Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

Four months later.

Eight hundred li south of Yisu Mountain lies a secluded valley.

The valley enjoys a spring-like climate year-round and boasts hot springs, waterfalls, and exotic flowers and plants.

Deep in the valley, nestled against the mountainside, lies a natural stone cave. The entrance is small and hidden by vines, making it difficult to spot without careful observation.

In front of the cave, Tian Ling'er sat on a large rock, hugging her knees, her eyes fixed on the cave entrance, unblinking. She had been sitting there for almost two days.

She clutched the amber silk ribbon in her hand, crumpling it into a mess.

Little White also reverted to its fox form, lying on another rock with its eyes closed, its tail occasionally swishing.

He seemed relaxed, but his ears were always perked up, listening to the sounds coming from inside the cave.

Inside the cave were Lu Xueqi and Jiang Xiaochuan.

Two days ago, they entered the cave with all the materials they had collected.

Lu Xueqi said that the refining process required concentration and should not be disturbed, so she asked Tian Ling'er and Xiao Bai to guard outside.

Tian Ling'er was unwilling and wanted to go in, but Lu Xueqi's eyes were cold, and she said, "If you don't want him to fail in forging the sword, then stay outside."

Tian Ling'er gritted her teeth and didn't insist any further.

In the past two days, light has occasionally peeked out from the cave entrance, sometimes icy blue, sometimes silvery white, and sometimes a mixture of both.

There were also low, muffled magical fluctuations emanating from it, like muffled thunder or cracks in ice.

Tian Ling'er was constantly worried; she couldn't eat or sleep.

"Why isn't it better yet..." she murmured, her voice filled with weariness and worry.

Xiao Bai opened her eyes, glanced at her, then closed them again. It was as if she were saying: What's the rush?

Inside the cave.

The space was larger than I had imagined. The cave ceiling was very high, with stalactites hanging down, dripping water droplets.

In the center is a natural stone platform, flat and smooth, as if it had been specially polished.

At this moment, several things are floating around the stone platform.

The main piece is a fist-sized, crystal-clear blue jade (cold iron jade).

It exudes an astonishing chill, making the temperature inside the cave much lower than outside.

The cold air condensed on the surface of the jade, then turned into tiny ice crystals that drifted down.

Beside the Cold Iron Jade were several black stones of varying sizes, with pitted surfaces and silvery-white lightning inside (Thunderstones).

A tingling sensation and an explosive aura spread out, subtly clashing and blending with the cold air.

A tree branch, about a foot long and crystal clear like an ice sculpture, floated to the side, radiating a gentle yet resilient ice-type spiritual power. It was the Ice Crystal Branch used to harmonize ice and lightning.

In addition, there are a few auxiliary materials: a small pinch of silver sand that shimmers with starlight (stardust sand), a few leaves as thin as cicada wings and with a metallic luster (golden cicada leaves), and a piece of warm, jade-like warm sun jade that can stabilize spiritual energy.

Lu Xueqi stood in front of the stone platform, her face pale and her forehead covered in fine beads of sweat.

She had been continuously channeling her magic power for nearly two days without stopping. But her eyes were bright and focused, fixed on the sword blank that was already taking shape and floating above the stone platform.

The sword blank was about three feet long, and its entire body had a strange color that was between deep blue and silver-white.

The sword was still unstable, sometimes shining brightly with blue light and exuding cold air, and sometimes crackling with silver-white lightning.

The ice crystal branch and several auxiliary materials have transformed into streams of light, merging into the sword embryo and striving to reconcile the conflict between the two domineering attributes.

Jiang Xiaochuan sat cross-legged on the other side of the stone platform, also fully circulating the Taiji Xuanqing Dao, continuously injecting his pure Jade Purity Fourth Layer True Essence into the sword embryo.

His face was even paler than Lu Xueqi's, his lips were bloodless, and his body trembled slightly.

Refining a natal magic weapon consumes a great deal of one's cultivation and mental energy. He had only just entered the fourth level of the Jade Purity Realm, and if it weren't for Lu Xueqi using her own abundant true essence as guidance and support, he would have been exhausted long ago.

"Calm your mind, guide your true energy, and imagine the shape of a sword." Lu Xueqi's voice rang out, carrying a hint of imperceptible fatigue, but still steady and cool.

Jiang Xiaochuan gritted his teeth and tried hard to concentrate. The image of a sword appeared in his mind.

Not the flashy kind, but simple, smooth, and... cool, good-looking.

Yes, Tianya's lines are very beautiful, cool and elegant, yet with an awe-inspiring and unapproachable majesty.

Subconsciously, he began to shape the sword embryo before him according to the image of Tianya in his mind.

As his thoughts shifted, the shape of the suspended sword embryo began to subtly adjust.

The blade is longer and straighter, the guard is simple, and the curve of the hilt... is becoming more and more like the Tianya.

No, it's not just similar, it's almost identical, except the colors are a strange mix of ice blue and silver white, rather than the deep blue of Tianya.

As Lu Xueqi gazed at the gradually taking shape sword embryo, which bore a striking resemblance to her own Tianya Divine Sword, her eyes flickered slightly, revealing a complex and indescribable emotion.

But she didn't say anything; she simply made her hand, which was channeling her magic, even more steady.

About three more hours passed.

The light and fluctuations inside the cave suddenly reached a peak!

The blue light of the Cold Iron Jade and the silvery-white lightning of the Thunder Stone surged wildly, almost submerging the entire cave!

The remaining harmonizing power of the ice crystal branch emitted a hum that seemed strained under its own weight!

"Now!" Lu Xueqi shouted, biting her tongue to force out a drop of her heart's blood containing pure magic power. With a flick of her finger, the drop of bright red blood turned into a blood line and silently disappeared into the core of the most radiant sword embryo!

At the same time, she urgently said to Jiang Xiaochuan, "Senior Brother Jiang, force out your essence blood and use the blood refining method to establish the deepest connection with this sword! From now on, this sword will only recognize you, and no matter how strong others are, they will not be able to control it!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiaochuan did not hesitate and immediately bit his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of bright red blood essence, which he mixed with his last bit of true essence and poured all his energy into the sword embryo!

Two streams of essence blood, one after the other, merged into the sword embryo almost simultaneously.

Jiang Xiaochuan's essence blood carried his Jade Purity Level 4 spiritual power and life imprint. Lu Xueqi's previously hidden drop of heart essence blood contained even purer and more powerful ice-type spiritual power, as well as... a trace of her own, extremely secret life imprint.

The two drops of blood met at the core of the sword embryo and did not repel each other.

In the fusion field of ice and lightning power and various materials, under Lu Xueqi's deliberate guidance, they silently and slowly... merged, intertwined, and finally became inseparable, completely merging into the sword embryo, becoming the most core and inseparable part of this sword.

boom--!!!

A deafening roar, as if the heavens and earth were created, exploded within the souls of Jiang Xiaochuan and Lu Xueqi! It wasn't a real sound, but rather the resonance between the magical artifact, its nascent spirituality, and its master at the moment it took shape!

All the light within the cave instantly receded! The raging power of ice and lightning, like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, all converged back into the suspended sword!

A long sword floated silently above the stone platform.

The sword is three feet and three inches long, with a straight blade and extremely smooth and elegant lines. It is eight or nine parts similar to the Tianya Divine Sword on Lu Xueqi's back!

The entire piece is based on a dark blue base.

Near the hilt of the sword, two shallow, intersecting dark blood-red patterns naturally formed on the blade, one slightly darker and the other slightly lighter.

The sword has no sharp edge, yet it naturally exudes a chilling and numbing sensation that cuts through everything.

The hilt of the sword is carved like ice jade, warm and smooth to the touch.

The entire sword exudes a strange aura that is pure, chilling, and contains immense thunderous power. Unlike the pure, cold, noble, and sacred Tianya, it has a more restrained domineering and ever-changing quality.

Successful.

Jiang Xiaochuan collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, his whole body soaked in sweat, as if he had been pulled out of the water.

But his eyes were fixed on the sword, its light frighteningly bright. His sword! His natal magic weapon! Dual attributes of ice and lightning! It looked… incredibly powerful!

Moreover, the more I look at it, the more pleasing it becomes, the more familiar it feels, as if it were originally a part of my own body.

Lu Xueqi swayed slightly and steadied herself by holding onto the stone platform. She had been using her magic at a high intensity for two consecutive days, and had even forced out a drop of her heart's essence blood, which had greatly depleted her energy, leaving her face deathly pale.

But as she looked at the completed sword, at the two parallel blood-red dark patterns on its blade, a faint, almost satisfied light flickered deep in her eyes.

She stepped forward slowly and extended her hand.

The sword seemed to possess a spirit; with a slight tremor, it flew into her hand. It felt slightly heavy and cool, but soon a warm sensation, like a connection to her blood, came through it, especially when she gripped the hilt, where the two dark, blood-red patterns seemed to heat up slightly.

She gently stroked the sword, feeling the powerful and harmonious ice and lightning energy within it, as well as the deepest connection that resonated faintly with her own blood essence.

"The sword is complete." Lu Xueqi turned around and handed the sword to Jiang Xiaochuan, who was struggling to sit up. Her voice was tired but gentle. "Try it."

Jiang Xiaochuan took it with trembling hands.

The moment the sword touched his hand, a strange sensation instantly spread throughout his body. It was icy cold, but quickly became docile, as if it were an extension of his arm.

The ice and lightning power within the sword did not repel him at all, acting as if it were his own arm. He could even vaguely sense the sword spirit's nascent joy and closeness.

"Thank you... thank you, Junior Sister Lu!" Jiang Xiaochuan was so excited that he couldn't speak coherently. He held the sword and looked at it from left to right, unable to put it down.

This sword is so cool! It's even better than I imagined! Wait, this design... isn't it a bit too similar to Tianya? They look like a pair... Ugh, what am I thinking?

"Let's give it a name." Lu Xueqi looked at his childlike appearance and smiled slightly.

Naming it? Jiang Xiaochuan scratched his head.

Looking at the flowing lightning patterns on the sword, a strange thought suddenly popped into his head: How about calling it "Wait!"? In the future, when fighting with someone, if the other person rushes over, he can shout "Wait!" and then take advantage of the other person's momentary lapse in attention to stab them with his sword... It seems a bit sleazy, but maybe it will work well?

He quickly dismissed the thought.

Such a cool sword, given such a lewd name, it's such a disservice to it, and also to Junior Sister Lu who has been busy for two days.

"Junior Sister Lu, please fetch it for me." Jiang Xiaochuan looked at Lu Xueqi with sincere eyes.

"You found the materials for me, and you led the forging process. I... I only contributed a little. The success of this sword is mostly due to you. You should also be the one to name it."

Lu Xueqi looked at him, at the gratitude and trust in his eyes, and the slight guilt she felt for secretly incorporating his essence blood was instantly replaced by immense warmth and a secret joy.

Does his asking her to name it mean... he's willing for this sword to bear her mark as well?

Her gaze fell on the sword, looking at its deep icy blue and flowing silver lightning, and at the two parallel blood-red dark patterns, and she remained silent for a moment.

"This sword is made of cold iron jade as its bone and heavenly thunder stone as its soul. Ice and thunder are born together, pure and awe-inspiring, and it contains the power of heavenly thunder." She spoke slowly, her voice flowing clearly in the silent stone cave.

"Its color is ice, its pattern is thunder marrow; its nature is upright and its form... inherits the charm of Tianya."

She paused, then looked up at Jiang Xiaochuan, her eyes seeming to melt away like ice and snow, and ripple like spring water.

"Let's call it 'Snow River'."

"Snow, taken from its purity and immaculateness, also subtly echoes the 'snow' of Tianya." Her voice was soft, yet carried a strange weight.

"The word 'chuan' (川) refers to rivers, signifying their capacity to contain all streams and their ceaseless flow. It also subtly alludes to the movement and ever-changing nature of thunder. Snow covers mountains and rivers, creating a vast and silent landscape; thunder roars through the heavens, its power magnificent. Stillness and movement complement each other, strength and gentleness are in harmony."

Snow River.

Jiang Xiaochuan murmured the name. Xuechuan. It sounded beautiful, and it evoked a lot of imagery.

And... Xue, the Xue from Lu Xueqi. Chuan, the Chuan from Jiang Xiaochuan. This name...

His heart skipped a beat, and he looked up at Lu Xueqi. Lu Xueqi was also looking at him, her eyes calm, but there seemed to be a barely perceptible blush on her ears.

Is it a coincidence? Or...?

Jiang Xiaochuan didn't dare to think too much about it, only feeling a little hot on his face.

He lowered his head, his fingers gently tracing the cool blade, feeling the subtle protrusions of the two dark, blood-red patterns, and repeated in a low voice, "Xuechuan... alright, let's call it Xuechuan."

From this day forward, it will be his Snow River Sword. His natal magic weapon, connected to his blood and mind.

As Lu Xueqi looked at him and the sword, at the perfect harmony between them, the last trace of weariness in the depths of her eyes vanished, replaced by a gentle, clear light.

Outside the cave, Tian Ling'er and Xiao Bai, who had been on edge the whole time, also sensed the powerful sword intent and spiritual fluctuations that surged into the sky and then instantly receded.

"It's done!" Tian Ling'er stood up abruptly, feeling both expectant and inexplicably uneasy.

Little White also raised its head, looked at the cave entrance, squinted its eyes, and gently swayed its tail.

Before long, the vines at the cave entrance swayed, and Lu Xueqi and Jiang Xiaochuan walked out one after the other.

In Jiang Xiaochuan's hand, he held a longsword that was remarkably similar to Lu Xueqi's Tianya sword, yet it radiated an icy blue-silver-white light. His face showed weariness, but even more so excitement and exhilaration, his eyes sparkling.

Tian Ling'er's gaze was instantly drawn to the sword. What a beautiful sword!

And... it looks just like Lu Xueqi's sword! Her heart skipped a beat, and an indescribable bitterness welled up inside her.

She looked at Lu Xueqi, whose face was pale but whose eyes were clear. She stood there quietly, her gaze fixed on Jiang Xiaochuan and the sword in his hand.

"Xiao Chuan, the sword is finished? How is it?" Tian Ling'er suppressed her emotions, forced a smile, and walked over.

"Hmm! It's finished!" Jiang Xiaochuan presented the Xuechuan Sword to her like a treasure.

"Senior Sister Ling'er, look! Junior Sister Lu helped me refine this! It has both ice and lightning attributes! It's called Xuechuan!"

"Xue...Chuan?" Tian Ling'er took the sword, her fingers brushing against the cold blade, feeling the pure and harmonious power of ice and lightning within, her heart trembling.

The quality of this sword far surpasses her Amber Crimson Silk! Upon hearing the name, her fingers paused, and she looked up at Lu Xueqi.

Lu Xueqi was also looking at her, her gaze calm and unwavering.

Snow River.

Snow. Sichuan.

Tian Ling'er suddenly felt the sword in her hand was a little hot. She forced a smile and handed the sword back to Jiang Xiaochuan: "Very...very good. Congratulations, Xiaochuan."

"Thank you, Senior Sister!" Jiang Xiaochuan, oblivious to her subtle unease, happily sheathed his sword... uh, without a scabbard. Only then did he realize that he had the sword, but no scabbard.

"Go back and ask Uncle Tian to help you forge a sword sheath," Lu Xueqi said, as if she knew what he was thinking.

"First, nurture it within your body. With your current cultivation level, you cannot control it for an extended period. You need to nourish it daily with your true essence and blood to deepen the connection."

"Hmm!" Jiang Xiaochuan nodded, and with a thought, the Snow River Sword transformed into a blue and white stream of light, disappearing into his dantian. As soon as the sword entered his body, he immediately felt a cool and comfortable sensation, which slowly merged with his true essence.

Xiao Bai walked over, circled Jiang Xiaochuan once, and twitched its nose, seemingly sniffing his scent. Then it jumped onto his shoulder, lay down, and closed its eyes.

"Go back," Lu Xueqi said, looking at Jiang Xiaochuan. "You need to meditate for a while to stabilize your cultivation and familiarize yourself with Xuechuan."

"Okay." Jiang Xiaochuan nodded. After being away for four months and experiencing so much, he really wanted to go back to Dazhu Peak.

I wonder if Master and Mistress will be startled when they see his sword? And Lin Jingyu and Zhang Xiaofan, they should have already gone up the mountain, right?

The three (plus one fox) took off on their magical artifacts and flew towards Qingyun Mountain.

Tian Ling'er controlled the Zhu Ling, flying beside Jiang Xiaochuan. She watched his profile, which shone with excitement because he had obtained the sword, and then looked at Lu Xueqi's aloof and upright back in front of her. A little bit of bitterness and unease in her heart spread quietly like vines.

Snow River. Snow River.

This name, like a thorn, gently pierced her heart.

As Lu Xueqi, who was riding her sword ahead, felt a faint but clear resonance and sense of closeness from the Tianya sword in her dantian to a certain place behind her, her lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile.

Snow River. Her snow, his river.

From then on, the two swords and the two people were connected in a way that could never be severed.