But before he could even cast a line…

A Heaven-grade Dao Sword descended from the heavens, piercing straight through his formation and hovering before him.

At first, Gu Xiu thought he was under attack.

He recognized the forger’s mark immediately—Yuchi Chunlei, Peak Master of Azure Mystic’s Artifact Resonance Peak. Instantly vigilant, Gu Xiu summoned his flawed Immortal Sword, Shadow Chasing, and prepared the segment of Divine Demon Bone for immediate deployment.

He was ready for war.

However… reality defied his expectations.

The sword carried no hostility. It stopped three feet away, trembling slightly as if in fear—either of Gu Xiu or the Immortal Sword in his hand.

Faintly, Gu Xiu sensed a weak, eager goodwill emanating from the blade.

It wanted him to take it.

The sword’s spiritual intelligence was nascent, barely formed. Compared to the chatty Carefree Jade Pendant, its consciousness was like a flickering candle.

Gu Xiu raised an eyebrow. This felt familiar. He had once fished the Azure Mystic Sect token with his rod, but this time, he hadn’t even cast his line.

Did the fish jump into the boat on its own?

Instead of delight, Gu Xiu frowned.

This sword had a master.

“Blood Recognition and Master Bonding” was an unbreakable contract. A bonded artifact could not betray its master, nor could it be seized by another without extreme measures.

So what was happening here?

“It seems you’ve just birthed a sliver of intelligence and were somehow drawn to me?” Gu Xiu muttered, guessing.

The Heaven-grade Dao Sword trembled excitedly, as if nodding.

I guessed right?

Surprised, Gu Xiu received a faint, struggling pulse of intent from the sword. It conveyed only two words.

Unfailing.

Unfailing? Is that its name? Unfailing to whom?

Gu Xiu stared at the blade for a moment, then shook his head. “Failing or not, to me, it is all passing smoke.”

“You are an object of Azure Mystic, bound by their karma. I have severed all ties with that place. For you to seek me is like fitting a square peg in a round hole.”

“Go back.”

He didn’t want this sword. He wanted nothing to do with Azure Mystic.

But the Unfailing Sword didn’t seem to understand. It continued to radiate desperate goodwill, pleading to recognize him as its master.

Gu Xiu sighed. “I already have Shadow Chasing. I don’t need another sword. Accepting you would only dim your brilliance.”

The sword didn’t budge.

Rubbing his temples, Gu Xiu tried again. “You are blood-bonded. Even if you are willing, a sword cannot serve two masters. I cannot accept you.”

This time, the sword seemed to understand. It drooped, radiating reluctance as it slowly drifted back toward the edge of the barrier.

However…

Just before leaving, it sent one last, laborious thought to Gu Xiu. It took him a moment to decipher the fragmented intent, but when he did, he froze.

The Unfailing Sword had asked: “If my master dies, can you become my master?”

Gu Xiu was dumbfounded.

What?!

An artifact spirit can have such treacherous thoughts immediately after birth?

Are you sure this isn’t a demonic sword?

Before he could answer, the Carefree Jade Pendant at his waist suddenly woke up. It bounced into the air, circling the Unfailing Sword excitedly. The two spirits seemed to communicate silently.

A moment later, the Unfailing Sword trembled again, seemingly bowing to Gu Xiu. Then, with sudden resolve, it turned and shot out of the barrier.

By the time Gu Xiu stepped outside, it was just a streak of light vanishing into the night sky, heading straight for… Azure Mystic.

Gu Xiu’s eyelid twitched.

He looked at the Carefree Jade Pendant, which had returned to his waist and was now acting the picture of innocence—quiet, well-behaved, and pure.

“You didn’t teach it anything bad, did you?” Gu Xiu asked suspiciously.

The pendant, being smarter but unable to speak, conveyed a simple emotion: Master, Master, aren’t I good?

Is that… avoiding the question?

Gu Xiu glanced at the horizon one last time, then shook his head. Whatever happened at Azure Mystic had nothing to do with him.

He returned to his cabin, strengthened the barriers, and picked up his fishing rod. Strengthening himself was the only priority.

He didn’t notice that in the corner, the Bone-Discarding Yin Ape—which had been pretending to ignore everything while munching on spirit stones—gave the Carefree Jade Pendant a sneaky thumbs-up.

Meanwhile, at the Azure Mystic Sacred Land.

“Why isn’t it back yet?”

“It’s been gone too long.”

“Second Senior Sister, why would a bonded artifact act like this? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

On Artifact Resonance Peak, the anxiety was palpable. The Senior Sisters stared at the sky, their initial joy turning to worry.

Usually, a newborn spirit might roam for a bit, but it would always return to its master’s side quickly. The master was like a parent to the spirit.

But the Unfailing Sword? It had been gone for half a day. This wasn’t playfulness. This was rebellion. This was a sword with a backbone of treason!

“This…” Even Yuchi Chunlei, the forger, was baffled. “According to common sense, blood bonding is absolute. There is no possibility of separation.”

“Is there an exception to common sense?” Qin Meran pressed.

“There is, but it’s impossible. If a newborn spirit is invaded by evil entities before it stabilizes, it could be lured away. But Master is here, and we are all here. What evil spirit could bypass us?”

“Besides, Junior Brother is virtuous and kind. The more noble the master, the harder it is for evil to invade the bond. Even an Immortal couldn’t deceive it away under these conditions.”

The group nodded, finding the logic sound. But the question remained: Where was the sword?

“Utterly foolish.”

A cold voice cut through the air.

“Master!”

Guan Xuelan had returned. She glared at Yuchi Chunlei with disgust before turning to Jiang Xun. “Jiang Xun, you share a blood bond. Summon it.”

“Disciple has tried,” Jiang Xun said helplessly. “But the sword… it is resisting my summons.”

“Resisting?” Yuchi Chunlei hastily explained. “Uh, Junior Brother lacks some refinement techniques, so—”

“Waste. Shouldn’t you have taught him that first?” Guan Xuelan snapped, silencing her.

“I will search for it. If it left on its own, Jiang Xun, you must discipline it severely. If an evil spirit dares to interfere…”

Her eyes flashed with killing intent. “I will unleash a massacre!”

Guan Xuelan released her Mahayana-level Divine Sense.

But just as she did, a cold light appeared in the sky.

“It’s back! It’s back!”

“It’s Junior Brother’s Unfailing Sword! It will definitely not fail him!”

“Finally! Junior Brother, you must punish it properly when it lands.”

Relief washed over the peak. The Senior Sisters smiled, the tension melting away.

“Junior Brother, go retrieve it!” Yuchi Chunlei urged.

“Mm!” Jiang Xun nodded, stepping into the air with a joyful smile. He couldn’t wait to wield his new Heaven-grade weapon.

But as he approached the sword, his smile faltered.

The Unfailing Sword wasn’t slowing down.

And radiating from its blade… was killing intent.