"Wait a moment." Johnnie quickly stopped him and said, "Senior, if that's the case, I can help you find that person."
As he spoke, he slowly approached the old man.
However, the old man refused, saying, "Lad, I appreciate your kind offer. But I can sense that the person will arrive in three years. I'm just a wisp of remnant soul now and can't stay outside for long. You should leave!"
With that said, he was about to close the secret realm.
A cold glint flashed in Johnnie's eyes. Sword qi condensed at his fingertips, and he suddenly struck.
Puff!
The sword qi pierced through the old man's body, and a damage number flashed above the old man's head.
-1000
He was just in the state of a remnant soul, and any attack on him was both fatal and a critical hit.
"Damn it!" The old man roared angrily. His figure became even more illusory. With a wave of his hand, a sword light condensed and stabbed towards Johnnie.
Puff!
-99999
A terrifying damage number flashed, and Johnnie was instantly killed on the spot.
A flash of light occurred, and his figure appeared again. The Resurrection Ring was triggered, and he respawned in place.
Fortunately, a day had already passed, and the effect of the Resurrection Ring had been reset.
"Kid, you're courting death!" The old man was enraged. Another sword light condensed, and he charged at Johnnie again.
"Senior, wait a moment." Johnnie quickly spoke up to stop him.
"What? Do you want to beg for mercy now? It's too late!" The old man glared at him. His figure became even more illusory, and even the condensed sword light seemed to be on the verge of dissipating at any moment.
Johnnie wasn't afraid at all and said, "Senior, do you think you can still hold on for three years in your current state?"
"What?" The old man's expression changed slightly, and he said coldly, "Even so, I'd rather see the Sword Immortal inheritance disappear than pass it on to a despicable person like you."
Johnnie shook his head. "Senior, I don't think so. You should be aware of the current situation. Foreign races are invading, the gods have fallen, and the Universe Continent is in a precarious situation. Do you really think the inheritor in your mind can protect the Universe Continent?"
The old man stared at him coldly, still unmoved.
Johnnie continued, "Senior, I can promise you that I will do my best to protect the Universe Continent, slaughter the foreign races, and carry forward the Sword Immortal profession."
"Hmph, you're quite straightforward." The old man snorted coldly, frowning and looking hesitant.
Johnnie persuaded him again, "Senior, if the Sword Immortal inheritance disappears, the living beings on the Universe Continent may suffer. If that really happens, do you think you can face the fallen predecessors with a clear conscience?"
The old man's expression showed some signs of being moved. The sword light in his hand vanished, and he stared at Johnnie coldly, saying, "Lad, I still don't like you. But what you said is the truth. I'll give you a chance. If you can gain the recognition of other senior predecessors, I'll bestow the Sword Immortal inheritance upon you. Otherwise, I'd rather see the Sword Immortal inheritance disappear from now on."
As he spoke, he waved his hand, and the surrounding scene transformed.
It was solemn and desolate.
This was a graveyard, a graveyard of long swords.
The Sword Tomb!
Each long sword represented a fallen Sword Immortal.
Johnnie's expression was grave. The vast majority of the predecessors here had died while fighting against foreign races.
The voice of the old man came, "Lad, as long as you can gain the recognition of even one senior predecessor of the Sword Immortal sect, I'll give you the Sword Immortal inheritance."
"Senior, what should I do?" Johnnie quickly asked.
"Perceive carefully. If you gain the recognition of a predecessor, that person's weapon will recognize you as its master. Remember, you only have one hour." The old man's voice faded away. The murderous aura here was too strong, and as just a wisp of remnant soul, he couldn't stay here for a long time.
"Gain the recognition of a weapon?" Johnnie looked at the long swords stuck in the ground, feeling confused.
Most of these long swords were rusty and even corroded and broken. There was no way to tell their attributes. They were just like a pile of scrap metal, yet they exuded a powerful aura.
He tried to pull out one of the long swords, but it didn't budge an inch, as if it were rooted to the ground.
This should mean that he hadn't gained the recognition of the sword's owner.
He didn't know what to do, but he could sense the laws of The Way of the Sword here as well.
He directly sat cross-legged and began to perceive The Way of the Sword.
Hum...
Rays of light circulated around his body, and the laws of The Way of the Sword gradually improved.
"Hmm?" He looked to one side in confusion, feeling something in his heart, as if he was being summoned.
Clang!
Suddenly, a clear sword hum echoed, and the murderous aura became even stronger.
In the distance, a rusty short sword suddenly flew out and rushed towards him at high speed.
He was startled and instinctively raised his hand to block.
The short sword sliced through his palm, and in an instant, a surge of blood light burst forth. The originally rusty blade turned pitch-black as ink, with streaks of blood-red patterns on it, exuding an evil aura of slaughter.
[Beep, the Dragon Patterned Sword recognizes you as its master.]
[Dragon Patterned Sword: Divine artifact, currently stage 1, attributes not awakened, can grow, physical damage +10, magical damage +10.]
[Note: Since it has recognized its master, it cannot be dropped or traded.]
"A divine artifact!" Johnnie looked at the black short sword in his hand in disbelief.
He had never seen a divine artifact before, and in his previous life, he had never heard of the appearance of any divine artifacts.
However, its attributes were not awakened, and it was only at stage 1. He didn't know how it would grow.
"Is this a success?" He felt a surge of joy in his heart. The divine sword recognizing him as its master clearly meant that he had gained the recognition of a certain predecessor.
He wasn't in a hurry to leave. With a thought, the Dragon Patterned Sword disappeared and entered his body, completely merging with him.
"How amazing." He let out a sigh, then sat cross-legged and continued to comprehend The Way of the Sword.
...
Soon, an hour passed. His Comprehension of the Way of the Sword did not improve. The surrounding scene changed, and he was teleported away.
"Hmm?" He let out a surprised sound. The moment his figure disappeared, another long sword merged into his body.
[Beep, the Void Sword recognizes you as its master.]
As the prompt message flashed, he reappeared in the spacious hall.
"Well, lad, how did it go?" The old man looked at him and asked coldly. His figure had become even more illusory.
With a thought, Johnnie made the Dragon Patterned Sword appear.
Blood light flashed around, filling the air with an aura of slaughter.
"The Dragon Patterned Sword!" The old man frowned and sighed, "I should have known. This senior was a complex figure, both righteous and devious.
You truly match his temperament. Fine, I'll bestow the Sword Immortal inheritance upon you."
"Senior, it seems I've also gained the recognition of another divine sword." As Johnnie spoke, a giant sword appeared in his left hand.
Bang!
He felt a sudden heaviness in his hand and failed to hold the sword, which plunged straight into the ground.
[Void Sword: ???]
He looked at the giant sword, seeing a series of question marks with no attribute descriptions at all.
The giant sword was simple and unsophisticated, pale gray in color, and its material was unknown. The blade was broad and heavy, seemingly without any special features.
"Void Sword!? How... how is this possible?" The old man exclaimed, widening his eyes and staring at the giant sword in disbelief.
Johnnie was puzzled. "Senior, what's so special about this giant sword?"
The old man finally came to his senses, let out a sigh, and looked even more weathered. "It seems I was wrong."
He looked at Johnnie without the previous resistance and said, "Lad, this giant sword is named Void. The founder of the Sword Immortal sect comprehended the laws of the Way of the Sword from this very sword, enhanced his strength, and established the Sword Immortal sect. Throughout countless years, no one has ever gained the recognition of the Void Sword. Yet, unexpectedly, it has acknowledged you as its master."
Johnnie was overjoyed. With great effort, he lifted the sword and asked, "Senior, is this giant sword extremely powerful?"
"Extremely powerful!" The old man nodded, but his expression grew solemn. He continued, "Moreover, this is a sword of the heretical path. It may not necessarily be a good thing for you."
"A sword of the heretical path?" Johnnie furrowed his brows. He didn't sense any evil aura from the giant sword.
He asked in confusion, "Senior, why isn't this a good thing?"
"Destiny and calamity—you must understand them on your own." The old man didn't elaborate further. Instead, he extended his finger and tapped Johnnie's forehead.
Hum!
In an instant, a pure stream of power merged into his body.
[Beep, you have obtained the Sword Immortal class inheritance and changed your class to Sword Immortal, All four basic attributes +20]
[Sword Immortal: A rare Hidden class, Each level-up grants an additional 5 points to all four basic attributes. Attacks deal 100% physical damage and 100% magical damage, and each attack consumes 1 mana point]
[Beep, your Comprehension of the Way of the Sword has been upgraded to The State of Sword Mind]
[The State of Sword Mind Realm: When the heart is righteous, the sword is righteous, when the heart is evil, the sword is evil. Control the sword with the heart and act at will.]
[Beep, you have comprehended The Art of Controlling the Sword and mastered the skills The Technique of Swordsmanship for Controlling Swords and Fly with the Controlled Sword.]
[The Art of Controlling the Sword: Comprehended when the realm of The Way of the Sword is upgraded to The State of Sword Mind. Used to manipulate flying swords, cannot be upgraded.] [The Technique of Swordsmanship for Controlling Swords: Level 1 (0/1000). Manipulation range: 10 meters, number of flying swords that can be manipulated: 1, consumes 10 mana points per second.]
[Fly with the Controlled Sword: A special skill that cannot be upgraded. Allows you to ride a long sword and soar through the sky, consumes 10 mana points per second.]
...
As the prompt messages flashed, Johnnie successfully changed his class to Sword Immortal, and his strength received a massive boost.