Li Yao stared at the floating sword hovering before her.
"Are you the ancestor?" she asked, her head tilting slightly as she examined the blade. "No wonder it's called the Azure Cloud Sword Sect. You're definitely an azure cloud sword!" Her lips curved into a playful smile.
"What does that even—" The voice paused, then released a weary sigh. "Never mind. I'm not a sword. I've simply bound my nascent soul to this weapon."
Li Yao's eyes widened with sudden understanding. "Oh, just like the Empress's ring," she thought.
[Did you really think he was a sword?] The Empress's voice echoed within Li Yao's mind, her tone filled with disbelief.
"What? No! I was just making a joke to ease the tension," Li Yao defended herself aloud, causing the Empress to sigh deeply.
"Ahem," Li Yao cleared her throat, straightening her posture. "Of course I know that." She brushed invisible dust from her robes, trying to reclaim some dignity. "Anyway, what do you want? I'm in a hurry."
