Chapter 11: The Spirit Sword Illuminates the Light

“Did the sect leader really ask you to take Qi Yan to choose a spirit sword?” Yun Zhao questioned Song Zhiyuan bluntly.

“Yeah,” Song Zhiyuan replied straightforwardly. “If Sister Yun doesn’t believe me, you can always ask the sect leader.”

Song Zhiyuan was confident that Yun Zhao wouldn’t bother Master Guiyuan over such a trivial matter. The sect’s affairs were busy, and selecting a spirit sword for a disciple was a small task that he, as the sect leader’s chief apprentice, could handle easily.

But Yun Zhao didn’t follow the usual protocol. She took out a communication talisman and sent a message to Master Guiyuan right in front of everyone.

Song Zhiyuan was speechless.

Fortunately, moments later, Master Guiyuan’s voice came through the talisman. “Zhao Zhao, it was I who instructed Zhiyuan to take Qi Yan. I’ve already informed the elder guarding the Sword Pool. You may proceed now.”

Reluctantly, Yun Zhao said, “Then let’s go.”

Song Zhiyuan breathed a sigh of relief. “Please, Sister Yun.”

Along the way, Yun Zhao distanced herself from Song Zhiyuan and the others, quietly explaining the details about the Sword Pool to Qi Yan.

“I always feel like Song Zhiyuan is hiding something,” Yun Zhao said, puzzled. “But I can’t figure out what his intentions are.”

Qi Yan answered calmly, “It’s nothing. The spirit swords in the Qingyun Sect’s Sword Pool repel evil spirits and demons. He’s probably trying to use the Sword Pool to expose my true form.”

Yun Zhao was startled and hurriedly said, “Then why are we still going? Let’s not!”

Qi Yan smiled. “But I have no cultivation now. Before the Sword Pool, I’m just an ordinary person. The Sword Pool only affects cultivators.”

“If it really lets me reveal my true form, I should thank the Sword Pool.”

Among the demon clans, revealing one’s true form during cultivation is highly effective. Unfortunately, Qi Yan’s human bloodline dominates, preventing him from freely transforming into a demon.

Relieved of worry, Yun Zhao’s curiosity was piqued. “Qi Yan, I still don’t know what kind of demon you are. Hmm… a snake? A dragon? Or a tiger or lion?”

She rattled off guesses, but seeing Qi Yan didn’t nod, she knew she was wrong.

“Tell me!”

Qi Yan curled his lips. “Guess for yourself.”

Yun Zhao didn’t bother guessing; she’d find out eventually. She kept chatting with Qi Yan, who found it hard to explain. “Are you sure?”

Yun Zhao snorted. “Of course I’m sure. Don’t you want to see a laugh?”

Qi Yan was silent for a moment. “I do.”

The two joked and laughed, while Song Zhiyuan behind them was less cheerful. Lost in thought, he was only brought back when Xue Huairui called him twice.

“小蕊，what is it?”

Song Zhiyuan apologized. “I was just thinking about something, not ignoring you on purpose.”

Xue Huairui smiled. “It’s nothing, senior brother. I just wanted to ask if I could leave first.” She raised a communication talisman. “Senior sister Ameng said she needs me.”

“Then go,” Song Zhiyuan said gently. “You just started sword flight; be careful.”

Xue Huairui nodded and left by sword flight.

One of Song Zhiyuan’s disciples tentatively asked, “Senior brother, could it be you have feelings for Sister Xue…”

“No,” Song Zhiyuan replied faintly. “Xiao Rui is just my junior sister, nothing more.”

At the Sword Pool, Yun Zhao saw many disciples training there.

“They’re here?” The elder guarding the Sword Pool opened his eyes. “Who is here to select a spirit sword?”

Yun Zhao raised her hand. “Elder, him!” She pointed at Qi Yan.

The elder glanced at Qi Yan. “Follow me.”

Qi Yan followed him into the inner area of the Sword Pool. Yun Zhao and the others waited outside.

She discreetly observed Song Zhiyuan, who showed no reaction, as if Qi Yan was unrelated to him.

Focused on Qi Yan, Yun Zhao couldn’t multitask. Secretly, she activated a recording stone to capture the moment.

“Alright, just stand here. Remember, communicate with the spirit sword using your spiritual consciousness; do not use your spiritual power.”

Qi Yan nodded and began communicating with the spirit sword.

His destined spirit sword in his past life also came from the Qingyun Sect’s Sword Pool. He wondered if the sword would choose him again in this life.

The process was long, so the Sword Pool elder left first.

Seeing Song Zhiyuan still standing there with others, the elder frowned. “Why are you still here? Leave quickly; don’t disturb the others’ cultivation.”

Song Zhiyuan stepped forward. “Elder, once Brother Qi chooses his sword, I must report to the sect leader. Forgive the temporary disturbance.”

“Is he a newly accepted disciple of the sect leader?”

Song Zhiyuan paused. “No.”

The elder was blunt. “Then why report to the sect leader? Isn’t the sect leader busy? Such small matters don’t need to be reported.”

Song Zhiyuan smiled. “Brother Qi is the only disciple of Uncle Yun Yan. His affairs aren’t small matters.”

The elder was surprised. “What? When did Yun Yan take disciples?”

“That’s impossible; he’s deceased. What disciple could he have taken? Has he come back to life?”

Yun Zhao twitched. “Elder, I accepted him on behalf of my father. Before he passed, my father wished to take a disciple with a wind spiritual root but never fulfilled that wish.”

“A few days ago, by chance, I met Qi Yan and accepted him for my father.”

“I see,” the elder nodded. “That settles one of his wishes.”

“Zhao Zhao, where is your Fuguang? Why not use it?”

Yun Zhao still held the spirit sword in her hand instead of sheathing it.

Fuguang…

Yun Zhao was momentarily confused, taking five seconds to recall the memories about the Fuguang sword tucked away in the corners of her mind.

The Fuguang sword was the original owner’s destined spirit sword, but a few years ago, it went out of control and injured Song Zhiyuan. In anger, the original owner sealed Fuguang and left it to gather dust in a cupboard.

Only the original owner knew this. Usually, she didn’t fight and had no need to use Fuguang.

“I usually don’t use Fuguang, so I rarely take it out.”

The elder said sternly, “Even if you don’t use it, you must constantly harmonize with your destined spirit sword. If you lack rapport during battle, your combat power will be halved.”

Yun Zhao showed a receptive expression. “Elder, I understand. I’ll take Fuguang out when I return.”

The elder was about to say more when a powerful surge of spiritual energy suddenly erupted from the Sword Pool. His expression turned grave as he shouted, “Everyone, immediately leave the vicinity of the Sword Pool!”

At the same time, he grabbed Yun Zhao and quickly withdrew from where they had been standing.

The disciples who had been training instantly stopped and followed the elder away from the Sword Pool.

Looking at the large pit blasted into the ground where they had just stood, Yun Zhao was shaken. “Elder, what’s happening?”

Why such a commotion? Wasn’t it supposed to just scare Song Zhiyuan a little?

The elder frowned deeply. “Such a disturbance… it must be that boy has chosen a very fine spirit sword.”

“Just fine?” Song Zhiyuan suddenly spoke. “Based on Brother Qi’s talent, he should have chosen the best spirit sword in the pool. Otherwise, it wouldn’t cause such a great disturbance.”

Yun Zhao’s expression darkened. “What do you mean?”

Song Zhiyuan smiled helplessly. “Sister, I mean exactly what I said.”

Such a huge commotion meant Qi Yan was losing control over the demon energy inside him.

Sure enough, the elder’s face changed drastically. “All on alert! There’s a demonic aura!”