Clear Autumn Waters, Offering Oneself for the Sword

Bai Qiuran returned to the Divine Palace, Jiang Lan immediately came to greet him and helped him take off his outer cloak and hang it up.

"I heard Thunder God came by?"

As Bai Qiuran sat down at the table in the Bedchamber, she asked, "What's he doing here?"

"Nothing much? I just brushed it off when they asked about Authority."

Jiang Lan replied.

"Authority?"

Bai Qiuran somewhat wary upon hearing this.

"What has Eastern Emperor Taiyi noticed?"

"Yes, but don't worry, I have a way to cover it up."

Jiang Lan changed the subject and asked, "Have you found any clues?"

He had originally intended to continue inquiring about Jiang Lan's plans, but upon bringing up the topic, he exclaimed excitedly, "I've found it! That being is within the Return Ruins!"

"Return Ruins?"

Jiang Lan thought for a moment.

"I've heard Xi He talk about that place. It's difficult to reach by ordinary means, and it's fraught with danger inside. I won't stop you from going, but please be careful."

"I know."

Bai Qiuran and said, "While I'm gone, I'll leave Li and the others in your care. That kid is about to break through again soon. I'll leave you the method before I leave, and you can help me inspire him then."

Leave it to me.

Jiang Lan paused, then asked, "By the way, I heard you complain that you don't have a suitable sword, is that true?"

"Yes."

Bai Qiuran sighed, "It's a pity that even in the heavens there is no sword that can withstand my power. If I had such a sword, I could fly to Return Ruins on my own."

"I see."

Jiang Lan nodded and said, "I don't know how long it will take to return from this Return Ruins. Why don't you stay at home for a while and make sure everything is settled before you leave?"

"I understand."

Bai Qiuran shook his head, looked at Jiang Lan who was getting up and leaving, and asked, "Where are you going?"

"Let's go see Aunt Xi He."

Jiang Lan replied without turning her head, "Just don't leave before I get back. I won't be gone for long."

After leaving the Divine Palace, Jiang Lan traveled all the way to the Fusang Divine Tree and found Xi He.

Just then, darkness fell, and the Three-Legged Crow returned to the divine tree. The only golden sun in the sky, after approaching Fusang, transformed into a beautiful, elegant young woman wearing a long golden dress. Upon seeing Jiang Lan, she greeted her warmly, "Oh? Little Lan'er is here. Did you come to play with your older sister?"

"Sister Golden Crow, it just so happens that I have something to discuss with you Xi He."

Jiang Lan said.

"What is it?"

Just then, Xi He also came out of the wooden house and went to greet Jiang Lan.

"I want to forge my Vast Sea Authority into a divine weapon."

After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Lan spoke.

"What?!"

Xi He and the Three-Legged Crow exclaimed in surprise at the same time.

"Lan'er, are you serious?"

Xi He gripped Jiang Lan's shoulders and asked, "Do you know what this means to you?"

"Giving up my original purpose? Anyway, I have more than one Divine Office."

Jiang Lan spoke calmly, as if she didn't care at all.

"More importantly, it's about severing the suffering of the soul!"

Golden Crow shouted from the side, "Is it worth it just for him?"

"It's not just for him."

Jiang Lan replied earnestly, "Eastern Emperor Taiyi has already set his sights on us. If we don't do this, we will all be in danger, and Human Race will face another catastrophe."

Xi He and the Golden Crow mother and daughter remained silent.

"Aunt Xi He, Sister Golden Crow, I know you can help me."

Jiang Lan bowed her head to the two men and said, "Please, help me this once."

The reason why Eastern Emperor Taiyi did not eliminate the root of the problem was not only because he needed the Golden Crow to maintain the Sun's operation, but more importantly, because the Sun fire controlled by the Golden Crow and Xi He together could melt the Divine Core into divine weapons.

Legend has it that his Eastern Emperor Bell was forged with the help of Xi He and the Golden Crow.

After a long silence, Xi He sighed, "So be it. I knew you would take this path."

"Mother..."

Golden Crow tried to dissuade her, but Xi He stopped him by raising her hand.

"It's no use, daughter."

Xi He looked at Jiang Lan with pity and said, "Since you've made up your mind, come with me, Lan'er."

After Jiang Lan left the Divine Palace for Fusang, Bai Qiuran stayed alone in the Divine Palace.

Bai Qiuran was relieved that she was going to the Sun Mother Xi He's place by herself; at least the goddess wouldn't harm her, and there shouldn't be any danger.

Besides, the two were already husband and wife in name only, so he couldn't possibly interfere with where Jiang Lan wanted to go.

Jiang Lan was gone for more than two months, and no one knew what she did. Bai Qiuran, on the other hand, had been analyzing the structure of the Divine Script in his hands and had made some progress. However, he still couldn't figure out the Eastern Emperor Bell that had sent him and Wisdom Immortal to this era.

In his spare time, he would also visit the Human Race settlements to check on Li's cultivation progress and indirectly teach him some new things.

This guy has recently gotten involved with the daughter of the Settlement Chief, and they're probably getting married soon.

Two months later, Jiang Lan returned. Bai Qiuran noticed that she was pale and seemed listless, so he immediately asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

He paused, then added.

Drink more hot water...

"I'm fine."

Jiang Lan sighed helplessly, then handed over the long, narrow cloth bag she was holding.

"See? Is it handy or not?"

Bai Qiuran curiously took the cloth bag, opened it, and then held her breath.

Inside the cloth bag was a magnificent longsword, sheathed in a scabbard adorned with gold, silver, and jade, with silver chains hanging from either side. Bai Qiuran drew the sword; the azure blade shimmered with light, like the deepest ocean, both mesmerizing and terrifying.

"It's beautiful."

Bai Qiuran a comment of praise.

"Of course..."

Before Jiang Lan could finish speaking, Bai Qiuran suddenly reached out and grabbed her hand.

What do you want to do?

Jiang Lan blushed slightly, but Bai Qiuran looked at her with a serious expression.

"Don't move, let me see."

Bai Qiuran probed Jiang Lan's body with his Spiritual Sense, examined her thoroughly, and then withdrew. He took a step back and asked with a stern face, "Why did you do that?"

Jiang Lan turned her head away, suddenly feeling a little guilty.

"To avoid arousing suspicion from Eastern Emperor Taiyi..."

Bai Qiuran stared at her for a long time before finally letting out a long sigh.

I'm not worth it.

Whether it's worth it or not is up to me to decide, not you...

Jiang Lan said softly, then added, "Anyway, the Vast Sea Authority has already become this divine weapon, and I can't take it back now. You can keep it."

Bai Qiuran gripped the sword hilt and tried to infuse it with his True Essence. After receiving his True Essence, the sword vibrated and hummed, but in the end, it was able to withstand his True Essence.

He held the sword with obvious affection and asked, "Does it have a name?"

"Have."

Jiang Lan blinked.

It's called "Clear Autumn Waters".