Chapter 68: A White Light? No, a Violet Radiance
All eyes focused on Li Shuang and the Black Abyss Sword Spirit. The crowd watched like silent warriors waiting for a secret duel. Yet Li Shuang herself remained calm and unmoved by their expectations.
She observed the small Sword Spirit’s lively, energetic dance as if watching a spirited disciple. A warm feeling stirred in her heart. No matter how strong the bond was meant to be, as long as the Sword Spirit chose to follow her, she would never turn away a true companion.
The little Sword Spirit gently placed its hand into Li Shuang’s palm. With a soft, graceful motion, she clasped it. In that brief moment, a dazzling radiance burst forth. It shone between them like the flash of a sword in a midnight duel.
Ye Zhao Zhao’s eyes widened, fixed on the sudden display. [What color will it be?] The next heartbeat, a soft orange glow slowly arose from between them.
Ye Zhao Zhao’s pupils shrank in disbelief. Orange?! In the martial world, aside from the legendary violet hue, orange signified the highest bond between master and spirit. Her face twisted in shock. The Black Abyss Sword Spirit she had scorned as useless now showed an orange bond with Li Shuang? No. It was impossible!
Murmurs of astonishment rippled through the onlookers. But the orange light was as brief as a falling leaf. It vanished, giving way to an intense, blinding white light that filled the arena.
A hush fell over the gathering. [Has the Heavenly Dao misjudged our fate?] Perhaps the orange glow was merely an illusion. In the final judgment, the true bond between Li Shuang and the Black Abyss Sword Spirit was white.
What did white mean? It meant that the bond between a Sword Cultivator and his Sword Spirit was almost nonexistent. Cultivating such a connection would be as hard as carving a mountain with a single stroke. Achieving the Unity of Man and Sword would be a foolish dream. Even calling the Sword Spirit to its true form would be a challenge beyond measure.
Li Shuang, a prodigy of the Sword Dao, had awakened a Sword Spirit with a white bond? If she did not change her sword, the path ahead would lead only to ruin.
The small Sword Spirit stood quietly in the white glow, its eyes filled with uncertainty as it looked up at Li Shuang. Yet she was unmoved. Gently, she reached out and ruffled the little spirit’s hair in a warm, comforting gesture. Just as her soft voice was about to break the silence, a clear voice cut through the still air.
Long Yan’s face shone with a triumphant smile. He could barely contain his excitement as he proclaimed, “Li Shuang, you saw it yourself! The Black Abyss Sword Spirit and you share only a white bond. Together, you will never reach the pinnacle of the Sword Dao. But look at me—I share a blue bond with you, just one step below orange. With my strength and your talent, we can ascend to the highest realm!”
Li Shuang gave him a brief, indifferent glance and then turned back to the little Sword Spirit. Her gaze softened as she asked, “Do you still choose me?”
Though the bond was weak, the little Sword Spirit knew that choosing another master might lead to a brighter, but distant future. Tears filled its eyes as it nodded without hesitation. “Of course!” it said with firm determination. It was not just any spirit—it was the Black Abyss Sword Spirit with its own proud heart. It had lain dormant for too long, refusing to settle for any master but one it believed in.
Li Shuang chuckled lightly. Her voice was gentle but full of quiet strength. “Then we shall forge ahead together! We will defy the heavens and change our fate!”
As her words echoed, a fierce surge of Sword Energy erupted from her. It soared upward like a blade slicing through the sky. Though her tone was soft, an unyielding pride burned within her. Li Shuang was born to walk the Sword Dao, always challenging fate itself. If the heavens deemed her bond weak, she would defy them. If destiny declared it unworthy, she would rewrite the future with her own hand.
The little Sword Spirit tilted its head and stared at Li Shuang’s calm, determined eyes. Then it nodded firmly, a sweet smile blossoming on its face. It had seen that Li Shuang would not be burdened by its fate. [The heavens may decree, but we decide our path.]
At that moment, the aura of the little Sword Spirit began to glow with a sharp, resolute light. Nearby, Ye Zhao Zhao’s eyes burned with resentment. She despised the proud demeanor that Li Shuang carried so effortlessly. For ten long years, she had fought and sacrificed. For ten years, Li Shuang had never bowed down. That natural arrogance was too much for her to bear.
Ye Zhao Zhao’s voice rang out with bitter frustration, “Li Shuang! No matter how sweet your words sound, white attunement is still white attunement! I cannot believe you can live like this forever!” Her sharp tone cut through the charged air.
Sheng Yuan and Shen Yue turned their heads to look. Sheng Yuan’s heart trembled. The last time he saw such anger in Ye Zhao Zhao’s eyes, he doubted his own vision. Now, there was no mistaking it. The gentle Ye Zhao Zhao he once knew was now filled with venom and twisted hatred. Shen Yue was equally disturbed. [Could it be that her heart has turned as cold as ice?]
Despite the heated cries, neither Li Shuang nor the little Sword Spirit wavered. Their auras intertwined like the flowing lines of a master’s calligraphy. Li Shuang smiled gently at her little companion, and the spirit returned the smile with innocent joy. What did a white bond matter? They believed in themselves, not in fate. Neither held a single doubt in their choice. Their connection was built on trust—a trust that defied destiny.
In that precious moment, as their auras merged completely, a sudden change occurred.
Li Shuang’s gaze lifted in surprise. The pure white radiance began to shift. Delicate streaks of violet light shimmered at its base, rising slowly. Before either could react, the violet glow surged upward like an unstoppable tide, staining the dark heavens. Like ethereal mist in the night, the violet light unfurled across the sky.
This was…
Ye Zhao Zhao’s triumphant smile froze. A spark of disbelief lit her eyes. Violet light? This was the legendary—perfect attunement! It must be an illusion, she thought, for she had seen only white before. How could the bond change so suddenly?
Long Yan, witnessing the pillar of violet radiance piercing the heavens, felt his soul tremble. His face turned pale as the realization struck him. Violet light… How could it be that the Black Abyss Sword Spirit, once thought worthless, now shared a perfect bond with Li Shuang? Panic gripped his heart like a cold iron chain. For the first time, he realized with chilling clarity: Li Shuang had a new Sword Spirit. She would no longer need him.
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