Part 3Divine Ascension After the Sword Swap

After several seasons of tending to the mortal realm, the day of my ascension from my previous life arrived.

This time, however, the star of the show was Joanne.

She had been boasting for weeks, proclaiming to the entire Spirit Realm that this was the day she would summon her Blade Spirit and become the new goddess. As guests and dignitaries arrived, she held her head high, already behaving as if she wore a divine crown.

She seemed to be waiting for me. Only when I appeared did she speak, her voice dripping with arrogance.

“Today is the day I become a god. Soon, I will be one of the divine, a world apart from the likes of you! Try not to be too jealous, Sybil.”

Ignoring the sour looks from the crowd, she drew on her spiritual power and poured it into Heartseeker.

The next moment, the eternally pleasant weather of the Spirit Realm roiled and turned violent. Dark clouds gathered, and lightning split the sky. With two deafening cracks of thunder, a man clad in green, radiating immense divine power, appeared before them.

The Royal Seer was the first to cry out. “The Blade… the Blade Spirit! That’s the Spirit of Heartseeker! He’s a demigod!”

The spirit, whose name was Ignis, glanced at the crowd with disdain, but his expression softened the moment his eyes fell on Joanne. He stepped forward, ignoring everyone else, and gently caressed her cheek, his eyes filled with an almost obsessive adoration.

“Joanne,” he murmured. “We finally meet.”

“You have awakened me. You are my fated love. For all of eternity, I will protect you.”

Joanne was trembling with excitement, gazing at Ignis, her heart pounding in anticipation of what would come next.

But then… nothing. The dark clouds dispersed, and tranquility returned. The great convergence of celestial energy from my past life never happened. The Celestial Emperor did not descend to grant her divinity.

The smile on Joanne’s face slowly vanished. She grabbed Ignis’s sleeve, her voice shrill with panic. “Why did nothing happen? Where is the Emperor? Why haven’t I ascended? Say something!”

Ignis looked just as confused. He tried to summon the world’s energy, but failed.

Before he could answer, I felt an invisible force lift me into the air. My bronze sword, which I had put away, materialized before me, letting out a sharp, clear ring.

Having been through this once, I knew exactly what this was: the prelude to a Blade Spirit’s birth.

But this was just a simple bronze sword. Could it truly birth a spirit?

As I hesitated, Joanne, still seething from her failed ascension, turned her anger on me.

“That piece of junk? You actually think it can produce a Blade Spirit? Sybil, you’ve truly lost your mind!”

Her mockery was the final push I needed. I cast aside my doubts, drew on my own spiritual power, and merged it with the bronze sword.

The sky, which had just cleared, was once again swallowed by darkness. But this time, beneath the roiling clouds, the roar of dragons echoed, and golden dragons could be seen weaving through the gloom. The very earth shook, sending boulders tumbling down from the Unshakable Mountain. The divine pressure was so immense that everyone present was forced to their knees, prostrating themselves on the ground.

Only I remained untouched, my robes fluttering gently as I stood in the center of the storm, face-to-face with the Blade Spirit who had just appeared before me.

He wore a golden crown, his black robes embroidered with golden dragons. His gaze was direct and intense, and though he moved with the grace of a scholar, he radiated the power of a thunderstorm.

“My lady,” he said, his voice a low rumble. “My name is Anthony. I am the Blade Spirit you have awakened.”

Two Blade Spirits born in a single day. It was unheard of in the history of the Spirit Realm.

I saw the muscles in Joanne’s jaw tighten. She was afraid. Afraid that I, just like in her previous life, would draw the attention of the Emperor and ascend to godhood.

But this time was different. I did not immediately ascend.

Joanne let out a shaky breath, her arrogant demeanor returning in a rush. “Hmph. So you managed to stumble your way into summoning a low-level spirit. A shame he’s nothing compared to my Ignis.” She shot me a condescending look. “Just you wait. The next goddess to ascend from this realm will be me!”

With that, she grabbed Ignis’s hand and practically dragged him toward her palace.

Others might not have known what she was planning, but I did.

Once bonded, a Blade Spirit was the most compatible partner for cultivation. Joanne was going to use him to rapidly increase her power and force her ascension.

I suppressed a scornful smile. I only hoped she wouldn't regret her choice.