Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

Ling Xiao plucked the hairpin from Song Mingyue’s hair, then gathered his focus and surged his body’s True Essence into it.

"Ah... Don’t!"

Song Mingyue cried out in a panic. She thought Ling Xiao was angry about what she’d said and was about to destroy the hairpin. It was the first gift he had ever bought for her, and if he destroyed it, she would be heartbroken for a long time.

But in the next moment, she witnessed an incredible sight. The hairpin didn’t shatter under Ling Xiao’s power; instead, it burst with a brilliant radiance! In that instant, Song Mingyue was sure her eyes were playing tricks on her. From the bright red fire bird on the head of the hairpin, she thought she saw the massive illusion of a fire bird take flight!

’An illusion. It must have been an illusion!’ Song Mingyue thought as she snatched the hairpin back from Ling Xiao. She glared at him and pouted, "Why were you trying to destroy it? I was just talking. How could you take me seriously! Good thing this hairpin is sturdy. Hmph." She clutched it tightly, carefully inspecting it for cracks.

Ling Xiao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’She sure changes her tune fast,’ he thought.

Still, Ling Xiao smiled and said, "It’s not what you think. Why would I destroy a gift I gave you? Try sensing it with a bit of your Spiritual Power and see if you notice any changes."

Song Mingyue looked at Ling Xiao skeptically. She realized she had lost her composure, and her cheeks flushed. Still, she was a little annoyed that he hadn’t explained himself beforehand. ’His actions clearly looked like he was about to destroy it! Hmph, so I wasn’t wrong!’ she thought, finding an excuse for herself.

After all, she was only a girl of seventeen or eighteen. No matter how mature she tried to appear, she still had the heart of a teenager.

Song Mingyue channeled a wisp of Spiritual Power into the hairpin. As a Sixth Rank Peak Demon Sword Master who had often been taught by Ling Xiao how to apply her spiritual abilities, this wasn’t difficult. The moment her Spiritual Power made contact, she was shocked to discover that the hairpin seemed to be connected to her very will!

The sensation was both shocking and wondrous. Gazing at Ling Xiao with her stunning eyes, she knew she had misunderstood him. "I’m sorry," she said shyly. "I-I was wrong about you! But... what in the world just happened? Why does it suddenly feel like it has a life of its own? This feeling is so magical. It’s... it’s like I’m controlling my own arm. It’s so much fun!"

Ling Xiao smiled and said, "Of course it’s magical. That’s because it’s a Spiritual Artifact!"

"A Spiritual Artifact?"

Hearing Ling Xiao utter such an unfamiliar term, Song Mingyue looked at him with a puzzled expression. While she had always been curious about his mysterious background, she had never pried. She figured that if Ling Xiao wanted to tell her something, he would do so sooner or later. Everyone has their secrets, after all.

"What is that?" Song Mingyue asked curiously.

"Heh. A Spiritual Artifact is an item, like a sword or this hairpin, that has been infused with immense energy. This grants it power far beyond its normal capabilities and can even give it a simple awareness, allowing it to protect its owner!"

Ling Xiao gave a simple, offhand explanation, but inwardly he was surprised. ’It seems that during this world’s Ancient Era, even if they weren’t called Cultivators, the people back then were doing the exact same things! To be more precise, they were likely in the early stages of Cultivation—starting to dabble in Alchemy and Artifact Refining, but their techniques were still crude and unrefined. High-level Spiritual Artifacts can even have powerful souls sealed within them!’

In any case, after seeing this hairpin, Ling Xiao had reached his conclusion. He was certain of it.

’I’m not sure what caused the gap between the Ancient Era and the present, but I’m thrilled to know that people once practiced cultivation in this world,’ Ling Xiao thought. ’If I truly ascend one day, but I’m the only person in this world’s Immortal Realm... wouldn’t that kind of loneliness be enough to drive someone insane?’

"Then... how do you use it? And why have I never heard of such a thing?" Song Mingyue murmured to herself. The Sea Domain Song Family was by no means a minor power, and their library of ancient texts was extensive! She had always considered herself well-versed in matters of the Ancient Era. What truly puzzled her was how Ling Xiao, who seemed ignorant of so many common facts about that time, could know so many of its hidden secrets. ’It’s so confusing!’

Ling Xiao said, "Watch. If someone tries to attack you..." As he spoke, he waved his hand, and a wave of Qi Force slashed towards Song Mingyue.

Then, as Song Mingyue watched in stunned silence, an illusory fire bird suddenly shot out from the hairpin in her hand, swallowed the blast of Qi Force in a single gulp, and then vanished.

"Th-This is too incredible, isn’t it?" Song Mingyue was so delighted she stumbled over her words. She shook her head in disbelief, staring at the golden hairpin. "Can other people see the fire bird?"

Ling Xiao smiled and shook his head. "Only you and I can see it. Hmm, if Ye Zi were here, she would be able to see it too!"

Song Mingyue’s cheeks flushed red as she started to grasp his meaning. ’This strange power... Ling Xiao must have been the one to add it. If the hairpin had this miraculous ability from the start, the seller would never have let it go for a single Tier Five Magic Beast Crystal Core, not even for ten or a hundred of them! And when he said Ye Zi could see it too, isn’t that just his way of saying anyone who has practiced Dual Cultivation with him can see it?’

Song Mingyue’s guess was correct. The fire bird’s illusion could indeed only be seen after performing Dual Cultivation with Ling Xiao. This was because Ling Xiao had infused his own True Essence into the hairpin, erasing its original seal. To be honest, this hairpin wasn’t a powerful Spiritual Artifact at all. In Ling Xiao’s eyes, it was a low-grade trinket that even a new disciple of Shushan just learning Artifact Refining could easily create.

’But in this world, it holds a different meaning,’ Ling Xiao thought. ’It’s the first Spiritual Artifact I’ve come across here, and it’s my first gift to Song Mingyue. With a simple modification, I can give it a decent function. At the very least, it should be worth the price of that Tier Five Crystal Core.’

"Its other function is just as you described: you can treat it as an extension of your body. Try commanding it to attack someone, and you can achieve some surprising results. Furthermore, I’ve infused it with my True Essence, so it will automatically absorb Spiritual Qi from the world to replenish its energy. It can break the defenses of anyone weaker than me! It’s... pretty good for a sneak attack!"

As Song Mingyue listened, she curiously commanded the golden beast bone hairpin to dance through the air, as excited as a child with a new toy. Ling Xiao chuckled softly at the sight, then turned and walked out the door. Outside, a number of people were whispering secretively, but they all fell silent when they saw him.

Ling Xiao gave a faint smile and casually strolled over to the pavilion in the courtyard. He sat on a cool, dry stone bench and closed his eyes to rest his mind. ’I should ask Teacher Shangguan about the Empire’s current situation,’ he thought. ’But it seems like there aren’t any major issues, otherwise she wouldn’t have shown up here with Qiuyue Yao.’

’Speaking of which, I wonder if Uncle Fu can persuade Marshal Qiu Chen to go to Penzes City. If the Old Marshal agrees, the powers of the Mortal World won’t be able to touch my territory in the slightest! Anyone who dares to make a move on Penzes City will pay a terrible price!’

Song Mingyue played with her new toy for a long time before realizing Ling Xiao was no longer in the room. She quickly put the hairpin in her hair. After a moment’s thought, she used her Spiritual Power to command the golden beast bone hairpin. SWISH! It shot from her head and plunged into the window frame. The hard wood offered no more resistance than a block of tofu, and the hairpin sank in completely.

The display startled Song Mingyue. Only then did she truly understand how magical this pretty little thing was. She quickly summoned it back, inspected it carefully, and brushed away the wood splinters. Seeing it was completely undamaged, she breathed a sigh of relief. Happily, she secured it in her hair and walked out the door.

She walked up to Ling Xiao and said softly, "Thank you."

Ling Xiao pointed to the stone bench beside him and said with a smile, "Between you and me, there’s no need to be so polite. Sit down and get ready for the show. Heh, with all these rumors spreading, the Qin Family should be getting restless soon!"

Song Mingyue raised a delicate eyebrow, a smile spreading across her face.