"There is."
杦栀 waved her hand, and a row of famous swords appeared before her. She pushed out a pale red sword embryo with a finger and said, "My lord, this sword has not been refined by me yet. Do you think it is suitable?"
"..."
Lin Zhao was a little excited. He accepted the long sword. The sword body was full of mottled and unevenness, but the sword intent was extremely strong, like an ancient sword. It was probably like this before it was refined.
"Not bad," he said, slightly delighted.
杦栀 smiled, "This sword is called Hong Ye. I found it when I was traveling in the southern mountains some years ago."
"You really found it?" Lin Zhao asked with a smile.
Instantly, 杦栀's pretty face turned slightly red. "Actually, a Nascent Soul stage wild cultivator took a fancy to me and insisted that I become his Dao companion. After I refused, he designed a plan to capture me. I cut him down with a sword. I found this sword embryo on his person. As for who this Hong Ye belonged to before, and what its origin is, I don't know. But this sword has excellent quality and has not been refined yet, so it is very suitable for you, my lord."
"Mhm!"
Lin Zhao nodded repeatedly, "Thank you, 杦栀!"
"My lord, why are you being so polite."
杦栀 smiled faintly, "Are you going to refine it now? I will guard you, my lord."
"Good."
So, Lin Zhao sat cross-legged by the lotus pond, then opened the "Sword Refining" system unique to an Eight Realm Golden Core Sword Cultivator, placed the sword embryo named "Hong Ye" into it, and began the refining process. Since it was only a minor refinement to become a flying sword, and not a Natal Flying Sword hidden in the Yun Jian Lake, it was not too difficult.
In less than half an hour, the shape of Hong Ye kept changing. The unevenness and mottling on the sword blade were gradually refined. The sword body became crystal clear like a mirror, and a connection was formed between it and Lin Zhao. Then, an interface for resetting the appearance appeared before Lin Zhao. Thus, Lin Zhao set the flying form of this Hong Ye sword as a strip of red leaf, with the middle sinking and the edges slightly raised, like a small boat.
"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations, your flying sword [Hong Ye] has been successfully refined!
"It's done!"
Lin Zhao got up and put Hong Ye into his inventory. Then, with a thought, Hong Ye turned into a fiery red glow and appeared before him. It seemed to be in sync with Lin Zhao's thoughts. When he leaped up, Hong Ye gracefully landed under his feet, supporting his entire body. The next moment, Hong Ye's attributes also appeared before his eyes—
[Hong Ye] (Flying Sword)
Rank: Immortal Grade
Strength: +200
Stamina: +200
Agility: +200
Attack Increase: +105%
Defense Increase: +105%
Trait: Damage Dealt +20%
Trait: Damage Reduction +5%
Trait: Sword Intent +30%
Trait: Swordsmanship +30%
Trait: Movement Speed +1000%
Trait: Attack Range in Sword Riding State +30
Trait: Maximum HP Increase: +12000
...
These attributes directly made Lin Zhao's face turn green. From now on, as a sword cultivator, he should have been free from mounts. The attributes of this Hong Ye were equivalent to an enhanced mount, and it was an enhancement specifically for sword cultivators. In the future, his battles would likely involve fighting while stepping on a flying sword, and his movement would rely on the sword's rotations. After all, all sword immortals are lame. From now on, he could say goodbye to his legs!
And this sword was a genuine immortal sword! Although it might not be comparable to the flying swords Ming Yue or Hao Ran, or even 杦栀's sword Cheng Xin, it could definitely be ranked among immortal swords. For a moment, Lin Zhao felt a complex emotion. He had asked for it from 杦栀 just like that, and he felt a bit embarrassed. Where would other players find such a thing?
"Ahem..."
He pursed his lips and said, "杦栀, I feel a bit bad for taking an immortal sword from you..."
杦栀 smiled with dimples, "My lord, what are you saying? 杦栀 was reborn because of you, and this life is yours. Moreover, it's just a lower-grade immortal sword."
"Mhm!"
Lin Zhao nodded heavily, calmed his mood, and with a thought, he mounted his sword and flew up. Instantly, the flying sword Hong Ye carried him forward. Although Lin Zhao's feet were already stuck to Hong Ye with spiritual energy, he still felt a tremor. The powerful inertial force made him sway unsteadily on the flying sword. The speed was too fast. Hong Ye's maximum speed was 11 times Lin Zhao's maximum walking speed. One could imagine how fast it was. With his current equipment, it would take at least seven to eight hours to walk from Bai Di City to Xue Yu Tian Chi, but in the sword riding state, about forty minutes should be enough.
The wind rushed past, and his body soared into the sky with the flying sword Hong Ye.
"Hahahaha~~~"
Lin Zhao was having fun and couldn't stop laughing. With a flip, he remained standing on the flying sword, leaving a spiral sword energy trace behind him. His snow-white cloak fluttered in the wind. At this moment, Lin Zhao finally regained a little bit of the feeling of being a sword immortal. This was the moment he felt closest to being a sword immortal, from his past life to this life!
So, he rode his sword through layer after layer of mountains, hung upside down on cliffs, and flew close to the ground through the jungle, startling a flock of butterflies. He skimmed across the White Fish Stream, creating waves, and shot out along the edge of the snow-capped mountains, all while riding his sword and letting out hearty laughter.
Behind him, 杦栀 followed closely on her sword, worried that Lin Zhao might have an accident during his first time riding a sword, in case he crashed into a mountain. 杦栀, in a white dress, had an empty right sleeve that fluttered in the wind. She looked at Lin Zhao ahead, her lips curved into a smile, a very sweet smile. From her past life to the present, this was the happiest Lin Zhao had ever seen her. It was as if she had returned a hundred years ago and saw that young man again.
杦栀 narrowed her beautiful eyes, pursed her red lips, and her smile grew stronger, wishing that this moment could last forever. Lin Zhao had suffered too much in the past. After becoming Marshal Lin, he had never truly lived for himself. The current Lin Zhao, as an Eight Realm Sword Cultivator for the first time, experiencing the feeling of ascending into the sky on his sword... it felt so good.
"My lord, be careful!"
杦栀 cautioned with a smile.
"Mhm!"
Lin Zhao stood with his hands behind his back, now able to stand steadily on Hong Ye. Pointing ahead, he laughed, "杦栀, let's have a race to see who can reach that... Huh, the Sword Suppressing Tower is already here?"
"Mhm."
杦栀 smiled and nodded. That Sword Suppressing Tower stood tall on the Snow Ridge, with ten floors. Each floor was guarded by a hundred military cultivators, and on the top floor sat a young military sage in white robes and silver armor, holding a bright silver spear.
Lin Zhao increased his sword riding speed to the maximum, charging towards the Sword Suppressing Tower at 11 times the speed.
But just as he was about to reach the Sword Suppressing Tower, 杦栀 zipped past him with a "swish," her speed far superior, as if she had used a blink. Lin Zhao couldn't help but mutter, "Are you going to cheat? Is being a Five Realm Sword Immortal that great!"
He and 杦栀 passed the Sword Suppressing Tower, leaving two sword energy trails on their left and right. Inside the Sword Suppressing Tower, the military cultivators sat cross-legged, nurturing their killing intent. They all closed their eyes, pretending not to see. Only Huo Piaoyao on the top floor couldn't help but smile as she saw the two sword cultivators on the left and right. The mortal world is truly good, much more interesting!
"Brother Huo!"
Lin Zhao stabilized himself in the air level with the top floor of the Sword Suppressing Tower, still a bit clumsy, his body swaying on Hong Ye. He then cupped his fists and laughed, "How was my sword riding posture?"
Huo Piaoyao was stunned, pinched her nose, and said, "It's okay, it's okay. You're almost catching up to your third senior brother!"
"Hahahaha~~~~"
Lin Zhao suddenly flipped and fell from Hong Ye, laughing, "Let's go, let's go. Come to the Mountain Peak Villa for a drink when you have free time. You are always welcome!"
"Go ahead." Huo Piaoyao said with a smile.
In the wind, Hong Ye turned into a fiery red arc, instantly lifting Lin Zhao's body again, carrying the swaying him towards Xue Yu Tian Chi. 杦栀 followed closely, giggling. Just now, if Lin Zhao hadn't stepped steadily on Hong Ye, she would have had to intervene.
"Let's go for another round!"
Lin Zhao suddenly charged north of Xue Yu Tian Chi, flying over the forest south of Jiu Zhang Yuan. At the same time, he drew out Can Yang and unleashed sword energies at the scattered demon cultivators that had refreshed below. In the sword riding state, his sword energies were a full 30 yards long, like a proper Mid-Five Realm Great Sword Cultivator. The sword energies struck the heads of those demons. Although not fatal, they were truly annoying.
Instantly, after Lin Zhao flew past, a group of demon soldiers looked up and cursed, "Is this Golden Core Sword Cultivator crazy?!"
杦栀 covered her mouth and laughed, following behind Lin Zhao to protect him.
It wasn't until after three o'clock that Lin Zhao got tired of playing and returned to Xue Yu Tian Chi. The moment he landed gracefully, Hong Ye turned into a fiery red glow and flew into his inventory. He himself landed on his feet. Now he was quite proficient in sword riding. As for other professions, they could all fly when they reached the Eight Realm, as long as they could refine a flying magical artifact.
Of course, not everyone could reach the Eight Realm!
In fact, most players would never have the chance to reach the Eight Realm in their lifetime, because the difficulty of the Endless Mode is constantly updated with the average level and combat power of all players in the server. Let alone the Eight Realm, the players in the entire server who could reach the Mid-Five Realm would probably not exceed 10%. As for the Nascent Soul Realm and Star River Realm above that, there might be even fewer. As for the Upper-Five Realm, players at this stage basically didn't need to think about it. Lin Zhao, with his super strength, only managed to reach the Golden Core Realm. To achieve the Upper-Five Realm in the future, one would need not only strength but also opportunities.
Moreover, players' realms must be challenged once every month. If they don't challenge within 30 days, they will automatically drop one level. To become a strong player in this game, one must keep up with the rhythm!
It's too late, time to sleep.
When he logged off, he was the only one on the second floor. He went to sleep with satisfaction.
...
In the early morning, Bai Di City.
"Swish!"
A figure appeared in the east square of Bai Di City. It was Su Xinghe, with a furrowed brow. He had just exited the Realm Tower and looked at the national server realm rankings. Lin Zhao was still far ahead with his Eight Realm Golden Core, while Su Xinghe had attempted the Endless Mode for the fourth time but was still at the Seven Realm, as if the Eight Realm Golden Core was nowhere in sight.
"Fourth time?"
Not far away, a mage leaned against the marble steps of the Great Sage Hall and said with a lazy smile, "Stop struggling. Your current strength really can't compare to Lin Zhao. You're just a little bit inferior, but this slight gap means you won't reach the Eight Realm. Lin Zhao has already logged off to sleep with Shen Xingchen. Why bother?"
"Oh?"
Su Xinghe glanced at Xian Bai. Was this mutual harm? So he raised the corner of his mouth and smiled, "I heard someone saw Leng Yan eating hot pot with Lin Zhao a while ago, and she slept at Lin Zhao's place. Whether it was the same room, I don't know."
Xian Bai almost vomited blood and slammed his staff on the ground fiercely, "Damn it! I'm logging off to sleep!"