"Third Uncle, what should I do?" Chu Chu looked to Lin Yu for a solution.
With Second Prince Lin Shuo still on a mission to the Great Zhou Dynasty, Lin Yu was her anchor. If it were just the Great Qi Dynasty, the Han Emperor could refuse directly, but the Supreme Sword Sect changed everything. Even the Great Han couldn't withstand joint pressure from Great Qi and the sect.
Knowing the Han Emperor, Lin Yu was sure he would agree to the marriage.
"Don't worry. With Third Uncle here, no one can force you to marry." Lin Yu smiled, patting Chu Chu's head gently. "Focus on cultivation. Leave this to me."
Chu Chu nodded. Though she'd never seen Lin Yu fight and the world called him a cripple, she trusted him absolutely. If he said he'd solve it, he would.
After seeing Chu Chu off, Lin Yu waited for nightfall before heading to the Royal Armory. He moved through the imperial city like a ghost—even imperial guards, dark sentries, and Innate realm royal attendants couldn't sense him.
The Royal Armory was a three-story stone building of blue stone, each floor storing weapons and treasures for Innate, Purple Mansion, and Myriad Transformations realms. National treasures that stabilized the dynasty were held by the Han Emperor.
An old man with white hair sat cross-legged before the armory, eyes closed in cultivation. Lin Yu sensed he was Ninth Rank Innate, a hair's breadth from Purple Mansion. Though meditating, he perceived every movement within dozens of zhang, guarding the armory impregnably.
Lin Yu ignored him, striding past openly. The old man remained unaware, as Lin Yu's cultivation far surpassed his. Moreover, the Saint Emperor Sword Body naturally concealed aura and spiritual energy, making Lin Yu undetectable.
Entering the armory, Lin Yu bypassed the first floor (Innate weapons) and went straight to the second. Hundreds of varied weapons in wooden cases and dozens of jade cases with treasures lined the shelves. Any item here could spark chaos, yet they lay forgotten—testament to a nation's hoard, though martial arts were in decline and few could wield Purple Mansion weapons.
"Lord Cauldron, are there usable Purple Mansion weapons here?" Lin Yu scanned the cases, unsure where to start.
"Forget Purple Mansion. Go up—there must be better," Lord Cauldron chuckled. Purple Mansion weapons didn't impress it.
Lin Yu ascended, passing array barriers to the third floor. Only dozens of weapon cases and a dozen jade cases remained, showing how rare Myriad Transformations items were. Even the Great Han, after centuries, had collected so little.
"Perfect! Five flying swords. I'll devour them, take the essence, discard the dross, and forge you a flying sword beyond Myriad Transformations!" Lord Cauldron laughed, pleased with the armory's collection.
"Lord Cauldron, you'll refine all Myriad Transformations flying swords?" Lin Yu was surprised, expecting it to pick one, not take them all.
"Myriad Transformations swords aren't worthy of the Nine Heavens Sword Control True Art. Just wait." Lord Cauldron emerged from Lin Yu's sea of consciousness, hovering before him. Starlight ripples covered the third floor. Five sword hums sounded as wooden cases opened under the ripples. Flying swords shot out, circled Lin Yu, then plunged into the God-Eating Cauldron like birds returning to their nest.
"Done. Let's go refine them," Lord Cauldron returned to Lin Yu's sea of consciousness, urging him to leave.
Lin Yu slipped out, past the white-haired old man, and vanished into the night. Back at the imperial mausoleum, he urged Lord Cauldron to refine the five Myriad Transformations flying swords. These treasures, priceless in any sect, were being forged into one—sure to be extraordinary.
Lord Cauldron was eager. Starlight boiled in the cauldron, dragon-like sword roars echoing. Sharp sword qi burst forth, consumed by starlight, then dissipated. When the five swords were refined, a cyan light shot from the cauldron, spiraling before Lin Yu with spiritual awareness.
Lin Yu grasped the three-foot blue blade. Simple in design, it shimmered with cyan light, resonating strongly with Wind Sword Intent.
"This sword fits Wind Sword Intent. Store it with me normally. When needed, will it forth from your sea of consciousness," Lord Cauldron said proudly. "It's incredibly fast. With your cultivation, Nine Heavens Sword Control should let you ride a thousand li, but with this sword, you can take heads within three thousand li in an instant!"
"Lord Cauldron, you're amazing!" Lin Yu was impressed.
"Name it, then I'll teach you the art." Lord Cauldron, in a good mood, prompted Lin Yu.
"Fitting Wind Intent and incredibly fast—call it Windrider," Lin Yu decided after thought.
"Windrider—good name. Focus and remember!" Lord Cauldron smiled as the Nine Heavens Sword Control True Art flooded into Lin Yu's mind. Hundreds of profound characters glowed golden. Though arcane, Lin Yu understood the art instantly, as if he'd practiced it a thousand times. He channeled spiritual energy, gathered Wind Sword Intent, and urged Windrider.