Subtitle: The Sword's Final Choice
Ray has been active these past two months and went on seeing his city full of people working under him. Every street he walked carried a small echo of his presence now—murmurs, quick greetings, and the quiet pride of people who felt seen for the first time. In the first month he didn't watch the clothing company only; he has seen other businesses as well, like the theater, restaurant, and many more.
Although he hasn't gone to the restaurant with any good ideas yet, he did deliver them some ingredients. He still remembered the faces of the kitchen staff lighting up when he handed those ingredients over, even if he had left without saying much.
Ray also looked after others as well and helped them to grow slowly; those people from the noble class that are staying at the corner because they are forcefully bullied will shine someday under him. He had walked into their lonely corners—dusty courtyards, empty halls, the places forgotten children clustered—and saw the pain they were hiding behind stiff smiles. They are children of nobles but were bullied because they have talent in other things, but the parents want them to be cultivators and shine with sorcery and swords. If you are not, no one invests in them.
So the other children take advantage and bully those children. Ray found that these children need help, and he took all of them under his wings and wants them to grow under his lead or the other five vice leaders. Whenever the children looked at him now, their eyes carried something fragile yet bright—hope, like a candle protected by cupped hands.
Ray then thought since he got a great clothing master like Granny Theresa. He needs to find a great cook and media master who can help him in his other business. The thought made a faint spark of ambition rise in his chest; his plans were spreading like branches from a sturdy trunk.
In the second month he helped the inventors, who happen to be the five inventors. Ray is satisfied with their progress, but it seems it will take a bit more of their time before everything comes to fruition. Their workshop was always loud—crackling sparks, excited shouts, the clatter of failed prototypes hitting the floor—but the fire in their eyes told him the wait would be worth it.
In the third month,
Ray is currently at home sitting cross-legged, and finally, after so much time, he receives a weapon from the ancient vault from the king's castle. Ray is finally seeing some reaction from the sword. A soft vibration rippled through the air, so faint that only someone bonded to the blade could feel it. The room around him, lit by a single lantern, seemed to hold its breath.
After Ray awakened his spiritual cultivation, Ray could feel some subtle movement from the sword. It seems to be delighted to see such a strong core and took some time to mentally decide what to do. And finally it decided to communicate with Ray through their connection.
The sword finally spoke in an ancient voice, low and echoing as though it carried the weight of forgotten temples.
"I have had many masters that have wielded me from ancient times. I have been used by a lot of sword wielders. Some managed to use me alright, but never have I had a master that had managed to use me to my full potential. My first master was the only one who managed to get to use all of my strength.
After my first master left me to his son. Everything changed when he left me to his descendant. His descendants were not worthy of wielding me, and the sword changed hands. I have seen many of my masters dying, and the victor gets me. After many years of changing hands, this sword went to the lower realm. And that is when I thought, there will be no one who will be able to wield me ever again. Thousands of years went by, and I was stuck to the ground.
Many of Richard's family members tried to pick me up, but none came into my view. They created a tradition out of me. Ridiculous! I do not want to be wielded by such people who have no ambition to become stronger and become great swordsmen.
I am the sword spirit that was born when this sword was built for who knows how long ago or how many eras changed.
Then one fine day came a boy, you, Ray. I got interested instantly seeing you, a boy of six years old who had such a high Qi stage sword force and such a high soul cultivation. I had a feeling you would become someone someday. My gut was telling me that. But I had to give you a test, and that was whether you would pick me up or not. Since you probably had no idea why a sword was dropped down like that.
By the way, I came with the prince, and that butler brought me within the lower realm. That prince was given the sword by the king from the upper realm. But the prince found that he couldn't wield me, and so he cursed me and grounded me to the ground. And since then he made a tradition that whoever can get me up can have the sword.
I didn't find anyone worthy who could wield me from the Richard family until you came. You came and picked me up. But that wasn't all of it to the test. It was basic, but you should know a sword with spirit would ask for something to be called that, the wielder its master. And that is blood. You gave me your blood even if you did it to check my sharp by mistake. I have chosen you as my master then and there.
Master, I could have waited until you became silver stage to wield me, but two months ago I saw an amazing sight. And that is when I saw you created an amazing core that I had never seen from my previous masters before. And I have never managed to grow with my previous masters or shown my true strength.
Although they didn't manage to show my true strength, and there is no other way to grow stronger with others, I have decided to live and die together with you, master. You will become my last master. And so I will merge in with your core and will grow stronger with you from level zero. Are you willing to be my master?"
Ray thought about it for a long time, the room silent except for the faint humming of the sword, vibrating like a heartbeat against the wooden floor.
"You know it won't take that long for me to become a silver-stage cultivator compared to the amount of time you waited for someone to use you?"
The sword spirit replied,
"I know that, but I know someday you will become someone who can easily wield me, but after that, when you become a much stronger cultivator, then I won't be of any use to you. So I want to become your only sword for life, master. And I know with your help I will evolve and grow all the way."
Ray replied, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips despite the gravity of the moment. "You have very high confidence in me."
The sword spirit replied, "Yes!"
Ray asked, "So you have decided?"
The sword spirit replied, "Yes, I have decided. When I merge in with your core master, your cultivation will also grow by a lot. I will merge in with you whenever you are ready, master."
Ray replied, "Alright, give me a moment; let me let my mother know what I am going to do. And no one disturb our merger."
The sword spirit made a hum noise while shaking with excitement, its glow pulsing like a rising star.
"Yes, master."
Ray then called Diana to say that he is going to cultivate for a while and he would require a lot of crystal stone to increase his spiritual cultivation that is worth a month.
Diana delivered everything as she was told and even activated a formation that could help both in spiritual and soul cultivation. Soft runes lit up across the floor, walls, and ceiling—weaving a cocoon of shimmering light around the room. She delivered him all the spiritual and soul cultivation crystal stones. She also said that she would come from time to time to check on him. Ray nodded and went and sat cross-legged to cultivate and merge with his sword.
The air thickened with energy as he closed his eyes, the sword hovering before him like a loyal guardian preparing to take its final step.