Chapter Thirteen: The Spirit of the Sword

“Do you know me?”

The woman was utterly astonished. It was not uncommon for someone to recognize a newborn sword spirit, but the matter of an innate Dao body was a closely guarded secret of the Passage of Truth Hall. Aside from her master and the sect leader, no one else knew.

How could he possibly know?

Shen Yu nodded slightly. “I’ve heard of you.”

In recent generations, the Dao Sect had produced a few disciples of exceptional talent—such as Fang Henzhi and Chen Jianzhi of the Pure Law Hall, and Yu Jian’er of the Passage of Truth Hall, whose abilities left others far behind.

But among them, the most legendary was the young junior sister Yu Wenwen, who abandoned the Dao for swordsmanship and apprenticed herself to the master of the Passage of Truth Hall.

The first day this female sword immortal arrived at the Dao Sect, she revealed her prodigious talent for cultivation and was personally praised by Dao Fan, the sect leader: “Her talent surpasses all in the Dao Sect.”

Yet, what surprised everyone most was that this young woman forsook the path of Dao, becoming obsessed with sword practice, determined to challenge the Sword Immortal City of the Northern Realm.

When Shen Yu saw that jade sword, he immediately thought of her, and upon seeing her face now, he recognized her at once.

Now, seeing her in person, he realized her talent was even greater than he’d imagined.

What amazed him further was that she, too, possessed an innate Dao body.

Yu Wenwen parted her crimson lips, about to speak, when her long sword began to tremble incessantly. The sword spirit grew restless, seemingly ready to burst from the blade at any moment.

Seeing this, a bitter smile appeared on her stunning face.

A spirit treasure’s spirit is born of the world’s spiritual energy. She disdained inheriting a spirit that had already bonded with another, so she forged her own life-bound immortal sword.

After years of tempering it at the Cliff of Treasures, a sword spirit was finally born.

Yet she hadn’t expected this newborn sword spirit to be so mischievous, completely ignoring her commands.

Shen Yu said, “When a child is newly born and disobedient, what do you think ordinary people do?”

Yu Wenwen lifted her head. “What do they do?”

Shen Yu glanced at the unruly sword spirit and said calmly, “They find a wooden stick and give it a good beating.”

…

The atmosphere grew quiet.

Yu Wenwen looked astonished; the sword spirit stared wide-eyed at Shen Yu, as if he were a fool.

“That is indeed what they do.”

Shen Yu took a three-foot bamboo rod from his robes. “Shall I give it a try?”

Yu Wenwen looked down at the sword spirit, who shook its head repeatedly, eyes brimming with tears, clutching her arm pitifully.

Yu Wenwen tapped the sword spirit’s brow gently. “Will you return to the sword?”

The sword spirit hesitated, then stole a glance at Shen Yu, meeting his calm gaze.

The little girl trembled all over, transformed into a streak of spiritual light, and vanished into the blade.

At once, the sword ceased its trembling.

Yu Wenwen, seeing her persistent problem resolved so effortlessly, was stunned for a moment before regaining her composure. “Thank you.”

“No need,” Shen Yu sighed. The woman was still too gentle. Three thousand years ago, he had been much rougher with the spirit of the immortal artifact Heavenly Profound.

As his thoughts drifted, a sound of trees splintering and beasts roaring came from the woods to the left.

Dust rose in the air.

Yu Wenwen arched her brows and turned to investigate.

Shen Yu seemed unconcerned, preparing to descend the mountain.

Then another piercing wail echoed, and Shen Yu detected something unusual in it, causing him to pause.

…

In the forest, a spirit fox and a giant serpent faced each other.

The spirit fox radiated spiritual energy, its glossy fur bristling and stained with blood, a massive wound gaping at its hind leg.

Its blue eyes were filled with anxiety and fury.

Meanwhile, the giant serpent coiled around the fox, flicking its tongue and emitting cruel hisses.

Shen Yu stood beside the woman in red. “This mountain is the most important place in the Dao Sect, yet such a fierce beast exists here. This serpent has likely cultivated for a hundred years, daily absorbing the essence of spirit treasures. It’s already showing signs of transforming into a flood dragon. If it consumes the spirit fox, in thirty years it will transcend and become a dragon.”

Yu Wenwen gripped her sword. “Spirit foxes are gentle, considered auspicious creatures of the mountain. The serpent is cruel and cold. You should help the fox.”

Shen Yu looked at the two beasts calmly. “Demonic beasts have their own natures, but I hold no preference for good or evil.”

Yu Wenwen glanced at him. “Cold-blooded.”

Shen Yu replied, “All things in heaven and earth survive by adaptation. The serpent eats the fox to live; the fox resists to live. That is the law of the Dao. Why should I intervene?”

As they debated, the serpent seized an opening, instantly coiling around the spirit fox, constricting tightly. The fox was on the verge of suffocating.

The spirit fox gazed toward the two with effort, its eyes filled with desperate hope.

“Perhaps you’re right.”

Yu Wenwen, unexpectedly, did not argue. Instead… she swung her sword.

The surrounding trees were instantly reduced to broken branches and leaves. The ferocious serpent was severed by the sword’s aura, blood spraying from its vital spot, its head and tail split apart.

“Impressive,” Shen Yu said, clicking his tongue at the woman in red.

Yu Wenwen sheathed her sword. “But I detest ugly creatures most.”

Shen Yu instinctively touched his face, speechless.

…

Shen Yu walked to the collapsed spirit fox and examined it, shaking his head slightly.

Yu Wenwen said, “It looks beyond saving.”

The fox was drenched in blood, several wounds leaking black fluid—clearly poisoned by the serpent’s bite.

Shen Yu said, “Spirit foxes are naturally swift and avoid conflict, rarely engaging in lethal fights unless compelled by necessity.”

Yu Wenwen’s gaze instantly fell on the fox’s slightly bulging abdomen. With a gentle wave, a thin line of blood appeared across its belly.

The fox cried out, straining to look inside, hoping for one last glimpse.

Shen Yu crouched, digging through the fox’s belly for some time, his hands covered in blood, until finally he pulled out a palm-sized cub.

The baby fox’s eyes were shut, its body covered in soft white fur.

Shen Yu exhaled in relief, wiping sweat from his brow.

Yu Wenwen did not take the cub, saying, “The first scent this baby fox knows is yours. From now on, it will be attached to you. Looks like you’ll be busy.”

Shen Yu asked, “You don’t want it?”

A trace of hesitation flashed through Yu Wenwen’s eyes, but she shook her head. “My master forbids it.”

Shen Yu said quietly, “It’s a good child.”