“That tachi was a birthday gift from Sect Master Lin Qi to his son. It holds great significance and is extraordinarily valuable. The blade even bears precious Blade Intent for one to comprehend.
“Half of Lin Qizhu’s blade arts cultivation stems from this tachi. Losing it is a heavy blow to him.
“If you return the sword to Divine Dream Palace soon and make that kid apologize to Lin Qizhu, there’s still room to turn things around. But if you stubbornly refuse, Sect Master Lin Qi will definitely come personally to reclaim his son’s blade!
“He’s a Mystic Lord Realm powerhouse, ranked near the top of the Kingdom’s Top Ten Experts. Mu Xin’er can’t stop him at all.”
Yan Zhen ignored them. He sat on the sofa, gazing at Yi Xian’er’s profile as she earnestly applied medicine to his wounds. She seemed even more beautiful than usual.
Ji Ya sat on Yan Zhen’s other side. With disdain in her eyes, she glanced at the two old fogeys, too lazy to waste words on them.
“You’ve said what you came to say? Then get lost. No need to see you out.”
So thoroughly ignored, the Second Shopkeeper and Third Shopkeeper flushed with humiliated fury.
“What kind of attitude is this? You’re not just harming yourselves—you’re creating a mighty enemy for the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce out of nowhere!”
“Ji Ya, as the Chamber’s Chief Manager, is this how you do business? If you want to die, go ahead, but don’t drag the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce down with you.”
The two bore down aggressively, but Ji Ya’s delicate brows shot up. She snapped,
“Shut your mouths! You have no right to lecture me on how to do things. You old coots should worry about yourselves. Wasn’t it you who egged Lin Qizhu on? Now his Pei Dao Sword lost to Little Brother Yan Zhen. Who’s to blame isn’t even clear yet!”
The Second Shopkeeper and Third Shopkeeper, who had been so self-righteous moments before, deflated like punctured balloons.
“Y-You’re talking nonsense!”
“What does it have to do with this old man!”
Ji Ya’s lips curved in a scornful smirk.
“Don’t think I don’t know what little schemes you’re cooking up. While I’m still in a good mood, scram far away—otherwise—”
Before she could finish, ripples emanated from the shadows beneath the Second Shopkeeper and Third Shopkeeper. An aura of Mystic King power emanated from them, filling the two men with dread.
“Ji Ya, don’t get cocky. I’ll report this to the three Offering Elders and impeach you from your position as Chief Manager.”
“The Chamber has always upheld the principle that harmony brings wealth. For you to offend Divine Dream Palace like this—the three Offering Elders will never let you keep that seat!”
Ji Ya paid it no mind. Her position hadn’t been granted by the Offering Elders; she had earned it herself.
“You won’t drink a toast but insist on the forfeit—Aunt Mu, do it!”
The shadows beneath the Second Shopkeeper and Third Shopkeeper suddenly sprang to life. They twisted into black ropes that bound the men like rice dumplings, hurled them out the door, and shut it behind them for good measure.
Yan Zhen said apologetically,
“Have I caused you trouble, Sister Ji Ya?”
Ji Ya patted his head.
“Don’t even think that. Sister has long found Lin Qizhu utterly annoying, especially that sister of his… As for Divine Dream Palace, powerful as they are, they won’t raise a huge fuss over one sword. After all, the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce isn’t some soft persimmon.”
She feared neither Divine Dream Palace nor even the Royal Family. The Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce was far too vital to the Sunward Kingdom, controlling more than half of its economic lifeblood.
Being richer than the country was no mere boast.
Without the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce, the Sunward Kingdom would plummet to second- or third-rate status, ripe for plucking by its neighbors. That was a future neither Divine Dream Palace nor the Royal Family wished to see.
“Still, Lin Qizhu’s father—the current Sect Master of Divine Dream Palace—might well come demanding this tachi back. If Little Brother Yan Zhen truly likes Storm Cut that much, Sister will find a way to make sure he leaves empty-handed.”
“It’s not that I like it. I’m just curious about the Blade Intent born on it. Once I’ve comprehended it, I’ll return it since they want it so badly.”
“Then there’s even less to worry about.”
“Mm.”
It was no big deal. Sect Master Lin Qi wouldn’t even come personally. He would simply send someone with another Great Karma Item-level tachi and a few small gifts to exchange for Storm Cut.
By then, Yan Zhen would have absorbed the Blade Intent atop it, incorporating it as an effective tool in battle and laying a solid foundation for comprehending his own Sword Intent later.
Because Yan Zhen had been overconfident—catching an opponent’s strongest slash barehanded—his injuries were particularly severe this time. Cuts layered atop burns; it hurt just to look at them. Strolling the streets was out of the question.
Yi Xian’er escorted Yan Zhen back to Elegant Garden to rest, while Ji Ya remained in the office to wrap up her scant remaining business.
With Yi Xian’er present, Yan Zhen couldn’t slip into the Crystal Stone Space for his Beautiful Female Master to treat him. He had no choice but to keep her company, wandering the grounds of Elegant Garden.
When bath time arrived that evening, Yan Zhen hid in the bathroom and activated the Star Shifting Fire Seal.
After his Beautiful Female Master healed his right hand, Yan Zhen produced Storm Cut. He asked her whether he could comprehend Blade Intent from the tachi as well.
“This is wind-attribute, speed-type Blade Intent. Zhen’er, you don’t practice the blade, nor do you possess Wind Mystic Power. You cannot comprehend it.”
“Oh, got it.”
“But Zhen’er, you can still make this Blade Intent your own.”
“Really?”
“Extend your hand.”
Chen Xi’s fingertip kindled Starlight Glazed Fire. On the back of her disciple’s right hand, she drew a Mystic talisman pattern. Then she drew the tachi, her jade finger bending slightly as she flicked the blade.
Ding.
The blade shuddered. A ferocious gale erupted skyward, coalescing into a massive emerald tornado that engulfed the pair.
“Collect.”
At his Beautiful Female Master’s command, Yan Zhen felt the talisman pattern on the back of his hand glow and grow hot. It drew the entire colossal tornado into itself.
“In future, when you use Extreme Flame, Zhen’er, activate this talisman pattern. You’ll borrow the power of this Blade Intent—wind aiding fire—to elevate Extreme Flame to greater heights. You might even shape its form ahead of schedule.”
“So powerful?”
“This Blade Intent isn’t particularly sophisticated, but it is ‘True Intent’ after all. Regrettably, you can invoke it at most three to five times before it fades.”
True Intent required nurturing, after all—and since Yan Zhen didn’t practice the blade, he couldn’t nurture it. He could only drain the well dry.
Yan Zhen nodded to show he understood, then added,
“This talisman pattern looks a little familiar.”
Chen Xi smiled faintly.
“It’s the Wind Talisman, one of the Nine Great Talisman Patterns from the Ancestral Symbol Scripture. Zhen’er, you can use this chance to outline the Wind Talisman yourself. It should yield twice the result with half the effort.”
The Divine Soul Five Realms—Hidden, Manifest, Nether, True, Mystic—could actually be subdivided into nine: Hidden Realm, Hidden in Manifest, Manifest Realm, Manifestation Mid Nether Realm, Nether Realm, Nether to True, True Realm, True Middle Mystic, Mystic Realm.
These corresponded precisely to the first nine realms of the Mystic Dao.
Yan Zhen currently stood only at the mid-to-late Hidden Realm. If he successfully outlined the Wind Talisman, his spiritual power would advance to Hidden in Manifest.
“Your cultivation cannot advance an inch for now, Zhen’er, so it’s perfect to train your spiritual power. Once you break through to Hidden in Manifest, you can begin attempting to forge the Gold-Silver Fire into your own natal weapon!”
Yan Zhen’s eyes brightened. In shocked tones, he said,
“Forging the Gold-Silver Fire?”
“Precisely.” Chen Xi nodded lightly. “Your master told you before: the Gold-Silver Fire’s greatest feature is its extreme malleability, along with its powerful restraint over metals, iron, jade, and stone. Forged into a natal weapon, it would let you dominate most foes’ weapons in battle, seizing the innate advantage.”
