Chapter 17: Pure Sword, Sword No.23

"A Chuan!"

Princess Yun Zhi Yi leapt into your arms, wailing like a child.

"It's all over, we won."

You hold Yun Zhi Yi in your embrace, gently stroking her cheek.

"Why?" Yun Zhi Yi looks at you, dazed, and says, "I don't want those, I only want you, A Chuan."

You smile and say, "I've always been here, forever with you."

Your days are already few.

Your Qi has failed, you cannot ascend, and the road of your life has reached its end.

In the forty‑sixth year of the Chang'an Calendar, the Great Liang Dynasty fell, and a brief, unglorious era ended, like a fleeting bloom.

You fulfilled the long‑standing wish of avenging your mother.

In the same year, the Yun Chuan Empire was founded.

The first emperor of the Yun Chuan Empire was the former Nan Jiang princess consort Yun Zhi Yi, who, five thousand years later, became another Empress of this land.

The name of the Yun Chuan Empress is destined to be remembered for eternity.

"The yellow robe looks far better on you than on me."

Upon the Dragon Throne, you and Yun Zhi Yi nestle together; your hair has long turned silver, while she grows ever younger, dignified and splendid.

Yun Zhi Yi says, "A Chuan, I have another gift for you."

"What gift?"

Usually such words would make your heart race, but now you are unafraid; everything has already frozen.

The greatest scheme of your life was devoted to your beloved.

Sometimes you wonder, "Does she live alone in the world, feeling lonely?"

Yun Zhi Yi leads you into an underground city.

At the city's center stands a massive furnace, radiating astonishing heat, the air itself warping under the temperature.

Yun Zhi Yi takes your hand to the furnace.

She bites her fingertip, letting blood fall into the furnace; the roiling molten iron churns upward.

A dragon's roar echoes through the underground city.

Swish! A sharp sword shoots out of the furnace; a mere three‑foot blade, yet it makes the entire Yun Chuan Empire's swords resound in unison.

It is the supreme monarch among swords.

"A Chuan, do you like it?"

Yun Zhi Yi smiles at you; this is the peerless Divine Sword she forged herself, nurturing it daily with her own blood.

The Divine Sword was born in blazing fire, bearing the affection of true love.

You ask, "What is its name?"

"Not named yet."

You and Yun Zhi Yi spend a lifetime together without offspring, yet you never feel regret; having a lover by your side is enough.

From childhood sweetheart to beloved wife, sharing hardships, growing old together.

Yun Zhi Yi's heart has always been with you, and you feel it from start to finish.

You name the Divine Sword — CloudHeart.

The moment you grasp the Yun Xin Shen Sword, your aged body constantly transforms, white hair turning to black, vigor renewed.

At the brink of your death, you ascend once more to the pinnacle realm.

You know this is a reflected light.

You sense another soaring Sword Intent on the lands of Yun Chuan; your close friend Xia Zi, unwilling to be idle, burns his true self to the utmost, achieving ultimate transcendence.

"Xia Zi, shall we battle the heavens once more?"

You raise your sword and charge toward the sky.

Xia Zi transforms into a Long Rainbow, running alongside you, soaring straight into the clouds.

Xia Zi laughs, "Old man Chuan, can we do it?"

You clutch the CloudHeart Sword, your heart like a bright mirror, crystal clear.

People always say your sword is impure; even Number One Under Heaven Jiu Xianjun once said so, and indeed your former sword was impure.

But this sword is different, forged solely to battle the heavens.

It is pure enough.

The strongest sword technique you have realized in this life is named — Sword No. 23.

In different realms of meaning, each execution of Sword No. 23 varies.

The first time you used Sword No. 23 was to protect the princess, slaying the god of assassins Jue Wuming; at that moment you harbored an extremely fierce killing intent.

It was called — Extinguishing Heaven, Absolute Earth Sword No. 23.

The second time you wielded Sword No. 23 was in battle against the then Number One Under Heaven Jiu Xianjun; it bore countless bonds.

Your mother Bai Susu's vengeance, your father Lin Wuji's loyalty, the old sword deity Li Chengying's hardship, Blind Swordsman Xia Zi's close‑friendship, and the long‑standing wishes of countless Nan Jiang soldiers.

And the protection of your lover Yun Zhi Yi.

It is a sword technique that must be expressed with all the life‑filled emotions.

It is named — Sentimental Heaven and Earth Sword No. 23.

The third time facing Ximen Wuxue, you still used this move.

The final use of Sword No. 23 is right now.

A pure sword, a technique born for the sword itself.

【Its name—Six Eradication No‑Self Sword Twenty‑Three.】

【In that battle, your swords opened the Heavenly Gate, slaying an unknown number of Immortals, and forcibly shattered the divine bridge that linked humans and Immortals.】

【Since the Ancestor Dragon era, another age without Immortals has begun.】

【The fortunes of Ren Jian are decided by Ren Jian itself.】

【So‑called Immortals and Deities have no authority to intervene.】

【You fell from the Heavenly Dome, using your last breath to protect Xia Zi; he may still be able to live as an ordinary person, marry and have children.】

【In the final moment, you fell into a warm embrace.】

【She was so beautiful, yet you could no longer see her cheek.】

Lin Chuan slowly awoke from the dream.

"Another dream has ended, huh."

"No wonder, it's me."

Regarding this Reincarnation cycle, Lin Chuan was still very satisfied; although his love with Yun Zhi Yi in the dream had regrets, he did not regret it.

"I really am a good man."

Give every girl in the dream a satisfactory partner.

Lin Chuan greatly enjoyed this feeling.

After all, they're all people of the dream; upon waking they depart, with no burden, and no love Shura Battlefield will arise.

【Ding! The host has completed a full Reincarnation cycle, earning points this time.】

【Given that the strength of this dream world meets the standard, the host may receive an extra reward.】

【Please select two items from the following rewards to claim.】

【Reward One: Sword Technique—Sword Twenty‑Three.】

【Reward Two: Divine Sword CloudHeart.】

【Reward Three: Battle with Heaven—one Reincarnation Reflection Card.】

The items from the Reincarnation cycle reappeared before Lin Chuan's eyes, similar to the rewards from the Perfect Meng Jing Meng Jing Meng Jing Nü Mo Zun dream.

Lin Chuan had already felt the power of Sword Twenty‑Three in the dream.

He did not hesitate and took this reward.

The three sword techniques flashed into Lin Chuan's mind, but actually using them is difficult; his realm is not yet sufficient.

Rewards Two and Three are also quite good.

Divine Sword CloudHeart was forged personally by his beloved Yun Zhi Yi in the dream, nurtured with her own heart's blood, and in the final Battle with Heaven it cut out a Sword Intent that crowned the world.

On the Path of Cultivation, having a handy weapon is important.

The Reincarnation Reflection Card needs no further explanation; it represents his highlight moment in the Reincarnation cycle, and its reflection in reality is also an extremely strong combat power.

After weighing repeatedly, Lin Chuan still chose the Divine Sword CloudHeart.

【World Prince Jianghu】 and 【Perfect Meng Jing Meng Jing Meng Jing Nü Mo Zun】 are both low‑level fantasy Reincarnation cycles, the former's strength is clearly lower than the latter.

If we categorize according to real‑world cultivation realms,

Nurturing Qi Realm, Opening Vessels Realm, Soaring Sky Realm, Detachment Realm, Divine Soul Realm, Heavenly Union Realm, Saint Realm, Supreme Realm.

In 【World Prince Jianghu】, the Tianren Realm roughly corresponds to the real‑world Heavenly Union Realm; the so‑called Immortals are roughly at the Saint Realm level.

In 【Perfect Meng Jing Meng Jing Meng Jing Nü Mo Zun】, the Demon Lord can stand shoulder to shoulder with the Supreme.

Lin Chuan's White‑Robed Sword God card obtained from the previous 【Perfect Meng Jing Meng Jing Meng Jing Nü Mo Zun】 Reincarnation cycle can also compare with the Supreme.

Thus he chose the Divine Sword CloudHeart.

Lin Chuan reached out, grasped the virtual sword hilt, and the Divine Sword CloudHeart gradually solidified, accompanied by a Sword Resonance, fully manifesting into reality.

……

……

Yun Zhi Yi·Yun Chuan Empress