Chapter 53: The Celestial Rainbow Sword and the Golden-Scaled White Feather Robe

Fang Wang was wholly absorbed in the act of forging his spiritual artifact. Within the treasure spirit domain, the hilt of his sword had taken on a striking clarity, its fine lines and intricate patterns now fully etched. At a glance, the hilt was exquisitely crafted, though not yet breathtaking. Determined to make his sword truly unique, Fang Wang had fashioned the hilt in a lustrous white, as if carved from pristine jade. The sword guard was shaped into a pair of dragon claws, from which the blade would one day extend.

But at this moment, he had no intention to create the blade itself.

From the outside, one could see that the sword hilt above his head had solidified, voraciously devouring the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

“Its quality is extraordinary,” Zhou Xue thought to herself. With the Celestial Palace Halberd as precedent, she had no doubt that Fang Wang’s second life-bound treasure spirit would be equally impressive.

Time slipped by.

Fang Wang continually infused the hilt with his vision of this second life-bound treasure. The sword hilt, sensitive to his intent, began to emit a dazzling radiance above his head, one so bright it shone even in broad daylight.

After another hour or so, Fang Wang rose slowly from his meditative seat. He lifted his right hand and grasped the sword hilt above his head. Misty currents of spiritual energy swirled around him, drawing the gazes of Zhou Xue and Little Zi toward his right hand.

Sunbeams pierced the thunderclouds, slanting across the precipice, but the hilt—untouched by sunlight—shone even more brilliantly, like a star in the night sky.

Suddenly!

Fang Wang’s wrist flicked, and from between the dragon claws of the sword guard, a blinding white light burst forth, scattering the surrounding fog.

Little Zi’s serpentine eyes widened, Zhou Xue raised a brow.

Before them, the white light took shape as a blade, four fingers wide and half a zhang long. Fang Wang raised the sword with one hand, the blade of light hovering above his head. He looked up, the sword’s gleam illuminating his face with a fierce brilliance.

A smile played at Fang Wang’s lips. With a swift upward motion of his wrist, the blade of white light cleaved toward the heavens—not quickly, but in that instant, the thunderclouds parted as though he had split the sky itself with a colossal rift. The spectacle was awe-inspiring, leaving Little Zi agape.

There was no thunderous sound, no flamboyant display of sword-qi; with a simple swing, Fang Wang seemed to have torn the sky asunder. How magnificent it was!

His eyes glimmered with delight. Unlike the poison-wielding or soul-capturing artifacts, he had designed this sword for one thing only: unrivaled sharpness, the ability to cleave through anything.

“This sword shall be named Celestial Rainbow,” he murmured, sealing its name.

As he spoke, the Celestial Rainbow Sword in his grasp erupted with an imposing aura, stirring the spiritual currents around him into a howling gale that swept in all directions.

Thunder rolled—the entire mountain trembled, as if welcoming the descent of a celestial sovereign!

Little Zi clung tightly to the rocks, nearly blown away.

Zhou Xue’s hair was whipped across her eyes by the wind; she brushed it aside, squinting at the Celestial Rainbow Sword in Fang Wang’s hand.

Feeling the sword’s might, Fang Wang was thoroughly satisfied. This time, the Celestial Palace did not interfere, for he was outside the sect, and the commotion of his first spiritual artifact’s birth did not repeat itself. Yet the aura of the Celestial Rainbow Sword was unmistakably formidable.

It was far beyond the rank of any Earthly Origin Spirit!

Whether it could rival the Celestial Palace Halberd was another question. The halberd contained immense power, and as Fang Wang’s cultivation grew, so too did the strength he could draw from it. The artifact’s limits were yet to be seen.

He slowly lowered his right arm. The blade of white light shrank, withdrawing into the sword guard until only the hilt remained in his hand.

In future battles, Celestial Palace Halberd in his right hand, Celestial Rainbow Sword in his left—who could stand against him?

Fang Wang gazed at the sword hilt, growing fonder the longer he looked. If this sword existed in an online game, it would surely be coveted by all. What man doesn’t love a sword of light?

He wondered if such swords existed in the cultivation world.

“All right, time to get dressed,” came Zhou Xue’s voice, startling Fang Wang into realizing he was still unclothed—standing tall and proud, no less.

He quickly stored the Celestial Rainbow Sword back in his treasure spirit domain, summoned his storage pouch, fetched his clothes, and dressed in haste.

Seeing he was presentable, Zhou Xue said, “It’s time for us to go our separate ways. I must continue searching for what I seek.”

“Do you need my help?” Fang Wang asked.

He sighed inwardly; being seen like that was far from pleasant.

Zhou Xue shook her head. “Where I’m headed is extremely dangerous. I’m better off alone. Farewell.”

With that, she turned and leaped into the air. A flying sword shot from her storage pouch, rapidly expanding beneath her feet, carrying her swiftly to the horizon.

Fang Wang watched her go, feeling a pang of regret. Zhou Xue had always aided him, and he disliked being indebted.

When her figure finally vanished, he drew his gaze back, raising both hands to simultaneously summon the Celestial Palace Halberd and the Celestial Rainbow Sword.

With a whoosh, the Celestial Rainbow Sword’s blade of white light burst forth. Though not as long as the halberd, half a zhang was immense for a sword.

With these two life-bound treasures in hand, Fang Wang’s confidence soared.

Now, he could challenge those at the Profound Heart Realm!

He feared no one.

“Young master, your two treasures are truly impressive. But I think you lack suitable attire. I know of a place where the Great Sage once left behind a wondrous robe called the Golden-Scaled White-Feathered Garment. According to the clues I inherited, it’s at least a supreme-grade magic artifact!” Little Zi declared, unable to hide its excitement.

The sight of Fang Wang splitting the heavens with his sword had deeply stirred the little serpent. Following Fang Wang, it believed it could now venture into places it once dared not tread.

“A supreme-grade magic artifact?” Fang Wang raised his brows. In the Grand Abyss Sect, such an item would cost at least a million contribution points—if it could even be bought. These artifacts were so rare that whenever one appeared, elders and direct disciples would vie for it fiercely.

“At least supreme-grade. I don’t know the exact rank,” Little Zi replied, nodding its head in a comical, snakelike manner.

“Very well. Let’s rest for a few days, then we’ll seek out this Golden-Scaled White-Feathered Garment!” Fang Wang said, gazing up at the sky. With Zhou Xue gone, the thunderclouds were gathering once more, ready to strike at any moment.

Little Zi promptly slithered onto his shoulder, and with a step, Fang Wang mounted the Azure Lord Sword and swiftly departed.

…

Seven days later.

Fang Wang alighted upon a boulder, Little Zi draped over his shoulder, tongue flicking as it stared ahead. “Young master, it’s in that temple. But there are many evil spirits there—be very careful.”

He needed no such warning; already, Fang Wang had seen several white-robed women standing atop the temple walls in the distance.

He wondered if the white-robed woman who once pursued him might be among them.

Leaping from the rock, he strode toward the temple, taking in the desolate scenery. The wilds here were barren—not a sign of spiritual herbs or treasures, nor even many flowers or plants.

As he advanced, he saw traces of blood, clearly splattered from above, all leading toward the temple.

Less than a quarter mile from the temple, he suddenly spotted a severed hand lying among the shattered stones.

Fang Wang looked up at the temple gates and saw two corpses hanging there, their hair disheveled, their genders indiscernible.

He raised his right hand. The Celestial Rainbow Sword appeared in his palm, its blade of white light materializing instantly, wreathed in Black Sun True Flame.

The Black Sun True Flame could harm evil spirits and wandering ghosts—this was the source of his confidence here.

Following his gaze, the white-robed women atop the walls all lifted their heads, revealing pale faces and empty eyes fixed upon him.

Little Zi immediately burrowed into the front of Fang Wang’s robe, leaving only its head poking out.

He paid the serpent’s fear no mind and continued forward.

Soon, he noticed one of the corpses hanging at the gate wore the torn robes of a Grand Abyss Sect direct disciple—a detail easy to miss unless one looked closely.

Its right sleeve had been shredded, the hand missing. Presumably, the hand he’d seen earlier belonged to this corpse.

Fang Wang narrowed his eyes, trying to recall the man’s face as he walked. He had seen him before, during the Nine Veins Competition, though they had never interacted, and after years spent secluded in the Celestial Palace, the name eluded him.

As Fang Wang approached the temple gate, the seven white-robed women on the wall floated into the air.

Even in broad daylight, the ascent of these fierce ghosts was a chilling sight.

Fang Wang lifted his left hand and pointed from a distance. A streak of sword-qi shot out, slicing the storage pouch from the corpse’s waist and affixing it to his own belt.

With that done, he leapt atop the temple’s entrance, preparing to vault over the wall and force his way inside.

The seven white-robed women instantly swooped toward him. Fang Wang swung his sword in a horizontal arc, unleashing a dazzling sweep of blade-qi wreathed in Black Sun True Flame—unstoppable and overwhelming.