Jing Hong Tomb.
On the ancient stone path.
Luo Xiu scrutinized the white-clad woman who suddenly appeared to block his way, his expression gradually becoming solemn.
The aura of the white-clad woman was deep and unfathomable, mysterious and unpredictable. Luo Xiu couldn't sense any trace of life from her, only a sharp, dangerous presence that felt like needles on his back.
It was as if the woman before him was not a living being, but a very dangerous object.
"Do you recognize me?"
In the silence, Luo Xiu suddenly spoke.
By now, he also roughly guessed who she might be.
Undoubtedly, it was the sword he had come to find in Jing Hong Tomb!
Only, he never thought that the sword had already transformed into a human form!
The white-clad woman calmly met Luo Xiu's gaze and said faintly, "Actually, I do not know you."
She continued, "But my sister told me, the first man to come here would definitely be you."
Luo Xiu lightly furrowed his brow, "So your sister is..."
The white-clad woman replied, "It is Jinghong Yingwan, she is both my sister and my Sword Master."
Luo Xiu chuckled, "It seems the Stunning Phoenix Emperor had long foreseen that I would come here."
A Great Emperor being able to foresee events many years into the future is not surprising.
According to Luo Xiu's knowledge, many cultivators, upon advancing to the Emperor Realm, could, if willing, pay a certain price to let their Divine Sense traverse the river of time and glimpse a scene of the future.
The white-clad woman introduced herself, "I am Jinghong Artifact. Long ago, like you, I was a person, but now I am a sword."
"Jinghong Artifact..."
Luo Xiu silently mouthed the name and discreetly glanced at Jinghong Artifact's figure, secretly marveling that she was indeed an 'artifact'.
He suddenly asked, "By the words you just uttered... could it be your sister specifically left you here waiting for me?"
Jinghong Artifact suddenly stepped towards Luo Xiu and said slowly, "She foresaw a great calamity in the future and thus left me for you."
As soon as the words fell, she suddenly transformed into a ray of white light and disappeared.
Luo Xiu had not yet reacted before he felt a cold sensation on his left wrist, as if grasped by a cold hand.
He then looked down to find a metallic bracelet wound around his wrist.
Suddenly, Jinghong Artifact's voice resonated in his mind, "Take me with you."
...
On the steps outside Jing Hong Tomb.
Stunning Phoenix Immortal walked quietly beside Luo Xiu, hands clasped behind her.
Suddenly she turned her head to look at Luo Xiu's profile, her expression somewhat odd, and asked, "Your Majesty, is it over?"
Luo Xiu's expression was similarly odd, as he stared at the bracelet on his left wrist, he smiled lightly, "Yes, it is over."
Stunning Phoenix Immortal gave a sweet smile, "Quite fast."
During this trip to Jing Hong Tomb, she had expected to face various dangers, yet never thought it would end so uneventfully—soon after entering, it was all over.
"By the way, Your Majesty, since you took away this sword, even if it is specifically left for you by Stunning Phoenix Emperor, I still need to report this to Her Ladyship."
Luo Xiu nodded, "You should."
...
...
Nighttime.
Deep within a palace in Yingwo City.
Stunning Phoenix Immortal stood respectfully before Jinghong Xuanran, saying, "Lady, this is what happened. The Azure Emperor took that sword."
Sitting cross-legged on a mat, Jinghong Xuanran glanced at the little jade vial on the table beside her and suddenly sighed softly.
"Cinnabar Holy Tea, did he really give it to you like that?"
"Yes."
Jinghong Xuanran gently grasped with her jade hand, and the little jade vial was brought to her pale palm by an invisible force.
"Friends, huh..."
She suddenly felt that compared to the profligate ways of the previous life, this life's Azure Emperor seemed different.
Stunning Phoenix Immortal cautiously remarked, "Lady, regarding Azure Emperor taking the Artifact, do you have anything to say?"
Jinghong Xuanran smiled faintly, "Eventually they met."
Stunning Phoenix Immortal was puzzled, "Judging by your demeanor, did you already know the Artifact would be left specifically for him by Stunning Phoenix Emperor?"
Jinghong Xuanran reminisced the past and slowly said, "Stunning Phoenix Emperor had a twin sister named 'Jinghong Artifact'. When she was a teenager, Artifact met with an accident and died young, leaving only a residual soul in the world."
Stunning Phoenix Immortal pondered and asked, "And this residual soul later became the Sword Spirit of that sword, eventually transforming into a human form?"
Jinghong Xuanran nodded gently, "I always knew that Artifact remained in Jing Hong Tomb according to the Stunning Phoenix Emperor's wishes, waiting for the profligate to appear, as it was left for him."
Stunning Phoenix Immortal suddenly laughed, "So when you previously had Azure Emperor dress in women's clothing to go to Jing Hong Tomb, it was to prevent him from meeting the Artifact?"
"At the time, I felt he was unworthy of Artifact, but now it seems... it was destiny."
Jinghong Xuanran suddenly stood up and asked, "Do you know why I hate him?"
"Disciple does not know."
Jinghong Xuanran said, "It is not because he acted lightly towards me in past lives, nor because he unveiled my veil and did not take responsibility. For many years, I've been devoted to the Dao, having no interest in romantic feelings."
"I hate him for betraying the Great Emperor."
Stunning Phoenix Immortal's beautiful eyes slightly trembled, showing a gossipy expression, "Betrayal? Does Lady mean... Azure Emperor had a relationship with the Great Emperor in a past life?"
"Very few people know of this matter. Let it be, it is all in the past, there is no point in talking about it now. The urgent task is to enhance strength to face the calamity."
"..."
...
Luo Xiu sat cross-legged in his room, holding a delicate female long sword in his hands, examining it thoughtfully.
This female long sword was transformed from the bracelet on his left wrist.
"It really is made of the same material as the Mysterious Central Sword. Of course, the same as the former Mysterious Central Sword."
Murmuring to himself, he flicked the sword gently with two fingers, causing it to hum loudly.
The terrifying resonance vibrated the air, causing the entire room to tremble.
After a while, he gently pressed down to stop the sword's quivering.
"Good sword!"
Jinghong Artifact's voice suddenly resonated in his mind, "I have always been stronger than Xuanzhong."
Her words seemed to carry a hint of disdain.
Luo Xiu laughed, "It's best not to let Xuanzhong hear that. Besides, that was before, now Xuanzhong is indeed a Mysterious Yellow Instrument."
Jinghong Artifact said, "I am also a Hongmeng Device, able to destroy all space! I heard from my sister that back then, it was me you used to sever the Starry Sky Ancient Path!"
Luo Xiu was surprised, "This is the first time I've heard of it."
Jinghong Artifact said, "It is true."
Luo Xiu laughed and changed the subject, "So what does your sister mean by leaving a sword meant for young girls specifically for me?"
Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, the Jinghong Artifact in his hand flew off, circled the room a few times, and suddenly burst into vibrant purple light, transforming into a purple ray and disappearing.
Luo Xiu was curious, about to inquire when suddenly there was a "chirp" sound from his abdomen, and his body trembled.
The indescribable sharp pain spread instantly throughout his body, rendering him immobile.
He struggled to look down at the Jinghong Great King piercing his abdomen, his gaze trembling.
"Are you trying to kill me?"
"..."