Chapter 35
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Chapter 35: Farewell
Chang Xiang’s attention was entirely focused on Lou Yun’s pressed-together hands, so he failed to notice Lou Yun’s abnormal condition.
However, Xiao Huo, who had been sleeping curled up on Lou Yun’s shoulder, suddenly opened its eyes. Its slightly dazed little eyes rolled once before settling on the light emanating from the Dream Emperor Sword in Lou Yun’s hand. It stared fixedly for a moment, then, as if realizing its master was in grave danger, it leapt forcefully, heading straight for Chang Xiang in the distance.
Chang Xiang was concentrating completely on watching the Devour Weapons process. He had no expectation Xiao Huo would charge at him now. A streak of red light flashed before his eyes, and he instinctively raised his hand, swatting Xiao Huo’s flying body away.
Fortunately, Xiao Huo was extremely agile. Just as it was about to crash into the mountain wall, it suddenly used its large tail to push off against the wall. Utilizing the rebound force, it landed steadily on the ground.
Chang Xiang was just about to lose his temper, but as he glanced up, he saw beads of sweat multiplying on Lou Yun’s forehead. He paused thoughtfully, immediately grasping the situation.
Without hesitation, Chang Xiang went "swoosh" back into Lou Yun’s body. Immediately, Chang Xiang’s voice sounded in Lou Yun’s mind: "Damn it! I didn’t realize Devour Weapons consumed so much spiritual energy! I never cultivated this method myself, I didn’t know. But don’t worry, I’ll lend you a hand."
As soon as the words echoed, Lou Yun felt a surge of additional spiritual energy flood into his body. Clearly, Chang Xiang was helping him by transferring his own spiritual energy.
Lou Yun let out a long, silent breath of relief in his heart. His tightly strung nerves finally relaxed. He then focused completely on continuing the Devour Weapons process.
After a full three days and three nights, Lou Yun finally perceived that the Dream Emperor Sword’s interior was now complete emptiness. Evidently, the common weapon he himself had forged had been completely devoured by the Dream Emperor Sword. This meant the Devour Weapons process was over!
However, Lou Yun cautiously withdrew the spiritual energy from the Dream Emperor Sword little by little. He feared his psychic sense might be mistaken; if the Devour Weapons process wasn’t truly finished, all previous effort would be in vain!
Thankfully, Lou Yun’s psychic sense hadn’t erred. The common weapon had indeed vanished utterly, without even a speck of residue. The Devour Weapons process had concluded successfully!
After fully withdrawing the spiritual energy from the Dream Emperor Sword, Lou Yun also made a pleasantly surprising discovery: the amount of spiritual energy contained within the Dream Emperor Sword was indeed nearly double what it had been before. This confirmed that the Devour Weapons process was a success.
Through Devour Weapons, his magical weapon, the Dream Emperor Sword, had successfully progressed from beginner one-star to beginner two-star. Naturally, his own status had also become that of a beginner two-star magical weapon master!
Suddenly, Lou Yun noticed something strange. The Dream Emperor Sword’s shape seemed to have changed slightly?
The shape of a magical weapon could indeed change, but such transformations only occurred when the weapon underwent a qualitative leap in rank. That is, only during major rank advancements – like beginner to intermediate, or intermediate to advanced – would the shape transform.
Yet this time, Lou Yun’s magical weapon had merely progressed from beginner one-star to beginner two-star, a minor tier improvement. Such a change absolutely shouldn’t have altered the weapon’s shape!
Where had it changed? It was still sword-shaped!
Lou Yun turned the Dream Emperor Sword over and over, examining it meticulously for a long time. He arrived at a conclusion he could scarcely believe: the Dream Emperor Sword’s shape had indeed changed. Strictly speaking, it now looked exactly like the Common Weapon sword it had just devoured!
Both the magical weapon Dream Emperor Sword and the Common Weapon sword had shapes imagined by Lou Yun. They also shared a common template: the Stone Sword.
Therefore, the three weapons were virtually identical in appearance, differing only in minute details. The reason Lou Yun could now tell the Dream Emperor Sword’s shape had changed was because of a slight bulge in the very center of the sword’s hilt. It wasn’t a physical bulge; rather, it resembled a small cluster of spiritual energy gathered there, forming the swell.
In the exact same spot on the recently devoured Common Weapon sword, there had been a pearl-like sphere formed by the integrated spiritual crystal!
After a stunned moment, Lou Yun muttered to himself, "Could it be that my magical weapon changes shape based on the Common Weapon it devours? Or is this a special characteristic of the ‘Devour Weapons’ cultivation method?"
Suddenly, he recalled something Chang Xiang had once said: "The change you mentioned—the shape evolving—that’s different. What I’m talking about is transforming your magical weapon’s form. Right now it’s a sword, but through cultivation, you could make it become a spear!"
Thinking this, he immediately called out for Chang Xiang, wanting to clarify whether this was indeed the case.
"Brother Chang! Brother Chang!"
Strangely, Lou Yun called out several times but received neither a reply from Chang Xiang nor saw him materialize before him.
Before this, Chang Xiang had always responded the moment Lou Yun called. What was happening now?
Puzzled, Lou Yun called out a few more times. Chang Xiang remained utterly unresponsive.
"Probably, when he helped me earlier and gave me his spiritual energy, he exhausted it all entirely. He must be meditating to recover now!"
As this thought surfaced, Lou Yun immediately felt his own body go limp, completely drained of strength. Clearly, his own spiritual energy had been utterly depleted too.
So Lou Yun simply stopped moving. He began meditating right there in the mountain cave. Only after replenishing some spiritual energy did he finally take Xiao Huo and head home.
After sleeping with his head covered at home for an entire day, Lou Yun finally regained some energy and naturally thought of Chang Xiang. He called out once more, "Brother Chang, are you alright?"
He waited quietly for a long time after calling, but Chang Xiang still did not appear.
A faint sense of foreboding suddenly swept through Lou Yun’s mind. In a panic, he attempted internal vision, hoping to find Chang Xiang’s presence within his own body.
However, this internal vision was utterly useless for locating Chang Xiang. Even now, Lou Yun had no idea how Chang Xiang managed to hide within his body, let alone the specific location he occupied. Thus, searching internally yielded nothing.
Opening his eyes, Lou Yun stood rooted to the spot, dazed, as though he’d lost his soul. How could Brother Chang have vanished completely? Where did he go?
Ever since Lou Yun met Chang Xiang over a year ago, Chang Xiang had always responded immediately upon being called. This was the first time he had become unreachable.
Furthermore, Chang Xiang had always been profoundly secretive about his origins and anything concerning himself. Therefore, Lou Yun had absolutely no clue what had happened to Chang Xiang now.
"Could it be that because he gave me the spiritual energy, it caused him to vanish?"
The moment this thought surfaced, Lou Yun frantically shook his head to dismiss it. "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Brother Chang is incredibly powerful. How could merely giving me some spiritual energy cause him to disappear? He wouldn’t! He must still be resting. Yes, still resting!"
As if comforting himself, Lou Yun repeated the idea that Chang Xiang was resting several times. This finally eased his searing anxiety slightly.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door outside the room: "Yun’er, are you awake?"
Recognizing his father’s voice, Lou Yun hastily rubbed his face with his hands to appear more alert. "Yes, Father!"
Lou Tianming pushed the door open and entered. "This cultivation session wasn’t short. Three days and three nights! So, any good news to share?"
Despite his concerns about Chang Xiang, Lou Yun had to temporarily set those thoughts aside at his father’s inquiry. He forced a smile and said, "Father, you’re always one step ahead. I just made a bit of progress and you already know."
Lou Tianming laughed heartily. "I’ve come to check on you three nights in a row, and you weren’t in your room. Such intense cultivation must yield results. Tell me, let your father share your joy."
Lou Yun didn’t reply with words. A flash of light appeared in his right hand, and the Dream Emperor Sword materialized.
Although Lou Tianming had lost nearly all his cultivation, he could still feel the powerful surge of spiritual energy emanating from the Dream Emperor Sword. He could also see that the glow enveloping the sword was significantly brighter than before. Joy spread across his face. "Has your magical weapon advanced?"
"Yes, it’s now beginner two-star!"
Lou Tianming immediately burst into laughter. "Hahaha! This truly is good news! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!"
However, once his laughter subsided, a rare look of reluctance appeared on Lou Tianming’s face. "Yun’er… tomorrow you leave!"
Lou Yun’s heart gave a heavy thump. He had been so preoccupied with cultivation these past few days, he had actually lost track of the date. Indeed, tomorrow was the day he was due to depart for the Ancient Weapon Academy!
As this realization hit, a wave of intense reluctance washed over Lou Yun – for his father, for his second uncle, and even for those clan members he usually disdained; he felt a pang of sadness thinking of leaving them all.
"So soon!"
Lou Tianming nodded. "Yes, time passes quickest. I still remember the day you were born. It seems like just a blink, and already you’re this grown up."
He sighed softly. Both father and son fell silent as the sorrow of impending separation hung heavy in the room.
After a long while, Lou Yun broke the silence, forcing a smile. "Father, don’t you always tell me a true man should focus on broader horizons? I’m an adult now, it’s time I venture out, experience what the world beyond is like!"
"Hmm!" A smile also returned to Lou Tianming’s face. "Yun’er, look at me. It seems your father really is getting old. Your going to the Ancient Weapon Academy is beneficial – immensely so. Not just for you, but for me, and even for the entire Lou Family. This is a joyous occasion! Yet here I am, getting sentimental. Hah! Old age!"
"Father, you’re not old at all! Great Uncle and the others, that’s what old looks like!"
Though he spoke those words, Lou Yun clearly saw the new wrinkles etched deeper into his father’s face and the larger swath of grey in his hair. It was true. Without his cultivation, his father had aged markedly faster, just like an ordinary person.
I must work harder, find a way to repair Father’s magical weapon sooner!
To dispel the discomfort of parting, the father and son began teasing each other. Gradually, the banter turned into conversation. Time slipped by this way until someone came from outside to call them to dinner. Only then did they exchange a smile, jolted back to the present moment.
"Go, time to eat. Your Second Uncle has prepared a special banquet in your honor today!"
Although Lou Qian had already preceded him to the Ancient Weapon Academy, Lou Yun’s admission held even greater significance. Moreover, having two members of the Lou Family accepted into the Academy within half a year was undeniably uplifting news.
Lou Tianzhi had arranged this feast as Lou Yun’s send-off. Except for those on guard duty, all clan members were expected to attend. The banquet lasted well into the night. If not for Lou Yun’s imminent departure at dawn, they would likely have kept drinking.
Bearing the hopes of his clan and the expectations of his father, Lou Yun boarded a carriage early the next morning. He bid farewell to the gathered crowd, departed the Lou Family estate, and set out for the sacred land aspired to by every magical weapons master – the Ancient Weapon Academy!
Inside the carriage, looking back through the rear window at the Lou Family compound receding into the distance, and at his father’s figure still standing there, unwilling to leave, mist welled up in Lou Yun’s eyes.
Father, wait for me. When I return, I will surely have found a way to restore your magical weapon!
