Chapter 240: Chapter 239: A Sword
The music played, and the dancing began.
At the banquet, wine flowed freely as cups clinked without end. On the high stage, a troupe of beauties performed, their graceful movements and unparalleled looks adding an enchanting splendor to the festivities. For a time, all the guests were filled with cheer...
Troupes of Dancing Girls came and went, each with a unique style. Soon, it was Qingxu’s turn with her group. Once on stage, her clear eyes scanned the banquet. When she spotted Qin Ya, a bright glint flashed within them. She bowed to the crowd, then took a delicate step forward. Her red lips parted slightly, and her slender arms began to sway...
Her sleeves billowed, seeming like countless butterflies in flight, or like petals drifting down from the sky. They carried with them a wisp of sweet fragrance, a dance of butterflies among the flowers...
When the dance ended, the hall erupted in applause. Even the high and mighty Extraordinarys offered their applause. Qin Ya smiled softly. ’This is the most beautiful dance I’ve ever seen...’
The stunning performance brought the banquet to a new peak of excitement.
Bo Wen drank a cup of fine wine, smacking his lips. He toyed with the cup and said, "Ancient King, the banquet is more than halfway over. When will you be bringing out that great treasure for all of us to see?"
At his words, everyone turned to the Ancient King, their gazes filled with anticipation.
A Spiritual Artifact! A genuine Spiritual Artifact! They were rare treasures throughout the entire Azure Sky Realm, and most of the people present had never even seen one.
Hearing this, Qin Ya’s eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of interest in his gaze.
"Since Your Highness is so eager, I shall not keep it hidden any longer."
The Ancient King smiled and waved his hand. A gray streak of light shot out from his sleeve, soaring high into the air. Immediately, a heavy, ancient pressure descended from above. Everyone present felt a chill run through them. ’What a powerful aura!’
The pressure seemed to transcend time, as if it had come from a distant, ancient era, carrying a weightiness that only eons could bestow. Those with weaker Cultivation were immediately forced to retreat.
The servant girls and attendants were already prostrate on the ground, completely unable to move.
WHOOSH! The gray light descended from the sky and plunged into the ground. As the light faded, everyone finally got a clear look at the object, and strange expressions appeared on their faces.
It was a sword, about three feet and four inches long and two fingers wide. The base of the hilt was shaped like a bizarre Exotic Beast. More importantly, the blade was riddled with rust, looking as if it would crumble at the slightest touch. It emanated no sharpness at all.
If not for the heavy, ancient pressure it emanated, everyone would have mistaken it for a worthless piece of junk tossed aside on the street.
"This is the Spiritual Artifact?"
"Other than its aura, it doesn’t look special at all."
There was none of the brilliant radiance or earth-shaking power that everyone had imagined. Aside from its heavy presence, the sword appeared utterly ordinary.
"What a fine Spiritual Artifact."
Just then, the white-robed elder closest to the Ancient King spoke, his face filled with admiration. Seeing the crowd’s confusion, he explained, "Its Divine Light is completely contained, showing not a single trace. Its aura is profound and ancient, as if from a primordial era. This is unquestionably a Spiritual Artifact."
"However, Divine Objects often conceal their own nature. This sword has already given birth to a spirit. It has sealed itself away to slumber through the ages, which is why it has this appearance."
Hearing the white-robed elder’s explanation, the crowd’s confusion began to subside. They didn’t doubt him. After all, the elder’s seniority was likely the highest of anyone present. The experience he had accumulated over his long life was far beyond their own, so his words held great credibility.
"Elder Li is absolutely right."
The Ancient King gave a faint smile and made an unexpected move. He raised one hand to the sky, and an immense power began to Condense. A terrifying Qi Force swirled in his palm. The mere wisp of its aura created a crushing pressure, as if Mount Tai itself was bearing down on them. The crowd was horrified.
’A Martial Arts King is truly on another level.’
The Ancient King raised his palm, aimed at the nearby Ancient Long Sword, and struck. BOOM! Sonic booms ripped through the air, leaving a long trail behind the Palm Force. ’Is the Ancient King... trying to destroy the Spiritual Artifact?’
Suddenly, the Ancient Long Sword shuddered, and a brilliant flash of Sword Light erupted from it.
The Palm Force and Sword Light collided. With a thunderous boom, a massive pillar of energy surged toward the Nine Heavens. Once the pillar dissipated and the Sword Light faded, the sword returned to its simple, ancient appearance.
"As you can all see, although its Sword Spirit is dormant, the sword retains an instinct for self-preservation. Even I cannot destroy it." The Ancient King gave a wry smile and added, "I discovered this sword on a cliff during an expedition into the Returning Ruins. Several powerful Sea Beasts were guarding it, and I went through hell to acquire it, only to find that what I’d retrieved was a slumbering Spiritual Artifact."
"Heh. The Sword Spirit may be slumbering, but that doesn’t mean it will never awaken."
The white-robed elder smiled faintly. At that moment, a figure began to walk slowly toward the Ancient Long Sword. It was Qin Ya, who had been the center of attention ever since he’d arrived.
Staring at the sword before him, a familiar yet strange feeling surfaced from the depths of his heart. Guided by this sensation, Qin Ya walked toward the sword as if compelled.
"What is he doing?"
"Does he think he can awaken the Artifact Spirit?"
"Tch. Does he really think his Talent is so great that everything will go his way? The Spiritual Artifact is slumbering. Unless it awakens willingly, not even a King could necessarily rouse it."
"Is he trying to snatch the Spiritual Artifact, then?"
’Snatch the Spiritual Artifact?’
’What a joke. There’s a whole crowd of Extraordinarys here, not to mention a Martial Arts King presiding over everything. He’s just a Sky-Controlling Initial Rank Extraordinary Martial Artist. Is he trying to get himself killed?’
The Ancient King stared at Qin Ya as he walked step-by-step toward the sword, his expression unchanged, with no intention of stopping him. As the crowd had surmised, he was a Martial Arts King, whereas Qin Ya had only just entered the Extraordinary realm. Snatching the Spiritual Artifact from under his very nose was a fool’s dream. ’So what is he trying to do?’
The crowd didn’t know his intentions, but since the Ancient King didn’t intervene, it wasn’t their place to do so either.
Reaching the sword, Qin Ya stopped. He gazed at the Ancient Long Sword, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. ’Why... does this feel so familiar?’
He slowly reached out his right hand and grasped the hilt. In that very instant, the long sword began to vibrate. The brilliant Sword Light blazed forth again, and a piercing sword-song resounded through the heavens.
The sudden turn of events left everyone pale with shock.
"What’s going on? Did Qin Ya’s actions trigger the Spiritual Artifact’s self-defense instinct? He’s just a Sky-Controlling Martial Artist; how can he possibly withstand the power of a Spiritual Artifact?"
"Ha! The ignorant whelp actually dared to offend a Spiritual Artifact."
"Not even the Ancient King could affect this Spiritual Artifact. Who does he think he is?"
"He must be regretting this to his very core. A pity. Such a Talent is about to fall here, a victim of his own ignorance."
Unlike the others and their scorn, the white-robed elder, the Ancient King, and a few others stared at Qin Ya as he held the Spiritual Artifact. Their eyes were filled with shock and uncertainty, because they could feel no hostility at all from the brilliant Sword Light.
’What’s happening? The Spiritual Artifact shows no hostility toward Qin Ya?’
’Then why is it reacting so strongly? Could there be some connection between Qin Ya and the Spiritual Artifact?’
