Requesting for a Scabbard (1): Tribulation of Blood

"NO! I want to use this sword. Since you are letting me use it, I shall use it all the way! I'll find a scabbard!" the ghost emperor stated with determined tone. His hands were clenched with firmness and his tone implied that there was no room for the lady to argue.

Despite the man's aggressive expression, Ye Shin maintained her calm demeanor. Her eyelids fluttered as she gazed down at the sword. "The consciousness inside this weapon does not recognize an owner. It only recognizes its target. Those who have strong killing intent and malice will be executed by this blade. Say, if you possess the amount of malice and killing intent while using this, even if you are the one wielding the sword, you'll still be its target."

The ghost emperor was instantly frozen. His hand slightly trembled. Unbelievable! Such a weapon exist?

"Did you mean, you won't allow me to bring this sword if I venture out of my castle because it can harm me? Isn't that a little strange for a good weapon to have that kind of consciousness?" the ghost emperor questioned. His handsome face contorted as he looked at Ye Shin with conflicted eyes.

It would be a waste if such was the case. He had started to imagine facing the superior ghosts and fighting against them using this weapon. If his enemies would see the sword, who would dare say a malicious word about him?

Ye Shin looked at the sword briefly. Then, she slightly nodded her head to confirm that the weapon should stay in this place. "I lend you this sword, not for the purpose of using it against other cultivators. This is only for you to enhance your cultivation and your wound will be healed. You can't control this sword. You can only control your emotions to avoid disaster while using this sword."

To put it simply, the weapon was for his close door training only and not for him to show off to the world. If he insist in using the weapon, he must learn to tamper his temperament first.

The ghost emperor sighed in frustration. Even Gui Wen could relate to what he felt. The sword was already a good opportunity to teach those bold elders their place.

"I can protect you against your enemies. But this weapon is too strong to be utilized, thus, it has conditions if you want to use it. If you are not in the right mental state and wield this sword, don't blame for the consequences. I only want to help you cure that wound in your neck. Keeping this weapon here is for the best," Ye Shin mumbled to emphasize that she would not spend an effort if the host emperor would choose to harm himself. But if others would harm him, only then, she will give him the protection they initially agreed.

By the time Ye Shin and Gui Wen returned to their own rooms, the ghost emperor grabbed the sword and draw a series of circles and lines on the floor to create a teleportation enchantment.

When he activated the enchantment, he instantly disappeared into the hall together with the sword.

The man had seen the weapon's power, how could the lady suggest to him that it was only for his training?

Despite the words that Ye Shin spoke, the ghost emperor was already intrigued by the weapon. And so, he decided to visit an old craftsman master in the desolate lands of his ghost realm.

The teleportation enchantment sent the ghost emperor to the mouth of a huge cave. He stood in the middle of it while his hand that was holding the weapon was slightly trembling with excitement.

"Your majesty, to what do I owe you for this late night visit?" a deep and cold voice resounded from the cave. The lands were still blanketed with darkness. But this majesty had chosen not to wait for the sun to rise before speaking with this master.

"Zhizou, I brought something that would interest you! Come and take a look!" the ghost emperor called, his voice full of enthusiasm.

The person in this cave was called Zhizou. He was an hermit that was famous for his expertise in craftsmanship. There was no item in this world that he could not make.

The hermit finally appeared and examined the ghost emperor. His black eyes lingered on the sword for a few seconds before he asked, "What did you bring, your majesty? What do you need from this material?"

ZhiZou does not even acknowledge the item as a weapon. He only refer it as material for it was too ordinary for his standard to be called a weapon.

"Hahaha, this... I want you to make a sheath for this sword!" the ghost emperor replied. He carefully raised his hand and showed the body of the sword.

Looking at the weapon for the second time, Zhizou shook his head in disappointment. "Your majesty, I am an esteemed craftsman in the entire world. Why must I waste my time to create a sheath for such a lowly material? It can't even be called a sword!"

Prejudices! The ghost emperor was completely undeterred by the contempt that the hermit expressed for the weapon. His smile grew bigger and then urged the man to take the weapon.

"Come, Zhizou, hold it and you'll see why I came here even though it's so late!"

The hermit sighed loudly. "Your majesty, have you perhaps, develop insecurity after your divine weapon was destroyed? This material in your hand, it's too ordinary that even soldiers have used them in the battlefield."

His words were harsh and it was intended for the ghost emperor to wake up to his delusion. In his mind, if it was not that this ghost emperor had lost his divine weapon, he would not surely settle for such trash of a sword.

"Quit your objections! Just hold this weapon and you'll see," the ghost emperor persisted. He was so excited that he even neglected the insult that the man had spoken.

"Alright," Zhizou said in a reluctant tone. He forced himself to raise his hand attempted to grab the hilt. But the moment his fingers were inches away from the sword, its entire form had turned into an illusory image. The sword was still there but his hand could not make a direct contact with it!

The ghost emperor who was paying attention to the hermit's expression was also bewildered. Since he was looking at his face, he did not notice the abnormality. What took him so long to hold the weapon?

As he looked down, he was completely dumbfounded. How was it that the ghost emperor was holding the weapon but Zhizou cannot? The hermits hand would really pass through the weapon as if the sword was just some sort of a light!

The hermit tried to grab again, only, the form went through his hand. He could not really touch it!

"Your majesty, come inside!" the hermit quickly said. This time, his voice was in rush as he was tugging the hem of the ghost emperor's clothing. He glanced in every direction outside the cave to check if someone was secretly spying on him. Before he gestured his hand to seal the entrance of the cave.

The ghost emperor heed for the invitation and did not hesitate to enter the cave. He had not yet recovered from what he just discovered. The weapon can only be grabbed by him! He could not help but wonder, 'Just what kind of weapon Ye Shin had given to me?'

Then, he suddenly remembered the lady mentioning about only a few had managed to touch the weapon. At that time, he thought of it as a side comment. But now, those words were actually meaningful!

"Young majesty! The item---err, the sword must have acknowledged you as its owner! Even if it looks ordinary, it actually has a superior spirit that has undergone the Tribulation of Blood! Where did you get this weapon, your majesty?" the hermit concluded out of his excitement.

"No, Zhizou, this weapon..." the ghost emperor suddenly paused and contemplated whether he would mention Ye Shin to the hermit. In the end, he shook his head and changed his statement. "What is the Tribulation of Blood? I have never heard of it."

"Hmmn... your majesty, this is the technique that we craftsman and some blacksmiths used. It's normal if you don't hear this name," the hermit mumbled as they walked farther away inside the cave.

"What is it?" the ghost emperor curiously asked.

"You see, all weapons are created for a different purpose. Some are to protect while others are to harm. When the purpose is fulfilled, the weapon shall gain a spirit. This is the beginning of a spiritual weapon's existence. The Tribulation of Blood is a method used if the weapon's purpose is to harm. The spirit that emerged from the blade has a hunger and thirst for blood. This weapon must have claimed countless of life to be able to reach this level of spirit!" the hermit thoroughly replied.

"Is that so? The purpose of the weapon is to harm?" the ghost emperor subconsciously said. He had sensed a wave of pain started to throb on the side of his head. He could not believe that Ye Shin possessed a weapon with such a vicious purpose.

Alas! If the ghost emperor would have listened to Ye Shin and kept the sword inside his castle, he would surely not feel deeply troubled.

"Your majesty, this weapon must be returned to its original master. Even if it had acknowledged you, it's too dangerous to keep it. This kind of blade cannot be tamed," Zhizou stated. Finally, they have reached the area of the cave that showed the residence of this hermit.