This was just as Meng Fan had guessed: the Sword Essence exuded by spirit swords was indeed far greater in quantity!
"Go get some rest first. After the Sword Pavilion closes today, accompany me up to the second floor."
**Chapter 32: The Second Floor of the Sword Pavilion, Old Lin**
Go up to the second floor?
Hearing Senior Brother Luo's words, Meng Fan suddenly turned his head, looking at him with surprise.
He had long yearged for the second floor of the Sword Pavilion, but had never mustered the courage to step up there. Besides, he felt that as a newcomer, he lacked the qualifications to go to the second floor. He had been waiting for Senior Brother Luo to take him up there on his own initiative, and now he had finally waited for it.
"Why are we going to the second floor?" Meng Fan still asked curiously.
Previously, Senior Brother Luo had never mentioned taking him to the second floor. What was the reason this time? And what were they going to do up there?
Senior Brother Luo said, "It's time to take you to meet Old Lin. Since a kid like you can withstand the Sword Qi of a spirit swords, Old Lin must be very interested in you as well."
Hearing this, a trace of anticipation inevitably appeared on Meng Fan's face.
He had already heard about this mysterious Old Lin many times from Senior Brother Luo. To be honest, he was genuinely curious about what kind of person Old Lin was.
Meng Fan asked cautiously, "Old Lin hasn't even actively mentioned wanting to see me. If I go see him so directly, won't I offend him?"
Seeing Meng Fan's nervous expression, Senior Brother Luo couldn't help smiling. He casually said, "Rest assured, Old Lin has a very good temper and is extremely kind."
Meng Fan nodded and didn't dwell on it further.
"There's still an hour before the Sword Pavilion closes. After it closes, I'll take you to meet Old Lin. You've just been struck by the murderous aura of the Moyun Sword, so go and rest for a bit first," Senior Brother Luo said very thoughtfully.
Meng Fan didn't try to act tough. He returned to his room and began meditating to adjust his breath. At the same time, he mentally rehearsed the newly learned *Seven-Killed Demonic Sword*.
This *Seven-Killed Demonic Sword* was far more powerful than Meng Fan had imagined! All the sword techniques Meng Fan had encountered previously could not compare to this *Seven-Killed Demonic Sword*. Even the already formidable *Supreme Heart-Severing Sword* or *Mountain-Splitting Sword* fell far short of it.
Meng Fan even vaguely felt that this *Seven-Killed Demonic Sword* had already touched upon the realm of Sword Souls.Sword Souls and Sword Spirits were high-level swordsmanship involving the Primordial Spirit Stage.
However, this *Seven-Killed Demonic Sword* deviated somewhat from the orthodox path.
It had fallen into the demonic path!
The *Seven-Killed Demonic Sword*—a demonic sword indeed; this belonged to the swordsmanship of the demonic path. Yet Meng Fan did not keep it at a respectful distance. The demonic path was also a Dao, and Meng Fan felt that he could study it.
Furthermore, the Primeval Great Dao encompasses all things; it is not as though it cannot accommodate the demonic path!
However, as Meng Fan rehearsed the *Seven-Killed Demonic Sword* in his mind, he still felt an abnormality. This swordsmanship was indeed startling, and its might was terrifyingly dreadful.
Yet if one were to deploy this *Seven-Killed Demonic Sword*, one would fall into a state of "becoming a demon," where murderous intent exploded and became difficult to control. It was very likely to harm the innocent!
Even just rehearsing this sword technique in his mind without actually executing it in reality, Meng Fan felt his mind fill with boundless murderous intent, a desire to destroy everything around him.
"True to its name as a demonic sword!" Meng Fan stopped his mental rehearsal and opened his eyes.
His eyes were bloodshot, and murderous intent still lingered within them.
"No wonder the Sword Demon of the Ghost Shadow Demonic Sect is rumored to be incomparably terrifying and slays the innocent indiscriminately! Cultivating this sword technique to its absolute peak probably drives one completely mad, truly transforming into a demon."
"Still, the power of this sword technique is genuinely formidable!"
Meng Fan shook his head and stopped thinking about these matters. After an hour of meditation, his condition was much better, and the stabbing pain in his mind was gone.
When it was time for the Sword Pavilion to close, Senior Brother Luo came outside Meng Fan's door and said, "Junior Brother Meng, let's go. I'll take you to meet Old Lin."
Meng Fan hurried out of his room, his heart fluttering with a little excitement.
He followed behind Senior Brother Luo and stepped onto the stairs leading to the second floor of the Sword Pavilion. He could see these stairs every day, but he had never set foot on them before.
Soon, Meng Fan ascended to the second floor.
The space on the second floor was a bit smaller than the first, but not by much. Just like the first floor, the second floor of the Sword Pavilion was lined with rows of wooden racks, and every rack held long swords.
It was just that every single sword on the second floor was a spirit sword. Although the first floor also had spirit swords, they were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns; on the second floor, there wasn't a single mortal sword to be found.
Looking at the dazzling array of spirit swords, Meng Fan could not help feeling shocked.
If he could absorb all the Sword Qi from these swords, how deep would his foundation accumulate? If he were to also absorb a round of Sword Essence, what realm could he reach?
Most importantly, there was a third floor, a fourth floor, and a fifth floor in the Sword Pavilion!
Thinking of this, Meng Fan's heart grew somewhat heated.
Without a doubt, this Sword Pavilion was truly his blessed land!
In the southern corner of the second floor of the Sword Pavilion, an old man sat on a rush mat, seemingly resting with his eyes closed. This was a real old man, unlike Senior Brother Luo, who was fake.
"Old Lin, this is the new sword-guarding disciple of the Sword Pavilion. He has performed exceptionally well since coming here, so I brought him to meet you." Senior Brother Luo walked up to Old Lin and bowed to him.
Meng Fan hurriedly followed suit, bowing and quietly sizing up the old man.
The Sword Pavilion held such a transcendent position essentially because of this old man's existence. Clearly, this old man was an extremely powerful being.
Old Lin slowly opened his eyes, and the instant he did, Meng Fan seemed to vaguely catch sight of a sword.
Or rather, it was as if this Old Lin had turned into a sword.
A human body, yet it gave Meng Fan the sensation of a sharp sword!
*Man and sword as one.*
This thought popped into Meng Fan's mind.
If it were the Meng Fan from before he comprehended the Sword God Monument, he wouldn't have been able to tell at all, not even with Sword Dao Penetration. Because Sword Dao Penetration was merely a defying-the-heavens talent; it could not increase Meng Fan's life experience.
Yet comprehending the Sword God Monument had given Meng Fan a vast amount of "experience" on the path of the Sword Dao!
Man and sword as one was not a realm, but a state. Many people practiced swordsmanship their entire lives, cultivating to extremely profound realms, yet still failed to step into this state.
Without a doubt, this Old Lin was very strong!
Meng Fan instantly filled with respect for this unfamiliar Old Lin. Humans possess an innate reverence for the strong.
Old Lin glanced at Meng Fan, a trace of a smile appearing on his face.
"You're not bad."
His tone was affable, and his gaze towards Meng Fan revealed satisfaction. Clearly, although Meng Fan hadn't seen him during this period, Old Lin had definitely been paying attention to him.
Hearing Old Lin's very first sentence be a compliment to Meng Fan, Senior Brother Luo couldn't help feeling a slight pang of jealousy. Having been in the Sword Pavilion for so many years, he had never received a single word of praise from Old Lin.
Not only was there no praise, but he also frequently saw a hint of disappointment in Old Lin's eyes. As a nominal disciple, he truly failed to satisfy Old Lin.
"Greetings, Old Lin. I am Meng Fan, the new sword-guarding disciple of the Sword Pavilion." Meng Fan introduced himself once more.
Old Lin nodded, indicating that he had remembered the name. Then, he scrutinized Meng Fan carefully for a moment.
"What is your wish?" After a moment, Old Lin asked Meng Fan.
Meng Fan was somewhat dumbfounded. He hadn't expected that the first thing Old Lin would say to him would be so inexplicable.
He thought of a variety show he had watched on Earth in his past life, where mentors facing contestants would ask as their very first question, "What is your dream?"
Wishes and dreams—aren't they pretty much the same thing?
Why did he have this familiar feeling of being fed empty promises?
...
A moment later, Meng Fan looked at Old Lin awkwardly, unable to squeeze out an answer for the longest time.
"Uh, Old Lin, I haven't thought of any wishes for the time being."
Old Lin smiled, stood up, and reached out to pat Meng Fan's shoulder.
"No rush, think about it slowly. There is plenty of time."
Meng Fan was genuinely bewildered; he felt this Old Lin was a bit bizarre. At least chatting and communicating with him felt rather awkward.
To be fair, if Meng Fan and Old Lin had swapped identities, Meng Fan surely would have slapped Old Lin across the face and spat out three words: "Speak human!"
Alas, that was only in his imagination.
In reality, Meng Fan was exceedingly well-behaved as he said to Old Lin, "This disciple is dull-witted and failed to understand Old Lin's meaning."
Old Lin first glanced at Senior Brother Luo, then looked back at Meng Fan.
"I have always wanted to take a personal disciple. I considered little Luo before, but unfortunately he lacks drive and falls far too short."
Old Lin said to Meng Fan, "Actually, on the very first day you entered the Sword Pavilion, I was already paying attention to you. At first, I was very disappointed, feeling that you were even inferior to little Luo. But during this period, you have given me quite a few surprises!"
Meng Fan's heart stirred slightly. Could this Old Lin be wanting to take him as a personal disciple?
If so, he would be soaring straight to the heavens in a single bound!
Handyman disciple, outer sect disciple, inner sect disciple, sect master's personal disciple—these were the hierarchical divisions of disciples in the Shushan Sword Sect.
Although Meng Fan didn't know who Old Lin was, since Old Lin managed the Sword Pavilion, his status shouldn't be much inferior to the sect master's.
If he became Old Lin's personal disciple, his status and standing would definitely surpass those of an inner sect disciple!
"Master is above, please accept this disciple's kowtow!"
As a modern-person-turned-transmigrator, Meng Fan naturally had an extremely thick skin. The moment Old Lin merely revealed a hint of this intention, he already climbed up the pole and directly knelt before Old Lin to take him as master.
"You brat are certainly quick-witted, but I haven't finished speaking yet," Old Lin said with a smile.
"Please give your instructions, Master!" Meng Fan replied with a serious expression.
Standing to the side, Senior Brother Luo stared at Meng Fan in utter astonishment.
Having spent so much time with Meng Fan, he truly hadn't realized that Meng Fan possessed such thick skin. Previously, he had thought this kid was very down-to-earth and honest. Now it seemed his own judgment had failed him.
Sure enough, regardless of gender, anyone who looked that handsome had a slightly tainted heart!
At the same time, Senior Brother Luo felt a tinge of envy toward Meng Fan. If he had possessed such shameless spirit back then, maybe it wouldn't have been entirely impossible for him to become Old Lin's personal disciple.
What a pity; he was the truly honest one!
Old Lin looked at Meng Fan. Although satisfaction lingered in his eyes, he put on a straight face and said, "If you want to become my disciple, you have to pass a trial!"
**Chapter 33: Two Years Later, Defeat One Person**
A trial?
Trials were the very last thing Meng Fan feared. With his comprehension, what kind of trial couldn't he handle with ease?
As long as the trial wasn't about cultivation realm—Meng Fan's biggest shortcoming right now was that his cultivation was only at the 3rd Layer of Qi Condensation, which was indeed a bit low.
However, since Old Lin had paid attention to him before, he must be well aware that Meng Fan possessed only miscellaneous-grade spiritual roots. Since Old Lin had the intention of taking him as a disciple, he naturally wouldn't make things difficult for him in terms of cultivation.
"Master, feel free to set the trial; this disciple will surely work hard to complete it!" Meng Fan said with a firm expression.
Hearing Meng Fan call him master over and over again, as if he truly were already Old Lin's disciple, Senior Brother Luo was thoroughly convinced. Just for this thick skin alone, he was no match for Meng Fan.
Was it not enough that his face grew so handsome, but his skin had to be this thick too? How were other people supposed to live?
The smile on Old Lin's face never faded; clearly, he didn't dislike Meng Fan's thick-skinned attitude. When juniors showed a hint of brazenness in front of elders, it not only failed to disgust the elders, but might even bring them a touch of amusement.
"The reason I asked what your wish was just now is because if you can become my personal disciple, I will grant you one wish. Of course, it will be within the scope of my capabilities—though my scope of capability should be much greater than you imagine!
"However, if you want to become my personal disciple, you must defeat one person two years from now."
Old Lin's gaze as he looked at Meng Fan was exceptionally serious and solemn.
Defeat one person?
Meng Fan felt things couldn't possibly be as simple as he had imagined, because this person was definitely stronger than Senior Brother Luo. Moreover, it was obvious that two years from now, Senior Brother Luo wouldn't be able to catch up to this person either! Otherwise, this spot for a personal disciple would have been pre-booked by Senior Brother Luo long ago, and it wouldn't have fallen to him.
So in Old Lin's eyes, he himself two years from now would definitely surpass Senior Brother Luo two years from now?
To be honest, seeing Old Lin have such high confidence in him, Meng Fan was still rather flattered. Because up until now, Meng Fan didn't even know Senior Brother Luo's cultivation realm. But judging by Senior Brother Luo's demeanor and air of superiority, how could he be anything less than the Tianyuan Realm?
"Old Lin, what realm is that person in right now?" Meng Fan asked with a curious expression.
"A year ago, they just stepped into the Tianyuan Realm," Old Lin said with a somewhat complicated tone.
Hearing this, Meng Fan was momentarily stunned.
They had already stepped into the Tianyuan Realm a year ago?
Could he himself step into the Tianyuan Realm in two years?
That seemed rather unlikely! Even if he could step into the Tianyuan Realm, the other party would at least be at the Tianyuan Layer 2 or 3 by then, right?
This Old Lin actually had such high confidence in him?
Meng Fan was truly a bit flattered.
"Old Lin, you really think highly of me," Meng Fan gave Old Lin a bitter smile.
To be fair, if Meng Fan could really reach the Tianyuan Realm, even if he were only at the First Layer of Tianyuan, he reckoned he could utterly thrash those at the Tianyuan Layer 3 or even Layer 4.
Heh, who asked this old man to have cheats?
Still, while he could have such confidence in himself, why on earth would Old Lin—a stranger—trust him this much?
Hearing Meng Fan's words, Old Lin let out a bitter laugh, his laughter carrying a hint of helplessness.
"Except for little Luo, there's only you left in the entire Sword Pavilion. I gave up on little Luo long ago, so now I can only place my confidence in you!"
Meng Fan asked Senior Brother Luo out of curiosity, "Senior Brother Luo, what realm are you currently in?"
Could the gap between Senior Brother Luo and the person Old Lin mentioned be that huge?
Senior Brother Luo said somewhat sheepishly, "The 8th Layer of True Martial Realm!"
The 8th Layer of True Martial Realm?
A trace of surprise appeared on Meng Fan's face. He had always assumed Senior Brother Luo was also someone in the Tianyuan Realm, because Senior Brother Luo's appearance really projected the aura of an ultimate expert!
Turns out it was all a bluff.
Senior Brother Luo was still at the 8th Layer of True Martial Realm, while the person Old Lin mentioned was already in the Tianyuan Realm a year ago.
Believing that Old Lin must have cultivated Senior Brother Luo beforehand, Old Lin knew very well that Senior Brother Luo could never be that person's match!
Yet the gap between himself and that person was even greater! He was only at the 3rd Layer of Qi Condensation right now. Compared to a cultivator in the Tianyuan Realm, it was truly the difference between heaven and earth, between dragons and snakes.
"Old Lin, who is that person you mentioned? Why do I need to defeat them?" Meng Fan asked with curiosity.
Old Lin sighed, his expression extremely complicated. He fell silent for a moment, then said with immense emotional resonance, "That person is the disciple of an old rival of mine.
"Eight years ago, that old rival and I made a wager: each of us would cultivate a disciple, and ten years later, the two disciples would duel. Whoever's disciple loses must grant the other person a request!"
Although this story was a bit cliché, it was completely acceptable; Meng Fan indicated his understanding. However, what he didn't understand was why, when eight years of the ten-year pact had already passed, Old Lin still hadn't found a satisfactory disciple?
Among the Shushan Sword Sect, was there really not a single disciple valued by Old Lin?
"Old Lin, it's already been eight years, and you're still looking for a disciple. This pace seems a bit... uh... a bit slow?" Meng Fan asked cautiously.
Old Lin shook his head and fell into silence.
Beside him, Senior Brother Luo blinked at Meng Fan, but unfortunately, from Meng Fan's angle, he couldn't see Senior Brother Luo's expression.
A moment later, Old Lin spoke again, his tone tinged with sorrow.
"Actually, I did take a disciple eight years ago. He was very talented, and two years ago he had already reached the Tianyuan Realm. In terms of natural endowment and strength, he was no less inferior to my old rival's disciple."
Meng Fan could hear the sorrow in Old Lin's tone and felt somewhat reluctant to press further about what happened next. Obviously, what followed was no good news!
Yet even though Meng Fan didn't probe, Old Lin took the initiative to continue. "Unfortunately, two years ago, he died. Two years ago, after reaching the Tianyuan Realm, full of lofty ambitions, he went out to slay demons and eliminate devils, only to die at the hands of those demons!"
When Old Lin finished speaking, he slumped back down onto the rush mat, as if his body had been instantly hollowed out, drained of all strength.
Clearly, the fall of that disciple had dealt him a massive blow, to the extent that he hadn't fully recovered even now.
Watching Old Lin like this, Meng Fan didn't know what to say and could only remain silent. Offering words of comfort at this time would only appear hollow.
Long afterward, Old Lin regained a shred of spirit.
"Ever since then, I lost all my grand aspirations, and for these past two years, I haven't left the Sword Pavilion once. Previously, I had thought of cultivating little Luo to participate in that ten-year pact.
"Unfortunately, little Luo lacks superior aptitude and comprehension; there was simply no possibility of him winning. I had already given up and conceded defeat."
Old Lin raised his head, looking at Meng Fan with spirited eyes.
"Until you appeared!"
**Chapter 34: The Sword God Monument, Ten Days and Ten Nights**
"Your appearance made me see hope."
"Actually, the first time you entered the Sword Pavilion, I didn't take you seriously at all, because your spiritual roots were merely miscellaneous-grade."
"I even felt that you might not survive a month here."
"As a result, you gave me a huge surprise."
"Although your spiritual root grade is indeed very low—the absolute worst miscellaneous-grade—your comprehension, especially your natural talent in the Sword Dao, is something I have never witnessed in all my life!"
"To put it without exaggeration, across the entire Shushan Sword Sect, there is not a second person whose Sword Dao aptitude can compare with yours."
"Poor spiritual roots can still be remedied, but if one's comprehension is poor and their Sword Dao aptitude is lacking, then they are truly beyond saving!"
Old Lin spoke at great length, holding forth with eloquence, his words filled with praise for Meng Fan.