The next day.
Having slept at three and woken at nine, Lin Zhao finished his ablutions. As he headed out, a pair of panda eyes adorned his face. Ding Chi and Zhang Jun were already diligently leveling up online, and everyone had finished breakfast. Seeing Lin Zhao descend the stairs, Wang Ju smiled, "Wait a few minutes. I'm boiling water and will make you a bowl of egg noodles right away?"
"Mm, thank you for your trouble, Sister Ju Zi!"
"Don't mention it~~~"
Watching Wang Ju enter the kitchen, Lin Zhao went into the living room. He saw Luo Man with her legs crossed, her long, slender, and perfectly formed jade legs particularly eye-catching. She glanced at Lin Zhao, continuing to scroll through her video app, and chuckled, "Brother, panda eyes are also very handsome, don't be self-conscious~~~"
Lin Zhao rolled his eyes, too lazy to bother with her. He asked, "Is Chen Xue online?"
"No, she's in the garden."
"Oh?"
Lin Zhao pushed open the back door. Indeed, a graceful figure was watering potted plants in the backyard, her plump and shapely derrière protruding as she sprinkled water and muttered, "Little bitter melon of the human world, water the flowers every day~~~ Earning eighteen hundred, laughing happily every day~~~~"
Lin Zhao almost burst out laughing. He clapped his hands repeatedly, saying, "Excellent poem, excellent poem! I never knew our Chen Xue had such poetic sentiment, comparable to Li Qingzhao."
"How comparable?"
Chen Xue stood up and smiled, "She's not more than a hundred streets ahead of me?"
Lin Zhao laughed heartily and asked, "Is it really that tough at the Scarlet Moon Knights Studio?"
"Not really."
Chen Xue's dimples shallowly creased as she smiled, "I've actually gotten used to it gradually. Habit is the most annoying thing. When you get used to something, if you suddenly lose it, it will be very painful, or rather, very awkward."
Luo Man also walked out, tilting her head and smiling, "Like changing to a new boyfriend?"
"I don't know."
Chen Xue pouted, "Anyway, I've never had a boyfriend. When I followed Sister Scarlet Moon, I was living on the edge of a knife every day, with no opportunities. Later, when I worked at the bar, I saw too many men and found them somewhat disgusting, so I looked down on all men even more."
"Really?"
Lin Zhao raised his thumb and pointed behind Chen Xue, asking Luo Man, "Chen Xue is so beautiful, and she hasn't had a boyfriend all these years?"
"No."
Luo Man shook her head, "As for men who pursued her and wanted to keep her, there were countless numbers. But she genuinely doesn't seem to have had any boyfriends."
As she spoke, the corners of her lips curved up. She stepped forward, hooked her arm through Lin Zhao's, and swayed it. "Brother, are you getting a little excited hearing this? Chen Xue, a great beauty, never had a boyfriend, perhaps it's… *cough cough*, a heaven-sent fortune falling upon you. Brother, are you going to accept it or not?"
"Ah?!"
Lin Zhao looked completely bewildered and could only stammer, "Then what about you, do you have a boyfriend?"
"Oh dear..."
Luo Man's cheeks flushed. "Which one are you referring to?"
Lin Zhao pressed his forehead.
Chen Xue chuckled, "Your previous boyfriend, you dumped him?"
"Mm."
Luo Man chuckled softly, "He was a philanderer and showed his true colors after only a few days. When I sent him a message to break up, he arrogantly sent me a 'bye-bye,' hmph..."
She put her hands on her hips and said indignantly, "Bye-bye then, the next one will be even better!"
Lin Zhao secretly gave her a thumbs-up, "Awesome, you've got it all figured out!"
...
After finishing the bowl of scallion egg noodles, Lin Zhao wiped his mouth and led the two pretty girls upstairs.
Entering the game.
His character appeared in a wilderness map. A group of monsters had already spawned around him. There was nothing else to say. He immediately pulled a large pack of monsters and began to slaughter them. About an hour later, with a "swish," a golden rain of light descended. The exciting moment had arrived. He had finally reached level 50, the level for officially changing professions!
"Whoosh..."
He could finally shed the word "apprentice." Lin Zhao felt a surge of excitement, wishing he could shout, "Sister Bai, Senior Brother, Mr. Qin, do you see? I am now a Sword Immortal!" But it seemed... he was still a hundred thousand miles away from being a Sword Immortal. No rush, no rush. He would return to the city first to pick up the promotion quest and advance his profession!
Return to city!
At the Profession Training Hall, he again spoke to the old Sword Immortal leaning against the wall. The old Sword Immortal was enjoying himself today, with a plate of peanuts and a plate of duck heads placed on the wall to accompany his wine. After lifting his wine gourd and taking a big gulp, he squinted at Lin Zhao, as if looking at a god of wealth, and chuckled, "Boy, you've got some skill. Want to advance to a stronger Sword Cultivator?"
"Yes."
Lin Zhao, unable to shake his martial habit, instinctively clasped his fists and said, "Please advance my profession level!"
"Very well."
The old Sword Immortal tossed down his empty wine gourd and said, "Go to the Thousand Blossoms Grand Restaurant and fill this up with wine. Nothing else, just their most authentic Daughter Red."
"Understood."
Lin Zhao took the wine gourd and secretly grumbled that this old Sword Immortal was quite flamboyant, drinking Daughter Red.
"Ding!"
System notification: You have accepted the promotion quest [Daughter Red]!
Quest objective: Fill a gourd with the most authentic Daughter Red for the Profession Training Master. After completing this, you will be eligible for profession advancement.
...
Turning around, he walked onto the streets of Yunshang County.
There were many restaurants on the main street, with Thousand Blossoms having the most bustling business. This restaurant was quite famous. There used to be a Thousand Blossoms on the front street of Tianchi Town, so it was likely a chain. As Lin Zhao arrived at the restaurant, there were still quite a few patrons drinking in the afternoon. Some had their swords resting on the railings, some were gnawing on chicken legs while drinking, and some were drinking with their hands on the thighs of delicate young ladies beside them. All sorts of people were present.
"Waiter."
Lin Zhao entered the restaurant and handed over the wine gourd. "The most authentic Daughter Red, fill it up."
"Huh?!"
The waiter was taken aback. He weighed the gourd. "This wine gourd, when full, will cost at least a hundred gold coins. Do you have that much money, sir?"
Lin Zhao glanced at his inventory. He still had several hundred gold coins. "Yes, hurry up and fill it."
"Certainly, sir!"
Not long after, the full wine gourd was in his hands. Lin Zhao quickly returned and carefully handed the wine gourd to the old Sword Immortal, smiling, "There, the Daughter Red has been retrieved."
"Excellent!"
The old Sword Immortal laughed heartily, "A promising youth! Since that's the case, I shall grant you entry into the Sword Cultivator path! As for whether you can open a Sword Cultivation Lake, or have the fortune to acquire one of the world's most precious flying swords, that will depend on your own abilities."
The next second, the quest was completed. The "Apprentice Sword Master" above Lin Zhao's head instantly changed to "Sword Master."
"Alright, I'm officially promoted!"
He smiled slightly and was about to learn skills when, at that very moment, something seemed to change within him. A strong and vast power was surging upwards, straight towards his heart. This feeling was rather familiar. At this moment, the old Sword Immortal drinking on the wall narrowed his eyes and chuckled, "Truly a... Sword Immortal embryo?!"
The next second, a giant, swirling lake appeared above Lin Zhao's heart. The power was immense and heavy, and the lake was filled with the aura of the Way of the Sword!
This is... a Sword Cultivation Lake!?
Lin Zhao was shocked. At this very second, a ringing sound echoed in his ears—
"Ding!"
System notification: Congratulations, you have awakened a [Sword Cultivation Lake] (Immortal Grade)!
...
It really is a Sword Cultivation Lake!
Lin Zhao was almost petrified. He quickly opened his personal interface. Sure enough, the icon for Sword Cultivation Lake appeared before him. Clicking on it revealed the details of this Sword Cultivation Lake—
[Sword Cultivation Lake] (Immortal Grade)
Quality: 98
Trait: Efficiency of nurturing flying swords increased to 98%
Trait: Efficiency of tempering flying swords increased to 98%
...
"Kid, not bad!"
The old Sword Immortal remained perched on the wall and said with a smile, "In the future, you might truly have a chance to become one of those legendary Sword Immortals of the Upper Five Realms. But don't be anxious; the path of cultivation must be taken step by step. First, get a usable flying sword to nurture in your Sword Cultivation Lake. Your Sword Cultivation Lake is quite extraordinary, and I imagine its efficiency in nurturing flying swords far surpasses the ordinary. Your future is bright!"
"Thank you, senior!"
Lin Zhao smiled and nodded.
"And one more thing."
The old Sword Immortal squinted at him and said, "To awaken an Immortal Grade Sword Cultivation Lake at such a young age is rare even throughout the Great Shang Dynasty. But we Sword Immortals pursue the freedom to come and go between heaven and earth. So... no matter how much you need resources, never become a lackey of the court. It's beneath you. We Sword Cultivators can draw our swords for the world, but drawing swords for the court is demeaning."
"Thank you for your guidance, senior."
Lin Zhao did not look down on the old Sword Immortal just because he was only a tenth-realm Sword Cultivator. On the contrary, he felt that what the old Sword Immortal said made a lot of sense, and he thought the same way. The next moment, he bid farewell to the old Sword Immortal and then quickly strode into a blacksmith shop room ahead. If he delayed any longer, he wouldn't be able to suppress it.
Because a spirited aura was about to surge forth from within this Sword Cultivation Lake!
Stepping into the empty room, Lin Zhao finally breathed a sigh of relief. With a thought, he said, "Come out!"
"Swish—"
A silver brilliance surged out of the Sword Cultivation Lake, condensing into a silver flying sword. It fluttered around Lin Zhao like a silver butterfly, occasionally merging into Lin Zhao's body. The two seemed to have a hundred years of familiarity with each other. At this moment, Lin Zhao was so excited he could barely speak. He allowed the flying sword to circle around his wrist, his gaze filled with tenderness and joy.
The flying sword, Bright Moon!
It's still here!
At this moment, Lin Zhao looked up at the sky outside the window and involuntarily knelt on the ground, tears welling up in his eyes. It was the flying sword Bright Moon gifted by Senior Sister Yue Chi... If this is the case, then when the second Sword Cultivation Lake awakened, the tip of the Sweat Ox Sword bestowed by Master Qin Suihan, that flying sword should also be here. If that's the case... that would be truly wonderful. That piece of sword tip was a gift from Master, and his only memento!
...
At this time, at the Fusang Great Wall.
The north wind whistled mournfully. Winter always arrived first at the Fusang Great Wall across the entire Great Shang Dynasty's territory. On the ramparts, a slender and beautiful Sword Immortal woman, dressed in a white gown, stood overlooking the north. The demon race might descend south at any time, and the Fusang Great Wall was the first line of defense. She, a twelfth-realm Sword Immortal stationed at the Fusang Great Wall, was its greatest reliance.
A century ago, the God of War had visited and given Lin Wanhua a gift.
She was granted recognition by the Fusang Great Wall, allowing her to refine a small portion of the Fusang Sword's spirit.
Therefore, as long as she was within the territory of the Fusang Great Wall, Lin Wanhua's twelfth realm could be treated as the thirteenth realm. The terror of a thirteenth-realm human Sword Cultivator was unimaginable.
However, at this moment, Lin Wanhua suddenly had a premonition. She abruptly turned and looked towards the direction of a county town in Yunzhou. A familiar aura seemed to be surging from there. That aura felt like an enemy, yet also like someone she was fixated upon. The sensation originated from her natal flying sword, Feihua. Feihua was almost destroyed in a battle that Lin Wanhua would forever remember. The only thing that could resonate with it was the flying sword that had almost destroyed Feihua, that person's first natal flying sword.
"Impossible..."
Lin Wanhua bit her red lips, tears welling in her beautiful eyes. That person couldn't possibly still be alive.
He had self-destructed his War God's Core back then, leaving no remains. This was something the entire world knew.