Upon hearing Senior Brother Luo’s words, Meng Fan turned back abruptly, looking at him with surprise.
He had long yearned to visit the second floor of the Sword Pavilion, but he had never possessed the courage to step up there. Furthermore, he felt that as a newcomer, he was not qualified to ascend. He had been waiting for Senior Brother Luo to take the initiative to bring him up, and now, he had finally waited for this moment.
"Why are we going to the second floor?" Meng Fan asked out of curiosity.
Senior Brother Luo had never mentioned taking him upstairs before. Why now? And what exactly would they be doing there?
Senior Brother Luo replied, "It is time I take you to meet Old Lin. You, a lad who could withstand the sword-spirit of a Spiritual Sword, must certainly be of interest to him."
Hearing this, a trace of anticipation appeared on Meng Fan’s face. He had heard about this mysterious Old Lin many times from Senior Brother Luo. To be honest, he was quite curious as to what kind of person this Old Lin was.
Meng Fan said cautiously, "Old Lin hasn’t asked to see me. If I just go and present myself like this, wouldn't it be rude?"
Seeing Meng Fan's nervous expression, Senior Brother Luo could not help but smile. He replied casually, "Don't worry. Old Lin has a very good temperament; he is extremely kind."
Meng Fan nodded, deciding not to overthink it.
"There is still an hour before the Sword Pavilion closes. I will take you to see Old Lin after we lock up. You just suffered the impact of the Mo Yun Sword’s killing intent; go and rest for a while," Senior Brother Luo said, his tone incredibly thoughtful.
Meng Fan did not try to be brave and returned to his room to meditate and regulate his breath. At the same time, he began to practice the newly learned *Seven Absolute Devil Swords* in his mind.
This *Seven Absolute Devil Swords* was far more powerful than Meng Fan had imagined! None of the sword techniques he had encountered before could compare. Even the already formidable *Taishang Emotion-Severing Sword* or the *Mountain-Splitting Sword* paled in comparison. Meng Fan even faintly felt that this technique had touched upon the realm of the Sword Soul.
The Sword Soul and the Sword Spirit involved high-level sword arts connected to the Nascent Spirit. However, this *Seven Absolute Devil Swords* was a bit skewed—it had fallen into the demonic path!
*Seven Absolute Devil Swords*—devil sword, devil sword—it was a technique belonging to the demonic path. Yet, Meng Fan did not shy away from it. The demonic path was still a "Dao," and Meng Fan felt he could study it. Moreover, the [Primordial] Dao was all-encompassing; it was not as if it could not tolerate the demonic path!
However, while practicing the technique in his mind, Meng Fan felt something strange. The technique was indeed shocking, its power terrifying. But if one were to actually use it, they would fall into a state of "obsession," with an explosive killing intent that was difficult to control. It was highly likely to harm the innocent!
Even while just practicing in his mind, without manifesting it in reality, Meng Fan felt his consciousness flooded with infinite killing intent, a desire to destroy everything around him.
"Truly worthy of being called a Devil Sword!" Meng Fan stopped his practice and opened his eyes. His eyes were bloodshot, and lingering killing intent still swirled within them. "No wonder the Sword Demon of the Ghost Shadow Devil Cult was rumored to be terrifying and murderous! To practice this technique to the extreme is to likely go insane and truly turn into a devil."
"But the power... the power is truly immense!"
Meng Fan shook his head, putting those thoughts aside. After an hour of meditation, his state improved significantly, and the stinging sensation in his mind had faded.
When it was time to close the Sword Pavilion, Senior Brother Luo came to Meng Fan’s room 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 racing with excitement. He followed behind Senior Brother Luo, stepping onto the staircase leading to the second floor. It was a staircase he saw every day but had never traversed.
Soon, Meng Fan reached the second floor. The space was smaller than the first floor, but not by much. Like the first, it was filled with rows of wooden racks, each holding long swords. However, every sword on this floor was a Spiritual Sword. While there had been a few Spiritual Swords on the first floor, they were rare treasures; here, not a single mortal sword could be found.
Looking at the dazzling array of Spiritual Swords, Meng Fan couldn't help but feel shocked. If he could absorb the killing intent from all these swords, how much would his foundation accumulate? And if he were to absorb the source of the swords as well, what realm could he reach?
Most importantly, there were still a third, fourth, and fifth floor! Thinking of this, Meng Fan’s heart burned with heat. There was no doubt that this Sword Pavilion was his true land of fortune!
In the southern corner of the second floor, an old man sat on a cushion, seemingly in meditation. This was a real old man, unlike Senior Brother Luo, who had been teasing him.
"Old Lin, this is the new sword-guarding disciple of the Pavilion. He has performed exceptionally well since his arrival, so I have brought him to meet you," Senior Brother Luo said, approaching Old Lin and bowing.
Meng Fan hurriedly bowed as well, quietly observing the old man. The Sword Pavilion’s transcendent status existed largely because of this man. It was clear that he was an immensely powerful figure.
Old Lin slowly opened his eyes. The moment he did, Meng Fan felt as if he had caught a glimpse of a sword. Or rather, it seemed as if Old Lin himself had transformed into a blade. A human body, yet it gave Meng Fan the sensation of a sharp, lethal sword!
*Man-Sword Unity.* The thought popped into Meng Fan's mind.
If it were the Meng Fan from before he had realized the Sword God Monument, he would never have noticed this, even with his "Sword Dao Enlightenment" talent. That talent was a heaven-defying gift, but it did not provide experience. The epiphany at the Sword God Monument, however, had given him a wealth of "experience" on the path of the sword.
Man-Sword Unity was not a realm, but a state. Many practiced the sword their entire lives, reaching profound levels, yet remained unable to enter this state. There was no doubt—this Old Lin was incredibly strong! Meng Fan felt a natural respect for the strong.
Old Lin glanced at Meng Fan and smiled. "You are quite good."
His tone was kind, and his gaze towards Meng Fan held satisfaction. Clearly, even though Meng Fan hadn't met him, Old Lin had been watching. Hearing Old Lin praise Meng Fan in his very first sentence, Senior Brother Luo felt a flicker of jealousy. He had been in the Sword Pavilion for years and had never received a single word of praise from Old Lin. Not only that, he often saw a trace of disappointment in the old man’s eyes. As a named disciple, he truly had failed to satisfy Old Lin.
"Greetings, Old Lin. I am the new sword-guarding disciple, Meng Fan," Meng Fan introduced himself again.
Old Lin nodded, signaling he had remembered the name. He then scrutinized Meng Fan for a moment. "What is your wish?"
Meng Fan was stunned. He hadn't expected the first thing Old Lin would say to him to be so inexplicable. He thought of a variety show he had seen on Earth in his previous life, where mentors would ask contestants, "What is your dream?" A wish and a dream, were they any different? Why did he have the familiar feeling of being fed empty promises?
After a moment of silence, Meng Fan looked at Old Lin, embarrassed, unable to come up with an answer. "Er... Old Lin, I haven't thought of what my wish is yet."
Old Lin chuckled, stood up, and patted Meng Fan on the shoulder. "No rush. Think about it slowly; you have plenty of time."
Meng Fan was truly bewildered. He felt this Old Lin was a bit strange; communicating with him was a bit awkward. If their positions were reversed, Meng Fan would surely have slapped the old man’s face and spit out three words: "Speak normally!"
But alas, he could only imagine it. In reality, Meng Fan behaved with utmost obedience. "This disciple is dull and does not understand your meaning, Old Lin."
Old Lin glanced at Senior Brother Luo, then back at Meng Fan. "I have always wanted to take on a personal disciple. I had previously considered Little Luo, but unfortunately, he lacks drive and falls too far short."
Old Lin turned to Meng Fan. "Actually, I have been watching you since the first day you entered the Sword Pavilion. At first, I was very disappointed, thinking you were even worse than Little Luo. But during this time, you have given me many surprises!"
Meng Fan’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Old Lin wanted to take him as a personal disciple? If that were the case, he would be ascending to the heavens in one bound!
In the Shushan Sword Sect, disciples were divided into chores, outer sect, inner sect, and the Sect Master’s personal disciples. Even if Meng Fan didn't know exactly who Old Lin was, his position in charge of the Sword Pavilion meant his status was likely no less than the Sect Master's. Becoming his personal disciple would definitely exceed the status of an inner sect disciple!
"Master is above, please accept this disciple’s kowtow!" Meng Fan, as a transmigrator, naturally possessed thick skin as a modern person. When Old Lin merely revealed the slightest hint of intent, he climbed right up the pole, kneeling before Old Lin to offer his apprenticeship.
"You are a clever lad, but I haven't finished speaking yet," Old Lin said with a smile.
"Please command me, Master!" Meng Fan replied with a serious face.
Beside them, Senior Brother Luo stared at Meng Fan, stunned. After spending so much time with him, he hadn't realized Meng Fan was this thick-skinned. He had thought the kid was honest and simple. Now, it seemed he had misjudged him. As expected, whether man or woman, those with good looks were all a bit "dirty" in the heart! At the same time, Senior Brother Luo envied him. If he had possessed such a shameless spirit back then, perhaps he could have become Old Lin’s personal disciple too. What a pity; he was the only honest one here!
Old Lin looked at Meng Fan. Though his eyes held satisfaction, he kept a straight face. "To become my disciple, you must pass an assessment!"
***
An assessment?
Meng Fan feared nothing more than an assessment. With his comprehension, what kind of assessment could he not handle? As long as it wasn't an assessment of cultivation level—his greatest weakness currently being the 3rd Layer of Qi Refinement—it would be fine. But since Old Lin had been watching him, he surely knew he only had a Common Spiritual Root. Since he had the intent to take him on, he surely wouldn't make things difficult for him in that regard.
"Please proceed with the assessment, Master! This disciple will do his best to complete it!" Meng Fan said with determination.
Hearing Meng Fan call him "Master" repeatedly, as if he were already an official disciple, Senior Brother Luo was truly impressed. For that sheer audacity alone, he was no match for Meng Fan. Being that handsome was one thing, but to have such thick skin—how were others supposed to survive?
Old Lin’s smile never faded. It was clear he didn't dislike Meng Fan’s thick-skinned attitude. When a junior showed such boldness in front of an elder, it wouldn't necessarily cause disgust; in fact, it might even bring a bit of amusement.
"The reason I asked what your wish was is that if you can become my personal disciple, I will grant you one wish. Of course, it must be within my capability—though my capabilities are likely greater than you imagine! However, to become my personal disciple, you must defeat someone in two years’ time."
Old Lin looked at Meng Fan with extreme seriousness.
Defeat someone?
Meng Fan felt this was not as simple as he had imagined. That person must be stronger than Senior Brother Luo. And clearly, in two years, Senior Brother Luo would still not be able to catch up to that person! Otherwise, the spot of personal disciple would have been reserved by Senior Brother Luo long ago, and it wouldn't have been Meng Fan’s turn.
So, in Old Lin’s eyes, Meng Fan would be able to surpass Senior Brother Luo in two years? To be honest, Meng Fan was somewhat flattered by Old Lin’s confidence in him. Even now, Meng Fan didn't know Senior Brother Luo’s cultivation level, but based on his demeanor and aura, he must be at least in the Tianyuan Realm, right?
"Old Lin, what realm is that person in now?" Meng Fan asked curiously.
"One year ago, they just stepped into the First Layer of Tianyuan," Old Lin said with a complicated tone.
Meng Fan was stunned. They had already entered the Tianyuan Realm a year ago? Could he enter the Tianyuan Realm in two years? That seemed unlikely! Even if he could, the other person would be at the second or third layer by then. Why was Old Lin so confident in him?
Meng Fan felt truly flattered. "Old Lin, you think very highly of me," he said with a wry smile.
But, to be fair, if Meng Fan could reach the Tianyuan Realm, even at the first layer, he could probably thrash those at the third or fourth. *Heh, who told them he was cheating with a system?* But while he could have that confidence in himself, why would a total stranger like Old Lin believe in him so much?
Old Lin let out a bitter laugh, tinged with helplessness. "In the entire Sword Pavilion, besides Little Luo, there is only you. I gave up on Little Luo long ago; now, I can only have confidence in you!"
Meng Fan turned to Senior Brother Luo, curious. "Senior Brother Luo, what realm are you currently at?" Could the gap between him and the person Old Lin mentioned be that large?
Senior Brother Luo said sheepishly, "8th Layer of True Martial Realm!"
The 8th Layer of True Martial Realm? Meng Fan was surprised. He had always thought Senior Brother Luo was a Tianyuan Realm expert because he looked the part! It was all a bluff. Senior Brother Luo was only at the 8th Layer of True Martial Realm, while the person Old Lin mentioned had been at the Tianyuan Realm a year ago. It was clear Old Lin had tried to train Senior Brother Luo, so he knew well that Luo couldn't be a match for that person.
But the gap between himself and that person was even greater! He was only at the 3rd Layer of Qi Refinement; compared to a Tianyuan Realm practitioner, the difference was like heaven and earth.
"Old Lin, who is that person? Why must I defeat them?" Meng Fan asked.
Old Lin sighed, his expression complex. After a moment of silence, he said with a sigh of regret, "That person is the disciple of an old rival of mine. Eight years ago, we made a wager: each of us would train a disciple, and ten years later, they would face each other in a duel. Whoever’s disciple loses must grant the other one request!"
The story was cliché, but understandable. What Meng Fan couldn't understand was why, after eight years of the ten-year promise, Old Lin hadn't found a suitable disciple. Within the Shushan Sword Sect, was there no disciple worth Old Lin’s notice?
"Old Lin, eight years have passed and you are still looking for a disciple... Isn't that a bit... er... slow?" Meng Fan asked cautiously.
Old Lin shook his head and fell into silence. Beside him, Senior Brother Luo winked at Meng Fan, though Meng Fan couldn't see his expression from that angle.
After a while, Old Lin spoke again, his tone filled with sadness. "Actually, I did take on a disciple eight years ago. He was excellent. Two years ago, he reached the Tianyuan Realm. In terms of talent and strength, he was not inferior to my rival’s disciple."
Meng Fan could hear the grief in Old Lin’s voice and felt uneasy about pursuing the matter. Clearly, what happened next was not good.
Even though Meng Fan didn't ask, Old Lin continued on his own. "But two years ago, he died. After reaching the Tianyuan Realm, he was full of ambition to go out and slay demons, but he ended up dying at their hands!"
Old Lin finished speaking and sank back onto his cushion, as if his strength had been drained in an instant. It was clear that the loss of this disciple had dealt him a massive blow, one from which he still hadn't fully recovered.
Watching Old Lin, Meng Fan didn't know what to say and remained silent. Any consolation would have seemed empty.
Only after a long while did Old Lin regain some of his spirit. "Since then, I have lost all my grand ambitions, and I haven't left the Sword Pavilion in two years. I had thought about training Little Luo to participate in that ten-year duel, but unfortunately, his talent and comprehension aren't top-tier. He has no chance of winning. I had already given up and resigned myself to losing."
Old Lin lifted his head, looking at Meng Fan with bright eyes. "Until you appeared!"
***
"Your appearance gave me hope. To be honest, I didn't think much of you when you first entered the Sword Pavilion, because you only had a Common Spiritual Root. I even thought you wouldn't survive a month here!"
"But you gave me a great surprise. Although your spiritual root grade is the lowest possible, your comprehension—especially your talent for the sword—is the best I have ever seen in my life!"
"It is no exaggeration to say that in the entire Shushan Sword Sect, there is no second person whose sword talent can compare to yours. If your spiritual root is poor, it can be remedied, but if your comprehension and sword talent are poor, then there is truly no hope!"
Old Lin spoke at length, filled with praise for Meng Fan. This made Senior Brother Luo, standing to the side, extremely envious, as he had only ever been criticized by Old Lin and never praised.
Meng Fan hesitated and asked, "Old Lin, even if my comprehension is good, reaching the Tianyuan Realm in two years—isn't that an almost impossible task for me?"