Chapter 2148: Past and Present Lives

A crack echoed as the tribulation clouds exuded a terrifying aura. Golden lightning, thick and thin, spread across the void, forming an endless, interwoven net. It looked like cracks in space, tearing the River of Evil into countless fragments.

The Roaming Sword hovered in mid-air, enveloped by the might of the lightning. Its blade shimmered with a pure sword light, unexpectedly exuding a sense of tranquility. The Celestial Eye Butterfly, heeding the summons, fluttered its wings and actively flew towards the tribulation lightning. Now was the perfect time to devour it. Qin Sang immersed his mind in the Talisman Altar, silently activating the Five Thunder Celestial Heart Seal Talisman. Immediately, amidst the myriad golden tribulation lightning, streaks of blue lightning appeared, equally grand in their display.

The sword spirit had just endured the Bixi Wind Tribulation, so Qin Sang needed to delay the lightning tribulation for it, buying it time to recover and adjust.

Thunder rumbled. The first wave of tribulation lightning was fully brewed. Golden lightning, like a torrential storm, cascaded down with an aura of absolute destruction. The Celestial Eye Butterfly was not afraid; instead, it rejoiced. Qin Sang could sense its joyful and eager emotions. The butterfly rapidly flapped its wings, its body like a streak of light, darting through the void towards the first bolt of tribulation lightning. Simultaneously, Qin Sang also made his move. The blue lightning condensed into a thunder seal. The seal vibrated, conjuring countless blue lightning bolts out of thin air, resembling lightning snakes and pythons. Clearly visible beneath the golden tribulation clouds, they surged towards the first wave of tribulation lightning.

The next moment, the blue lightning and golden tribulation lightning collided. The two types of lightning crashed together, erupting with thunderous roars like a mountain collapsing and the earth splitting. It was as if the wrath of the heavens had been unleashed, and the power of the lightning became even more violent, capable of destroying everything. A portion of the tribulation lightning and blue lightning mutually annihilated each other, while the remaining tribulation lightning was intercepted by the Celestial Eye Butterfly. The Celestial Eye Butterfly danced joyfully among the tribulation lightning. Its body was enveloped in a layer of golden electric light, and the Celestial Eye patterns on its wings glowed, shooting out streaks of lightning.

As the tribulation lightning struck the Celestial Eye Butterfly, some bolts split into thousands of lightning threads, while others merged into the surface layer of electric light, disappearing as if stones sinking into the sea. During this process, the power of the tribulation lightning was being devoured by the Celestial Eye Butterfly. The electric light and lightning threads around it multiplied, forming a golden thundercloud with countless arcs continuously flashing. Yet, the Celestial Eye Butterfly seemed unsatisfied, dragging the thundercloud as it constantly sought new tribulation lightning. Qin Sang's heart stirred. He withdrew some of the thunder seal's power, allowing more tribulation lightning to be directed towards the Celestial Eye Butterfly. The Celestial Eye Butterfly was like a greedy child who had received a giant golden cotton candy, overjoyed and devouring it in large gulps. Fortunately, they were in the River of Evil; any other cultivators nearby would surely have been astonished by this sight.

Under the combined interception of Qin Sang and the Celestial Eye Butterfly, only a small number of tribulation lightning bolts managed to strike the Roaming Sword, and the first wave soon drew to a close. The Celestial Eye Butterfly had a wonderful feast. It then hovered directly beneath the tribulation clouds, digesting the power of the lightning and eagerly anticipating the arrival of the next wave. The tribulation clouds quickly brewed the second wave of lightning. Just as Qin Sang was about to act, the Roaming Sword suddenly let out a clear, melodious hum. Its tip tilted slightly upwards, and it unleashed a sword strike through the air.

The sword light was like a startling rainbow, instantly annihilating countless bolts of tribulation lightning. Meanwhile, the Celestial Eye Butterfly continued to happily devour the tribulation lightning. Qin Sang focused his senses for a moment, confirming the Roaming Sword was unharmed. He then retracted the power of the thunder seal, channeled his true essence, and controlled the sword to break through the lightning!

The Roaming Sword had already birthed a sword spirit, possessing an independent will. Yet, wielding it felt as seamless as before. Regardless of the sword technique employed, there was no sensation of stagnation. He, the sword spirit, and the spiritual sword seemed connected by blood, forming a perfect, unified whole, cooperating flawlessly. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Sword lights, one after another, continuously struck at the tribulation clouds. More and more tribulation lightning bolts were obliterated by the sword light, a situation that persisted until the end of the second wave.

After enduring two consecutive waves of tribulation lightning, the Roaming Sword was completely unharmed. However, Qin Sang dared not relax. The tribulation clouds in the sky grew even denser, and more terrifying lightning was yet to come.

Boom! Boom! The heavenly tribulation stirred the River of Evil, its immense power impossible to conceal.

Qin Sang had to assist the Roaming Sword in enduring the tribulation, making it difficult to attend to external matters. He could only send the Vermillion Bird to patrol, guarding against any fierce beasts being drawn by the commotion. "Why isn't it over yet?" The Vermillion Bird turned its head to look behind. Through the dense, murky air, it could barely see the golden light. Even from such a distance, it felt a persistent sense of trepidation.

Earlier, it and Qin Sang had discussed the potential power of a spiritual treasure's heavenly tribulation. Now, it seemed to far exceed their estimations. At this moment, beneath the tribulation clouds, the Roaming Sword shone brilliantly. The thunderous might of the tribulation lightning grew increasingly immense, continuously striking down. Yet, the small spiritual sword confronted the lightning head-on, showing no sign of weakness.

The Celestial Eye Butterfly flew back to Qin Sang's side. It had already devoured enough tribulation lightning and needed time to digest the power within. In the sky, only the Roaming Sword remained, fighting alone. Qin Sang's expression was somewhat unusual, his gaze flickering. At this critical juncture, he slowly closed his eyes, as if he had comprehended something profound. Boom!

This wave of tribulation lightning finally ended. The Roaming Sword hovered high in the sky, pointing its tip towards the tribulation clouds, its aura majestic as a rainbow. Under the tempering of countless lightning bolts, its sword light had become even more condensed. The tribulation clouds churned violently. The next wave of lightning was slow to descend, as golden lightning converged from all directions towards the center of the clouds, the thunderous light blindingly bright.

Experienced cultivators could tell that the tribulation clouds were brewing the final, and strongest, wave of lightning! Buzz... Buzz... Buzz... The Roaming Sword seemed to sense the danger, trembling incessantly. The lightning power within the tribulation clouds had accumulated to its peak. The thunderous light was as dense as water, illuminating the void.

Crack! Thunder rumbled. The tribulation clouds descended, and the lightning abruptly pressed down. The aura of the tribulation lightning exploded with a roar, as if a peerless heavenly thunderbolt was about to emerge.

Just then, Qin Sang abruptly opened his eyes, which flashed with brilliant light. The Roaming Sword sensed its master's will, its blue light intensifying dramatically, and its hum resonated through the heavens. The Roaming Sword shot into the sky, actually striking at the tribulation clouds of its own accord! Visibly, a streak of blue light soared heavenward. Compared to the vast and dense tribulation clouds, it appeared so slender and small, yet it erupted with the sharpest sword intent, its edge fully exposed, charging forward with unstoppable momentum!

A flicker of anticipation crossed Qin Sang's eyes. This sword strike was far from ordinary; it was a strike imbued with the power of a sword domain, the strongest he had ever unleashed in his life! After entering the Void Refinement stage, he frequently meditated on the sword light bestowed by Senior Tianyue. His understanding of sword domains far surpassed that of cultivators at his same level.

Ultimately, limited by his cultivation, he understood *what* many things were but not *why* they were. Even if he comprehended something, he didn't know how to apply it or integrate it into his own sword techniques. Before this, Qin Sang mostly relied on borrowing the aura of a sword domain to deter enemies, which provided a slight boost to the power of his sword formations. Perhaps he had received enlightenment, breaking through a bottleneck and finally bringing his accumulated insights to fruition. Or perhaps it was due to the Roaming Sword's transformation, with Qin Sang receiving aid from the spiritual sword. At this very moment, he finally integrated all his past comprehensions.

There was no pervasive aura of a sword domain around him, as Qin Sang was far from fully comprehending a domain. What he had grasped was merely a superficial understanding, preventing him from manifesting a true sword domain. Instead, he had only integrated the power of a sword domain into this single strike. To a true Body Integration stage cultivator, this would undoubtedly be a very crude application, yet its power had undergone a qualitative leap. Boom!

The sword light and lightning connected. The Roaming Sword pierced through. The furious tribulation lightning surprisingly seemed to halt momentarily, then shattered into countless fragments of golden light. Having cut through an unknown number of tribulation bolts, the Roaming Sword continued its unstoppable advance, its momentum surprisingly still climbing. To Qin Sang's delighted gaze, it cleaved through layers of lightning, its sword light incredibly brilliant, tearing open the very core of the tribulation clouds! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The thunder was deafening, yet it seemed somewhat chaotic. The tribulation clouds tore open, violently turbulent. The internal lightning began to dissipate, and the might of the tribulation lightning showed signs of weakening. No matter how brilliant the lightning, it could not compare to the dazzling sword light; one strike suppressed the heavens and earth! "It's over..."

Qin Sang's eyes shone with a myriad of emotions. This sword strike was truly soul-stirring! "What comes next? Will there be a Heart Demon Tribulation?" This thought flashed through Qin Sang's mind. He mused that a newly born artifact spirit was like a newborn infant, unsullied. Even if there were a Heart Demon Tribulation, it should pass through it easily, right?

However, the Roaming Sword was different from other spiritual treasures. It possessed a trace of Roaming Daoist's true nature. If Roaming Daoist were to revive and face a Heart Demon Tribulation that surpassed the Void Refinement stage, the outcome would be hard to predict. Thinking of this, Qin Sang's heart tightened. Yet, he saw no sign of stagnation from the Roaming Sword. It moved through the tribulation clouds like a fish entering the ocean, scattering the remaining lightning bolts. Immediately after, Qin Sang sensed a peculiar fluctuation appear in the sky. The tribulation clouds had not yet dispersed, and golden light floated within them, seemingly giving birth to something akin to Emperor's Dew. In the blink of an eye, it was completely devoured by the Roaming Sword.

Subsequently, the consciousness within the sword's blade became completely stable. Qin Sang realized that the birth of an artifact spirit truly also benefited from the grand creation of the Heavenly Dao! Whoosh!

The sword light pierced through the tribulation clouds, shooting out and stopping abruptly before Qin Sang, revealing the true form of the spiritual sword. A green-robed boy emerged from the sword's surface, which glowed with a flowing green radiance.

The boy was exquisitely delicate, with clear features and bright eyes, appearing to be six or seven years old. Yet, there was a calmness in his brows that belied his youthful appearance. He bowed meticulously to Qin Sang. "Sword Spirit Roaming, greetings to my Grand Master!" Qin Sang's expression stiffened slightly.

The Celestial Eye Butterfly flew in front of the green-robed boy, seemingly observing him. The Five Elements Crown in his sleeve trembled, and Little Five also emerged, standing beside Qin Sang, tilting her head with eyes full of curiosity. The green-robed boy saw the Celestial Eye Butterfly and Little Five and was very polite, respectfully saying, "Roaming greets Elder Sister Butterfly and Elder Sister Little Five."

Little Five giggled, grasping the corner of Qin Sang's robe. The Celestial Eye Butterfly flapped its wings, circling the green-robed boy. Its tail feathers scattered beautiful stardust, a sign of its inner joy. Qin Sang's mouth twitched. He opened his mouth and asked, "How much do you remember from before?" The green-robed boy thought for a moment and replied, "After my intelligence was born, I understood some things. It seems that only people and objects that have been in close proximity to Grand Master, and only after my spirituality grew to a certain extent, could leave a deep imprint on me."

"So, you don't remember anything from earlier than that?" Qin Sang's gaze was complex. The green-robed boy bowed, saying, "Please instruct me, Grand Master." Qin Sang fell silent. After a moment, he sighed softly. "Your origin is somewhat complicated. It begins with another person. However, we cannot stay here long. Let's leave this place first." At this point, the Vermillion Bird, sensing the dissipation of the heavenly tribulation's aura, flew back. Hearing what had happened, its eyes lit up. "Little one, call me Senior!" "Senior Vermillion Bird," the green-robed boy said obediently.

"Ah! So obedient! Much more likable than that butterfly," the Vermillion Bird said with a grin. The eyes on the Celestial Eye Butterfly's wings blinked, and it rolled its eyes at the Vermillion Bird. Before, the Vermillion Bird had always tried to lure it away from Qin Sang, but never succeeded. Their luck was good; this tribulation had not attracted any fierce beasts. After the heavenly tribulation dissipated, the River of Evil returned to its original state, with no signs of fierce beasts nearby. Qin Sang hastened away, putting distance between himself and the tribulation site. Along the way, he recounted the entire story to the green-robed boy.

This included his friendship with Roaming Daoist, Roaming Daoist's experiences, his unwavering determination not to enter reincarnation, and most importantly, that the sword spirit was born relying on Roaming Daoist's true spirit. He even revealed his unwavering commitment to helping Roaming Daoist revive, and his hope that Roaming Daoist could be reborn through this, concealing nothing from the sword spirit.

The sword spirit clearly possessed its own will, essentially being an independent entity. As time passed, it would develop its own life and memories, making it increasingly unlikely to identify as another person. Unless he could conceal the truth from the sword spirit forever, one day, if the sword spirit suddenly learned the truth, it would overturn the meaning of its existence. Even with their life-bound connection and shared essence, a rift could easily form in its heart. It was better to tell the sword spirit now. It was extremely terrifying for a sword spirit of a life-bound spiritual sword to become estranged from its master. This was precisely why the vast majority of cultivators in the world chose to let their life-bound spiritual treasures advance to true treasures rather than acquire acquired spiritual treasures.

"I, too, don't know whether you are truly Senior Roaming Daoist," Qin Sang sighed. He meticulously searched several times, confirming that Roaming Daoist's true spirit had vanished, giving birth to the sword spirit. However, Roaming Daoist's memories had not returned, and there was no trace of Roaming Daoist in the sword spirit.

Was this considered a successful rebirth? If Roaming Daoist had known this outcome back then—that he couldn't regain himself after revival—would he have accepted it? Would he still have resolutely chosen not to enter reincarnation? Qin Sang felt a bit lost. The green-robed boy called him "Grand Master" with every word. Should he consider him Senior Roaming Daoist or Sword Spirit Roaming?

Roaming Daoist's true spirit had completely vanished, transforming into Sword Spirit Roaming. Qin Sang didn't know what else he could do, or if there was still a chance to help Roaming Daoist return to his original self. The green-robed boy, however, was unexpectedly calm. He lowered his head, pondered for a moment, and then spoke seriously.

"Grand Master just spoke of the concept of reincarnation in this world. My previous life was Roaming Daoist, a close friend of Grand Master. My current life is Sword Spirit Roaming. If I can return to my original true self, then we were originally one person. Roaming is willing to cooperate with Grand Master in any attempt to search for that past life. Before that happens, I am Sword Spirit Roaming. Without Grand Master, there would be no Sword Spirit Roaming. Your kindness is like that of parents, witnessed by heaven and earth! It is only natural for me, along with Elder Sister Little Five and the others, to call you Grand Master!"

Qin Sang stared blankly at the green-robed boy. The sword spirit was even more carefree than he had imagined. The green-robed boy was the sword spirit of his life-bound spiritual sword, and Qin Sang could naturally feel that these words came from the heart, without any pretense. The sword spirit's lack of rejection towards Roaming Daoist was already the best possible outcome.

A moment later, Qin Sang seemed to have made a certain decision. He nodded and said, "Very well! From now on, you are Sword Spirit Roaming!"