Book 3 Chapter 40 – Bug-Fixing

　　Li Huabei waited quietly with his sword brandished in ones of the abandoned brick factories situated in the suburbs of Shangbei. A small and plumpy man was down on the ground in front of him, with dust, dirt and resignation all over his face and sword wounds on his limbs He stared at Li Huaibei venomously. "Even if I did agree to become your blade spirit, you wouldn't even be able to last until the end of the domain." The fat man spat out between two quick gasps for air.

　　"I'm leaving right after I get my blade spirit." Li Huaibei answered calmly.

　　"You can do that?" The chunky man stared at Li Huaibei in disbelief. 'According to the rules, after a domain has been opened, all links with the outside world should be cut, and no one is able to leave before its ending, unless…'

　　"Being a sage does come with its favors from Heaven's Laws."

　　"I knew it! So the sudden change in this domain is all because of you?" The fat asked, visibly shocked. He could feelthat was wrong and the domain was not progressing as it should have.

　　"It's not me. Someone else is responsible for it." Li Huaibei turned his head and looked at the horizon. "Have you decided, Di Jiang? I don't have much time left."

　　"Why me?" Di Jiang was curious about that "someone else" Li Huaibei had mentioned, but the more pressing issue was his own fate. Unlike a beast summon, if he decides to become Li Huaibei blade spirit, he would forever relinquish his freedom.

　　"I'll be honest with you, at first I chose Bi Fang. But there has been a little… complication, so I searched for you instead," Li Yiming answered.

　　"Bi Fang? But he's a fire-type beast, and I'm a water-type. How can we be used for the same purpose? You…"

　　"All I need is your level. I don't care much about the rest," Li Huaibei said. He was still calm and composed, but his pale countenance and the beads of sweat on his forehead betrayed his underlying weakness.

　　"What? What do you want? " Di Jiang could not understand Li Huaibei. ' The Soul Weapon is the object that is the culmination of one's talent and has all of the guardian's strength sealed within it. How can he be this careless?'

　　"You don't need to know for now."

　　"Are you going to leave as soon as you're done with me? You're not staying for the rewards of the domain?" Di Jiang asked again.

　　"I'm not here for the rewards, I have no need for them. I came here for the purpose of my blade spirit."

　　Di Jiang mulled over the choice he was forced to make. 'This man, there's no doubt he's sage level. I can see the gravity of his wounds and how weak he is, yet he was still able to defeat me. Sage…'

　　"Alright, I accept." Di Jiao decided. He could tell that Li Huaibei walked a straight path as a guardian and committed no evil from his temperament; Following Li Huaibei's lead was probably going to be better than risking it all for the sake of dignity, which had very little practical use anyways. 'Maybe something good will come out of this decision.'

　　"Thank you for your trust." Li Huaibei smiled. He slowly released the fingers around the hilt of his sword, and the weapon flew toward Di Jiang.

　　Di Jiang closed his eyes and steadied his breath. His fat body quickly shrunk and turned into a ball of pale blue light that merged with the steel of the blade. Ripples of light ran down the edge of Li Huaibei's sword, and the weapon itself emitted a light buzzing noise from a violent trembling. The picture of a round beast with four wings and six feet gradually appeared on the weapon. ¹

　　Rosiness climbed into Li Huaibei's cheeks. His eyes seemed brighter than ever. He took back his weapon and looked in the direction of Shangbei's downtown. "You'll have to face the changes you've brought upon alone. I hope that you'll live until that day…"

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