Chapter Two: The Imperial Weapon Chooses Its Master, Celestial Phenomena Arise

"I accept."

"Miss, please reconsider—why bring misfortune upon yourself?" Some of the other peak masters were unwilling to give up and tried once more.

"My mind is made up." With those words, she bowed before Qin Tianxing in the formal gesture of apprenticeship.

"Disciple An Miaoling greets Master."

With matters settled, Qin Tian nodded and said, "From now on, you are my disciple."

Ding!

[Congratulations to the Host for accepting a remarkable disciple. This woman is the reincarnation of a Female Emperor. Take care to nurture her well.]

Reward: All martial skills learned have advanced by one level.
Reward: Supreme Sword Technique—Heart Sword Art.
Reward: Supreme-Grade Imperial Weapon—Crystal Ice Sword.

Upon hearing the voice in his mind, Qin Tian’s eyes lit up—his martial skills had all improved by a grade.

He had learned a great many martial skills: footwork, fist techniques, swordsmanship, and more. This advancement was a tremendous windfall for him.

He began to plan in his heart to find time to spar with the Monkey Demon King. He had always coveted the Monkey King’s famed wine.

As for the Supreme Sword Technique, it was even more formidable, surpassing the Imperial rank.

In excellent spirits, Qin Tian said, "Come, disciple, follow me to Sword Vault Peak."

An Miaoling nodded and followed behind him.

Before they left, Mo Wentian called out, "Don’t mislead your disciple."

Most of the pavilions on Sword Vault Peak stood deserted and decaying. The only inhabited place was the Sword Vault Pavilion.

Upon arriving, Qin Tian said, "There are many rooms. Choose one to tidy and settle yourself in. Once you’re ready, come find me."

An Miaoling nodded and left, picking a room at random.

The room was filthy and thick with dust. An Miaoling wrinkled her nose in distaste—never had she thought that she, once an empress, would have to clean it herself.

After she finished cleaning, she found Qin Tian. "Master, may I ask where I can collect spirit herbs and pills?"

Qin Tian looked at An Miaoling’s dirt-streaked face and couldn’t help reaching out to wipe it clean.

An Miaoling was stunned at first, then quickly retreated, her expression frosty as she glared at Qin Tian.

Inside, tumult raged.

She, the decisive and peerless female emperor, had just been touched on the face—taken advantage of?

In the past, no male cultivator had dared even to look at her, let alone touch her.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She made a silent vow: when her strength returned, she would cut off the hand that Qin Tian had used to touch her.

"Your face was dirty, so I helped clean it. Why are you so agitated?" Qin Tian was perplexed.

"Hmph!"

An Miaoling snorted coldly and turned away, afraid she would lose control and strike him on the spot.

After a moment’s thought, Qin Tian produced the supreme-grade imperial weapon, the Crystal Ice Sword. "Since you have acknowledged me as your master, consider this sword your initiation gift."

Without even looking, An Miaoling replied, "I don’t want it."

She didn’t believe that someone in the Spirit Movement Realm could offer anything truly valuable.

"No need to be polite. Take it—your master gives, you accept." With that, Qin Tian pressed the sword into her hands.

An Miaoling was about to throw it away when she sensed something amiss.

She probed it with her divine sense—and was stunned.

Her breath grew rapid, her heart filled with shock.

This was a supreme-grade imperial weapon!

Weapons, cultivation techniques, and pills were ranked: Yellow, Profound, Earth, Heaven, Imperial, and Supreme—each divided again into low, middle, high, and supreme grades.

In her past life, she had owned an imperial weapon, but only a low-grade one. Those who joined forces to kill her had done so mainly to seize that weapon.

No one could remain unmoved by such a treasure, and now, one such treasure rested in her own hands.

"You…you’re really giving this to me?"

"Of course. If you don’t like it, just give it back." He reached out as if to take it.

An Miaoling hurriedly clutched the sword. "I like it!"

"That’s all that matters." Qin Tian smiled kindly.

An Miaoling frowned, confused. "Why are you so good to me?"

"What do you mean, why? Didn’t I say this is your initiation gift? Isn’t it proper for a master to give such a gift to a disciple?" Qin Tian replied.

"Oh."

An Miaoling responded with a complicated expression.

Qin Tian’s gesture truly touched her, even shaking her heart, which had long been hardened on the path of merciless cultivation.

In her past life, she had wandered the world with just herself and her sword, cutting away all ties and karma.

Could she still do so in this life? In the face of such a treasure, her confidence wavered.

Then she remembered something. "How did you come by an imperial weapon?"

"I found it."

Qin Tian replied offhandedly.

"Found it? Are you trying to fool a child?" An Miaoling looked at him in disbelief.

"What else, then?" Qin Tian retorted.

An Miaoling hesitated, but then thought it might be possible after all.

Otherwise, how could someone at the Spirit Movement Realm possibly obtain a supreme-grade imperial weapon through their own efforts?

With that thought, she gradually calmed herself.

He probably didn’t know the true value of the sword, which was why he’d given it to her so easily.

For the sword’s sake, she decided to forgive him for touching her face earlier.

Understanding the situation, she immediately began the blood-binding ritual to claim ownership of the sword.

As her blood fused with the blade, the sword radiated a dazzling seven-colored light that surged skyward, triggering a phenomenon that shook heaven and earth.

Qin Tian’s expression changed; he quickly swept his hand and the phenomenon vanished at once.

But it was already too late.

On Wentian Peak, Mo Wentian—who had been cultivating—vanished from his room in an instant.

In the depths of the Wild Barbarian Mountains, several demon kings and a mysterious slumbering being opened their eyes.

In the Western Domain of East Continent, the leader of the Demon Sect looked toward the direction of the Kunlun Sword Sect and muttered, "Interesting. When I leave seclusion, I’ll pay this Kunlun Sword Sect a visit."

An Miaoling was startled as well and hurriedly withdrew the Crystal Ice Sword into her body after completing the ritual.

She had scarcely done so before Mo Wentian arrived. "Did you see anything?"

Qin Tian replied lazily, "Just saw some strange light in the sky, nothing else."

Mo Wentian seemed unconvinced and turned to An Miaoling for confirmation.

An Miaoling nodded repeatedly, agreeing with Qin Tian’s words.

Only after personally investigating did Mo Wentian relax.

"This phenomenon appeared above Kunlun. I suspect trouble is brewing for our sect. Be careful, both of you," he said, leaving with a troubled expression.

An Miaoling knew she’d caused trouble and looked at Qin Tian with embarrassment.

In her past life, she’d bound a low-grade imperial weapon, but such a phenomenon had never occurred.

She was also surprised that Qin Tian could instantly dispel the anomaly.

Her master was growing more and more mysterious in her eyes.

Qin Tian smiled. "I’m going to cook."

Having been born in the mortal world, he still had the habit of eating.

On each of Kunlun’s nine peaks stood a Demon Locking Tower, where beasts were kept for disciples to practice combat arts.

But the Demon Locking Tower of Sword Vault Peak was different—it was used to imprison edible beasts.

Qin Tian entered the tower and glanced around: two Pig Demon Kings, one Three-legged Black Chicken King.

He finally selected the Three-legged Black Chicken King, muttering to himself, "I’ll need to replenish my stock soon."

With the meat in hand, he went to the herb garden to pick some spirit leaves and other ingredients.

Once he had all he needed, he entered the kitchen and began to simmer soup and stir-fry dishes. After some time, he had prepared a meal of one soup and two dishes.