Lin Ke paid no attention to what the Fire God Mantis was thinking and walked forward instead.
Ahead stood several invisible steps, none very high, with the Sand-Particle Sword and those indistinct objects resting at the top.
Lin Ke climbed up and faced the longsword formed from gathered sand.
"What is the test?"
Lin Ke asked softly.
In terms of mental age, the sword before him was no more than a child.
"As long as I acknowledge you..." The Sand-Particle Sword bobbed up and down, floating in the air under his own power. "He said that anyone I acknowledge will be my new master..."
He was a good master... Lin Ke knew what that felt like.
It was like an old father's or mother's parting instructions to their children, like the love a newly engaged husband or wife held for their other half.
The Sword Cultivator had not wanted his sword to decay and perish alongside him, nor had he wanted his sword to remain forever buried in dust.
And obtaining this inheritance required only the sword's approval.
"Are you willing to follow me?"
Lin Ke did not want to force this childlike sword. After all, the sword had a spirit and thoughts of his own, which deserved some respect.
Otherwise, wielding the sword without the sword spirit's support would greatly diminish its power, perhaps even yielding half the results for twice the effort.
Erasing the sword spirit outright would be an even greater waste of heaven's gifts.
Fortunately, Lin Ke had plenty of rare treasures, so he was not particularly desperate to obtain this sword.
A person still had to have principles.
"Follow..."
The Sand-Particle Sword before him gradually quieted, seemingly having reached a decision.
"Defeat me without drawing on the power of any items."
*Without drawing on the