Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 666: Rebirth of the Sword Spirit

Zhao Changhe himself was caught off guard by the weight of the revelations they had just witnessed, leaving him with more questions than answers. Naturally, he could not adequately explain things to the little rabbit, so he could only offer some clumsy reassurance. “That was ancient history. What does it have to do with you?”

“But... She, she looks just like me!”

“There are plenty of people who look alike. Ever heard of celebrity look-alikes?”

“What’s that?”

Zhao Changhe paused, realizing there was no point in trying to explain modern references. Logically, if reincarnation truly was real, witnessing the past should have triggered some sort of reaction, perhaps even the awakening of some memories. But judging by Yangyang’s current state, it did not seem like anything had surfaced. Perhaps this was what Piaomiao meant when she said that it would no longer be her even if she did manage to reincarnate, and this might actually be a good thing.

Still, dismissing it entirely did not feel right either. Leaving Yangyang unprepared for the karmic ties she might inherit did not sit well with him. After a moment of thought, he said, “Even if you are connected to her somehow, it’s not a big deal. For one, we don’t know if her enemies even survived the collapse of the era. And if they did, they’re likely hanging on by a thread. Honestly, Piaomiao seemed like a pretty admirable person. If you ever get the chance, helping her settle her grievances might even feel rewarding.”

Cui Yuanyang immediately perked up. “I’d love to avenge her! She seems like such a good person!”

Zhao Changhe tilted his head, giving her a thoughtful look. There were some things that could not be explained in terms of good and evil. It often came down to opposing perspectives and circumstances. However, he saw no need to bring that up now.

Yangyang’s sense of justice had always been strong. He could not tell whether her quick, instinctive response was due to her inherent righteousness or some subtle influence from the connection to Piaomiao. Regardless, this quest for vengeance seemed like a karmic burden she was destined to face. Tackling it proactively would be far better than being forced into it later. At least this way, she could plan on her terms and thereby stay in control.

“If you want to avenge this big sister of yours, the first step is to inherit the Qinghe Sword. Did you feel the intent of the sword just now?”

After all, they had just witnessed the Qinghe Sword’s creation and its original intent. To awaken a spirit akin to the original Qinghe, comprehending that intent was crucial. Zhao Changhe himself could not do it—this was not his area of expertise. But for Cui Yuanyang, who had been specifically trained in it, seeing its origins up close could foster a resonance and understanding that would be transformative, perhaps even equivalent to Xia Chichi’s experience at Skyrim Island.

Sure enough, Yangyang did not disappoint. She nodded confidently and replied, “I felt it. I understand what kind of intent it is.”

“Good.” Zhao Changhe took out the crucible, cooled it down, and took out the fresh ingot. He placed it in the forge and guided Yangyang’s consciousness toward it. “Use your consciousness to project the intent you witnessed earlier. Don’t stop throughout the forging process. If all goes well, the spirit should reform within the sword as it takes shape.”

Clang!

The first strike of the hammer rang out, and Zhao Changhe stole a glance at Cui Yuanyang. She sat quietly, her eyes closed, focused entirely on guiding the sword’s intent. Her serene expression bore an uncanny resemblance to Piaomiao’s.

Zhao Changhe’s lips twitched, but he suppressed the urge to comment, and he returned his attention to forging.

He could not directly perceive the sword’s intent. Unlike when he was forging River of Stars, this was not something he was taking the lead in. Instead, he had to rely on the feedback from the forging process to sense whether things were progressing smoothly.

As the blade gradually took shape under the rhythmic pounding of the hammer, Zhao Changhe could faintly sense the reformation of the sword spirit. He let out a silent sigh of relief. With the Qinghe Sword’s spirit returning, his first promise was fulfilled. The Cui Clan, for now, would remain stable and should not stir up any further trouble.

Cui Wenjing likely understood that the intent of the Qinghe Sword and the family’s legacy did not fully align. The rebirth of the sword spirit did not fundamentally benefit the Cui Clan—it was more akin to a nuclear deterrent, a formidable artifact for the wielder. But in the long run, the sword spirit would not recognize the family as its permanent home.

Still, most of the Cui Clan would not delve that deeply into the implications. Simply having the sword in their possession was a source of immense reassurance. No matter the concessions they had to make, with the family subdued, they would quietly endure.

The Cui Clan was thus secured.

Clang!

With the final strike, Cui Yuanyang’s consciousness perceived a purple mist within the sword, its shape faintly resembling the form of a sword.

This was the natural appearance of a typical sword spirit. Qinghe and the upgraded Dragon Bird were of the same grade. Dragon Bird’s humanoid form was a result of its appearance being shaped by its master’s will. Since Cui Yuanyang had not imposed any specific image on the Qinghe spirit, it manifested in its default sword-like form.

The sword spirit’s consciousness resonated clearly with Cui Yuanyang’s mind, “Master.”

Cui Yuanyang scratched her head. “Why does it feel like you’re a little reluctant?”

“...Not at all. I’ve always acknowledged that you have the potential to be my master. But a sword can only have one master, and I hadn’t decided between you and your brother. Now that you’ve revived me, naturally, I choose you.” Beneath the words lay a subtle implication: You’re still too weak. Your brother seemed stronger and thereby worthier...

Cui Yuanyang protested, “But it was Big Brother Zhao who revived you!”

“...Him?” The sword spirit seemed to glance at Zhao Changhe, who was inspecting the newly forged blade, his grin broad with the satisfaction of completing an important task. After a moment, the sword spirit simply said, “He is... excellent.”

Cui Yuanyang beamed at the compliment but could not resist asking, “Hey, you should be able to sense whether I’m connected to Piaomiao, right?”

The sword spirit hesitated. “It’s difficult to say. Your family has been studying my sword intent for generations, and that is also Piaomiao’s sword intent. Since you’ve mastered it well, your mastery naturally aligns with her intent. That similarity makes it difficult for me to make a clear judgment.”

“But I look just like...”

“In my eyes, all humans look more or less the same. It’s like how you might view two swords—they’re just swords to you.”

Zhao Changhe, who had been eavesdropping on the latter part of this conversation, nodded in agreement. Finally, something that makes sense. This sword spirit’s indifference makes much more sense. It’s Dragon Bird who’s really odd. I really wonder where she even got her sense for human aesthetics.

But this means that Yangyang won’t be able to awaken her memories due to her resemblance with Piaomiao alone. That’s troublesome. Do her memories require more time to surface naturally, or is there a specific key needed to unlock them? Could it be tied to her cultivation?

Zhao Changhe wondered. Yangyang’s spiritual cultivation had always been lacking. She had been stuck at the threshold to the first layer of the Profound Mysteries for ages. Her soul was too weak, which was why he had to guide her consciousness into the sword earlier. But now...

Just as he was musing over it, Yangyang’s aura began to surge. The familiar sensation of the opening of the bridge of heaven and earth unfolded right before his eyes. The purple qi that filled the cavern danced joyfully, swirling around her. Some of it was absorbed through her meridians, merging into her dantian.

Cui Yuanyang had finally reached the first layer of the Profound Mysteries.

And her cultivation did not stop advancing there. She continued to absorb the qi in the cave, and soon it was as if her experience bar was already halfway full.

Zhao Changhe let out a relieved sigh. Before forging the sword, he had boasted that this process would help Yangyang achieve a breakthrough. To comprehend the Qinghe Sword’s intent, forge a divine weapon, and revive its spirit—if all that did not lead to a breakthrough, it would be beyond strange. Technically, this experience should have been enough to push her toward the second layer of the Profound Mysteries, but Yangyang’s accumulation was not quite enough. That was not a problem, though. With the purple qi of Qinghe saturating this place and the Cui Clan’s wealth of resources, they could simply power-level her further.

Cui Yuanyang opened her eyes. For a fleeting moment, they lacked their usual lively sparkle, replaced by a faint, serene clarity. But the look passed quickly, and her usual spirited demeanor returned. She spoke earnestly, “Big Brother Zhao, I suddenly remembered something.”

Zhao Changhe’s heart skipped a beat.

“It’s about the Wang Clan... Their secret realm might be fundamentally different from ours.”

“I don’t care about the Wang Clan right now. I want to know—are you okay?”

Cui Yuanyang smiled faintly. “I’m completely fine... It’s just that it’s like I had a strange dream last night. When I woke up, there were hazy images in my mind—fragments, hard to grasp unless I really focus. Are you worried I’ll turn into someone else?”

“Uh...”

“Wasn’t Piaomiao beautiful? I saw how wide your eyes got when she took off her clothes.”

Zhao Changhe gently pulled her into his arms. “I don’t care who she was or how beautiful she might have been. The person I want is Yangyang, and no one else.”