Chapter 016

Chapter 16: Divine Artifact’s Recognition, Heart Questioning Sword

The Heart Questioning Sword was once the blade of the Heavenly One Sect’s second generation disciple, the Heart Questioning Ancestor; he was called the sect’s greatest genius in a thousand years and was one step from Ascension, yet in a trial his Dao Heart was destroyed, and he died with his Dao scattered. No one knows why. His sword stayed behind.

Because it was stained with blood and full of killing intent, the sword was sealed in the deepest part of Sword Mountain. Now, the Divine Artifact broke its Self Sealing and flew out.

This shocked Yan Ju; even Bai Jian and Fang He An could not make sense of what they were seeing. The elders murmured: “Divine Artifact…” and, “Junior sister woke the Divine Artifact?”

Yan Ju looked toward the Heart Questioning formation that held down the grand array over Sword Mountain; at this moment, the sword’s light burst forth, its demonic aura pressing down every spirit sword, as if it meant to stand against all blades to shield the person within the formation.

He asked in a low voice: “What is she doing inside the Heart Questioning formation?” The question puzzled not only Yan Ju but every elder watching this place.

On the peak of Snow Mountain, a white haired, black eyed man opened his eyes and looked toward Sword Mountain; a flash ran through his gaze, the color close to the blood cloud rising to the sky. He said softly: “It’s back.” The wind scattered his whisper.

The Heart Questioning Sword stood within the array.

Inside the illusion, the dusty city and yellow sands around Ye Wan Wan vanished. A young Daoist sat cross legged in the air and said: “My heart’s Dao is the righteous way.” Ye Wan Wan tilted her head at him and answered without any doubt: “Yes.”

He said, calm and firm: “What I believe in is the Dao itself.” Then the young Daoist looked at Ye Wan Wan and asked: “Girl, do you want to choose the Carefree Dao?”

Ye Wan Wan shook her head and said: “No.”

She spoke simply and did not hide herself: “I cannot be beyond all things. I love money. Even if I am not greedy, I feel hate and jealousy. I have desires. These are my negative feelings, and I never deny them. I will not strip them away. The heart’s carefree state is free, and also not free. I still do not know what it is, but I want to follow my heart and chase my own Dao. Right or wrong is decided by me. My path will not be defined by anyone.”

Her face stayed calm as she looked forward. Even though yellow sand rolled ahead and the figures in front of her might fade at any time, Ye Wan Wan’s eyes stayed steady.

The young Daoist clapped loudly and praised her: “Good!” His eyes shone as he looked at Ye Wan Wan, and he said: “Then I will go with you for a time and search for the Dao of life together.”

The sand split open. A long sword tore through the air and landed before Ye Wan Wan. It was not the sword she had picked up earlier, but an ancient sword of pure green metal. It had no carvings, only a plain body, yet it released a strong demonic aura.

Ye Wan Wan looked sideways at the Daoist, and the Daoist raised his brows with a teasing look and asked: “Afraid?” It was a simple provocation, a low trick, but very effective.

He added, steady and clear: “You said your path should not be defined. Then it should not matter whether this is a demon sword or an immortal sword. It depends on the one who wields it. Heart Questioning Sword does not ask about Dao. It only questions the heart.”

Ye Wan Wan reached out and closed her hand around the hilt.

The green sword shook hard, as if it wanted to fly free, but she did not let go. One hand was not enough, so she gripped it with both hands. In her dantian, five Golden Cores spun wildly. Five streams of spiritual energy rushed out, twined around the Heart Questioning Sword and Ye Wan Wan, and pushed the bond between one person and one sword.

The young Daoist watched at the side with a serious face and a touch of admiration.

Every elder stared this way. They watched the demonic aura on the Heart Questioning Sword fade bit by bit while Five Elements Force rose and wrapped it, turning into a strong white light that lit all of Sword Mountain.

Li Ming De, Xun Yin, and Yan Ju all straightened. Immortal light circled, and on Heart Questioning, a character appeared. It was:

“Immortal.”

Fang He An stared up at the Immortal Character hanging in the sky and said in a daze: “Immortal Aptitude.”

Li Wan Zhi blinked and asked: “What is that?”

Fang He An explained in a low voice: “Mortal, Spirit, and Immortal are the Aptitude Ratings given by the Heart Questioning Sword’s array. Mortal is for common people who are not fit to cultivate. Those of us who can cultivate usually rate as Spirit, which divides into Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow. I am Earth Spirit. Senior sister is Heaven Spirit. Above Heaven Spirit, there is Immortal. But…”

He added, careful with his words: “So many years have passed, and Heavenly One Sect has only seen it once. That was the ancestor who already reached Ascension.”

Li Wan Zhi lifted his fan to hide his face and asked with a grin: “Does this mean Junior Sister Ye is very amazing?” Fang He An answered under his breath: “More than amazing.” Even the path she chose was remarkable, or the Heart Questioning Sword would not have recognized her.

Bai Jian suddenly pointed up and reminded them: “There is another character.” Everyone then noticed that behind Immortal there was a very pale word that could not be ignored. It was… demon.

Fang He An touched his nose and did not dare speak again. He never expected the most obedient junior sister to also have a hint of Falling into Devilhood.

The uproar above Sword Mountain lasted for a while, then faded. When the grand array opened, Bai Jian rushed in first, with Yan Ju close behind.

In the field of scattered swords, Ye Wan Wan stood alone, gripping a green long sword in one hand and holding a brocade box in the other. Yan Ju stopped at once. Fang He An’s voice rose to warn her: “Junior sister!” The call woke Ye Wan Wan.

She turned to Yan Ju, cupped her hands, and saluted with calm respect as she said: “Senior.” Even after a month on the mountain, Ye Wan Wan had not changed how she addressed them. Yan Ju noticed. She had not fully accepted Heavenly One Sect.

Li Wan Zhi leaned in with bright eyes and asked: “So this is the Divine Artifact? I can’t tell what is special. Can we sell it?” He reached out before Fang He An and tried to touch the Heart Questioning Sword.

Fang He An hurried to stop him: “Don’t touch it.” The sword’s aura snapped and flung Li Wan Zhi away. He rolled across the ground and saw stars.

The others jumped in shock and backed away from Ye Wan Wan at once.

Ye Wan Wan frowned slightly and hid the way she pressed her palm over the green blade; the sword’s pressure drew back at once. Yan Ju noticed, and his face grew even more complex.

Inside the sea of consciousness, the third senior brother’s voice sounded: “This Heart Questioning Sword really recognized her.” Yan Ju said in a flat tone: “…Not only recognized her. It is guarding its master.” The second senior brother added, clipped and cold: “Bring it back.” Yan Ju said, steady as ever: “If you can, come do it.” The second brother scoffed: “You cannot defeat a junior disciple at the Qi Refining Stage? Junior brother, has your sword path gotten timid?”

Yan Ju did not change expression as he said: “It is not that I cannot beat the disciple. I cannot beat the sword. When I went near, it locked onto my aura. Hitting Li Wan Zhi was a warning to me.” Silence followed.

Someone muttered: “Doesn’t this break the rules? This is the ancestor’s sword.” Another voice said with dry humor: “A new junior disciple using a sword with a seniority older than ours. If she is taking the Heart Questioning Sword’s legacy, should we call her Ancestor?” A growl cut in: “Old Five, shut up.” Another complaint followed at once: “Old Five, when will you come back? I cannot keep your Green Thicket Mountain in order.” Old Five replied, calm: “It’s fine, as long as Third Senior Brother does not burn it.” A sigh drifted through the link: “Enough.”

Yan Ju pulled them back to the point and said: “How do we place this new disciple? The Heart Questioning Sword is shielding her. By the rules, once she passes the Heart Questioning formation, she must take a master. If we do not accept her, she must go down the mountain, and we must take back the Heart Questioning Sword.” But now the sword could not be taken back, so they could only accept her.

He thought aloud: “If none of the senior brothers want to take a student, I can reluctantly…” A soft cough cut him off. Old Three, Xun Yin, broke in and said: “Or give her to me. I cultivate Mechanism Arts, and I have not found an heir.” Old Five, Lu Qing Xuan, hurried to add: “I can take her too.” A scolding snapped back: “Old Five, quiet. You do not even have time to teach Little An Zi you brought back.”

A brief, cool voice ended the debate: “Give her to me.” That was the boss, Gu Cang Lan. Someone shot back, half laughing: “Eldest senior brother, we have not seen you for twenty years. Are you sure you have time to raise a child?” The second, Luo Qing Feng, considered and said: “If eldest senior brother is too busy, I have time.” Yan Ju fell silent and thought: [A moment ago you all said the child is a devil cultivator.]