Chapter 93: The Sword's Past
Within Ji Juechen's deep meditation, memories of the past constantly buffeted him, as the embryonic form of the Law wove countless dreamscapes for him.
Age 0: Ji Juechen was born.
His father was an ordinary Great Soul Master. His Soul Power Rank was not high, and his Martial Soul was very common—just a simple iron sword.
His mother was not a Soul Master, just an ordinary person. She had no Soul Power, but she was very gentle.
Age 3: Ji Juechen watched his father Cultivate swordsmanship every day, wanting to use sword techniques to break through the limitations of his own Martial Soul.
His father practiced his sword techniques hard every day, and Ji Juechen watched with bright eyes, seemingly gaining some insights.
The phrase his father said most often was, "There are no trash Martial Souls, only trash Soul Masters." It was unknown which so-called Grandmaster he had heard that from.
But no matter how hard he practiced, his Soul Power still grew very slowly. Especially after reaching Great Soul Master, it only grew by a little over one Rank per year.
Despite this, his father did not give up hope as a Soul Master, constantly Cultivating from early morning until late at night, while his mother watched gently from the courtyard.
Age 6: It was time for Ji Juechen's Martial Soul Awakening. Under the expectant gazes of his father and mother, Ji Juechen entered an Elementary academy for his Martial Soul Awakening.
Ji Juechen did not disappoint his father's expectations and awakened a sword Martial Soul. However, his Soul Power was only at Rank 3, meaning his future as a Soul Master would be much like his father's.
His father felt no regret; he seemed very happy just that Ji Juechen possessed Soul Power, and he took the whole family out for a celebratory meal.
Age 7: Ji Juechen's Soul Power Cultivation was just like his father's, progressing very slowly. Barring any surprises, he would likely stop at Spirit Elder for the rest of his life, just like his father.
That same year, his father was promoted to Spirit Elder. He pushed himself to his limit to absorb a thousand-year Soul Ring, spending most of the family's savings.
His mother had no complaints about this. She felt gratified watching his father become a Spirit Elder and Ji Juechen diligently practicing his sword.
The family's meals became a bit simpler, but they were still happy together, and the house was filled with laughter.
While out playing, Ji Juechen happened to find a piece of Extra-Terran Meteorite Iron from beyond the heavens. This Extra-Terran Meteorite Iron held a powerful attraction for his Martial Soul.
He displayed astonishing talent in practicing sword techniques. Within just a few years, his father felt as though he had nothing left to teach him.
Age 8: He asked his father several times about the relationship between the two, but his father's answers were somewhat ambiguous; after all, a Spirit Elder's knowledge was not particularly abundant.
Ji Juechen proposed the idea of Fusion between the Extra-Terran Meteorite Iron and his Martial Soul, but his father flatly rejected it. His father believed it was too dangerous; if the Martial Soul shattered, the consequences would be unthinkable.
That same year, Ji Juechen's Soul Power broke through to Rank 10. His father wanted to take Ji Juechen out to obtain a decent hundred-year Soul Ring.
Just as the father and son were about to set out, border friction between the Sun Moon Empire and the Star Luo Empire intensified. To make up for the expenses of obtaining his thousand-year Soul Ring, his father decided to join the army to earn some extra money for a while.
After his father left, Ji Juechen entered the forest alone. Relying on his superb sword techniques, he obtained his first hundred-year Soul Ring by himself.
Age 12: Ji Juechen's Soul Power reached Rank 19. On an ordinary day of sword practice, two Great Soul Masters stood at the courtyard gate.
News of his father's death arrived. His mother broke down in tears, but Ji Juechen did not cry. He simply practiced the sword techniques his father had taught him over and over again.
Age 13: His mother fell ill and lay very weak in bed. To pay for her treatment, Ji Juechen wanted to join a Martial Soul hunting team to earn gold coins.
But every time he showed his ordinary sword Martial Soul, the Martial Soul hunting teams would shut him out. With nowhere else to turn, he could only take odd jobs to earn money for medicine.
The compensation from the Sun Moon Empire was quickly spent. Although his mother repeatedly refused to take medicine, Ji Juechen still spent all his gold coins on it.
That same year, the last gold coin was spent. Ji Juechen could no longer earn enough to buy Advanced medicine. His mother had long been at death's door, only being kept alive by expensive drugs.
Age 14: His mother passed away. Ji Juechen walked the streets in a daze. He didn't understand what the purpose of his Cultivation was.
Perhaps it was to not let his father and mother down, Ji Juechen told himself, even though his mother's final wish was for him to be safe and healthy.
Ji Juechen took out the Extra-Terran Meteorite Iron. Relying on his understanding of the sword, he forcibly replaced the core of his iron sword Martial Soul with the Extra-Terran Meteorite Iron.
Ji Juechen's mental force was insufficient, and the replacement process failed. He coughed up several mouthfuls of blood.
Ji Juechen collapsed to the ground. The iron sword formed by his Martial Soul began to crack, and the Extra-Terran Meteorite Iron fell to the side.
Amidst the blood on the ground, Ji Juechen's calm expression began to turn ferocious. He would fulfill his father's dream; he would become a powerful Soul Master, using this iron sword.
His intense will triggered the birth of Intent. The countless sword techniques in his mind gradually converged, forming the embryonic shape of his Intent.
His mental force unintentionally broke through to the Spirit Sea Realm. Driven by his Intent, the Extra-Terran Meteorite Iron and the shattered Origin fused together.
Age 15: Ji Juechen broke through to Spirit Elder. Guided by his Intent, his Soul Power increased rapidly, rising by 6 Ranks in just one year.
Age 16: Ji Juechen's Soul Power reached Rank 37. He was admitted to an Advanced academy as an exception, officially beginning his academy life.
Age 17: During a Martial Soul hunt, Ji Juechen happened to meet Jing Ziyan. He finally reached Spirit Ancestor and began traveling around with Jing Ziyan to challenge others.
Age 19: Ji Juechen's Soul Power reached Rank 50. Through constant battles, his sword techniques became more powerful, and his sword Intent grew stronger.
That same year, Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan joined the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. He followed the team to obtain his fifth Soul Ring, but unfortunately, as someone not proficient in spirit tools, he could not find a teacher.
Age 20: Ji Juechen challenged people everywhere in the academy, constantly refining his sword Intent. The title of Sword Maniac gradually began to spread.
Jing Ziyan jokingly asked if the sword was the only lover in Ji Juechen's eyes. Ji Juechen replied seriously that since he was 8 years old,
there had been nothing but the sword in his heart.
Sometimes, a form of forgetting is the best medicine. Perhaps falling in love with his sword at the age of 8 was the only way to transform so much pain.
Age 22: Ji Juechen broke through to Spirit Emperor and obtained his sixth Soul Ring on his own. His name became more and more famous in the academy, but he lived in utter poverty.
No teacher was willing to take him as a disciple, and gradually, no friends were willing to spar with him.
Only Jing Ziyan remained by his side. They became best friends and promised to be together forever.
Ji Juechen had his one and only friend.
Age 23: While wandering around, Ji Juechen met a strange person who claimed he would give him a different future.
He comprehended true Intent, and past memories began to resurface constantly. He started to think: just what was he practicing the sword for? He seemed to have forgotten a little.
That strange person told him he could swing his sword at the heavens. Ji Juechen suddenly missed his father and mother; perhaps if he could cleave open the sky, he would be able to see them.
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