Chapter 89: Transformed Sword

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The aura that broke through the sky retracted as soon as it was released. Chu Qing flicked his wrist and raised the tip of the sword. Looking at the rusty sword in his hand, Chu Qing frowned slightly. His vast starry eyes stirred.

This was because this sword had become new. The rust on the spine of the sword had faded a little. Although this was not detectable with the naked eye, Chu Qing could still acutely sense it because this sword had accompanied him for 300 years in that lonely world. In his heart, it was equivalent to his life.

Therefore, even the slightest change in the rusty sword would attract Chu Qing’s attention, let alone the current change. The rust had become lighter, which was definitely not a good thing.

When the rust disappeared and the sword looked brand new, it would probably become a piece of ordinary iron. A large part of the reason why the rusty sword became Chu Qing’s intrinsic divine weapon was because of the rust on its body.

The rust that looked extremely dilapidated was not deliberately made by Chu Qing. Instead, they were nurtured by a type of Tao rune that he called the Withering rune.

It represented a facet of the Great Tao of Time. One sword exuded vitality and abundance, while the other emanated decline and desolation. This particular sword technique was Chu Qing’s most formidable move. As a practitioner of sword cultivation, a sword was an indispensable tool. It was a challenging task to infuse a sword with Tao runes, symbolizing the profound principles and energies of the Tao itself.

This sword was also compatible with Chu Qing because it was extraordinary. However, other than this change, if Chu Qing hadn’t pulled out the sword on a whim, the consequences would be unimaginable in a few days when half of the rust on the sword dissipated.

At worst, Chu Qing would suffer the backlash of the Great Tao and die early. At worst, his Tao foundation would collapse and he would have no hope of ascending to the heavens. No matter which outcome it was, it was extremely dangerous for Chu Qing.

The vast cultivation path was filled with terrifying dangers. Other than himself, no one knew how difficult the Great Tao was. In just a short while, Chu Qing was so frightened that he broke out in cold sweat.

He had never encountered such a situation before, let alone a solution. However, no matter what, he had to figure out the reason for the Tao runes to dissipate.

At this moment, Chu Qing held the sword in his hand. The sword was connected to his soul. He could clearly sense that the Tao runes in the sword were still dissipating bit by bit and disappearing into the void. Chu Qing was powerless to stop it.

Chu Qing entertained a suspicion: perhaps this world couldn’t accommodate Tao runes. To test his theory, he executed the Prosperous Flourish move with a slash of his sword. However, before he could complete the attack, his body trembled uncontrollably. He gasped and coughed up a mouthful of blood. His attempt had failed. Chu Qing’s cultivation level had not fully recovered, and he realized that his power was still inadequate for such endeavors.

Executing a sword move of such magnitude placed an immense burden on Chu Qing’s soul. If he were to unleash the Prosperous Flourish move, the consequences would be even more severe. He would likely experience intense headaches and cough up blood, just as he had now. The toll it took on his body and mind was simply too great for his current state.

The cost was simply too steep. With a heavy sigh, Chu Qing swiftly retracted his sword, but the residual power from the half-executed move had already coalesced in the surrounding space. Even in its incomplete state, this fraction of power effortlessly tore through the solid barriers of his room. Thousands of ethereal sword energy materialized seemingly out of nowhere, filling the air around Chu Qing.

Upon closer examination, it became apparent that the majority, around 80 to 90%, of the sword manifestations were mere illusions, while only 10 to 20% held true power. Nevertheless, even with this smaller fraction, the display was still awe-inspiring and formidable. Despite the turmoil in his soul, Chu Qing paid little mind. With a determined effort, he exerted control over the sword energy, compelling it to disperse into the void, gradually fading away.

Realizing the potential chaos that would ensue if he allowed the uncontrolled sword energy to wreak havoc, Chu Qing knew he had to take immediate action. However, with his soul already wounded and weakened, he felt utterly powerless. Despite his best efforts, a few rogue strands of sword energy managed to evade his control and collided with the objects in his room, causing them to shatter and splinter.

A gust of astral wind immediately appeared in the originally calm space, blowing away Chu Qing’s homework that he had yet to put away. This was a small matter. After the two sword energies were exhausted, Chu Qing’s vision darkened. He leaned on the rusty sword and stabilized himself.

However, when he saw the traces left behind by the two wisps of sword energy in the room, Chu Qing’s already unbearable headache worsened. He saw a crack more than a meter long and as wide as a palm appear on the originally smooth wall. It was so deep that it almost pierced through the entire wall. This was the result of Chu Qing trying his best to control it.

Otherwise, there would definitely be a huge hole in the wall. Looking at the broken section, the bricks that were originally built on the wall had already been torn into pieces by the sword energy and turned into powder.

In the midst of the chaos, there was one particularly potent strain of sword energy that almost spiraled out of control. Thankfully, Chu Qing managed to intervene just in time, preventing it from erupting and causing even greater damage. Nonetheless, the sword energy managed to pierce through the entire wardrobe, leaving behind a distinct, thin line as a reminder of its close call.

While the wardrobe in Chu Qing’s room appeared undamaged at first glance, it was actually divided into two distinct pieces along the faint line. However, if one didn’t inspect it closely, it would be difficult to notice. Dealing with the wardrobe was a relatively straightforward task, but the crack in the wall presented a different challenge.

Chu Qing stood before the cracked wall, his head in his hands, feeling a sense of remorse and frustration. He realized that his impulsiveness and preoccupation had gotten the better of him. The sheer impact of wielding the rusty sword had clouded his judgment, leading to this reckless act within the confines of his room. He couldn’t help but reproach himself for his lack of self-control.

Despite the commotion caused by the impact, the room remained eerily silent, sparing Chu Qing the worry of alerting his parents. However, the pressing issue at hand was how to address the gaping hole in the wall..