CHAPTER 1542 EMPYREAN OVERLORD'S TRUE NAME

1542 Empyrean Overlord's True Name

"What's your plan now?" Tian Qiyuan asked Zi Xuan sometime later.

"I don't know yet, but I'll let you know once I think of something. In the meantime, let me see your sword. I've been dying to take a look at it ever since I heard about it." Zi Xuan said, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

"Of course."

Tian Qiyuan retrieved his sword and held it before Zi Xuan.

"Oh…"

Even without a body, Zi Xuan could feel her entire existence trembling from excitement.

Once her excitement calmed down a little, she noticed the sword emitting a strange aura, almost as though it was trying to charm her soul.

However, after examining it for a little longer, she felt that something was off about it, and she couldn't pinpoint why she was feeling this way.

"It's definitely an otherwordly sword without equal, and don't misunderstand me for saying this," Zi Xuan muttered after a moment, "but it feels like there's something missing. It just doesn't feel complete, somehow."

Zi Xuan braced herself for Tian Qiyuan's reprimand, but to her surprise, he simply smiled at her.

"If anyone could tell, I knew it would be you, Zi Xuan." Tian Qiyuan chuckled.

Despite the multitude of admirers and expert blacksmiths who had seen the sword, none had noticed the subtle flaw that Zi Xuan pointed out.

"Huh? I was right?" Zi Xuan muttered in a dazed voice.

Tian Qiyuan nodded and said, "Indeed, you're right. As you pointed out, while the sword is finished, it's not truly complete. It's missing one key element, but this element isn't something that can be forged or crafted."

"What do you think this element is? Take a guess."

Zi Xuan stared at the sword in silence. However, no matter how much she thought about it, the answer eluded her.

"I can't think of anything."

"The answer is a soul." Tian Qiyuan answered a moment later.

"A… soul? Like a human's soul?"

"Although I said soul, it's not the type you're thinking about. It's an extremely rare phenomenon, but did you know that given enough time and spiritual energy, natural plants and herbs can develop into sentient spirits with their own consciousness?" Tian Qiyuan asked.

"Yes, I am aware of that."

"Treasures are the same. They, too, have the capability to form their own consciousness. When they do, they become Soul Weapons—a weapon with its own soul. However, not all treasures can become Soul Weapons. As for those that have the capability, one can only wait for them to turn into a Soul Weapon naturally."

Tian Qiyuan then continued, "This sword… it's an artificial Soul Weapon—a soulless one. While it doesn't have a soul right now, it has the capability to house a soul and grow together with it."

"An artificial Soul Weapon…? That's crazy… but what advantage does it providethat a natural Soul Weapon cannot?" Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

"Well, for starters, once a natural Soul Weapon's spirit dies, the weapon loses its powers alongside the spirit. As for my sword, it won't lose its powers or be destroyed even without a spirit because it came into existence without one."

"And since the sword won't be destroyed without a spirit, we can always change out the spirit for whatever reason."

Zi Xuan listened to Tian Qiyuan's words as she stared at the beautiful sword.

"Would a human soul be compatible with it?" she suddenly asked.

"A human soul, huh? Since a spirit's soul is almost indistinguishable from a human's soul, I think it would work." Tian Qiyuan said.

"I have decided what I want to do. Qiyuan, let me become this sword's spirit," she spoke in a serious tone.

"What?" Tian Qiyuan stared at her with wide eyes.

"The sword is incomplete right now because it doesn't have a soul, right? Then, allow me to complete it. I have always wanted to become one with your swords, so this is exactly what I've been waiting for!"

"But you're a human who spent most of your life living in this vast world… Are you really fine with throwing away all of that just to spend your life inside a sword as a spirit?" Tian Qiyuan hesitated to make Zi Xuan the spirit of his sword.

"I am. I can continue growing stronger with the sword, right? And it's not like I have to spend the rest of my life inside the sword since it can continue to operate without a spirit."

Tian Qiyuan sighed, "If that's what you really want, I won't stop you. And it's true. If you ever change your mind, you can come out of the sword and return to living as a human."

"Then it's decided. I want to be together with you as your sword. This will fulfill both of my dreams at once, just like killing two birds with one stone."

Zi Xuan always wanted to remain by Tian Qiyuan's side, but her position within the Unrivaled Nine Swords Sect made that difficult. Now that she'll be living inside his sword, she'll be able to follow him wherever he goes.

"However, promise me something." Zi Xuan suddenly said.

"What is it?"

"That you'll never let another soul dwell inside this sword for as long as I exist."

"As long as you wish to remain inside the sword, I promise that I won't let anyone else take your spot." Tian Qiyuan nodded.

"By the way, what's this sword's name?"

Tian Qiyuan smiled and said, "I thought you'd never ask."

"Since it's a treasure that stands above all treasures under heaven, I named it Number One Under Heaven."

"Number One Under Heaven… What an arrogant yet fitting name. It's perfect."

Sometime later, Zi Xuan entered Number One Under Heaven, completing Tian Qiyuan's masterpiece.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"I remember everything now, Zi Xuan!" Yuan exclaimed as the sword spirit's aura reached its peak.

Zi Xuan's body trembled after hearing her name, and her aura began to simmer down.

Yuan raised the Empyrean Overlord and mumbled to it, "I apologize for not remembering you sooner, Number One Under Heaven."

Ding!