Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 86 - 73.5: I Have Nothing to Offer but Myself

On the top floor of Wind and Cloud Tower, Li Tianya continued telling his story.

"To prove my speculation, I began cultivating ’Inch and Mile.’"

’Inch and Mile’ was the most profound and esoteric swordsmanship and immortal technique passed down through generations in the Li Family of Xiangzhou.

Legends say that when the ’Inch and Mile Sword’ is cultivated to its pinnacle, it can solidify time and space, allowing a cultivator to traverse vast distances in an instant. It’s an immortal divine sword involving the Dao Laws of Heaven and Earth.

Li Tianya took on the name Tianya because of his deep understanding of the ’Inch and Mile Sword,’ having grasped its essence. But because he mastered the art of manipulating time and space too well, he conceived an idea considered recklessly foolish.

"If the ’Inch and Mile Sword’ can solidify time and space at its peak, what would happen if I pushed its effects beyond the limit? Theoretically, could one reverse time and return to the past? Of course, true time travel is impossible due to fundamental temporal paradoxes. But if it was just consciousness traveling back, merely observing the past without interfering with history, it might be possible, right? At least from the swordsmanship theory of ’Inch and Mile,’ if I were to split a negligible portion of my Primordial Spirit and use the ’Inch and Mile Sword’ as a vessel, propelling it into a temporal reversal with extreme Sword Power, perhaps I could witness true history. Of course, the history of the Primordial Era happened thousands of years ago, and no matter how arrogant I am, I don’t think I could traverse thousands of years of time... But at least I could blaze a trail for future generations."

Upon hearing this, Wang Jiu nodded appreciatively, "An exceptionally brilliant idea! Although the details need refining, theoretically, it seems feasible."

But Li Tianya shook his head.

"It only appears feasible in theory. The ’Inch and Mile Sword’ is already one of the most profound swordsmanship in the world. Even with my talent, I might not master it fully within my lifetime, let alone break through its limits. And if I act rashly and impatiently... I was always aware of this, controlling the progress on ’Inch and Mile’ constantly. But after Lin Yu’s death, I couldn’t resist forcing it once, and ended up like this. The backlash of Sword Power, my Primordial Spirit wandering, turning me into an old fool babbling nonsense."

Wang Jiu, listening to this self-deprecation, couldn’t help but think, with her mount’s level of intelligence, perhaps letting her practice the ’Inch and Mile Sword’ wouldn’t be a bad idea...

Li Tianya continued, "But now it doesn’t matter. Although I failed to reverse time with my vision and glimpse the history of the Primordial Era, I was fortunate enough to see a..."

After a pause, Li Tianya asked, "Though hard to believe, if I’m not mistaken, you are that otherworldly being who once led the resistance against the cataclysm, correct?"

Wang Jiu nodded frankly, "Yes, I was the Celestial Divine Sword who led the Immortal Demon War. But how did you confirm it was me?"

"It was simple because it was you who awakened me from chaos."

"Awakened me?"

"Your resonance with this Wind and Cloud Tower stimulated my Primordial Spirit," Li Tianya said, "When our ancestors designed and built this Wind and Cloud Tower, they drew inspiration from the Ancient Divine Weapon, embedding supreme mysteries within. After completion, this tower became the Li Family’s totem. Each patriarch, upon assuming leadership, would entrust a portion of their Primordial Spirit to this tower to suppress evil for a thousand miles, regulate the Spirit Veins of Heaven and Earth, and prosper the family fortune. After thousands of years, Wind and Cloud Tower still maintains its efficacy without faltering. When you descended upon this tower, it suddenly resonated strongly, as if a counterfeit met its original, filled with both excitement and awe. That moment of tremor allowed me, in my foolishness, a moment of clarity, immediately pinpointing the source of the resonance." Li Tianya smiled, "Then I came to Wind and Cloud Tower at once, and at first glance, I saw you—even without the tower’s resonance, your appearance is the most striking."

Wang Jiu said, "However, based on the above information, it’s still insufficient to confirm my identity."

"Yes, the tower’s resonance could just be a coincidence." Li Tianya explained, "But then I brought you here, and you immediately mentioned the ’Demon-slaying Blade,’ recognizing this as the core of Wind and Cloud Tower. Such insight, surpassing everyone in this age, was enough for me to confirm your identity."

"This Wind and Cloud Tower, though built by my ancestors, lost its blueprints over time. We don’t even know which Primordial Divine Artifact the ancestors took inspiration from. I searched through historical fragments and several times sought help from the Sect Leader of Saint Sect and the Three Academies’ heads, only managing to piece together the characters ’Demon-slaying Blade’ from broken pieces, and even then, we weren’t confident of the result—we had five groups work on it, ending up with five different answers. The Sect Leader of Saint Sect came up with ’Demon-exterminating Edge,’ Cyan Lotus Academy worked out ’Who Can Rival,’ Wuxiang Sword Academy suggested ’Tornado Edge,’ and Pudu Zen Temple argued for ’Most Dazzling Ethnic Edge,’ and no one could convince the others... But you casually identified ’Demon-slaying Blade,’ even noting that this tower emulated it, placing its essence at the very point, symbolizing vanquishing all demons, advancing fearlessly. By this stage, combining with the tower’s resonance, if I still couldn’t confirm your identity, I’d be a fool."

Wang Jiu nodded thoughtfully, "Makes sense."

"Of course, strictly speaking, the evidence mentioned isn’t conclusive, and perhaps it’s all coincidence or just my wishful thinking... But I’ve spent my life in wishful thinking, so I don’t mind this time."

Having said this, Li Tianya exhaled a long breath, feeling the decades-old burden on his heart completely dissipating, thinking he could die with no regrets.

"So one never knows, you just can’t predict... Who would have thought that I, Li Tianya, could open a new Chapter in history in my twilight years? The Primordial Era, the Immortal Demon War, it’s truly exciting!"

"Are you interested in Primordial history?" Wang Jiu asked, "Though I’m no scholar, I could sketch a rough outline for you."

Li Tianya smiled and waved his hand, "I’m really interested, but it’s not necessary. You’ve just fulfilled my greatest lifelong wish, and I’d hate to continue receiving your favors without reciprocating; that would be rude, and once in the Underworld, Lin Yu would certainly chastise me. Moreover, my current clarity is only temporary, it won’t last long. Even if I listened, I’d forget shortly afterward, wasting this precious clarity time... So instead, let’s do something more productive. Senior, is there anything I can do to serve you?"

"Oh, serve me?"

Li Tianya said, "Yes, consider it a repayment. If you have any wishes, please tell me, and I’ll do my best to help. Perhaps... hmm, Senior Sword Spirit seems very weak, likely from the aftereffects of that great battle and prolonged slumber, right? I could allocate five million Spirit Stones in funds under the name of the Li Family Patriarch to help restore your strength. Oh sorry, I just remembered, I’m no longer the Patriarch, I have no authority over any funds except my own private savings. But it’s okay, I still have a considerable amount personally, just a moment... huh, why are there ten thousand Spirit Stones missing!?"

Rummaging through his Money Bag, Li Tianya’s face turned quite embarrassed, "How about... anyway, I’m just a disabled old man, why not use my residual heat and offer myself for a blood sacrifice?"

Wang Jiu thought for a moment, "No need."

"You don’t have to stand on ceremony, for me, dying in the blood sacrifice of the Celestial Divine Sword is better than drooling nonsense on a sickbed, and..."

"No, the main issue is that the energy from a blood sacrifice of a disabled person is impure, which is detrimental to rebuilding the Sword World."

"I see..." Li Tianya apologized awkwardly, "So what can be done? At my age, I’m no longer a virgin, purifying my bloodline would be difficult."

Wang Jiu said, "I’m not in a hurry to regain my strength; although I am currently in an unprecedentedly weak state, my true form is immortal, and power or weakness means little to me."

Li Tianya frowned but said nothing more.

Wang Jiu continued, "Therefore, rather than so-called power recovery... I have something else to ask of you."

"Please speak!"

"I want to know, after my battle with the Demon Emperor, what exactly happened in this world... Frankly, when I fought the Demon Emperor that day, though I believed myself slightly stronger, I was actually prepared for mutual destruction. My mission was to eradicate the Demon Race and save Jiuzhou, and regardless of victory or defeat against the Demon Emperor, I would have no regrets... Except unexpectedly, I didn’t die but instead awakened in this sunlit new world, though this world is quite foreign to me."

Li Tianya listened silently. While looking at the calm smile of the Sword Spirit, deep inside, a wave of sorrow surged through him.

After a long pause, he sighed, "You want to know the ins and outs of this world? I understand, but the historical heritage of Xiangzhou has been severed and lost too much. What I know are merely fragments of history, so when I begin to speak, there will inevitably be a lot of personal speculative inference."

With that, Li Tianya walked up to Wang Jiu, extended his finger, and using True Essence, drew three solid lines of different colors in the air, creating four blocks of different colors.

"First, I will divide history into these four stages."