Chapter 67 - 42: Black Abyss Sword Spirit Awakens

But Long Yan couldn’t move an inch.

He stared at Li Shuang in a daze.

Li Shuang, who had once poured countless efforts into him, who had always encouraged and protected him, was now brandishing her sword at him... for a Black Abyss Sword Spirit that hadn’t even awakened.

All the special treatment that had once been his...

’Will it all belong to someone else from now on?’

"I..." Long Yan managed to force the word out.

It seemed he wanted to say more.

Inside the Black Abyss Space, the tiny Sword Spirit leaped for joy as specks of light began to appear on her body.

Seeing Li Shuang defend her like this filled her entire being with delight.

The points of light gradually converged, and the Sword Spirit’s eyes slowly opened.

Li Shuang had been about to turn and go back inside when she suddenly froze, a flicker of joy crossing her features.

The Black Abyss Sword Spirit...

’Is it about to awaken?’

Li Shuang’s steps came to a halt.

Long Yan’s eyes lit up, a spark of hope rekindling in their depths. ’Has she changed her mind?’

However, in the next moment...

Long Yan’s expression changed abruptly.

The previously jet-black body of the Black Abyss Sword suddenly began to pulse with light.

Those with experience already knew what was happening.

Someone cried out in alarm.

"A Sword Spirit! The Sword Spirit is awakening!"

"The Black Abyss Sword was with Ye Zhaozhao for years and never awakened a Sword Spirit. It’s only been with Li Shuang for, what, half a month? And the Sword Spirit is awakening already?"

"Could it be... that the Black Abyss Sword Spirit couldn’t awaken because... it had the wrong master?"

As the crowd murmured among themselves,

Ye Zhaozhao’s face turned grim.

She stared daggers at the Black Abyss Sword.

’Damn it, damn it, damn it!’

When she had first obtained the Black Abyss, she too had tried several times to awaken its Sword Spirit.

But that Sword Spirit was a complete dud! No matter how she called to it or tried to stimulate it, it showed no reaction at all!

’If that hadn’t been the case, why would I have sealed the sword away?’

And yet, after such a short time with Li Shuang, it was actually about to awaken?!

Ye Zhaozhao’s expression twisted with fury. She felt like she was going insane!

’I’m a transmigrator! I was supposed to be all-powerful in this world! Why is everyone and everything suddenly turning against me?!’

Ye Zhaozhao gritted her teeth, her eyes turning bloodshot.

’No, I don’t need to panic yet.’

’I tried for so long, and this Black Abyss Sword Spirit never woke up. That proves its aptitude must be limited!’

’So what if Li Shuang manages to awaken it now?’

’It might turn out to be an even more useless Sword Spirit than Long Yan!’

Ye Zhaozhao stared intently at the light.

She was in no hurry to leave anymore.

She had to see for herself what this Black Abyss Sword Spirit would look like once it awakened!

Long Yan was even more motionless, his eyes glued to the Black Abyss Sword, not even blinking.

’A new Sword Spirit?’

’Could a new Sword Spirit possibly have better synergy with Li Shuang than he did?’

’He refused to believe his place in Li Shuang’s heart could be replaced so easily!’

Li Shuang had no attention to spare for anyone else now.

The Black Abyss Sword’s Spirit was about to awaken, and all of her focus was concentrated on the sword.

Over the past few days, she had slowly noticed the changes in the Black Abyss Sword Spirit.

As her comprehension of the Sword Dao grew, she first condensed a Sword Domain, then entered the Heartless Sword Way. With each step, the Sword Spirit’s soul body became more solid, but it was always just one step shy of finally waking.

Li Shuang wasn’t worried.

She had discovered that every time she was victorious in a battle, the Sword Spirit would move one step closer to truly awakening.

As long as she kept winning, the Black Abyss Sword Spirit’s awakening was only a matter of time.

But today, her comprehension of the Sword Dao hadn’t suddenly increased, nor had she won any battles.

Yet, without any warning, the Black Abyss Sword Spirit was awakening!

This wasn’t her first time awakening a Sword Spirit, but Li Shuang still felt a little nervous.

When a Sword Spirit first manifests, it and the Sword Cultivator who awakened it undergo a compatibility test.

Under the Heavenly Dao Rules, a phenomenon occurs the moment a Sword Cultivator and Sword Spirit make their first contact.

Different colors of light will appear depending on their level of compatibility.

The lowest compatibility is represented by white light.

Then comes green, blue, and orange.

Orange light signifies top-tier compatibility.

And above orange...

Legend has it that some have produced a purple light when first awakening a Sword Spirit. This purple light is exceedingly rare. Its appearance signifies not only perfect compatibility between the Sword Cultivator and Sword Spirit but also one hundred percent mutual trust.

Perfect compatibility and one hundred percent trust.

Both are indispensable; only when they exist together can the purple light appear.

When this happens, the Sword Cultivator and Sword Spirit will form a Heavenly Dao Contract under the witness of the Heavenly Dao, a pact that transcends ordinary rules. A cultivator who practices with a perfectly compatible Sword Spirit also has a much higher chance of reaching the Third Rank of "Human and Sword Unity" than other Sword Cultivators.

However, the purple light was a matter of serendipity. Throughout countless ages, the records of the entire Nanyan Continent only contained two or three such examples.

Even the Founding Ancestor failed to produce a purple light when he awakened his Sword Spirit.

Putting aside such legendary matters, the crowd was curious about what level of compatibility Li Shuang and the Black Abyss Sword Spirit would have.

"Back when Senior Sister Li awakened Long Yan, it was a blue compatibility, right?" Shen Yue murmured.

Blue compatibility was already quite good.

The vast majority of Sword Cultivators had either green or blue compatibility when awakening their Sword Spirits.

White and orange were both very rare.

Long Yan pressed his lips together and couldn’t help but say, "This Black Abyss and Li Shuang will probably only have white compatibility!"

He couldn’t help but feel a little hopeful.

’If it’s only white compatibility, maybe Li Shuang will reconsider her choice.’

Ye Zhaozhao snorted coldly, but for once, her thoughts aligned with Long Yan’s.

’It would be best if Li Shuang and the Black Abyss only have white compatibility!’

White compatibility meant the Sword Cultivator and Sword Spirit were extremely ill-suited. Forcing themselves to cultivate together would only hold them both back!

Only white compatibility would make her feel even slightly better.

The result was about to be revealed.

The crowd held their breath, waiting in silence.

Soon, a phantasmal figure appeared above the Black Abyss Sword.

The Sword Spirit had the appearance of a little girl. Her hair was done up in two small buns, and she had a round face with crystal-clear eyes. Clad in a festive red dress conjured from her own form, she was the very image of a cherubic doll from a traditional New Year’s painting.

The little girl spotted Li Shuang immediately.

She gave Li Shuang a sweet smile. "Sister Li Shuang!"

She skipped and bounced as she ran toward Li Shuang.

Li Shuang’s gaze softened involuntarily.

She gently extended her hand.

The Sword Spirit was still an incorporeal form and could only be touched by using Spiritual Power. Thus, a layer of Ice Attribute Spiritual Power coated Li Shuang’s hand.

Ice Attribute Spiritual Power was famous for its frosty chill, but in Li Shuang’s palm, it pulsed with a soft, gentle light.

The little girl unhesitatingly placed her hand in Li Shuang’s palm.

Long Yan’s pupils contracted violently.

’So!’

’What level of compatibility will it be?!’