Chapter 315: Forging the Sword

On the long street, people watched the brilliantly lit tall building, observing the snow and wind coalesce and disperse within it. Although they couldn't see directly, they could sense the fierce battle unfolding inside. They whispered among themselves, guessing what was happening.

The Second Senior Sister was also staring at it.

The Heavenly Ranking had a unique shielding effect, almost like a self-contained miniature world. Unless she activated her divine abilities against the rules, she could only glimpse the intensity of the wind, snow, and sword intent, just like an ordinary person. Even she couldn't be certain of the battle's outcome.

"It seems that young man is indeed not weak," the Second Senior Sister finally conceded.

Xiao Qiu stood respectfully behind her, yet a hint of defiance laced his words: "He... is terrifyingly strong. If I had met him elsewhere, I wouldn't have believed he was only in the Purple Court realm."

The Heavenly Ranking had its own rules: those in the Five Paths realm were forbidden from entering the building.

"The chasm between major realms is an insurmountable divide; below the Five Paths, strength is limited, no matter how great," the Second Senior Sister said coldly, annoyed that the battle's outcome remained undecided for so long. Dismissing the thought that her junior sister might lose, she continued, "Your realm is only Purple Court Eight-Story, still far from Nine-Story. And even within Nine-Story, there are vast disparities, enough to be crushing... The young man you speak of is probably at the peak of Nine-Story."

Xiao Qiu nodded, finding nothing wrong with her statement.

"So, Second Master still believes Fourteenth Master can win?" Xiao Qiu asked.

The Second Senior Sister calmly replied, "Junior Sister Fourteen represents the Sword Saint's sword, and the Sword Saint's sword cannot be defeated."

Hearing the words "Sword Saint," Xiao Qiu's mind reeled. His chaotic thoughts should have vanished with the mention of the Sword Saint's name, but for some reason, a rebellious idea ignited within him like an unquenchable fire, burning fiercely, constantly trying to break through the steel plate of his mind and rush upwards—he harbored an almost pathological confidence in Zhang Jiu.

He immediately composed himself, careful not to show any disrespect towards the Sword Pavilion.

The Second Senior Sister could sense his emotions but bothered not to comment.

As they spoke, the wind and snow on the upper floor settled into silence.

The Second Senior Sister slightly raised an eyebrow.

People around them looked towards her, and someone dared to ask softly, "Second Master, who do you think... won in the end?"

The Second Senior Sister was silent for a long time, then stated blandly, "I imagine that boy has already been beaten to tears by my junior sister."

Inside the Command Tower, the incessant clang of swords gradually subsided, and the girl's tearful sobs, like weeping lamentations, drifted out, only to be dispersed by the snow gathering outside the building.

Ning Changjiu's face was paler than his clothes.

He leaned against the wall, two of his fingers a bloody mess. He activated his temporal authority, turning back the time on his fingers to before he took that sword strike, and his bloodied hand became smooth and unblemished once more. Simultaneously, the temporal authority flowed into his body like a silent stream, accelerating the passage of time and causing his injuries to heal rapidly.

He held his sword, its blade nicked in a few places from the battle. He looked at the girl kneeling on the ground, saying nothing.

Liu Xiwuan pressed the back of her left hand against her messy hair, then over her forehead, sliding down her nose, before turning her hand to cover her mouth and nose. In her clear eyes, tears streamed down uncontrollably, like a broken dam. Her body convulsed with sobs, her slender, upright waist gradually bending. Her already taut clothes now stretched even tighter, her shoulders narrowing with each sob. Her other hand clutched her sword tightly, resting it across her thigh, the blade slightly angled as if ready to cut through her trousers at any moment.

This was Liu Xiwuan's first time crying, and she didn't understand why she was crying. Yet, as the emotion surged, she found herself unable to control her sword heart. In the past, she had always found such vulnerability to be affected; now, she couldn't discern what she was doing. Why kneel? Why cry? She had saved him so many times; wasn't it only right for him to return a single sword strike?

But... she just wanted to cry.

Liu Xiwuan didn't know when the seed of this emotion had been planted—perhaps the moment she saw him upon entering, or even earlier. Yet, she... had never considered herself a girl. It was clearly her Second Senior Sister who had deceived her.

It was all Second Senior Sister's fault.

The sword spirit girl's mood fluctuated wildly. She felt utterly humiliated, having been so close to a complete victory. She gripped her sword but could muster no strength.

"This was my fault," Liu Xiwuan said, trying to compose herself. "I shouldn't have used that sword... I didn't intend to fight you to the death, but you provoked me with your earlier words, so you can't blame me. I didn't force you to yield to me; this is all your own doing."

The girl's voice softened, seemingly with a hint of guilt. She said, "I've only been in the Purple Court realm for half a year, so my cultivation is unstable..."

"I've also been in it for less than half a year," Ning Changjiu replied.

"Shut up!" the girl snapped lightly. Biting her lip, she lifted her tear-streaked face, tidied her messy hair, and declared, "Ning Changjiu! Stop laughing at me... You're not allowed to tell anyone about this, especially not my Second Senior Sister, understand? This match isn't over yet, but I'll concede. However, when we tell others, I fought a tough battle against you for several rounds, and in the end, it was a close call, just half a move short of victory... Hey, what are you laughing at?!"

The girl angrily raised her head, glaring at him, her red-rimmed eyes watery but seemingly capable of spitting fire.

Ning Changjiu was also looking at her, and his lips curved into an irrepressible smile.

"As the saying goes, 'a man's tears don't fall lightly,' and 'a man's knees are worth gold.' But you, now..." Ning Changjiu said, blinking weakly as he looked at her.

Liu Xiwuan was still kneeling on the ground, her eyes hazy with tears... It seemed she had fulfilled both conditions.

The girl paused, then realized Ning Changjiu was calling her not a man.

While it was true she wasn't a man, that didn't stop her from feeling that Ning Changjiu was being excessively insulting!

She wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes and abruptly stood up.

Ning Changjiu detected a hint of killing intent.

The girl sharply drew her sword, and silver sword intent unfurled behind her like wings.

"Didn't you say you'd concede voluntarily...? Since you've conceded, shall I go up first?" Ning Changjiu asked cautiously, leaning against the wall and watching the fierce girl approach.

"I'm not conceding anymore!" the girl snapped, infuriated again.

Ning Changjiu thought to himself, *You chose to be a woman of your own accord, so why such an obsession with men...? I was just joking.*

He was accustomed to being arrogant, but now, feeling his aching, bruised body, he realized he no longer had the luxury of teasing her freely. The girl, wielding her sword like a woman brandishing a rolling pin, charged at him, her eyes teary yet fierce.

"You can't go back on your word!"

"I can and I will!"

"Don't come closer... You wouldn't be that ungrateful, would you?"

"I learned it from you!"

"You said you'd concede!"

"I won't! I just won't! I... I disown everyone!"

Ning Changjiu's attempts at compromise failed, and the girl furiously lunged at him.

Inside the building, the two tumbled into a chaotic brawl.

They were like people in a street fight or a wrestling match. After a flurry of wild punches, they clutched each other and fell to the ground, then grappled, rolling several times across the floor. Ning Changjiu ached all over, his bones feeling as if they might fall apart. After a brief, desperate struggle, he was pinned beneath Liu Xiwuan. The girl's legs were slender, yet their long lines showed a slight fullness beneath her tight trousers. She straddled Ning Changjiu's waist, gripping him tightly as if squeezing a horse's flank while riding. One hand pressed against the floor beside his face, the other held her sword to his neck, her gaze fixed intently on him.

Ning Changjiu was pinned to the ground. He lay flat, his dark hair splayed out, allowing her to press down on him. He couldn't struggle free, nor could he move.

Liu Xiwuan looked at the familiar, long-unseen face, her lips pressed together, her emotions complex.

This was a face she used to see only when Ning Changjiu looked in a mirror, and since he rarely did, she rarely saw it.

Fate was unpredictable; now she had emerged from his body and was brazenly pinning him down.

She remembered how, back then, she would always pester him to see how Shao Xiaoli looked while sleeping at night...

Was that past self truly the same person as her current self? Or did a change in gender unknowingly bring about a significant change in temperament?

Back then, she'd always clamored to see, and now she possessed a beautiful body, yet she'd never harbored any ill intentions towards it... How strange.

She stared at Ning Changjiu's face, her mind drifting to many things from the past.

It had been countless years since she first gained sentience from the Heavenly Cave Peak.

"Lady Liu, could you please let me go?" Ning Changjiu asked, his head on the ground, breathing with some difficulty, and with the sword at his neck, he dared not move recklessly.

Liu Xiwuan let out a cold snort, accepting the "Lady" title, and stated coolly, "There's no other reason I chose to be a woman, so don't make any baseless assumptions. It's simply that there's a sword technique in the Sword Pavilion that can only be cultivated by emasculating oneself or by being a woman. Rather than becoming a eunuch, I chose... to become a woman."

Ning Changjiu listened to her earnest explanation, nodded, and said, "Well... men and women should keep their distance. You should get off me first."

Liu Xiwuan was displeased with this statement. "Ning Changjiu, don't insult me with your words! Although my body is that of a woman, my heart is filled with iron and blood!"

Ning Changjiu's brows furrowed. The more he listened, the stranger it became. He felt he should really introduce her to Jiuyou.

Her tight legs pressed against his waist, constricting his body painfully.

He gasped, conceding, "Alright... can you please get off me first? If not, at least remove the sword!"

Liu Xiwuan said, "Our match isn't over yet."

Ning Changjiu sighed, "I shouldn't have let you take that one sword strike..."

Liu Xiwuan thought for a moment, then said, "This is also a lesson I'm teaching you—never be merciful to your opponent!"

Ning Changjiu closed his eyes, mentally exhausted. He wondered how the sword scripture spirit, who once knew everything, always solved his doubts, and guided him, had now turned into such a scatterbrained idiot... This, this was illogical!

Liu Xiwuan's small fist, however, had already swung down, striking his chest.

Of course, she didn't dare use too much force; she just wanted to teach him a good lesson and show him her strength.

Ning Changjiu's body was throbbing with pain. He reached out to block Liu Xiwuan's fist, but she pinned his hand down.

Ning Changjiu also grew somewhat annoyed. "Don't be ungrateful. I'm only letting you get away with this because you're a young girl. If I really made a move, don't come crying to me for mercy."

Liu Xiwuan retorted, "Why are you still talking tough when you're in this state? I heard Zhao Xianger once pinned you down and beat you up too, didn't she? What, is it okay to be beaten by your wife, but not by other women?"

Ning Changjiu reached his limit. "I'm warning you, get off me now. I'm counting to three..."

"Who are you trying to scare?!" Liu Xiwuan was also annoyed... *Does he really think I'm just a little girl?!*

"Three," Ning Changjiu began to count.

Liu Xiwuan sneered, quickly interjecting, "Two! One! There, I've counted for you. Where's your move? How's th—Ah!"

Before the girl finished speaking, a golden light suddenly flared before her eyes. She tried to dodge, but unprepared, her figure was instantly enveloped in the brilliant radiance.

The scenery before her exploded, and everything in her vision transformed.

Liu Xiwuan looked up, her expression jolted.

She found herself in a vast world, where it seemed a sun had once exploded. In the boundless void, enormous starlight embers drifted and floated like colossal fish, illuminating the entire space, constantly rising and falling.

This light wasn't dazzling, just pure brilliance. The immense scale of the world felt like a symbol of ancient vastness, as endless light pressed in from all directions.

In the brightness, Liu Xiwuan felt that not only her clothes but even her soul had been seen through by the other party.

"You must have sensed something about this world back then, right?" Ning Changjiu said.

Liu Xiwuan's pupils contracted slightly: "Golden Crow?!"

Back when she caused trouble inside Ning Changjiu's body, the general he dispatched to suppress her was the Golden Crow.

"You were always afraid of my bird before. Now that you're inside, are you still scared?" Ning Changjiu's mind completely relaxed. In this fragmented world, he was considered a quasi-master; although not as omnipotent as a nation's ruler, the favor of heaven and earth towards him was evident.

At this moment, the light from the starlight embers gently flowed into his body, and the color in his pale complexion gradually returned to a healthy glow.

Liu Xiwuan was, of course, scared. She had a natural, innate fear of this golden bird. The Golden Crow's light filled her body, bringing with it a sense of tearing or pain.

Ning Changjiu gripped her sword blade and slowly moved it aside.

Liu Xiwuan's hands trembled; she was no longer his match.

"I concede," she whispered, releasing her sword.

Ning Changjiu quietly watched her.

Liu Xiwuan immediately said, "Really, I swear I won't lie anymore. Quickly withdraw this Golden Crow, otherwise, if other beings glimpse something like this, it could be very dangerous for you..."

Ning Changjiu said, "It's fine. The Heavenly Ranking has a natural shielding effect; we can stay here for a while."

"You... what do you want to do?" Liu Xiwuan instinctively covered her chest.

She immediately stood up, intending to flee by sword.

Ning Changjiu would not let her have her way.

The girl had just turned, her toes touching the ground, attempting to withdraw and leave, but Ning Changjiu had already risen, abruptly reached out, and grabbed her calf.

Liu Xiwuan struggled to get away. Amidst their pulling and tugging, Ning Changjiu's hand slid down her calf and gripped her ankle. She was wearing a pair of black boots, which, with their movements, were loosened by his grasp and slipped to the ground, revealing a small, snow-white, delicate foot.

Ning Changjiu's grip made her lose her balance and fall forward. At that moment, Ning Changjiu had already risen, swept his arm around her waist, and lifted her sideways, pinning her to the ground. He used his knee to hold down her struggling thigh and one hand to twist her arms behind her slender waist.

The short-haired girl struggled feebly. She whimpered but couldn't break free. "Ning Changjiu... you... let go of me!"

Ning Changjiu, pinning her to the ground, sighed, "Running away from home for half a year, have you forgotten your identity and where you belong?"

Liu Xiwuan retorted stubbornly, "Didn't you let me go in the first place...?"

Ning Changjiu said, "You are my sword spirit. This is a contract we made a long, long time ago... I sacrificed the Silver Sword to you, granting you freedom. You must know what the Silver Sword means to me, right?"

Liu Xiwuan pressed her lips together, not saying a word.

Ning Changjiu sighed softly, recalling, "Without the Silver Sword, I couldn't win against Jiajia for a long time after I returned, and then I was bullied by Xianger for a while. Of course, these are minor things; they were just playing around with me, at most causing me some private embarrassment. But my luck wasn't great. Later, I repeatedly encountered evil spirits, and in battles where victory or defeat was decided by a hair's breadth, I nearly died multiple times because I lacked this sword. Especially in the Luoshu, if I had this sword, I could have even broken into the Five Paths and killed Qiu Yue with one strike, saving her from living and planting seeds of trouble..."

Listening to his words, Liu Xiwuan lowered her eyelashes. She could have guessed all of this... but ever since she became a girl, she found herself unable to suppress her own willfulness. Feeling both guilty and wronged, tears welled up again.

"But if you ask if I regret it..." Ning Changjiu paused, then chuckled softly, "No regrets. Even now, I don't regret it. When facing Jiuying and Han Chi Zhenren, you entered my body and became my sword. When disaster after disaster struck Duanjie City, you were always helping me. In the days when I fought the Sin Lord and there was almost no hope, you were silently assisting me. So, giving you the Silver Sword, I don't regret it one bit. In fact, I feel it's something you deserve."

"I'm... I'm sorry..." Liu Xiwuan's voice was very low, tinged with the delicate softness of weeping willows.

Ning Changjiu looked at her face, examining it for a moment, then asked, "What is your name now?"

"Liu..." The girl bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "Liu Xiwuan. 'Xi' as in hope, 'Wuan' as in gentle and graceful."

Ning Changjiu let out a wry chuckle, his expression softening considerably. "Who gave you that name?"

"Senior Sister," Liu Xiwuan replied. "Second Senior Sister hoped I would be more gentle and graceful..."

Ning Changjiu looked at her and said, "It seems you've fallen short of your Second Senior Sister's expectations."

Liu Xiwuan said nothing, only whispering, "You, please let go of me first. I really do concede."

"Conceding isn't enough," Ning Changjiu said. "I want you to recognize who you truly are."

"What are you talking about?" Liu Xiwuan struggled.

Ning Changjiu said, "You are my sword, and one day you will return to my side."

Liu Xiwuan scrunched up her face. "I don't want you... Let go of me first!"

No sooner had she spoken than a sharp smack echoed in her ear. The girl froze slightly, then pain surged through her, shooting up her spine and making her entire body go numb.

She was stunned, but then heard crisp sounds repeatedly.

"You... you dare hit me!" Liu Xiwuan twisted her body, struggling more fiercely, and with each struggle, the stinging pain intensified.

Ning Changjiu said, "An untamed sword needs to be forged. I have a lot of experience with that."

Tears streamed down Liu Xiwuan's face again as she lay on the ground, sobbing. She was already wearing tight clothing, and the sensation, once triggered, reverberated throughout her entire body.

She was almost biting through her lip, repeatedly whimpering, "You bastard, let go of me... I don't want to be your sword, you can't control me! Wuwu... let go of me..."

"You're the one who let me go, acting like a good guy and then becoming a bandit... I don't want your charity!"

"You hypocritical villain... let go of me."

"...Wuwuwu, I'll destroy myself and you along with me!"

"I'd rather die than yield! You'll never make me compromise!"

"Stop... stop hitting me, I was wrong."

After a bout of crying, the girl stopped struggling and began to beg for mercy softly.

Liu Xiwuan knelt on the ground, her sword laid horizontally before her.

Ning Changjiu reached out and tidied her hair. The girl wanted to struggle but dared not move. She kept her head down, her cheeks burning hot as if on fire.

"Lady Liu, what happened to your vow to 'rather die than yield' and 'destroy yourself and me along with you'?" Ning Changjiu asked with a smile. "Is such beautiful jade so unyielding to carving?"

Liu Xiwuan was still somewhat stubborn. "As for 'rather die than yield,' my name isn't Ning. And for 'jade'... 'better to be broken jade than whole tile'—that's what someone with the surname Ning would do!"

Ning Changjiu was amused by her words. "So, what does someone with the surname Liu do? Does it mean 'unintended willows'?"

"I... I've already admitted I was wrong, don't push your luck!" Liu Xiwuan grumbled.

Ning Changjiu chuckled and patted her shoulder. "Alright, get up."

Liu Xiwuan slowly rose, her body still aching severely.

Ning Changjiu suddenly extended his hand.

"What is it?" Liu Xiwuan asked nervously.

"Take my hand," Ning Changjiu said.

Having just been disciplined, Liu Xiwuan had no choice but to comply, so she reached out and placed her hand in his.

Ning Changjiu grasped her hand and closed his eyes.

Liu Xiwuan quickly understood what he was about to do.

Golden Asura markings appeared on Ning Changjiu's body, like tattoos etched beneath his snow-white clothes, resembling iron wires tempered with lightning.

Ning Changjiu sensed something, then drew closer, half-embracing her.

Liu Xiwuan was furious but dared not speak.

Ning Changjiu suddenly extended his hand and pressed it just below her collarbone. The girl gave a soft hum, feeling something solidify there.

Ning Changjiu grasped something and slowly pulled it out.

Strands of silver-white light shimmered between Ning Changjiu's fingers and her chest.

But they were only lines, failing to take shape.

After a moment's attempt, Ning Changjiu pushed his palm forward, sending them back into the girl's body. The girl whimpered, her cheeks flushing.

"Sigh, still disobedient. This sword is as rebellious as you are," Ning Changjiu said.

Liu Xiwuan said, "It has already merged with me. You just bullied me, so of course, this sword won't side with you..."

Ning Changjiu said, "You only remember the pain, not the good."

"No, I don't," Liu Xiwuan retorted, unconvinced.

Ning Changjiu suddenly chuckled and asked, "Sitting in the Heavenly Ranking is quite boring. Will you stay and keep me company?"

Liu Xiwuan rolled her eyes at him. "Stay here to be bullied by you? Dream on... Hmph, you're clearly a scoundrel, with so many wives, yet you don't even bring one when you travel."

Ning Changjiu said, "One person, one sword is enough."

Liu Xiwuan didn't want to be that sword.

After the Golden Crow's world faded, Liu Xiwuan looked at him, her expression conflicted for a moment. But her remaining will to fight had been intimidated away by Ning Changjiu, and she conceded as promised.

"Go write on the list then," Liu Xiwuan said petulantly. "Let the whole world know how powerful Young Master Ning is, and let me be thoroughly humiliated again."

Ning Changjiu asked, "Are you going back?"

"Yes, to accompany Senior Sister on a walk," Liu Xiwuan whispered.

She put on her cloak, turned around, but didn't leave.

Ning Changjiu looked at her face and asked, "What's wrong?"

Liu Xiwuan hesitated. "I lost. Senior Sister must be furious right now, and I... I don't really want to go back."

Ning Changjiu chuckled, "Then stay for a couple of days, ride out the storm."

Liu Xiwuan remained silent, caught between a rock and a hard place.

Ning Changjiu said, "Take your time to think it over. I won't interfere with your decision to stay or leave."

With that, he ascended the Heavenly Ranking.