Chapter 393: Incomparably Serious

Cang Li patiently explained: "That's because sword cultivators must constantly nurture and refine their destined sword, consuming rare materials such as gold essence, copper coins, and the like. The ores and heavenly‑earthly treasures needed for sword cultivation are scarce, so the price is higher. Moreover, most sword cultivators focus solely on the sword Dao and know nothing about making money. Therefore, sword cultivators are generally poorer than other spirit cultivators."

"However, a small fraction of sword cultivators—such as you and Eldest Senior Brother and his companions—are relatively wealthy, because your innate talents are extraordinary, your baseline conditions are high, and your power rises extremely fast, allowing you to swiftly compete for resources in the cultivation world and use those resources to advance your own cultivation."

"The so‑called resources include the wealth left by ancestors and the naturally occurring spirit items of each locale."

Yuan Yao understood.

She realized she had never nurtured the Divine Artifact Hunling Sword.

Cang Li lowered his voice: "Your Divine Artifact Hunling Sword is a true artifact; ordinary spirit swords cannot compare. As an artifact, its durability exceeds imagination, so it requires no heavenly or earthly treasures for repair. If you wish to elevate the sword further, you can gather gold essence, ores, and other heavenly‑earthly treasures to nurture it."

Yuan Yao nodded seriously, "Alright."

Phantom Spirit seemed to sense her resolve to seek gold essence and other treasures, and telepathically said to Yuan Yao: "I don't need those things."

Yuan Yao was startled, "Then what do you need?"

Phantom Spirit was silent for a moment: "I need that colorful bead, because its aura shares the same origin as me, and I can 'devour' it and 'refine' it."

Yuan Yao, hearing this, immediately remembered that Hua Chengyan had once given her a colorful bead.

Phantom Spirit hesitated a moment, then spoke: "Master, I feel this colorful bead already belongs to me. There should be more than one such bead; there should be many."

Yuan Yao was startled, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Phantom Spirit: "It was a birthday gift someone gave you."

Yuan Yao's heart seemed to be tugged; her eyes grew slightly watery.

Having grown up with her, the Phantom Spirit naturally knew that the birthday gifts she had received over the years were never given to others.

Yuan Yao, a little hoarse, said, "Silly Phantom Spirit. Whatever you want, you can tell me. You're not an outsider; you're my sword spirit, you've been with me for sixteen years, and in a sense, do we still need to be apart?"

Phantom Spirit spoke: "Master……"

Yuan Yao inhaled deeply, and with firm tone said: "The bead is yours. From now on, any colorful bead I find will be yours."

Phantom Spirit: "Wuwuwu."

"Don't cry."

Phantom Spirit: "I'm moved."

Yuan Yao sniffed, but quickly regained composure, and said to Phantom Spirit, "Phantom Spirit, we are no longer a lazy pair; I will become stronger, and so will you. Let us dominate the cultivation world together!"

Phantom Spirit: "Master, are you serious?"

Yuan Yao, seeing it question her, let out a light snort, and, puffed up, said, "Incredibly serious."

Phantom Spirit: "Wuwuwu, then I, Phantom Spirit, will help the Master become the strongest sword cultivator in the world, so everyone knows the Master is the strongest sword cultivator, and I, Phantom Spirit, am the strongest sword spirit!"

"Alright!" Yuan Yao finished, and with spiritual awareness transferred the Divine Artifact Hunling Sword into Yaoguang Space.

She also transmitted the case containing the colorful bead to the Phantom Spirit's side, saying, "The bead is yours."

The dazzling, multicolored sword instantly transformed into a toad shape, swallowing the bead from the case into its mouth.

This scene caused several small ones who arrived at the sound to show shocked expressions.

Immediately after, Phantom Spirit reverted to the form of the Divine Artifact Hunling Sword, hovering in midair, emitting a faint halo.

Phantom Spirit began drawing the primordial aura from the bead and then refining it.

Yuan Yao told the few small ones not to disturb Phantom Spirit.

Soon after, Phantom Spirit felt as if its whole body were scorched by raging fire, unbearably hot, and it emitted a sharp sword clang.

Yuan Yao sensed it was about to lose control and immediately enveloped the Divine Artifact Hunling Sword with her divine sense like a great net.

"Phantom Spirit, hold steady."

"I will stay with you."

She instantly employed her spiritual power to soothe Phantom Spirit's agitation.

Meanwhile, the real Yuan Yao's expression grew solemn; she immediately sat down on the spot, assuming a meditation posture, and closed her eyes.

Cang Li was stunned, but soon guessed that something must have gone wrong.

He crouched slightly, standing guard beside her without disturbing her.

At this moment, upon hearing Yuan Yao's voice, Phantom Spirit steadied its mind and swiftly drew the bead's primordial aura.

Within Yaoguang Space, from the perspective of the few small ones: the dazzling, multicolored long sword not only emitted a halo but its blade gradually turned into a molten, deep‑red state, increasingly crimson.

Yuan Yao herself manifested a spiritual avatar, floating lightly in midair.

She formed hand seals, and like flowing clouds and water, continuously transmitted her spiritual energy to the Divine Artifact Hunling Sword, aiding its refinement of the colorful bead.

Time passed, moment by moment.

After four hours of refinement, the sword guard of the Divine Artifact Hunling Sword showed a subtle change: nine tiny indentations appeared, one of which already housed a small colorful bead.

Yuan Yao, seeing this, was slightly shocked.

She reached out, took the Divine Artifact Hunling Sword, then lowered her eyes and examined it carefully.

Her fingertips brushed the small bead in the guard; its appearance was almost identical to the original colorful bead.

Only the size differed slightly.

"Phantom Spirit, how do you feel?"

Phantom Spirit: "Master, I seem to be about to enter a period of slumber."

Yuan Yao heard this, felt a tightening in her heart, fearing something was wrong.

Phantom Spirit, sensing her emotion, explained: "Master, you need not worry. My slumber is to better refine that primordial aura. If you need me, I will still appear; however, my consciousness will be in deep sleep during that period, so I will be unable to communicate further with you."

Yuan Yao, after hearing this, let out a sigh of relief.

"Alright. You need not worry about me either."

The Divine Artifact Hunling Sword quivered slightly, as if responding to her answer.

Immediately, the faint halo around the sword faded, and there was no further response.

Yuan Yao's fingertips brushed its blade, her gaze gentle.

Her gaze fell again on the sword rack, and there were eight small depressions.

In other words, there are still eight such colored beads in the world.

…

Yuan Yao opened her eyes and immediately saw that it was dawn.

Cang Li, seated beside her, seemed to sense something, also opened his eyes and looked at her: "What happened last night?"

Yuan Yao did not conceal anything from him.

After hearing her account, Cang Li reached out and gently patted Yuan Yao's shoulder, smiling: "This is the cultivation of the Phantom Spirit."

Yuan Yao laughed and gave an "hmm."

Cang Li rose, brushed off the dust on his backside, and said to Yuan Yao: "Let's go, let's head into the city."

Yuan Yao rose, nodded: "Okay."

The two walked and talked.

Cang Li tilted his head to look at her: "Are you hungry? What do you want to eat?"

Yuan Yao said: "I want to eat bird eggs."

Cang Li laughed: "Fine. Let's go find bird eggs."