“Go back... to the Spirit Realm...” Chad Sullivan immediately understood just how important an opportunity he had made Emily Thompson miss. A sword spirit—this was a sword spirit! The passage to the Spirit Realm that could create a swordmaster was no ordinary thing.

Thinking of this, Chad Sullivan looked full of regret. “I’m sorry, Little Emily. It’s all my fault. I scared away the sword spirit that had acknowledged you. I’m so sorry.”

“You! Now you know you were wrong, huh? Next time, you’re not allowed to look at my Little Grace like that again!”

“Next time...” To be favored by a sword spirit was a once-in-a-lifetime chance—how could there be a next time? Thinking of this, he felt even more remorseful and apologized repeatedly: “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. Little Emily, you can hit me, you can scold me, it’s because of me that your sword spirit returned...”

Only then did Emily Thompson notice the unusual tone in Chad Sullivan’s voice. When she saw his look of utter regret, she was startled and hurried over, grabbing his hand. “What’s wrong, Little Chad? I didn’t mean it just now, I’m not blaming you, please don’t be upset.”

“Emily, you don’t know Grace’s true identity! That was a sword spirit... a sword spirit that can greatly accelerate one’s cultivation... because of me...”

Upon hearing this, Emily Thompson couldn’t help but laugh: “It’s just a sword spirit, I know.”

“But a sword spirit...”

“So what about a sword spirit?” Seeing the look of deep regret on his face, Emily Thompson felt a wave of sweetness in her heart. The fact that Chad Sullivan cared so much for her proved just how important she was to him.

She walked up to Chad Sullivan, gently stroked his face, and said softly, “A sword spirit is wonderful, but how could it ever be more important than Little Chad?”

“A sword spirit can help someone cultivate quickly, break through their current realm in no time. Don’t you love cultivating? Haven’t you always wanted to join the Sacred Xuanzong as soon as possible? If you had a sword spirit, even the Sacred Xuanzong would be eager to recruit you.”

Emily Thompson pretended to be angry: “Do you think I care that much about this Sacred Xuanzong?”

“But you begged Master to let you go, and you’ve been training so hard. Isn’t that because...” Chad Sullivan looked at her in surprise.

Emily Thompson pouted: “It’s just that I’m afraid that once you go to the Sacred Xuanzong, I won’t know how long I’ll have to wait to see you again. That’s why I begged Master to let me go with you. You silly goose, you actually don’t believe me.”

“But the sword spirit...”

Seeing that he was still hesitating, Emily Thompson grew angry and drew her sword.

Chad Sullivan was startled: “Emily, you, what are you doing?”

“Here. The Xueshuang Sword is yours. Since you don’t believe I could give up a sword spirit for you, then I’ll return the sword to you right now.”

“Emily...” Chad Sullivan looked at Emily Thompson, then at the Xueshuang Sword before him, his heart surging with emotion.

Although the sword’s spirit was no longer present, it had once been inhabited by a sword spirit and was imbued with spiritual energy. In terms of spiritual resonance, it was in no way inferior to those spirit swords forged from spiritual ore...

A spirit sword—countless people on the continent dreamed of such a path to the heavens. Even swordmasters who had advanced to the Nascent Soul stage would fight to the death, even destroy their families, for a spirit sword that could increase their chances of spiritual resonance. Yet now, Emily Thompson, just to express her feelings, was willing to give up a sword spirit without hesitation...

Chad Sullivan was left speechless, his heart unable to calm for a long time.

“Emily... I bought this myself and gave it to you back then—a pair of twin swords, representing you and me. I want it to accompany you for a lifetime.”

Emily Thompson smiled sweetly, her hands playing with her jet-black hair, looking at him shyly, a blush spreading across her cheeks.

Such a lovely sight made Chad Sullivan momentarily lose himself.

Emily Thompson had been with him for over ten years; they knew each other well. She naturally understood his feelings and didn’t mind the way he looked at her—in fact, it made her happy.

“Emily...”

“Mm...”

Chad Sullivan took a few steps forward, walked behind Emily Thompson, and hugged her slender waist tightly. He whispered gently in her ear, “Emily, it was my fault. From today on, I’ll never doubt you again.”

Emily Thompson glanced back at Chad Sullivan, struggled lightly a few times, then lowered her head and stopped moving.

A gentle breeze rustled, stirring a soft whisper through the trees, making the entire back mountain even more tranquil. Warm sunlight filtered through the forest, shining down on these two still-young figures, casting a small shadow, as if to record this moment and make it eternal...

Volume Two Sacred Xuanzong Chapter One Strange Change

Chad Sullivan successfully advanced to the fourth level of Qi Refining, causing great joy among his family.

Advancing to the fourth level of Qi Refining before the age of sixteen meant he could use Michael Bolton’s recommendation to go to the Sacred Xuanzong for further study. As long as he could enter the Sacred Xuanzong, he would surely stand out in the future, bring honor to his ancestors, and make his family proud.

The nearby prestigious families and those uncles and elders he rarely saw all came to offer their congratulations upon hearing the news. Even the city lord, busy as he was, took time out of his packed schedule to send a gift and congratulate William Sullivan’s son, Chad Sullivan, on successfully advancing to the fourth level of Qi Refining.