Cohabitation with Sword Spirit

Chapter 520 - 21: Professional Female Secretary

May 13, 2018

In the early hours, the moonlight spilled down onto the Myriad Forms Garden above Heaven-Reaching City, casting silver light across the ground.

Wang Jiu stepped out of the room, his feet treading on the Silver Frost, gazing up at the bright moon overhead.

This moon, so different from the Jiuzhou Era, once seemed so unfamiliar, yet now has become quite dear.

In the blink of an eye, a year has passed.

A year ago, a lively voice of a young girl awakened him from a sleep of ten thousand years, bringing with it a life in a new world.

Now he has gradually adapted to life in Xiangzhou, getting used to a world without the Demon Race, without the Myriad Immortals Alliance.

According to an old friend’s words, the original life goals have been achieved, and it’s time to consider new ones.

For instance, someone suggested finding a girlfriend and researching the reproductive behavior between sword and human...

Of course, Wang Jiu doesn’t plan to adopt his old friend’s advice, as the Celestial Divine Sword, being a perfect creation without gender concept, imposing the reproductive behavior of humans, those flawed beings, would undoubtedly be a form of desecration.

Wang Jiu certainly isn’t interested in self-defilement, so his old friend’s kind intentions are politely declined. If she is truly persistent, Wang Jiu might consider forging her into a sword too, so she can experience the wonder of a perfect superior being firsthand. At that time, surely she wouldn’t cling to lowly interests any longer.

But that’s a matter for later, as for now what needs to be done...

Looking down at the tranquil scenery of the Myriad Forms Garden, Wang Jiu felt a slight subtlety again. As one of the sanctuaries of human civilization, there’s always a faint hint of the Demon Race here.

This connection is very weak and clearly comes from the influence of the First Generation Sect Leader, not posing any actual threat, so Wang Jiu didn’t plan to make a big fuss. However, being an absolute expert in demon-slaying, staying in such an environment is somewhat uncomfortable.

However, if he inherits the position of Sect Leader, becoming the master of the Saint Sect and even the world, this Myriad Forms Garden would become his domain, every blade and tree at his disposal, and Wang Jiu already plans to transform it into a Myriad Swords Amusement Park.

Such a privilege Wang Jiu has never enjoyed before.

During his human days, he grew up in a strictly regulated Sword Sect, rising from a humble servant to Head Disciple, eventually leaving the sect to pursue broader horizons... but throughout, always within strict rules, he never truly owned a piece of land he could call his own.

What belonged to him was only the sword in his hands—no, strictly speaking, even that sword belonged to the sect. What truly belonged to him was the sword in his heart, an invisible sword bestowed by the unique Sword Pool between heaven and earth. Later, as his swordsmanship reached Great Success, he left the sect and founded his own, wandering the world.

The concept of one’s own home is indeed quite unfamiliar. And this Myriad Forms Garden, even through the eyes of the Jiuzhou Era, can be considered exquisite and beautiful.

This is the headquarters of the Saint Sect, a quiet transparent garden suspended above Heaven-Reaching City. Its area is not large, and the number of people it can accommodate is quite limited. Including the standard reserved guest space, this aerial garden can only hold a mere hundred people.

For many years, the Saint Sect has never considered expanding the Myriad Forms Garden. Even though the technology and resources have long been sufficient, the Saint Sect has chosen to limit its population rather than expanding the Myriad Forms Garden by even an inch. This restraint and self-limitation originating from ancestor Saints is one reason why the Saint Sect’s reputation hasn’t declined over two thousand years.

But this is clearly just a surface reason.

The Myriad Forms Garden was built two thousand years ago by two Sect Leaders utilizing Primordial Relics to create this era-transcending miracle. And at that time, the Myriad Forms Garden was spacious enough for the Saint Sect—with less than fifteen members sufficient to manage the newly forming Xiangzhou civilization.

However, with Xiangzhou’s rapid development, the Seven Great Noble Families respectively left Heaven-Reaching City, heading to different regions to establish new cultural footholds, leaving the Saint Sect understaffed.

When everyone was in Heaven-Reaching City, the Sect Leader could shout loudly to be heard, but when cities like QingCyan Cloud City and Celestial Craft City were established and large populations began migrating, the Saint Sect could only contact the Noble Family Heads with costly letters or by sending envoys.

The world is vast, and the Saint Sect’s hundred-odd members can no longer manage it properly.

Therefore, over the years, the Saint Sect has been focusing on the broader strategic balance for Xiangzhou, with detailed execution basically autonomous by the Seven Great Noble Families and handled by the Three Academies.

So some say the real controllers of Xiangzhou are not the lofty Saint Sect, but the Three Academies.

Currently, what the Sect Leader entrusts him to deal with is precisely the issue of the Three Academies.

Due to the unexpected termination of the Cyan Lotus Sword Academy’s inheritance, it’s necessary to quickly find someone to reverse-engineer the Cyan Lotus Sword Manual, ensuring the strategic balance among the Three Academies—even though they are all under the Saint Sect’s leadership, the competition and conflicts between the academies are ceaseless, and it’s always been the effort of various parties over two thousand years maintaining the balance to ensure peace and stability across the continent. Now, with the Cyan Lotus Sword Academy clearly in low spirits, the Saint Sect is naturally committed to supporting it.

Regarding the reverse-engineering of the Cyan Lotus Sword Manual, Wang Jiu has not yet seen detailed materials, but from the overview, it doesn’t seem particularly challenging to reconstruct. Its core system is built from the Primordial Era’s legacy, which is Wang Jiu’s forte. As long as he obtains the Sword Technique Atlas derived from the Cyan Lotus Sword Manual, Wang Jiu is confident to deduce a set of perfect Original Sword Manual within three days—it may differ from the original Cyan Lotus Sword Manual, but the efficacy will certainly be superior.

Just as he thought of this, Wang Jiu suddenly heard footsteps from behind.

Shen Qingming’s distinctive stride rhythm is something Wang Jiu would never fail to recognize.

"Good evening, Qingming."

"Ah Jiu, good evening." The girl’s voice was filled with exhaustion, just five simple words, and by the end, she couldn’t help but yawn.

Shen Qingming rubbed her eyes and asked, "Why are you still not resting so late... Are you thinking about the Sect Leader’s matter?"

"Mm." Wang Jiu nodded in acknowledgment.

Shen Qingming’s expression immediately became heavy.

Things were really developing in a bad direction.

——

Two days ago, Wang Jiu and the others returned from the Golden Cloud Peak ruins, and then the Saint Sect Leader honored them as distinguished guests, settling them temporarily in the Myriad Forms Garden.

This sparked quite a bit of discussion. Outsiders becoming honored guests at the main branch of the Saint Sect and staying at the Myriad Forms Garden was news important enough to be included in the annual events. Everyone across the continent knew how coveted the Myriad Forms Garden was. Even the prestigious heads of the Seven Great Noble Families might not have the chance to stay there when they came to Heaven-Reaching City. And among these three people, only Zhao Chenlu barely seemed qualified, while the other two looked quite odd no matter how you looked at it.

Of course, when the Saint Sect Leader acts, there’s naturally no need to explain to others, but strange things are still strange, and a Sect Leader always needs a reason for his actions. At this time, an incredible rumor spread.

The Saint Sect Leader was intending to hand over his position to Wang Jiu.

Although it was a completely unsubstantiated rumor, its spreading still caused a considerable uproar. It was well known that the succession of the Saint Sect Leader didn’t require any complicated procedures. As long as the Sect Leader acknowledged and imparted his True Blood, the succession was completed. The evaluation of the successor was entirely subjective with no rigid standards. To put it harshly, if the Sect Leader found a dog to be pleasing, no one could stop him from passing the position to it.

However, in the past two thousand years, none of the previous Saint Sect Leaders have done anything so absurd. Quite the contrary; they were more cautious than anyone else in choosing a successor, often facing risks of a generation gap. And the final chosen successor always commanded the admiration and consent of people everywhere.

But this time was special. Wang Jiu’s true identity was still a secret to most people. To the world, this was merely a somewhat famous Honored Guest Elder from Cyan Cloud City. What virtues or abilities did he possess to take over as Saint Sect Leader?

This was the kind of question that troubled Shen Qingming as well.

Saint Sect Leader? Just because of that so-called Celestial Divine Sword that could drive people to death? Is the apocalypse for Xiangzhou coming?

And more importantly: if he really became the Sect Leader, would he still return to Cyan Cloud City and continue as the Honored Guest Elder of the Li Family?

Would he still return to Shen Garden and be... Shen Qingming’s master?

——

"Of course, that’s impossible."

To the girl’s troubled question, Wang Jiu gave a resounding answer.

Then, facing Shen Qingming, whose face had turned pale, Wang Jiu patiently began to explain.

"Being the Saint Sect Leader is a very important job, concerning the well-being of billions in Xiangzhou. It requires a significant amount of my energy, so I’ll definitely have to stay in Heaven-Reaching City to ensure work efficiency. If I were to reside far away in Cyan Cloud City, it would be inevitable that urgent work would get delayed. Moreover, Heaven-Reaching City connects with the most entrances to the Primordial Ruins, so living here makes it easier for me to use my spare time to search for clues about the Jiu Immortal Venerables."

This explanation was reasonable, and Shen Qingming couldn’t dispute it, so she said, "Then... I’ll stay with you in Heaven-Reaching City."

Wang Jiu was immediately curious, "You want to stay in Heaven-Reaching City? Why?"

"For... studying the advanced Immortal Cultivation culture of Heaven-Reaching City up close?"

"Alright, then you can stay."

"Wait, are you accepting this arrangement so easily?!"

Wang Jiu was curious again, "Aren’t you? Then why are you staying?"

"It’s for..." Shen Qingming’s face turned a bit red with embarrassment, hating herself for being talkative. What was wrong with the previous arrangement?!

With a touch of girlish shyness, Shen Qingming said, "It’s to take care of you, this clueless Celestial Dull Sword. Although you’re exceptionally intelligent, you’re not yet accustomed to human society, right? You need someone by your side to prevent any faux pas."

Wang Jiu said, "This is indeed a serious problem, so I’ve already asked a professional for help. The Sect Leader promised that before I officially take over, he will provide me with a professional female secretary..."

"That professional female secretary isn’t surnamed Zhao, is she?!"