her head and said, “No, I have to make use of this opportunity to completely swallow up that white-clothed Weapon Spirit, lest it cause problems in the future. Don’t forget, my goal is to forge a Sub-Divine Weapon. I am currently far from being anywhere close.”
—
Back in the real world, within the dueling grounds, the saber formation had never stopped shaking.
The Lunar Shadow Saber beside Xiao Chen leaped up and struggled free of the constraints of its scabbard. Then, it flew into the air and floated about one hundred meters above Xiao Chen. It was giving off a bright light, and looked quite beautiful.
Liu Suifeng asked in shock, “Sis, what’s going on? Why did the Lunar Shadow Saber fly out on its own?”
Liu Ruyue also revealed a doubtful expression. She shook her head and said, “I am not sure myself. However, I feel that this is a good thing. I can feel some excitement from the Lunar Shadow Saber, like it is anticipating something.”
As the two were speaking, a light came out from Xiao Chen’s head. Then, it quickly infused into the Lunar Shadow Saber.
“Xiu!”
Suddenly, Xiao Chen opened his eyes and leaped up. He moved like a flood dragon and grasped the hilt of the Lunar Shadow Saber with one hand.
“Listening to the Sword and Communicating With It!” Xiao Chen shouted and brandished his saber. The snow-white Lunar Shadow Saber immediately gave off a drawn-out hum.
The saber trembled relentlessly and there was a flash of light. The snow-white saber turned pitch black. It actually advanced from an Earth Ranked Spirit Weapon to an Inferior Grade Heaven Ranked Spirit Weapon.
Xiao Chen held the Lunar Shadow Saber as he landed on the ground. He revealed a joyful expression. The Lunar Shadow Saber had finally found its voice.
Xiao Chen did not expect after using the Listening to the Sword and Communicating With It, he would be able to restore the Rank of the Lunar Shadow Saber.
“Hu chi!”
Xiao Chen flicked his wrist gently and circulated some of his Essence, immediately sending some energy to the sharp saber.
A strand of incredibly dense purple saber Qi left the saber. It created ripples in the air as it sliced it apart. After it landed on the ground, it left a long scar.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!” After the saber Qi stopped, the boards by the scar were immediately kicked up and exploded into powder.
Liu Suifeng cried out in astonishment, “What a strong force! This is the Lunar Shadow Saber’s original power? It seems much stronger than a regular Heaven Ranked Spirit Weapon! Furthermore, this was just a casual swing!”
Xiao Chen waved his hand casually and the scabbard laying back within the saber formation returned to his hand. Then, he dissipated the state of Listening to the Sword and Communicating With It. The pitch-black saber turned snow-white again, returning to being an Earth Ranked Spirit Weapon.
Xiao Chen had just comprehended Listening to the Sword and Communicating With It. He was not able to maintain the state for a long time. However, now that he had grasped it, he believed that his improvements would be fast.
Xiao Chen sheathed the saber and looked at Liu Ruyue, who was walking over with a smile. Xiao Chen said sincerely, “Ruyue, thank you.”
Liu Ruyue was feeling happy for Xiao Chen from the bottom of her heart. She said seriously, “Congratulations. You’ve finally grasped Listening to the Sword and Communicating With It.”
——
Back in Qingyun Peak, in Xiao Chen’s courtyard, a cool breeze blew in the yard, sweeping up some of the fallen leaves.
Xiao Chen closed his eyes and immersed himself in the profound state. He had a calm expression as he placed his right hand on the saber hilt. He completely ignored his body’s aura.
Xiao Chen simply allowed the cool wind in the yard and his aura to move around freely. They moved up and down, left and right, moving exactly as he willed them to.
Suddenly, Xiao Chen opened his eyes and a bright light shot out of them. They were like a sharp saber, piercing through everything before him.
“Ka ca!”
The instant the Lunar Shadow Saber was drawn, Listening to the Sword and Communicating With It was executed. The snow-white saber turned pitch-black. The special characteristic of a Heaven Ranked Spirit Weapon was activated.
The instant the saber was drawn, even without Essence circulating, the sharp saber blade sent out a drawn-out saber Qi automatically. With a ‘xiu’ sound, it turned several fallen leaves in the cool breeze into dust.
Listening to the Sword and Communicating With It had a total of four states: Listening to the Sword, Controlling the Sword, Sword Heart, and Communicating with the Sword. Xiao Chen was currently in the state of Listening to the Sword.
This allowed him to completely understand his weapon. This was a fantastic feeling. Xiao Chen felt as though the Lunar Shadow Saber in his hand was an extension of his arm.
