CHAPTER 1 — THE RUSTY SWORD IN THE FORGOTTEN HALL
Jason Wu had never felt smaller in his life.
The towering gates of the Star Sword Sect rose before him, etched with silver runes that shimmered like falling stardust. Around him, countless young geniuses walked proudly—heirs of noble clans, prodigies with powerful spiritual roots, and talents who would one day shake the world.
And then there was him.
A boy with no talent.
No background.
A spiritual root so dim that the elders laughed during his test.
"Just give up," they said.
"You're not meant for cultivation."
Jason clenched his fists. *Maybe they're right… but I refuse to accept it.*
Today was his final chance.
If he couldn't find even a trace of potential before the entrance evaluation ended, the sect would send him home permanently.
He slipped away from the bustling courtyards, heading toward the old storage halls behind the library—an abandoned place storing broken weapons from forgotten wars.
Maybe… just maybe… something there could help him.
---
A FORGOTTEN HALL
The wooden door creaked as Jason pushed it open. Dust floated in the air, illuminated by thin bands of sunlight cutting through broken windows. Rusted weapons lay scattered across the stone floor—cracked swords, snapped spears, shattered remnants of battles long past.
Jason searched desperately.
*There has to be something… anything…*
Then he saw it.
A sword lying under a collapsed shelf.
So rusted, so ugly, so miserable that even junk collectors would ignore it.
The hilt was chipped.
The blade was dark with corrosion.
Its aura was nonexistent.
Jason approached.
"Did they really throw you away like this?" he whispered.
He reached out—and the moment his fingers touched the hilt, a cold shock shot through him.
*BZZT.*
Jason gasped.
A whisper brushed across his mind—ancient, tired, and unmistakably annoyed.
"…Finally. I thought I'd rot here forever."
Jason froze.
His heart hammered.
"W-Who said that?!"
The voice echoed directly inside his head.
"You're holding me, genius. I'm the sword."
Jason dropped it instantly.
The sword clanged loudly.
"HEY! Watch where you throw me!"
Jason stared at it. "A t-talking sword?!"
"A legendary sentient sword," it corrected with dramatic pride.
"…Though I might not look my best at the moment."
Jason swallowed.
Spirit weapons were treasures fought over by sect masters.
A talking one? That was the stuff of ancient myths.
He knelt carefully.
"You… you're real?"
A long, suffering sigh echoed in his mind.
"I'm certainly not your imaginary friend. Now pick me up. You're the first human who hasn't tried to melt me down. For that alone, you're acceptable."
---
A SOFT FOOTSTEP
Jason hesitated—but when he grasped the hilt again, the sword didn't resist.
In fact, warmth pulsed through his palm.
Energy.
Real spiritual energy.
For the first time in his life.
The sword chuckled.
"Weak… but not hopeless."
Before Jason could respond—
*Click.*
He turned sharply.
A girl stood at the doorway, her silhouette framed by sunlight.
Elegant.
Calm.
Eyes soft like moonlit water.
Jason recognized her instantly.
Lin Xueyin.
Daughter of the master of the **Xueyin Merchant Pavilion**—the richest, most powerful commerce pavilion in the entire Xuan World. Future ruler of the greatest merchant empire in the multiverse.
Beautiful. Brilliant. Quietly terrifying.
Her gaze shifted from Jason…
to the rusty sword…
and stayed there.
Jason panicked, hiding the sword behind his back.
"I—I can explain—"
"You shouldn't be here," she said softly.
Her tone wasn't harsh—just quietly curious.
Jason lowered his head.
"I was only trying to find something… anything… that could help me stay in the sect."
Xueyin blinked once.
Then something unexpected flickered in her eyes—interest.
"What did you find?"
Jason hesitated.
The sword hissed in his mind:
"Tell her nothing. Humans love stealing good things."
But Jason looked into her gentle eyes and sensed no malice.
He slowly revealed the sword.
Xueyin stared.
"That?"
She stepped closer.
"It's… completely useless. Why pick such a broken sword?"
Jason hugged it instinctively.
"Because… it picked me."
Xueyin paused.
Then she smiled—soft, subtle, dangerous.
"Interesting."
The sword grumbled:
"This woman is trouble. Do NOT fall for her smile."
Jason's ears turned red.
---
THE SEAL AWAKENS
Suddenly—
*THUMP.*
The floor trembled.
A pulse of golden light burst from the sword.
Jason staggered.
Xueyin gasped.
"What—?!"
The sword's voice thundered in Jason's mind:
"Brace yourself, boy. The ancient seal is breaking."
Light surged from the blade.
Rust cracked off like shedding skin.
Faint inscriptions glowed along the metal—old, powerful, awakening.
Energy rushed into Jason's body, warm and overwhelming.
His long-silent spiritual root…
IGNITED.
Xueyin's eyes widened.
"Your cultivation—! It's rising!"
Jason could hardly breathe.
Inside his mind, the sword laughed.
"Congratulations, Jason Wu.
From today onward…
your fate is entwined with mine."
Jason's vision blurred.
The last thing he saw was Xueyin rushing toward him—
Before everything faded into darkness.
---
END OF CHAPTER 1