Moreover, if defeated, would the Demon Emperor spare this trace of spiritual light?
Memories and reflections accompanied the Sword Spirit through countless years. Unconsciously, the light began to dim, and its consciousness gradually dulled. Eventually, as the light slowly merged into darkness, suddenly a spark lit up the entire world.
"Boss, how much for this sword?"
The crisp and delightful voice of a young girl became the light that awakened the world.
Realizing its awakening came a moment later, a brand new world filled the vision.
A bright sun shone upon him, gentle and warm, just like the Cyan Jade Plain under the Heaven-Reaching Tower's golden clouds before the great battle. The comforting warmth permeated the mind, and the rusty, sluggish thoughts began to operate gradually.
Until the crisp young girl's voice interrupted his thoughts again.
"Boss, this sword."
"Twenty taels."
"Twenty taels is too expensive! A Whiteboard Sword for twenty taels, do you think this is Heaven-Reaching City?"
Only then did he shift his attention back, seeing himself lying in a bustling marketplace. On the spacious road ahead, crowds clamor, passersby with diverse appearances speak in slightly unfamiliar accents, trading goods, and chatting jovially.
And he was lying on a wooden box of an open-air stall, pointed at by a delicate girl's finger.
"Cheaper, how about five taels?"
"Miss, don't joke with me, I need to make a living too. Even though this sword is just a Whiteboard Weapon, the material used is extraordinary, particularly sturdy. I've whetted it several rounds on the Sword Testing Stone without a scratch. It's simply Vajra Unbreakable, a Divine Weapon among Whiteboards, perfect for you cultivators at Initial Qi Cultivation to practice swordsmanship. Normally, for twenty taels, I wouldn't sell it for even fifty taels!"
"But it's only a White Tier weapon, for fifty taels I can buy a real Divine Weapon!"
"Girl, would you dare use a fifty-tael Divine Weapon? Aren't you afraid it carries a curse? Really, a special White Tier long sword like this isn't expensive at twenty taels!"
"But this sword is so ancient that it's crumbling, and the cloud patterns are mostly worn off, it's practically an archaeological relic!"
"A genuine relic wouldn't be just twenty taels. This is indeed an Ancient Sword, but its performance is undeniable. I've wasted two Trial Swords on this Broken Sword, not counting Whetstones. Why must you, a young miss from a prestigious family, haggle over such trifles with a poor vendor like me?"
"Whiteboard Sword, twenty taels, too expensive." The young girl said stubbornly.
"Oh, I'm really convinced by you, how about fifteen taels? My cost price is ten taels!"
"Then I'll offer nine taels."
"Miss, could you at least let me earn some milk money?"
"... I only have nine taels."
"..."
"Really, it's all here, see."
A few pieces of loose silver fell from the Money Bag into a palm, making a pitiful clinking sound.
"I give up, young lady from the Li Family, nine taels it is. Consider my business today a washout. Take good care of this sword and if it serves you well, remember to tip me some tea money, and it'd be great if you could say a few good words about me to your folks at home, alright?"
"Alright."
The young girl agreed straightforwardly, then nimbly picked up the Whiteboard Long Sword from the wooden box and held it in her arms.
Upon realizing he seemed to be held by a young girl, he finally understood that their haggling resulted in a deal for nine taels. The crumbling, half-worn cloud-patterned Whiteboard Long Sword referred to himself.
Stunned for a moment, he examined himself, finding the Whiteboard evaluation quite accurate. The fierce battle with the Demon Emperor had destroyed his World in the Sword. The Sword World was where all his Divine Techniques resided, and now he had none, indeed akin to a Whiteboard Long Sword, with perhaps only the special, indestructible sword body being intact.
This truly was a fresh experience. Not to mention, as a human, he had already cultivated to be the world's best. From the moment he reincarnated as the Celestial Divine Sword, his power stood atop Jiuzhou. The world's weapons are divided into six tiers: White Tier Mortal Soldier, Green Tier Sharp Weapon, Blue Tier Divine Weapon, Purple Tier Magical Treasure, Orange Tier Spiritual Treasure, Red Tier Immortal Treasure. The Celestial Divine Sword surpassed the Red Tier Immortal Treasure, able to fight solo without a cultivator's guidance, comparable in strength to the Great Demon God Emperor who swept the Myriad Realms. He was honored as a guest by the Myriad Immortals Alliance in Jiuzhou, always accompanied by supreme beings like the Jiu Immortal Venerables. Yet, he was never put on sale at a marketplace for nine taels of broken silver.
He remembered Li Jiulong once said that after winning the Immortal Demon War, he would definitely take the Divine Sword to travel across Jiuzhou to experience different splendors of life.
Now that the Immortal Demon War has been won, the world remains a gentle and warm place under the sun, but the Jiu Immortal Venerables are no longer, and the Divine Sword doesn't retain the ultimate authority anymore. However, this is also a kind of splendid life, isn't it?
Of course, as long as he, the Sword Spirit, remains, the Sword World can eventually be rebuilt. He remembers well that vast and magnificent world, every grass and tree fresh in his memory. As long as he slowly gathers materials, restoring the supreme sharpness of the Divine Sword is just a matter of time. Naturally, since the Demon Race has perished, the Sword Spirit isn't in such a rush to regain power now.
Anyway, his body is Immortal. Not even the Demon Emperor managed to destroy the sword body despite using all possible means. The damaged cloud patterns were decorations added by the Jiu Immortal Venerables—so traveling the new Jiuzhou as a Whiteboard Weapon isn't too bad.
To him, being incarnate as a sword is far more important than being the world's best.
At that moment, he suddenly detected a familiar aura from the girl's body.
Though faint, it seemed to be Li Jiulong's Nine Dragon Sword Heart. And beyond that, there was a trace of Immovable Tyrant Body's bloodline scent, which was the Perfect Combat Body Shen Kaishan had cultivated throughout his life.
Instantly, memories surged like tidal waves, as if the three years with the Jiu Immortal Venerables was just yesterday. The spark that lit the endless darkness became the end point of long-term memories.
In this brand new and unfamiliar world, he decided to first follow this young girl and see.
At this moment, the young girl named Li Qingming held the long sword in her arms, still unaware of how great a turn her life was about to take.