Chen Jie's face was full of excitement.
"Kid, aren't you going to see your wife? What are you doing?" Fang Shaohua asked.
"This sword has a spirit. I suspect it's a legendary spiritual artifact," Chen Jie said.
"Spiritual artifact?" Fang Shaohua clearly didn't know what a spiritual artifact was.
This showed that although he knew about cultivators, he didn't know much about their secrets.
"It's a magical item with a spirit that can grow stronger!" Chen Jie explained.
The weapons Chen Jie had encountered so far, including Lin Mengjiao's soft sword, were just ordinary iron.
True spiritual artifacts possessed immense power, capable of amplifying the user's strength severalfold.
It was no wonder Chen Jie was so excited.
However, spiritual artifacts required bonding with their master. Chen Jie had specifically booked a private room for this very purpose.
"It needs to be refined," Chen Jie muttered to himself.
After a series of actions, Chen Jie soon frowned.
He couldn't refine this spiritual artifact.
"What's going on?"
He gradually increased his spiritual energy output, continuing the refining process.
Fang Shaohua, standing nearby, shrieked, "Stop, stop quickly!"
Chen Jie immediately halted. "What is it?"
"This sword is absorbing me!"
"Absorbing you? How?" Chen Jie asked.
"Ah! I can't hold on much longer!" Fang Shaohua screamed.
Chen Jie's expression shifted slightly, and he prepared to store the sword in his spatial ring, but he quickly discovered he couldn't.
"Kid, what exactly did you do!" Fang Shaohua roared.
At this moment, a wisp of consciousness flew out from the other shore flower, seemingly out of control, and directly plunged into the bronze sword.
The other shore flower, however, withered away.
"This..."
Chen Jie's heart tightened.
The next second, the bronze sword hummed and stood upright.
Fang Shaohua's voice emanated from it, "This feeling? I've inexplicably gained freedom? Wonderful, hahahaha... I, Fang Shaohua, am finally free again!"
Chen Jie looked at the bronze sword with a peculiar expression.
As Fang Shaohua laughed, the sword also jumped up and down.
"Kid, you're quite good. You've accidentally rescued me from the other shore flower. From now on, I'll reluctantly take you as my disciple and teach you my techniques!"
Fang Shaohua instinctively reached out to pat Chen Jie's shoulder.
The hilt of the bronze sword also tapped Chen Jie's shoulder.
"Don't you realize your current predicament?" Chen Jie asked with a strange expression.
"What predicament? Oh right, I don't have a body, so how did I gain freedom?"
Fang Shaohua exclaimed, "Where are my arms? Where are my legs?"
Chen Jie mused, "You're likely inside this sword now."
"What? I've become a sword! This is impossible! Kid, I don't want to be a sword, let me out quickly!" Fang Shaohua roared.
"I can't do anything about it," Chen Jie replied.
"Ah! Damn it! I'll kill you!"
The long sword suddenly flew up and lunged at Chen Jie.
But before it could reach him, it stopped, unable to advance further.
"What's happening? Why can't I kill you? No..." Fang Shaohua despaired.
Chen Jie said with resignation, "I understand. This sword only counts as a spiritual artifact if it has a spirit! But for some reason, the spirit of this sword disappeared, which is why it absorbed you just now, making your consciousness its spirit."
"And I've just refined this sword, so now I am your master. You cannot attack me."
*Dong!*
The great sword seemed to instantly lose its strength and fell to the ground.
Chen Jie knew Fang Shaohua was still conscious, likely contemplating his existence.
Chen Jie tried to comfort him, "Don't be too sad. Becoming the spirit of this sword means you'll live much longer than an ordinary person, and perhaps you might find a way to leave the sword in the future."
"Stop talking," Fang Shaohua said weakly.
"Uh, also, weren't you seeking revenge against the Shadow Sect? In the future, when I use this sword to kill enemies, you'll be a part of it. This might not be a bad thing for you."
Chen Jie added.
The bronze sword stirred, and Fang Shaohua's voice came through, "You're the one getting the advantage. I've become your hired hand. It's like a simp giving gifts to his goddess, comforting himself that he contributed when she's enjoying herself."
Chen Jie's expression froze.
"However, I can feel things now. How about this, kid? I haven't experienced the touch of a woman in a long time. How about you capture a few women and let me stab them with this sword?"
Chen Jie's face darkened.
If he actually did as Fang Shaohua suggested, every woman would likely die.
Besides, Chen Jie would never do such a bizarre thing.
Chen Jie's phone rang again.
It was Zhang Xinyan, who was getting anxious because Chen Jie was late. "Chen Jie, where are you? Haven't you arrived yet? I can't wait anymore!"
Chen Jie replied, "I'm already here, I'll be right over."
After hanging up, Chen Jie said to Fang Shaohua, "I'll put you away for now!"
With that, he stored the bronze sword in his spatial ring.
Fang Shaohua said nothing during this process.
A short while later, Chen Jie found Zhang Xinyan's room.
A distinct feminine fragrance emanated from Zhang Xinyan's room.
Zhang Xinyan had changed into a revealing outfit: a silk slip dress that hugged her curves, with a significant portion of her fair legs exposed.
Her neckline was incredibly low-cut, revealing almost everything except the most essential parts.
Zhang Xinyan's face was flushed as she beckoned Chen Jie closer. "Come in quickly."
"Chen Jie, why were you so slow?" Zhang Xinyan asked as she turned her back to him, bending over to pour tea.
Zhang Xinyan's attire was incredibly alluring, something she usually only wore when sleeping alone.
Yet, she was openly displaying it all to Chen Jie.
Any man seeing this scene would undoubtedly feel an surge of desire.
"Traffic was bad," Chen Jie said casually.
"Oh? How did you get here? Did you take the bus?" Zhang Xinyan asked.
"No, Wang Xiaoyan dropped me off."
Zhang Xinyan's pretty face startled, and then, as if guilty, she glanced towards the door.
Only when she saw nothing did she quietly sigh in relief.
She said casually, "Oh, you didn't invite her in for a drink?"
"She had work to do, so she left after dropping me off."
Chen Jie replied.
Zhang Xinyan's face turned crimson, and she stammered, "Chen Jie, she... she dropped you off at the hotel entrance? Did she know I was here?"
"Yes," Chen Jie confirmed.
"This..."
Zhang Xinyan looked bewildered.
She really didn't understand Wang Xiaoyan's intentions.
Knowing she was staying here, why would Wang Xiaoyan personally deliver Chen Jie to her?
"I... I'll change my clothes, and then we can go. We should hurry." Zhang Xinyan stammered.
"I think so too. Let's go," Chen Jie said.