Chapter Twenty-Two
After all, she was still young at heart and afraid of being left behind. That day, Ayin woke up early, carrying the pastries Qing Yi had delivered in the dark, and waited at the mountain gate.
When Gu Jin approached, he saw her from afar, chin resting on her hand as she gazed at the sea of clouds beneath the stone steps. Her slender figure, cast in the early morning sunlight, seemed fragile and pitiful.
The once small and weak Water Condensation Beast had grown into a young woman in just a few years. Gu Jin felt a surge of protective instinct, thinking to himself that since he had taken this young beast on the journey to find Feng Yin’s Soul, he must ensure her safety.
Having long heard the footsteps behind her, Ayin rolled her eyes and turned around abruptly, looking up to see Gu Jin standing behind her. Her lips parted, but after stammering for a while, she couldn’t utter a word. Instead, she opened the cloth bundle she was holding and extended her hand toward him, offering it with a mix of eagerness and awkwardness. “Here, want some? Qing Yi brought me these mung bean cakes early this morning. They’re still warm.”
Seeing that he didn’t move, Ayin’s face fell, her shoulders slumping as she looked down at the bluestone floor.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Gu Jin’s mouth, his eyes softening with warmth. He patted Ayin’s head, then stepped over and sat down on the stone steps. Reaching out, he picked a mung bean cake from her hand and ate it, his laughter warm and clear. “Qing Yi certainly dotes on his martial aunt. Why haven’t I seen him bring me any mung bean cakes?”
Ayin quickly held out the cloth bundle toward Gu Jin, urging, “Oh, A Jin, it’s the same whether he gives them to me or you. They’re all yours, all yours.”
Gu Jin picked another piece and nudged it toward Ayin. “Eat up while it’s warm. After we finish, we’ll head down the mountain.”
Ayin’s eyes lit up. “A Jin, you’re willing to take me down the mountain?”
Gu Jin raised an eyebrow. “When did I ever say I wouldn’t take you?”
“You’ve barely paid me any attention these past few days,” Ayin said, her voice lowering. “I thought you didn’t want to take me anymore.”
Gu Jin pinched her cheek. “You’re overthinking things, as always. The road ahead is uncertain, and who knows what we might encounter along the way? These past few days, I’ve been learning Immortal Formation sword techniques from my two senior brothers for self-defense. When I went to your courtyard earlier and didn’t see you, I figured you’d be waiting here.”
Ayin turned her head and spoke softly, “A Jin, I didn’t mean to make things difficult for Princess Hua Shu that day. The Sky-Shielding Umbrella is a protective treasure our master left for you. I was worried that if you gave it to her, what would you do if you encountered danger in the future?”
Gu Jin ruffled Ayin’s hair vigorously. “I know, I know. I understand. I’m not blaming you. Our Ayin is the most sensible and thoughtful.”
Only then did Ayin smile. She jumped up from the ground and started walking down the stone steps. “Alright, it’s already light out. Let’s set off.” After a few steps, she turned back and asked, “A Jin, you didn’t forget to bring the Sky-Shielding Umbrella, did you? It’s our lifesaver.”
Gu Jin paused for a moment before nodding to her. “Don’t worry, I brought it. But before we leave, we need to go somewhere first.”
“Where?” Ayin looked up.
“The spring pool at the foot of the mountain. It’s just the right time for the Drunken Jade Dew to be ready these days. I’ll fetch a flask for you to quench your thirst along the way,” Gu Jin replied as he walked. Over the years, as Gu Jin grew older, he no longer indulged in drinking as he did in his childhood. However, because Ayin loved Drunken Jade Dew, he still made a habit of collecting it."Oh right, the Drunken Jade Dew is almost ready." Ayin hopped along the stone steps, chattering, "But A Jin, how can one flask be enough?"
"I brought the Cosmos Flask—it can hold half the pool." Seeing too many steps ahead and no quick way down, Gu Jin took Ayin's hand and flew toward the foot of the mountain.
In an instant, they reached the base. Ayin crouched by the spring, filling the Cosmos Flask with Drunken Jade Dew. Gu Jin sat cross-legged nearby. After a while, he glanced toward the mountain stream and suddenly asked, "Ayin, do you hear something?"
Ayin shook her head, bewildered. "No, what sound?"
"Never mind." Gu Jin seemed lost in thought, as if suddenly remembering something. Once Ayin finished collecting the dew, he headed deeper into the mountains. "I keep feeling something is calling me. Let's go take a look."
At his words, Ayin shuddered. "A Jin, I didn't hear anything! Is Great Marsh Mountain haunted?" She hid behind Gu Jin, clutching the hem of his robe and following closely, putting on a show of being terrified.
Gu Jin let her play along, leading her into the mountains.
Half an incense stick's time later, they stopped before an empty tomb about ten feet wide. Ayin stared at the vacant space, utterly confused.
"A Jin, there's nothing here?"
Many years ago, Shang Gu had brought Gu Jin here. Back then, Bi Bo couldn't see anything, and now Ayin was the same. But Gu Jin could see countless broken swords formed from the Primordial Chaos Power of the ancient emperor's sword, which had transformed within the sword tomb. Over the years, the Primordial Chaos Power in the tomb had grown even more potent, each broken sword gleaming with a sharp edge.
"Ayin, this is a sword tomb—you just can't see it. My mother brought me here when I was little." Gu Jin's voice carried a hint of nostalgia. "Back then, there was a small wisp of spiritual energy about to shape-shift. After all these years, I wonder what became of it. Maybe it already shape-shifted into human form and left..."
As Gu Jin spoke with emotion, Ayin stared at the vast, empty tomb where only a faint breeze stirred, wearing an expression that clearly said, "You're seeing things—you need help."
"A Jin, what are you talking about? This is just an empty tomb, not a sword tomb. Are your eyes playing tricks on you? Watch, I'll jump in to prove it." With a blink, Ayin leaped toward the empty tomb.
"Ayin!" She moved too quickly. The broken swords in the tomb gleamed with a chilling light. Gu Jin couldn't stop her in time, his heart nearly stopping in terror. He shouted sharply and leaped into the tomb after her.
Gu Jin's sudden change in expression and loud cry startled Ayin. She vaguely sensed a powerful Divine Power pulling her into the tomb, but with her Spiritual Power, she couldn't use Immortal Power to fly. A cold sensation struck her back. Panicked, she closed her eyes as a chill shot straight to her heart. At the critical moment, just as she was about to touch the sword tips, she was swept into a warm embrace and flown out of the tomb.
Her feet touched the ground again. Ayin opened her eyes to see Gu Jin glaring at her angrily, his face pale and eyes filled with worry.
"A-A Jin," she stammered, ready to apologize. But then she looked down and saw a shallow sword cut on Gu Jin's right hand, a few drops of blood splattering on the ground—clearly a wound from saving her.“A Jin, you’re hurt!” Ayin exclaimed, reaching to examine his wound, but Gu Jin casually dodged her.
“It’s nothing, just a scratch.” He was about to scold Ayin when a wondrous change occurred in the empty tomb beside them. Both looked up.
The mist swirling above the empty tomb dispersed, starting from where Gu Jin’s blood had splattered, gradually revealing thousands of broken swords within the Sword Tomb that had remained unseen for tens of thousands of years.
“A Jin, this really is a Sword Tomb!”
Ayin widened her eyes, watching as the mist transformed into ripples that spread outward in circles around the Sword Tomb. At that very moment, a vast surge of Divine Power emerged from various parts of the mountain range, roaring as it gathered above the Sword Tomb. That mass of Divine Power silently observed the direction of the two.
Gu Jin let out a soft sound of surprise and looked toward the Divine Power. “It’s you. After all these years, you’re still cultivating in Great Marsh Mountain.”
Back then, the Ancient Emperor Sword of Shang Gu had fallen upon Great Marsh Mountain, inadvertently creating this Sword Tomb. Over tens of thousands of years of accumulation, the Sword Tomb had autonomously given birth to a sword spirit possessing Primordial Chaos Power. Several years ago, when Shang Gu brought Gu Jin to Great Marsh Mountain to celebrate Dong Hua’s birthday, they had also encountered this Divine Power. At the time, Shang Gu, considering its arduous cultivation, had chosen not to retrieve it into the Ancient Emperor Sword for refinement.
The sword spirit clearly recognized Gu Jin and bowed solemnly to him.
“A Jin, you know it?” Ayin, who had never seen a sword spirit before, was filled with wonder.
“My mother and I encountered it before.” He nodded to the sword spirit. “Ayin is young and unintentionally entered the Sword Tomb. She did not mean to disturb your cultivation. Please forgive her.”
The Sword Tomb had appeared sixty thousand years ago, and the sword spirit’s existence likely spanned tens of thousands of years, far older than either of them.
The sword spirit nodded to Gu Jin and moved closer to him, showing both familiarity and hesitation. It was a chaotic entity, unable to speak, making it unclear what it intended.
Gu Jin, looking puzzled, cupped his hands in respect. “Ayin and I have matters to attend to and will not disturb you further. Farewell.”
With that, he prepared to lead Ayin away. Seeing him about to leave, the sword spirit above the Sword Tomb grew anxious. Instantly, it condensed into a human form, silver flames appearing in its palms and transforming into intricate, ancient formation arrays. A powerful Divine Power abruptly enveloped the sky above the Sword Tomb.
Gu Jin and Ayin turned back in astonishment, witnessing thousands of broken swords within the Sword Tomb frantically surging toward the formation arrays in the sword spirit’s palms. All the broken swords were refined and absorbed into nothingness within the white flames, vanishing completely as the white flames grew increasingly intense. Suddenly, the blazing fire erupted fully from the formation arrays, enveloping the sword spirit entirely. A massive surge of Divine Power shot straight into the sky, blanketing the heavens above Great Marsh Mountain.
Instantly, the entire mountain range was thrown into chaos—wind and clouds shifted, lightning flashed, thunder roared, and all creatures cried out in unison.
A pitch-black ancient sword slowly took shape amidst the surging Divine Power, appearing before the two.
Within Ze You Hall atop Great Marsh Mountain, Xian Shan and Xian Zhu, who had been chatting idly, were shaken by this extraordinary phenomenon. They simultaneously teleported to the open ground outside the hall and looked up at the sky.
“Senior Brother, what’s happening? What kind of Spiritual Power is this? How can it be so powerful?” Xian Zhu asked, his face filled with astonishment as he gazed skyward.
“This is an omen of a Divine Artifact manifesting, but this power is neither immortal nor demonic. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Ten thousand years ago, when Dong Hua refined the Sky-Shielding Umbrella, Xian Shan had witnessed the wondrous sight of a top-tier immortal artifact emerging. This silver Spiritual Power surpassed even that, clearly indicating that the weapon about to manifest already possessed the makings of a Demigod artifact."A Divine Artifact has appeared? How could a Divine Artifact appear in our Great Marsh Mountain?" Xian Zhu exclaimed in surprise. "Senior Brother, this spiritual power is coming from the foot of the mountain. Let's go and see what's happening."
Xian Shan nodded, and the two recited an Immortal Incantation before flying down the mountain.
At the foot of the mountain beside the Sword Mound, everything had returned to calm.
The ancient black sword, reborn from the blazing flames of the sword spirit and countless broken swords, hovered above the Sword Mound. As if possessing a spirit, it flew toward Gu Jin and quietly landed before him.
Now, it had withdrawn all its radiance, appearing pitch black and unremarkable.
Anyone who had witnessed the earlier spectacle would know this sword was no ordinary weapon and that it wished to acknowledge Gu Jin as its master. Yet Gu Jin silently gazed at the ancient sword, his brow slightly furrowed, his expression somber.
The ancient sword shifted uneasily, cautiously inching closer to Gu Jin.
Ayin, seeing it appear somewhat pitiful, nudged Gu Jin's shoulder. "A Jin, it wants to recognize you as its master. You don’t have a weapon right now, and this sword looks quite powerful. You should accept it."
The ancient sword swayed its hilt, as if agreeing with Ayin in a flattering manner.
It was a sword spirit born within the Sword Mound, without a true form. Having cultivated at Great Marsh Mountain for tens of thousands of years, its origin was Primordial Chaos Power. Though it possessed Divine Power, without a suitable master, it had always struggled to truly shape-shift. When Shang Gu once descended upon Great Marsh Mountain, it had been delighted but sensed that Shang Gu already possessed a divine sword, forcing it to give up. This time, as Gu Jin descended the mountain, it sensed the Primordial Chaos Power within him and called him forth. By chance, it obtained Gu Jin's blood and successfully shape-shifted. Now, its sword body was forged from Gu Jin's bloodline, and aside from Gu Jin, no one else could become its master.
Unfortunately, Gu Jin's Divine Power was currently sealed, preventing him from unleashing the ancient sword's Primordial Chaos Power. The sword spirit was now bound by blood to Gu Jin, and only when Gu Jin's seal was lifted could it become a true Divine Artifact.
Raised by Tian Qi and Shang Gu, Gu Jin naturally knew that once a Divine Artifact was forged with blood, it had already acknowledged its master. He simply recognized that this sword was born of Primordial Chaos Power and was reluctant to keep it by his side.
Primordial Chaos Power—the most formidable True God power of the ancient era—sounded glorious and magnificent. Yet both his parents had perished under the influence of this power. To Gu Jin, Primordial Chaos Power was a calamity, not a glory. Tian Qi sealing the Primordial Chaos Power within him was perhaps for the best.
"A Jin?" Ayin called softly, seeing Gu Jin remain silent.
But ultimately, his identity and his responsibilities were not things he could simply avoid. Just as he was born with Primordial Chaos Power, this ancient sword forged from Primordial Chaos Power had appeared before him without warning.
Gu Jin lowered his head, sighed as he looked at the ancient sword resembling the Ancient Emperor Sword, and said, "We met once before, and now we meet again—it must be fate. Since I have no weapon to carry with me, you may stay by my side." He grasped the sword's hilt, pausing briefly before adding, "Yuan Qi's will, transformed by Divine Power. From now on, you shall be called the Primordial Spirit Sword."
Ayin didn’t understand the meaning of "Yuan Qi's will, transformed by Divine Power," but the Primordial Spirit Sword swiftly circled Gu Jin once before whooshing into the sword sheath on his back.
Ayin rubbed her nose and glanced enviously at the Primordial Spirit Sword. "A Jin, you’re so lucky to find a suitable weapon as soon as you step out. When will I ever have my own weapon?"Gu Jin patted her head. "You're a Water Condensation Beast—your job is to heal and save people. What do you need a weapon for? It's getting late, let's go."
"Where are we heading first?" Ayin asked, bouncing along behind Gu Jin.
"To the Demon Realm first. Demon Lord Chang Qin of the Fox Demon Clan shares a life-and-death bond with my aunt. We'll go to the Fox race in the Nine Heavens of the Demon Realm."
Gu Jin's voice drifted back slowly as their long shadows stretched away under the rising sun.
Just like many, many years ago, when Qing Mu met Hou Chi at Mount Liaowang and together they embarked on a journey to the Demon Realm.
Centuries passed, generation after generation, as if in a cycle, as if bound by fate.
A short while later, when Xian Shan and Xian Zhu arrived, they found only an empty tomb.
After exchanging glances, they searched around the foot of the mountain but found nothing unusual. Puzzled, they returned to the mountain gate.
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