The rest of the day passed in a blur for Su Quyen. Her mind was a whirlwind, caught between the impossible event she had just witnessed and the mountains of incomprehensible data her scanner had collected.
She kept stealing glances at Lin Ming, who was acting as if summoning a legendary turtle to discipline bullies was a perfectly normal Saturday activity.
The boy from the slums was wrapped in more mystery than a Blacklight espionage case.
Lin Ming, for his part, was in deep thought. His connection with the Great Turtle, however brief, had confirmed his suspicions.
There were powers on Earth that the Madakaros knew nothing about, ancient legacies that lay dormant.
And he, with his knowledge of cultivation and the war to come, was perhaps the only one who could bridge the new world with the old.
They parted ways in the evening, Su Quyen rushing back to her lab, her mind on fire with new theories. Lin Ming, however, felt a pull to stay.
He lingered by the lakeside as dusk fell, the crowds thinned, and a quiet peace settled over the water.
He stood at the edge, closing his eyes and extending his Qi Sense, not in a probe, but in a gesture of respect towards the deep, sleeping presence below.
He projected his thoughts—images of the Madakaros invasion, the destruction, the despair of humanity, and his own unwavering resolve to fight back.
He wasn't asking for anything; he was simply reporting to an ancient king, telling him that a soldier had appeared for a war that was yet to come.
For a long while, there was no response. The lake remained still. He let out a soft sigh, thinking maybe he had expected too much.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, the water in front of him began to glow.
It was a soft, ethereal light, shimmering up from the depths. Bubbles rose to the surface, not from a massive creature, but as if something was ascending.
Lin Ming watched, holding his breath, as the hilt of a sword broke the surface of the water.
It was an ancient Vietnamese straight sword, a kiem. The guard was simple but elegant, the pommel shaped like a dragon's head.
The grip was wrapped in what looked like weathered green leather, yet it pulsed with a faint inner light. The sword floated there, held up by an unseen force, an offering from the deep.
Lin Ming recognized the legend instantly. The sword, Thuan Thien—"Heaven's Will." The divine blade given to the great emperor Le Loi to drive out foreign invaders centuries ago.
The sword that had been returned to the Golden Turtle God of this very lake.
It was being offered to him now.
His heart pounded in his chest. He knew what this meant. He slowly knelt at the water's edge and reached out a trembling hand.
The stories said that only the worthy could wield it. If he was deemed unworthy, it would be heavier than a mountain.
The moment his fingers touched the hilt, an explosion of brilliant, golden light erupted from the sword, illuminating the entire lake.
It wasn't a harsh, blinding light, but a warm, majestic glow, like the first ray of dawn. He felt no weight at all. The sword was as light as a feather in his hand.
Then, something miraculous happened. A line of golden, flowing script materialized on the blade's surface, burning with an inner fire.
The characters were ancient Vietnamese Nom script, but the meaning flooded directly into Lin Ming's mind.
"Though powers wax and wane, in every age, heroes arise."
It was a famous line from the 15th-century proclamation of victory, "Binh Ngo Dai Cao"—a declaration that resonated with the unyielding spirit of Vietnam through millennia of fighting for its independence.
The words burned bright for a moment before sinking into the metal itself, leaving the blade's surface smooth and unblemished, yet somehow imbued with that powerful proclamation.
[Legendary Weapon Acquired: Thuan Thien (Heaven's Will)]
[Grade: Mythical (Upgradeable)]
[Description: A sword of national destiny, entrusted by a Planetary Guardian to a chosen hero in times of great peril. It carries the will of the heavens and the hopes of a people.]
[Abilities:]
[1. Unyieldingly Sharp: Can cut through almost any material below the Void Comprehension level. Its sharpness increases with the wielder's cultivation.]
[2. Will of the Hero: Amplifies the wielder's Battle Will and righteous intent, converting it into raw power. The stronger the resolve to protect, the stronger the sword becomes.]
[3. Guardian's Bond: You have been acknowledged by a Guardian of Earth. This sword serves as your proof of worthiness. Certain ancient powers and places will now recognize you.]
[System Verdict: Holy smokes. The Host has gone from a kid with a system to a chosen protagonist of a national epic. Congratulations on the massive promotion. Please try not to die.]
Lin Ming stood up, holding the sword. A powerful, clean energy flowed from the hilt into his arm, circulating through his meridians and merging with his own Qi. It felt... right. Like a missing piece of his soul had been returned. This wasn't just a weapon; it was a responsibility, a pact.
He knew he couldn't just walk around with a legendary glowing sword. With a thought, he tried to channel his Qi into it, willing it to hide its presence. To his surprise, the sword responded. The golden light faded, and the weapon's immense aura retracted completely until it felt like nothing more than an ordinary, albeit well-made, antique.
He procured a long cloth wrapper from a nearby stall, carefully wrapping the sword so it looked like he was carrying a set of rolled-up blueprints or a piece of sporting equipment.
His journey home was silent, his mind racing. This changed everything. With this sword, his combat power had taken a quantum leap. The gap between Mid-Stage and High-Stage Qi Refining seemed insignificant now. This sword could be the key to facing foes far beyond his current level.
When he got back to his apartment, his father was waiting up for him, a worried look on his face.
"You were out late. Everything alright?" Lin Tao asked.
Lin Ming paused in the doorway. He looked at his father, the man who was trying so hard to protect his son's small secret, completely unaware that his son was now shouldering a secret of legendary proportions.
He gave his father a reassuring smile. "Everything is more than alright, Dad." He held up the cloth-wrapped object. "I went to the antique market. Found a... a Kendo stick for practice."
Lin Tao eyed the package suspiciously for a moment, but his son's calm demeanor allayed his fears. "Alright. Get some rest. You've had a big week."
As Lin Ming lay in his bed, Thuan Thien resting beside him, he couldn't sleep. The faint, warm energy from the sword was like a lullaby, a constant reminder of the trust placed in him.
He was no longer just Lin Ming, the reborn soldier. He was now the wielder of Heaven's Will.
His enemies, from spoiled high school bullies to resource-hungry aliens, were all playing their part in a war for survival. But now, Lin Ming held a piece of history, a legend made real. He was no longer just fighting for survival; he was fighting as a chosen hero. And he couldn't wait for his next battle.