Liu Baijian looked toward the source of the sound. Above the pitch-black demonic spear lying on the ground, a dark aura of demonic energy swirled. Gradually, it coalesced into a human silhouette in midair.

But… wasn’t that silhouette a bit too short?

Liu Baijian stared at the figure—barely a meter twenty tall at most—coalescing from the demonic energy in the air, silently wondering.

Could the Demon Spear Spirit actually be a little dwarf?

“You’re the dwarf! Your whole family are dwarfs!”

Moments later, a seven or eight-year-old boy appeared in midair. He wore a deep black robe and had two small buns tied atop his head. His features were exquisitely beautiful. He shouted angrily at Liu Baijian below, his little face flushed crimson, clearly furious.

“…” Liu Baijian.

“Did I say it out loud?” Liu Baijian stared at the furious young spear spirit before him, his tone laced with surprise.

Hearing this, the spear spirit snorted coldly. “No need for words! I can tell what you’re thinking just by looking at your face!”

“I’m not short! I’m just young and newly born, that’s why I’m small! Once I fully evolve into the God-Slaying Demon Spear, I’ll grow tall!” The spear spirit shot a cold glance at the 5’3“ teenager below, snorting with disdain. ”Taller than you!“

”…” Liu Baijian, who was genuinely only 14 and thus still small.

Listening to the young spear spirit’s words, he stared at it and thought to himself: You’ll probably never grow taller in your entire life. But I’m different.

Liu Baijian spoke to the spear spirit before him in a humble and gentle tone, “I only need four years—no, maybe two will suffice—to grow as tall as this fellow beside me, or even taller!”　“…” Standing beside him as his reference point was Gu Minglang, a tall figure with long legs, standing at 1.8 meters.

“But as for you…” Liu Baijian looked at the young Spear Spirit hovering above the magic spear. Even with the two buns on top of its head, it barely reached 1.2 meters tall. “Even if I give you forty years, and you still won’t grow as tall as I am now.”

“…” The Spear Spirit.

Hearing Liu Baijian’s words, the young Spear Spirit instantly flushed crimson with rage. Pointing an accusing finger at Liu Baijian, he shouted angrily, “You… you… You’re provoking me!”

“This is infuriating! I’m going to kill that bastard, the White Bone Demon Lord!” the Spear Spirit yelled furiously. “Kill him! Then I can grow up!”

“??????” White Bone Demon Lord.

What the hell does that have to do with me?

Hearing the Spear Spirit’s furious outburst, Liu Baijian remained expressionless as he looked at him and said, “Do you really think I’d give you that chance?”

“…” Spear Spirit.

Meeting Liu Baijian’s clear, rational, almost cold gaze, the furious Spear Spirit felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head. It doused the raging flames of anger burning within him, instantly cooling him down. Reason gradually returned, and he began to realise his current predicament…

Oh no!

The Spear Spirit stared at Liu Baijian’s unruffled expression, thinking to himself.

“Waaah!” The Spear Spirit immediately let out a series of fake sobs. Wiping at eyes that held no tears, he adopted the expression of a weak, pitiful, helpless orphan as he wailed to Liu Baijian, “I’m sorry, don’t hit me! I was just so angry earlier that I spoke without thinking. I’m innocent! I’m just a baby, barely a few days old!”

He continued his fake sobbing while peering through his fingers at Liu Baijian’s expression, trying to evoke sympathy and mercy.

However, Liu Baijian wasn’t falling for this act. His expression remained impassive throughout, coldly observing the performance, completely unmoved by the pitiful display of fake tears.

“…” Spear Spirit.

Could it be that you’re also an emotionless Artifact Dao Master?

What happened to the saying that Artifact Masters are the most tender-hearted and loving toward their Artifact Spirits? Are you a fake Artifact Master?! The Spear Spirit, who was only a few months old and still just a baby, felt deceived. His young heart was wounded, and he swore he would never believe in love again!

Liu Baijian thought: Yeah, you’re right. I am a fake Artifact Master!

Seeing that feigned crying was useless—utterly incapable of moving this cold-hearted, emotionless fake Artifact Dao Master before him—the Spear Spirit cried until he stopped crying. What a waste of my tears! The Spear Spirit seethed inwardly. Crying is exhausting, you know!

“What? Have you stopped crying?” Liu Baijian looked at the overly dramatic young Spear Spirit before him, his tone icy. “Don’t stop. Keep going.”

“…” The Spear Spirit.

Hearing his shameless words, the furious Spear Spirit nearly twisted his mouth in rage. Cry? Cry my ass! You bastard Artifact Dao Master! Once I kill that White Bone Demon Lord and ascend to the God-Slaying Demon Spear, you’re the first one I’ll stab! I’ll pierce your heart and kill you!

Liu Baijian studied his expression and asked, “Are you cursing me in your mind? Plotting how to kill me?”

“…” Spear Spirit.

Seeing no response, Liu Baijian sneered coldly. “Shouldn’t I strike first? To prevent you from killing me later, I should dismantle you right now!”

Caught red-handed, the spear spirit shuddered in shock before snapping back. “Waaah, I didn’t! I’m not! Don’t slander me!” It immediately launched into a flood of fake sobs, spouting nonsense even it didn’t believe.

Liu Baijian watched the spear spirit’s pitiful display of tears with a perfectly still expression. Offering neither comfort nor reprimand. He remained coldly unmoved until the spirit, exhausted by its own performance, gradually fell silent. Only then did he step forward, approaching the jet-black demonic spear. Bending down, he picked it up from the ground and clasped it in his hand.

The moment it touched his hand, the young Spear Spirit hovering above the weapon shuddered violently.

Liu Baijian opened his palm, the cold, pitch-black demonic spear resting tightly within his open hand. He then closed his hand around it, clenching his fist.

The cold, rigid demon spear pressed against his warm, supple skin. In that instant, both man and spear simultaneously sensed the warmth and texture conveyed by the other.

This was the first contact between the demonic spear and the young Artifact Dao master.

“Though weapons themselves are not guilty—it is the user who bears the blame—if a weapon descends into evil, losing all reason and morality, becoming nothing but a tool of the demonic path obsessed solely with slaughter, then it must be destroyed.” Liu Baijian spoke these words with a calm, rational voice, as cold as steel. “The reason I spared you is that you haven’t completely lost your sanity yet. You’re still restrained, not yet a thoroughly corrupted killing demonic artifact.”

“I believe you are salvageable, worthy of salvation. But should you slay the White Bone Demon Lord and plunge into utter ruin, I shall show no mercy.” Liu Baijian fixed his gaze upon the demonic spear in his hand, its core glowing with pitch-black light.

“…” The spear spirit.

“An object with spirit ceases to be mere matter. The birth of sentient beings is no small feat.” Liu Baijian regarded the young spirit within the Demon Spear, his gaze as cool as ever. “You could not choose your origin; that is not your fault. Therefore, I will not kill you for it.”

“But your future lies in your own hands.” Liu Baijian declared, his dark, piercing eyes fixed upon the spirit. “I offer you a choice: life or death. Choose one.”

“…” The Spear Spirit.

The young Spear Spirit was stunned by Liu Baijian’s words. That someone would offer a Spear Spirit a choice, that they would say such things…

The Spear Spirit stared at the youth before him—his expression calm and cold, leaving no room to doubt the truth of his words. He thought to himself: I take back what I said earlier. This youth… is truly an Artifact Dao practitioner. No one is more suited to be an Artifact Dao practitioner than him!

“Do I even need to say it?” After a long moment, the Spear Spirit heard his own voice. “Of course, I choose life! Only a complete idiot would seek their own death!”

“I can’t defeat you now, nor can I harm you. You’re stronger and more powerful, so I’ll heed your words,” the Spear Spirit conceded.

Liu Baijian heard these words without surprise. “I understand,” he said. “Congratulations on making the right choice. But let me warn you beforehand.”

Liu Baijian gazed at the Spear Spirit before him, a faint smile curling his lips into a gentle expression. “This is your own choice, the path you’ve chosen. So you’ll have to walk it to the end, even if it brings tears.”

“…” The Spear Spirit.

Wait!

He sensed danger lurking behind Liu Baijian’s unsettling smile. Instinct screamed: Bad news! This is bad!

Is it too late to regret this now?! The Spear Spirit screamed inwardly.

Too late! Once aboard my ship, you belong to me! By the shameless kidnapper Liu Baijian, who snatched away a Spear Spirit barely months old, still a baby.

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Having witnessed the entire process of Liu Baijian’s utterly ruthless threats and bribes that ultimately succeeded in luring a certain innocent (yet temperamental and mentally challenged) Spear Spirit, born only a few months prior, onto the ship, Gu Minglang stared at Liu Baijian, who now held the demonic spear. His expression suddenly cleared as he said, “So that’s how it is, is that it?”

“Indeed, no one is more suited to tame this demonic spear than you.” Gu Minglang seemed lost in thought as he addressed Liu Baijian before him. “I’ll rest easy knowing it’s in your hands.”

There was likely no one in this world more suited to subdue this demonic spear than Liu Baijian. Witnessing Liu Baijian’s mastery over the Demon Spear Spirit moments ago, Gu Minglang realised that specialisation was key—dealing with Psuedo Divine Artifacts truly belonged to the realm of Artifact Dao masters!

Liu Baijian glanced at him. Hearing Gu Minglang’s words, he knew the man had misunderstood, but he didn’t bother to correct him. Instead, he followed Gu Minglang’s lead and continued, “Yes, you needn’t worry about the demonic spear being with me for now.”

“I’ll investigate who released that fragmentary manual,” Gu Minglang added. “I doubt they ever imagined the demonic spear would end up in your hands.”

Liu Baijian instantly grasped his meaning. Gu Minglang intended to use himself as bait, drawing all attention to him. They would assume he possessed the Demon Spear and was investigating its origins, thereby shielding Liu Baijian.

“Be careful,” Liu Baijian cautioned Gu Minglang.

Gu Minglang smiled at him. “I will.”

“More importantly, I have a question for you,” Gu Minglang suddenly interjected. “What happened to my sword, the Chiyang Sword?”

“What did you do to it?” Gu Minglang held the Chiyang Sword horizontally before Liu Baijian, his gaze fixed on him as he spoke.