Just as Jared and Hammerhead were filled with anxiety and had no idea what to do, a giant bubble suddenly appeared on the surface of the lake. It heralded the subsequent rise of a white- haired old man from the water itself.
The old man’s body took on a transparent look as it floated above the water. One could clearly see that he was a spirit given the absence of a physical body.
The sight of the old man caused Hammerhead to behave in a respectful manner. He stepped forward and greeted cordially, “Greetings, Sworder. I am Hammerhead, a disciple of Divine Smithing Sect.”
Sworder gave Hammerhead an icy look and said, “More than ten years have passed. And here I was, thinking that all the members of Divine Smithing Sect were dead. I hadn’t expected one of you to still remember this sword-cleansing lake.”
“Given that you have helped our sect refine countless sacred swords, there’s no way we would ever forget you. Just a moment ago, I was trying to repair my friend’s magic sword. Unfortunately, it has sunk to the bottom of the lake. I hope that you’ll be able to retrieve it for us, Hammerhead said to Sworder.
“Are you talking about the sword from just now? That’s one of the magic swords that I prided myself in refining. I can’t believe that it has been reduced to such a terrible condition,” Sworder commented with a displeased look on his face.
“Sworder, that’s because the sword spirit of Dragonslayer Sword was injured when it was lost in the mundane world. It also hasn’t been long since I obtained it. As a result, it was damaged due to its inability to withstand my power. That’s why I hope that you will repair the sword, as I’m confident that its true potential can be unleashed in my hands,” Jared beseeched Sworder.
Sworder scrutinized Jared, his eyes brimming with contempt. “There’s no way Dragonslayer Sword would fail to withstand that meager strength of yours. It seems to me that it has fallen into such a decrepit state due to your neglect. Now that the sword has been returned to my hands, I’m not going to hand it over anymore. Instead, I want to refine it into an even more powerful magic sword,” Sworder declared in an icy tone.
“Sworder, Dragonslayer Sword has already become one with Jared and sees him as its owner. I implore you to hand it back to Jared,” Hammerhead pleaded quickly.
“The only reason it has done so is that its sword spirit has been damaged, thereby allowing the kid to take advantage of the situation. Otherwise, there’s no way it would acknowledge the kid as its owner. Dragonslayer
Sword is like a child of mine, and I’m not going to allow my child to marry an incompetent man. From the aura he’s exuding, he is no more than a Manifestor and doesn’t deserve to wield the sword at all!”
While Sworder was speaking, ripples began to appear on his body as he started to gradually fade away. Furrowing his brows in response, Jared concentrated the Power of Dragons in his right fist.
“Sacred Light Fist!” He unleashed a punch in the direction of the sword-cleansing lake, enveloping the entire lake with the golden glow of his fist.
Since Sworder refused to hand over Dragonslayer Sword, Jared had no choice but to seize it by force. The sword had already become part of his body, and no one was going to take it away from him.
“Stop, Jared!” Hammerhead shouted frantically when he saw Jared attack Sworder. Unfortunately, Jared’s punch had already struck the lake. Its devastating impact sent water bursting into the air. The disappearing Sworder materialized. immediately in response to the strike.
“Insolence! How dare you attack me!” The scowling Sworder fired off countless sword energy strikes with a wave of his hand, piercing Jared’s golden fist in the blink of an eye.
“Ever since Divine Smithing Sect was destroyed more than ten years ago, no one has dared to lay a finger on my sword-cleansing lake. Yet a young punk like you has the audacity to attack me?”
As Sworder glowered, the piercing sword energy that blanketed the sky flew toward Jared. Watching Jared’s fist shatter and how the sword energy was descending upon him like rain, Flaxseed and Hammerhead turned pale in shock.
