Roaming the Four Seas, Chapter 131: Breaking the Rule

Madam Mo cut him off. Her narrow, elongated eyes narrowed slightly as she asked, "What kind of business?"

Island Master Mo’s expression turned bitter, as if he had just swallowed a whole, extremely sour lemon; his features contorted together. "I never mentioned any business..." His defense was even paler and weaker than his complexion.

Madam Mo turned to look at Luo Jinghong and asked, "Disciple, what business is the old man talking about?"

Luo Jinghong did not hide anything and told her master the whole story: Su Ye had promised one million taels of gold to purchase ten array compasses.

"Daoist Su, may I take a look at your hands?" When Madam Mo spoke to Su Ye, she was completely devoid of her usual haughtiness.

Su Ye held out his hands, palms facing upward. Madam Mo pressed her fingers together and bent them slightly; the ten array compasses, which had already acknowledged their master, lit up instantly. The way this top-tier artifact refiner suppressed the artifact spirits refreshed Su Ye’s understanding.

"The Heaven-Mystic Stones used to craft these ten compasses were smelted with phoenix blood; they are indeed more expensive than ordinary array compasses," Madam Mo stated truthfully. "Given your relationship with Jinghong, I will give them to you as a gift."

Island Master Mo’s cheeks flushed crimson, and his eyes bulged. Without even turning her head, Madam Mo asked softly, "Old man, do you have an objection to my decision?"

Her voice was like a silver needle, instantly popping a balloon. Island Master Mo wilted immediately. "If you say give them away for free, then I suppose we must give them away for free."

"You still have an objection."

"Daoist Su, those ten array compasses are yours, and I will also decorate your Primordial Sword for free." Though he said the words quickly as if they were burning his tongue, the corner of Island Master Mo’s mouth twitched uncontrollably.

Su Ye’s cultivation was not yet high enough to transmit his voice, so he formed the words with his lips: "Old Mo, do not worry. The money you are owed will not be a single cent short."

Madam Mo noticed this but did not expose him. "Summon the Primordial Sword, and I will decorate it for you."

Island Master Mo was so surprised his eyes widened. "You... haven't you washed your hands of this?"

"If there truly is a choice of destiny, I am willing to believe that Daoist Su is that person," Madam Mo said softly. "I washed my hands of it because of the coldness of the world. Making an exception this time is for the sake of all living beings."

Island Master Mo seized the moment to flatter her: "Your righteousness is profound, my lady."

The four of them moved to the courtyard where Madam Mo refined her spiritual treasures. High above, a pale blue paper crane, artificially imbued with spiritual energy, fluttered about as if it were a living creature at a height slightly above a person’s head. Reflected in the bright moon of the distant sky, it appeared exceptionally romantic.

In Madam Mo’s arms, the cat, Heixuan, tilted its head, staring intently at the fluttering paper crane. Despite being able to transform into human form, it still could not escape its nature.

The faint power of the arrays separated the water and fire elements in the air. Water vapor floated upward, while the fire’s intensity hung below. The environment here was extremely suitable for artifact refining.

Madam Mo waved her hand, summoning a stone platform. "Place the Primordial Sword on the platform."

Su Ye did as he was told. The scabbard of the Primordial Sword automatically detached, transforming into clear energy and returning to the jade gourd.

"Your timing is impeccable," Madam Mo said, her gaze sweeping over the Primordial Sword. "Any later, and the sword spirit would have perished beyond salvation."

Su Ye rarely felt panic, but at this moment, his heart began to race. The sword was the foundation of his existence. The emotions carried by the Primordial Sword, and the scenery he had walked through along his journey, could not be replaced by any ordinary blade.

"Madam Mo, this junior is willing to do anything, if only to restore the Primordial."

Island Master Mo patted Su Ye’s wrist lightly and smiled, saying, "Rest assured, my wife is no ordinary artifact refiner... As long as she takes action, there will be no issues at all."

Su Ye felt a little more at ease, but still puzzled, he asked, "Madam Mo, why did the Primordial Sword fall into such a state?"

"You must ask Jinghong about that," Madam Mo said, smiling at Luo Jinghong.

"Me?" A trace of bewilderment flashed through Luo Jinghong’s bright eyes. Her demeanor at that moment was like a student being called upon by their teacher in a private school.

"Did you not forge this sword yourself?" Madam Mo’s eyes were filled with warmth.

"How did you know... is it from rumors in the martial arts world?" Luo Jinghong’s voice was as soft as a mosquito.

"A person’s nature is determined from birth. Whether good or evil, it is difficult to change," Madam Mo said. "The same is true for refining artifacts and alchemy. Throughout one’s life, everything one crafts will be imprinted with one’s own traits."

"What are my traits?" Luo Jinghong appeared blank. Although she looked no different from an ordinary person, she was, in the end, someone whose soul had been shattered, and her reactions were slightly slow.

"Utterly true and pure, great love without a sound," Madam Mo replied. "The six gifts you presented to me all stayed within this principle."

Luo Jinghong smiled shyly. She turned to look at Su Ye, her eyes curving into crescents.

Su Ye, whose mind was sharp, instantly realized where the problem lay. The highest realm of the sword path is the unity of heaven and man. Even though Su Ye, whose sword mastery was unrivaled in the world, had awakened his sword energy while searching for the Five Spirit Orbs, the integration of man and sword was usually quite smooth.

The Primordial Sword was black and white in appearance; it seemed to contain both good and evil, but in reality, it was utterly true and pure. Su Ye’s soul and self-consciousness were too powerful; those who opposed him, even clones of the Human Emperor with peerless blade techniques, would have their momentum crushed by him.

The Primordial Sword, still a mortal-grade weapon, would always submit to its master when merging with Su Ye. Combined with the excessive killing karma he had incurred, this led to the disorder of the sword spirit. That was why Madam Mo had spoken of the "perishing of the sword spirit."

"Madam Mo, how should this situation be resolved?" Su Ye was a clever man and, by habit, sought the guidance of an expert. He immediately realized that Luo Jinghong needed to learn, so he whispered the situation he had deduced to her in full detail.

After hearing his explanation, Luo Jinghong felt as if she had just awakened from a dream. With a look of admiration, she said, "Brother Su, you are so amazing."

"Just a normal performance, nothing worth mentioning."

Island Master Mo smiled and said, "You two had best not blink, or you will easily miss my wife’s refining process."

"Old man, don't talk nonsense," Madam Mo laughed. "Now that I have taken on a disciple, how could I not let her see it clearly?"

Madam Mo summoned a spiritual treasure and injected it with spiritual energy, causing it to envelop the stone platform. The three items flew into it in an instant. As they passed through the barrier of spiritual energy, their speed slowed significantly.

Three clusters of flames melted the Heaven-Mystic Stone, the Heavenly Demon Gold, and the fusion liquid, pouring them into the Primordial Sword in the most balanced manner possible. The Heaven-Mystic Stone, the foundational material for all spiritual treasures, acted as a guardian, protecting the twice-smelted blade.

The process, which happened in the blink of an eye, was presented before the viewers in exceptionally clear detail, thanks to the deliberate slowing effect of the spiritual treasure.

Island Master Mo looked at Su Ye with a smile. "With my wife, Luo Jinghong will surely learn many true skills."

Su Ye responded with a smile, but within his sea of consciousness, something was beginning to germinate. He had felt this same sensation when creating his first four techniques. It was a subtle, indescribable quality, as he merged his past experiences with all he had learned. It was like standing behind a mountain, yet possessing the ability to soar over the hills...

Luo Jinghong’s smiling face brought Su Ye back from his trance. She held the newly refined Primordial Sword in her hands and chuckled, "Brother Su, please take your sword."

Su Ye reached out with his slender hand and gently grasped the Primordial Sword, which looked unchanged on the outside. Within its righteous yet wicked aura, there now existed a mountain-like, immovable, and absolute truth and purity. Although it remained a mortal-grade weapon, it was now worlds apart from what it had been before.

The Primordial Sword was reborn.