While turmoil churned within the Fire God Mantis, Lin Ke's battle with the Sand-Particle Sword also drew to a close.
In the sky, black winds merged with icy winds, and Lin Ke directed them to engulf the yellow sand.
His earlier strikes against the sand with the Chopping Wood Method had seemingly scattered only a few handfuls, but in truth, their killing intent had already disrupted the sand's ability to gather and disperse.
Now, wrapped in winds conjured by the mighty power of poetry, it could not move.
"Halt!"
Finally, Lin Ke stirred the power of reform once more. The moment he unleashed his innate ability, Word-Bound Law, the Sand-Particle Sword lost all ability to resist.
"You... passed the trial."
The Sand-Particle Sword struggled briefly, then finally transmitted a thought.
Submission!
It had submitted!
And so Lin Ke dispersed the power of poetry, and the Sand-Particle Sword took shape again.
"From now on, I'll follow you..." The Sand-Particle Sword sounded a little aggrieved and a little dazed, as though still recovering its senses.
Lin Ke nodded and opened his hand.
The Sand-Particle Sword immediately floated over, and Lin Ke grasped its hilt.
The Sand-Particle Sword looked exceedingly rough, the sand covering it rising and falling as though submerged in water.
A sword of the earth element, or rather, the sand element... Lin Ke held its hilt, carefully sensing it.
At the same time, the sword's name was transmitted into Lin Ke's mind:
Storm.
The longsword-Storm!
This sword had already reached rare treasure rank!
Moreover, the characteristic it had gained upon becoming a rare treasure was its ability to gather and disperse.
Gathered together, it formed an incredibly hard blade with tremendous offensive power.
Once dispersed, each grain of sand became a tiny sword. Although its offensive power was lower than